Juice Cleanse - Recap

Well – that cold was no joke… Thursday morning I woke up feeling AWFUL – called out sick from work, and luckily James didn’t work til that evening, so he was able to be with Kapri while I slept. I actually SLEPT through the morning until 2ish…I couldn’t believe it. That night alone with K was rough…I even cried in misery to her – she felt bad for mamma!

Yesterday was terrible too…just felt like a bus hit me – called out again, repeat of Thursday… but Friday night was a smidgen better.

This morning I woke up feeling better, but not 100%…we have an early Thanksgiving dinner at James’ mom’s tonight, so hope I’m okay by then.

I’ve been eating small portions of fruits & veggies to get my tummy prepped for the amount of food I’ll likely consume tonight. Feeling good about it though.

All in all – the cleanse was hard, obviously. I couldn’t believe how much TIME it took… on nights when I made 2 jars full for us each, plus a jar of almond milk…I was in the kitchen for 2 hours – that’s just insane. Thankfully I have a kid that can self-entertain for that amount of time….though I feel terribly guilty after.

On the flip side, I felt pretty amazing towards the end (with the exception of the gnarly cold) – juicing has definitely been an experience. James & I both want to continue with the Green Juice at least a couple days of the week to replace breakfast/lunch… we really felt great knowing our bodies were nourished with super-foods, and not stuffed from eating not so great, or too much.

Like I said before, I’ll probably give this another shot in a few months when it’s a less busy time of year. And I highly recommend it to anyone looking to improve your overall health in a safe & effective way!

Juice Cleanse - Day 10

Day 10 (Wednesday – 11/14/2012)

• Sleep: great, knowing that I’m all through with this!
• Feeling: ready to eat solids
• Exercise: 20 min. JM vid
• Energy level: a bit low…think I may be getting a cold
• Weight difference since Day 1: 8lbs
• $ spent on juice ingredients since Day 1: $20 today – so $193 total

Notes:

Ugh – I’m getting a cold…I feel it. Started getting a scratchy throat at work…and now, getting ready for bed - I’m just dead tired. Hoping this won’t be too bad, but it’s kinda unavoidable when your daughter is sick literally every 2 weeks for the last month & ½ - jeez!

Good night…

Juice Cleanse - Day 9

Day 9 (Tuesday – 11/13/2012)

• Sleep: ugh, I wish Kapri would stop waking up at night lately…my sleep is good besides that… & luckily don’t wake up hungry at all
• Feeling: really good…ready to eat solids!
• Exercise: 20-min JM 30-day Shred DVD
• Energy level: very high today
• Weight difference since Day 1: 7lbs
• $ spent on juice ingredients since Day 1: $0 today – still $173 total

Notes:

Took a leap and had some *gasp* caffeinated green tea this morning…mmm…cannot WAIT to have coffee! For breakfast I had some more pomegranate seeds and ½ an orange.

And for lunch had a ½ mason jar of green juice and a carrot…for snack a rice cake… so far I’m feeling pretty good! I was also super focused today & felt like I got a lot accomplished – go me!

pretty green spinach

Juice Cleanse - Day 8

Day 8 (Monday – 11/12/2012)

• Sleep: I was SO tired last night early on (because of the night before), but of course Kapri had to wake us up twice.
• Feeling: better than the weekend…being at work is SO much easier while cleansing
• Exercise: finally – my body was ready & definitely needed a good JM workout! 40-min JM No More Trouble Zones DVD and a walk to the park
• Energy level: great, excited to be near the end!
• Weight difference since Day 1: 7lbs
• $ spent on juice ingredients since Day 1: $0 today – still $173 total

Notes:


This morning I enjoyed some amazing OJ (made best with citrus juicer)…using those super juicy oranges I got at the Farmer’s Market yesterday. It was the same as Day 2’s juice, but somehow was wayyyy better using those amazing oranges & carrots. Though I only did ½ the mason jar (for both James & I) because I also wanted to start incorporating a little solids this week…as we have an early Thanksgiving dinner to attend in only 5 days, ahh! So I decided to give my tummy a little more time to adjust.



Along with my OJ, I casually nibbled on green grapes & pomegranate seeds throughout the morning (from Farmer’s Market too – mmm!). So happy to CHEW!!

Today felt like I was very focused at work, at home…it was good!

Then in the afternoon I had a full mason jar of my typical green juice, and for dinner I indulged a cucumber & avo salad and a brown rice cake - It was wonderful! Though I did feel a little bloated after and my stomach was mega busy digesting whole foods…so that felt odd. But I didn’t feel sick or anything.

Capped it off with a little Almond Milk before bed – totally satisfied today, yay!

Juice Cleanse - Day 7

Day 7 (Sunday – 11/11/2012)

• Sleep: eh, bad – Kapri wasn’t feeling to great, so we were up a few times throughout the night
• Feeling: ready for this to be over.
• Exercise: nada…didn’t get nearly enough sleep to give me the energy needed to workout
• Energy level: blah… juiced & did a little laundry & K’s not feeling well, so we just lounged all day with her
• Weight difference since Day 1: 6lbs
• $ spent on juice ingredients since Day 1: $40 today + $113 (prior total) = $153 total

Notes:

Had my first Encinitas/Leucadia Farmer’s Market experience today…so happy I did! Though it was cut short because Kapri started feeling icky… but overall I’m pleased with what they had to offer. All the food samples and delicious smells wafting through the air made it pretty tough – I can’t wait to go next Sunday when I can actually try them! My sister & I did split a ‘green’ juice though, which was good and iced thankfully!

I stocked up on carrots (love those long green tops), kale, pomegranates, cauliflower, delish oranges…and even sampled a bite of my first Dragonfruit…which was pretty bland…the texture of a kiwi, but really no taste – sad!


Then I brought K home to nap, then left her with James while I ran back out to Trader Joe’s for items I didn’t find at the Farmer’s Market. I also bought some tomato soup, chicken noodle soup & minestrone soup for this week’s dinners.

Can’t believe I actually get to have DINNER finally…something that I can put in a bowl & hold a utensil for, haha yay!

Juice Cleanse - Day 6

Day 6 (Saturday – 11/10/2012)

• Sleep: Great…but for a Saturday morning, would’ve been greater if a certain small child didn’t decide to wake up at 6am!!! oye
• Feeling: light & not as ‘fluffy’, haha
• Exercise: none – on Saturdays I usually have a good amount of time during Kapri’s nap to workout, but my body & mind were not feelin it. So I decided to listen to my body and just relax on the couch all by my lonesome. It felt fantastic.
• Energy level: not much energy today…walked around an expo and that was about it…otherwise, I was a bit of a couch potato. Didn’t feel like working out, or doing my laundry…not very productive, blah.
• Weight difference since Day 1: 6lbs
• $ spent on juice ingredients since Day 1: $0 today – still $113 total

Notes:

Watermelon Cucumber Juice (around 32 oz):

• ½-1 small watermelon
• 1 cucumber

Now – on this recipe I doubled to make enough for hubs…so 2 cucumbers and a whole (small) watermelon – but WITH the rinds ON, as per my sister’s instruction.

I will not do this next time.



It totally altered the taste AND the color from what I was anticipating…can you believe that pic below?? I can’t. But I still drank it…not going to let a whole watermelon & cucumbers go to waste!



Today was tough…I want food. I want to chew. I want to savor the taste of yummy things. I want to bake. I want to cook. I want coffee & wine. I want to have a nice meal out with my family. I even went into my cupboard to smell peanut butter – mmmm!

Juice Cleanse - Day 5

Day 5 (Friday – 11/9/2012)

• Sleep: okay
• Feeling: good, but tired of juicing for 1-2 hours every damn night
• Exercise: 45-min Jillian Michael’s (No More Trouble Zones) DVD
• Energy level: tired…just felt like lounging all night
• Weight difference since Day 1: 6lbs
• $ spent on juice ingredients since Day 1: $16 today + $97 (prior total) = $113

Notes:

Today was TOUGH… there were an annoyingly high amount of temptations at work – “bagel Friday”, a plate of trail mix, some insanely good looking chocolate-covered strawberries, and mini cupcakes – jeeeezzz! It’s like the universe was testing my ability to RESIST all these goodies, which on a normal day, I would’ve stocked up on and lovingly brought back to my desk to enjoy!



BUT- I am happy to report that I was able to proudly walk away from it all & drink my green juice instead. Pat on the back for me!

Then my sister kept telling me how much she wanted to stop at 7 days, because next weekend a friend of hers is in town – and realistically speaking, weekends/friends/EVERYthing revolves around FOOD! I even have an early Thanksgiving with some of my in-laws next Saturday, which would only give me 2.5 days to ‘ease’ back into food.

I. Love. Thanksgiving.

At Trader Joe’s this evening, getting more juicing goods…I kept staring at the stuffing and gravy display…gahhhhh. Just put me outta my misery.

So…I may join her…just so I don’t risk a crazy tummy ache/digestion issues later on. I think the holidays/winter is the WORST time of year for a 10-day cleanse. Maybe like, March…nothing is really going on in March (for me at least). Though I’m feeling a little guilty, like I let myself down after committing to make it a full 10 days! Ugh.

Orange Dream Juice (around 32 oz):

• 2 carrots
• 3-4 oranges
• 2-3 pears (I only had 1)
• 1 medium sweet potato (I had a yam)
• 1 red apple

Juice Cleanse - Day 4

Day 4 (Thursday – 11/8/2012)

• Sleep: okay
• Feeling: a bit slugish
• Exercise: 20-min Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred DVD, Level 1…and 10-min guided meditation
• Energy level: good, though a tad irritable here & there
• Weight difference since Day 1: 4lbs
• $ spent on juice ingredients since Day 1: $0 today, still $97 total

Notes:

I think my notes/pics on this day somehow got deleted & I can’t remember how the day was now!! haha

Cantaloupe Juice (around 32 oz):

• 4 carrots
• 1 cucumber
• 2 celery stalks
• 2 oranges
• 1 pear

Juice Cleanse - Day 3

Day 3 (Wednesday – 11/7/2012)

• Sleep: eh, a little tossing & turning, and watching the clock… I think in anticipation of the special ‘tea’ kicking in to do its thing.
• Feeling: I’m feeling like I wish I could find another good tasting juice for my palette!! I’ve never been a veggie fan, so this cleanse is definitely tough in that sense.
• Exercise: another Jillian Michaels video…but I did a 45 min. one since I had a little more time.
• Energy level: still pretty good, considering everywhere I’ve read says Day 3 is the toughest!
• Weight difference since Day 1: 4lbs
• $ spent on juice ingredients since Day 1: $6 today + $91 (prior total) = $97

Notes:

Ugh, kinda bummed on my ‘orange’ drink we made last night. First we only did the carrots, cucumbers & celery…but it needed something… so then we added a few oranges & a pear…still not so great, but we drank it this morning anyway!!

CCC Juice (around 32 oz):

• 4 carrots
• 1 cucumber
• 2 celery stalks
• 2 oranges
• 1 pear

Tonight I made more Almond Milk the CORRECT way…so yum! Skipped the tea though… not pleasant in the morning.

I made a cantaloupe drink for tomorrow morning that I hope will be refreshing!

Juice Cleanse - Day 2

Day 2 (Tuesday – 11/6/2012)

• Sleep: slept great, after reading other sites recommended a small glass of ‘nut’ milk an hour before bed.
• Feeling: I’m wondering where my ‘lack of caffeine” headache is…maybe it’ll pop up tomorrow, though I’m hoping not! Overall I feel okay, not starving or deprived…I feel like I’m giving my body some well needed veggies that I don’t typically indulge in.
• Exercise: same as yesterday - 20-min Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred, Level 1 DVD
• Energy level: pretty good, I think the sun rising earlier now, after this past weekend’s time change, helps me get out of bed with much less internal struggle…which is rare on the weekdays!
• Weight difference since Day 1: 3lbs
• $ spent on juice ingredients since Day 1: $18 + $73 (prior total) = $91

Notes:

Morning felt the same as yesterday…Felt a little slow and un-focused though at work – definitely missing my morning coffee. Instead I had my Carrot/Orange/Apple juice I made last night, which was much more enjoyable than day 1’s concoction!

Orange Juice (around 28oz):

• 3 oranges
• 6-8 carrots
• 1 apple
• 1 pear

For my lunch break, I didn’t really feel tired…just felt like I needed to lie down and do some meditation or something. So I went out to my car, re-parked it in a super shaded (quiet) area in the back of the lot, rolled down the windows and streamed up a ‘guided meditation’ on my phone. With my earphones in and my seat reclined back, I closed my eyes, did some deep breathing…and took a FABULOUS 30-40 minute snooze – I seriously felt amazingly refreshed afterwards!

My Green Juice was heavenly (probably because it’s mostly FRUIT! Haha)…definitely a keeper…even Kapri couldn’t get enough of it when I made my batch and ½ last night!

Green Juice (around 20oz):

• 1 large handful of kale
• 1 large handful of spinach
• 1 average sized kiwi, peeled
• 2 Granny Smith apples, whole
• 1 banana (pureed in blender  with a splash of coconut water, then added to juiced ingredients)
• 1 pear (not pictured)

**Used this article & this calculator to find calorie info on above Green Juice**

Also this evening, Kapri & I got to finally show James how to prep all the veggies/fruit & use the juicer…he was amazed at the process! It is soooo much easier when you have someone there to really help you, cuts the time in HALF!

After indulging in my almond milk, I put Kapri to bed…then I prepped myself a cup of “Smooth Move” tea. I felt a tad bloated in the afternoon and just wanted to make sure everything was ‘flowing’ okay ;-)

Juice Cleanse - Day 1

Day 1 (Monday – 11/5/2012)

• Sleep: I was anxious all night, knowing I was starting this juicing thing the next morning. I even had crazy dreams 2 nights prior after watching “Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead” on Friday night with my sis!
• Feeling: so far so good…I’m not completely new to a ‘cleanse’, as I’ve done the Master Cleanse before, so I think I just know what to expect a bit more.
• Exercise: 20-min Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred, Level 1 DVD
• Energy level: awesome in the evening, lagged a bit in the morning at work, due to lack of my typical cups of yummy coffee *sigh*
• Weight difference since start: 1lb
• $ spent on juice ingredients since start: $45 (yesterday prep) and another $28 (today, additional items) = $73 so far (though I’m making juices here & there for hubs too)

My first juice was just terrible. I got chills & cringed every time I took a sip. I think it’s the kale…I left the stem on since I didn’t know any better…but it was brown and looks like “you know what” – which was not appealing in sight or in taste. So I won’t waste any time talking about what was in that. Blech.

When I got home from work, I did 20 min of circuit training… then ran errands – it’s nice to be out of the house, away from all our snack-y foods. Once home, I popped a pesto tomato flatbread from Trader’s in the toaster oven for Kapri’s dinner.

Why oh why did she have to pick THAT one for dinner tonight?? It’s my fav… and the smell of the warmed pesto and melty cheese…gah…but I didn’t cave – go me!

So I began juicing. And juicing… and JUICING – man this takes awhile!

I needed to fill my two 32-oz mason jars, along with some for the hubs (who is partially following the plan – either way, it’s nice to get extra fruits & veggies in regardless!). I also had a cup of almonds that had been soaking for 24-hrs that needed some serious TLC… I couldn’t WAIT to have some almond ‘milk’ in the evening.

After prepping for tomorrow’s juice, I finally got around to talking this ‘milk’ business. I realize now that I totally messed up (didn’t add all the water in WITH the almonds to the juicer…so had to put the almond pulp in a fine mesh strainer, pour in water and push with a spoon so the liquid would drip into a bowl…ugh!) However, it ended with a pretty decent drink! So next time around I’ll be sure to do it properly:

Almond Milk:

• 4 cups fresh water (to soak with, then dispose of)
• 1 cup soaked almonds (soak for 24 hrs)
• 3 cups fresh water (to mix in with almonds into juicer)

I wanted a little something in my milk, so in a blender I pureed a ½ frozen banana with a dash of coconut milk, then poured in the almond milk, added a sprinkle of cinnamon and the inside of one vanilla bean – yum!!

Cheers!

Juice Cleanse - Intro

After hearing the amazing benefits of 'juicing' from various friends, I was intrigued. I researched every inch of the internet for a few days, recruited my sister as a juicing buddy and we set the date.

I was so anxious/nervous for this cleanse, that I mistakenly bit off all my pretty nails. I knew this was going to be tough. I've only done the Master Cleanse 2 times before...but juicing is much different - though much healthier! I was just worried about the taste, getting different recipes to work for me...and the TIME needed to do this every day.

So on Halloween (Wednesday) we bought this awesome Hamilton Beach juicer on Amazon with 2-day shipping, got it on Friday, then shopped at Sprouts for our first batch of fruits/veggies today!

I feel like doing a 'cleanse' at least once a year is good...with all the food we eat and toxins we take in (purposefully or not), it just seems right to me. My sister posted this on her FB when she faced a bit of controversy on her 'juicing' status, haha:

Why??Here's a list of top 10 reasons to do a Juice Cleanse 

1. Gives your digestive system a chance to rest and rejuvenate by suspending it from work, a cleanse is much easier on the system than solid food and provides a full day’s worth of nutrients.
2. A few days of juice allows you to ‘reset’ your palate, and most people find that everything tastes better following a cleanse and it eliminates cravings for sugar and white flour carbohydrates
3. Cleanses enhance your immune system! Fresh juice is packed full of phytochemicals, vitamins, antioxidants, minerals and enzymes that help rid the body of toxic waste and help propel physical and mental wellness.
4. A cleanse helps to eliminate toxins and unhealthy fats from your system
5. Drinking juice throughout the day keeps your metabolic rate steady, instead of the peaks and valleys that come with digesting heavy meals throughout the day
6. Many people feel more rested, have increased levels of energy and a stronger sex drive, brighter eyes and a glowing complexion
7. To rediscover the value of food and re-establish your gratitude for food
8. To regain control of what you choose to eat and break free of unhealthy food habits
9. Along with cleaning the various organs, juice fasting also helps in overcoming several illnesses such as stress, depression, cancer, and more.
10. Cleanses are an excellent way to eliminate kidney stones, appendicitis, a gallbladder attack, pneumonia, and more! When herbal teas and tinctures are used in combination with juicing, this is the fastest possible route to healing.

This is not about deprivation, it’s about nourishment!

So there it is...wish me luck!!