Day 6 and Day 1 - Wait, WHAT?

Day 6, yet Day 1 of all-juice and nothing but the juice...

They told me it would happen, but I thought, "Surely, it wouldn't happen to ME!"  But could it be?  Could it really BE?

Am I succumbing to the  inevitable fatigation of mind, body, soul, eyeballs, hair, and toenails?

Oh, how could it be??!!  *swoons*

No.  No swooning here.  I'm actually too tired to swoon.  I think I may be too tired to breathe, so thankfully my autonomic nervous system is taking care of that for me.

Another day, another pound.  So far so good.  Normally people don't weigh every day like this, but when you're extreme juicing, you tend to do this because the results can be pretty extreme, too (depending on several factors, results vary of course).  Plus, you can tell if you need to adjust something by your weight.  If it goes up, if it stays the same for a bit (plateau) may tell you that you could need a few tweaks to your juicing.  Sometimes these tweaks could include less fruit, more greens, more water, and in some cases even MORE juice!  Yes, MORE juice.  It's like any eating plan.  If you're not taking in enough your body could go into starvation mode.

My mood is 'okay,' but I think it's still better than it was when I was feeling sicker (does that sound right? lol).  I'm tired and achy, but that's par for the course in these early stages.  My temper's a bit on edge, too.. so that's not any fun for anyone.  Sorry T!  He understands completely and knew what to expect from all he's read and from watching the documentaries.  This plan is not for the squeamish.

So here I am in just-juice phase now.  I'm in personal uncharted territory here so can only speculate how this is going to go from one day to the next.  It's a journey.

It's my journey.  And it's a big one for me.  :)

Day 5 - Chilly Explanations with a side order of hold-the-protein

Day 5:  One thing is certain, when information exists in 3 or more different places, the information in those locations will often be different too.  Discrepancies are a way of life.

I wouldn't necessarily call these discrepancies 'mistakes,' really, because when you put the information in proper perspective they aren't exactly 'wrong.'  Let me explain...

Protein, or... Where's the beef?!.  This topic arises in nearly every juicer-noobie's brain when they start.  Well, maybe not as a question of 'where's the beef?' exactly, but more along the lines of 'Am I getting enough protein when I juice?'  The answer is yes!...  But this is one of those topics that falls into a category that is really outside of the realm of this blog.  If you're juicing, or if you're considering a Reboot, please go to the source and get the materials so that you have all the information at your fingertips.  The Reboot instructions are actually FREE on Joe Cross's web site if you don't want to purchase the book(s). :)

Now, as far as how the protein ties in with my point here, that of making a mistake, or.. in this case a not-really-a-mistake mistake, it boils down to this:  If you're doing an extended juice fast or Reboot, meaning more than 15 days, then you may want to add a vegetable protein such as pea protein.  However, most of the time this isn't necessary unless you have certain health conditions, or if you're of average weight, health, and are exercising regularly.  This means if you're at your normal weight and don't need to lose any weight, add protein.  If you're diabetic you may want to add protein (ask your doctor first!!!!).  If you're an athlete, you may want to add protein.  And so on.

"I" added protein, then found out later that I probably didn't need to.  Why?  Wording in the book didn't tell me I could or should wait to add protein, while on the web site it explained things a bit more in detail.  My decision to hold off the protein now (been adding a scoop per day for the last 4 days) is because I'm trying to lose weight gained due to several factors, being on prednisone (for starters).  But also because I'm going for a 30 day Reboot, so eventually I'll need the protein, but.. I didn't really need it now.  Did it do any harm?  Probably not.  But it may have slowed my weight loss down.  I won't know this for sure until I begin my juice-only phase, which is tomorrow.

About that COLD COLD feeling I feel.

As it turns out, it's perfectly normal.  I'm used to feeling colder than most people anyway, but the chill I felt yesterday and today has surpassed anything I've experienced before.  And it only intensifies as the day wears on.

Apparently this is a good thing, though uncomfortable, and is something I have to just deal with by adding hot ginger/lemon water and bundling up to help with the rattling shivers.  I suppose if it's a sign that things are working, then so be it.

Day 5 - I'm feeling the fatigue and muscle aches that usually come on board in the early stages of detox.  And I've yet to go full-on juice-only.  I handled Transition well and didn't cheat (didn't feel the need to eat anything outside of what was on the menu), so that has helped a great deal.  I've not felt any of the reported and common headaches, and I've only had mild nausea once or twice, and even that was transient and passed quickly.

It's time to sign off and post on my other blogs...

Noodles!

Day 4 and Feeling Frost-Bound

Day 4:  I'm cold.  No explanation, really, and I've turned up the thermostat a few degrees higher than what's normal for us.  But I'm still freezing.  Hands and feet are like ice.  Shivering.  I know I'm going to end up in a hot shower just to warm myself up, but.. seriously.. this is ridiculous.  What gives?  No matter.  I will ride this out.  I get cold easily anyway, so I can deal with this.  I've dealt with worse.

Already I long for Spring, for Summer, for warmer days.  Although there would soon come a time when the oppressive humidity would begin to wear me down as well.  It's not that easy to live in the south.  The seasons here aren't exactly gentle.  But it is what it is.  I've lived here about 20 years (give or take a year or so) and I'm still not 100% used to it (California born and mostly raised.  Colorado after that... then onto the south.)

As for the juicing today, other than feeling incredibly cold (colder than usual)... I guess I'm a bit more tired.  But then, I slept less than 6 hours, so I can't really say that it's from the detox.  Hunger began increasing a little last night, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle.  Let's hope THAT continues!

Honestly.. this entry is about as boring as it gets, but I'm tired beyond words and super cold.  Hot shower time for me, and maybe just a bit of chill time (no pun intended).  Maybe tomorrow will prove a bit more amusing.  I seem to be a bit blah today.

Warmth.  Sleep.  Recoup.  I'll recoup soon.

Noodles!

Days 2 and 3 - too full? Seriously?

Let me first start by saying that weekends aren't always easy for me to find time to post, so if there is a spare moment I will... and if not, well, Monday becomes the proverbial catch-up day.  Having said that, I'll move on to WTH happened on days 2 and three...

Day 2: Other than being a fairly hectic day, things went okay for the most part.  But I will say that days 1-5 on the 15 day Reboot of "juicing & eating" are hectic in and of themselves because you spend most of your time prepping veggies/fruits, juicing, blending, cleaning, cooking, eating, drinking, cleaning, prepping, drying, prepping somewhat for the following day (to make all the prepping, juicing, cleaning, cooking, etc. easier...)... yeah.  You get the picture, right? lol  Just giving you a heads-up if you do this.  It's not like eating fast food, and there's work to be done, even if you have help.  But it's worth it.  I have to keep reminding myself that "Rebooting" is not what you do every day for the rest of your  life.  Juicing, yes.  Rebooting, no.  So there will be a calm in all this frenzy at some point.

A word about Kale:  I love curly kale in soup, like Tuscan soup, but I learned very fast that unless you want to spend an hour chewing a very large salad full of kale... get Dino kale, instead of curly kale!  And no, I am not exaggerating!  I was worn out from chewing! lol  Also,  I believe Dino (Lacinato) kale also yields more juice when juicing, especially when using a masticating juicer.

Enough talk about vegetables!! lol

The process is going pretty well so far, and I found I dislike things like cold soups (go figure).  And while I like the taste of coconut meat (fresh and toasted), and I love coconut water (non-pasteurized, thank you).. I don't care for coconut in soups.  At all.  NOT at all.  *cough*

Physically I feel only a little tired and stiff, but this is a natural side effect and should wear off in a few days beyond going juice-only.  And my body, I can tell, is a bit shocked by the sudden change.   I believe part of this is due to the addition of a bit more fruit than I'm used to (but still 80/20, veggies/fruit), and just the vast change in eating.  Even though I took great effort to change my diet 2 weeks prior to starting, it's still a major shock.  So the scale has held steady, but that's fine, because I lost about 6 pounds in that two weeks of Transition!  And the scale never tells the whole story anyway.  There is much to be revealed, and this is the only beginning....

Emotionally.... feeling SO much better!  Although I shouldn't be surprised, I guess I am to a certain degree how bad food can have such adverse affects....  more on that another time.

Noodles!  ;p

Happy Day 1 - It has begun!

Day 1 -  and so far, so good.  Had a bit of a late start today but managed to get on track pretty fast, considering.  Started with a hot cup of ginger/lemon water, no sweetener (didn't need it!), then onto juicing for the day's 2 juices.  Only 2 because days 1-5 does include eating solid food, all plant-based, all fruits and veggies.  :)

NOTE:  I'm not going to give a blow-by-blow account of what I'm eating or drinking every day, nor every meal or snack, because honestly... who cares? lol  But today is a big deal, and the first 5 days includes food, which some may be curious about since it's really about easing into the liquid-only part of this juice Reboot.

Breakfast was half an Apple-Berry-Cinnamon Bake, which was a LOT of food.  Tasted like heaven and perfect for the morning.  Hot, yummy, warm, and so like a hug.  Comfort food, really.  Success. :D  The other half will be tomorrow's breakfast, which will make that meal very easy.  Haven't decided whether or not to have it hot or cold.  Either way, I think it will taste awesome.  But today is about two juices and a couple of solid food choices, with lunch being a big salad and carrot and sweet potato fries (fresh, of course), and dinner will consist of the same.  The two juices will be in-between.  I will say I've tried the recipe for those fries during Transition and they are to-die-for!

How I feel?  Physically, the same.  Meaning, I don't feel like I'm doing without, starving, lacking, etc.  But then, I've already cut so much out of my diet that I'm less likely to feel any 'loss' whatsoever.  This is why Transition is so critical and something that isn't a good idea to skip!  As Joe says.. "Don't do what I did!" ;)

Now about how I feel otherwise.  Basically, very good so far.  I'm tired, but for other reasons I won't go too deeply into here.  My dog loves to get up at O'Dark:30 so that means I'm waking before I'm ready.  Given that, I'm not always up to optimum when it comes to energy and so forth.  I could feel better, for sure, but as I've mentioned in previous posts.. I feel SO much better since beginning Transition than I have felt in a VERY long time!  Honestly, this really means I feel better than I have in over a year, and maybe even longer than that.  I have a way to go still, but there is MUCH improvement, and I've not really even begun.

Parts of me are beginning to wake up, that much I'm certain of.  This has caused a bit of confusion for me, but let's not confuse this as a 'bad thing.'  It's not.  When a person 'wakes up' after a long time, and I will get into more of that in later posts, it is a little like trying to get your balance back, finding your bearings.  It can be a little unsettling at times, and.. it makes you question a lot about your life.  Again, this doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad thing.

I can't say that everyone goes through this just because they're juicing, but I would be willing to bet that most go through this when they clean up their diet to the extreme as I have (Transition).  Honestly, I began what I like to call a "soft detox" when I cut out everything potentially harmful that was going into my body.  And when I say I cut it out of my diet, I'm not kidding.  If it was removed, it was out of there for good and wasn't allowed back in.

I'm no expert on detoxing, especially when it's in the way I chose to do it, but I believe it has a greater impact when you cut out the crap long-term, rather than fasting for a few days.  I'm not only cutting out the crap long-term, but I'm juice fasting for 30-60 days, and I will always juice daily to some degree beyond the reboot.  I have already discovered so many major benefits that I see no reason to go back to the miserable way I've been eating previously.

Given all that's going on in my body already, it's no wonder my mind is waking up.  I can't tell you how I will feel by the end of this journey.  I can only say how I feel right now....

Anyway, looks like things are going well so far on day one.  I may check in later if things change, or if something occurs that I think is worth mentioning.  :)

Till then, laters taters!  Or 'noodles' as the typo monster loves to have me say. ;p

Dracula's Dream

Note:  I'm starting days 1-5 tomorrow (1/24/2015)!  This phase is part of the reboot but still contains some solid food/eating.  Unlike the Transition phase, however, I'm limited to JUST veggies and some fruit.  It is also going to somewhat change posts in this thread to a point in that I will be mostly speaking from my own personal experiences during this process.  There will still be plenty of information, but I'm mostly going to document my process along the way.  The good, the bad, and the ugly.  All the juicy bits.  Oh, and to-date I have lost 6 lbs in 2 weeks of "not dieting." ;p

One thing is certain, juicing can sometimes feel like a workout until you get used to it. ;)  I suppose if you feel your connection with the 'connected world' is too...connected, then you might feel a bit 'disconnected' at first.  It does take some getting used to, you know, stepping away from you iPhone, iPad, MacBook Pro, Android-pad-pod-asaurus-thingy-majigger-a-call-it.  Whatever your electronic addiction, do know... juicing takes a minute!

All the washing, vinegar/water rinsing, clear water rinsing, sometimes cutting slicing and/or peeling... then the juicing itself can be time consuming until you get used to it and get into  rhythm of sorts.  But the feel and smell and feel of it all can be rather rewarding and fun once you get your groove on and get your juicy bits all wet. ;)

Practice makes perfect.

Dracula's Dream.  This is a rich, blood-red little number that packs a whollop on the taste buds and body.  Between the beets (and associated greens, which are also quite red) and strawberries, Kale and other assorted garden goodies.. it's a dream all right, and one that will leave your insides (and tongue) jumping for joy!  Now, do know that I'm a huge fan of veggies, and the earthy-raw version that hasn't been perverted by additions that really don't belong.  And I think we all know what that is.  I don't need to go into that, do I?  Okay.  You guys still with me?..

TMI alert!!  Now, I will warn you that dealing with beets, and just intense juicing in general, is going to do some seriously..um..colorful things to your body.  So don't be surprised or alarmed (if you're alarmed by such things) when your trips to the bathroom are in technicolor.  Now, ladies, you're most likely the ones to panic, so don't.  And know that if you're juicing with your guy, don't be surprised if he's taking pics in the bathroom.  And I'm not referring to selfies either.  Guys can just be so... yeah, well, you know.  Or they may even call their friends and brag.  Just go with it.

Moving on...

You don't like beets, you say?  Seriously?  Okay, okay.  I get it.  A bit too *earthy* for your taste buds.  Well, then try this.. peel them!  That's it.  Most of the time folks can't stand the taste of the peel (though the peel is really good for you), so just omit most of it, or all of it if it's just so bad you can't drink it.

Also, try variations of recipes and see which one you like best.  But don't give up!  You need to drink a rainbow for good health, so keep trying until you find that sexy combo that stirs your juices and makes you say.. ooooh yeaaah.   Just get some of those good babies in your juice, in some combination.

It doesn't matter what you do between the beets, as long as you enjoy it. ;)

Date change and 6 lbs down!

After the long appointment at the dentist (a FUN appointment, I will add!) I launched myself into a busy afternoon.  It was a pretty great day, I have to admit.  :)

We stopped by Bed, Bath & Beyond to pick up a few things to store Veggies, a large tray to carry them from the sink after washing to the 'juice bar,' then we went to Pier 1 where I found some AWESOME turquoise faux glass bowls and a platter for the ton of fruit that will be sitting on the counter once the full-on juicing begins.

Once we got the spoils from our healthy treasure hunt home I took my Mini (Marley) for a spin (I needed that for my soul/spirit), went back home, let my sweet, elderly basset hound (Julep) play in the back yard for a bit, did a little cleaning up, then realized... there was SOOOO much shopping left to do if I were to start tomorrow.  *sigh*  T had forgotten he had volunteered to do that 'big' shopping while I was at the dentist for that 5 hours that morning.  Oh well.  No biggie.  Shit happens, and it's not like I haven't helped my body during this transition...

I've lost 6 pounds so far without dieting!

So now I've amended my official day one of the Reboot to this Friday, January 23, 2015.  And I've been drinking 1-2 home made juices during transition, so I've been giving my body lots of love anyway.

I wish I could have started today, or tomorrow.  But this is something one has to prepare for, shop for.    This is serious business for me because I'm doing this to heal my body.  I'm doing it right! :D

I'm excited...!!

But six pounds lost, guys!  How freaking awesome is that?!  Without dieting.  Without counting calories.  Without counting carbs.  Without weighing anything, or measuring anything!

Freaking.  Awesome!

The big deal, the not so big deal.. so then, what's the big deal?!

For the record, my goal isn't to be boney, for anyone who's curious.  My goal isn't to be a size 0 or even a 3 or probably not even a 5 again.  I love my curves, and I love looking like a woman.   My goal is health, vitality, vibrance.  My goal is to to feel and look like me again...

The Big deal is beauty.  It doesn't mean outside only, or inside only, or how we think only, or... well, dang.  You get the picture, right?  And it's not about being perfect.  Yeah.. we've all chased THAT one at least once in our lives and have pretty much found out how fast we don't achieve results based on perfection. lol  But hopefully, learning experiences being what they are we walked away from the whole thing a little better for it.

For the better part of several years I've nurtured only one part of me at a time.  And I don't mean just inside or outside, emotional well being, or maybe stimulating my imagination, or making sure that my sex drive remained healthy.  What?  You think you can just click 'autopilot on that and it will just take care of itself forever?  Think again!  But anyway, back to the subject.  For whatever reason I was only able to focus on one aspect at a time, leaving the other parts of me neglected or open to abuse (not always literal abuse, btw).  This did a lot of damage over time.

The not so big deal is that at any given point this can be corrected, and depending on how bad the damage is.. well.. it may take a little time, or a lot of time for things to be right again.  And of course, it also depends on one's environment, whether or not we have a little stress, a lot of stress, anxiety, good health, bad health, serious health conditions, if one has a strong support network (friends and family), or a weak or non-existent support network.  Oh trust, me it ALL makes a difference.  But when it comes down to it, it's ALL up to us.. in this case, ME... anyway, right?  So, while all of that is important, it's really not a big deal when it comes down to it.

It's just another decision that needs making.

Just freakin' make it happen already.  Whatever it is.  Get healthy!  Get passionate again!  FEEL something again!

What's the big deal?  The big deal is rediscovering health, vitality, vibrance, energy, the feeling of well being.  THAT is the big deal.

Healthy is sexy.  Feeling sexy... is such a turn-on.

Getting Ready

After a few trial runs with the juicer we've found there's still little tidbits to learn about juicing.  It's really been a fun experience, even when tutorials and opinions often conflict.  Core the apple, cut the apple, feed the apple into the juicer whole (as long as it fits, of course).  Learn as you go, but don't hurt your juicer.  :)

Space is another issue.  If you have very long countertops, or a big island to work on, your good.  If not, then you may find yourself transporting things from one place to another.  Either way, it's something you'll learn as you go, depending on WHY you're juicing.  I'm juicing "big," which means I need a  lot of counter space and room to work, so I made the decision today to clear off a counter that was primarily used as my own little 'bistro' bar.  Well, I gave up coffee and caffein a couple of months ago, though I do use my Keurig for other things, so why not turn it into something completely healthy? Wala!  A juice bar!  :D

I have everything I need in one place, though I do have to wash and vinegar rinse my fruits and veggies elsewhere (of course). But the coconut oil I will add to one juice per day is in the cabinet above, as is the BHA-free plastic 'snuggies/grips' and matching screw-on caps for the glass juice bottles.  Trust me, don't store your beautifully healthy juices in plastic, even if they are BHA-free.  That one, you'll need to do the research on yourself.  I only have so much free time. ;)

Update:  Sleep.  Well, due to circumstances beyond my control, I didn't get much sleep night before last.  However, last night was a total success.  I'm using a device to monitor the quality of my sleep called a S+ by ResMed (sold at Bed, Bath & Beyond).  It's made by the folks who make CPAP machines.  Anyway, it monitors and helps you improve your sleep (in a nutshell).  My score has been as low as 45 (horrible!!), but hovers around 60s to 80s, which is still not good at all.  But since I've been doing this slow Transition.... it's been improving!!  AND.. last night, for the first time EVER.. I got a score of 97.  Ninety-seven!!!  You have NO idea how huge this is!

Overall, even without actually starting the official Reboot yet.. I've noticed BIG changes in appetite, overall feeling of well-being, appetite, and now... sleep!

Awesome.  ;)

The Transition

It's been 'not easy' and 'not hard.'  How's that for a non-committal answer? ha!  No, seriously.  It's been okay.  Really what I'm saying is.. "It is what it is." Honestly, there are easier things than giving up meat, dairy, sugar, 'most' salt, breads, pastas, refined starches, and fried foods. lol  Yeah... a little humor.  But, I'm by NO means cutting calories and have already lost 2 lbs in about 4 days.  It's all good, right?

Side effects.  Oh yeah.  They're already hitting me pretty good, and I've not EVEN begun the juice-only part of the Reboot!  Holy moly, but I will be staying close to home.  At least at first. lol  I already feel like I'm prepping for a colon cleanse.  Hey, can't stand the details?  Then it's high time you find other reading materials, hon, because this is only the beginning.  I'm going to journal my way through this to help others who are thinking of, or are already finding their way through a Reboot.

...this blog... may not be for little girls or sissies. ;)

My appetite wavers between hungry, and... not.  Really don't understand the why of this yet.  But who cares at this point?  Again, it is what it is.  One day at a time, that (from what I hear) could quickly change to one hour at a time.  All I have is now, that that is what IS now.  ;p  Hey, no one said I was going to be poetic every day now.

Groceries:  Well, the transition period hasn't really been TOO bad, and omitting certain things from the diet have made way for the ton of veggies and fruit (mostly veggies.. 80/20) I will be buying and consuming.  I mean, 30-carrots, 20-something apples, bushels of Kale, lettuce, bags of cucumbers, coconut water bought in bulk, and so on... every 5 days or so... yeah, well, it's worth it.  I'm worth it.  And wether you know it or not, YOU are worth it.  Expensive, yes.  But so is buying junk, eating at restaurants, buying Starbuck's, snacks, going to movie theaters... I mean, there is so much you have to give up, and things you CAN give up (movie theaters are a luxury you can do without short-term, right?).  And trust me, I've wanted to do this since 2010 and couldn't until now, so I get that not everyone can at the moment, or maybe not exactly like this.  But... Joe Cross's site has suggestions on how to do this another way, on a budget.  The idea is to get more micronutrients etc in your diet.  But... enough of that, because, that's research you need to do to find out what's right for you, personally.  My goal here is just to document my journey as I go, peppered by other real life junk and stuff.  That's all.

So no one freaks out and thinks I'm going to starve myself, hear this:  If you're doing the reboot correctly, you won't starve.  If you're doing a Reboot beyond 15 days, consult your doctor, AND.. add 1 tsp of pure, virgin coconut oil (great stuff, btw.. used to use it all the time many years ago) daily, and a scoop of vegetable protein powered daily.  You can see in the pic I posted above the protein powder and coconut oil.  Don't want to use coconut oil?  Then use extra virgin olive oil. I prefer coconut oil for the health benefits and the taste.

Anyway, read up, research.  I'm not going to starve. lol

Ready, set... keep transitioning!  What?  It's not time to Reboot yet!  Patience!  ;)

Mean Green

Well, the juicer was finally fired up, and it was a complete success!  We used Joe's "Mean Green" recipe, and while it was a bit tangy (T decided to double the lemon and ginger... ack!!), it wasn't at all bad.  I really had lower expectations based on reviews. ;p

I've been cleaning up my diet, as suggested for Rebooting, and I have to say it's exceeded my expectations so far.  While eating is a bit more limited, I've not gone hungry at all.  I've snacked on mixed nuts (sans peanuts, and not due to allergy, but for health), and.. I've lost weight!  So far I've lost about 4 lbs in about a week.  Not bad for not trying [to lose]. ;)

As for side effects, well.. it was worse at first, but it's leveling out now and getting better all the time.  This, however, will most likely change when I go to an all-liquid diet, though.  It's supposed to happen that way.   I mean, the body has to get used to the adjustment, and it IS a HUGE adjustment!  Let's give ourselves a break and allow nature to do what it has to do.  Know what I mean, Vern?  Trust me, I'm sparing you the gory details for now.  Later entries I will most likely get to the point, because this is not just about my journey, but also to help anyone else who's embarking on this path as well.  Might as well be as blunt as possible.  Onward!

Other things I've noticed "pre-anything" is: increased alertness, a little more energy (yay!), and an overall feeling of lightness.  Also, digestive upsets (heartburn, etc.) are pretty much gone for the most part.  And those weird headaches I was getting for a while there... gone.  :-O  Yeah.. beyond cool!

Hunger changes from day to day, mood to mood.  Pretty much normal, really.  In fact, after T and I consumed the Mean Green last night, neither of us were hungry!  We were going to make dinner after the juice, but.. we didn't feel the need to.  Pretty cool, huh?  Go figure. :)

It's interesting that I've just been cleaning up my diet and doing a lose version of the Transition phase to prepare myself  for what's ahead (as suggested in Joe's book), and.. I've already reaped a ton of benefits!

Day one, when will it actually begin?  Well, my dentist appointment is the 19th instead of the 15th (tomorrow) like I initially thought, so it looks like I will be pushing the official day one off a couple more days.  But I refuse to let that get me down!  Why would that get me down?  I'm already losing weight and feeling better, so why feel bad, right?

The official first day of my Reboot will be January 20th, 2015

Sh*t happens, but that's my plan, man. ;)  And I'm really excited!

Excuse me

When one is deeply committed to more important matters, one does not have time for superfluous tasks such as fluffing one's feathers.