Revelations: Simple Lessons Learned from Juicing

Before I started juicing, spending time in the kitchen was to be avoided as much as possible.  Why should I spend time doing something that would just add pounds and make a mess?  There are other activities that are more fun and distract me from eating as a form of pleasurable recreation.  However, now that I juice, the responsibility of gathering fresh produce, storing the bounty, preparing it tastefully, and leaving the kitchen ready for the next session has become more rewarding because the perks are so plentiful.  Healing, increased energy, weight loss, and general sense of well being are like finding a pot of gold under the rainbow.  The array of beautiful fruits and vegetables available is both a rainbow and a pot of gold.

Bright Morning Faces f my Garden

Another new and surprising pastime is caring for my small garden.  Filled with small square foot sections of vegetables, herbs, and a few flowers for beauty and bug control, my little plot has lessons to be learned about the joy of tending plants.  Each morning is a moment of wonder as blossoms burst forth and leaves appear to have grown inches overnight.  Knowing that each plant has its purpose and benefit adds to pleasure of spending time with God's creation.  

Watching broccoli shoot up before my eyes has me asking Google whether the leaves are edible.  To provide more light for basil, unknowingly planted next to what would quickly become a green giant, I trimmed the largest leaves from the base and made a wonderful green juice.  Yum, who would have thought a juice made with broccoli leaves would be something to look forward to as a snack or meal.

White Flowers:  Future Purple Bell Peppers

As I wait for my little plot to yield more produce for juicing, I am reminded that the full benefits of juicing come with time and a dedication to eating properly as a way of life and not a quick fix weight loss regimen.  New habits take planning and discipline to make them happen daily.  I am grateful for the lessons learned and the support of the 30 Day Juicing Challenge to help as my juicing story continues.  

Progress?

Just as the hill doesn't look so bad after the hike up, the last 12 days have not been as daunting as they seemed at the beginning.  No, I haven't experienced the weight disappearing as quickly as some but the whole point of this journey was not to lose weight but to regain my health.

Last week I took care of my grandson twice.  He came with congestion and cough, and later in the day on Friday he started complaining that his ear hurt.  Normally, I catch whatever he has.  Not this time and I didn't even take vitamins to boost my immune system.  I'd say that something positive must be happening.

Also, I generally suffer from congestion after a walk around the neighborhood.  My environmental allergies kicked in so much in the past that I felt groggy and slow in the morning.  Eventually, I gave up neighborhood hiking.  I am rejoicing that I can resume with little negative impact.

And, yes, there has been weight loss.  By my weekly weigh-in last Wednesday, I had lost 8 pounds.  That was a pound a day!  Never have I lost so much so easily with so little effort and ill effects.  My major withdrawal symptoms were minor afternoon headaches on the second and third days; most likely from abstaining from my morning ritual of tea.

There is progress and for that I am grateful.