Sunday, July 17, 2011

Reboot Your Life....

A few weeks ago, i watched a movie on Netflicks. It was a documentary called Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. Since watching that documentary, i've done much soul searching, thinking, pondering about what i saw. Juicing? Was i nuts?

No, not nuts, just tired of being sick and tired. Tired of eating foods that seem to clog my system. Tired of feeling fat and sluggish. Tired. Very tired.

Much more research followed all of this thought stuff about juicing before i approached my husband about watching this particular movie, for fear he would think that i had lost my mind.

He didn't think i was insane.

In fact, he is willing to try this with me.

And so, well, we will do this together. We are both sick and tired of being sick and tired. Maybe, having each other to lean on will make us stronger...

We are in the process of looking for a juicer. We are in the process of studying meals and how juicing fits in to our meals and life. We are excited. We are nervous. But we are willing to give this a try...

This is what i'm reading now that's on the site of this community who also juices:

Before your Reboot, here’s what you need to do:

1. Knowledge is power. Learn some simple, but important facts about food that will help you make informed eating decisions. Read Our Easy Fact Sheets


2. Invest in a good quality juicer.


3. Identify an affordable source of local, seasonal produce and make shopping lists.

4. At least one week prior to beginning your Reboot plan, start changing the way you eat.
Say Goodbye To: processed junk foods, white flours, sugar/desserts, fried food, fast food, processed meats, alcohol and begin to wean yourself off caffeine.
Say Hello To: salads, soups, smoothies with a variety of fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains, nuts, seeds, natural nut butters, beans and legumes.
Transitioning off animal proteins: choose wild-caught fish, organic eggs, gradually decrease poultry during the week and choose only organic varieties when you eat them. If you eat red meat choose only grass-fed organic, lean and don’t eat this past day 3 of the preparation week. By last day of the week, your protein should come from solely plant sources such as beans, nuts, legumes (for example, black beans, hummus, chick peas, lentils, edamame)
Transitioning off dairy: Choose only low or non-fat organic dairy with little to no added sugars. If you choose soy, rice or almond milk also get unflavored/plain to limit the sugar content. Choose organic cheese, and transition from cow’s milk cheese to goat cheese by the middle of the week. By the end of the week (day 5) all dairy should be out of your diet to prepare for the Reboot.

5. Preparation the Night before your Reboot.
Stop all NON-PRESCRIPTION vitamins/supplements during the Reboot unless you have been advised to take them by a physician.
Don’t take any self-prescribed, over-the-counter medications.
Hydrate well (at least 64-72 ounces a day)
Set up your juicer the night before – get all parts cleaned and ready on your kitchen counter. You can even prep your veggies and fruits by cleaning them ahead of time and storing them in the fridge to make your morning run more smoothly.
Go to bed early and get a good night’s sleep.


and i'm reading this, too, getting ready:

Meal Plan: Day 1
 

First Thing in the Morning:

Herbal Tea or hot water with lemon
 

Breakfast:
Cherry Cinnamon Apple Bake
This dish is delicious warm or cool.
Double the recipe for an extra serving.

1 cup Cherries (cut and discard pit)
2 Apples cored and chopped
3 Tbsp. Raisins (choose golden variety for a twist)
1 Tbsp. Cinnamon (or more to taste)
1/2 tsp. Nutmeg

Spray baking dish with expeller pressed canola oil
Place into oven safe baking dish and cover
Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes or until apples are soft
Cool and enjoy!

Calories: 249
Protein: 2 g
Fiber: 9 g
 

Mid-Morning Juice:
Green Juice
6 leaves Kale
2 cups Spinach
1/2 Cucumber
4 stalks Celery
2 Apples
1” Ginger root

Calories: 180
Protein: 12 g
Fiber: 1 g
 

Lunch:
Arugula Spinach Salad and Mustard Vinaigrette Dressing
2 cups Arugula
1 cup Spinach
1/3 Avocado
1/2 cup thinly sliced red Onion
1/2 cup chopped Tomato (heirloom in the summer)
1/2 cup Jicama

Mustard Vinaigrette
1/3 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
1 1/2 Tbsp. Grain mustard
2/3 cups Cold Pressed Olive Oil
Sea Salt & fresh ground Pepper to taste

Puree the vinegar and mustard in a blender. With the blender running, slowly pour in the olive oil. Season to taste with the salt and pepper. Keeps up to 1 week in the refrigerator.
For Honey Mustard Vinaigrette: Add 3/4 Tbsp. Raw Honey
Makes 8-9 servings

Salad and 2 Tbsp. Mustard Dressing:

Calories: 278
Protein: 3.5 g
Fiber: 9 g

Raw Carrot Ginger Soup
Makes 2, 1 1/2 cup servings – save 1 for dinner
3 cups Carrot Juice
1 ripe Avocado
2 Tbsp. Agave Nectar
1 Tbsp. Ginger, minced
1/4 tsp. ground Cayenne Pepper
1/4 tsp. Sea Salt
1/2 cup Coconut Meat, optional
2 Tbsp. Avocado or Olive Oil, for garnish
2 Tbsp. Fresh Cilantro, chopped, for garnish

Puree the first seven ingredients in a blender until completely smooth. Taste and adjust the seasonings if necessary. Garnish the soup with a drizzle of oil and the chopped cilantro.

Per Serving:
Calories: 234
Protein: 2 g
Fiber: 7 g
 

Dinner:
Reboot Green Salad
Make it big! Any greens you like such as romaine hearts, baby romaine, baby spinach, baby arugula, add any veggie you like: cucumber, carrot, celery, pepper, tomato, fennel, radish, sprouts (not bean sprouts), onion, fresh herbs. Avocado may also be added for more substance.
Dress with Ginger Honey Soy Dressing

Salad and 2 Tbsp. Dressing:

Calories: 278
Protein: 3.5 g
Fiber: 9 g

Steamed Snow Peas, Broccoli and Green Beans with Ginger Honey Soy Dressing
1/3 lb. Snow Peas, ends trimmed
1/3 lb. Green Beans, ends trimmed
1 head Broccoli, cut into florets

Heat a pot with boiling salted water and cover with a steamer basket. Add the vegetables and steam about 5 minutes, until the vegetables are cooked but still green and crisp. Drizzle with the Ginger Honey Soy Dressing.

Steamed Veggies and Dressing:

Calories: 203
Protein: 3 g
Fiber: 4 g

Ginger Honey Soy Dressing
2 Tbsp. Minced Fresh Ginger
2 Tbsp. Minced Fresh Garlic
2 Tbsp. Raw Honey
4 Tbsp. Nama Shoyu or Tamari
4 Tbsp. Olive Oil

Puree the first four ingredients in a blender. With the blender running, slowly add the oil until the dressing is emulsified. Keep up to 1 week in the refrigerator.

Makes 5-6 servings
Per serving:

Calories: 133
Protein: 0.5 g
Fiber: 0 g

Before Bed
Herbal Tea (add lemon optional)


It is interesting how Robert is approaching this as to how i am approaching this: I plan on telling no one what i'm doing. NO ONE. Robert, however, has no issue with telling folks about this. I guess i have less tolerance with the questions or comments like "Really?? I heard that wasn't healthy....blah, blah, blah" from someone who knows nothing about the program.

Crossing our fingers....