I did it. I really did it!

                                           
I can't believe it! 2 weeks, over, just like that! I have this overwhelming feeling of pride, accomplishment and lightness. lol. I'm actually looking forward to doing this again. It was mind over matter, and I mustered up enough will power to finish this. All the way to the end. I set out with a goal, and a great new juicer, and I accomplished what I set out to do, and that was to get rid of the meds, detox my body and lose weight. And I did all three. YIPPIE ME!!!!
I apologize for the sporadic blogging the last week. It has been very crazy in my family. Mom had her surgery and ended back up in the ER getting more stitches a week later cuz her drain incision wasn't healing. That was an all day affair. Not to mention therapy 5 days a week. She is doing much better, thanks for all the  prayers!  I also have been taking care of my grandparents house, inside and out for the last 6 months or so. Just very busy, mentally and physically. Although I have followed through with my goal, I failed at blogging like I wanted to every night. This was something I wanted to do for me, so I could look back and remember my triumphs and failures. Where I could do better and where I succeeded with flying colors. No matter how prepared one thinks they are for a lifestyle change, your never 100% ready. Truth! I learned a lot. And I'm ready to do it again. And I will, probably the end of winter into spring. What a great way to prepare for summer! All in all, I did well. I exercised 5-6 nights a week, and will continue to do so. I was only working with a max of 800 calories a day, so my workout only consisted of a brisk walk, usually 2 miles, a good stretch and light weight lifting. Now that I am back to chewing my food, I will continue with raw fruits, veggies and continue juicing 2-3 times a day over the next week, all I can consume in 24 hours. Which will give me more calories to work with. I started biking again, slowly working up to a 10 mile a day ride. Easy schmeezy. But it's been a good 3 years since I have done that. Give me a few weeks and I'll be back to my norm. I am so excited to look at my physical future. The changes I have made guarantee a healthy me! How cool is that!? It takes will power. It takes dedication. It takes the burning desire to really want to be healthy, not just skinny. Which I DON'T want to be! Just because your thin, does not make you healthy! Although I have never had a problem with cholesterol, blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, nor does it run in my family....THANK GOD....I can't be to overconfident I will always be ok. I have to do my part to ENSURE it! Do you know that a whole food/plant based diet has been proven to actually reverse diabetes, autoimmune disease, cancer and other illness in many cases!? FACT. I won't sit here and say it works for everyone, and I won't preach health to everyone. But I know this lifestyle has made me feel unbelievable. And I love the feeling. I don't want to be embarrassed walking down the street, or in the gym, or be afraid to wear a bathing suit, or not do burlesque cuz I'm TOO much of a lady! I wan't to walk with my head held high with confidence!! And I am well on the way!
Kiersten did great too! Although she says she does't feel any "different", she is still glad she did it. So am I! She broke her fast 36 hours early, and I can't be upset with that. I am so proud she saw it through and didn't cheat. Says a lot about her. I could't tell you how much weight she lost. She didn't bother keeping track. SMH. I on the other hand.........................................................18 pounds! Yep, in 2 weeks. I needed a good start to this to carry me through. Heck, I dropped 4 pounds the first 24 hours! So was it worth it? Hell yeah it was!
With that all being said, I will not be blogging every night now. But would like to do it a few times a week. I hope you all continue to follow me on my journey to a healthier me! Thanks again for all the support! Until next post......JUICE ON!!!!!

" It comes down to a simple choice, get busy living or get busy dying."-Morgan Freeman in Shawshank Redemption

Time flies!

                                                
I can't believe day 13 is over! As they say, time flies when your having fun! OK, I won't push it THAT far, but it def has been an amazing experience! I have learned so much about my body it's actually scary. I gotta admit, even I was skeptical when I started this journey. I read and researched, pondered and doubted. It wasn't til I saw the movies "Forks Over Knives", "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" and "The China Project" was I 100% completely sold. With that being said, Mr. Joe Cross, Dr. Campbell and Dr. Esselstyn and my friend from the MRI office, Martin, thank you. Thank you for opening my eyes to a healthier lifestyle and giving me the motivation to do something about it. I was always taught that things that are good for you are not an easy change. Well I sit here and disagree. If someone told me that I could lose all the weight I wanted without being hungry, without surgery and lap bands, get rid of all the aches and pains, clear my mind and give me Hercules energy and all I had to do was drink all the fruit and veggie juice I wanted.....I would/did laugh! Could it REALLY be this easy?! My curiosity once again got the best of me, and yes, it CAN be this easy! Could a cure all really be this simple? Has it been in front of our eyes all along and we have just disregarded the obvious? I cannot speak for everyone, all I know is it worked for me. I feel energized, light on my feet, quick to think, powerful, and ___ pounds lighter!!! (that will be disclosed on my last day, you'll be SHOCKED!) I have also weened off of 20mgs of Prednisone, and feel fine! HELLLLOOO?!?! That HAS TO prove SOMETHING! It means my inflammatory response is down and the toxins are out of my body. Enough said. 
Now I know your all thinking, there has GOT to be a down side! Fair enough. Ok, my garbage can has been a BITCH to bring outside. It's heavy with melon rinds, fruit and veggie pulp, fruit pits and cores. My fridge and counters are stained pink from beet juice, and my cabinets and floors are sticky with juice. Whenever I go to the store, I'm all alone in the produce section and it takes an extra 5 minutes at the checkout for the girl to figure out and weigh all the different and exotic fruit and veggies. I have had to try new things, and forced myself to drink healthy stuff. I got my kids addicted to fresh juice. Yep, bout sums it up. Sounds awful, doesn't it? Now come on, if that stuff deters you from juicing, you are not ready for a healthy change. Period. 
I am planning to eat all raw for one week to break my fast. THAT I am looking forward to! I have visions of a Jason's Deli all you can eat salad bar dancing in my head. Again, an all you can eat that I don't have to feel guilty about. Kiersten and I are going to have a mother/daughter/best friend day on Saturday. Pedicure, lunch, maybe a little shopping. We deserve it! I am so proud to call Kiersten my daughter. The heart and drive that woman has, I'll never know where she gets it from. I like to think I was/am a good parent and instilled that as well as morals, trust, honesty in her. She will be 19 in a few weeks. I only hope she continues this path in life. I can't believe how time flies when your having fun...........


Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.
- Buddha