Coco’s Plate

It’s about that time of the year where folks brag about their New Year resolutions.

If I were paid a dollar for every person who claims they will eat healthier and exercise on New Year’s Day, I would be rich.  You know why?  More than half of those people lose focus before the end of month.  No one is going to resist tangy, barbecue wings or artery-clogging bread dips, or nachos during a Super Bowl game.  Don’t forget St. Patrick’s Day with green-colored martinis (that’s me) or comforting corned beef and cabbage.  Then there’s baked goods for Fat Tuesday followed by an Easter feast.  By May, those goal setters are scrambling to lose pounds before the first day of summer.

I am one of those crazy mavens, who starts off on a good foot, but loses focus at the sight of a Chicago style or Coney Island hot dog.  But why wait until New Year’s Day to turn a new leaf?

I am willing to try anything new that will keep me healthy and fit.  I started two days before Christmas Day.  It’s not new, but raw juices are in.  Blue Print Cleanse is one brand that is popular these days.  You can choose your cleanse program, which consists of drinking raw juices to cleanse your system of impurities like those darn Starbucks lattes.  Think of it has an oil change.  You replenish your body with raw vitamins and rid the old stuff.

A popular cleanse is the 72-hour program were you drink six, 16-ounce bottles of raw juice.  Each bottle is numbered and packed with different kinds of veggies and herbs or fruits and nuts.  I tried the new option, two days worth of juice. Here’s how well I did on my first day.

Woman vs raw juice (Note: One of my favorite food shows is Man vs. Food)

8:18 a.m.

• Bottle No. 1 is a very leafy-tasting juice. I stopped after two gulps. Whew. I let my 2-year-old son try it. He stopped after one sip and returned the glass to me.

9 a.m.

• I was still sipping away on bottle No. 1. I know I am weak. I can down a shot of wheat grass, but 16 ounces is a lot of green love. However, I felt full every time I took couple sips. Drinking water didn’t help either.

2:19 p.m.

• I finished bottle No. 1, but I had five bottles to go. Good grief. I started bottle No. 2 and was drinking juice consisting of pineapple, apple and mint. It was lighter and tasted so much better. Still, I was feeling full and using the bathroom.
  

  Juice "Stare Down" at work

5 p.m.

• After rushing home from work, I drank No. 3 the green-leafy monster juice, while I cooked dinner for out-of-town guests.

6 p.m.

• I didn’t make it. I ate very small portions of dinner so I wouldn’t be rude, but I was so full from juice I couldn’t breathe in my jeans. I was done for the evening with three juices left.

Friend or Foe?

Blue Print Cleanse is painless and I am sure works.  I feel defeated, but I am inspired to include raw juices into my daily diet.   A cleanse program starts at $65 a day for New York City residents, and $85 a day for non-residents with overnight delivery.    For our review, we were given a discount for two days worth of juice.  But if you’re a budget conscious shopper like me you can save money and buy a juicer.  A Juiceman two-speed juice extractor is $60 at Target.   For more info on Blue Print: blueprintcleanse.com

Coco is a writer and a food blogger in Arizona.

Related posts:

1. Blue Print Cleanse-The Book
2. “Greening Up” My Kitchen
3. Green Power! AM Smoothie
4. Surprisingly Unhealthy Foods
5. Gorgeous Supplements