(Day 19 Writing Assignment: Today is a free writing day. Write at least four-hundred words, and once you start typing, don’t stop. No self-editing, no trash-talking, and no second guessing: just go.)
Since I discovered the benefits of running to stay fit, I often wished I had the kind of motivation athletes have. I come from chubby roots with hardly any athleticism in my genes. I often fall victim to this evil called laziness. In the last 5 years, I have struggled to keep fit by running. Although I managed to add a few 5k and 10k races to my short roster of accomplishments, my interest started to wane over time. I thought of every excuse to stay home. It was either too early, too hot or too wet. Or I was either too busy, too tired or too full. I still make time to run, but not as frequently as I should. I noticed the pounds eventually starting to pile up. I knew I needed to change things up if I wanted to maintain my current dress size. I thought that at the very least, I should eat right to “make up” for the lack of exercise. I wanted to do it correctly this time. I needed a clean slate.
The word alone suggested what I should have expected from this undertaking. Diet is the word “DIE” + “T” after all. If whips, axes and chains were common torture equipment back then, the modern day equivalent of that would be the Juice Cleanse. It was the longest and most trying few days, but I had lost 6 pounds by the end of the 3-day program. Within those three days I had also lost my mind and my temper, leaving my family mortified.
While doing a juice fast, I can be flying high on a prevailing wind of liveliness one minute and unexpectedly nose-dive, falling face first into physical weakness and unsettling emotions in the next. Fasting can be a roller-coaster ride full of ups, downs, swerves and turns. My family is convinced that this wild concoction of fruits and vegetables is the potion that transforms humans to fire-breathing dragons.
Determined to make wise choices from now on, the juice cleanse had jumpstarted my venture to a better and healthier body. I began paying attention to how my food was prepared, kept a log and started counting calories. I limited my intake of red meat and carbs, and increased the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables in my meals. I was very pleased with the results after only a couple of months. I started to actually FEEL healthy. Although I still struggle with keeping it regular, I resumed running to complement my semi-lifestyle change.
I would still indulge in my favourite (and not-so healthy) food every now and then just to keep myself from feeling deprived. One day, when I announced to my family my intention to do a juice fast every few months just to stay on the healthy path, I could sense their panic. Being now aware of what to expect from every self-torture session, I knew better than to put them through that again and again. It’s been almost two years since I’ve started regular juicing and I will forever be grateful and indebted to them for their unwavering survival skills support.
This Little Piggy Said So 