Fixation with Food

I just started a 28-day cleanse today with Raw Food Chef Mehmet Ak in Chicago. My friend and business partner, Simone Peer, and I had volunteered for a 4-hour stint as kitchen angels at his restaurant Cousin’s Incredible Vitality. I thought we’d pick up a few recipes, food prep techniques and enjoy delicious raw food cuisine. What a way to spend a Sunday afternoon . . .

We took a meal break and I commented to Simone, "Wow! Can you feel how your energy shifted with this food?" She agreed and before you knew it we signed up for the cleanse. The initial meeting for the cleanse sported about 20 people. Everyone introduced themselves and previous participants shared their experiences. We left the restaurant that evening feeling alivened and excited.

I’m no newbie when it comes to cleansing and fasting. When I was 14 I used to do the dreaded protein shake fasts. Since Aug 2000 I’ve regularly fasted every year, usually in the spring and the fall. I’ve done the Master Cleanse and also Master Faxiang Hou’s water cleanse many, many times. The benefits of cleansing have ranged from loosing weight and eliminating asthma to reducing uterine fibroids. Needless to say it also refines your tastebuds so sugar, coffee, bread and other unsavory nutritional habits go by the wayside.

However, I find that sooner or later I settle back into the rhythm of ‘regular eating.’ My eating is generally healthy, barring my penchant for coffee, bread and cookies during times of emotional stress. Yet SO much time is spent concerned with food – buying it, preparing it, cooking it, cleaning up after it, snacking, dining out, etc.

I wonder how much more time I’d have for my primary passions if I weren’t so preoccupied with FOOD? I’ll report my experiences over the next 28 days. Stay tuned . . .