Day 3 of Water Fast by Sacristia Blog entry

Blog: My Health Journey
by Sacristia

Day 3 of Water Fast

My daily Journey to a healthier life style

Date: 3/31/2011 12:09:36 PM ( 15 y ) ... viewed 26125 times

March 30, 2011

Water tasted so good this morning when I drank it. I had somewhat an achy night as Mekong wouldn't settle down on me, so I could sleep. It didn't help that Lammy, being the black little vulture, sat perched on my head board watching me to see when I was going to get up. Mekong loves her moist cat food in the morning, so to see Lammy perched there made me wonder if they were out of dry food. It wasn't so, she just wanted to be closer to me then she normally is. I have to say that I don't lavish attention of Lammy as much as I do Mekong. I think it is because Mekong is content with laying on me, where Lammy isn't. When she wants to be pet, she wants it constantly that she will paw you until you do. Mekong on the other hand will just flop down and lay there being content with being close to you.

I was really surprised when looking at my phone to see the time, and saw a text message. I wondered if it was the guy or not. It was. He texted me at 3:00 a.m. just to say “Hi, I hope all is good” No, not all is good. It made my mouth feel ashy just reading it. He had a signature line of “Slim Pickin”. Slim is his nickname, but it made me wonder regarding the “pickin” part. I immediately thought maybe he was making a knock on how it is a slim pickings when it came to women. It wasn't a good thing to be thinking so early in the morning. If anything, it made my morning harder because I was wondering even more what he was doing. I cried a bit, telling myself out loud that “ I didn't care what he did anymore”. I realize he doesn't really care how I am. If he did, he would have called or texted sooner then a week and a half. Then again, I haven't said anything to him since that phone call. I had to keep telling myself that the guy really didn't care about me or how I felt. He only talks to me for some personal gain, as he has used me in the past for his own personal gain. He hasn't told me that he loved me since sometimes in July 2010, so it isn't because he cares for me.

I have to delete all the messages from him, but at the moment I didn't have the strength to do so. I just ended up getting ready for work and talking about Godly things, like how I was going to church service tonight. I was trying very hard to pump myself up with God like things, rather then things of the heart and flesh.

I got to remain strong and over ride my thoughts about the guy. I am doing a horrible job at it.

Work was okay and not to stressed out. It seems that the Senior attorney might have changed his mind about things. I hope so. I was in the office by myself when my mother's old boss came in. I have known him since I was a teenager as he was close to me and my brother. He calls me ODOT, which stands for Ohio Department of Transportation, due to my name. LOL He is the only one that I have ever allowed to call me that. He mentioned the guy and if I finally got rid of him. I told him yes, but it has been a hard way for me. He just said that he had hoped that I learned a lesson from it. I told him that I had. He mentioned that I was looking really good, from the last time he saw me. I told him that I had lost a bit of weight and I just recently got my hair cut. He mentioned that he a really nice guy, if I was interested in socializing a bit. He knows that I have always be a bit shy. I told him that I was always interested in meeting new people and make new friends. We didn't talk about it much more, as I went on to focusing on why he was in the office. So I was a bit hopeful that “Yes, I can meet new people” if I really try. I found out that a woman I grew up around died after Christmas. She was my boss's secretary and she was a lovely women. She was 91 years old when she died and it was sudden, as she had perfect health until her kidneys started shutting down. She will be missed, as I always admired her as I was growing up.

I found this news article about why this writer is fasting. It is very interesting.

Here it is: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/29/why-were-fasting/

Why We’re Fasting

By MARK BITTMAN

Mark Bittman on food and all things related.

I stopped eating on Monday and joined around 4,000 other people in a fast to call attention to Congressional budget proposals that would make huge cuts in programs for the poor and hungry.

By doing so, I surprised myself; after all, I eat for a living. But the decision was easy after I spoke last week with David Beckmann, a reverend who is this year’s World Food Prize laureate. Our conversation turned, as so many about food do these days, to the poor.

Who are — once again — under attack, this time in the House budget bill, H.R. 1. The budget proposes cuts in the WIC program (which supports women, infants and children), in international food and health aid (18 million people would be immediately cut off from a much-needed food stream, and 4 million would lose access to malaria medicine) and in programs that aid farmers in underdeveloped countries. Food stamps are also being attacked, in the twisted “Welfare Reform 2011” bill. (There are other egregious maneuvers in H.R. 1, but I’m sticking to those related to food.)

These supposedly deficit-reducing cuts — they’d barely make a dent — will quite literally cause more people to starve to death, go to bed hungry or live more miserably than are doing so now. And: The bill would increase defense spending.
Beckmann, who is president of Bread for the World, made me want to join in just by talking about his commitment. For me, the fast is a way to demonstrate my interest in this fight, as well as a way to remind myself and others that there are bigger things in life than dinner. (Shocking, I know.) I expect I’ll learn something about patience and fortitude while I’m at it. Thirty-six hours into the fast, my senses are heightened and everything feels a bit strange. Odors from the cafeteria a floor away drift down to my desk. In the elevator, I can smell a muffin; on the street, I can smell everything — good and bad. But as hungry as I may get, we know I’ll eat well soon. (Please check my blog for a progress report.)

Many poor people don’t have that option, and Beckmann and his co-organizers are calling for God to create a “circle of protection” around them. Some are fasting for a day, many for longer. (I’m fasting until Friday, and Beckmann until Monday. And, no, it’s not too late to join us.)

When I reminded Beckmann that poor people’s hunger was hardly a new phenomenon, and that God hasn’t made a confirmed appearance recently — at least that I know of — he suggested I read Isaiah 58, in which God says that if we were more generous while we fasted he’d treat us better. Maybe. But a billion people are just as hungry, human, and as deserving now as the Israelites were when they were fleeing Egypt, and I don’t see any manna.

This isn’t about skepticism, however; it’s about ironies and outrages. In 2010, corporate profits grew at their fastest rate since 1950, and we set records in the number of Americans on food stamps. The richest 400 Americans have more wealth than half of all American households combined, the effective tax rate on the nation’s richest people has fallen by about half in the last 20 years, and General Electric paid zero dollars in U.S. taxes on profits of more than $14 billion. Meanwhile, roughly 45 million Americans spend a third of their posttax income on food — and still run out monthly — and one in four kids goes to bed hungry at least some of the time.

It’s those people whom Beckmann and his allies (more than 30 organizations are on board) are trying to protect. The coalition may be a bit too quick to support deficit reduction, essentially saying, “We understand the need for fiscal responsibility, but we don’t want to sacrifice the powerless, nearly voiceless poor in its name. As Beckmann knows, however, deficit reduction isn’t as important as keeping people from starving: “We shouldn’t be reducing our meager efforts for poor people in order to reduce the deficit,” he told me by phone. “They didn’t get us into this, and starving them isn’t going to get us out of it.”
This is a moral issue; the budget is a moral document. We can take care of the deficit and rebuild our infrastructure and strengthen our safety net by reducing military spending and eliminating corporate subsidies and tax loopholes for the rich. Or we can sink further into debt and amoral individualism by demonizing and starving the poor. Which side are you on?

If faith increases your motivation, that’s great, but I doubt God will intervene here. Instead, we need to gather and insist that our collective resources be used for our collective welfare, not for the wealthiest thousand or even million Americans but for a vast majority of us in the United States and, indeed, for citizens of the world who have difficulty making ends meet. Or feeding their kids.
Though Beckmann is too kind to say it, he and many other religious leaders believe that true worship can’t take place without joining this struggle: “You can’t have real religion,” he told me, “unless you work for justice for hungry and poor people.”

I don’t think you can have much humanity, either.

This is his blog, which I will be reading during his fasting time, as he will keep us updated on his fast. It was a very interesting article as well as blog entry.

Here is his blog: http://bittman.blogs.nytimes.com/

I find it interesting on other blogs of people fasting, as it is interesting to view other people's view of the whole situation. I still have been following the guy that is drinking beer and water for Lenten. Now that is very interesting. LOL. So far he is going well, but it isn't as informative as I would like.

His blog is here: http://diaryofaparttimemonk.wordpress.com/

I found this to be very inspiring quotes from William Arthur Ward regarding putting the Lenten season as well as fasting in a clear perspective.

“Lent should be more than a time of fasting. It is a time to fast from certain things and to feast on others.

Fast from judging others, feast on the faith dwelling in them

Fast from thought of illness, feast on the healing power of care

Fast from words that pollute, feast on the phrases that purify

Fast from anger, feast on patience

Fast from self-concern, feast on compassion for others

Fast from discouragement, feast on hope

Fast from suspicion, feast on truth

Fast from thoughts that weaken, feast on promises that inspire

Fast from complaining, feast on appreciation

Fast from discontent, feast on gratitude

Fast from emphasis on differences, feast on the unity of all life

Fast from pessimism, feast on optimism

Fast from worry, feast on hope

Fast from negatives, feast on affirmatives

Fast from bitterness, feast on forgiveness”

I thought it was a lovely way to remember why I am fasting. I really need to apply a lot of those in my life, especially the last 4! The relationship with the guy and realizing that it is really over, as really knocked me for a loop. I think I have only be doing so well, because I have been in a fasting state, which not only calms the body but the soul as well. I can only imagine the mess that I would be in if I was not fasting. I would be a crying, depressive mess.

I called my mother, as I haven't talked to her in a couple weeks. I also realized that I need to call my father as well, but since I was going to be busy tonight, I will do that tomorrow. Well, I talked to my Aunt C. several minutes because my mother got on the line. She went on about her divorce and a bit about the death of my cousin, Britta. She wasn't complaining, but just sharing with me, issues that she has been trying to overcome (as she was married 35 years as well as she lost her only daughter). She went on about God's plan, and how He always has plans for us, regardless what we decide to do. She told me that I shouldn't think about the guy, because he surely isn't thinking about me. He got what he wanted and moved on when he found something better, just like her husband did. She also went on about how when she was younger how badly she wanted her husband, and God granted her desire, but where did it get her? She told me “It is as if God said, 'Here you go' only to find out myself that it was the wrong choice” I told her that my relationship with the guy was like that. I really wanted to have a relationship with him and wanted to try and try, and when I got him, it was as if God granted my desire. My aunt told me that it was probably God's way of showing me that was not His plan for you, but you wouldn't give up, so He allowed to teach you a lesson and get you on the right track. I thought about what she said, and realized that I knew she was right. God has been trying to get me on the right track for the last 3 years (not only the year and half, the guy has lived with me), and now I am going to push through all the weeds and find the narrow path that God wants me to walk on. My aunt always reminded me that there are tons of nice guys where she is, and when I am going to visit her and my mother. I just laughed and told her that it depends if my car can handle the trip. Finally I got to talk to my mother a bit. Her healthy is kind of up and down, as she seems to always have a migraine. I didn't get to speak to her long, as she said she hadn't ate anything today and she was feeling a bit weak, so she had to go and eat something. I worry about her. I really need to make her a focus of my prayers during the day.

I went over to Christy's after work, for a little bit (until around 6:15 when my church service started). We joked about things. I told her that I needed to get out more and socialize. I even joked that if I went to the beach in my two piece bathing suit, I might find some people to socialize with. LOL Christy laughed, as she knows that isn't my style and that is mostly just talk on my end. It is more her style then mine. At least, I can think about being that daring and confident. We talked about what we were going to do Friday. I told her that I would love to pick out some seeds for garden as well, since we will be out. We talked about last night, and how I told her I had to blog that funny stuff that she had said. She showed me one of the things she said, as she posted it as her status on Mocospace. I laughed again. Since she is not a practicing Christian, she tends to say things that I kind of wonder about and even laugh about at times. When we were watching “Arn” a day ago, she was talking about the apostles, and she ended up saying “Judas does “swing” that way, while Jesus just “hangs” around” implying to Judas hanging suicide and Jesus crucifixion. I know that it is a little bit crass, but it was funny when she first said it, as it dawned on me what she was referring too.. I had to ask her is that blasphemous, as we are joking about serious things. We laughed a bit and we moved on to a different subject. I guess you get a lot of that when you just riff back and forth regarding subjects and such. I told her that movies are due tomorrow, so I will stop back and pick her up so we can go and pick out some movies together, since I have been watching a lot of them over to her house. I might as well share what I am renting with her. She knows that all the movies always go home with me, but I bring a couple over during the week to watch while I am there. It is a way I can socialize with her, and watch a movie, rather then becoming a human vegetable at home. At least I am getting out a bit more and preventing myself from getting worked up and thinking about the guy when I am alone.

I went to church service. I was a little bit leery about going. I actually told Christy that I didn't want to go. And she asked me why. I told her the Wednesday services were usually done by someone other then my pastor, and it made up of mostly older/elderly people, as there are no young people there most of the time. I think that it is because I really like the Sunday contemporary services that these little more traditional services are kind of boring for me. I went any way, even thought a part of me was fighting it. I am glad that I went. Service was done by one of the associate pastors. We sang two songs. I remember one song, which was “Standing on the Promises of God”. I can't remember the other song, but it was equally good. It was lovely that it was helping me focus on the good things. The pastor when went on to talk about dreams and aspiration of the young and how we tend to lose them as we get older. We read Genesis 37-41, which was about the dreams of Joseph and his hardships.

I saw Rango. It was great! At first I had to really listen close to hear Johnny Depp as he did Rango's voice, but it got easier as the movie when along. It was a really good movie. I am sure that I will buy it when it comes out on DVD. It was very fitting as it was a focus on finding yourself and using what talents you have in your life. It was quite funny. I did notice that it was PG, yet, it had implied swear words in it, and it had scary issues such as an armadillo getting run over, yet still alive. (the armadillo was still alive and okay, but at first glance it was iffy) I noticed during the scene that had the implied swear word, that a young mother that was out with her husband and young children spoke up and said something about it. They were right in front of me so that is why I noticed it. I am getting a little bit off the subject, but what I wanted to address is the implied swear word, as well as the amount of violence that is in a PG movie. I read just last week that the rating system for movies has changed in the last 10 years. They said that a movie 10 years ago that was labeled rated “R” is not passing for PG13 now. As well as they stated that there is more violence in movies then 10 years ago. I was a little bit shocked regarding a couple things in the movie (such as the implied swear word, and the subject of possible death – as the armadillo was a bit flattened on the busy road.). I wouldn't know how to explain to a young child those issues. Mostly because I don't have children, but I guess I was just surprised that those items were in a PG movie. It was a bit more risque, then Bambi ever was. At least with Bambi, his mother's death was implied. I don't know. I guess I was just surprised. Still it was a good movie. I got a bottle of water while I was there. My stomach was still growling, and it was hard not to want popcorn. I wasn't craving it, nor was I even hungry. It was the smell that drove more of the need then necessity.

When I got home, my kitties were waiting for me. I was really tired and I couldn't stop yawning while in the shower. I took a longer shower then normal, as it was cold outside and since my metabolism is low, it is hard to keep warm. My fingers are always cold. I slept with my hot pad last night because of it. I was fighting if I wanted to put a movie or pop in one of my Bible CDs. The movie won, but I think tomorrow night, I am going to put in the Bible CD so I can listen to it off of my DVD player, instead of moving my CD player/radio into my bedroom. I have the CD player/radio on my dryer in my hallway, as I have always enjoyed listening to music while I take a shower. I didn't ever do that when the guy lived with me, as I had to shut the door, plus my bathroom is small so it would be very bulky to have a huge CD player /radio in there. I realized last night I solved the issue of moving into my bedroom, when I realized that my DVD player can play CDs too! Now, there is no excuse for me NOT to listen to it.

When I laid down for the night, I realized how achy I felt and how the acetone smell was getting heavier. I brushed my teeth and tongue again for the 3 time of the day, as well as did a ketone strip. I have a high amount ketones in my system, so in the next day or two, I should really be loaded up and exuding nasty smells and stuff out of my body.

Since I was minutes were running out at midnight, I downloaded a bunch of games on my phone, so the money wouldn't go to waste, as well as added more minutes on it. I got really into a game called MTV star factory. I played it for a good 45 minutes, because I got really tired and turned out the light and listened to the TV. Mekong kept me company until I fell asleep.

It was a great day!

EXERICISE: walked 1.35 Miles,

WATER INTAKE: over 40 ounces

WEIGHT: 118 pounds