Day 28.....Quick one, more juice tips

The more you do things, often the more you figure things out. I have some more info about Kale and how to get the most juice from it. I think this would apply to any leafy greens.

The first one, is, to conserve water, soak the leaves in a big bowl of water for 10-15 minutes or so. I think that this does a better job of cleaning anyway, judging from what I see in the water after I take the kale out. This is 2 days worth, so I used a Big bowl. Swish it around a bit a few times while it soaks.

Next, cut the ends off and put them in a cup, like you would flowers. Do this overnight, or for several hours, at least. Here are the 2 bunches, crammed into the Big cups.

When you juice the leaves, do it on High speed, if you have a high speed. I always used low, until recently. I discovered that the high speed will spin more juice out. If you have a fancy dancy juicer that grinds things instead of the centrifugal kind, then .....nevermind.

Had a great time yesterday. Went to the park with the kids so they could take their training wheels off and try to ride. They did! I took my scooter and rode all around the park, twice and then some. My 6 year old granddaughter had called me earlier to ask if I finished my report. I said, "Report?" She said, "You know, about your juice." She had overheard us talking about my blog, must have asked what a blog is. She told me that she thinks it's a good idea for me to write my reports every day. She wrote one too, about us going shopping for fruits and veggies, and making them into juice. It's amazing the influences we can have. Want to see a picture of me and my scooter? Sure you do!

You didn't think it had a motor, did you???

Juice on!!

Day 27...........Keeping busy

As the days go by my energy increases. I never, ever would have believed it. How can you have more energy and not eat anything? Yes, I know, it's from the micro nutrients in the juice and the fact that I am getting so much more of them by juicing them. But still, I want this to last. Will it go away after I go off this fast? I hope that if I keep drinking juice along with eating, I will be able to maintain.

Here's the thing. With the increased energy, what to do? Weekdays are pretty easy since I work all day. But the weekends are a different story. Yesterday, I did all my shopping in the morning. Usually, doing that and putting it all away makes me very tired. Sure, I would do a few other things but nothing strenuous. Yesterday, after lunch juice, I got an email from Blockbuster for a free movie. "That might be nice" I thought. Instead of hopping in the car, I aired up the tires on my old Schwinn. (It is old, 40 years) I decided to ride down to the Race Trac to rent the movie. It's probably a good mile and a half away. My thighs were burning a bit, but it wasn't too bad. When I got back, my dogs were looking at me, like "why didn't we get to go anywhere?' So I took them for a nice walk. A few weeks ago, there is absolutely no way that I would have done all that and not been totally wiped. I even did some stuff on my Wii after all that.

Point is, the longer you stay on this fast or feast, the better it gets. You read that over and over, but it's hard to believe unless it actually happens to you. I think about food. I think about juice. My favorite TV shows to watch are Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives, and Good Eats. Tell me if that makes any sense? But, because of all the benefits that I have experienced so far, it makes it easier to keep going. Down another half pound today, too. It's working for the weight loss, but so, so much more.

Juice on!!!!

Day 26.....a little late

Late, late late. So sorry, had to get to the store early so the kale wouldn't be all picked over. Seems like this juice discovery is spreading. Maybe I need to keep my  mouth shut to protect my supplies.

Today, I woke up while it was still dark. I mean a w a k e. It's Saturday. I never wake up early on Saturday. I look forward to sleeping late on Saturday and Sunday, all week. I just stayed in bed till it began to get light and thought about things. Finally, I decided it was time to get going and I did. I was at the store by 9 a.m. Unheard of! Turns out, there are plenty of people running around at that hour.

A lady at the store asked me what I was going to do with all the kale I was loading into my basket. I wasn't creative at all, and just told the truth, juicing it. I know that more and more people are doing it because the checkout girl said, "you must be juicing." That's pretty cool. Way to go Joe Cross.

 One of my co-workers ordered a juicer yesterday, because of me. Well, he needs it too, but I don't think that he would have even thought about it. It will be fun to swap recipes and tips with each other. Another co-worker asked me for recipes. She has a juicer already. but new to the process. And there's another that went to a screening of Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, when I told her about it, and she is going to start juicing soon. I am trying to spread the word, and hope that it creates a snowball effect. Doing that means that I have to be really good and lead by example. I think we can all do that. I started out with this quite selfishly. That has changed. One person can make a difference, and it doesn't matter how big or small.

One last thing for today and then I think I am going to go for a bike ride. I used to rarely talk to anyone when I went out shopping. no one talked to me either.  I talk to people all day at work, so am anti-social when away. The past couple of weeks or so, I have talked to people everywhere I go. Sometimes, they even talk to me first, like the lady this morning, asking me about the kale. In another store, a worker asked me if I was finding what I needed and I told him that they didn't have it, but I would come back. He went off, came back and gave me 2 special coupons for next week. I didn't see him do that for anyone else in the store while I was there. Is this some other odd side effect of juicing? Is it giving me the "happy" aura?

Down another half pound. Juice on!!!

Day 25....Validation

I haven't really said anything lately about my own progress, so I thought I might, especially after something that happened to me late yesterday afternoon.

So far, I have lost 18 lbs. Along with the 2 I lost the week before I went on the juice only fast, that is 20 lbs. Pretty impressive I suppose. I do not look any different to me. I still can not see my feet when I look down, or my collarbones. I know they are in there. I sort of measured my waist when I started and did so again early this morning. Looks like I am smaller by 3-4 inches. I do feel a little bit lighter, and I think I mentioned that it is easier for me to get into my car now. I am wearing some smaller clothes, but I wear loose shirts and so not much to notice there. However............

Late yesterday, a co-worker I had not seen in a couple of weeks, stopped by to say "Hi." She turned the corner and saw me and her eyes got really big. She said, "Oh my gosh, you look so different, you are glowing! You look radient." Me? I don't think I ever have "glowed" in my life. Maybe it's from all the carotene in the carrots. She went on to say that my face looked thinner and I looked thinner and even younger. I have this one good wrinkle between my eyebrows, from frowning, and I had noticed that it didn't seem as pronounced lately, but thought it was just my imagination. Maybe it isn't. Maybe all the nutrients, being so good for the skin, as we all have heard, can reverse the effects of aging to some extent. I'm down for that!

Well, her kind words made me feel very good. The look of surprise on her face when she first saw me, made me feel even better. Stepping on the scale is good, but getting validation from a person is very motivational.

Sometimes, when the only change you notice is from the scale, it's easy to get discouraged, especially if the scale doesn't change like we hoped or even at all. My point for today is to KEEP going. You may not notice anything and the people who see you constantly, may not notice the gradual changes. There will come a day, when someone will ask that cool question....."Have you lost weight?"  And you can just smile with your glowing, radiant face, and tell them all about juicing.

Juice on............and thanks Sarah.

Day 24........Craving anything?

Food cravings, what the heck? I used to think that craving a particular food, was my body's way of telling me I needed some kind of nutrient. I thought this, because I would get a craving for steak or a tomato sandwich. Sometimes, it would be for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I would get cravings for milk and even, rarely, chocolate milk. They did not happen often for me, even when I was pregnant, so I usually gave in to them if I could. Now I find out that that belief is just not true.

Food cravings come from the stomach and the mind. The ones from the stomach are initiated when the stomach is empty and pretty much anything will do. The mind, however, is much more complicated. They know many of the chemicals involved, once the craving kicks in, and even some that cause it. But, I could not really find a good answer for that one trigger, when, from out of nowhere, you just have to have “it” and the sooner the better.

One interesting fact I read, is that there is an appetite suppressing chemical, actually made in the fat cells called leptin. You would think, since people with more energy stores upon their frames, have more leptin, they would have less cravings. The opposite is true. This makes no sense to me. Also, they found that women who tried to quit thinking about what they were craving, ate more of it, in their study, it was chocolate. So, I guess that means it's okay to fall asleep at night, thinking of a big fat juicy hamburger, stuffed with bacon and cheese, grilled out, with cheese and coleslaw on top...a soft toasted bun and~~~~~~~~~~~Wait a minute, I digress.

Women have cravings more than men, but men do have them too. That makes sense for lots of reasons. (Not because we are weak, ladies!) Also, of interest, was the fact that anxiety or boredom, in relation to a diet, caused more food cravings. The way to get around this one is easy. Mix it up!! Have lots of different flavors. After awhile, you will begin to even know what might mix well together, so, fun city, you can experiment a bit. Not too much....don't want to waste anything. Want an example?

Sure you do!!

Ok, I decided I wanted some broccoli in my juice repertoire. I found a recipe and got what I needed. I made it a couple of nights ago. It was So not what I had in mind, but I planned on having it twice this week. Tonight, I improvised:

Broccoli Bunch, about maybe 2 cups, if you cut it all up, I didn't, except to fit in the juicer (on high)

Carrots, 2 large

Italian parsley, nice handful

Spring onion, 1

Cabbage, half a small head, (also on high speed)

Tomato, 1 good sized

¼ of that crazy Daikon radish

Sprinkle of Cajun Seasoning and a bit of fresh ground black pepper

This wasn't the best, but it was certainly much better. Not having to peel anything was nice too. I do get tired of peeling stuff.

To read more in depth, and see all the nutsy chemicals, this is a great source I found:

http://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/human-nature/behavior/food-craving4.htm

Now, juice differently, but definitely juice on!!!

Day 23.....and the beat goes on....or is that Beet??

Thinking about what to write about today led me to some more research into the sensory changes brought on by a fast. I found a good list of some changes and I have experienced just about everything on the list. I got it from this site: http://www.natural-weight-loss-myths-revealed.com/fasting-for-weight-loss.html

"Results of Fasting for Weight Loss

• Mental clarity is improved and brain fog is lifted.
• Rapid, safe weight loss is achieved without flabbiness 
• The nervous system is balanced 
• Energy level and sensory perception is increased. The longer the fast, the bigger increase in energy and vitality. You normally need less sleep.
• Organs are revitalized 
• Cellular biochemistry is harmonized
• The skin becomes silky, soft, and sensitive
• There is greater ease of movement
• Breathing becomes fuller, freer and deeper
• The digestive system is rejuvenated and becomes more effective; the peristaltic action of the intestines (the cause of a natural bowel movement) is stronger after fasting.
• Fasting retrains your tasting sense back to more healthy food as acute sensitivity is restored. 
• Fasting can increase confidence in our ability to have control over our lives and our appetite, and that our body is self-regulating and a self-healing organism capable or establishing balance when given the possibility to do so.
• Normal metabolic and cell oxygenation are restored.
• Detoxification - as soon as the body realizes that it's fasting it will begin to eliminate those things that cause disease, such as fat cells, arterial cholesterol plaques, mucus, tumors, stored up worries and emotions." 
•  
• I started noticing changes about 5 days in. ( I don't know how to get rid of these bullet points!!!!!) I didn't really believe that things were changing, but everything seemed clearer and more intense. The juices started tasting better and better. I have NO idea if my organs are revitalized. Maybe I should go to an airport and stand in that "naked machine". "Hey guys! How's my organs looking today?" Get some return for my tax dollars. Wait a minute, I'd have to lie down on that conveyor belt and get X-rayed. I think I might be able to fit through there now, thanks to my 22 days of JUICE!!! Woo Hoo!! 

Juice on!!!!!~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oh, now the bullet point goes away. Formatting......geez o man. 

Day 22......about last night............

Originally, I had planned to skip Halloween, but scheduling changes made it possible for me to go out with the kids after all. Little did I know the perils I would face on that eventful night.

From the small plate of grapes and sliced strawberries, some do-gooder had placed among the R.I.P. cupcakes and nacho cheese, at the office party, to the mashed potatoes and luscious green broccoli at Chili's, to the Kit Kats and Reeses cups that crossed my grasp, it was one temptation after another for HOURS. How did I do, you are wondering? Sure you are.

I did fine. At the office party, I simply left the room with the food. At Chili's I drank a mug and a half of water and thought about the Miss Scarett juice I would be having shortly after. My juicer was in the car along with the ingredients, all prepped and ready. As for the candy, by that time I was juiced up again, so even though I like some of it, I didn't really want it.

So there are two important things here. The first one is to think about any situation that you may find yourself in and the potential temptations you might face. Then, prepare for it. I knew that I would not have much time to make my juice, so I made sure to get everything ready ahead of time, as far as peeling, cutting, etc. I didn't have time during the day to make it, so took what I needed with me. Also, made sure I was making a juice that I really like, so I would look forward to having it, instead of anything else. That helped a great deal.

The second thing is cheating. It would have been easy for me to think that one little slice of strawberry wouldn't hurt anything, or a bite of broccoli, maybe even a tiny Snickers bite would be ok. And it might not have hurt anything, physically, for me to have eaten something. However, the mind is very powerful and that is where the downfall of cheating lies. Commitment is crucial to success. Cheating undermines commitment and your mind knows. Cheating will weaken resolve and lead to failure, whether it's one tiny bite or a loaded pizza, it's the same thing. Cheat and be cheated. That about sums it up.

I was a bit tired yesterday, from not sleeping because I drank my juice too late in the evening. However, I did all that I wanted to do and felt very good all day. Lost another pound too!!!! Another thing I noticed is that I don't get heartburn anymore. I used to take a Tums a few times a day. Not sure when that went away, but it's gone for sure!! Bonus!

Juice on!!