Day 7

I haven't written in a few days and they have been tough.

I went from only Juice to Juice plus raw fruits and veggies (no processed foods) to having eaten a veggie burger last night. Why did I eat the veggie burger? I noticed while and after I was eating I had a very full feeling. Aside from being delicious, I fell full and satisfied. The full feeling actually left me a little uncomfortable, but I liked the sensation of being full. I'm not quite sure where that comes from. Perhaps I equate it with being safe.

Today is Monday and I'm continuing with my healthy lifestyle. I had some mushrooms and hummus this morning and now I'm going to go and make my morning greens juice.

Spinach

Cucumber

Apple

I went to Yoga on the Bluff yesterday and had an amazing session. I'm going to do yoga this morning after my juice :)

Week 1 measurements

Weight: 215 lbs

Bust: 47.5"

Waist: 43 3/4"

Hips: 49 3/4"

LArm: 15.5"

RArm: 16"

LThigh: 29"

RThigh: 29"

Day 4

Wow 4 days already! This is really getting easier. Yesterday I bought some coconut milk and some green powder which REALLY helps for those mid-day cravings. I've been allowing myself to eat raw fruits and vegetables if I don't have access to juice. This means that I have successfully gone 4 whole days WITHOUT processed foods! This is huge since processed foods are a HUGE part of my diet.

Today I was hosting a potluck no less but was able to think ahead and plan accordingly. I went to the grocery store and picked up a mango coleslaw, which is fresh mango, cabbage, watercress, and green onions mixed with a citrus dressing. I'm skeptical about the dressing but the rest was all raw and non-processed so that made me really happy that I was able to find a healthy alternative. I bought a little of that so that I could be eating SOMETHING while everyone else was enjoying the delicious food.

As for what is coming out- my stools are very loose and clumpy. It reminds me of what I was expelling during the master cleanse (not a whole lot). My Juicing partner has convinced me that we will need to do enemas... I am not looking forward to this, or am I? Part of me is very interested in the whole process, but I'm not looking forward to what it may feel like, or what may come out :/

Juice today:
Morning: All fruit
Two 12 oz drinks of green powder with coconut milk. Delicious!

It is late and I am sleepy. Good night :)

Day 2 re-cap and Day 3

So last night was really intense and emotional for me. I felt really hungry and had only two juices all day. It was nearing dinner time and I just felt like giving up. The thought of real food was intoxicating. It wasn't that I wanted to eat something unhealthy I just wanted that full feeling. This was AFTER I had recently had a conversation with a co-worker about how those "feelings" are completely mental.

I felt completely powerless and began crying to my boyfriend about how hard this is and how miserable and unhappy I am with my weight. I have to say that I have the most understanding, loving, wonderful and caring partner I think a person can have. He talked me through it and made me feel better, telling me that he loves me the way that I am but supports my need to change this HUGE part of my life.

We talked about making some serious changes to our routine and diet including, weaning off processed foods and including more fruits and vegetables in our already vegetarian diet.

I ended up eating a grilled slab of salmon and steamed broccoli (not homemade but from a local delivery place). I felt proud of myself that I chose a healthy alternative to the usual veggie burger and fries. I also skipped the white rice.

So now I think that from today onward, I'm going to be really kind to myself and not alienate my inner-self who is really struggling with these lifestyle changes that I'm putting her through. I need to keep reminding her that everything is going to be OK and that with me in charge, she will be safe. Settling my mind in this way I think will really help this process along. I am NOT torturing her! I am helping her and I know that she is grateful but just scared. But it is going to be alright, in fact it is going to be so much better.

And... It already IS better! Since the start of this summer I have lost 9 lbs. I've fluctuated a lot but it seems like an overall loss is really great.

This means that as of today I weighed in at 216lbs. I had been stuck around the 218 mark but have broken past it and am on my way out of the 200s :D

Today's Juices
Breakfast:
4 Celery stalks
6 cups Spinach
1 Beet

Lunch
1 Large Cucumber
4 Carrots
1 Apple

Day 2

Today's morning juice was much better! (By the way the beet, apple and carrot juice was delicious!) Today I had 1 bushel (around 6 cups) of spinach and two celery stalks. With ice it tastes like a latte!

I woke up this morning with a headache. I think it's from grinding/clenching my teeth when I'm asleep. My jaw always feels exhausted. The headache lasted through my morning yoga session and all through work. It is now 6:30pm and it's still there a bit. I haven't taken any medication for it though...

I ran out of time this morning to make a lunch juice which was a total bummer because I was starving from lunch until I made my evening juice. I need to get some of that green powder stuff and coconut water.

My first evening juice is:
A basket of strawberries
2 carrots
1 beet
1 apple

Delicious!!!!

I've been putting ice cubes in my juices to help with the taste but I'm not sure if I should be doing that or not.

The cup that I have holds about 16 oz of liquid including however many ice cubes I put in it, so I'm going to aim to drink 5 of these tall cups a day!

Day 2 is significantly easier than day 1 was, however I do feel like eating a cheeseburger. But I recognize that it's only a craving and not actually hunger... boo... If only my body needed a cheeseburger!

Though Stuff

I've written a lot today, but I'm going through many different emotions. It was harder to get through the second juice today.

1 beet
1 handful of strawberries
1 cucumber

I think I'm going to try to keep the juices simple from now on and not get too crazy. I went to the store today and bought 2 bushels of spinach, a bunch of carrots, apples, and celery. I'm hoping to use these ingredients as the base of my juices from now on.

I opened the fridge and saw some of the Jalapeno cornbread that I bought for Paul yesterday. He doesn't like cornbread and it was very tempting as I am craving anything but juice right now. But I closed the fridge and took a look at my blog. At first I was terrified that I posted the "before" photos of myself, but now I see them as my inspiration. I'm not going to let that cornbread get me!

Off to make more juice:
1 Carrot
1 Apple
1 Beet

Initial Thoughts

Okay, so I'm having a lot of trouble getting this first juice down. It's not the flavor that's getting to me, it's what is happening when the juice hits my stomach. My body has no idea what to do with the immense amount of nutrients I'm giving to it. I don't want to pound it though.
Solution: Water

Day 1 - Morning

Today is August 1st 6:30am. I'm feeling good this morning, very refreshed. Last night before going to bed I had 2 chicken sopes and a cheese quesadilla and boy was I feeling it this morning. My stomach felt a little sick and uncomfortable.

Anyway, I woke up this morning, cleaned the bedroom, Paul and I took out the trash, and I tidied up the living room. I just had my last BM before my first juice. It was pretty firm first and then really soft. Totally uneven, complete unbalanced. More evidence that I need this now more than ever.

When I woke up this morning, Paul walked in and said, "Today is the first day of the rest of your life!" which is actually true everyday, but I have resolved that I will not look back after today and I will no longer allow my insecurities and emotional problems hold me back any longer.

So let me introduce myself to the new me.

Hello,
My name is Alisha. I am 24 years old and live in Long Beach, CA. I do yoga everyday (just about) and try to get to the outdoor yoga session at least once a week. On the weekends, you can find me rollerskating on the beach or shopping at the farmer's market. I put my health first above all else in my life.

Now to start Juicing!
1st Juice:
1 Cucumber
1 Nectarine
1 handful of strawberries
1 bushel of Chinese broccoli

I was nervous about the broccoli because I don't think that I've ever actually had it before. The mixture is manageable but I want to try some more combinations. I really like the cucumber.