The Unwinding Path

Dates of the Project: November 3 - 7, 2008

Project: Fast for three days using an apple fast method.

A Quick Summation: I prepared, did the fast, and gently reentered the food world the day after. I used self-hypnosis to help we me make most out of the fast (and to be uncranky to my fellow men).

Results: Thought I did not weigh myself, my partner observed that I did lose some weight (I was able to get back into my skinny jeans). It may have been water weight that I lost. Also, the bags under my eyes disappeared. Health-wise, I feel really good. On the female side, my period has begun and there is less discomfort. However, during the fast I discontinued my allergy medication and vitamins. On the third day, my allergies came back with a vengeance. On the vitamin front, as I take calcium and a B complex to help stabilize my emotions, I noticed after the fast, I was more sensitive. I did not restart the vitamins until two days after the fast. I cried during a football game whenever the band played and my stress level was very high yesterday. But, both the allergies and the emotions have less to do with the fast then going back on schedule.

The Poll: On the Transparent Hypnotist, I did a poll related to this fast. The question was: Have you ever done a fast before? This was answered as follows.

• Yes for health reasons (31%, 4 Votes)
• Yes for spiritual reasons (31%, 4 Votes)
• Yes out of curiosity (23%, 3 Votes)
• No (23%, 3 Votes)
• What is a fast? (8%, 1 Votes)

Table of Contents for the Project

• The Beginning
• Preparations
• Day One of the Apple Fast
• Day Two of the Apple Fast
• Day Three of the Apple Fast
• The End of the Apple Fast

Photographs by David Gordon

Planning seems to be a large part of life, yet it seems like it never gets much credit. We often just dive into whatever we are doing and hope for the best. But planning is a key thing that makes for success, I believe. So here we are, the day before I begin the apple fast.

The tempation is to really indulge in various cravings - trail mixes, peanut butter, and chocolate. But I am working on resisting most of those things.  I am also involved with my last meal - a salad (as suggested by the various fasting resources).

Before I head out for a speaking engagement later today, I thought I would share my salad dressing recipe with you.

Ellie’s Last Supper Salad Dressing

1/4 cup rice vinegar
1 1/2 tsp orange juice
1 tsp local honey
1/2 tsp gourmet mustard
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 1/2 tbs olive oil

Mix the above ingredients and serve over a favorite type of green leafy vegetable (mine will be whatever is in the organic section of the grocery store). I will also probably indulge in added toppings of crazins, blue cheese, and a few sprinkling of almonds.

There was a hypnotist/blogger who decided to finally try out all those self-help books that people through out the land recommend. This blogger, the transparent hypnotist, decided the best way to go about it would be to begin in cyberville and keep a record of the processes and experiences. She, also known as Ellie Blunt, also though maybe others would join her in this,recording their responses and thoughts as well.

So, she decided, “I need a name for this blog.” And so she advertised it on her daily blog, the Transparent Hypnotist. She got some fabulous entries.

• Shrink Wrapped from Turnip
• The Better Me from Lisa
• All You Need Is Love from C-squared
• Consciousity from Mike P.
• The Evolving Mind or
  Variable Pathways of The Mind (or Subconscious) from Cindy
• The Universe Conspires from CyberCelt
• One Step Short from HoundsGood
• Self Medicate from gurlinthacity

Well, the blogger loved all these (and by looking at some of the domains available so did several other people). So, she slept on it. Then she slept some more. Gosh, but this was hard.

So she sat down on a sunny afternoon with coffee in hand and a friend, and brainstormed. After much silliness and a touch of frustration, the name arrived in the conversation like the song of fluttering nightingales. The Unwinding Path. Perfect. So, that settled it. The blog had a name.

But the blogger would like the people mentioned above to know that it was through their contributions that the name became a reality.

And so, after registering the name, and indulging in the learning curve of WordPress, that she must retire for the evening.

I am that blogger. So, I hope you will join me on the unwinding path.