Day 2 at True North

Day 2. True North 

People asked me several times before coming what I will do to fill my days here. I brought a ton of book and more to do. I am suspecting that the days will actually come and go faster than I thought. So far, I've had no rest.

This morning I went to officially check in since I got here after 5pm yesterday. It turns out I was all settled in the wrong room so I needed to move, quickly. I then went to see the MD for my check in appointment which was a little bit of an orientation with homework (they give you 40 DVDs to watch-many of which can be found on youtube.) No surprises.

The same doctor told Kiyomi that their best results for lymphoma has been 2 - 20 day fasts (not back to back). Funny, I'm the one with lymphoma (Kiyomi has breast cancer) and he didn't tell me that. The reviews I've read all talk about how great the staff is here. I've had the impression that they've done all this so many times that it is a bit automatic. They generally don't introduce themselves but just do what they are supposed to do. Oh well, I will keep my mind open.

On the way up here, my car lost some of it's power and a warning light came on. I checked the manual and it said to reduce speed and get it checked when possible. The highlight of the day was that a mechanic was able to take it, fix it, and I got it back before I set into the fast and would be unable to leave to go get it. Great news.

I had to eat lunch to be able to leave. I had oatmeal flavored with fruit and cinnamon with cut up fruit for breakfast, mustard greens with brussel spouts and steamed potato with bbq chickpeas for lunch. It was all pretty tasty and satisfying. I think I could do this...with a chef! I polished off some non-regulation vegan oatmeal and choc chip cookies with Kiyomi just before 1pm. She starts fasting Wednesday.

I am now officially fasting with water only. Thankfully someone gave me a coffee mug so I can drink my water hot because it's freezing up here! I find myself getting scared as the hunger pangs start. Then I pray. More than the physical, I am hoping and trusting for spiritual breakthroughs from this experience. I'm reading a book on fasting by Jantezen Franklin and have a journal that goes with it I just remembered. He makes some pretty big claims of what fasting for biblical reasons can do. I'm ready, God!

This afternoon we went to listen to Dr. Goldhamer. It was word-for-word the YouTube talk I just watched: Water Fasting Can Save Your Life. I posted the link last night. Very compelling. I asked some of my questions: Are we getting enough minerals from distilled water? Answer - you get most of your minerals from your food, if you're eating real food. When fasting, the body adjusts and uses up stores and we don't need more minerals if we are at rest. Someone asked about raw foods being best. He said that there has never been a civilization that has subsisted on only raw foods. We take out an entire starchy veggie area if we don't cook. He says most people who used to preach raw only have recanted. I wanted to ask about fasting mimicking diets (check out Valter Longo from USC if you're interested) but didn't for lack of time.

Tonight we went to a stretching class for 1/2 hour and a chair yoga class for 1/2 hour. I can't believe how stiff I feel. My body needs movement and stretching I haven't been giving it. My hands are pretty swollen and I'm cold. I think it will be an early night tonight.

But...more great news -  they have sleep number beds and the heated blanket I bought on the way up here is making me very happy right now. Ahhhhhh. Night night! Love to all!