Juicefeasting - Day 47

I'm past the half-way mark now! I've lost 25 pounds, but all of it in the first month. I started running at the beginning of the second month and found that the weight-loss stopped. My cravings have been a bit out-of-control for the last four days as well. I've stopped running daily, after 15 days and resorted to running every other day. I am currently running 2-3 miles at a time.

I hoping to get back-on-track emotionally and physically in the next few days. I went to the local farmer's market yesterday and tried amaranth greens for the first time in my juices today. Very good. It's been very hot here the last few days and that hasn't been helping much.

Juicefeasting - Day 26 Blog

I know I haven't written in awhile and I am going to try to be better at that. Today had an emotional beginning where I really started to wonder about everything that I have been doing in my life. I think that juicefeasting is going to bring about some big changes. I really thought that I would be impervious to many changes other than diet before beginning, but alas, I was wrong.

I watched most of "Julie and Julia" last night and I think after sleeping on it, a lot of things hit me at once. In the movie, a girl, Julie, blogs about her goal of cooking 500 and something Julia Child recipes in 365 days. The movie also depicts Julia Child's road to creating her French cookbook for Americans. The blog is a big success, but that's not the only reason I am writing! Julie has a very sad job and the blog really gives her something to aspire to. This is what got me to thinking.

I enjoy my job as a veterinary technician. I enjoy my job as a birth and postpartum doula, but that job is not bringing in any moeny right now, which we so desperately need. I love to cook, and recently I love to uncook. I also am working on the final project for my masters in Public Health. Unfortunately, I absolutely despise this task. I thought I would do my practicum on something I love, doulas. So I've devised a plan to increase access to and information about local doulas with the end result having more doulas being utilized and therefore, less c-sections and higher breastfeeding rates. To me, this seems like a very fair public health project, but it doesn't see so for my professor. I think that he is stuck on the fact that I am not working for anybody and thinks that for this project I probably should be. I did not complete my first of four credits with him. This is the second of four credits that I am working on. I keep pouring in hours of work with little feedback and the feedback that I am getting has all been negative so far. I am now waiting on a response to my logic model and I think he wants to talk on the phone again. I am not a great phone person and the last time I talked to him on the phone, there was an echo on my end so I kept hearing myself and couldn't gather my thought to speak eloquently. I think I sounded delinquent.

This is all leading up to me considering leaving the program. I only have 6 total credits remaining including this one, but I'm getting nothing from it. And I really don't know what I am going to do with an MPH anyway. It's all very frustrating. Maybe I'll just drop it this semester and do the entire 4 credits next semester, repeating the first credit in a public health organization. Did I mention that I'm frustrated?

This is all taking away from my family too. Thinking about it, talking about it, working on it, and it all seems to be a means with no end. This is the feelings I have today and it is troublesome. Hopefully tomorrow will bring some answers.

Day 26 - Juicefeasting Photo

Juicefeasting - Day 18

Juicefeasting - Day 14

14 days!!! 14 is my lucky number and I am happy to have made it this far. I still have 78 days to go, but that doesn't seem so bad anymore. 92 was a lot. 78, not so bad. I'm through my monthly, thankfully! Figures I would start a juicefeast when I was premenstrual. That is so me!! I also get major ambitious when I am pregnant. 3 babies, 3 major life shifts. Baby number one - I joined a graduate program of public health. Baby number two - we bought a house and moved in two weeks before having baby. Baby number three brought a career and life path change, from future doctor to future midwife and current doula. I am woman, hear me roar! Hahaha.

OK, so my spirit is light today, but I am having trouble doing things that I really want to do. The biggest thing I am having trouble with right now is getting outside. The task is daunting with three children and no fence. I did take them all to the beach the other day, by myself, and it was fun, but I think I'm now drained for at least a week. Time does seem to be going by quickly.

I've been spendinng a lot of time thinking about what to feed my family and thinking about what I want to eat when I come out of this feast. I've also been thinking that I might extend the length of the feast until I've lost all the weight I want to lose, as long as I'm still feeling as good as I am now. I definitely need to get some more exercise in. And I want to write down more goals. They remain in my head for now.

Eventually, I plan to develop my blog posts a little more, but for now stream of thought seems to suit me best. I'll come back when I feel like writing more!

-Nina

Day 12

Good morning folks!!

It's been a crazy, busy, long Memorial Day weekend. I work in a veterinary emergency clinic and the holidays always bring TONS of business. I'm happy to report that I am still juicing!!

I thought I was getting off easy with the detoxification aspect until the last couple of days. It doesn't help that my monthly came to visit. I spent Monday evening in agony with lower back pains. I think it was a combination of standing all night/day and my monthly. I actually sat in the shower and cried when I got home. I don't blame the juicing, but I certainly had some of the worse cramping and soreness in my life, rating up there with third birth afterpains. On the bright side, my cycle was only 2 days long!!

Last night I also got a pretty bad headache and felt nauseous. And yesterday I wanted to eat food I was preparing for the kids, but I wasn't hungry. I can't wait to weigh myself at 30 days!! I've been getting a gallon of juices everyday. Usually 3L of green/cucumber/celery/apple and 1L of fruit juice (watermelon/blueberry/mint, orange/flax oil, pineapple/spinach, etc). Water with MSM and lemon every morning and usually 1-2L more of water everyday. I've been doing my daily enemas, skin brushing, and hot/cold showers. Sleep has been great!!

Peace out,

Nina

Day 5

I really thought I would be much better at blogging this journey. Don't worry. I haven't fallen off the wagon yet. Actually, I feel quite satiated with my juices the last three days. I have learned a few things about my taste palate though:

1. I like bland drinks - not too sugary, not too spicy.

2. I am not a fan of grapefruit/orange/lemon. I hate grapefruit, but I choked it down once again today to prove to myself that I really don't like it.

3. So far I have not enjoyed garlic in my juices and I love garlic (cooked, though).

4. I haven't liked any of the supplements - green powder and kelp granules - blah! The green powder I tried in water before the juicefeast and it was slimy and nasty so I dumped it out after a few sips. Maybe it will be better in a green drink, but I'm scared to waste a quart. The kelp granules made my juice "beady" and I didn't think that was pleasant. I haven't really felt the desire to chew although I've been chewing my juices. The bee pollen is not so bad. I haven't tried the flax oil or the hemp oil yet. I guess I'm just not a fan of supplements.

What I have enjoyed is good mixes of greens: spinach, kale, all types of lettuce, cabbage, parsley, etc with all or any of celery, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, alphalfa sprouts, etc. I might be missing some things. I add apples to my GVJ as well. I like pineapple mixed with spinach. Watermelon juice isn't bad, but I think that it will taste best without the green part of the rind (I can't find organic watermelon or seeded watermelon for that matter). I mix 3-4 quarts of GVJ the last few days and that seems to be the best approach for me. Hopefully I'm not hurting anything by avoiding supplements and "warming" foods for now.

I've been really good keeping the hunger at bay. I actually haven't felt hungry at all. Cravings are extremely fleeting as are detox symptoms. I might feel a slight headache while I'm drinking a juice, for example, but it's gone before I'm done. I am a little backed-up though, I think.

I've been doing enemas every day (I really wasn't going to write about this) and that is the only time I visit the bathroom to defecate and it is little more than the water than I put in. I don't feel the need to get more out right now though. After all, I have 92 days!!

One day at a time has been working really well for me and not really thinking about it. I feel good. I feel alive and soon I think I will really be feeling good.

-Nina

Day 2

Day 1 juices:

1L spinach/cucumber/apple/celery

1L spinach/pineapple

1L grapefruit/orange/lemon

1L water/msm/lemon

water throughout day

Day 2 juices:

1L water/msm/lemon

1L spinach/cucumber/apple/celery

3L kale/red romaine/celery/tomato/alphalfa/carrot

I had no cravings on Day 1 for solid foods, but i had trouble getting in all the juices because I had a REALLY busy day. Graduation from my graduate public health program left me with no juices from 9-1. I had drank 2L prior to that (including water), drank my citrus drink after, my spinach/pineapple later, and then it was my daughter's dance recital!! I got home after 8pm and decided not to drink the last liter of greens and save it for the morning.

I knew ahead of time that preparing juices was going to take awhile and it really does!! Tomorrow I start a 5 day class that is 1 1/2 hours away from home. 3 hours of driving and 8 hours of class equals really long days!! I am going to have to search deep to get up early in the mornings to make all my juices!! The plus though is that I won't be home preparing meals (hubby will be doing all of that) so no temptations. The first seven days will be done before I know it.

-Nina

Let the Feast Begin!!

I did some shopping today for my juicefeast starting tomorrow!!! And my Blendtec and nut milk bags were waiting for me on my porch when I got home!!! Here we go!!! Here's some "before" pics at the heaviest I have ever been, 215 whopper pounds!

Getting a Head Start

I stepped up the juicing today with my little Hamilton Beach juicer (which I've been doing limitedly the past couple of months). I'm so anxious to get my Blendtec and nut mylk bags!! At least I know I can still start Saturday even if I don't get them.

Juices today:

1L water/lemon/MSM

1.4L kale/collard/cabbage/cucumber/celery

1.3L red papaya/orange/lime

1L water/lemon/MSM

I've also had a couple of nuts, a very small slice of cheese pizza, and I am planning on making a salad to go with me to work along with the GVJ and water.

MSMmmmm

Today is the first day that I have added MSM to my morning water with half of a squeezed lemon!! I've been doing more reading on the supplements and it looks like I will also want to pick up:

1. Vitalzyme

2. Natural Cellular Defense (NCD)

3. Spirulina

4. Chlorella

5. Vitamineral Earth (to start Day 30)

6. Internal Parasite Formula (to start Day 60)

I also need an enema kit and I already have a body brush (that I haven't been using recently). I am still really excited to get started and think that this is going to be a very positive and life-changing experience for myself. A couple of goals going in:

1. Only step on the scale on Days 1, 30, 60, and 92.

2. Kick the alcohol cravings - no more wine even.

3. Kick the fast food cravings like chicken nuggets, french fries, and macaroni and cheese.

4. Come out the other end 100% Raw and don't look back!!!

5. Study meals the kids will like ranging from whole foods - raw vegan. I can't afford to not use the foods provided to us through WIC, but I can add in a lot more whole, organic produce.

As you can see, I like to make a lot of lists! I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH HOW EXCITED I AM TO BEGIN THE 92-DAY JUICEFEASTING PROGRAM!!! 2 MORE DAYS!!

Supplement Score

I went to my local health food store today and picked up some supplements that I will be using on my juicefeast. The only thing I haven't picked up yet is spirulina and I held off because I got a raw superfood powder and wasn't sure if I needed both? I think I will pick up the spirulina now though after doing some more reading. Here's what I got:

1. Living Harvest Organic Hemp Oil 16.9 FL OZ $16.65

2. Bee Pollen - C.C. Pollen Co High Desert Brand 0.33lb $5.28

3. MSM Powder 1lb (126 tsp or 42tbs) $19.19

4. Garden of Life: Perfect Food RAW: RAW Organic Green Super Food 30 servings $36.15

5. Organic Kelp Granules (from my native Maine Coast) 1.5oz $3.49

Total Spent: $80.76

And get this, food stamps covered it!! Of course, I still have to budget out the rest of my grocery money because we really can barely afford groceries...In case you're wondering, I am highly educated and I was respectfully employed, but my daughter had a condition requiring heart surgery which went undiagnosed for 9 months. They did surgery the day they diagnosed her and we had known that she wasn't "right" for the first 9 months of her life. I quit my job to be home with her and I am NOT ashamed to be getting State Aid for now. We have a plan. For more about my family, visit my other blog.

Accountability

Somehow I am going to need to hold myself accountable for juicefeasting and a raw vegan diet. I don't have anybody to answer to except myself and maybe an online community, but even I dropped of the face of the internet, I don't think anyone would be asking what happened to MY juicefeast.

Today I am so hungry and so tempted by non-Raw foods and I am giving into those temptation just as I have done since this past Sunday. I keep telling myself that there's only a few more days until I start my juicefeast, so why not eat some sugar toast? Why not have a drink? Why not eat the buffalo chicken wings? In a few days I will be eating nothing but raw, organic, fresh juices!! See, I really need some accountability!!

Ready for Detox

So yesterday was not a good day for me in terms of diet. We had some Twisted Teas in the house and if you know anything about me, me plus Twisted Teas equals disaster. I drank them during the afternoon and despite my massive intake of water post teas, I still barely slept a wink and woke up extremely sore.

This only encourages me that the juicefeast is the life transformation that I need right now. You may wonder if I really want this and if I can even do this if I can't resist a couple of drinks right now, but I assure you that once I begin the program, I will succeed. I am strong-willed and I won't allow myself to fail. I am also good at listening to my body.

I found a blog last night that I can finally relate to. This juicefeaster has two children, ages 1 and 2, and a husband who all eat SAD meals and she managed to juicefeast for 93 days. Bring it on!!

Exercise

The last 2 days I pulled out the triple jogging stroller and put in a minimum of 2 miles pushing all three kids to a park and the grocery store as well today. I am feeling more and more excited about starting my juicefeast!! Tomorrow I think we will travel a little further to the health food store and pick up the supplements I desire:

1. Bee pollen

2. Vitamineral Green or Pure Synergy or Nature's First Food

3. MSM powder

4. Spirulina or Chlorella or E3 Live

5. Hemp oil

6. Kelp Granules

I will be interested to see if food stamps will cover any or all of it as they accepted them for the flax seed oil I bought a couple of weeks ago. I also want to see if the farmer's market is up and running down the road from the health food store. And of course, I will continue to read the juicefeasting web site!!

Juicefeasting!!

I am planning to juicefeast starting sometime in the next 2 weeks. I have signed up for http://www.juicefeasting.com and have been reading non-stop for DAYS. I am really excited about this. I have ordered a Blendtec blender, multiple nutmilk bags and green juice recipe books to go along with the juicer and recipe books that I already have. I have been drinking anywhere from 1-2 quarts of fresh juice daily in preparation.

I am SAD to admit though that I am still eating some animal flesh, starches, and cheeses. Becoming a raw vegan is quite the roller coaster for me. It doesn't help that my husband works for Pizza Hut and brings home JUNK all the time. The groceries we get for the kids with our WIC checks doesn't help either: cereal, milk, eggs, and bread galore! I hope the juicefeast helps me to transition to 100% RAW.

I have no real support either other than cyberspace. I briefly mentioned to my mom yesterday that I was transitioning to a RAW diet and told her that meant I would no longer cook my food. She didn't get it and neither does my family. Cravings will be interesting on this feast. We shall see!!

SAD to RAW

SAD (Standard American Diet) is what I have been eating for the last 27 years. SAD is how I feel most days. For the last couple of months, I have been considering a Raw Food Diet as a lifestyle change. My story is bound to unfold differently than most who have undertaken raw foods for a few reasons:

1) I am a mother of 3. My first was born in May of 2006, my second in August of 2007, and my third in January of 2010. They're what I call "Irish triplets" and they all eat the toddler SAD.

2) I gained a lot of weight after having my last child. She had some health issues and after solving, I coped with alcohol. I struggled with postpartum depression and since have gone off of all of my meds.

3) We are struggling financially. We receive WIC for the kids which is heavy on the milk, cheese, and grains. I may be able to go Raw, but my kids won't. How am I to balance my eating habits with theirs? Do I just deny WIC benefits?

4) My husband is not convinced. He will do it, but only if I do everything for him.

I've found, for the most part, everyone experimenting with this lifestyle is single without children. Or if they have children, their husband is supportive. I am not religious and I don't have anyone to travel this journey with me. It is me against all odds, but I hope to prevail. I also am going into this without being a vegan and I am too impatient to ease into it. We shall see!