Juice fast.... Do you want me to post results?
Hi guys,
I am going to embark on a juice fast next weekend. I have to test my new juicer this week to make sure it works. OK, have had it for about a year and have never plugged it in.
This will be my third juice fast in 10 or so years. My first lasting 18 days, through the guidance of a naturopath. The second lasted about 31 days from the knowledge I got through the first fast and Steve M's book.
I know a few people on this board do not believe they are beneficial or healthy. We are all entitled to our opinions and views.
My downfalls on the last two are that I ended going back to my crappy eating habits. While fasting, I had more energy than ever before and a sense of peace.
Yes, one loses weight while fasting so I am hoping it will be a kick start for me. I am also trying very hard to break some bad eating habits. More importantly, I am doing this to eliminate the bad eating, drinking, smoking habits/toxins from my body.
Although I did start to eat chicken and fish again, I realized I don't enjoy it and feel horrible/guilty doing so. Right now I am probably eating chicken once a week. Fish every couple of weeks.
I want to break my cycle of eating cheese. I want the crap out of my body. I want to break my Diet Coke addiction.
I have tried to quit smoking. I am going to try again tomorrow as I don't want to have to deal with that when I start the fast.
I am going to cut down on caffeine this week. That means eliminating my one cup of Timmy's coffee every morning and cutting down on the Diet Coke.
There are many positives to juice fasting. Some won't agree but I have enjoyed the benefits of fasting in the past. I actually lost weight and became lean and fit. I just didn't follow through and continue with the exercise and better eating habits.
SO..I am going to make an appointment with a naturopathic nutritionist when I finish the fast. I don't want to go back to my old habits. I want to move on to a healthy lifestyle.
Guess going to my 47 year old friend's funeral yesterday didn't help. She had breast cancer and got the 5 year clean mark. Then she developed lung cancer that spread to her bones. She leaves behind her 16 and 19 year children and a broken hearted husband.
I don't believe I will ever be vegan. But I have made a difference to the welfare of animals and I will continue to do so.
I found out on my last fast that I am allergic to carrots. I googled today and found out that many people with carrot allergies also are allergic to Birch trees. I will have to investigate that as in get tested. I am hoping using sweet potatoes will be a good alternative.
While fasting, I will be going to an orthopaedic surgeon for my knee and having eye surgery. I will be taking Demerol for the eye surgery pain. Maybe I will be lucky and have no pain. None the less, if I do take Demerol, hopefully the fast will rid my body form the toxins.
One can't exercise much while fasting. Walking is about the best one should do. As Cali is an incredibly energetic dog, I will do the walking. Once I finish the fast, I am going to start a serious exercises plan. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Cali will be a huge help as she loves running, walking, and hiking. Being goofy too.
I found a website on the benefits of juicing for parrots. So Biko and my budgies will benefit too as I will give them some of the juice. As well as my cats and Cali.
I remember my last fast when I gave Biko some juice. He loved it. His eyes dilated. The next day he pooped red. I was panicked. Then I remembered there was beet in the juice. All was well.
My question is: Do you want me to post daily accounts of my fast or is it not of interest to anyone? If it isn't, I will not post my results.
Veg on to everyone.
We are all on a path and baby steps are good.
Di
I have to test my new juicer this week to make sure it works. OK, have had it for about a year and have never plugged it in.
Good luck with the fast and with the juicer, Di. I bought a new toaster yesterday, plugged it in, popped bread in it - and every light in the flat went out! All I wanted was toast ???
I have to test my new juicer this week to make sure it works. OK, have had it for about a year and have never plugged it in.
Good luck with the fast and with the juicer, Di. I bought a new toaster yesterday, plugged it in, popped bread in it - and every light in the flat went out! All I wanted was toast ???
Ha, too funny! I forgot to mention with the fast. One has body odor. Nice! One's tongue gets coated with gross stuff and one has to use a tongue cleaner daily and dry brush their skin.
Guess I won't be kissing anyone or getting up close and personal.
Ha, I just threw away my toaster that died after many years. Couldn't be fixed. I just wanted toast too!
Hopefully you have a warranty and can get a new one. Nothing better than burnt toast with peanut butter!
I would be interested...I don't think I could go on one b/c although I've never been diagnosed as diabetic or hypoglycemic I have sugar issues and think without a greater source of protein than fruits and veggies I'd react badly (have been known to pass out...). But I have a juicer my sister gave me (she decided it was too much work for her) and I admit that I too have not even tried to use it yet. But I'd like to and think I could do juice "days" or even weekends instead of week-long fasts.
I had a Juiceman that I used for my first two fasts. I ended up buying a Breville and sold my Juiceman to my friends for $25.00. They use it all the time and love it.
When I fast I write a journal of how I feel and the juices I have mixed. As you are interested, I will post daily during the fast.
Even adding a glass of fresh juice daily would be wonderful for you.
I am so not a morning person. While fasting, I made/will make myself get up 15 minutes earlier and made/make enough juice for the work day. I brought the juice in a thermos or two.
It is best to drink it right away as nutrients can diminish in time. In a thermos kept in the fridge, will be OK for a day.
Just not as good as if you drank it right away.
I would not make it the night before.
The machines are daunting. So have fun with it. This weekend, buy some fruits/veggies you like and experiment.
Write down all your combinations and rate them..Loved it, hated it, was OK.
Wish I could find the notebook with the combinations I loved. Although I loved everything with carrot and I can not do carrot this time. My throat will close. :o(
Juicing can be fun. I used to love it but then like everything else, got bored so stopped.
I am hoping I will start to love juicing again and will feel better by doing so.
Thanks for the advice - I find it all very helpful AND motivating! It didn't occur to me that you could make juice in 15 minutes - I think I can handle that. And the notebook idea is brilliant - I'll try that. I have some fruit, berries and veggies on hand already so will experiment some time this week. Not tomorrow morning...Mondays are not good for me to start new things...hate them...am grumpy >:( So probably Tuesday. I will cut things up Monday night and have them ready - hopefully that is ok. Thanks!!
If you are doing pears, make sure they are firm. Not overly ripe. Firm juices better. The only reason I say 15 minutes is I will be making enough for a day and washing the juicer.
It is funny the things you can mix together. Apple is the one that best mixes with veggies. Gives it a sweeter taste.
Juicing really is fun. Just have to get in to the juicing mode. I am trying very hard to get my mind set to the fact that I will probably not be eating for at least 3 or 4 weeks. Or longer. No solid food, no BB Q's, no booze.
When I end the fast, I will try very hard to add fresh juice to my diet daily or at least 4 or 5 times a week. As well as eat more fresh fruits and veggies and start a serious get fit, exercise plan.
Please post your juicing experiences. Your bad combinations and your good ones.
Let me warn you. You should peel cantaloupe but try to keep most of the green pith on it. The juice comes out a vomitous green colour. Tastes amazing but the colour...... The green pith has many nutrients in it.
Go organic as much as possible. If not, use a veggie wash. You must peel citrus fruit. Oranges, lemons, limes etc.
Although not all believe you should remove the seed from apples, they contain trace amounts of cyanide. Cut the apple. Do not put any whole fruit through with pits. Cut the pit out.
Avocados and bananas don't work through a juicer.
I am starting next weekend as Monday is a holiday so I have 3 days not at work. I start the fast with a teaspoon of Epsom salts in water. Can't leave the house that day. I do not do enemas.
if you're looking to replace carrots, could you use red bell pepper (i dunno if it's juiceable, but it's blendable). you know, assuming you're looking for the vitamin A.
I also hear mangos are a good source of vit A.
if you're looking to replace carrots, could you use red bell pepper (i dunno if it's juiceable, but it's blendable). you know, assuming you're looking for the vitamin A.
I also hear mangos are a good source of vit A.
Thanks for the suggestions. I hear sweet potatoes and cantaloupe are also good. I will try the red bell peppers and sweet potatoes. I love cantaloupe juice but need to make sure I do more veggie than fruit. Oh and I watched a Jack L infomercial last night and they did juice bell peppers. I never would have thought of it and never knew until you posted that red bell peppers had vitamin A.
It is beta carotene's that I will miss from carrots. Googling gave me much info.
yeah, i just looked up sweet potato/cantaloupe/bell pepper/mango, and sweet potato has the highest density of vit A raw. Pretty cool. I guess *that's* why they're so orange. ;)
Yes, the unforgotten sweet potato. So very healthy and great in juice. I tried it at the end of my last fast which was probably 6 or 7 years ago.
I have started my grocery list. Will try to buy as much organic as possible but as I can't afford everything organic, will do a veggie wash on everything.
sweet potato
celery (hugely important in a fast as it contains cellulose which helps keep your skin elastic when losing weight)
cucumber
parsley
wheat grass
red pepper
apple
grapes
lemon
spinach
kale
cantaloupe
watermelon
kiwi
broccoli
cabbage
pears
tomato
parsnip
beet
various berries
orange
pineapple
The fruit juice I find much more enjoyable but it is important to do many veggie juices. More so than the fruit juices.
Hopefully I will be able to find my Steve M's book this week. It is in one of my many packed boxes of books awaiting my new bookshelves.