Juicing and a micro-nutrient rich diet

[numbersguy82]

Hey All Happy New Year!

I watched a documentary a few weeks back titled "Fat Sick and Nearly Dead" which spoke of a micro-nutrient rich diet through juicing primarily fruits and veggies, with the occasional bean, seed, or nut.

I have been on meds for about 15 mos and when I started treatment I was 118lbs. Typically my normal weight prior to my infection was around 135lbs. After 15 mos on meds I have gained up to 176 as of my last doctors visit. I don't attribute my weight gain to the meds necessarily, but rather a lack of physical activity and a less healthy lifestyle since my diagnosis IE: Drinking and living it up way too often.

So I was wondering if anyone here has tried a juicing fast. The documentary suggests either a 10 day fast of only juiced fruits and veggies or a much longer 60 day fast. I consulted my doc and she was onboard as long as I consumed enough calories and used this as only a start to a much more well rounded diet.

So any past juicing stories? Any potential risks because of my status? Just curious.

[Hoover]

Numbers,
Sorry to hear about the fluxuation in your weight.
Instead of looking for the quick fix from a glass of juice, you might start making better choices in life.
Start eating and drinking in moderation and get some exercise!
It is not as much fun but you will feel better in the long run and your clothes will fit again.
Time to take control of your life and get back into shape.
You can do it, make it happen.

Hoover

[mecch]

I consulted my doc and she was onboard as long as I consumed enough calories and used this as only a start to a much more well rounded diet.

Not your question, but my observation.
Good daily diet/calorie intake + exercise will be the only long term solution.
So you do realise you are doing a fad diet only to get the motivation to continue on something else, and that something else is completely different than the fad?

The worst thing one can do is get obese and stay that way for a few years, the second worse thing is yo yo up and down. Get hooked on fad or crash diets and you will yo yo.

[numbersguy82]

Thanks for the words of advice and encouragement. I think I made this more about the weight loss than I intended it to be. The health benefits of juicing seem really off the charts. I was more curious if anyone here juices and if they saw some improvements. I understand that losing weight is achieved by the ole burn more than you consume theory, and perhaps stop closing the bars everynight LOL

[mecch]

Fat: 1 gram = 9 calories
Protein: 1 gram = 4 calories
Carbohydrates: 1 gram = 4 calories
Alcohol: 1 gram = 7 calories

Obviously if you put raw fruits and vegetables in your body your body thanks you (most of the time).
Alcohol is rather "empty calories" but most of us who enjoy a drink do like the benefits it has!

Juicing can get extremely fringy and also it can get quite expensive or quite cheap.  Drinking fresh vegetable or fruit juicies can be nutritious intake but also be wary of the fad claims attached to it, be careful about fasting - at least follow a well known one and when in doubt run it by a very knowledgeable person and/or a doctor.

And accept that juicing does not cure HIV nor is it an effective treatment of HIV.  Right. You know that....

[thom k]

Hey numbersguy, have you started juicing yet?

I hope that you will. I juice regularly and its a good fit for me.  I have been juicing for about four years and I range from "all juicing all the time" to a few times a week, but find the best results when I am consistent with a daily protocol.  I mostly do green or vegetable juices, not so much fruit juices. 

For me, juicing is both a super nutrient rich diet and also an elimination diet, be ause I end up replacing a lot of fatty and sugary foods.  I usually experience an overall sense of well being after a period of intense juicing.  Honestly, for me, it is a profound experience.

I recommend a book called, "The Juicing Bible" by Pat Crocker.  In addition to recipes for fruit and vegetable juices and smoothies, the book is a great reference for /juicing values of differnent foods.

If you are interested in anything specific, let me know and I'll be happy to inundate you with too much information.