...and many more...

So it has been many days since the start of that crazy juice fast thing my family and I embarked upon. I wanted to write a recap blog after a bit to see how it had effected me but I also wanted to write a day 10 blog. All I have to say is...oops. I got a little busy with crazy family stuff and waiting on a couple babies to be born- still not here yet by the way. I can't be sure but on day 10 I think I drank some juice. Yeah probably did that. And then I am pretty darn sure that I ate a huge amount of food and felt very sick for a while. Then I drank some more juice. We (my friends and I) did a tropical mix- papaya, pineapple, mango, and kiwi- yum! We called it the contraction cocktail! (It didn't work) Also...Pineapple juice straight is amazing!

SO, why did I eat so much? Because it was there. And it was a party. And everyone else was eating. And there was so much good stuff. And I chose not to use self-control.

So how is it going many days later you ask (actually I don't care if you asked or not I am still gonna answer)? Well I would say good. Good even though I didn't juice today at all. I've gained a a few pounds back since I started eating again. I'm not upset about that. I expected that actually. The massive weight loss isn't really possible long term unless you juice long term and have lots of weight to lose. Plus a good majority of it is water weight- you drink, you pee- you drink, you pee. But it was a good jumpstart or detox from my fatty beach vacation.

The beauty of the juice cleanse isn't the weight loss-it is the shift in mindset. My family thinks about food a lot. We always have. I remember very vividly one day when one of my sisters and I were really bored and we laid on the floor in the dining room listing all the food we wanted to eat. We did that for like an hour straight. Gatherings are about the food. We think about food before bed. We think about what we are gonna eat after we work out. It's pretty much constant. Well, that hasn't changed. We still think about food all the time. But two things have changed- 1) we think about healthier food more and 2) we think about the choices we are going to make when it comes to eating. Yesterday we talked a lot about going to olive garden for dinner. I thought a lot about the ramifications of my actions and thought a lot about how I could just have a healthy option there. I chose to eat two plates of salad, two breadsticks and two bowls of pasta. If that sounds like a lot that is because it was. But I made that choice consciously. I thought about it. I was in control. Maybe it doesn't sound like it but I was. I didn't just sit there and mindlessly eat or accidentally stuff myself. And sadly stuffing myself on purpose is an improvement.

Okay here is some honesty for ya: I love me some excuses. The summer is very full of excuses. Once I got past the excitement of the 10 days and pushing myself to do something pretty crazy, I accepted a lot of excuses. And I guess I still kind of plan to. It is summer. There are parties and get-togethers and babies to bake cupcakes for and ice cream to eat while babysitting little kids. It's also why I sleep in and watch lots of smut tv. Its kind of fun. But to be honest I am really looking forward to school starting so that I can get back on schedule. It is my hope to juice one meal a day- probably breakfast. It is a great way to start the day. Tons of vitamins and all that! I will probably throw some Kale into the mix every now and then when I'm feeling a vegi-crave.

So bottom line- juice for health not for weight loss.

Think before you eat.

Juicing or eating healthy is expensive but much cheaper than hospital bills.

It's easier to do something if you just make up your mind to do it.

Self-control changes everything.

Support can move mountains.

Okay, I gotta go get some kids teeth brushed and say some more prayers to get that baby moving!

Days 8 and 9

Man, I really need to write each night so I can stop trying to recap two days.

My brother went home late night of day 7 so there has been a different vibe around the house. It's like trying to get back to normal life- like the adventure of the juicing has worn off. Now it's like a chore and hard work to fit in with what else we have going on. Day 8 We only got two juices in mixed with other food. I like to count mine as three because I took a jar of lunch juice with me to have later in the night. Today we have only juiced once and are trying to squeeze another in before bed. It's hard when it isn't your focus. My sister is trying to prepare her classroom for the start of school, I am trying to help Rachel prepare for the birth of her baby and the day just zooms past. I haven't been drinking enough water either. Shame on me.

So the deal with the juicing and living normal life is that it requires a lot of thinking ahead and planning. The first few days we just sat around and felt hungry and vaguely distracted until it was time to juice again. All of our thoughts were around juicing so we had everything we needed on hand and time to make each individual meal. But with normal life you run out of fruits and veggies and have to run to the store to make a juice. You have to juice early if you are going to be gone later or make extra and carry it with you in an ice chest or come home at meal times.

Don't get me wrong, I think juicing is a great thing. By saying that it gets hard I am not trying to discourage anyone. In fact it kind of encourages me. Pretty much everything worth while is hard. The struggle proves this is a lifestyle change. A conscious choice not a quick fix. We should struggle to make good choices in our life!

I have lots more to say about long term and short term effects of juicing and more on the juicing experience itself but I will save that for day 10 or a wrap up blog.

I gotta go throw some kale in the juicer and get my drink on!

Days 6 and 7

My bed.

That's where I am writing from. It's the only place I want to be. I'm so tired I could cry. Or maybe I'm so emotional I could cry. Or maybe I am so full I could cry. Maybe all three. I'm getting ahead of myself. This is the end of day 7. Let's not taint day 6 with another day's baggage.

Day 6...umm right day 6. Did I have a day 6? Where am I? Oh yeah. I woke up and drank some juice (any one sensing a pattern here?) then packed a bunch of fruit and veggies in an ice chest for the day. I stopped at the hospital to see my dad and then headed out to my friends to lend a hand. I spent a good part of the day pretty active, folding laundry, vacuuming, mopping, dishes, and putting together the bassinet for the baby. Being that active really made me notice how hungry and thirsty I was. I would eat a piece of fruit or some veggies between each activity. My stomach just kept growling. I swear I am more hungry eating and juicing than when I was just juicing. I juiced some lunch- my favorite- apple, pear, and carrot. Rachel even agreed it wasn't half bad. Dinner time rolled around and brace yourselves everybody- I ate. I had a bout a quarter of a baked potato, half a chicken breast and a bunch of green beans. I didn't have to eat meat. I could have stuck to veggies but I was interested in easing myself back into meat. I knew I was going to be having beef soon and didn't want that to be the first meat back into my diet. I made it 5 days just doing fruits and veggies....not bad I guess.

It was weird sitting at the table and eating a meal. It was a delicious. Rachel is a spectacular cook. But I didn't have the same feeling for the food as I was eating it. I guess that is good. No, probably great. They say this fast is supposed to retrain your pallet. I think it is retraining my brain. Breaking my attachment.

For a late night snack on day 6 Rachel had nachos. I had cooked zucchini.

Alright, day 7. I think the word of the day is letdown. No, I take that back. I had a great day. The word of the night is letdown. That is how I feel right now. Letdown. I feel the letdown after a big fun day. I feel the let down of expecting something that didn't happen (I guess babies don't just come because you want them to). I feel letdown by the way people can act. And I feel a little like I let myself down.

This morning I got up and juiced then went for a walk and lifted weights for a little bit. My friend was coming to get me for pedicures at 2 so I made the fastest green juice possible. Necessity really does push you to new heights. I had no idea I could put together the juicer, juice, and take it all apart in 5 mins. I also had no idea I could chug 16 ounces of spinach, apple, orange, carrot juice in 30 seconds. I spent the day shopping with the girls and then we headed to Rachel's baby shower. It just so happened to be at our favorite Mexican restaurant. Now here's the deal, I'm not letdown by the fact that I ate out or that I chose to eat what I ate. It was a calculated and conscious decision. But where I feel like I let myself down is in quantity. I didn't order tons of food- that was a good move- but I also didn't listen to my body- that was a bad move. When the food stopped tasting good I kept eating. When I could feel my stomach getting full I kept eating. I just wanted to clear my plate and move on. It wasn't mindless per say, it was more like I chose not to look at what I was doing. I feel very full and I really don't like that feeling. I wish I would have made a better choice.

So somewhere in there is a juicing life lesson. You know how they say that you shouldn't just sit around and let life happen to you? Well I think food is the same way. Don't just let food happen to you. You could wake up one day and not know how you got to 40 or wake up one day and not know how you got to 400lbs. It's all about the actions- the choices-being alert to what you are doing.

I don't know, I don't think I'm making very much sense tonight. Maybe I had too much beef and not enough juice. Or maybe I just need to go to bed.

Oh yeah, my family told me I was the biggest loser tonight at 12 lbs in 6 days. My sister said she always knew I was the biggest loser in the family. I think I might be offended if I was more alert.

High 5!

Yes day 5. 5 more days of juicing? I think so. It's gross. And a chore. But I can do it. My stomach feels a little funny right now. We just drank a nasty juice full of Italian kale. Not my fave. But then we rewarded ourselves with a piece of fresh pineapple. I think my tummy is trying to adjust to eating and drinking.

So this morning I laid in bed (which felt amazing- like more so than normal-I love my bed right now) and I was having a hard time with my thoughts. When I thought about being hungry I gagged a little. I could smell and taste the juice just thinking about it. It's just so frothy and stinky. We had our breakfast juices which were fine- I just don't think I am a fan of grapes in my juice because you get some skin in there- too chunky! I tried to climb back on the exercise wagon this morning. I did about a 4 mile walk. It was such a nice day- not too hot and a slight breeze. Heading back towards home I started to feel the fact that I was really hungry. I started to panic for a minute thinking that I couldn't possibly have enough nutrients to get me home. Then I reasoned with myself and decided that if it got bad I could call my siblings and get a ride and they could bring me something to eat. First thought in my head-a roll. White bread roll. Sugary and yummy roll. But then I realized I would only get fruits, veggies, or (gag) juice. So I decided to make it home on my own.

I ate half an onion baked with zucchini squash. and then ran some errands with the fam. We didn't get home until like 5pm. Note to self: 1 juice and a tiny amount of cooked veggies is not enough for a whole day. So we juiced when we got home and then ate some salad. Then I laid around feeling kind of tired. Today was kind of a tired and sore day. Maybe this was my day 3. My brother is having a super duper day 3. I think he is taking an Epsom salt bath right now because he aches so bad. Google says he is in deep detox.

I have to race like a pee horse -Pause- back. Was that vulgar? I guess I figure since I talk about my poop- which was colorful and large today- then pee should be fine.

Anyways...as of this morning I have lost 12 pounds. Weird. My mom has lost 10.

Oh yeah! 3 other people have started juicing for health since we started this! Yay for changing the world around you! Now if I could just get my dad to juice maybe he can get out of the hospital that he hates.

Guess what!? I have a treat for you all!- Pictures!

This is our juicer.Beet juiceJuicing some kale...grossTaste the rainbow!Lunch!

Cheers!

The aftermath- lots of pulp.It sets up in the fridge- shake first then drink.

This is what our kitchen is like now! I should have taken a picture of the fridge! No one in our family would ever recognize it!

Well, I hope you enjoyed and were relieved by the fact I didn't put any poop pictures up.

Goodnight!

Days 3 and 4

Yesterday was day 3. Hell day. Well, that is what they say. Everyone was telling us just make it through day 3 and you will be fine. Well it came. I saw. I conquered. It really didn't feel that bad. I was hungry of course. I had some intestinal pain in the morning. But other than that I was good. Juice isn't tasting so bad anymore- the problem is the texture and smell. I don't want to put that in my mouth anymore. I just went extra hungry last night because I didn't want to drink a 4th juice. Last night there was also a little bit of torture. I went to my friends later hoping they would be done with dinner but no... no such luck. They were making these amazing sandwiches with hard salami, pesto, and provolone on special bread. After baking it looked gooey and delicious. I learned a lot about myself while I watched them eat- more on that later. I also learned that pesto is my new favorite smell and that costco cookies smell as good as I remember them tasting. (so do chocolate covered almonds) -PAUSE- THERE IS A MINER BURGER SITTING ON MY TABLE RIGHT NOW, THIS ISN'T EVEN COOL! AHHHH!-

Okay, I am fine.

I didn't poop at all yesterday. That was sad. Today my poop was very colorful but not much of it. Lame. So I had my first unjuiced food today. And no it wasn't the Miner burger. And before you mutiny against this hypocritical blog let me explain. We started out wanting to do ten days because that is what the movie talked about. Then we did some more research and found that ten days isn't right for everyone. The people who did ten days were very unhealthy or combating big health problems. And after taking a self-assessment I found that I should be doing a diet that is mixed with fresh eating too. Part of me really wanted to go the 5 days without any food just because I said I would. I went back and forth in my head about whether that was me wanting to stick to my word or just being proud. I think it is pride. So I ate today. I ate 4 cherry tomatoes, one blackberry, 3 blueberries, and a handful of snap-peas with hummus. And I juiced twice today. I'm hungry of course but I feel just fine. We were supposed to eat dinner some beet dinner thing my brother was gonna make but they cracked and ate miners so I don't know what I'll do.

This morning I drank my breakfast juice and mowed for 5 hours. There were two bad things about mowing. 1) I had to pee all the time which meant stopping and going into the house. 2) The fresh cut grass smelled exactly like the juice we have been drinking tastes. I was mowing along and caught off guard by my past meals...it was not pleasant.

I've lost 9 pounds since Thursday night. That is weird. I feel healthy and peaceful.

Okay so lessons learned or pondered...

Self control is awesome. I love exerting it. It is so important! Everybody should practice it- no really practice it- like make a goal and then force yourself to achieve it. It feels great and prepares you for later in life. I know some people that have struggled to have self control their whole lives and because of that have made a mess of it. Start small and big won't seem so big later on!

Okay I am off my soapbox.

I also learned how mindlessly I eat. Several times last night I had to mentally check myself because I wanted to reach for food without consciously thinking about it. I wanted to pop Cherry tomatoes in my mouth, chew on the piece of salami that Rachel didn't use, and peel off the melted cheese from the tin foil. It was kind of surreal to stop yourself from doing something before you even knew you were gonna do it.

I like to eat and eat and eat until I am stuffed. I don't like moderation much. I counted out the food I ate today because I really wanted to just take the whole bowl of hummus and the bag of peas to the living room and eat until it was gone. When I was little I didn't really understand being full. I used to eat until I was sick. I had no idea that you were supposed to stop before that. I used to eat whole miner burgers and fries and a milkshake at ten- no ten year old girl should be able to do that. I can't believe I didn't weigh 300lbs!

Lastly I recognized a food issue I have. I think I inherited it from my food hoarding father. I was sitting at the table watching my friends eat their delicious sandwiches and found myself thinking stupid thoughts like "They'll never have those sandwiches again, or those cookies. This was my one chance to eat it and I am missing out." Wow. That is a giant lie and really sick thinking. That is how I am though. I am afraid of missing out on something. As a kid of course I wanted to be first in line to eat because I was impatient but also because I was afraid the good stuff would be gone. Even as an adult I want to put lots of something good on my plate in case there is none left for seconds. I never end up finishing what I have. It is a really sick attachment because I have never gone without food. And more than that I live in a country where I can hop in my car and drive a block to any grocery store and get whatever the heck I want anytime I want. Man.

Right now I feel like I am breathing life in deep and slow. I'll eat or I won't. I'll be okay.

Man this juice fast is pretty cool.

Day two

I am gonna try to write this one faster than last nights because I really want to go to bed. Not only am I sleepy tired, but I am tired of feeling hungry.

So last night I was still feeling a little shy but the hunger has gotten rid of that...so POOP WARNING! The next few sentences are not for the prude of heart. Last night while I was writing I had a little gas. I was sitting cross legged in a big chair and so the smell kind of wafted up. Let me tell you, this diet is dangerous. I almost passed out from my own stench. I am not sure I have ever smelled anything so rank and raw. Nasty...I know. On a possibly grosser but funnier note, someone in my family had an accident today. I won't name any names but she may have given birth to me. I came out of the bathroom to hear her laughing at herself. She had some gas that apparently wasn't just gas. Let's just say it was wet and runny and not urine. She had to do some floor cleaning and laundry after that incident.

Okay, I am done with the poop and fart talk. Or am I? It is really hard to tell with this diet.

Anyways, breakfast was of course pretty yummy. Fruits always are. I slept in as late as I could...well I could have slept in longer but my brother who couldn't sleep past 8 was texting me to get up.

Lunch was nasty. We tried something called mean green and as it sounds it was very green and having to drink it made me very mean. It was really tough to choke down. Especially the frothy part. Who wants to drink green froth? I don't think there will ever be a market for kale froth.

Dinner wasn't bad. It was mostly carrots and spinach. I also learned that chugging the juice is a technique that I am torn about. On the one hand you finish before you realize how much you hate it, but on the other hand the feeling of that thick of a beverage in my stomach so quickly isn't something I am fond of.

Realizations of the day:

Commercials suck.

Visiting your father in the hospital is okay as long as you leave before the dinner tray arrives.

My families mood swings complement eachother...most of the time. When one is ready to quit the others talk him or her off the ledge. The downside is that someone is always threatening and always crabby.

Going to the movies is a bad idea when the person in front of you has a large bag of buttery warm popcorn and is sitting so close that the smell reminds you of how great it tasted a week ago when you had some.

And lastly, if you say you hope you don't dream about something you probably will. Last night I dreamed about juicing and about real food. In the dreams I kept trying to juice things you can't juice like bananas and avocado. Somehow after pulling them out of the juicer they would end up in my mouth and I would have to scrape the food off my tongue and spit it in the garbage before my family realized I had cheated.

Sometimes I am amazed by my brains over-activity.

Well that's it I think.

Goodnight and happy eating. (which btw I hate you all for)

Brave or stupid?

It's funny how your perspective can change so quickly. A week ago I got incredibly excited every time I felt hungry- that meant I got to eat. This week I cringe when my stomach growls because I dread my next meal. Yesterday I thought a juice cleanse was a great idea. Today I want to eat a loaf of french bread- by myself- right now. This morning I thought my juice meal tasted pretty darn good. Tonight I gag when I think about liquids. Yeah, things change pretty quickly.

Rewind a bit...

My brother watched this documentary called "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead." It was about a dude who went on a juice fast for 60 days in effort to cure himself of his obesity and autoimmune disease. It worked. My brother sent us a text raving about it and now about a month later we are actually doing it. Well, attempting to do it.

The goal is a 10 day juice cleanse. We juice fresh fruits and vegetables each day for all of our meals. That's it. Just frothy juice. No chewing. (I miss chewing)

Why?

Well according to the website: "When we take in fresh fruits and vegetables in live form, because of the high enzyme and alkaline content, the body will begin to release toxins that have been lodged in the cells." Some of my family is also looking to lose weight with this cleanse but my main goal is to get rid of all the crap (no really, literally crap) that is stored in my poor lengthy intestines. If you don't already know this about me, I have a hard time pooping. I'm what you call irregular. Sometimes I get on a good schedule with my life and my bowels move pretty smoothly but the slightest change or trip or extended stay in a public place and it's like someone shoved a cork in my hind-end. I once went 9 days without a good release. Sick I know.

So that is the goal. But it isn't an easy road. The website goes on to say: "Once this happens, a cleansing response can occur, which range in headaches, dizziness, sore muscles, fatigue, nausea, low-grade fevers, runny nose or coughing, mood-swings. We are cleansed ONLY when the trapped matter LEAVES the system." Sounds like a party right? Ya know, I am not too worried about those things though. I've lived through feeling crummy many times before. I'm Catholic, I've fasted and been hungry. But I still think this is going to be the biggest test of my will and self-control that I have ever agreed to. I've given up certain things for amounts of time before. But I have always had a good substitute. When I give up sweets I have fruits to eat. When I give up meat I have, well, everything else to eat. But giving up eating and replacing it with drinking- not the best substitute.

Here's the deal. I love food. I mean I really really love food. I love the taste, taking bites, chewing, savoring, smelling and yes, talking about food. Juicing it all up and drinking it through a straw just feels like a grave injustice to the beauty that is food. Sick I know. I love food.

A few highlights...or lowlights from the start of this adventure:

On day 1 we bought our produce from a couple fruit stands and a grocery store that sells local foods. Then we went to Black Angus. I had steak, shrimp, ribs, potato skins, 3 cheese bread, fried zucchini, two kinds of salads, and molasses bread. It was amazing. (The memory haunts me)

On day 2 we actually started so for all intents and purposes this was day 1.

On the real day 1 we took the juicer out of the box and made a yummy liquid breakfast of apples, pears, carrots, and ginger. Then we made a list of all the things we were going to get accomplished during our cleanse.

Then we all promptly took large bowl movements.

We tried to substitute one addiction (food) for another (shopping). It didn't work too well because everywhere we ended up going had a grocery section to tease us.

Lunch was a mixture of pretty much every fruit and veggie under the sun. It resembled Barney in a blender. I choked it down because I was starving.

Dinner was basically Gazpacho juice. The first sip tasted pretty good. The last sip was truly muscled down.

I went to a dinner party and watched my friends eat steak and snack on crackers with fancy cheese. The highlight of the party- smelling Jake's BBQ smelling hands. Twice. YUM!

My dad called to tell us he is in the hospital again. Going to see him nearly drove my sister and brother to eat. It doesn't help that the cafeteria at Memorial hospital has always been a family favorite for their Clam Chowder, salad bar and fresh rolls.

I went out to some other friends house later in the night thinking it would be a good distraction. Little did I know the cop show we would watch starred a cop who never stopped eating delicious sandwiches. Okay, they may not have been delicious but at this point who cares!

My sweet and loving cousin also decided to eat dinner very late...chicken sausage stuffed with everything amazing including cheese. He let me smell that too though.

Mary was right, smelling food is almost like eating it. I had several large helpings of chocolate ice cream scent. Thanks Rachel.

Now it is almost 1am on real day two. I am hungry and have a headache. I also feel a little like I need to poop. Instead I am gonna go to bed and pray I don't dream about real food or have nightmares about their juices.

Stay tuned for more updates...