An Ache-y Day 7

Today I decided to take a trip into Kenilworth, but opted to leave the bike at home. I'm no good in hot weather, delicate little Scot that I am, and besides, this morning, my legs were aching. Well, so much for the leg-ache plan; one mile out of the city our bus broke down and I had to walk the rest of the way! I didn't even get a refund! Anyway, I'm guessing the feeling in my muscles is something to do with the Master Cleanse. When I was in the shower it felt like it was an effort just to stand up. Funnily enough, I didn't feel faint, just as though I'd done a lot of exercise and was starting to pay for it. I know that fasting can cause your body to start "digesting" your muscles; I hope that isn't the case. It's a vicious circle really. The further I walk to try and keep my muscles in tact, the more my body calls on the energy I don't have. Part of it was my own fault today though- I left the house at 1 having only had 1 glass of lemonade, and it was 4 in the afternoon before I was home to have another one. Even though I had a bottle of water in my bag, I have to confess with the mildest form of cheating I think there's ever been. In fact, I'm not even certain it is cheating. You can decide: to stop myself feeling faint, I picked out the healthiest-sounding water based juice drink I could find, a 7 calorie cranberry drink with a couple of added sweeteners. I really needed it and it did the trick. Besides, this is leading up to a brilliant moment where I didn't cheat, and I totally could have. I've been into Kenilworth before, but I hadn't realised they had a Waitrose. Nowhere at home has a Waitrose so until today I'd never been in. They have some amazing sushi and an incredible bakery. Also, their chocolate selection was amazing. I killed some time, wandering from aisle to aisle and savouring the sights and smells of delicious, middle class food. And you know what? Even though I've marked some things out to come back for once I'm off the cleanse, I didn't want to eat any of it. As a testament to this I picked up a few picnic items to share with my family when I come home. We go on lots of cycle rides and climb the Brecon Beacons, so I'm sure these treats will make a welcome addition to the rucksack when we're back together. Tunnock's Dark Chocolate Tea Cakes, Bahlsen Cranberry Messino, Pink & Whites Jammies... I also bagged a few individual bars for my folks: Magnum Chocolates (which I never knew existed!), Lindor bars, Eat Naturals and (for me!) a new Cadbury's creation. Behold the jaw-dropping, multi-coloured, calorific masterpiece that is Dairy Milk Jelly Popping Candy Shells chocolate bar:

I have one sat beside me right now, and it doesn't seem to bother me that I can't taste how nice it is until I'm safely post-cleansing. Don't get me wrong, I really want to try it. But equally, there's no gluttonous impulse to binge on a stack of them, or even sneak the wrapper open to nibble a corner. Well done Master Cleanse, I'm a changed person. And well done me for sticking with it. 

Physically, day 7 has not been without its tests. As I mentioned, my legs were aching. This moved on to involve my other muscles as I went about my day. Typing now, my arms feel a little tense, as though there's something weighing down on them, but its nothing I can't fight through. I also got a blocked ear, which I think is a little better now. Detoxing is associated with an increase in earwax, which I imagine is what's been going on. Again, its a minor setback that I'm reasonably happy to go through if it means those toxins are on the way out. A slightly more annoying though almost certainly related affliction is a small spot by the outside corner of my left eye. I woke up with it this morning, and its a kind of raised, puffy lump with a bit of fluid in it. Its not attached to my eye or eyelids but it is annoying, mainly due to its high visibility. I'm hoping it will be gone by morning like a lot of my other Master Cleanse ailments, but there's nothing to guarantee it. I need another glass of lemonade and a bit more water before the day's out, as well as a laxative tea. I'll make a brief note on the laxative, since almost all of what I published yesterday seemed to be related to the toilet. The tea is still working, and my bowel movements are now easy, predominantly liquid and vivid yellow. Some of my afternoon waste was solid and almost syrupy- maybe it is syrup?- so I can't tell if it's an old piece dislodged from my colon or a new bit of lemonade. Right, I think that that's me done for the day. I'll see you tomorrow for an ideally less ache-y day 8; I can't believe I'm nearly there already!!