Juice Fast....
Well, I am planning on starting my juice fast next Saturday. Just a mini one. Eight or nine days.
Needless to say, I can't find my juice fast book but as I have done them before, I am not worried. For my birthday last Monday, my sister gave me an amazing book. I started reading it today.
Called The Big Book Of Juices And Smoothies.
Has wonderful tips, knowledge and recipes. This is the book: http://www.amazon.ca/Big-Book-Juices-Smoothies-Vitality/dp/184483266X/ref=sr_1_1/702-2781766-5508022?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186345546&sr=1-1
After each recipe, the author give a five star rating on: Energy, Detox, Immunity, Digestion and Skin.
I have got all sorts of new ideas for juices and am making my grocery list now. As I am allergic to carrots, I needed alternatives. I mentioned sweet potatoes in a previous post. She thinks sweet potatoes are wonderful in juices as are parnips so now I have my alternatives.
Just thought I would share. Of course, juice fasting means I have no choice but to stop smoking. Same goes for drinking for the total fast.
If attempting a juice fast for the first time, I still strongly recommend this book: http://www.amazon.ca/Juice-Fasting-Detoxification-Healing-Power/dp/1878736655/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/702-2781766-5508022?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186346499&sr=8-1
It is very important how you start and end a fast. As well, exercise should be limited. Walking is about it as your body needs it strength to detox.
Di
Check out the book if you are into juicing or making smoothies.
Well, I am totally getting psyched about starting my fast Saturday. I bought Epsom Salts and a tongue cleaner tonight. After going to the dentist for the first time in three years! ??? I have one cavity and am getting it filled tomorrow. I said I couldn't go next week because the dentist will freak if she sees my tongue once I start. It gets the most gross white coating as I detox.
As my BF is going away for a week on Saturday, that is the best time to start. I hope to buy my fruits and veggies Friday night but will do so on Saturday morning if I am going to see him Friday night. Not passing that up to go grocery shopping! As I can go a day or two without eating at the best of times, not an issue if I don't have juice first thing Saturday morning. There are three grocery stores I want to hit because all three have organics at reasonable prices but have different things. It is important grapes are organic as well as strawberries and root veggies. Organic grapes are quite expensive but so delectable in a juice. I will probably hit the farmers market on Sunday. The farmers come from farm country to a local mall and set up in a huge parking lot. There is always the tomato guy that uses no pesticides and his tomatoes are amazing and cheap.Thankfully, I can always get organic apples for a great price.
I have had my new juicer for about 2 years and never tried it. Will test it out tomorrow night or Thursday night.
BTW, the most nutrients in a cantaloupe are in the green pith around the fruit so if you have to skin it before juicing, try to keep most of the green. Unfortunately, cantaloupe juice does not come out orange. It comes out a thick mucus looking green. It is delicious though. Just don't look at it as you drink it. :)
Just wanted to mention about carrots and allergies. Sometimes people get a batch of carrots with mold on them- may not even be obvious and can be what the allergy is due to. And regarding animals and carrots, I'm not sure it is common for dogs and certainly not cats (if they were left on their own) to eat carrots so that some can't tolerate them is no surprise. Can't compare pets and people when it comes to nutrition. Of course, can't blame you for being leary of carrots after your experience regardless of the cause. Remember though, that as long as you are taking in toxins by smoking and drinking you increase your risk for plenty of other allergies and health conditions as well. Glad you are treating your body well with this juice flush and hope you can make this a permanent lifestyle change.
Oh, I usually only do vegetable juices when doing a juice flush (maybe a little apple once in awhile). Let us know if you have any issues with the sugars in the juices - thinking specifically of yeast symptoms. And I was under the impression that tomatoes were a no-no with juice flushes but I don't remember why- has anyone heard that before?
Just wanted to mention about carrots and allergies. Sometimes people get a batch of carrots with mold on them- may not even be obvious and can be what the allergy is due to. And regarding animals and carrots, I'm not sure it is common for dogs and certainly not cats (if they were left on their own) to eat carrots so that some can't tolerate them is no surprise. Can't compare pets and people when it comes to nutrition. Of course, can't blame you for being leary of carrots after your experience regardless of the cause. Remember though, that as long as you are taking in toxins by smoking and drinking you increase your risk for plenty of other allergies and health conditions as well. Glad you are treating your body well with this juice flush and hope you can make this a permanent lifestyle change.
Oh, I usually only do vegetable juices when doing a juice flush (maybe a little apple once in awhile). Let us know if you have any issues with the sugars in the juices - thinking specifically of yeast symptoms. And I was under the impression that tomatoes were a no-no with juice flushes but I don't remember why- has anyone heard that before?
Yes, mold can be a big problem. So can the oil in carrots which is my problem. That is why I only get congested when I cook them (some oil burns off). Although, I eat very few. Raw and my throat starts to close, especially with the little baby carrots. My electrolysis lady is also allergic to raw carrots but can tolerate cooked ones in very limited amounts.
My two first juice fasts, I was not a smoker.
Funny story about dogs and carrots. My first dog Mickey (in my life from age 4 to 21) used to love carrots. We would pick them from the garden and put them on the picnic table in the back yard. Would tie Mickey out and bring him in. Would go and get the carrots and there were no carrots. Couldn't figure it out until we saw Mickey standing on the picnic table eating each and every one of them.
Everyone that goes to my holistic vet either home cooks, raw feeds or buys raw food or homecooked. Carrots have been a problem for some because of the oil.
My cats really like carrots as well. Leave carrots or broccoli on the counter, turn my back, big chunks are gone. Yes my cats are on the counter mainly because I feed them up there or Miss Cali, would eat all their food. When they are eating, she often puts her paws on the counter and howls at them. Like they will turn over their food....NOT!
I have since been energy tested (holistic/naturopathic way to test) and am totally allergic to carrots. I was tested by both my vet and a naturopath. My vet told me not to piss around and avoid carrots at all costs. On the bright side, the little restaurant (only take out) in my building at work prepares the salads in advance and they always have shredded carrot in them. When I go and order one, they make a nice fresh one for me with more tomatoes and cucumber than the other ones. Yepper, they be loving me! ;D ;D ;D
Anyways, I truly do have a carrot allergy. My sister's friend developed allergies to apples and other fruits in her adult years. Anything can end up being an allergy. With me, why did it have to be carrots? :(
When we were kids, we would go in the garden with my grandpa and pick carrots, wipe the dirt off them with our hands and eat them. Those were the days. Not a pesticide used ever and oh so tasty.
Thanks for the well wishes for my fast. I am making this a short one. Ten days tops. Will be my shortest one yet. My first two were 16 days and 32 days. I was single then. Now that I am seeing someone, I don't want to pass up on eating out, ordering in and eating together after his 9 days away. Crap, I must be in love.
A couple of helpful tips when embarking on a juice fast.
Drink plenty of water as well. Try to drink filtered water, not plain tap water.
Write down all your juice combinations in a little notebook and rate them. If you like them and why. If you disliked them and why. Reason being you sort of forget the ones you loved and hated.
Try to walk each day.
If you meditate, now is the time.
Stop to smell the flowers...in other words, take time to appreciate how you feel.
Keep a journal and write your juices down and thoughts for each day. Truly comes in handy if you ever do another fast.
My BF is coming over tomorrow night and Friday night before he goes away so I will hit the grocery stores Saturday morning. Remember, you need way more fruits and veggies when fasting. One apple does not give you a glass of juice.
You need not tell anyone at school or work you are doing a juice fast. People will see you drinking juice but they will assume you are having a glass of juice and they just didn't see you eat. Some people are open to it like vegetarianism and some aren't. You don't need negative thoughts while fasting. It is a time where you will totally feel at peace with your body and be amazed at how good you feel...all the while getting rid of all the toxins within you.
I am starting Saturday and will post a little recap each day. For all of you thinking of doing a juice fast, enjoy!
My goal the week that I am fasting is to work on my place and get rid of clutter so that at the end of the fast, my body will be uncluttered and my home will be uncluttered. Then my home renovations can continue. As well, I will be ready to finally start an exercise program.
The biggest reminder is break your fast slowly and carefully. Start with an apple, a few grapes, a little salad with no dressing. Don't order a pizza! No dairy. Don't start drinking alcohol right away. Let your body juices start again without being over taxed. Start exercising again slowly. Your body will let you know when you can eat more and when you can exercise more.
Most importantly, try to break the bad habits you gave up while fasting.
Good luck to everyone that is going to try this.
Hugs
Di
P.S. Buy a tongue cleaner. They are dirt cheap at a drug store.
Get some Epsom Salt. Put a teaspoon or a teaspoon and a half in a small glass of water and drink it the morning you start the fast. It will clear out your bowels. Stay close to a bathroom that day. If you don't work on weekends, start on a Saturday so you have two days to get used to it.
Good Luck Di!!!!!
i got the book and read it.
i REALLY want to do one but am waiting to get a juicer in my hands somehow. i asked a couple people if i could 'rent' them from them. i just don't want to buy one right now as i am not made of money or anything (big shocker :o).
anyway, once i can get a juicer i really want to do one but i want to ask di, kashi, and whoever else has done these... what supplemental things do you do? do you also take those 'laxative' drinks (which btw, i was kind of confused about because he talked about blending a banana with it and i was thinking 'wait... before the fast or what? because i thought you couldn't have pulp?') and do enemas/colonics? and did you just do juice or did you make broths/nut milks? i just want to know actual peoples experiences and such... thanks!
no one?
no one?
Oops sorry. I missed this post.
I did not do any colonics. Quite honestly, didn't want to. The professional that guided me through my first fast told me to take a teaspoon or so of Epsom Salt in warm water and drink it (the morning you start the fast). Cleans you out totally so stay in the house or near a bathroom. I did a little broth while breaking my first fast but stuck to juices throughout the fast. I was never hungry. Always full of energy and feeling great.
As for Epsom salt, you can buy it at a drugstore. Usually comes in a big bag and is dirt cheap. So not to waste it, put some in bath water. Draws impurities out of your skin.
As well, dry brush your skin before having a bath or shower. Removes dead skin and toxins.
Good luck! :)
i am very excited. i am glad i have you to draw from your knowledge... thanks, di!
i am very excited. i am glad i have you to draw from your knowledge... thanks, di!
You are very welcome! If we lived near each other I would have gladly lent you my juicer!
Don't forget, your body will tell you when to break your fast.
Don't say I will fast for X amount of days. Let your body be the judge. Of course you can say I don't want to fast for more than X amount of days. The fast I did for 32 days, I had planned on a couple of weeks. I just felt so good that I continued on.
Both of my two fasts, I knew exactly when to quit. I really wanted an apple! My body was basically telling me it was time to eat.
As well, even if you only fast for three days, it will do your body a world of good.
Don't quit during a huge cleanse. When your tongue is thickly coated or if you are feeling a little like you have the flu. That would be ending it in the middle of huge amounts of toxins trying to leave your body.
I am glad you are excited. Your body is smart. It will dictate the length of your fast.
Keep us posted on how it goes!
Di
so i was cahtting it up with my mom on the mobile last night and she lets it slip that she found a juicer when she was cleaning up the rental house she own. what?! how could she have held out on me like that? i pretty much told her to ship it immediately and i would give her a check for the cost, but she says 'well, let me make sure it works, first' so i tell her to try immediately but apparently she has NO produce in the house other than cabbage. oh, mom...
hopefully, though, this will be the end of my 'no juicer' woes :D
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