Tag Archives: “Carla Douglin”

Juice Fasting and Detox: The TMI Discussion!

23 May 2013

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If you get grossed out by talk of booty machinations and bodily functions, this is definitely the post for you to skip. If you DO read this and get grossed out, you can blame Kristy from my Facebook page, because she asked for this! LOL!

Ladies and gentlemen…the TMI (or “Too Much Information”) discussion!

Let’s talk about diarrhea, constipation, halitosis, headaches, eczema, emotions, toxins, smelly urine, dry mouth, dry skin, acne, hives, hair loss, night sweats, nausea, mucus, migraines, coated tongues, body odor, body aches, shakes, sniffles and shimmies…or all the NORMAL (yes, I said “normal”) symptoms that can occur during a detox juice fast.

Yes, you’ll lose weight. Yes, you’ll get an energy surge. Yes, you’ll get “the glow”. And all that happens as you slough off the layers of toxins that have built up in the body. The sloughing is necessary, darlins’, so celebrate the detox.

Want more? Here’s a great article on detox causes and symptoms!

Forewarned is forearmed, lovies! How can we handle what comes up? Let’s talk about it!

Juicing vs Smoothies – The Big Debate!

22 May 2013

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“Carla, can I substitute smoothies for juices during a fast?”
“Will I lose weight if I do a smoothie fast instead?”
“I really want to stay full and prefer smoothies to juices…is that okay?”
“What’s your opinion on juices vs smoothies, Carla?!?!?”

Hands down, the biggest question I get. Biggest. Question. Period. So, let’s break it down so it’ll now and forever be broke! Here’s some facts and my opinion on on juices versus smoothies:

When you embark on a juice cleanse, you are physically extracting the pulp/fiber from the fruits and veggies in order to just drink the juice. By doing this, you are getting the straight, unadulterated, easily assimilated nutrients into your system. The purpose of juicing (in addition to upping your fruit and veggie intake) is to give your digestive system a rest… which is why removing the pulp/fiber is important. No one is saying that the fiber isn’t a vital part of the produce: you’re just taking a short-term break in order to recharge and rebuild the system.

Now, I happen to love BOTH juices and smoothies. If you want all the benefits of juicing PLUS the fiber, smoothies are for you. This is where equipment like the Ninja, the NutriBullet, the Vitamix etc. all come in. They pulverize the veggies and fruit completely so that you’re getting the fiber AND the juice combined, and the fiber will help your digestive system keep moving, thereby preventing the constipation that is common with juicing.

People always ask me if smoothie fasts are “okay”. That’s a decision that’s not up to me, lovies…it’s totally up to you! Will you lose weight if you take a break from solids and go strictly smoothie? Yep. Will it be the same amount of weight loss as juicing? Possibly, but that depends on your body and what else you add to your smoothie mix. Even if the weight loss is slower, it’s STILL weight loss and your body will love you for the increased amount of fruits and veggies you’re giving it.

As for which to do (juicing vs. smoothies) for #JuicyJune, that’s up to you. It really depends on your goals, your time, and the equipment and produce you are willing to invest in.

Juice Fasting and Exercise

16 May 2013

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This is easily one of the top questions I get when it comes to juicing. Not a week goes by without someone asking me, “Can I exercise while on a juice fast?”

The short answer? Yes. But when do I ever give y’all a short answer?

I covered this topic in the blog post, “The Best Exercise for Juicing“…which is, in my opinion, walking (click the post title to learn more about why). However any light exercise will do ya good during a juice fast. It’s just the folks who want to do a kettle bell workout and follow it up with a marathon run while consuming only green juice that give me pause.

Someone recently asked me if it was okay to fast while doing Beach Body’s “Insanity” program. Uh…no. In my opinion, absolutely not. “Insanity” is VERY intense, and your body needs the proper fuel to recover from the daily workout. With a juice fast, you’re not taking in enough calories to sustain that level of intensity, and your body gets confused as to whether it should be cleaning out your intestines or rebuilding your muscles. Fasting is intended to give your body a rest and allow deep cleansing to take place. HIIT training doesn’t equal rest, y’all, and can wait until you’ve transitioned back to solid foods.

For those of you (and me) who are using juicing to lose weight, my suggestion is to let the JUICE lead the way. Trust me when I say that your body is going to shed the pounds (and the toxins, and the fat, and the “spackle” in the intestines, etc) with just the juice running through you. Exercise is a wonderful thing, but not “necessary” to increase your weight loss during the fast. I am not saying NOT to exercise…I’m saying that intense, strenuous exercise should wait until after your cleanse is complete.