Green Apple, Pineapple!

(This made over 40 ounces, using my Omega 8006) 

1/2 bunch kale

1 large cucumber

4 medium carrots

2 sticks of celery

1/2 medium size pineapple

1 Granny Smith

Ginger

Such a good, refreshing juice! 

Apples, Oranges and Grapefruit, Oh My!

(This yielded about 35 oz) 

1 bunch of spinach 

1/2 cucumber

4 sticks of celery

2 tangelos

2 Granny Smith 

1 grapefruit

1 lime

Ginger 

Hire Me to Help You!

Have you wanted to do an extended juice fast/reboot but felt like you needed just a little more guidance, accountability and support? 

There are countless things I love about juicing but the one that really ranks up there is how I have been able to motivate people. Trust me, I am NO expert. I am NOT perfect, in fact, I am very, very flawed. I am not a doctor or nutritionist. I am a simple stay at home mom who, just over a year ago, weighed 234 lbs, was at her lowest and finally decided it was time to change. I've been able to motivate many people during their juicing journey and I now I want to help you transform your life. 

I've recently decided to start coaching people during their juice fast. This helps me because I can focus on a small group of people who are actually serious about changing their lives, rather than only being able to give about 10% of myself to anyone who's remotely interested in juicing. 

I've talked to a couple other juicing coaches who offer something similar and their prices for one month range anywhere from $100 up to nearly $500!!! And that just blew me away. I most certainly am NOT out to get rich off this, but because it will take up so much of my time, I'm charging a very small amount.  

30 Day Juice Fast (recipes and personal coaching)

-tips and instructions 

-60 recipes gathered from websites, books and my own personal recipes (if you need help with replacing certain ingredients, I will help you)

-private group coaching through a private Facebook group. This not only allows me to help keep you motivated along your journey and more accountable, it also will help you meet other people going through very similar journeys. 

-private daily coaching via email (as needed). You will be given my private email and you are also more than welcomed to send me messages on Facebook. I won't hound you with an email daily, but I will be available to you via email during your fast if you ever need me. 

*if you require more than 60 recipes, just let me know and we can add another 30 for a minimal amount, but I tend to find that once you find 5-6 good recipes you really enjoy, you tend to stick to those. For most people, 60 recipes is plenty. 

Price: $40

60 Day Juice Fast (recipes and personal coaching) 

-tips and instructions

-60 recipes (if you need help replacing certain ingredients, I will personally help you)

-private group coaching through a private Facebook group. This not only allows me to help keep you motivated along your journey and more accountable, it also will help you meet other people going through very similar journeys.  

-private daily coaching via email (as needed). You will be given my private email and you are also more than welcomed to send me messages on Facebook. I won't hound you with an email daily, but I will be available to you via email during your fast if you need me. 

*if you require more than 60 recipes, just let me know and we can add more for a minimal amount, but I tend to find that once you find 5-6 good recipes you really enjoy, you tend to stick to those. For most people, 60 recipes is plenty. 

Price: $60

If you need coaching for a smaller amount of time or if you need the coaching for longer than 60 days, just contact me at teelasbackup@gmail.com and we will discuss a price. 

I will be adding phone calls/Skype for an additional price soon. Email me if this is something that interests you. 

As soon as I receive payment, I will email you a questionnaire to get to know you better, and to help coach you better. I can't wait to get to know you and to help you, help you through your journey and to help you achieve your goals. 

We already have a small group of all women who are currently juicing. Come join us and change your life! 

Email me at: thejuiceathomemom@gmail.com

Or contact me on Facebook at Teela Juicing Herman

I can't wait to hear from you. 

Plum Berry Cooler

(This made about 20 ounces of juice for me) 

4 small black plums

12 oz raspberries

1/2 a cucumber

1/4 of a lemon, peel on

This was good! I think next time I will replace the plums with a Granny Smith apple. 

Burnt Orange Longhorn

(This yeilded about 35 ounces of juice for me)

1 grapefruit

6 oz of raspberries

2 Granny Smith apples

3 sticks of celery

1/2 cucumber

5-6 large carrots

1 lime

This juice was absolutely delicious! I couldn't taste the raspberry at all so next time I'll either use more or cut them out and use them in another berry based juice. Great juice for everyone, beginners AND kids! 

Pineapple & Greens

This recipe made about 30 ounces of juice for me.

1 whole pineapple

1 large cucumber

1 bunch of kale

4 sticks of celery

Chunk of ginger root

The pineapple really does a good job of hiding the bitterness of the kale. This is a great juice, even for beginners! 

Eve's Envy

(The red juice)

Eve's Envy

1 small beet

1 medium cucumber

2 sticks of celery

1 Envy apple (can be replaced with any apple of your choice) 

Chunk of ginger

This juice was surprisingly good for only having one piece of fruit in it. 

Good Morning, Granny!

This was a refreshing juice that I enjoyed one morning for breakfast. Although, I'm sure this would be just as good for lunch, dinner or snack! 

 

3 sticks of celery

1/2 cucumber

1 grapefruit

1 small Granny Smith

6 or so mint leaves

The celery and grapefruit are amazing for weight loss and the Granny Smith apple gives this juice a sweet taste. 

Veggie Strong

Veggie Strong (approx 16 oz)

1 medium beet

3 sticks of celery

1 cucumber

chunk of ginger 

While I wouldn't recommend you try this as your first juice, I surprised myself by enjoying this juice without any fruit. 

I've been on a veggie heavy kick. I want to be a hardcore veggie juicer! 

Army Green Juice

Don't let the color fool you! This is one good tasting juice! 

(Try to remember, you might have to use more or less of the ingredients listed below. No two fruits or veggies are alike. Use these recipes as a guide).

5 small to med. size carrots

5 large leaves of kale

1 1/2 grapefruits

1 large naval orange

1/2 large cucumber

1/4 cantaloupe 

Ginger to taste

Lots of veggies and it's really good! I have 1/2 of a cantaloupe and I can't wait to try more juices. I've never liked the taste of cantaloupe when I ate them, but juicing them is another story! 

Another reason why juicing is awesome! You are getting in so much fruits and veggies that you normally wouldn't consume. 

My 40 by 40

Personal/Family

1.  Write an autobiography.

2.  Do one new thing a year that makes me uncomfortable or challenges me. 

3.  See 10 concerts.

4.  Write more. 

5.  Take each kid on their own special date regularly.

6.  Start going on dates with my husband. 

7.  Get a hot stone massage.

(From today at 160 lbs.)

8.  Lose 5 lbs.

9.  Lose 10 lbs.

10. Lose 15 lbs.

11. Lose 20 lbs.

12. Lose 25 lbs.

13. Read 10 classic books.

14. Volunteer my time outside of church. 

15. Zip line.

16. Learn to dance.

17. Grow a garden. 

Education

18. Learn to sew.

19. Take a cooking class.

20. Go back to school.

21. And finish.

22. Learn 5 new hobbies.

Health

23. Learn to kayak. 

24. Go vegan for (at least) one month.

25. Become a better swimmer.

26. Start riding a bike again.

27. Go on a hike.

28. Try one new fitness class a year.

29. Take a yoga class.

30. Run a 5k.

31. Run a 10k.

Travel 

32. Travel alone.

33. Travel with my best friend.

34. Plan (and complete) a surprise trip somewhere. 

35. Go camping for more than 3 days.

36. Go camping as a family. 

37. Go on a road trip to somewhere far away (more than a 1 day drive).

38. Go on a family vacation abroad.

39. Go on a vacation without kids.

40. Go on a cruise.

Peach Pie Dessert Juice

Do you ever feel like having dessert for lunch?

I did today and decided to make the Peach Pie Juice that all the juicers from our Facebook group have been raving about. The original recipe makes enough juice for my entire family to enjoy and I just didn't need that much so I cut it down and made this delicious version of the original.

Peach Pie Dessert Juice (yielded about 16 oz)

2 peaches

1/2 med. size sweet potato

1 small red delicious apple

2 shakes of cinnamon

I'm confident with this juice as a dessert, I can stay strong and keep juicing for a while. I low trying a new juice and finding that I really, really like it. This juice is a must try! 

I don't juice sweet potatoes as often and I should. Sweet Potatoes are high in vitamin B6 which helps reduce the chemical homocysteine in our bodies.  Homocysteine has been linked with degenerative diseases, including the prevention of heart attacks. They contain vitamins C and D which can improve our immune system, reduces tress and is great for smooth, younger looking skin. Sweet potatoes also contain magnesium and iron, which help our energy levels and also help reduce stress. *

*Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/9-reasons-to-love-sweet-potatoes.html#ixzz2WmNGPiT5

Juicing With Joe

Have you ever been completely inspired by someone you've never met? Did that same person help change your life and rearrange your life goals?

What would you do if you got to meet that person?

What would you say? 

I got the opportunity tonight to meet and talk with the one person who has been the most influential in my life. I got to meet Joe Cross! 

Not only did I get get meet him, I got to talk to him and I was also filmed telling my story. I was a bumbling idiot during my interview but I did drop off 2 of my "before" photos and somehow got in that one year ago I was 234 lbs and a pound or two short of being morbidly obese. I talked about how I watched the documentary Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead in January of this year and completed my 40 day reboot. I doubt I'll be featured on the new documentary he's working on, but the two camera men told my boys, "Hey, you know your mom is awesome, right?" Awww!! 

Then I was able to meet Joe and get a photo with him. The sun was setting, I was next in line to meet him and then his crew told him that he had just 2 minutes left and then they needed him to move on. I honestly didn't want to take away from someone else's time, so I just shook his hand and told him, "Joe, I can thank you enough. You've inspired me to change my entire life and I've never been happier or healthier." He told me he was happy to hear that and then we took the photo. I told him that it was an honor to meet him and that was it. I could have stood there and took up the entire 2 minutes but I believe in karma. I got to tell my story and I got to get a photo with Joe Cross!!! 

It feels amazing! 

I got to thank the person who inspired me to change, thus helping me inspire others who are in turn, inspiring even more people! 

And to think, I almost didn't go. I didn't have anyone who wanted to go with me so I was just going to stay home and always wonder, "what if?" But my husband wouldn't allow that. He asked me if I was going. I told him I didn't want to go alone and that I didn't want to drive through Austin traffic. He offered to take the whole family!!! He said he couldn't just watch me not go because I couldn't find someone to go with me. He also said that he knew I would do the same for him. And he's totally right. 

So thanks to my husband, I was able to thank Joe Cross for inspiring me and helping me change my life and attain goals I never imagined possible. 

What an amazing night! 

Stay strong and juice on, y'all! 

Teela Juicing Herman

Pretty In Pink

This drink took me by surprise.

I've been juicing for quite a while and I have juiced watermelon but I remember not liking it very much and thinking back then that I had "wasted" a bunch of watermelon on a juice when eating it would have tasted much better. 

In our Juicing Group lately, watermelon drinks have started going around more and more so this morning I made a variation of watermelon juice that I just looooove! 

Pretty In Pink

1/2 cucumber

1 small grapefruit

A lot of mint

Chunks of watermelon (to taste)

Let me explain this one. I generally like drinking about 12-15 ounce servings of juice. More than that at a time and I feel overly full. Less than that and I'm hungry again too soon. 

So I started off with 1/2 a cucumber. I love my grapefruit so I got a small ruby red grapefruit and ran that through the juicer with a small handful of my hand grown garden mint. That made just under 10 ounces of juice for me so I cut up chunks of watermelon and fed it through my juicer until I reached about 14 ounces.

This juice is so delicious! I'm not ashamed to admit I'm glad my kids weren't awake when I made this one. I did NOT feel like sharing. 

Lesson Learned: If you don't like the taste of a juice or vegetable or fruit, don't be afraid to go back to it and try it again later. Taste buds change and the right combination of fruits and veggies really does help. 

I'm curious if you like this one. Leave me a comment below! 

My Juicing Journals

I first watched Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead in January of 2013 (if you haven't seen it, watch it now!). I was inspired by Joe and Phil. If they, at their weights far greater than my own, could go for 60 days without eating any foods, I could too. I realized that I was absolutely addicted to unhealthy foods and I needed to break a nasty addiction. I wanted to do this around Lent so I started on February 13th and went for 40 full days. I did a 40 Day Juice Fast photo and weight log for most days.

Check out the Weight and Photo Log here.

I started a 30 Day May Juice Fast. The first few days were awesome and I bragged about how much easier this one was than my 40 Day one. So you'd think the month went flawlessly and you would be wrong. 

Read About my 30 Day May Juice Fast.

And then there is my next juicing journey, the Starting Over Juice Fast where I wanted to reach a goal by my twins' birthday party.

Read about the Starting Over Juice Fast here. 

Next up? I'm doing a CLEAN EATING Cleanse!! That's right! I'll be cleansing AND eating REAL food at the same time! Want to join me and my efforts for an awesome transformation photo to share? Check it out: My 3 Day (non juice fast) Cleanse. I'll be starting it the last week of July or the first week of August 2014.

And there will be many more to come, I'm sure. Thank you for reading. It's extremely rewarding to reach out to people. If you are contemplating a juice fast because you are addicted to unhealthy foods, trust me, do it. Know that it will be difficult but also know that if you really put your heart and soul into this, you CAN do this. 

 

 

Tropical Spinach

Tropical Spinach

(Try to remember, you might have to use more or less of the ingredients listed below. No two fruits or veggies are alike. Use the recipes as a guide).

Tropical Spinach (this yielded me about 16 oz of liquid)
1 large bunch of spinach (2-3 handfuls)
About 2 inches of a fresh pineapple, cored and without the skin
1 medium size sweet orange, peeled
About 1 inch of ginger

This drink was refreshing and I had to fight off Little Dude 3.0 for this juice because he loved it just as much as I did!

Change up the amount of each ingredient, if needed, but feel free to use a lot of spinach. Your pineapple and orange will cut through a lot of the taste of the spinach. I would recommend this juice for beginners and long time juicers.

Fresh Strawberry Juice (with hidden veggies)

(Try to remember, you might have to use more or less of the ingredients listed below. No two fruits or veggies are alike. Use the recipes as a guide).

This made 2 servings 

A large handful of red cabbage (cabbage is good for weight loss)

2 Roma tomatoes

1/2 of a large beet

2 large handfuls of strawberries 

This is a sweet and delicious juice. Try it and tell me what you think.

My Juicing Recipe Bible

Here are some of the different recipes I've tried throughout my fast. Keep checking back often! 

(Try to remember, you might have to use more or less of the ingredients listed below. No two fruits or veggies are alike. Use these recipes as a guide).

The (yummy) Pink Granny kid favorite
Beet, apples, pear, ginger

Orange, Spinach and Mint
The name says it all

Refreshing Citrus kid favorite
Strawberries, cucumber, celery, tangelos, mint, lime

Anti-Cellulite Juice aka The Fat Shredder
Grapefruit, apple, celery, mint

Spinach (x3) Green Juice
Spinach, celery, cucumber, grapefruit, pear, lime, mango, ginger

Kale Limeade kid favorite
Kale, cucumber, celery, apple, orange, lemon, lime

Hidden Greens

Mean Green Spinach
Spinach, cucumber, celery, apple, lime, ginger

Sweet Potato, Carrot and Citrus kid favorite
Sweet potato, carrot, grapefruit, tangelo, lemon

Tropical Cabbage
Cabbage, pineapple, strawberry

Rabbit Juice kid favorite
Carrots, pineapple, oranges, grapefruit

Kid Juice
Carrot, orange

Playing with Parsley
Parsley, kale, carrots, celery, apple, orange, pear

Kickin Carrot Juice kid favorite
Carrot, orange, lime, ginger

The Mean Green (Joe Cross' juice)
Cucumber, kale, celery, apple, lemon, ginger

The Lipsmackin Limeade  kid favorite
Orange, apple, celery, spinach, lime

Reader Request Juice 
Kale, cucumber, grapes, apple, lime

Broccoli, Celery, Citrus! 
Broccoli, carrots, celery, oranges, apple, lemon

Perfection in a Cup
Spinach, orange, grapefruit, mint

Fresh Strawberry (with hidden veggies) (kid approved)
Red cabbage, beet, tomatoes, strawberries

Tropical Spinach (kid approved)
Pineapple, orange and lots of spinach

Pretty in Pink
Cucumber, grapefruit, watermelon and mint

Peach Pie Dessert Juice
Peaches, sweet potato and ground cinnamon

Army Green Juice
Carrots, kale, cucumber, grapefruit, orange, cantaloupe, ginger

Eve's Envy
Beets, apple, cucumber, celery, ginger

Good Morning, Granny!
Celery, cucumber, grapefruit, Granny Smith apple, mint

Veggie Strong
Beet, celery, cucumber, ginger

Perfection in a Cup

I found the perfect combination for a juice.

1 bunch of spinach

1 naval orange

1/2 a grapefruit

Small handful of mint

Oh me, oh my. This drink is delicious! 

Starting Over- A 16 Day Juice Fast (Journal)

Well folks, since most of May was just insane for me (juicing exclusively, then for 5 days I was unable to juice) I've decided to start from Day 1 again. This time I will be aiming for a 16 day fast.

Day 1:
Starting weight: 163.4
BMI- 27.2


I woke up feeling pretty good, which can't be said for the past month. I am thisclose to being in the 150's and I am THRILLED! I'm only 2 pounds away from being at my lowest weight since adulthood. I'm so happy I could scream.

This morning I had Perfection in a Cup. Spinach, orange, grapefruit and mint. It is SO good. I figured I'd start off with something I knew I liked. And I don't just like it, I LOVE IT!

Overall, I am feeling positive. I hope that by June 7th I will be in the mid 150's. I'd love to get down to 130-140's by my 31st birthday (July 16th) but we'll see. Either way, I am happy to start over from scratch!

I'll be back to update you tomorrow on (hopefully) my weight loss. See ya then!
Teela Juicing Herman


Day 2:
162.2- down 1.2 lbs

I was highly irritable today, but that could also be because my youngest was extra clingy and was constantly whining. It. Drove. Me. Crazy. So much so that I am blogging from our grocery store! Hahah. Don't judge!!!! I live in Texas so it's already summer. (94 degrees fahrenheit or 34 degrees Celsius). The grocery store has a small little area with tables and most importantly, AC. And I really, really needed the break.

I will be meeting some friends later on so I think I will *gasp* buy a Naked brand juice for dinner and take it to the restaurant so I'm not tempted by their half off appetizers. I know Naked drinks are not as good for you as fresh juice, but it's much healthier than nachos or a burger. We are going to play darts and shuffle board, neither of which am I remotely good at...but oh well, I need time with my friends!

And a big shout out to my husband for picking up the slack! He is a great guy and I love him very, very much.

Teela Juicing Herman



Day 3:
162.0- down 1.4 lbs

I woke this morning feeling okay and then all of a sudden, I felt extremely faint. I literally could not stand up for more than a minute at a time without my face getting tingly, my lips turning white and getting the overwhelming urge to lie down. In the midst of this, I remembered that my last juice was at 4 pm for dinner. I came home and drank water, but I think I either needed more juice after 4 pm (I usually drink my dinner juice around 6 pm) or it shouldn't be a Naked drink for my last juice. I think they are higher in sugar than my homemade juices.

Anyway, I could't just wait it out as I needed to get the kids to school on time and my body was screaming at me, "eat a few bites of that banana right now!" So guess what? I listened to my body!!!!

I didn't go crazy and rush out to get myself an egg McMuffin. I ate half of a banana. Then I was able to drink some of the juice I had made earlier that didn't have a chance to drink yet and after about 10 minutes, I was feeling much better.

Lesson Learned: Don't make a Naked juice for my dinner juice and don't have my dinner juice earlier than 5 pm.

Upwards and Onward! Not letting this bring me down. I'm ready to face the day!
Teela Juicing Herman


Day 4:
161.8- down 1.6 lbs

The weight is coming off much slower this time but, I'm happy to report, I don't have as much weight to loose this time! So any steady weight loss I have, I'll take it! It means that I am doing good for my body.

Last night felt wonderful. We went to spend time with my in-laws. My husband's family is always loving and supportive and last night was no exception. They were really fascinated with how much our 3 little guys have grown. Then they could not stop remarking about how good we looked, how much healthier we looked and they kept saying, "Tell us about the juicing thing!" and asked, "If we do this juicing thing, are we going to need a good juicer?" It felt very affirming to me that again, I'm doing something really good for my body. My mother in law talked about that desperate feeling you get when you are obese. How much you just don't like yourself therefore making it hard to keep up good relationships with those closest to you. I remember it all too clearly.

It was one year ago.

I weighed the most, 234 lbs, in my entire life. To say I didn't like myself is an understatement. I hated myself and my body. And I knew I needed help. I was completely out of control with my eating and I was miserable. It still hurts to think back on it. It was bad and a very low point in my life. And after being told by a doctor that weight loss surgery was not covered by our insurance plan...I was desperately hopeless.

And today, just over 70 lbs lost, I can not remember being 161 lbs in my adult life. It feels good! I'm almost 31 years old and in the best shape I've been in since High School! My body, of course, is different now. I've had twins and a toddler since then. My skin is a little softer in my belly area and my arms are also softer, I'm a mom to three wonderful children and married to one amazing husband. I wouldn't trade my life today, even for a single day, for firmer skin. I've earned these wrinkles from laughing it's friends and family and smiling at my young children. And now I know that my kids are being very healthy and for snacks and deserts, they ask for fruit or a juice. They eat a lot of beans and less beef. I'm glad to know my kids have the support and guidance to live a healthy life.

Teela Juicing Herman


Day 5:
161.5- down 1.9 lbs


I'm feeling really good. My mother in law and her twin sister, my husband's aunt, are both very interested in doing a juice fast. They are fired up and ready to buy a juicer. It feels good to have so many different people reaffirm why I'm doing this. Not only is it helpful to me, but it also helps others and I can't say what's more important. Having such a loving and supportive family on both sides, we are very lucky!
Teela Juicing Herman


Day 6:
Current Weight Unknown

I woke later than normal so I knew there was no sense in trying to weigh myself late in the day, only to get frustrated. I avoided a potential meltdown over here. Haha.

Lots and lots to do today. I should get started. I'll write more soon!

Teela Juicing Herman


Day 7:


I woke up late again, my husband tries to let me sleep in when I can, and I was stupid and got on the scale. It said I was 163.5. Now I'm frustrated but again, I need to know that even if I'm not losing weight (or even gaining some), that doesn't mean that I'm not losing inches. I'm keeping my head up.

Today I had the Anti-Cellulite juice for breakfast. That always seems to help out with weight loss for me.

Lunch will probably be a Mean Green and I'm not sure about dinner yet but lots of water in between juices, throughout the day.

I'm hanging in there and I'll be switching it up more today. Less fruits, more greens. I'll talk more later!

Teela Juicing Herman


Day 8:

I don't know what's going on with my weight so I've decided that I am going to only weigh myself weekly, so I don't get as discouraged as yesterday.

Today is a new day and I am still pushing on! I am losing inches! I'm feeling lighter and healthier, I have more energy as before, and my face has started to clear up. All awesome benefits. I've noticed a change in my mood. Things FEEL better. I know everything I've put in my body for the last week. It's all been raw fruits and vegetables. I can't go wrong.

Until tomorrow!

Teela Juicing Herman



Day 10:

I skipped the scale yet again today. I'm working hard at staying true and getting in more than 2 juices a day. I remember with my 40 Day Fast, once I tried cutting my juices to just 2 a day, my weight loss started crawling at a very slow pace. Up the juice and up the water.

I'm feeling great!

I thought I had lost my mind today around dinner time. I made myself a rather delicious juice, took some medicine with my juice and then I set it on the table. Not even one minute later, I was looking around for my juice and I couldn't find it anywhere!! I started spinning, surveying all of the countertop in my kitchen when this cute little monster came up to me.



And he finished the drink like a boss!

Wow. The cuteness. Tomorrow is another day! Stay strong and juice on!


Teela Juicing Herman



Day 11:


I woke his morning and today I feel like I'm almost out of the haze I've been walking around in since the beginning of May. I'm feeling better and feeling lighter, even if the scale disagrees. I know what I am doing isamazing for my health and my life in general.

I've had a ton of water today and a yummy kale, celery, lime and orange juice. My youngest wanted some but he hadn't yet finished his banana so, smart as I am, I got my leftover juice and his banana and put them both in the blender. He LOVED it. He also love to drink my really green juices as is, but for those of you who are really trying to get the kids involved, and for the kids that just don't like green juices, TRY IT! I bet more kids would like the juices we make of we just blended it for a second with a banana.

Teela Juicing Herman


Day 12:


I woke feeling sick to my stomach. I'm going to have a real hard time drinking all 3 juices today, but I'm going to try my best. Right now when I stand for too long, my legs start to shake and I feel like I'm going to pass out. Ugh. I hate getting sick. No food for me though. This is not an excuse to eat. My body loves juice.

I've spent about 4 hours napping and now it's time to make some juice. Hopefully my legs don't fail me. That would just be embarrassing. Hahaha! I can imagine it now, I make a delicious juice, my legs give out and I'm down, on the ground, covered in green juice. I don't know what would be worse, the falling part or losing all that juice. I'll be extra careful.

I also feel like doing another picture of myself so keep coming back.




Day 13:


I woke up before my alarm feeling bright eyed and bushy tailed. I broke my promise of not getting on the scale :( but I'm more encouraged now!!! 4 more days to reach my goal of being in the 150's for my kiddos birthday party. Woot woot!

I got my day started off right. I had a green juice this morning with kale, celery, cucumber, orange and ginger. Then I had about 50oz of water and now I'm enjoying this simple, easy great tasting juice.

(Before juicing)

And yum! This is a good lunch.

I'm over here, staying strong. My nails are strong, I'm losing weight AND inches. Shiny hair, great mood!

Day 14:
Current Weight- 159.8!!!!

Omg! I did it! I did it! I DID IT! My goal for the boys' birthday party was to be in the 150's. I made it today! I know that I still have about 15-20 lbs to lose, but wow! That 159.8 was a beautiful sight this morning.

I'm not going out to reward myself with food. In fact, I don't think I'll stop my fast until Friday night (it's Tuesday). I'm going to keep going strong with my head held high.

It is an AMAZING feeling to actually set and reach a weight loss goal. I'm all shades of happy today!


Day 15:

So last night I went to help my cousin who is going through a very difficult time. I stayed on track the entire day but when I got to see her, I just had to have one beer with her. I felt terrible for her. She's basically picking up the pieces of a broken future and it's not easy.

I'm usually asleep no later than 10 pm but I wasn't even getting home until after 11 pm. Needless to say, I got much less sleep last night and chose to NOT get on the scale today. I know that sleep affects weight and weight loss and with the one beer I had yesterday, I was scared of jumping on the scale and it saying something like 193 lbs. I know how silly that sounds but I still don't really recognize who I am when I look in the mirror. I mean, my face is familiar but even though I know I am in the low 160's to the high 150's, I still see and think of myself as the fat mom that people felt sorry for. The,"Oh, but you had TWINS! I can't imagine," types. I had twins SIX years ago. That's absolutely no excuse for spiraling out of control like I did. Plus, before getting pregnant with my youngest and just after giving birth, I was in the low 170's and in less than a year, I went from 175 to 234. But I refuse to beat myself up for that. That's in the past. What I focus on now is the fact that I went from 234 to 159 in just under a year. Now, THAT'S something to be proud of.

Until tomrrow!


Day 16:

159.4!!!!!!!!!

I did it!

For the very first time in my life, I SET AND THEN REACHED A WEIGHT LOSS GOAL!!!!

Oh.My.Goodness!!!! They say that nothing tastes as good as skinny feels, and I may not be skinny yet, but reaching a weight loss goal feels Uh-Maze-Ing! Reaching this goal is a big deal to me. When I was at most unhealthiest, I kept saying how I would NEVER get to the 150's (because it was my high school weight) and I freaking did it! I am not one to gloat for myself but I am so very proud of myself. Wow.

I will continue to juice. I have a goal to reach by my upcoming 31st birthday. I will also be trying to change some things around here a bit so if you run into pages or links that don't work, please let me know by leaving a comment, I would like to thank my readers for all of the love and support. I am very blessed to have as many readers as I do.

My 30 Day May Juice Fast Journal (updated *usually* daily)

Day 1:



So far, day one has been okay.



I'm having to deal with some very personal issues involving my children so I've been on edge, moody, emotional and just pissed off BUT I know that these feelings have nothing to do with the fast.



I've had plenty of energy today. I did get hungry once, but I just made a juice and drank more water.



I think my personal issues are making it easier to not focus on the fact that I'm not eating. So yay for that, I guess.



I went for a 1.26 mile power walk and run today and it felt great. I'm not sure that I will feel up to it tomorrow, but I want to try to stay as active during this fast. During my first fast, I did very little as far as exercising. I was VERY active with my kids, running and playing, because of the over abundance of energy, but I didn't feel well enough to get out and really push myself. So far, I do. Only time will tell tomorrow.



My starting weight is 169.5 at 5'5 with a BMI of 28.2.



And now....the moment you've all been waiting for......my lovely "before" photos.

Day 2:



167.5- down 2 lbs



I trusted the principal at my children's school to...I don't know.....do what she said she would do and PROTECT MY INNOCENT CHILD. Today I found out today that out of EVERYTHING that was promised to me yesterday, NONE of it happened. Not one single fucking thing and because of that, today has been filled with rage. I've not been hungry, but I've been so incredibly pissed off that I doubt I'd notice the hunger pain over my rage! I've been yelling and screaming at everyone. I have no headaches, aches or pains. I have anxiety, fear, depression, fury, sadness, anger, and helplessness. I want to cry and cry and cry but it has nothing to do with juice. Today sucks beyond belief. And to add more stress to my already overflowing plate, I've withdrawn my children from their school where they are no longer safe and I'm now homeschooling them. Just what I needed. A school that doesn't protect the innocent. Lovely.



I could rant and rage all damn night but I'm going to just shut up now and go to bed. Irritable doesn't being to describe how I feel. I'm lost and hurt.



Day 3:

165.4- down 4.1 lbs



Today sucked on a personal level. I was so stressed out and worn out over all of the events that happened this week that even though I've been juicing exclusively, IF I'm detoxing, I don't notice it. Maybe part of my irritability is from detoxing? But it's also very possible that it's just who I am. I turn into a very different person when the safety of my children are concerned. I'm usually a vey happy go lucky, laid back, loving person. When my kids are in danger, it's like I turn into this fierce Mama Bear that will slice the throats of anyone in her way.



Emotionally today sucked. I wasn't concerned about me at all and at the end of the day, I realized I only had 2 juices the entire day. That's not good. Tomorrow I promise to focus on myself a little more.



Day 4:

164.5- down 5 lbs



My promise for the day is to focus a little more on myself. In fact, it's 6:30 am here now and I think I'll go on a brisk walk and run. I'll check in again later.



I went on a mile long run and power walk today in 13 minutes. I'm pretty proud of myself for that. I am NOT a runner and just started trying to run one week ago.





I'm not sure if it's because it's the weekend and I don't have to worry about my twins' school, but today was better than the previous days. Overall, today was BLAH vs being pure hell the last few days.



We ended the night taking our kids to the park and having fun. I wanted to walk more (I CRAVE daily workouts now) but I decided I needed to spend more time with my guys so we ended up digging for dinosaur fossils. Then, we started playing zombies and when I tried to outrun a 6 year old, I could feel the burn in my legs. I'm interested to see if I'll be able to walk tomorrow!! Hahaha

And on that note, goodnight.







Day 5:

163.8- down 5.7 pounds



Today we have church and I will be helping cook a luncheon for our congregation so I made sure to drink a big juice for breakfast filled with carrots and beets (love that energy) and I prepared and will take a mean green for lunch. No breaking the fast for this girl!



Church was fun! I had quite a few people ask me what I had been doing to lose weight and MOST everyone was either nice or kept their negative opinions to themselves. There was one woman who flat out said, "Yeah! That's not healthy at all." Now, usually I'd just keep my mouth shut and move along but I was fairly offended. This woman had a good 70 lbs on me and was quite a bit sorter, stuffing her face with bread and meatloaf. I just laughed and said, "Well, something must be working because I've lost over 30 lbs, kept it off, and I feel better, younger and full of energy!"



I will be loaning out our copy of Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead to another kind woman from our church. It feels amazing being able to prove people wrong. Juicing is unhealthy? Really? Go on and eat more of that healthy green bean casserole, bread smothered in margarine and your meatloaf. And tell me how full of energy you feel in a few hours when you have to unbutton your jeans just to sit on the couch.



Trust me, I'm not judging. I was once the very same way.....but I also NEVER told someone who was far healthier than I was, that what they were doing was unhealthy.



“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven" Luke 6:37. I choose the high road and forgive her rude and unhelpful comments. :)



Day 6:



Whew. No weight check today. My kids stayed with my mom last night so I got to *gasp* sleep in! I like to weigh myself at the same time everyday to get the most accurate weight so since I slept in, I decided to skip the scale.



I got out and ran/jogged for a mile today. I waited until almost 1 pm and it was getting really, really hot. I wanted to do more but I could tell I was really pushing myself in that heat. Plus, it is different running on pavement than it is running on gravel!



Not much else to report. See ya on the flip side!



Day 7:



163.8-down 5.7 lbs



Looks like I've stalled. I'm not going to stress over it because I know what I am feeding my body is very healthy AND I've been running, which I'm sure is building muscle in my legs.



My plan for today is to really step it up with my water consumption and get a walk or run in if possible.



I'll check in later.



Very stressful day. I had a green juice with kale, cucumber, celery, pineapple, grapefruit and orange this morning.



Then I went up to school to volunteer for 2.5 hours, went shopping for this ADORABLE dedication outfit for my son on Mother's Day, and then went by and made a police report against a child at my son's school. Just got home at 12:30 and made a quick juice of romaine, cucumber, strawberry and grapefruit. YUM!



Now, off to meditate for at least 10 minutes. I need to clear my mind.



PS I'm failing at upping my water intake.






Day 17:


162.5 down 7 lbs.



Wow! I'm officially the lowest weight I've been since High School! Woot! Woot!!



I had something very personal come up and I was unable to use my juicer for 5 days. And not just that, but I also was only able to eat the food someone else made....and that kind of food was just not healthy. Tons of processed junk. I didn't enjoy it at all and I started back juicing as soon as I was able. So even though it says Day 17, I had 5-6 days of junk and since then, I've been juicing full time. It took quite a while to get back to a normal weight and today I realized I was at my lowest weight! So yay me!



The last 10 days have been incredibly hard on me. Physically, mentally, and spiritually. To
day has been a bit better and I actually felt like blogging today. So maybe things are looking up, huh?


Thanks for all of the words of encouragement and thank you for asking me to update this. I'm glad to be back in the swing of things.

I've decided to start over.

Click HERE to see my continued progress and check to see if I reached my goal of being in the 150's by the twins' birthday party!!!!


And as always, thanks for reading!

Preparing Your Fruits and Vegetables

*I've found that when juicing leafy greens, mint, ginger or other produce that yields a small amount, it's best to juice them first, then juice your produce that yields more liquid. This helps make sure you get the most yield from your produce.*

The Dirty Dozen
These fruits and vegetables are usually the most contaminated with pesticides. Whenever possible, try to always buy organic with these fruits and vegetables.

Peaches
Apples
Sweet bell peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Pears
Grapes
Lettuce
Spinach
Potatoes

12 Least Contaminated Fruits and Veggies
Organic is always best but if finances won't allow you to go full organic, these are generally the least contaminated produce.

Onions
Avocado
Sweet Corn (Frozen)
Pineapples
Mango
Asparagus
Sweet Peas (Frozen)
Kiwi Fruit
Bananas
Cabbage
Broccoli
Papaya
******************************************************************************
Apples-
I wash them, cut them in quarters and throw them in the juicer. I personally do not bother taking the seeds out but some people insist on it because the seeds contain trace amounts of arsenic? Do whatever you are comfortable with.

Beets-
Personally, I peel the beet before juicing it. Beets are sweet and surprisingly tasty to add to juices but they can have an earthy taste and it can make your juice smell like dirt. I think peeling the beet helps with the earthy taste but many people just juice the whole thing. You can also juice the greens that come with the beet root.

Start off with small slices of beet when you are first starting out.

Citrus-
I personally peel all of my citrus except for lemons and limes. Leave the pith on your citrus. Pith is the white stuff between the peel and the fruit.

I do not bother with removing seeds.

Carrots-
If you buy organic carrots, there is no need to peel them first. Many people say you should peel them if you buy non-organic, but I don't. I wash them well and always cut off the top ends of the carrots.

Celery-
I wash them thoroughly and juice the entire stick of celery, leaves and all.

Cucumbers-
I always peel the waxy layer off.

Kale and Spinach-
When I started off juicing, I only juiced the leaves and I would throw the stems in the trash. The stem part of kale and spinach can be bitter when starting out but with massive amount of kale I was juicing in a week, I quickly decided I wanted and needed the juice from ALL of the kale, stems and all. As with all produce, wash well.

Pineapple-
Peel the pineapple by slicing the rind off. I recommend cutting out the core of the pineapple because it can be really hard on your juicer. Cut the pineapple into chunks that will fit in your juicer.

Ginger root- I started off peeling the ginger (easily done by scraping the ginger with a spoon) and still usually do unless I'm in a hurry. If you are not going to peel the ginger, wash it thoroughly.

Peaches, plums, avocado and other pitted fruits-
Wash and remove the pit from the fruit. The pit can break your juicer.

Bananas-
Don't bother juicing. Bananas yield such a small amount of juice that it's a waste. If you really want banana, make your juice and put it in a blender with your banana. And of course, peel the banana first. *some people say that blending a banana is cheating because its not all juice. Again, this journey is personal. There are no rules. If you want to blend a banana, by all means, blend one*

Mint-
I only juice the leaves. Wash before juicing.

Sweet potatoes-
I personally peel the potato before juicing it but many people do not. You get a lot of nutrients from the skin of the potato. Wash thoroughly before juicing. Also, juicing sweet potatoes will give the juice a slightly grainy texture and don't be alarmed if you see a white milky substance in your juice. This is just from the starch. The juice is still good.

Cherries-
I've not yet juiced cherries but you will need to remove the seeds first. The seeds can break your juicer.



I am still working on adding more produce to the list. Please let me know if there are more fruits or vegetables you have questions about.

Substitution List (for juicing)

Item Substitution



Apple- Any variety, pear, red grapes, black grapes, cherries, blackberries, blueberries

Arugula (Rocket)- Spinach, kale, watercress

Avocado- banana, olive

Banana- Avocado

Basil- Parsley, cilantro, mint

Beets (Beetroot)- Golden beets, red cabbage, tomato, radish

Blueberries- Blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, cherries

Bok Choy - Kale, beet greens, dandelion greens

Broccoli stalk- Celery, cucumber, cauliflower

Broccoli- Cauliflower, green cabbage

Butternut squash- Pumpkin, carrot, sweet potato, acorn squash, spaghetti squash, delicata squash, Hubbard squash

Cantaloupe (Rockmelon)-Mango, papaya, peach

Carrots- Sweet potato/yam, winter squash, pumpkin, parsnip

Celeriac root- Celery, turnip, parsley root, kohlrabi, jicama, daikon

Celery- Cucumber, zucchini, jicama

Cherries- Raspberries, strawberries, blackberries

Chives- Scallion

Cilantro (Coriander)- Basil, parsley

Coconut water - Water, diluted fresh juice

Collard Greens- Mustard greens, kale, beet greens, dandelion greens

Cranberries- Cherries, raspberries

Cucumber- Celery, zucchini, jicama

Dandelion Greens- Kale, mustard or collard greens, beet greens

Eggplant- Mushrooms

Fennel- Celeriac root, kohlrabi, jicama, daikon, endive

Garlic- Shallot

Ginger- Lemon

Grapefruit- Another variety of grapefruit, clementine, orange, tangerine, blood orange, star fruit

Green Beans- Asparagus, long bean, french bean

Green cabbage- Red/purple cabbage, kale, arugula, watercress, endive

Green peppers- Red or yellow peppers, mushrooms

Honeydew (Melon)- Green grapes, avocado

Jalapeno (Chili pepper)- Serrano pepper, yellow wax pepper, chile pepper of choice

Kale (Tuscan cabbage)- Arugula, watercress, spinach, Swiss chard, green cabbage, mustard/collard/beet/turnip greens

Kiwifrut- Mango, orange, tangerine, lime

Lemon- Ginger

Lime - Lemon, orange, clementine/tangerine

Mango- Papaya, kiwifruit

Maple Syrup- Honey

Mint- Ginger, sweet basil

Onion- Garlic, leeks, shallot

Orange- Grapefruit, clementine, tangerine, kiwifruit, mango, papaya

Oregano- Sage

Parsley- Cilantro, kale, arugula

Parsnips- Turnip, parsley root, celeriac root

Peaches- Nectarines, plums

Pear- Apple, celery root, peach, plum

Pineapple - Orange, grapefruit, mango

Pomegranate- Pineapple, strawberries

Portobello- Any variety mushroom, eggplant

Radish- Red cabbage, tomato

Raisins- Dried cranberries, figs

Red/purple cabbage- Green cabbage, radish, cauliflower, broccoli, radicchio

Romaine- Bib lettuce, radicchio, endive, Boston lettuce, green or red leaf lettuce

Shallot (Eschalot)- Garlic, onion

Spinach- Kale, Swiss chard, romaine lettuce

Strawberries- Raspberries, blackberries, cherries

Summer Squash- Zucchini, cucumber

Swiss Chard- Kale, spinach, romaine, mustard/collard/beet/turnip greens, green cabbage, arugula, watercress

Tangerines- Orange, grapefruit

Thyme- Rosemary

Tomato- Radish, red pepper, watermelon

Watermelon- Red grapefruit, cantaloupe, honeydew, tomato, radish


Thanks to Joe Cross for this wonderful list!