Back to Basics
Plant-Based Eating Reloaded is a six-week series that will feature my journey back to plant-based eating. Not only will this series benefit me but it will serve as an introductory guide for the Curves and Confidence readers that have shown interest in a plant-based lifestyle. Each week of this series will include a video recap of my experiences and reviews of products I am recommending. Below is the breakdown of the series week by week:
Week – 1: Suja Juice Cleanse ?
Week – 2: A Smoothie a Day
Week – 3: Meat Alternatives
Week – 4: Favorite Plant Based Blogs and Cookbooks
Week – 5: Plant Based Dining
Week – 6: Series Recap
In addition to a video recap, I will also recommend a must have resource each week for plant-based eating. This week’s resource is the Suja Five Day Cleanse.
Suja Juice
I have been a fan of Suja juices since I was introduced to the brand by a good friend. The numerous benefits of consuming cold-pressed juices are endless. Which is why juicing has been a main staple in my wellness/fitness journey. I am usually able to prepare my own cold-pressed juices at home. However, when I am unable to pull out my juicer I find that Suja juices are the most comparable to my own kitchen creations.
The mission of Suja Juice is to get the best quality organic and Non-GMO juice into as many hands as possible. Through the large-scale use of organic, Non-GMO fruits and vegetables, and implementation of a breakthrough displacement technology called High-Pressure Processing (HPP), Suja Juice has become the nation’s leading organic and cold-pressured juice brand.
Starting Over
The last part of 2016 I completely fell off from working out and meal prepping. I was completely uninterested in anything fitness or health related. Of course, that lead to me gaining 10lbs, insert eye-roll. Of course, that is exactly what I needed to get back on track. It’s all fun and games until your clothes get too small. This six-week series will get me back on track and allow me to share my journey.
I selected The Original Fresh Start cleanse because it’s for highly active individuals that require a higher calorie intake. Not only did I want a fresh start with my diet but I also wanted to get back on track with my workouts. It was important that I be able to hit the gym without feeling fatigued and sluggish. My cleanse included the following juices:
Suja Original Fresh Start
Glow – apple, celery, cucumber, kale, collard greens, peppermint tea, spearmint tea, and spinach
Fuel – carrot, orange, apple, pineapple, lemon and turmeric
Purify – carrot, apple, celery, cucumber, beet, and lemon
Twelve Essentials – celery, cucumber, collard greens, lemon, kale, green chard, parsley, ginger, romaine, green leaf lettuce, spearmint tea, peppermint tea, and spinach
Green Supreme – apple, kale and lemon
Dream – apple, almond milk, blueberry, water, chia seed, lucuma, cinnamon, and vanilla bean
I fully committed to this juice cleanse but I did miss sitting down and eating meals. There were two occasions when I did eat food but you have to watch the video recap below to find when and why. Surprisingly, abstaining from eating was not my biggest struggle.
Check out this week’s video recap below find out more details about my Suja juice cleanse and why I’m not calling myself vegan:
I loved partnering with Suja Juice provided and reviewing one of their five-day cleanses. One lucky Curves and Confidence reader will also receive a five-day juice cleanse. This is the perfect opportunity to for one of you to have a fresh start!
Disclaimer: This giveaway is sponsored by Suja Juice. They have provided me with a complimentary juice cleanse and will provide one Curves and Confidence reader with a five-day juice cleanse as well. I love their products and was more than happy to include them in my Back to Basics: Plant-Based Eating Reloaded series.
If you are interested in trying Suja Juices you can order them online or use the store locator to find a retailer near you. You can also connect with them on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram.
Which part of the Plant-Based Eating Reloaded Series are you most looking forward to?
15 Comments
My biggest struggle as it relates to healthy eating is consistency in preparation. It takes alot of discipline to plan your meals. I also have 2 girls in the home so running between their activities and my husband and I with our other obligations. It’s hard to find the time to plan and prepare those meals. It also involves planning financially. Eating clean can be expensive and its really not in the budget most times.
I don’t have a family that I cook for but I do know the meal prep struggles. My recommendation is to set a side a few minutes during the week and come up with a menu for the following week. Try meals things you can put in the crockpot or baked simultaneously in the oven. Also, check out stores like Aldi or a farmers market for fresh veggies and fruit. Healthier eating does require more time and dedication. You could also try planning a meal that you make as a family like pizza from scratch.
Thank you. I do make cleaner smarter choices daily but i definitely will try your suggestion. Thanks for your inspiration.
You’re welcome!
Ayesha Monique, I totally agree about the financial part of meal planning…my husband and I eat two different ways, and meal shopping can really add up. Having the time to do so can also be a challenge. I have a 6 year old at home and the ripping and running is just beginning, so I definitely feel you!
I cannot wait to see what type of motivation and encouragement I can get from this series. I am currently eat plant-based, which I love, but my lack of meal planning lately has led me to make some bad choices-skipping meals, eating “quick” sugary foods/chips and I wind up feeling sucky. I think this series will help me to get my mind back right, so I can be consistent. Thanks for the opportunity!
I fell into the quick meal cycle at the end of last year. Of course that stuff is mostly bad carbs. You’re right, that stuff makes you feel sluggish and bloated! I swear this juice cleanse gave me life. I felt so rejuvenated.
I am really interested in trying a cleanse. I just started back working out again after an extremely lazy hiatus, and I think a cleanse will help me recharge enough to put in some work. How is your energy after a cleanse?
I have a hard time wanting to cook anything at the end of the work day. I just want something quick, easy and I can eat while standing. Juice might be a great option actually.
I cook all my food on the weekend because I don’t have time to do it during the week. If you prefer a fresher option you could prep all the ingredients ahead of time. Juices and smoothie are my safe fall back food. I always have a few bottles of juice and something to throw and a blender to create a smoothie.
My biggest struggle is staying on track. I try my best to eat healthy throughout the week, then the weekend comes and then everything goes put the window. I also feel like I run out of ideas for different healthy meals to make.
My biggest struggle is getting over sugar cravings. I have to be real careful about turning a sometime treat into an “I must have this every day” treat.
No caffeine! Yes that would be the hardest for me too. I’ve been trying to give up my lattes for the longest and I haven’t succeeded yet. I really want to try this though. So, I’m definitely going to head to Walmart and get a few of these juices. Good luck on your journey!
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My biggest struggle is consistency. Some weeks I do really well with finding healthy meal ideas and meal planning for the week, but I easily get off track with any changes in my normal routine (ex travelling, rushing to grocery shop) or if I feel really stressed with work.
I’ve recently become addicted to juices. Especially as someone who struggles with chronic exhaustion, I can’t believe how energetic I feel after I enjoy a fresh juice! I don’t get to enjoy them nearly as much as I wish I could, so this post spoke to me especially! I would love to get that kind of energy every day!
I’m the kind of girl who used to think that a meal wasn’t complete without a meat, but I’ve really been enjoying a transition to mostly vegetarian meals. I’m still pretty new at it, so I’m really looking forward to your weeks 3 and 5!