Days 9, 10, & 11!

Well all, I have been insanely busy the past couple of days and haven't been able to post. I'm gonna sum up days 9 & 10 by just saying they were hard and full of cravings. I juiced about 40-50oz's per day.
Here are a few blends....




 My weight the past 3 days or so kind of plataea'd. Only loosing a few ounces or staying the same until day 11....

Day 11!
Lost another pound as of today!
Ah, it is SO great to be over the 10 day mark. It's pretty exciting! And I'd be lyin' if I said I wasn't proud of myself....'cuz I really am! Especially today. Gabriel (one of my 3 children, age 3) and I went on a "date" today. We went to the Promenade where there is all kinds of yummy food, coffee, and all the smells that go with that. It smelled incredible. Especially his decaf Mocha Frap and Sbarro's Pizza (which is the best pizza ever btw. And my fave). But today I seemed to be pretty content with smelling. Don't get me wrong, I would have loved to order myself a Mocha Frap and two slices of cheese pizza, but the fact that I didn't give-in in the least...not one sip of coffee, not one lick or bite of pizza...made me feel pretty good about myself.

If you can't tell, my self confidence today is way better. It's funny how just being able to resist one major temptation in life makes you feel like "more than a conqueror". lol I am definitely becoming more self disciplined and feel like I have much more self control. Even though I still want food, I am learning to really enjoy the beautiful and magnificent smell of food. Like when I drove past Popeyes today. We don't go down to that part of Rogers much at all....unless we are eating there. The smell was incredible. If I could have tasted it by licking the air, I would have. And I would have looked super awesomely crazy while I did. But none the less I passed by Popeyes without stopping and caving in. THAT is progress people.

I have talked to a couple of you about the whole Stomach diagram of Veggies vs. the other crudola...

And that's how you stay FULL when you juice or are eating a plant based diet!!!  And also why we are always hungry within less than an hour of eating fatty, oily, greasy food.  It takes more of the crapoly to fill you up, so really, you never feel full.....Sound familiar??  

This is a pic of our awesome Spa Night at church last night.  The food looked and smelled amazing.....but I resisted.  Came away with lots of smells thought!  Yum-O......and I juiced away the whole night with my juice I brought from home! Yay me! lol

Gabriel and I at the Promenade....

And him thoroughly enjoying his pizza ;P

As of today I have lost  2oz's shy of 13lbs total! Yippee!!  And I still have 19 days to go!  I'm excited!

Have I mentioned how much energy I've had today?  Or the fact that I have slept SO good the past several nights!  Loving this!  Healthy, who knew, right?! lol

I need to go make another juice!  This one is going to have Strawberries in it.....and Pineapple, Orange and collards! Yum

Happy juicing everyone!

Day 8

As excited as I am about what the outcome of this juicing fast will be, I am just as excited about getting there...being done with it.  And I still have 22 days.  I now know why on the Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead documentary they skip from day 2 to like day 16.  The first two weeks are just plain hard.  Oh...and grumpy.  I've been a bit grumpy too.  And if you love food and eating in general, it's also full of mental whining.  Lots of whining.  I could probably fill this entire post with just that.  Whining.

But I won't.

The weight loss is really helping keep it going.  And even more than that just knowing that I do need this as I mentioned in my Day 7 post.  It is making me so much more aware of how much my cravings end in indulgences.  Unnecessary ones.  Indulgences that happen for one main reason; my lack of self control lately.  Which is why I have gained all this weight over the past year, and why I have been so tired and blah feeling these past few months due to not being at a healthy, comfortable weight and just eating anything I want and giving in to every single little craving.  Hence, my still going to the pantry out of habit.  Opening the door, and literally saying out loud, "what am I doing, I can't juice anything in here" lol.

So while I feel as though I've lost a bit of excitement and zeal, I am also gaining self control, losing weight, feeling healthier....and that all helps me push forward with a bit of that beginning zeal.

I think it's pretty cool that since I cannot give in to my cravings, indulgences, or eat at all for that matter that my nose has kicked it into high gear.  When I smell food, I'm not just smelling pizza or BBQ or tortilla chips....I'm literally smelling all the ingredients in it....the garlic, oregano, parmigiana, salt, or whatever the seasoning.   It's pretty crazy.  It's giving me a new found love of just enjoying the way something smells and being satisfied with that.  Loving the smell without feeling the need to eat it.

I don't have any new recipes these past couple days.  I did juice an entire pineapple today.  It was awesome!  I am really loving the way REAL juice tastes.  I've honestly never liked pineapple juice alone.  It's so gross if you buy it from the store. But I've always loved fresh pineapples, and juicing it is just heavenly.  The fresh orange juice and fresh apple juice is also fantastic.  Not sure I will be able to go back to any store bought juice after this fast.  Especially knowing what I know now about the process of how it's made, even if it says fresh fruit, not from concentrate.  Nothing is as good and nutritious as taking a raw fruit or veggie and juicing it.  And I can definitely taste the difference.  In a big way. So good.

Today I drank about 40oz of juice
20oz being an Orange/Apple/Greens blend
20oz being the Pineapple (minus what Trinity sucked out before I caught her drinking all my drink, lol)  She apparently likes pineapple juice too :P sneaky little thing.

Juice weight loss: 5lbs 14oz
Total weight loss: 12lbs

If there are any fellow juicers reading today, how is your juicing going?!!!   Would love to hear some of your stories!

On to day 9!

Day 7

I didn't have a chance to write up a blog post yesterday, so it's a short one

Day 7
Great morning.  The day started out and I was feeling pretty good.  Around 1pm I started getting serious cravings.  Mexican food, coffee, and chocolate.  O.M.W.  I wanted those three things SO incredibly bad.  I was daydreaming about eating Abuelo's, On the Border or even just some taco bell.  Not picky. Obviously.  Then a frapuccino or even a McD's frappe.  Then next some sort of chocolate....snickers, fudge brownie....again, not picky.  But I wanted it something fierce.  *sigh*

But I didn't give in.  Because if I did it would have totally just wiped out all the HARD work I had been putting into the previous 6days.  And I'm not about to do that.  As much as I wanted it, a simple craving just wasn't worth it.  It definitely wasn't worth the 11 pounds I had already lost, and the future poundage I am looking to loose, other jeans I will be able to get back into, more self-confidence, healthier way of life.  Just the fact that my craving hit me so hard and literally lasted ALL Day and ALL evening/night reiterates the fact that I need this.  My body and my mind need this.  So not gonna give up, or give in.  I know if I give in just once, I am done for.  And I'm really just getting this party started.

My total juice for Day 7 was 52oz
Total weight loss juicing: 5.2lbs
Total weight loss: 11.2

Day 6

Hello all!

A bit tired today, but I did have a very busy day and evening last night getting ready for our garage sale we had this morning. Then I was up early for the garage sale this morning as well. So tiring. But all in all besides a bit of tiredness I am feeling great! We did pretty good over all at our garages sale. We had a specific amount needed, and it was met! PTL

So what the menu looked like today...

Breakfast/Lunch:
1 Orange
1 Apple
5 Kale leaves
1 lime
1 Carrot
4 Celery Stocks
Total Juice: 21oz

I was in a bit of a hurry to get back out to do the garage sale this a.m., so I didn't have time for a pic on this one. Sorry all!

Dinner:
Baha Juice
1/2 Pineapple
1/2c Cilantro (sml handful, stems and all)
1 lime
5 red lettuce leaves
Total Juice: 16oz

This one was pretty good and a nice change from the cucumbery gingery drinks. I didn't have one of those today, as I just needed a break from the Mean Green, lol.

So far, not really having any cravings, although food that's right in front of me almost always looks good. Dinner is definitely the toughest as that is when we would all eat together at the table. Our kiddos have started asking, "Mommy, where you food?" and my response, "I'm drinking my food :)" and them "oh (insert puzzled look) ok." Ha, they are so funny. I was at Wal-Mart today buying more apples, oranges and pineapple and all I could smell was a fresh baked pizza. O.M.W It smelled like freaking heaven. I heart pizza. Really anything Italian, except sausage, I like. Correction...I love. And it's really funny, but just having something to smell besides the juice I'm drinking (which honestly doesn't always smell delish) is actually quite lovely and satisfying. It's teaching me that just because I smell something and really want it, that doesn't mean I NEED it and go buy it for a "snack". lol....oh man. Heartbreaking. HA

This definitely isn't easy. But what is, that produces change in our lives. I could just not do it. Stay the same. Not loose any more weight. Not start a healthier lifestyle. Not have more energy. It's easier to be lazy. So maybe you're thinking, "That's great for you, but I could never do that. That just doesn't sound like fun." lol. Sacrifice never sounds like fun though. I'm sacrificing 30days to hopefully change my life for the better. So, is drinking nothing but juice and a bit of water all day, not eating anything, smelling all sorts of yummy food and wanting to eat it, making food and giving snack to my kiddos all day long not having any of it FUN? um, not so much. Maybe 30days is a bit radical. But I like radical. Radical produces change. And change can be really good. Counting my pre fast preparing week, I've already lost 11lbs total. I am fitting into a pair of jeans I haven't been able to fit into in quite some time. My skin feel smoother. I just feel healthier all around. And I'm sure more energy is still to come!

So here's to day 6!

Juice Fasting stats

Weight loss today: 1lb

Total weight loss: 5lbs

Total weight loss counting pre-fast prepare week: 11lbs

Day 5

Today started out amazing! I was up and awake and feeling great! Seriously. Definitely my best day yet.

I don't have anything really exciting other than that; I feel great. Oh, and I was down over a pound since yesterday! Yay!

So total weight loss: 4.2 pounds

I wrote this post from my phone, do all pics are at the bottom of page instead of with the recipe...

Here is what I had today:

Breakfast:
Oranges N'Greens
3 Oranges
2 big handfuls Spinach
1 sml handful Parsley
Total Juice:16oz

Lunch:
Mean Green (a bit dif this time)
6 Kale Leaves
1 Apple
1/2 Mango
1/2 Cucumber
4 slices of Honeydew Melon
1sml piece Ginger
Total Juice: 14oz

Dinner +after Dinner Snack:
Fruits N'Green
2 Apples
2 Pears
1 lime (peeled)
1/2 lemon (peeled)
4 red lettuce leaves
2 handfuls of red grapes
Total Juice: 20oz

Total Juice today: 50oz

Day 4

I'd like to start by saying a BIG thank you to all those who have been commenting, texting, talking, and facebooking me with all the encouraging words! I am Super pumped that so many of you have since decided to start your own juicing towards a healthier life! Just that alone, has been a huge encouragement. I love people posting and texting telling me that they are buying or just bought a juicer and are going to start. It's so exciting!!! And I love that this journey has become a sort of juicing group! So keep the love coming and I'll keep the posts coming and the recipe's coming!

So about day 4....
And please, don't take my day four morning experience to mean you will go through the same thing....
I found out this morning. Early. 530am to be exact. That 32oz is not enough. Well, not enough if I don't want to end up getting sick the next morning. As in throwing up. dry-heaving. Unless that was some kind of 4th day natural detox? Either way, it wasn't fun. at all. I drank a cup of water, and a few sips of Mean Green that was in the fridge for Chris to take to work, as I didn't want to take a chance on waking up the kiddos at 6am. It didn't help much. But after all that was finally over and I was able to keep some juice down I started feeling better. And the rest of the day has been pretty good. Stomach still a bit touchy, but not bad.

On the menu today....

For breakfast I made an Apple-Lemon Juice.  It was said to taste like Lemonade Sherbet....but it didn't.  Maybe it makes a difference that my juicer is not the Breville?  Not sure...It pretty much just tasted like Apple with a hint of lemon.  Still good, just not what I was expecting it to be.  Watch the YouTube video here...
http://youtu.be/RVrTj0QfOA4
There are also some other vids by "The Juice Master: Jason Vale" on YouTube you can check out!
Recipe:
2 Green apples
1/3 Lemon (peeled)
Total Juice: 16oz

Then lunch:


Recipe:
3-4 Collard leafs
1 Orange
1/2 Mango
1 Carrot
3 slices Pineapple
Total Juice: 16oz

Dinner:
Then I made the Martha Stewart Green Juice.  Check it out here on YouTube...
http://youtu.be/kguQEz-Rakw
Recipe:
Spinach - large handful
Parsley - handful (including the stems)
1 Apple
1/2 Pear
Papaya - 1 slice
1/2 Cucumber
Ginger - small piece
Total Juice: 14oz

Post dinner juice just to bump my numbers and because I was craving Pineapple :)
4 slices of Pineapple
Total Juice: 3oz
Really, to get a full juice of pineapple (16oz) I would've had to juice the whole thing, but I just wanted a bit, and that was all I had left.


Total for today: 49oz
And drinking water the remainder of the evening.

And this along with some broccoli and cheese is what my children got to eat.... lol....oh, how I wanted just a bite.  I really heart potatoes. But who can really just have one bite?  Not this girl! lol

And incase you want this recipe here it is too:

4 red potatoes (cut into chunks)
Cajun seasoning (to taste)
Creole (to taste)
Greek Seasoning (to taste)
Parmigian (again, to taste)
Mix all ingredients together
Add water until Potatoes are almost completely covered
Parsley - just a few leaves sprinkled on top
cook it in the oven @400deg for about 55min or until potatoes are softened to your liking.
I know it sounds like a smorgusboard of different spices, but I promise it really is good.  Obviously I didn't get any tonight, but have had it before and it is divine and my kiddos love it!  Just the smell was wonderful. And as I wasn't able to eat it, I did my share of smelling, lol....oh the temptations.....



Oh, and I was down almost another pound today - .2oz away...so I'm rounding that to a pound :)

Total weight loss: 3lbs

Day 3

Today has gone much better than yesterday.  I feel like I am getting some energy!  I"m not a grouch. I even ran in the backyard this morning while the kids played.  I went length wise back and forth from one side of the fence to the next about a dozen times.  Nothing too great, but better than nothing!  

This is my "juicing station" :P  I have devoted this whole corner of our counter for juicing.  Everything gets cleaned after each use and then dries on that towel for the next use.  This makes it super easy to always be ready to juice!

This morning I made a new juice, shown below...It's my new FAVE!  It is SO, SO good!

Here is my recipe:

3 oranges (peeled)

1c Spinach (about two handfuls if you don't feel like measuring it out)

1/2 c Parsley

This made (1) 16oz cup full

I was actually able to get 2 drinks down today before 3pm which is a milestone on it's own! lol

Total:

32oz 

Weight lost: 1lb...Total weight loss thus far: 2lbs

I will have a couple new recipes for tomorrow, so stay posted!  Happy Juicing!

Day 2

Ugh. so not gonna lie. today.was.hard. Not really cravings wise, but just having that desire to eat. We loaded up the kiddos this morning to take Chris to work. So I had the truck. We came home and tried to get the house picked up a bit. Then left again to take Chris some food, get gas, air the tires, and set up the Student Center at church for Life Group tonight. And quite honestly I wanted nothing more than to NOT be drinking juice. I really didn't even care what I ate....burger king, taco bell, a McD's frape. I just simply felt like eating. Although I seriously wasn't hungry. like. at.all. I didn't even get all my juice drank today...again.

Today I drank:
(1) 16oz Apple juice
Recipe:
3 apples - cored and sliced
I ran the pulp through twice to get the most juice out
(2) 14 oz Mean green (recipe on prev post)

Total: 44oz

I weighed myself in the morning right after getting up and I was down 1lb.

Most people say day 2 is the hardest, and now I see why. The simple desire of wanting to eat was fierce. Moving past that to really listen and know when actual hunger begins...hard. Because like I previously stated, I just wasn't hungry. Those juiced veggies and fruit are keeping me stuffed. One thing I keep thinking about is the majority of the world, especially 3rd world countries don't have a zillion choices like we do, or even more than one or two for that matter. Plus it amazes me how healthy countries are until they get invaded by US fast food franchises. Once slender, healthy people become overweight and put on meds for health issues. Check out Forks Over Knives to see the China Study.  I thought it was interesting.

Anyways....on to day 3!

Day 1

This morning I started juicing around 830am. My first juice is the Mean Green juice. I made enough to last all day...


Recipe:
8 Kale leaves
3 apples
1 cucumber
1/2 a lemon
Small piece of ginger
4 celery stocks
and voila....juice

The recipe above is enough for 3 16oz drinks. I drank 2 today.

Then this evening I made this one....

Recipe:

2 Apples

3 Carrots

1 Celery Stock

Bit of Lettuce

This was enough for a little over one 16oz cup. I drank about 3/4 of this 16oz's

We also have purchased our first ever house scale. Chris and I have been married for 9 years and have never had one. If we wanted to weight ourselves, we just always did it at the Gym. So we really had no need. But since I am no longer at the gym every day...or at all lately for that matter, and I am wanting to really track my weight for the first time ever, we got a scale.

The hardest parts of my day were definitely when Chris got out the chips and Guac. I quite honestly believe that Guacamole should be one of the main food groups. Just the smell was intoxicating. Which brings me to a note: Whenever I fast, it's like my smell sense skyrockets. The salt in the chips, the avocado and onion in the Guac. Hard. I really wanted to lick the bowl. But resisted. And my next hardest part is right.now. It's night. Chris is gone at life group. Kids are in bed. Generally this is movie, email, surf the web, and snack time.

I haven't had any cravings yet...except the Guac which was right in front of me, and didn't even sound good until I smelled it. I know I have many hard days ahead. We have done other fasts before. Our church does a 21 day fast every year in January. We have participated the past 2 years. The first year we did liquids only for 12 days, then just added in baked potato and a few veggies for the remainder of the time. The second year I did fruits, veggies, and beans only for a couple weeks, then the last week added in rice. And even those were challenging after a week. The liquid fast consisted of any liquid. This meant I was still drinking milk based products, soups, etc. We've never juiced before a couple days ago.

I'm a flavor person. And a consistency person. So I'm just glad that the juice doesn't have any sludgy pulp in it. It's just juice. So nice. I do have to say that the Mean Green juice leaves a bit to be desired. I like to drink the Naked Green Machine drinks....this tastes nothing like it. I think it's the ginger that gets me. If you like ginger, you won't have a problem at all. Hoping it grows on me, because it's full of great nutrients. And the ginger specifically is great for digestion. Will probably start tomorrow out will some fruit only juice for breakfast and then ease into the Mean Green for lunch and dinner. As I write this I am re-watching the Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead show and I noticed that Joe starts with fruits. And as hard as the Mean Green was at 9am, lol....tomorrow it's a fruit morning so I can better get the juice knocked out.

I am honestly stuffed right now. Hence not even being able to finish 3 juices. The recommended amount of juice per day is (4) 16-20oz cups. If you are trying to loose weight you do the less amount, so the 16oz. I actually bought some 16oz plastic cups and straws so I know how much I am consuming without having to really measure it out. I use the same cup & straw all day and just wash it out so not to accumulate a lot of waste.

The biggest thing for me to remember is that cravings and over eating is really just that emotional attachment to food. If I'm physically active or just out doing something in general I don't feel the need to eat as much. It's primarily when I'm alone or when we are with friends. I'm definitely a social eater. And thus my biggest challenges...overcoming my emotional attachment and not feeling the need to social eat/graze and drink coffee all day long. lol

It's said that if you do something for 21 days, or 21 times in a row that it becomes habit. I'm hoping that after this is over I will have a healthy habit :) One that consists of learning new recipes for cooking healthier for our whole family, stay juicing, keep veggies and fruits and my primary source of nutrition, less snacking, less emotional and social need for the snacks.

And that's day 1

Fast: Sept. 19th - Oct 18th - 30days

And so it begins

The beginning....

About two weeks ago our family watched a couple documentaries on Netflix.  The first one we watched was Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead.  It was eye.opening.  If you haven't watched it, it's a must see.  Joe Cross is a successful businessman from Australia.  He has several illnesses, takes countless pill each day for those illnesses.  He has also become over-weight over years of "living the high life" of success.  He just plain loved to eat.  He realized that his health would continue to decline if he didn't change something, and change it fast.  So he comes to the states to embark on a 60 day journey towards better health.  And he does this by juicing.  60 days of nothing but juicing.  To make a long story short, by the end of the 60 days he is completely off his meds, and down a crazy amount of weight. It changed his life.  And many others.  There's another story of a man who Joe helped on the documentary.  His story was a lot like Joe's, but he was about 400lbs to start out with.  Also tons of meds.  And had basically been trying to kill himself with eating himself to death over the years.  His life too was dramatically changed, improved, meds gone, weight off.  Amazing.

Next we watched Forks Over Knives.  This was just a plethora of information kind of show.  It talks about everything....meat industry, milk, the food pyramid and all it's flaws, whole foods, etc.... Watch it too.  It's also amazing. 

After watching these two shows, I literally started praying that God would really help me to turn towards a healthier lifestyle, and specifically for this juice fast.  That He would show up and just supernaturally encourage, guide, and just do some cool God things that He likes to do for his people, so that I could start this fast.  My goal was to have a Juicer by Oct 1st and that from that point a couple weeks ago until my fast started that I would be more encouraged each day, have fewer cravings each day.  Literally the next day and over the past 2 weeks my cravings where down to almost nothing.  This past Friday night some friends from church were having a fundraising event.  I had been literally, as funny as it sounds, asking God that there be a Champion juicer at the silent auction, and that the bidding would not exceed my slim budget.  On Friday, I was up at the church early to work on some things for our up coming Spa Night and walked into the auditorium where everything was out on tables.... and there sat a black Champion Juicer.  That night I put down a bid....it got outbid a couple times, but in the end I won that thing!  I had a $100 limit that night.  The juicer was $60 (retails at $250).  I am fully chalking this up to A God Thing.  And I was able to purchase more things that night for the fundraiser!  Win-win!  Thank you Lord!  When they announced my name I clearly heard heaven open up and angels start singing, lol.  For reals.  I was ecstatic! I'm glad I serve a God who cares about what is important to me, even when it's something that might be rather silly, especially to someone else, maybe you reading this....as silly as praying for a juicer to start a healthier lifestyle.

For me, the movies were more than just inspirational.  They really got me thinking about my life.  My health.  Where I will be in ten or 20 years if I don't change my eating habits, get my cravings under control, and start to eat responsibly and more healthy (both Chris and my close families have health issues in it's history...diabetes, cancer, heart attacks, strokes).  We want to change our family health tree.  I have three beautiful children to think about.  I have future grandchildren and great-grandchildren to think of.  Just like Chris and I made a change in our Finances a couple years ago with getting out of debt and that whole journey that we did for us and our marriage, but also so our children will grow up learning about Financial Peace and what the Bible says about our finances...HIS finances.  Nothing is ours, it's ALL God's.  We are just to steward it well.  And just as we steward our finances, our children and family, our home, our belongings...we must also steward our bodies.  

So this is the beginning of my journey.  I am doing a 30 day juice only fast.  It's gonna be hard. I'm excited and scared. I'm praying that I not mearly get through it, but that I plow through it with confidence and enthusiasm and really overcome my cravings, over eating, and start eating healthier as a lifestyle.  Like for good.  A snack here and there....no big, but constant snacking just because I'm home and it's readily available so why not?!....not so good.  Especially when I have no vehicle throughout the day to get to the gym or go take my kids and walk around the park or mall.  I will have to get more creative and just do something.  'Cause I've been lazy lately.  And tired.  And I really like food.  and coffee.  What will I do without coffee and chocolate? Hard.  I have a couple workout DVD's, and while I do better with a group setting, I also do not want to sacrifice the only 1 or 2 nights a week we have as family time to go workout.  And until I get some energy back I will not be doing the early mornings like I was at 430am. lol  Baby.Steps. HA!

Some goals I have, in no particular order:

• increased energy
• less headaches
• down 20-25lbs in weight (I have literally gained this much just within the last year.  I am currently heavier than I've ever been *non preg* And I am uncomfortable, tired, and just plain BLAH.  I may not be "Fat" or "obese" but I am not at my ideal weight which is really taking it's toll....and at the rate I'm going, 20lbs a year is not looking good)
• life changing eating habits - not just "oh, well that was fun let's have more Olde Tyme donuts" I don't want to go through this unchanged
• food conscious 
• healthier in general 

So, when you are doing your prayer time throughout the day, please think of me and send up some requests of encouragement, strength, and will power....and that my goals be met or exceeded!  Please :) 

Please note:  I am writing this as a journal for myself.  So if it get a little TMI, don't say I didn't warn ya.  lol  I will be trying to write each day.  Tonight or tomorrow morning I will write about day 1!  I really hope this finds someone who needs encouragement in this journey too, maybe someone who also needs to change what you're doing, because what you're doing isn't working.  I know what I've been doing isn't working.

So cheers!  Here's to 30 days of being Fully Juiced!