I'm on Pinterest!

Here is a link to my Pinterest Board for Healthy Eating and Pinned Recipes! I will even post some of my own recipes! Go here for Juicing Inspiration and Healthy, clean, and full of nutrition recipes!

Creative Foods (Healthy)

Is That Safe?

Is Juice Fasting Safe?
Contrary to popular belief, YES!
I have seen SO many posts, articles, interviews, and even videos on Anti-Juice Fasting and it really frustrates me. I'm gonna take a little time to explain why Juice Fasts are a safe, easy, and healthy way to reboot your body, lose weight, and get in great shape naturally.

1. The Length of your Juice Fast has people concerned that it isn't safe.
• The Length of your Juice Fast should not cause concern because, remember, you are providing your body your daily nutrients as long as you are following The System correctly.  You should, however, always consult your doctor if you are on any medications that affect your health or if you have been recently been to the hospital or may be pregnant.
• If someone asks you if it is safe to go on a longer Juice Fast past 10 days, don't get caught without saying the right thing. People will always look for a way to talk you out of your journey towards success by masking it with concern and worry or friendly advice. Tell them with confidence: "I am providing my body with a concentrated form of all the nutrients it needs daily to heal, protect, and energize itself. My body is overworked from having to digest my food to obtain its nutrients that it ends up storing it. During my Juice Fast, I am giving it a break to supercharge it, strengthen it, and most of all clean it out. I've done my body a crime, so I'm doing the time"
2. A Juice Fast is basically an all liquid diet of your fruits and vegetables and roots, wont that cause an eating disorder?
• I must first ask you this: has any diet you'e tried in the past caused an eating disorder? If the answer is Yes, then you already have health concerns and a Juice Fast may or may not cause your eating disorder to flare up again. Do not attempt unless guided by a counselor and doctor.
• If your answer is No, then you should not be concerned with this. Your body is designed to eat less in certain seasons and eat more in others. You don't really find yourself consuming nearly as much cookies or Thanksgiving-type food in the middle of Summer do you? Humans naturally eat less in warmer seasons; whether it be to fit in the bikini or just because we are more active or simply because our bodies know we don't need to store food. Therefore, it is natural o eat less when you have too much "food" stored in your body.
• I have ready many articles of "doctors concerns" in some fashion and health magazines that try to convince you that you may start having an eating disorder due to the lack of eating during a Juice Fast. Unlike other diets, you can drink as much juice as you want. It's really a Juice FEAST, actually! There is no reason for you to starve yourself as long as your fridge is stocked and your juicer is ready!
3. What about the lack of Protein and Grains your body needs?
• Vegetables and Fruits have SO many nutrients that our body not only needs, but can survive on. There are even small amounts of protein and of course plenty of fiber! The image below shows just a handful of vegetables and their nutrients: (Keep in mind, that the less you cook produce, the more nutrients it will have, and that is why Juicing is such a necessity to a healthy, daily diet.)

There are so many benefits to Juicing and these are just to name a few! If you have any questions feel free to email me at: chef.mariecm@gmail.com . I would LOVE to hear from you! I will always offer my hand to you to get you through your Juice Fast every step of the way!

Eat Like a Rabbit for Two Days

I'm doing it again! Another Juice Fast, so that means another post on my process and more great info on Juicing! I came across a Juicing Vegetables page on Facebook and I recommend "Liking" the page. They have great inspiration, recipes, and knowledge on the Juicing world. Seriously... Go "Like" them, Now!

All, right, onto what I'm REALLY posting about. I'm here to extend a little bit on the first two days that prepare for you for your Fast. I did a little more research on Eating Raw this time around and found that it can be quite easy, and you don't have to starve yourself. I have discovered that Eating Raw doesn't only mean eating fruits and veggies in their natural form. Did you know there are RAW Brownies? What about Chocolate Pudding? Perhaps you're not willing to try those recipes, but the Salads are very filling (and delicious!) and remember, you can eat as much as you want!

For beginners, eating Raw seems like a boring way of eating. I remember I kept thinking, "How could anyone eat this way all the time?" But as I looked eagerly into the fridge for some sort of idea to appear on the shelves, I thought to myself: "That's it! They eat that way ALL the time! They got it figured out, so I just gotta dig a little deeper."

I grabbed an the container of blueberries and went to work. I found a couple of sites that made it a lot clearer to me. As an Adventurous Chef, I am always ready to learn and to change my way of thinking about food. This list of sites gave me great ideas on how to eat Raw the next time I do Juice Fast Prep Days. Check them out, learn, and then go grocery shopping!

• How2EatRaw
• Raw Recipes for Beginners 
• Raw Food Diet Review

The best way to educate yourself on Eating Raw is to extend your research to YouTube and beyond. Read some articles, look for books or magazines, and if you're lucky enough to have a friend who eats Raw, ask lots of questions! If not, and most of your friends are like mine and eat like regular people do, DON'T ask their opinion on eating Raw and DON'T complain about eating Raw to them. I'm not saying your friends aren't good people to talk to, but why would you ask a Cat what it's like being a Dog? Unless they've done it themselves and were successful at it, they probably are just gonna look at you like you're nuts. (No pun intended.)

Remember that you are doing this FOR YOURSELF to get HEALTHY and surround yourself with inspiration, motivation, and positive company. Push out the negativity, stick to it, and you will be successful!

-Chef Marie C.M.

P.s.- No, eating Sushi doesn't count!

Juicing FAQ's

I get plenty of Juicing questions that range from starting to finishing to the benefits and I think posting some of those questions here may help some people out. Please keep in mind that I am NOT a doctor and that these Q & A's are simply based on personal experience, research, and what other highly experienced juicers and nutritionists have taught me. (I know it's long, but it's ALL worth the great info!)

Starting:

How do I get started?

Always consult your doctor first and make sure that the Fast will not cause any harm or effect any medication you may be on or physical conditions you have. Next, research it! Check out my other posts and follow the links I have provided for other juicing sites. Be wary of the "anti-juicers" for although they make have good information, they can scare you. (Trust me, I think I'm dying every time I have a slight cough just because I research it! haha!) Also, you and I can always chat on Wizpert and I can help you get ready too! Lastly, Get mentally and emotionally ready. Avoid things that will make you feel negative or stressed out and surround yourself with happy and positive things! I created a motivational Pinterest board and look at it when I need a good kick!

What do I do to prepare myself for it?
Follow the SYSTEM! I can't tell you how many times I get frustrated because someone didn't start a Fast correctly and they're so much more miserable then they need to be! Second, tell everybody even if they think you're crazy; its better to tell someone who is a health nut, so they can hold you accountable. If you want, you can tell me and I will do my best to motivate you, keep you on track, and help you in any way I can.
 
Regular or Organic?
The best way to get ALL of the benefits of a Fast is to go all organic. I know for some areas, this may be difficult or too expensive to do, but it really is the best option. Plus, why would you go through all this and still put chemicals in your body? If you must use regular produce, I haven't had a problem with doing so. I did my first Fast all organic and my second regular. I cleansed faster, felt better sooner, and lost more with organic than I did regular. That's gotta tell you something!
 
What about protein?
You are welcome to blend your juice with protein powder or creatine. I would make a "smoothie" before and after a workout to help boost my recovery. However, what many don't know is that produce has protein! Sure it's not a steak, but it will sustain your body during a cleanse. Your body will thank you for the break from having to break down and sort hard, tough muscle and just recieve its nutrients in a liquid form.
 

Will this create an eating disorder?
I recently read an article about the danger of Juice Fasts creating eating disorders. It was a scary read! I discovered that most of the people who had this result either didn't do the SYSTEM correctly, were waaaaaay too hard on themselves, or already had a minor eating disorder before starting. If you do it right, your stomach will shrink and your cravings will lessen, but you shouldn't have an eating disorder. Speak with your doctor first and above all, go easy on yourself during this fast! You're body is already going through enough, don't add worry and stress to it.

  
During the Fast:

What should I expect my first time?
It's gonna be a doozy! It's different with everyone, but at least for one day, you'll feel terrible. I'll be honest and blunt, I felt like I was going to kill my roommates just because they were eating regular food. Some people feel terrible the entire time, while others feel better by the second day. Just remember to juice whenever your hungry or thirsty and drink plenty of water. I mean that! Shoot for about a gallon. The picture gives one example, but I figured that if you have about 2 cups every two hours, you'll get all your water in for the day. Lastly, you will use the bathroom, a lot! Whether it's solid or liquid, be near one at least for the first 48 hours. (However, I've also had people "hold onto" their solids for three or four days!)
 
What do I do if I feel like crap?
Just like a massage or sauna, your body has been exposed to toxins releasing themselves from your inner walls. Drinking water and staying away from caffeine and absolutely NO alcohol will help you purge all that out rather quickly. Decaf tea is fine, but NO water additives like those TO-GO powders you put in water bottles. I like adding lemon juice to my water and you'd surprised how sweet that tastes!

I'm Starving! Why?
You may also feel hunger pains. Keep in mind that your body isn't used to a liquid based diet and will work over time and faster to process the "food" you consumed. It will eventually slow down and you'll begin to feel less and less hungry. Also, water will help you stay full. I would drink a glass of water every time you drink a glass of juice. Another point I can't stress enough, is to juice when you're hungry. That means you can juice unlimited times a day. When was the last time you saw ANY diet say that?

Should I workout?
Of course! Just take it slow. Don't start a Fast and start something like P90X or Insanity too. This fast is a time for your body to heal itself from all the damage you've done to it from the inside. Doing yoga, pilates, hula hooping, walking, swimming, and biking are all good exercises to do that still work your muscles, but won't "kill you." After a Fast, you are welcome to begin you regular routine again, but again, consult your doc, research, or contact a nutritionist for the best advice on how to keep your body clean and workout safely.
 
I'm not losing as much weight anymore! WTF? 
->I can't tell you how many times I've heard this one! My first question back is: Are you doing this to get healthy or just to lose weight? If you are doing it just to lose weight, stop. Why? You will be disappointed afterwards when you go back to eating regularly and gain everything back. You are better off doing other diets that will give you the same results in weight loss and popping a colon cleanse pill along the way. at least you won't feel hungry.
->If that ISN'T your issue and you are doing this to change your way of eating to a better one, my next question is: What is your activity level? If you don't do any sort of movement (like a walk) your body will just purge the toxins and then clean itself gradually dropping a pound here or there.
->That not your issue either? My last answer is that everyone is different and that you will loose a lot of weight the first couple of days because, remember, it's all water, toxins, and waste. Your body will slow down after and drop weight naturally as it sees that it no longer needs to store the food anymore.I don't weigh myself during a Juice Fast becuase I don't like to get all excited and then fizzle out. If I like what I see in the mirror, the scale won't matter. And you WILL notice it and so will the mirror!
 
  
Ending:
 
What's the minimum I should go? 
I recommend going at least 5 days of actual juicing. This does NOT include the prep days and the going off a Fast days. During that time, you will have cleansed your colon and a good chunk of your body's toxins. However, any of the weight you lost during those days is the result of the toxins, other "backed up" things in your body, and water weight. If you go back to eating like you did before, you will yoyo back with more weight. On the flip side, you could go as long as you want as long as you have prepared yourself correctly, consulted your doctor, and you are following the SYSTEM. Remember, it's just juiced produce! I do recommend not going any longer than 60 days if you're doing a lifestyle change, have a significant amount of weight to lose, and plan on eating regular food again. Remember, do your research and what is healthy and safe for you.
 
How do I end?
Any length of time you go on a Juice Fast, you should slowly incorporate other foods and solids back in. It's a day by day, patience-trying process, but worth it! You just did ALL this work and you don't want to shock your body and have it try to process new food too soon. For a regular 10 day fast, it is a 7 day process. The 5 day fast, its a 4 day process. Following this is very important for your body and for yourself. Remember, we did this to get healthy! We want only good things present in our temple.
 
I didn't lose as much weight as I thought I would, why?
Again, everyone is different and may not lose like their friend. First, STOP comparing yourself to someone else. It's a bad habit; like picking your nose, it's just gross. Second, if you did mostly fruit juices and didn't expore the wonderful world of veggies, you are still consuming fruit sugar and will not lose nearly as much as a balanced juicing diet. Lastly, check your protein powder and creatine. There should be NO sugar additives at all, even if the label says "organic." These chemicals impair weight loss almost as bad as diet sodas. You are only substituting what you used to consume with chemicals. The best way is to CUT BACK, not substitute. Plus, the "extra flavoring" changes the pure taste of juice anyway.

   After:
Now What?
EAT RIGHT! I added this picture of comparisons from what you used to eat to what you, hopefully, eat now. Continue to consume what you drank during your Fast, and try to eat like you did when you came off the Fast. Your body will thank you and you will be happy with the results and get more nutrients out of the food you eat.
 
I don't want to gain all the weight back, what do you recommend I do?
Live and breathe the "Everything in Moderation" rule. Remember when you used to drink a beer every night? Then you didn't have a single one during your Fast, and now you want one? Great! Have one! Have two! But let's keep in mind what that does to your body and what it feels like to have to purge that. Having a few drinks on the weekend, or having a cookie twice a week won't cause you to gain it all back. Even the most in shape people (like The Rock, for example) don't have a drink every night. They understand the importance of the shape their temple needs to be and to respect it. Plus, I'm sure they savor every drop when they do have it, which makes you not take the drink for granted.
 
Should I (and why) do it again? 
Absolutely do it again! I have some friends who do it at the beginning of every season and others that do one every 6 months. (After Christmas and before swimsuit season!) The seasonal juicers are very healthy and are always cleaning out their bodies. Even the every 6 months guys are healthy too and feel better every time they do it. You will be surprised how much toxins exit your body on regular Juice Fasts although you eat healthy. There are still chemicals in the air, water, restaurant foods, and other foods we eat. Remember that "healthy" means "not processed" and not high in fats, carbs, and sugars. Just think of eating healthy as the Fast & days you got "off a Fast" schedule.
 
Will I continue to see benefits after I'm done? 
Yes! You're body is like a newly polished motor now and will continue to take in, process, and push out the waste at a very good pace. Just like any machine, it can get worn down, and that's why we take it into the mechanic who fixes it up like a Juice Fast does. You're body is clean and will do so much better now, so take advantage of it, and keep it nice and tighty!
   Benefits:

Will I lose weight?
Yes! You will always lose the waste weight, some water weight, and the weight from toxins. After about day 4, you body will start purged unnecessary weight your body has stored.
 
What else does this do for my body?
There is definitely a colon cleanse, but I personally and others have told me that they have also experienced increased energy, better skin and hair and nails, thinking clearly, better eyesight, disappearance of skin conditions, rashes, or acne, better moods, increased metabolism, better functioning nervous system, catching less or no colds and allergies, cleansed liver and kidneys, smaller stomach and better digestion, better sexual moods, less or no cravings, stay full longer, better breath and teeth, sleeping well, stopped taking or lessened medicine doses, less stress, more confidence, and simply just laughing more.
 
What was it like for you?
My first time was hard during the first four days. I acted like a total B*tch! But when I saw myself in the mirror on day 7 I was smiling and checking myself out! The second time was easier and "the pain" only lasted til day 3. I was feeling better inside, making better decisions, and had less cravings. I plan on going on another fast very soon and will be happy to blog about it! Oh, and my husband is currently on one, so guys can do it too!
 
Should I recommend this to friends?
 Yes! Refer them to my blog or to contact me on Wizpert and I'll help them get all set up. Share your results and your plans for your future temple and if they do decide to jump on, encourage them, stick with them, and show them some of your own taste juice recipes!


That about wraps it up! If you have a question that isn't listed here, feel free to contact me and ask!

Happy juicing!

-Chef Marie C.M.  

The Juice Fast SYSTEM

In other posts, I've mentioned this system. I mostly redirect you to another site or two, but here is the entire system for a regular 10 day juice fast for easy reference. There is no caffeine, sugar, sugar substitutes, water additive packets, or alcohol consumed during a cleanse. This works best with organic produce.

10 Day Juice Fast:
Total days: (20)

• Set up your body with two days of eating raw. This will get your body ready for the cleansing.

1. Raw, uncooked foods.
2. Eat like a rabbit again.

• Next, start your juice fast. I like starting on Mondays for easy tracking! Plus, I can go grocery shopping over the weekend. 
• Juice fruits in the morning, fruit/veg in the afternoon, and veg in the evening. Remember to drink 2 cups of water every 2 hours and you'll stay full.

3. Juice
4. Juice
5. Juice
6. Juice
7. Juice
8. Juice 
9. Juice
10. Juice
11. Juice
12. Juice

•  Yay! You made it through the tough part! As you continue the next seven days, continue juicing like you were, but now we get to add solids! (Serving = 1 Cup, one apple, a few stalks of celery, or 4 oz. for meat)

13. Juice, 1 serving of solid fruit and one serving of solid veggie.
14. Juice, 2 servings each of solid fruit and veggie
15. Juice, 2 servings each of solid fruit and veggie, 1 serving of lentils
16. Juice, 2 servings each of solid fruit and veggie, 1 serving of lentils and/or nuts, 1 serving of whole grains
17. Juice, 3 servings each of solid fruit and veggie, 1 serving of lentils and/or nuts, 1 serving of whole grains, 1 serving of fish.
18. Juice, 3 servings each of solid fruit and veggie, 2 serving of lentils and/or nuts, 1 serving of whole grains, 1 serving of fish or chicken.
19. Juice, 4 servings each of solid fruit and veggie, 2 serving of lentils and/or nuts, 2 serving of whole grains, 1 serving of fish, chicken, pork, or beef.

• The last day! Good job! I'm proud of you and so is your body! Pat yourself on the back! 

20. Juice and Eat Healthy foods!!!!

Do the Hula!

I recently came across an article in Self Magazine featuring Kelly Osbourne's weight loss and new life style change. She went through a dramatic change after her mysterious seizure that took place on a recording of Fashion Police. She has lost about 80 pounds by various ways of exercising and by simply changing what she eats at what time of day. I'll briefly go into her changes here, but really, you could just read the Article, its fantastic!

The first thing she did, and I'm 100% on board with it, is Hooping. Yes Hula Hooping! Did you know that you could burn up to 500 cal just hula hooping for an hour? Not to mention all the fun tricks you can learn and the arm workout you can do. Let's not forget all the different colors, sizes, weights, and effects hula hoops can have! I personally have purchased a Foam 2.5lb (36") Rainbow Hula Hoop, a 3lb Supa Hoop (48") with the Rain effect, and a 38" light weight LED Rainbow hoop. Take it from me, find out which hoop is the right size and weight for you before purchasing hula hoops. Getting hoops via Amazon or Ebay will help save you some money, but if you can afford the Hoopnotica sets, those are the ones Kelly O. uses, they are pretty good, durable, and come in plenty of varieties.

Another change she made was a very balanced daily diet, like took a really hard look at herself, kind of daily diet. (Again, not a "diet" kind of diet. A "What am I consuming daily and want to consume daily" diet.) She also doesn't completely deprive herself from her guilty pleasure foods. ONCE IN AWHILE isn't bad, but having a doughnut everyday for breakfast is not good for you. That doughnut is now part of your daily diet. If you have a good one on one with yourself, you can start changing that doughnut for a bowl of oatmeal, and now the oatmeal is part of your daily diet and your consuming half the sugar, carbs, and calories!

Weight loss also has to do with the time of day you eat something. Kelly O. told Self that if she craves pizza that day and she's been "good" during the week, she'll have it for breakfast, a salad for lunch, and oatmeal for dinner. Consuming the naughty foods in the morning gives you all day to burn them off. That sounds great, but remember, it's not to be an every day thing and it's okay if you have a late dinner with friends occasionally. Everything in moderation and remember to take responsibility.

Since her recent accomplishment, Kelly O. has inspired many to start out simple and to not beat yourself up. People who have always struggled with weight are switching towards better choices and easier workout routines that are more doable that the feared P90X or Insanity programs. If you can do those, more power to you, but the rest of us need something a little easier. Kelly O. says to start just walk, or do some light yoga, or even pick up a hoop. Whatever you feel like doing, it should be fun and you should be able to accomplish it.

I'll be honest, I never knew how to hoop and I'm still learning, but I won't quit, I find hooping fun to do whether its inside watching tv or outside with my LED at night. I even took on adding a squat to pick up my hoop every time it falls. I encourage you to give it a try if hooping interests you and try to get others involved. Kelly O. and Adam Lambert hoop together, so grab a friend, head to the park, and laugh your way fit!

Hoopers bring their own Sunshine!

-Chef Marie CM

Diet Plan, Set Up for Failure

I recently came across a post that a very famous celebrity had listed on her FB wall and a friend of mine "liked" it. I took a look at this celebrity's Diet Plan and was very disturbed. (I won't mention the name out of respect, even though I can't stand the celebrity family and their sense on entitlement.)

I thought o myself: "This girl has access to personal chefs and great foods and personal trainers, donuts gotta be good."

I was wrong! I couldn't believe what I was seeing! How could someone with that much cash and be that famous eat that kind of crap and call herself healthy and fit? I call "fake" on that load of crappy foods and her description of healthy weight loss and body. No "diet" that allows you to eat cookies every day is healthy!

I pray that some how and some day she will discover the right way to eat and be healthy and that she gets better. I can't fault her completely, because I'll give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe, perhaps maybe, she, and her trainers, and chefs, and family, honestly don't know about optimal nutrition.