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VitaMix has two "cookbooks" that you can get - different models come with a different book. At the end of the day there are thousands of blender recipes on the web, and sites that cater to just coming up with them. There is also a very active PEG tubie (life long users) forum on FB that has individuals in it that have recipes.

For those like me that want to drink it orally, while I try to consider taste since I don't want it to be an unpleasant experience, I have been known to make some pretty nasty tasting, but wildly nutritious things. So I drink for health and pleasure, and then other times I think of it as medicine that I have to take. Weird I know.

Their books are a good place to start, and for convenience there are good recipes out there that have benefits. But when you start to think out of the realm of a single meal replacement idea or a really refreshing and healthy fruit drink, and you delve into the world of complete nutrition, you have to become a bit of a student. Since I enjoy this aspect, I'm a bit more adventurous. I mean when you wonder about what is the nutritional value of a whole avocado PIT ( this thing will turn it into water) you start to blend some pretty weird stuff. (Caveat here, some seeds can be highly toxic and should ot be included in your blending and actually contain the precursor chemicals to making cyanid�) So I wanted to really learn about optimum nutrition and balance the components of it. There are lots of fad books about it that I would not recommend, but the Internet as usual has a mix of crazy shit and serious stuff. But if you take the time to learn you are investing in yourself. You are investing in your health nutritionally which when combined with a modest exercise program pay off big dividends. And in the end you are boosting your immune system. (Disclaimer: while some immune system strength is impacted by nutrition, you can't override your genetic makeup as a person.)

Like Ed Brown, I have some serious crap coming unglued in my body. I have more medical issues from my treatments than most, now 15 years out from treatment protocols that predated IMRT. I'm not bitching, they bought me 15 years. I am in hanging on mode, and every little thing that I can do to stick around a couple more years I am on it. This device is a tool in that armamentarium to accomplish some goals. It isn't going to fix things, it's just with a little extra knowledge, going to not allow other things to pile onto my existing issues. Bottom line, I wish that I had started this in my 20's and 30's long before cancers were part of my vocabulary.

Last edited by Brian Hill; 08-23-2014 03:52 PM.

Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.
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Brian, if it helps, I was doing things like that long before cancer world. I juiced for years and my mother was teaching Japanese cooking for health for decades when I was younger. I got to this point even faster than you so that didn't seem to help.

Hang in there...one issue at a time.


SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
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So I love the idea of raffling one of these at the walks, and I also love the idea of seeing them be on some programs that people and OCF could chip into to get them in the hands of patients, who might find them out of their range. Note re the costs; there are lots of different models. I have the new 7500, and I love it, but there are a few lower priced models too. People would have a choice. But OCF MIGHT get a small break on these which would benefit the purchaser, and we do need to cover the processing of it all - we don't have a huge staff as you know and processing orders while it is the least expensive person at OCF doing that, still costs money - and If you bought it from us we would get some small percentage back from VitaMIx, more than Amazon gives us perhaps for being a dealer of theirs and as a non-profit charity. The also have certified refurbished ones that have long warranties on them for sale, that for those who were the most price conscious might fit the bill.

This is an American company and an American made product. I personally like the idea of American manufacturing staying alive, and the entire manufacturing world not be transferred overseas. (Sorry that's my red white and blue coming out and we don't talk politics on these boards.) They have the best reputation I have heard of anecdotally for standing behind their products, and seldom charge even shipping for any repairs, their fault or not.

Last edited by Brian Hill; 08-23-2014 03:54 PM.

Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.
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Depending on cost I would be interested in a refurbished model.

Thank you VERY much Brian!!!!


Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile
Joined: Jul 2009
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Brian, this seems like a worthy course of action. I have a regular old common blender that I use maybe once a week and I can't see myself buying one of these. But if you do set up a program to get them to folks who can't afford them, count me in for a donation.

Speaking of watermelon and cantaloupe.... I had a friend who had a dog that loved those things. Of course, he was a melon collie.


David 2
SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 14 years all clear in 6/23 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
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Glad your collie can't elope. smile


SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,671
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,671
Brian - Count me in too, for a donation to a fund that will get the VitaMix to those who can't afford them.

David 2 - your melon collie can't elope cuz he can't drive. That's why he's a melon collie. :-)


Anne-Marie
CG to son, Paul (age 33, non-smoker) SCC Stage 2, Surgery 9/21/06, 1/6 tongue Rt.side removed, +48 lymph nodes neck. IMRTx28 completed 12/19/06. CT scan 7/8/10 Cancer-free! ("spot" on lung from scar tissue related to Pneumonia.)



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I wouldn't participate because I already have (and love) a Vitamix but I think it's a great idea. I would also be happy to donate to a fund to provide them to people who need them.


Tracy - 33 at diagnosis
SCC right ventral tongue Dx 4/11.
T1N2M0
1st resection 5/11.
Bilateral neck dissection: 2 pos nodes
2nd resection w/graft 6/11.
Erbitux x 11 completed 9/11. IMRT x 30 completed 8/11.
3 month MRI and PET/CT all clear.
6, 9, 12 and 24 month post treatment MRIs all clear.
Joined: Jul 2009
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Fwiw - today I note that Groupon is selling the I think it's 6000 model, which they say lists for $600, for $300.


David 2
SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 14 years all clear in 6/23 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
Joined: Mar 2002
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Likes: 52
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(Drum roll please) OCF is now officially a Vitamix affiliate. There is a badge on the forum home page, and we are going to add it to some other OCF web site pages on PEG feeding and nutrition in the next few days. So TODAY - OCF's program with them is the foundation gets 15% of every sale, and all of our referrals get free shipping, which regular buyers do not. You must use our link to get to their site for this to happen, OR you have to put in our affiliate number 06-010058 when you place your order on their web site store. It applies to any unit that you buy there, though I personally think the 7500 is the most bang for the buck.

This is up and running. So the next thing that OCF is going to do is buy some of their reconditioned SECOND GENERATION machines (bigger motor and other features) that come with a full warrantee at really good pricing, (most have been used for a day at a demonstration) and we are going to develop a donation program for oral cancer patients that also have financial issues and give some of these away to those in need. How we are going to qualify people is yet to be determined, as we need to know certain things, like that they are an oral cancer patient/survivor, and that they have financial hardships, but we also don't want to be too invasive in this qualification process. Obviously there are many conditions that lead people to need PEG or liquid feeding but we can't open this up to the world. We probably need input on what you all think is reasonable to have people produce to meet the criteria.

OCF will also invest in purchasing units to have at all of our big walk events as raffle items around the country in 2015.

I'm open to any other ideas you all have as ways to maximize the opportunity for patients, survivors, and the foundation.


Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.
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