Well, you know me. :) I don't think you can keep substituting "methods" (like juicing) if you feel you have an addiction. I think you have to deal with the emotional issues associated with overeating to truly be free of this. You can deal with the symptoms by counting calories, working out, etc. but the monkey is still on your back.

How do I know? Because I have done all that. IME, it's all a temporary fix. The problem, too, is that once you're at the weight you want to be at, the emotional issues will STILL be there. You cannot escape them.

Again, this is just my experience-- yours may be different.

I think it sounds interesting. You've done your homework, consulted your doctor and have the support of your teammate, DH.

I'm not sure I believe it'll re-train your brain but if you're interested in trying it I say go for it. You never know until you try, right?

I've heard great things about the Green Goddess drink (I think that's what it's called), and people have touted the benefits of juicing for decades. 100% juicing would be too hard for me but I have considered substituting a meal with a balanced juice drink.

Keep us posted on your journey, if you do decide to do it.

Jennifer

This is interesting. I purchased a Blentec blender recently and am so enjoying the smoothies and whole fruit juices. I've always had an aversion to these type of drinks, thinking I needed texture to be satisfied but these are so tasty that the texture isn't an issue. Well, I also don't use them as substitutions for meals but more as an inbetween snack.

My question would have to do w/being satisfied w/juices for every meal. What do you do if you get hungry between meals?

I hope you'll give updates and wish you and your DH much luck w/this:)

I do understand your frustration and I wish you luck, but I have to admit I think it's too good to be true. What about protein? Yes, you'll probably lose a good bit of weight but it's not something you are going to continue so will the weight stay off?

Keep us posted!!

tina

You're giving up your successful routine just because you put a pound on last week? Now, Kelly...

i agree, long term behavior needs to change in order to maintain weight loss... fasting types of diets do help you lose alot of weight quickly, but will not help you learn to maintain the weight loss...
abstaining from refined carbs and refined sugars might help stop your cravings for the short term, but doesn't help you maintain for the long term... to equate it to an alcoholic-- an alcoholic can abstain from alcohol for a month, 2, or 8 and lose the 'physical craving' for alcohol, but cravings and addiction run alot deeper than just the physical dependency and until the alcoholic starts learning other behaviors/thought processes, etc, there are often relapses.
this is the same reason why there's such a high incidence of weight regain of different amounts even after something as drastic as gastric bypass---it doesn't change WHO YOU ARE.

Some info for you below. Also, just from a quick trip around the 'net, muscle loss from low protein is a consideration.

Still, haven't you lost like 100 pounds by watching food intake, eating sensibly, & exercising? That's fantastic success. You know that regimen works! Don't chuck it all out just because you gained a pound, & your brow lady swears by some oddball 10 day food regimen, & you saw a propagandistic promotion for it. How do you know these people really, truly don't have cravings anymore & won't ever again? How do you know it's due to the juice regimen & not some temporary psychological outlook? If "rebooting" the brain were as simple as a 10 day change of habits, then all kinds of addictions would be easy to fix. But since they're not easy to fix, then the cure must be more complex than a 10 day mental reboot.

I think you're better off giving into your cravings once in awhile, then getting right back on the diet band wagon. And don't feel guilty about it!

Here is a link that might be useful: juices lack beneficial fiber

Again, it really isn't about the weight loss although there should be plenty of it. I really just want to see how my body feels to be gluten and sugar free, to have micronutrient dense nourishment, to crave vegetables instead of carbs & sugar. I just want to see.

I feel that the process I'm going to go through to break my habit to carbs & sugar will possibly give me the time and insight for "learning other behaviors/thought processes."

My brother, step dad and husband are all alcoholics. My step dad quite drinking and went to AA, he's been sober for 30 years. My brother had to go into the hospital for liver failure and to re-hab, he's been sober for a few months. My husband quite drinking because I told him he had to or I would leave him - he's been sober for 16 years without the help of AA or any emotional/psychological help, well except for me.

There is no one answer that works for everyone and I'm really intrigued to find out if this is it for me. Believe me, I usually don't go for "fad" stuff like this. But it's really speaking to me in a very powerful way. If it doesn't work, so be it. No harm done, I'll just keep chugging along as I have been.

re craving veggies, I get that in winter time. I can walk down the cracker/cookie/chips aisle with total disinterest, but when I get to the produce section, my mouth waters! Greens, butternut squash, brussels sprouts, eggplant, mushrooms, sweet onions, cabbage -- yum! Lately, sauteed kale & brussels sprouts with toasted almonds just really hits the spot.

Awm03, sorry I didn't see your post.

I am very concerned about the loss of protein and fiber. I've been working very hard to build muscle and I have a bunch of it right now. That's why I'm willing to modify the program by eating almonds and fish, possibly everyday if I have to. As far as fiber goes, I think I'll know by the "output" whether or not I need more fiber. I'll be getting plenty of soluble fiber but none of the insoluble. If I start having problems I'll start eating some vegetables or take some psyllium. Oh, and this is something I'm dong for 30 days, not 10.

I actually lost 140 pounds two years ago. It was easy and fun. Then over the past two years I gained back 40 of those pounds and I'm scared to death of the direction I'm going because the problem is that regimen isn't working anymore. My body has changed, I'm a little older, all the exercising I do is ruining my joints so I can't go as hard as I once was able. Also, I'm going through perimenopause which has it's own set of rules.

I took a day's sample menu and plugged all the veggies and fruit along with 1oz. of almonds into My Food Diary log and this is what it came up with:
{{gwi:1500322}}

Just wanted to add that I know I sound like I've made up my mind and, well, I have. But I promised myself to keep an open mind and to pull the plug on this whole thing at the last minute if anything starting nagging at me.

That's why I want your opinions and I'm so appreciative of anything and everything you have to offer. I'm going to be mulling over everything I've heard and read for days and days.

Thanks for being my honest, no-nonsense girlfriends!

kelly, you know your own body better than we do, and you sound like a sensible person, so if you want to give it a whirl, I'm sure you won't do anything detrimental. Let us know if you create any especially good juice combos :)

I don't know if you should or shouldn't do it. I didn't see the movie and I don't know all the details because that link didn't work for me earlier. I'll try it again later. Since you are looking for input, here are some of the things I've been thinking about it.

Did those people lose weight because for them 1200-1500 calories was much less than their normal amount and you won't see much of a difference because you're already used to 1200-1500 calories?

Will you continue to exercise? Will you continue to weigh yourself or wait until the end?

Although you are doing it for reasons besides just weight loss, how will you feel if you don't lose any weight?

Will adding your own protein interfere with the goal of the program? Is there wiggle room built into the program or will your changes negate any of the good things it offers?

Is it possible you'd miss various textures, chewing, and the aromas of cooked food so much as to fall off the deep end and back into your carb/sugar addiction?

How will you transition from juice to food? What does it do to your digestive system when you're adding things back?

Will you regret doing it if you don't retrain your brain to resist carbs/sugar? What if the cravings for carbs/sugar are even stronger since your diet is so limited?

Can you go 30 days without a dining with friends, a restaurant meal, a family obligation meal? If you do have something off the program, does that mean you have to start over or do you continue as if that didn't occur?

What are your food contingency plans if one of you can't or won't stick with it? Will the other continue?

I don't expect you to answer any of these questions, I'm just throwing them out there for you to consider, if you haven't already.

I'm not sure I understand how a veggie and fruit juice diet could retrain you not to crave carbs since fruits and veggies have carbs - some fruits have a lot of sugar.

There are some really interesting thoughts here about addiction to sugar, alcohol, etc. It's also very interesting to me that you feel you have this sugar/carb addiction and have lots of alcoholics in your life. I have kind of the same situation. I don't drink alcohol at all due to all the alcoholism in my family along with the fact that I thought I was enjoying a little too much of it.

I tend to think people substitute one addiction for another - sometimes one drug for another or alcohol for some drug, etc. I too can go crazy on sweets and some other junky food to the point I think I am completely not in control of myself. It reminds me of some alcoholics I know.

Anyway, it's all very interesting - not at all sure what the answer is. Good luck with your plan - will be interested to hear how it works out.

Gibby, I come from an alcoholic home, too, and don't drink for the same reason. As you said, I think any addiction can be substituted for another.

Kelly, as I said in another thread, deprivation never tends to work for me. The last thing we need is more guilt, and I think the idea of a "detox" is sort of like seeing our bodies and our eating habits as dirty and shameful. I know some people do it w/o that connotation, but it's good to see if this is part of why you want to do it. If so, you may want to reconsider.

As for craving vegetables vs. sugar . . .again, using my "look deeper" attitude, think about what you are craving when you want sugar. First of all, remember that most of us DO crave sugar. That is not abnormal. But, is there more? Do you crave energy? Do you feel like you are "treating" yourself when you want the sugar? Again, most of us do like the taste of sugar-- it's programmed into us. Breastmilk is sweet for that reason!

I have mentioned that I like the ADDITIVE attitude. So, if you want to eat more fruits and vegetables, go for it! One of the things I learned about myself was that I do like veggies . . .a LOT, but only if they are prepared (vs. just boiled/steamed). For example, I could easily live on veggies the way they are prepared in Ethiopian cuisine. My friend just made a salad with grilled veggies and pesto. I craved it because it was GOOD.

Bottom line-- I don't think juicing will cure you of cravings. But, if you want to add more fruits/vegs. into your diet, maybe try preparing them in more interesting ways, as well as juicing, but maybe don't limit yourself to only a juice diet until you have your expectations clearly laid out. (Not saying you don't already.)

Also, kelly, think about all the goodies you crave: They're not just sugar, but high fat too. Or perhaps high fat & salt (potato chips). I think fat is as much of the desired taste as sweetness. Now that we know fat isn't the great evil we used to think it was, maybe adding a little more fat to your diet would ward off some cravings. Butternut squash with butter & brown sugar, for example. It doesn't take much of the latter to make it delicious.

Sounds like you've really thought it out. I will be interested to see how it goes!

tina

I definitely don't have all the answers and won't know how it works until I'm in the thick of it. This plan is considered a "personal journey" and modifications are not only allowed, they are to be expected.

Right now, I can't wait to get my juicer and start experimenting and drinking all that wonderful juice. I'm not mourning sugar and carbs at all, however, the plan calls for no caffeine and I will miss my morning coffee badly. So, I plan on drinking my coffee, although less. I'm also going to modify based on my protein needs.

I've read a bunch of juicer journals and blogs. Everyone pretty much says the same thing, but this particular writing really stood out to me:

It can be whatever you want it to be really. . . the thing about this is it can be created and sculpted to fit your needs. What I realized during my fast is it's better to design a plan that works for you, instead of trying to hold yourself to some self imposed standard of perfection (like a 60 day all juice fast). It helps you create the experience you want, allows you to look at your food issues, as well as experience incredible health benefits. I wish I'd realized this when I started, but a juice fast is so much more than just drinking juice. It's a time to really connect with your body, and spirit. It's time to create new habits, and recognize old patterns (of eating and thinking). It's time to reevaluate your relationship with food, yourself and the world. Juice is the vehicle, but it really is a journey of self discovery ~ if you allow it to be.

BTW, I really didn't mean for this week's health check-in to be all about me, so I'm going to start a new health check thread for everyone to contribute to.

I don't have time to look at the link right now but I have a cousin who does these and she's good with it.

My big concern is pesticides and fungicides and stuff. Do the juicing experts go organic for the duration?

Um, are you buying THEIR juicer?

Do the juicing experts go organic for the duration?
Yes, but organic standards are not regulated very well so even when something says it's organic - you never know for sure. I buy the majority of my produce from a local organic food delivery service called "Greenling" and I also have a friend who sells at the Farmer's Market - I know she doesn't use any pesticides. I'll also be able to use my own garden veggies once they start producing.

Um, are you buying THEIR juicer?
No. purchased a Jack Lalanne from Target.com using AMEX points. Then my sister said I can have her ($500!!) juicer that she never uses.

Why do you ask?