Friday, May 6, 2011

DAY FIVE. Feelin' So Fly!

Day FIVE.  That's right.  Today is day five of our 21-day fruit and veggie cleanse.  (Sorry to keep you out of the loop on the previous days, but I felt horrible, so this is my first blog all week).  Anywho, this coming Monday begins the juice-only portion of the cleanse, but I HAD to take a moment to share this.  So a friend of mine completed this 21 day cleanse.  I asked her about it (because, you know, I'll try ANYTHING to feel better) and she told me about this website: www.jointhereboot.com  I went to the website, expecting to have to pay a bunch of money or buy their supplements, but no.  It was a free program. They send out daily e-mails with tips, recipes, and encouragement during your fast.  The first week is just fruits and veggies.  The next two weeks are juice-only.

So I enlisted the hottie.  Because he is trying to get into shape for the fire academy, I knew he'd get on board.  He was a little skeptical, but I told him if he did this with me, I'd be a thousand times more likely to succeed than if I did it on my own.  So we jumped in together with both feet.  We got up Monday and made our juice (mine was more of a puree mixture because I ate the remnants that came from "the other end" of the juicer. Sounds gross- looks even worse coming out of the juicer, but it tasted great!  So then we made a healthy dinner and day one was done.  I wasn't really tempted and I didn't feel that bad. But then day two came.  I wasn't tempted yet, bu the caffeine and sugar withdrawal headaches started... and didn't stop until this morning.  That's right.  I had a migraine for almost four days.  I had no energy.  I felt like a Mack truck had run me down.  Yesterday I was weak- not physically, but emotionally.  I was tempted the entire day... by everything.  At lunchtime, even Jacob's food and Shepherd's snacks started to look good, but I prayed and prayed and prayed some more.  I pressed in to God to help give me strength from temptation and SOMEHOW I made it through yesterday.... somehow. (thankyouJesus) 

So then after four days of feeling blah, I expected to wake up feeling okay today, but I woke up feeling AWESOME!  Today is the first day that I really feel good.  No migraines, no bloating (HALLELUJER!), no sickness, no soreness, and I have energy- like natural energy. I used to be a big ball of energy, but as of late, it's taken caffeine or Monsters or other incredibly "bad-for-you" drinks to get me going.  This morning I was energized from the moment I got out of bed and it was amazing!  It's like a breath of fresh air! 

So,  I say, to God be the glory!!!  I am anticipating more struggles, but also many more successes.  I have 16 more days left and am looking forward to being able to look back on this time and see God's footprints as he carried me through to the end! 

A week ago I felt like God was telling me that May 2011 was the time.  Like THE TIME.  The time He would use to free me from these chains, the time He would use to change my outlook and deepen my understanding and relationship with Him, the time He would use to bond Kyle and I closer than we ever have been before, and the time that he would use to bring His name honor and glory as He purified my soul from the inside out. 

So now when I am tempted- I pray.  When I am tired- I pray.  When I am hungry- I drink water.. and juice, and I pray.  When I feel like I am at the end of my rope- I pray.  When I feel like the enemy is creeping in to attack us during this precious time- I pray.  And you know what?  He answers.  He has shown up in a mighty way each and every time.

So, for now, this is me- the real life mom saying- thank you Lord for your strength and for your encouragement to get through this.  It is by your name and for your glory that I declare- NO LONGER I.