The start of my juice cleanse/fast.

[El Jefe]

Alright lads, I started my juice fast/cleanse today and I thought it would be fun to keep everyone updated with where I am. I have already found two recipes I do not like. I thought this kind of thread would be a good way for anyone who is currently doing it or thinking about doing it. You can see me make the mistakes and then learn from them if you want to do this yourself. If you have any good recipes definitely put them in here. Anyone who has any type of input feel free to share it!

Reason for juice cleanse/fast: Doctor recommended for possible solution for migraines. He recommend this also as a good way to lower my blood pressure, LDL and CDL's, none of my numbers are really high, but they could definitely be lowered. I also am getting surgery on my ankle to take my steel plate out and install another newer plate, he said this would help with joint pain and healing. I also watched quite a few different documentaries and read a boat load of articles and I just love what the juice cleanse can do for you. It's not a diet for me, it's a lifestyle change. I want to be healthier for myself, my wife and out future kids. Personally I think I will always incorporate at least 1 juice meal per day after my cleanse.

Cost so far: I bought an Omega 330BM juicer at Bed Bath and Beyond, I had a 20% off coupon and I got it for $130. I spent $39 dollars on 2-3 days worth of juicing items (cucumbers, kale, celery, ginger root, carrots, kiwi, lemon, apples, pears, berries and strawberries). I will update this pretty regularly because I am not sure how much I will go through initially.

Starting numbers:

6'5
358lbs

First two recipes:

Breakfast: 6 carrots and a head of romaine lettuce. Did not like this recipe, it tasted like carrot dirt water. Definitely would alter or not use this recipe.

Lunch:Mean Green juice(off fat sick and nearly dead website). 2 cucumbers, 2apples, 6-8 kale, 1/2 lemon, 4 celery, 1tbsp ginger root. I havent drank this juice yet, but I did try it when I made it. I read online to leave the lemon peel on, it makes it taste a little more lemony. I found the opposite, it makes it more bitter. This juice I would envision to be like take a cows chewing cud and spinkle lemon juice and water on it lol.

Dinner: I will probably make something fruity, because I will need it.


Tips I have obtained and learned that are good to know: Do not make fruity juices to drink at night. Once you get over the detox period, you will have much more energy, if you drink a fruit juice mixture it will definitely keep you up. There are properties in the greens that help mellow you out a bit. I got this tip off a website of a black woman who has a youtube called Raw Raw life, she is super insightful, definitely recommend checking her page out.
Starting off I would definitely recommend spending the money on buying extra fruit, you have start off on the right foot, if you only drink the greens with minimal fruit you aren't going to like it. You can start off on the fruit and pull back after you get used to it.

The cleanup takes longer than making the juice. Buy a good juicer, mine is super easy to clean and use, its a pain, but that comes with the territory.

Thoughts so far about possible road blocks: The only real concern I have is the caffeine withdrawal. I spoke to my doctor about this before I did the cleanse and I have weened myself off of caffeine to some extent, but I know this will be hard for the first 2-3 days. I also don't look forward to taking runny poo's all day.

[El Jefe]

Originally Posted by Brock

I'd like someone to explain to me how making a juice cocktail of all these fruits and vegetables is superior to just eating the fruits and vegetables.

I don't want to eat raw vegetables. When you cook them they lose a lot of their nutritional values. For the cleanse they want you to get as much of the good stuff immediately. They don't want you to steam them and lose any of the positive properties of the vegetable. I would rather drink a broccoli smoothie, than eat a bunch of raw broccoli (no thanks).

[Brock]

Originally Posted by El Jefe

I don't want to eat raw vegetables. When you cook them they lose a lot of their nutritional values. For the cleanse they want you to get as much of the good stuff immediately. They don't want you to steam them and lose any of the positive properties of the vegetable. I would rather drink a broccoli smoothie, than eat a bunch of raw broccoli (no thanks).

So all you are essentially doing is having a machine chew your food for you.

[El Jefe]

Originally Posted by Saulbadguy

Don't argue, it's on a documentary.

No, it's really just common sense. Cookie, steaming or any other form of preparing vegetables can cause to them losing their nutritional values. When you juice them you are extracting the majority of the good stuff you want in a liquid form, which is also easier for your body to extract all the good stuff.

[El Jefe]

Originally Posted by Brock

So all you are essentially doing is having a machine chew your food for you.

Most definitely.

[Fairplay]

Originally Posted by Fish

I still don't understand what doctor would recommend a juice cleansing for migraines. That just makes no sense at all.

Its like when Newton invented gravity, before that an apple from a tree would come off and just float around. Then, Newton invented gravity and it dropped straight down to the ground making it more convenient to retrieve the apple.
Newton had a hard time explaining something you cannot see, didn't make sense at the time.

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Originally Posted by Brock

I'd like someone to explain to me how making a juice cocktail of all these fruits and vegetables is superior to just eating the fruits and vegetables.

For me it would be to make the taste more palatable. Nothing less, nothing more.

[Saulbadguy]

Originally Posted by El Jefe

No, it's really just common sense. Cookie, steaming or any other form of preparing vegetables can cause to them losing their nutritional values. When you juice them you are extracting the majority of the good stuff you want in a liquid form, which is also easier for your body to extract all the good stuff.

That's not entirely true.

[El Jefe]

Originally Posted by Saulbadguy

That's not entirely true.

Is anything entirely true? My doctor recommended it, I researched it, and everything sits well with me. Whether it is completely true or not, it is far better than what I was eating lol.

[Jenson71]

Originally Posted by El Jefe

Is anything entirely true? My doctor recommended it, I researched it, and everything sits well with me. Whether it is completely true or not, it is far better than what I was eating lol.

If it works for you, go for it. Good luck!

[The Mayor]

Congrats on getting started. Over the past year, I've been through two week long juice cleanses. At first I HATED the vegetable based juices. I finally realized that I just can't handle juiced celery. I think it's disgusting. Once I pulled that out of my receipes, everything went great!

Cucumber is now my favorite veggie to juice. One of my favorites over the summer was cucumber/watermelon/lime. I also found that juicing sweet potatoes/carrots/apples/ginger was a great combo.

It's amazing how many people will tell you that juicing is dangerous or that what you read or been told isn't true. I find it really funny that everyone is "concerned" about my health when I juice, but no one bothers to comment when I eat a bag of chips for dinner or have 2 dozen wings daily for weeks. Just ignore all the BS! Good luck!!

[ModSocks]

Originally Posted by The Mayor

Congrats on getting started. Over the past year, I've been through two week long juice cleanses. At first I HATED the vegetable based juices. I finally realized that I just can't handle juiced celery. I think it's disgusting. Once I pulled that out of my receipes, everything went great!

Cucumber is now my favorite veggie to juice. One of my favorites over the summer was cucumber/watermelon/lime. I also found that juicing sweet potatoes/carrots/apples/ginger was a great combo.

It's amazing how many people will tell you that juicing is dangerous or that what you read or been told isn't true. I find it really funny that everyone is "concerned" about my health when I juice, but no one bothers to comment when I eat a bag of chips for dinner or have 2 dozen wings daily for weeks. Just ignore all the BS! Good luck!!

Cucumber juice is delicious. I make a A Cucumber margarita that is sooo good. Just peel the cucumber, cut em up, throw them in the blender with some water and blend until it's a puree. Strain it, add some more water, add 1 cup of sugar and a lot of fresh squeezed lime juice.


Mmmmm.....yum. Use Tajin as a rimmer, add in Some Tequila and Grand Marnier.....Thank me later. So refreshing.

[DaKCMan AP]

I've juiced all kinds of vegetables/fruits. There aren't any that I don't like, but I typically eat them rather than juice them. Also, if I'm going to drink fruits/vegetables I prefer to blend them into smoothies instead of juicing. This way you consume the entire fruit/vegetable (less pits) instead of discarding the pulp when using a juicer.

[cookster50]

Does the juice just chop everything up real fine, or does it take out the pulp?

[El Jefe]

Originally Posted by The Mayor

Congrats on getting started. Over the past year, I've been through two week long juice cleanses. At first I HATED the vegetable based juices. I finally realized that I just can't handle juiced celery. I think it's disgusting. Once I pulled that out of my receipes, everything went great!

Cucumber is now my favorite veggie to juice. One of my favorites over the summer was cucumber/watermelon/lime. I also found that juicing sweet potatoes/carrots/apples/ginger was a great combo.

It's amazing how many people will tell you that juicing is dangerous or that what you read or been told isn't true. I find it really funny that everyone is "concerned" about my health when I juice, but no one bothers to comment when I eat a bag of chips for dinner or have 2 dozen wings daily for weeks. Just ignore all the BS! Good luck!!

Your first point is where I am currently. These vegetable juice based shakes are going to be rough. The mean green juice makes me want to vomit. I have to chase it down with water. Fortunately I tell myself that the green juice is the best for you. You can't just drink the fruits juices, the veggie juices are a neccessity. After I get this first month done, it will be nice because I will know what flavors and mixtures I like.

Currently I had a headache start a couple times, but I pounded some water and so far they have subsidied. The next 2-3 days will be interesting though. Thank God I don't work on the weekend. I know I will have a headache and the runs, but my resolve is steadfast.

[El Jefe]

Originally Posted by cookster50

Does the juice just chop everything up real fine, or does it take out the pulp?

It depends on what you put in it. Most everything is really fine, but I found carrot juice to be really fibery (sp) you could get a lot of particles and strings in it. The green juice I had was completely smooth. Kiwi's you don't want to juice the outside, it comes out really nasty IMO.