Our new “Health Kick”
Ok.
2 weeks ago Charlie and I did this juice cleanse. Nothing but homemade juice and water for 5 days. Crazy, right? We agree. People have been asking me how that went and it’s kind of hard to answer. It was hard. My brain wanted to chew some food so bad! My belly was completely full 90% of the time. I wasn’t ever really hungry I just had some crazy cravings. Bottom line, we probably wont do it again, but we wouldn’t take it back. We learned a lot about ourselves…here’s some highlights:
1. A juice cleanse is going to rid your body of all the junk you don’t need. It’s also going to shed a few pounds. But a week after the cleanse is finished I’ve gained the weight back. I’m doubtful that the cleanse is good for our metabolism.
2. After the cleanse we noticed our food portions being significantly smaller. Personally, I know I am guilty of over eating. Sometimes it tastes so good I go back for seconds despite the full belly. I’ve decided not to do that anymore.
3. I also realized how much I don’t need meat or dairy. Boom. Say what you want. My body doesn’t need it and neither does yours. Am I going to stop eating it? No. Hell NO! I like meat and dairy! I’m just not going to eat it like it’s the end all be all to nutrition. I’ve read the books…I know I don’t need it.
4. It took 3 hours every night to make the juice (from scratch with our juicer) for the next day. We did it. Eventually we got into a routine, Charlie made the juice for 3 hours while I did some massive (and much needed) cleaning. Our “We’re too busy to work out every day” excuse just got stomped on. Yeah, I work long days, I come home and I’m tired. So what? I found that when I came home from a long day at work and spent 3 hours being productive (rather than sitting and watching TV or reading to relax) I fell asleep faster at night and woke up easier in the mornings. I was ENERGIZED! I can’t say that’s because of the juice…but I can say that the juice forced me to be productive thus teaching me how to get a full, good nights rest.
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5. Nothing is good to the extreme. Depriving ourselves of all the food we enjoyed just made us want it more. Our first meal after the cleanse was at Buffalos. We had chicken wings, french fries and chips and queso! And it was delicious! We’ve decided to live our lives and eat what we want. Because there’s a time and a place for everything. And I’ll be damned before I deny myself a piece of cake on my birthday or a pint of beer during a good football game. What I am going to stop doing is choosing McDonald’s, when there’s a Publix next door and I can have a sub instead. I’m gonna bypass the nightly bowl of ice-cream, and only eat it once in a while. Catch my drift?
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Let’s get real for a second. First, do me a favor and resist the urge to tell me how beautiful I am, and that I’m “perfect just the way I am”….because that (although polite) DOES NOT HELP ME! So STOP IT! After 4 and a half years being with Charlie I have gained 30 pounds. I’m NOT exaggerating people. It’s sickening. Walking up stairs makes me winded. I’m fuller in the face, the arms, the thighs, the butt, the boobs, you name it…it’s bigger. I used to be strong, active, and healthy.
As I age, and prepare myself to one day be a mother, I owe it to myself and my family to be as healthy as possible. It’s time to change my lifestyle, because I want to live a long life.
So great. Now you know how the juice cleanse went. I’m not going to recommend you do it, or tell you not to. That’s your thing. Do you own research and make your own decisions.
As for me and Charlie…Now that there are no more excuses or reasons not to exercise, we have decided to take on P90X. We just finished the 2nd day of this 90 day intensive work out program. What I hope to take away from this is an improved lifestyle. The work out shouldn’t end at 90 days. It should throw my body and mind into a routine that includes exercise. Both my body and mind will crave it. I really am expecting the best here. It requires discipline and commitment, two things I know I can do…It’s just a matter of sticking to it.
So far, I’m having a blast. Bring on the endorphins baby!!!
