Juice detox take 2!

I did a 3 day juice detox last August (see here) and I have embraced juicing ever since - I generally have a juice for breakfast most days. Jason Vale released his latest offering '5lbs in 5 days' and I immediately wanted to join in. The one thing juice detoxing taught me last year, was that its massively easy to consume stuff your body just doesn't need. I was hugely strict off the back of last August, and then as time passed I became more relaxed (and positively went crazy with delicious food throughout December!) but have generally settled into a happy 80/20 pattern. I am lean and mean with my food choices 80% of the time, and relax over the odd muffin or glass of wine 20% of the time. It works for me. As does the gym - I spent an hour on the cross trainer tonight!

As much as I was looking forward to getting involved with this detox, I took a 'food holiday' last week and enjoyed a variety of foods that I wouldn't normally dream of eating (not even in my 20%) like mars bars! Oh how I love a mars bar. But actually, I don't rate the gratification for the cals consumed, so normally steer clear. Not last week! Which in turn meant I was expecting the 'grey' death I experienced last time.

Not so!! Clearly my 80/20 rule works, and whilst my food holiday had a damaging effect on the scales last week, it hasn't effected my overall ability to deal without sugar and other conveniences. Amazing!

My weight normally hovers around 13st 08lbs, a couple of pounds either side of that is where my body naturally resides now (a nice size 14 if I do say so myself, oh yeah!). Happily just inside the defined 'healthy' BMI range. Following my 'food holiday' I was 14st 06lbs on Monday morning.... BOOOOO! So I'm hoping to be under 13st on Friday! I lost 9lbs on the 3 day detox last August... What will happen this time!

I downloaded the app to help me, and I make my own juices using my beloved juicer. Its always reassuring when you see what you have made looks vaguely like the original!!

 

My juice is darker here, because I add wheat grass and spirilina powders to boost the nutrient value.

 

I prep all my fruit the night before, then juice and decant it into sports bottles so I'm ready for anything during the day.

 

And my evenings have looked like this - herbal tea/carbonated water and lemon, last juice of the day and an SOS bar. Jason Vale obviously sells his own, and I was lucky enough to try one (they are an acquired taste!) but I have opted to stick to my fave Nakd bars instead.

 

I'll be back to update on weight loss and final thoughts. Needless to say, I feel great right now!! I also miss food. I am looking forward to making informed choices - and chewing - on Saturday!!

Reflection

We are back at school, and work, and back into 'normal' routine. I am doing over time and volunteering at the hospital, I have fit in exercise where appropriate and I'm about to embark on a juice fast. I thought as I drove home this evening, Little mix 'change your life' blaring, that I am feeling content. It's been awhile since I have been able to say that. I always seem to be striving for bigger or better, pushing myself sometimes unnecessarily, because everything I need is here if I know where to look.

This week Niamh and I embarked on a new fun group, and she really loved it. I enjoyed seeing her enjoy herself and doing something specially just with her.

She goes to another group on a Monday, here she is playing with Livvi.

The bigs went back to swimming. Lochie is now a grade 4, Bebe a grade 3. They both went in at the deep end for the first time this week.

Lochie went to the theatre in his own with Beavers this week. How did he get so big?!

Paul has been poorly this week, and whilst it's horrid when you're poorly, it has when nice to have him at home!

I find it hard to talk about all the things I would change about last year, I find it even harder to talk about all the things I wish I had goals set for, for this year. But it's getting easier to be content in the moment. I am finding fulfillment in myself away from sport, and I didn't realise the crutch it was, until it was taken away from me. It isn't the be all and end all, and yet I can recognise that I do need it in my life - in a way that benefits my body!

The other thing to note, yet again, is how good yoga is for me. I spent the whole day on an active dept. today and my back is getting so strong with lifting. I can really notice it. It is good!

I went straight from work to volunteer at the hospital again this evening. I really enjoy the time I spend there, I feel massively useful. (Finally!) Tonight I was lucky enough to sit with two incredible mums. The first mum had lost her first baby at two weeks old, she was so worried about her new baby and I was privileged to sit and listen to her talk through her birth story. The second mum, with her first baby (Orla! Beautiful name!), was a total feeding dream and a delight to talk to and support. I got to have a cuddle too. Definite perks!

So clanettes, I feel like I'm going through yet another period of growth and renewal, thanks for sticking with me! 

5 day juice fast this week, I'll update on that later.

Lots of love xxx

Peer supporting

I've just got back from peer supporting on the post natal ward at my local maternity hospital. Clanettes, I feel AMAZING! 

I coincidently knew one of the midwives from thornhill who was on shift and she took me round. I spent an hour with an Indian woman and a teeny tiny 8hr old baby, talking her through latch and then hand expressing.. Ended up helping her express into a syringe..! I wrote it up in her notes.. I felt useful. Babies and birth and mothers are miraculous.

As are my own children, who knew I was off to do something important for myself tonight, and gave me my own special badge. 

I've taken important first steps towards my future tonight and I LOVED it!

Christmas 2013

Happy new year Clanettes! I hope you have had a wonderful Christmas and a very happy new year. We have had a lovely Christmas, we went to stay with my parents and my sister and her family joined us. Last night, NYE, Paul and I stayed in as we always do, Paul cooked and this year we played scrabble and watched Jools Hollands - and a bit of Gary Barlow too!

Here are my fave pics from the festive season..

 

 

Between Christmas and new year we always see Paul's Dad and Sister at his uncles house.

And new years eve

No massive planning post from me this new year. I haven't pushed myself to book and enter any sportives, races or events. I have realised this week that I still have a lot of healing to do, and I need to concentrate on my physical wellness before I can start pushing my physical limits again. Damn it.

I start volunteering in the hospital again next weekend, just as a peer supporter on the maternity wards - I'm equally thrilled and terrified! I'm hoping to get enrolled in higher education this year too. More on that in future posts.

I hope the seedlings you plant in the next few weeks bring you happiness and joy throughout 2014.
Thanks for sticking with me Clanettes. Thanks for reading xxx

Yule

Our annual event involves breakfast, generally pancakes (previously cooked on a hill at a dawn!) and juice this year.

 

 Then a walk in the woods

 Before coming home to lunch, gingerbread engineering and presents

And today we finished off with a staff only christmas party at my work. The kidlets wore their new Christmas outfits!