Articles archived for January 2009
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2009 is really bringing fabulous things to HealingwithJuices.com! First, Wellsphere.com added me to their network – as a Top Health Blogger. Now, you’ll find this very blog listed in the health section of Alltop.com. Yes, I’m serious!
What is Alltop?
Alltop.com tells us on the homepage that they are an “online magazine rack” of popular topics. They focus on bringing readers all the top stories by bringing the most recent information, updated every hour.
Who Are “They”?
Guy Kawasaki is the Founder of Alltop.
What Can I Find at Alltop?
From browsing around Alltop, I see like a gazillion topics. Seriously. You can’t check everything out in one visit – or even ten!
They’ve listed the following categories:
Once you click on any of the categories, you’re taken to another page where the categories are broken down. Take the Health section, for instance. You’ll find information on addiction, cancer, and nutrition, just to name a few. It’s quite fascinating, really!
I’m truly honored for HealingwithJuices.com to be a part of this amazing network. You’ll see I’ve proudly displayed the Alltop badge in the sidebar, and I’ve even decided to share the following widget that continuously rotates the latest health content available.
Had you already heard of Alltop before reading this? Do you visit the site often? Share your thoughts!
Be sure to subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health.
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Making Up Your Mind to Juice Fast
Okay, so you’ve decided to go on a juice fast. Maybe it’s just because you want to get healthier, or perhaps you’re looking to get a jump-start on weight loss. Let’s hope you’ve decided to sacrifice your favorite foods and survive a few days on raw juices because you want to focus on cleaning your body and helping it get rid of years – maybe even decades – of all the bad stuff that’s caked up inside. Let’s also hope it’s because you’ve truly searched your heart and wholeheartedly decided to lead a lifestyle that promotes life instead of one that promotes sickness, premature death, and obesity.
If you’re only planning on juice fasting to lose weight, you may as well not do it. Yes, most people lose several pounds juice fasting – I have. But weight loss is about so much more than lost pounds. Weight loss is about changing your entire lifestyle – mind, body, and soul. Weight loss is about targeting why you gained weight in the first place and what you’re going to do to prevent yourself from gaining weight again once you’ve lost it. So, although you probably will lose weight during your juice fast, it’s best to think of those lost pounds as just part of the process and not your sole reason for juicing fasting. Trust me; I do know what I’m talking about. I’ve lost over 100 pounds – and kept it off.
Made up your mind yet? Fantabulous! Let’s get started!
A few ideas for that pre-juice fast menu:
Organic Greek yogurt with raw walnuts, and fresh or frozen blueberries
This is a yummy treat you can enjoy any time. I prefer Oikos organic Greek yogurt myself, but you may like another brand. (Nope, I didn’t get paid for saying I love Oikos – it’s delish, filling, and most importantly, healthy!) Besides the protein in the yogurt, you’re getting protein from the heart-healthy walnuts, and loading up on antioxidants in those juicy blueberries.
Chopped avocado, tomato, red onion, juice from a real lemon
This is yum-o!! Simply cut up a fresh tomato and avocado and toss in a bowl. You can add a homemade vinaigrette if you want to. I don’t. I do squeeze the juice of about a half of a lemon over the avocado. (I wouldn’t use the lemon juice that comes in a bottle.)
Salad: raw spinach, Napa cabbage, carrots, blueberries, raw walnuts, salmon
This is one of my favorite salads ever. You can throw in whatever your favorite veggies are. The blueberries are optional but they are divine on salad! If you’re a big meat eater, adding salmon or tuna to your salad is a wonderful way to still feed your body a protein that will satisfy you while staying away from red meat. I normally don’t eat salmon or tuna within a few days of a juice fast, simply because it’s a little bit difficult for our bodies to adjust to an all liquid diet after consuming a lot of protein each day.
Prepare, Prepare, Prepare
I’ve mentioned this before but it really is crucial to prepare your body and your mind before setting out on this amazing journey with raw juices.
I’m so used to juice fasting it’s pretty much become second nature for me. I listen to my body – and mind – and I know when both are craving a raw juice fast. You’ll learn to do this too as you become more experienced with juice fasting.
I never, ever recommend that you start a long juice fast right off the bat. Like anything else, you want to ease your body into juice fasting. Think about it. You wouldn’t wake up one day and decide you want to be a runner, hop out of bed, and run the longest marathon there is. No, you’d go buy yourself some running shoes, maybe pick out an area to start running, jump online and study the stretches you need to do to prepare your muscles for a run. You might start jogging and/or doing some other exercises.
The most important message I want to share is that juice fasting is a marvelous way to nourish your body and mind. It’s a beautiful journey between the person who is fasting and the raw food our bodies were made to consume. It’s a great way to slow yourself down and find the calm that lies within you, but is drowned out by all the world’s chaotic noises.
Have you ever juice fasted? Are you just venturing out to try it? What are your thoughts on juice fasting? I’d love to hear them!
Be sure to subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health.
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Health Websites and Blogs
Health sites and blogs are abundant all across the Web, but which ones should you invest your time in? Which ones share accurate information? I’m sure there are a ton of other fabulous health sites out there, and I might have even come across them, but today I want to focus on just three of my recommendations and why I recommend them.
KathEats.com
Health Blog: KathEats.com
Health is #1 priority with Kath. I’ve been reading this blog for quite a while. I love the fact that Kath reached her goal weight and successfully maintains it by exercising, eating healthfully, and staying focused on ultimate health. Kath isn’t a vegetarian but she doesn’t eat a lot of meat. She also finds ways to incorporate tofu and veggie burgers into her meals. You’ll find lots of salads as Kath loads up on the veggies. And, you’ll be absolutely amazed at her creativity when it comes to eating oatmeal almost every morning! She even has a special Tribute to Oatmeal page that she updates once in a while. Kath is so personable, you can’t help but be inspired to live a healthy life when you read her posts. I can’t say enough great things about KathEats.com (a.k.a. KERF). Enjoy your visit!
Wellsphere.com
Health knowledge made personal
I’ve been visiting Wellsphere.com for a while now and recently shared with you that I’ve been welcomed to the Wellsphere Health Community as a Top Health Blogger (which I’m thrilled about!). The variety of topics at this site is simply amazing. From vegetarian to weight loss to sports to fitness and exercise to information on various illnesses and green living, there is a massive amount of resources in the Wellsphere Community. I guarantee you won’t be able to get to it all in one visit – you’ll have to visit time and again and absorb it in snippets. Wellsphere.com is definitely a health site you’ll want to bookmark and return to from now on. You can also join the Wellsphere Community and actively participate in healthy conversations. I’ll see you there! (Add me as a friend if you join.) 
Dr. Emily Kane
Health and Alternative Medicine
This health site is new to me. I discovered it when Esculon Magazine (owned by Alexandra Mihaescu) mentioned HealingwithJuices.com in an article about juicing: “Learn all about juice fasting and what it can do for you from Dr. Emily Kane and Michele Tune.” I hadn’t heard of Dr. Emily Kane so I went to check her out. Her site is full of alternative medicine-related articles. One of her articles that I enjoyed immensely and find to be a fabulous resource is Tips for Reducing Stress. Be sure to take your time and have a look around, dig through her archives, and gobble up the natural health knowledge she so willingly shares with her readers. You’ll be glad you did!
I’ll be sharing more fantabulous health sites in upcoming posts – including a new one I’ve been working on – so be sure to subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and tips to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health.
Have you ever visited any of these health sites? Did you bookmark them? Did I leave out any important aspects about these sites? So, which health sites do you frequent? Join in (or start up) the conversation and spill the beans!
Here’s to life, health, and healing with juices (and smoothies!)
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Healing with Juices Joins the Wellsphere Community
You probably noticed the new badge in the sidebar. I’m excited to share that I’ve been selected as a Top Health Blogger in the Wellsphere Health Community! I was told it’s because of the “quality of this blog and my passion for all things health-related.” Since HealingwithJuices.com focuses on raw fruit and vegetable juices and smoothies and raw juice fasting, my Top Health Blogger badge is in the Raw Food category.
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An Exciting Adventure
This is quite an honor for me as I’m a passionate health advocate. Raw foods and juices are such a huge part of my life and juice fasting has improved my lifestyle immensely. Most of you know I’ve lost over 100 pounds and overcome many health issues. I am still working to achieve even better health, but I’ve come such a long way I can hardly believe it. I do not take this Top Health Blogger status lightly and have already been focusing on ways to make this blog – and 2009 – even better. I’m also going to set aside time to actively participate in the Wellsphere Community, so come on over and join me. I really look forward to sharing, learning and reaching a bigger audience than I originally imagined possible at this point in this blog’s “life”.
More News in the Blogosphere and Along the Cyber Highway
Healthy Living Today is an amazing site brought to us by Mark Salinas. He shares his most inspiring journey to better health. He recently created a page titled Your Journey where he lists other health-related sites. You’ll find this site featured there. Not long ago, Mark also asked me to share my story with his readers. (I’m going to get to that soon.) Thank you, Mark. I’m so honored!
Esculon Magazine (owned by Alexandra Mihaescu) mentioned this site in an article about juicing: “Learn all about juice fasting and what it can do for you from Dr. Emily Kane and Michele Tune.” I appreciate that you value my advice, Alexandra. Thank you!
I also just received an assignment to write an article about juice fasting for a popular site. I’ll be sharing the link when it’s published so don’t forget to subscribe!
And a Contest for Fun
OhSheGlows.com is hosting a contest for Honest Foods. Haven’t heard of Honest Foods? Check them out! This mention of the contest is part of my own entry. My entry will be complete when I add OhSheGlows.com to my blogroll (which I have) and when I leave a comment sharing what Honest Foods product I’d most like to try. I personally have my eye on the Blueberry Vanilla Crackle Granola Planks! I’m a blueberry/vanilla kind of gal. Oh, and the prize? One box of Honest Foods Whole Food Country Squares!
Be sure to subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and tips to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health.
Here’s to life, health, and healing with juices (and smoothies!)
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Michele L. Tune
Last week we talked about taking our life and health back in 2009. We also looked at how to focus on short-term goals so we can actually reach the health goals we set for ourselves. Today I’d like to talk to you about continuing to make that happen. Choosing health over temptation isn’t easy. In fact, it’s far from it. When everyone else is pigging out on luscious looking deep-fried foods and oversized sodas, milk shakes, or liquor it takes more than a little self-control to be able to sit on the sidelines and eat a salad, sip a water or unsweetened tea, and focus on your health instead of “being in the moment” with the crowd that surrounds you. Right?
I paid my dues doing that. I’ve lost over 100 pounds and it didn’t happen because I joined in with the others at the table who were eating whatever they wanted. Yes, I had to sit through people gobbling up gorgeous chocolate cake or creamy mashed potatoes. But I made it. My sacrifices paid off and I can hardly believe how different my life is now compared to then. My weight loss happened (slowly) because I decided to take my health back.
I’ve only shared a teeny bit of my story but here’s a quick summary: After barely surviving domestic violence, I was in pretty bad shape. My life was in shambles and I honestly never thought I’d see the pieces fit back together again. I was so broken, so depressed, and in such bad health my future looked hopeless at times. In my 20′s, my medical records read like a senior citizen’s (seriously). I suffered all sorts of health issues and was on numerous medications to control them, and required a few surgeries. My weight ballooned up to near 300 pounds and I literally experienced “laying on my death bed” – it was bad…
Raw juices and juice fasting has been a huge part of my healing process.
Someday I hope to publish a book about my journey, but until then I’ll blog and share snippets and I’ll do my best to be that inspiration you need when you’re home alone and you’re only connection with the world is your computer – or when the house is sleeping – and food and unhealthy drinks are calling your name. It’s my desire to be comfort when you need it, a resource for raw juice and smoothie recipes when you want to whip one up, and to be a friendly voice so you know you’re not alone on your weight loss and/or health journey.
Let 2009 be the year you focus on you. If you don’t take care of you, you can’t take care of those you love. You’re worth it. You’re health is worth it. Life is precious. You deserve ultimate health. What is your health worth to you? Mine is priceless.
Be sure to subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and tips to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health.
Here’s to life, health, and healing with juices (and smoothies!)
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January is a month for resolutions, dreams, promises – to ourselves and others – and a time to reflect on what the previous year held for us, as well as ponder where the new year will take us. Instead of making resolutions that are so hard to keep, why not set some goals you know you’ll actually attempt reaching? How can you do that? Let’s have a look at the following suggestions.
- Set short-term goals instead of focusing on the overall picture. Have 50 or 100 pounds to lose? Work on losing 10. That’s right. Just 10. If you focus on losing weight in 10 pound increments, you’re more likely to keep going when you reach an 8 pound weight loss. If you lose 8 pounds and keep dwelling on the fact you have 92 more to lose, you might get discouraged and give up. (For more tips on losing weight, read this article.)
- Work toward your new health regimen gradually. Don’t stop enjoying your favorite foods and drinks cold turkey. If you’re drinking 4 sodas a day, knock off one, then another – until you eventually only drink a soda on occasion, if at all. By easing into your new health regimen, you’ll find yourself being able to stick with it.
- Invest in a quality juicing machine so you can experiment with fresh, raw fruit and vegetable juices. Not only are these raw juices filled with living enzymes and vitamins that are beneficial to your health, they taste delicious! Also, be sure to check out: “Creating Juice Recipes for Weight Loss“.
- Not a fan of juice? What about creamy, rich smoothies? Look for a blender so you can make smoothies at home. They’re less expensive and you’re in control of the ingredients. (Check out these smoothie recipes.) You can also toss in ground flax seeds (for Omegas), powdered vitamins, or even nut butters for extra health benefits!
- Find a fun exercise – like rebounding. Jumping on a mini trampoline – even for just a few short minutes a day – can help you achieve better health. You’ll be increasing your lung capacity, cleansing your lymph system, and will get those endorphins going. The best part of rebounding? It makes you feel like a kid again!
Don’t spend 2009 being sick and tired of being sick and tired. Take your life – and your health – back. Follow these tips and focus on the short-term, ease into your new health regimen, invest in a juicing machine (or blender) and add just a little exercise so you can be accomplishing your goals by this time next year. Hey, hopefully you’ll reach all your goals before then!
Be sure to subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and tips to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health.
Here’s to life, health, and healing with juices (and smoothies!)
