Fall Fast Day 7

I meant to blog every day but as so often that hasn't happened. Today is day 7 and yesterday I finally got to my destination - Beaufort, NC. It is such a pretty little town and I already took Mojo swimming yesterday. I hope to find an even better place for him to swim today and I need to get him a tennis ball.

As for me, I am detoxing like crazy. My tongue is greenish-white, I am fatigued, my heart rate was 184 this morning when I got up, my body is still and achy, and I have pain going down the back of my legs. I don't think I have felt this bad during any of my past fasts so I am not sure what is going on.

On the agenda today....the woman hosting the fasting retreat is taking us on a walking tour of Beaufort this morning. Later today she will be teaching a Yoga class on a houseboat but considering how stiff my body feels I am not sure I feel up to it. I am taking Mojo on the walk with me. Otherwise I need to run to the store and get a few things for the kitchen and for Mojo.

Fall Fast Day 2

I started my fast yesterday. I had a tiny bit of coffee in the AM (less than 1/4 cup) and otherwise just water, tea, clear veggie broth, and some fat (VCO, beef fat). Overall I felt pretty good, no headache, no increased fatigue, etc. and I got a lot done. I washed and vacuumed my car, did some laundry, cleaned up around the house, and overall stayed busy.

This morning I woke up with a wicked headache, my heart rate was close to 170, and I feel puffy and swollen all over. All of this could be die off/detox for me. I have a very dry mouth but I am not thirsty and water, which I normally like and drink all day, is not appealing to me at all. My tongue, which usually has a slight whitish color to it, is a greenish-white now. After just one day - wow!

Wednesday I will be heading to North Carolina with my boy Mojo to finish my fast there. Not looking forward to the drive but am looking forward to being away from home. I was very tempted to eat yesterday starting around 4 PM. That's usually when it gets tough and it lasts throughout the evening. Fasting somewhere else is easier for some reason.

Salmon Patties

• 1 can wild caught salmon (6 ounces)
• 1 whole egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 1/2 cup broccoli florets, steamed
• salt, pepper, paprika, rosemary to taste (and/or other spices/herbs)

Mix all ingredients then puree. Fry in skillet in some tallow or pork fat.

GAPS Intro #7: Day 86

Day 86 of intro and I am still on stage 2. Can't say that I am feeling any better. If anything, I feel worse then when I started. I wake up wishing the day was over already. So I decided to do another fast. It won't heal me, but I know it will get me to a better place. At least I should be able to tolerate more foods after the fast and also more probiotics and ferments.

I was going to do it at home, but fasting at home has been really hard for me here lately mostly because I am so friggin' hungry ALL the time. (That is part of the reason I wish the day was over already - so I don't have to right this constant hunger.) So I decided on a place in North Carolina for a fasting retreat. I don't plan on drinking the green smoothies. The woman who runs the retreat also makes clear veggie broth and will make some for me every day for "lunch" and "dinner". The retreat takes place at the Beaufort Harber Suites in Beaufort, NC. The hotel is about a block from the beach.

I am so looking forward to going. The die off will be hard and I will probably feel weak during the fast like I usually do, but I know I will feel so much better when I am done. I am not sure yet about what to do after the fast, but most likely I will go see Dr.. Bernui in Hendersonville, TN. He comes highly recommended.

Smoked Brisket with Quick and Easy Green Beans

7-8         lbs        Brisket

Rub brisket with Espresso Dry Rub. Place in baking dish of some sort. Smoke for 8-10 hours. Remove from smoker, wrap in aluminum foil and smoke another 2 hours. Serve with green beans.

Throw some bacon in a pot and fry on low until crispy. Remove bacon and set aside. Add green beans to pot, cover with water, place lid on pot, bring to boil, then reduce to simmer. Let them simmer until water is evaporated. Add salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with crumbled bacon when serving.

Coconut Chicken Muffins

• 4 ounces zucchini, peeled
• 3 ounces onion
• 1 green onion
• 5 ounces chicken breast, cooked
• 2  eggs
• 3 tablespoons coconut flour
• 3 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1/2 teaspoon celtic sea salt
• 10 grinds black pepper corns
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda (optional)
• a few sprinkles each rosemary, basil, paprika, and garlic powder

I used grilled chicken breast that we had marinated in our Latin Kisses marinate, but any cooked chicken would work. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Steam or boil veggies until slightly soft. Mix all ingredients in food processor until well blended.

Grease muffin tin or line with paper muffin cups. Divide batter evenly into 9 muffin cups.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown on top. Enjoy!

Posting this on Real Food Forager today.

Another Onion-Cilantro Dressing

• 3 ounces yellow onion (approx. 1/4 large onion)
• 1 ounce jalapeno pepper, seeds removed
• 1.5 ounces red pepper
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon celtic sea salt
• 3-4 grinds peppercorns
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
• water, optional

Place all ingredients in Magic Bullet, Food Processor, or something like it and run until you have a dressing like consistency. Done!