Getting in Whack

[David Rainoshek]

A few months ago Katrina and I were at a completely silly family gathering, and were discussing the phrase "out of whack." One person asked what you say when you are no longer "out of whack," to which someone replied, "you are back in whack. You are in whack."

Well said. And it so happens at times on a Juice Feast that, despite our best intentions and efforts, we get a little - or a lot - out of whack, and know we feel much better in-whack.

In The Green Room today, a JuiceFeasting.com member posted the following story from her Juice Feast going on now, and following that, my response that I thought might be helpful to everyone else on the Global Juice Feast right now.

OK so hubby and son were starving and we were nowhere near home or a store so I got dragged into a wings and pizza place. The weak side of me took over and suggested that if I'm going to cheat I should go full force and get the blowtorch hot wings. I don't do ANYTHING half-way...

Bad decision.

Am paying for it dearly now, though I must admit it has done a better job of bodily housecleaning in 12 hours than the juice has! Am back on the cucumber juice this morning, arching over in pain from the ongoing explosions in my gut. If that isn't motivation, I just don't know what is!

For all of you out there, the wings weren't as good as my mind told me they would be. IT'S NOT WORTH IT! Juice now!

Humbly crawling back under my rock...


Here is my response:

Thank you for the great post. Many students have learned this lesson the hard, gut-exploding way. The key once you have eaten in the course of a Juice Feast is not the physical cleansing - because after some gastrointestinal pain - and perhaps throwing up (all of which is a deep cleansing reaction), your body will continue on, albeit temporarily confused at what just happened. But the physical recovery is the easy part.

It is the mental/emotional goings-on that are more important, and challenging. You just woke up a strong memory of food and eating, and this may last for several weeks before you feel solid in your Juice Feast again. It is important at this time to write down what your intentions are for this Juice Feast - why you are doing it, and for whom. What are your goals? What are the juices and Life Practices you are accessing, what things are you putting into place to maintain consistency, even as your life is inevitably inconsistent and changing?

Finally, avoid a spiral of feeling guilty or self-defeating. This is a wonderful learning and growth experience that is more transformative than many or most of the things you will have the opportunity to do in your life. Guilt won't get you anywhere. Simply recognized with Big Mind what has transpired thus far, love yourself with Big Heart, and keep getting on with it. Don't crawl back under your rock, stand on your rock and be proud of yourself. You are incredibly strong and brave and capable - and no one does this thing without challenges and missteps. Show your strength not in your perfection but in your ability to pick up and keep going, head held upright with a clear vision/intention, and the means and present moment actions to see this through to cultivate your highest potentials.

Let me know how this resonates, and how well you are doing even as you watch the gut explosions subside... :)

With peaceful steps,

David Rainoshek, MA in The Green Room, www.JuiceFeasting.com