Happy Thoughts!!!

Good morning all!!!  Time to share some thoughts from the last few days!  I have discovered that I am now 33lbs lighter than when I started all this juicing in January!  Yay me!  I do have to say, that it is not just the juice that has gotten me this far.  I do go to the gym at least 4 days a week, and I bring it!  But, I don't think I would even have the energy or motivation to get to the gym without the juice.  I am finding new recipes and trying to share wisdom and enthusiasm with friends, and, I think its spreading...people are constantly asking me what kind of juicer they should get and what are the best recipes for getting started.  I love the fact that my friends are actually beginning to realize the health and happiness benefits of juice!  The cool thing is that most of my friends are what u would consider fit and healthy.  But, they are seeing that they are not giving themselves the good, happy food that I am on a regular basis, and they want it.  They want to be more energized and full of life!  I say hell ya to that!  This isn't about losing weight (that's the added bonus).  This is all about changing my life and becoming the person that I should have been.  This is about making 21 year olds jealous of me at 30!!!!  Thinking about 30, Fergie has finally decided to fast with me!  Starting the day after his 30th birthday, he is going to fast for 10 days with me.  I am so excited for him and the doors I am helping him open!  Well, enough talking about it for now...I have to finish my breakfast juice (grapefruit, apple, celery, ginger) and get my booty to the gym!  Later on!

So, Here We Go Again!!!

    Day 1 all over again!  Wait!  What?  Day one?!  Shouldn't this bitch be done with this juice already!? As it has been awhile since I've had the time to post, let's recap!  The doc told me I had to stop at Day 45, so I did.  Since then, I have been eating really well, and working out, but, I haven't felt all that great.  My juice intake has gotten lower and lower, and I'm starting to see bad stuff happening.  My skin is breaking out again, and I am finding myself lethargic again.  I don't have as much energy and my old food habits are creeping back up.
     I've decided that I really don't care what the doctor says at this point...this is MY journey after all!!!  So, here we are again at Day 1!  I am going for a strong 30 days.  I've realized that 60 might have been a bit of a crazy idea to start with!  30 is definitely attainable.  I am cutting fruit down quite a bit, and upping veggies.  I'm going with 75%-25%!  I find that I am incredibly more excited than the first time I started.  I know what to expect this time and I am prepared for this juicy challenge!  Along side of the juice, I will be taking a raw vegan protein supplement so that I am not losing too much of this vital nutrient!  I will be supplementing 34g of protein from the powder that will be added to the about 30g that I am getting from my juice.  I am going to continue my workouts, though I know I will have to bring down the intensity a bit.
    My excitement has become contagious.  A good work friend, Josh, has decided to try his hand at fasting!  He is going on a 7 day water fast starting Monday.  I have given him my knowledge and he is researching on his own, which is really smart. For the next few days, as he is prepping for this crazy challenge, I am juicing his meals for him. I hope he enjoys my recipes!  I wish him all the best, and I will support my friend during his journey, as he continues to support me!
   Alright!  I promise I will post at least 3 times a week during this journey.  Not only will I post about my juice, but, I will also add in some great workouts to do while juicing...for anyone that cares!  Happy Juicing!

Day 29...A Recap

I'm Baaaack...For Day 28!!!

    Hello!!!!! Wow, it has been weeks since I have had the chance to write!  Life got a bit crazy with the Super Bowl being here and having to work over 100 hours in 10 days!  Now that it's over, I have time to talk about my life over the past few weeks.  Things have been going really well. Unfortunately, around Day 17, I was informed by my doctor that I had an excess of waste in my blood and had to eat my juice on occasion.  So, every few days I am eating a nice raw veggie meal, instead of putting it in the juicer.  The first few times I had to eat, I felt really bad, thinking that I had failed!  Then, after talking to some amazing friends, I remembered that this is my new life, and there is no failure possible! I have already changed everything about my diet and there is no going back to my old ways!!! My feast has just taken on a new path!
    Newest news, is that I have finally decided on a gym to join! I thought I could do it all at home, but, after taking the tour through Anytime Fitness, I realized that a gym is what I need to keep me motivated and to really take the weight off.  And, now that we are talking about weight, I am 25 lbs down!!!  It's not quite as much as I wanted, but, it's pretty damn good!!!I feel better and have actually gotten some comments concerning my weight!
    Now let's talk about inspiration and motivation!!  When I first started my feast, I was only concerned with keeping myself inspired and motivated!  As things have continued, I realize that I am starting to motivate and inspire others to try some juice!!!  Every time I go to the store, people comment on my produce, and want to know about my juice!  Also, my good friend John bought a juicer and is now juicing daily and is really excited about the amazing combinations of juice and how he feels after each glass!!! It's really exciting to pass on my knowledge and start to actually be an inspiration to others!!!  I am excited for the rest of my journey and to see what my new life will bring me!!!  Until next time...

End of the AWESOME Day 6

Day 6. The Joy of Juicing!!!

       So, I am finally past, I hope, the worst part of my feast.  Days 2-4 I was incredibly exhausted and not feeling my juice at all!  Now, I'm actually feeling pretty good.  I've had more motivation, been sleeping better, and have had an all around better outlook and attitude!  I have had no pain from my ulcers since I started juicing, and I actually have energy after my meals!!!  I have accepted this feast as the beginning of my new life!  I am going to get a part time job at a juice bar on Monday.  This will be an opportunity for me to spread the word about the Joy of Juicing, surround myself with like minded people, and, let's be on honest, save some money on some juice!!!
      Some people around me have mentioned that I look like I've lost weight.  I don't have a scale yet.  Partially because I have a bit of a fear of them, and partially because I am very forgetful and haven't gotten one yet!  I don't know how much weight I have lost, but, what I do know, is that my pants are a bit looser and my shirts are a little baggy!  Yay!  But, this isn't just about losing weight.  That happens to be a big bonus!  I'm gonna be 30 soon and I want to welcome that milestone as a healthy person!  That's all for now!  Here's to being healthy and happy!

End of Day 2!

As you can tell, Day 2 sucked it!!! Hoping tomorrow is a better day!!!!

Day 1...The journey begins!!!

So, today is the day!!!  I'm a weird mix of anxious and excited as I am looking toward the next 2 months!  I went on a 3 store shopping trip and discovered a few things...Watermelon and Pineapple are cheaper at Walmart than at Meijer, but, Meijer is the only super store that will allow me to buy in bulk at a severely reduced price!!!  Kroger has the best quality and pricing on leafy greens, but no one carries golden beets!  I am slowly learning the best way to buy produce, and clerks are more than willing to answer questions concerning ripeness and buying days in advance.  All in all it was a good shopping trip and I had very little temptation at the store, because I only went to the produce section and the checkout.  This is what a week of groceries looks like!

The questions I have gotten concerning dietary intake have led me to do some extra research, and I found charts breaking down what is in the fruits and veggies that I will be juicing.  Calories, carbs, fiber, nutrients, and protein are included!  Check them out.  Hopefully, questions will be answered.

Veggie Chart      Fruit Chart

Look, I'm not gonna get on a soap box about juicing!  I'm sure I will have some horrible days along the way, but, this is something that I HAVE to do for ME!!!  I need to be healthier and happier.  I need a change.  I must take control of my life!  And hopefully, along the way, I inspire some people.  Til next time!

A Journey Lies Ahead

   In a few days, I am beginning a journey.  And, not to sound to cliche, it will be a journey of self discovery.  I am starting a 60 day juice fast.  Whoa!  Wait!  Juice?  Just juice?!  Yea, just juice.  This is something that I have thought long and hard about, consulted with my doc, and have mentally prepared for.  I know that there are some neighsayers out there.  In fact, many of the people that I have spoken to about my plan want to tell me that this isn't a good idea, and wonder how not eating could possibly be good for me. Well, my simple answer to these people is that it is a good idea, and that I will, in fact, be getting all of the nutrients that I need from juicing fruits and vegetables.  I then ask them a simple question. "Do you get all of the fruits and vegetables that are recommended in a day?"  Almost everyone I know said, "No."  When you actually consider how many fruits and vegetables are recommended for a healthy diet, you begin to realize how very healthy this fast, which, from here on out, will be known as a feast, really is!!

   Plan moving forward:  Starting Monday, January 16th, I will be feasting on solely fresh fruit and vegetable juice that I make in my home.  Everyday, I will be drinking about 80 oz of juice.  I plan on following this plan for 60 days.  This is what my average dinner may look like...

   From there, I will enjoying all of the same fruits and vegetables in whole form for another 2 months.  This micronutrient diet is what I really need to jump start my body, preparing myself for my next 30 years on this planet!!!  I know that I will go through some tough times during this journey.  It will test my mental endurance, willpower, strength, my passion, and my hunger...for a new lifestyle!!! Yea, that's corny.  I dig it tho!