Lifestyles of a Juicing Pagan: Day One

I've been vlogging about it for weeks. I've mentioned it on my blog once or twice and now... the time has come! For Christmas, Santa brought me a Jack LaLanne Power Juicer! YAY!! After seeing the documentary Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, my friend Amanda and I decided to juice for 10 days. I've been planning this experience for approximately a month and a half.

Yesterday, on my lunch break, I went to the grocery store and stocked up for the next few days. I assume you can't really buy fruits and veggies like you can other groceries. The fresher the better! I was really proud of myself. My list was as follows:

My blurry grocery cart

Apples (Green and Red             Tomatos

Oranges                                      Broccoli

Pineapple                                    Spinach

Kiwi                                             Kale

Lemon                                         Carrots 

Lime                                            Celery

Pear                                             Cucumber

Ginger

I have started introducing fresh juice into my diet. Between today and Sunday January 1st (which btw has nothing to do with a New Years resolution) I will be drinking fresh juices every day (along with solid food) and slowly weening out meats, grains, and cheeses. By Sunday I will be on a juice only food plan.

Today I had my first Juicing experience EVER! I had a Carrot/Orange juice for breakfast this morning. It was simple but so good. I heard it was a good energy drink (ie: a good way to begin the day!) The carrot taste at first was a bit different but I liked it. One thing about carrot though... it stains! Wash out your juicer shortly after juicing. Also, don't be like me.... do a lip check before you leave the house. When I got into my car I noticed I had big orange stains around my lips like a 4 year old drinking red Kool-Aid!

Carrot/ Orange Juice - 

Great for Breakfast!

4 Carrots

2 Oranges (peeled)

I juiced the carrots first then added the oranges and then added ice. YUM!

The effects of the juice were almost immediate! First, I thought I could just down the juice like any other beverage I've had. That is NOT the case. This juice (as I assume most will be) was a sipper. After a few minutes of drinking, I felt a RUSH. It sort of felt like a caffeine rush except without the jitters. I assume this is not only the sugar rushing to my head but also the nutrients! I haven't been eating well recently and this had to have been a shock to my system. I had the juice at 8:30am and I still feel awake and focused. 

I'm really looking forward to juicing. My biggest concern are veggie juices (with NO FRUIT!!! OH NO!!!!). I love sugar and fruit and drinking only veggies sounds not quite as yummy. Who knows? Maybe I'll love it. If not, I'll endure it because I know I can't just hang out drinking fruit all the time. I think adding a BIT of fruit to a mostly veggie juice will be the best way to ease into the veggie world. 

Today marks the beginning of a long but very satisfying journey. Who's pumped? THIS GIRL!