Juicing ~ 2 Months In....

I've been FLOODED with SO MANY questions!!!

I am so very overwhelmed by all of the positive feedback that I have received.  Questions and comments from friends and family and neighbors, and yes, even complete strangers have been emailing me...it's AMAZING!  Over 350 people have read my juicing blog post...350?!?!?  That's CRAZY!  Mostly, I'm getting requests for another post...so I have spent the last week or so trying to think of what to say...here goes (sorry if I repeat anything from the first post)....

It's been just over 2 months and I am down 33lbs.  That's 4 pants sizes and 3 cup sizes in my bra (YAHOO!).  I've done many before and after pictures, but not with an accurate picture of the before...my lowest point ever.  Here it is...January to June with still another 14 lbs to go....

In the February picture, I had just had my last miscarriage (explains the slight baby bump), but it was mostly just Fat Cheryl.  I'm glad to say she is disappearing & I don't EVER want to see her again!

Moving on....

I'm so wishing that I had taken my measurements before I started this.  My weight loss has slowed down (according to the scale) to an ounce or two a day.  This would absolutely frustrate me if I didn't still notice my clothes getting looser which I suppose means that I'm losing inches (or my fat is re-distributing itself).  I bought a pair of pants a couple of weeks ago that were skin tight, and today, even though the number on the scale is the same, the pants are bagging uncomfortably in the ass and loose around my legs...great...now I have to go buy more new clothes :(  

I did do a one month 'cleanse' (my version still allowed me 2 snacks a day (half a piece of fruit and a hard boiled egg), but I was drinking 4 juices a day instead of the 2 a day I started with.  My (uneducated) advice if you're thinking of trying this, DO NOT go full juice right off the bat, it makes you a SCARY person, and it's SO HARD!  Best if you've already been juicing a couple meals a day for a few weeks.  It was difficult seeing everyone around me eating while I just counted the days 'til I could eat supper again LOL.  I'm glad to say I'm back to juice for breakfast and lunch and real food for supper (still only a small piece of meat and a ton of veggies).  

I made a promise to myself a few weeks back that I would never again eat crap.  Basically, if it doesn't rot or I can't pronounce an ingredient (I'm pretty good with pronouncing big words), I will not eat it.  It's that simple.  Yesterday I found a FABULOUS blog by a nutritionist in the city with the most amazing recipes.  Last night I tried out a few and I am hooked!  Here it is for all of you that enjoy cooking like I do ~ http://www.nutritionistinthekitch.com

So, as I said before, the questions just keep rolling in.  I will do my best to answer the most common ones, and if there are any others, please let me know.  

1 ~ Yes, Juicing is expensive, sort of.  Here's a thought.  If eating healthy were cheap and/or easy, there would be far fewer obese people in this world.  Simple.  Really, you have to decide what's more important, your health or your bank account.  You can't take it with you, just sayin'.  I would estimate that I spend roughly $150 per week on produce.  Keep in mind, non organic is cheaper, I just choose to spend the extra on mostly organic.  Before you roll your eyes, sit back and think about how much you spend at Tim's or Starbucks or wherever every morning.  How much do you spend on lunches or suppers out every night?  How much do you spend on junk food/snacks?  Could be less, could be more than what I'm spending, but I can almost guarantee that I feel a million times better than you.  

2 ~ No, I can't tell you what type of Juicer to buy.  I'm not a juicer expert, all I know is that the pulp that came out of my first juicer was still wet, and the pulp that comes out of my more expensive juicer is DRY like sawdust.  The more you spend on a juicer, the less you spend on produce as you're getting more juice out of what you're putting in.  RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH!!!

3 ~ NO SUGAR (unless it's coming from your fruits and veggies)!  NO ALCOHOL! NO RICE, NO PASTA, NO BREAD!  I don't know how many times people have told me that they're just not losing weight like they thought and in the same breath tell me they had a plate of spaghetti and a glass of wine for supper the night before.  SERIOUSLY???  Please, if you get stuck, think seriously about what you're eating and make adjustments accordingly.  

4 ~ Sorry in advance if this is TMI ~ yes, you will get constipated if you're juicing but not drinking enough water.  Here's what I do (because I read somewhere that this is what I'm supposed to do lol) ~ I wake up in the morning and start (before ANYTHING) with a large glass of hot water with lemon (real lemon, not the 'juice' in the bottle).  This is apparently supposed to help with the movement of things.  Then throughout the day I drink at least another 2 liters of water, whether it be plain, or, as I am doing right now, more hot lemon water.  I finish off my night with a glass of Peppermint herbal tea (Helps me sleep).  That's it.  You've heard it a million times from a million different sources...DRINK YOUR WATER!!!!  It has more benefits than you know.  

I've been trying my best to get some exercise at least a few times a week.  My best girl and I were doing really good with walking 4-5 km  in the river valley every day at lunch, but with all the rain we've been having and crazy busy schedules on both sides, we've (or at least I) have been slacking a little.  Solution?  Rebounding.  I went for a massage the other day, and she enlightened me on the benefits of rebounding.  This is how you do it:  Buy a mini trampoline.  Jump.  Easy Peasy!!!  In true Cheryl form, I ran right out and bought a trampoline.  It is still in the box in the trunk of my car as I'm trying to decide if I want it at home or in my office.  I think the office wins.  Monday I will bring it in and the jumping fun will begin.  I will keep you updated.  I found (stole...but since I'm putting the link on here it's not bad, right?) a list of benefits at http://www.healingdaily.com for rebounding:

~ It increases the capacity for breathing

~ It circulates more oxygen to the tissues

~ It helps normalize blood pressure

~ It helps prevent cardiovascular disease

~ It increases the activity of the red bone marrow in the production or red blood cells

~ It aids lymphatic circulation, as well as blood flow in the veins of the circulatory system

~ It lowers elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels

~ It stimulates the metabolism, thereby reducing the likelihood of obesity

~ It tones up the glandular system, especially the thyroid to increase its output

~ It improves coordination throughout the body

~ It promotes increased muscle fiber tone

~ It offers relief from neck and back pains, headaches, and other pain caused by lack of exercise

~ It enhances digestion and elimination processes

~ It allows for easier relaxation and sleep

~ It results in a better mental performance, with sharper learning processes

~ It relieves fatigue and menstrual discomfort for women

~ It minimizes the number of colds, allergies, digestive disturbances, and abdominal problems

~ (BEST ONE) It tends to slow down aging

Who knew that jumping on a trampoline was so good for you???  I can't wait to get started...in 3 days LOL.

Okay, I think that's all I have to say for now.  I've been struggling for over a week to come up with what to say, but it seems that once I get started, I have verbal diarrhea lol.  Hope it's helpful, and like I said before, let me know if there's any more questions!!!!  

Happy Juicing!

My Juicing Journey (so far....)

WOW!!!!!  It's been almost 2 years since a blog post????  What's up with that!

It has been one month today, and I have lost 17 pounds.  17 pounds in one month is a lot for anyone, but off of my 5 foot nothin', always curvy (much to my DISLIKE) frame, it's (I think) barely noticeable.  On the upside, even though I don't see a huge change in the mirror, my 'big' clothes don't fit me anymore, and this is a goooooood thing!  

Over the last month, so many people have been asking questions about my miracle diet, so I will share what I know.  I AM NOT an expert, and definitely NOT a medical professional, so obviously, check with your doctor before you start juicing (or diet pills, or whatever floats your boat)......

I decided to try juicing after only seeing the movie trailer for "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead".  Of course I ran right out & bought a juicer (cuz that's just who I am), and made a very expensive grocery trip to Planet Organic.  Now, you don't HAVE TO buy organic, but for me it's the right choice for now.  Consider this.  Traditional vegetables are sprayed with so much crap to keep the bugs off, and have hormones to make them bigger, preservatives to make them last longer, and blah blah blah the list goes on and on.  When you juice these veggies (even after cleaning the outside) you're pretty much just drinking a bunch of chemicals.  I have chosen fully organic purely because I (some know, some don't) have had 4 miscarriages in the last 2 years, and millions of tests later, they (doctors, doctors, and more doctors) can't seem to figure out why. I am PERFECTLY healthy.  What a bummer.  My theory is that this seems to happen more lately than say, 20 years ago, so I (NOT A PROFESSIONAL) have a theory that all of the chemicals/preservatives etc in all the food we eat could very much be a contributing factor.  I'm using this theory to fuel my organic juicing journey (and the thought of fitting back into all the skinny clothes in my closet).   

So.....the first couple days I tried a few different recipes, making one for breakfast & then a different one for lunch.  DON'T DO THIS (if you have to be at work early)!!!  It was taking me 30 minutes to do all this & clean the juicer.  I also learned after the first day, if you just put them in a travel mug, by the time lunchtime rolls around, it tastes NASTY as the juice has now had time to start rotting.  Took me a couple days to figure out that if I just made a double batch of a recipe and poured it into 2 - 16oz canning jars with a couple ice cubes to keep it extra cold, and sealed it air tight, it still tastes the same at lunch!!!  SCORE!  This juicing thing is pretty much trial & error.  My best recommendation is to choose a few recipes to try ~ you will soon figure out what you like and have your shopping narrowed down to just a few ingredients.  

Easiest way to find recipes?  GOOGLE!  Just plug 'Juicing Recipes' into the search bar & OMG...SO much information!  There are also a couple good phone apps, but like I said, you will quickly figure out what you like and what you dont.  My 2 favorites:

1 ~ 3-4 Kale leaves

   ~ 3 Celery Stalks

   ~ Large handful Spinach

   ~ 1 Golden Delicious Apple (Cored & Seeded)

   ~ 1 Orange (Peeled)

   ~ 1/2 Lemon (ends cut off) (Lemon also helps it from tasting funny a day later)

   ~ 1 knuckle Ginger (start small & work up to it, Ginger is POWERFUL!)

2  ~ 1 Beet (peeled if you don't want to feel like you're drinking dirt)

    ~ 4 Carrots

    ~ 1 Handful Spinach

    ~ 1 Orange (Peeled)

    ~ 1 Lemon (ends cut off)

    ~ 1 Knuckle Ginger

From what I've read, the general rule of thumb for weight loss is 70-80% Vegetable and 20-30% fruit.  Personally, I just juice what I like & it seems to be working so far. 

My daily food routine has turned into this:

8am ~ Juice

10am ~ Snack (usually a hard boiled egg)

12pm ~ Juice

2pm ~ Snack (1/2 a piece of fruit or a small chunk of cheese)

4pm ~ Juice

6pm ~ Supper usually consisting of meat & veggies.  No carbs for me!

Since I've been juicing and eating all these tiny snacks so often, my stomach (inside) has SHRUNK.  I am only able to eat about one quarter at supper time as I would normally eat (I'm positive this is also VERY MUCH contributing to my weight loss).  

I've read so many testimonials from people that were on heavy doses of meds, and dealing with numerous health conditions, and since juicing, are off the meds and things like cholesterol levels and blood pressure are at normal levels.  I believe the thought process is that if your body doesn't have to waste time digesting food, it can more effectively use that time to heal the body and burn fat.  Also (BONUS) ~ by drinking your vegetables, your body is able to more effectively absorb all the nutrients with little effort.  

(I think) this is about all I have to say for now.  After 1 month I have lost 17 lbs, have gone from a size 14 work pants to an 8, and have gone down (sorry if TMI) 2 cup sizes in my bra (yes, I am SO HAPPY about this lol).  I feel so much better.  My skin tone is better, my eyes are brighter.  My brain doesn't feel as foggy & memory is better.  I sleep SO MUCH BETTER (instead of my usual 10 hours & still feeling groggy, I'm down to 6 and feeling wide awake & ready to go!).  

I'm not generally a preachy person, but I'm feeling so good & really am trying to get everyone on this bandwagon LOL.  The internet is a wealth of juicing information, but please feel free to shoot me any questions you may have!

HAPPY JUICING!!!!!!

P.S ~ One of my lovely co-workers told me to mention that I'm now much easier to get along with too...WOW, I didn't even realise! LMAO

I Am Really Bad At This! :)

To make my point, I just started a new post and then lost it...so I'm starting all over again.  As I was saying (not that we'll ever see that again) is that I started this blog with the best of intentions.  I now realize that it's been almost 2 months since my last post...again...good intentions (that's gotta count for something...right?).


It's been almost 2 months because life has been beyond crazy!  I'm (sort of) busy with my day job...and busy busy with my evening job...and somewhere in between all that, I try to spend as much time as possible with Dave & my girls.  Not that that is an easy feat, as Dave is back working for himself again, which means 12 hour days, 6 or 7 days a week.  The whole thing is exceptionally exhausting! 


Hmmm...so what else is going on?  Lets please start with my long time dream (haha) ~ a few weeks ago, I got to go & see my childhood idols all over again, as I got to see NKOTBSB with my 2 best girls!!!

                                                                  Michelle, Debbie & Cheryl

It was soooo much fun singing along to all my favorite songs from 20 something years ago...unfortunately some of the boys have now hit puberty, so the songs don't quite sound the same.  I was sooo looking forward to seeing what my crushes from so long ago looked like now...so disappointed though...THEY'RE OLD! :)  I guess it happens to the best of us...either way, it was such a good time!  My only regret is that I didn't bring my actual camera.  I only had my iPhone, so the pictures came out pretty crappy in the dark...

                                                         Ahhh...New Kids on the Block... *sigh*

I was smart enough to take the next day off of work...although it wasn't much of a day off by any stretch!  Doctors appointments, clients needing their hair done, laundry...the list goes on and on!

That same week came THE moment I've been waiting for...the final Harry Potter movie.  It's so sad to know that it's all over, but I have to say (as I've said about every other so far), this was the BEST ONE YET!  So well done, and so nice to see the little ones all grown up lol.  Harry Potter...you will be missed~ :)


That same week (do we see a pattern?) Dave & I drove to Valleyview, AB for my family reunion.  I'm so proud of him as he handled it like a champ.  I know others that would have been kicking & screaming the whole way lol.  It was nice to see those who were there (though there were quite a few missing), as it's been a LONG time since everyone got together. 


We had a golf tournament (not my finest hour), and a pig roast (poor little piggy started on fire), games, tubing on the lake, a mini concert, and even fireworks...a good time (I think) was had by all.

                                                                     Char Broiled Pig :)

Here we are now, back to the grindstone.  Long weekend this weekend.  Dave is going camping with a friend of ours in the mountains, and I have big plans while he is gone.  The bedroom is going to get painted (which he won't know about til he gets home), dinners with friends & a movie night out.  I may even try to fit in some baking for when he gets back...if there's time...


I want to throw out a HUGE (premature) congratulations to my stepbrother Chad & his lovely fiance Leslie who will be getting married in Ontario this weekend.  I'm sad that we wont be able to be there, but circumstances just didn't allow for this trip this year.  We hope to be able to get out there to see them sometime soon.  Would be nice to finally meet these people (and their 2 beautiful daughters) face to face, as we have only been able to get to know each other via Facebook....someday.....


Today I am (trying to be) thankful for all the stupid rain we've been getting.  It is saving me time by keeping my flowers and lawn watered, and saving me mega money on car washes (why wash it, it's just gonna get dirty again in 5 minutes)! :)

Phone Calls & Angry Birds

This week seems to be taking FOREVER!  Not sure why, I think I just want to be outside enjoying what we have for summer before the snow shows up (only 4 more months). 

It's been a painfully slow week full of RUDE people...so many rude people...So here's how my day goes:

Open the database, call a company, put on my sweetest (most fake) voice and basically beg them to let me come & give them a quote for cleaning.  Much of my day is spent explaining that yes, our company name IS Coverall, but NO WE DO NOT CLEAN COVERALLS!!!!!!!  This seems to cause much confusion...especially to what is usually a receptionist who is a few bricks short (I'm not saying all are like this, because definitely not all are...but a good majority......).

OK, so while I sit on hold, waiting for someone to talk to me, I play Angry Birds...ALL THE TIME....sit on hold, play Angry Birds, talk to the person, hang up, dial, sit on hold, play Angry Birds, talk to the person...I'm OBSESSED!  I have it on my iPod and my phone, so that at least when the iPod battery dies, I have my phone as backup...couldn't go a day without it...it's a problem, I know. 

Dave thinks my obsession is ridiculous, as he played only part of the first one, and then decided it's stupid...me...I've played all 3...three times...first time had 3 stars on every level then lost them when I restored my iPod..so did it again, and then AGAIN on my phone...and I never get tired of it...I think I need help!  The reason I bring this up ~ I was just outside, and a man that works in my building stopped me, said he had a question.  I stop & ask what's up.  He says "Angry Birds, I need you to help me"... HAHA EVERYONE KNOWS MY SECRET!!!!

Anyway...back to the phone calls....OMG!  Why do people have to be so mean????????  I will admit that I have a time or 3 hung up on solicitors when they call me at home...during my personal time in the evening...when I'm relaxing...but COME ON!  I'm calling you at work, do you really have anything better to do than listen to me for 10 seconds??????  I have made 62 calls today, and at least 10 of those people YELLED at me and told me to never call back!  I don't get it...I'm asking you if I can help make your work space happier...not calling to tell you your dog died...what the hell????  PLEASE...if I call your work, just nicely say 'no thank you', please please please don't yell at me...I'm just trying to earn a paycheck here people!

Sorry, I had to get that off my chest :) 

So much to do this weekend...retirement banquet tonight, party tomorrow night, working Saturday doing hair all day only to come home to what I imagine will be a gong show (Dave wants to have all his guys from work over for beers for being good boys), and my beautiful niece's baptism on Sunday.  Can't wait for that, love those kids soooooo much!  I only wish my other nieces & nephew were closer so I could see them all the time too...

I think that's all...OH...except...Today I am thankful that the asshole that shot the gigantic rock onto my windshield this morning (as he swerved all over the road while texting and driving) didn't swerve into the guy beside him and cause a big accident that would have DEFINITELY made me very late for work.  Thanks for small miracles...he needs to know...KARMA'S A B**CH!  :)

Here goes nothin'.....

OK, so....I've been staring at this blog for what seems like forever.  I want to do this so badly, but as a dear friend said about me...I can't figure out where to start.  It's true...always 9 million thoughts running through my head, it's so hard sometimes to sort them out.  This is on my mind, that annoyed me today, did that person look in the mirror before leaving the house, why did that asshole in front of me slam on his breaks when he has 5 car-lengths in front of him...and on and on it goes...no wonder I can't sleep at night!

Today I will start with the greatest thing to happen recently...U2!! 

So I've been looking for decently priced tickets FOREVER, not wanting to spend too much as it is golf season after all, so the money can be better spent on that.  Also, I have 2 other concerts this summer, so I feel already spoiled.   Anyway, the radio started a contest a few weeks ago (The U2 Threesome)...basically 3 people call in, if you all answer your song clip correctly, you all go to U2.  I listed to the radio from 6am - 6pm EVERYDAY trying to get through to win these tickets to no avail.  I knew every single song, but noooooo, couldn't get through. 

On Monday of last week, the station put a bar code on their online web cam, and had a scan & win type contest...so I scanned...and scanned...and scanned some more....entering under every single email address and phone number I could possibly think of, though all the while, truly believing that people like me NEVER win stuff.  Tuesday night, Dave & I are sitting in the Taco Bell drive through (bye bye diet...) and he's looking at my phone. 

He says "hey...check your voicemail" (anyone that truly knows me, knows not to leave messages, because for some reason I find it the absolute biggest pain in the butt checking them, and usually let them sit for a couple weeks before getting fed up).  I had called for a quote to get 3m done on my truck the day before, so I figured it was just the lady calling back...it could wait.  But he sat there rolling his eyes at me so I gave in...THANK GOD!  The happy little elfy voice of NOW radio's Taz greeted me on the other end of the phone, telling me I had won tickets to the show....OH MY GOD!!!! So here we are, sitting in the drive-thru, people looking at me shouting like a crazy person, and Dave getting just a little freaked out having never seen me like this before (so he says...I think he's forgetting...)

                    Some guy asked if I could take a picture of him & his friends...I said 'I'll do yours if you do mine' lol

Long story short (haha too late for that)...I won floor tickets & it was AMAZING :)  Dave had never been to a show that big before, let alone a U2 concert (although this wasn't by any means my first time at that rodeo!) so I was so happy to have the opportunity to introduce him to it.  He said it was good, but not worth staying up til 2am for lol.  We had a great time thanks to NOW Radio, and it was a fantastic way to kick off the summer.  I'm a little sad that I didn't run into any of a number of people I knew would be there and was looking forward to seeing...only a slightly drunken run-in with my life insurance guy...who stands at U2 talking about life insurance and investments???? Only me I suppose, only me....

                                The stage was like nothing I've ever seen...simply breathtaking....
OK, there it is...I have beaten the hump and done my first blog post...HOORAY! 

I have decided that I spend a lot of time lately focusing on the negative things in my life, and not near enough on the positives, so I'm going to try & be thankful for something new every day...Today I am thankful that I know Dave will be home for supper tonight, as it will only be this way for another month or so before he leaves for Winnipeg for 4 months...YAY for supper with my love! :)