One Month After Fast

Today, July 11th marks one month from when I finished my 10 day juice fast.  I received an unbelievable amount of support during my fast and even encouraged a few people to think about doing a Juice Fast.  If I was someone watching my juice fast and saw that I lost 22 lbs in 10 days I would probably be skeptical of the thought that someone could keep the weight off.  So, here is an update of what has happened over the past 30 days.

Immediately after I finished my fast I started eating better.  I had 2-3 meals in the first week that I was craving during my fast but for the most part my mind and body had been changed enough during my fast that I felt better when I was eating better foods (how it should be from the start).  I planned on gaining 7-10 lbs in the first week simply because I had food in my stomach.  It is important to remember that I did not drink as many calories as I was supposed to at the end of my fast because I couldn't find a mixture that I enjoyed.  This made it so that I lost more weight than what I should have so I was assuming my body was going to put it back on much faster than what would be considered typical.  If I would have continued a strict eating schedule I most likely would have gained 3-5 lbs for the first week after the fast.  Since I had some meals that were strictly to fulfill my cravings I ended up gaining about 8 lbs.  I watched my weight gain/loss very closely for those first two weeks and without any scientific research outside how I felt I would say that I didn't feel like my body was completely out of starvation mode, and back into its regular mode until 7 days after the fast was over.  I could tell for these 7 days that my body was trying to store as much food as possible in case there was another "drought."

Over the past month the maximum weight (in the morning) that I have reached is 259 and my lowest weight was 252 (2 lbs more than where I finished the fast).  This was very surprising because at my worst point over the past month I was still 13 lbs lighter than when I started my 10 day fast.  I only tell you all this because I know the weight is what everyone is so concentrated on.  Allow me to tell you about what has really mattered.

I have felt great!  I started running again almost immediately after my fast but it took my body 1-2 weeks before I felt better than I did before the fast.  I assumed that doing a juice fast would benefit your body during and possibly immediately after since you are providing your body with needed nutrients that it is not used to having.  However, the weight loss mixed with whatever the juice fast did to me has given me a drive when working out that I haven't had since I was training for basketball.  I am finally excited about working out again!

I have not changed my eating patterns 100% but I have changed.  I have tried to change my mind/eating patterns in the past but it has always been so painful.  This time it is easy and natural because my body craves and enjoys the good stuff rather than the crap I was constantly putting in my body before my fast.  This part is hard to explain but I guess you have to trust me on the fact that I feel better in almost every area of my life.

I can't end this update without mentioning the best thing that has happened in the past 30 days which is our new baby boy Jack!  He is the best, and I am so glad that I decided to make a lifestyle change before he arrived so I can have as much energy as possible for him.  Also, I am excited that I had this life changing experience before britt had Jack so we can work together to lose weight and become the healthy, and active parents that Jack deserves.

If you are debating if you should do a juice fast or not, know that God's Grace will give you the ability to change your life at the rate that you choose.  God Loves you so much that he sent his Son (God in the flesh) so that you can live an Abundant life (best life you could ever imagine).  I knew that I was preventing myself from living this life because of my eating and I can honestly say the Juice fast helped.  The juice fast by itself won't do anything for you but a desire to improve your mind and body along with God's Grace can/will radically change your life.

Cheers to better health!