Since this is my first post for One Roll at a Time, I thought I’d begin my sharing a bit of my story. It’s likely you’ll read bits and pieces of my very long struggle with weight issues and autoimmune disease every month as I share my journey, so I will try to keep it fairly brief today. But every story needs a beginning, especially one that is as complicated as mine. And you’ll need this background to understand where I am today — juicing for health and weight loss.

Having spent my childhood as a normal, active, rambunctious little girl, it was quite shocking when puberty whipped through my preteen body and left behind thirty extra pounds in the summer between grades 7 and 8. Despite an active physical life, the trend toward weight gain continued on through high school, albeit at a fairly slow pace (about 30 pounds more by the time I graduated). Then adulthood came, and with it, a reduction in activity. The weight gain kicked into high gear in my young adult years. By the time I married in my early thirties, I was weighing in at around 250 lbs.  The years following my wedding would be filled with infertility treatments, a bit of depression, and finally the adoption of a sweet baby boy. In the midst of those years, troubling symptoms began to develop that would eventually be diagnosed as Fibromyalgia. Symptoms included fatigue, mild depression, muscle pain, unexplained fevers . . . and of course, some additional weight gain.

Fast forward a few years, and more symptoms appeared — irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, joint pain, even more fatigue, and enough weight gain to reach nearly 300 lbs. It took awhile for doctors to figure out that, 1) I was not a hypochondriac, and 2) these symptoms were all related. Eventually, because I finally realized it and advocated for myself, the diagnosis of Lupus came.  That was just over 2 years ago. While I was not thrilled with the diagnosis, I was grateful to finally know I wasn’t crazy. I was quickly started on a medication regimen of immunosuppressant medication, a non-steroidal inflammatory, and soon thereafter, thanks to lovely side effects, an anti-depressant. I still did not feel well.

In the span of 2 months, I had 2 bouts of bronchitis, leading to asthma attacks, strep throat, and shingles. I think I had 3 days in that 2 months where I felt my usual normal, Lupus/Fibromyalgia symptoms and all. And you know what? I preferred my usual normal. Within a few weeks I weened off of all medications, and went into research mode. There had to be a better way to manage these symptoms apart from messing with my already hyperactive immune system.  Most of my research over the past year-and-a-half have led me to believe one thing — God has given us the tools we need to heal our bodies. Sometimes that does mean medical intervention — He gives us educated practitioners and sometimes necessary medications. But He has also given us nutrient-rich foods that are not only nourishing and delicious, they are healing.  The problem is this — we have damaged our food so much with genetic engineering and the use of  injurious pesticides, that it is nearly impossible to get all of the nutrients our body craves from eating it. Not to mention, we have become a society that has come to rely on food  served quicker and easier, which has led to consuming more pre-packaged foods filled with ingredients we cannot even pronounce, than the healthful foods provided by our Creator.

Well . . . mostly for health. But the weight loss is a nice side benefit. Juicing organic fruits and vegetables accomplishes a few things that are so good for the body.

You’re likely wondering now if it really makes a difference in how I feel. And it does! When I do it.  I know. If it helps so much, why am I not doing it all day every day?  It’s a question I ask myself every day. Last year, I completely 30/40 days of juice fasting, after watching the movie, Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. I have not felt that good in years. But just like with many chronic illnesses, sometimes when we start feeling well again, we forget how bad it was. If you’ve ever had a baby, you can probably relate.

Today, I am down about 50 lbs. But I am not feeling well. I have far too many days where I am confined to bed with overwhelming fatigue and joint and muscle pain. This is not a life for a busy homeschooling mom, especially one who desires to serve her God more faithfully. On January 1, I began another 40-day juice fast. Only this time, I hope to continue the dietary changes that begin with fasting, not eating gluten and dairy especially. I also plan to continue juicing or blending (whole foods, rather than just juice) on a daily basis once the fasting is complete.  Would you like to learn more about juice fasting? Stop by my blog, Juicing Momma, where I share more of my daily life, along with recipes as I create them. Right now, you could even win a Breville Juicer and begin juicing yourself! This is the very juicer I use. {affiliate link} Next month, I will share more here about how the juice fast is going and any changes I’m seeing, both with my health and weight loss.  Have you ever juiced? I’d love to read your stories or your favorite recipes in the comments!