The Juice Project

S

Starlillies

New member
3 weeks + Omega Juicer = 14 pounds lighter.

That's where I'm at. I've never desired to be vegetarian or vegan, but 3 weeks without meat, bread or cheese has forever changed the way I look at food. It's very freeing to walk into a grocery store and spend the whole visit picking up whatever produce is on sale. Watching nothing but pineapples, apples, spinach, cucumbers, and oranges float down the conveyor belt to the cashier is a wonderful sight. Compared to the ground beef, donuts, milk and Little Debbie cakes the woman in front of me is getting, I feel fantastic about my choices.


This is week four, and my boyfriend and I promised ourselves a night out to celebrate our weeks of hard sacrifice. I can taste that meal already - lobster mac n cheese, crab stuffed shrimp and sirloin marsala with green beans. I want it SO bad. Any solid food at this point will be heaven, but I'm going for the gold. That's what a reward should be, right? As long I get right back on track afterward.


I've never been this health conscious in my life. But now I drink 3 glasses of water first thing every morning before my juice. I'm taking Niacin for depression, better skin and lower cholesterol and I want to get Magnesium to detox my liver which once cleared out, increases the rate at which my body will burn fat. (For my 14 lbs, my boyfriend has lost 21. It's a woman thing. :p ) We've also invested in colon and intestinal cleanse, which bloated me and set me back a day, but it's a great thing to do no matter what. I also add 1/2 tablespoon of ground Flax seed to all of my juices for fiber and Omega-3 fats


Right now, I am hungry. It's almost midnight though so for now my body will just have to eat the fat I ate 6 months ago.

Keeping my fingers crossed that in the morning, I will be 1 lb less.
 
Starting off with a juice made of

1 orange

3 small carrots

1 pear

some parsley

a few sticks of cucumber


I peel everything to avoid pesticides (unless its organic) and ALWAYS remove rinds and seeds from citrus. I learned the hard way on that point. Nothing's worse than a grapefruit juice with the rind - bleh. I've also learned I don't like juicing ginger. I love it in normal food but when it's juiced it just kills the whole drink for me


After I cut and prep everything, I stick it all in a bowl in the freezer for 5-10 minutes along with a short glass (visually it looks like there's less to get down) because I much prefer cold juices to warm ones.


So far I've juiced carrots, apples, kale, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, parsley, watercress, grapefruit, peaches, nectarines, strawberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, pineapple, grapes, cabbage, celery, cucumber, collard greens, romaine, tomatoes, bok choy, ginger, mangoes, oranges, garlic, bell peppers, lemons, limes, kiwis. Sometimes I use only four ingredients, others I use 7 or 8, depending on what I'm trying to use up. Carrots are typically the base of the drink, but I heard of a woman turning orange once because she ate too many carrots, so I try not to go overboard
smile.gif
 
Is it wrong to go look at the menus of my favorite restaurants and drool? If I can't eat it, I should be allowed to LOOK at it, right? I don't know why, but it helps. I also like looking for healthy recipes that I will make once I'm done fasting. At this rate it might not be for 1-2 more months. I'm SO looking forward to eating like a normal person again

:hurray:
 
Yay! 1 more pound gone!

4 more pounds, and I'll have hit my 20 lb mark

After that I'm aiming to lose 40 more pounds, which sounds better to my ears than 60. Yay!


This morning's juice:

3 carrots

1 apple

1/2 orange

some cauliflower

5 strawberries

1/2 tbs ground flax seed


I'm finally seeing signs of my stomach shrinking!!

Hopefully, this will be the last fast I ever have to do in my life. Once I get this weight off, I plan to keep it off with a combo of eating better and juicing. I wish I'd known about juice fasting years ago. My goal is to wear a bikini this summer and feel hot again!
 
Treated myself to a salad today - red leaf lettuce, chopped tomatoes & onions, chick peas, beets, corn + 1tb blue cheese dressing

Yum



Finished the day with an apple, carrot, celery, tomato, cucumber, strawberry, & spinach juice with 1/2 tbs of flax - very filling

Praying to be another pound less tomorrow
 
hey star, what are your stats? i'm curious to know if you've done this diet before and what happens when you start eating carbs, meats, etc again? what does your body do to adjust? I feel like if I did this diet, I would lose weight drastically, but if I started incorporating other foods back in my diet, my body (my body is VERY stubborn) would suck up all the stuff I've been depriving it and make me gain weight again and probably more. How do you keep it off?
 
Yay! Another pound less. And that's with some organic popcorn my boyfriend brought home - whew! I was worried about that :)


Hi JMLW7! Thanks for stopping by my thread. I am 5'10, 31 yrs old, and I have not done this diet before. I have been skinny my whole life but the last five years I've gotten sloppy about my eating/drinking habits. I have a lot of weight I want to lose, and after watching "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" and "Food Matters" my boyfriend and I ordered a juicer as soon as we could.


This isn't just a diet for me, it's a journey. This is a reboot, to start over and not make the same mistakes - too many carbs, too much cheese, too much meat, too many fried foods, prepared foods and frozen crap. Truth is, I've never eaten enough fruits and vegetables and their benefits are astounding. What are the odds of me sitting down and eating 2 carrots, 2 apples, 1/2 a cucumber, collard greens and 5 strawberries? With a juice, I get all of their nutrients and enzymes with 0 waste. Cooking vegetables loses nutrients, eating whole vegetables even loses nutrients because they get caught in the vegetable's fibers and your body just can't get to them. After juicing a carrot, its amazing how much pulp is left behind that my body just doesn't need.


I've tried doing the daily workouts and eating right and it never gets me anywhere. I'm tired of being overweight and insecure about my appearance so I'm doing something drastic (but healthy) that gets results. Once I have those results, I'll employ the knowledge I've gained about food to maintain my weight. It's all about balance. I'd rather be 130 lbs worried about gaining weight than 192 lbs worried about losing weight. I'm excited about what my fast will bring. I need to feel like my old self again


Here's an excerpt from an article about getting back on food after a fast:

"Start slowly by introducing some nutritious foods back into your diet, Use whole fresh fruits and vegetables. Start slowly with reasonably small portions. You may be surprised that your stomach will no longer accept the portion sizes that you ate in the past. In fact, it has shrunk.


Remember that the whole idea is to build health, so understand that you will not go back to your excessive ways of eating. A half of a pizza and a half gallon of coke are things of your past. This is not to say that you will ‘never’ eat these foods again, They will just not be a staple in your diet. When you do ‘indulge’ it will be limited and controlled. You will not feel guilty if you plan to depart from your diet now and then.


Set a plan, Declare to yourself that you will allow a certain favorite food only every so often. In my case, I allowed myself to have a soft ice cream cone once a month during the summertime. This kept me from feeling sorry for myself and gave me real control. I didn’t feel guilty because I had not violated my diet plan. This past year, I didn’t have any soft ice cream. It has lost its attraction to me and I really don’t miss it.


I have finally taken comfortable control of this part of my life, and I like it.


Please don’t panic and think that you will never enjoy foods again. You will enjoy foods, good foods, and you will prefer it to be this way. A friend who made this change, said to me, “I will never go back to my old ways of eating. Why would I ever want to feel like that again?"


This is the prospect that awaits you. Those who achieve this success are very glad that they did. I know one lady who, regardless of how hard she tried, could not lose her ‘belly’. After the correction to her diet, she is perfectly slim, athletic, and very happy with herself and her life. This is all because, instead of counting calories, she is properly nourishing her body and her body is responding according to the blueprint that she carries in every cell for a health body, her DNA code."


I couldn't say it better myself. :)
 
best of luck to you... I've always been intrigued by detoxing/fasting, as if you really think about all the crap all of us have eaten over the years, it is disgusting.


All those "oscopy" type procedures, and cleansing, and other extreme detoxing methods scare me, and with your juice project detoxing is kind of what you're doing in a much healthier way.


My cousin detoxed with fruit and veggies only (not sure what she did for protein, etc), for a few weeks or so, and lost SO much weight, but then got pregnant so we arent sure what it would have been like for her to eat normally again - please keep posting when you start incorporating normal foods again so we can all read how the transition goes..


..maybe if I see how you do it, it will inspire me. fasting and detoxing just seems so...i dont know... dedicated... i mean, I've heard of week long cleanses that already scare me, let alone weeks and weeks of all the will power you need to do this successfully.


I'm really looking forward to seeing how everything balances out after your project is complete.


In a way I feel like everything I've done with successful weight loss over time with exercises and 100% healthy food choices will be more in balance after my body is cleansed of all the crap Ive fed it in my life.


good luck, i'll be following
 
Thank you for the encouragement :) Doing this is definitely a challenge. I'll be sure to continue posting after I finish. It'll be interesting to see how it goes


I went up a pound from yesterday - wah - but it's probably just water weight. This weekend is supposed to be our celebration meal

but I feel guilty having it because I haven't hit my 20 lb mark yet, meanwhile my boyfriend lost 23 lbs. Not fair! Oh well, I'll have it, enjoy it immensely, gain some weight and then start losing again.
 
So I had my celebration meal - opted for a cheeseburger and skillet corn. It was less than stellar because we used lean beef which is less flavorful, and kaiser rolls which don't act very well as burger buns. The corn was delicious though - go vegetables!


Anyway, I lost .4lbs and my boyfriend lost 1.3 lbs since yesterday. I have my lady friend so am feeling bloated but glad I did not gain.

We have just taken our first dose of intestinal cleanse to help the meat along its way - I've heard beef can stay in your intestines for up

to 7 years :(


This weekend we are going kayaking down a beautiful little creek we found nearby. I'm excited yet afraid because supposedly there's a

7-foot alligator living along the route that locals named "George". They say he swims away when he sees you coming, but still, it's a

7-goot gator!! Yikes


Have a great weekend everybody - stay trim!


BTW - They say people should have 3 servings of vegetables a day and only 26 % of people actually do that
 
I forgot to mention that I had a very strange reaction to the meal a few hours later - first my cheeks got red, and later my knees got all red and splotchy. They weren't itchy just very warm to the touch. The red knees lasted for 2-3 hours. It had to be the meal because the only thing I did differently yesterday was eat meat cheese and bread. My boyfriend thinks that it was a shock to my system and my body was reacting to the toxins or growth hormones. Weird.


Started the day with a juice of collard greens, carrots, strawberries, grapes, lime, celery, sweet potato, and orange
 
I am NOT having a good day today. My lady friend is wreaking havoc on my emotions and making me feel really depressed. Normally I'd indulge her with fried foods and sweet treats, but that's not happening this month. I've read that if your diet is healthy, cramps should be almost non-existent. That seems to be the case. I usually get pretty bad cramps but this time it's just my back that aches. My stomach feels just fine.


Juice for lunch - carrot, apple, pear, spinach, lime, cucumber

I wish it was a pepperoni pizza and french fries!!!
 
I really love your thread. I am in a similar situation. I used to be a real healthy individual when I was working in an amazing health food store in high school that also offered its customers a fresh juice bar and daily prepared lunch specials consisting of gluten free, vegan meals. Since then I've found it difficult to maintain that type of lifestyle, especially attending college in Buffalo, NY (the deep fried chicken wing capital of the world). Fast forward 15 years... I found myself sitting in a chair all day gaining weight from all the bad lunches consisting of fat and next to nothing nutrients. I also watched "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" not too long ago and that vegan in me woke up again. Thank you Omega for making the masticating juicer!!! It has truly changed my life. I've been juicing for about a month and have lost approx. 23 pounds and I feel terrific. I like your juice recipes Star and will continue to follow your posts. We are truly in this together!!!!!
 
Hey Star,


I was recently watching "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead" and it inspired me to start a juice fast. I'm 22 years old but I jumped from 210 to 285 pounds in the last 4 years and really need to get this under control. I'm curious as to where you found your juice fast diet or whether you just created your own? I like your recipes so I will be stealing them for myself :)


Have you noticed any significant muscle loss? Are you adding and supplements in addition to the juice, such as protein powder?



I want to start this ASAP, but would really like some information from somebody who is currently doing it. Anything you could tell me would be greatly appreciated :)
 
Starting off with 3 carrots, 1 apple, 1/2 cucumber, 1/2 orange and 1/2 tbs flax - light and tasty

I've lost .4 lbs since yesterday. It was kind of a rough weekend but I learned an important lesson - no food that I could eat will make me feel as good as watching those numbers go down. And I intend to focus on that lesson for the remainder of this project.


Hi Sugarbear! - sounds like we have a lot in common. I think I have the same juicer as you - did you know it makes pasta? How cool is that? (For when we start cooking again lol) Thanks for reading my journey, I'd love to follow along on yours. It's nice to know I'm not alone. I agree that this experience is changing my life. I don't think I'll ever look at food the same way again and I like that


Hi Bns5! - Thanks for commenting. That movie really opened my eyes to an alternate method of achieving my goals. I don't have to worry about what to cook, counting calories, portion sizes - whew! What a load off. I just buy a mix of fruits and veggies and throw them together. I make up my own recipes based on what I like or can stand. I use the sweetness of fruits to even out the bitterness of collard greens, or tomatoes for example, and use neutral things like carrots & cucumbers to fill in the blanks. Leafy greens should be present as much as possible. Google juicing and you'll find tons of helpful info. It's weird at first, but you get used to it and you feel full and satisfied. I highly recommend keeping good snacks around like popcorn, nuts, or granola to use in moderation for times of mental weakness. I have a mixed bag of cashews, almonds, & pistachios that keeps me sane and sometimes I'll have a salad for lunch just so I don't die of boredom. I add chick peas & kidney beans for protein. None of these things will break the bank. Broccoli, spinach, sweet potato, lentils, legumes, and nuts are all a source of protein.


I have not felt any muscle loss yet. I feel the same really, just happier with my reflection in the mirror. The only supplements I use are niacin, flax seeds, and psyllium seed. I want to add wheat grass which has amazing benefits but haven't gotten it yet. Good luck if you decide to go this route. I'm rooting for you! :)
 
I agree that there is no food out there that will make me feel better than watching my extra pounds melt away. I recently treated myself to a cheeseburger and found it to be no where near as enjoyable as I thought it would be. Have my tastes changed? Or is it just really not that tasty compared to nutrient rich foods? I'm back on the juice fast but I will try a sinful treat of corned beef and cabbage on St. Patty's day in two weeks and I guess I'll see then if my tastes have been changing. I'll keep you posted.
 
Mmm, pear, spinach, carrot & grape juice. So tasty :)


@Sugarbear - So you're a cheeseburger junkie too! Lol That's probably my favorite comfort food in the whole world.

I wonder if you're right about losing our taste for certain things. I can walk right by the desserts in my supermarket now

and not even care. A chocolate glazed donut holds no temptation for me. But macaroni and cheese still does. And a

turkey sandwich on a wheat roll with cheese lettuce and tomato has been on my back burner for a while now. I guess I'm

more savory than sweet. Maybe I should make a list of things I missed the most through this project so I remember to have

them when I'm done. What would be on your list?
 
Yay! 1 pound less!

Morning juice = carrots, pear, collard greens, strawberries, parsley & flax


I have been reading up on the ideas of muscle loss and gaining weight back quickly after I reach my goal weight and found some interesting info

These are 3 Myths of juice fasting explained


Myth #1 - Juice Fasts contribute to muscle breakdown

As far as muscle loss is concerned, there is a slight breakdown in muscle tissue in the early portion of a fast, but then stabilization occurs. Essentially, you have to tear down a house before you can rebuild it. Personally, the dramatic detoxification experienced in a juice fast is worth a little muscle loss to me. A fast not only detoxifies as Dr. Fuhrman highlights in “Fasting and Eating for Healthâ€, “it also breaks down superfluous tissue – fat, abnormal cells, athermoatous plaque, and tumors and releases diseased tissues and their cellular products into the circulation for eliminationâ€. Compelling benefits which are hard to ignore!


Myth #2 - Most detox-type diets incorporate little to no protein, which are not only building blocks of cells but also a key ingredient to losing weight

We have to rethink what we have been taught about protein. We do need protein – both the essential and non-essential amino acids that make up a “proteinâ€. We can’t be healthy without protein. However, we have been led to believe that animal based proteins are the only way to get the necessary amino acids (or protein) we need – in the form we need. Leafy green foods however also have protein! Per calorie, green veggies actually have more protein than animal based products. Pretty cool!


Myth #3 - A juice fast will slow your metabolism down, leading to weight gain when you start eating again

Skeptics believe a fast or diet that cuts calories too low will trigger a biological response that will slow your metabolism down and when you begin eating again you will typically regain all the weight you lost on the fast (usually just water weight) plus more. Veteran detox enthusiast and clinical nutritionist Natalia Rose expands upon this often raised fear beautifully in her online community, “detoxtheworld.comâ€. She notes, “A well executed fast actually improves metabolic function. The metabolism is not some phantom part of the body that operates in a vacuum, but the composite of every system in the body constantly breaking down substances that threaten its pristine state. The metabolism keeps the body clear and functioning optimally from the cellular level through (1) ingestion, (2) digestion, (3) absorption, and (4) elimination. Maximum metabolic power comes from ensuring there is never more to metabolize than these systems can gracefully manage. If the cells become overwhelmed and congested with more than they can reasonably metabolize, the whole body becomes congested and backed up with waste. This is why diets recommending 3 to 5 meals a day are so damaging. The average person today has deeply clogged cells, a condition that can lead to exponentially larger problems with every meal. Juice fasting, mini-fasts, and Quick Exit eating [executed through proper food combining] all help correct this problem and thereby support a highly functioning metabolism.†One additional thing to keep in mind is that while in fact on a short fast often water weight is the first thing that you lose, if you emerge eating a clean diet filled with nutritious fruits and vegetables, you will sustain the weight you lost and perhaps lose more.


Here, here!
 
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