Among the various diets found in today’s world of searching for better health, you can find what is known as a juice fast or detoxification diet. This type of fast diet involves the consumption of only water, raw vegetable and fruit juices for a certain period of time. The reason behind this diet is for the beneficial antioxidants and vitamins contained in fresh juices. This diet is considered one of extreme detox as there is no solid food consumed for the duration.

There are many reasons people may choose a juice fast diet over another type. Juice fasts can be used for losing weight, religious reasons, or to assist in weaning oneself from possible unhealthy habits. These could include overeating, caffeine addiction or smoking – to name a few. Then there are fasters who are a little more serious about their routines with juice fasting. They use it as an alternative healing technique to many conventional treatments. It may be used as a healing method for pain management, arthritis, infections resistant to antibiotics and other ailments as well.

There are certain people for whom juice diets aren’t recommended. This group of people includes pregnant or nursing women, children, diabetics, or people with anemia. Anyone with an impaired immune system, low blood pressure, terminal illness or epilepsy should also stay clear. People with any chronic illness or condition should steer clear of a juice fast unless they doing so under strict medical supervision. Never try a juice fast before or after surgery.

When considering how long your juice fast is going to last, there is an easy rule of thumb to follow. Continue with the juice fast until you have two days without any symptoms of detoxification. If you wish, you can also stick to a juice fast three or four days a week while eating a selection of fresh fruits and vegetables the other days. Along with sipping your juice during the day, it is recommended you also consume approximately six glasses of water at room temperature.

Ingredients:
1 lb dried black beans (or other beans your choice)
8 cups water
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup dry red wine
2 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried marjoram
1 tsp pepper
2 cups onions, chopped
2 cups red potatoes, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
1 cup carrot, sliced
6 garlic cloves, minced
1.12oz can stewed tomatoes

Method:

Place black beans into a bowl, cover completely with water to about 2 inches above the beans and leave overnight. Then drain.

Add beans to large crock pot, add 8 cups of water and remaining ingredients. Cover with lid and simmer for about 2 1/2 hours on very low temperature or until vegetables are tender.

Serve hot with a crusty French bread.

When it comes to New Year’s resolutions, the most common goal set every year is to lose weight.

However, the majority of people who make the New Year resolution to lose weight give up on their weight-loss goals by March.

The reason that they can not attain their New Year’s goals is that they have not changed their mindset when it comes to losing weight and getting in shape.

If you are one of millions that look at the coming year as the time that you want to do something about your diet and fitness, you are also going to need to change your mindset.

The first step to changing your mindset when it comes to diet, fitness, and weight loss, is that you need to know where your mind is on these topics in the first place.

A good way to do this is to sit down with a notebook and do some free writing about your feelings on your weight and eating habits, and attitude toward exercise.

Write down all your thoughts and feelings when it comes to fitness and diet. Many of these words and phrases that you write about will be negative. This is okay. By knowing the negative thoughts that you have about your New Year’s resolutions, you’ll be better able to make the necessary changes.

One of the things to realize about your New Year’s diet and fitness goals is that to be successful at them you have to stop thinking of them as short-term goals.

To lose weight and to be healthy, it is necessary to keep the diet and fitness changes that you make throughout your life. It is by incorporating these changes into your life forever and not just for a set period of time that you’ll see results. Otherwise, you might not only gain back all the weight, but actually gain even more!

Once you’ve put your thoughts onto paper, take another sheet of paper and change each phrase into a positive statement about the changes that you plan to make to your lifestyle.

When you are done, make copies of the positive statement pages. Hang them around your house and work space so that you can see them on a daily basis.  Post it notes with reminders or affirmations on them are a good way to help you keep on track.

“Go for the veggies, not the cake,” posted on your fridge with a brightly colored post it might be all the reminder you need, and help you stay on track instead of eating too many non-nutritious calories.

These notes will serve as a positive reminder of what you are trying to improve things for yourself. It often helps to repeat these positive sayings every day to yourself to keep your mindset positive about what you are trying to accomplish.

With the correct mindset, you can accomplish anything. By placing your thoughts into the most positive light about the diet and fitness plans that you have for the New Year, you will be setting yourself on the road to success this year.

There are no gimmicks or fads, or a single pill that can undo the bad habits of months, years, decades, or even a lifetime. The only way to make the changes in your life are to set your mind to them, and do them.  A positive mental attitude and willpower, with some education, evaluation, and perspiration, is really all it takes to make this year the most successful and healthy one ever.

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With the New Year comes many New Year’s resolutions. The number one resolution every year is to lose weight.

Alas, many diets are started every year with the best of intentions. These diets soon fall by the wayside and the goal to lose weight is lost.

Stop this vicious cycle in its tracks, and make this the year that you stick to your diet. These ten tips will help you get started.

Tip One

Start your diet on a Monday. This may not seem like a tip that will have any impact on your success. However, the starting day of your diet can affect your mindset about the entire process.

Mondays are a day when we are mentally rested and ready to take on new projects. Often this ready-to-get-to-work attitude is used for your job. Use this attitude to help you to take the first important steps to your weight-loss goals.

Tip Two

Start out by planning what you will make to eat during the week for your diet. With your list of meals in hand, write out what you will need to buy at the grocery store.

By planning in advance, you can make one trip to the grocery store to get all of your food needs for the week. By limiting your shopping time, you are less likely to buy junk food and other items that are not on your diet.

Stick to your list, and get it done.

Tip Three

Portion control is key. A great way to make sure that you stay on track with your diet is to pre-pack serving sizes of healthy snacks. When you have healthy choices on hand at all times, you will be less likely to pull into the fast food drive-thru. Make up your own bags of carrot sticks and celery, trail mix, and other healthful treats, and carry them with you. Also, try bringing a spare sandwich with lean protein, like turkey.

Tip Four

When people are trying to lose weight, one of the biggest mistakes they often make is to skip meals. This actually sabotages any diet by lowering the personís metabolism. To keep your metabolism running at its highest level to burn calories you need to avoid skipping meals. Always have a healthful meal, and healthful snacks on hand to stop you from binge eating because you get so hungry you will literally eat anything.