I feel rather lithe and long-limbed, like a....gazelle.

I am happy to say I am FINISHED with this juice cleanse. DONE. No more.

Before I give you my feedback I have to make one admission.........
I only did 3 days of just juice, instead of the 4 I had planned. I really just didn't want to do it anymore. Three days was enough for me. I don't feel bad about it, because it's not as though I started to eat junk today (Day 4), but I mixed in some fruits and veggies, quinoa and almonds along WITH the rest of my juice.

The weird thing is, once I started eating real food, I found that I WANTED juice. Or a salad. I can literally feel a change in my taste buds and the foods I'm craving.

For a recap I decided to do this Q & A style.

Why did I want to do a juice cleanse?
I am telling you RIGHT now, I did not do this for weight loss. I am educated and smart enough to know that the weight I'd lose as a result wouldn't be in the form I wanted to lose (water vs. fat). Do NOT let weight loss be a driving factor for you in doing a 3-4 day juice cleanse. It's not that you won't see the scale move (I weighed out of curiosity and I've dropped 6 pounds) but more than likely some of that will come right back when you eat regular, solid foods. Now, if you're doing a juice cleanse for longer than a week, maybe...just MAYBE you could keep some of that weight off, but damn....that's dedication.

I decided to try this for my health, to see if it would make me feel more alert and more awake as people claimed it did for them. I felt like I needed a jump start again- I had been in a workout slump and needed to feel better.

How do I feel?
I really feel GREAT. Besides having a small craving for a hamburger, I feel more energetic than I have in a long time (and I've felt this way since day 2 mind you), my skin is super soft, I feel like I can go workout for hours on end and I'm ready and wanting to eat big salads and healthy even more than I did a week ago. No headaches, no aches anywhere. No stomach grumbles.

How much coffee do I usually drink? How much alcohol?
The cleanse said to stay off of caffeine/coffee a week before the juice cleanse. I usually drink about 2-3 cups every morning. Sometimes less. The past week I hardly drank any to easily transition into the "no-caffeine" zone that the Juice Cleanse asked of me. Alcohol? Usually it's a few drinks on the weekend: wine or whiskey with one ice cube.

Was it tough to give up alcohol/caffeine?
Nope. I only had one small hankering for a glass of wine while watching TV last night. This morning I really wanted a cup of coffee, but tomorrow will come and that cup of coffee will taste like the best thing in life.

Did I miss anything/have cravings/get actually hungry?
There were times at work when I'd get small cravings for things. Not really cravings...more like just a desire to EAT them. lol. I just wanted to bite into them.

What did I like most about this particular cleanse?
SUPER impressed that the drinks are quite low-glycemic and have a very low sugar content. The green juices have only about 7 grams of sugar per bottle, and 18-20 grams on the higher end. A few other cleanses I looked into contained about 40-60 grams of sugar per bottle! No. Just no, thank you.

Urban Remedy's cashew milk and cleansing lemonade drinks are sweetened with stevia (other cleanses tend to use agave), so they’re even lower in sugar than the juices.

I also really love their use of super-nutritious veggies like dandelion greens, burdock root, fresh turmeric, etc. I'm all for trying new and interesting veggies and....weeds/roots. haha?

Would I do it again?
Ehhhh, I'd definitely drink juices again, but I think I'd only do a juice cleanse for 3 days and it would be MAYBE twice a year during season change. I could see myself doing it after the holidays. Other than that, a long-term juice cleanse isn't for this girl, but never say never.

What did I learn the past four days?
First and foremost, my long-time suspicions were true... I love food. I just do. I love the way food tastes, I love the "experience" of eating and dining with others, and trying new foods. I will never NOT love food and that's OK. But, I also love the way I feel when eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet...

90% of the time I'm careful with what goes into my body because I want to take care of it- I want it to last a good while. I want to set a good example for other women on what a healthy body image is and how to have a HEALTHY relationship with food.

That's just how it's going to be for me, but that being said a juice cleanse is a nice way to break things up, try new things. ESPECIALLY if you don't get enough fruits and veggies, I think this would be outstanding for you.

I also learned that tastes and habits can be changed and redirected toward something better.
Cost: Urban Remedy cleanses cost $60 a day plus shipping (which costs $45 per 3-day cleanse).

Support: Urban Remedy sends you a pre-cleanse email containing tips for how to prepare for your cleanse. I liked that little something extra.

How to Order: Their website, urbanremedy.com 


Thanks for following along! If you have questions on my experience, let me know I'd be glad to answer! Now on to bigger challenges...what shall I attempt next? Hmmm.........

Day 1 Overview

7:00 a.m.- My day began with a huge glass of water with lemon- no difference there. Around 8:30 a.m. I had my first juice of the day: The Brainiac. Tasted just like the ingredients it listed. Typical green juice. Not bad to start the day.

By 10:00 a.m. I started feeling a few small hunger pangs, understandably, which is about the time I always eat my greek yogurt. Instead, I reached for Juice 2 of the day: Time Machine. This one was just what I was craving - and didn't even know it! It was lemony like tea and spicy from the cayenne. No chugging with this one even if I wanted to because that cayenne sneaks up on you. Two thumbs up for this baby!

I even let Meredith, my friendly friend and co-worker, have a taste. She concurred.

Unfortunately, the second juice only kept me satisfied until I started salivating hearing announcement after announcement about a "burger burn in the front of the facility" blaring over my place of work's loud speaker. Thanks, guys.

I also found myself going towards the fridge to grab a snack. Sorry. Not today. Or tomorrow...or the day after that......or the next....

12:15 p.m.- I can feel a headache trying to creep up on me. I tell it to "get the hell out of here" and push through. Other than that minor itch, I feel good. I don't feel sluggish or weak, just sleepy from a restless night's sleep.

The third juice of the day is nicely named, Flush. Flush because that's what I've been doing to the toilet all day. This juice is SUPER refreshing and minty and I love it! So far I haven't met a juice in this cleanse I don't like! Two thumbs up so far on taste!

1:00 p.m.- I finished with Flush rather quickly and I have another hour and a half before my next juice. AN HOUR AND A HALF?! I find myself nervously trying to figure out what to do with my hands...with my mind..WHAT'S HAPPENING? I keep looking out my window at work, distracted, thinking about snacks now. Almonds covered with chocolate and other NatureBox snacks I have at home. I just want to chew. Already. It's only day 1. I keep breaking out in random dance moves in my work chair (if you can even call them that? More like wild flailing of my arms.) It's a weird thing- and then I'll feel sleepy again. This is weird.

2:30 p.m.- TIME FOR THE NEXT JUICE! It's probably me hallucinating, but I immediately feel better with the first sip. Oh my God. It feels so good to have something else in my stomach, even if it's not a solid. After Party is earthier than the juices I've had so far today, but the apple and lemon cut that taste significantly. I've tasted earthier, that's for sure. Kinda wishing it were more earthy/heavier so it could have a more filling effect on my stomach.

This headache nag is still hanging around. Blah. I start doing Google searches on "juice cleanse benefits" to keep myself motivated.

4:30 p.m.-The time seemed to fly between the last juice and number 5. Probably because I was driving home from work and all I could think about was consuming the next juice, The Warrior. The Warrior is strawberries, chia seeds and stevia. This was the most filling of all of the juices so far and delicious- strawberries? How can you go wrong?

6:00 p.m.- Last call for alcohol!!!

Last juice of the day and the "creamiest". Relax was cashew milk with vanilla and cinnamon. It was a nice ending to the day- creamy, comforting (if THAT'S even possible) and now I'm definitely welcoming bed with open arms. It's been a long day. Thank God tomorrow is Friday.

Was I starving today? It seemed like when I started to get that hungry feeling it was time to drink another juice, so I didn't felt ravenous or dying for food. My stomach had a bit of an empty feeling, but I didn't have bad cravings for any food.

Most frequent thought of the day?
"This is hard, but it's really not THAT bad."

Overall thoughts for Day 1?
Not bad, but not ideal. I wouldn't say awful by any means, but difficult, yes. The baby headaches I experienced were the most annoying part about day 1. Plus I was a little emotional overall today, so that didn't really help my longing to chew something.

Check back here tomorrow for Day 2, when I either push forward or trip and fall. lol Just kidding. I'll make it. 

Lawd have mercy, I truly need a food and exercise overhaul.

My workout shoes are dusty, my stomach is bloated and I feel really lackadaisical (BIG word of the day! hah!). My health and fitness routine has been thrown off, especially with my vacation to Mexico. I'm all about balance so no guilt from this girl one bit, but it's time to get back to business, ya heard?!

Bringing me to my topic today: Juice Cleansing.

I've never done one (I take that back. I think I may have done a DAY of juicing a couple of years ago. Then I quit.)

Lots of research has been done on my part to make sure I really wanted to do a juice cleanse and I've read it all: "Do it," they say. "Don't do it," they say. "Girl, yo body cleanses itself naturally," they also said (Pretty sure that belongs in a Summer's Eve commercial...). I can see valid points in all opinions and after deliberating and reading and researching, I've decided I want to partake! Sign me up!

My reasons:

1. Seriously, I just want to say I've done it. I feel like, for myself, I'd like to be educated and informed and able to tell others if they ask the benefits and negatives I've experienced. Plus, I've heard from others that it's such a great test of willpower and makes you really think about the food you eat to keep your body healthy. I need a REALLY firm reminder of that right now.

2. I love juice, yo! I used to have a juicer before I handed it over to my good friend, Erin (you better be using it, girl. *raises eyebrow*). It took too much prep and time to clean after every juicing. I sound really lazy, but I'm sorry, and I admit that I just do NOT want to make time for that. I'd rather buy it. #lazy. (HASHTAG! hehe)

3. I think juicing will give me that kick in the ass I need right now. See above. The point of this entire post is to get myself some "act right" in the health department. It sounds like a great way to take a break from foods that could be disrupting my digestive system and give my body the clean nutrition it really needs to function properly.

4. Reading about how it makes you feel better overall sold me. I could very much by day 3 be an annoying, hungry bitch, but I'm willing to risk it. My one-day experience with juicing isn't the same as 3 or 5 days, but I'm ready.


I've decided on the west coast company Urban Remedy, after watching YouTube and blog reviews. All of the juices sounded delicious, especially the last juice of the day. I also liked that Urban Remedy juices aren't loaded with sugar and the only added sweetener in a few of the juices was a touch of Stevia.You can check them out online here.

Have any of you tried a juice cleanse for health or fun? What kind and how did you like it/not like it?

I should be starting in a couple weeks and plan to blog the entire process. Sorry (way) in advance for what I said when I was hangry.

I've always kinda been a fan of Tuesday's- didn't really have a specific reason- they were just always better than Monday's, right?! I've recently rekindled my love for Tuesday's because it's the glorious day Anthropologie puts crap on sale! I couldn't even sleep last night because I was itching to see what was being marked down (lol-yes I'm literally laughing at myself. How sad.). Sad to report, nothing in my shopping cart (being saved for when my tax return comes in people!!) was on sale- and maybe that's a GOOD thing- People won't be as inclined to buy the items at full price. *fingers crossed*

Kathryne- She really made a good impression on me- Beautiful, funny and sweet!

The trend of the show this season- I noticed right away seemed to be.... *HELLO* FAKE BOOBS galore. My good gracious. Having been naturally blessed with big boobs, I guess I just don't dig the fake-melon-blown-up chest look (no offense to anyone who has or wants bigger ones. Just my opinion. Stay natural, ladies!). Other than that- some gorgeous ladies this year! I always get hooked....Who are YOUR faves ladies??

After yesterday's grumpy-ass post- I sucked it up and set foot in the gym for the second day straight- whew. It was tough, but you know what? I feel superb already- my, my what a day makes. I didn't feel intimidated- I saw normal looking women like myself today and I did 45 minutes on the elliptical. Now, let me assure you- 45 minutes for me, isn't long at ALL. I like to do cardio for an hour and then weights for about 30- but I have to be realistic...plus I wouldn't wanna pass the hell out. So A+ for workouts today! I'm about to take my butt to the kitchen and prepare meals for tomorrow and Thursday. My plan is to put a Chicken Salsa recipe in the crockpot for dinner tomorrow night- it looks amazing!

First thing is first--I'm FRUSTRATED. I feel like I've made no progress this week on my workout program. Every other week I feel "lighter" or "stronger", but this week has just made me want to pull my hair out. I haven't lost a single pound nor can see any new muscles. LOL! To add to that--being TDY next week with not a whole lot of "MY" food really bothers me.

I think my diet needs tweaked. Christy seems to think it's time to switch things up, maybe add more calories or something. We'll see...........

In more exciting news......

My Pink Tommy Suitcase I found on SALE at Ross! Great find! Yes, somehow I've fit all of my belongings for 5 days into a 21" suitcase. The only other sized suitcase I own is HUGE and don't feel like lugging it around all week!


















My food stash. Let me tell you guys--those Kashi bars? FANTASTIC! Pretty high in carbs, but one every now and then won't hurt.












I was digging through my Oxygen magazines (BEST fitness magazine in my opinion! No frilly sh** between these pages...) and found this recipe! Can't believe I skipped over it. I've made this before and it was SO good!



Off to watch The Miss America pageant...not much else on! have a GREAT rest of the weekend! Next time I blog, will be from L.A.!