Sunday, October 23, 2011
For those of you who think a juice fast means drinking Welch’s Grape Juice for every meal for these 15 days, let me explain a bit. Juicing is simply consuming nothing but raw fruits and vegetables, along with fresh herbs in liquid form for the duration of the fast. So, we can’t buy juice from the store… we need to actually make the juice. The purpose of the juice fast is to give your body a chance to repair itself without having to use up so much time and energy digesting food. Think of it as a detox from all the processed, unhealthy food we eat that literally make us sick. I won’t bore you with all the details about why eating so much processed food, meat, dairy and sugar is bad for you. I have listed resources below that you can check out for yourself, if you’re so inclined.
So, why are we doing this? Well, I can’t speak for Shamus (he is writing his own blog), but I have given this a lot of thought and figured I would simply list my reasons.
#1. I have an obligation to take care of my health for my family’s sake.
#2. I have an obligation to teach my boys healthy eating habits.
#3. I personally feel that most of today’s most common illnesses (including but not limited to: allergies, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, fertility problems, heart disease and most cancers) are directly related to how we eat. Instead of looking at our diets as a cure for these illnesses, Americans just want a pill to fix their ailment. The problem is you need a different pill for all those problems. Then you need a pill to counteract the side effects of each pill. Before you know it, you’re taking dozens of pills a day. I refuse to live like that.
#4. I would LOVE more energy. Having two boys (ages 3 yrs and 6 months) means my day starts early, ends late and literally drains my energy all day, everyday like no other “job” I ever had, has done. Even a good night’s sleep doesn’t make me feel refreshed in the morning. (Not that I am complaining… I wouldn’t trade it for anything).
#5. I am 36 years old, probably about 12-15 pounds overweight and I just don’t feel “right”. We have done months of research, watched dozens of “testimonials” and I am ready to do something for my health and that of my family.
I have no idea what the next few weeks will have in store. Part of me is so excited. I really think I will feel more energetic and fresh when this is all done. My biggest concerns are:
· The lack of caffeine. I love coffee. No really, I have a deep affection for it and I really don’t want to go without it. Just the thought of it makes me sad.
· It’s Fall. My favorite time of year and all I want to do is eat hearty stews made in the crockpot and bake apple pies, all day every day as I walk around in my sweatpants. I guess I can still walk around in my sweatpants but it won’t be the same without the apple pie. SIGH
· I hate being hungry. I realize when I say “hungry”, I’m not actually in need of sustenance but instead I like the “habit” of eating. I am very attached to eating, I have been doing it a long time and “drinking” my meals is not as appealing to me.
· The crankiness. Not Aiden or Evan’s but mine. The three previous concerns I listed are going to make me cranky.
Resources:
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