Brave Enough to Burn

beckyh2112 asked me "What does detoxing entail?" Her question plus a few other comments and questions have prompted me to make this entry to explain that, what my detox will entail, and the purposes behind my going through the process.

A detox can mean a variety of things to different people, and often has negative connotations in a person's mind, since it does often involve radical changes, deprivation, and other unpleasantness. It can be taken to an extreme, like any eating or behavior, and if one does this, it can be harmful. Detoxing can cover everything from switching to a vegan or raw diet for a period of time, smoothie or juice fasts, or even water fasts. It can also simply involve removing an addictive substance from one's diet, such as caffeine, sugar, nicotine, alcohol, etc.

As for why I'm doing this- I'm not embarking on this journey for the purpose of a quick flush and fix. I'm looking to make some long term changes, not just in my eating habits, but in my life. It's not just about flushing the congestion out of my body; it's about clearing the congestion around me as well. That includes physical congestion such as clutter, as well as mental, spiritual and emotional congestion. This is not going to be something that happens overnight; I'll be making baby steps. One positive change at a time.

For me, this is a Life Detox.

Some of what I will be doing as far as my body detox is concerned is as follows:

- making sure to drink plenty of water, at least 6-8 glasses/portions per day
- shifting away from refined sugars, not just in cooking but in prepared foods
- decreasing and eventually hopefully eliminating my consumption of prepared/processed foods
- increasing my intake of veggies, fruits, lentils, and non-wheat grains
- decreasing my sodium intake
- decreasing my intake of OTC medicines.
- beginning an exercise regime, centering around core strength and flexibility.

Other items on my Life detox list:

- decreasing clutter, and hopefully my dependence on Stuff
- establishing a cleaning routine that is easy to upkeep, versus having to spend one whole day cleaning a week.
- setting aside a period of time each week to make art
- getting finances back in order
- switching away from chemical household cleaners and utilizing more natural cleansers. This will be difficult, since I always associate the smell of Clorox with Clean, since that's what we used when I was a kid.
- establishing a sleeping routine
- reading every day
- reconnecting with friends
- reconnecting with family

That's the overview. Those lists aren't all inclusive, of course, but that should give y'all an idea of what I'm aiming for with the process. I'm hoping to start the first of September with the food/body detox. I'm already starting on some of the other aspects.

Questions? Comments? Smart remarks?

I've given up drinking Cokes. Cold Turkey.

Started yesterday. So far, no withdrawal symptoms. I've been drinking water (lots), decaf tea, and juice. I had one Black Cherry soda water yesterday as a splurge, because I really prefer to have something with flavor to drink w/ my meals.

I decided that every time I felt the urge to reach for/order a Coke, Dr. Pepper, etc, I would remind myself that I can use that stuff to clean the battery terminals of my car. Seems to be working so far!

Also, I've realized something: I've become my mother and my father all at once. I am clinging to Stuff because it is Stuff and I want it and it gives me some sort of small thrill/happiness to realize in have This and no one else can get This anymore. It is special and cool and sparkly and why shouldn't I keep it? I'm using my wall of Stuff as a barrier to hide behind because I have my Stuff and I can stay home and look at my Stuff or play with my Stuff and not have to deal with People. So, from now on, I'm thinking very, very hard about purchases before I make them. And there will be much Stuff that will be leaving the house in various ways, including several figures and comic books. It will be hard though, I know. I am a packrat from a long line of packrats.

Last night's dream involved a zombie plague and poker. Texas Hold 'em, to be precise.

Yeah, they were playing in the WSOP...and some of them were winning.

I watch too many poker tourneys on the TV, I think.

So as I sit here on the couch, sick, weak, and exhausted, I am trying to figure out at what point in my life I determined that I can not take time for myself. I can’t bring myself to spend the day in the bed (where I probably should be), so I’m on the couch. I could lay here and catch up on Heroes, but I’m too mentally toasted to process it, I think. At least, that’s the reason I drug the laptop downstairs. It’s not the reason I drug out some bills to work on, and copied some files over to the flashdrive so I can work on them in the living room. I called in sick to work, something I hardly ever do, because I’m still having some dizzy spells. I could probably have made it through the day OK, but was afraid if I pushed too hard, I might not make it in the rest of the week. I’m sick, so why can’t I just let myself rest?

It’s probably because of that term sick. Honestly I don’t feel sick. I feel badly, crappy, uncomfortable, achy, tired- but not sick. For me to really call myself sick, I have to pretty well be incapacitated. Throwing up, fever, the works. I was running a bit of a temp yesterday, off and on, and I did spend quite a bit of time on the couch yesterday. And bitched and moaned the whole time, because I had too many things to get done to “waste the whole day lying down.” I hurt all over, but I didn’t feel sick.

So I decided to work on bills today. Yeah, not the most relaxing of things, I know. But if I at least have the pretense of working on something on my ever-growing list of “To Do’s,” I can kinda sorta rest. Case in point: I started writing this around noon. It’s now 3:17. I’ve done a little bill work, ate lunch, checked e-mail and the boards, freaked out because an event location canceled on me today (the deadline for turning in events is TODAY, btw) leaving us scrambling (and probably paying too much for a hotel space). And now I’m back to writing this. I’m not usually this scattered; I make lists, and do a pretty good job of working through them. Maybe that’s what’s bothering me; this whole week my lists have been tossed out the window.

But I ought to be able to just crash on the couch and watch a movie, or play a video game, without feeling guilty right? Like I’m wasting time? I know that it’s important to make time for yourself and your hobbies. I just can’t seem to do it. Honestly, it’s bothering me to work on this update instead of working on “the things I need to do.” Heck, I haven’t written and posted my review of Mistral’s Kiss yet, because it’s a non-essential list item; admittedly, part of my delay is due to my disappointment after reading the book. But that’s another post. Which will hopefully be up by the end of the week.

At least I’m feeling better. Haven’t had a dizzy spell in a couple of hours, and I’m not aching as badly.

NEW YORK - Three years after the city banned smoking in restaurants, health officials are talking about prohibiting something they say is almost as bad: artificial trans fatty acids.

The city health department unveiled a proposal Tuesday that would bar cooks at any of the city’s 24,600 food service establishments from using ingredients that contain the artery-clogging substance, commonly listed on food labels as partially hydrogenated oil.

Artificial trans fats are found in some shortenings, margarine and frying oils and turn up in foods from pie crusts to french fries to doughnuts.

This may sound like a silly and frivilous topic, but think about it. Many cities have alrady banned smoking on a large scale, even in bars and the like. Now they want to tell us what to eat and cook with? Sorry guys, but it doesn't wash. Making the GOVERNMENT responsible for INDIVIDUAL HEALTH is just asking for it. And that's what such laws would do.

I'm the first to say that we eat too many fried foods, and foods that contain too many not-so-nice-for-the-body ingredients. I also feel that smoking is a nasty, nasty habit, and a bad health decision. But that's just it; it's a decision! A choice! You have as much of a right to trash out your body as you do to keep it clean. And IMO, you don't have the right to sue the makers of your cigs, super-sized meals, and beer for "making you sick/fat/etc" after choosing to consume them. Sorry, last time I checked we were people, not lemmings.

But I'm digressing. I'm really struggling to understand how such drivel could even make it to the point of consideration for approval. The smoking issue was at least understandable; second-hand smoke IS an issue, though I do believe it could have been handled better. But this is a foodstuff! And not even one specific to the industry; I've got a can of shortening in the cabinet right now- can't fry chicken without it:)! Is it bad for us? Yeah, but I'm bot eating trans-fatty acids at every meal! And no one else should be either! It's not like telling places they can't use it is going to magically shrink the population or stop heart disease.

Instead of trying to tell us what we can and can't do to our body, why don't they spend more money/time educating the public on nutrition and health? And not the radical ads like the Truth smoking ads, or the ads for this pill, that pill. Real nutrition info. 'Cause the average person doesn't read the ingredients list on foods anymore. For example, a serving of coke and an equal serving of OJ have about the same calories. And unless you are really picky about your OJ, about the same nutritional value. So is it still better to get a glass of OJ? Yes, because you aren't getting nearly as many "artificial ingrediaents." But if you buy the average big name OJ brand, your still getting just as much sugar, mostly added.

We don't need laws dictating the grease McDonalds fries our food in. We need to understand why eating McDonalds food every day (like so many do) is bad for us.

So looks like by the end of the year, Memphis will be fully switched over to Comcast for it's Cable options. It's taken several months for Time Warner and Comcast to complete their deal, which involved carving up the territories of an older cable company and restructuring other areas..like Memphis.

I'm not overly impressed with Comcast; it's what my Dad has in Dothan. I find it difficult to navigate, and several of the channels I like to watch aren't part of their packages- unless I want to pay for Premium Channels we won't watch. Also, silly as it sounds, I don't want to have to relearn channel numbers. Their cable internet and phone also seem to be higer than Time Warner, though not by much. On top of everything, if you have a Road Runner e-mail, you either loose it with the switch, or have to pay Time Warner's non-subscriber rate.

I'm annoyed. I really wish I known about this when we moved. Instead of getting the TW package deal on TV, Internet and Phone, I'd have just gone back to Direct TV. The weather issue aside, I liked it better than cable.

So while it's not something monumental, it's just one more annoyance to have to deal with. When the switch is complete, we'll just have to see how things go.

I continue to find it mind-boggling that in this day and age the following two statements can cause others to look upon you with such a bizzare look of outrage filled with puzzlement:

I kept my maiden name.
and
We have no desire to have children. Ever

( This got long, so cut for the uninterested )

I intended this to be a reponse to a friends post, however, the LJ gods say it is too long, and I refuse to shorten it. I figured, "what the hell, it's an iteresting topic and will give some insight into my own ideals." So here goes:

( Read more... )

Ok, class, time for me to step out from behind the lectern and open up the floor for debate. Anyone? Anyone? C'mon I'm in the mood for a philosophical discussion.

I'm worth $1,502,593.81! How much are you worth?

So, despite the fact that I knew "if you are open they will come", I am still suprised at the fact that we had people WAITING IN CARS at 7am this morning to get in for the early bird sales.

It's scrapbook supplies, people, not this years hot toy! Go stand in line at best buy or something, yeesh!