Last night after having dinner and ice cream in Waxhaw, I stopped at the grocery store to grab fruits and vegetables for today’s juices. I wanted to challenge myself to see if I could actually physically and mentally complete this. But, it’s 1:30 pm and I’m already regretting this. It’s football Saturday and I’m drinking juice instead of snacking on chicken wings. I want to quit, but now it’s more of a pride thing and I’d feel like a failure. I went to the farmers market this morning to grab stuff and all I wanted was the kettle corn and bad foods. Its funny because when I eat heathy/normal food, I don’t crave bad things, but when I juice, I crave everything bad. I’m starting to think that juicing may be the culprit to a bad diet. Even though you’re not hungry, you’re still “restricting” yourself to foods you want and that aren’t even bad for you in the first place. I mean, the juice tastes good and it has protein, but…I just can’t. If anything, I may just finish out the next 24 hours to see how it goes and then juice everyday and then have a regular meal at night. I’ve heard of people doing it like that, I just don’t think I’ll be able to do this…
This experience isn’t fun. Why do people make it look so glamorous on the internet? This sucks.
Maybe I should start a pool bet.
Will I or Will I not eat a chicken wing by the end of the day…
What are your thoughts?
Jordan M says
I have done a lot of research on juicing, and it isn’t as beneficial as a lot of people think. Your diet is healthy and balanced, and that is why I love your blog. Speaking as a fan, I for one wouldn’t judge you on returning to your normal eating habits and juicing only when you want; I actually encourage it! I think your other followers feel the same way. You should be proud of your overall healthy lifestyle so don’t beat yourself up on abandoning a fad diet!
elle says
This, it isn’t even good for you and it has no “detoxing” properties; the liver and kidneys remove toxins from the body just fine on their own. It’s perpetuated by people who have no absolutely background in biochem or nutritional science.
Cassie says
Just wondering what made you want to do it for a long period? It’s my understanding it’s not good to cut out fat and protein (especially for days at a time). Are you still working with a trainer? What do that they have to say? I honestly think juicing is ok like once a day (to get the vitamins, minerals, etc.), but our bodies need other nutrients to run properly- especially if you are working out!! Good luck!
cara says
When I restrict myself too much, I crave crazy bad things! I suddenly want foods that I never crave when eating a normal healthy diet. I think there should be balance with everything. Maybe juice during the day and have an evening meal full of vegetables, fruit and lean protein. That way you’re still getting a lot of the benefits of the micronutrients without a binge of candy, chicken wings, and everything but the kitchen sink!
Thundercat says
Eh. I think juice is a great treat to a healthy diet. But if only juice isn’t working for you… Don’t beat yourself up. It’s a pretty extreme choice. I have a friend who would juice as a way to quit smoking for a bit, and during that period she was always exhausted, had no energy for a social life, was weak, starving, etc. She was eating a normal amount of calories, but the juice wasn’t working.
Also, you don’t need juice to cleanse. Your liver and kidneys do all the cleansing you need for you. If they didn’t, you’d be in major trouble. You don’t need juice for that. Just eat healthy and throw some juice into the mix.
Thundercat says
And I’m not ragging on people who love juice fasting. If it works for that person, rock on. But I think a lot of people go in thinking it’s especially healthy and energizing, and… It’s really not for everyone.
kelsey says
Girl eat that chicken wing!
Marie-cecile says
You should have a look at Jason Vale’s website, he’s known as the Juice Master. I did several of his plans and never craved bad food. My favorite is the 7 days’
Kristin C says
Yes! haha
Jennifer Griffin says
Life us too short to be miserable especially on football Saturday 🙂
I think juicing through the day with a meal at night is a good idea if you still want to continue the cleanse. Good luck in whatever you decide!
Linda @ Fit Fed and Happy says
Out of sight, out of mind. Get outta there!
Sam says
So, I think you are just thinking about it too much. All you’re thinking is food food food food. Anyone who goes on a diet craves the bad foods initially because they keep telling themselves that they are being deprived. You’re not being deprived, you’re getting all your nutrients, you’ve just tricked yourself into thinking your deprived and restricting your food. Distract yourself and it will get easier as time goes. You just need to commit.
Kristin C says
I’m no nutritionist (a picture of my size right now is proof of that), but it seems to me that your normal eating habits are healthier than juicing for such a long period of time. I’m competitive too, but honestly its more important to be genuinely healthy then to complete your own goal, especially if it will make you binge on bad stuff. We all love you and you have nothing to prove to us or anyone else.
Shelley says
I say eat a chicken wing! You live once, and I haven’t heard great things about juicing. I mean, I can understand juicing for breakfast or part of breakfast but that’s it.
Katie Brown says
Only putting liquids in your body is never good. Juice fasts can be really effective for fast weight loss but as soon as it’s over and you start eating solid foods again, you’ll gain the weight back fast, and your depriving yourself of lots of other nutrients. I was actually really surprised when I heard you were gonna do it for such a long period of time. I’ve read your blog forever and it didn’t strike me as something you would do! I actually LOVE juicing but I’ll just have it for one meal a day. Eat solid foods girl! I like your plan of juicing during the day and having a meal in the evening. Sounds like a great balance to me!
Krista Whitaker says
I think you should try drinking the juice for one meal a day instead of EVERY meal. As others have mentioned, your body needs other nutrients! What about the whole grains you’re missing out on?! 🙂 I would try doing it for lunch and just see how it goes from there. I love reading your blog because you have helped me over the past year make the switch to a healthier lifestyle with your balanced eating. I have lost over 30 pounds just by exercising and eating your delicious recipes! I actually made your delicious minestrone soup this week to eat on for lunch. Yummmmm! 🙂
Monica Kowal says
I completely agree with you. You gain it all back anyways. Juicing is delicious and I would suggest maybe replacing a snack with a fresh juice instead. Go get yourself some chicken wings girl. You’re not a failure. You’ve come this far, don’t beat yourself up.
Audrina @ Mindfully Audrina says
Ah, I totally know how you feel! It’s good that you haven’t just given up and made an alternative solution. Having a regular dinner sounds like a good plan; this way you’ll get the benefits of juice cleanse as well as fixing your cravings. Try it and please let us know how it is!
http://mindfullyaudrina.blogspot.com/
Sara says
Hi Tara Lynn… Often times the culprit is that you aren’t physically chewing good which is part of what satisfies our hunger. Don’t just juice alone! Eat at least one meal. Juicing alone only works if you are extremely overweight and have extra stored calories
Livi @ Eat, Pray, Work It Out says
There isn’t enough substance in juices to really fuel us!
Elena says
I think juicing for multiple days on end is way too restricting. I’ve also heard a lot of things about juice cleanses slowing your metabolism and making your body store fat once your off them… Not sure if that’s true. I think juicing is super healthy if done along with regular diet and exercise. I’d say quit the only juice cleanse if you’re really craving stuff that bad. If your cravings are really so terrible then the juice cleanse is probably not right for your body 🙂 I think 1-2 x a day is tototly fine if you still want to juice 🙂
Meggie @healthybeemagee says
From previous experience I totally feel the same way when it comes to doing a juice cleanse. I think it is the perfect example of the idea that a healthy lifestyle includes everything in moderation. When you attempt to cut something out you tend to crave that food or worse foods…that’s just human nature. You want what you can’t have. On the other hand I think juicing is awesome. It floods your body with micronutrients and gives you quick natural energy. Therefore I believe it is best used on a routine basis rather then once every month in the form of a cleanse. Not to mention good rocks and to stop eating it for a full day or three just SUCKS!
Ariel says
What was the goal for your juicing diet? If it was just to try it then I think quitting it is not bad. I could never do it lol I hate juice and need food.
Rachel says
I don’t think juicing is right for most people, especially if you already eat pretty clean… I use ‘juicing’ as a random thing when I feel I need a nutritious drink to hydrate and cleanse a bit. I will use it as a snack or a small meal depending how big it is and what I put in it.
panem says
I don’t think drinking fresh pressed juice is BAD for you. I do think though that ONLY juice is…very questionable. Also, a huge part of what makes fruits and vegetables healthy is the stuff is their fiber content and when you juice, all of the pulp is tossed! I think that smoothies (something you already do a lot of) are much healthier because you use the whole fruit/vegetable. I think your diet is already really healthy but could benefit from supplementing it with the juices- not replacing meals though.
Alyssa says
Yeah, the first time I tried juicing I gave in by the afternoon.. lol. It is really hard. I didn’t feel like it was worth it. It’s costly and although I’ve seen people have great results they do gain most of it back. I think you have enough balance with your health lifestyle that juicing seems like it would be unnecessary. Some people do it to start that sort of healthy balanced lifestyle and it motivates them to keep going once they get results. I wouldn’t be disappointed if you just start to go back to your normal diet 🙂
Chloe - A Latte Lipstick says
Agree with you 110%. Whenever I’m challenging myself extra like…no dessert for a week…then I usually end up worse off then I started. I think that’s what makes different restrictions so hard and tiring!
Like all things, I believe moderation is best! But, I definitely understand the pride thing too! I’m proud of you either way 🙂
XO Chloe
A Latte Lipstick
Danielle Wooding @ New England Daughter says
Juicing really isn’t all it’s made out to be. Nutritionally speaking, it isn’t very sound.
When you juice, while there are a lot of vitamins included and good for you things included, there’s also a heck of a lot of sugar – it doesn’t matter that it’s from fruit, it’s still sugar. When you juice you are getting the vast majority of your calories for the day from sugar. Worse is that when you do this you’re also leaving out the pulp (usually) which means you’re leaving out the fiber and the bulk of the actual fruit. This makes your sugar and calorie issues worse because the fiber isn’t there to offset or make you feel full. Could you eat all of the whole fruit in a day that it takes to make your juice? I couldn’t.
With so much sugar in your system, your pancreas and your liver have to work incredibly hard to process it. Because of that, unless your normal diet is full of processed foods (in which case a juice fast isn’t really going to help you anyway) the idea of juicing as a detox method is flawed.
Fasting is not a bad thing, but you’re better off trying intermittent fasting instead.
Alissa says
As someone with an ED history, I don’t do juice diets, no matter how “healthy” they are. Very slippery slope…it is a restrictive mindset of “should” and “shouldn’t”, etc. For me, healthy choices have to come from an internal place of “I truly want to eat this and take care of myself.” As soon as I start imposing external restrictions and rules on my diet, that’s when I know there will be problems.
That said, I still like green juice and smoothies a lot! The difference is that I don’t “make” myself have them or replace meals with them when I would rather eat something.
Jenn says
I juice every morning but i do it in addition to a healthy diet. i still have breakfast. I have about 1 cup of juice which is just carrots, parsley, beet greens and celery right when i wake up. I notice a big difference on stretches where i haven’t juiced. But i would never do a juice fast or a juice cleanse.
Natasha says
I really don’t agree with juice diets — especially not for people who already know how to eat well. But that said, the first few days really IS the worst of it. After that, the insane cravings die down and you get a renewed sense of energy. But I wouldn’t judge you for not sticking to a 100% juice diet — especially if you don’t have weight to lose. 🙂
Sidnee says
Maybe next time you could try whole fruit instead of juice. You need the calories and a lot of people are successful, long-term, on an all fruit diet so I don’t see why a cleanse would be bad in any way. Just check out Megan Elizabeth/Easy to be Raw on YouTube for more info & Inspo:)
Kenzie says
I know this is a super old post but I found your Tumblr blog back in 2012 and fell in love immediately; however, life got busy and my life moved on and away from Tumblr. A couple years I came back and saw you have moved and your blog had grown- how exciting! Then over the past week I’ve been trying to remind myself to get back here and well now here I am! My objective today was to start getting inspiration for some low calorie meals as I know this is what you specialized in during your transformation. I’m currently 210lbs and have tried everything under the sun EXCEPT clean eating. I’ve made my life hell doing calorie counting, Weight Watchers, and currently on a 30-day juice challenge. I did it for a week straight and then began to modify it as my life is just way to full with obligations to stick to such a diet. So now I am doing it with just eating a healthy dinner at night but replacing my breakfast, lunch, and snacks with a juice. I found it totally ironic that this is something you tried 2 years ago as well as never thought I too would become a blogger and blog about this journey myself. Thank you for being an inspiration to so many girls! Wish you had a “how to book” with details of how you lost and maintained your weight and incorporated these blog posts in it!