Day 1 (part 2)

Yup. That's right!

I'm starting another juice fast today!

This fast will be different because I'm starting out today not knowing how long I want to go. I think I will take it day by day and rather than focusing on my weight loss (which I will still track, but this time not so obsessively), I am going to focus on myself! I want to focus on how I feel and how my clothes fit.

I also want to focus on meditation and prayer.

Prayer because I owe everything to God and even though I feel closer to God than ever before, I can always work on strengthening that relationship. While I know I am flawed and very, very far from perfect, I am extremely confident in the person I am today because of God. Today, I am far more blessed than I ever imagined and I owe it all to Him.

I also want to focus on meditation because I feel like it helps keep me calm and it helps put things in perspective. It's also a great stress relief and it just makes me feel good when I'm done, so why not do more of that, right?

Anyway, that's about it for now. One of my dear friends is starting her very first juice fast today so everyone out there, wish her some luck! I know she is going to do GREAT! She is actually the amazing friend who bought me MY first juicer. How cool is that??

Best of luck to all of you out there!

Stay strong and juice on!
Teela Juicing Herman

Photo Update!

Day 23
No food, only juice.

I'm down 14.6 lbs and feeling great!

And wow. Not only do I feel the difference, I can SEE it!

Day 20

Well, it's day 20 and I need to be honest. I'm pretty discouraged and tired of this. My weight loss has completely stalled and my attitude is pretty bad right now.

I'm trying to do it all and be everything and I'm so overwhelmed.

I've given up eating for TWENTY DAYS and I've not lost any weight for the past 7 days (actually, I've just gained and then bounced around) and my self esteem is really starting to suffer.

I feel like I am losing my mind and although I feel a lot better, the fact that I know absolutely everything that is going into my body and I am still not losing weight.....I'm starting to question if this is worth it.

Ahhhhh!!!!!

Orange, Spinach and Mint

Wow.

STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING RIGHT NOW!!!

Just as I was starting to get really bored!!!! This drink is absolutely fabulous!!!! And a huge thanks to my friend Liesl for sharing this recipe with me. I will be making this one again, for sure. The mint adds the perfect touch. I can't wait to play around with mint some more!!!!

1/2 bunch of spinach
2 large naval oranges
2 mint leaves

Two Weeks Down

I've been on my juice fast for over 2 weeks now and I've gotta say, I'm feeling pretty darn good! I haven't lost as much weight as I'd have liked BUT I feel better than I could have imagined! I have more energy than I've had since before having kids! And I feel like I have control! I feel empowered! I've gone 2 weeks without eating food. I've gone 2 weeks on a raw vegan diet. I've felt like giving up far more times than I'd like to admit, but I've stayed strong.

These past 2 weeks have been much harder than I ever imagined but I have so much more confidence than ever before. I know every single thing I've put into my body these last 2 weeks. It feels wonderful! I am in control.

I am really looking forward to eating foods and making the right choices.

I gained 1.2 lbs since yesterday but I didn't automatically hate myself for it this morning like i normally would. I didn't automatically think of ways to completely sabotage myself. I'm not cheating. I'm only putting good fruits and vegetables in my body. My body loves me and I am learning to love my body.

What about you? Where are you in YOUR journey and how do you feel?

My Why (Day 12)

My weight loss has stopped.

I adore my male readers and for your sake, if you happen to be male and you happened upon this blog post, just look to your right and pick another topic, okay? I hate to exclude men (and I promise not to do it but once a month) but I'm married to one and I know even he doesn't want to read about this.

Last warning.

I woke up on Thursday (Day 9) feeling like I could eat the face off my children, okay? The day before, the cravings were so strong I felt crazy and Thursday morning I realized why. Mother Monthly came for a visit. Unannounced. I was not prepared for her and I never thought that PMS cravings would be so difficult. I also never imagined the weight gain simply from my period. Wow. I got on the scale that morning and I wanted to pick up the scale and smash it into little bitty pieces. Now, I love my husband dearly but for good measure, I wanted to take the scale and bash him in the head with it. Truthfully. I did. He continued to lose weight while I struggled, stuck to the juice and GAINED!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? weight?? Oh yes. I. gained. weight.

I want to tell you how well I managed my anger. I want to tell you have very rational I was about everything and about how seeing that weight gain only motivated me to keep doing what I was doing. I want to tell you how I told myself that water retention was not within my control. I want to tell you a lot of things...but I also don't want to lie.

I broke down. I cried and cried and cried. I got SO furious, not just with myself but with my husband (because if I can't lose weight, he'd better not lose any either, right???) and with God. I shook my fists. I screamed, "Why???????" Why!?!?! Why am I doing this!?!? Why is it so difficult??? Why can't God wave his magical wand and JUST MAKE IT ALL BETTER!?!?!

And then I prayed.

And I found some calm.
And then I made some juice.

Why am I doing this?
Because I love myself.
Because I deserve to live a happy and HEALTHY life.
Because my family deserves to have me around for as long as possible.
Because even if the scale has temporarily stopped, I FEEL better, my pants fit better and I look better.
Because I know I am making healthy decision for myself and for my family.

So, why are YOU doing this? What's YOUR why?

I've changed my comment settings so anyone should be able to comment now!!

Mama Called The Doctor (and the doctor said)

I'm floored.

A very long and very boring story short(er?), I ended up going to see my family care physician yesterday due to a persistent ear infection. I explained to him my new "diet" for lent, I explained my addiction to bad foods, I explained what I am consuming (gave him an example of a day of juice for me) and that I am consuming it only through juice, told him that I have been feeling wonderful (aside from the pesky ear infection) and I thought he was going to tell me, "Well you stupid little girl, no wonder you are sick!!! You can't do this! This is NOT GOOD!" And then I even imagined him telling me that it would be just fine to stop and grab a hamburger at my local drive thru on the way home!!!!

And boy was I wrong!

He listened. He flipped through my chart and noted that I last saw him in August and I was 216 lbs then. He applauded me. He told me that while he thought that what I was doing was a bit "drastic," he was very happy with the changes in my life and he wanted me to continue!!!

After I told him that I take a daily multivitamin, omega 3's and vitamin D drops, the only suggestion he had was protein powder, although he said he understood my reasonings for doing this through lent and he was fine with me going without protein that long.

I asked him if he wanted to run any special blood work on me to monitor me during this fast and he said he did not. He felt completely comfortable with my lifestyle change and he complete supports it. He asked that I see him again in 6 months and I am going to schedule a physical then, as well.

One thing I've not mentioned is my Crohn's disease. I was on medicine and was pain daily due to this disease and I have had no Crohn's related pain since starting my fast. I've read that cabbage juice (I try to get in cabbage almost daily) helps reduce the inflammation of ulcers, so it makes sense.


I am NOT a doctor, so please see your own family care physician to get the go-ahead. I feel so great after I saw my doctor. I know it's only been slightly over a week, but I decided to post a before and during photo. I've hit a plateau and decided its best for me to stop weighing in daily. I did these side by side photos and it makes me feel better already. If I can make that kind of change in just a week, imagine the change at the end of my 40 days!?!?

I'm not crazy, am I? Can you see the change? The "before" shirt is an XL and the pink shirt is a size L. Same pants.