Do you know how it feels when you put something off?

 It's down to the wire.

Have you ever opened the fridge, to find your produce has gone rancid before you could juice it?

Do you feel that sinking feeling in your stomach?

Another batch of produce is in the trash. 

You exhale a big sigh and wonder if you are cut out for juicing.

Should you just put the juicer on Facebook Marketplace? After all, you are never going to get around to using it. Or are you?

It doesn't have to be this way. Juicing can be fun, fulfilling, and good for your health. Together we can create a successful juicing practice while overcoming the newbie blunders.

 Don't be afraid to start

Just Do it!

• Procrastination and perfectionism can hold you back from doing something new. You don't have to have it all figured out to get started. 

• Once you have what you need, start juicing. You don't have to wait for the perfect time. Learn by trial and error.

• I learned by trial and error.  I had lots of fun learning experiences that I will continue to share in this post.

Buy a middle-grade juicer

 Two juicers that rock it out but don't break the bank

• If a juicer is too expensive it will seem unaffordable; too cheap and you will be buying another one in 3-6 months. 

• I recommend the Breville Juice Fountain Plus but the Breville Juice Fountain Cold Juicer is also a good quality for price. 

• Trust me, I bought a cheap juicer to start because the expensive ones seemed out of reach. I also wanted to be sure I would continue to use it. The middle-grade juicer is much easier to use as well as clean.

 Shop bulk stores

 3 Juicy Stores

• The thing about juicing is that it takes a large quantity of food to produce the amount of juice desired.  I have listed my top 3 stores below to find the best deals.

• My 3 top stores are Sam's, Costco, and Aldis. Sam's and Costco are big box stores that sell in bulk, usually cheaper.  Aldi's, on the other hand, is not a bulk store. However, they do offer organic produce at an awesome price.

• Another great tool is price comparison. Each week these stores do discounts or deals on different produce items. Try checking the 

newspaper, flyers, or apps before you go.

Preparation

 Chop Chop

• Juicing is hard work and takes so much time. I hear this a lot. It's true. So here is a tool to reduce your juicing time.

• Wash and chop your fruits or veggies before getting started. This will enable you to move through the juicing process smoothly and efficiently.

• I like to start this prep as soon as I get home from the grocery with all my produce. Before putting it in the fridge, I like to wash and prep it so that I will either be able to juice it that evening or the next morning.

Start simple

Simplicity is key

•  What juice recipe do I start with? Who has been here before? Let's remedy that issue.

• Start simple with one or two different fruits or veggies. Single juices such as orange, celery, apple, and watermelon are amazing too. 

• When I began juicing I started with these three juices: celery (yes, just celery), orange-pineapple, and cucumber-apple. Once I got the idea of the flavor profiles, I was able to add in ginger, lemon, and grape. The possibilities are endless.

 Schedule

 Hot date tonight

• I don't have time to juice. It's so time-consuming. Well, you already have a couple of ways to break down the time barrier. Prep, simplicity, and a 

good juicer. Here is one more.

• Schedule a time slot in your calendar to juice.  Just like any other appointment in your day, you will make time to do this. In addition, juicing is beneficial for your health and we all want to prioritize that, yes?

• Honestly, once you start it is a breeze. The time will go by quickly and you will be done and proud of yourself in no time! Imagine all these beautiful bottles of bright yellow, vibrant orange, and neon green juice in your fridge.

Wash and Rinse

Cleanliness is your friend

• Juice is well, very sticky. So clean up is a must. Here are a few ways to make that easier.

•  Rinse the parts of the juicer that can be immersed. Load up the dishwasher and wipe all surfaces to reduce stickiness. Make sure to clean the filter with a brush after use as particles will get stuck and restrict the flow of juice. This leaves your pulp wetter wasting precious juice and let's face it, wasting money.

• I made this mistake and couldn't figure out why my pulp was staying so wet when juicing. Once I realized the metal strainer or sieve was backed up with micro bits of fruit, I was able to scrub it clean. Back in business!

Store your juice in glass jars

Plastic in your Juice?

•   Fresh juice contains phytonutrients and can break down plastic containers leaving you with microplastics in your juices. Most juices you buy in the grocery are stored in plastic containers, but they are usually all pasteurized which breaks down the live cellular structure of the juice. (This also makes it less effective for your body.)

• Store your home juices in glass jars in the fridge. They will usually keep for 2-3 days depending on the juice. You can buy a set of these on Amazon or at your local Walmart.

• Another option is to recycle glass jars from food products and use those for your juicing. You start by soaking and removing the label, washing, and voila.

You are ready to go!

Imagine the feeling of pride as you complete your first successful juicing experience.

Imagine the accomplishment of several vibrant bottles of juice in your fridge.

You feel so happy and proud of yourself for achieving this goal. 

You have become the juicing "KING" or "QUEEN!

You are feeling healthier, and happier, and achieving goals is no problem for you.

When you feel good, You look good. I am so proud of you for daring to start juicing. Now will you continue…..

I struggled in my first month of juicing but I never gave up. 

One setback led me to find another solution.

You are like that too.

 Determined. 

Go get them!