Over the weekend, I went to the Pride Festival in San Francisco. So many rainbows everywhere!

This rack card for the San Francisco Chronicle advertised their "citizen journalism" or "participatory journalism" effort at the festival. You could go sit on their pink couch and tell your experiences for their Web site, sfgate.com, and the newspaper. A photographer captured their special moments.

As the Contributions Editor here at The Bakersfield Californian, I did something similar at Relay for Life in May. I set up a booth and participants could blog on my wireless laptop about their reasons for being there. Some people blogged about their friends or family members who had cancer. Some blogged about losing loved ones to the disease, or how they battled and beat their own cancer. One woman cried to me as she told me her story and I typed it for her.

Reporters can only touch a story so deeply. But it's the people who live the stories that can sometimes tell them most poignantly and powerfully. That's why The Californian started the Your Words section of the Web site.

When you click on the link to "Post Something," you can choose between a blog, an article or an event. If you choose article or event, it gets posted to the Your Words section, rather than your blog. Some of these stories and photos run in print. Some bring tears to my eyes, or make me laugh so hard I end up crying.

Check out our Your Words section if you have some time. Maybe you have a story of your own to tell.

Monday morning, I awoke at 5:30, excited about the day. Having broken my fast over the weekend, I created a healthy meal and exercise plan and did all my grocery shopping. After a little searching in my closet, I found my weight lifting gloves and gym pass. I was ready to start!

The gym was a familiar friend. About two years ago, I was going regularly and had dropped 14 pounds through weight lifting and cardio workouts. I have gone off an on over the past two years, but frankly hadn't gone in months until Monday. Last summer, I fell about 8 feet down some boulders and landed on my back, causing a disk in my spine to bulge. It took months for my doctor to refer me to a specialist, and I finally went through physical therapy last month. The therapist was a God-send. She taught me all sorts of stretches and exercises to put that disk in its place. I finally feel OK to exercise again.

I was resting between reps on the incline bench when a man approached. "Is this your first time?" he asked. I must have been screaming "newbie." But I didn't want him to give me advice; I knew what I was doing.

"No, I used to workout at night. Now I'm trying mornings," I said. I was telling the truth -- I did use to workout in the evenings.

"Well it's nice to see you. I hope to see you here every morning. Keep up the good work!"

Wow, I had a gym angel! How did he know I needed encouragement?

The next morning, as I did a warm-up set on the seated row, the man again appeared. "It's good to see you here again. I didn't catch your name. My name's Randy," he said.

"I'm Jennifer. Nice to meet you." We shook hands.

"I'm going to be your cheerleader," Randy said.

Wow, I had a gym cheerleader!

"Great! Thanks!" I said.

This morning, Randy was in the weight room again, and this time introduced me to his friends. As I made the circuit to work out my legs, they bantered nearby. I could feel their positive attitudes surrounding me. For the first time ever, I didn't feel alone in the room full of men. As much as I've lifted weights, I've never had a decent conversation with anyone. Usually men just try to tell me what to do and how to do it. But Randy simply gives me words of encouragement. That's more than I could ever ask more.

I can't wait to go to the gym tomorrow!

This morning I awoke at 6:30 a.m., ready to break my fast of the past three days. I could have continued; my body did not say "feed me" this morning and I felt just as I had each day of my fast. But I had chosen to fast for only three days, and I was ready to start my new healthy eating and excerise initiative.

At 7 a.m., I toasted a piece of whole wheat bread and spread about 1/2 a tablespoon of my mother's homemade berry jelly on it. I heated some water for a cup of tea. As I took my first bite, I made sure it was small and I chewed slowly. I took my time eating the toast, alternating with sips of tea. The experience was actualy quite anticlimactic. I had thought I would experience discomfort or euphoria or something. But nothing really happened.

Two hours later, I scrambled two eggs and ate them -- slowly -- with about 6 ounces of Gatorade. Then at 11 a.m. I ate 1/2 a can of chicken noodle soup with vegetables. The soup almost put me over the edge. I felt full as I finished it. I hadn't had that feeling in four days. I didn't like it.

This fasting experience has taught me so much about myself. I know that my stomach is actually quite small, and it doesn't take much to be full. I have always eaten double and triple portions at meals. I lacked self-control. But now each time I eat, I will remember how I felt today. From now on, I will eat less, but at greater intervals during the day. There is no need to eat two or three tacos at a time, when one is enough.

I have debated sharing here how much weight I lost during this experience. I DO NOT recommend fasting as a way to lose weight. Starving yourself is not a diet!!!! A diet is a balanced eating and exercise plan. In fact, I have avoided using the word diet in all of my blogs because I hate that word. It means all the wrong things to so many people.

But I have been very open and frank in my blogs, so I will say that I lost 5 pounds over the past four days. I went from 177 pounds to 172 pounds. This is the same amount of weight I lost during a 10-week period of exercise for our company's "Biggest Loser" competition. At that time, I went from 182 pounds to 177 pounds.

I will probably gain back a few pounds over the next week or two as I begin ingesting more calories and working out and building muscle. This will not discourage me, only encourage me to work harder. I have made this pledge to myself, and I will keep it.

I like to think that the 5 pounds I lost were all the crap that had built up in my intestines, liver and kidneys. I imagine all of these toxins flowing out of my body. I feel lighter, happier, more energetic. I do believe in the power of the mind, and if this is all a mental thing, then so be it. I feel better and that's all that matters.

I seriously suggest for anyone interested in fasting, to do your own research, decide what is going to work best for you, pledge to maintain a healthy eating and exercise lifestyle afterward, and treat your body with respect.

This is not just the end of my fast, but the beginning of a new healthy me. I will post my new eating and exercise plan to my blog in a few days to show how I will continue living healthy.

I've hardly blogged today, I've been so busy with work. Plus, I haven't really had much to blog about.

I have not thought about food but for three fleeting moments. Each time it was because my nose caught a draft of some scent that made me want to taste each of these items: scrambled eggs, fried rice, garlic bread.

But as I near the end of my fast, I can honestly say that I am not craving any food at all. I had no idea what it would be like to fast for three days. But it has not been nearly as difficult as I thought it would be. Once I got past the first day, the second two days have been a breeze.

I am looking forward to eating tomorrow. Obviously, our bodies need food to survive. My body is in starvation mode right now and it does need nutrients. I do feel a little light-headed, but I can't say whether it's because I haven't eaten in three days, or if it's because I've been staring at a computer screen for 12-hours a day all week.

I have not relied much on my watermelon today, but when I do eat it, it is very refreshing. I have done really well drinking my liter of water. I'm almost done with it.

I have to decide now if I will be going to the grocery store tonight or tomorrow to buy some bread. I would like to eat a piece of whole wheat toast when I break my fast with breakfast in the morning. But I have no bread at home. I think I will go in the morning. I just don't want to be around food tonight.

This morning, an anonymous blogger wrote this on one of my Day 2 blogs (Buffet in the brain)

"I find it interesting that you claim to have started this fast because you wanted to mitigate your "obsession with food" and, yet, here you are blogging three and four times a day about FOOD!"

Anon, thank you for making this point. As I look back on that day, I did obsess over food. But you know what? Yesterday I thought about food a lot less. And so far today, I have not thought about it at all. My fast is actually doing exactly what I wanted it to do -- help me stop wanting food for the wrong reasons.

I realized last night as I was reading before I fell asleep, that I often eat at night out of boredom. If I'm watching TV or reading in bed, I will snack. Tortilla chips are my favorite -- last week, I ate half a bag of tortilla chips in bed while doing a crossword puzzle before going to sleep. I am embarressed about that.

Through this fast, I have learned that I don't need to eat when I'm not hungry. And even though I have eaten nothing but a little bit of watermelon for the past two days, I am not hungry.

I am feeling the side effects of not ingesting nutrients, though, which makes me very glad I chose a 3-day fast instead of a 5-day, a 12-day or a 30-day. I feel a bit weaker, and my joints in my hips, knees and ankles are sore. I don't have the raspy voice today that I had over the past two days, so at least that has gone away.

Also, I had a surprise bowel movement this morning (sorry to be so graphic, but I am telling all here!). Three days into a fast, and I'm pooping? I thought it very odd, because I hadn't had a bowel movement since Tuesday. (Today's Friday.) But apparently my body took the nutrients it wanted from the watermelon bits and moved the rest along. I wonder how much toxins exited my body with that?

Today I'm looking forward to my final day of fasting. I had a little green tea again this morning, and a couple bites of watermelon as I packed my container to bring to work. I pledge to drink my entire liter of water today. I am proud of myself for making it through this challenge. But I'm not to the end yet!

I've made it through another 12-hour day at work, and I have watermelon left over. I have not needed nearly the amount of fruit as I did yesterday to get through my 3-day fast.

Today I have thought about food much less. As I felt a craving for a certain item, I made a note of it. They are: Cucumber dressing (on a gyro), tortilla chips, a Big Mac, fresh homemade corn tortillas, Spanish rice.

I love Mexican food, if you can't tell. And I have to admit, I like the occassional Big Mac. But I only eat one of those about every other month. Six a year won't kill me, right?

Anyway, I am really proud of myself for making it through a second day of fasting. I honestly didn't think I'd make it through the first. Last night was really hard when I got home from work. Now I'm nervous again to go home, but I know I will make it.

I feel great right now. My stomach does not feel hungry. My head feels clear. I have energy. I have not felt sluggish at all today. I really look forward to tomorrow!

I just returned to the office after surviving the hardest part of my fast: The monthly Kern Press Club board meeting. We always meet for lunch. Luckily three other board members also did not order lunch (I suppose they had other plans) but three did. And their lunches looked GOOD!

Tuna sandwhich, hamburger patty, fruit, salad, soup, crackers. They're a pretty healthy bunch, so I wasn't salivating over French fries or anything. But I also wasn't salivating. I actually did not feel hungry the whole time!

I am really surprised at myself today. I have not needed more than a couple bites of watermelon (as opposed to yesterday, when I was eating a few bites every hour). I have also been drinking a lot of water.

My large intestine definitely feels smaller. The area beneath my bra line feels retracted, like any bloating I had in there has dissipated.

I feel very clear-headed. I can focus. I actually feel giddy! I have energy right now! I don't feel sluggish like I usually do in the afternoon. I keep smiling at everyone who walks by me. I didn't expect to feel so happy so fast.

The one side effect I am experiencing is this raspy voice. I keep clearing my throat. I feel like there is some mucus (gross, sorry) in my throat. I wonder if it's from my body's release of toxins.

Last night was hard. I got home from work around 8:30 and went to the kitchen to rinse out my watermelon container. I knew I was surrounded by food, so I quickly left. I watched Planet Earth on the Discovery Channel for 1/2 hour, then decided I better just go to bed. I ate a couple bites of watermelon and hit the sack.

I slept really well, and woke up naturally at 7 a.m. As I arose, I felt a little bit nauseous and a little bit dizzy. I made myself a small cup of green tea (as I am allowing myself since I am addicted to caffeine -- another addiction I am kicking through this fast). My roommate's toast smelled so good. But I did not feel like eating watermelon, so I just drank my tea and headed to work.

As I walked to the building, the fresh breeze gave me a boost and cleared my head. The weather this week is so nice! But now at my desk, I am back to feeling a little nauseous. Also, strangely, my voice is raspy today.

I think this is part of the healing process. According to my research about fasting, our bodies go through a "healing crisis." As toxins that have been stored by my fatty deposits are released into my body, I am fully ready to experience feelings of illness. I have not had a fever yet, but I won't be surprised if I get one.

On a positive note, the feeling of "clogged" intestines in my upper abdomen is diminishing. I have just felt this fullness under my bra line for a few months. It's especially noticeable when I sit. And my chest has experienced some pain. I am hoping this fast will help cleanse my organs and leave me feeling lighter in there. I don't know how else to explain it.

Time to start my work day ... I'll check back in later.

I sadly just bid farewell to a handful of co-workers who were heading over to Mama Roomba's (my favorite downtown restaurant) for drinks. They were nice about it; they invited me on their way out.

No thank you, I said. I'm fasting!

I am scared to go home tonight. There is so much food in my kitchen. I can picture the bag of tortilla chips on the counter, the cans of soup and vegetables in the cupboards, the blue cheese in the refrigerator. I will have to use all my will power to not eat tonight. Only watermelon!

Luckily, my partner is out of town so there will be no cooking for two tonight. And I will probably get home long after our summer roommate has had her dinner.

The worst part about choosing now to fast is that I am burdened with a huge project at work that demands very monotonous, 12-hour days. Just editing, and editing, and editing. And editing some more. While half of my brain is doing the work, the other half wanders. And what do I think about? Food.

But I am determined to get through this fast, and hopefully by day 3 (Friday) I will be thinking of something other than food. That is my goal. I've made it this far -- I can go all the way!

At 3 p.m. yesterday, I was nearly crippled by a headache. I had to get some ice tea to satisfy my caffeine withdrawal.

But it is 4 p.m. now and I have successfully made it through the day with no headache so far. I feel great!

Bean and rice burrito, curry tofu, hamburger patty with mustard. Those are just a few of the items that have been popping into my brain over the past hour.

It's sad to think how much I think about food. Now, on my first day of my fast, I find myself REALLY thinking about food. Why is this? Is it because I am hungry? My stomach is not growling. When it gives a little rumble, I take a swig of water. I have been eating about four bite-sized chunks of watermelon each hour. I am not hungry.

So why am I thinking about food? I love food. I love to eat. I love almost any kind of food. Except brussel sprouts. I'm not a fan of brussel sprouts. It doesn't matter how much butter and salt, or vinegar and oil, or seasonings I've tried to make them palatable. They're just too bitter for me.

But back to the buffet of food parading through my brain. I have thought about steak, fish, salad, sandwiches, cookies, hamburgers and nachos this morning. And yet, as I write all of this, none of it sounds all that appetizing to me. Pickles. Mmm, a pickle would be good right now. Or olives. Garlic olives. And a glass of wine. A beer! Hey, it's after noon.

No, no, NO!

As I work, I find myself meditating on food. I envision my refrigerator, my cupboards, the vending machine downstairs. There is a jar of candy on my desk taunting me. Kit Kats, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Hershey's dark chocolates are sitting just to my left, next to my Altoids.

I smelled sandwiches down the hall a few minutes ago. They must be having a lunch meeting.

One thing I know for sure, is my brain is not nearly as mushy as it was this time yesterday. The little bit of green tea I had this morning must have done the trick. No caffeine withdrawal!

Randomfactor, this is for you.

This photo was taken of me in March when I was promoted. It ran in the newspaper! You can clearly see my weight gain over the past two years in my face. In a few months, when I feel healthier, I'll ask a photographer to take another photo of me. THAT will be the one I replace my profile picture with. This one here is my motivator to get healthier.

For those of you who were not privy to yesterday's amusing blog ("I'm Hungry"), I am undertaking a three-day fast. Yesterday was my "prep" day during which I tapered off my food intake and focused on drinking water. Lots of water. Good thing there is always a bathroom nearby.

Last night I did have a very small amount of spaghetti. That was my last solid food until Saturday.

Today through Friday, I will be drinking lots of water and eating some watermelon if I feel the urge to "eat." Through my research on fasting, I found that I could choose one fruit to eat should I feel the need. I chose watermelon because I love it, and it is still "water" based.

So far I feel pretty good today. I did start my day with a small cup of green tea. This is because I also am quitting coffee! So I am allowing myself a little bit of tea. Plus green tea has antioxidants.

Yesterday afternoon I did experience a debilitating headache. I attribute that to caffeine withdrawal. Hopefully I can move past that today.

I'm really looking forward to this challenge - it's probably more mental than physical. I need to learn to not think about food so much. Plus I just need a fresh start for healthy eating and exercise. This fast is my "kick off."

On Sunday, I went to the Rock 'N' Roll Marathon in San Diego to cheer on my sister (who ran it in 3:48!). I was inspired by all the healthy people to get healthy myself. No, I am not going to take up running. But I am going to take my health more seriously.

This is my favorite flavor of ice tea at Dagny's. I just went and got one. The caffeine withdrawal finally caught up with me after skipping my morning coffee. My headache was out of control.

Now that I'm fresh-headed, I can continue with my work. I have had zero hunger pangs today and don't expect to have any. Of course, the caffeine from the tea might help to curb my appetite for the next few hours.

Tomorrow I will have no caffeine. I'm actually having a lot of fun with this challenge. I say this now, though, and it's just Day 1 of my four-day fast.

I had to. My brain feels mushy right now because I have not had coffee. I will guess that the hardest part about fasting is not drinking coffee. But I don't have a headache. I just feel mushy. I feel like I could lay down and nap very easily. Who knows how the nectarine will help. I just keep reminding myself, this is just the first day.

Today starts the first of a four-day fast that I have decided to undergo for personal reasons.

I'm hungry!

I know this is the first hurdle I need to overcome in order to make it through the week. But it's the lunch hour and my stomach is saying "FEED ME!"

My fast consists of this schedule:

Day 1: Taper off food consumption, increase liquid consumption. Basically, I started my day with a mug of Gatorade instead of coffee. I had a Kashi trail bar at about 10 a.m. and a banana at 11:45. That is all the "solid" food I will eat until Saturday morning. I have a liter of water sitting next to me which I will drink this afternoon until I can get to the grocery store after work. Then I am buying a couple of watermelons to "eat" for the rest of the week.

Day 2 through 4: Drink tons of water and eat only watermelon.

Day 5: On Saturday, I will slowly re-introduce my body to food by starting with cooked vegetables.

Why am I doing this? I have felt ill lately. Nauseous. Tired. Head aches. I feel clogged. My intestines feel like there is stuff in them that needs to be flushed out. I did some research on toxic cleansing and of all the reading, I found that fasting is the easiest, most natural way to cleanse my body of toxins. Many cultures and religions use fasting a way to cleanse the body, physically and spiritually. We'll see if my fast works for me. Plus, I'll probably lose a couple pounds, which couldn't hurt!

I chose this week for my fast because I don't have many plans, and I am able to decrease my physical activity as I should. Since I won't be ingesting much fuel, I won't be expending much energy either. That's not so hard for me, since I sit at a desk all day. The only thing I'm worried about is my brain, but I think I'll be fine. I've heard that after a day or two of not eating, people actually have MORE clarity of thought.

The most important part is to keep drinking water. This will flush all the toxins out of my body and keep me hydrated. I'm looking forward to this experience. It should be interesting. I'll keep blogging in case anyone cares to follow me through this.

Wish me luck!

Where there's water in Kern County, there's people -- especially in summer! Last weekend, one editor, one reporter, three interns and a freelancer from The Californian newsroom took the scenic drive up the Kern River Canyon and around Isabella Lake to check out Kernville.

We went to see the art festival. But I think we all decided the Kern River Brewing Company was the highlight of the trip. That, and watching all the people floating down the river -- in and out of the rafts.

It was a great day!