Tag Archives: “raw raw life”

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.

Juicing & Weight Loss – Why Juice Fasting?

14 May 2013

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Whoo hoo hoo! We are on for JUICY JUNE, lovies! I cannot wait to get started! Y’all just do not know how badly I need this fast. I am so looking forward to the energy, the routine of making my juices in the morning, the glowing skin, the mental clarity…I say, BRING IT ON! 

Before we dive in, lemme say thank to everyone for welcoming The Bean into the world! Loved all your comments and questions, and we’ll get to all of them before we dive into the cleanse on June 1st. I’m also creating a “Guided Juice Fast” eBook that will be available in time for the June fast. Juice meal plans, grocery lists, tips, inspiration…all included! More on that shortly!

The question that stood out the most for me was, “Why are you juice fasting AGAIN?” LOL! Great question!

The short answer is “clarity and cleansing”. The body goes through so much turmoil during and after a pregnancy, and my body needs a serious nutrient fix. In addition, all the healthy activities that had become a part of my daily life (colonics, Bikram yoga, juicing, etc.) went completely out the window. To get back to my place of peace, health and routine, a juice cleanse is definitely in order!

Besides, The Bean and the business have me hopping over here on very little sleep. If I can get the energy boost from juicing AND not have to think about what is the easiest meal to prepare that I can eat with one hand? All the better. Thank goodness for wide-mouth mason jars and long straws!

Another thing to point out about folks who fast more than once – it’s not just about weight loss. Don’t get me wrong…I am determined to lose the preggo pounds. It’s more that, though. Giving your digestive system a rest on the regular so your body can do some deep cleaning is extraordinarily beneficial. Those of you who have fasted successfully know that feeling – that intensely peaceful, high energy, no hunger, purposeful feeling of change that comes when you’re gulping down liquefied produce. Who wouldn’t want to get to that state of health twice a year? Can you say “OHMMMMMMMMMM”?

I’m in for 92 days, folks. Are you going to juice with me? If so, for how long?