It’s always much easier to gain weight than it is to lose it, we all know that very well. But sometimes it’s the only answer to your health problems and it’s just something that must be done, no matter how hard it is.
Losing weight isn’t just about exercising or just about dieting, it has to be a combination of both and it has to be a lifestyle change that you adopt and continue to follow even after you’ve reached your goal. Otherwise it will all be for nothing, your pounds will come right back and you’ll be back to where you started.
One English dad found the answer to his problems in juicing and this is his story.
Adam’s story
48-year-old Adam Harding-Jones from England suffered an emotional breakdown after his relationship ended and started to gain weight rapidly. Before he realized he was over 420 pounds and at risk from a number of chronic diseases. He developed a plethora of weight-related problems, high blood pressure, kidney failure, fatty liver disease, diabetes and high cholesterol and it was all due to his bad eating habits. He even started fearing that his 14-year old daughter could stay orphan just because he couldn’t get it together.
“I knew I was on a slippery slope. My body was giving me a warning. I felt permanently not very well. I had an impending doom.” said Adam.
Around that time he saw a documentary about the weight loss journey of Joe Cross, “Fat, Sick and nearly Dead” which inspired him and gave him hope for improvement. Joe Cross managed to lose 100 pounds by following a juicing diet and was able to recover from an auto-immune disorder and get off all the medications he was taking.
Cross’s story inspired Adam to start a journey of his own and get well. He decided to start a healthy lifestyle, eliminating bread, dairy and processed food from his diet altogether. Junk food was also a major problem so he banished his bad fast food habit as well. He started juicing, cycling and running and in a year he lost 100 pounds and 16 inches from his waist.
“Over the last few years I felt horrendous and I felt older than I actually am. But now I feel a lot younger. I am doing a lot of things I never thought I’d get to do. I feel brilliant and when I think back to how ill I was and how bad I felt, I just never want to go back.”
He began a habit of drinking juices (20% fruit and 80% veggies) twice a day, for breakfast and lunch while for dinner he eats fresh salads and protein, fish or lean meat. He also exercises regularly, either cycling, running or working out.
IS Juicing Healthy?
The nutritionist Jennifer Barr, RD from Wilmington, DE says that it’s an excellent way to include them in your diet if you’re not a big fan of fruits and vegetables.
“Aim to eat two whole fruits and three to four vegetables a day. Choose them in different colors, so you get a good mix of vitamins and minerals”, she advises.
But some other people said that juicing is unhealthy and not good at all. For example, Brandon Kolar says that juice isn’t a well-balanced meal. Even though they are rich in antioxidants, minerals and vitamins, juices are stripped from the high amount of fibers and lack proteins which can cause certain metabolic and muscular problems.
Juicing vs. Blending
Even though juicing is healthy, blending is even a better option. When you blend the fruits and vegetables you keep the insoluble fibers they abound in and improve your meals’ nutritional profile. Fibers keep you full for longer and improve bowel movement, which is excellent when you want to lose weight.
However, if you prefer juicing make sure you don’t throw away the vegetable pulp so that you can use it later in pasta sauces, veggie burgers or salads. Fruit pulp can be used in cakes and muffins, you can even freeze it and use it for later.
Juice Tips
When juicing remove the seeds and rinds and cut them in small pieces for better results. If you want to add some fibers and proteins you can consider enriching the juice with some oats, ground flaxseed, hemp protein or Greek yogurt. Make sure you consume the juice within 24 hours and keep it refrigerated after you make it.
Source www.healthyfoodhouse.com