An experiment in juicing

 Eric and I watched a few documentaries this last week that motivated us to be more careful about what we eat.  The first one was Hungry for Change.  That one was by far my favorite and then we watched Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead.  You can watch both on Netflix and Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead is on Hulu and Hungry for Change is at www.hungryforchange.tv.

Hungry for Change is just about what is in processed foods and why we should eat natural products with nutrients and the second was about a guy who used a juicer to make juice solely from fruits and veggies and he only drank those for 60 days and lost a ton of weight. 

So, of course, we bought a juicer and TONS of veggies and some fruit!  My goal was to do a 3-Day Cleanse.  Eric's original goal was 60 days, then 30, then 10.  He made it 2 days and I made it a day and a half.  Eric thought they tasted good but he was getting sick (apparently it takes 4 days for your system to adjust and be running on the juice) and didn't care to continue. 

I will still juice fruit sometimes and maybe do a Green Machine once in a while for the nutrients but I thought the green one was nasty.  I might have liked them better if I didn't have a canker sore in my mouth that would sting with every acidic sip.  Eric likes them and he will probably keep replacing one meal a day with it. 

The Green Machine:

I used a straw to help suck it down as fast as
possible.

This is is half of the following recipe:

2 Green apples
1/2 of a lemon, peeled
4 celery sticks
1 Cucumber
2 big handfuls of kale
1 piece of ginger, peeled the size of a thumb.

I did run hills for 4 miles the second day so I was okay on energy but I think that is more due to the fact that I drank some almond milk with protein powder.  I think that is cheating... 

Anyway, now that we were unsuccessful with the juice diet/cleanse we went back to Winco (best for produce, by the way) and bought a ton more of veggies and fruit with some whole grains like short grain brown rice and wild rice.

  I'm using a cookbook I borrowed from my mom called The Eat-Clean Diet Cookbook: Great-Tasting Recipes That Keep You Lean.  Since we know how hard it is to live on only juice, eating with out processed food seems like a breeze so it ended up being a good thing. 

Update on my 30DS Challenge

So yesterday was day 10 of my 30 day challenge so I'm a 3rd of the way there and I upped my work out to level 2!  I have to say, level 2 really kicked my butt!  I did it again this morning and I can't get through it with out several breaks.  A lot of it is in the plank position and I just have a weak core.  Hopefully this will help! 

All you need.  Well, except the cat.  Cats are optional

So far I have lost 3.4 lbs and 1% body fat.  So not amazing but it's about par for my diet and exercise regimen.  I have my calorie count goal set so that I will lose about a pound a week.  I have been eating 5 or 6 smaller meals so that I eat through out the day and I'm still working on cutting out more processed foods.  I just love chips and ice cream and cookies, and candy and a whole lot of stuff that are not good for me!



See, I'm still keeping track!

Tocanos and Sunday at the park

 



 

Tocanos for dinner with Aziz and Elise to continue Aziz's birthday festivities.  You get a coupon for a free meal on your birthday so we just had to go help Aziz use it. :)  

 

 

Nice sunny day at the Provo Riverwoods!

I didn't get meat but I was still able to get the grilled
pineapple and veggies with the salad bar.  Love.



Typical toddler plate

 

 

 

Yesterday evening we went to my parents house to visit.  We played Settlers of Catan and grilled some hot dogs.  We also went to the park to throw a Frisbee and let Mabel play.  She couldn't do a lot because the playground was so hot but she threw a fit when we left anyway.  Good thing she's so cute.

 



Date Night at the Ballpark

We had Brittany and Brady over for dinner last night and then we went to the Bees game in Salt Lake.  I made Red and White lasagna with garlic bread and green beans and Brit and Brady brought an Oreo ice cream pie.  YUM.
Then we dropped a sleeping Mabel off at my parents and we were off! 

It wouldn't be a baseball game with out Eric's Coke!

Friends!

Best seats ever!  9th row behind home plate.  Thanks, Jess!

Eric and I on a real date!

 

Bees won it 4-2!  We had a great time! 
When we got back to my parents, we found out Mabel never woke up from her nap!  She slept from 4PM yesterday to 7AM today.  I hope this means she will be in a really good mood today.

Thursday night we went up the canyon and roasted marshmallows and hot dogs with Aziz and Elise (Eric's sister and her fiance) for Aziz's birthday.  That was the first time I've been up the canyon this year and I was LOVING it.  So was Mabel!  She loves throwing things into water and she makes me a bit nervous but we watch her.  I forgot to take pictures but I thought I would mention it since it was so fun!

Hope you have a great weekend!

Jackson, WY 2013

My parents and my sister, Kim, both have a time share condo the week before Memorial Day in Jackson Hole. It's located in Wilson which is just about 10 minutes Northwest of Jackson.  We have been going just about every year since I was a little girl and I LOVE it!  It is always such a nice relaxing trip!  Here is a summary:

Wednesday:
Drive, drive, drive 5 hours.  Mabel did pretty great!  It helps to have a portable DVD player.  Arrived at 8 PM, went to the park behind the condo.  Got ready for bed and watched Star Trek with my parents.  We got the upstairs bedroom and our own bathroom till Shannon and Matt came up on Friday.

Thursday:
Got up with my sister and my mom and we walked a bit (I didn't do much because I have an IT band injury) then we went to the gym and I did some physical therapy for my IT band and some upper body weights.  Eric lifted over 500lbs on the leg press.  3 sets of 10 reps.  He couldn't walk very well the rest of the trip. :)   Then we went to town!  Literally.  We went to eat at the Merry Piglets restaurant in Jackson and then shopping a bit.   I also got Mabel a cute Jackson T-Shirt to pass on the T-shirt tradition.  I didn't get myself a hoodie or T-shirt this year because I just have so many! 

Then we went back to the condo and I did a puzzle for the first time in years!  It was 500 pieces and not easy but I really enjoyed it.  Mabel helped too.  The night ended with some time the hot tub.  Thanks to my parents for watching Mabel so we could both enjoy it!


Friday:

Foam rolled my poor legs and then we went to the park again for Mabel.  That girl loves to be outside!  We waited for Matt, Shannon and Paul then we all (Mom and Dad, Paul, Kim and Adam and their 5 kids, Shannon, Matt, Eric, Mabel and I) drove to Teton National Park to Jenny Lake.  We took a 5 minute ferry across the lake and then hiked up to a water fall and then hiked back to the car.  It was about 3 miles but took us about 3 hours.  It was a challenge with Mabel and my injury but it sure was fun!   I love being outside and with my family.



Trail around Jenny Lake and up to Cascade Water Fall.  (Yes, I have starbursts in my pocket.)

 Friday night, we went to the Bar J Wranglers chuck wagon show.  That is always so fun!  It's a little cheesy but some of the talent is amazing.  My favorite act was "Rawhide."  It kind of reminds me of the possum place they stop at in A Goofy Movie.

Saturday: 

I went on a jog with my mom, dad, Shannon and Matt.   I hated not being able to go with the furthest group but I don't want to risk further injury.  Then we got back, had a yummy breakfast of bacon and eggs, played Settlers of Catan and then played tennis!  We love tennis but we are not super good at it.  We played doubles and switched up hitting it with my mom and watching Mabel.   Lunch/Dinner was in the Grand Teton National Park on Jackson Lake at the Signal Mountain Lodge.  Mabel missed that.  She was asleep on two chairs, but I did get her a book for a souvenir.  I was just thrilled she took a good nap!  Then back to town where I got $20 of candy including a chocolate frog and fudge.

 

I also got a new watch.  So excited about this watch!  We ended the night up in our room watching America's Funniest Home videos and laughing till we cried.



Sunday found us back on the road home.  We made some great memories!

"A bit of a challenge, just a bit" -Jillian

Hello, hello!  So I always have lofty health and fitness goals that I never reach for various reasons but I stumbled across this website on My Fitness Pal about people who do the 30 Day Shred workout DVD by Jillian Michaels. I have this DVD and I've used it a few times but I've never been super consistent. Anyway, this website at www.30dsresults.com has before and after pictures submitted by people who have actually done it consistently for 30 days.  I have decided I'm going to be one of those people! 

So how to stick to this goal?  Well, I'm going to get a sticker chart make a chart where I can cross of the numbers and it will be super cute functional and get me motivated!  I love checking things off.  :)Also, I'm posting this here so all of my 5 readers can help me stay on track. Or, at least I will be embarrassed if I don't do it.

Cute, huh?  Days 10 and 20 are blue because those are the days I move on to the next level.

I will also be doing other workouts and continuing my core and lower body training exercises to help my running.  I will be tracking my food and cutting out almost all processed foods and staying under 1400 net calories a day.   It's going to take me 5 weeks because I will be taking Sundays off.  Stay tuned for my before and after pics!

Running Tips Learned the Annoying Way

I went on a jog while on vacation in Jackson Hole last week (post on that coming soon) and it reminded me of the list I've been meaning to make.   

Ahem.

Things to remember for running:

1.  If you are dehydrated, you will get a side ache.  Always drink lots of water.
2.  You need to eat a little something before you go.  String cheese is good or a small glass of almond milk works for me.
3.  Go potty first.  Seriously.  Even if you don't think you need to.
4.  Make sure you strength train and stretch your lower body (warm) to avoid IT band injury. *curse*
5.  It's more fun to run with a buddy.  Someone slower if you want to feel good about yourself and someone faster if you want a challenge and to feel bad about slowing them down.
6.  Charge your iPod.  Running with out one and alone is so B.O.R.I.N.G.
7.  If you are going to explore new areas, you are going to get lost and it takes 20 minutes longer to get home.   "I will just go this way and I can just cut back on the next street over."  Nope, nothing comes back this way for about a mile. 
8.  It's okay to walk.  Nobody is judging you for walking.  And if they are, they are mean and not your problem so walk if you need to. 
9. Don't forget your sunglasses.  Oh it's cloudy, I won't need them. The sun will come out and it will be blinding and annoying.  Unless it's 9PM, bring your sunglasses
10.  Pin your hair back securely. Nothing is a frustrating as sucking in your hair or  having bangs in your eyes the whole time.
11.  Wear sunblock unless it's 9 PM.  You don't want wrinkles or sunburns!
12.  If you eat crap, you will feel like crap. 
13.  Running wherever you want is so liberating.  Do it more often!


*disclaimer: these are not expert recommendations, only my own lessons I've learned the hard/annoying way.

You got any of your own suggests for me?