Day 7 Juice Cleanse: Home stretch

I must say, except for it being too cold to be putting ice into drinks, and one juice that was unpalatable, I really, really enjoyed drinking these juices and these past 7 days. I have one last juice on my 7-day cleanse and it will be my usual favourite: 3 apples, juiced and warmed on the stove, with a generous dollop of cinnamon.

I learned so much about this area of nutrition because I've been doing so much reading these past few weeks to prepare. It's great because it opens up new possibilities for writing.  More importantly, I've learned a lot about myself, and have taken note of some of the things I do and think. I feel like I have a better understanding. Not sure if that's from the juicing, or from all the reading and exploration I've done, but whatever. I'm happy to be here!

This morning I missed one of my juices because I was running around and ever since I've been starving. It feels real, but I think it's psychological. I drank my usual 4 juices a day, I should be fine, but because I know I get to chew tomorrow, I'm very excited. Hubby and I are continuing on with Jason Vale's 14-day plan, which will help us gradually ease back into solid foods and proteins, and raise our metabolisms along with it, so we don't regain any weight we've lost.

Speaking of weight, tomorrow we will weigh and measure ourselves and I will report back with the results.

Tomorrow we start with a juice from the 7-day plan. We have an avocado salad for lunch. Not looking forward to that as I really don't care for avocados but I will try it. Might end up eating something else in my salad after tomorrow, as the salad is repeated throughout the two weeks, but maybe I'll grow to like them. It could happen.

I wonder what a replacement would be for avocado? I know they have good fats, but little else about those tasteless, mushy fruits (I'm assuming they're a fruit, that's how little I know about them). Hmmm... just did a sidebar to see if there are any substitutes. Not really. Maybe I'll do a boiled egg. One site recommended artichoke hearts for a salad. That might work too, but the egg sounds divinely protein-ish.

We don't eat any fish or chicken until 6 days in. That's the one thing hubby and I are craving. He wants meat, I could do with salmon, nuts or nut butter. Oh, and I'm really craving hamburger soup with tons of vegetables, but without the hamburger. As long as it's hot, I don't mind. Tomorrow night is a green vegetable soup. Yay!

If you think you want to do a juice cleanse, Jason Vale is very cheery and upbeat. You can tell he is absolutely passionate about juicing and helping people become healthy, but he does go on and on to make a point in his book. I do really love the 7 lbs in 7 days app that you can download for a modest $7.99, plus an additional $1.99 for the 14-day after-cleanse plan. Worth it. In addition to a handy shopping list, and all the recipes, there are videos and audio recordings to get you through, but the book is also essential. I got the ebook, but wish I had a hard copy. I have a friend who bought the book and she scanned and sent me the chart that came with it of all the juices and recipes we made through the week. That's really essential if you are into convenience like us.

So, overall, I am very pleased with how I am feeling. The aches and pains are gone, I feel good, and indeed have plenty of energy. I think my belly has gotten smaller, but tomorrow will tell. I didn't find it hard to stay on the cleanse. I was ready, but as Vale says, preparation is really important. I definitely did not do 60 minutes of exercise a day, but I did get out most days for a walk with the dog, even in this brutal cold snap we are having. I have lost the craving for sugar and starches, which I'm very happy about. Sometimes you have to shock your body into realizing it likes good for you food more than dead food. It's a testament to how effective it is that I'm craving more vegetables and not donuts.

I hope to do a cleanse each season, but that's too far in the future. Juicing for breakfast is the way to go for now. That I can do.

I leave you now with words from my god of food, Michael Pollan: