Drinking Green: Preparing for my first day of my juice fast.

I feel like I've been in some sort of post-dissertation slup (PDS, if you will).  Now that I've come up out of exhausted fog I've been in for....well, I don't know how long....I can clearly see some of the "damage" I've done.  My house is....not so much dirty....as grimy....layers of dust, laundry, etc. haunt me as I walk the halls of my cluttered home.  The worst damage I see is around my middle and my hips.  I've been so uncomfortable in my skin the last couple of weeks....in the course of the last 18 months (preliminary exams until now) I've put on a whopping 40 pounds.  (They should have a warning:  Graduate school will be hazardous to your health).

Last week at the church we checked out in Dubuque the pastor spoke about what is "toxic" in our lives.  Of course his focus was on what is spiritually toxic, but it also made me think of toxins more wholistically...to my spirit...mind...and body.  On that day I resolved to figure out what was toxic to me spiritually.  And coincidentally, a conversation with my brother a couple of days ago helped me figure out how to address my toxic body.

He suggested that I watch the documentary, "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead" on Netflix.  I did, and like probably a lot of viewers, I decided that I would jump on the bandwagon of juicing.  My big bro is also going to start, which I'm thankful for because I'll have some to text.

I'm going to start with a 10-day juice fast and then re-assess.  10-days of juice that I make directly from my juice maker.  I'll by the produce.  I'll stuff in in my juicer, which seems to have a motor that could possibly power a small helicopter, and then down the hatch it will go.  I'll buy some pre-made organic juice blends (such as Naked Juice) for times when I am on the road for work, but I'll try to make bottles in "bulk" for myself as well.

This morning I did a test run, I dusted off the Copter (my new name for my juicer), filled a 2 quart bowl full of spinach, kale, carrots, celery, and apples.  That large bowl made exactly 1 glass of dark green liquid.  And....it tastes just fine!  My kids and Michael wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot pole, but it was pretty good. And easy to make.  The juicer is a hassle to clean, but not so bad.

So, tomorrow I'll start the 10-day juice fast full-fledged.  I'll take a "before" picture, and then after a summer filled of juice-fasts and a focus on micro-nutrients and exercise I'll take an after picture.

But more than just my weight, I hope to see;

My acid reflux eliminated
My back pain in control
More energy
My post-dissertation slump (PDS ;-)  completely gone

I plan on blogging these first 10 days of the rigid fast, and then after that I'll give updates.....

Anyone else a juicer or former juicer?  Any recipes to share?