And then....

And then....came the struggle...I've been challenged more the past few days than the entire first 30 days. I've been trying to evaluate what has been the biggest challenge and truthfully I think it's that on the weekends my hubby is around! We want to go do things, including eat out. Then there's the seasonal temptations of Halloween candy EVERYWHERE! and then to follow will be Thanksgiving then Christmas.....it never ends!

After a busy weekend running around and eating out I was up two pounds....depressing :( I found myself without prepared veggie juice cubes in the freezer and nothing greens left so I began deviating from plan. In short, it doesn't surprise me that I am feeling more tired a little defeated. However...
I am determined to get back on track after such a successful month.

I found that Costco has large bags of washed organic baby kale leaves for a great price as well as a spinach/variety leaf combo. I immediately juiced the kale w/carrots, cucumber, green apple, celery, and ginger root. I then filled all my ice cube trays with green juice and when they were frozen I popped them all out into a gallon freezer bag so that I could reuse my ice cube trays. You can store your left over juice in a mason jar or thermos in the meantime. I now have enough green juice to last me the entire week. Making this easy ensures my consistency!

I've also begun peeling and freezing my bananas as soon as the stems are no longer green. Finding ripe bananas can be a challenge I've found so I try to buy a green bunch along with a bunch of close to ripe at the same time because it can take days for them to ripen.

So to myself I say...."hang in there...Rome wasn't built in a day!".

30 days!

Experts say it takes 30 days to create a new habit or break one. Well, in the past month I've definitely made some new ones. As for the old habits, some of those are going to take more than a month to cure! Seriously, a lifetime of eating the SAD (standard American diet) a mindset is more than a habit. It would be SO much easier if the entire planet were on the same page, LOL, or at least my entire household.

I'm still sitting on a 19lb weight loss, nothing to sneeze at in a 30 day time span. I think I've hit a plateau because in the past 7 days I haven't seen much movement in the scale. Over the weekend I cheated here and there, enjoyed some pre-Halloween candy while at the movies but this time I took my own popcorn! Even with butter the home popped corn is much healthier and less calories/fat than the theatre popcorn.

It's been nice to have several people that I see often comment on the noticeable changes. Not only is my face thinner and my middle shrinking, my skin is clear, my energy level is up and I'm radiantly happy! So bring on another 30 days and hopefully another nearly 20lb weight loss!

Almond Parmesan crusted Talapia

If you are afraid of fish, don't be...it's really easy! Talapia is a firm white fish much less expensive that halibut. Costco has large bags of individually wrapped loins in the freezer section. It picks up the flavor you add to it. The following recipe has a lot of crunch and flavor and takes 30 minutes from start to finish.

Preheat your oven to 400. You will need 3 shallow bowls good for dipping.
 In the first- crack two eggs and whip lightly.
Second bowl - one cup a flour.
Third- one cup par meson (I suggest a mix w/asiago for more flavor) and one cup raw almond crumbs ( I use my nutribullet for crushing the almonds finely...works like a charm 1/2 a cup at a time) and seasoning. I like pepper and garlic salt.

Spray a cookie sheet w/olive oil.
Dip your fish first in the flour, then the egg wash, then the almond/cheese mixture: place on greased cookie sheet.
If you like lemon, place sliced lemon on top of the fish. If you like garlic, throw in a couple of whole cloves w/out the husk.
I then melt butter (one pat per piece of fish) then drizzle down the middle of each piece. This ends up adding allot of flavor to the fish so don't skip this step, it's such a small amount of calories.
Sprinkle with fresh organic parsley.

Cook in preheated oven at 400 uncovered for 20 min (or until the fish is white all the way through).

I plated this with some steamed broccoli with sea salt and organic baby red potatoes roasted in a cast iron pan in the oven. I toss the potatoes w/olive oil and add garlic salt, and crushed red peppers (pizza peppers) with fresh parsley and garlic or any other spices/herbs I have lying around. I cook them at 400, turn them after 10 min, cook another 10 (totalling 20 min).

This is such a healthful satisfying meal and, .....my hubby took the leftovers the following day for lunch and he said it was just as good or better the next day! Super score! He gave me permission to make this anytime :)

Happiness is yours to be had!

So, I'm coming up on completing my first month of juicing and it's been a great journey.I am SO HAPPY! I will say, it would be even greater if I'd get some feed back (from any of you who are reading the blog), just take a sec and leave a comment at the bottom of the page you enjoyed the most. :)

I've lost 19 pounds and it's so obvious around my middle, but what's more amazing is how I feel! I am still having pain in my joints, but with my medical history, that may never go away. My energy level has doubled therefore I'm exercising more frequently. I am sleeping about 2 hours less a night. I don't have any of the daily nausea. I've had to take ibuprofen 3 times; for joint pain and a headache once. I've been off my Cymbalta for the entire month also so the only thing I'm taking is vitamins and supplements. That in combination with the organic eating, my skin is also looking amazing!

Two years ago Jeff and I went on Medifast. It cost us $350 each per month and we still had to buy food for a healthy meal each day. It worked! I lost 20 pounds the first month just like I did juicing. However, I was hungry and craving food. The food is filled with soy and chemicals and you cannot exercise because you are not taking in enough calories. More importantly, I gained the weight back as soon as I started eating regular meals again. Juicing is all organic, you can eat and drink as much as you want of fruits and veggies. I am exercising which builds muscle and I'm eating savory satisfying meals each evening with my husband. Don't think I am skipping dessert cuz I'm not! I either have some popcorn or an all fruit Popsicle. This is the BEST "diet" ever!

If you are looking for a way to lose weight or just feel better by living a healthier lifestyle, try juicing for 30 days. This blog has been a great way for me to detail my journey but for those of you who are more shy, try a food journal. I wish you all great health and happiness!

"The Consitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. YOU HAVE TO CATCH IT YOURSELF!" Benjamin Franklin

Gingerlicouse!

I am in LOVE with ginger. It can mask the taste of green juice like nothing else. I suggest experimenting with small amounts at first because it is very strong. I cut my root into knuckle size rounds and froze them in a zip lock bag. When I juice I just pop one of those rounds of ginger in my nutribullet and bam! I love it with the tropical fruits especially. Not only do I love the flavor that ginger brings to a smoothie, it has great healthy benefits outlined below.

What are the Health Benefits Of Ginger?

There is a wide range of benefits of ginger such as nausea, digestive problems, circulation and arthritis. Nausea caused during pregnancy or by travelling is one of the benefits of ginger root. Ginger is also known to have the ability to calm an upset stomach and to promote the flow of bile. Stomach cramps can be eased and circulation can also be improved. Ginger supports a healthy cardiovascular system by making platelets less sticky which in turn reduces circulatory problems.

Ginger oil used for massage can help relieve painful arthritis due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger is often included in many herbal decongestants and can help to minimise the symptoms of respiratory conditions, colds and allergies.

With all the benefits of ginger and continuing research, the ginger root is fast becoming a very popular medicinal herb.
Ginger can be freshly grated and used in cooking. It is also available as a supplement which can be taken on a daily bases.

Gated ginger root mixed with diluted lime juice can help to soothe the digestive tract and reduce flatulence. It can be made into oil and used to massage areas of localised chronic pain. It can also be taken in an extract form to reduce inflammation.

So start experimenting with ginger now!

Go Coconutty!

Most of the nutritional and therapeutic benefits of coconut oil come from the saturated fats in the oil. Benefits of saturated fats include its resistance to oxidation, long shelf life, and cooking properties.

One of the reasons why I use coconut oil versus other oils is because of the medium chain triglycerides (MCTs). Medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) have antimicrobial effects, help with digestion and aid in nutrient delivery. By contrast, most common vegetable or seed oils are comprised of long chain fatty acids (LCFAs), also known as long-chain triglycerides or LCTs.

LCTs are large molecules, so they are difficult for your body to break down and are predominantly stored as fat.

Ketones produced from MCTs can protect the heart, brain, kidneys, colon, pancreas and other organs. These amazing ketones also increase metabolic effects, anti-diabetes effects, anti-cancer effects, and anti-Alzheimer’s effects.

Alzheimer’s is a type of diabetes of the brain according to Mary Newport, M.D. The disease can start twenty years before symptoms emerge.

Mary Newport, M.D. describes this scenario that can occur in an Alzheimer’s patient:

“A person develops a problem with insulin, perhaps from consuming too many refined carbohydrates or simple sugars or from other epigenetic factors that overly increase blood glucose and insulin production. The body reacts to the constant barrage of insulin by eliminating cell receptors for it, thus creating insulin resistance. The lack of insulin also prevents insulin-sensitive brain cells from taking in adequate quantities of glucose, a primary brain fuel without which the cells in the brain stat to die off, leading to such diseases such as Alzheimer’s.”

According to Newport, when brain cells lack the ability to uptake glucose, they can potentially accept ketones and use them as an “alternative” source of fuel. Thus cells begin to regenerate. Ketones are metabolized in the liver after MCTs are consumed by the body. The leading drugs for Alzheimer’s contains high amounts of MCTs. At the time, Newport’s husband was suffering from Alzheimer’s. She began to add coconut oil to her husbands food and over time she saw his symptoms improving.

Most people don’t use coconut oil because they believe that saturated fats are not beneficial for cholesterol and the cardiovascular system. According to Beverly Teeter, Ph.D., from the University of Maryland, researchers have discovered that there are two types of cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol and HDL (good) cholesterol and that coconut oil raises HDL levels.

There are many benefits of coconut oil. You can add coconut oil to your favorite dishes and also cook with it.

Make sure you buy organic, cold pressed, unrefined, virgin coconut oil packed with MCTs.

As you may know, I love juicing vegetables and fruits. I also love adding a tablespoon of coconut oil to my juice. It changes the texture of the juice, makes it more smooth and coconut oil actually helps with digestion and absorption of nutrients.



posted by Drew "Fitlife" Canole, 27th August 2012, Categories: default, Featured Tags: alzheimer's treatment, antimicrobial effects of coconut oil, benefits of coconut oil, benefits of MCTs, coconut oil, Green Drinks, juicing and coconut oil, medium chain triglycerides, virgin coconut oil. juicing vegetables

You actually ARE what you eat!

Post weekend tramic sysndrome!

I am now a true believer that there is a correlation between joint pain and sugar/carb intake. After a long weekend away with my hubby, I cam home in pain: my lower back hurt, my hips hurt and my knees hurt the worst. At first I thought it was the bed at the beach house, until after a night home in my own bed my knees still hurt so bad I didnt' want to go up and down the stairs. I also developed a headache around 4pm on Monday, after no sugar all day so I ended up taking some ibuprofen after dinner and felt much better, slept great.
I didn't eat terribly over the weekend but I did allow myself dessert and ate things that I haven't eaten for the past two weeks. My stomach hurt, my body hurt and it wasn't worth it. Did I gain weight? no change at all, but at this point the way I feel is more important than my scale.
I juiced 3x on Monday and shared a healthy meal with my hubby but then we shared a cookie with a scoop of ice cream. Gotta stop doing that!
So instead of beating myself up, I'm giving myself a learning pass; it was an obvious change in pain level. I hadn't taken any pain meds since I started juicing 3 weeks ago. Lesson learned I hope :)
I do feel like Ive had a major change in attitudes towards food. We stopped at McDonald's on the way to the beach and the only thing I would order was french fries because its a vegetable (although fried) I'm truly afraid to eat the meat in places like that now. I've strictly been eating organic now and I enjoy meat so much more than before and yet eat less per serving. Even the top sirloin steak we shared at Black Angus last night seemed lousy, Jeff and I were NOT impressed!
So here comes Tuesday with sunshine and a big smoothie. I'm ready to feel better today!

Plan Ahead! candied nut recipe

I try to never leave the house without a thermos of cold water and a healthy snack. Usually an apple and a little baggy of nuts. I bring more if I plan to be gone longer. Nuts are a great source of protein and fibre. I've converted to unprocessed nuts and organic whenever possible.

If you like candied nuts as a snack or a topping to oatmeal or a great chicken and apple salad, here's a recipe that will knock your sweet tooth socks off! Enjoy!

Candied Nuts
Line a cookie sheet w/parchment paper or a silicon liner. Spray with organic canola oil or coconut oil (coconut is super healthy and gives a sweeter taste). Preheat your oven to 250. In a mixing bowl mix add wet ingredients first:  1tsp real vanilla (imitation becomes bitter), 1 tsp coconut water, 1 tsp stevia and 1 tsp cinnamon, you can also add honey or real maple syrup and try other spices like nutmeg or even chili powder goes great with sweet. Mix wet in with 2 cups of pecans or walnuts until all nuts are saturated. Pour over baking sheet and cook for one hour: every 15 min flip the nuts w/a spatula.

Salt does a body good!

Although it is quite true that symptoms resulting from excessive salt intake include high blood pressure and cardiac problems, the problem lies more is in the refinement process of the salt itself than in amount you take in. Just like sugar and white flour, table salt has been highly processed and stripped of the vital minerals that were once there in salt's original form.
And don't think that just by avoiding shaking table salt on your food you have eliminated it from your diet. Refined salt is usually in processed food in large amounts as it is a cheap way to make food taste better.
In addition to having gone through a chlorination (bleaching) process, table salt contains hydroscopic (water-absorbing) additives to prevent the salt from clumping. Bright white, free flowing salt is always sure to have additives.
There is one salt that is actually good for your health - seawater salt, natural and unrefined. Sea salt comes directly from the sea to you. It may have a gray color which indicates the presence of many other minerals. We need the vital electrolytes in salt (sodium and potassium) to control water levels in the blood and tissues.
A healthy intake of this highly nutritious sea salt will also aid in balancing blood sugar levels; help with absorption of food in our intestines; act as a strong and natural anti-histamine; and clear the lungs of mucus and phlegm. Natural sea salt brings out the natural flavor components of food and makes the food taste better than ordinary table salt.
You can find sea salt fairly easily today, at Whole Foods or Trader Joe's, and even in some conventional supermarkets. Look for the coarser grain and remember the gray color indicates less processing and more natural minerals that will benefit your overall health. Google Celtic sea salt and Himalayan sea salt to learn more about the health-enhancing properties of natural sea salt
(Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3277064)

With that said, bring on the popcorn! I bought a popcorn maker (target 29.99) and w/one tablespoon of oil and in 1 cup of ORGANIC popcorn w/a pat of butter it's only 100 calories! YUM at first I was just happy to have something salty & salty but here's a variation I tried that is great: use coconut oil in the popper and then top w/a cinnamon & stevia blend. I keep this mixture in a shaker all the time it's great for oatmeal, popcorn, etc. This is one snack I never have to feel guilty about!

Welcome Wednesday!

I welcome Wednesday with another two pounds gone! I still am so amazed how I don't feel like I'm on a diet and the weight is dropping fast!

I have a lunch date with a very dear friend of mine today and so wanted to wear my jeans (that I haven't been able to wear in a few months) and what do ya know....I am wearing them! A little snug but I'm still wearing them!

I joined a new group: Juicing Vegetables, there are videos to watch on Youtube that have good recipies and lots of tips. The also send out a daily confirmation to keep you on track. Please chek out the link on my FB page.

Here's a tip for you sweetooths out there, if you want a snack or dessert after dinner try Dreyers all natural fruit popsicles, they come in a wide variety of flavors and Costco has the large variety pack. 40-80 calories, a great guilt free snack!

Keep juicing and living healthy.

Time Saving Tips for juicing

I'm back! took a few days off cuz it was a busy weekend playing with my hubby. We had lots of fun and I ate out one meal each day, we even went to pie at midnight Sat night! I juiced the rest of my meals and I didn't lose any weight but I sure felt satisfied!

Yesterday was Monday and I stayed on track juicing, made cajun chicken w/mango salsa (same recipe I used for the talapia) and a salad for dinner. Jeff said it was amazing.

When I weighed this morning I lost another two pounds! that's 12 pounds in two weeks,  best results i have EVER had on any reduced eating plan. I don't say diet this time because I do NOT feel like I'm dieting at this point.

So here's a time saving tip for all you juicers out there....make your green juice and fruit juice separate, fill ice cube trays with the juice and freeze. When you are ready to make a smoothie just pop out a few juice cubes and add it to your fresh fruit. So quick and easy!

I've added longer walks with the dog and more swimming classes, I'm feeling stronger and healthier that I have felt since my back surgery nearly two years ago.

Keep juicing and enjoying a healthy life!

Cajun Fish w/mango salso and sea scallions w/bacon and garlic

Cajun fish w/mango salsa and sea scallops w/bacon and garlic

I made my own cajun spice: (you can use pre made)
        Garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, paprika, cayenne pepper and cumin - make enough to cover both sides of the fish.

Cook two slices of bacon to crisp, remove from pan, cook your fish (I used Talapia) until done. In another pan melt some coconut oil and place your scallops w/freshly cut garlic and crumbled bacon, cook until done (white all the way through).

Plate the fish and top w/mango salsa (recipe is on my blog w/the Jerk BBQ pizza) and enjoy!

This is such a filling and tasty dinner and completely guilt free!



So its almost been two weeks and I'm down 13 pounds!!! I've never felt hungry, deprived or like I am on a diet. I also have SO much energy. I'm so exited about the results I am having.
I have several friends now that are following my blog and juicing/smoothing.....yeah for healthy living.

Jerk mango pizza...oh yum and healthy.
 I used Pita flat bread for crust (Papa Pita brand -all natural at Costco) 1 pita is 200 cal, 2g fat, 8g protein, 4g fiber.
I pre cooked two large organic chicken breasts covered in Sweet Fire BBQ sauce from Trader Joe's (two tablespoons is only 40 calories- all natural/gluten free) in the crock pot w/some water on low 2-3 hours. After it was soft enough to pull apart, I shredded w/a fork and added more sauce and continued cooking for another hour. This chicken freezes really well and makes wonderful wraps, pizza, salad etc.
I made the mango/pineapple salsa (using fresh organic fruit) jalapeno, red onion, garlic, cilantro and lime juice.
I also substituted dairy cheese w/Rice Cheeze by Lisanatti Foods from Whole Foods, 1oz is only 60 calories, 3g fat and is gluten free.
To assemble:
one tablespoon olive oil mixed w/freshly diced garlic, spread around
cover w/washed & dried organic cilantro
lightly cover w/rice mozzarella style cheeze (but you can use regular cheese)
place dollops of shredded chicken over the cheese and add another light layer of cheeze.

Place in oven 10 min @ 425
After you remove from oven cover generously w/mango salsa and lightly sprinkle w/chili powder. Serve immediately.

My husband was shocked to find out this had non dairy cheese and said it was one of the best pizza's I've ever made.

mmmmm has to taste good!

After not juicing yesterday I felt really guilty and I woke up with a stomach ache and bags under my eyes for the first time in a week. Spent a lot more time in the restroom too. I didn't eat badly, but I had more whole grains and dairy. I also had a really hard time getting in as many greens & fruits, even though I ate 2 dinner sized salads it still didn't equal as many greens as I would  have gotten in juicing.
I just ordered a book titled "Wheat Belly" which I'm interested to see how much the wheat has to do with how I feel today. Needless to say, I feel like I need to stick to juice today.
Here is a great tip....juice your veggies;greens, cucumbers, celery, carrots, and apples/pears, then take that juice and use it as your fluid in a smoothie w/your banana or avocado, kiwi, berries etc. These things get eaten up in the juicer and you won't get much flavor out of them, oranges I can do either way. You want some pulp for fiber and a feeling of continued fullness.
Eating this way throughout the day with one small meal you really have to juice every 2-3 hours, and it really becomes a habit quickly. Let me stress this .....it has to taste good our you won't stick with it. Avocado and banana give smoothies a thick creamy texture. Nuts are a great boost but make sure you buy raw and throw in organic flax seed oil.
Back on track today doing a flush first thing with a 20oz glass of water first, then waited 30 minutes before I made a juice smoothie. I plan to juice for the entire day w/no small meal just to clean myslef out since I ate more meals over the weekend.
I went to aqua Latin deep last night with Chloe and we had so much fun so we decided to take another deep class tonight, can't wait.

Monday, Monday!

It's been a busy couple of days but I had energy to handle it this time! I was able to make reasonable choices when eating out and the rest juicing. Today was the first day I didn't juice simply because I was out of fruits and veggies but I still ate healthy. I did feel like I was missing something though.
I was able to get in a new aqua class with Chloe tonight, Latin Deep.....so much fun!!! and I got quite the work out and tomorrow I'm looking forward to some juice :)