Shebytches latest Podcast is LIVE

Hi there, sorry for taking so long for our next podcast. Going forward we hope to have a new one up every 2 to 3 weeks!

This podcast is chalk full of goodies! Some indie reviews (which will be posted in their entirety at lipstikindie.com when it launches) and an interview with Mr. Sean Ward. Check Sean out at www.seanward.net. Here is a link to the podcast or you can download it. You can also subscribe to our podcasts via the link on the right.

The Sean Ward Interview will be in three parts. Part 2 and 3 coming soon! Here is a link to a written interview we did.

We said this song was at the end of the podcast, unfortunately due to time contraints it didn't make it but here it is now! The group is called Cat's and Jammers and the song is called Mannequin take a listen.

Sponsors

2-Mile Jewellry

Lizzie Violet


Reviews

Violated - This can be pu chased at www.thesplit.ca
Carnival - Part one of an 8 part graphic novel by stef lenk. It can be found here www.steflenk.com
JB Artistic - check out her website at www.JBArtistic.com

Real Food

Today I had my first real meal. Viki, Janis and I ate at Cafe 668 on Dundas West... Oh my good gawd it was good!!!!!!!!!!! I even have left overs. I'm still full and even after running around am not hungry. If I do get hungry, I have made a jug up of the lemonade (to drink each morning) and will take a few mouthfuls. Otherwise really not hungry at all!

And I looked good in jeans today! That hasn't happened in years!

Day 12 - I get to eat FRUIT

It's been a crazy morning! I haven't even had a chance to do my update!!!

Well I made it! 10 days of fasting on the lemonade drink, one day of nothing else but orange juice. I am so looking forward to fruit at lunch!!!!!!!! YUMMY!!!!!!!!!

I noticed my tongue is still half white, especially at the back. I hope that goes away soon!

I am so proud of Viki, Janis and myself. I wouldn't have been able to do it with out them!!! They are my sisters, even if not by blood and I am so glad we did this together!!!

Next time! 15 days! I am already pumping myself up for it!

Day 11 - Orange Juice is YUMMY!

What a delight it was to sip Orange Juice this morning... I don't think anything ever tasted this good!!!!!!!!!!

My tongue is still not fully pink like the book says, apparently you are suppose to stay on the fast till it is. I just can't take another day of the lemonade. My mind was pumped up for ten days and I couldn't convince it to go any longer. Next time I will do 15 plus days. Each time increasing the length of time.

It feels good to know that I have made the effort to becoming as healthy as I possibly can. This is only one step, but I know I'm on the right path!

11:07 am - the orange juice is upsetting my stomach in gross and disgusting ways.... I've alreadly polished off half the jug, that could also be why... am getting hungry. looks like I will have to try and not drink it for a few hours.

1:49 pm - orange juice just ain't cutting it. my upset tummy is gone. I'm guessing it was the initial reaction that I wasn't drinking the lemonade. I kinda miss the lemonade. It made me feel full!

Am also a little worried about what's going to happen when solid food hits my stomach again. I really hope I don't gain too much of the weight back, but I am determined to keep it off and take off 20 more pounds!

8:59 pm - I will have to admit, I really didn't enjoy the day of orange juice at all. It was a bit hard on the tummy, as well gave me the runs, fortunately I didn't end up with heart burn.

The veggies and herbs for the soup are ready to go. It's all sitting in my wonderful crockpot and will be turned on tomorrow morning before I go to work and ready for me when I get home!!!!!! YUMMY!!!!!

Day 10 - the final day of the lemons!

The last day of the actual lemon fast, but it ain't over just yet. I have 2 days of orange juice, then a day of light eating then Sunday I can have a real meal!

There is a debate though over the orange juice part. The book says fresh squeezed. I did a rough calculation and it will take me approx 15 large oranges to fill a jug. that's alot of squeezing. Should I stick with the fresh squeezed or cave and go to Big Carrot and buy the jug of all natural 100% orange juice. And it is, no water added, it's just juice. What to do.. What to do...

Otherwise I feel good. I was getting worn down in the evening the last couple days, but of course I always try to do way to much all the time! No migraines, no sinus headaches and considering yesterdays awful weather I should have had a sinus headache from hell. And the eczema on my feet is gone. Though I didn't lose as much weight as I had hoped, physically I feel better. The one thing that concerns me though is the book says your tongue will be white while the toxins are coming out and turn back to it's normal pink colour when they are done. It's only half pink, half white right now.

2:45 pm - I thought the last few hours were going to be rough.. but they weren't. We had to go to a team lunch at a sushi place, the kind that cooks in front of you. I was concerned that when people realized I wasn't eating they would interrogate me, that and the smell of the food. It seems I'm tougher than I thought. I brushed off the comments and seeing food... didn't care. Maybe I've programmed myself not to care.

7:40 pm - Day 10 is almost over. Tomorrow is a full day of orange juice. Viki and I figured out that on day two we can eat raw fruit and nuts and then soup for dinner... than the gods! I will do this both Friday and Saturday. I have my orange juice and I have my veggies for the soup! Three more days till the fast is offially over!!!!!!

Day 9 - are we there yet!

I could really use a bowl of soup right now as well!!!! Otherwise feeling good. Am mentally ready to start coming off this fast. I've honestly had enough of the lemonade. More than enough. I will still drink it each morning as recommended. Of course we are doing this again in January and for longer, so I need to start psyching myself up now!

3:00 pm - I hate the rain. I love gloomy but hate rain or snow or anything were I could possibly get wet and uncomfortable! About to drink glass 3 and am only really getting hungry right now. I had a moment where I smelled food and almost lost it, but took a sip of my peppermint tea instead.

tonight I am off to get my orange juice for thursday, I pray they have it, I don't want to squeeze that many oranges... but what is a girl to do and I need to double check the menu for Saturday again to see what groceries I need, plus am making my Friday soup Thursday night!!! I am sooooooooo looking forward to that soup!

6:45 pm - I'm finding as I get near the end of this, by the time I get home from work my energy has gone down quite a bit, so I am going to drink my final glass for the day, then some tea and chill.

Tomorrow is the final day of the lemonade, followed by two days of orange juice and on friday night SOUP!

Day 8... breezing along now!!!

Well, I haven't really been hungry yesterday or this morning. Still not hungry now. I continue on my stomach must be shrinking. Next time we do this fast I want to do it longer than the 10 days!

Put on a pair of pants I haven't worn in a few weeks and they are loose, and needed a belt (they don't normally) and I had to take my belt in a knotch! WHOO HOO!

Also had an argument with a guy here at work about the fast and the fact I am vegan. He apparently thinks I am depriving myself of all the nutrients my body needs. This guy lives on meat and carbs and it shows. I was growing tired of explaining myself so decided to end it with a 'Well, at least my arteries aren't going to slam shut.' He shut up and walked away!

12:00 pm - have only had 2 glasses... still not hungry

1:10 pm - someone who knows I'm vegan just sent me a coupon for steak... at a steakhouse. what's wrong with people!

3:48 pm - you know when you take a really long walk, and you are almost to the place you wanted to go. that is the kind of anticipation I am feeling right now.

I've had 3 glasses so far... the sense of hunger has left my body. maybe it's tired of the lemonade. I have to admit I am. am also not also not looking forward to squeezing 5000 oranges to make sure I have enough fresh squeezed orange juice for thursday and friday so am going to go to The Big Carrot tomorrow to see if they sell it in large bottles. otherwise it's off to Chinatown to buy 5000 oranges.

8:41 pm - one of the things you can't take on the fast is anything for headaches or cramps. today I have been dealing with both, neither because of the fast rather than that monthly joy (not) of being female. this all means I'm done for the night. am going to get my lemonade ready for Day 9 and have tea, then go lay down!

Day 7 - the countdown begins!

when I first started this fast 10 days seemed so far away, but here I am at day 7 and 3 more fast days to go and 3 coming off the fast after that. I feel really good over all, same level of energy if not more. Nasty bowel movements though. And realized I haven't talked this much about poo in my entire life! The one thing I am having a hard time is trying to NOT think about food! Am obsessed with it. I guess I may always have been.

So glass 1 down, tea on it's way and another .5 of my waist and tummy. stay tuned!

2:26 pm - only now getting hungry, so glass #2 is on it's way to my tummy. Have also started getting wicked cramps from my monthly visitor and obviously can't take anything for them. grrrrrrrrr. viki, janis and I are also going to go to a vegetarian restaurant on sunday for our first official real meal. I will be glad to finally eat something that doesn't taste like lemons!!!

6:33 pm - so far I have only had 3 glasses and not hungry at all. though the cramps from my monthly curse... yes, I have moved to the word curse are making me cranky! but I can't take anything, so I will suffer, but not in silence. Remember those people in my house who keep cooking and eat.. PAYBACK!

Am about to take glass #4 and then go work out.. then chill. I have been working all day and actually got a lot of progress made on a bunch of things. If I can I will put one last update for the night.

Day 6 - it's all downhill from here...

.. and I'm on ski's!

this morning I woke up with an upset tummy... laxative tea at work. I figured it's day 5 what could be left in there, but apparently there is still a little bit... not much.. but there is

otherwise I feel really good, wasn't hungry at all when I woke up, tummy still gurgling though. am also going to resume working out today, i stopped when the fast started because I honestly didn't know how i was going to feel or if I would have the energy, but I do and I will start again. Once the fast is over I plan on stepping it up a notch to get the rest of this weight off!

i measured myself and seemed to have lost another .5 inches on my waist and tummy, NOTHING on hip and thighs and that is where I need to lose it most. Am disappointed that the fat is not melting from there. Janis made a good point we lose weight first on the last place we gained it. The fat sitting on the back of my thighs has been there for years and needs major time and effort put into it to get it off!

12:45 pm - still not hungry, but tummy is still making weird gurgling noises. today I only drank one glass first thing rather then the 1.5 I did since wednesday before going to work. I did however still have a peppermint tea. That seems to be helping in ways I can't describe. Shortly I have to go to a grocery store, sadly the people in my house still have to eat and I need to get a few things.. may the God's be with me!

I also figured out why the lemonade is so tart, with the first batch 3 lemons equaled 12 tablespoons. That was the amount I needed for 6 glasses, this morning I squeezed only 4 lemons to see how much there was and, well there was 12 tablespoons. It seems these lemons are much larger... I've also just realized I have only been putting in half of the maple syrup... DUH. this morning I put in six and went.... wait.. it's two per glass not one... oye... and here I was worried I was overdoing it with the delicious brown stuff... I need to lose weight and to do so it does say to use less maple syrup, which I will, I won't bother adding the rest that was required but I do need to add a couple more to make it less tart.

4:46 pm - and I am only getting hungry now, I am about to go get my next glass... seem to be having a bit of diarrhea
though... am guessing the senna tea... wouldn't think there was anything there! I am trying to write a short story for a submission but all I can think about is FOOD!

8:40 pm - have only drunk 5 glasses so far... and am off to make tea, not the laxative one... the yummy peppermint, which I am now addicted to.

back tomorrow for day 7

Woo Hoo... DAY 5!!!!

This morning my tummy is really gurgling... not hunger, just gurgle. Also couldn't sleep again, and was up several times peeing.... Mind you, between the glasses of lemonade, the tea and the (I counted yesterday) 20 glasses of water I have been drinking!

Oh and I am losing weight (contrary to my whining in an earlier post!). Put on my test pants today (the ones I wear to determine if I'm losing weight... and looser, not hugely loose, but loose, these pants were snug a week and a half ago and I have lost on my calves because I put on a pair of knee high boots that I normally struggle to zip up... the zipper went up with ease!

Am also sticking to 6 glasses today. I also seem to have bought the worlds most sour lemons. Yesterday and today's batches are VERY tart. But I don't want to add extra maple syrup.

The Why

Ok someone asked me to explain a bit about the fast and why I'm doing it.

The fast is from a book by Stanley Burroughs titled The Master Cleanser. It's not a fad thing, this guy has done his research and Buddist Monks have been fasting for centuries. Many religions fast as well as part of a holiday or leading up to one. It is a 10 day cleanse that you should do 3 to 4 times a year. The next time I will be doing it is in January.

There are many benefits from the fast:
A healthier you.
Detox
Weight Loss
Healing (there are testimonials in the book and all over the web of people who did the cleanse and got rid of illness)
Breaking habits (such as drinking/smoking/caffiene)

I'm doing it to detox (have become vegan and want to purge my body of the bad crap, so I continue on with a clear system) and for the weight loss aspect. I am over weight and have always struggled with my weight and this will help kick start my metabolism so I can continue to loose weight.

I hope I covered it all.

1:00 pm - just got back from lunch and power walked everywhere, not on purpose either, it's windy and cold out! I figured I would be tired afterward... I'm not! Need to go to Carrot tonight to buy more maple syrup and peppermint tea. I have quite a bit left but would rather have extra, just in case, plus, it's yummy and I will use it afterward!

Also, not hungry. Thirsty, but not hungry at all.

forgot to mention, I have been measuring myself. Have lost an inch on my waist and tummy and about half an inch on my hips

also check out these blogs... they are janis and viki. they are also doing the fast.

3:15 pm - hmmm.. tis after 3 and am only getting hungry now. The book said eventually the hunger will subside, so for me it seems to be happening on Day 5.

7:55 pm - ok... I seem to only be getting hungry now. So am drinking glass 5.5. I have tonnes of work to do this weekend so lots to distract me, tomorrow is day 6. I need to go make some peppermint tea. My tummy had this odd heavy feeling, there is nothing there, yet it is heavy! I also need to drink the laxative tea later and I only had a very small bowel movement this morning and nothing all day. In these last 5 days I have talked more about poo than in my entire life!!!!!!!!

I am also craving miso soup. Way to go Viki! And prior to that stood in The Big Carrot salivating, but put the blinders on and got what I needed. Oh and they must have just baked something... I thought I was going to lose it!!!!!!!

Tomorrow is day 6... we are coasting now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DAY 4 Maple syrup makes you fat

Ok then, so I keep looking to see if I've lost weight, actually measured myself last night and will do so every evening. Am disappointed that I don't seem to have lost or at least I don't think I have. Then Viki told me about the maple syrup we are using. It is mega high in calories, so I either have to cut back on how many glasses I drink. or, cut back on the syrup.

Day 1 = 6 glasses
Day 2 = 10 glasses
Day 3 = 11 glasses

One of the reasons, aside from the detox, that I am doing this is to lose some of my extra weight to help me kick start my metabolism. If I do the full 10 days and don't lose the weight I will be VERY upset!

12:32 pm - ok so far I have only had 3 glasses, two when I woke up and one when I got to work and I wasn't getting hungry. Am a bit now but want to try and hold off till around 1:30 to have the next. Janis suggested I drink one every three hours and that should result in weight loss. I think I got a bit carried away yesterday. Being at work I am surrounded by people who eat ALL DAY LONG and it was getting to me. I wasn't hungry at all, just trying to stop hunger. So...

2:15 pm - still not hungry. haven't had glass 4 yet. will hold off till I actually feel hungry. am sipping on tea instead. Overall am feeling ok. I did notice that around 6 pm yesterday I crashed a bit. I did a bunch of running around afterwork and probably shouldn't have kept my normal breakneck pace! Another think I am learning is I need to slow down!

4:00 pm - odd but true, I am craving foods right now that I use to eat before, I became vegetarian.... what's that all about??? I also had to cancel lunch with someone today because I couldn't handle the thought of watching someone eat!!!

There are benefits to this fast as well. It saves a tonne of time when I go home. I don't have to prepare dinner :)

4:50 pm - not hungry at all!!!! and I just saw SNOW!!!!!!!!!!! NOOOOOOO

7:40 pm - am only drinking glass #5 now. Not hungry at all today! Am tired, but that is due to not sleeping well. And I swear I forgot the maples syrup in this batch as it gets more and more sour with each glass! Also on my way home I had to dash to the bathroom before I got to the subway. My stomach was suddenly upset and I needed to 'clear it out'. Who knew that after 4 days there could still be stuff in there! I know EW!

I probably should have done this before going Vegan, but am glad I am doing it now and will do it 3 or 4 times a year. It's not that hard at all, you just have to get through the first two days and voila. Of course after this, only decaf coffee and herbal tea. I'm not going through withdrawal again!!!

Am going to finish this glass, make tea and chill. Normally I would be working my ass off till all hours but have been trying to chill and go to bed early. I think that is also helping.

Day three... the hump day???

well... here we are at day 3. According to the book once we get past day 3 it should be much easier... get over the hump and I coast.

I didn't sleep very well last night, tossed and turned and woke up grumpier than usual, but, no hunger pangs, and I don't feel week at all. I made sure to drink two glasses first thing when I woke up to ensure I wouldn't feel hungry on the subway ride to work and thank the gods I did! I had the worlds longest subway ride this morning! What normally takes 15 minutes to 50!!! GRRRRRRRRR.

At least I have 50 thousand emails to get caught up on to keep me distracted...

I did notice this morning a few pockets of fat are starting to disappear!!! I don't own scales so I have no clue how much weight I have lost and am kicking myself for not measuring myself. I will do that tonight!

12:10 pm - not hungry, am trying to keep up on it with the lemonade before the hunger strikes. However I have noticed that I feel like I'm getting a cold, which is surprising considering how much vitamin C is going into my body. Of course I have sinus problems so it could be that the crap in my sinuses is coming out. And a fun fact, I noticed my nose was bright red last night, still is today!

7:03 pm - so I couldn't update as my work computers email died! The technician spent part of the afternoon trying to fix it and when I left he was still working away on it. So far I have drank 7 glasses. Had pretty good energy most of the day but around 5:30 pm started to crash a bit. Am also getting a bit hungry... probably just habit, but over all feeling pretty good!

The other think I noticed today, Food! Everywhere I went, the free paper in the morning had food on the cover, a lady in front of me on the subway was reading the Toronto Star food section, hot dog vendors, pizza in the subway, a woman sitting in front of me on the subway ride home was shoving a chocolate bar down her throat, as well was a 300 lb man (no I am not exaggerating) gorging on a huge slice of pizza. I say food on the ground, and it seems that every bloody commercial on TV is about FOOD!!!!!

So tonight am going to write, make my lemonade and have tea. Thank goodness I took enough for 12 glasses, the container that held six wouldn't have been enough!

Day Two - Senna Tea does really work

Well, here we are at day two! Am feeling a bit weak, but over all good energy, if that makes sense. Am drinking the lemonade right away rather than waiting till I am hungry like yesterday and may drink two glasses in a row to start. I drank 6.5 yesterday and we are allowed up to 12.

The Senna Tea worked today... oh boy did it work.... if there is anything left in my bowls I would be surprised! Headache is almost gone. I am pretty damn sure it is caffeine withdrawal.

Will be doing all I can to distract myself today by writing... and what ever else needs to get done. Only problem is I am craving waffles...

11:00 am - am on my third glass, not feeling weak any more and am starting to be a lot less hungry, headache is almost gone as well... now if I could get my brain to stop thinking about food. I think the trick here as well is to keep the belly full, I continually drink water. and the warmth of tea helps. As soon as I am done this glass I will be having a peppermint tea. And note to self... do not drink the lemonade right after brushing your teeth... gross!

12:12 pm - well the hunger pains are fading and are being replaced with a hollow feeling in my tummy... am sipping warm tea and that makes it feel all better! Checked a site I regularly go to and send it to Viki completely forgetting it was about food... woops! I just wish the people in my house would stop eating and cooking... I am planning their demise as I write this...

this is also my PMS week and oddly am doing ok... but of course can't tell if my food cravings are due to the fast or because I'm PMSing... hmmmm....

1:30 pm - am being completely distracted by how cold it is in my house.... were is the bloody furnace guy!!!! Getting a bit of a headache again...

2:44 pm - hmmm head ache isn't getting worse... am about to have class #5.... drinking as much water as possible to keep my tummy filled... Furnace guy, still not here

3:57 pm - still no furnace guy and the hunger pangs are back!

4:46 pm - still no furnace guy, apparently the part was delivered but it sure wasn't left on my front porch!!! Drank the final glass of the batch I made and had to make 4 more to make sure I make it till bedtime. I will have to make 12 glasses for tomorrow and buy more lemons. If I don't I will be famished by 3 pm.

5:12 pm - oh look furnace guy showed up... what ever shall I distract myself with... have noticed that the drink does kill the hunger for a bit... am continuing to drink as much water as I can and soon will need to have another cup of tea. Probably won't do the laxative tea tonight, only because I can't chance being on the toilet and late for work

5:57 pm - fucking hell.. they are cooking again!!!!! so I have a dilemma on Oct 18th (the final day of the fast), there is a farewell bash for one of the guys at work. I was worried about what the hell i am going to do. viki had a brilliant idea. tell them you can't eat because you have to go for a cholesterol test after work. have i mentioned she is brilliant!

Day one - the official start

Ok, so tea did nothing, I probably bought the wrong one... figures.

Made a full jug of the concoction... hopefully will last me all day... am hungry right now but will see what happens when I finish a glass...

10 more days to being healthy and thinner! You can also check out Viki's updates here.

12:20 - so in less than an hour I have to drink a second glass, I am really hungry!!!

Some of my concerns, being able to do this while at work. It's an office job, it's not like I will be doing any manual labour, but... I need to just make sure I have enough of the lemonade with me, lots of peppermint tea and water! My other concerns is I am Hypoglycemic and get wicked migraines when I don't eat, so let's see if I can make it past that.

1:43 - am on glass #3 and am still hungry... not to mention the smell of food cooking is MAKING ME CRAZY!!!!!!!!!! Everyone in my house needs to eat out over the next 10 days! I am also imagining everyone will be asking me out to lunch/dinner the next 10 days as well... just watch!

5:36 - oh my good gawd, I'm hungry... but I am not caving... I just have to tough it out... but all I can think about if food!!!!!! How did Ghandi do it! I had a peppermint tea earlier and it helped... but I don't want to over do it.. will have another one later.. the other thing I noticed is the cayene pepper is getting hotter... and that some of the skin on the inside of my mouth is coming off.. but that is normal when you drink alot of citrus anyway.. and I have a fucking caffiene withdrawal headache!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can do! I can Do it! I CAN DO IT!!!!!!

So I have decided that we are going to do two things once I make it to the end of this fast. 1. We are all going out to dinner to treat ourselves. 2. I am going to buy the $60 Waffle maker and make us all kick ass Vegan Waffles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now to find something else to distract myself with...

6:35 - head is killing me, you can't tell me coffee isn't an addiction... am pretty sure it's a caffiene headache

11:00 - going to bed, am a bit more tired than normal :)

the fast day 1 the night before

So my little peeps, Viki, Janis, Anna and myself are about to start a 10 day fast. The only substance we will have is a lemonade concaution, water, peppermint tea if we need it, a saline wash and ewwwww laxative tea with Senna leaf... am a little worried about the laxative tea. I have to take it tonight.. am still debating that one, i think I might hold off unless I started getting bunged up...

So tonight it begins.. can I make it through the entire 10 days... not to mention, I have a lot of lemons to squeeze!!!

I'm going to scream

If I see one more 16 year old with a baby and a trailer trash boyfriend ~ I'M GOING TO SCREAM!
If I see one more 14 year old girl child with their thong showing ~ I'M GOING TO SCREAM!
There is now a Starbucks in Chinatown ~ I'M GOING TO SCREAM!
If I go to Chinatown one more time and a man horks in from of me ~ I'M GOING TO SCREAM!
If I have to tell one more man to give up his seat on the subway/streetcar or bus to a disabled, elderly or pregnant person ~ I'M GOING TO SCREAM!
If one more person bumps me, rather than take the time to walk around me ~ I'M GOING TO SCREAM!
If I get one more piece of junk mail ~ I'M GOING TO SCREAM!
If one more person singles me out of a crowd and asks me directions ~ I'M GOING TO SCREAM!
If I get one more person calling my house for the Ontario Science Centre ~ I'M GOING TO SCREAM!
If I get one more call at 3 am that is a fax ~ I'M GOING TO SCREAM!
Clearly ~ I'M GOING TO SCREAM!

sarah kramer

Even if you aren't Vegan you should check out Sarah. She is amazing and needs her own cooking show.

In the meantime, go to her website:

www.govegan.net

or to a bookstore and buy her three books! They are amazing as well!

and she's Canadian!

why is there a baby in our picture

Yes there is a mystery baby in our photo. Is she trying to steal our thunder! Go away baby!!!











Here is me and Patsy Cline... ok not the real Patsy, that would be quite a feat and I'm sure she wouldn't be pleased if I summonded her from the dead. Rather this is my good friend Victoria Pearce, she is a Patsy Cline tribute artist and phenomenal!!!