Post Fast.....into week Three

Ah, time to relax! The main part of the holidays is over. I cooked too many kinds of veggies and had fresh ones too. I think I could have fed 20 people! I was so happy to be cooking again. Everything turned out well and everyone enjoyed the feast, more than once.

I thought I did well with eating too. I just took a very small portion of everything and didn't over eat at all. Of course I had had juice everyday too. That is just part of life now. I did not have any ill effects, either. Here's something interesting, maybe. My dinner was on Christmas Eve, and the next day, I spent over at my daughter's house. In the middle of the afternoon, her husband made a fresh pot of coffee. They have a coffee pot that grinds the beans fresh for each pot and it makes great coffee. I decided to have a cup. It's been at least 3 months since I have had any. It was tasty all right. A little while later, I had to visit the little girls' room. Here's what I found on the 'wiki", "The stimulative effect of coffee consumption on the colon is found in both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee." It's for sure true. So if you are feeling kind of full in general, you might try a cup of coffee. Just don't go out for a run for awhile after!

In a few days, or maybe next week, I will be making a vegetable turkey soup that I have been making for years. We all love it. This year, it will be even better because I will be using as many fresh ingredients as I can. I said that I would post it and I have found it, so will do. Just wanted to mention, that I cut all of the meat I wanted, off the turkey the night it was served and put the rest of it, (bones and stuff) in a 2.5 zip top bag. Stuck it in the freezer that night, because I knew it would be a little while before I could make the soup.Warning: This makes a LOT and you can't freeze it, well you can,  but it will be yucky, so give some away if you can't eat it all in a few days.

Victoria’s Turkey Vegetable Soup

Adapted from a recipe from Theresa Randall

Leftover turkey carcass….with most of turkey cut off, legs and wings whole, all stuffing well cleaned out

2/3 tsp. garlic powder

2/3 tsp. Lawry’s Seasoned salt

½ -1 tsp. black pepper

1 medium onion, sliced

1 large can tomatoes (diced is nice)

1 15 oz. can stewed tomatoes

2-3 large cans of Swanson’s chicken broth, or 2 boxes

16 oz. frozen mixed vegetables

10 oz. frozen green beans, regular or French cut

1 lb. small peeled baby carrots or 6 medium, peeled and cut

½ medium sized head of cabbage, chopped

4-5 medium-small potatoes, cubed about 1 inch in size

3-4 stalks celery, cut into small pieces (optional)

2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 Tbsp. Tabasco sauce, adjust to taste, but Do Not leave out!

2 tsp. sugar

In a LARGE pot, boil turkey in 8-10 cups of water, along with garlic, seasoned salt, pepper, and onion, lowering the heat to a simmer for about an hour until the meat is falling off the bones.

Using a slotted spoon, remove the turkey, being sure to get all of the bones out and set aside to cool, saving the stock.

Add all the rest of the ingredients to the stock and bring to a boil. Add enough chicken broth to cover all the ingredients with a little bit more, as this will reduce during cooking time. Turn heat to low and simmer 2-3 hours until potatoes and carrots are cooked through.

Pick all the meat off the turkey and add to soup. No need to stir, but break up tomatoes, if using whole.

Good served with sweet cornbread! (I will probably not be making the cornbread this time)

I so love having the energy to do things again. I got plenty of exercise yesterday, too. Santa brought the g-kids and family an X-box Kinnect. It was Crazy. There was a dance game too, not easy. It's all a ton of fun and I don't even know how long we played. It takes pictures of you while you play. It was nice not to cringe when I saw myself. Really nice. 

Juice on!!!

Post Fast, Day 13

Almost 2 weeks since I finished the fast. Time sure goes by quickly. Going to really busy the next couple of days, so thought I'd write a little bit now while I can.

Yesterday was odd. I had juice for breakfast and lunch as usual, but all day there was a whisper in the back of my mind, "I want "real" food." I thought about this and couldn't figure out what it was that I really wanted. Before the fast ended, I used to think one of the things I would want would be some pasta. Lasagne, mmmmm. But, I haven't had any and don't seem to want it right now. I was trying to figure out what "real" food is to me these days. I started thinking of different restaurants I liked. Crossed all off the list as having nothing that I wanted. Still, the whispering continued. I wasn't even hungry.  Pizza seemed out too, because I like mine with plenty of things on it. That would still be too much for me. I have only been eating vegetables, hummus and crackers. Did have 2 scrambled eggs one day and they tasted ok. On top of all this, I didn't have time to cook much of anything last night. Finally, since I had to stop at the grocery anyway, I decided to get a California Pizza that I used to like and it doesn't have much on it, the BBQ chicken one. I added extra Mozzarella, of course. It was tasty, but, surprisingly, not as much as I remembered. I only ate 2 pieces of it. No ill effects, but the whispering went away. Now, I do not think pizza is "real" food, unless I make it myself and I plan to do so. But, I had to do something for my own peace of mind yesterday. From now on, I will need to think about making some healthy "real" food for myself, so no more whispers hit me.

One other thing. Today, I am wearing a Christmas shirt that I bought to wear last year. I never tried it on at the store, but when I got home, it was obvious to me that I would not be wearing it. I kept it anyway, left the tag on, and stuck it in the closet. I pulled it out this morning, and not only does it fit, it's actually loose!! I am happy! Since I have started wearing clothes that fit better, more and more people have noticed that I am not the woman I used to be. It feels good to wear things that fit, too. So, don't hide in those baggy jeans. Show off a little. It's fun. Not only that, finding my old favorite things I used to wear and being able to wear them,  makes me feel more like "me" again, which was the main point of my quest, originally.

So, enjoy the holidays, be smart, and remember to......................

Juice on!!!

Post Fast Update, 12/20/11

Wow, almost Christmas. I can't believe this year has gone by so quickly. Sure did end up good for me. I hope it does for everyone!

I am cooking the traditional dinner on Christmas Eve. At this rate, that may be the first time that I eat any amount of meat. I am still craving veggies. I caved and made some more butternut squash, roasted and turned into thick soup, to have for dinner the next few nights. I also decided to go back to juicing for breakfast and lunch, but with a few additions. Hey, Kroger had Kale on sale again for .59 for a big lovely bunch! It was a sign, what could I do?

But for breakfast, the rest of the week, I am having a third of a pineapple, 2 oranges, and then blend that with a banana in the blender for a smoothie. (Hey, pineapples and oranges were on sale too!) It is so good, except odd to have the small chunks of banana in there. 

I am writing this at lunch. The addition to my Mean Green is the black olive hummus and wheat crackers. (Hey, they had the hummus, buy one get one free! I had to do it.) The Mean Green still tastes better to me all the time.

So why am I still doing so much juice when I don't have to? One reason, especially for breakfast, is that I think I would fall back into my old habits of skipping it altogether or eating crapola. The juice is good for me, tastes good and takes hardly any time in the morning. I still get cold after my Mean Green, but I like it and I still think it gives me a good boost of energy to get through the afternoon. Once I run out of the "on sale Kale", I may go to some of the other juices I like for awhile. Eventually, I am sure that for lunches, in the winter, I will move on to some yummy soups that I make. The first one will be turkey vegetable that I have been making for years. I plan to change it just a tad, and use as many fresh ingredients as I can, instead of frozen vegetables. It's a family favorite and I will put the recipe on here in a couple of days. Great for leftover turkey and the bones. Makes a ton, also.

Today, I am wearing a favorite shirt I found in my closet. Haven't worn it in a very long time. It fits just like it should. Also, pulled out a smaller pair of Levi's. I thought, "no way", but guess what? They fit too. I haven't lost any more weight but I think I might still be changing. Fine with me.

I haven't gained more than 3-4 pounds either, it varies a bit from day to day. I have been eating, really I have. Last night I ate too much of the butternut squash and was too full. Another night, I did the same thing with the steamed veggies/rice/sausage. Things are moving along as well, though the watermelon/apple/pear juice I had yesterday helped and sent me to the ladies room, 3 times, just in the morning!! I was about to take a laptop in there with me, if that kept up. Have to work sometimes!!

Ok, out of time and have to play a little bit, before lunch is over.

Be Strong!

Post fast.....One Week

It's been a week today since the last day of my fast. I think I've gained 3 pounds back which is very good. I still haven't eaten any meat other than that little bit of sausage. I am still drinking juices and eating vegetables mostly, because that is all that I want.

This morning, I was tired from staying up late, lots later than normal, on a work night. I made a juice first thing and it made me feel just fine. I never will get over how it just seems to be absorbed so quickly and fix you right up.

My routine still isn't one. I am still eating the leftovers from the steamed veggie buffet I made several days ago. That's fine. I like leftovers and it still tastes really good. I didn't exercise as much this week as I should have. Have to work harder on that as the days fly by.

I also think that I am going to update this weekly instead of every day. If that is not ok, let me know. If I feel like I have something interesting to contribute, then of course, I will. I feel like, even though I haven't eaten hardly any of the kinds of things I used to eat, that I will be just fine. That's good news, but you can't write about it every day. It's plain boring.

The holidays are upon us. I hope everyone enjoys them and stays healthy. I know that I will.

Juice on!!!

Post Fast...Day 6

Today was the first day that I had no juice at all since 65 days ago. It wasn't intentional. I managed to turn my alarm off without really waking up. Luckily I did wake up just in time to barely make it to work on time. I did grab a yogurt, the figs, hummus, crackers and steamed veggies, so I was well supplied for the day anyway.

Then last night, I decided to do something after work tonight, so had no time at all tonight, except to take care of the pups and rush back out. It seems odd not to have made or consumed any juice. But tonight, I did something that I haven't done in over 5 years. I went to a show and had dinner with friends!

The isolation is of my own design. It's partly because of life events, partly because of the way I felt about my body, but most recently,  because I didn't have the energy to do anything after work. Even on the weekends, doing the shopping and taking care of the house was about all I could accomplish. Sure, I would have the occasional outing on the weekends, but I always suffered from whatever crazy thing I had attempted. But now, things have changed.

The 7th day of the fast, was when I spontaneously decided to drive into downtown Dallas to see Joe Cross after work on a Monday night. I stayed up late that night, but was just as alert all day as if I had gone to bed early. I've said this before, but at that time, it wasn't the weight loss giving me the energy. It was the juice. Now, I am starting to feel more confident about being able to do things for 2 reasons. One, I know I won't be exhausted. Two, because I feel better about my appearance. That's a good combo.

I had such a good time tonight. What a difference a day makes. It rained much of the time as I was driving, but I had a better idea of the "lay of the land." Besides, I was going out and doing something with Friends! I saw belly dancers. My friend's wife is one. They are truly amazing. Dinner was enjoyable too. Love the fact that things have so much more flavor. I was very thankful for the opportunity. I told my pal that it made me feel like a person again. That sounds a bit pathetic. It isn't. I was happy enough the way I was. The thing is, you don't realize you have fallen in a hole sometimes. Why you can't tell you are in a hole, no idea, but that is what I had let happen to me. I am coming back to life due to changes that I decided to make and it feels good. No one could have done it for me and that is good too, because I know what I did and I can take the confidence boost and use that well. Shoot, I may even go on a date someday.............wouldn't hold your breath on that one.

Thanks BigDaddy/2. You are an inspiration to me. So is your wife. Great kids, too. Lucky man. Lucky me, to call you my friend.
(he even texted  me to make sure I got home all right! Not used to that, except from family.......so cool)

Stay strong!!!!

Post Fast...Day 5

I can't write much tonight for 2 reasons.

1. The past 3 hours have just been absolutely horrible. Making it worse, is that it's my own fault, and now I am in a terrible, terrible mood, with no one to take it out on but me. So, I plan to enjoy the dark depths of my anger at myself until it wears off, or I can distract myself. No, no, no, I didn't eat something I shouldn't have. And, I am fine, as fine as a dope can be.

2. I don't have that much to report. The only new things I ate were the yogurt I finally remembered, and the figs. I guess they are called "dried" but they were pretty mushy. What surprised me the most, was that they tasted just like the inside of a good fig newton, which I love and rarely have. I would like to try to make something with the figs. Tasty!!

Other than that, no weight gain, no loss of energy. Especially right now, when I could bite the heads off nails!! (Insert mean angry emoticon here) I'm still sleeping very well, too. I am wondering if the lack of meat has anything to do with how I feel? I did have a tiny little bit last night and today, and I mean tiny. I can't see myself ever eating a big ole steak again, but I think I will have some meat when I feel like eating it, if I ever do. We'll see. I don't want to lose my energy! My freezers have lots of meat in them, too. It'll last a good long time. Luckily, I will have my daughter and her BF staying with me soon, so they will help me use it before it goes bad. Except they like healthy eating also. So, it'll last a good long time.

Juice on, and sorry for the lack of info today.  
wish i had one of those punching clowns or somethin..............i'd put my own lovely face on it and pop myself a few times........i don't get in bad moods often..............but when i do..............i like to make the most of it........

Post Fast...Day 4

This morning the scale told me I am 2 pounds heavier. I don't care. It seems like I must have eaten more than that, but maybe not. Hard to tell. I expect to gain some, because I was basically empty by the end of the fast. Even on the fast, the weight loss would slow down or stop after a few days. The Waste Management department would take care of that. If I can remember, I bought some dried figs to eat if I get a sweet craving or want a snack. Must throw in backpack right now. They feel kind of squishy inside the bag, so not that dried out. A couple of them might move things along.

Two things happened today that haven't in a long time. In the middle of the afternoon, in a boring meeting, I got a little bit sleepy. It didn't last long. The second thing was, that a while after that, my tummy was like "I'm hungry!" Not screaming hungry, but definitely a sensation. I just drank some water. So things must be "waking" up inside.

Did better today with juice and food. I got my breakfast juice made and a half Mean Green. I took leftover green beans and tiny red potatoes, to go with the juice. I read somewhere that you should eat some yogurt, the good kind with active cultures, after a fast. I bought some last Sat. Have I remembered I even had it? Sure I didn't. I now have moved it to the front of the refrigerator so I will remember to take it with me in the morning.

I was getting concerned, that since I am not really eating much I might not be getting the nutrients I was from just juice. How could I? Can't eat all that goes into a juice. So, as I was wandering around the grocery store tonight, after work, after taking some stuff to storage, ( never would have been doing either those things after work), I spied some humus-buy one get one free. I don't have much experience with it, but I know that it's made out of beans and has lots of protein in it. I decided to give it a try and got black olive and garlic-artichoke. Now, what to do with it? I found some skinny wheat crackers that I hope aren't too bad for me and I never had before. While I was waiting for my dinner to cook, I tried some of the black olive on 3 crackers. (They are not too big). The first bite really puzzled me. What the heck was that taste? A couple more nibbles and I figured it out. It tasted just like a chili-cheese dog. I am Serious!! I don't know if it was the humus or the cracker or both but boy, I used to like chili-cheese yaps. Now, I will have this instead. Great snack or maybe a meal.The brand is Athenas. $3.79, at Kroger.

Dinner was great! I steamed up a bunch of veggies, some more of the tiny taters, and just a small amount of Hillshire Farms beef links, sliced up thin. I know, I know. You are supposed to start with fish or chicken, something mild. But I love to put the sausage in the top of the double steamer I have, and let it drip down to flavor the veggies. They would have been delicious without it. I did it anyway. Also, cooked some brown rice, takes forever to cook, but I like it. I made all this stuff so I can have it for lunches the rest of the week, and maybe dinner too. I ate about a cup and a half, if that. Just a small bowl. I wanted to suck it down, it was so good. Instead, I made sure I really chewed each bite and savored the flavors. It's more than will fit inside an Easter egg, but I haven't had any problems so far. I really hope that all this food isn't just sitting around inside me. I would hate to get food poisoning from the inside out, if that can even happen.

One last thing I found out for today. Black Pepper is hotter than it used to be! When did they change that, I'd like to know? Geez-o-man, have to adjust. 

Stay on track!!

Post Fast....Day 3...short one

I'm sorry to report that I did not do very well today. I only had a cup of green tea and water for breakfast, a half a Mean Green and the rest of my soup for lunch. However, I was not tired or sleepy all day and I did over 2 miles on the treadmill, in spite of getting a late start. I will be having some green beans and tiny potatoes for dinner, maybe two. Tomorrow I will do better.

Now that I can eat again, my desire for certain things is no longer with me. I was thinking a lot about lasagna, but now, I can wait awhile. Also, no desire for bread or meat. I was never a big bread eater anyway except for sandwiches. Still, all I really want are vegetables. But I want what I couldn't juice, like the green beans. A friend of mine told me that diabetics can't eat too many green beans. I never knew that they had that much sugar in them. Guess it's good you can't juice them.

Was so busy today, and after I got home too, that I didn't think much about what to write for today. Hope that isn't a let down. I will try to find some interesting facts about eating after a fast and post those. My biggest problem is taking the time to plan and eat. I got spoiled by my juicing routine. Still am......

TTFN!!!

Post Fast....Day 2

I have decided that I will write about my day at the end of the day, instead of writing for the next day. It just makes more sense.

Yes, I stepped on the scale first thing this morning. No, I didn't gain any weight back. I didn't expect to, since I hardly ate anything yesterday. So far so good.

Again, didn't have time to eat this morning, so made another fast fruit and sweet potato juice and out the door. I went to a movie at the Studio Movie Grill with the family. I wasn't sure what I would eat for lunch. They had some interesting looking salads on the menu. I couldn't face cold food, to be honest. So, I ordered a spinach and mushroom quesadilla and hoped for the best. It wasn't that big, and only came with salsa, which I did not have. I must say, it was very good. I ate more of it than would fit inside an Easter Egg. Also had a bit of a tortilla chip and a bite of a  french fry. Neither appealed to me. Afterward, I felt pretty full, but not uncomfortable. We walked a good way after the movie and that helped, I am sure. Hours later, I feel fine. No stomach pains, no gurgles. I don't know what is going on inside, but I am hoping just normal things.  Still not hungry, but drinking water.

I have something else to share that is important to know, especially for the ladies. A couple-three weeks ago, I noticed that my back between my shoulder blades was feeling tired, like I needed to lie down or get a massage. I tried a doorjamb massage, and while it felt ok, it didn't make the feeling go away. A few nights ago, I was chatting with my friend, Big Daddy/2. He was telling me about the bra-top he was sewing for his wife's belly dancing costume. We got to talking about the importance of a proper fit and such. Then, it dawned on me what was causing my back muscles to feel so odd. My support system was too big now and not doing the job. So I dug down in my drawer to try to find some smaller underwear, hard, cause I cut all the tags off and they all look the same. Anyway, I had success, and a few days later, the issue seems to be resolved. Point is, when you are walking around and your underwear falls off, it's time to replace All of it. On a juice fast, you need all kinds of support.

The next couple of days, at least, I plan to stick with juice for breakfast and lunch. But, I cut down on the amount and will have something else at lunch, like soup, homemade, of course. Dinner will be vegetables. Hot vegetables. It might be easier to eat raw if it was summer, or maybe in a few days. What I really need to do, is to plan this all out a little bit better.

Be Strong and juice on!!

ps. I found out that I can change the settings so anyone can comment, no login! Duh, wish I had known.

Day 1.........Post Fast

This is sure to be a let down, after the fabulous post of yesterday. It can't be helped.

My first day of eating!! Woo-de-hoo-hoo. I was so busy, didn't have time to do much about eating. I made a apple and carrot juice in the morning, while the carpet cleaning dude was here. I didn't want to eat my first real food with him around.

Once he left, I had to leave too. The chemicals smelled awful, dogs had to be kept up and were barking, so I took off to run a couple of errands for an hour or so. Finally, things got under control and I sat down at my table with my lovely pear. It was delicious! I did eat the whole thing, it wasn't very big. A few hours after that, I had a Mean Green, but reduced the amount and ate part of the cucumber I would normally use. It tasted good too.

Didn't get to have my soup until late. I was just doing things and the time got away from me. It was worth the work, once I finally got it made. I roasted a 2 lb. butternut squash, cut in cubes, tossed with olive oil and a little bit of salt. I also roasted a garlic and added half of that. A few onions were sprinkled in to roast too, about halfway though. Put all that in a pot, along with about a half can of chicken broth, some coconut milk and a bit of cream. Mashed it and then used my stick blender to smooth it out. I left it fairly thick. I could feel the warmth from it in my tummy. It didn't take much to fill me up either. I'll have enough for 2 more meals, easily. It was so tasty!! Next time, I'll use vegetable broth that I will make. I think it would taste better with that.

Yesterday was fun though. I got plenty of congrats and Wow's!! The family was really impressed. One of the doubters even texted that he may have to get a juicer. Wait till he tastes my fresh juice! He'll  be converted.

 I feel just great. Lots of energy, no ill effects from anything so far. If the soup causes no issues, I should be on the right track. I tell you, I almost caved and thought about just having a juice for dinner. So easy, no dishes. But, that wouldn't have been the plan and I did so want hot food again. Remembered to drink plenty of water too. That's important any time. Have to keep hydrated and I think it's good for the skin too.

Be Strong!!

The quest ends...........the Results Show!!

As I was making my juice last night, the thought crossed my mind, "I won't have to do this anymore." Followed by, "unless I want to." Have to? Really? Did a health judge sentence me to 60 days of juice only, as the penalty for letting myself get in such bad shape? Too bad that can't really happen. I sentenced myself, chose to make this change, and I am very glad I did.

I'm sure that some people and even my own family think I am crazy. That's really nothing new. A fast is kind of radical. I did my homework and checked out the best ways to make sure that I was getting all the nutrition I needed. I think I did well. Now the one thing I don't believe I have ever mentioned is checking with your doctor. If you have any medical conditions, I think it's a good idea to do so, especially diabetes. Controlling the sugar intake would take more effort and you want to be safe. It would be nice to have cholesterol numbers from before and after if you had high cholesterol. I didn't check with my doc because I don't have one. Just because I didn't, doesn't mean that you shouldn't. I am not a good example on that.

Someone asked me how my last day was going? It went like all the other days. Make juice, drink juice and water. The fact that it was the last day didn't change anything. There was no parade, no confetti, just me and the Mean Green, trying to keep warm. I did mention it a few times and people were very supportive. Oh, one guy brought in 2 dozen doughnuts fresh out of the oven. There were my favorite blueberry ones too. I am not sure that they even put real blueberries in them. The whole batch was very aromatic. However, they did not smell that good to me anymore. I took a good whiff of them....nothing. My mouth didn't water, and I had no desire to have any. I don't eat sweets that much, but I would have had at least one, maybe a second if they stayed around long enough. I did do 35 minutes on the treadmill to end my workday.

OK, OK, enough chatter, here is what you really want to know.

Numbers. Unfortunately, I did not take many measurements when I started. I wish now that I had. I didn't realize I would basically shrink all over. I thought my BFB (big fat belly) would go away and that would be it,
 pretty much. I will tell you what I know.

Starting weight..195, seriously,... ending weight..155...Total loss.....40 lbs.
Starting BMI........30.5, that is classified as obese, just barely, but still
Ending BMI..........24.3, in the normal range..woo-hoo!
Starting Waist ..............48-49, ending waist.............40....still have to work on that size even though I lost 8-9 inches!

That's all I have on that, sorry, but they say that a picture is worth a thousand words. I made a nice collage, but they just aren't big enough to see, so one by one will have to do.

Want to see my before and after pictures? ................................Sure you do!!!

No touch ups and I don't wear hardly any makeup. (probably should) I only cropped and re-sized them. I am pretty happy with the results so far. I didn't realize how much I had changed until I looked at these. I am almost back to myself, beginning to look and feel like "me" again. That was what I set out to do. 

Yeah, it's been totally worth it. Don't ya think?

Thank-you all. More tomorrow.................

I DID IT!!!

Day 60............"Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning."

When this day is over, where to now? For over 2 months, my life has been focused primarily on my juice quest. Making sure I was prepared, researching questions, reading other blogs and websites, exercising, and writing all about it, has been such a major part of my daily existence. Now that I have arrived at this destination, it's time to find another. It's time to expand the horizon and see what I can do. Sounds exciting!!

So, do you want to see some numbers and pictures? ....................................Sure you do!!!!!

Ok, here are the approximate, but close amounts of what I have consumed in the past 9 weeks.

Kale Leaves            378
Celery Stalks          324
Apples                    200
Carrots                   180
Tomato                   136
Ginger/pc                108
Spinach/handful         81
Limes                        72
Green Onions            72
Cucumber                 63
Peppers/Red/Yellow 54
Beets                        45
Italian Parsley           36
Turnips                     36
Green Peppers         27
Pears                       27
Sweet Potato           18
Daikon Radish           9
Watermelon             1 whole at least
Pineapple                 5

Well, that's quite a list of stuff for one person. I'm sure there is more, but I think that you can see enough to get the idea.

Now the pictures...........Here is what I was like before I started this juice fast........wilted, tired all the time. I was just hanging around, not living my life.

And here is what I am like now.............vibrant, refreshed, ready to bloom through the rest of my life!!

What??? Not the numbers and pictures that you expected? I think they are great examples. Oh, right, this was about weight loss and inches gone. Won't have that final total until Saturday morning. Such a shame, 60 days of waiting for the final results show, and have to wait one more day. Geez, life is so unfair!!!!

Rest assured, I got some good "after" photos. Surprised myself, actually. I also found a couple more "before" pics for comparison. Will post all on Saturday, along with before and after weights and some final thoughts on 60 days of juice fasting. The poor kale, perked right up and then torn to smithereens for my luncheon enjoyment. That was because I had to...............

Juice on!!!!

Day 59................Changes

It's been a long time now, longer than I could have ever imagined not eating any food. I can't even remember what the last thing was that I actually ate. I know I started on a Tuesday because I was off that Monday and shopped for produce. What changed along the way? I went back and read the first 2 weeks of my blog and then skipped around a bit to see.

The first thing I noticed was that it took about 2 weeks before my focus changed away from weight loss to the benefits of juicing. Oh, I was, and am still concerned with that, but it slowly became much more. I was lucky, I never noticed any of the detox symptoms I have read about. Most likely that was because I rarely drank caffeine and already ate a fair amount of vegetables. I also prefer to cook my own food, instead of eating out very often. That is because mine tastes better and costs a lot less.

I think that the energy for me started kicking in on the 5th or 6th day. I remember, I honestly didn't know what to do with myself. It had to be from the juice, because I had not lost that much weight. I still get that boost after I drink it, but now, it seems more normal. I still get cold after drinking it. Bother! My energy level has remained the same. I am awake during the day and sleep well at night. I started waking up with less and less trouble. Even when I don't have to go to work, I wake up earlier than I used to. Shopping doesn't wipe me out, either. Nothing wipes me out anymore, even two very active grandkids. ( but I'm not so old, you probably read about me in the National Enquirer, "Four Year Old Gives Birth".... yeah, that was me)

Mental changes are harder to detect in yourself. I have been told that I seem happier and more positive. At work, I do not let things bug me as much. I am more focused than I used to be and things in general, are clearer. I mean lots of things, colors, smells, taste, general awareness. Kind of hard to explain, but I feel like I am more alive. I didn't feel dead before. Of course, you wouldn't know you had a layer about you until it gets peeled off. It's like my whole body had a face peel. Gross. I never thought about it before.

Being able to do things more easily makes me happy everyday, too. Every time I step into my Tahoe, I notice the change in me. It's easier to lean over to tie my shoes.....just lots of little things like that. I notice.

Kidneys are still functioning at tip top capacity. I should have kept track of my TP bill to see how much this is costing me in the bathroom. I never researched how fast liquids should be processed. I'm sure that I would win a race on that one. Capacity seems to have improved, however. That may be due to more room inside. I do not know. Waste management, also the same. "Stuff" gets deposited for disposal every 4-6 days I would say. I still have never had that Senna Leaf tea I bought way back on Day 5. I still beware of the toots, but haven't had any further issues, since....can't recall the day....early on anyway.

There was one more thing, but it's not really much of a change. I never craved foods often. When I did, I would usually take care of it because I thought that was my body's way of telling me I needed something. It could be a banana, stuffed peppers, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or cheese and spinach quesadilla. It just didn't happen much. Since I have been juicing only, I haven't experienced what I would think of as a craving, because I haven't been hungry hardly at all. I have missed eating hot food probably the most. I do love a good juicy cheeseburger that I make and grill out, with my own coleslaw on top. If it was sitting in front of me right now, I honestly don't know if I would want it or not. Well, right, now, I can tell you I would not. I'm full. This whole thing was easier for me because, while I like all kinds of food, sometimes I forget to eat. I am not addicted to it. In fact, I have probably had a more steady diet these past days than I ever did in my life. Light bulb moment!! Aside from all the good from juicing, that could well be part of why I feel so much better. Regular input! Interesting.

Whoa, this one got long, sorry about that. And I was worried I would run out of things to say. Only thing left for today is......................

Juice on and thank-you Joe and Jason for inspiring me!!

Day 58..................Drawing a blank

For the first time since I started writing, I have no inspiration. No good idea popped into my head at a random moment. The dogs are certainly no help. How do they know when I start to write and ask to go out, every time, so I have to stop and get up? I've been sitting here for awhile. Little rats. My friend, Big Daddy/2, had some suggestions for me, so here goes.

I was looking for some more "before" pictures today and found a couple of doosies. I know you want to see them, but, not until the end. I hope to get some "after" pictures taken on Thursday. I do look different to myself, after seeing those shots. But still, I have lots of work to do. I merely am smaller.....and I still can't see my collarbones. They are closer to the surface, at least. Also, at the end, either the last day or the next, I will post my numbers. It still embarrasses me to admit how much I weighed. I clearly remember being concerned if I got over 110 lbs. I wasn't anorexic, just a beanpole. I do not think that is a good weight for me now. I am 5'7" and back then, didn't have the muscles I do now, from running. Maybe I should have chosen "Slender-Vic" instead of "Skinny."

So Saturday. I wish I had the whole day to myself, but had to schedule carpet cleaners at 4:30. That shouldn't interfere too much with my plans. I will probably make a small breakfast juice, like apples and watermelon. That is light. Then, if I can find it, eat the perfect pear. I really like pears. I should eat them more often. Lunch, probably a Mean Green. I doubt I will want to eat anything. For dinner, I am fancying roasting some butternut squash and making a little soup. For some reason, that, and steamed cabbage are what I want the most. The thing is, supposedly, you won't be able to eat very much. I am not used to cooking tiny bits. I like to make a big mess and have leftovers. That is why I bought a little steamer basket to put in a pan.

I know! Raw foods are the best. I will eat raw foods. However, it makes more sense to break them down at first by steaming. I can't imagine what would happen if I ate a bunch of raw cauliflower or even a banana, right away. My body has had only minimal amounts of fiber for a long time. It could turn into Toot City or worse. Not good.  I do like raw potatoes, too. Used to snitch a slice when my mom was cutting them up. She always told me that you aren't supposed to eat them raw. I always thought she said that so I would stop snitching them.  Still, better stay away from the high fiber stuff until I find out how things effect me. Additionally, what I have missed all along, is hot food. I am looking forward to the soup. Hope I don't burn myself. Joe Cross bit his mouth when eating his first Granny Smith apple. I'll be thinking about that too. It sure would be fun to be in a hot air balloon like he was. I will close my eyes and imagine..............

Juice on and TY BD/2!!!

Day 57.............More tips and stuff

First off, I am not Worried-Vic anymore. My common sense kicked in and I realized that it's pointless to worry about something I can do nothing more about. Worrying about what will happen when I end my fast is silly. I plan to end it and I've done my homework. Whatever does happen, will. So that is that.

I've been meaning to share something I discovered a few days ago. My Breville is great. I rinse it out well every time I use it. I haven't put the parts in the dishwasher, because I have only actually run that once since I started this. I noticed that the basket that holds the blade was getting dull, like it had a film on it. Rubbing harder when rinsing it, removed some of the film, so I knew it wasn't stained. Brilliant person that I can be, I noticed an unused brush in my "brush" glass that might be just the ticket. It was perfect, even for cleaning out the spout. Want to see?......................................Sure you do!!

The curved end just gets in the rounded part of the basket and the other end gets the spout. It's a baby bottle brush made by "The First Years." I don't know if they still make them. I've had it for a few years. I use it all the time now. Good thing it didn't get much use years ago. The basket looks brand new again, too!

Next, take a gander at this humongous kale leaf. I think it's a different variety from what I have been getting. That's my favorite 8" bladed knife there.

I cut part of the stems off to soak in a cup. Then I break off the rest of the big part before I juice it. Yes, I see a pattern. Unusually large produce equals a photo opp for me now. Sic Vic. I can't help myself!!!!!

Now, I have talked before about rinsing/washing/soaking the kale. I used to just wash it under running water, at first. In the interest of conserving water, I started soaking it in a bowl, and swishing it around a bit. I was really surprised how much dirt came off it, because it didn't even look dirty. I think soaking it helps clean it.

That's just about 6 leaves' worth. When I get 2-3 days worth ready, I use a great big metal bowl. I put a plate on top and push it down so water gets on the plate. That helps hold it down in the water. Kale tends to float.

I've been doing the kale like that for a long time. I wish I had thought about that brush sooner and could have shared it. I'm just happy about it.

Little things that help daily life are great. There are lots more great little things in a day than big ones. I like to notice all little things and be happy several times a day. That sounds pretty sappy. I do it, but I may not show it. Letting little things make you happy might make each day better than it would have been if you hadn't noticed. My Ozarka water and my juice make me happy, too. So does writing this blog.    :-)

Juice on!!!

p.s. It's not special water. Well, it is to me because I like it. I don't know if you can even get it outside of Texas. The company was bought by Nestle, but it still tastes the same to me. I don't know if it really comes from springs or not. I like to hope that it does. I also use a Brita pitcher. Tap water, can't drink it.

Day 56..............Consequences

Weight loss has stalled for the past couple of days. That's probably because I haven't exercised due to illness. Feeling better now, so should be able to get back on track today. The weather is awful, and I am off for 4 days, so will not have the treadmill and will not want to run outside. I will make do with my videos and little trampoline. That and major house cleaning should do the trick.

With only 4 days remaining of this trip, I thought I'd better start researching what to eat after I am finished. I have run across some things, like only eating what will fit inside an Easter egg the first week and a few other tips, but hadn't really delved into it. What I found was a bit troubling and conflicting. I am wondering what I have gotten myself into this time?

My body doesn't know how to process real food anymore, according to several articles I read. One said I should take as long as I fasted to reintroduce foods. What? Another said to take 1 day for every 4 or 5 and that is how long it should take. That's 15 days to readjust, at the least. That sounded pretty reasonable to me. One interesting thing I read, is not to fantasize about food you want to eat once you are finished. One, you can't eat it right away, and two, it might make you start feeling hungry again while still on the fast. That happened to me. I thought it was odd at the time. It makes sense. The mind is very powerful and I have been thinking about lasagna.

I read that you should have prunes for the first couple of days. Also, you can get either diarrhea or constipated. Maybe I'll hold off on the prunes to see what happens. I like them, just wouldn't want to make things worse. Good thing for me is that it will be a weekend, so should be ok.

Bottom line is that I am almost afraid to start eating again. Not because I will gain the weight back or lose my energy, but because I am afraid I will get sick or have terrible stomach pains. So, my plan is going to stay the same as it was before I started reading all of those articles. Basically, start slowly and listen to my body. Start with fruit, then vegetables, soups and add to that with milder things at first and see how it goes. I will continue to drink the juices. They are part of my lifestyle and I like it. I do want to be able to eat pasta on occasion, with no ill effects. Just can't do it next Saturday night. 

Worried-Vic.............

Day 55...Things that make you go hmmmm........

Even though I was under the weather yesterday, I went out and got my produce and did my Christmas shopping. I did because the real weather is supposed to get much worse the next few days, and I didn't want to deal with it.

The threat of bad weather reminded me to make a quick stop and pick up some insurance that I keep forgetting to do. I pulled into the Home Depot, love that store. I got something called "Ice Melt" so I wouldn't get trapped with the car in the garage for 5 days, like last year. It was only ten bucks. Cheap insurance. The bag was pretty heavy, but I lifted it into the car and looked to see what it weighed. It wasn't that easy to lift either. It was 40 lbs. "Wow", I thought, "that's almost how much weight I have lost." Could I really have been carrying that around with me every day? It hardly seems possible. Pounds are pounds right? I'm tempted to heft the bag on my scale and make sure. You want some motivation? Next time you are out and about, go into the garden section or dog food aisle and lift up a 40 lb. bag of something. Then think about why you are tired all the time.

Only five days left after today. That's pretty hard for me to believe also. I bought my usual 7 day supply. I didn't even need my list this time. At my favorite store, basket full, I felt a bit sad. Oh, I will continue to shop there every week now. I used to only go maybe once a month, because it's not that close. However, the freshness of the produce and the great prices make it worthwhile for me. It didn't before. I wasn't consuming enough produce to make it worth the trip. Sometimes, in the past, things would even go bad. I'm happy to say that I have only lost one red pepper, and I think it was old when I got it. Rare, but true. Mold, gross.

I stay on the outside aisles of grocery stores now, mostly. Looking down some of the aisles makes me shake my head. So, so much stuff that is so, so not good. It wouldn't be there if millions of people didn't load up on it all the time. Sometimes, I see a shopping cart loaded up, maybe with a child in it as well. It's hard not to ask, "why are you doing this to yourself and your family?" Is it marketing, lack of time, lack of knowledge, what? Do people not know or care to cook anymore? This might date me, but when I was a kid, I don't remember so called "convenience" foods being around. Maybe my parents didn't buy them. We had a huge garden every year. I am the oldest of six. That's a lot of hungry stinkers. I learned how to cook by the time I was seven. I learned how to can and freeze food too. That was convenience food, opening a can of something you stored away in the summer. I have to think it was better for us, even though it was processed by us in some way. I often hated that garden, but what I wouldn't give to have a good one today!! What I learned isn't taught to kids anymore. It's a darned shame too.

Want to see a picture of the biggest sweet potatoes I have ever seen in my life?...........................Sure you do!!

That's a regular sized pen and they really were only .89 a pound. I managed to find a couple of normal sized ones, but they were all so pretty, I had to take a picture. Think juicing for 55 days has changed me?

Sure you do!!!!

Day 54.......Self Confidence...........

B positive. That's my blood type and it's been my motto ever since I typed my own blood in biology class in high school. I have always considered myself to be a positive person, looking on the bright side, finding the silver linings, etc. Not, nauseatingly so, mind you, but a "glass is half full" kind of person. I had a great deal of self confidence. Self confident people are positive people.

The past ten years have been quite the trip for me. Plenty of bad things have happened, mostly due to my own choices. Slowly, I stopped being the person I was. This was evident to me every time I looked in the mirror, but I never actually thought about it. I am vain. Because of my appearance, I stopped doing things. I put off seeing people I have not seen in a long time. I avoided being in pictures, wore baggy clothes. No skin tight tops, showing off my unlovely physique, no sir. But, I couldn't hide completely. I still had a job that I had to go to and see people.

One of the several bosses I have had, used to really aggravate me when he told me many times, that I was a negative person. How could that possibly be true? No one had ever told me that before. Two bosses later, I heard that she had made the comment, "Victoria's a bit on the negative side." I had barely met the woman. What was the deal? Still, I didn't think much of it, except that they must just be crazy and don't know me at all.

Recently, the first one said that my attitude seemed to be changing, and for the better. He said that I seem happier. I thought I was happy enough already, weeks ago, but I must not have been. So I've been thinking about all of this and figured it out. My negativity must have been directly related to my vanity. I didn't think I looked good. This was destroying my self confidence and it showed. Now that I am starting to feel more presentable, in my mind, my self confidence is coming back. Is that shallow? If someone told me that, I believe that I might think it is shallow. Whether it is or not, how we feel about ourselves, for whatever reason, often will manifest itself in ways we may not even be aware of. But others can see it.

My point? Juicing not only is making me healthier physically, but mentally as well. I didn't expect it. I didn't even realize I needed a mental overhaul, too. It's given me a tool to always be able to make my life better. Sometimes, maybe someone else too. I like that.

(Still not feeling well, fever went away in the night. Sore throat, so taking some OTC pain killer to help with that. I did get more citrus and made more Dreamsicle juice. Love it. I did not exercise, but will as soon as I turn the corner on this. At least, I did not crawl straight into bed after work.)

Stay strong!  (and Hello World, cause I'm comin' back)

Day 53.............I got the fever...........

I don't know what the heck is going on. Yesterday, woke up with a tiny little sore throat, nothing to worry about. Stepped on the scale and was so happy. I have made it down to another set of ten pounds.

As I was getting ready, I began to feel kind of hollow and empty. It's a hard feeling to describe, because it's not hunger, but you need fuel. I have been skipping my fruit juices for a few days, but decided I needed something and made a fruit juice for the road. I felt much better after drinking it.

As the day wore on, I became increasingly cold. I chalked it up to less insulation, and also, I always get cold after drinking juice. But, even my electric throw didn't keep me warm, except sometimes, I got really hot for a few minutes. Not a good sign. I cranked up the heat on the way home and by this time, I just wanted to crawl into bed. But, I couldn't. Must fight this!! Oh yeah, I took my temperature, 102 degrees. Lovely.

Instead of making my vg8 as planned, I wanted to use the 4 oranges I had for the vitamin C. I sure didn't feel like doing it. What I made tasted almost like a Dreamsicle. Really tasty. I could be delirious. I just wanted to share.

4 Oranges, peeled
2 Gala apples
1 pear
3 fat carrots

What is wrong with me, has nothing to do with juicing. I expect that the juice will help me recover quickly. I'm sure it's just some little virus. Do I think that eating some food now, since I don't feel good, would make me better?  "Oh woe is me, I need some chicken soup and throw a cheeseburger in with that."  I do not think that feeling bad is a reason to cave. However, I may up my citrus intake for a few days (except now I don't have any), to help me out. I hardly ever get sick. I can't handle a fever well. Wish I had some kind of computerized juicer to make juice for me. Geez, what a baby...............

I write this the night before. I'm afraid that my juice is gone and I do feel a bit better. But need to go rest.

Juice on to our health!!

ps. Try that juice. I will be making it again.

Day 52....................old habits...............

Yesterday, I wrote about my days as the are now. I later realized that it might be more meaningful if I had written about what my days were like before. So, here I will  try to write a synopsis of the old days.

Mornings: Drag myself out of bed with just barely enough time to get ready for work. Maybe grab a breakfast burrito or  biscuits and gravy, if I had time, from a fast food place. Or, I'd get a sausage biscuit and big Diet Dr. Pepper from the gas station on the way. (Hmm, that used to give me heartburn, too. I forgot all about that, because it went away shortly after I started juicing. I used to take several antacids throughout the day. Bonus!)
Get to work, sleepy and grumpy for awhile. Usually did  not drink coffee, so good there. I would drink water, but only a couple of glasses, less if really busy.

Lunch: That was when I did the best. I would make something on the weekend to have all week most of the time, sometimes a big salad, with low-carb dressing, steamed veggies with sausage, pot roast, stuffed peppers or pasta. I like leftovers. I'd be sleepy in the afternoons and driving home.

Night: Get home and let the dogs out and make myself some sort of beverage with alcohol in it, using Diet soda, of course, must be healthy! Let the dogs back in and sit down in my recliner. Listen to the radio till 7 and then start watching TV, and refilling my glass as needed. If I did get hungry a couple of hours or so later, I'd have a frozen pizza, (2-3 slices), or a pot pie, lean pocket, or maybe just a sandwich of some sort. Sometimes, I'd make a package of a rice dish, like Red Beans and Rice. I don't know how many it is supposed to serve, but I would eat about half and save the rest.

Finally, on into bed and slept like crapola. I'd toss and turn and wake up often. I know this is because of the alcohol disrupting my sleep rhythms.

So, before........no exercise, terrible eating habits, not much water, rotten sleep, and slowly gaining weight. A disaster. I think my blood pressure might have been high too, because one time, a good while back, I went to a doc because I was sick and they told me it was high and gave me some pills to take. I took them until I ran out. I didn't go back. (BP is not high anymore, they take it at the dentist office, so no yapping.)

If the above routine sounds anywhere near what your days are like, you don't have to start juicing. However, (and I'm no expert) I think you best change something. I got into those habits over time and was happy being that way, except for being overweight. I knew that my attempts at healthy eating and exercising from time to time, would never really help. I needed something drastic. And that is when I found Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead. The timing was just right. Day 52, I almost hate to mention the weight loss, because it's so much more than that, but down 34.5 pounds. That's a good side effect of getting healthy.

Juice on!!!