Feeling Fit and Fabulous!

Good morning! Just wanted to give you a little update about how my juicing and workout regimen is going: in exactly 2 months, I've lost 16 pounds substituting fresh vegetable and fruit juices for meals 1-2 times a day! I've also been working out for an hour (step classes and strength training) 3-4 times a week. I did get one comment from a reader who said they got sick from juicing, but I just can't say enough good things about it! (You can read more about how I got started juicing here) I have so much energy, am getting compliments on how great my skin looks, and two of my friends went out and bought juicers (with a third and fourth considering it!) seeing how well it is working for me!

A measure of how my health is beyond how I look and feel, I was able to donate blood the week before Thanksgiving! This is the first time my iron was high enough to donate since May, (I tried several times over the summer) and yippee, this time I was good to go! Afterwards you get your cholesterol count and get this, my cholesterol went from 215 (moderately high) to 166 (great!!) A difference of 49 points! I don't have any measure of what it was right before I started juicing since I couldn't donate over the summer months, but I suspect it was even *higher* than in May, as my kids and I hit the ice cream all summer pretty hard, hence my need to say "enough!"
and start juicing! :)

I wanted to also tell you about something I learned from a book called "Juicing for Life" which lists all types of conditions and the vitamin deficiencies associated with them, it tells you what fruits and vegetable are rich for each and good supplements to overcome these conditions. Remember how I said I used to have a big sweet (chocolate) tooth but now I don't? The book explained sugar and chocolate cravings are triggered by a lack of chromium, a substance used to break down sugars. The more you eat, the more you use, and unfortunately , a lack of chromium results in more cravings. The recommended foods that are high in chromium are spinach, carrots and apples, and by golly, if I'm not eating those every day now! I can totally feel a difference, ti's not me having the willpower to pass up the chocolate or the wisdom, but just that it has really lost its appeal.

Now back to the cholesterol: I've also given up dairy. Now, I did have some cheese in a breakfast casserole over the holidays and have had a piece of pizza, so I'm not going to say "never", but I drink almond milk (unsweetened vanilla, grocery brand in the dairy aisle) and coconut milk (original)now, and I LOVE them! Especially the coconut milk, it is so thick and creamy, like having a coconut milk shake! I'll have a cup of that now as a snack or my dessert. Did you know that coconut milk has NO cholesterol, less fat, less calories and MORE calcium than cow milk? I'm not knocking cow milk, but I will say I seem to have more trouble digesting it than I used to, and I am really enjoying these new flavors, so it's working for me!

Anyway, I am fast and furiously preparing for the holidays, stamping is barely even on the radar with the shopping and baking, etc! I did have a super cute and pretty simple Christmas card idea using the "Stately Flowers 1" set, so I hope to be back share that with you shortly! Hope you are doing well and enjoying December!

BTW, I have some HUGE news to share very soon!!!! Tease tease!