Reflections and Spiders

Just like mirrors, we humans need to reflect sometimes. Though, I guess if you are a mirror you would be reflecting 24x7, and that must get mentally draining. I mean, think about it- if a mirror tries to reflect on itself in another mirror it would probably just come down with a severe headache. A mirror's reflection is just craziness, like an Alice In Wonderland tunnel. Okay, I'm not sure if I am making sense anymore.

Today, I reflect on my juice cleanse which leads me to conclude that it was worthwhile. Today, I enthusiastically chowed down my breakfast like a ravenous beast, thus having the obvious result of a stomach ache. So, for lunch, guess what I am having? Juice. That's right. Carrot, beet, celery, spinach, ginger, cayenne, cucumber and kale juice, to be precise. My body officially dislikes food. It turns it away like a child who turns up their nose when offered a plate of broccoli. Hopefully I come around by dinner time, because I am craving pasta.

On another note, I have realized that spiders and Californians seem to have a mutual respect for each other to the point where they are almost friends. There is one massive web that hangs over my head as I walk to my apartment which could easily be taken down with a broom, but no one ever does it. And the spider inhabiting that thing is not little by any means- in fact, I consider it more like the Godzilla of spiders. He has been there for so long I decided to name him Hank. I check to see if he is inhabiting his web when I walk under. I also noticed an arachnid hanging out in his web outside of my bathroom window. If Hank is Godzilla Spider, this unnamed outside of bathroom spider is Godzilla's weight-lifting, steroid-using brother. I have not named him yet because I just noticed him a few days ago. Also, why do I assume all spiders are males?

I admit it took me awhile to acclimate to being in the presence of mutant spiders seemingly related to the one that bit Peter Parker, but now I do see them as my little buddies. They go about their business and I go about mine. The only beef I have with the spindly-legged creatures is when they build their webs at night in places where I can't help but run into them. It makes me feel like Frodo in Shelob's lair, and that's not a good feeling.

The Final Countdown

I hope the band that sings that song, Europe, doesn't sue me for improper use of copyrighted information. That would make them pretty desperate for cash. It's the third and final day of my cleanse. To be honest, I did not think someone could survive on a juice diet, but not only am I surviving, it's safe to say I am thriving. I feel awesome and definitely like I could do this for a few more days. But I also miss food, and that cancels out my desire to continue cleansing.

2:14 PM Day 3

My running around like a chicken with its head cut off (who came up with that saying anyways? What a creepy visual) prevented me from writing until now. However, I am on juice four for the day, with two remaining, and I feel energetic and productive! Unfortunately, the cleanse did not provide as deep of a sleep last night as it did the first night, but I still fit in plenty of Zs.

4:01 PM Day 4

I am currently drinking my last Master Cleanse which is a bittersweet feeling. I have formed some creepy, psychological-analysis-worthy bond with my juice cleanse. I've heard of people forming deep attachments with intimate objects, but this seems a bit over the top. I am almost tempted to sign up for a couple more days!

8:25 PM Day 4

Well, the cleanse comes to a close. Nice alliteration, Marisa. I'm going to miss the master cleanse, but I'm excited for food! I still feel great, like I could continue for a few days, but I'm not going to. I did my three days, I'm done!

Sweet and Spicy! Addictive!

Liquid Candy Cane

Packed with Veggies yet tastes Fruity!

Lunch Time!

Cleanse- Part 2!

9:39 AM Day 2

So guess who is on day 2 of a cleanse and still feels AWE-SOME! If you guessed me, well aren't you insightful? Just kidding. Well so far I have had one green juice and my chlorophyll water since I like to bite the bullet on that one and get it out of the way as soon as possible. I also did yoga this morning and currently feel like I am on top of a mountain. Woot!

1:16 PM Day 2

I forgot to add that a juice cleanse may as well be synonymous with a cure for insomnia. I slept like a rock, sans earplugs and sans eye mask, for about 9 hours straight. For the first time in many moons, I did not have to exhaust my options of counting sheep, reading until my eyelids grew heavy and any sort of dances to sleep gods (okay, slight exaggeration). I am about halfway through my cleanse and still feel great. Someone told me it is because I was eating right and exercising prior to the cleanse, which means my body has less toxins to rid itself of. Isn't that jolly news?

1:46 PM Day 2

Wow. I am regretting this whole thing. Just kidding, I still feel great! I realize I just wrote less than an hour ago, but I just started drinking a peppermint water and I wanted to inform my readers that it is unfathomably tasty- like drinking a candy cane (or possibly toothpaste if you were to just extract the peppermint flavor)! Mmmm!

6:01 PM Day 3

I am sweating and feel like an anvil is pressing on my stomach but mentally I still consider my mood stable. I have already begun composing a grocery list for my return to a normal diet! Thankfully, I have one juice to go- I'm trying to hold off as long as humanly possible.

8:25 PM Day 2

I had no idea it was possible to feel so tired at this early, pathetic hour of the night. Yet here I lay, in my jammies and under the covers. Let's hope I survive tomorrow!

Second Attempt

Well, it's official- I have restarted my detox. I made the decision after my dreams were haunted by veggies taunting me that they defeated me in my last go-around. I don't take too kindly to mockery by vegetables, so with revamped determination, my journey to kick their butts has begun again.

The juice cleanse consists of six juices and two alkaline waters spaced out throughout the day. Four are based on greens- kale, romaine, celery, cucumber, you name it- and two are called "Master Cleanse" and are comprised by agave, water, lemon and cayenne pepper. Amazingly, the latter is scrumptious!

11:47 AM on Day 1:

Well, so far I have consumed one water (chlorophyll, which tastes less algae-y [not that I have ever tasted algae] the second time you try it) and one green juice and one master cleanse. I feel fine at the moment- not hungry or tired, just a little bit out of it. I read what to expect, and it said day 2 is when the cranky pants really start to ride up your legs.

4:39 PM on Day 1:

I am down to two juices. Currently, my throat is tingling with the spice of cayenne courtesy of the Master Cleanse. My mood is actually peaking for the day- I am overcome with euphoria, probably due to starvation. We'll see how long this good mood lasts....

7:30 PM on Day 1:

Apparently it lasts at least three hours, because I still feel fantastic and rearin' to go and I am only halfway through my last juice. The hardest part of today was when the mother of the girl whose party I was running brought in a red velvet cake and told me to take a slice home. Guess what my first food will be following day 4??

Maybe Next Time, Juice

So here's pretty much what happened- yesterday, day 1 of my cleanse which was supposed to last three days, I had to drink beet juice mixed with other vegetable juices twice. When I realized that I was paying to drink beet juice which I could hardly choke down, I realized why so few people do juice cleanses, and why many people, like me, cop out after one measly day.

All it did was made me tired- last night I slept for 10 hours and possibly only woke up once. So, I guess the cleanse works as a sleep aid. I may try again next week, so stay tuned. 

Juice Cleanse

Well, I know how much you all love to follow my life journeys and adventures, and it has been ages since I have embarked on one. The long wait finally ends tomorrow, however, when I begin a three-day juice cleanse. See, I figured now that I am doing the Bikram yoga almost every day, I might as well add one more super hippie thing to my routine, and I can't think of anything more hippie than a juice cleanse.

My co-workers all reacted differently to the cleanse. One got cranky, one slept a lot, and one was too busy to notice she wasn't eating. I hope to be the third option.

So a few hours ago, I enjoyed my last meal before diving head-first into this cleanse which will begin tomorrow morning. I will post pictures and my reactions as the day wears on. The juice I am most nervous about is chlophyll water. This sounds more like something that would grow on the side of a fish tank or be the subject of a National Geographic botany special than something that should go into my body.

It may be a strange experience, but I am all for trying new things and documenting them. So, wish me luck!

My Running Mates

Don't worry, I'm not referring to politics. I am not about to unleash my own personal Paul Ryan on the scene. I am talking about running the sport, as in "don your Nikes and hit the track"running. And as for the "mates," I am talking about the people with whom I share the track every morning.

The mornings I am able to motivate my sorry butt out of bed at 6:30, which seems to my groggy mind to be the crack of dawn (actually, with the time change it is still relatively dark outside), I run up the road, turn right, turn left, and then complete between one and three laps (depending on the level of protest from my knees and feet) on the track at Holmby Park. (Side note: when my knees and feet just picket with their obnoxious homemade signs and crude slogans, I still manage to get to at least three miles. When they partake in a full-on strike, a la teachers in Chicago, is when I have to shorten the distance).

Due to my consistency as far as what time I go running, I tend to run past the same people on a daily basis. I have come to recognize the "regulars" who frequent Holmby Park. There is the elderly man who wears headphones and loudly sings old show tunes. There is the short middle-aged woman who does a fast walk while swinging her arms intently. There is the woman who wears a sweatshirt from Brown University. There is the elderly Asian couple. I always smile, wave or nod at all of them. Or, if I am not gasping for breath too much, I will go so far as to utter a brief greeting. Previously, my gestures went unnoticed. Yet slowly but surely, I turned people around. The toughest nuts to crack were the Asian couple- despite my attempts a friendly greeting they shifted their gaze away from me.

Persistence pays off, I discovered- after multiple weeks, they finally acknowledged me with a small smile. I had no one to wave or smile at yesterday, however; it turns out no one else goes running at 5 in the morning on Sundays.