Saturday, March 3, 2012

Day 11: Light your light shine!

I am feeling wonderful! Went walking with my sweet husband yesterday. He dropped off the truck to get the tire fixed on it and when we went to get it we decided to walk down as a family to get it. We put Sage in the stroller and went for our walk, it was a beautiful day out and it was a good walk, my leg muscles were tingling when we got to the tire place. I love that feeling of my muscles twitching all over, makes me feel like I did some good for my body. I felt energized after our walk too, of course did some huffing and puffing to get to where we were going, sad how out of shape I have let myself get over the past few years. I am excited that I have found the motivation and determination to get myself back to where I was five years ago.

I am still feeling wonderful! Loving all the things that have come from my juice fast. Healthy skin, more energy, down 12lbs, sleeping really well at night, did I mention down 12lbs! I look at myself in the mirror and I am seeing a light that has not been there in a long time! It feels really good to be growing closer to my Savior and really being able to study my scriptures with a clear mind. I am not struggling with the depression quite as bad and I am so grateful for so much in my life, my biggest regret is all the time I have lost attached to my computer and video games. That is precious time I will never get back, precious time I could have had with my family and friends. Now is the time to make the most of my life, trying to be a better mom and a better wife and a better friend. I have been praying for more ways to be able to server those around me in who are in need. I want to be like the scriptures say in Matthew 5:12 "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid."

Friday, March 2, 2012

Day 10: The end is just the beginning,

Today is the final day of my juice fast, but I feel so wonderful I am going to keep on going. I reached my 10 day goal and I am so proud of myself! I am so grateful to all my friends and family for all your support and encouragement! I am down a total of 11 lbs from the start of my prep week. I have lost several inch around my waist and I am now in my size 16 jeans! I still have a long way to go on my weight loss goal, but it will come.

This morning I had orange, pineapple, blueberries and mango... and it was pretty yummy! For lunch, did Green apple, grape, beet, celery, and lime. Wasn't too bad only used half a beet and the beet greens this time. (Don't have pictures today, I need to get to the store and get more batteries for my camera)



Thursday, March 1, 2012

Day 9: CARBS CARBS and more CARBS!

Yesterday I think was one of my harder days in aspect of craving food. Anything and everything that is not healthy to eat was sounding so good. Especially carbs, I wanted mashed potatoes and gravy, crackers, doughnuts, bread. I even had a dream about scarfing down a HUGE plate of enchiladas then a big bowl of mashed potatoes and gravy then when I was done eating I started crying (of course it was all in my dream) I was mad at myself for breaking my commitment to myself. I was happy when I woke up because it was only a dream and I made it through my day yesterday true to my fast.

I made a very tropical treat last night to help fight the carb craving... Pineapple, strawberry, orange, lime, watermelon, and my favorite, MANGO! MMMMMMMMMM!!!! It was like a heaven in a cup! I am sad, my camera batteries died on me so I had to take pictures on my iphone.... and it doesn't take the best pictures.

So I am finally past the 220 hurdle, I weighed 219 this morning and did the happy dance all around the house! I am so excited! My skin is really clear and soft, my nails are growing in strong and healthy, I have so much energy this morning. Ready to take on the day! Tomorrow is day 10 and I am going to keep going! I am so proud of myself and proud of my self restraint that I have had through this! I am so grateful for all the support from my friends and family, especially my sweet husband! Thank you sweetheart!


 
 Hawaiian: Okole maluna!






Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Day 8: Live and learn!

Okay, yesterday I was not very good, I did not get enough greens. I drank mostly apple and grapefruit juice, but not enough leafy greens. 8pm rolled around and I was dead tired. I know I was drinking plenty of water but not enough juice so it wore me out. I had a hard time getting out of bed this morning. So first thing I did was made a big pitcher full of spinach, pear and lemon. It was really good! It was just what I needed, I am really starting to feel my energy coming back. 

My best friend Des is so AWESOME! She is coming by to get Sage so I can have a few hours to myself. I haven't had a break in .... forever! So I am looking forward to some me time! Every mom needs some alone time from time to time. I am thinking about a getting a nice relaxing pedicure this morning! A nice foot massage is sounding heavenly! I have been wanting to get my nails done, but since I have been on this juice fast my nails are looking really healthy and they are growing in really strong. My nails used to be really flimsy and paper thin and would peel if I snagged them just right. If anything a nice polish and they will look like I had them professionally done.

I can't believe how quickly this fast is going! Every day I feel better and better. I am also excited I have inspired a few friends to start juicing! It is something I'd highly recommend to anyone! It is something everyone can enjoy with the plethora of veggies and fruits we have available to us, the possibilities are endless! I am grateful for all these wonderful plants the Lord has put on this Earth! When I start my garden I want to have a whole section just for healing herbs! Nature is amazing!



Netherlands: Gezondheid!

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Day 7:  Just keep swimming!

I feel like Dory from Finding Nemo... minus the short term memory loss all though I do get some of that from my mother. I have that song going through my head "Just keep swimming, swimming swimming" feeling completely content and happy in my little world, despite the utter turmoil brewing outside my front door in the crazy world we live in. I know that no matter what may come, as long as I am doing what I am supposed to be and trusting in the Lord that he will look after us.

Nothing new for drinks this morning, I was kind of famished when I woke, so I guzzled the left over drink I had in the fridge along with the apple carrot juice I made for Sage. Going to make a fresh batch before I go walking. So before I go we are going to juicing a lot of apples and more spinach, oh spinach, the green goddess! I cannot get enough of that powerful leafy green!

So each day on my juice fast it keeps getting easier and easier as my body is accustomed to a new way of digesting my foods. Certain smells are hard to handle though only because some foods just smell better than others but it isn't as hard as I thought it would be, I don't know if it's because I spent a lot of time pumping myself up emotionally before I started the juice fast but I am really proud of myself for the progress I have made. I am almost bellow that weight hurdle that I have been having a hard time breaking, I still have a long way to go in where I want to be weight wise but I am so pleased with the success so far, I lost another pound! All the diets I have tried in the past I usually drop 10 lbs and the second I veer off  course it's like a magic wand *poof* (you are now 5 lbs heavier than when you started) It is really frustrating. I have not been able to break that dreaded 220 in over two year which is what I weighed this morning. This has given me a little motivation to really start focusing on getting more exercise time in. So I think I am going to load up the stroller and go for a walk around the mall today. Since it is kind of chili and wet today.

I am feeling really good not just physically and emotionally, I feel like my spiritual wellness has improved dramatically, having a clear mind when you study the scriptures makes a huge difference! I have set aside Sage's nap time as my study, prayer and meditation time, so much quieter (go figure). I used to do my scripture studying in the evening but that was not always easy because I would slide into bed and think "I am too tired to study I am just going to read a chapter" and I found myself not absorbing what I read because I am so ready for my head to hit the pillow. While I was reading yesterday I got one of those overwhelming impressions from the Spirit to do something that for me is not easy to do... share the gospel. And not just anyone a certain set of people that I know have read many anti-mormon literature. So before I could second guess myself I knelt in prayer and asked the Lord to guide my hand as I wrote a letter bearing my testimony to the ones I was inspired to send a book to. Went straight to the mail box with my extra copy of the Book of Mormon and my letter. I trust in my Lord and I know he would not give me a prompting to do something that was not for the benefit of His grand design. So we'll see how this plays out, should be interesting. :) Life is never dull when the Lord is on your side.


Monday, February 27, 2012

Day 6: Happy Dance!





Again, woke up feeling really good. I was a little tired, but still feeling excellent! Last night was kind of hard, Todd got himself one of those roasted chickens from the Deli at Kroger's... It was so hard getting Sage some of that chicken... I just wanted to tear into a drumstick, even as I was pulling some meat off the bone for Sage I wanted to lick the chicken grease off my fingers, but I made a commitment to myself that I would do this fast 100%! I made some of the Veggie stew, this time I used leeks instead of onion and I added some Serrano peppers and a turnip. I drank the broth and Todd ate the veggies, he loves it he says it has such good flavor!  Even though I can't have the chunks of veggies the broth is really good!


When I woke up feeling a little tired this morning I decided to make a very energy rich drink, so Sage and I made a spinach, kale, strawberries, green apple, and lemon drink. It was so good!! I think Spinach is one of my favorite greens to put in drinks, it is easily blended with fruits. Spinach was one of those veggies that I never appreciated until I was an adult, that and asparagus, now they are among two of my favorite vegi74210es. All though plain cooked spinach isn't my favorite, I love it raw but I like it cooked in with other ingredients6.

Nothing new to report on weight, still weighing in the same as I did yesterday, but I will say that I am noticing a difference in clothes, I went to put my bra on and I am having to use the smallest set of fasteners where are at the start of the juice fast I was on the last set of fasteners. My pants are feeling a little less tight around the waist and they feel baggy in the rear area!! I am good with that! Over 1/2 way through my 10 days, If I keep feeling like this I can easily make this a 30 or even 60 day thing! Another thing I have noticed is how clear my skin is. My face isn't feeling oil in some areas and dry in others, it is soft and smooth.




Scottish: Slainte Mhath!



Sunday, February 26, 2012

Day 5: WOW!

I woke up this morning literally ready to jump out of bed and start my day. I woke up without any pain in my back and the arthritis pain in my hand. I was in a good mood, my breathing is lighter. I feel like I am just walking on clouds today. Sorry no pictures of my drinks for today. But this morning I started out the day with some fresh apple juice and a whole unpeeled lemon, mixed in with my beat juice (It made it far more tolerable).

Went to church, and it was amazing from start to finish, I just felt so close to my Savior today, with my mind and my heart open I could just feel His love all around me. I have been praying this last week to have some questions answered in my life and I feel like I had a few of those questions answered today. I am so grateful for all that I have, I am rich so rich in blessings! I tend to get so caught up in feeling frustrated for all the things that I don't have that I forget to be grateful for all the things that I DO have! I am so grateful for all of my family and friends, I am grateful for my wonderful husband who takes such good care of us. I am grateful for my beautiful healthy children, for 2 wonderful step-sons and two very loving parents who taught me well!

After church I came home and made a drink I had to chug fast just to get it down, not because it tasted bad, I am just not accustomed to cold broccoli, tomato, celery, garlic and parsley. It had good flavor and probably would make a good base for a yummy tomato soup or even a marinade. I am finding myself with more of an open mind for veggies than I ever had before though. I am looking forward to finding more Vegetarian based meals when I do come off my juice fast. I plan on cutting out 90% of the meat products that I eat, I plan on focusing my meals around veggies, bean, legumes, nuts, and fruits, one meat I don't plan on cutting out is fish, I love fish!

As for my weight this morning... down another pound! :)