I didn’t even realize that exactly 3 months ago today, I started my celery juicing and liver cleanse. So has it worked to get rid of my rash? Well, you decide for yourself: here is my current before and after photos.
If only I bothered to take better pictures in the same lighting, you would be able to make a better assessment, but since I didn’t here is my interpretation. It is better! Is it gone, absolutely not! Today, I’m having really bad allergies so it wasn’t the best day to take an after shot because my rash always flares up along with my allergies, but my legs are clearer.
So, do I think it is worth buying organic celery, washing it and juicing it fresh every morning before doing anything else and then waiting 20 minutes until I can drink my coffee, ? I do think it is worth it!
Not only is my rash substantially better, to the point that my friends and family notice a difference, but my health overall is better. I have lost 12 pounds since April 22 and I’m eating mostly vegan. I’m still drinking my daily smoothies filled with ionic zinc, cat’s claw, mullein, lemon balm, nettle, b-12, liquid C, raw reserve, chaga mushroom, barley grass powder, collagen powder ( I added this for my wrinkles) and a plant based protein. I mix all these items in my vitamix along with a banana, frozen organic blueberries and almond milk. It tastes great! I usually drink this for breakfast or lunch. It depends on when I exercising and how hungry I feel when I wake up in the morning.
In addition to the celery juice and crazy smoothie, I’m drinking homemade vegetable broth and lots of herbal teas. In case you missed my Sparkly and Sober post, I also stopped drinking alcohol on July 5, which has definitely helped with my health. It’s so weird because it hasn’t even been hard quitting and I think part of the reason is because I’m so focused on all this other health stuff. There was only one night, when I thought: “Hmmmm, remind me again why you quit drinking Tiffani, because a huge glass of chardonnay would be sooo wonderful right now!” It was a fleeting thought and then I went and made my nightly herbal tea.
Sleep has been challenging without my nightly alcohol, but I’m finally able to sleep better the past few nights. Instead of drinking wine or vodka, I drink herbal tea that is supposed to make you sleep better. When I sit down to watch tv sometime between 7:45pm and 8:15pm, I start drinking my tea. One hour before I plan to fall asleep, I take 1 Deep sleep supplement.
I keep drinking tea, usually 3 cups and then I take my night meds, which includes another deep sleep pill, and a few other supplements and then go to my room and read for a bit before falling asleep. I think my body is finally adjusting because I have been able to sleep the past few nights.
As for my emotional health, I feel so much happier since I quit drinking! I really don’t understand how it is possible to feel so much more present and happy, even though all the science tells you alcohol is a depressant, those of us who drink daily like to ignore this science! I’m accomplishing more each day, but I’m not feeling more anxious, which is different for me. Sometimes when I do too much in one day, I get really anxious and then can’t figure out how to sit down and relax. I have been on Lexapro, an anti-depressant for probably 12 years? It’s been a long time, that’s all I know. My PCP recently asked me if I wanted to consider going off of it? I shook my head no and said: “I’m in menopause, my child passed away, I have a teenager in the house and several jobs, so I don’t really want to the test the waters, just yet!” She agreed with my reasoning, but after a week of not drinking, I cut my dose in half. I told Lou to watch my moods and anxiety level and let me know if I start acting crazier than normal. Sometimes you can’t tell yourself when you are acting different. Anyways, if things continue in this direction, I think I will be off my Lexapro soon enough.
In addition, I went and had my routine thyroid ultrasound and both of my thyroid nodules had shrunk! The doctor had no explanation for why, but I’m thinking it might have something to do with my celery juice? As a result she lowered my synthroid.
So now that you can see my health is improving, how am I doing on the book you might wonder? Well, as of today, I have written 203 pages! I suspect it will be about 350 or so pages, so I’m more than half way to finishing the first draft. I finally made it through all the years I had trouble remembering and now am writing about the year before Tiara’s brain surgery, which was probably the second worst year of my life. Lot so tears on my keyboard.
In conclusion a funny little story about something that happened today. I had to be down at my Oceanfront project, which is almost done, to meet the blind installer this morning. I was planning on going for a walk on the boardwalk after meeting him but I was too hungry since I rushed out of the house without my smoothie. I went home and made my smoothie. I then decided to do some errands then and exercise later. I started at the credit union on Harbor Blvd. I then went over to Home Depot to return something and wandered into the garden section. As I was looking at some plants this guy walked up to me and said: “Hey, you were standing in line in front of me at the credit union. I noticed you because your hat says: Alright, Alright, Alright!. Now we are both here. I guess, we are doing the same errands today? I laughed and said: ” I guess so! I’m going to TJ Maxx next, are you going there?” He said, “No,” and we waved good-bye. I went next door to TJ Maxx and bought a mirror for a house I’m working on and 2 glass pitchers for my vegetable broth. I then went to Mother’s Market on Newport Blvd to get all my veggies and supplements. After Mother’s I wanted to go home because I was hungry again but told myself to just finish up my errands and go straight to Trader Joe’s. I drove to Trader Joe’s and as I was getting out of my car, there was the guy from Home Depot. He was literally walking past my car as I was getting out. We both laughed and then I said: “Hey, did you go to Mother’s Market?” He said: ” I did! I just left there but I didn’t see you. Were you there?” ” I was! I went there right after TJ Maxx.” I said. We both looked stunned and continued to walk into the store together. He then added: “I didn’t go to TJ Maxx though.” I said: “This is weird. It seems like there is a reason we keep seeing each other?” Neither of us said much more as we got our carts and went our separate ways. I only had a few items to purchase and was in the checkout line with minutes. There he was checking out with another cashier at the exact same time. As I was loading my car, he walked by and said: “Where are we going next?” “Home, I’m all done with my errands for today, so I won’t see you anywhere else.” I then added, “Hey, I’ll write about you in the end of my blog today.” He stopped and said: “What’s the name of your blog?” “It’s my name: tiffanigoff.com,” I said. “How do you spell your last name?” It’s Tiffani with an “i” and G O F F, like in frank.” “Okay,” he said and walked off with a smile. We both waved to each other and said: “Have a great day.” I mean how weird is that? I’m wondering if the universe was finding a way to send him to my blog? I just thought of that while I was writing this. We will see!
xoxo tiffani
Countdown to your birthday… keep up the good work!!
xx
Viv