2013: The Year of the Fat Burn

Wow! I still can't believe it's 2013! Since I last posted we have moved to another city, I've painted my kitchen cabinets, created my own cookbook, and wrote and published my first young adult novel! Whew! 

Yet, with all I have accomplished the last couple years, I have still yet to shrink to the denim size I desire. This is certainly not for lack of trying, but for some reason no matter what I do or try my body has decided to stick around the same size.

I do workout after workout and I notice I am stronger and feel so much better, but my waistline doesn't change one bit. I eat raw food, cooked food, low carb, no carb (almost), wheat free, gluten free, juicing, smoothie days, and all for nothing! Anything I try is either too strict and unsustainable to do long term, or it doesn't bring about any results or the results are temporary.

So, this year I am bound and determined to solve this dilemma! What do you do when you think you have tried it all, and nothing works? I am committed to solving this problem and sharing my results with you. I have already devised my plan, and am in the process of testing it. I can't wait to see the results and share what I have learned with you!

New Year, New Start!

Happy New Year everyone!! I have MIA for months now! I need to check in more often. I have so little free time with two toddlers. Last year we had some trouble with food allergies, my husband going out of town, trying to continue to lose weight, church responsibilities, trying to find healthy recipes for a healthier family(this can take up a lot of time as I have found out), and the list goes on and on. I am a busy mom, what can I say? Looking back at 2010, I am proud to say that I lost (begining in December 2009)a total of 30 lbs!!!! Although I would have liked to lose more, I am very proud of the weight I have lost. I am excited to begin the new year with renewed commitment to losing the rest of the baby weight(and hopefully more)! Good luck on all your new years resolutions!

Top Ten Road Trip Tips for Entertaining Toddlers in the Car

So we are back from our family reunion trip to Utah, and I am pleased to report that it went very well! I had visions on screaming children and hours of headaches, but we only had a few tears and at the time I couldn't say that I blamed them. I was very ready to get out of the car too!

I was very worried that we would all be miserable the whole way there so I gathered and stowed away all sorts of things to keep the kiddos entertained and prevent as much misery as possible. Some items worked very well and were used multiple times! Some were short lived and then rejected henceforth and forever, and some items were never touched. Here is my list of what worked for us.

1. Movies! This was the all time winner for hours of distraction and happy driving! I bought Toy Story (1) and a couple Veggie Tales (we are Veggie Tales fanatics at our house), but the majority of movies we brought we already had. Wall-E was the most watched on the trip, and it is also the most watched at home. One trick I used was to put away some of the movies we already owned and them bring them out especially for the trip. So it was like they were getting a brand new movie! Yep, I had to think in advance for this one! :) You don't have to go out and buy a high end car DVD player (although that would have been really nice). We just used our laptop to play the movies.

2. Music was the second best anti-cry mechanism. I had a bunch of cheapo children's silly songs cd's (not to highly enjoyed by the adults, but very mich liked by the kids), a couple Veggie Tales cd's(liked by both kid's and adults), some Rozenshontz(I know I spelled that wrong), and some Brite Music. If the kids started getting cranky, just pop in one of these babies and revel in the absence of whining! Music is a great tool. Find some that both adults and littles can enjoy.

3. Don't forget to bring a favorite toy or blanket! I was worried about losing A's beloved Thomas the train(not cheap), but I was so glad to have him on the trip with us! He plays with it every single day, and I just know he would have been constantly asking for his Thomas. He was usually fine as long as he had his Thomas. Traveling and being out of their normal routine can be stressful and difficult for some children. Favorite toys or blankets are comforting.

4. Color books were great for my B.! He just discovered coloring a week or two before the trip and what great timing! He would color and color and color some more. Older kids might like color books with activities in them. A. doesn't like coloring. He would rather watch me color! I think the key is finding something your kids really like and adapt it for the car. A. loves his trains, but we can't set up a track in the car, so he just played freestyle with a few trains, cars and a new helicopter I found for him for the trip. New stuff is always good too. My sisier does the present method. She buys several things that she knows they will like to do in the car, and then wraps them up, and on the trip they open one whenever they need a little pick me up. I have heard of this working for other families as well. I did not do this for this trip because right now I can easily hide things and then just whip them out when I want. Most of the new things were color books, and a couple small toys and few movies. The movies were in the case with the rest of the DVD's, the color books were all together were they couldn't really see, and the toys were small enough you couldn't really see them amidst all the other stuff! So no need for wrapping this time around.

5. Sticker books are fun and different. The ones that have restickable stickers are the best! Magnets are also great for some kids. You can just use a small cookie pan or cake pan and break out a bag of magnets. It is super easy to make your own magnets out of those advertising magnets(I will have a tutorial on this soon).

6. Pointing out things that might interest them makes riding in the car more interesting. We saw numerous trains on our way and whenever we would point them out to A he would say in a hushed, reverent tone, "train!". He was so excited to see a real train!

7. Snacks are vital for the traveling toddler! Have things that they can feed themselves like cereal, grapes, carrot sticks, crackers, or raisnins. Maybe a specail treat of something you don't usually have as a reward for being so good in the car? We had cookies at the end of one day. Before out trip I bought the munchkin snack bowls that are suposed to be spill proof. There is a flexible lid thing that you can reach though and get you snacks. They worked great for A. (3 year old), but B. (16 months) had a little trouble getting his snacks out. So give it a try if you have an older toddler.

8. Story books are great if you can read in the car. I cannot read in the car for very long because if gives me a headache and then the headache makes me nauseous. The books I brought were mainly for bedtime, but I read a few in the car and the boys really liked that. I wish I could have lasted longer. It was easier to read books that I had read to them over and over and over because I knew them by heart so I could look out the window and just turn pages as needed.

9. Have a little down time in the car too. I found that it was nice for everyone to have a break from the movies and the books and hubub for a while. Just look out the window. Maybe put on some realxing music(but not too relaxing music-gotta keep the driver awake!).

10. It is very important to have some run around time as well. Whenever we would stopp to fill up on gas or grab a bite to eat, we always let them run around as much as possible. Get those wiggles out while you can! Everyone will be much happier!

In the Works

Well, I have a few things in the works at the moment. Some projects to share with you in the near future and preparations for a family reunion trip are under way! I will be doing a top ten list of things to do with toddlers on a road trip. Updates on potty training, and my various other painting/sewing projects. And maybe a tutorial or two! I am feeling very ambishous! Everyone is healthy and the house is clean (mostly), so I'm ready to dig in and devour my "to do" list!

Life Goes On!

So much has been going on for me! We have been dealing with a lot of illness at our house, and that has made it difficult to get anything done. I can hardly keep up with the laundry! I was about to take a shower today, and I could't because I didn't have any clean underwear, so I have to wait until later for that load of laundry to finish because I don't want to put on dirty underwear. Gross! My husband has been experiencing a lot of stress and anxiety that is interfering with his day to day activities and his enjoyment of life. I feel like EFT (go to www.emofree.com to find out more about Emotional Freedom Tecnuiqe)would really help, if not solve his problems, but his I don't think he really trusts me that it will, and he trusts doctors so much more. I have had EFT help me on numerous occations so go check it out! More of this subject in the future!

Women's International Summit for Health

If there is anything you should do TODAY, do THIS!!! Go to www.wishsummit.com and sign up to hear interviews from amazing people! There is soooo much informations in this summit! And it's FREE!!!! It is put on by two wonderful women from www.rawmom.com. There are only a few more days left, so get started so you can take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to learn and grow! BE PREPARED TO BE ENLIGHTENED!!!

Pamper Yourself

Ladies, we all know we should spend a little time on ourselves, and we may say we don't need it, or have time for it, but I think we all know that deep down, every woman needs a night of a little something special just for her. So lets not be stingy on the pampering ladies! We totally deserve this! Of course, your idea of pampering my not be slathering mud on your face and sticking vegetables on your eyes, but you must do something to honor yourself! Find that something that really helps you to relax and feel down to the depths of your soul that you are a Queen!

Top 5 tips for Starting a Juice Cleanse or Juice fast

Today I am starting yet another juice/water cleanse/fast/feast. I am following Dr. Christopher's 3 day cleanse program for the most part, without the prune juice in the morning and also adding in some of my own homemade mixed juices like you would use in a juice feast. This will be the third time of following his program and the fourth time doing a fast/feast. I have lost a total of 10 lbs. since starting the cleanses in December. So about 10 lbs in about a month. I still consider myself a newbie to the fasting world, but have learned a few tidbits I would like to share with you if you are going to embark on a cleansing/fasting/feasting journey of your own.

1. If you back way off or eliminate totally sugars and other things you are addicted to, it will make your cravings so much more bearable when you start to cleanse! I thought I would squeeze in one last sugar binge before one of my fasts- bad idea!

2. The day before add in as much raw food as you can or go totally raw. This basically is a spring board in to the cleanse. It will give you a head start.

3. Up your water intake the day before as well. This will also give you a head start, and will prepare your body to release junk. If you start out your cleanse dehydrated, some of the fluids you take in during the cleanse will go toward rehydrating your body. You want your liquids going towards cleansing and flushing out the yucky stuff and fatty stuff. Your cleanse will be more powerful if you do this.

4. Plan ahead!!! I have found this to be so vitally important! If you have to cook for your family, plan meals you don't like or plan things that are quick fix, so you aren't standing in the kitchen for an hour smelling food. It is wise to make something that is not too strong smelling. Also plan your cleanse around your schedule. It is better to do a cleanse on days that are not very busy and on days you can stay home. Certainly it's not impossible, but I like to stay home. I think part of that is that there are more food temptations outside the home, and I don't really want to explain myself to other people.

5. My last tip for starting a juice cleanse is to go in to it with a positive attitude. Don't look at it as not eating or not being abble feed your hunger or addictions (to sugar, chocolate, soda or whatever). See your cleanse as an opportunity to grow and become a stronger person. This is a chance for you to heal your body of disease and obesity! How great is that?! See it as an adventure! Don' be down on yourself if you slip up. Stick with it and know that you have still benefited- even if it was only avoiding a white flour bagel for breakfast! You still are one step closer to a healthier body!

There are so many great resources out there on cleansing, but these are the things I have learned in the short time I've been cleansing. Hope it helps you some in you journey to a healthier life!

Weight Loss Update

New Year's Resolutions

Happy New Year everyone! Hope it will be full of love and joy and lots of other really great things for you!

I haven't really thought a lot about resolutions, because I don't really make them. Why make a resolve to do something just because it is the new year? Or because everyone else is doing it? I prefer to make my goals whenever I am working towards something specific throughout the year. You don't have to have a new year to have a new start! You can have a new start every day when you wake up! Every day is a new beginning of your life! There is no need to await the next new year to start something, and it is stupid to stop trying to do something when you happen to fail a month after starting your resolutions/goals. Be a strong individual. You are the master of yourself! You have the power to achieve anything you

1. desire
2. plan
3. work hard enough for
4. are persistent at

If you follow these steps, you most likely will achieve what it is you are working towards.

Many people are great at number one! Anyone can desire something. Come on, admit it- you daydream too! We all desire SOMETHING. To loose weight, to make more money, to be a better parent, so be healthier- whatever! So pick out a desire you have, and then move on to step number two!

Planning is key to many goals. If you don't have a game plan, you will almost certainly fall flat on your face. If you want to organize your house, for instance, you would want to break it down room by room. Then you might even break down each area in each room. and plan to knock off one area a week, or one room a month. You might plan a time of day or a day of the week that will be cleaning/organizing day. Or you might plan to use a timer, and set the timer for 30 minutes a day and go crazy at organizing whatever you can for those 30 minutes.

Next comes work. Many of us in America are lazy, or work too hard at our jobs/with the kids/house, that we feel too tired to do anything at the end of the day. This is when we have to push ourselves past that wall and make ourselves do the work in our plans. If you can push yourself to do it, it will become easier for you to do each time. And when you begin to see those results you were after, it will be even easier!


Last, we must be persistent. Sometimes we don't see the results we desire and quit thinking that we are not making and progress(weight loss especially applies here). The thing is, we probably are making progress, but it is only finger nail progress- progress so slow, that we don't even know it is happening until one day we look down at our finger nail and see that we have dragon claws! What we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do. Be persistent! Stick with your goals.

You can do it!

Yummy Sweet Potato and Chicken Soup

I kind of made this up as I went along, so the measurements aren't exact, but it was super yummy, so I just had to share it!

Sweet Potato and Chicken Soup

1 onion, chopped
a couple Tbsp. olive oil
1 clove garlic. cut up very small

Now put all this in your big soup pot and cook until tender. Then add:

several sliced carrots
a large sweet potato, cut up
a couple stalks of celery, chopped- some leaves are good chopped up in there too

Cook this for a bit then add:

about 8-9 cups chicken stock
a bunch of salt to taste
a bunch of pepper to taste
shake in a bunch of ground coriander(this is what made the soup!)to taste
I can't remember if I added a bay leaf or not, but you could

Then bring to a boil and let simmer for about 20-30 minutes or so until the carrots and potatoes are fuly cooked. Then add:

about a cup to 1 1/2 cups cooked chicken( I cooked mine in the crock pot with a bay leaf, salt and pepper, a little fresh basil, and some dried oregano with a squeeze of lemon over the top)

Then you just cook this until the chicken is warmed up and devour!

Disposable Diaper Comparison and Review

As much as I would love to do cloth diapers full time, it is just not in the cards for me right now. Busy life + 2 in diapers = disposable diapers. I have heard G diapers are a good compromise between the two, but I can't afford them, so regular disposies are in our house. So far I have tried Pampers, Huggies, Walmart brand Parent's Choice, Target brand (now Up&Up), Walgreen's brand, Luvs, and Kroger brand-both the el cheapo ones as well as the comfy ones.

When you are looking for diapers you have one major question to ask- will this leak?

Whether or not a diaper will leak on your baby is dependant on
1. absorbing quality
2. fit- snug around the legs and back end of the diaper
3. how often you change them

Hopefully you change your baby frequently enough that the 3rd shouldn't be a second thought. So I am judging by fit and absorbency.

Of all the diapers I have tried I have found Pampers and Huggies to be the best. Of course these are the most expensive, so if you can afford it I would recommend you try one of these. With my first son, Pampers were the best fit, while my second son fit the Huggies better. As with all diapers, you will need to try them both out to find out what fits your baby the best.

The Pampers Swaddlers are the best for small newborns. They squish down well in between their little legs. Their cute feet can actually touch! Ahhh... this is taking me back to the newborn days! Love it!

I tried Luvs because my sister loved them, but was not impressed. My sister has girls, and I have boys, so maybe Luvs are better for girls? Supposedly they are a step above store brand, but I beg to differ. The fit was good, and they absorbed a lot, because they are so thin, I didn't like to let them get very full at all before changing. Not good for at night for heavy wetters. Very thin, which can be good, but flimsy. It seemed to me that there were more of those chemical absorbing beady things inside the diaper, and they have a strong chemical smell to me. I do NOT want more chemicals near my baby! For this reason alone, I don't recommend these.

Don't even try the Walgreens brand if they are the same from two years ago! Terrible! Explosive! Need I say more?

The Walmart brand is Parent's Choice, although, I don't know necessarily that they are a parent's first choice. I have used them. They work fine. The fit is not great in the back. The legs fit my boys fine. I didn't have explosive poopers, so the looser back wasn't a big deal. If you have one, you might have some blow-outs. Absorbency is good. I have super soakers, and most of the time these did just fine. During the night time we did have to use either a larger diaper or a better quality diaper. If you think about it, even though you have to spend a little more on a brand name diaper, you are saving time, energy, water, as well and money by not having to wash the sheets every day! But like I said, my boys are super soakers- you may not have that issue. And if you don't, these things are cheap.

Kroger brand diapers were all that I used for a while. When money was really tight we bought the cheapest ones. The ones in the yellow bag that have the Spanish writing on it. At the time I think they were about $5.99 for a normal 35ish size package. I am is Texas, so it may not be that cheap everywhere, but worth looking into if you are extremely short on cash. These are a little cheaper than the Walmart ones, but about the same in quality I would say. Not a big enough difference that I could tell anyway.

Once we had a little more money I switched to the other Kroger brand- I think they are called Comforts. Still low priced- similar to Walmart in price, but a little better in quality. They fit my boys a little better than Walmart's. I like these and would recommend them to anyone.

Target brand Up & Up is what I use mostly now. I buy the big yellow and white box for about $13.50. I get 70 size 5 diapers. This lasts us maybe a week? I put both my boys in the 5's. It is so much easier to have just one size of diapers! They are a little big on the 9 mo. old, but he doesn't care! Anyway, these are great diapers, and not expensive. They fit well, and they are absorbent enough to last though the night (unless we overdo the juice too close to bed time). They have these cute polka dots on them too! Who needs Pooh Bear or Micky Mouse when they can have super stylish polka dots?! I really like these diapers and they are near the top of my recommendation list.

So to sum up, here is my list of diapers from best to worst(I would recommend the top5):

1.Huggies
2.Pampers (close tie with Huggies, but someone had to go first)
3.Target brand Up&Up
4.Kroger brand Comforts
5. Walmart brand Parent's Choice
6. Kroger brand in yellow bag
7. Luvs
8. Walgreens brand

I haven't yet tried CVS, Albertsons, Tom Thumb or any other grocery store brand or any natural chlorine free types from Sprouts or Whole Foods. There are probably some other good brands out there, but I just haven't tried them. I don't go out of my way to buy diapers. That is why for a long time I bought the Walmart brand diapers because I didn't want to go to a whole different store just to buy diapers. We didn't get a Target in our city until a few months ago, so it has been really nice to go shopping there. I don't do all my grocery shopping there, but I do like to get some things there, so it is still worth the trip. I still get diapers from Kroger and Walmart of occasion, but not very often. I like Target's too much!

Fasting Update

So my juice feast before Christmas didn't go so well. I'm not entirely sure why, but I am thinking it might have had something to do with not liking the vegetable juices as much as the sweet, from the store, juices that I used before. I sweetened them with fruit every time, but I guess it wasn't enough. I think maybe also the amounts I took the juice in had an impact. With the first fast, I would alternate water and store bought juice about every hour (or more often) and each glass was about 8-10oz each. With the juice feast, I used my juicer to juice all types of fruits, veggies and greens. I would juice about a liter 3 times a day. I would drink about half a liter for breakfast, then finish that liter mid-morning. Then I would do about another half liter for lunch, then finishing that liter mid-afternoon, and the same cycle for dinner and evening snack. I had major trouble at dinner times when I had to make dinner for my husband and son. I am afraid I gave into temptation! However, this was my first juice feast, and I wasn't 100% raw food when I started. Actually, I wasn't even 50% raw! That was my other issue I think. It is much more difficult to juice feast if you are not first majorly into raw foods. I'm sure that it is much easier to do a juice feast when you don't have to cook for other people! AHHH! Even though I did not totally accomplish what I set out to do, I still feel that it was worth my while and worth the knowledge I gained from it. I can now use this knowledge to be more sucessful on my next juice feast. And I lost 2lbs to boot!!!

Some Yummy Looking Raw Recipes

I haven't tried these yet, but they look great!

http://www.welikeitraw.com/rawfood/raw-food-recipes.html

Raw Chips Recipe

http://www.welikeitraw.com/rawfood/2008/09/kale-crisps.html

Day 2 of 3 Day Juice Feast

Well, today I had the same problem. Come dinnertime I just HAD to eat SOMETHING. I think I would have been okay if I had made something that didn't waft through the house so much. I feel like I let myself down. To fail something once isn't TOO bad, but doing it again so soon is just terrible! I have thoguht a lot about why this happened. Why I can't be 100% successful at this juice feast, and I think part of it has to do with some kind of emotional eating pattern I have programed in me. I find it interesting that when I ate a little of the dinner, I felt bad, not just because I had not followed through with the fast, but because after I ate it, I realized I really didn't like it that much. I didn't enjoy eating it. I am really bummed that I have not been 100% liquid. I am still going to juice tomorrow, but I don't really know what will happen in the evening because we are going Christmas carloing with my family, and they usually have treats and hot chocolate. I think I will be strong enough to turn down any sweets, as long as I keep some fruit sweetened juice with me. My mom is trying to stay away from sugar too, so she will help me be strong. I am really discouraged, but I will continue on! I said I would go for three days, so that is what I will do. Not just because I said it on this blog, but because I told myself that. I have discovered that I need to follow through on the things I tell myself. I always do everything in my power to follow through when it comes to everyone but myself. I deserve the same as what I do for other people. I have had problems with following through for a long time. Something goes wrong and I quit. I'm not doing that this time.

Morning Juice:

about 1/2 a box of spinach
1 grapefruit
1 orange
4 carrots
3 celery stalks
2 stevia packets
I wouldn't recommend this combo. Adding the grapefruit was a mistake. I still drank it though.

Afternoon Juice:

1/2 cucumber
a few handfuls collard greens
4 apples
2 carrots
4 celery stalks and a bunch of celery leaves
a handful of parsley
I could definately taste the parsley, but it wasn't bad.

My soid food was a little baked chicken and a small salad- not great, I know.

Evening juice was about 8 oz canteloupe juice made from a whole cantelope.

Day 1 of 3 Day Juice Feast

Well day one went very well for the most part. I enjoyed some great juices and I really didn't feel hungry until about 5:00pm when I had to make dinner for my family. I made them meatballs for BBQ meatball sandwiches and cooked carrots. I did really good untill my son wouldn't finish the his plate of plain meatballs. Yes....I finished them off. But it was only 2 meatballs. Wow, I feel like I am confessing some terrible transgression! Later that night I was really truly hungry even after haveing some juice. So, I had a small apple. The majority of the day went so well, but the evening was killer! How did it go so well the first time I did this? What is the difference? The only different thing that I can tell is the type of juice. I drank dilluted store bought juice for the last fast. You would think that I would be lass hungry with all the greens in the juices I've been making. In day 1 alone I polished off almost an entire box of spinach and about half a bag of collard greens. I was so sure that THIS feast would go so much better than the last. Boy was I wrong! Well, I'll think on it some more later. I am still plan on juicing tomorrow and the next day even though I "cheated".I the mean time, here are the juices I made thoughout the day. I made about 1 liter each for the morning, afternoon and evening.

Morning Juice:

6 carrots
5 stalks of celery
2 medium apples
1 large orange
almost half a box of baby spinach
I really liked this one. It seemed to be a good balence of flavors.

Afternoon Juice:

1 apple
1 large orange
4 celery stalks
7 carrots
several handfuls of collard greens
This had too much carrot for my taste, but it wasn't bad tasting.

Evening juice:

1 entire cantelope
1 apple
4 celery stalks
several handfulls of spinach and collard greens
3 carrots
I liked this one too.

Kate's Top Ten Reasons to Juice Feast or Juice Fast

So I have come up with what are, for me, the top ten reasons to juice feast. They are in no particular order.

1. You will let your digestive system rest from all the junk you have put into it over the years. We let our bodies rest after a long day by sleeping at the end of the day, we also need to give our digestive tract a rest every once in a while.

2. You will open the doors to healing your body. Since your body doesn't have to work so hard digesting solid food, your body can kick any healing it needs into high gear.

3. Weight loss (a personal favorite of mine). Some of this will actually be fat loss and some will be toxic junk that is being cleaned out of your body. I don't think any of this comes from muscle or water weight, but I am not an expert, so who knows? It would not make sense, however, that you would lose water weight, seeing as you are drinking a lot of juices and water. Although, you might release water weight if it is being retained due to toxins. The amount of toxins flushed out is probably also dependant on how much organic produce you use.

4. Mental clarity. I didn't even realize I had a "foggy" brain until I juice feasted for two days. It is really amazing how much clearer you can think. I feel smarter.: ) Maybe this is why so many juice feasters find solutions to problems or suddenly get in tune with their spirituality. They are able to really, clearly, focus on just thinking.

5. Juice feasting is like spring cleaning your body. We (well most of us) wouldn't dream of having a messy or dirty house, but our bodies get left out of the picture sometimes. We also will spend hundreds of dollars and copious amounts of time beautifying our exterior. Don't our bodies deserve the same attention on the inside as on the outside?

6.Juice feasting will infuse your entire body with nutrients, enzymes and antioxidants! (Another favorite of mine.)Who doesn't need this? The majority of the American population is possibly, if not probably, malnourished because of the type of foods we are consuming on a daily basis. You may say, "Oh, but I eat my veggies with dinner" or "I eat a salad every day for lunch". Well, your dinnertime vegetable is most likely cooked, and therefore many of the nutrients aren't there anymore. And that salad? Well chances are there is a lot of iceberg lettuce in it, which doesn't have a lot of nutrition either, and it is also probably smothered in yummy ranch dressing. Certainly supplements can help, but in my opinion, supplements are not near as good as the real thing! Sometimes they are not absorbed very well, and depending on the supplement it can be synthetic. Yuck! So it's time to pump up the nutrition people! You CAN do it!

7. Your immune system will be given a much needed boost. This is very important! No one likes to be sick. If your immune system is strong, your body will be able to fight off the illnesses that cross your path. You will either not get sick, or your sickness will be quite mild in comparison to what it would have been if you didn't have a strong, healthy immune system.

8. Juice feasting also creates an awareness and a thankfulness for food. You sure are thankful once you start eating again, right? But it's not just that, it is more of a mindset you have when you eat. I have found that I have a new appreciation and respect for the food I am eating.

9. I have found that for me, juice feasting is like a restart button for my food cravings and for my eating habits in general. (Also a favorite of mine.) My mom was sick with the flu a few weeks ago, and something she said to me really stuck with me. She had been going about a week with no food, just some water and juices, and said that when she started eating again, she didn't have the cravings for sugar that she once had. I found that the same thing happened to me when I did my two day juice fast. I didn't crave sugar or chocolate! That is HUGE for me! (Especially the chocolate!) The cravings have come back, but it was over several days, and probably only because I chose the reintroduce the sugar. Anyway, I am really looking forward to the cravings being gone again. It is a very good feeling to feel freedom from food. Food doesn't had to control you anymore.

10. I have also found that I can eat less now. This has helped me keep off the 4 pounds I lost while on my first feast. I haven't gained it back, and in fact I have lost another pound since the feast! I give all credit to the after effects of the juice feast. The ability to eat less and the no cravings was what did it for sure!

These are the things I have found to be benefitial for me from my first juice feast. I know I will find more and more perks along the way. Happy feasting!

Preparing to Juice Feast

Okay, I look REALLY crappy on that last video! I just got out of the shower. Remind me never to do a video again with wet hair and no make-up. Well, I've got my produce- all except my greens. I do have a bunch of spinach, but I need a lot more and some different types of greens. I am really excited about this feast! I have been feeling in need of nourishment, specifically in need the the nutrition from greens juice. My body craves it. It's a different craving than craving, say, sugar or chocolate (my biggest hurdle). It's like my body is able to really say what it needs now, and not have sugar and chocolate intercept the signal. I attribute that almost entirely to the two day juice feast I did a few weeks ago. It seemed to have reset my body. I'll say more on that in a later post. So I start tomorrow and will break my feast Monday morning or later if I feel like continuing. I don't think I will continue with Christmas coming up, but we shall see. Keep a look out for My top 10 reasons to juice feast!