~Yeah BABY!~

Today is day 5 and I'm still going STRONG!  Especially since I bought the juicer yesterday.  I know it's not technically the right one but going from blending / straining to oxidized juicing.  Nonetheless, I'm pretty stoked! 

Last night I made the Green Juice from the documentary FS&ND and I think I messed it up.  I read somewhere that the skin has a ton of vitamins and nutrients and it's ok to juice the lemon whole but SOMETHING, maybe the kale or the lemon, made the juice bitter as heck that I had goose bumps while drinking every time.  I like lemons but maybe not as much as I thought I did.  I don't think I'll do the whole lemon next time since it only calls for 1/2 of one in the first place.

This morning I made a juice that required ginger, pineapple and watermelon.  It's SO GOOD!!  I seriously think I could do this juicing thing for a long time!  What better way to clean out and detox my body, re-start my palate, get healthier AND lose a few pounds while I'm at it?!  I can't think of a better way than juicing.  All thanks to Joe Cross, of course!   Now I just need to find out where working out comes in for me.  I'm getting used to the juicing and feeling stronger everyday.  I mean, it doesn't make you weak, it's getting used to juicing instead of over eating that makes you feel super weak initially.  I'm thinking it's going to happen within the next few days.  So excited to take this journey!  I feel great and can't wait to LOOK great!  

~This Is JUICY!~

I did it.  I broke down and bought a juicer...  Shhhh! Don't tell the Husband!  I've done a ton of research online about juicing and what juicers people are using, and all of the juicers I found had a price tag of $300-$450!!  So what I was trying to do instead was blending.  I would strain out the juice in a strainer then put a bowl the same size and squeeze all that I could out before discarding the pulp.  I wasn't comfortable with the discard.  There was still SO MUCH and even juicy but I couldn't for the life of me get more juice.  At one point I saved the pulp to re-blend and get more nutrients out but all it gave me was the extra water I used to try and blend it in the first place.  Throwing out the discard to me was throwing out nutrients, money I used to buy the veggies and MORE money because of the amount I had to use just to get the juice!  It wasn't working for me.

So... I purchased a Jack LaLanne Power Juicer that I found at Kohl's for $150. The best part? I went to Costco for more veggies and fruits but found the SAME juicer for $80!! I promptly turned around and returned the Kohl's one that I had purchased an hour before and went back and bought the Costco one.  SO worth it!!!  I got it home and before I put all of the veggies and stuff away, I made a drink.  I put an orange, strawberries and an apple and it extracted this ENTIRE glass full of YUMMY JUICE!!  I'm SO happy I have the juicer!  I would have used WAY more fruit to get that glass full by blending!

As far as my progress, today is day 4+ and I can't even begin to tell you all of the fantastic reasons why YOU should juice!!  I am feeling GREAT! and can't imagine stopping any time soon!  My skin looks great, my appetite is better and my headaches are GONE!  I still haven't eaten since lunch 4 days ago, well... except for the banana I had that night.  No sugar.  No caffiene.  No nuthin'!  Although, I gotta tell you... My brain has been playing dirty tricks on me!  The other day while sitting in the living room, I would have SWORN someone was baking fresh bread in the kitchen.  NEVER has there been bread baking in this house!  Yesterday morning I woke up and cuddled with Max.  HE smelled like a cheezy dorito!  Max hasn't had a bath since Thanksgiving and let me tell you... He DOESN'T smell like a dorito! 

~Rockin' This!~



Google Images

I've completed the first day of this Juice Fasting experiment that I'm on, and let me tell ya... I'm feelin' gooooood!  Yesterday was day 1 (even though I snuck in my first juice drink for dinner the night before).  I was working, which I'm not sure is the smartest idea I've had so far because  I swear, I was a looney tune!  I felt quite sluggish, nevermind the fact that to me working in the ICU equals a Venti, Sugar Free Vanilla, Soy, Chai Tea; sometimes twice in a day, along with an occasional soda just to keep up!  That and take away my morning oatmeal and wrap of some kind for lunch.  I know, I'm a creature of habit.  It's ok!  I know what I like!  I did have quite a headache and it seemed that my actions took a little extra effort to do.  Even though I felt awkward, I stuck to my plan and had only my juice drink and water, the entire day.  I haven't eaten anything since my banana 2 nights ago and in the break room there stood a can of peanuts which imagined consuming. I WANTED to eat them but I didn't.  I'll be honest, the juice is good, but after drinking a few glasses, it's sometimes difficult to swallow it all down right now. 

In my quest to find more tasty options, after I got home from work I watched some You Tube videos of Joe the Juicer, and he mentioned to drink the fruit juices in the morning and the vegetable juices throughout the day.  I also have the desire to make a spicier drink later on today but this morning I made an orange, banana and frozen fruit smoothie (I know, it's a smoothie, not juice, but I'm blending, remember?).  It tasted more like italian ice cream!  It was SOOOOOOO GOOD!!!  If there are more drinks like that, I'm thinking that I will do well with this!  Currently my goal for juicing is for at least the first week.  If I feel good, I'll do 10 days.  If I'm still feeling like taking on this juicing thing, I'll go for 30 days.  If I'm STILL feeling great, I'll go for 60.  Don't worry... I think that would be my limit.





Scottsdale Healthcare Employee
Newsletter, January 2012

A few weeks ago, someone came into the ICU and asked me a few questions about what I was going to do to be healthy in 2012 and such.  I was taken back when she asked to take a photo and I quietly dismissed it thinking, "she won't use it. She'll find someone else's to use... and what is this FOR, anyway?!"  I never asked.  She had a SHC badge and I didn't give it much thought... until a dear sweet friend sent me a text message saying I was in the newsletter and this is the picture she sent with it!  I was slightly mortified.  I mean, REALLY?  How did I get to this point that my chunky mug is featured in the newsletter?!

Scottsdale Healthcare Employee
Newsletter, January 2012

So... If there's anything that lends me support to get through this fast, it will be my side pains, current lack of energy, foggy mind and the "brick house" that I'm sportin'.  The fact that I will lose weight is a bonus, not the reason why I'm juicing.  I am looking to cleanse and heal my body from the inside out and overall, have a healthier body.  I'm expecting my skin to look better, my body to function better and this annoying side pain to go away.  It's no secret that I need to make healthier decisions and by restarting my palate, allowing my tastebuds to desire healthier foods will help me make better decisions regarding my choice of foods.  Here's to DAY 2!



~Juice Fasting~

I have decided to do a juice fasting experiment for at least the next week.  I decided this because I've had some pain in my left chest / upper abdominals for a few months.  If I knew that I wouldn't have to pay a $500.00 bill after having an MRI, which I know my primary physician would order, I'd go right to his office and let him evaluate me.  I'll tell you what, it's a good thing that I have double insurance coverage between my husband's and my employment (insert sarcastic tone here), so that I don't have to worry about it.   Josh is at a training class right now so I wouldn't be subjected to all of the foods that I love being cooked in the house during the day.  I figured it's as good a time as any to start a new habit.  Plus, I think I'd end up saving money in the long run regarding the many times I/we eat out.  It's a win / win!

I also want to do this experiment because I need to get healthy, eat healthy foods and get down to a healthy weight. The past few lab values I've had done for my annual physical or for my employment have come back abnormal.  Upon retesting they came back regular but the fact they weren't like I was used to seeing them, bothers me.  I recently joined a program through my work that allows us a price break on our insurance rates if we make it a goal to live a healthier lifestyle and actually have progression to show it.  My initial body evaluation came back saying that I am, "obese".  Now, I hate hearing those words since I don't see myself as obese... until I look at a few pictures.  Why do pictures look so different from what I see in the mirror?  Anyway, I am currently 180 lbs, my blood pressure is in question and my cholesterol is borderline.  My waist line was I think 46".

A couple months ago while surfing Netflix, I stumbled upon a documentary called Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, and it opened my eyes to the fact that there really is something that I could do about my health regarding the things that I put into my mouth.  The people from this video made unbelievable life changing adjustments to their bodies and overall health that it's absolutely encouraging!  Juicing isn't eating but it's something I can do easily that shouldn't cost an arm or a leg and I can prepare it at home and take it to work.  I looked into the juicers and realized how expensive they were.  I became slightly discouraged.  That is until today.  I found that I could still juice, I just have to strain it.  Easy enough, right? 

So, I went to gather fruits and vegetables and began tonight with my first juice meal.  I found some recipes online and made something called "Fresh Garden".  It called for 3 oz. Spinach, 3 oz. of Romaine Lettuce, 3 oz. of Celery, 4 medium  Carrots, 2 medium cucumbers peeled and said it made approximately 16 oz.  Well, blending the ingredients and adding a splash of water (so the blades would do their job), I ended up with just about 8 oz.  This is also after I pressed the water out of the vegetables for about 15 minutes, trying to get more volume.  I downed the glass as fast as I could and tasted it afterwards.  It didn't taste bad at all!  The only thing... I was still hungry and didn't want to start from scratch to make up the difference so I ate a banana.  =)  I figured it is my first meal and that tomorrow I will start my journey into juicing. 

Now all that I need is an actual juicer.  Anyone have one laying around that I may use?!  =)

~Resolution Schmezolution~

Each year I think of the many things I'd like to change about myself or add things to do to the list of my New Year's Resolutions.  I for the most part will keep up for a short time but that's about it.  I fall off of the proverbial wagon within a month or so.  Come to think of it, I can only stand change for about that long in the first place before I revert back to my old ways.  The realization of the New Year being upon us and what I would like to resolute about, I've refrained.  I hate to fail.  It frustrates me to no end.  Therefore, I've decided not to proclaim a New Year's Resolution at all. 

The definition of a Resolution is a resolve or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something.  The definition of a Goal is the result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end.


So... I've decided to make a list of goals instead with the hopes that I will actually follow through with it. 

1. Read my Bible every day.
2. Pray every day.
3. Forgive quickly.
4. Love my family.
5. Live life with a stronger purpose.
6. Work on building and maintaining relationships with others rather than the social media way.
7. Keep stress at a minimum.
8. Do well in school
9. Take away distractions that are not needed.
10. Work on being less messy and more organized.
11. Get to the gym at least 3 days a week and work towards a healthier lifestyle.
12. Lose 30 pounds.
13. Finish the next 2 semesters strong by knocking out at least 20 credits.

And there you have it.  My list for 2012.  I may add to it.  I may subtract from it.  Either way, I plan to stick with it.