Day 9, day 10 etc

To be honest I kind of lost track of days but not necessarily of the Reboot. I have been juicing still but also ate some veggies, fruits and peanut butter. I still haven't had any processed foods, no sweets, no sugar, no bread etc. I am happy of how much I've lost so far. I am thinking I will stay on a mini-Reboot diet until I lose about ten more pounds. I thought I will be happy here but as it turns out, I want to get rid of some more. I am happy though of how my clothes fit. I am so thrilled to wear some of the pieces I haven't had in two years. They look great, I get compliments and I feel good. Wins all around!

Day 8

It was another hot day in DC. I was happy though to put on a cute, light dress I had in my closet and which I haven't worn in two years maybe. The reason for that being that it didn't stay right on me. Ten pounds lighter now, I was happy to wear it. The heat didn't even seem that bad when you feel good about how you look in a summery dress... well, actually I am lying about that, the heat (up to 107F) was pretty nasty and annoying either way.

I drank a few juices today, finished my red cabbage and beets one, had some tea, water but also some serious dinner. My hubby took me out for a dinner date as we had his parents babysit our little one. My choice of food was Japanese so at least I had some really healthy stuff: a seaweed salad and seven pieces of fresh sashimi. Had a little bottle of warm sake with it and later we stopped for another drink and had a glass of cool, crisp white wine. I let myself go a little today but it was well worth it: hubby and I had a great date. Tomorrow is a new day, will start fresh again.

Day 7

I knew I kind of overdid at dinner the night before in eating those veggies so out of curiosity I jumped on the scale in the morning, 148. Still under 150 so not bad.

In the morning I walked over to my beloved Mexican market and bought some more veggies. I juiced some more that day but besides drinking juice, I've ate a lot again. I guess my juicing Reboot days got compromised a little. I ate only fruits or veggies and a few tablespoons of natural peanut butter. I just felt the instinct for something a little richer than just produce. I am not beating myself over breaking the fast, I can take it again when family leaves. It's just hard to sit around the dinner table and just sip on some green liquid when everyone has full plates in front of them. I ate lots of salad (no dressing). I think I did well.

Day 6

I couldn't believe the number I saw when I weighed myself in the morning. It was 146 pounds, about ten pounds lighter than when I started!! Seeing the pounds melt away is definitely motivating me. I am aware that it's kind of unrealistic to keep this kind of diet so I will have to find the balance that will help me maintain weight, stay healthy and eat nutritiously.

I did well today, drank some juices I prepared the day before but I also ate lots of cold watermelon and a salad at night (no dressing). I also had some pickled beets that had a bit of sugar. Still happy with the progress.

Day 5

Day five is passing by and I am sticking to my guns. I did eat some fruits earlier, couldn't resist some cold watermelon and pineapple. Also, another bigger cheat for the day was when I made a sandwich for my boy, I did have a little bit of natural peanut butter. It tasted so good but it felt like it got stuck in my throat. I guess it was all that liquid diet until now.

I juiced some more this morning and this new combination made me fall in love with the color. I will call it Deep Purple and it has two ingredients: red cabbage and beets. Wow, that color... so intense! The taste was good too, not too sweet, not too bitter. Yummy.

We have family coming to town tomorrow so I will see how much will I stick to my diet. I am though very pleased with the progress so far.

Day 4

The fourth day which coincidentally was Fourth of July, full of temptations and yummy stuff all around, went pretty good. I drank juice but I also ate fruits and a few slices of cucumbers. I did have two apricots, two peaches, some blueberries and watermelon. I am not too worried about it, I still haven't swallowed any processed food for three days and my body is happy with it. I don't crave sugar or other junk food. I feel pretty good about my Reboot journey. I am totally out of juice so I have to get some more done tomorrow.

I jumped on the scale this morning and I was down to 148. WOW... I can't remember the last time I saw the scale going below 150. I am happy and my clothes fit better and better.

Day 3

It went but I felt pretty lethargic. Also, I kind of cheated and ate some fruits (apricots, peaches and a plum), all so delicious that my mouth is still watering. I drank the juices I prepared the night before and they were very tasty. I combined lots of stuff in them, I don't even remember all the ingredients so forget about naming them:) I made two cocktails, one just veggies and it was good and another one with more variety of veggies and a plum. Wow... that plum added so much sweetness to the juice. I guess that's one trick that can be done.

I think I drank/ate more fruits today than the 20/80 rule but hey... I am sticking to the Reboot pretty well, I am not going to bit myself over that.

Day 2 (continued)

I was surprised how well the second day went. I felt a little dizzy while I was at the National Building Museum with my boy but other than that it went fine. I drank some of the juices I've prepared on Sunday and then in the evening I went to the Mexican market near by and bought some more fun veggies to juice. I did another big batch to last me for today and maybe part of tomorrow. I know the juice is better if you drink it on the spot but I just don't have the luxury to juice whenever I am thirsty. I make a little more and store it in the fridge for up to two days.

I started at 155 pounds and I was down at 151 yesterday. I am pleased.

Day 2

Is going well. I've had an apricot today as solid and the rest just juice. It's only noon and I've been up since 6 am so there is still some time to go. If I made it through the first day, I say I will make it through the next and the next. I am not sure how long will I keep 'only juice' fast. We have family coming in town this weekend so it might be hard when we sit around the table. I might eat veggies and continue juicing.

I just had three glasses like this of the Spiked Green and now I am full and content. And speaking of satiety feeling, when I woke up this morning I had such a full feeling, it felt like I had a feast the night before, no trace of hunger feeling. I liked that because I was able to have my lemon water and slowly ease into the new day of juicing.

Day 1

Today I've started the Reboot Challenge along with other people who found ourselves inspired from watching the "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead."

I have juiced A LOT, both fruits and veggies. The ratio should be 20% fruits and 80 veggies but I think I've done more fruits, more like 40/60. I am happy overall with how the first day went. I only had a slice of mango as solids. I've also drank lots of water, lemon and ginger water and tea. I also feel a little weak and one time I caught my hands shaking a little. On the other hand, I felt very light all day.

A few of the recipes I've tried today had the following combinations:

Spiked Green
spinach
kale
celery
ginger

Simple Green
spinach
snap peas
one red pepper
two tomatoes

Frutti Tutti
four apples
two peaches
one plum
one mango

This last one, the fruit juice was absolutely outstanding. All the fruits were so ripped and sweet that it felt more like a smoothie. It was so delicious, it took me some will power not to finish it all at once. My toddler boy sipped some too, he liked it.

One last thing about today's juicing: I've been putting the veggies and fruits through three times. I realized there was more juice left in them and I was right, I got quite a bit out of the last two rounds. It's not cheap buying all this fresh produce, I am making sure I get the last drop out of them... literally.

Delicious reboot

I finally made it to the grocery store and bought some serious supplies for the serious Reboot. I've already tried two different variations of the Mean Green Juice. The first try I made, I threw in the following veggies and the result was absolutely delicious. I didn't taste any bitterness from the kale like I've been reading other people complaining about. Here are the ingredients to what I am going to call, Mexican Green:

Kale
Celery
Tomato
Red Pepper
Cilantro

Later in the day, we went grocery shopping to a different store where I bought some more veggies. I tried another recipe and the picture above is of my second attempt of the Mean Green juice. This time I am going to call it Red Green It's the same juice, it just that I didn't drink it right away and by the time I got to it, the juice separated itself like that. Let's see what I thew in this time:

Kale (actually it was the same kale as earlier, just juiced again.... to my surprise it still had enough juice inside... yes, I am cheap that way)
Celery
Green beans
One plum
One lemon
Some ginger

I just finished drinking it and it was absolutely delicious!! I don't think I am going to have any problems chugging down these weird looking liquids.

One more day

... till I start the Reboot Challenge. I did pretty good yesterday: had lots of juice (had only carrots and apples in the house and didn't make it to the grocery store for more variety), tea, water, some peas I ate when I fed my toddler, a little bag of delicious olives and in the evening I gave in and had some bourbon! My husband knows I like it and bought me some as a welcome home gift. I drank last night because I will not have any more alcohol for the time of the reboot. All in all, I am pleased of how it went.

New start

My son and I made it to US after a long trip but we are home now and trying to switch to this time zone (seven hours difference).

Today I woke up with a renewed enthusiasm for this Reboot challenge. July 1st is the START day and I'm already part of a support group that is trying to help each other through this juice fast. The website is very useful for finding someone who can encourage you and bounce ideas of. I highly recommend the Join the Reboot website.

I still have two days until July 1st, I have some serious veggie and fruit shopping to do. I thought ahead though and ask my husband to buy me at least some carrots and apples. I wanted to have a 'soft start' by myself and juice these two days until the entire group jumps in this together. Today I had some green tea in the morning and some freshly, yummylicious carrot and apple juice. It's 11.15 and I am a little hungry... I might give in and have some beans (spotted a can in my almost empty pantry). While I was gone my husband didn't really do too much grocery shopping, just absolutely basic stuff. Anyways, I am deviating here.... cheers to a great start!!

Encouragement

Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead

I recently watched this documentary, "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" and I felt very inspired to do a little juice fast in order to lose some weight and reboot my metabolism. I've tried juicing before and I really like it but I've never been as serious as I intend to be now. The testimonies in the film were absolutely mind blowing, very inspiring and real. I like how well and supportive this website that is connected with the documentary is. I am joining the Reboot Challenge meaning I will start with a 10 day juice fast. The start day will be July 1st. I hope at the end of those days I will be able to continue for another 10 days. But I will be taking smaller steps at the time and see how it goes. I am though VERY excited about this!! I can't wait to reboot!!

Jesus Calling devotion

This past Christmas I received the best devotions book I've came across in a while, Jesus Calling. I really liked today's message:

"Open your hands and your heart to receive this day as a precious gift from Me. I begin each day with a sunrise, announcing My radiant Presence. By the time you rise from your bed, I have already prepared the way before you. I eagerly wait your first conscious thought. I rejoice when you glance My way.
Bring Me the gift of thanksgiving, which opens your heart to rich communication with Me. Because I am God, from whom all blessings flow, thankfulness is the best way to draw near Me. Sing praise songs to Me, tell of My wondrous works. Remember that I take great delight in you; I rejoice over you with singing."

Psalm 118:24 "This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalm 95:2 "Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms."
Zephaniah 3:17 "The Lord your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy."

What a great message. And what a beautiful coincidence that the words I used yesterday, 'thankful' and 'joyful' are used in today's devotion. I feel shallow correlating these two words to my own state of my mind, for example feeling a little heavier than I would prefer to be make me lose these two powerful characteristics that should define a believer, a follower of God. It's a wake up to reality this reminder that Him and Him alone can give us these fulfilling emotions, if I resume it to weight, beauty, wealth... I will never, ever find that satisfaction. I realize this is the battle I need to win.

New blog on the block

I kind of lost track of how many blogs I've started so far but that doesn't stop me from going ahead and setting up a new blog on the crowded block of all sorts of personal blogs and whatnot.

The reason I've decided to create yet another blog is that I want to document my journey back to health, back to joyfulness. I might have to explain why I use these words as synonyms, "health" and "joyfulness" but that will require of me a very honest tone. In that case I will be just frank and say it that for me, being a little overweight makes me sad and depressed. I've been trying to loose the so-called 'baby fat' for a while but the only results I got is that my baby boy is not a baby anymore. I guess in that case I can say that my 'baby fat' unfortunately became 'toddler fat'?! I really don't like the sound of that...

I hate to say it but even if I am extremely happy with my life in general, with my husband, my super cute 16 months old boy and everything else that makes my universe, I am just not happy having these extra pounds. I don't have lots of weight to get rid of but whatever I do have is enough to make me obsess over it and take away my daily dose of happiness. It might sound superficial but I don't think it is. It's a struggle I have and for I don't know how many times, I try to conquer it and throw it out the window.

So, here it is in a few words my idea behind starting this new journal. I want to record here both my physical and spiritual victories. I should add that my idea of health includes both physical and spiritual aspects.

Let's start, shall we?