[[VIDEO POST]] A MUST WATCH!! For all parents!

If you are a parent ESPECIALLY, you should watch this clip. If you aren't a parent and you think negatively about your body image, you should also really watch this clip.

Please let me know what you think.

Does this speak to you?

I'm Back in the Saddle Again! YeeHaw!

That's right! 

I bet y'all thought I fell off the face of the earth, huh? Well, I didn't. 

I decided around the New Year that I wanted to start a new (long term) juice fast/feast/reboot/cleanse. I know I want to go 30 days, but beyond that, I'm not sure. I can't decide if I will stop at 30 days or keep going until I hit my goal? I just don't know. I suppose when I get to Day 30, I'll know. 

I'm also getting closer to figuring out my goal weight, I think. I believe my goal is 135-140. That puts me in a healthy weight range according to BMI standards. That's just 19-24 lbs!!! Whaaaaaat!?!?! I. CAN. DO. THIS. 

What's been going on with me? 

I was diagnosed as having PCOS which means I'm insulin resistant. I now take another medicine and try to avoid carbs. I've been learning to avoid all grains, dairy, refined sugars, and peanut and vegetable oils. We've replaced our processed flour with either coconut flour or almond flour. We don't drink cow milk and instead drink unsweetened almond milk (and vanilla almond milk for the kids). We eat fruits for snacks now, not fruit-roll up's or candy bars and we cook with coconut oil. 

I won't lie, I'm not perfect. I give in on occasion. Sometimes we go out to dinner or I'll go out for a drink or two with my girlfriend and I'm perfectly fine with that but now, giving in is a rarity, not a daily occurrence like it was before. 

So I was eating healthy and I got this Beach Body Yoga Booty Ballet DVD set and I would juice for breakfast, have a healthy, clean lunch and then Shakeology for dinner. I felt AMAZING and was working out 6 days a week, and about a month into it, I got this foot injury. Long story short, it required surgery on the bottom of my right foot and I've been off my foot since then. 

I decided that on December 30th I was going to start a juice fast. I didn't want to shout it from the roof top like I have before, because that's not always worked out for me....and let's face it, no one likes falling flat on their face, right?  So I told myself that if I made it one full week, I would start blogging again. 

So here we are. 

The detoxing symptoms this go-rounds weren't particularly hard. I got a slight headache before bed one night and I was tired, but that was really it. I was shocked. And extremely grateful. 

Day 4 is usually my worst day and this time was no exception. Except this time, the bad things that happened on Day 4 had nothing at all to do with juicing. 

I got the worst of the injuries, thank goodness. My back and neck hurt instantly. I was taken to the hospital by ambulance. 

Because of my recent foot surgery, I was on a moderate strength Vicodin so when the hospital tried to give me two pain pills with less strength, they looked at me like I was an addict when I told them that it had no effect on me. It literally hurt to breathe, so it obviously hurt to talk. They gave me a shot of something strong and asked if it helped. I said yes, but I knew they weren't sending me home on that so I asked for something stronger to go home on, not as strong as the shot, but stronger than Tylenol 3. They refused. Then I told them I wanted to stay there until the pain was under control and not only did they call security to escort us out, they also called the police, I can't describe how angry, hurt and humiliated I was. I will be writing a complaint to the medical board against the physician assistant who refused to allow me to stay and I am also going to file a complaint against the hospital. 

When I got home, I wasn't making much sense. I would sit and type something, then look down and it was gibberish. My husband said that I wasn't making sense and I found out later that I was sending emails to potential clients of mine and the things I was saying made absolutely no sense. I'm concerned that I somehow got a concussion so I went to see my physician (which was a stud move on my part, because we don't get along and we haven't for a long time now, I've just been too lazy to switch doctors). He didn't order an MRI or anything, he told me he thought it was the pain medicine!!! I explained to him that I've been though MANY surgeries and two c sections. I've been on pain medicine. I've actually been on stronger pain medicine than what I was on at the time. I've never experienced anything like that. Ever. I mean, I woke up the day after the wreck wondering why it hurt to lift myself up out of bed. And where where my kids? (I forgot about the wreck) My husband says he has never seen me confused like that.

Since then, I've got to admit, it's been easy to stick with the juice fast. I don't want to eat because the medicine makes me feel sick anyway. 

I've felt so terrible that I've not yet taken my "before" photo. Sorry. 

(I took my photo on January 7th, finally uploaded it on January 8th)

My starting weight was 

169 lbs (12/16/13)

159 lbs (01/06/14)

154 lbs (01/23/14)

151.7 lbs (01/27/14) 

Well, the muscle relaxers are kicking in now. It's about time to lay this body down. Take care everyone out there! And thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog! I really appreciate it. You are AWESOMESAUCE! 

Stay strong and juice on, my friends! 

-Teela Juicing Herman

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

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! 

4 Day (mini) Fast (completed)

This blog post is almost an entire week late so I apologize.

I ended my mini fast on Friday (April 5) so I went 4 full days on my mini fast and I've got to say, I'm pleased with the results!

In 4 days, I lost 5.5 lbs.

My husband and I decided to go out of town Saturday, overnight, and go to both Six Flags Fiesta Texas AND Sea World San Antonio......without kids!!!!! While we missed them, we had a BLAST!

I am not a big breakfast person so I've never, ever had a problem juicing for breakfast. Actually, I don't think there has been a single day since getting or juicer a few months ago that I HAVEN'T juiced for breakfast. Anyway, juicing for breakfast is my normal everyday. We had pistachios for lunch the first day at Sea World and then we went to a nice little restaurant for dinner. I was going to order a salad but my husband reminded me that we were on our own little vacation and that I should enjoy myself. I had half of a pulled pork BBQ sandwich, cole slaw and some potato wedges. It was good and it did not take much before I felt full. I also had a "skinny" martini.

The next day I had juice for breakfast and my husband had a waffle from the hotel. Then we went to Six Flags and my husband and I shared some nachos (ended up throwing about half away) for lunch and for dinner, we shared a medium turkey sandwich with one handful of chips each.

The next morning (yesterday), the scale's battery died so I was unable to weigh myself but I had juice for breakfast, a small juice and a tuna lettuce wrap for lunch and a small taco salad for dinner.

Today, new battery in the scale and......(drumroll, please).........I've maintained the weight loss from my mini fast!!!!!! It was nice to get to enjoy myself and not have the guilt that usually comes with it. I was able to go out, enjoy foods that I know weren't good for me....but enjoying them reasonably vs. before when I would just stuff my face ALL DAY LONG, and to still maintain.

I'm still not down to my lowest weight, but I am okay with that because I have absolutely NO doubt that I will reach it. Soon! And to quote from one of my favorite books, "Inside, outside, upside down. From head to toe and all around. I like it all. It all is me. And ME is all I want to be!"

I hope you all are having a great day!!!

Stay strong and juice on!
Teela Juicing Herman

Tropical Cabbage

Hahaha

Beautiful, isn't she? And she tastes just as good. My 18 month old gives this two thumbs up.

1/3 head green cabbage
1/4 pineapple
1 heaping handful of strawberries

What do you think???