SHOTS! SHOTS! SHOTS! SHOTS! SHOTS!

You guys, I have a little confession to make.  I really need to get this off my chest…  I am kind of addicted to taking shots right after I wake up. It has become a part of my daily routine.  I mean hey, it’s 5 o’clock somewhere right?  Before you go signing me up for the show Intervention, let me clarify.  These are alcohol-free shots…I’m talking about mega nutrient packed shots! These bad boys (or I guess I should call them ‘good guys’) will put a pep in your step, and provide you with a potent punch of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mojo.

If you are feeling run-down, a cold coming on, or just want a boost of energy, try taking one of these shots and you’ll be walking on sunshine!

Here are my 3 favorite shots:

1) Ginger-Lemon-Turmeric

• 2-inch piece of Ginger, juiced
• 1/4 Lemon, juiced
• 1-Inch turmeric juiced, or 1 tsp. ground Turmeric

–Ginger– Ginger contains potent anti-inflammatory compounds called gingerols, which diminish pain, fight cancer, and boost immune function. Historically, ginger has long been known to diminish GI distress and is also packed with antioxidants.

–Lemon– This provides a concentrated dose of Vitamin C and boosts your immune system. Lemons act as a natural diuretic and detoxifier. They also aid in combating diseases and viruses.

–Turmeric– I could rant about the health benefits of turmeric forever. In short, the main compound found in turmeric, curcumin, is known to inhibit cancer cell growth.  Other health benefits include potent anti-inflammatory, effective treatment for IBS, Rheumatoid Arthritis relief, help for Cystic Fibrosis sufferers, improves liver function, lowers cholesterol, promotes heart health, and prevents Alzheimer’s disease. Yeah.. awesome sauce!

2) Ginger-Green Apple-Cayenne

• 2-inch piece of ginger, juiced
• A big splash of green apple juice
• 1 tsp. cayenne pepper

–Ginger-Listed above

–Green Apple– Rich in antioxidants, regulates blood sugar, promotes healthy teeth, and boosts energy.

–Cayenne– Increases metabolism, improves blood circulation, promotes heart health, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and fights cancer.

And last but certainly not least:

3) Wheatgrass

• Wheatgrass, juiced (enough to fill shot glass)
• I also like to add a splash of coconut water from time to time.

Health benefits of Wheatgrass:

• The most notable feature of the wheatgrass is its extremely high content of chlorophyll, approximately 70%, making it a superfood which is energizing and alkalizing.
• It is a complete food and an outstanding source of vitamin C, E, K and B complex (even B12). It is also rich in calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, cobalt, germanium,, potassium, protein, and zinc.
• Contains a wide variety of amino acids (about 17 types) as well as a plethora of enzymes
• Boosts energy and mood
• Reduces stress
• Boosts immunity
• Promotes hair health
• Purifies the blood
• Anti-aging
• Fights diseases, viruses, and cancers
• Improves skin complexion
• Regulates blood pressure

These are nutritional powerhouse shots which also have a potent flavor, just a heads up.

The added bonus of these shots: Hangover not included 🙂

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10 Day Juice Fast/Cleanse

Juice fasting.

I know, when you hear the word “fasting” negative thoughts such as starvation and impossible come to mind. But I’m talking about a JUICE fast. Juice fasting is about obtaining optimal health, boosting nutrition, detoxing, increasing energy, clearing your mind, and freeing yourself of stress and toxins. Juice fasting rejuvenates your body from the inside out. It completely detoxifies your body at the cellular and metabolic level. Think about how many times you eat during a day (I’m typically snacking every 3 hours), now imagine how much energy and time your body utilizes to digest that food. When you give your digestive tract a rest by only consuming fresh fruit and vegetable juices packed with nutrients and live enzymes, your body has massive amounts of energy to focus on detoxifying and healing itself. The body has an innate ability to heal itself, we just have to allow it to do so. For those of you that may not know, a juice fast consists of drinking only fresh fruit and vegetable juices (notably green juices) and water for a set period of time (typically lasting 3-10 days, but many people have gone much longer).

Completing a juice cleanse will provide you with a wide array of health benefits, including:
-More energy
-Toxin removal
-Increases mental clarity
-Regulates digestive system
-Aids in Weight loss
-Improves sleep patterns
-Glowing complexion/clearer skin
-Stops food addictions and cravings
-Improves immune function

I am currently on day five of a ten day juice cleanse. I embarked on a juice fast over a year ago and feel it’s time to conquer another one. I did not blog about the first one so this time I figured I could give you guys some insight into my 10 day juice fast/cleanse. For me, juice fasting is about improving my mental, physical, and spiritual state. I am so passionate about incorporating fresh fruit and vegetable juices into your life. The rewards and benefits are undeniable. I drink at least one or two per day as it is so drinking only juice for 10 days actually excites me. I know it may seem like an impossible task to not chew anything for 10 days, but trust me you can do it! It is a difficult task, but a doable one.

The juice I made for the first few days:

Here’s some insight into my fast thus far:

Day 1:

Today I was super stoked about starting the fast so it was easier than I thought. I have a cold press juicer and made enough juices to last me for the first three days which made it super convenient for me to grab a juice when I needed one. I’m drinking at least five- 16 oz. juices a day. Days 1-3 are typically the worst and hardest days of the fast. If you can get through those, the following days should get easier as your body welcomes the fast. I walked outside for an hour today. Mild exercise is okay, but anything too strenuous would be an overload. Walking outdoors is my  tranquil, spiritual, “me” time which I love and need. It allows me to reflect on things, clear my head, and focus on what is important. Overall, today was a great first day of fasting!

Day 2:

My energy level was a bit low today. I had a few headaches today, which is normal. Fatigue, irritability, insomnia, hunger pangs, and headaches are common in the first few days as the detoxification process begins and your body weans itself off food cravings and addictions. I craved food a few times throughout the day but drank tons of water anytime this occurred which helped! I did get a burst of energy late at night. Overall, I’d say today was a bit rough but not too horrible.

Day 3:

Today was much like day 2, still craved food a few times and had a headache at one point. My energy level seems to be higher today than it was yesterday. I have found that I have highs and lows when it comes to my energy level. Sometimes I feel run down and then there are times I will get random spurts of energy where I feel like Wonder Woman! I also felt a bit achy today.

Day 4:

I didn’t really think about food at all today. I almost have the mentality of being “too good” for food which helps in this process haha. I went for a walk in the morning and at night and found my energy level was quite high today. The fast has definitely become much easier today. I feel like I’m on top of the world and am excited about completing the ten days (crazy, right?!)

Day 5:

The past two days I have woken up at 5am on the dot without an alarm aka my sleep patterns are starting to regulate themselves and I sleep like a baby at night. My skin is clearing up and I feel super light and full of energy. Added bonus, I’m down five pounds. I have noticed an increase in mental clarity as well. I’d say the hardest part thus far is the cold weather. I allow myself a hot non-caffeinated herbal tea from time to time (which is allowed on a fast) to warm me up. I am pumped to see where the next five days take me and feel so much better than I did before starting this fast. Don’t let me fool you though, it does take mad willpower to stick to this. Anything is possible if you put your mind to it.

Tips for Fasting/Cleansing:

-Drink at least 5 juices per day
-Drink TONS of water to help flush out toxins
-Experiment with juice recipes and find ones that you love. Creating a variety of tasty ones will make it much more appealing to drink.
-Don’t over exert yourself, especially the first few days when your energy level is low
-Know that symptoms of fatigue, irritability, headache, joint aches, hunger pangs, food cravings, and insomnia are normal during the first several days and should not be an excuse to give up.
-Drink non-caffeinated herbal teas from time to time to add some heat to your week
-Devote some time to yourself, whether it be through meditation, walking, prayer, etc.
-The first 3 days are rough…don’t let them get you down.
-Avoid watching TV- food commercials are torturous and hey, who needs TV anyways?!
-Get a juice fasting partner- It’s so much easier to complete with someone who is in the same boat as you and that provides encouragement.
-Make enough juices to last you several days for added convenience.
-If you need some juice recipes, I have lots on my blog!

I’ll keep you guys updated on my 10 day fast. I am most worried about Thanksgiving, Yes I will be that crazy girl juicing on Thanksgiving. I didn’t think that one through, but I know I can do it! If you have any questions about juice fasting, please feel free to ask!

**If you live in the Greenville, SC area and would like to order a cold-pressed juice cleanse, check out www.kukajuice.com

Have any of you completed a juice fast? What are your thoughts or experiences with juice fasting?

Green Juice!

Today’s green juice recipe is Kale-Spinach-Apple-Cucumber-Lemon!
-4 large handfuls organic spinach
-1 bunch organic kale
-1/2 organic cucumber
-1/2 organic lemon
Keep on juicing!

Green Juice of the Day

Today’s delicious green juice recipe is Spinach-Green Apple-Pear! Juice on! 🙂
-6 large handfuls organic spinach
-2 organic green apples
-1 organic pear

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The One Thing We Haven’t Tried

Thought I’d give this one a re-post today as it can never be said too much….

A wise man once said:

“Let thy food be thy medicine, and thy medicine be thy food.” -Hippocrates

Hippocrates is commonly known as the FATHER OF MEDICINE. He believed that the human body had an innate ability to heal itself. I cannot help but ponder why it is we have ventured so far away from this ideal of Hippocrates…Let FOOD be thy MEDICINE!  What a concept right!? Using the terms FOOD and MEDICINE interchangeably (Who would’ve thought)?!  As a society, we have veered so far off this path that it has become almost impossible to remind ourselves of the importance of food.

I think back to my old (pre-nutrition enriched) self and am reminded of some of my old thoughts. I use to think  eating healthy was just a way to lose weight.  I never really believed “You are what you eat.” I would go from one extreme diet to another. I even remember back to a time when I would eat a bowl of cereal for breakfast, an apple for lunch, and a Lean Cuisine for dinner. At that time, I considered this menu to be a healthy one! After a few weeks of eating like that and obsessively exercising I was sick for a solid week or two. Yet still, it never fully registered with me that what I was doing was bad for me. ” I’m appalled by my “old self” ways, but really I was just IGNORANT!

Nutrition has been put on the back burner in today’s society; we are not taught the importance of nutrition.  We go from hearing about one fad diet to the next, or about the next quick fix for weight loss which never seems to work long term.   A lifestyle change of eating right and exercising has the power to prevent degenerative diseases, cancer, obesity, aging, autoimmune diseases, psychosis, colds, flus…the list is endless!

Today, our society tends to laugh at holistic/natural medicine and write it off as quackery.  A “Pill for every Ill” has been the adopted motto of today. Headache, stomach ache, depression, can’t focus…No worries, there’s a drug for that! Does anyone ever stop to think, “What is in this drug that I’m taking?” or “WOW, this drug has over 20 dangerous side effects?” Each year, there are an average of 106,000 deaths due to adverse drug reactions. 106,000 deaths! And by no means am I hating on doctors, because they work wonders and save lives each and every day! But what I am saying is, first and foremost, you control what you are putting into your body.  Less than 6% of today’s graduating physicians receive any training in nutrition.  We need nutrition education instead of all of this medication. We have to be the change we wish to see in the world!

HEALTH IS A CHOICE!! Only you can take responsibility for your health which is why it can be a struggle sometimes. You have to make the choice to change your life!

Fruits and vegetables have crazy amounts of vitamins and minerals which equal healing power! YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT. Think about it, if you were to plant a tree tomorrow and never gave it water or nutrient rich soil, it would NOT live for 100 years like you would hope and the same thing goes with our bodies! We have to start putting nutrients in and it is up to you to do just that!

I was amazed once I started researching fruits, vegetables, herbs, vitamins, minerals, etc when I found that for almost every pharmaceutical drug, there is a product of nature that has the exact same healing benefits, without the chemicals and those 20 odd side effects! Vitamins and nutrients enable our bodies to heal itself.

Since I’ve adopted eating healthy as a LIFESTYLE and not as a “quick fix,” I have felt better than ever! In the past year alone, I have not been sick one time. I have not taken one pharmaceutical drug or over the counter drug (Yep, no Tylenol! Who would’ve thought that was possible?! haha)

Imagine the money you can save just by eating right and getting yourself healthy. No more/minimal doctor bills and paying for drug prescriptions.

We are living amidst a SICK nation where annually there are:

650,000 Heart disease deaths

550,000 Cancer deaths

106,000 adverse drug deaths

Cancer and disease statistics have not drastically changed over the past five decades, therefore we need to try something NEW!  The statistics for the healing powers of nutrition are out there, they have just been chosen to be ignored. While good health has been proven to work, it does not make a lot of money for the corporate world.

I’m going to leave you with this thought by Orthomolecular expert Andrew Saul,

“We need a new paradigm..a whole new way of looking at things. We need to BOOST health with NUTRITION. It’s really the one thing we haven’t tried.”

*Like if you agree! 🙂

Juice Recipes!

My love for fresh juices first began a few years ago when one of my best friends Abigail and I backpacked through South America for several months. Not only did we manage to go bungee jumping, raft Class 5 rapids, hike hours through Tayrona National Park with our local homeless “tour guide”, spend the night with the indigenous Koguis, and meet great friends from all over the world, we also discovered a love for fresh juices! Fresh juices seemed to be a vital part of the South American lifestyle. There were fresh juice stands on just about every street, so of course we had to try one just about every day and boy were they delicious! Maracuya-Banana was my absolute favorite (Maracuya is passion fruit). Unfortunately it’s rare to find a good passion fruit here in the US.

Our favorite juice lady in Taganga, Colombia 🙂

Today, fresh fruit and vegetable juices are a key part of my nutrient dense lifestyle. Below I have listed a wide array of fresh juices for you to try! Some of these recipes make a whole pitcher while others are individual servings!  Hope you enjoy!

Carrot Top: 6 Large carrots and 3 apples (I prefer granny smith apples) (add spinach and ice in a blender with this one and you have yourself a tasty green smoothie)

Tropical Trio: 3 oranges, 1/3 papaya, 1/2 pineapple (Add banana to this one in a blender with ice…yum!)

The Popeye: 3 large handfuls of spinach, 4 large carrots, 3-4 apples (I like to add wheatgrass or kale to this one!)

Morning Glory: 3 oranges, 1/2-whole  pineapple, 8 strawberries (or just orange-pineapple)

Honey Bunches: Half a Honeydew Melon, 2 Large bunches of Green Grapes, 2 Golden Delicious Apples, 2 Peaches
2 Kiwi Fruits

Fresh OJ: 4 oranges

Mucho Melon: Half a Honeydew, 1 Cantaloupe melon, small bunch of green grapes, 10-12 strawberries

Sweet-n-Sour: 1 pineapple, 1-2 grapefruits, 2 small apples

Orange Power: 6 large carrots, 3-4 oranges (Add this one with spinach and ice for a yummy green smoothie as well)

Wheatgracias: 1 shot wheatgrass juice, 2 celery stalks, 1 handful parsley

The Incredible Hulk: Leafy greens of your choice (spinach, kale, romaine) and 2-3 granny smith apples (or oranges if you prefer those)

Mango Tango: 2-3 mangos and 1/2-3/4 pineapple

Pink passion: 1/2 small watermelon, 3 cucumbers, 1-2 limes(optional)

Gorgeous-n-Green: 1 Bunch Kale and 3-5 Granny Smith Apples

The Waldorf: 2 stalks celery, 4 Granny Smith apples, 2 pinches of Cinnamon

Plum Perfection: 6 ripe plums, Large handful of strawberries, 5 sweet apples (Golden Delicious, pink lady, Honeycrisp), 2 Oranges

Kale-orific: 1 bunch kale, 2 oranges, 4 large carrots

Mean Green from Fat, sick, and nearly dead: 1 bunch kale (or 6 leaves), 1 Cucumber, 4 Celery Stalks, 2 Green Apples, 1/2 Lemon, 1 piece of ginger

Check out more juice recipes from Fat Sick and Nearly Dead here: http://jointhereboot.com/reboot-program/recipes/juice-recipes/

Here are some others from various websites:

• Kimberly Snyder’s Glowing Green juice: 1 head romaine lettuce, 3 celery stalks, 1 apple, 1 pear
• Sweet Special: pineapple (skin & all), unscrew top and throw away, Orange or Grapefruit, 3 oranges (peeled) or 1 grapefruit (peeled)
• Evening Regulator: 2 apples, 1 pear
• Digestive Special: handful of spinach, 6 carrots
• Holiday Cocktail: 2 apples, 1 large bunch of grapes, 1 slice lemon with peel
• Body Cleanser: 4 carrots, 1/2 cucumber, 1 beet
• Rejuvenator: handful of parsley, 3 carrots, 2 celery stalks, 2 cloves of garlic
• Cantaloupe Juice: cut into strips and juice (rind and all)
• Sunshine Cocktail: 2 apples, 4-6 strawberries
• Energy Shake: handful of parsley, 6 carrots
• Watermelon Juice: cut into strips and juice, (rind and all)
• Potassium Broth: 1 handful of spinach, 1 handful of parsley, 2 stalks of celery, 4-6 carrots
• AAA Juice: 6 carrots, 1 apple, 2 stalks of celery, 1/2 handful of wheatgrass, 1/2 handful of parsley, 1/2 beet
• Passion Cocktail: 4 strawberries, 1 large chuck pineapple, 1 bunch black grapes
• Morning Tonic: 1 apple, 1 grapefruit (peeled)
• Digestive Cocktail: 1/4 lemon with peel, 1/2 grapefruit (peeled), 2 oranges
• Alkaline Special: 1/4 head cabbage (red or green), 3 stalks of celery
• Sweet Sunshine: 1 small pineapple, 1/2 honey dew melon, 1 large Apple, 2 large Oranges

*Most of the time I find the more simple combinations that you try, the better! You can always add a little more fruit to each combination to enhance the flavor! I have found that granny smith apples and carrots do a great job masking the taste of the greens! I like to incorporate greens into my juices as much as I can! I really enjoy mixing the greens in a blender with fresh fruit and carrot juices to make smoothies as well! I must say that the more you juice, the more your taste buds will change! I’ve noticed that I now enjoy vegetable dense juices a lot more than before!

Go get your juice on!  🙂

In RAW fashion…

So sorry for the lapse in time since I last posted as I was on vacation in Florida…GO GAMECOCKS!

UPDATE on my GO RAW journey..

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While vacationing in Florida, I utilized the first few days as a transition period and decided to go 80% RAW in order to properly prepare myself for the RAWesome 31 day trial ahead of me (the transition period is a great way to ease yourself into the process)!  I am now on Day 4 of going 100% RAW and I must say that I am loving it so far!  While the majority of my caloric intake has been coming from juicing and green smoothies, I have also been eating a rainbow of fresh fruits and vegetables!  It continues to amaze me how much fresh produce I can eat in a day without feeling that yucky full feeling that you get from the Standard American Diet which is undeniably a S.A.D one!

Evolution of Man with the S.A.D lifestyle (Don't let this be you)

My menu just the other day consisted of fresh orange juice (with the juice from 5 oranges) and TWO Green Juices (spinach,  kale, 3 granny smith apples, 1 cucumber, 4 large carrots). I also managed to eat 3 tomatoes, 12 oz. frozen blueberries, 6 oz raw snap peas, 2 oranges, 1 cucumber, a handful of raw nuts, a WHOLE pineapple, and SIX bananas (despite common belief, eating bananas will not make you fat).  I wish I had a photo of how much produce I eat in a day because it is pretty RAWmazing (I’ll work on getting one for ya). I already feel “lighter” than I did prior to this experience!

Many raw foodists use dehydrators to widen their array of foods to consume. While I think it could be interesting to try this out on occasion, taking the water content out of foods does not seem like something I want to be doing on a daily basis. I do think the dehydrator would be a must if you decide to eat raw for life. I do plan to start getting more creative with RAW recipes now that I am back from vacation so I will keep you updated on those!

My best advice to going raw is  make sure you are eating enough fruits and vegetables otherwise you might start feeling fatigued! Many times it scares us to EAT MORE (I have been guilty of this many times before).  But our bodies need calories and when you are filling them with 100% nutrition then it becomes almost impossible for us to eat too much fresh produce! I have finally come to realize that restricting calories actually makes you gain weight (which my old self never could grasp). You will also be less tempted to veer off the raw course if you feel satiated from eating a large amount of fresh fruits and vegetables. Make sure you are getting the rainbow effect going on when you are eating fresh produce to ensure a multitude of vitamins and nutrients!

I can already start to see why there are so many advocates of going raw! I believe this experience will enhance my physical self as well as my spiritual self! I am ecstatic to see where this path leads me! I will continue to keep you updated on my GO RAW journey and if you have any questions please ask away!

Cheers to a HAPPY and HEALTHY New Year!!

Ring in the New Year Going RAW!

As a fresh and healthy start to the new year I have decided to EAT RAW for 31 days! When you first hear RAW FOOD, you initially think of raw eggs, raw fish, raw meats, sushi, etc..but what about raw fruits and vegetables?!

So What is Raw Foodism?

Raw Foodism is the practice of consuming only UNCOOKED, UNPROCESSED, typically ORGANIC foods.  While there are many derivations of what foods are included in this practice, I’m going to stick with raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.  Organic herbs and spices will also be included. So this means I will only be eating raw (uncooked) fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds for 31 days!

I know what you’re thinking! Why would I do such a thing?

There is research to support this practice. By the 1930s, it had become a universal knowledge in the medical field that “digestive leukocytosis” occured in the human body after eating a cooked meal of food. This means that the white blood cell count would significantly rise after eating a cooked meal, as if the body was being attacked by a foreign invader like it does with a virus or bacteria. So in 1930, Dr. Kouchakoff decided to test this theory with raw uncooked, unprocessed foods.

Kouchakoff’s team analyzed the blood levels of test subjects who had eaten many different types of food and without fail found that when they consumed raw food, or food that was not refined, there was no reaction in the blood. The body regarded these foods to be non-threatening. On the other hand, the response was undoubtedly different for cooked foods. The body treated these foods just as it would  to protect itself from a foreign pathogen, increasing white blood cells. He found the worst offenders to be foods that were refined, homogonized, pasteurized, preserved, and microwaved. These cooking techniques caused severe digestive leukocytosis in the blood.

Raw foodists also believe that when you cook foods above 115 degrees Fahrenheit, vital enzymes and nutrients are destroyed, causing more harm to the body than good. They claim that the benefits to eating raw include weight loss, improved digestion, more energy, clear skin, and improved overall health. So I thought I would test this theory and see what all the hype is about by giving it at least a 31 day trial! I’ll be keeping you up to date along the way on my thoughts and feelings throughout the experience!

I’m sure you are asking “But where will you get protein?”

Most green vegetables (especially the dark leafy ones) contain more protein per calorie than meat! I will be eating a TON of dark leafy greens on a daily basis as well as some nuts and seeds which are packed with protein! I will be eating more fruits and vegetables in one day than the majority of Americans eat in one month!

So who’s with me?? Who wants to test this theory and see just how great eating these raw foods for 31 days will make us feel? Are you up for the challenge?

I think it will be RAWmazing! Bring it on 2012 🙂

Get Your Sunshine On! (from a bottle)

New research suggests that 50% of Americans are Vitamin D deficient.  Receiving adequate sun exposure prompts our bodies to make Vitamin D which is why it’s known as the “Sunshine Vitamin.” But at this time of year and with skin cancer on the rise, taking a supplement form of the vitamin is imperative!

Many of us may be deficient in Vitamin D and not even know it!

The reason for  this deficiency is clear enough.  While our ancient ancestors spent a large amount of time in the sun doing their hunting and gathering thing, then farming, nowadays most of us (who am I kidding, practically ALL of us)  live and work indoors (gotta love those 9:00-5:00’s), and thus receive comparatively insufficient amounts of sunlight. This is notably true at this time of year when good sunlight is minimal!  Factors such as aging, dark skin, and obesity also lower one’s  Vitamin D levels even more than the average person.

According to new studies, Vitamin D deficiencies are progressively blamed for everything from cancer and heart disease to diabetes and depression. Another reason it’s called the sunshine vitamin…it makes us happy! 🙂  Not only is Vitamin D vital for building and maintaining strong bones through calcium absorption, but it has also been proven to counteract autoimmune diseases, the flu, and mood disorders.

Getting enough Vitamin D in your diet is rare as food sources are minimal. The main dietary sources are fish, egg yolks, cheese, and beef liver. Therefore taking Vitamin D supplements are extremely important. Vitamin D3 is the optimal form of the vitamin to take.

A daily dose of 3,000-5,000 I.U of Vitamin D3 is now recommended as an ideal target dose. It is very important to buy superior brands of vitamins, as many of them on the market are not properly absorbed in our bodies. I love a good bargain and buy my D3 from this website:    Get your D3 50% OFF!

Once I started taking Vitamin D3 supplements, I felt energized and renewed!

Start taking Vitamin D3 supplements and you’ll be WALKING ON SUNSHINE (and don’t it feel good…hey!)

First and BEST client: MY DAD who has now lost a whopping 82 POUNDS!

So of course once I had made an impact on myself, I had to share the wealth on health! Therefore, my dad became my number one goal! His weight had reached a high of 350 pounds.

My dad weighing in at 340 before juicing

I was constantly worried about his health and my entire family had been making attempt after attempt to light a fire under his butt to get healthy but we couldn’t quite get there.  And now I finally felt like I had the knowledge to enlighten him!  I had been making green smoothies for a while and read about the health benefits of juicing so I broke the bank a bit and bought an Omega juicer for $300 (worth every penny).

I had seen another documentary about juicing called Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead and I just knew that if I could talk to him about how awesome juicing is and get him to sit down with me to watch the movie that maybe just maybe he would see the light…or the juice!

So that’s exactly what we did! Here’s a quick trailer of the documentary so you can get the scoop on what it’s about…

After watching the documentary with my mom and dad and telling them about the ridiculous number of health benefits of fresh fruit and vegetable juicing I had convinced them to do a ten day juice fast with me!! I was pumped! I knew that if I could get my dad through the 10 days he would reap all the benefits and have the right mindset about what it took to get healthy and lose weight.

The first few days were rough for him. The first few days of a juice fast are always rough because if you’re not use to juicing, you’re energy level will be at a low due to your body getting rid of all that waste and toxins.  After that, your energy level will spike to even higher than it was before the fast…like an instant high! You are now on top of the world! I swear they could start making anti-drug commercials with this stuff!

So the ten days was up and guess how much weight he had lost? TWENTY TWO POUNDS! Which I must add that his weight was at a high of 340 when he started the fast. So all of you out there may not necessarily lose that much but you could lose an average of 5-10 lbs.

And to be honest the whole process is more about getting HEALTHY. It is crazy how much better you feel after a juice fast. You feel lighter, have a better sense of clarity, and an energy level that even Speedy Gonzalez could rival.

After the ten days was up, he continued eating mainly fruits and vegetables for awhile before slowly incorporating other foods.  He finally got it! He knew that in order to get healthy, he had to be conscious about his food choices and integrate as much fruits and vegetables as he could.

He started walking the golf course with me every morning starting at about 2.6 miles. Which when we first started he could barely make it.  Today (4 months later)  he is up to about 4.5 miles everyday and has dropped EIGHTY TWO POUNDS!

I could not be more proud of him!  He has transformed his life in so many ways and is still continuing on his GET HEALTHY journey!  I now have 110% confidence that he will dance at my wedding one day and be there making millions of great memories in the future!

My dad running a 5K a few weeks ago! So proud of him! He has come so far!

Here is a link to his more detailed post about his weight loss journey: JOEL SHAW WEIGHT LOSS

Juicing is a great way to incorporate more fruits and vegetables in your lifestyle just like the green smoothies! And who knew a combination of fresh carrot-green apple juice tasted so yummy! (That’s another good one for the kiddos) The combinations of tasty juices are endless!

I know a lot of you may think of juicing as EXTREME. But think about it, you are getting 100% nutrients/vitamins!! Like Dr. Esselstyn says EXTREME would be getting to a point where you have to have triple bypass surgery due to heart disease from your diet. So no thank you, I believe I’ll take the juice over the scalpel any day!

If you are feeling fatigued, suffer from migraines, want to lose weight, or just want that extra energy high then go for the juice fast! And no, you don’t have to do a 60 day juice like Joe Cross or Phil Staples on the film. I recommend that anyone can start with the 10 day fast! And if you’re not up to that, even just incorporating fresh fruit/veggie juices into your daily routine will give you a nutritional boost!

JOLLY JUICING!! 🙂