Update on my Juice Fast: Day 1

So as most of you know, I have been on a juice fast for the past few days. So here is the low-down of how it has been:
Day 1
Breakfast- Smoothie consisting of bananas, strawberries, and kale. Yum!
Lunch - Berry up'Beet smoothie from Jamba Juice. (It was a lifesaver, and served as inspiration.)
Based on my experience at Jamba, I decided to juice and blend. In the beginning I was just planning on blending, so that I would also get the benefits of the fiber, but then thought it would be even better if I did both.
Snack - I juiced (1/2 beet, an apple, a pear, 4 carrots, and handfuls of kale and broccoli). I set some aside even though  I know that oxidation starts quickly, and the health benefit reduce tremendously as time passes. I reason that even if the benefits are reduced it is still better than commercial or store-bought juice.
Dinner - I added the juice I had on reserve to a plantain, cantaloupe, and kale smoothie. (Not one of my favorites! The plantain overpowered everything.)

Helpful Hints and Other Info


I made sure to drink lots of water, and noticed that it was running through me. I thought that eating all that fruit  would have had my colon working overtime, but surprisingly I had no BMs (probably because of those bananas and plantains!).

Energy Level - moderate
BMs - 0
Conviction - 10/10
Pounds lost (I should probably say water weight lost) - 0

Health 101: Naptural85

I am so excited to bring you an interview from Naptural85. She is such an inspiration to me, and one of my fav Youtubers! If you haven't already please check out her channels, you'll be so glad you did! 

How would you define healthy living?

To me, healthy living is simple: feed your body with real, natural foods, take care to exercise as much as possible, and listen to what your body needs at all times. Quite simply, treating your body right! I'm not the type who will feel guilty if I eat at a restaurant (knowing the food is conventionally grown) or skip out on exercise sometimes (especially when I'm super busy). But the point is making the effort to give your body what it needs and still balancing out a modern-day lifestyle that is always "Go-Go-Go."

Was there a turning point in your life that made you decide to become healthier?

Running track in high school was my turning point. I really trained hard and training hard meant having a really close relationship with your body... it was the only instrument being used in the sport; no balls, no nets, no sticks, just your body... so it needed to run at peak performance. From then on, I was a "health-freak" as my family would call me.

I started learning more about organic living when I went natural. That opened up a whole new level of "healthy-lifestyle" for me, and I think it was a natural progression. As I researched more of what was good for my own hair, I began stumbling upon things that were good (and not so good) for my body as well. This led me to investigate the difference between organic and conventional foods more thoroughly.

What piece of knowledge would you like to share with others?

Live a healthy lifestyle, but take it easy on yourself. It's okay if you slip up... there's a lot out there going against you trying to stay healthy. Life moves fast and there's a new temptation around every corner. It's okay to try something new, or to skip the gym sometimes... if you don't go easy on yourself, it will always be an up-hill battle. My motto is moderation is key, enjoy life, and try to make the best decisions possible.

What is the one natural product you can’t live without?

Shea Butter. It's so versatile and really if I could only choose one thing, that would be it. It helps to define my hair and locks in the moisture. I can also use it on my body, so no need for lotion! Yup that would be the one product I can't live without!

What piece of advice would you give your 20 year old self?

Well, since I'm still in my 20's, I'd say "Keep Going!" Sometimes it's hard, but follow your heart and keep moving forward. I have no regrets, everything I've done has taught me something, whether the outcome was good or bad, I've received a valuable lesson. So I'd just say, "..keep on keeping on!" Oh! And also "Get back to the gym!" ... I've been lazy lately :)

Anything else?

Check out my healthy tips and DIY projects at http://youtube.com/naptural85 and http://youtube.com/dearnaptural85 ! Thanks so much for the feature!

Gearing up for a Juice Fast!!

A few weeks back I watched a documentary called Fat ,Sick, and Nearly Dead  (You can rent it on Netflix) about a guy who reversed health problems, greatly improved his health, lost weight and inspired others to do the same just by juicing. It was an interesting film that got me to thinking I should probably give my body a "reboot" as they call the juice fast/cleanse in the film.  I have always wanted to do a fast, but hadn't been able to because I have been either pregnant or nursing for the past 4.5 years. Having recently (finally) successfully weaned my son, I can stop saying how much I would like to fast, and finally do it.

My plan: 
I eat fairly clean already, so I don't really need the prepare my body to fast. If your diet consists of things like red meat, eggs, dairy, etc, then you may want to do a pre-cleanse eliminating those things for a week before starting your fast.(For more information on this go to http://jointhereboot.com/reboot-program/the-reboot-standard/getting-ready-for-your-reboot-standard/.)

Mental Preparedness is Key! 
I am ready mentally for this. I am so excited and look forward to giving my body a much needed break and cleanse. I look at this way, it is only going to be about 10 days, and the benefits will be amazing. I am going into this knowing that in the end I will have lost nothing but unwanted weight and sluggishness, while I stand to gain energy, vitality, clarity (it is easier to think when you don't have food on the brain 24/7), and a sense of accomplishment.

I have been going back and forth trying to decided whether to juice or to blend, and have decided to blend because that way I also get the benefits of the fiber. I am adding a few links to the bottom of this post about juice fasting, and the difference between juicing and blending. I will also post simple recipes and updates as I go.

Happy Blending!
~Riss

 Why Blending is Better than Juicing | Green Smoothies
http://jointhereboot.com/reboot-program/