Truth be told...

#throughthejuicer: Day 7- We did it!!

Not much else to say except WE DID IT!!! We are so blessed that this opportunity has taught us so much about our health and truly LOVING ourselves and our body. Although 99% of our friends think we're crazy, it's ok because one day they'll 'get it' and be asking questions!


Here's our breakfast from our last day...

#throughthejuicer: Day 6 .... Ginger & Kickboxing

With only one meal (juice) in my system for the day we tried a new ingredient today! Ginger Root!!! When juicing Ginger Root it's best to use 1/4 of an inch, skin on as the taste is very strong and distinctive. At the grocery store, they can be found for less than $1 p/lb. and a little lasts a long way.


Why use Ginger Root?

• It's an excellent carminative which means it relieves gastrointestinal gas... nobody likes a tooter! : P 

• It's WAY more effective in fighting motion-sickness than Dramamine or other remedies
• It relieves nausea & vomiting during pregnancy
• It aids in pain relief of those that suffer arthritis because of its anti-inflammatory effects
• It induces cell death in Ovarian Cancer Cells
• Annnnnnd boosts your immune system! Who LIKES being sick? I sure as heck don't! 

San Antonio weather is extremely windy today so instead of my usual 2-3 mile run I opted for an awesome kickboxing video I found via Pinterest. Amy (the instructor) moves pretty quickly so I don't recommend this video to someone whose never done kickboxing, but overall... very effective and had me panting and sweating! 

Check it out! 

I haven't been working out as often or intensely as I'd like to, but as mentioned in a previous post... the change in diet has really changed my physique and I've lost just about 1 lb. a day.


April is shaping up to be a CRAZY month.... on April 20, Shelby & I are going to bust out the Diva Dash as mentioned in this post and then the very next day- Sal & Vic are putting together a team for Warrior Dash in Roanoke, TX! I'm beyond stoked for both!!! Never heard of Warrior Dash? I'ts 3.24 'hellish miles' of obstacles finishing off with beer & live music. Costumes are a must and we all know how Vic & Sal roll...

Halloween 2009

Temper Tantrum 2010

 Here's the Training Schedule for the first 3 weeks.... More to come on this!

 Signing off for now to hit the shower and yup... you guessed it hit the juicer! 

#throughthejuicer: Day 4 Complete!

As 'they' say (who's 'they' anyway)... 'time flies when you're having fun! Please note... I'M awake at 2am. I don't remember the last time I was ABLE to stay awake this late. 

With day 4 complete (also my favorite number), I've NEVER felt better. I'm full of energy, allergy & headache free and have dropped 4 lbs.!!

Juicing for only 4 days has also allowed me to surpass a goal that I never thought imaginable... running a mile in under 10 minutes. To most that's an easy task, but it's been since high school that I've been able to really push myself past that. My handy-dandy Nike Plus app even had the awesome ass Lance Armstrong congratulate me.. cheesy I know, but hey- it's the simple things. :)


Anyhow... one of my fave parts of juicing has been how much time I've spent in the kitchen. I realize that sounds silly, but the truth is I've never had a huge interest in cooking or anything kitchen related, but now I'm definitely the one that preps & cleans before and after juicing and I like that.


The most INTERESTING facts learned between day 1 & today are:


1. Beets are awesome!

who doesn't love these guys? c'mon you gotta remember doug funnie!! 

Seriously tho! These bad boys may look strange, but they taste amazing in juice and have a color that I swear one day will be on a wall in my home.

Why are they so very awesome you ask?

• Beets are a GREAT & rare source of phytonutrients called betalains. Betalains give off antioxidant, anti-inflammatory & detoxification support. (ding ding ding! detox me baby!)
• Beets promote eye-health, specifically help eye problems that come with age! Maybe if I eat enough I can toss the 4-eyes, eh? 
• Beets protect against heart disease & birth defects
• Beets lessen tumor growth & even decrease chances of cancer... most significantly colon cancer. 

How could I work beets into my diet WITHOUT juicing you ask? 

• Look for small/medium beets in the produce section that are smooth and firm. The smaller, the more tender & easy to prepare... or put through the juicer. 
• Cut beets into quarters... skin on and steam for no longer than 15 minutes. Heat diminishes the health benefits of these bad boys, so if you can eat them raw, even better! Add 'em to your fave salad as cubes or by running them over a grater. Yum! 

More info & recipes here

2. Cabbage does not go well in the juicer. I wish we would've taken video, but it has been the only item we've purchased and not been able to run through the juicer. Cole slaw it is--- on day 8 that is! 

So... the next time you're in the grocery store... what are you gonna buy? 

#throughthejuicer: Day 1

Last night Paul and I went for a 4 mile run which was AWESOME and exactly what we needed. We both expressed feeling less fatigue and achy- Score!! : )  Shortly thereafter we ran to HEB and filled our basket with greens and yummy fruits!! We usually spend $100-$120 a week on groceries (to include lots of seafood, salad stuff, cold cuts/cheese, bread, tortillas, and can't leave out the DiGiorno!!! 

Our total bill last night on 'food' was $70... what do you think? 

Dead center... those are NOT oranges, but grapefruits. Yeah, you heard right--- in case you DIDN'T know, I L O A T H E grapefruit. BUT... I will say that using only 1/2 a grapefruit (1/2 provides all the vitamin C your body needs for the day) makes for an awesome looking juice! 

One of my followers on twitter, Miss @shrinkingfoodie (who also has an AWESOME BLOG! http://shrinkingfoodie.wordpress.com) made a funny about this concoction even!
  

Side note... Have you ever tried a 'Black & Blue'? It's a beer mix... Blue Moon & Guinness, aka my reason for being! On day 8 if you need me, search your local bar-- I'm sure I'll be slamming those bad boys down. 

So far, so good for Day 2. I'm actually starting to not really crave solid foods. Let's continue to hope I don't know how to sleep-walk...

A quick note on 'juice fasting' as read from Total Body Fitness Inc... 

Juice fasting is a multidimensional experience in which total body transformation occurs. There are a wide range of metabolic changes and experiences. The blood and lymph are detoxified. When juice fasting, the release of toxins from the colon, kidneys, bladder, lungs, sinuses, and skin clears out complications that have arisen from a bad diet and unhealthy lifestyle. The benefits of following a juice fast include heightened spiritual awareness and relaxation of the body, mind, and emotions. Many people feel a sense of letting go of pain from the past and developing a positive attitude towards the present. During juice fasting, the body is able to clean out its system because it is not expending energy towards the digestive organs. 

After three days of just ingesting raw organic and fresh juices, broth and tea, you will lose all cravings for solid food.  Your mind might tell you otherwise, but your body is very content.