I am really pleased to be part of a group of bloggers having a bi-weekly debate. You can find out more about this project at http://runwithanideadebates.blogspot.co.uk/. Topics so far have been The Olympics One Year On: Did We ‘Inspire A Generation’? and Would You Ever Pay £50 ($75) For A 10k Race?
This week’s topic is one that is very close to my heart: Juice Cleanses – Healthy or Hype? Well, there certainly is a lot of hype about juicing at the moment (especially since Channel 5 broadcast Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead here in the UK). For example, John Lewis is reporting an increase in juicer sales of 1,886% on last year! But is it all hype?
It’s been said many times that a picture can speak a thousand words. I could easily write many thousands of words about juicing, but instead, here is a picture that I hope answers this simple question without the needs for any words. The photo on the left is me before I started juicing and the one on the right is a recent picture. I juice most days and complete a ‘juice cleanse’ where I consume nothing but freshly extracted juices and water, typically for 7 days. Which picture looks healthier (and younger) to you?
Running on Juice
Before I started juicing I could get out of breath running a bath and yet earlier this year I ran a marathon! Through juicing I’ve lost weight (over 5 stone / 70 pounds) AND lost all the symptoms of various illnesses including asthma and IBS. I have so much to write about juicing and the positive impact it has made on my life that I have actually started a new Facebook page dedicated to it (www.facebook.com/naturaljuicejunkie) and I am planning a new blog / website that I hope to launch by the end of August. Please follow the Facebook page or @thejuicejunkie on Twitter to get details at launch.
If my picture is not enough to convince you, then you may also want to read this:
Knowledge Can Be the Difference Between Life or Death
So what do you think? Comment on this post or any of the other posts on the Run With An Idea website to be in with a chance to win a prize! This weeks prize is a copy of the Innocent Smoothie Recipe Book, which includes recipes for juices and smoothies.
Get your juice on!
Want to get some fennel in your diet, but not keen on eating it? If you don’t like eating fennel why juice it! If you are inspired to start juicing and need to buy a juicer? Click here to get a 5% discount at Juice Master! (Note: discount is applied at check out)
2013 Miles in 2013
This year I am trying to complete 2013 miles self-powered miles. It is has been 10 years since my cousin’s son Adam lost his fight with Cystic Fibrosis. Adam was just 18 years old when when he lost his lifelong battle with CF, the UK’s most common life-threatening inherited disease. Despite spending large parts of his short life in hospital Adam never once complained, not even of a headache and was determined to make the most of everyday.
My 2013 miles in 2013 challenge is in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust as I have been surprised since I started fundraising for the CF Trust just how many people are unaware of this disease and so I hope my efforts will not just raise money, but also awareness of the UK’s most most common life-threatening inherited disease.
The first person to commit to sponsoring my 2013 mile challenge has committed to 1p per mile (£20.13 in total) and this got me thinking. I am hoping that as many as possible of those reading this will commit to do the same and the best thing is, if each person does this on a “pay as you go” type approach all you will need to part with is approx £2 just after each pay day. In January I completed 205.9 miles, in February I completed a further 200.9 miles, in March I completed 185.7 miles, in April I completed 192.1 miles, in May I completed 168 miles, in June I completed 145 miles and in June I completed 210.1 miles. If you can please spare £13.07 to help the Cystic Fibrosis Trust it will be greatly appreciated.
The easiest way to give your sponsorship is to visit my Just Giving page: http://www.justgiving.com/2012-AYearWithoutBeer-CF.
2013 Miles in 2013 – The rules
The rules for my 2013 miles in 2013 challenge are quite simple:
- All miles must be completely self powered (no motors, sails, etc)
- I must be able to evidence all miles, either via GPS or with a picture of any static gym equipment
To complete my 2013 miles I will be running, cycling, rowing and who knows, I might even try a few other self powered methods along the way.
