It's a Do or Diet Situation
I’ve only tried one diet. It’s called breastfeeding. Otherwise, the thought of counting calories excites me as much as a root canal and injections do. Yup, the idea seems that bad.
I have never been fond of that heroin chic, skinny, waif, I-need-to-eat-a-cheeseburger look. Nor am I a fan of deprivation, starvation, or lemon water with cayenne pepper. Truly, I’m more of a bootylicious kind of gal. And I’m a firm believer in thinking of food in terms of health not looks. So consistent with this belief, I think it’s more than okay to enjoy indulgent foods in moderation. Translation: I don’t pass up dessert on special occasions or when we enjoy the rare date night out. In fact, I’m enjoying my very first Sprinkle’s cupcake as I write this. (I did go to the gym today, so it’s allowed.)
Yet despite my commitment to a balanced and healthy lifestyle, I fear something has gotta change. No matter how many veggies and fruits I consume (probably not enough!) and cocktails and desserts I forgo, my mind and body are stuck in what I’ll call purgatory, some sort of undesirable stasis. Even though it has been months since I last experienced baby- and law-firm induced sleep deprivation and my stress levels are back to “normal,” I’m always tired. I’m going to chalk it up to having a baby, turning 30, and a forever changed body chemistry (or perhaps the more obvious thing called parenthood). No matter, I want to have more lasting energy so I think I have to come to terms with the fact that my diet – uh oh, dare I say it – needs revisiting.
Image by Eat-Breathe-Smile
Because of my instant aversion to anything labeled with the “D” word, I think the best thing I can do for myself is take baby steps instead of jumping in head first and becoming a raw food or vegan devotee (no offense, but these rigid food diets sound so devoid of pleasure that I could never thrive even if I could look like Demi or Natalie…a girl’s got to eat real cheese). That’s why I’m considering juicing.
We all know you are what you eat and that food plays a big part in how we feel, especially when it comes to mental acuity, energy, and moods (weight loss and maintenance are just an added bonus…maybe I can finally say "sayonara" to the 10 lbs. of leftover baby weight, if I can call it that). So even though I’m not a doctor and I have no professional frame of reference for making this determination—unless you’re counting the few episodes of The Dr. Oz Show under my belt—juicing seems like the perfect way for me to detox and clear my system of whatever is blocking my qi. Besides obsessing over a juicer I saw at Crate & Barrel, I arrived at this decision based on my personal likes and dislikes, lifestyle, and just plain ol’ convenience (meals in a cup are a personal fave).
People often report that when they change their diet to include plenty of live juices, their body undergoes a transformation similar to a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. They start feeling better, lighter, and more energized as time goes on. Sleep improves. Energy kicks up a notch, and mood improves. The mind becomes more alert and creative, while disorganizing brain fog fades away because all the nutrients in fresh juice help the mind and body revive. — Cherie Calbom, MS
The real appeal of juicing is that it’s a not a lifestyle overhaul and is instead something I can easily work into my daily routine. I intend to try a one- and then three-day juice detox (not consecutively), following which I’ll continue enjoy fresh juices as a drink with my breakfast oatmeal or as a snack. I’m very willing to pack more fruits and veggies into my diet, while giving my body’s digestive system a break and hopefully (cross your fingers) improving my sleep and energy.
Has anyone tried juicing? How did it go?
Any other tried and true “diets” that improved your energy?
Any crazy fads that seemed like a good idea but proved to be a good laugh in hindsight? Is juicing one of them?
Maybe this is all wishful thinking. Either way, it’s time to buy a juicer and make use of my orange tree.
~ The Other Sarah
7 Comments
Reader Comments (7)
I'm all about my yogurt and granola for breakfast, which seems to give me some good energy to start my day. I think drinking lots of water and cutting out soda and sugary drinks also helps. The best thing I ever did for my daily eating regimen was recognize that I am a snacker and that will never change. So instead of heading to CVS for a candy bar, I always have with me a handful of almonds or cashews for a late morning snack and a piece of fruit and dark chocolate for a mid-afternoon snack. That keeps me going without giving me a sugar high that eventually zaps my energy. I've heard of a lot of athletes that juice and I think the way you are doing it - as a supplement to a healthy breakfast or healthy snack - is the way to go.
I tried it. I started hallucinating. I stopped after 5 days, but that doesn't mean it won't work for you. If you're going to do it, though, spend $$$ on a juicer. The cheap ones are a huge pain in the ass to clean.
I did it. Several one-day detoxes and two 3-day. I bought a killer, top-of-the-line juicer for maximum nutrient preservation and planned out my 'menus' ahead of time. I'm not going to lie, it was hard. There's something about not chewing your food that is fundamentally unsatisfying. I also felt like death about half of the time because too much detoxing at once is really hard on your body. In retrospect, I would probably have included some kind of protein and fat supplementation during my detoxes and then done a better job making juicing part of my daily routine. As it was, I got turned off by the discomfort of juice fasting and ended up stopping altogether. There is definitely a kind of mental clarity that comes after a 3-day fast that is exhilarating, but I never felt the energy surge people talk about. Can't wait to hear about your experience!
I'm like you - ALWAYS TIRED! I'm intrigued and can't wait to hear how "juicing" worked for you. Keep me posted.
A friend of mine is a health coach and I've done a couple of week-long detoxes with her guidance. It's not juice though. Basically you cut out the following: sugar, caffeine, gluten and white rice (though you can eat steel-cut oats, brown rice and quinoa), all animal products including dairy and meat, and processed foods except for tofu an almond milk. What you are left with is pretty tasty (think beans, veggies, tofu, fruit, and delicious homemade dressings!), and you definitely feel like you've detoxed at the end of the week.
Thanks for the tips, Amy. It sounds very doable because one isn't being deprived of food.
- TOS
Hi Annie! I don't think I'm ready to sign up for a long-term fast (I definitely don't have the will to do that). One-day is enough for me and I plan to drink almond or soy milk at the end of the day too. We'll see what I can reasonably and safely manage. What juicer did you settle on?
- TOS