Day 21-Plant Based

Well today is day 21 and I would like to say I feel much lighter. My waist seems to have shrunk, but of course I still have quite a ways to go. So when I weighed myself I was a little disappointed because I expected to be smaller than last week (largely). I have really worked out hard this week, getting my sweat on and for five out of the seven days this week. My expectation was to continue to workout during the weekend, but that did not work out for me. So, I am going to have to really get after it in the morning. I feel so much better while working out, I sleep well at night and it's easier to wake up in the mornings.

I am definitely more focused on what I put in my mouth so that I am not making constant poor choices. Overall, things are going well and it is my goal to continue to get my eating habits very crisp. Overall, I have eaten 85% vegan and my goal is to become 100%. I am excited about the next month and how I can continue to focus even harder on this healthy lifestyle.

Here is the scale reading from this morning. I have made it my business to weigh in every Sunday morning. I am hoping for better results during next Sunday. I am traveling during next weekend. So, I may not report in until 7/13 on weight. I will be driving out of town on Sunday and I have to report to my training by 4p. So, I will pop in as often as possible.

Written by,
Passion Jones

Day 14-Plant Based

Hello All:

I started this day feeling pretty  bad, I had a weigh in and I had gained weight rather than losing. I felt upset because I have incorporated a routine to head to the gym and I have tried to be very intentional about my eating all week. However, on Saturday I went to a coworkers home for a get together and I ate a few things that were not within the plant-based category. If you can feel my energy then you know that I was very disappointed. However, I allowed myself a cheat day and I met my water goal for the day. Each day I try to have at least half of my body weight in water. I nailed that today, but I definitely felt that I have to be very strict with myself during this week. For instance, if it is not plant based it will not go in my belly. Also, I purposely purchased a new swim suit so that becomes my evening workout. I have a workout buddy that plans to meet me on the track at 5a and then I will get some swimming in tomorrow evening. I am praying for a successful goal meeting week.

My goals for this week:  To loose, increase water, to refrain from wanting a cheat day and to try salads without salad dressing. I have been using vinegar and olive oil and perhaps I need to refrain from that regimen. While I am not sure, I just want to change my diet and to feel comfortable while doing it. My family and I went to the grocery store store this evening and came out with 80% of produce. I was ecstatic tonight when my kids had grapes and blueberries for snack. I won't tell you that I wanted to run around the house yelling when they both had water as well. I think that each week will become better for us, I cheated today and did not maintain my regimen. But, I am very thankful that tomorrow is a new day that gives me the opportunity to take a stab at it again.
I am excited that my meals this week will include: cabbage, collard greens, zucchini & Spinach... YEA!! I am wishing everyone a super week and I will keep you posted on my progress.

Here was my weigh in today, sad face...but I am not going to be too hard on myself. I have put the appropriate foods in the house and plan to handle myself better during this week. STRICT!!!


PEACE

PJ

Day 10-Plant Based

Hello All:

I wanted to check and share with everyone where I am on my journey. First, I am really being intentional about my eating. I must be honest and say that I have been so tempted to eat a little candy, but I have not done that. Can you believe that, I can't either. But, I provided a training today and I had trays of candy on the end of every table to keep individuals awake during the training.
Anyway, I ate my lunch along with many strawberries and grapes and I kept my composer with the candy. I was looking at my calendar last night and became very excited that I have had an 80% plant based/clean eating diet over three weeks. I felt very proud of myself and I realize that after next week, I would have be steady for an entire month and that makes me so excited. One thing that has rung true is, taking things one day at a time has been so helpful to stay focused on my overall goals.

I have not done any physical activity during this week, so as usual I will get my buns on the trail tomorrow in efforts to keep my body moving. I will also probably go swimming with the kids on tomorrow as well to get two workouts for the day. I am feeling good and not as heavy and full as I was during May. I was tired all of the time and felt HEAVY!! My belly was very large and my three year old thought that I was pregnant. At the end of the day my motivation to become a full-time vegan is to become healthy and to set an example for my kids.
I am hoping that I can continue to loose and my husband become interested in this lifestyle. Overall, things are going well, I will tune in on Friday sometime before I indulge in ladies night.

Have a super evening!

Day 7-Plant Based

Hello:

Since my Miami Heat are going down, I figured that I would reach out to you all for an update. I have done well for the most part, I had something that was not solid plant-based on yesterday and today. However, I have managed to stay active since Saturday morning. I am really enjoying the clean eating, it really allows me to feel light and to wake up so much early. I thought the only method to have a clear mind was to juice, but I see using plants, having beans, seeds and nuts are awesome simulators.

As I close down another week, I have loaded the refrigerator and I am ready for battle during this week. I have all  of the plants and the fruits, not I will get up early in the morning to fix my meals for the day. Below I weighed myself and although I did not loose the amount of pounds that I wanted, I did loose a few ounces. Here below you will see the scale from this morning.

It's looking good, not if I can stay focus and continue to keep my body moving all will be well. I ran this morning then went swimming this evening. Looking forward to doing the same on tomorrow. I don't plan to blog daily as usual, but I am thinking SU, W, F with updates.

Wishing all a  super evening,
PJ

Day 4-Plant Based

Today was another good day, I think that I am noticing that when you eat clean there is a sense of calmness in your life. Does that make sense, I mean that I don't feel myself always thinking about food and wondering where and when I am going to get my next meal.

Today, I started off with two very small plums...oh wee they were yum and yum. I am not sure what's going on with me, but I am enjoying the mono meals. I am thinking blueberries for tomorrow. Then, I had an awesome salad that included celery, red bell peppers, spinach, tomatoes and avocados. It was yum and yum..I had vinegar and olive oil on it for dressing and that was great as well. I cannot believe that I have gone twelve days without eating any type of bad sugars. One thing I don't want is diabetes and I know the way to refrain from that is to STAY AWAY FROM BAD SUGARS.


After lunch, I had the best mango ever..The only accident I made was eating a great mango at my professional job. That led me to closing my office door and having my way with the mango all of the way down to the seed. Um Um good... It was Yummy! For dinner I had purple cabbage, black beans, tomato, celery & bell peppers. Delicious!! As for dessert I am thinking about going with strawberries, I will have more smoothies when I invest in a  Nurtibullet or a Vitamex which I want very badly.
Right now I am eating and trying to try out various veggies that I actually enjoy or like. I will probably graduate as I enter into July. For now, I am going to just stay safe until after my twenty one days that which I hear makes anything a habit. One day at a time has been a great focus for me. I am thankful for my journey so far.
As mentioned, healthy eating helps to prevent disease: http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/eating-healthy-important-7166.html  Good Stuff!!




PJ

Day 3-Plant Based

Today was a good day, I started with a mono breakfast and a nice salad with black beans on it. For the first time I had kale and boy was it thick. Wow...I never chewed so much in my life. I think that I need to cut it up in smaller pieces. So, it took me a long time to get it down but it worked out. However, I had strawberries after it and that turned out to be a great meal. For dinner I had spinach with broccoli, beans and cucumbers. Yum Yum

So far things have been going very well but I have definitely been thinking about things before making food choices. The only thing that I have had so far that is not plant-based was about (8) pretzels. Ugh... I guess my cheating looks different these days.

I definitely don't feel as heavy and as exhausted as I was feeling a few weeks ago. One day at a time and today was a good day. I went to the Farmer's market this evening and picked up some fruit and I am looking forward to eating them three times a day along with my veggies and a few nuts. It's Father's day weekend and at least I get to eat with the family as oppose to drinking juice while they are eating.

Wishing all a super evening,

PJ

Day 2-Plant Based

Hello All:

Today was a good day on the plant based diet, can I share some true feelings? Wow, it seems a little harder than juicing because you are eating and needing to be in complete control of what you are eating. For  instance, it is important to ensure that you are eating clean on each meal and that the item is plant-based and natural. As well as fruit, it is important not to eat too much fruit as they can increase the daily calories as well. Then, finally the nuts are good to have small portions but not to eat hand fulls all throughout the day. I purposefully left the nuts home today so that I can just concentrate on the beans, mono meals(fruit), salad and drinking lots of water. Today felt very successful to me! My belly feels light and not all tight and achy.

Mono Meal-Breakfast

Lunch, I ate it before taking pics. It was an awesome salad

My dessert after lunch was very yummy.

PJ

Day1-Plant Based

Hello

I think that today went well, I started he day with a mono meal of watermelon. Then, I had a salad with broccoli for lunch and had fruit for dessert.
I had a few nuts throughout the day and my belly has been feeling pretty good. It feels like it is shrinking for sure. I did not workout this morning do to the rain, so I am looking forward to it in the morning. I did not eat any beans and I feel like that is why I am lacking some energy. I have not felt very exhausted in a while, tonight I am very exhausted.

I will continue on tomorrow, zzzzzzzzz

Day 8

Hello All:

Today was a pretty good day, first let me share about this episode that I had last night. During the middle of the night I became over heated and my belly was absolutely killing me. I decided to go to the restroom and I felt like I was about to pass out. It was the worst feeling ever and it would not pass until I put my body on the floor for a little rest. After this horrible time passed, I went back to bed and when I woke up this morning I still felt horrible.

So, I had more green juice and water then I had some green tea. Well, I have been researching all day to make an executive decision about whether to continue the juice fast or to transition into a plan based diet. As of now, I have decided to transition into a plant based diet.

My dinner consisted of:
Broccoli
Black eye Peas
Salad w/ tomatoes, cucumbers, romaine and iceberg

I was expecting to become very ill, because my belly has been unsettled all day. As of now, I am feeling okay, my belly is still uneasy.

So, today was my weigh in, so let me share you some exciting information.

Isn't this great, my weight loss and healthy lifestyle pursuit consist of loosing 12 pounds. I have been drinking my juice and running/walking 2-3 miles per day since Thursday.

Tomorrow, I plan to start the Dr. Fuhrman plant based diet. I am very excited and I see that taking things one day at a time is definitely something that works in my favor. So, I will see you tomorrow with an update on my eating for the next week. 

PJ 

Day 7

Hello All:

Today is a beautiful day outside, so far I went out to the track ran/walked two miles. I am leaving in a few for beach party out of town with the Girl Scouts. So, I am about to go into the kitchen and make me 64 ounces for the day so that I am feeling well while away. We will return in the morning, so I decided I needed to make something to last me for the day and in the morning I will have green tea before arriving at home.
Yesterday, my mind started playing tricks on me. For instance, I was thinking that I needed to break the fast because I would not be able to maintain it while going to a beach party, pizza party and pool party. But, since I have gone down this road before I should be able to provide positive self-talk to get me through.

It is my plan to also go out and run/walk a few laps early in the morning before the girls wake. It is so important for me to get my body moving. One exciting thing about tomorrow, it is weigh-in day. I am looking forward to it, because this will be the deciding factor on whether I needed to alter my juices. For instance, perhaps I may need all green juice, rather than incorporating the orange juice during the week.

Did I mention that last night I was on skates and getting a full workout. I am hoping that completing the fast with exercising will start the healing process to the years of bad eating.

I will speak to you all tomorrow, wishing you a super weekend!

PJ

Day 6

Today marks day #6, I for sure woke up at 5a and felt pretty well. So, I decided to head out to the track and run/walk three miles. Now I can feel some exhaustion and my feet are really bothering me. So, I am going to rest my body as I know that I will feel better afterwards.

Quite sure that my body is in shock, not only have I stopped filling it with bad foods, but I have started implementing running inside of my routine. WOW

So far I have had an orange juice for breakfast and will probably have some cabbage for lunch, then greens for the rest of the day. As far as day 6, I plan to pump water into my body, my bowels have not been too regular so I plan to some hot water with lemon in it. Hopefully that can move a few things around in my belly.

After a nice warm bath, I will rest this body so that I can  allow my body to continue to adjust to all of the changes that are being made right now.

Wishing everyone a super day.

PJ

Day 5

Hello:

Well today, stuff just got real. I woke up at 4a and I was full of energy, I went out and walked around the park a few times and then did a little work in the library. After noon my body started cramping so badly, those old injuries that I have from campus are in full effect. I tore both of my rotator cuffs and boy are they causing me a lot of aches and pains.

I think that I am going to soak in a warm bath, lye down and watch the Miami Heat. The day was a very productive however I have learned how to detect when I need to just rest.

I forgot to mention that my feet are aching and my ankles are tender as well, does it sound like some sort of detox to you. Oh wee`

Over and out, Passion Jones is signing off!!!

Reflux

Dinner will consist of: 1/4 or large wedge from a head of cabbage
3 celery ribs
1 cucumber
1 cup spinach
2 green apples
1/2″ ginger (or fennel or parsley)

I will get back with you and let you know how it works out: Looking forward to a little relief on this acide/GERD pain. I will no longer have just cabbage and apple, I will have the ingredients  listed above. So, stay tuned!

I have not uploaded a video in a long time, so maybe I am nearing a video.

Have a super evening~

Wheatgrass

According to the press journal, The Chalk Board  Wheatgrass  can dissolve the scars that are formed in the lungs from breathing acid gasses. The effect of carbon monoxide is minimized since chlorophyll increases hemoglobin production.

So, I had taken them a few times in the past: today my husband felt that it would be a good idea for him to take one. I absolutely loved watching him try something that his healthy. It seems like anything that is healthy he is uninterested in having any dealings with.

He did not like the way it tasted and even while he was drinking his smoothie, he kept tasting the wheatgrass.
As of now, he says that he is feeling a little loopy. That is why it is suggested that individuals have a shot during the morning time.  Above all, I am glad that he has had his wheatgrass experience. 

Refreshing Juice

So, today my husband and I went out to do a little shopping and it was 92 degrees. The wind was not blowing and there was an extreme amount of heat. So, we stopped for me an orange juice from Jamba and my husband had one of my favorites.

Doesn't this look refreshing? Um Um good, it went and hit the spot. Oranges with ice during over 90 degrees weather feels super!!!

Day 4

Hello All:

I am so thankful for the opportunity to be on this journey. This morning I did not sweat as much while getting the kids ready for school. However, I felt a little dizziness. While this may frighten some that are new to juicing this continues to confirm that my body is recognizing a change or difference in whats being placed inside of it.
So far, I have had some Kale, Celery, Spinach, Carrots and Apples. Then, I had some orange juice and my plan is to have cabbage/apple juice together for dinner. I am very nervous, but I heard great things about cabbage healing symptoms such as colitis and GERD. This is so much pain in the esophagus while eating certain foods. While I am not eating foods at this time, the burning is about 5% of the time. Although that is nearly how bad it is on a regular basis, I don't really want to feel it at all. (PAIN)!!

This morning, I had a helper with juicing... Check him out

 Isn't this a cutie!!

Day 3

Hello Juicy Juice Friends:

Well let me tell you how I am feeling today. First of all when I woke my kids for school I started feeling super warm. I was drenched in sweat which is a direct meaning of detox. I had to change all garments because I was drenched in sweat. Today consisted of bowel moments and boy is my body achy. My shoulders are achy, my back is hurting and I started feeling a little knee pain today.

All of these symptoms are letting me know that my body has officially recognized that something different is taking place. Every time my mind starts to think about day 21 or day thirty, I quickly redirect it to focus on the day. During this fast, this is the first time that I have allowed myself to keep track of my water intake and to ensure that I have a healthy balance of both juice and water.

So far, all is well in the world of juice. I have had 48 ounces so far and I ordered a 28 ounce of orange for super. Tomorrow I will start the day with  my mean green and make it a green juicy day.

Wishing all a super day!

PJ

Day 2

Hello All:

Today I have been juicy and feeling good in the process. I started the day with an apple, orange, ginger, pineapple juice. It was pretty good, but I had to drink it quickly because I was entering into a meeting. Although, I had about 15 minutes with it, I enjoyed that short amount of time.
On drink two I had, kale, celery, cucumbers, lemon and a red apple. Some of us consider this drink the "Mean Green" and boy was it mean. It was so healthy, I could taste all of the nutrients going down into my belly. I was thinking to myself, I wonder if my body is wondering what am I doing up here. Because one day I had some salty chips and a lot of water, then the next day I shut it down..

I started feeling like like I couldn't take it anymore, it is time to get myself on the right path. There is no way to do it but to do it and to do it one day at a time. I wanted to get to the track and do a few laps, but it is over 90 degrees today and I am thinking that I want my body to adjust to the juice fast before going out there in the heat.

Today is a good day so far, I won't be going into the office so that I can relax and allow my body to make the initial changes that it needs to in order to adjust. I am hoping that everyone is having a super day.

PJ

Morning Friends

So, for some odd reason I am already achy. My back, neck and shoulders and totally achy, it's hard for me to believe that my detox has started so soon. If so, that is pretty cool that my body is already on it's way to healing less than 24 hours of having my first glass of juice.

During the times that I juice, I like to watch movies and YouTube clippings on juicing. Today I am watching Super Juice Me!. Although I have not completed the entire movie I am feeling very motivated about the information being shared in this movie. I do think that Dr.'s treat symptoms and not necessarily the cause. As I have mentioned in a previous post, it is time to try and heal my body naturally as oppose to taking hypertension medicines, GERD medicines and more.

If I can heal my body, it is my goal to assist others with healing their body as much. I don't believe there is a need for weight loss surgery. I think that people can heal their bodies with support, juice and a mind that is wanting to change their eating and drinking habits.

I am a believer of juicing for 28-30 days and I do feel that it can heel anyone's body that is currently struggling. I can attest to feeling so big that your always sick. I am taking this journey to live a long life for and with my kids, also to learn what is necessary for others that are struggling with maintaining their weigh.

PJ

Juice #1

Today, I started my juice feast with:
Kale
Carrots
Romaine
Spinach
Celery
Apples
Blueberries
Strawberries

Please be clear,  it is not my plan to have fruits during this fast. Well, I will have apples with my green juice, but nothing else. However, it was my plan to juice all of the fruit and veggies that were in my refrigerator. I was a little nervous and afraid of the smell that I get about day 21 that makes me want to walk away from the journey. I did not do any major straining, so I was afraid to have the large pieces that would turn me off while drink. To my surprise, my first green juice was good!! Yes, there were a few chunks inside, but I had not had any food all day and my mind was starting to play tricks on me. So, it was my goal to get some juice in my system to let me body know that I had not abandoned it.:)

Green Juice, um um good...

Ingredients for the green juice.

Start Weight

On this day, I have stood on the scale so that I can see where I am today. I am hoping that the pictures and the measurements assist me with going forward on this journey. I know at this point I have been drowning and somewhat self sabotaging, so today is the day that I make a conscious effort.

I remember when I started this journey two years ago, I was 220 pounds and I managed to get down to 190 and maintain it for quite sometime. Now that I have completed school and taken on additional task, I have not been focusing on my health as much as I once did.

Therefore, I have taken this pic in efforts to have accountability from you and many others that are viewing this page. It is my goal to keep you posted on my good, bad and ugly times during this journey.

Start weight, 218

Day 1

Fruits & Veggies:

During my weeks of on again, off again strides to become more healthy these are some of the foods that we had in our refrigerator. So, today my plan was to pull all of the fruits and veggies out of the fridge and make myself 64 ounces of juices to enjoy for the day. Needless to say, I was very successful and made 66 ounces of juice.  As my three year old was helping me, he continued to say this is only for mommy right.. That is cute, huh? Do you think that he was ensuring that he was not going to need to drink this green stuff?

I am thankful to have the opportunity to start over again. My struggle with eating helps me to understand the struggles that sex, drug, alcohol and shopping addicts suffer. For instance, I understand the self talking, the cravings, the minimizing that is done to okay the negative behaviors. I truly have a struggle with conquering the beast of negative eating. I am so thankful that I continue to dust myself off and try it all over again. Today marks day 1, on this day I am juicy and so far I have had 22 ounces. It is my goal to drink another 22 in an hour and then I will drink another 22 ounces as my husband and kids eat dinner.

When this day concludes, I hope that I have displayed the strength in denying self for a bigger and better outcome that will ultimately change my life in a healthy manner.

PJ

Summer Juice Fast

Hello Peeps:

Well, I have become so disgusted with my daily, weekly, monthly journey to become more healthy. First, I started a very nice vegetarian eating track. I did very well with that, but then I started to struggle with eating sugar. I was raised on all of the amazing sugar related foods. That looks like:cookies, cake, ice cream, pies and anything else that falls under that category. So, although I was no longer eating meat and enjoying the taste of veggies. My sugar intake was extremely high!

So, I decided to try a vegan method of eating so that I could scale down on the sugars, flour, bread and more. Unfortunately, that did not last! Oh how sad I was...that made me extremely sad that I could not conquer the beast of eating sugar. I remember walking through target looking for a book that could really walk me through the process of running away from sugar. When I saw a book, "How I kicked sugar" I thought that was the answer to my problems. But, being the money conscious person that I have become, I did not want to pay the cost for the book that I saw.

During May I started getting my body moving again. I started walked and running with my daughter, husband and the awesome ladies of BGR. Two weeks ago, I told myself that I needed to do a juice fast, but each day I would talk myself out of it based on any events that were taking place within the family. On Saturday morning I started to think about how amazing I felt the first time I completed a juice fast. Then, I started thinking about how uncomfortable I have started to feel in my under garments, my level of energy and all of the aches within my body.

So, starting today I plan to try to work towards healing my body. How do I plan to do this, it's simple by taking things one day at a time. When I think about juicing for thirty days or even juicing for one week, my mind starts playing tricks on me. So, as far as today I will be juicy and make make juices for the day and then tonight, make juices for tomorrow. By using this system, it is my belief that I won't be force to eat. One thing that I am excited about is the fact that Jamba juice is near, therefore I can run there for a carrot juice if I am feeling that I need something immediately.

Friends, as you say your prayers this evening please include me that I can get myself back on track and pursue this healthylife style once and for all. I have a plan for how I'd like to eat when the fast is over and my overall goal is to be a healthy example for my husband and kids.

Signed,
PJ