It's offical, I have began my first ever fast using the Master Cleanse.  I am so psyched to do this and really have a clear focus on my goals and one day at a time philosophy. 

Last night, I took Oxypowder rather than the lax tea.  That will be the last Oxy I take for about three weeks or so.  However, this morning, I did drink the quart of salt water.  That's a lot of water to chug all at once,  but boy did it do the trick.  I was going to the bathroom about every five minutes.  After about an hour, I offically had my first lemonade with cayenne.  I used about 1/8th of a teaspoon and it didn't bother me at all.  I think I will try 1/4 teaspoon with my next glass and see how that sits.  According to Zoebess, the lemonade is merely a delivery device for the cayenne, so the more cayenne we are able to take in, the greater the benefits.  Fortunately, I love very spicy food so we'll see how it goes.  I suspect I had better do a gradual increase so it is not too much of a shock for my body.  I weighed myself this morning, albeit after drinking the quart of salt water, and I was at 219 lbs., so I'll call this my offical starting weight.  In addition to ridding my body of toxins, I want to get my weight down to 190 lbs.  That's my longer term goal.  I realize I probably will not be able to get there in 10 or 14 days on the cleanse, but it is a good starting point for me.  Best of luck to all you fellow cleansers who are currently doing the Master Cleanse.  I am so excited.

The Power Of

When was the last time you were carried away with the sense of excitement? When you felt so pumped up and involved that time just whizzed by? The mind working in overdrive, and spirits totally caught up in the moment. If you can't remember, then what is needed here is a dose of Enthusiasm.

Enthusiasm is a sense of inspiration. The word comes from the ancient Greek, meaning "the god within." It's connecting to your inner power and bringing energy and excitement to all you do – a feeling of being truly alive and working on all your cylinders. It's that "little something extra" that puts you ahead of the pack.

An enthusiastic person is charismatic -- you can't help but respond to their enthusiasm and catch some of their "fire" as well. And an enthusiastic person is a successful person. As Walter Chrysler, the founder of Chrysler Motors, has said, "The real secret of success is enthusiasm. Enthusiasts are fighters. They have fortitude. They have staying qualities. Enthusiasm is the bottom of all progress. With it, there is accomplishment. Without it, there are only alibis."

If we’re not getting as much out of life as we should, it's time to recharge the batteries with enthusiasm. Playing "as if" will help to jump-start this process of developing our own inner fire. Even if we may not feel naturally enthusiastic, anytime we act "as if" we are, we start to take on that quality.

Here is how.

1. Check your posture. Are you slumped, with your shoulders drawn in, your head forward and down? Take a deep breath, draw your shoulders back and down, and imagine there is a string running through the top of your head, like a puppet, and you are being pulled upwards. Take another deep breath and say to yourself "I am vibrantly alive." And now smile.

2. Take an interest in something. Learn all you can about it. Dust off your curiosity and follow where it leads.

3. If you feel caught in a boring routine, stop for a moment and become aware of where you are and who you're with. Act "as if" this is the first time you've experienced this situation, and see things with fresh eyes.

4. Surround yourself with positive, enthusiastic people. After all, enthusiasm is contagious, and it's one "virus" you want to catch!


One great French writer said as the epitome of enthusiasm:

"If you ask me what I came to do in this world I will answer you: I am here to live out loud."

Peace and happiness

Seunim