So many of you have been wondering how I have been successfully losing weight, trying to get to optimum health and why the hell I keep posting up pictures of jars filled with pretty colours all over my facebook!
Since July of this year I have adopted a high plant based diet and taking up juicing! Here I will share my secrets with you!
First of all to get a good understanding of Juicing and a high plant based diet. I recommend watching the documentaries I will list below. Click to watch.
1) Food Matters - This is a trailer, you can watch the whole documentary on Netflix
4) Food Inc
Juicing is not only a great way to boost your health, help you reach your 5 portions plus more of fruit and vegetables a day but it’s also a successful tool in weight loss.
If you are truly interested in juicing and/or a high plant based diet, please know this is not a faddy diet; it’s a lifestyle change. A very simple one too!
If you suffer from health problems like me, people in various groups that I speak to say that they have greatly reduced or even cured their health problems thanks to juicing and a high plant based diet!
Ok, so you want to start juicing!
There are 2 types of juicer, centrifugal and masticating. Masticating juicers a very expensive and are better, they produce more juice and the pulp is drier! At present I use a Philips Viva juicer (a centrifugal) which I got from Argos for around £80, the cheapest juicer you can get is around £25 from Argos. It is also useful to have a blender, for smoothies and adding things like avocados to your juices.
There are 2 types of juicer, centrifugal and masticating. Masticating juicers a very expensive and are better, they produce more juice and the pulp is drier! At present I use a Philips Viva juicer (a centrifugal) which I got from Argos for around £80, the cheapest juicer you can get is around £25 from Argos. It is also useful to have a blender, for smoothies and adding things like avocados to your juices.
A word of warning! If you don’t like vegetables this will be difficult for you (you can just juice fruit but I don’t recommend that, due to the high amount of natural sugar!) it will take 1-2 weeks to retrain your taste buds – but you can do it! Don’t give up!
How much you want to juice is up to you, some people may drink one glass of juice a day, some people drink 1-5 glasses per day, others juice fast for periods of days. There is no right or wrong way! It is all down to personal preference.
Want to Juice fast?
The best way i have found is to build up to a juice fast by incorporating juice in to your diet everyday and following a high plant based diet. By doing it this way you have a greater chance of succeeding and continuing your juice fast as you have been slowly changing your overall diet for the better. You will lose weight by juicing & a high plant based diet.
If you like you can set a plan for yourself for example: Breakfast - juice/smoothie, Lunch - salad/soup, Tea - salad/soup (see http://www.rebootwithjoe.com for recipes on salads/soups/juices/smoothies)
Of course you do not need to live on salad and soup! there are lots of high plant based dishes you can try. Look in your local library for Vegan/High plant based cookbooks for inspiration or search for Vegan/High plant based recipes online.
When you get to juice fasting it's really up to you how much you drink. I drink around 3-5 500mls jars of juice a day, plus drinking water on top for extra hydration. My juices consist of 20% fruit and 80% vegetable. How much you drink will depend on how hungry you are and how active you are.
The first 3 days of a juice fast is what i call the "detox period" during this time, your body is going to clean itself and get rid of all the nasty toxins in your system. During this time you may feel tired, want to sleep more and have headaches. This is very common and some people find this stage the hardest. Once the toxins are out of your system, the body will start to heal and repair itself thanks to all the vitamins and minerals you are drinking in your juice! You will have more energy, feel full of life and notice a difference on the scales!
You have picked your juicer and you need recipes!
Want to Juice fast?
The best way i have found is to build up to a juice fast by incorporating juice in to your diet everyday and following a high plant based diet. By doing it this way you have a greater chance of succeeding and continuing your juice fast as you have been slowly changing your overall diet for the better. You will lose weight by juicing & a high plant based diet.
If you like you can set a plan for yourself for example: Breakfast - juice/smoothie, Lunch - salad/soup, Tea - salad/soup (see http://www.rebootwithjoe.com for recipes on salads/soups/juices/smoothies)
Of course you do not need to live on salad and soup! there are lots of high plant based dishes you can try. Look in your local library for Vegan/High plant based cookbooks for inspiration or search for Vegan/High plant based recipes online.
When you get to juice fasting it's really up to you how much you drink. I drink around 3-5 500mls jars of juice a day, plus drinking water on top for extra hydration. My juices consist of 20% fruit and 80% vegetable. How much you drink will depend on how hungry you are and how active you are.
The first 3 days of a juice fast is what i call the "detox period" during this time, your body is going to clean itself and get rid of all the nasty toxins in your system. During this time you may feel tired, want to sleep more and have headaches. This is very common and some people find this stage the hardest. Once the toxins are out of your system, the body will start to heal and repair itself thanks to all the vitamins and minerals you are drinking in your juice! You will have more energy, feel full of life and notice a difference on the scales!
You have picked your juicer and you need recipes!
I use the following books:
Juice Master – Keeping it simple – 100 delicious juices and smoothies by Jason Vale
The funky fresh juice book – Jason Vale
Crussh – Juice, smoothie & booster recipes - Crussh food and juice bars
Websites:
Facebook groups:
There are loads on facebook! They are a great way to ask advice, swap recipes, give/get support and often have lots of things you can download to help you on your way!
REMEMBER! Drink plenty of water too! stay hydrated!
A High Plant Based Diet.
The idea is eat as much fruit, vegetables, seeds/nuts and products made from these; also to cut out as much processed food as possible, eat little meat and dairy.
Some people go completely vegetarian/vegan or even raw diet only. This is completely up to you, the choice is yours!
Little meat and dairy I hear you cry?! What about protein and calcium?! Go and look up how much protein and calcium you can get from fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts – no point me trying to tell you. Educate and empower yourself :-D
Recipes: http://engine2diet.com
This information I am giving you is to start you off, you will need to do research of your own. Speak to people, look at books and websites. BUT PLEASE! Don’t skip the documentaries! Watch them, they are very interesting, empowering and educational.
Good luck and enjoy!
