We all have those friends.
Those friends that always seem to be healthier than you.
You think you’re doing pretty well. You’re working out, practicing yoga to stay flexible, meditating here and there, and eating relatively well. You’re starting to think about a possible summer goal like starting a new sport or training for a backpacking trip. You’re in a good place. You did help yourself to a bit too much chocolate fudge cake at your friend’s birthday last night even though you swore off gluten and dairy to ‘feel better’…but damn that chocolate cake was sensational.
And then you meet up with a friend for a coffee and all he can talk about is his health kick. Being healthy yourself you contribute by agreeing that coconut water is the new Gatorade (though you still prefer Gatorade) , you too only eat 100% cocoa when feeling you crave chocolate (yea right) , and yes you can’t live without your daily morning meditation (even though its been a week–or maybe 2 so I guess life has continued without it).
At that point you’re wondering why you didn’t go to a bar so you can see your friend cave into a drink…or maybe three, and watch his will power go.
Oh but wait, your friend tells you he hasn’t been drinking this month and has really taken to juicing instead.
I know we all have those friends.
Ugh. Juicing. He had to bring up juicing.
Juicing is the first world’s coping mechanism. When my mom started juicing she claimed it made her happier and younger. When another girlfriend started juicing after a break up, she said it made her feel so good inside she immediately felt better emotionally. And my favorite one is when my friend announced her beet celery juice would be taking the place of wine as it just made her feel so great.
When I started juicing I raved about my healthy hair and skin…the solution to all of our problems clearly!
Well that’s great. And it’s great how everyone claims to juice. It’s like we all claim to work out daily. We know we are lying to each other with these claims. I mean you may ‘juice’…but when was the last time you actually did it? Or were you in your car and thought how its just as easy to get one made from the local health food store and spare yourself the mess?
So yea. When I was having coffee with this friend and he raved about his juicing, I had two thoughts: ‘I give you one month before you don’t touch the thing for a year’ and ‘I really need to start juicing again’.
Its duality is tricky. We know we should juice, but we don’t. Then when we know people are, we do…only to get tired of it again and revert to energy drinks.
Well I caved in again. My flatmate pulled her juicer out of the back of the cupboard, I bought some carrots and gave myself ten minutes to make an 8 oz juice.
In preparation for this half marathon tomorrow I have been cutting out alcohol, eating protein, and juicing twice a day.
I’m not going to lie, I was that girl at lunch today raving about the benefits of my revived juicing habits. But truth be told, while I am loving my kale, pineapple, cucumber juice in the mornings and evenings I totally just ate a couple of oreos while writing this post. And I am really looking forward to that glass of wine tomorrow night.
So go out there. Run those marathons/climb those mountains/ bike that distance. Eat well. Treat your body like a temple with foods from the natural earth…but don’t forget that everybody gives into their weaknesses of sugar, alcohol, or french fries more regularly than they may tell you.
Today I give you my four favorite juices with no more than four ingredients in each to keep it easy! And yes, I do feel great right now…but I promise I’ll let you know when I fall out of this phase.
Even more fun to drink them out of wine glasses!
