Four Day Juice Cleanse

Okay, this is a little late as I did this juice cleanse two weeks ago. However, I promised a post would be coming on it, so here it is! :)

Once in a while I realize I need to detox and reset myself.
Usually, I push myself extra hard in the gym, yoga studio, and kitchen. This time, I decided I would try something new. I really wanted to flush as much processed sugar, preservatives, and bad food cravings out of my system as possible. For that, this was pretty awesome!

For four days my diet consisted 90% of blended fruit, veggies, herbs, water, pom juice, and coconut water. 

Below is the exact cleanse I used. (Compliments of the Pinterest search engine...) 

It was SO convenient to have the shopping list attached!

Now, this cleanse was not cheap! This much fresh produce, pom juice, and coconut water can really add up! If I recall correctly, the whole bill came out to about $80. 

(I bought some groceries for Clynn at the same time, so I don't know the exact number.)

However, the bill was still much more affordable than most (if not all) 3-4 day juice cleanses you would buy from a juicing bar or online store.

Also, I understand that what comes out of my Vitamix is not the same thing as what comes out of a juicer. My thought was that it is pretty much the same thing, only plus the fiber. (Please, correct me if I'm wrong!)

You may look at this and think that it's not enough calories for a day! Well, my dear reader, you may change your mind once you see how much juice one of these recipes produced at once.

The following photo is a picture of what my typical breakfast looked like 

(after I drank half a glass).

This was lunch.

Pretty much the same thing went for dinner. 

Each recipe produced about 58 ounces of blended fruits and veggies. 

(Varies with preferred consistency. ie: how much water/coconut water added.) 

(Approximately 1100-1400 cals/day. That's quiet a bit more than HCG;) )

Now, lets talk Pros and Cons!

Pros. 

• This detox was GREAT for de-bloating and re-hydrating!
• I rarely felt hungry making it easy to stick to. 
• The rules were plain and simple. I can drink my juice, water, or coconut water.
• The recipes are fun and different.
• It worked for what I wanted it to do. (I knew the detox was doing its job when, on day three, I found myself craving honey instead of carbs!)
• Clearer and happier looking skin.
• On day four I noticed my ability to handle daily challenges was much more efficient. My entire demeanor was more calm, happy, and controlled. I believe this was a direct result of being hydrated and filled to the top with fresh food vitamins. 

Cons.

• Expensive.
• Whereas I felt perfectly energized for day to day activity, I did not have the calories to spare for a work out!
• Any juicing cleanse means lots of sugar. Natural sugar, but it's still sugar!
• On day three and four, I NEEDED PROTEIN!!!!! (This is why I say my diet 90% consisted of the juicing cleanse. On day three I had a veggie, rice, and bean burger patty and avocado after a smaller version of my dinner drink, and on day four, I had a protein shake and veggie burger patty after another smaller version of my dinner drink.)
• Some of the drinks I had to choke down. (YUCK!)

My absolute favorite thing about doing this juicing cleanse was that it got me more creative with my smoothie/shake making! I now regularly use assorted herbs, beets, pears, lemons, cucumbers, and ginger in various morning mixes, rather than constantly referring to my fall back recipes and bases! 

I am now more willing to try new things and my diet has more fresh food variety.

Would you recommend it?

Yes. If you are feeling you could benefit and can stick to it, if you're not diabetic or have problems processing sugar, if you don't mind taking a four day break from your work out, and as long as something like this won't throw you into a binge eating spiral when it's over. (I stayed strong on this one for about six days post cleanse...and now I'm needing some more gym butt kicking action and inspiration. It's all a work in progress. Forward movement is what's most important!) 

Would you do it again?

Hmm....I would. But I would do it differently next time. I would not use it to shock my body into being healthy, but maybe two or three months into already having a generally healthy life style. This would prevent any post spiraling and I could use it as a way to re hydrate, unbloat, and really pack on the fresh food vitamins. 

Happy Cleansing!

Jackie

Upcoming trials: no-poo and Oil Pulling

The Best Birthday Weekend

My Birthday weekend began when i got off work Friday at 3:30! :) It had been a very nice easy day at the shop. Then, I went home waiting on a call from my little sister who was coming over to Seattle for a swing dance competition!
While waiting, I thought I would soak some time away in the hot tub...where I had the frog incident of which I don't care to elaborate on again. I also got the chance to catch up with my best friend and only non blood/marriage related sister in the whole world. Mariah Nedrow and I go WAY back. We have pretty much nothing in common and it doesn't make sense for us to be friends. So, instead, we are sisters. We love each other unconditionally, and there is nothing that could break us up. Some how, we know how to give each other great advice, not based on our own knowledge about life, but based on how well we know each other. Our connection is a rare one, and I wouldn't trade it for the world!

(Even though she killed our pet stick bug while I was away saving Guatemala.)

Also, our birthdays are two days apart. So we're twins. 

After getting off the phone with her, I finally got the call from my little sister. She needed me to pick her up at a ballroom in Redmond. I thought I would just pull up and she'd be standing there, but oh no! I parked and entered the building where I walked in on one of the most fun little shindigs I'd ever laid eyes on!!

It was pushing midnight and this crowd looked like they were just getting started! Tucked away in a bunch of ware house style buildings was this little ballroom full of people preparing for Saturdays competition. There was an AWESOME live band and the room was BOOMING with talent. So much fun.

The next morning, we groggily got up after about six hours of sleep and got ready for a long day of dancing and adventures! We dropped off the girls (Debbi and her friend, Claire, who we adored getting to know!) at the ballroom in Seattle. Clynn and I stayed to watch for a bit as they warmed up and got registered.

Then, Clynn and I decided to go out for some food and hang out at the butterfly house at the Pacific Science Center. The last (and first) time I had gone, the girls I nanny we're pretty anxious to leave when they realized how humid it was inside. Clynn and I on the other hand, would be happy to build a house in the middle of the blessed weather. <3

Later that evening, we picked up some members of Debbi's dance team, Triple Thread, 

and showed the group of suburban dwellers the sights of Seattle!

This is Debbi's current dance partner, Eric. 

Clynn and him had allot in common! 

They spent about an hour in 'the nerd store' (Brain Age).

Debbi and I Seattle shopping!

SO SO SO happy with how well this photo turned out.

Debbi, her sweet friend Claire, Eric, and Levi. 

We had such a blast with this group!!

The infamous gum wall....it's gross and unsanitary

but everyone loves it.

Here's a picture of me with a giant...thing at the Chinese restaurant we went to for dinner.

I was the only one who wanted a picture with it...can't imagine why.

We took the team back to their evening dance and Clynn and I went to watch a bike polo game! We didn't even know the sport existed or that people could ride bikes so artistically and tactfully. Always stop, go, stand still....never falling off or running into each other!

(I forgot to take pictures...so here's one I stole off the internet.)

Following the game, we went back to our car to quiet the unfortunate discovery. The drivers side car window had been bashed in and Clynn's cell phone was stolen. =/ We weren't that bummed about the phone, and were happy the thief didn't look in the glove box where my phone was, the center console where my wallet was, or steal my birthday See's I had just gotten, haha. Luckily, Clynn had only had the phone a few days, so there wasn't any personal information on it that could be used against us. Mostly, we just felt sad that someone was that desperate...and decided not to park in down town Seattle at night any more...

Given the break in incident and a few events that followed (food poisoning...) we had a rough night...I messaged my Mom and Dad to let them know we wouldn't be able to make the drive over to bring Debbi home and stay for a visit. So instead, my parents decided they would come to us! :) 

They brought cake and ice cream, my adorable little cousin, presents, and lots of love. We played games, made jokes, enjoyed the sunshine, and relaxed the day away. I wish I had thought to take some photos while they were over, but I was too busy enjoying the moment to remember! 

Now, today, Monday, is my real Birthday. I am 23 years old!!! I have SO much to be grateful for. I usually get really sentimental about moving on from a previous year. Leaving the world where I will never be 22 years old again. But this time...I'm just excited. I feel loved and like life can only get better. I can't get over the season change to Spring and I am completely infatuated with opening all of my blinds as wide as possible, first thing every morning, to let in all the natural light. I am on a life high and I expect nothing will knock me down.

Now for some hubby and puppy filled birthday adventures!

Love,

The Wilkinsons

My (no longer) Secret

Happy Blogging Monday! 

Given that Monday is typically my day off, I thought it would be a good day to do my weekly blogging. :)
For those of you that follow my grooming blog as well, (jackiegrooms) sorry I haven't posted in a bit! I've been crazy busy with my job and trying to keep up with my home life. Grooming school has taken the back burner a bit too long. However, today my exam Seven is due! I'm sure you'll be seeing a blog some time soon. ;)

Okay, now to today's post!

I've been wanting to do one of these for a while. A blog where you put your biggest taboo'd life topic on the line, in hopes of giving others a boost and viewing it differently outside of your closet.
(two of my favorites are here and here.)
There are many personal reasons and considerations when publishing a post like this.
For me, this is a post about pulling my secret out of its hiding place, making myself see it as a reality, and deciding to do something about it.

Many of you know by now, that I am a health nut! I love cooking healthy meals, preparing smart snacks, and using my Vitamix like it's going out of style. I turn up my nose to allot of party junk drinks/food, I go to yoga as often as I possibly can, and I do squats and push ups all over my house.

Truth: in secret, I am a binge eater. 

I have battled binge eating sense I was 15 years old.

I can't talk about it, because I'm still smaller than everyone in my family.

I haven't been aloud to view it as a problem because society tells me I don't have the right unless I'm 200 pounds.

Binge eating is an eating disorder. One that is hardly viewed as a problem in 7th grade health class. There's pictures of all the overweight people (who struggle with obesity or simply consume too many calories) and then right below is pictures of all the other eating disorders. People who starve themselves to become skinny. Those are the photos, full of information that people sadly gawk over. Those are the eating disorders every parent watches for in their daughters. (I love you Mom, and I don't blame you a bit! We will all face trials, and this is my battle.)

"You can't put a face on an eating disorder"

"Binge-eating disorder is a serious eating disorder in which you frequently consume unusually large amounts of food. Almost everyone overeats on occasion, such as having seconds or thirds of a holiday meal. But for some people, overeating crosses the line to binge-eating disorder and it becomes a regular occurrence, usually done in secret.

When you have binge-eating disorder, you may be deeply embarrassed about gorging and vow to stop. But you feel such a compulsion that you can't resist the urges and continue binge eating." 

It comes and goes in waves...some months are worse than others.

I never feel satisfied after an episode. I always feel sad and defeated. I usually hide any evidence before Clynn or family members can find out.

It's easy to tell someone they need to eat...it's not socially acceptable to tell someone when it's time to stop.

It is easy to not understand this. Most psychological disorders get too much crap. 

Typically, "Why don't you just stop?" or "Don't you have any self control?" get brought up. 

I wish I had the perfect answer to those questions. 

However, I do know, that I am one of the most head strong people I've ever met. I don't take no as an answer and I've always seen myself as the exception to just about every rule. 

I know I'm not alone. Binge eating is the number one eating disorder in America. I am statistically different in that I balance my binge eating with visibly healthy habits.

However, it is a problem and I'm ready to face it head on.

For the first time in my life, I have admit the problem, begun researching treatment, and am intentionally practicing some healthy techniques to battle the thoughts that sometimes consume me.

(Stay posted for a blog about my four day juice cleanse!)

I have ordered this book. I will do a follow up post once I've read it. 

Thanks for reading through. I love you all and I hope this has been a reminder that we are all going through this amazing adventure called life. We all face trials. There is hurt, and there is joy. We can either help each other up, or knock each other down. Remember that hands that help are holier than lips that pray. Love your neighbor and listen to your friends and family. You never know what they may be struggling with or how much something really means to them.

Love and happy caring,

Jaclynn 

  

  

   

Life in Renton

We have been living in Renton, Wa for about four months now. We were so ready for a new scene and excited about my new job and Clynn getting to move closer to the UW.

Now, to be honest, we just miss Puyallup!!!
They say "you don't know what you have until it's gone" and in our case, that was absolutely true when it came to what city we were living in. We miss our regular dog park, my old hot yoga studio, the clean streets, the homey and classic, yet modern feel of down town. We miss the friendly passer byers, our old ward, and the laid back suburban life style.

However, we do have ten months left here, just minutes from the heart of Seattle, and we plan on having fun in the meantime! I've transferred my yoga practice to Seven Hot Yoga. It's about a three minute drive from our apartment and the teachers are really nice. I asked the owner a question one day and ended up getting a ten minute one on one session specific to my technique needs. Awesome! Also, the prices are way lower than my studio in Puyallup. I prefer the type of heat at Hot Yoga Inc. but this studio is way more intimate. Give and take. :)

Clynn has found a game store not far from our new apartment that has tournaments on Tuesday nights. He even placed first in a Magic The Gathering tournament a few weeks ago! This place gets PACKED with all kinds of nerds on Tuesday nights. I can only imagine the kinds of conversations that go on inside, but I'm happy he's found something local and fun to do!

In the next ten months, Clynn will graduate, I will continue to work my hiney off, and we will establish financial grounds to hopefully purchase a home in Puyallup, Wa in 2015!

I suspect it may take one more round of a 6 month renting contract after this location, but becoming first time home buyers is certainly in our near future and we plan on planting roots in Puyallup.

That's our update!
Love,
Clynn & Jaclynn Wilkinson

Final Family Blog

I know I know I know. 

I've tried to start and maintain a family blog like a million times sense Clynn and I got married. 

HONEST PROMISE. 

This is the last one!!!

I've been watching some friend's blogs and kept wishing I had a place to document all of mine and Clynn's adventures! Not just to share, but to have to look back on. One of my main new years resolutions is to "fall madly in love with my life". Blogging REALLY helps me do that, and I can tell it helps others too! I strongly recommend keeping a blog to people who want to encourage themselves to focus on the positive. Life become more simple and clear when you have to write it out.

What better time than now?! I'm not so great at the whole formatting thing and I knew my blog would never look as awesome as some others that I follow, which has been the main thing holding me back. I'm sure it will come along nicely, and in the meantime, I'll do the best I can! No reason to have undocumented family adventures because I can't settle on a fancy, yet readable, font or figure out how to have pretty music in the background without a giant distracting MP3 widget you have to push play on.....end rant.
Like I said....I'm sure it will come along nicely. :)

I hope you enjoy our updates!

Love,

Clynn & Jaclynn Wilkinson