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My 5/3 Juice Cleanse Experience

1/14/2014

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Day 1:
I hadn't orginially planned on doing The Juice Cleanse with my clients, but my husband REALLY wanted to do it and I wanted to support him, and it's always easier to Cleanse/Detox with someone.   It helps that I teamed up with  LOCAL ORGANICA (a local juice company) to provide the juices for the cleanse.  Two of the reasons that I'm not an avid juicer are the time and expense.  Having the juice already prepared for me saved me at least an hour a day of juicing - yay!  When it comes to making juice, I use cheap ingredients because it takes so much to make so little juice. Having a provider use local organic produce to make my juice = dream come true.  I'm pretty sure I would have spent more on produce for those three days if I had bought all the produce organic on my own.  I'm sure they have wholesalers and can buy it at cost.  AND - they make this amazing nut milk that I designed for the dinner "juice" to fill up and provide the protein that people so desperately crave. Bonuses left and right!

So If I'm going to Cleanse...I need goals.  If you have no goals, then when the going gets tough - you give up.  My goals for this week are to lose 5 pounds (the holidays are hard on everyone! ;), get back into running (holiday hiatus was longer than originally intended), fit into clothes better (some of my pants are a little more snug than they should be), less bloating (my digestion has been all off for weeks!), more energy (the afternoon slump has come hard lately), shinier hair (it's been dry lately!) and skin (need lots of lotion lately - although that could be just winter).

The first day of The 5/3 Juice Cleanse is a Green Smoothie for breakfast and then delicious raw recipes to ease into the 3 days of juicing.  Since I created the program and I'm a Raw Chef...my husband is spoiled because I can make anything I desire.  I picked relatively easy recipes for the program so that anyone can make them. 

Unfortunately....I ran out of time because I had to teach a class tonight. So my intake for today was 64 ounces of smoothie, 5 cuties for lunch and I ran out of the house before I had a chance to make dinner....so my husband made us a salad. Oops!  That's okay, he makes wonderful salads and I had a couple bananas with some Almond Bliss for my dessert.  All in all - great day.  Well, kind of normal for me. ;)

I ran for 2 miles today - yay!

Weigh in: 119.3

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Day2:
Juices are different for me, I'm such a Green Smoothie Girl, that this something to look forward to.  I don't really enjoy the juicing process, so having them in the fridge rocks. Six juices each day is perfect, but juicing six times each day?!  No thanks! 

The Green Juice is amazing - definitely woke me up this morning.  Local Organica has really great blends.  There is no way I'd get that much green leafies into a juice...so expensive and time consuming! "Get Your Motor Running" - deliciously pineapply.  Lemon to the Aid - ouch!  This is the hardest to get through...the lemon juice is tough on my system.  The Beet Juice was refreshing, and I LOVED the Nut Mylk.  Those who are doing the Do-It-Yourself 5/3 Juice Cleanse don't have this amazing privilege.  I wish I could teach everyone how to make nut milk for their dinner...its such a refreshing change and tastes so good!

I was high and crashing all day - lots of energy, no energy - most likely due to the sugar content of some of the juices.  I'm sore from my run yesterday, but worked out anyway.

I swam 12 laps today - yay! My kids get to play and I exercise without feeling exercisey. :)

Weigh in: 118.0

Day3:
Starting to get hungry and miss food today. I'm so glad I made this only three days of juice - I cannot wait for solids on Friday.

I get so much energy after the Green Juice. It feels like a straight buzz!  If caffeine had any serious effect on me, which it doesn't, I think it would feel like this.  I might have to order some "It's a Green Thing" from Local Organica during the week just for this amazing feeling!  The "Lemon to the Aid" is tough to get down - I didn't finish todays.  I tried to space it out today, mixed up the order, but still tough to drink it all.   I'm not sure if it's the lemon juice or the cayenne pepper but it seems to be just me.  My husband loves it and one of my clients thinks it is her favorite.

Speaking of clients - I love that I can share my experiences with them while we all go through this together.  A lot of my group for this Cleanse has done the 7 Day Green Smoothie Detox with me before so we are old friends and they appreciate the Juicing difference as well. I love hearing their enthusiasm and excitement about how they feel and how delicious the juices are and how much they can't wait to share with their friends and family.

Unfortunately, because I didn't originally plan to go through the detox personally, I had to teach a class tonight.  
It was my FAVORITE class of all time and I couldn't eat any of it.  That was tough.  That being said, I was strong, I drank two juices while there, and other than the desire to enjoy what I know is delicious...it didn't have the pull I was expecting.  The bonus side?  I brought some raw Strawberry Swirl Cheezecake home to enjoy on Friday when I'm eating solid food again, and I have all the components for my amazing Nori Rolls.  Yay!

I did 60 squats today!

Weigh in: 116.2

Day 4:
I knew that I had been having problems with the Lemon to the Aid so I didn't even try them. I didn't drink my Beet from last night as I was full enough, so doubled that instead. It worked out perfectly!  I did what I'm always telling my clients - give it a go for a few days and if you still have problems, make adjustments.  Done!

Today my mental clarity was amazing.  It's the one thing I only get with juicing.  The third day of juicing truly is amazing.  I couldn't stop working, ideas were flowing perfectly, I got so much done and didn't want to stop!  When I do my 7 Day Green Smoothie Detox I get more mental clarity - but nothing like this.  This is a whole new level. This can be addictive! ;) 

I ran 3 miles today - awesome!

Weigh in: 115.1  (This is the weight I find healthy for me.  I could stop here, but I know that there is a pound or two of water weight to take into consideration)

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Day 5:
Yay!  Solid Food Day!


My smoothie was so filling this morning!  I usually drink at least 64 ounces of smoothie a day.  Today it took me from 8am until 1pm to drink all of it.  Usually I'm done and ready for solids around 11am. When I realized how small my stomach had become, I knew that my plans for the day (Nori Rolls & Cheezecake) would need to be pushed back.  I enjoyed some water rich fruit for lunch - grapes, oranges, and pineapple.  Yum!  I chewed as much as I could to help my body process it better. I'm usually an inhaler of food so it took some serious consideration to chew as much as I could.

Dinner was just one Nori Roll cut into five pieces and a small sliver of Cheezecake - awesome and totally worth the wait, by the way - and then I was stuffed for the rest of the night.  Whew, shrunken stomach!

No work out for the day.  Just a day of rest. :)

Weigh in:  114.4

DAY AFTER:
Ahhh, now that was a pleasant, easy, fast week!  Usually cleanses/detox programs seem to inch by. I'm looking forward to doing that again in a few months!  I usually detoxify my body quarterly.  I still eat food covered in pesticide and herbicides (I wish I could do all organic, but I'm not rich and famous yet!), drink Phoenix water and breathe Phoenix air, wear toxic makeup, am in places where they use toxic cleaning chemicals...toxins build up in my system no matter how clean I eat.

So, how was the week for me?  Were my goals realized? You bet!!!!  I lost 6 pounds - perfect - I'll gain at least 2-3 back just from water weight within the first couple days.  Ahhh, the joys of being a woman. ;)  My clothes fit better but could still be better - I think that was more my haitus from exercise than my diet, though...gotta get fit!  Bloating, gone. Energy, increased! Hair and skin are glowing - I've had three people remark on them, so I trust that they have improved.  Yay!  Things I hadn't expected - increased mental clarity, emotional stabilization, better lung capacity, and a new friend in Local Organica. :)

I also, like many of my clients, love a body that I've put effort and expense into cleaning out.  So...keeping it clean - let's do that! ;)  Wonderful experience!  I love my 7 Day Detox Program - so easy and inexpensive.  I love my 5/3 Juice Cleanse - so delicious and quick.  What a great opportunity that I wish everyone would take advantage of.

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The Marvelous Chia Seed

2/6/2011

1 Comment

 

The Marvelous Chia Seed

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                Chia, is familiar to most of us as a seed used for the novelty of the Chia Pet, clay animals with sprouted Chia seeds covering their bodies. Little is known, however, of the seeds tremendous nutritional value and medicinal properties.


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          For centuries this tiny little seed was used as a staple food by the Indians of the south west and Mexico. Known as the running food, its use as a high energy endurance food has been recorded as far back as the ancient Aztecs. It was said the Aztec warriors subsisted on the Chia seed during the conquests. The Indians of the south west would eat as little as a teaspoon full when going on a 24hr. forced march. Indians running from the Colorado River to the California coast to trade turquoise for seashells would only bring the Chia seed for their nourishment.

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         If you try mixing a spoonful of Chia in a glass of water and leaving it for approximately 30 minutes or so, when you return the glass will appear to contain not seeds or water, but an almost solid gelatin. This gel-forming reaction is due to the soluble fiber in the Chia. Research believe this same gel-forming phenomenon takes place in the stomach when food containing these gummy fibers, known as mucilages, are eaten. The gel that is formed in the stomach creates a physical barrier between carbohydrates and the digestive enzymes that break them down, thus slowing the conversion of carbohydrates into sugar.

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        In addition to the obvious benefits for diabetics, this slowing in the conversion of carbohydrates into sugar offers the ability for creating endurance. Carbohydrates are the fuel for energy in our bodies. Prolonging their conversion into sugar stabilizes metabolic changes, diminishing the surges of highs and lows creating a longer duration in their fueling effects. 


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      As a source of protein, the Chia, after ingestion, is digested and absorbed very easily.  This results in rapid transport to the tissue and utilization by the cells.  This efficient assimilation makes the Chia very effective when rapid development of tissue takes place, primarily during growth periods if children and adolescents.  Also for the growth and regeneration of tissue during pregnancy and lactation, and this would also include regeneration of muscle tissue for conditioning, athletes, weight lifters, etc.  
         Another unique quality of the Chia seed is its high oil content and the richest vegetables source for the essential omega-3 fatty acid.  It has approximately three to ten times the oil concentrations of most grains and one and a half to two times the protein concentrations of other grains.   These oils, unsaturated fatty acids, are the essential oils your body needs to help emulsify and absorb the fat soluble vitamins, A, D, E, & K.  Chia seeds are rich in the unsaturated fatty acid, linoleic, which the body cannot manufacture.  When there are rich amounts of linoleic acid sufficiently supplied to the body trough diet, linoleic and arachidonic acids can be synthesized   from linoleic acid.

         The Chia seed is also a rich source of calcium as it contains the important mineral boron, which acts as catalyst for the absorption and utilization of the calcium by the body. 

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       There are additional benefits from the Chia seed aside from the nutritive enhancements when used as an ingredient. It was also used by the Indians and missionaries as a poultice for gunshot wounds and other serious injuries. They would pack the wounds with Chia seeds to avoid infections and promote healing. If you place a seed or two in your eyes it will clean your eyes and will also help to clear up any infections. There is a wealth of benefits beyond the information outlined in this article and treasure-trove of benefits yet to be discovered. Chia seed, having a qualitatively unique situational richness along with a profound nutritive profile is one of man’s most useful and beneficial foods and is destined to be the Ancient Food of the Future.

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     About the Blogger

    Haley is passionate about Raw Food and how God has used it to heal her. She loves to share what she knows with anyone who is curious, and finds herself talking to everyone around her about her lifestyle. 

    God comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.  For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us. (2 Corinthians 3-7)

    This Scripture applies to every area of  life that Haley is passionate about. In order to be grateful, confidant, and assured of anything in your life...it must be tested and proved. That testing is never easy and rarely pleasant...but it IS purposeful. She now can take the comfort that God has given her and share it with you. Amen!

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