Day 3: I have a confession.

I made a vow on the first day of my cleanse. I promised all of you that I would provide an “honest account” of my experience, and after shadily looking for ways to cover up what I did last night, I have decided to come clean.

I ate Jimmie John’s; it was amazing. Why? Think what you want…but the real reason was simply because I had not prepped enough juices for my day and didn’t have easy access to obtaining one after work. I’m not going to go into detail because it is what it is, and I do not feel guilty. I was hungry, and I had to make a decision. So, I broke the rules. I did learn a little something, though. I felt so stuffed and sleepy after. I ate the same amount that I usually do, and compared to how I feel after a large juice, it wasn’t enjoyable. Obviously, I have no intentions to live off of juice forever because the sensation of simply chewing, combined with the variety of flavor, is much more satisfying. In retrospect, though, I can see how I shouldn’t eat until something is gone but rather until I feel satisfied – not stuffed! Bottom line:

• Do what feels good. If you are starving, and believe it is a good idea to have a real snack or meal here and there, do it. You do not have to do a full-out juice ONLY cleanse. The benefits (vitamins, antioxidants, etc.) will still be reaped simply by working raw juices into your diet.

I woke up early for work today to throw together some juices. On my morning drive, I drank one made with carrots, gold beets (a little milder than regular beets), and ginger. I added a little too much ginger, and I wouldn’t drink it for breakfast again but it was alright. I started to get hungry around 12:30pm, and decided to try out the apple-papaya spritzer I made (with sparkling water and a splash of lemon). It’s a really pretty color, and it tastes great.

• Spritzer: a drink consisting of wine mixed with sparkling water (aka seltzer) or soda, depending on preference; OR a healthy replacement for soda when mixed with your favorite raw fruit juice

The main point I want to make today is that I am proud of where I am, even after a broken rule and less than 3 days in. My face looks brighter, I feel energized and motivated, and I have been in a very steady good mood since I began the challenge. At this point, I recommend some sort of juice cleanse to everyone.* Do it for fun; do it for your health; do it for you.

*Be sure to check with your doc first if you have any concerns or health issues; I assume no responsibility!

Day 2: Feeling Fabulous

As I shared last night, I was exhausted on the first night of the cleanse. I felt weak, hungry and a little nauseous. I slept a solid 9 hours, waking up a little late for work. Surprisingly, I didn’t have that feeling I usually get when I have to rush off to work without time to mentally prepare for the day. I felt awake, refreshed, and rejuvenated, even without a shower. My face, unlike yesterday, looked bright and healthy. My eyes were no longer pink and my cheeks seemed to have more color in them. Maybe I caught up on sleep…maybe it’s the juice. The fact is, I feel great today.

I finished the green juice from last night on my ride to work. The kale and spinach flavor wasn’t exactly a yummy breakfast but I knew that my body needed it, and so I finished it quickly. The morning went by fast at work. I was hesitant to take an early lunch (as I usually do) because I felt like I had such a great momentum going to fly through orders at work. As of now, 11:45 am, I have had about 18 ounces of juice and a glass of iced tea. I could eat but I am not starving. Yesterday, I purchased a box of assorted herbal fruit teas. I am excited to try the blueberry – it smells like blueberry pie. It’s kind of ridiculous how excited I am for a glass of tea. I guess it just seems less mundane than the juice.

In the work fridge, I have two juices left from what I made last night. One is Gazpacho flavored (found online), which I am a little nervous for. I don’t love raw tomatoes but I do enjoy gazpacho, so I’m hoping it tastes more like the latter. Another is a purple juice, made with blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, 1/2 of a beet, red grapes, and a pear. For dinner later, I am anxious to try out the gold beets I found at the produce market. I’ll probably throw in a couple of carrots and a little ginger, too. Tip of the day:

• If you’re worried about not knowing how to make pleasant-tasting juices, follow recipes in the beginning. After a while, you will start to learn what you like and what you don’t, and how much of each item to use. Then, you can come up with your own creations that you will be comfortable with.

I’m glad to say that I feel much better today. It almost feels as if I just finished a large coffee but without that jittery feeling. I am wide awake, ready to work, and set on powering through that laundry piling up at home. I said, “I can do this,” and today, I have not a single doubt.