Juicing Tips

10 Juicing Tips to help keep you on track:

1. Have a support person
This is where the buddy system comes in. Have someone you can check in with that will help hold you accountable.
Let people around you know that you are juicing. Come prepared to social events. You could even bring something with you for everyone to try!

2. Keep foods that will tempt you out of the house
You know those sweet foods that convince you to buy them while you're waiting in line at the grocery store? Those are going to tempt you at home too. Hiding them from yourself isn't good enough. Trust me, you will find them. "Out of sight out of mind."

3. Buy in bulk
Buying in bulk will save you time and money. Check out your local farmers markets and buy in bulk from there. Always buy organic when you can.

4. Make a "meal" schedule, but take one day at a time
How many of us already make a shopping list according to your meal planning for the week? This really is a great way to stick with a routine and have something to refer to. You know what produce you have that you need to use up before it goes bad and what produce you need to buy to keep on your schedule. Taking one day at a time is the best way to keep you focused and in the moment. When we live in the moment everything is much easier. If you are new to juicing we recommend Juicing Plans from Joe Cross. He offers free plans for 3, 5, 10, & 15 day juice cleanses. This is a great place to start!

5. Food prepping; stock up on juice for times of temptation/juice on the go
Sometimes we just want to snack. There are also times when we just don't have time to juice, or let's face it, just don't want to. It's great to have a juice in the fridge you can grab for those times. Food prepping also cuts down on the time it takes to juice. Remember it's always best to cut up your produce right before using it, and drinking your juice within the first 30 minutes of juicing to get the most nutrients out of it, so we don't recommend doing this all the time.

6. Listen to your body
This should be number 1. Always, always listen to your body. As you become healthier and eat a plant based diet/juice, you will become more aware of what your body needs. You will crave the foods with the nutrients your body is craving. If your body is tired, rest. Avoid certain fruits/veggies that cause your body to react poorly. If you are not used to spicy foods, start out with small amounts of the less spicy peppers and gradually work your way up. Etc. Everyone is different.

7. Stay away from the house, get out and get some fresh air and light exercise
If you are having a food craving go on a walk or get in some light exercise. Chances are when you get back you won't feel like eating anymore. Take up yoga or meditation. Go jogging a couple nights a week. Stay active even if it means a short walk around the block. But start slow! If you don't feel like you can exercise start with just being outside. Stretch. Become aware of all the sounds going on around you.  Be present. Remember to listen to your body! Don't overdue it or you won't have any energy.

8. Remember the 15 minute rule with temptation
If you can get past the first 15 minutes the feelings of temptation subside and you can keep going... until the next time. But don't worry those 15 minutes become fewer and far between.
Even though you are getting lots of water with the produce you are juicing, it is never a bad idea to drink water in between your juices.

9. Get enough sleep!
This is so important. When you don't get enough sleep your body shuts down. You have less energy and your body doesn't perform at optimal levels. Studies have shown that when we don't get enough sleep we tend to make poorer food choices and eat more of them. Your body is going through a detox and you may need to just take it easy during the entire juice cleanse.

10. Be kind & patient with yourself!
Remember you are amazing and can do anything you set your mind to!


For FAQ on juicing we recommend Reboot with Joe Cross

How to Juice and in What Order

Did you know that there's a specific way you should be putting your fruits and veggies in your juicer in order to get the most out of your produce?

It's actually a really simple concept to put into practice and it goes as follows:

Simple enough right??

I almost always finish off my juices with celery. Celery is a juicer's best friends because it is cheap to buy and has an extremely high water content making it the perfect addition to your fruit and veggie drinks while also cleaning out your juicer right at the end! Win-win!

***If you have a masticating juicer the recommendations remain the same. You'll just get a higher yield because of its ability to extract more juice from the produce.***

Fellow Juicing fanatics- got any other recommendations?? We'd love to hear from you! Sound off in the comments below.

HAPPY JUICING!

Why Juice?

Fridays are my day off so I try to get everything in on that day. Laundry, gym, sleeping in, ...
So today after my boot camp and yoga classes at the gym I headed over to Lins Marketplace to buy some produce for our February juice cleanse.  I got a case of gala apples for $39.00! That's .99c/lb!

I found some other great deals too and always go for what's on sale.  I will just have to grow my own herbs since I refuse to spend a couple dollars on 3 sprigs. Maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration but you get the idea.
I always get my carrots there too. I have yet to find a better deal than 25lbs for $14.99! Someone always asks me "what are you going to do with that many carrots?" When I reply with "I'm going to juice them" most people respond with words of encouragement, but I occasionally get the deer in the headlights look.

So, why juice? 
Fresh juice gives our bodies the maximum benefits from our fruits and vegetables. This way we get all the essential fatty acids, carbohydrates, minerals, proteins, and vitamins, etc. from our produce. These nutrients are locked in the fiber of our produce which is expelled from the body. When we juice our produce, the nutrients are released, entering our bloodstream very quickly, and we are able to drink their highly concentrated nutrients. 
Plus we get in the recommended amount of our daily servings of our fruits and veggies! Bonus! 

As with any cleanse at first you may feel tired, or have less energy. Everyone's bodies are different. Whatever you experience remember this is normal! This is your body working hard to get rid of all the toxins! You are on your way to a stronger body and mind free of disease! Soon you will feel so much more energized!

Start with one fresh juice a day and I guarantee you will feel the benefits! 

Juicing is great for all ages, however, we do not recommend anyone under the age of 16 going on a juice fast. Seek medical attention if you experience severe symptoms or are on any medications. Never go off medications cold turkey! For additional information watch the documentary Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead.