We were pretty good and followed the program to the letter until yesterday evening, when I was making soup for todays lunch and I couldn't help it, a bowl full just fell into my face. And then some baked mackerel managed to land on my plate too, so how could I refuse, and Hugh had some granola.
We have definitely learned the importance of eating properly, and that we don't need half as much food as we thought. Considering that we could survive fine on juice alone, there's definitely no need to have a 3 course meal every evening. So there'll be lots more soups and salads in the mix from now on, and still probably a juice for breakfast, with a small bowl of cereal. We had carrot and apple juice this morning, and then I had a little bowl of porridge after my cycle in.
Also we are going to exercise much more too. It's quite easy when you get into the habit, and it doesn't take that long. A good fast half hour run is great!
At this morning's weigh in, Hugh has lost 10 lbs and I lost 9. We lost the most of the weight in the first few days, as i lost 8 lbs in 4 days, and then 1 lb in the following 3. The full 7 days (or 6 1/2 like us) is good though to really drive home how little food is really required if you are eating the right stuff.
We are going to weigh on Monday mornings from now on an keep an eye that we are not piling it all back on. It was a difficult week, but I'm very glad that we did it, thank you Jason Vale!
Monday, 29 March 2010
Saturday, 27 March 2010
Day 6
Today has been the hardest so far for me. I think it's because at the weekend I like to prepare tasty elaborate meals, but instead I've had to make do with juices. One of which, by the way, was absolutely vile. The middle juice today tasted worse than any shot I've ever had, it must be amazingly healthy, ha ha.
I really felt like packing it in today. My sugar levels were all over the place. I think fruit alone isn't enough to keep me stable all day, I need some slow release something or other like potatoes or curry chips or a nice kebab. I'll keep going though, I'm enjoying becoming a thinned version of myself so fast. I guess I'll stick with it, but I'm not really enjoying it at the moment. Skinniness doesn't come for free.
I did go out and buy a butternut squash and mackeral though, bizarrely. I'm craving butternut squash soup and grilled mackeral. Roll on Monday.
I really felt like packing it in today. My sugar levels were all over the place. I think fruit alone isn't enough to keep me stable all day, I need some slow release something or other like potatoes or curry chips or a nice kebab. I'll keep going though, I'm enjoying becoming a thinned version of myself so fast. I guess I'll stick with it, but I'm not really enjoying it at the moment. Skinniness doesn't come for free.
I did go out and buy a butternut squash and mackeral though, bizarrely. I'm craving butternut squash soup and grilled mackeral. Roll on Monday.
Friday, 26 March 2010
Day 5
I can't believe we've made it to 5 days! It's very strange to think that we haven't eaten anything since last Sunday, but neither of us are suffering at all. We had a sneaky weigh in this morning - I know we shouldn't have, but we were madly curious! Hugh has already lost 7lbs (keep in mind that this is only after 4 full days out of 7) and I've lost 8. We are over the moon! Today Hugh is wearing a jumper that he usually never wears as it's a bit tight, but it is loose. And I've stopped tensing my tummy all the time and am letting it all hang out, as there's not much left to hang.
I think I put too much kale into the juice this morning. It's very kale-y, which is a strange enough flavor. Kind of tart maybe. It's still nice though.
I think this evening will be the toughest. It's Friday and I'd love to go out for a few pints with my work friends, and I know Hugh would too, but instead we're going to go home and plan our wedding ceremony - the readings and music and everything like that. We've been putting it off for a while, and it'll be a good way to avoid the pints and fast food temptation. This weekend too we're pretty busy with an orchestra concert and a car boot sale, so it shouldn't be as hard to keep to the plan as on any other weekend. We usually go on road trips at the weekend to get out of London, and we would find it very difficult to keep juicing if we were away for the weekend.
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Another day down, just winding down at work and getting ready for a healthy weekend. I'm really looking forward to going for a run tomorrow morning, well a jog. I haven't run in so long I'm going to take it handy. And I really enjoyed body pump this afternoon. I'm turning into one of those really annoying enthusiastic workout people. Ah well.
I think I put too much kale into the juice this morning. It's very kale-y, which is a strange enough flavor. Kind of tart maybe. It's still nice though.
I think this evening will be the toughest. It's Friday and I'd love to go out for a few pints with my work friends, and I know Hugh would too, but instead we're going to go home and plan our wedding ceremony - the readings and music and everything like that. We've been putting it off for a while, and it'll be a good way to avoid the pints and fast food temptation. This weekend too we're pretty busy with an orchestra concert and a car boot sale, so it shouldn't be as hard to keep to the plan as on any other weekend. We usually go on road trips at the weekend to get out of London, and we would find it very difficult to keep juicing if we were away for the weekend.
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Another day down, just winding down at work and getting ready for a healthy weekend. I'm really looking forward to going for a run tomorrow morning, well a jog. I haven't run in so long I'm going to take it handy. And I really enjoyed body pump this afternoon. I'm turning into one of those really annoying enthusiastic workout people. Ah well.
Thursday, 25 March 2010
Day 4
I'm really getting into the swing of this. I find it very easy to get out of bed to make the juices. Usually I would snooze for around 20 minutes before even thinking of getting up, but now it just takes a minute after the alarm going off and I'm out of bed. Maybe it's because I like the hot water with lemon so much to get started. The juice this morning was lovely, the ripeness of the avocados play such an important part.
We have made it to the half way point, and now I think for sure we'll finish it. On day 2 I was getting pretty negative about it, thinking that another 5 days would be completely demoralizing. And I was also thinking that I wouldn't be able to get out of my old eating habits, so was definitely getting into a very negative frame of mind, thinking that there was no point in doing the plan, as it would only be a matter of time before I put all the weight back on. Now though, I feel totally optimistic about it. I have no problem in thinking that a juice is what I'll have for breakfast forever more, and now I'm sure that a salad is enough for dinner. I can't believe how much I used to eat before. Not being able to snack has highlighted just how much I used to do so. If I was hungry/bored in the afternoon I'd just pop out and get a pack of crisps, or maybe a small roll. Totally unnecessary. Bring on the rest of the week!
Admittedly, I was like the cranky antiChrist this morning for a while, but I think it was because this is the earliest start of the week for us. After the juice I was back to my normal self.
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The evening was easy too. We went to the cinema and brought the last juice with us in a flask. We did get a few weird looks, but it was very refreshing to not have to get popcorn and a bag of minstrels (oh how I miss you, beloved minstrels) to watch a film. Also our energy levels are quite high. We both had very early starts, and busy days, and usually I wouldn't have wanted to go to a late film with work in the morning, but really didn't feel tired at all.
We have made it to the half way point, and now I think for sure we'll finish it. On day 2 I was getting pretty negative about it, thinking that another 5 days would be completely demoralizing. And I was also thinking that I wouldn't be able to get out of my old eating habits, so was definitely getting into a very negative frame of mind, thinking that there was no point in doing the plan, as it would only be a matter of time before I put all the weight back on. Now though, I feel totally optimistic about it. I have no problem in thinking that a juice is what I'll have for breakfast forever more, and now I'm sure that a salad is enough for dinner. I can't believe how much I used to eat before. Not being able to snack has highlighted just how much I used to do so. If I was hungry/bored in the afternoon I'd just pop out and get a pack of crisps, or maybe a small roll. Totally unnecessary. Bring on the rest of the week!
Admittedly, I was like the cranky antiChrist this morning for a while, but I think it was because this is the earliest start of the week for us. After the juice I was back to my normal self.
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The evening was easy too. We went to the cinema and brought the last juice with us in a flask. We did get a few weird looks, but it was very refreshing to not have to get popcorn and a bag of minstrels (oh how I miss you, beloved minstrels) to watch a film. Also our energy levels are quite high. We both had very early starts, and busy days, and usually I wouldn't have wanted to go to a late film with work in the morning, but really didn't feel tired at all.
Wednesday, 24 March 2010
Day 3
This morning our alarm clock croaked, so we woke up late and in that terrible panic where you think you are late for work. We still had just enough time to make the juices though, with both of us chopping and cleaning. It was like a ninja juicing team.
Again this morning I wasn't a bit hungry, but enjoyed the lemon tea and lemon ginger zinger enormously. That's definitely my favourite juice so far, and it was great to have it in the morning instead of the powdery green stuff. Although, the powdery green one is lined up for a mid-morning juice. I feel very energized today, so I hope I'm through the withdrawal symptoms section.
Today we are due to do another load of shopping. Hugh is going to do it while I'm at orchestra rehearsal. We did a quick check this morning and found that we don't need the whole list of ingredients at all. We used hardly any of the leaves we bought, just hand fulls here and there, and none of the parsley or watercress at all. We need more carrots than listed though, the first shopping list said 1 carrot, and the second says 1, but we've already gone through a full bag of carrots and I know we'll need around another bag too. Weird.
I'm definitely starting to think that juicing will remain part of our lives, having a juice every day. I think though the obscure ingredients will go - kale and watercress for example, as they can be replaced by a bit of the green superfood supplement, which stores much longer and is less of a pain to shove into the juices.
Also we are starting to think about the next phase of the plan - the 2 weeks after the detox, reintroducing food gradually. We realise that if we go back and eat our normal diet on day 1, it won't be long till we are back to the size we were. That makes sense. So we will probably follow the plan of having a juice for breakfast, fresh soup for lunch, and a mainly veg based diner for a week or so afterwards. With perhaps some fish at dinner. I'd murder some grilled mackerel right now. Strange how my tastes have changed. I haven't craved anything sweet or fatty since the beginning, I've been more after bread and butter or mackerel.
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The rest of today was very straight forwards. I did a tough circuits class at lunch and was tired from that for the rest of the day. Usually I would have had a very big lunch after it and that would have helped with my energy levels, but what I really needed was a nap. It kindof reminded me of the people on that show, the world's deadliest catch, or something where they go crab fishing for like 4 days straight with no sleep. One of the guys on the show was saying that they don't need to sleep if they just eat loads and loads. So it's probably better to just actaully have a nap when you're tired, instead of trying to fight it with carb-loaded food. Unfortunately I think my employers would be a bit upset if I just went off for a nap after lunch, so I struggled through without one, and slept like a baby last night.
The juices are getting tastier and tastier as our avocados get more ripe. Unripe ones don't blend well at all and float in bits on the top, while the ripe ones blend perfectly and make a lovely thick smoothie.
Oh, yesterday's shop was a bit of a disaster. I would definitely recommend going to Aldi or Lidl for the shopping, as Hugh could only walk to Budgens yesterday (I had taken the car to orchestra) and all the apples were 4 for a pound. Needless to say the bill came to a lot more than with apples at 10 for a pound, when you need to buy 70 of them. Eek.
Again this morning I wasn't a bit hungry, but enjoyed the lemon tea and lemon ginger zinger enormously. That's definitely my favourite juice so far, and it was great to have it in the morning instead of the powdery green stuff. Although, the powdery green one is lined up for a mid-morning juice. I feel very energized today, so I hope I'm through the withdrawal symptoms section.
Today we are due to do another load of shopping. Hugh is going to do it while I'm at orchestra rehearsal. We did a quick check this morning and found that we don't need the whole list of ingredients at all. We used hardly any of the leaves we bought, just hand fulls here and there, and none of the parsley or watercress at all. We need more carrots than listed though, the first shopping list said 1 carrot, and the second says 1, but we've already gone through a full bag of carrots and I know we'll need around another bag too. Weird.
I'm definitely starting to think that juicing will remain part of our lives, having a juice every day. I think though the obscure ingredients will go - kale and watercress for example, as they can be replaced by a bit of the green superfood supplement, which stores much longer and is less of a pain to shove into the juices.
Also we are starting to think about the next phase of the plan - the 2 weeks after the detox, reintroducing food gradually. We realise that if we go back and eat our normal diet on day 1, it won't be long till we are back to the size we were. That makes sense. So we will probably follow the plan of having a juice for breakfast, fresh soup for lunch, and a mainly veg based diner for a week or so afterwards. With perhaps some fish at dinner. I'd murder some grilled mackerel right now. Strange how my tastes have changed. I haven't craved anything sweet or fatty since the beginning, I've been more after bread and butter or mackerel.
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The rest of today was very straight forwards. I did a tough circuits class at lunch and was tired from that for the rest of the day. Usually I would have had a very big lunch after it and that would have helped with my energy levels, but what I really needed was a nap. It kindof reminded me of the people on that show, the world's deadliest catch, or something where they go crab fishing for like 4 days straight with no sleep. One of the guys on the show was saying that they don't need to sleep if they just eat loads and loads. So it's probably better to just actaully have a nap when you're tired, instead of trying to fight it with carb-loaded food. Unfortunately I think my employers would be a bit upset if I just went off for a nap after lunch, so I struggled through without one, and slept like a baby last night.
The juices are getting tastier and tastier as our avocados get more ripe. Unripe ones don't blend well at all and float in bits on the top, while the ripe ones blend perfectly and make a lovely thick smoothie.
Oh, yesterday's shop was a bit of a disaster. I would definitely recommend going to Aldi or Lidl for the shopping, as Hugh could only walk to Budgens yesterday (I had taken the car to orchestra) and all the apples were 4 for a pound. Needless to say the bill came to a lot more than with apples at 10 for a pound, when you need to buy 70 of them. Eek.
Tuesday, 23 March 2010
Day 2
This morning it was easier to wake up and get out of bed, but maybe because I was asleep by 10, for shame. We weren't hungry at all this morning and Hugh went out for a run while I made the juices. The super juice this morning was getting a bit difficult to drink. There is quite a lot of green powder added to it (as we don't have fresh wheatgrass juice) and it collects at the bottom if you don't stir as you drink. It makes for a terrible last mouthful, urgh. But we're not at all hungry, so it must be working! I already feel lighter and am looking forward to going for a swim this afternoon.
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Today has definitely been harder than yesterday. It may be because work is quiet, and I'm very bored, but it seems like it's going to be a long time before I get home and have another juice. I'm not exactly hungry, but would love to eat something. Also I have a slight headache, so that's probably caffeine and sweets making their way out of my body. And I'm really tired. Apparently this is the hardest day, and I totally believe it. Looking forward to having an amazing flat tummy at the end of the week though, so will power on.
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Yes today has been tough. For me anyway, Hugh seems to be absolutely fine. I'm not exactly hungry, just very tired and time seems to have slowed down. Jason says that this is because after years of my body drawing its energy from caffeine (oh lovely lovely caffeine), and sugar (oh lovely lovely sugar), that source is now running out so my body is now trying to get natural energy from itself and the food/juice I consume. Bummer. We watched the end of series 2 of the Wire though this evening, which totally took my mind off it. Looking forward to series 3.
Oh, and I had some fennel tea too last thing. It was lovely. I tore off a leaf, and cut lines into it, and popped it into hot water. it has a much milder taste than i as expecting, but very nice.
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Today has definitely been harder than yesterday. It may be because work is quiet, and I'm very bored, but it seems like it's going to be a long time before I get home and have another juice. I'm not exactly hungry, but would love to eat something. Also I have a slight headache, so that's probably caffeine and sweets making their way out of my body. And I'm really tired. Apparently this is the hardest day, and I totally believe it. Looking forward to having an amazing flat tummy at the end of the week though, so will power on.
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Yes today has been tough. For me anyway, Hugh seems to be absolutely fine. I'm not exactly hungry, just very tired and time seems to have slowed down. Jason says that this is because after years of my body drawing its energy from caffeine (oh lovely lovely caffeine), and sugar (oh lovely lovely sugar), that source is now running out so my body is now trying to get natural energy from itself and the food/juice I consume. Bummer. We watched the end of series 2 of the Wire though this evening, which totally took my mind off it. Looking forward to series 3.
Oh, and I had some fennel tea too last thing. It was lovely. I tore off a leaf, and cut lines into it, and popped it into hot water. it has a much milder taste than i as expecting, but very nice.
Monday, 22 March 2010
Day 1
Today is day 1 of the plan. We woke up very early and I made the juices while Hugh did half an hour exercise. I cycled to work, so didn't need to do anything else, and went to the gym at lunch, so will probably not do any more this evening either. The plan asks for different amounts of exercise each day, but it's generally around half an hour in the morning and half an hour in the evening. Now that I'm back cycling to and from work, anything on top of that is a bonus. Hugh will make the juices this evening then, as he will be home earlier.
I'm really glad we set up the juice area. It made such a difference having a nice clear area to chop and prepare everything this morning. Also you must run a hot sink of water while juicing and wash up immediately after, before drinking, so that it's all ready for the next juice too. Minimal effort getting started is key to actually getting up and making all the juices!
I've been a bit hungry so far today. I usually have breakfast after getting into work though, so even that difference may explain it. I had the breakfast juice before leaving the house today. After the mid-morning juice I was fine, and the gym was no harder than usual. I'm looking forward to another juice when I get home too. The hunger is only slight. It's kind of strange really. Like usually before breakfast and lunch I'm very hungry, then afterwards I'm full, but with the juices I'm just generally a tiny bit peckish throughout.
Also energy levels are normal enough. Except usually I get the 3 o'clock burnout after lunch, but not today. I guess it's cause there's been no big lunch to be tired after eating.
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The evening was great last night. We got loads of jobs done around the house as we didn't have to spend an hour cooking and eating dinner. Ha ha. The supper juice last night was a lemon ginger zinger, it's definitely my favourite so far. I thought I would be hungry going to bed, but I wasn't. Weird.
I'm really glad we set up the juice area. It made such a difference having a nice clear area to chop and prepare everything this morning. Also you must run a hot sink of water while juicing and wash up immediately after, before drinking, so that it's all ready for the next juice too. Minimal effort getting started is key to actually getting up and making all the juices!
I've been a bit hungry so far today. I usually have breakfast after getting into work though, so even that difference may explain it. I had the breakfast juice before leaving the house today. After the mid-morning juice I was fine, and the gym was no harder than usual. I'm looking forward to another juice when I get home too. The hunger is only slight. It's kind of strange really. Like usually before breakfast and lunch I'm very hungry, then afterwards I'm full, but with the juices I'm just generally a tiny bit peckish throughout.
Also energy levels are normal enough. Except usually I get the 3 o'clock burnout after lunch, but not today. I guess it's cause there's been no big lunch to be tired after eating.
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The evening was great last night. We got loads of jobs done around the house as we didn't have to spend an hour cooking and eating dinner. Ha ha. The supper juice last night was a lemon ginger zinger, it's definitely my favourite so far. I thought I would be hungry going to bed, but I wasn't. Weird.
7 lbs in 7 days - Preparation
So me and Hugh have decided to follow the 7lbs in 7 days Juice Master diet. Well, it's as much a detox as a diet. The idea is that you have 5 juices a day for 7 days, and should not only clear out and cleanse your whole system, but also lose 7lbs. It sounds pretty promising, so let's do it!
There is a bit of preparation to do before starting - you need to get the book - Jason Vale's 7lbs in 7 days. It's available from Amazon and the like, but if you order it from his own website you also get a free A3 wall planner to stick up in the kitchen with all the juices planned out and all the recipies listed. It's very handy.
One of the most helpful things he has listed on his site too is a shopping list for the week. This is also in the book, but it's easier to bring a printout around shopping than a book. The shopping is broken into 2 trips - one for the first 3 days, and another for the final 4.
We did our first shop in Aldi, and got the things we couldn't find there in the Co-op, and in all it came to around £40. Not bad for both of us, considering that we won't be buying any other food.
There are also a lot of supplements recommended. Jason says that these are not mandatory, but we want to give ourselves the best chance of finishing the program, so they came to around £70 between us too, and we ordered them off the site.
The last thing to do is to set up a juice zone in the kitchen. Clear a nice space and pop your juicer and smoothie maker on the counter. We are using my beloved Magamix food processor with juice extractor attachment. Then get a nice big chopping board and a good sharp knife. Put all the fruit and veg you can fit in the fridge, and sprawl the rest around the counter, and you are ready to go!
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