Day 4 started off the complete opposite as day 3. I did not bound out of bed, happily. Instead, I slept until the last minute possible and groggily started my day with a bad attitude.
I had a slight headache and knew this was all most likely attributed to staying up far too late the night before. I did not get home till way past my bedtime, from graduation. I am not someone who operates well on a lack of sleep. I dragged myself to work and felt like my head was in a fog. I could not think clearly and had a hard time with the “difficult” task of assisting with handing out diplomas to my students. The diplomas were in alphabetical order and it seemed monumental to have to recall the order of the alphabet at the time of day.
I continued to struggle through the day and wondered if this was going to continue to be this difficult throughout the remainder of the cleanse. However, in the back of my mind, I knew it was mostly because of a lack of sleep.
I chugged my juices probably way too fast and early on. In the previous 3 days, I was not drinking my juices till later in the morning. However, this day, was the first time I felt actual pangs of hunger and started drinking them earlier on.
These were the recipes for day 4. All ingredients listed make 2 juices, approximately 16-20 ounces.
1. 1 bunch of dandelion greens, 6 carrots, 2 cucumbers, 1 lemon
2. 3 cups of coconut water, turmeric, 1 lemon, 1 inch of ginger and a generous shake of cayenne
3. 6 Carrots, 2 red bell pepper, 2 oranges, 1 bunch of red radishes, 1 bunch of kale (this was one of my favorite juices! Incredibly savory, with a nice kick).
I drank those first three at work. We had a staff potluck and I struggled to sit amongst all the food. My co-workers plate full of fresh salad and fruit looked incredibly tempting.
I continued to feel tired and hungry. Once I wrapped up my work day, I was eager to get home and move up my evening smoothie. I felt incredibly famished and wanted something more substantial. I made massive smoothies with: 3 cups of coconut water, 2 bananas, 2 handfuls of spinach, 4 figs, 2 tablespoons of flax seed meal and 1/4 cup of soy protein.
This definitely helped, as did my husband’s announcement that we were going to get massages, at our local reflexologist, Shangri-La. We love this place for an inexpensive massage, where we can drop in without an appointment.
I felt much better after my massage, and we decided as a treat we would “go out to eat.” The only place we really could go was The Living Root Cellar. I love this juice, smoothie and raw food bar. I choose the Tropical Calm smoothie with Coconut Milk, Pineapple, Kale, Coconut Nectar, Hemp, Flax, Coconut Flakes, Tocos, and Banana.
This was one more smoothie than I intended to have. However, I was trying to listen to my body and be intuitive.
After our dinner, we went to candlelight yoga, a restorative class, which was a great way to recover from the day and find peace with just being. I tried to refocus and change my perspective from depravation, to gaining. I was being given the amazing opportunity to do something good for my body and fill it with nutrients.
I felt so much better after a relaxing afternoon. I also felt relieved that the cleanse was more than half way over! I still feel apprehensive about what the next few days will bring, but I am overall, hopeful.
Additional detox of the day: neti pot
I have nettied (is that a word?) a few times now, even though the idea of it really freaked me out before. Once I did it, I wondered what took me so long. I felt like I was breathing in a way I never had before. It cleared up my sinuses that I didn’t even realize were plugged. I try to neti every few weeks now. This is a great demonstration of how to neti:
Angie Eats Peace 