Detox Monday

Daily gratitude:  Glad to make it to another Monday

Our cheat day was yesterday.  Super Bowl Sunday.  Didn't do too bad.  The chili I made for dinner sat in my belly and my body was screaming for a detox.

That's what today is.  Detox Monday.

Pineapple is also a great detoxifier and flusher.  It is high in Vitamin C and manganese, which is good for bone strength and growth.   Pineapple is known to help in digestion and is a great anti-inflammatory and helps prevent gout attacks.  It is also high in beta carotene and helps prevent macular degeneration.

Morning juice was:

2 cups pineapple
1 banana
2 cups spinach
1.5 cups water
blended smooth

Our afternoon juice is a juice high in greens.

4 kale leaves
2 green apples
2 kiwi peeled
handful of dandelion greens
6 stalks of celery
lime
ginger
turmeric
Run all ingredients thru the juicer.  This is a mild, easy to drink green juice.

Yum yum.  Time to detox.

T.G.I.F.

Daily gratitude:  Grateful I have stuck to this plan

I have lost 2 more pounds.  Total loss for me is 18 pounds.  Matt has lost 25 pounds.  Men...


Other than the beet juice the other day, I have mainly stuck to green juice this week.  I have also looked at the detox recipes.  Our weight loss seemed to plateau and I think we needed a little extra push.

We went back to the fruit blended smoothie in the morning yesterday.  Matt likes those and it does seem to keep us fuller through the morning.  I have also started to take the protein powder in the mid morning.  That seems to help me make it to lunch.

Pear Smoothie
2 pears cut off the core
1 banana
1.5 cups water
2 cups spinach
1 avocado
blend til smooth

Our snack juice was a green juice
Rainbow chard
celery sticks
carrots
apples
lemon
lime
turmeric
ginger
I also had half a head of romaine that needed to get juiced or thrown out soon
All ingredients in the juicer.

It made an ugly juice, but I know it's good for me

Another green juice recipe
1 beet green stalk (leftover from Tuesday beet juice)
6 kale stems and leaves
cucumber
lemon
2 green apples

This was an ugly color but it was like green lemonade.  Very citrusy and easy to get down.

Week 4.

Daily gratitude:  I am grateful for my dogs:  Beau, Finn, Bindi and Meera.  They make it all worth it.

Matt and I are heading in to our fourth week of juicing.   Here is what we have noticed so far.

Weight loss
No more antacid pills
No afternoon naps
Increased energy
Decrease of bloating
Lowered blood pressure
Not needing almost daily Advil for headaches.

All of that in just 3 weeks.

Because we had a cheat day yesterday  - and, to be honest, Matt had a cheat 3-dayer - I have decided to do cleansing juices for the afternoon.

Our morning will be the fruit smoothie - the 2 cups of fruit with the spinach.  It's filling and tasty and gets us ready for the afternoon.

Our cleansing juice today will be:

5 kale stalks
3 apples
1 lemon
1 cucumber
ginger
thru the juicer

This is a lemony juice.  Tart and good and you don't even taste the green

I have started to use glass containers to store my juices.  They clean up better and leave less of an odor. Plus, I have been reading about BPA's and hey, I am juicing to be healthy, I may as well not put anything extra in my juice, especially cancer causing chemicals.

Here are the new pitchers.  Check out your discount stores for them.  I got all 3 at Ross for under 4.00 per pitcher

No cheat Saturday

Daily gratitude:  I am grateful that my father in law is going to be okay after suffering a fall and a bleed

My husband is back from one night of camping.  He did not do as well as I did and managed to consume half a bag of Doritos.  We decided we needed to juice today and save the cheat day for tomorrow.

Rise and Shine Blended Juice

2 cups of Festival Blend fruit
1.5 cups water
1 banana
2 cups spinach
Blend thoroughly and enjoy

This is our go to juice for the morning and we love using the frozen fruit.  It makes it a little thicker and a little colder.  If you use frozen fruit, make sure there is no added sugar.  I normally measure mine out and let it thaw for about an hour prior to blending.  I have an old blender and it needs a little help with the frozen and hard chunks

We made two vegetable juices for the day.  The first one is a V-8 type juice.  Here is my recipe

8 plum tomatoes

cucumber

celery

1/4 onion

parsley

red pepper

lime

Through the juicer    I will probably add a hint of hot sauce to it.

Our other juice was a green juice using kale.  This recipe will make about 60 ounces

2 bunches of kale

2 cucumbers

2 grapefruit - peeled

1 blood orange

Look at the color of that kale coming out of the juicer.  Green goodness.  

Now that the juice is made for the day, we can go about our business and not have to worry about stopping our day to make juice.  I find that this way keeps us more on track than having to stop and make the juice.  

Enjoy your day.  Happy juicing.

Taking a break from green

It's Friday.  The end of a long week.  It is the end of the third week and it has been easier to juice.  I find that drinking the protein in the morning, followed by the breakfast green juice makes me fuller and more content through the day as opposed to spreading the protein out.

My morning juice is
2 cups grapes
1 banana
2 cups water
2 cups spinach
Through the blender.

I have had my fill of the green juice.  Going to switch it up with a carrot - celery juice for the afternoon.  did you know that celery is one of those negative vegetables.  You actually burn more calorie digesting it than it has in it.  Cool.

Carrot-Celery
4 carrots
3 apples
3 celery stalks
nub of ginger
Through the juicer.

Look at that color.!  Now I used BIG carrots and got enough juice for both afternoon juices.  So this will be my lunch and my afternoon snack.

Carrots are rich in antioxidants and especially, beta-carotene.  It also has tons of Vitamin K and is good for eye health and the do have anti-cancer benefits.

Celery is a great anti-inflammatory, especially  gastrointestinal anti-inflammatory.  

Enjoy your day.

Alone time

Daily gratitude:  Hmm.  Hard one today.  I know I am grateful for something, just can't think of it right now.

My husband is gone for the week end.  I am planning to continue on with the juicing.

My morning juice will be:

2 Cups pineapple
1.5 cups water
1 banana
2 cups of spinach
In the blender.

This is what I mean when I say in the blender.  I use this:

For the morning smoothies, the blender works fine on the softer fruits and spinach.  I can get the spinach chopped down finely.

For the afternoon, I am going to try the Sweet juice on Vmac and Cheese's blog site. 

SWEET GREEN JUICE

Makes a little over a quart of juice

3 granny smith apples (or any variety)
1 navel orange, peeled (I use the first steps in this technique to peel citrus of any kind)
1 lemon, peeled
2 inch nub of ginger, washed
entire bunch spinach, thoroughly washed
1/2 bunch kale, thoroughly washed

Through the juicer.

 When I say through the juicer, this is the machine I use for that:

 The juicer extracts all of the juice and most of the fiber making the juice more of a watery consistency.  I use this juicer for the beets, apples, cucumbers - what won't break down easily in a blender.  

I went to Hubbly Bubbly last night for dinner.  Click their name for the link.  I ordered the Hummus bowl with chicken and then added tomato, cucumber, lettuce, the Mediterranean salad and pickles.  I ate half.  The other half came home with me for dinner tomorrow night.  Good clean eating at the Hubbly Bubbly Falafel diner.  If you are in or near College Park, Orlando, Fl, it is a must try.

Place all ingredients over the lettuce leaves and enjoy.  Yummy delicious and low calorie!

Enjoy your day and juice for your health.

Hump Day

My daily gratitude:  I am grateful for the life I was able to live.

Another 2 pounds gone.  Now that these 12 (or 14) pounds have disappeared, I know I am going to have to step it up in my exercise program.

It is getting better week by week.  Easier NOT to cheat and only have the juices during the day.  Having a cheat day is also a great help as well. Seeing results is the biggest motivator.

About 3:00 or 4:00 pm, I had been finding myself with the incredible urge to eat something.  I had been eating a single serving size of hummus with some wheat thins.  The last 2 days, I have had a hard boiled egg. I think in order to continue the weight loss, I am going to have to get that under control.

Here is a recipe for a yummy green juice I made yesterday

2 peeled red grapefruit
1 lemon unpeeled
7 celery stalks
7 kale stems and leaves
3 green apples
1/2 bunch dandelion leaves
1 inch nub ginger
small nub turmeric
Run all ingredients thru the juicer

This is a refreshing juice that I had for lunch and for my afternoon snack.  This made enough for 4 - 9 ounce servings.

I have gotten in to the habit of making my afternoon juices after I come home from the Courthouse.  Then I am able to work and not have to worry about disrupting my work to make juice.  It also makes it easier for my husband o come home and be able to grab a glass of juice and then go back out again if need be.

Today I am making a beet juice and a sweet potato juice.  Will post more later.

Two Weeks

Yesterday, a Sunday, we had our "cheat" day.

we had a nice breakfast that I made and then we had a piece of pizza at Costco.  Disappointed because it wasn't even a good piece of pizza.  And amazed at its effects on me.  I had to take a heartburn pill.  I had not taken an antacid pill for nearly 10 days.  I also took a nap.  I had not napped midday since starting this juice diet.

Dinner was at Outback.  We did treat ourselves to the loaded baked potato and here's why.

We were considering going to Smokey Bones.  Why not.  We had a 10 dollar off coupon.  I took a look at their nutritional information and NOTHING seemed acceptable.  I looked at Outback and there it was.  An entire meal for the same or less calories and fat than an entree at Smokey Bones.  Decision made.

When you do a cheat day, make sure you eat foods that you really love.  If something comes out to you that does not look delicious, either send it back or toss it.  I should not have had that pizza.  I thought about that greasy mess all day long and felt guilty!  Now had it been a good slice, I probably would have felt less guilt.

I am almost relieved to get back on the juicing today.

No cheat day today

Daily gratitude:  I am motivated by feeling better

I got an amazing recipe from another website.  Please visit her blog to get another dose of encouragement.

Vmac and Cheese

So I decided to try her savory green juice.

I had all of the ingredients in my fridge or growing out on my patio,  Plus, I wanted to be able to make today's juice in the morning and have it handily available.  It's Saturday, we want to cheat, but we are waiting for tomorrow to do so.

Anyhow.

Savory Green Juice:
This will make about 70 ounces of juice to drink throughout the day.

2 pounds of tomatoes
5 carrots
4 celery stalks
bunch of parsley
1/2 bunch of kale or spinach
small onion without skin
3 cloves of garlic - peeled
Run this through the juicer and then store in a BPA free container for  up to 24 hours.

It separates right away so be sure to stir it thoroughly before pouring and drinking.

10

Ten Pounds lost.

I feel more energetic.  My knees do not hurt.  I no longer take daily afternoon naps.  All in 10 days of juicing.  I am sure most of the lost weight is bloat, but I'll take it.

It is keeping me motivated for sure.

One notable mention today.  Swiss chard gives a lot of juice.  A lot of lovely dark green juice.

The Ninth Day

Daily gratitude:  I am thankful that I no longer work in an office and that we can afford for me to work from home.

The last 2 days have been enlightening for me.  I feel more energetic.  I have less body pains.  Could one week of doing this really have this effect?  I do not know to be honest, but it has motivated me.

Breakfast:
Please remember that I am making for 2 and the breakfast juice is for breakfast AND the mid-morning snack

4 cups fruit (papaya, pineapple, mango, strawberry
2 bananas
1 avocado
4 c coconut water
4 c leafy greens
In the blender

The avocado gives this juice a more "smoothie" texture making it rich and creamy and thick.  we use this juice mainly for breakfast and mid morning due to having more fruit in it and we want that fruit sugar and   carbs to burn off during the day.

Lunch: 

4 apples

10 carrots

7 kale leaves and stems

7 dandelion leaves with stem

cucumber

2 limes

nub of ginger

nub turmeric

Run all ingredients through the juicer.  This is 4 servings of juice.

Lime was the flavor of this juice today.  I made enough for our lunch and our afternoon snack.  

DAY 8 and shopping

Sometimes you just need Whole Foods Market.

Kale and spinach can be gotten most places.  Today, I brought home some Turmeric and dandelion greens. Yes,  Dandelion greens to go thru the juicer.

Have I told you I lost 8 pounds in 8 days?

Snack and Lunch
2 c of fresh frozen fruit blend (strawberry, papaya, mango, pineapple)
1 banana
1/2 avocado
2 c spinach
2 c water
In the blender

My old Kitchen Aid struggles to blend the frozen fruit.  I will probably thaw it a little more next time.  Texture was definitely more of a shake and felt shake-like.  Again, I am trying to get the fruit done in the morning and leave the veggies for the afternoon.

Afternoon juice will be a green juice.  Please remember that I am juicing for 2 people.  Take these in half for one person.

6 Kale leaves and stalks
6 dandelion leaves and stalks
1 lemon
nub Turmeric
nub ginger
3 apples
1 large cucumber
Run thru the juicer.  Drink right away.

By using a whole lemon, this dark green juice tasted like a green lemonade.  Lemon was the predominant taste.

Dinner tonight will be 3 ounces of pork loin, swiss chard and garlic and a salad.

DAY 7

Our juice for the morning is this recipe

2 c green grapes
1 banana
1 knob ginger
1/2 avocado (I substituted a pear since I had no avocado at the time)
2 c water
2 c leafy greens (kale)

Afternoon and snack juice recipes

Beet & Carrot Juice
4 beets peeled
7 carrots
1/2 lemom
Thru the juicer

My advice is to pour your glass and drink it as fast as you can.  Unless you like the taste of beets.  I immediately went right in to making the tomato juice after I emptied the waste receptacle.

Tomato juice
12 tomatoes
6 celery stalks
knob ginger
nub of jalapeno pepper
Worcestershire sauce to taste
Thru the juicer

This is delicious.  DELICIOUS.  Light tomato without the thickness of what you get in cans.

I would advise making sure your utensils, juicer and all surface areas are wiped clean.  Beet juice stains.

Because I have a busy day in store, I made the juice ahead of time. The literature would like you to believe that you lose nutrients and MUST drink your juice ASAP.  while I do agree that some nutrients are lost, I also believe that this should be easy and convenient.  People do not stick to diets when they are not easy and when they are not convenient.  Please make sure that your juice is consumed within 24 hours of processing it.

DAY 6

After our day of "cheating" we started day 6 with the pear smoothie.

Our plan was to stop at Hi-Octane Smoothies, but they were not open on Sunday.  Kind of shocking since they are located near a gym.  In a bind on our way to the dog show, Matt ate an apple and I got an organic pea, spinach and apple puree that I ate. It took the edge off, only contained spinach, pea and apple and I felt was my best choice.

WE had a green smoothie at Eat More Produce for late snack and then headed to Outback for dinner.  I failed to satisfy my beef craving on Saturday and it was very strong on Sunday.

The bread came to the table.  One slice each.  No butter.  Then the salad.  Okay.  We can eat a little cheese and the croutons.  We used vinegar and oil for dressing.  Sirloin steaks and side of broccoli.  Boy did the potato on the lady's plate next door look divine.

Came home and felt much better.  I am obviously going to need to eat beef on my cheat days in order to make it on Sunday.

Day 5 Ends and Day 6 starts

At the end of Day 5, I made a scrumptious dinner

quinoa
tomatos
cucumbers
chopped parsley
chopped kale
chickpeas
chicken breast
dressed with a touch of olive oil and lemon


Day 6 - Saturday.  The day we have set aside to "cheat"    And when it comes to it.  I don't want to go overboard.  I dreamed of hamburgers, steaks, omelettes and bacon all week.  And now.  Here is the day, 6 pounds lost and I am afraid of setting myself back.  All I know is that when someone asks if I want to go to breakfast, today I can say YES!!

More later at the end of the day.

Day Five

My daily gratitude:  So glad to find more and more Smoothie/Juice bars along the way of life.  Makes sticking to this easier.

Day 4 we ate dinner.  I made lightly steamed broccoli, lightly steamed carrots and a 3 oz piece of Corvina fish.  I also tore up some romaine and sliced a tomato.  Never was I so happy to eat my veggies.  I made sure to season them well with the Kirlkland No-Salt seasoning blend and added cinnamon to the carrots.

Day 5 started off with an early rise to leave for the dog show.  I, unfortunately, ate nothing.  Hubby ate a banana and an apple.  On the way home we stopped at Hi-Octane Smoothies in Clermont.  I chose the one I felt was closest to what I was juicing - mango, pineapple juice, banana and spinach.  Their blender was much more hi powered and the consistency was decadent.  Smooth and creamy.  Delicious.

I made it.

My afternoon lunch/snack was this in the blender

2 pears cut up
banana
water
2 c spinach

Delicious.  Tasted like pears.

On Day 5 Matt is down 10 pounds and I am down 6.

Tomorrow is our cheat day.  I wonder what I will do with it.  Hmmm.

Day Three

My daily gratitude:  I am grateful for the 5 pounds I have lost in 4 days.  It will keep me on track.

That's right.  I weighed myself TWICE this morning.  5 pounds down.

Breakfast smoothie was downright delicious.

2 c pineapple
1 banana
2 cups coconut water
2-3 c spinach
In the blender.

Thick.  Sweet.  Well blended.

Today I made the juice for both of us an stored it in the Tupperware pitcher.  It held its color beautifully and its blended state.  No separation.

A crazy thing happened when I got home from the Courthouse.  I just needed something to EAT.  So, I had one of the Jimmy Dean Delites.  It might be under 300 calories, but after I ate it I read the ingredients.  All I will keep with me is that it was under 300 calories.  Lesson learned.  Part of this diet is getting all of the toxins out of your system.  I added a few to it with that sandwich.

So.  For lunch, I  drank the other half of my pineapple spinach smoothie.  I did not have an afternoon snack.  went right in to dinner.

Dinner was a Greek salad with lemon juice dressing.
Romaine lettuce
grape tomatoes
beets
onion
cucumber
5 olives
3 oz chicken breast

Whole foods non-processed.  Clean eating.  It sure felt good to step on the scale this morning and see those 5 pounds gone.  It will keep me going.

DAY ONE BEGINS

My daily gratitude:  I am grateful that I have a husband that will do this with me.

Day One has begun.  Can I do this?  

I started with this book:  40 Day Green Smoothie Diet.  Why I chose this was simple.  I needed some place to start.  I like fruit.  I like green stuff, but not as a juice.  Not yet anyhow.  This was simple, used a blender and seemed to provide for what I was looking for - delicious juice and weight loss.

The Day one smoothie made 48 ounces of juice and the author considered this one serving.  Certainly this is not right.  I watched her video and yes.  That is one serving.  Okay.  Maybe I won't be hungry and maybe I can do this until my body is ready for the hard core juice diet.  

 That was ONE serving.  Looking over the other juice diets, I am pretty certain that this counts for the breakfast and the snack before lunch.  So the lunch serving with be the lunch as well as the afternoon snack.

I CAN do this.  

I did cheat a little ad have a small cup of black coffee.  I will get off the coffee all together.  But baby steps.  It's all about baby steps.