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.

[Reggie]

Hello,

Great to hear your enthusiasm with juicing, especially the greens.I'm 50 and recently diagnosed and months into my 3rd month on atripla. I have always been healthy and often make fruit shakes of nutrition as work as a private instructor/trainer. My friend has just turned me onto to juicin greens, and he swears by it!!! My initial numbers were a loe cd4 count of 70 and high viral load over a million but within weeks of starting meds had regained the 8 kilos I lost and feeling much better although still have a few side effects like nausea and not sleepin as well as used to. I am due to get my first tests since starting meds the end of this month so still nervous. I figure healthy green juicing cam really help increase energy levels as work out regularly, and a few friends of my friends hooked on it, even his parents. I think this may be a huge help for health and mind with my HIV status. Thanks for your sharing, any advice you can give appreciated.

Reggie

[Irish Eyes]

I was dx last Dec. I typically weigh 155lbs. dropped to 133. and struggling to regain.
I never had a health/ ood appetite. My mindset is eat to survive not survive to eat.
Coffee & toast 4 breakfast, if I had lunch, prob peanuts or milky way and diet coke, and dinner pasta, a sandwich typically something light.
Now with dx I have to practically force feed myself and decided to start juicing, but though I'm getting nutrients new to my bod I'm not getting additional calories, plus if i have a juiceI'm going to forgo next meal. It's a vicious circle. So now when I buy a fresh green drink I get a smoothie (590 calls).
Christmas day I weighed 133 and I just broke the 140 mark a few days ago. A whole lb. a week. Yes i know, pathetic
All in all im cutting out juicing. Milky Ways have tons of calories.

[mecch]

I dont understand why the only choice is liquid "so called healthy" juice drinks, and crap food.
Why don't you eat some whole foods?  You don't like the taste of real food?  A steak? A roast potato with butter?  A bowl of chicken soup. 
What did you eat growing up.
My guess is you could use a meeting with a nutritionist and maybe talk some of this out with friends, support group, here, therapist. Anyway.
You seem to have a miserly and adverse relation to food.  Both the health and the pleasure of food.

[Irish Eyes]

Vegetarian for 20+ years, no 4legged meat, only dairy is cheese, yogurt and ice cream + fish.
Last year added chicken but if I over think it i put myself off, (but its sometimes hard to pass a good bit of 2 legged meat).
My short list of food items I posted was to show how light I eat, it didn't encompass all items I consume.
Was raised on meat and potatoes.
My relationship to food is my normal, nothing adverse.
Having travelled the world several times and seeing the poverty of millions was one reason for cutting back. eg The poor in India surviving on a cup of rice and a glass of water a day, if they were lucky (my self imposed guilt trip).

[mecch]

Vegetarian or not, peanuts + milky way + diet coke does not make a healthy meal.
Honestly it sounds like you haven't learned to make a complete - healthy and satisfying - vege diet.
Yes there are malnourished people in the world. Yes you can decide to take active steps to eat sustainable food.  You skipped adding in all the whole foods, nutrients, and fun that is possible.  You don't have to be malnourished.  But, as you say, it's your "guilt trip". 

Sounds like you need to add daily high quality proteins that have fat, and some pure fats to up the calorie intake.  Fatty fish.  Butter. Virgin oils.  Avocado.  If you like carbs - get complex carbs - lentils, beans, whole-wheat stuff, oatmeal, bulgar, brown rice, veges, etc.