Drink Yourself Slim?

Okay, I like an evening glass of good red wine or the occasional martini, so you have to know I got a kick about writing this title. But alas, that's not what this article is about.

No, this article is about something else entirely… actually it's about something that I have to admit I thought I'd be kicking and screaming before I would agree to drink this stuff.

Just so you know where I'm coming from: I'm not a newbie about taking care of myself, eating right and doing good stuff for my health. The reason for this article shouldn't have been a surprise to me, but it was. I'm in my late 60's and I started taking nutritional supplements back in 1970 before they were mainstream and popular. I raised my family on a well rounded diet that included pretty plates of nutritious and colorful fruits and veggies, lots of meat, poultry, fish, some kind of starch and yes, treats from that essential food group… chocolate. I was a product of that time and in my kitchen I pretty much made stuff from scratch.

I had (note the past tense) a blessed metabolism that kept me slim without formal exercise and with enough stamina to hold down a full time corporate job and still chase down our two boys, catch them, and keep them clean, clothed and fed.

That was then. This is now. And this is why I'm motivated enough to write an article about something personal. Although I'm still in blessedly great health, even if I hold my breath I'm not quite a size 6 anymore (not even in Not Your Daughter's Jeans--let's just say they're kind about their sizing). I can still catch the two youngest of our ten grandchildren, but only in the confines of the house. If they happen to escape and make it outside at a run, they're on their own. The stamina I like to remember is a distant memory.

So what does all this have to do with drinking? Ah yes, back to the topic at hand: One of my sons made me try something I have sworn for 67 years I would not do… Drink something green.

You may laugh, you may scoff. But think about it… Green should be eaten as a salad, it should sit on your plate as a vegetable, it can be the color of your walls or a beloved shirt or sweater, but it is not something that sits in a glass and attractively says, “drink me."

So I found myself trapped in a juice bar with my son John, who was extolling the virtues of this unappetizing-looking green stuff in a glass. He told me to drink it. Not just taste it. Drink it. Why did I do it? Mothers do that. We've eaten, drunk, worn and displayed all kinds of stuff given to us by our kids because they're given with love and we love and honor them. So I drank it.

The good news is I didn't get sick or die. The better news is that I noticed that my sleepy afternoon turned around. I noticed that I felt more clear headed and alert. Hmmmm. I didn't relish the taste but I got the wild and crazy idea that if I could possibly stand it enough to drink it every day, maybe I'd let go of a meal or two. Maybe I'd have more stamina to catch those wily g'kids and maybe I'd lose a lovely 10-15 lbs.

That was just 10 days ago. Since then my husband and I have read a bunch of articles from experts about juicing, looked into various juicers, and learned a lot. Our research convinced me that my weight loss expectations and dreams of getting into smaller jeans are definitely realistic. Although the thought of juicing at home is appealing, we decided that the organic juice bar just down the street was our number 1 choice. We know ourselves pretty well by now. Convenience with quality and in our budget, wins.

So here's the deal. I now really like the taste….I can't believe I am saying this although I admit I still close my eyes. It's still green. Both my husband David and I have noticeably more energy, more zest and more interest in getting up earlier to start the day. We're getting out and doing stuff...and dare I say we're willing to exercise?...and I'm losing weight...it hurts me to say this but David doesn't need to lose weight, just me. We both need to tighten up what we've got and we both need that boost of energy that the green drink gives us to be motivated to do all that. We've even talked about walking to the juice bar instead of driving. Soon. It's only been 10 days people, but I'm now on the right road to slim...drinking juice, eating less and moving more. No, I'm not yet a size 6 but I've dropped a few pounds and I can see that size 6 not too far down the road. I'm visualizing 1-2 lbs down a week. I'll be a size 6 by spring!

So that's what's going on. A lot of unexpected benefits. I've known about juicing forever but always figured between the food supplements I take and the healthy meals I make, I didn't need it. I was wrong.

The stuff we're currently drinking is juiced from organic kale, spinach, celery, parsley, cucumber, lemon and apple, but there are abundant variations to try, and we will. Even different colors. What I've figured out is that it's easy and possible for anyone to get the benefits we're finding. More energy, clarity and if you substitute the juice for a meal or two, you'll lose weight. Whether you make the juice yourself or buy it from a juice bar just make sure that these basics are covered: Go organic. Drink it fresh. And for me--it has to be GREEN!