Day #1:
I felt anxious and scared, actually. The idea of not eating anything solid created an unrealistic sense of scarcity within me. I remember periodically reaching for my 'snack drawer' at work, not even comprehending what I was doing... as if it was a normal as breathing. I would have the wrapper off of a granola bar before I realized my actions. Quickly I threw it in the garbage before I had time to smell it's chocolaty goodness.
Noon rolled around and I felt as though my stomach was going to literally implode. I had drank four glasses of water and 3 glasses of juice. Logically speaking, I had enough calories built up in body for at least a week, plus I had consumed enough calories to support myself for days with the juice I had just drank. There was no grounded fear for what I was feeling. I kept reminding myself that the mind is powerful and that I am literally breaking a habit... my food routine.
Mid-afternoon snack time, or as others might call it, 3:00 pm, rolled around and there was nothing I wanted more than one, salty corn chip. Even a small nibble of one of the corners would do. I tried all the techniques, drinking more water, drinking more juice and going for a walk. Nothing could take my mind off of salt.
I noted that my body was going through the flavors. First sugar cravings, then salt cravings... the next was fat. I wanted meat... bacon actually. I felt nauseous and my head felt fuzzy. I almost felt as though I had drank a huge glass of wine without the fun part of actually drinking it!
What got me through? It was actually going back to my sports days when I would train my body for athletic performance. I learned early on that you can work through difficult physical exercises with the goal that 'it will get easier.'
I kept that in mind and began to think of ways for me to cheat without actually cheating. Time to trick the mind! So, I decided that during my lunch hour every day, I would go into town and 'buy lunch.' This included the trip to one of my favorite cafés, waiting in line, and physically purchasing and selecting a really yummy cup of tea. I would go through the process of steeping the tea and then my sister and I would explore walking paths in the area. We would seek out a new one every day.
This technique worked! I had something to look forward to and a 'yummy surprise' that helped get me through the latter half of my day.
By the end of Day #1, I was completely exhausted. How was I going to make it through six days?
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