Juicing Reboot

FunkyTobias wrote: »

BZAH10 wrote: »

FunkyTobias wrote: »

HardyGirl4Ever wrote: »

kimny72 wrote: »

OP, if your digestive system is "in really rough shape", have you gone to a doctor? If not, you really should to ensure there is not something wrong that requires actual medical attention.

I don't believe there is any truth to the idea that your digestive system needs a break. I would also hesitate to drink just fruit juice for more than a day or two, as your body needs protein, fat, and plenty of calories to do all the other things it does all day. Unfortunately, juicing is by its nature pretty labor intensive. As @kgeyser said, batch prepping and bagging your produce might help.

If you've been to a doctor and they say nothing is wrong or there's nothing they can do, if you are more specific about the problems you are having, there are lots of regulars with all kinds of digestive conditions here that i'm sure could give you some suggestions.

Wow thank you!! I have been to many different types of doctors. This digestive issue has been going on for about 4 1/2 years now, and nobody can figure out what's wrong with me. Along with my other symptoms, my family doctor said since she can't figure out what it can be with all my test results coming back fine, she assumes it's Chronic Fatigue and Irritable Bowel that I have. (I have other health issues aside from digestion). She gave me a prescription for chronic fatigue that made me worse, and I've been on my own since, going to all different kinds of doctors. I'm finally no longer sick after 9 months of not being able to sit up or anything after going back to my homeopath... I had read a wrestler talking about her juice cleanses and where she found out about it. It's a man named Joe Cross who did the movies 'Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead 1&2". I've just been trying almost anything to make myself better and healthy for once.

Maybe you should go to real doctors instead of homeopaths.

She stated she has tried several doctors. Now, I'm not defending what she's doing as right, but as someone who has gone through this, doctors have a hard time pinpointing digestive issues since they can be vague and made worse by other issues (stress, other illnesses and medications, etc.).

I won't retell my story here of all the doctors and GI specialists I went to over the years because it's too long. I've just learned to manage it myself by elimination diets, managing stress, working out regularly, and resorting to liquids and soft foods occasionally. Not calling you out personally, @FunkyTobias. Just responding to your response since it's generally perceived that medical doctors are the answer. Sometimes they are not.

Medical doctors may not have all the answers, but homeopaths have none.

I have had to "give my digestive tract a break" a few times when I was so sick that I could hardly leave the bathroom. I was put on a liquid diet for a few days, along with stearoids to get rid of inflammation. Then went to an allergist and found I was allergic to some foods. Since eliminating the worst offenders, I've been fine. All that to say, OP, have you seen an allergist?

HardyGirl4Ever wrote: »

Apparently drinking your nutrients give your digestive system a much needed break.

What do you need a break from? Just eat better in general...

You still digest juice... Only true break is clear liquids and TPN

I know my mother in law was put on bowel rest when she was dealing with diverticulitis. Fiber was hell on her body until she had surgery. So if this is helping you feel better, more power to you.

Have any doctors talked about or looked for diverticulitis? It's not often diagnosed in young people but it's worth asking.

HorrorGeekLiz wrote: »

HardyGirl - what you're seeing here in responses is pretty par for the course on MFP. If you dare suggest trying anything other than Calories In, Calories Out, people insist you must be wrong to try it.

Now, technically what they are saying is true - your digestive system does not need a break. Your liver doesn't need a break. Your kidneys don't need a break. Could you imagine anyone saying your heart needs a break from pumping blood? No. Your other organs don't need a vacation either.

So, with that information in mind, there is nothing wrong with juicing if you're enjoying it. I recently did a juice fast and loved every minute of it. It really helped me break a sugary junk food bender I had been on. I did it the lazy way, though, and bought the juice from a local juicing store, so I can't help you on how to be efficient in that area. It was really expensive though, so I could only afford to do it for a few days. I needed that mental break to get me out of the junk food cycle and back into a good, healthy diet. It worked.

If you're not enjoying the juicing process, don't continue. It's not a magical solution to anything. It's just another eating option.

We agree completely on the bolded bit.

And OP never mentioned CI/CO.

How do you enter a 20 oz juicer in myfitnesspal? It had a sweet apple, tart apple, slice of pineapple, 2 kale leaves. I could enter each of the ingredients separately, but that wouldn't be the same as the 20 oz juice product.

I've done a few short reboots and am currently drinking green juice everyday and supplementing that with nuts and other veggies - eating mostly raw with some meat (I don't do well on vegan diet) and no processed foods. It is true that it comes down to calories, but it's not true that all food is equal or that eating fresh foods is not important. I go by how my body feels and it feels better and has more energy when drinking green juice on a regular basis than it does when not (regardless of the other foods I am eating and regardless of exercise). I just feel better when I have fresh fruits and veggies in my diet and I don't have time, or inclination, to eat them all whole. Eating fresh juice and raw foods is also, by the way, low in calories (at least the way I do it), certainly lower than a diet that includes more processed and concentrated foods. Anyway, it's unfortunate that you got more responses telling you that you're wrong than answering your question.

There is definitely time involved in juicing, but I find that I get it done in about 30-40 minutes a day, which is way less time than cooking and cleaning up several meals. Perhaps you already talked about this and I missed it amongst all the naysaying, but I am wondering what kind of juicer you are using and what kinds of veggies/fruits you are juicing. I know that the reboot recommendation is for the Breville juicers. When I first did reboot I bought a new Breville to replace my old champion. I ended up returning it because it took so much more time, was more work, and less efficient. That's my experience. I also don't do a lot of prep. Apples are just cut up and not cored, grapes, cucumbers, kale, etc. are put in whole.

I make juice fresh every morning, only occasionally carrying juice over to the next day. It tastes better and is better for you when fresh. I do make enough for the whole day so I don't juice more than once. Anyway, don't know what your digestive issues are but you might also think about fermented and picked foods. - imagine the naysaying for those tidbits.

nelsonblish wrote: »

How do you enter a 20 oz juicer in myfitnesspal? It had a sweet apple, tart apple, slice of pineapple, 2 kale leaves. I could enter each of the ingredients separately, but that wouldn't be the same as the 20 oz juice product.

There are sites where you can enter the ingredients and it will give you the juiced values. Of course, it's a rough estimate, since not all juicers are created equal.

I like juicing.. so whatever :P I usually try to make a whole day's juice ahead of time and bottle it up. Maybe even make enough juice for two days.

I had a friend who had similar problems, and she found it was lyme disease. But no one ever tested for it. Not sure if you have or not, but just a thought.