Marching on!

Still at it!......It's funny, juicing as an everyday part of our lives?! I never would have thought it! What began as an experiment has become a good habit in our lives.  I can't imagine going back to eggs and bacon for breakfast.  The juice is more satisfying and the thought of the other just seems ....well, ugh.  I find juice as a mid morning snack just plain convenient.  When the kids left last weekend, I had anticipated juicing all day and then eating one regular meal a day (probably supper) but ran into a glitch. I had some pizza Friday night. I am gluten intolerant and didn't want to have to take the time to make a crust or go to the other side of town to buy one...I figured, what could it hurt?  After not having gluten for ages, it hurt more than I thought.  I have been living on tea - hot or cold and some salty chips.  I have had the juice for breakfast and a snack, but the rest of the day I have been "off".  Hopefully, back to the game plan in a couple of days.

Backyard gardening!  We have tomatoes coming in and they have been so good. We haven't had to buy any in quite a while.  I'll be putting some up tonight in the freezer.  The only problem we have had are tomato worms - they are super gross.  They stick like glue, they're big and fat, and no way am I going to squish them.  Heather and I left that as a "Bill" job.

Time to start freezing some!

Attack of the worm!

Up close he still isn't cute!

 A couple a times a year I have a Bio assessment.  It's a cool
machine invented by NASA.  It detects all kinds of things in
your body.  My last assessment showed I had a build up of
aluminum from my deodorant.  So, time to replace deodorant.
Fun times, huh?!  Ironically, Heather had been reading the
same thing so we both have chunked our deo and bought some
Crystal.  It comes as a rock, spray or solid.  It is actually just
alum! What next? lol!


It's funny, once you start down the road of improving your health, so many other things come up.  It's a day by day experience!

Good, better, best?

Are you satisfied?......  Do you feel healthy? Do you eat well, exercise and get good reports from your doctor? Are you at optimal health? On the other hand, do you find yourself tired, not sleeping well, yo-yo dieting, taking prescription drugs, never really feeling great? It's time to make some changes! To feel better OR to have the best health possible -  Maybe juicing is the answer for you!

We have this concept that fat people are unhealthy and skinny people are healthy. Fat people cannot control how much they eat and have no self-discipline.  Skinny people are just more self-controlled.  In reality, that's not altogether true.  I have known skinny people who ate lousy (fast foods, junk foods, etc) but had a high metabolism, stayed skinny, but had health issues.  I have known heavy people who apart from their weight were in excellent health. What's a body to do?  Eat right! The thing that most people think takes too long and requires too much effort.  Maybe juicing is the answer for you!

With Heather and the grandkids here,we have eaten food for lunch and supper.  We have continued to juice breakfast and snacks. They'll be heading back to Ohio tomorrow so I plan on hitting the juice pretty hard (that sounds funny!) Bill will just juice breakfast.  This will be a perfect scenario for you, can one person juice while the rest of the family eats food? This will be an experiment, I'll mostly juice while Bill mostly eats food. Maybe juicing is the answer for you!

Secondly, let's talk costs. Most of the fruits/veggies we buy are from the Farmer's Market.  While organic is the better choice, they usually do not carry it.  (Sometimes we get organic at Publix - again cost is a factor.) Bill did some figuring on the 4 recipes we make the most; they range from $1.85 per serving to $4.50 per serving.  The highest included some out of season pears.

If you didn't listen to the Ken Davis interview that I put in our last post....go back and listen to it.  Check out some of the links we have included in earlier posts, do some research, talk to your doctor if you have health issues or are on medication - you can improve your health, whether you feel pretty good or whether you feel  bad. Let's live life to the fullest! Maybe juicing is the answer for you!

Remind me to tell you why I got rid of deodorant.  You'll never believe what I got in the mail today to use instead!

We're back!......I have missed you guys!  Life has been pretty crazy around here with an 8 month old and a 3 year old! We took off to the beach on Monday.  As with any beach trip, we took lots of snacks and cokes.  Here's the crazy part, we brought most of it back home.  Seriously, our taste buds have changed - FOR THE GOOD!  Foods that we would have considered "junk" are not very appealing or satisfying! I remember trying to find something to eat mid afternoon - you know how you get at the beach; you're always hungrier! I tasted some chips, some M & M's, cookies, nothing hit the spot. I even eyed the cokes, but figured, nah, just not worth it!  Juicing has found a stronghold in our lives, for the good. 

Fish!  You can keep it! Occasionally, I don't mind a salmon croquette and I used to eat fried shrimp (if the mood struck me).  Since I know the value of fish, I need to try and eat it more.  Bill on the other hand likes it.  So, while he was out shopping he saw some salmon patties to grill. They were not too bad.  We actually couldn't decide on the condiments - I mean, who ever heard of a grilled salmon burger?!  After eating one, I think we needed to grill it longer to get more of that charred flavor and use tartar sauce.  It was okay (to a non fish eater), Bill and Heather liked it.

After today, we are going back to more juicing.  With the grandkids here, we have just been juicing breakfast.  We are going to juice all day and just eat food at dinner.  I am juicing to lose more weight, Bill's just doing it - because!

We also will post the amount of money we are spending.  If I can get something organic for a good price, I will BUT if I think it is too costly, I will, get what I can and wash it.  I am a firm believer in cleaning your fruits and veggies.  I see too many hands all over the fruits/veggies!!

Almost every day we see the value in juicing and the changes it has made in our lives.  We had a great interview with Ken Davis (Lighten Up with Ken Davis) on WAFT the other day.  He shared what a difference it has made in his life to lose weight.  The interview was so good, you should take a listen.  Here's a link: http://waft.org/pages/5898962.php  Also, here is how his journey started: http://www.kendavis.com/personal/fully-alive-in-2010/  Are you "fully alive"?   Maybe it is time for you to take control of your life!

Got to have more!

Ah, I miss juicing!  I can't believe I am saying this, but I am ready to go back to juicing longer periods during the day.  We're eating "healthy" foods for lunch and supper, but I am convinced our energy level has dropped. When the grandkids go home, I think I'll keep a journal.

We took Alaina to see Madagascar 3 today.  We ate lunch right before we went so the popcorn would not be a temptation! The smell alone is enticing! That's a good way to avoid tons of fat, eat first.

Since juicing, we are not only more conscious to eat more fruits and veggies, but our bodies seem to crave it.  I grabbed some fresh watermelon instead of a chocolate peanut butter cookie.  Heather made the cookies and they are pretty healthy, but the watermelon was much more satisfying! We have cherries, grapes, figs, oranges and all of them are so delicious.  It seems like the healthier you eat, the more you want it.

Tonight, we had a roasted veggie bake with turkey sausage and fresh corn on the cob.  You would love the dish, it's so easy to make and so tasty.  Cut up potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, and onions; throw in a few cloves of garlic; drizzle with olive oil, salt, pepper and chili powder.  When it's done add some fresh spinach and let it wilt. Tonight, I threw in the turkey sausage to make it complete.

 
I have to tell you, Bill fell off the "wagon". He stopped by Krystals on the way home.  They just weren't that good to him - although he ate them anyway! Bill wanted me to clarify that he just ate 2 krystals and not the combo!  Whatever!! Plus, he had cake when giving blood. Okay, here's the deal - you cannot go back to old habits.


Daily I am seeing the benefits of juicing! Have you tried it?

We're hooked!!

There's just no doubt about it......we can't stop juicing! We have incorporated juicing in our daily life along with regular food, but we do not want to give it up.  I actually think our energy level was higher when we were just juicing, I realize we can't just drink forever.  But it certainly has made a difference. I'll try (next week) to do some actual figuring and see how much we spend on fruits/veggies plus the additional groceries we are now buying. The one question we are asked so often...how much does it cost?  Honestly, if we feel better and see the benefits wouldn't it be worth it?

Sooooo good!

Overall, pretty healthy!

 This week we are on a "new recipe" binge.  My absolute favorite have been the tostadas! Messy, but scrumptious.  Bill even made a homemade guacamole dip - fabulous! (I included the link to the recipe the other day.)


Today, I had the "Bible Study Girls" coming over and I went through a "zillion" recipes trying to find a new one that I had not made.  I finally decided on Paula Deen's South Georgia "Caviar". It's almost like a relish full of fresh veggies! I used fresh corn instead of canned corn and I LOVED walking outside to the garden and picking some fresh jalapenos!

Tammy, Shelly and Teresa
said it was good!

The only thing not natural was the Italian
dressing; I probably could have found something at Publix but didn't want to go all the way into town.....even the chips we used were all natural!!  Yay!  It was a great snack. I forgot to tell the girls to give me a thumbs up or down in their photo op!  Grrrr.....well, they enjoyed it anyway! Here's a link to the recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/south-georgia-caviar-recipe/index.html

On the home front, the tomato bushes are heavy with fruit.  We just picked the first couple that were turning ripe.  I better decide now what we're going to do with them BEFORE I have all my counters full!  The watermelon leaves are looking a little peaked, I have no idea what their problem is. I would need Bill to figure how much money we are (or are not) saving with our little garden.  I know the basil has been a lifesaver!  I have used a ton of it, along with the bell peppers and jalapenos! The square foot garden still requires time, water and spraying! At the very least, Bill has enjoyed it!

I decided to cook normal food tonight. I figured Alaina could use a break from all the unusual foods that keep appearing on her plate. She has really enjoyed the outdoor chalkboard that Bill made and the little mushroom stools are the perfect height! Noah (who is 8 months old) is eating anything Heather gives him; including a whole avocado!

This week we'll keep working on new "healthy" recipes and trying them out on everybody.  Next week, we'll do some calculations on the costs of juicing.  In the meantime, eat healthy and start moving!

Thumbs up? Thumbs down?

So, how's the taste?.....This week we will be trying new "healthy" recipes and seeing what the response is of those trying them. The question is, "Can you cook good food that others will enjoy?"  Too often we change our eating habits UNTIL we have friends or family over, and then we fall back into old eating patterns. It is a trial and error process, sometimes you'll make great things and sometimes you'll make bombs!

Danny and Gail - 2 thumbs up for Taco Soup!

Here are a few results we have tried. The first was Taco Soup, loaded with fresh corn, black beans, great spices, etc and cooked with chicken instead of the traditional hamburger.  Heather's in-laws were kind enough to bring Heather and the kids to us (from Ohio) on their way to Florida. We enjoyed their company over a bowl of Taco soup and fresh fruit. The result?

Alaina - thumbs UP for Taco soup, perhaps
crushing the chips in the soup made her vote thumbs up!

Granny and Jennifer 2 thumbs up for Pasta Salad

At lunch today, we tried a pasta salad.  It included grilled corn and grilled broccoli (interesting ). Now, I'll be honest, I did tweak this and add a lot more veggies than called for (like cucumbers, onions, bell peppers) and then some fun stuff like banana peppers and black olives.  We used a Balsamic vinaigrette because I could not find a white wine vinaigrette that the recipe called for. It was a

 basic recipe loaded with fresh veggies - that was the key.  Our daughter, Jennifer, and Bill's mom give you their results:




Lastly, we tried Baba Ganoush for a snack with fresh veggies and pita bread. Bill saw a picture and was dying to try it.  Baba Ganoush is basically an eggplant dip.  You grill the eggplant first and then bake it
 until it is soft, add some garlic, olive oil,
 lemon juice and seasonings and mix.
 The results?

Bill- a BOMB for the Eggplant Dip

Some will work, some will not. Supper tonight is another new recipe,  Grilled Pork Tostadas

http://www.dashrecipes.com/recipes/dr/g/grilled-pork-tostadas.html.  It looks promising, especially in light of this afternoon's disaster.  

I am finding, initially, that it takes a little more time and effort to intentionally fix something healthy.  I could run to the fridge and throw something together pretty quick, but not necessarily healthy. It's a process. 

As for juicing,  we juice for breakfast and mid morning snack (and any other time we do not have time to cook).

Come join the journey with us. 

Putting it into daily practice!

You name, we probably have it!

Now what?......Already, we have been asked that question, especially in regards to our recent juicing adventure! Well, here's your first hint, take a look at the inside of our refrigerator. This is only part of our fruits/veggies.  We have them stuffed everywhere!  Yep, you guessed it! We're going to keep juicing.  It seems to be convenient for us to juice our breakfast and mid morning snack. Today, our life was a little busier than normal because Heather and the kids are coming to visit.  So we actually had juice for lunch too! I have a big pot of Taco Soup simmering in the crock pot for us and the weary travelers.  I have some sour cream and Mexican cheese to garnish on top and some natural tostitos on the side, along with some fresh watermelon and cantaloupe.

Crockpot Taco soup

BUT...how many times have we heard this (and said this ourselves), "How are you going to have people over to eat?" "How are you going to feed the grandkids healthy food (that they will eat) and keep juicing while they are here? "My kids won't eat healthy foods." By the way, here is a great website for "sneaking" healthy foods into your kid's meals: http://thesneakychef.com/ "What are you serving the ladies at your Bible study?" "How can you eat healthy when those around you may not?"  Well, these next two weeks will be an experiment to find out.

"What kind of food are you going to eat anyway?"  Well, I will post our menu each day and the reactions of those eating - mainly our 3 year old granddaughter, Alaina! The question really is, "Can you eat healthy and still do stuff with others?"  Let's find out!

Doing the "Happy Day" dance!

Day 21....Here we are! Yes, we're patting ourselves on the back!  This was quite a feat for us. Our insides should be happy! and cleaner! We have found such value in juicing that we are going to incorporate it in our daily schedule.  Remember, the amount of veggies/fruit per glass is usually more than what you could eat at one time.

This much produce....

...makes 2 glasses of this!

So, we were in town today running errands.  We had a "mean green" juice for breakfast and a cranberry/orange (with collards) for a snack before leaving BUT we got held up in town.  By 1 pm, Bill was saying, "I need something to eat".  The smoothies all have "just fruit" soooooooooooooo yes, we broke our fast 2 meals earlier than we had planned.  I found a place with organic rice soup and a salad.  Here's our first meal:

No, I didn't eat that white bread!  I know someone who did!

We went to Books a Million today and found a couple of books. Primarily, I went to get a book of recipes from the Mediterranean Diet.  That seems to be the healthiest I have found so far. I am super excited to get back to cooking and trying these new recipes.  Heather and the kids are coming in this weekend so we'll try all kinds of things on them!  This should be fun!



In 21 days, we have practiced much discipline, lost 27 pounds together (of course, Bill lost more than me), changed our taste buds and have "rebooted" our innards! This isn't the end for us...stay tuned for what comes our way next!

Watch the Juice Fly

Day 19....This is all it takes to juice..one husband, one juicer, and lots of veggies/fruit! I have gotten pretty spoiled from not cooking or washing dishes for 19 days! Well, the fun could only last so long, 21 days to be exact!  Actually, I am ready to get back in the kitchen. I have read a ton of recipes, like this one, Smoky Corn and Black bean pizza: http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/smoky_corn_black_bean_pizza.html   or this one, Chopped Greek salad with chicken http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/recipe_slideshows/quick_mediterranean_recipes?slide=1#leaderboardad  With a plan and recipes like these, how can we go wrong?!

First, we have to "break the fast" as it were.  After juicing for so many days, our bodies need to transition to digesting more complex foods.  Bill is convinced we won't need to, but we will anyway! The biggest thing to avoid are high fat foods, fast foods, processed foods and dairy.  It will be a process.

Meanwhile, back on the home front! Our square foot gardening is coming along.  Our tomato bushes have outgrown their cages and are loaded with tomatoes.  The sweet potato vines are coming down the other side of the trellis....what can I say?  and we are trying a new spray for aphids, Orthene, on our peppers. Bill put out some additional plants from the greenhouse but they seem to be stunted.  We'll have to see about them.


It's been a long busy day and very rainy.  I think we'll go watch a movie.  TWO DAYS LEFT!

It's time...

Healthy food is good!

Day 18.....the end is in sight! I must admit, today I am ready to be done! I would like to have something hot and chewable! I cannot believe we have not eaten for 18 days! It's definitely an activity that never crossed our minds! Occasionally, we would hear someone mention the benefits of juicing but we never entertained the idea of doing it ourselves.  In fact, if my Natural Health Practitioner had not suggested it, we would not be juicing. But I believe there comes a time when we just know we need to change. We want to avoid those health issues we see so many of our friends dealing with, we want to avoid taking all kinds of medications, and we want to be in the best health possible while we are on this earth. Change is hard!  It takes baby steps to get started. For us, juicing - baby step one.  Eating more raw foods daily - baby step two.  And so forth. For me, finding a health practitioner that I felt confident in was the key.  Here's a link to her website: http://www.healthmattersus.com/  Her name is Dymphna "Dee" Baudoin and her main office is in LA.  She comes periodically to Valdosta to do the Bio Assessments.

We just revamp favorite meals!

If you had to evaluate your health, what kind of shape are you in? Taking meds? Never feel really great? Want more energy? Perhaps a juice fast would be a beginning for you. You might not be ready to jump on a 21 day (or longer) juice diet but you can start with less days.  Some people juice and eat some food during the day. There are many choices. Again, do some research. Here are some plan options: http://www.jointhereboot.com/plans/ 

Yes, it takes more effort. But consider the results!

Bill is busy cutting the grass and weed eating.  The lawnmower has been at the shop and we are so glad to have it back.  Just juicing has given us plenty of energy (and then some) to carry on regular activities. I really think it's more of a mental thing right now. Grandkids will be in this weekend so we have tons to do, including making some menus.  It will take some effort to stay on course and prepare foods that toddlers will eat.  I see a challenge on the horizon!

Interesting! First time for everything!

Day 17....Here we are, at the end of another day! Just got in from Life Group, where they always have wonderful snacks! Jenne offered to juice some watermelon for us and Ricky offered us his tea leaf!  Crazy group of people that we love! I must admit, I didn't even feel tempted! Whew!

Today, we decided to try a new juice for lunch - carrot soup.  The only problem was that all the recipes called for an avocado and we didn't have one. (Bill substituted butternut squash.)  It turned out pretty tasty.  One advantage to having a raw diet is that we have tried things we probably would have never tried before. I mean, honestly, when's the last time you thought to yourself, "Umm, I sure would love a bowl of carrot soup!"  While we ate vegetables pretty good prior to juicing, we have really increased the amount and variety while juicing.

I thought we were pretty healthy eaters, but now, I have more of a desire to make better choices. We don't want these 21 days to be in vain. We also do not want to be like yo-yo dieters and gain our weight back. In fact, I am hoping to continue short term juicing days to continue the weight loss.  Bill, of course, doesn't need to lose any! I am getting excited about trying many new recipes! I know having a menu and some definite guidelines will be the key to continuing change.  In a few weeks, our Life Group will be eating out. We'll be planning ahead so we do not fall back into old habits. It's a learning process.

The basic "Mean Green" drink from the movie Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead:

6 leaves of Kale (or spinach)
1 cucumber
4 stalks of celery
2 green apples
1/2 lemon
piece of ginger root
(one serving)

Everyone keeps asking, "What's the first thing you're going to eat?" Who knows!

Got questions?

Day 16....Can you believe we have been juicing for 16 straight days?! Our goal is 21 days, although I know of many who have gone 30-60 days. I think that would be a bit much for us right now. This was first, and foremost, an experiment to see if it would affect the way we feel. Secondly, I was hoping to lose a little weight. I have heard that you're supposed to be able to keep it off. Of course, that remains to be seen. Throughout our blogs, I have posted a variety of links about the Bio assessment, questions about juicing in particular and the link to info about the movie, Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead. If you wander back through them, you'll find answers to questions you may still have about juicing. Yesterday's link was especially helpful on the benefits of juicing.

Is it for everyone? Probably not, it does involve discipline and accountability
What's the hardest part? Getting used to not eating
Has it changed your taste buds? Not sure, but definitely the cravings
Have you lost weight? About 10 pounds each (to date)
Do we feel weak or tired? no
Are we hungry? no
Do you have to do it for 21 days? No, there are several suggested plans
Would we do it again? Plan to, probably not 21 days, shorter lengths
Should I do it under a doctor's care? If you are on meds or have any health issues, then yes

How are we going to change the way we eat when this is over? We'll probably cut back on red meat, and probably meat in general.  Yes, we're still going to eat it. Also, with most foods so over processed we'll probably stay as natural as possible. I would love to find some local (affordable) places to buy meats, eggs, cheese, etc.. Since we are now empty nesters, oftentimes, it is easier just to pick up something. We have been reading and so much of the food (whether fast food or sit down) is loaded with fats, sodium, preservatives, etc. It's just not good for us, so we'll probably not eat out as often. I guess it comes down to this, "Do we want to take care of our bodies and be the healthiest possible?" or are we satisfied to just get by until a health issue comes up?

In America, our eating involves so many issues: We socialize over food.  We make  food choices based on convenience and feelings. We think skinny people are healthy and fat people are not.  In general, the feeling is, "Eat what you want, enjoy life, if I go, at least I'll go happy".  And as long as nothing is "broke", don't worry about it.


So for us, this time hasn't been just about "doing without" but a time to think about what we eat and why.  It's also been a time trying to "reboot" our systems and getting on a better track so our bodies function at their very best.

We will see what this last week has in store for us!

Day 15...What a day! We have been up and running since early this morning. As I look at the clock I can hardly believe it is almost 9pm!  We are continually amazed at how much energy we have from just juicing. So what did we accomplish today? Well, we picked up my mom and headed to the Farm Days at the courthouse. We bought several different veggies; squash, butternut squash, and bell pepper. Then we bought an orchid (for the first time), they were so pretty.  I thought I would give it a shot! Bill also picked up an aloe plant to put in our herb garden.  I heard you could juice them....interesting thought! He also bought some liquid fertilizer...but it was way too complicated when he tried explaining why this was better than most!  PLUS, we saw lots of friends and a WAFT listener. Then we headed to Farmer Brown's to get the rest of the veggies/fruits needed for juicing. Finally, I was able to get some baby butter beans. It cracked me up to hear Bill say at the market, "This is so much fun!"

Alaina's play area

We are still working on a play area for Alaina.  Bill has her chalkboard up and we have a bucket that will hang on one side with the chalk in it.  Don't you love the toadstools?  She'll be able to sit on them.  We just haven't decided how to paint the white dots on them.  It will be so cute when we are done!

Roots - gotta go!

We have had problems with tree roots tearing up our driveway, so Bill decided to cut them along the edge. We were told the asphalt would go back down as the roots died.  He then built our new composte bin! Our daughter, Heather, has one and it has already made some good soil!  Bill is excited!

 We still have many people asking questions about the juicing. Questions like, "Why can't you drink bottled juice?" "What about the fiber?" I happened on a good site today and thought I would pass it on to you:
http://www.juiceladyinfo.com/benefitsOfJuicing.php  The info is from "The Juice Lady", Cherie Calbom, and she answers these questions and more. You can read her bio on the site.

It has been one busy, packed day!  We had enough energy to do it all...and we're still just juicing!

End of a long day

Last 7 days...or is it??

Healthy Mediterranean pita

Day 14.....It hardly seems possible! Yes, we are still juicing! Now the questions are, "Can you tell any difference?" "Is it really worth it?" We can both tell a higher level of energy.  What's even more amazing is the amount of work we are getting done and only having juice the entire day! We have heard others have had a more marked effect. Again, it goes back to our diet prior to starting to juice.  We ate relatively healthy to start with. I have been looking at recipes from the Mediterranean diet - they are healthy and look really good. It's regular food, lots of fruits, veggies, nuts, olive oil, lighter on meats.  Here's a link to the Mayo Clinic with a few recipes: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mediterranean-diet/MY01725&slide=3.

So, what are we doing besides juicing? Bill has always exercised and I have been on again off again with walking.  Now,  I am trying to walk every other day on the treadmill.  We have both lost around 10 pounds! We are beginning to plan ahead to changes we want to make when this 21 day trial period is over. For instance, will we continue to juice every morning? juice all day every other day? do a 5 day juice occasionally? Will I keep juicing to lose more weight?  Eating out?! We are going to set a specific number of times to eat out or grab something on the way home. As long as we have a plan in place, we will be fine. 

Alaina and Noah

We've been busy working in the yard. Grandbabies are coming to visit! Bill has built a cute outdoor chalkboard for Alaina and some mushroom "stools" to sit on.  I'll get some pics up tomorrow.  I need to move some jasmine, it has taken over the corner of the porch. I have such big plans for tomorrow that Bill will probably want to run away! Plus, we need to put together a composter.  Bill didn't want to buy one but caved today and bought one at Sam's. The ditch was looking a little ratty where he was dumping stuff.  It does hold 65 gallons. 



We have a full day tomorrow.  Plus, some work in our square foot garden.  Aphids have attacked our bell pepper and jalapeno plants!!  Grrrr......Bill is thinking about changing sprays.  So until tomorrow!

Great Tomato Soup and Bio-Assessment

It's here!!

Fresh tomato soup!

Day 13.... Yay!  our "new", via Ebay, juicer arrived today.  I was a little worried that that when I opened the box, little pieces would fall out.  The post office apparently placed a large heavy something on the it and crushed the corner.  Fortunately it was fine.  It's a Breville BJE510XL.  I was anxious to try it for supper so I made our favorite "soup".  It is tomatoes, sweet potato, onion, jalapeno, bell pepper, and a little cilantro.  The thing about this juicer that I thought was great, was that it spit out the pulp out of one side and juice out of the other side.  It was much quicker.  I'm anxious to try hard to juice stuff like carrot tops and kale.  I'll let you know.
Technically, you are too drink everything straight out of the juicer so the enzymes and vitamins aren't destroyed.  We warmed it on the stove to just over 100 degrees and I put a little lime and a slight dash of salt.  Purist would probably fuss about that.  We really like it.

The main thing that prompted this juicing adventure was Terry's visit to a Certified Natural Health Practitioner for a "bio-assessement".  It's a cool technology developed by NASA. By placing your hand on a cradle that's hooked to a computer it can "read" your body. It can identify deficiencies, problems, parasites, etc.  When I looked online for info about how the bio-assessment works, some of it sounded a little strange, I admit.  I found a link that explains it probably a whole lot better than I can.  http://www.zyto.com/pdf/pro_bro_002.3_hiw.pdf .  The short version is that you sit for about 30 minutes while your hand is in a cradle while the computer sends signals to your body and the response it gets is measured. It helps health care professional to know how to treat you better, as opposed to just treating the symptoms. Right now, Terry is using natural supplements to treat the issues she has.  Natural supplements take longer to "kick in" than traditional medicine; but long term, we think it's the better choice for our bodies. Now, don't misunderstand us.....if the supplements did not work, we would go to a doctor. You should check it out!