A few things I noticed since I changed my diet the past couple of weeks.  I could only eat fruit and veggies, some grains and beans – nothing that came from an animal, no caffeine, no sugar, no bread.  I noticed that my eczema came back, my sniffy nose allergies were worse, and I was getting very cold in the evenings.  I remember going to bed freezing, pulling the covers up over my head and still freezing.  Then I’d warm up later.  I feel like I’ve been dreaming way more and that they were far more vivid and intense.  Perhaps these are all signs of detox?

The first day of fasting went well.  I felt ok in the morning although, I didn’t sleep as long as I would have wanted to.  I went to walk the labyrinth instead of breakfast.  I got all the way in and half way  back out and then I felt kind of light headed – not like I would pass out or lose my balance, but I took it as a sign that I had done enough exercise for a while.

They have activities through the day.  I attended a meditation/mindfulness one which was nice.  The other one was called Energy 101 – it was too basic for me, but it was still a nice thing to talk about for an hour.  There was a movie, but I came down for it an no one was there so I went back to my room.  There was live music during dinner (not everyone here is fasting).  I missed it due to a nap. The other wellness guests here are nice and I’ve spent some time talking with them.  There’s 3 others than me right now.  There are lodge guests too that are just vacationing in Sedona – I see them coming and going, but that’s it.

I’m hungry, but not uncomfortable.  Do you know how you feel sometimes when you waited too long to go to lunch and you are very hungry, but you know you can do this one other thing and then go?  It feels kind of like that.  I did notice looking at the time, realizing it was 11:45 and thinking “oh, I have to go eat”.  I got hungrier just from that small trigger.  Drinking water helps a little.

I felt quite peaceful most of the day, very excited that I’m doing this and often joyful.  I noticed something interesting when I felt joyful – I could feel it mostly in my face, behind the cheek bones, eyes, sinuses and temples as if there was electricity there.  It feels like nerves firing – maybe part of the polyvagal system?

The doctor’s intake exam was more thorough than a regular doctor’s exam.  I feel like I’m in good hands.  The doctors or nurses come find you twice a day and check on you.  In the morning I have to take my temperature, blood pressure, pulse and weight so they can track how you are doing.  I also have to track bowel movements (they will stop at some point), water intake and in general, how I’m feeling.

I took a nap in the afternoon.  I’ll call it adventure napping.  It was terrifying.  I closed my eyes and felt my whole body go numb.  I tried to move and couldn’t.  It felt like I was going into a deep dark hole that I would never be able to wake from.  I kept telling myself not to go to sleep, don’t close your eyes, don’t go into the dark, but I couldn’t move, couldn’t open my eyelids.  I did start dreaming at some point and they were very detailed and intense and I was quite aware I was dreaming.  I did wake up.  The deep dark hole didn’t swallow me forever.  My body was numb and I felt heavy for a least an hour after.  It was intense and weird.  I assume my body is detoxing further, including thoughts and deep dark holes.  The journey has started.

(c) All Rights Reserved Kimberly Fiore