Cheaper models around $60. There was also a bit of a discussion on juicing vs blending in the 'fitness challenge thread'. Having done both, I think juicing tastes better or basically is much easier to do than blending where your ratios and recipes count more. A top of the line juice blender is $450 new minimum (Vitamix of Blendtec) which is kinda nuts. I got mine on ebay for a very good price. For juicing if you check on Amazon the maker Breville is the best IMHO. I bought a powerful Breville juicer for less than $120 and it really works well. It's a pain to clean though but I think with your 'Jness' you'll have less trouble with it than I did. >_<
Yeah, I got a Vitamix.... so I know that they are pricy!!! However, considering that I am using it 1-2x per day, everyday... It has been a much better investment than my Xbox with Kinetic was last year.
I had a juicer, but I gave that away to a friend now that I have this.
I saw the first half of it and have mentioned it in some other threads. I have a raw vegan friend who has tried exclusively juicing. It's actually quite difficult to stick with because it's not very filling. I have done the lemonade juice fast a few times. Fasts are very bad options for weight loss as they encourage yo yo dieting and a false sense of 'holy grail'ness, I think the docu guy was an extreme case because desperation and having money banked on his story pushed him to stick with it for the extended amount of time necessary to really reset his system.
Both the documentary guy and the man he helped were extreme cases. The docu guy (Joe) also inspired a regular woman to try juicing for just a week. Regular as in, normal weight, exercised, relatively healthy, etc. She spoke on the documentary too about her journey and that was very enlightening. When the week was up she went back to eating food, except that she juiced for her breakfast. I think THAT is more of what the average person should take from the documentary... not necessarily going 60 days drinking only juice.
You should definitely finish the documentary sometime. It was very inspiring and interesting to see all of the progress that was made.
I was wondering what your goals were for your juice fast? I think juice fasts are best for detox when you have real issues like the docu guy's mystery skin allergy and related health issues. I think for truly healthy people who eat mostly green and clean anyways juice fasts have less impact. At least, I've never really experienced energy surges, 'clean feeling' etc. that juice fasts supposedly give you (I don't have the best diet, but I think it's definitely better than average in America). But for literally getting rid of toxins or resetting an inflammed/irritated system to get back to 'normal' I think they are great. I personally also blend and juice for the fiber and literally when it gets difficult/a chore to chew all the salad/greens I want.
The juice fasts I've done have curbed cravings, specifically for sweets/sugar. My skin also seems cleaner.
I had several goals for this experience. First, in case I didn't make it clear, I wasn't doing a pure juice fast. My focus was on making green smoothies for all three of my meals for 10 days. So in my case I am using the whole food and using my blender, versus just the juice.
Goals:
1. Detox from after the holidays. I gained 6 lbs from Thanksgiving to Xmas from eating holiday meals, and snacks. With maybe another lb left over from PMS bloat.
2. Start the new year off fresh inside and out.
3. Jumpstart my nutrition and exercise regime again now that the holidays were over.
4. Eat as many meals as I can as green smoothies, within reason of what my body needs.
5. Get out of the habit of eating processed foods with sugar and salt and too much wheat in them. (I don't buy snack foods for myself, and most of my meals are cooked by me... However, holiday season with family outings and friend parties, etc, brought all of the foods I normally avoid. I have learned through trial and error that refined sugars, wheat, and dairy are not good for me.)
For me, I have had an energy surge this whole week. I think the foundation is the better nutrition I have been consuming, and the core of the energy surge has been me upping my exercises. I've not only lost the holiday bloat but I have lost a few extra pounds as well, and I feel much lighter and smaller than I did a week and a half ago... and my clothing can attest to it. I also haven't done 100% smoothies. A couple of nights I substituted my green smoothie for quinoa, my homemade spaghetti sauce, and sauteed citrus mushrooms. I've upped my exercises to now include weights and because of that I have needed to up my protein intake.
My skin is usually pretty good regardless of any poor eating habits, but I have noticed improvements this week.
I think green juice has a place in a comprehensive healthy eating system, especially if taken first thing in the morning (@Mmmhmm can tell you more about this) and if you are well-informed about nutrition and how your own body responds to food. Or I think juicing can help show you how your body responds to food. I don't think it's necessary to go on a juice only fast except in cases where you have allergies or if those kick starts motivate you. I also think the key is to stick with it. I had a friend try to quit smoking and do a juice cleanse for a few days for the new year but I think she gave up early.
Let us know how it goes!
Yes, I agree! For myself, I prefer making a green smoothie out of the foods instead of just consuming the juice. Now that I have cut back, and eliminated refined sugars from my diet this past year... I have noticed that when I drink apple juice by itself that I get a blood sugar surge that feels uncomfortable. Last night I ate too many dried Incan berries and I got a bit sick from that.
The pure juicing fast is best for those who are really sick.
I will write more later... work calls!