Vitamix and a Juicer!

 Vitamix - What a powerful "Blender". It's more than a blender.  It's a Food Processor, Blender, Juicer (although a little to pulpy for me) a seed grinder and chopper.... AND FAST!

  I have to admit, I did try to make a Sorbet when I first opened the box but ended up with a smoothie.  So I poured it into Ice Cube trays and made juice cubes with it.  These will make healthy little refreshers.   My first drink was a Grape, Strawberry and Orange Smoothie (handful of grapes, strawberries and 1 orange, made enough for 1 smoothie).   Then last night I was trying to make beverage, and ended up with a Sorbet (go figure)-  You know the saying Nothing is as easy as it looks!  It's easy, but it just takes a little finesse!

I didn't video tape it but I did make my green juice in the Vitamix and I have to say "CURRENTLY I prefer the Juice Extracted juice rather than the "smoothie" version with all the pulp still in".  However, I'm not giving up and will keep trying it to see if it's just an acquired taste.

This Video was done July 25th - my first smoothie- click play to watch -

The Vitamix I bought (I bought it at the Kitchen store in Portsmouth, NH (they also sell it at Bed, Bath and Beyond) is the CIA Version with 64 oz container (and is the same as the Vitamix 5200 but with the CIA logo on it). In addition to the Vitamix it came with a beautiful 358 color illustrated cookbook with recipes developed by professional chefs from around the U.S. (a list of their individual sites is below).  So I have my work cut out for me in learning to use the Vitamix and also adapting some of the recipes to more plant based ingredients (where I can, I can still prepare the meat based ones, I'll just prepare those for Bruce and guests). 

Chef bios from the cookbook.
www.rickbayless.com
www.livingfoodsinstitute.com
www.partiesthatcook.com
www.kleebrasserie.com
www.kathycasey.com
www.ciachef.edu
www.hughcarpenter.com
Rick Gresh, (Executive Chef of David Burke's Primehouse, Chicago, IL -no website)
www.robinasbell.com
www.cookwithaloha.com
www.marks1658.com
www.sandfordrestaurant.com
www.thediningdiva.com
www.cropbistro.com
www.malaoceantavern.com
www.foodell.com
www.mavericksouthernkitchens.com
www.fronterakitchens.com
www.radiusrestaurant.com
www.viamattarestaurant.com
Ivy Stark,(Executive Chef of Dos Caminos, NY,NY - no website link)

The Journey Continues......   By the way if you use the Vitamix or have your own recipes you'd like to share, please post a comment!  

DAY 60 - Day 60 - Day 60!

60 Days of Juicing and eating only vegetables and fruits. After watching 2 very inspiring movies - Forks over Knives and Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, Debbie Mae and Bruce were inspired to clean up their act! Debbie Mae quit smoking as well, quit dairy and to date has lost 25 pounds. For 33 of the 60 days I was juicing 100% of the time, now twice a day (morning and afternoon) and eating vegetables at night - This is NOT A DIET, it is a new way of living!

I still have 15 pounds to go and will continue my journey! 

Day 21-23 - Over Did It On Fruits!

Down 17 pounds in 23 Days! 

 23 Days Total!

18 Days of 100% Juicing - Down 17 Pounds

Had a rough couple days from to much Fruit Juicing!

Saturday morning I got up and juiced Grape Orange and Strawberry, along with my green juice. When I came home later in the day and early evening - I decided to make a Grape, Strawberry Banana smoothie (I had frozen the the bananas). So I juiced the Grapes and Strawberries, then poured the juice in the blender and added the bananas. All is well.

I woke up Sunday ( the 26th) with some pretty hefty lower abominable pains. Not thinking, I went ahead and made another juice of Grapes and Cantaloupe - I pretty much laid low all day, but my abominable pains (cramps) kept getting worse. Bruce made me some Smooth Move Tea.

Nothing really helped and I was seriously considering breaking the fast - but I talked to a few VEGAN friends, and almost everyone concurred. I had injested to many acid fruits in my stomach and as one person said I was having a gastrointestinal crisis - and that I should eat some Soy Yogurt. Of course I went over to the Health Food store and bought some - it's funny, it was Blueberry and because I haven't had solid food in awhile, I didn't eat the blueberries (AT FIRST) then I figured, for crying out loud Debbie Mae, it's not going to kill you so I ate the few that were there! Bruce also bought some Acidophilus which is suppose to be good bacteria.  As of 6:28 2/28 things are much, much better than Sunday or even Monday!

So this morning I made a Cauliflower Cocktail

(3 Tomatoes, 3 Carrots, 1/2 Cauliflower, 2-3 spears of Brocolli, 2 Apples, 2 Celery Stalks -

Yum Yum and even tasted EXCELLENT for breakfast! and The Mean Green For Lunch.

 

I'm actually cooking dinner tonight for Bruce I'm roasted vegetables in a dish called "Escalivada", and Pea Soup! I have to tell you it's driving me crazy and I have licked the spoon!

In my video blog above I talked about the ingredients for the Field of Greens,  which you can add to your juices (or water). You can buy this in large containers (about $30.00). But I just bought some small packets to give it a try.  I'm going to use it with my Green Juice ingredients (Spinach, Cucumber, Celery, Ginger Root, 2 Apples, 1/2 lemon and if I don't have Kale I'll use this).   I am curious to know how much of juiced Kale I get using 6 leaves, vs one of these?) - But this sounds like a good alternative if you are somewhere where you cannot juice and you want to be good!

Still Loving It! Ya Hoo!

Day 19 & 20 - It's been 20 DAYS Today!

    20 Days!   Still Juicing 100% of the time, Still working out,  Not Smoking, No Caffeine, No WINE, No Solid food.  And I'm feeling Great.  I do find myself thinking about food every once in awhile, but I get over it pretty quickly.   I'm Going to extend my fast and try for 25 Days -  and we'll see how I feel at that point.    Bruce is still doing the modified fast (juicing and eating fruits & veggies). 

I'm actually going through my closet now looking for different pants to wear and the ones I've been wearing are getting pretty loose.  This is fun! 

This morning I made my First Grape Juice - 2 Cups Red Grapes, 2 Oranges (even though 4 are shown) 2 cups of Strawberries.   Enough for 2 8oz glasses.  Bruce said it was his favorite so far.  Great way to start a Saturday morning.  I got it from the Juicing Bible, a worthwhile purchase . 

This is becoming contagious.  It appears that if I spend anytime talking to someone about what I've been doing this last month they end up going out and buying a Juicer!  I think that is awesome!  Even if you juice once a day - the goodness that you get from it is felt immediately -  My niece Rochelle sent me this great photo today - She could be the Poster Child for Juicing.  But it's a little funny she's drinking what she calls Mutant Ninja- (carrots, lemons, apple,red grapes,celery,spinach ) in a Cola Glass. Hey what ever works!

Day 18 Plumbings Frixed

SMOOTH MOVE - Senna Tea!  Works in 6-12 Hours - Drink before you go to bed.

        Evening Juice (Bruce Hated this) - 1/4 Green Cabbage, 1/2 head Cauliflower, 6 Carrots, handful little tomatoes, handful broccoli crowns, 1 celery stalk - I love this taste!

Day 16 - Hmmm Bought Some Prunes Today

Moving into new territory extending my Juice Reboot - 100 % Juice as many times a day as I want, with lots of water.  Felt pretty good, but I'm just a little bound up. With just juice going into my body, I understand that it can create this kind of hold up on the pipe cleaning. So this morning I made a Beet Juice (Have I mentioned I HATE Beets!), with Honeydew, Carrots, and Pears.   I wouldn't say it helped but it sure tasted good!

Had Green Juice all day with TONS of water -

On the way home I stopped and bought some dried prunes and made a concoction of  1 Yam, 1 tomato, 2 oranges, juiced it up then poured it into a blender and added about half dozen prunes and strawberries and ice.  Made a hell of a smoothie!  Will it work?  don't know. 

Bruce made a Portebella burger  (dam I didn't take a photo of it ) for his dinner with a salad.  It was a big huge Portebella with roasted red peppers, jalapenos, spinach and pickles stuff in a whole wheat Pita (with spicy mustard and ketchup?) God it looked delicious and apparently was.  He woofed it down with his salad.  We'll see how he feels in an hour.

With the exception of this constipation, I'm feeling good. Bruce is all over the Internet looking for plant based recipes!   This is really becoming a comfortable routine each day. 
Oh, several people asked how will I break the fast when I'm done.  According to Join The Reboot, you ease your way back, by going back to week 1 (juicing and eating fruites and veggies) and eating that way for one week. The next week you'd add nuts, beans...., then the 3rd week ease into your regular diet (hopefully you've learned new habbits and will be eating healthier foods )....  That's what I plan to do.  Well, that's all for today.

DAY 15 OF 15 - The Results

Day 15 of 15

Well we have completed 15 days on the Join the Reboot Fruit and Vegetable "Reboot"

In 15 Days -

I quit smoking - and quit using the "gum" and feel great

I quit Caffeine and feel great

I'm working out 3 times a week (to start)

Our sleeping has improved

Our energy levels are incredible

Our Stress levels are WAY lowwwww

We are more focused in what we do

Our clothes fit MUCH better

Our skin is smoother

We've developed a new appreciation for fruits and vegetables

We've had our eyes opened to new ways of getting our nutrients from sources

other than Dairy (which was a big one for both of us - eggs, cheese, milk, butter) which we will incorporate into our way of eating. When we eat Meat, Poultry, Fish it will be fewer days a week, and smaller portions - I don't think I'm 100% ready to give that up just yet, but may feel different by the time this journey is over.

The 15 days were broken out as follows

We ate and juiced nothing but fruits and vegetables for the first 5 days

Then I Juiced 100% of the time for the remaining 10 days

Bruce juiced 100% day 6-10 and the remaining 5 days he juiced for Breakfast, Lunch and then ate Vegetables for Dinner

Our Juices were for the most part Super C & Mean Green (but now I have the Juice Bible with tons of receipes)

In 15 Days

We both lost 14 pounds each

(yes that's my weight on the scales below, have 25 more to go)

So you might think we are anxious to get back to a regular diet  again. 

We have both decided that we are going to continue the Reboot

 (I will continue with 100% Juicing, Bruce will do both)

 so tomorrow will be day 16 of ? (We will extend it 5 days at a time,and see how we are doing)

I cannot recommend this enough!

Day 11, 12 13 Whew!

I can't beleive it's already been 13 Days!

Been busy, havent' posted in a few days.  I feel Great!  Going to keep juicing 100% of the time for another 5 days beyond what the program calls for.  Will play it by ear!  I recorded my post for today - Ya Hoo!

Day 10 - Decision Time

(sorry about the quality of audio, the treadmill picked up the sound  Oh Well!)

Decision Time! 10 days down 5 to go - We've been juicing 100% of the time for the last 5 days - Should we continue on for another 5 days of 100% Juicing or go for what the Reboot calls for and finish up the program with 5 days of Juicing and Eating Fruits and Veggies?   The decision is in - I am going to go for another 5 days of 100% juicing and Bruce will do the next 5 days Juicing and eating (fruits and vegetables).  I'm sure he is going to be preparing some amazing Vegetable dishes and by the time I'm ready to eat solid food again, he'll have some great dishes for me to try.  This is good!

This afternoon when I left the office I was getting whiffs of the food being cooked at the Blue Mermaid and it smelled sooooo good and I thought, we'll maybe I will go back to the juice/eat - but then I thought, this has been so easy, and I really want to completely change my eating habits, so what do I have to loose other than more weight!   I'm thinking 30 pounds is a good start and I'm already down 10! 

I ordered 2 books today as I had some credits left on an Amazon gift card I was given. These books  have been recommended by various people I've met through this process. The first one is  "Skinny Bitch". Here is the link to some testimonials Skinny Bitch Testimonials  from those inspired by it.  And the second one is the Juicing Bible.  "The Juicing Bible" is made up of easy-to-follow sections. Section 1 lists the properties and healing qualities of almost 100 herbs, fruits, and vegetables. Section 2 lists 60 common ailments and the recipes specifically created to alleviate those conditions. The last section contains over 150 delicious recipes and even suggests which types of juices work best during specific times of the year. Figure I'll look at these while I'm on the Treadmill!

For dinner Juice today I  made a delicious drink - Cauliflower, Broccoli, Carrots, onion (maybe a little bit less of that next time), Red Pepper, tomato, apple, strawberries!  I even gave some to the cats mixed with their food and they liked it (they liked the green juice better). 

Well that's all for now.  I'm still inspired, feeling great, (I swear, when I woke up this morning and looked at the clock, I didn't have to use my glasses - could this be?)  and still NOT smoking.

Day 9 - Where is the time going?

Day 9 of the 15 Day Reboot.   Day 4 of 100% Juicing - and Day13 of Not Smoking!  We enjoyed a variety of fruits in a breakfast juice this morning that seemed appropriate for Valentine Day - Strawberry, blueberry, honeydew, orange and apple,  Very refreshing way to start the day.  Since it was time to restock the greens, I made a green juice with a few additions:   Kale, Cucumber, Celery, Ginger, Broccoli, Carrot, Red Bell Pepper, and some Romaine ( I needed the liquid and was doing what I could to get 64 ounces for the two of us )   It tasted wonderful - We had to make another run to the vegetable store. Am sipping on a concoction of Papaya, Kiwi, Pear, Orange and Lemon Rather yummy!  

According to the Reboot program, tomorrow would be the last day of 100% juicing and we go back to juicing and eating fruits and vegetables for the last 5 days of the 15 day reboot.  I'm inclined to continue the 100% juicing a little longer - Hey I'm just getting started!  Bruce on the other hand would really like to be able to at least eat the fruits and vegetables - We'll see how it goes.

Did I mention we are sleeping like babies at night, and the juices are wonderful, and we feel great!

Oh yeah, last Tuesday I bought a scale  and when I stood on it I was at 170- this morning 160. 

And now that I've started the treadmill -  Yeah I want to keep this up - whoo-hoo! 

Well, I've got an early day tomorrow so it's time to go enjoy what's left Valentines Day with My Sweetheart!

Day 8 - Finding A Groove

8 Days of Juicing & Fruits &Vegetables only

   now Day 3 of Juicing Only

It's amazing to me that we have not had solid food since Friday.  I for one am feeling VERY Calm (Bruce as well feels calm), and I have had no desire to eat something or smoke cigarettes today.  In a million years I wouldn't have thought I'd feel this way (based on what I've been reading).

We are both waking up very early (without an alarm clock), feeling very good, and have the energy to do all the juicing that is required for the amount that we are suppose to drink during the day, and clean up afterwards before we do what we normally do in the morning. This does take a little getting use to.

I do have to say, however, that the amount pulp that is left over from juicing is amazing. If I had a compost pile, it would be working serious overtime! I hate to see it go to waste, but I just don't have the time to make broth out of it all (Nor do I have the room in my freezer).  If anyone wants it...! Bruce wants to make Pulp Chips (doesn't sound very appetizing).  Being a very good cook himself, he is thinking about solid food more than me, but is a real partner in this journey we are on. 

Bruce would also like to have some of his juice meals hot!  But the heat destroys the nutritional value of the vegetables, so whats the point there?  We are dealing with that by drinking lots of herbal tea in between, at least it's hot!.   Finding a groove... it is a learning experience no doubt! 

I'm all set up and ready to start using my treadmill again. Bruce put up a stand for my laptop so I can use it while walking (talk about multi-tasking)  Walked for 30 minutes today (taking it slow to start).

I'm loving the way I/we feel- Ya-hoo!

Here's our easy juicing for the day.

Breakfast
16 oz each Super C juice





Lunch
32 oz each Green Juice





Evening Juice - 
16 oz each - Cauliflower/Broccoli Pop (I made this up) - 2 handfuls of broccoli florets, 1/4 head of cauliflower - 1 carrot - 1/2 red bell pepper - 1 tomato - 1 celery stalk - a chunk of jicama 1/2 apple.
(pretty Yummy)

Water throughout the day
Bruce had an additional 4 bottles (16 oz each) of water
Deb had 3 additional bottles of water  (16 oz each)
Plus lots of herbal tea.

Day 7 - Juicing Day - Day 11 No Smoking

After 7 Days total, today is Day 2 of 100% Juicing only - I'm actually surprised that I'm not going completely crazy wanting solid food.  I think starting the 100% juicing on the weekend helped as we've stayed in, laid low, made a fire, watched some movies and tried some different juices.  Just taking it easy. 

Other than that I feel fine- haven't even used the gum today! Bruce is doing well also - He'd really like to have some "chewable" food but I keep bugging him to drink more water . WATER IS GOOD!

Did some walking today on the Treadmill for about 35 minutes. Nice and Easy!

However, feeling a tad bound up if you know what I mean- Apple cider Vinegar in a glass of water (hasn't helped), broke down and had a cup of black coffee (didn't help)...  Not going to worry about it today.   

I have to admit we did go to BJ's yesterday as Bruce wanted to try some of the 100% juice already made (processed) - so we bought a couple quarts one Green one Carrot.  I like the fresh juice better, but in a pinch I suppose that would work.

Morning - we both had
Sunset Blend Juice (from reboot recipes) (1 sweet potato, 1 carrot, 1 red bell pepper, 1 beet (it called for 2) 2 Apples, and  1/4 lemon (it called for 1 orange optional).

Mid Morning
Carrot Juice (We bought some from BJ's to try it out - In a pinch this would be ok)

Lunch / Dinner
Green Juice- 1/2 cucumber, 6 leaves Kale, 2 cups spinach, 4 stalks Celery, 2 Apples, 1" ginger - Today I added some additional ingredients - I added about 1/4 butternut squash (with peel), 1 golden Beet. (I made a very big batch of this so we'd have it for the day).

Drank lots of herb tea

Will probably finish up the evening with some Berry Drink! But I'm all done with the computer today so ---- Tomorrow is another day - Ya Hoo!

Day 6 - Moving on to 100% Juicing

After 5 Days of Juicing/Eating F&V
Today BEGINS 5 DAYS of

100% Juicing

Fruits and Vegetables 

80% Vegetables to 20% Fruits.

We will Drink All of our meals and snacks for the next 5 Days! 

  

I found a great website called www.RawFoodsExplained.com  and the following is from lesson 21 and  says
 "...The person who starts a better diet... During the initial phase (lasting about ten days on the average to several weeks in some), the vital energies which are usually in the periphery or external part of the body much as the muscles and skin begin to move to the vital internal organs and start reconstruction. This shunting of much of the power to the internal region produces a "feeling of less energy in the muscles which the mind interprets as some weakness. Actually, the power is increased, but most of it is being used for rebuilding the more important organs and less of it is available for muscular work. Any weakness which is felt here is not true weakness, but merely a re-deploying of forces to the more important internal parts. Here it is important for the person to stop wasting energy, and to rest and sleep more. This is a crucial phase and if the person resorts to stimulants of any kind, he will abort and defeat the regenerative efforts of the body. It is important that he have patience and faith here and just wait it out, and after a while he will get increasing strength which will exceed by far what he felt before he began the new program. Success in recovery or improvement of health hinges upon the correct understanding of this point—realizing that the body is using its main energies in more important internal work and not wasting it in external work involving muscle movements. Be wise—take it easy here and relax. Just coast in your work and social obligations until you're out of the woods."   read more

Well it's off to do something interesting today - going to make it up as we go along!  Maybe explore the Health Food Store! Heard they make fresh juices!    Another Day of Not Smoking!  Ya-hoo!

Foods Juiced for Day 6 - 100%
Morning - we both had
8 oz Super C Juice  - (1/2 Red Bell Pepper, 1/2 Grapefruit, 1/2 orange, 1/4 lemon)

Mid Morning - we both had
8 oz Green Juice ( Kale, Spinach, apples, cucumber, ginger, celery)

Lunch
I had the Gardner 10 oz (from Portsmouth Health Food Store)
Bruce had The Beetnick 10 oz (from Portsmouth Health Food Store)

Mid afternoon - both had
8 oz Green Juice (see above)

Dinner:
8 oz The Invention (Bruce had 16 oz) (this was a mistake and I'm not sure it's okay to use. I steamed, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Onion, Mushrooms and butternut squash) then I took some humus and put it all in the blender with some mustard, apple cider vinegar, celery, apple and some vegetable stock I made and blended it for a long time.  Cold is was mustardy - Bruce  put his in the microwave and added some Siracha to it.   I think everything but the humus was ok - I'll just stick to juicing! Ha!

Evening We both had
8 oz - Us - Berry Cantaloupe Shake- 1 Cantaloupe (with skin & seeds) - 10 Strawberries - makes 2 servings -

Numerous cups of herbal tea throughout the say as well as water

Day 5 - Juicing Reboot - So Far So Good.

Day 5 - Today was just another good day.  I don't have much to add to Day 4's post.    I was extremely busy and there were a couple times that had this been two weeks ago, I would have gone out for a smoke (due to the craziness of the day).  I actually realized "my calmness" and thought to myself "self, you are mighty calm right now, wow this is good."

 The first 5 days of Juicing and Eating only fruits and vegetables has been relatively easy.
Juicing in the Morning - Super C juice - 8 ounces for each of us and an herbal tea of some kind.
Making a Batch of Green Juice for the day - 48 ounces for each of us / supplementing during the say with a banana or apple or other fruit
Drinking as much water as possible
Then having a dinner of either roasted, steamed or baked vegetables and/or salad
Followed up with an Herbal tea before bed.

Biggest things so far  (and their not really that big):
- Cleaning the juicer after every juice - Gotta Do It! So getting up a little early is important.
- Keeping sufficient quantities of Fruits/Vegetables on hand - You go through them Quickly
- Making sufficient quantities of juice to last all day - Bruce had his done by 11 today!
- Remembering to drink plenty of water during the day -
 - Handling the cravings when I get home - if I have them now and can eat veggies, how will it be when we are juicing  100% of the time.
That's pretty much it.  

This weekend we begin Juicing fruits and vegetables 100% of the time for 5 days (then back to juicing & eating for 5 days...unless we want to extend the Juicing phase for additional time).  From everything I 've read on the Internet and the various forums, the first 3 days will be the biggest challenge (in terms of overcoming the urge to eat solid food). I just have to stay positive, drink lots of water in between juicing and know that there is a hump and we will be over it quickly.

Oh, I'm still not smoking Day 9, even using less of the gum.   Let's see how the weekend goes!