My 24 hours juice feast fiasco

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Fresh apple, carrot, and ginger juice is fantastic!
Photo credit: Paul  

I’m not saying a juice feast is a bad thing, just that it was a bad thing for me yesterday.  I’m not sure if it was juicing or the migraine that did it, but yesterday was a miserable day.

When I heard about the 24 hour juice feast on Facebook, I decided to give it a shot.  I’d had an iffy few days of eating and thought it would be an awesome way to help flush the heavy away and get back on track. I didn’t think ti would be bad.  I’ve mixed green smoothies and veggie/fruit fresh juices with eating for quite a while now and wanted to try a feast.  It was not pretty.

The day started great.  I took my dose of Candigone and followed it with a glass of lemon water like usual. My morning juice was really good and I’ll have it again.  Apples, carrots, celery, ginger, lemon, and cabbage made a slightly sweet and satisfying start.  I sipped slowly and had plenty of water.  I felt fine for a while.

At lunch I went savory with a tomato, celery, garlic, onion, broccoli, pepper, and lemon juice.  It was fantastic and is a keeper.  While drinking I thought it would make a perfect soup appetizer or dinner with some salad and garlic bread another time.  I was satisfied for about an hour, then was suddenly starving.  I made a second batch and was enjoying it when I saw the migraine aura.  I felt the beginnings of a migraine on Sunday, but what hit me yesterday around 2:30 pm was horrendous.  I could barely stand and my kiddos told me I should go lie down.  I went to bed, but took the laptop with me so I could work.  Ha.

By 6 pm, I was done.  I hurt, was just sick, and could not see.  I had to get something else to eat or drink but could not bring myself to turn on the juicer.  The sound would have pushed me over the edge.  I grabbed a cup of cinnamon tea and was again told by the teen girl to go to bed.  She sat next to me and hugged me.  I must have looked like death warmed over because both teens were nice to me and not snarky at all.  I remember hubby getting in from work and leaving to take the boy to baseball practice, and think I remember them coming back.  I do remember asking them to stop yelling because it felt like everyone was standing around me and scream talking.  I was in bed and they were all on the other side of the house.

Yeah.  Wasn’t pretty.

I have no plans to do it again anytime soon.  I will keep fresh juices on my menu, but not as meals.  Maybe it was the migraine, but I am in no rush to go again.

Have you feasted?  How did it go?

Had to change things up a bit

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So I started a yeast and sugar-free way of eating last week and had foggy brain by Wednesday.  By Friday night I was in a rage.  It was not pretty, I felt horrid, and scared my family a bit.  Eating clean in general (no junk or sugar with minimal if any bread) made me feel good and I had few if any symptoms I need to combat.  So back to clean eating I went – a combination of Radiant Health, Inner Wealth, Eat to Live, and clean eating guidelines. Lots of veggies, water, clean veggie protein, and no sugar.  I feel better and am still detoxing. 

Do I feel like I failed or am bailing?  No.  I know what detox feels like, and that was not just detox.  I was either yelling or crying with nothing in between. If I didn’t work from home, I may have been fired.  Yes, it was that bad. I feel like I hurt my family and never want to feel that way again.  I never want to make them feel that way again or tiptoe around me like they did. 

So here I am, even tempered and enjoying meals rather than dreading them. 

Until next time, peace. 

Semi-wordless Wednesday: Boozy Edition featuring Exclisiv Vodka

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I like vodka.  Scratch that, I love vodka.  It’s my go-to when I mix cocktails for myself or guests and becoming vegetarian didn’t change that.  Enter Exclusiv Vodka.  The kind people at Exclusiv sent me a bottle of Exclusiv Classic and  Rose Moscato.  Color me happy!  It’s vegan and lovely.  Smooth straight up and in cocktails.

Moldova 76

Cashmere

Currency

 

Next up, vegan ‘jello’ shots!

Exercise and other evils

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Exercise, how I both hate and love thee.  I know I need you, but some days you hurt me so much I’m not sure if I’ll ever let you back in.   But I do, and I don’t regret it.  

Nope, I am not fond of that word, ‘exercise.’ It is, however,  a necessary evil.  When I say it’s time for exercise, I groan, grumble, and try to think of 100 other things I also need to do.  But when I say I’m going dancing or to walk, I don’t see it as exercise and enjoy it. Finding an activity that inspires me is key to getting me up and moving.

I love karate and obtained my yellow belt 14 years ago. Since my accident, I dream about getting back into a dojo and throw a little kickboxing in when my body can take it.  I decided to check out Tai Chi and Qigong as alternatives to karate that my crumbling spine and crotchety hips can take.  They feel awesome and I burn a decent amount of calories in 30 minutes.  It might be slow and steady, but it feel like much more.  I feel energized and strong, and those feelings carry me through the day.

How do you exercise?

Semi-wordless Wednesday – all about the food

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Nom nom nom

Vegan French Onion Soup from Vegan Nutritionista’s
Cut the Cheese 

Vegan Cheesecake from Cut the Cheese

Same cheesecake topped with strawberries.
‘Twas awesome!

My fav veggie curry from Saffron Cafe and Bakery
 (soon featuring vegan desserts – just ask)

A fab dinner from Sunset Oasis

Black Bean Sliders and Sweet Potato fries from
Sesame Burgers and  Beer

Dinner salad from Runaway Bay 

Are you hungry now?

Nothing like a kick in the gut to slow you down

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In may case, it was a popping followed by searing, shooting pain.  I’m sitting back with an ice pack, counting the minutes until hubs returns home so I can hit the spot with Arnica.  Yes, it’s my back again.  Spasm central.  It makes me wonder if I’m cursed or not.

What kills me is how it came about.  We took down the tree, cleaned a bit, and moved the hutch base without issue.  The second I reach a few inches for a piece of paper, pop, shoot, sear, scream.

I will not let this keep me down!  I will not eat the pain away.  I will not drink the pain away.   I will meditate, medicate when necessary, and heal.  I still want to walk that bridge and will.   I have plenty of time until the race (and before the participant cap is met).  If I have to walk after the race, so be it. It does not mean I failed.  It means I’m being smart and realistic about recovery.

Now off I go.  Peace.

The year in review and the year ahead

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It might not seem that a lot happened in 2011, but it did.  I am coming out of it stronger and more aware of what’s going on and what I need to do.

(Yes, my daughter and I are hugging giant chickens.  It just had to be done.)

Food in 2011 was awesome!   One of the biggest things we did was purchase a freezer.  We can stock up when things are on sale (BOGO Gardein for the win), cook ahead for quick meals, and keep fruit and veggies at the ready no matter how the vegetable bin looks.

New cookbooks were added to my collection and I’ve been giddy.  Decadent goodness from Vegan Diner sits along side Radiance 4 Life, Eat to Live, Happy Herbivore’s books, The 21 Day Weight Loss Kickstart, Get Healthy, Go Vegan, and Appetite for Reduction.  I’ve been cooking a lot more, reduced my sugar intake, and eat out less.

I’ve also changed my mindset somewhat.  While the scale may not move as much as I’d like, I’ve noticed major changes in my body.  Three weeks ago I bought a pair of size 20 jeans.  Two days ago, those jeans were falling off of me, but the scale stayed the same.  Not long ago I’d be upset about the scale, but now I celebrate the clothing size.  The weight loss will follow the size change.

And it’s easy to change how I think about my body when I can look at how far I’ve come even with the pain. Remember this?  I do, and I still cringe when I look at it.  But that was August, and the chicken-hugging pic is from yesterday.  I knew it would be a full body shot and I didn’t care.  Scratch that, I wanted it to be a full body shot.  I had no fear of it.  That is huge for me.

I think 2011 is ending on a positive note and am so excited about 2012.  Why be exited about the year when something scared the Mayans into ending their calendar? Well, I’m not a Mayan and have plans. Both the daughter and I are graduating in 2012, and those big days will be celebrated.  I’ll hit the big 4-3 and tackle my first big race since my high school track and field days.  The year will kick off on a fantastic vegan note (and another PCRM 21 Day Vegan Kickstart will start on January 2) and the weather in town will be lovely.

I’m sitting here with a silly grin, blogging and smiling at hubby on the desktop ad listening to the kids game in their rooms.  I am a happy wahm this New Year’s Eve and hope that you are happy, too.

For the last time in 2011, peace.

Merry Christmas to Me!

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Yes, it was a good Christmas.  

We kicked it off with a killer breakfast – pancakes, eggs, ham, and sausage for the omnis; tofu, green pepper, red onion, and Soyrizo scramble for me; biscuits and berry salad for all.  It was lovely.  While the coffee warmed our souls and awakened our senses, the unwrapping commenced.  The kiddos scored games, hubby scored Stephen King books, and the dogs scored bones.  I scored cookbooks!  :squee:  While cookbooks may not appeal to all, they make me giddy.

Be on the lookout for post and pics from The 30 Minute Vegan’s Taste of the East, Appetite for Reduction, and Viva Vegan  in addition to goodies from Everyday Happy Herbivore, meals and snacks from Tess Challis‘ books, and whatever inspires me that day.

Today’s inspiration is due to the rainy weather outside.  Bright colors are required, so Mexican will be on the dinner plate.  

Until later, peace.