congrats on finishing your fast. i read your post and had to reply because i went through the same sort of facial reaction that you are speaking about in your post. i went on a very strict macro cleanse that my counselor set up for me. i was relatively new to macro and need help for certain "female" issues from which i still suffer. i stayed on the diet and did everything perfectly, and within 2 months i was 20 lbs lighter. needless to say, i didn't need to lose the weight and i was severly underweight for my height. i broke out worse than ever, i felt terrible, and it hurt to even sit in the tub because my butt was so bony. my counselor told me that this was good and my period soon would come. hah! how can a woman get her period when she is 20 lbs underweight and malnourished?! mind you, she is a top counselor here in CA, not just a woman i found next door. anyway, the point of my story is, 8 months later, my skin still looks terrible and i suffer from breakouts constantly, and i still don't have my period. i believe i was set back terribly. i love the macrobiotic lifestyle and macro food, but i believe wholeheartedly that you have to find out what is best for you. i don't believe we were all meant to be macrobiotic. listen to your body, your intuition, and you will be led in the right direction. best of luck.