I can't believe it! I am 8 days into my juice cleanse/raw food journey!
It's getting easier by the day, as I'm incorporating more solid food in my diet (raw, of course). I'm still drinking about 4-5 juices a day, but also snacking on whole fruits, raw nuts, and avocados (although I did cheat on Sunday with the tiniest piece of bread for communion. haha.) But I'm not going to lie - there definitely have been days, especially on the weekends, that have
really tested my willpower. My friends were eating dirty dogs (if you're from LA you know what these are; if not, you can think of these as the the tastiest street hot dogs. lol.), chili cheese fries, chili cheese burgers in front of me... you get the picture. There obviously weren't any raw food options at these places. Maybe raw meat in the kitchen? Haha. But most of the time, I've been able to find something else that I could order and munch on while socializing with friends. For example, my friends and I went to a frozen yogurt shop - so I ordered a bowl of fruit toppings without yogurt. I didn't feel like I was missing out on much.
The reason why I decided to incorporate solid raw food into this cleanse is because it is not realistic for me to only drink juice for an extended period of time.
My work and social calendars would make this really difficult, especially considering I travel quite frequently for work. As long as I stick to this plan in
moderation, I believe that I could stay on this cleanse and continue to feel and see the beneficial effects on my body.
This cleanse has really inspired me to eat cleaner.
I'm going to start banning certain foods from my diet once I get off this cleanse, one of which I consume much too frequently for my own good --
diet sodas. I hope I won't regret this decision because I always order diet soda when I'm out... but diet sodas are so bad for you. Drinking diet sodas are like drinking a bottle of nasty chemicals. So yes, no more diet sodas when I get off this cleanse!
I'm also exercising more frequently now that I've overcome the fear of not having any energy on this cleanse. My exercise activities are pretty moderate for now (e.g., yoga, hiking), but I think I should be able to ease into my regular workouts soon.
Hiking at Runyon Canyon in Hollywood (Day 7)
I really liked the
DIY Blue Print cleanse, and I think the juices from this cleanse are great for beginner juicers. But I also decided to venture out and try a few new juices of my own!
1. Carrot Apple Beet Ginger Lemon Juice - This juice is from the Blue Print Cleanse (
recipe here), but I decided to continue making this one cuz it makes me feel so healthy! Lol. Beets are packed with nutrients and antioxidants and are a natural source for energy boosts!
2. Carrot Orange Juice - This has been one of my all-time favorite juices. I would always treat myself to carrot orange juice in college.
3. Let's call this one, "Green Machine" - Broccoli, kale, spinach, parsley, granny smith apples, pineapple and blueberries! It tastes better than it sounds, I promise!
4. Let's call this one, "Summer Melon" - Cantaloupe, oranges, and a whole lot of mint. So tasty and refreshing! Cleanse or not, I think everyone would love this juice!!
What are some of your favorite juicing recipes??
