Saturday, November 10, 2012

Clearing the Slate

I have had some major distractions this last couple weeks and have veered of course. So I have set a new goal and firmed up my intent. I have been juice feasting solely for 4 days. I feel so good and have lost everything I had gained back after I quit the long juice feast before except 2 lbs. It dropped off so fast I was shocked. But, I could feel that extra weight so much more keenly than I had ever before. You know how you can gain 5 lbs and not know it? Well I felt it very strongly in my movements and abilities.

This coming week I know will be challenging because we lost a family member yesterday and will start having family come into town. I am going to try and avoid telling people what I'm doing. Most of the time it just starts a debate and unless you educate yourself on detoxing and why, most people don't understand it. As I continue to lose weight and feel better people will naturally ask questions and I sometimes will go into detoxing info with them. I do have a passion for this stuff lately and tend to pour out my guts which sometimes freaks people out. Too much information overload for them. So one of the things I do to keep motivated is watch other peoples juice feasting videos to keep me excited about what I am doing. Everyone knows if you do it alone it is harder and watching the videos makes me feel like other people are doing it with me.

So, I am on my way again and know if I can get through the first week I am usually Gold. My energy is up really high and I feel excited and happy which is a big thing for me, especially in the winter months. I tend to have a seasonal mood disorder, that took me years to realize, go figure. I have been doing the mean, green juice and master cleanse intermixed and it's been working great. If I don't have the time to do the green juice the master cleanse only takes of few minutes to make. I have added in some homemade Kombucha again but, a quart or less a day. I have also started learning about bentonite clay and have added in a teaspoon in the morning. It has seemed to help with the headaches and detox symptoms. I'll try to update more often for here on in because it also keeps me motivated. Enjoy the day!!!

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Day 11? 2nd Juice Feast

My question mark is because I fell off just juicing a total of three times so far. I know it's only day eleven.  Should I stop or keep going??? KEEP going!!! On those days I had juiced the whole day then ate a dinner. One day we were going to the mountains to do probably our last hike for the winter and I knew I would have to eat. Hum, eat or skip hiking? Eat of course. I love being in the mountains and wouldn't give it up just to juice. I am trying to heal some issue with the juicing but, have had limited opportunity to hike in the last couple years. Now that my boy is 3 1/2 he is wants to go most of the time and he loved the hikes we did. I've told my DH this but, don't know if I have mentioned this in a post before. I feel like when I eat I have to consume so much more to satisfy my hunger and I think it's because unless it's raw I'm not getting as much nutrition. The juice has so many nutrients and I drink 1-2 cups each time I feel hungry. This juice feast I am drinking a lot less than I needed the first time. But, I want to just keep eating when I start to. I was down eight pounds but will have to see over the next day or so after my colon empties again etc. Also since it's getting so cold now I have noticed when I eat I am fine with body heat. With just the juicing I tend to be really cold all of the time, especially at night. When the food is in my body and being digested it really takes a lot of energy and creates more heat. The juice just passes through me quickly, it keeps me energized but no heat really.

All of that to say, I'm still going and I'm just going to keep my numbers instead of starting them again. I'll probably take Thanksgiving off from the juice feast also. But, I had decided it was better to start the feast now instead of waiting till after the holidays. In the past I have always done that. Well, I'll just wait and start on this day or that day. A lot of the time those days never came. The time is now and it doesn't have to be perfect!!!!!! If I blow the day, I just don't give up, that only makes me feel defeated and I am not defeated! I never have to stay where I am. I can always take the day to improve myself and my health. ENJOY!!!

Friday, October 26, 2012

Day Seven of Juice Feast 2

I am doing great with this second juice feast, now. I had a set back on day four and ate a goulash I was making for my family. It smelled so good I caved and really regretted it. My stomach swelled out 3 inches and I felt terrible for hours. I am now back on track, yeah! I have lost seven pounds so far and am very happy with the results. I am sticking to the Mean Green Juice and will supplement with the Master Cleanse when I get bored with the green juice. I have been doing some herbal teas and of course my homemade Kombucha with stevia. I love the homemade version but have read that you shouldn't consume a lot in a day. It has organic acids and is very cleansing and can, if consumed too much and too often cause acidosis.

 I will be ordering some Reishi mushroom and bentonite clay and maybe some ziolite clay. I want to start including more in my diet that will boost my immunity and remove more toxins. I want to try and "find" some Chaga this weekend if I can in the mountains. This will be a new adventure for me as I have never done it before. We are going "wild edible" hunting. I've been reading a book on wild edibles and going through YouTube videos on them. I am so intrigued by the idea of foraging for food. The season is almost gone to do much but we are going to try. I'm going to be ordering a book on mushrooms so I can start learning about the medicinal properties etc. Everything we need to heal and be healthy is already here if we don't contaminate it and destroy it through industry.

I'm feeling really good and have had a huge boost in energy. No headaches as of yet. ;) I broke out a little with acne on my face and am having more body odor otherwise, no complaints.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Starting My Second Juice Feast

I have been kinda desperate to start another juice feast. Why you may ask? I felt so much better aside from the detox symptoms of course. I am hoping this time around I won't have so many. I lasted about two weeks off the last juice feast. I am ready to start again though. I really got used to the feeling of being pretty much empty all of the time when juicing. I should say empty but not hungry, there is a difference. I was satisfied as far as hunger went. It does amaze me that juice will fill me up and I don't feel like I'm starving. When I was off the juice feast it felt like I couldn't get enough food and I felt so bloated, slow and tired. I was even too pooped to blog. I also had heart burn here and there which I hate. That's why I decided to start back up. I think the nutrients in the juice really helped me heal a lot and detox, but I have a long way to go. I had lost 17 lbs total and gained back 7 which is pretty normal since your colon starts to fill up and you get bloated by certain foods etc. I was so constipated too, no matter what I ate and my face broke out everywhere. During the juice feast you're of course raw and aren't taking in any processed foods. After I was off the feast I wasn't satisfied with how food tasted anymore. I was hoping I guess it would taste so much better but found myself disappointed for the most part. My husband has changed his diet and has noticed the change in how food taste. Once you get away from the chemicals in processed foods you really notice them if you have them again.

Like the first time, I'm not setting a specific number of days that I will do. I have completed my first day and did the mean green juice that I had done before. I added in parsley and zucchini to the basic juice recipe. The only other thing I drank was herbal lemon teas and Kombucha tea. I started making my own kombucha tea at home and am very addicted to it. It has so many probiotics and is supposed to be very healing for the colon. The acids in the kombucha are also supposed to be very cleansing.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

The Juice Feast is Completed

The Juice Feast is done!!! I did thirty one days total. I am so proud of myself and am glad I can eat again. But, I am kinda sad and miss juicing every meal. I got into such a groove with the juicing it became easy and somewhat relaxing.
I have a strong feeling about maybe eating for a week or so and then starting another one. I think I can start it all over again once I get some cravings out of the way. 
 In total I lost seventeen pounds but I am expecting to gain a little back with my colon having more in it now. I did fruit to start to break the fast then greens and veggies raw. I get much fuller a lot faster now but also expected that. I don't really eat out anywhere and the juicing was convenient because if I was going to be gone I would have a cooler with me or just accepted that I would be hungry.
During such a long feast you start to appreciate the emptier feeling. I never thought that was ever going to be possible. I had heard people say that about feasting but always thought it would never happen for me. I am going to try and eat a lot of raw foods but the winter is coming on and I have been much colder with the raw foods. I used to be warm all of the time and need a fan to cool me down and now I'm the opposite. I did miss warm foods when juicing and the days are getting cooler.
 
I have eaten some things I desired when on the fast but, they're not as satisfying as they once were. I have found that to be true with many foods since I've altered my diet so drastically. I once ate and enjoyed most things. Now, really any type of processed food just tastes chemically tasting to me. My sense of smell and taste is so heightened now that sometimes even food smells are turn me off. I also feel so much more bloated now that I'm eating again and really don't like the feeling. So I'll give it a little time and see how I do. Enjoy!!!

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Yesterday was day 30 Juice Feasting

Yesterday was day 30 and I missed posting on it. The day just got away from me. So the tally is 30 days and seventeen pounds lost. I was hoping for more but I'll take it.
 
So here is an update, I haven't had any headaches for awhile, I have been tired here and there but yesterday I felt amazing. I have been doing the salt water flushes almost daily. It takes about two hours for it to work through you so if I have to go fast in the morning I skip it. I've only skipped one. I add a little lime or lemon juice and stevia to make it more palatable. I have been doing the nightly herbal tea laxative and really like it. Yesterday was a full day on the master cleanse, today I'll probably do the green drink and some master cleanse. Doing the mix makes it a little cheaper and easier since I don't have to juice each meal.
I tried on a pair of pants that were one size down from what I am wearing and they fit. I think I'll check out some thrift store for my next size because I plan on continuing the detox for awhile longer. I made a delicious dinner for my dh and set a portion aside for myself to freeze for after the cleanse. It smelled so good.
 
I keep having break outs on my face hear and there but they have been small and my face looks really good. I can see how the green drinks have really helped. My wrinkles have diminished a lot. Funny how our stress and food choices start to show up on our faces. Enjoy the day!!!

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Day 25 of Juice Feast, Mean Green Juice and Master Cleanse

Day 25, I am so amazed that I am doing so well. By that I mean that I'm not craving foods and out of my mind with hunger. I am a little bummed because I have stabilized at 13lbs. I have decide to do just the Mean Green Juice from "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead." If you haven't seen the film yet you can check it out on Hulu or YouTube for FREE! It's a very inspirational documentary. I had some of the juice today but added stevia and really enjoyed it. I was doing way to much fruit in my other juices but, I think that also helped me to get to this point.
 I am also considering doing the master cleanse recipe every other day with the green juice. I made up a batch today and really liked it. Lemons are very detoxifying and aid in flushing toxins out. With the master cleanse you're also supposed to do a salt flush with Celtic sea salt for the minerals and to aid in elimination of the bowels. It is also recommended to do a laxative herbal tea at night for the same reason. Beyonce made it more well known when she did it, but it's been around since the seventies.
 
My enema update, I have been doing them everyday. I watched a ton of videos on YouTube and decided to just do it. My headaches have gone away completely and my energy has really improved. I am so happy that I got over myself and just did it. Ten years ago I would have thought it was lame and stupid but, with the more research I do into health and healing disease, it is really important. I will some day do a colonic but for now, I have to do it from home.
It is funny how we change as we get older and start to realize our health is paramount. Things we do when we are younger are so harmful to our aging bodies and we don't realize till it's too late. So have a green juice today and ENJOY!!!

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Day 21 Juice Feasting

Day 21
 
I have had a plateau for awhile but have lost another pound, so I'm down 13 lbs. ;)  I was hoping to have more of a loss so far into the feast but oh well.
 I made a strong green drink yesterday and am still working through it. I made 4 quarts and put them into the fringe. If you plan on saving juice for more than a day fill the glass jar to the very top and apply lid. This way there is very little air to oxidize the juice and it will keep a little longer. I used Swiss chard and Pac Choy for the greens and the juice turned out a little greener than I'm used to and a little salty. I mixed it into a V8 but it is still potent.
I know people will look at the Vita Mix container and think, what the? But I only use it to hold all of the juice to re-mix it then I divide it into jars. If anyone has noticed I went back to my Omega 8002 juicer. I don't have to cut up the greens so much and sometimes at all. I also felt like I could juice quicker with my old one so, back to the store the Omega VRT went. I used the money to buy more fruit and veggies.
Enjoy!!!


Thursday, September 20, 2012

Day Eighteen

smileys
So today is day eighteen of my juice feast. I had a break out on my neck of acne yesterday, just another nice detox symptom. Another reminder that my body needs to keep healing and I need to stay the course. I've had some head cracking headaches in the evenings. I need to buy an enema bag. Yes, an enema bag. I've heard a lot of detox symptoms can be totally relieved by doing some enemas. The toxins just get stuck and need help being removed so they aren't taken up by the body again. I've never done them before but many juicers and raw foodist recommend them. I know, who wants to do them but, I will if I have to.
I've read a little about Ann Wigmore and she had her patients do them to help the bodies natural healing to cure disease. I am all for taking your health into your own hands and finding relief somewhere besides a little blue pill and a hundred side effects. Have you ever heard that Jeff Foxworthy bit about taking I think it was eye drops for dry eyes. It's hilarious he says they work great for dry eyes but the side effects are like headache, hair loss, runny nose, bad breath, hives and anal leakage. That sums up our pharmaceutical industry to a T.
I have started getting into essential oils and find they help me sleep and when needed help with stress. I use the Young Living oils once I read about their processing and products. I don't want something that potent to be contaminated with pesticides or be genetically messed with. I get them for my own use I don't sell them. After I get my health squared away I might look into doing something more with them. I've used other essential oils with out them helping at all.
 
I have to say, I have had a tomato or 1/2 cantaloupe here and there to help slow down some of the healing crisis I've been having. Usually once a day every couple of days or more. Nothing like a meal.
 
Today I started with watermelon juice, one quart for breakfast and one for lunch. I have noticed I don't drink near as much as when I first started. I'm still pushing myself to drink more water. I'm just not thirsty and I forget. I need to slow down on the fruits and that will slow down my detox symptoms. But they are so delicious and really help with the wanting anything else.
 
Weigh in; I've lost a total of twelve lbs. which is the reason for the giant smiley face at the top.


Monday, September 17, 2012

Day 15 Juice Feasting, 10lbs Lost, Why I started

My juice feasting has been going pretty well. Yesterday was a little difficult. I made my husband and son some pork chops and they smelled so good. Then they wanted breakfast for dinner so eggs and sausage. I wanted to eat the sausage so bad. I just kept telling myself the juicing is only temporary and I can eat later. It's been working well. I made a delicious V8 last night and it was very satisfying. I weighed in the morning and have finally hit the ten pound mark YEA!!! I've been having to mix organic produce and conventional when I can't find what I need. I hate to do it but I'd rather stay on the feast.
 
Detox symptoms:
More headaches and my lymph glands have been hurting here and there. I watched some videos on-line about detoxing. A lot of people say there are a wide range of detox symptoms from mucus pouring out of every orifice, to pus, headaches, fatigue. So I don't have much to complain about. I am getting more mucus in my throat and nose but not much anywhere else, thankfully. I get really tired by like seven o'clock and went to bed last night at eight thirty. I care more about fixing my healthy right now then staying up late. My jaw has also been aching everyday by about four o'clock. I've been doing some homepathic meds for symptoms that are more than uncomfortable.
 
I am loving my pineapple juice mix. Just to re-cap it's a pineapple, zucchini, cucumber and a lemon. I add stevia to sweeten and water to dilute. I crave this one often.
I have been able to keep my mind focused on this juice feast better than the last one I did. My cravings for food have decreased so much I'm sometimes flabbergasted.
 
Anyway, I was going to do a post on why I started this juice feast in the first place.
1. Detox my body
2. Increase energy levels
3. Relieve Headaches and migraines
4. Relieve chronic fatigue
5. Lose weight(this is the first one really)
6. Relieve depression
7. Increase nutritional levels
8. Stop muscular cramping
9. Help PMS symptoms
10. Improve Skin
11. Relieve chronic inflammation
12. Relieve muscular and joint pain
13. Re balance body
14. Get rid of toxins in body(this is ongoing process)
15. Help with brain fog and recall problems
16.Help with severe menstrual cramping
 
So far, I have noticed an increase in the day with my energy levels. My brain fog has gotten better and so has the depression. I posted on how much better my PMS was and my cramping was the lightest it has ever been. My skin definitely has improved and so has the muscular pain. Also can I say again I LOST TEN POUNDS!!!!

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Day Thirteen



Day Thirteen! Wow, I'm shocked I made it so far and look forward to celebrating two weeks tomorrow. The longer I do this the easier it becomes. It's funny how your focus changes from all the things you can eat to other things you could be doing. It takes about half an hour to juice everything but sometimes I do extra so I won't have to juice again till the next day. I have been doing my basic juice with some add ins. This morning was watermelon juice with zucchini and stevia to taste. I'm trying to get all the watermelon I can before the season is gone :(
 I've also purchased several pineapples to use over the next week or so. They're  cheaper right now and give a lot of juice. Last time I mixed it with cucumber, zucchini and lemon and it was sooo delicious. I added water to thin it a little and of course stevia.
 On to the detox symptoms. I have had several days of late day headaches and a lot of tiredness. My husband has been great and letting me get to bed around eight o'clock. I have noticed that all of my muscles are much more relaxed and loose. I know it's from being grain free. Before they were hard and tight. My chiropractor had said it was like trying to adjust a table.
I have been having some mucus in the morning and evening recently. When I have been dairy free before that had gone away completely. I thought I had allergies to seasonal stuff, but it was just the dairy. Dairy is very mucus causing not only in your sinus' but also in the gut.
I have also noticed some aching in my joints and in past injuries which I here is normal during this kind of detox. I hurt my ankle 15 years ago and really haven't ever had any issues except it being a little wobbly. It's been more sensitive and hurting at night. 
 
Several cool things have been, my face and neck have lost weight. My husband commented the other day. I have noticed loss in my waist, hips and feet. I'm on the tail end of my cycle so I should start to lose more soon. I was down another pound yesterday. I think this will really start to improve soon.
 
It is more expensive sometimes to juice depending on what I juice. On my watermelon days it's only about six dollars for one from the store. I've stripped down my garden using everything to juice and have been really happy doing it. Sometimes in the past I have thrown some stuff out or had to give it away so it wouldn't go bad. Juicing may be something I do every summer to use up produce and lose those extra winter pounds. After this juice feast I may do a green smoothie feast to transition into whole foods again. 

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Color Me Impressed

I am so impressed! Wonder why? I am a woman who has had horrendous PMS and menstrual cramping since I can remember. Just ask my husband! I know I'm a terrible person to live with during that time. Otherwise I'm in pretty good control of myself and what I say. I get mad like everyone else but, during that time I just lose it. My hormones are nuts. I also have very strong cravings for sweets, grains and high fat. I bloat, have headaches am fatigued etc. I have every PMS symptom there is.
 
So, today is day nine of my juice feast and I "started" and really didn't even know I was going to. Sometimes I'm a week early but man do I know I'm going to start and so does my DH. This time I've been a little tired but, we went for a five mile bike ride yesterday and with pre-school starting I just thought it was normal. I haven't had almost any of the normal PMS stuff. I contribute that to the juice feast.  I'll have to update tomorrow about the cramping but, I haven't had any of the strong cravings, bloating or extreme fatigue. The cramping usually keeps me up at night and is so terrible the first day and sometimes the second day.
 
Anyway, I made a juice this morning with collard greens. I have never had them before and they were on sale so I decided to try a bunch. I mixed them with my standard base for juice and added, grapes, lemon and parsley. It was really filling and I just needed a quart to start. Then later in the morning I had the second quart and liked it even more than the first. For lunch I had a basic V8 with more thyme and rosemary. I have to say I really like the stronger thyme but probably couldn't do it all the time. It reminded me of Thanksgiving and sage stuffing? I have another quart that I think I'll save for tomorrow morning and I'll juice the other half of my watermelon. I wanted something for a small snacks so I did eat a half a cantaloupe. I figured it's mostly water anyway and really hard to juice so, I just ate it.
I'm lovin the watermelon with the extra stevia. I went out to the garden and found I had about five more. I'm gonna let them get bigger for the next couple days, maybe pick one for now. ENJOY!!!

Monday, September 10, 2012

Day Eight and Doing Great

Wonderful day eight! I was having a little trouble yesterday because I had to cook for my Dh and son. I cooked last Sunday and made enough for the week breakfast, lunches and dinners. So yesterday I had to do it again and the whole house smelled like yummy meatloaf. Ugh! I'm better today.
 
I juiced a half a watermelon from my garden yesterday before bed.
 It was an heirloom yellow watermelon.  Don't you just love the green color. I like the juice really cold and wanted it for the morning. The rest of the day will be V8's and maybe I might try that fruit lemonade I mentioned in another post. If you don't remember here is the recipe.
 
Fruit Lemonade:
3 Lemons or Limes peeled
1 Pineapple skin removed
3 Pears
1 Zucchini
water and stevia to taste.
 
With the whole lemons I like to dilute it a bit just like lemonade. Also it's better for the teeth if it's diluted. I have been brushing more and will be drinking more water. The first recipe was apples but, I have pears to use up and I may substitute limes for the lemons. I'm still doing the fish oil and coconut oil. I do the coconut if I'm going to be out for awhile because it helps with hunger. I usually do 1 tsp to a tablespoon. My detox symptoms are much better and I have more energy. I haven't re-checked my weight yet, I may wait a couple days. After my juice feast is over I will continue to do green juices daily. ENJOY!!!

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Down 6 lbs, Unbelievable Juice Recipes

Today is day 6 of my juice diet. I was a little bummed the last day or so because I hadn't noticed any big changes in my weight. Well, today when I weighed myself this morning, I was down 6lbs YEAH!!!
I was thrilled and the last time I did this I was desperately ready to quit by the sixth day and I don't feel like that this time. I feel like I could keep going for who knows how long.
 
Last night I made something a little sweeter, I was feeling down and wanted to indulge a little. Here's the recipe:
1 pineapple, chopped and diced with core skin removed
1 large zucchini
1 large cucumber (which was more like 2)
Stevia to taste
 
This came out sooooo good. Very yummy, but I know to keep losing I have to stay with the veggies.
 
The one for lunch today was unreal. Usually it's hard to say that for a veggie juice. I really like V8 juice and at the health food store they have some good ones, but this was sooo good.
 These are the herbs I used.
 
V8 Recipe:
1/4 bunch basil, parsley
4-5 stems and leaves of cilantro
1 stem rosemary, thyme leaves removed
10 stems if chives diced
3-4 flower heads from garlic chives
1 head romaine lettuce heart
1 lemon peeled
5 carrots
the stops from 3 of the carrots chopped up
1 large zucchini
1 large cucumber
About 2 lbs of heirloom tomatoes
I mixed yellow and red tomatoes
1 orange bell pepper
celery salt to taste
garlic salt to taste
 This is the carrot tops
My beautiful heirloom tomatoes
 
Now this made about 70 ounces so I put the extra in quart jars and sealed them up tight. The great thing about this juice is it tastes a little like salsa which I have missed doing a juice feast. You could also add some cayenne but, some people find that irritating on a feast so maybe when I'm off.  Everything except the lemon came from my back yard garden. I'll really miss my garden when the season changes :(
This is what I will probably finish the day with. ENJOY!!!
 

Friday, September 7, 2012

Be Prepared before juicing

Be prepared, it is one the the main problems people have when starting a juice feast. Be prepared for detox symptoms, being tired maybe cranky and definitely  have your food in order. It takes a lot of fresh produce to do a juice feast. Also I usually make a little more than I will drink for that "just in case" needed time. I will save some from the night before for the first thing in the morning. Sometimes I wake up so famished I can't get everything juiced as fast as I want it. Especially if my three year old gets up early, or if my husband needs breakfast and a lunch before he leaves for work. Another thing is you pee a lot, like 20 or more times a day.
 
Some greens will keep in the fridge if you rinse them then put them in plastic and in the crisper. I try to buy 3-4 days worth of stuff at a time and usually end up using it before I think I will. Also get a strainer that will fit your glass container. I like to strain most of my juices. I don't get a ton of pulp but I like to drink my juice not eat it. Most people find the pulp annoying.
 

Remember to try and buy mostly organic foods, there is a lot more to organic than just being pesticide free. A large part of produce being sold is GMO or genetically modified foods. These are genetically altered usually with a pesticide RNA strand. Some corn is engineered to kill a caterpillar when it eats it with a neurotoxin. So think about that! Many non-organic foods are also picked green, waxed,  sprayed with fungicides and gassed prior to shipment. The nutritional level is also higher with organic. Much of the soil conventional produce is grown in is completely depleted of mineral and nutrients. Organic is grown with compost and sometimes ground rock dust for minerals.

So today is day 5 of my juice feast. I had some left over watermelon juice for this a.m. breakfast and rushed out the door. When I got home for lunch I made a juice from:
half a bunch of kale
three carrots
2 small apples
1 zucchini
1cucumber
half a bunch of parsley
and one peeled lemon
Stevia to taste

I plan on doing the rest of the watermelon tomorrow because I have one sitting on my table from my garden. I think it is a yellow watermelon.

I'm feeling pretty good this afternoon, I woke up with the start of a headache and went to sleep last night with one. I'm drinking more water to help the cleanse and am also adding some to my juice. Enjoy!!!

Thursday, September 6, 2012

The juicer I use

This is my fourth day juice feasting and it has gone fast. I've been busy which is good because it keeps my mind off of what I'm not eating. For my birthday recently I bought and Omega Vrt 350 HD with all of the cash I got.
It took me a really long time to decide on a new juicer. I have a ten year old Omega 8002 and it has served me well. But, I wanted something with a little but bigger shoot and that could handle more produce at a time.
If your thinking about a juicer, masticating juicers are the best. They grind and press the food at slower RPM's. This helps the juice stay fresh longer and doesn't oxidize the nutrients when juicing. The Omega Vrt does 80 RPM's, most all of the centrifugal juicers do 1,200 to 13,000. I have to warn there is a learning curve with masticating juicers and highly recommend watching videos on You tube before purchasing and using one. I really like this guy that does videos on juicers,  John from rawfoods. He also does growyourgreens. He makes excellent points about juicers and does "juice offs" to compare juicers yields and foam etc. He has a company that sells juicers, dehydrators etc. He also is a raw foodie and knows the merchandise he sells.
I was watching some videos and people were talking about watermelon juice and how it helps to cleanse your body. So, since it's the summer and they're cheap I picked up a 12 pound one at the health food store for about $6.00.
 I juiced half of it, seeds, rind and all and it made a little over three quarts of juice.
 I will juice the other half later. The Omega does shoot out some pulp and most of the time I strain my juice, but this time I left it in to help me feel fuller. I added a little stevia to sweeten it up. This is the kind I like it doesn't have any after taste.
 
Before juicing a watermelon chill it for several hours, it's much more enjoyable and refreshing. Also since your doing the whole watermelon only get organic. Wash the watermelon with a fruit spray and rinse well. Then juice to your hearts content. I have heard some people say you shouldn't have more than a quart a day, then there are some that do this for 3 days. I think if your doing fine drink more. The instructions on the Omega state you can store juice for 72 hrs because of the low RPM's. Most people state to consume it immediately. Enjoy!!!

About me

I've decided to start this blog and document my road to more living foods. Juice feasts are pretty common when people do raw food diets.  I'm not a raw foodist but have been really researching and looking into where my food comes from and what's in it. Believe me when I say everyone should really be concerned with what is allowed in our food and what is being done to our food. I will cover some of these topics in later posts.
 
So I have decided to start a juice feast. I've done one before for about 6 days then decided to stop. I really don't want to put a number to how many days I want to do this. Is that a cop out? Maybe, but I find when I do things in concrete terms I deceive myself and feel horrible when I fail. Anyway, people do three days to one hundred days on a juice feast. I am not looking forward to my detox symptoms, but know they're common even in people that eat really clean, raw diets. The last juice feast I did really helped break me off sugar addictions and grains. I have indulged in both of them since but only about once or twice a month, can you guess at what time of month??? They really have lost their hold on me and I feel much better. But, I still have some lagging health issues and want to really boost my energy. I'll also get into my reasons on a later post. For now I will list a couple fruits and veggies I use in my base juices.
 
Base Juice:
1. Cucumber
2. Zucchini
3. Carrot
4. Apple
5. Greens
 
Now, I rotate my greens when I can to prevent a lot of oxalic acid build up that can cause kidney stones. I have to say I really like kale a lot though and grow it, so if it's all I have that is what I use.  I also never thought I would ever be a person that says "I like kale." I'm on the tail end of the gardening season so I think this will be a great time to use up what I have before the season ends. I also grow swiss chard, parsley, pac choy which is like bok choy. I sometimes do just one item all the way up to maybe ten things in a juice. I have been supplementing with a tablespoon of extra virgin cold pressed coconut oil and Omega Swirl Pina colada omega 3's which is awesome. I am thinking about some other supplements, but for now that's where I am.