Charleston is more than just a city-- it's a lifestyle. Going to school in one of the most popular tourist destinations just sometimes, for the lack of a better phrase, sucks the life out of you. Don't get what I mean? Well, let's just say this past weekend, I am now $373 poorer because of money spent on meals that I didn't need to be having (even though the experiences with friends kind of made it worth it), a ticket for a concert that I did not even attend, and other miscellaneous items that I just did not need. As for my physical health, I probably ate my weight in Charleston's delicacies...and even food not so nutritious (see, I did make some stops to Bojangles and Cookout). Do you ever just wake up on a Sunday morning and think to yourself: Why? Well, I did just that. 

That's when I decided that a change needed to be made. I promised myself to be healthier and more responsible the upcoming week (I know, I know-- it's Halloweek at CofC...). For some strange reason, the first thing that came to mind when pondering about how to live a more fulfilling lifestyle was this: juicing. Maybe it was because I had just purchased a $30 juicer off of Amazon that I hadn't used yet (I highly recommend the Black & Decker one!) or because my body felt so consumed by all of the unhealthy foods I ate, that I couldn't think of taking another bite of anything. Whatever the reason, I hopped in my car and made Trader Joe's my destination on that Sunday afternoon.

I piled any fruit or veggie that looked delicious right into my basket. Russian red apples, juicy pineapple slices, bags and bags of spinach and kale, and the sweetest of oranges were some of the items that I selected. I also got some regular food items; I was not planning on drinking only juice for the next few days because my body would not be prepared for that quite yet. I just made sure to pick healthy out snacks like carrots and hummus and nutritious entrees like grilled chicken and turkey burgers to cook. 

So, I compiled a plethora of fruits and vegetables right when I got home, and put them in a container for the next day. Here is the recipe for first juice I made, and not to brag or anything, but it tasted like I ordered it from a high-end juice bar in Los Angeles, California.

• Kale
• Spinach
• Pineapple
• Kiwi
• Lemon 
• Jalapeño

So random, I know, but SO delicious! So Monday, I had a huge cup of it for breakfast and drank a lot more of it after going on a run; that was probably the most refreshing experience I've ever felt. On top of that, I ate healthily throughout the day. I already felt better. 

On Tuesday morning, I threw in some different (and some of the same) ingredients:

• Kale 
• Spinach
• Apples 
• Oranges 
• Kiwi 
• Celery 
• Jalapeño

This one was absolutely amazing too-- I sipped on it throughout all my classes during the day! So, I plan to continue to make these juices during the week.

Do not think that my goal is to lose weight rapidly or make drastic changes to my diet. This is just a piece of advice for you if you ever wake up after a long, drawn-out weekend and feel like I did. This is a great way to detox, jump start your immune system, and just feel great about yourself. Just think of the vitamins you are getting! So, if you ever feel like a change needs to be made, this is a great thing to try. It's cost-efficient, mentally and physically fulfilling, and even fun. Don't be afraid-- just throw absolutely anything in that juicer and you are good to go!