Remember how I said after my last juice fast that I would probably never do it again?? Well, I lied, obviously. I just finished a 5 day juice fast. My eating had once again gotten out of control. I was drinking sodas, and eating entire bags of powdered donuts. Corey and I were eating Chinese delivery on a regular basis. It was not good!
How did it go? Better this time around, that's for sure! First of all it was only 5 days instead of 10, although I could have kept going if I wanted to. I did not juice anything other than veggie juice this time. I allowed myself to eat some juicy fruits in moderation, like watermelon, cantaloupe, and pineapple. But nothing to drink but water and juice. I didn't really get any severe detox symptoms this time like nausea and headaches. I also allowed myself caffeine pills as needed. I usually took a half in the morning and a half in the afternoon, to prevent caffeine withdrawal headaches.
By day 5, I had lost 4.5 lbs and was pooping liquid. You know you're clean when that happens! Sorry if that's too much information.
Several people have asked how I juice fast, so that is why I wanted to write this blog. If you want to know why I go to such extremes, it's because it's the only thing that works for me. I am a food addict. I love food. I think about it when I wake up until the time I go to bed at night. When I have a bad day, I soothe myself with my favorite foods. When I have a good day, I celebrate with my favorite foods. It is a never ending battle for me. So when I see that I've gotten off track, I have to fast.
If you are thinking about doing a juice fast for the first time, some advice I would give you is: Start slow. Try a three day fast first. If you drink a lot of caffeine, have a plan in place.. either get ready for horrible withdrawal headaches or have some caffeine pills handy. If you drink coffee black, you may decide you are ok with drinking that. It really is up to you how strict you want to be. Any changes you make will be good changes! If you can start to clean up your diet a little first, your withdrawal symptoms won't be as bad.
The veggie juice recipe that I juiced this time was:
2 large carrots
3 stalks of celery
1/2 cucumber
1/2 green pepper
1 cup of spinach
3 medium tomatoes
Large amount of cilantro (to taste)
Lemon juice (to taste)
(you can double or triple this recipe to make more at a time)
I have pint sized canning jars that I store my juice in the fridge. It's good for a couple of days. It's also easier if you juice your recipes and store them because juicing is time consuming and very messy. It involves a lot of cleanup. It is also expensive, unless you buy your produce in bulk.
Another fave fruit juice:
2 carrots
2 oranges
1 green apple
You can find recipes on Pinterest GALORE. Hopefully this blog will answer a lot of questions you might have about juice fasting. There is tons of info on the internet. This is just my personal experience.
I'm down 5 lbs in 5 days and I feel really great. I'm ready to jumpstart my clean eating again.
Happy Juicing to you all
Saturday, April 14, 2018
Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Honesty is the best policy
Remember how I promised to be honest in this blog? Well here goes.....
I have fallen off the wagon. Big time. I know, right? Are you judging me? It's ok if you are. I'm judging me too. I made it 7 months or so and then we moved. Between the packing and moving and eating out and renovating and more eating out. And stress eating in the meantime.. I fell off the wagon. I gained back about 4 lbs of the 20 I lost. I drank sweet tea 😳. I ate cake 😳😳
And guess what happened? My eczema came back. I'm not sleeping at night anymore. And I'm disappointed in myself.
So today, I decided enough was enough. I need a reset. So I went to the brand new Publix in high point and loaded up on juicing supplies. I, myself, find this hilarious. Because I hated juicing. But it worked and I needed something to drastically change.
This time, it will only be a 3 day juice fast and I'm allowing myself some small snacks like grapes or cucumbers or an apple to keep me from going crazy. But no coffee. Nothing cooked or processed. Raw. Vegetable juice mostly. No cake. And definitely no sweet tea (the crack of the south).
So, here we go. Again. I've said before it's a lifestyle and when you fall off the wagon, you just have to get back on.
Y'all pray for me.
I have fallen off the wagon. Big time. I know, right? Are you judging me? It's ok if you are. I'm judging me too. I made it 7 months or so and then we moved. Between the packing and moving and eating out and renovating and more eating out. And stress eating in the meantime.. I fell off the wagon. I gained back about 4 lbs of the 20 I lost. I drank sweet tea 😳. I ate cake 😳😳
And guess what happened? My eczema came back. I'm not sleeping at night anymore. And I'm disappointed in myself.
So today, I decided enough was enough. I need a reset. So I went to the brand new Publix in high point and loaded up on juicing supplies. I, myself, find this hilarious. Because I hated juicing. But it worked and I needed something to drastically change.
This time, it will only be a 3 day juice fast and I'm allowing myself some small snacks like grapes or cucumbers or an apple to keep me from going crazy. But no coffee. Nothing cooked or processed. Raw. Vegetable juice mostly. No cake. And definitely no sweet tea (the crack of the south).
So, here we go. Again. I've said before it's a lifestyle and when you fall off the wagon, you just have to get back on.
Y'all pray for me.
Monday, June 19, 2017
5 1/2 months and counting
Hello all! I hit a milestone today and decided it was the time to document it in a blog. First of all, I'm 5 1/2 months into this new lifestyle and I've stuck with it. Pretty amazing because I typically yo-yo diet and pile all my weight back on pretty quickly. Today I hit the 20 lb mark for weight loss since January 7, 2017. I weigh 3 lbs less than I did when I got married over 10 years ago!!! And I'm in way better shape too. I haven't weighed this since I was in college. And I don't want to say how long ago that was.
I run 5-6 miles at a time at least 3 days a week, sometimes 4. I eat what I want in moderation, while still drinking a TON of water and trying to watch my calories and sugar intake. Corey and I went to Los Cabos, Mexico two weeks ago and we actually worked out 3 times while on vacation. Pretty sure that's a first! I've already gotten all the weight off that I gained on vacation (which wasn't much) in spite of eating whatever I wanted while we were there. I will say that my body did not react so kindly to eating whatever I wanted though.
Anyway, I share all of this to once again say.. IT CAN BE DONE. I am a food addict. I still want to eat when I'm sad or happy or stressed. But I'm learning not to. I'm learning to go for a run instead. Or have something healthy but yummy to eat. I'm learning that you HAVE to exercise at my age if you want to keep weight off and stay healthy. I'm learning to not expect perfection from myself, but to expect better choices. I alone am responsible for what I put into my body and I don't ever want to go back where I came from (unhealthy and feeling yucky all the time).
I hope you guys are encouraged and inspired. I'm just a regular lady trying to make healthier choices day by day, but I genuinely wish everyone could experience what I'm experiencing on this journey. It's so worth it.
Feel free to message me if you want some recipes or insight on how to get started.
I run 5-6 miles at a time at least 3 days a week, sometimes 4. I eat what I want in moderation, while still drinking a TON of water and trying to watch my calories and sugar intake. Corey and I went to Los Cabos, Mexico two weeks ago and we actually worked out 3 times while on vacation. Pretty sure that's a first! I've already gotten all the weight off that I gained on vacation (which wasn't much) in spite of eating whatever I wanted while we were there. I will say that my body did not react so kindly to eating whatever I wanted though.
Anyway, I share all of this to once again say.. IT CAN BE DONE. I am a food addict. I still want to eat when I'm sad or happy or stressed. But I'm learning not to. I'm learning to go for a run instead. Or have something healthy but yummy to eat. I'm learning that you HAVE to exercise at my age if you want to keep weight off and stay healthy. I'm learning to not expect perfection from myself, but to expect better choices. I alone am responsible for what I put into my body and I don't ever want to go back where I came from (unhealthy and feeling yucky all the time).
I hope you guys are encouraged and inspired. I'm just a regular lady trying to make healthier choices day by day, but I genuinely wish everyone could experience what I'm experiencing on this journey. It's so worth it.
Feel free to message me if you want some recipes or insight on how to get started.
Thursday, April 13, 2017
Day 97
I feel like I should be typing... hi, my name is Lori and I'm a food addict. I have been sober for 97 days.
97 days of changed eating habits. For me, that feels like a lifetime. This morning for breakfast, I ate two fried eggs and roasted sweet potatoes. 98 days ago, I ate chocolate covered donuts for breakfast and drank a mcdonalds sweet tea. This truly feels like I've experienced a life change. Have I had cheat meals? Yes. Absolutely. Have I eaten processed foods? Yes I have. But everything has been in moderation. And it's been small portions.
I've lost a grand total of 15 pounds but it's come off slowly and in a healthy way. I'm exercising regularly and can now run for an hour at a time. My skinny clothes are getting too big for me now.
And I feel really great. For the most part, I'm sleeping better at night. My acid reflux is better controlled. My moods are more stable (and when I have a day when I'm irritable, I just go for a run).
This has not been easy. I still crave junk every now and then. I'm still craving a homemade strawberry pie and I totally intend to make it and eat it when I hit my ultimate goal. I haven't had a sweet tea in 97 days and that alone deserves a prize in my opinion 😂 I dread my workouts still most days, but once it's over, I'm always glad I did it and finished.
I'm learning how rewarding taking care of your body can be. Basically, what I'm saying, is if I can do this, anyone can. It's never too late to make changes. And if you have a day where you fall off the wagon, it's truly ok. Because tomorrow is a new day and you get to start over again.
Next Wednesday I have a physical scheduled with blood work being done. I cannot wait to see if my blood work has improved since last year at this time. I will update once I get the results.
97 days of changed eating habits. For me, that feels like a lifetime. This morning for breakfast, I ate two fried eggs and roasted sweet potatoes. 98 days ago, I ate chocolate covered donuts for breakfast and drank a mcdonalds sweet tea. This truly feels like I've experienced a life change. Have I had cheat meals? Yes. Absolutely. Have I eaten processed foods? Yes I have. But everything has been in moderation. And it's been small portions.
I've lost a grand total of 15 pounds but it's come off slowly and in a healthy way. I'm exercising regularly and can now run for an hour at a time. My skinny clothes are getting too big for me now.
And I feel really great. For the most part, I'm sleeping better at night. My acid reflux is better controlled. My moods are more stable (and when I have a day when I'm irritable, I just go for a run).
This has not been easy. I still crave junk every now and then. I'm still craving a homemade strawberry pie and I totally intend to make it and eat it when I hit my ultimate goal. I haven't had a sweet tea in 97 days and that alone deserves a prize in my opinion 😂 I dread my workouts still most days, but once it's over, I'm always glad I did it and finished.
I'm learning how rewarding taking care of your body can be. Basically, what I'm saying, is if I can do this, anyone can. It's never too late to make changes. And if you have a day where you fall off the wagon, it's truly ok. Because tomorrow is a new day and you get to start over again.
Next Wednesday I have a physical scheduled with blood work being done. I cannot wait to see if my blood work has improved since last year at this time. I will update once I get the results.
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Running and loving it
It has been two months to the day of the beginning of my juice fast. What a journey this has been. I have plateaued multiple times and have have a couple of cheat meals now. I've moved past a "diet" to a new lifestyle and I feel like a difference person. Now I realize two months is not really anything to brag about but it feels more like 6 to me. I'm 1 lb from my goal on the scale, but I'm not as concerned about the numbers anymore as I am about how my clothes are fitting and how I am feeling. And can I just say.. I FEEL GREAT!
About a month ago, I had started working out some and doing the Jillian Michael's 30 day shred and it helped me blast through one plateau with the weight loss, but again I plateaued and decided I would give running a try again. I say "again", because I used to be a runner. Like 6 years ago, I ran almost every single day and I was in the best shape of my life and I loved it. But then I got a job as a nurse and stopped doing any form of exercise. Exercise and I have had a love/hate relationship ever since.
So, back to the running. I have been running again for about three weeks. I started with some run/walking at the beginning, but I have shocked myself with how quickly I've been able to end up running the whole time. Today was a milestone for me. I ran 3.6 miles at a decent pace (Decent for me anyway) and I felt like I could have kept going. It was enjoyable. There were times I actually smiled during my run. Those endorphins I have heard so much about during exercise... well I actually experienced them. I look forward to my runs now. (except when it's on the treadmill. BORRRRRING)
The healthy eating is still going well. I'm to the point now where I splurge every now and then for a meal but the food isn't controlling me. I'm still learning to listen to my body and stop when I feel full instead of continuing to eat because something tastes amazing. This lifestyle is doable. There are things you can get at restaurants that are reasonable. And it's ok to leave leftovers on your plate. I'm learning to live without sweet tea and McDonalds at every meal. As a matter of fact, I haven't had anything to drink other than water and coffee for the past two months. Pretty sure that's a record for me.
This has been one of the best decisions of my life. The decision to get my health under control, to eat better, and to exercise regularly. I haven't felt this good in years and I'm so thankful that I'm in the place I'm in. It's a process and I'm still on the journey, but it's a really good journey to be on.
About a month ago, I had started working out some and doing the Jillian Michael's 30 day shred and it helped me blast through one plateau with the weight loss, but again I plateaued and decided I would give running a try again. I say "again", because I used to be a runner. Like 6 years ago, I ran almost every single day and I was in the best shape of my life and I loved it. But then I got a job as a nurse and stopped doing any form of exercise. Exercise and I have had a love/hate relationship ever since.
So, back to the running. I have been running again for about three weeks. I started with some run/walking at the beginning, but I have shocked myself with how quickly I've been able to end up running the whole time. Today was a milestone for me. I ran 3.6 miles at a decent pace (Decent for me anyway) and I felt like I could have kept going. It was enjoyable. There were times I actually smiled during my run. Those endorphins I have heard so much about during exercise... well I actually experienced them. I look forward to my runs now. (except when it's on the treadmill. BORRRRRING)
The healthy eating is still going well. I'm to the point now where I splurge every now and then for a meal but the food isn't controlling me. I'm still learning to listen to my body and stop when I feel full instead of continuing to eat because something tastes amazing. This lifestyle is doable. There are things you can get at restaurants that are reasonable. And it's ok to leave leftovers on your plate. I'm learning to live without sweet tea and McDonalds at every meal. As a matter of fact, I haven't had anything to drink other than water and coffee for the past two months. Pretty sure that's a record for me.
This has been one of the best decisions of my life. The decision to get my health under control, to eat better, and to exercise regularly. I haven't felt this good in years and I'm so thankful that I'm in the place I'm in. It's a process and I'm still on the journey, but it's a really good journey to be on.
Monday, February 13, 2017
38 days and counting.....
38 days in and it feels like so much longer. This is quite the process. I've gotten past the "sprint" phase and it's turned into a never-ending marathon. So, I promised to keep you guys updated on how it's going and I felt like I've had some disappointments but also some great highs as well.
I like to start with the bad news and then hit the good stuff.
The bad news is, the scale is not my friend anymore. I've completely plateaued on the scale. I'm holding steady at about 4 pounds from my goal. Yes, I realize that isn't a lot, but I'm an impatient person and I only had about 15 lbs to lose to begin with. I have been working out pretty regularly doing HIIT workouts for about 30 minutes a day. (Sticking with 30 day shred by Jillian Michaels, because it kicks my butt every time) I probably have put on some muscle and I realize muscle weighs more than fat but still.. the scale is not my friend.
Now on the the good stuff.
Hello, Pinterest Recipes!!!! If you follow me on Instagram (lorig727), you will see my incessant posts of pictures of my food. It's because I am eating better tasting food these days than I EVER ate before my juice fast and my now clean eating kick. It is a LOT of veggies that are oven roasted. I have added in some lean meats and shrimp. My husband, Corey, has decided to start doing some cooking and he is really quite the sautéed shrimp chef now. I really mean it when I say that I am enjoying what I eat now more than I ever have. But it's all about making better choices. Better choices about organic, non-processed, less full of fat ingredients. I'm eating meat and I feel ok with that decision. I really felt like with my attempts to build muscle, I really needed to bulk up my protein content of my diet. High protein helps jump start that metabolism and quite frankly, I really enjoy eating meat. I'm still staying away from bread, pasta, refined sugar, and starches. I may add them back in my diet in limited amounts at some point, but I'm not there yet.
Honest moment: We had company over for dinner Saturday night and I did eat a small serving of an oatmeal cookie fruit pizza. (with cream cheese on it). It tasted delightful but I didn't go back for another serving even though I wanted one desperately. Everything in moderation, right???
The other delightful development in my health/fitness journey is that I purchased a FitBit Blaze.
And I love it. I've had it since Thursday and I've worn it nonstop. So here is my review after few days in:
It has not required a charge for the battery yet, but will probably need one soon.
It has been mistaken as an apple watch several times. (so it looks pretty sweet)
I bought several bands to switch out on Amazon and they were inexpensive and give it some alternative looks (which makes it a super cute accessory)
It has been very accurate in my heart rate monitoring. (even during workouts)
It synced to my iPhone so easy and I can read my text messages from it (but you can't respond)
The best thing about the FitBit blaze for me has been how it has made me aware of how inactive my lifestyle has been over the past year or so. I work from home and my daily steps have probably been about 1500 MAX unless I go somewhere like grocery shopping or something like that.
That is frightening. Working from home is wonderful and I love everything about it, except that it's made me a lazy slug. Now that I'm wearing this thing, I have set it to alarm every hour to remind me to get up and take my 250 steps an hour. Because of that, I'm burning more calories. I have high hopes that this thing is going to help me blast through this plateau on the scale.
So I know I have droned on and on in this blog, but I wanted to update my progress.
If you are interested in some of my recipes that I'm eating, follow me on Instagram (Lorig727) and on Pinterest (Lori Dalton)... you can find some good recipes in my healthy breakfast, healthy lunch, and healthy dinner pinterest boards.
Stay tuned for more of my recovering food addict journey ;)
I like to start with the bad news and then hit the good stuff.
The bad news is, the scale is not my friend anymore. I've completely plateaued on the scale. I'm holding steady at about 4 pounds from my goal. Yes, I realize that isn't a lot, but I'm an impatient person and I only had about 15 lbs to lose to begin with. I have been working out pretty regularly doing HIIT workouts for about 30 minutes a day. (Sticking with 30 day shred by Jillian Michaels, because it kicks my butt every time) I probably have put on some muscle and I realize muscle weighs more than fat but still.. the scale is not my friend.
Now on the the good stuff.
Hello, Pinterest Recipes!!!! If you follow me on Instagram (lorig727), you will see my incessant posts of pictures of my food. It's because I am eating better tasting food these days than I EVER ate before my juice fast and my now clean eating kick. It is a LOT of veggies that are oven roasted. I have added in some lean meats and shrimp. My husband, Corey, has decided to start doing some cooking and he is really quite the sautéed shrimp chef now. I really mean it when I say that I am enjoying what I eat now more than I ever have. But it's all about making better choices. Better choices about organic, non-processed, less full of fat ingredients. I'm eating meat and I feel ok with that decision. I really felt like with my attempts to build muscle, I really needed to bulk up my protein content of my diet. High protein helps jump start that metabolism and quite frankly, I really enjoy eating meat. I'm still staying away from bread, pasta, refined sugar, and starches. I may add them back in my diet in limited amounts at some point, but I'm not there yet.
Honest moment: We had company over for dinner Saturday night and I did eat a small serving of an oatmeal cookie fruit pizza. (with cream cheese on it). It tasted delightful but I didn't go back for another serving even though I wanted one desperately. Everything in moderation, right???
The other delightful development in my health/fitness journey is that I purchased a FitBit Blaze.
And I love it. I've had it since Thursday and I've worn it nonstop. So here is my review after few days in:
It has not required a charge for the battery yet, but will probably need one soon.
It has been mistaken as an apple watch several times. (so it looks pretty sweet)
I bought several bands to switch out on Amazon and they were inexpensive and give it some alternative looks (which makes it a super cute accessory)
It has been very accurate in my heart rate monitoring. (even during workouts)
It synced to my iPhone so easy and I can read my text messages from it (but you can't respond)
The best thing about the FitBit blaze for me has been how it has made me aware of how inactive my lifestyle has been over the past year or so. I work from home and my daily steps have probably been about 1500 MAX unless I go somewhere like grocery shopping or something like that.
That is frightening. Working from home is wonderful and I love everything about it, except that it's made me a lazy slug. Now that I'm wearing this thing, I have set it to alarm every hour to remind me to get up and take my 250 steps an hour. Because of that, I'm burning more calories. I have high hopes that this thing is going to help me blast through this plateau on the scale.
So I know I have droned on and on in this blog, but I wanted to update my progress.
If you are interested in some of my recipes that I'm eating, follow me on Instagram (Lorig727) and on Pinterest (Lori Dalton)... you can find some good recipes in my healthy breakfast, healthy lunch, and healthy dinner pinterest boards.
Stay tuned for more of my recovering food addict journey ;)
Saturday, February 4, 2017
Tomorrow is Day 30
Tomorrow is day 30. Can you believe I have made it 30 days without sweet tea? And dessert? And bread? And pasta? and Bagel Bites? and Pizza? Well, it's true. My weak, food addict self has made it 30 days eating clean. Pinterest has been my best friend during this whole process, which I will add is not over. (this isn't a diet after all. This is a journey I'm intending to stay on)
I have found some fantastic recipes on Pinterest. My very favorites have been tuna jalapeño patties (137 calories, 13 g of protein per patty), roasted brussel sprouts and sweet potatoes, pesto zoodles, and one pan balsamic chicken and veggies. Search them on pinterest and enjoy!
Today I weighed. It was very exciting. I'm down 11 1/2 lbs in 30 days. I will admit, I hit a plateau with my weight loss after the juicing stopped, but I didn't gain any weight back, which was a win. I had to add in some exercise to break through the plateau. So, this week I have done 5 days of exercise. I chose the Jillian Michaels 30 day shred workout and I've been doing level 1 all week. It is HARD. One day I almost threw up afterwards. Seriously, laying down on the bed for an hour until the nausea passed. BUT- it paid off because I lost weight and I am seeing toning happening in my body.
I also added in some free weights for arms on the days I didn't do the workout.
I love that workout because it is only a 30 minute workout. I can do it on my lunch break and it doesn't take up much of my day. This workout consists of a warmup, then three sections of :3 minutes of strength, 2 minutes of cardio, and 1 minute of abs. And I give it 5 stars :)
I have struggled with cravings occasionally but haven't given in. One day I couldn't stop thinking about homemade strawberry pie. But, I'm pressing on. I have 3 1/2 more lbs til I get to my first goal then anything else lost after that is just icing on the cake that I don't get to eat .. hehehehhe (sorry for my lame joke)
I will write another blog when I hit my goal to fill you in on more of my journey. Thanks for reading, and if you have questions about any of the recipes or the workout, send me a message or comment below. I'd love to share more about the process to those who are interested. Stay tuned for updates !!
I have found some fantastic recipes on Pinterest. My very favorites have been tuna jalapeño patties (137 calories, 13 g of protein per patty), roasted brussel sprouts and sweet potatoes, pesto zoodles, and one pan balsamic chicken and veggies. Search them on pinterest and enjoy!
Today I weighed. It was very exciting. I'm down 11 1/2 lbs in 30 days. I will admit, I hit a plateau with my weight loss after the juicing stopped, but I didn't gain any weight back, which was a win. I had to add in some exercise to break through the plateau. So, this week I have done 5 days of exercise. I chose the Jillian Michaels 30 day shred workout and I've been doing level 1 all week. It is HARD. One day I almost threw up afterwards. Seriously, laying down on the bed for an hour until the nausea passed. BUT- it paid off because I lost weight and I am seeing toning happening in my body.
I also added in some free weights for arms on the days I didn't do the workout.
I love that workout because it is only a 30 minute workout. I can do it on my lunch break and it doesn't take up much of my day. This workout consists of a warmup, then three sections of :3 minutes of strength, 2 minutes of cardio, and 1 minute of abs. And I give it 5 stars :)
I have struggled with cravings occasionally but haven't given in. One day I couldn't stop thinking about homemade strawberry pie. But, I'm pressing on. I have 3 1/2 more lbs til I get to my first goal then anything else lost after that is just icing on the cake that I don't get to eat .. hehehehhe (sorry for my lame joke)
I will write another blog when I hit my goal to fill you in on more of my journey. Thanks for reading, and if you have questions about any of the recipes or the workout, send me a message or comment below. I'd love to share more about the process to those who are interested. Stay tuned for updates !!
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