Speechless!

Day 8......We just watched The Beautiful Truth movie. In short, it's a movie that challenges the way we think about what we eat and modern medicine. Parts of the movie were surprising, informative, and reassuring with documented cases of those whose lives have been changed.  We need to open our minds, research and learn how to take care of our bodies.  Before I go any further, let me say, I am not opposed to going to a doctor, but it is not our first option anymore. This whole year has been a season  of trying alternative supplements, growing fruits and vegetables and research. It looks like juicing is here to stay in this household.

Let me ask you this.......since juicing can make you feel better, why wouldn't you do it? Is it so contrary to our lifestyle, our schedule, our families? Is it that we do not want to give up the taste and convenience of fast foods and eating out? It is a radical change for the typical American lifestyle.  As long as we feel pretty decent, why worry about it?



One week of juicing behind me......with one minor change this go around.  I decided to eat a little bit at Amanda's birthday party on Saturday.  The good news is I avoided the cake, the ice cream and the cream cheese pineapple ball. We had lots of fun! Our house was filled with kids, spouses, grandmothers, cousins, lots of dogs, and lots of love. Kerry, who is juicing with me, did NOT give in and eat at the birthday party at her house this weekend.  She is one up on me!! You can start juicing with us at any time. Earlier post have all kinds of information, links and recipes.  Just start at the beginning. 

Here's the key.......start with baby steps. Juice once a day, start making better food choices, and research. It's just not worth spending most of our time in the doctor's office, feeling so-so, or taking a lot of prescriptions.

Let's feel better together!  Join us on our journey to better health!

Birthday cake?!

It's party time!......Amanda and Gene came home today so we can celebrate her 21st birthday! The baby of the family. It's hard to believe she got married a year ago. We have a fun day planned tomorrow....grilled hamburgers, Paula Deen's "Caviar" with chips, watermelon,  more good food, family and friends! Jennifer is making a special cake, I'll take a pic for you to see it. Now, here's the quandary, do I keep juicing??? I had planned to go 21 days straight, at the last minute Amanda called and said they could come.  It's a little hard to juice sitting at a table watching everyone eat. Ummmmmm........what shall I do? What do you think I will do? 

I have run into several people that are now trying juicing.  Yay! They are all juicing and watching what they eat.  That's a great way to start.  Juicing "full time" isn't something you do all the time; generally, you do it to clean out your system or lose weight.  Juicing can easily be incorporated into a normal lifestyle.  "What's it like?" is a typical question that we are asked. I had forgotten that the first few days can be a little rough - you might even feel like you have the flu. I actually thought I was getting the bug the beginning of this week when I started juicing, I completely forgot about the changes your body goes through!  Here is a great site with basic questions that most people ask, be sure to check it out.  It will probably answer some of the questions on your mind.

Several people have told me that tried a juice drink at The Main Squeeze. Did you know they moved across from the movie theater? I haven't ever tried wheat grass, but it is available from them.  Be daring, you'll never know what you are missing.  Juicing has so many benefits, just work on adding it in to your routine. Seriously, what are you waiting for?


Now, I just need to get back into the routine of walking.  I am OFF!!!  It's so easy for life to get us off schedule.  It's not only the unexpected, but just a basic schedule change, weather change, company dropping by, you name it...it can happen.  I need to start back, but it's a little hard with company here.  I mean, who wants to be sweating on a treadmill while you're trying to talk. I must, I must, I must!  Maybe Saturday night when everyone has gone home? I'll probably just feel like crashing.  It's that first step.  I will, if you will.  It always helps to be accountable to someone - then you feel more obligated to do it! You can always join our SOLE MATES walking team on WAFT.

Are you kidding me?!

Day 3......Of course Bill was out of town when I found the snake! Yes, it was a baby! No, I didn't know if it was poisonous or not.  My mind could only think coral snake, it ended up being a king snake. Does it really matter?....a snake is a snake is a snake!  Life on the WAFT hill! You just never know!

My hands smell so good!  I was cutting basil for some friends today! The fragrance is so delightful! Our two plants have grown like crazy this year! They just keep going and going...like the energizer bunny!  Meredith told me to make some chimichurri sauce - I can't believe I didn't think of that! I think I'll try Emeril's recipe at http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/skirt-steak-with-chimichurri-sauce-recipe2/index.html  I wonder how well it would freeze? Ummmm...... I like it especially on beef, and yes, it can be incorporated in a healthy lifestyle.

Yesterday I told you I was going to try this recipe: 15 grapes, 1 orange (peel skin, leave pith) and 1 lb of carrots. I wanted to use some of our grapes off the grapevines.....it was oh, so good!  It was actually creamy with the muscadine flavor shining through!  The juicer had no problems with the seeds.  I am excited since the vines are full. Kerry, who is juicing with me, buys a 25lb bag of organic juicing carrots at Publix for $15.  I need to get a bag and go pick more grapes.  I might even throw in a few more grapes!

It seems to me that each day you make it through, the easier juicing becomes.  I did not miss "eating" regular food at all today.  Sadly, for Bill, I have got to remember to feed him!

I think I can...I know I can!

Day 2.......another day of juicing down. Yay!  I must admit it wasn't too hard today; even with Bill cooking up all kinds of things in the kitchen.  I jumped on the scales the  first thing this morning - I just couldn't help it! It's always encouraging to see the numbers go down, especially with such little effort! Since I have a new friend, Kerry, who is juicing with me, I have been doing some reading about eating raw foods - just raw foods. That opens another whole door of discussion! We'll save that for down the road.

I mentioned yesterday that the grapes were loaded on our grapevines. Here's a great article about the health benefits of grapes - http://www.juicingandrawfoods.com/grapes-health-benefits.html If you have time, check out some of the other articles, pretty resourceful site! There seems to be a debate as to whether you can have grape seeds in our Breville juicer.  Seems crazy to me...we have apple seeds, lemon seeds, etc, what's a few grape seeds?  Here's a recipe I am going to try tomorrow: 15 grapes, 1 orange (peel skin, leave pith), 1 lb of carrots.

Bill just put the fall squash in the ground and cleaned up the other beds.  He also plowed up the zinnias!  They were so pretty this summer.  He has already started some more from seeds, so I may get to enjoy another batch before the frost.

This round of juicing may be harder than the last time.  I was able to work around holidays and birthdays, this time we have 3, yes 3, birthdays within a week of each other.  I am going to have to do some thinking on this.  You know the old saying about planning....I have some thinking and planning to do!

Same Song, Second Verse

Another round of juicing!.......Day 1......the first day is always the hardest. I think food is on your mind more than usual. Once you get a few days under your belt, it is smooth sailing! So for now, I hang tough and remember this is only temporary.  Plus, the benefits of well-being will kick in soon. The key for me are the cycles; a round of juicing, then a round of changing eating habits and choices.  The better we eat in between the cycles, the better off we'll be in the end.  The weight will be off and a new healthy eating lifestyle will be in place.  Keep your eyes on your goal - and you will make it.

Bill's lunch

My lunch

Today, I started with one of the Mean Green recipes for breakfast and then raw "soup" for lunch.  It was rainy and drizzling outside and "soup" just sounded good. Tomatoes, onion, bell pepper, cilantro, a little bell pepper....all juiced together - pretty good! Bill isn't juicing during the day, so this time it is a matter of self discipline.  I mean, he ate pizza for lunch, one of my favorite things, and there was a slight urge to run across the room and grab a slice. But I didn't!

Alaina loves grapes!

 The grapevines are loaded! I wonder if I can find a good recipe that includes juicing grapes? As always, keep the 80/20 ratio (80% veggies, 20% fruits).   It's important to have healthy recipes, not ones that will spike your sugar levels.

It is never too late to join us.  It's just a matter of the will.  Why put it off?
Kerry's in...why not you?

Noah loved them too!

Tic Toc!!

I am super pumped!.....I start full time juicing (again) on Monday with Kerry! Another partner in health!! I have actually missed it. I am shooting for 21 days again.  Do you want to join us?  You can still run to the store tonight or tomorrow.  What's the hesitation? I'm no health expert but we have done a lot of reading.  The benefits are well worth a few days of "no food".  Once you get in your groove, you are set.  We have posted a ton of links of how to juice, the benefits of juicing, and the how-to's of juicing.  If you're still interested, go back through our blogs and reread the info. Send an email if you want to join us to terry@waft.org!

Fall squash

Our sweet potatoes are still doing well; I especially love the vines! The fall squash are taking off! And I don't think you can even kill basil!  I have dried it, frozen it, and made pesto! I was rereading some of our blogs, you can always tell when Bill is writing - he gets into the pH balance and all that jazz! Here's another link that he and our son-in-law Dusty are considering: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBspR2p0YYM.  Seriously, not my thing!  It is all about backyard aquaponics: DIY system to farm fish with vegetables! Need I say more??!!

 

I am loving the change in the weather! Touches of Fall are in the air.  It should motivate us to exercise more - me anyway!  Bill keeps up pretty well.  I just stay on the go so that by the time I can do it at night - I'm like "Really? I am ready to crash!"  That must be what I work on now.  Any of you doing Zumba?  I am curious.  What's the 411 on it?

Here's the deal....

So I have someone who wants to juice with me........starting next Monday. So, I decided to continue eating food 1-2 times a day (filling in with juice recipes the rest of the day) and then start next Monday full force.  If you want to do it with us, just let me know! Contact me at terry@waft.org. You are more than welcome to "reboot" your system, change your taste buds, lose some weight, and feel better overall. Of course, it does require determination and desire.  Make sure your health is good or consult your doctor if you have any questions.....we kick off next Monday.  I could go ahead and start by myself, but what's the fun in that?!

I guess you have heard by now that WAFT was on channel 6 news.  It was great coverage but the reason we were on TV wasn't ideal.  There was a burglar hiding out around the station and the police, their dogs, and the whole shebang were all around us.  One burglar was captured, the other is still on the loose.  Yes, I am double locking all the doors!

With Fall heading our way - and don't you love the feel in the air - I need some new recipes.  Juicing isn't forever and I still need to feed Bill.  Will you send me (or post below) your favorite HEALTHY recipe? It can be a main dish, salad, whatever.  I am still off of gluten, so keep that in mind.

And lastly, the paint on our living room wall.  I was pretty sure I needed to change it, but when a friend told me it looked like a school bus - well, that settled it!!  It does have more of a southwest feel, I wanted something that would have more of an Italian feel.
 
It seems as though our life is in a bit of a rut.......I'll have to include some other ideas in our blog. :)