It has been 4 weeks now of being 100% raw, gluten and dairy-free! Wow. Determination and intention are powerful when effectively utilized together. Five weeks ago I was struggling to be raw. There was a point when I drew a line in the sand and simply stepped over it. There have been a few other times when I have done that and they all turned out to be life-changing decisions. This has turned out to be one that I sincerely desire to be a lifelong change.
I do want to comment on the use of the word "determination." Language so shapes our lives and I want to clarify how I am using this word. Many times we are "determined" to do something. We are indicating our resolve to do it. But being determined didn't help me. I was very determined to go raw, but just continued to be seduced by a lot of foods that undermined my intentions.
How I am using the word now, points to having made a decision to go raw. I determined, or rather decided that going raw was the right thing for me to do. I then decided that I had to do it for myself. I then made many decisions after that, like how I would do it and what foods I would eat. I wrote out some of my decisions on this blog and used them as a guide to making more decisions. Then I made daily decisions based on those decisions. It became a series of decisions rather than just stating my resolve to go raw.
Resolving to do things is easy....we just say the words. Deciding to do them is far more challenging. The decision making process requires a lot of thought and frequently research. One decision will lead to another and another.
It is through the decision making process that I arrived where I am now. There were decisions every step of the way and every single day. After I made the bigger decisions, the smaller ones became easier and easier. I believe this is probably how big changes are possible.
All these decisions have resulted in letting go of 11 lbs. in the past 4 weeks!
My decisions for today were:
Breakfast: BIG green smoothie with 2 bananas, 1 cup blueberries, an apple, a pear, a fistful of each parsley and spinach.
Lunch: The other half of the smoothie and some dehydrated veggie chips, which I don't think were the best.
Supper: Zucchini spaghetti with leftover tomato sauce with sun-dried tomatoes thrown in....much better than last night's sauce.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Rainy Day Realizations
It has been cloudy and rainy today and I have been a little achy. My arthritis pain has been greatly diminished since I have gone raw. But as I took stock of some of the many changes that have happened in the past 27 days, I noted that I have not had any over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers during this time.
This is a huge milestone for me as Advil, Tylenol, Excedrin, Motrin, Nuprin, Aleve and every type of aspirin have been a part of my daily intake for several decades now.
I have also used several prescription drugs for pain as well, including Celebrex, Vicotin, Lortab, Percocet, Percodan, Oxycontin, Dilaudid, MS Contin, and hydrocodone. Granted, there were some good reasons for the prescription drugs (a couple of accidents and surgeries), but then I have to add the anesthesia and morphine to the list! Who knows what else I was given in the hospital?!! I wasn't very aware during those times.
In addition to all those drugs, there were also prescriptions for anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, anti-depressants, decongestants, blood pressure, and glaucoma. There have also been shots of hydro cortisone and several courses of prednisone.
With all those painkillers and other drugs, it's no wonder that I drank so much coffee to stay awake and function at a fast paced job. But then it frequently required the offsets of Tylenol PM and the like to get to sleep at night.
It's no wonder I had constant heartburn. A conservative estimate would be about 78,000+ Rolaids that I chomped down in the past 20 years. And yes, I tried other OTC and prescription remedies for that chronic ailment too.
Too bad I never invested in the drug companies. At least I would have had something to show for all the money spent on those drugs.
When I look back and take stock, I realize that 6 short months ago I was about as close to death as I could be and still wake up in the morning. It is a miracle that I am alive.
The past 20 years have not been easy either. The stresses of a divorce, caring for and losing sick family members and pets, job changes and losses, moves, accidents, illnesses and some other events too painful to mention, make me realize how resilient the human body and spirit are. I am lucky to be alive right now.
But more important, I am grateful to be raw. If 27 days can start to reverse 20 years of declining health and drug dependency, then maybe there is another life waiting for me to live.
Today I ate:
Breakfast: Power ball goo.
Lunch: Apple and a flax seed cracker (big one!)
Supper: Zucchini spaghetti with sauce of 4 roma tomatoes, 1/2 red pepper, 1/4 c. pine nuts, basil, garlic, sea salt.
This is a huge milestone for me as Advil, Tylenol, Excedrin, Motrin, Nuprin, Aleve and every type of aspirin have been a part of my daily intake for several decades now.
I have also used several prescription drugs for pain as well, including Celebrex, Vicotin, Lortab, Percocet, Percodan, Oxycontin, Dilaudid, MS Contin, and hydrocodone. Granted, there were some good reasons for the prescription drugs (a couple of accidents and surgeries), but then I have to add the anesthesia and morphine to the list! Who knows what else I was given in the hospital?!! I wasn't very aware during those times.
In addition to all those drugs, there were also prescriptions for anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, anti-depressants, decongestants, blood pressure, and glaucoma. There have also been shots of hydro cortisone and several courses of prednisone.
With all those painkillers and other drugs, it's no wonder that I drank so much coffee to stay awake and function at a fast paced job. But then it frequently required the offsets of Tylenol PM and the like to get to sleep at night.
It's no wonder I had constant heartburn. A conservative estimate would be about 78,000+ Rolaids that I chomped down in the past 20 years. And yes, I tried other OTC and prescription remedies for that chronic ailment too.
Too bad I never invested in the drug companies. At least I would have had something to show for all the money spent on those drugs.
When I look back and take stock, I realize that 6 short months ago I was about as close to death as I could be and still wake up in the morning. It is a miracle that I am alive.
The past 20 years have not been easy either. The stresses of a divorce, caring for and losing sick family members and pets, job changes and losses, moves, accidents, illnesses and some other events too painful to mention, make me realize how resilient the human body and spirit are. I am lucky to be alive right now.
But more important, I am grateful to be raw. If 27 days can start to reverse 20 years of declining health and drug dependency, then maybe there is another life waiting for me to live.
Today I ate:
Breakfast: Power ball goo.
Lunch: Apple and a flax seed cracker (big one!)
Supper: Zucchini spaghetti with sauce of 4 roma tomatoes, 1/2 red pepper, 1/4 c. pine nuts, basil, garlic, sea salt.
Fred Payne
Last night my husband and I went to a healing workshop put on by Fred Payne. This is the first I have seen him since last September and I was much more tuned into what was happening this time. This man is the best energy worker I have seen in all the years I have been seeking out healing from the small corners of the planet. This man and one of his students, Aniel Love, have made such a huge difference for me in the past five months. I am looking forward to doing more work with him over the next month to boost my energy levels and help clear more toxins from my body.
Wednesday's meals were a little off but I felt good and didn't get hungry. I had:
Breakfast: Green smoothie with mango, apple, blueberries, spinach and parsley.
Late lunch: Power ball goo.
No supper, but late night snack: one apple.
Wednesday's meals were a little off but I felt good and didn't get hungry. I had:
Breakfast: Green smoothie with mango, apple, blueberries, spinach and parsley.
Late lunch: Power ball goo.
No supper, but late night snack: one apple.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Day 25
Day 25 got away from me a bit. I started working on the taxes again. I had procrastinated as long as I could reasonably justify by getting a lot of other things done before I locked myself in my office to work on them. It turned into a very long day and they still are not done! I took my breakfast smoothie into the office with me when I started and didn't emerge until around 8:30 pm! I got so wrapped up in number crunching that I completely missed lunch. By the time I finally gave up for the day, I was stomping through the kitchen like a grizzly bear on a food hunt! You know the feeling....ANYTHING will do and you'll rip apart steel to get to it! Fortunately I caught myself before I did myself in with my daughter's chicken/spinach burritos. I ate a couple of power balls and then made a great big salad. Disaster avoided. But I will not let that happen a second time.
Breakfast: Green smoothie with mango, banana, blueberries, Swiss chard, and spinach.
Lunch: U.S. Tax Form 1040, Schedule C.
Supper: A couple of power balls and a big salad of spinach, arugula, red and green peppers, celery, red onion, Jerusalem artichokes, avocado, and pumpkin seeds with a dressing of lemon juice, agave nectar, water and olive oil.
Breakfast: Green smoothie with mango, banana, blueberries, Swiss chard, and spinach.
Lunch: U.S. Tax Form 1040, Schedule C.
Supper: A couple of power balls and a big salad of spinach, arugula, red and green peppers, celery, red onion, Jerusalem artichokes, avocado, and pumpkin seeds with a dressing of lemon juice, agave nectar, water and olive oil.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Changes
Going raw for 24 days is the single biggest change I think I have ever made in my eating habits in my life. The changes that have come with it have been astounding. The mental clarity and lightness of being have been remarkable. The peace I have found within myself has brought moments of sheer joy and bliss. Things that would have confused, confounded or overwhelmed me before are put into a rightful perspective and problems are solved much easier. I have found a patience within myself for things like the U.S Tax Code and slow checkout lines at the grocery store! There is an emerging sense of self beyond the body and mind that I can only describe as spirit. My meditations are spent tuning into this spirit as it seems to be an invigorating place to spend 30-60 minutes every day. The experience of all this makes me wonder at what point I could take it for all granted and slip back into eating the Standard American Diet. It is my desire to make this change a permanent one in my life.
I no longer concern myself with how much I weigh each morning. My sense is that my body is healing itself and knows what it needs to do to restore balance and harmony within itself. The excess weight is being released, but it is another side effect of of bringing my whole being into alignment.
A decluttering process has begun anew in my home as well. It is time to let things go that no longer serve me or no longer have a place in my life. My feng shui training tells me that this alone will cause changes in my life, but this time it is the other way around. I have made changes in my life and now my home is changing to match my life. It's all good.
On Monday I ate:
Breakfast: Green smoothie with peaches, banana, blueberries, spinach and collard greens.
Lunch: Huge salad with escarole, mache, radicchio, avocado, carrots, celery, red onion, red and green pepper, and dressing with lemon juice, agave nectar, water and olive oil.
Supper: Power balls.
I no longer concern myself with how much I weigh each morning. My sense is that my body is healing itself and knows what it needs to do to restore balance and harmony within itself. The excess weight is being released, but it is another side effect of of bringing my whole being into alignment.
A decluttering process has begun anew in my home as well. It is time to let things go that no longer serve me or no longer have a place in my life. My feng shui training tells me that this alone will cause changes in my life, but this time it is the other way around. I have made changes in my life and now my home is changing to match my life. It's all good.
On Monday I ate:
Breakfast: Green smoothie with peaches, banana, blueberries, spinach and collard greens.
Lunch: Huge salad with escarole, mache, radicchio, avocado, carrots, celery, red onion, red and green pepper, and dressing with lemon juice, agave nectar, water and olive oil.
Supper: Power balls.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Sunday Brunch
I went to a cousin's baby shower today and was stunned by the "brunch" that was layed out for us. It was more like a smorgasbord! The lady who hosted it runs a bed and breakfast and really knows how to entertain and put on a spread. This was the ultimate challenge. I marveled at how good it all looked, how beautifully it was displayed and just helped myself to the fruit!
It really was remarkable to look at that much food and not be tempted by it. I found myself appreciating it all for the abundance and beauty it represented rather than how it tasted. Apparently it was all delicious. The other guests raved about it. I really enjoyed my fruit!
Today I ate:
Breakfast: Big green smoothie with mango, bananas, peaches, celery, romaine lettuce and cinnamon.
Lunch: Pineapple, cantaloupe and grapes.
Supper: Soup with tomatoes, avocado, onion, celery cilantro, spinach, lime juice, Jerusalem artichoke and sea salt.
It really was remarkable to look at that much food and not be tempted by it. I found myself appreciating it all for the abundance and beauty it represented rather than how it tasted. Apparently it was all delicious. The other guests raved about it. I really enjoyed my fruit!
Today I ate:
Breakfast: Big green smoothie with mango, bananas, peaches, celery, romaine lettuce and cinnamon.
Lunch: Pineapple, cantaloupe and grapes.
Supper: Soup with tomatoes, avocado, onion, celery cilantro, spinach, lime juice, Jerusalem artichoke and sea salt.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
A Quiet Saturday
It has been a quiet day today. After my cousin left early this morning I did a few things around the house then went back to bed for a few hours. I don't know why I am needing so much sleep, unless my body is trying to make up for lost sleep over the past 5 years!
I have not been exercising on a regular basis yet. I haven't been in the habit and that is something I am going to be addressing soon. I bought a Body Flex kit on e-Bay last week, but it has not arrived yet. Once it gets here I will be anxious to try it out. It had a lot of appeal for me because it can be done sitting down. My knees have been bothering me lately so I think the Body Flex will be a good plan to get me started. I am hoping that it will boost my energy levels once I start exercising regularly.
I have also been drinking a lot more water. Don't know why I feel so dehydrated after 64 oz. a day and all the fruit and vegetables I eat. Perhaps it is because the air is so cold and dry. I am noticing that my skin is not as dry as it usually is during the winter months....except for my hands. I spend so much time washing fruits and vegetables and hand washing the VitaMix that they are feeling dry. I need to try using some coconut oil on them at night.
Today I had:
Breakfast: Green smoothie with mango, bananas, clementines, collards, spinach and a spoonful of coconut oil.
Lunch/Supper: Big salad with arugula, mache, fennel, celery, carrots, tomato, avocado, cashews, and dressing of lemon juice, agave nectar, and olive oil.
Dessert: A small bowl of power ball goo.
I have not been exercising on a regular basis yet. I haven't been in the habit and that is something I am going to be addressing soon. I bought a Body Flex kit on e-Bay last week, but it has not arrived yet. Once it gets here I will be anxious to try it out. It had a lot of appeal for me because it can be done sitting down. My knees have been bothering me lately so I think the Body Flex will be a good plan to get me started. I am hoping that it will boost my energy levels once I start exercising regularly.
I have also been drinking a lot more water. Don't know why I feel so dehydrated after 64 oz. a day and all the fruit and vegetables I eat. Perhaps it is because the air is so cold and dry. I am noticing that my skin is not as dry as it usually is during the winter months....except for my hands. I spend so much time washing fruits and vegetables and hand washing the VitaMix that they are feeling dry. I need to try using some coconut oil on them at night.
Today I had:
Breakfast: Green smoothie with mango, bananas, clementines, collards, spinach and a spoonful of coconut oil.
Lunch/Supper: Big salad with arugula, mache, fennel, celery, carrots, tomato, avocado, cashews, and dressing of lemon juice, agave nectar, and olive oil.
Dessert: A small bowl of power ball goo.
Three Weeks and Counting
It has now been 3 weeks of being 100% raw, gluten and dairy-free! It definitely feels like a habit now, but I certainly do not take anything for granted.
My cousin spent the night last night and decided to go back home today since the weather is supposed to turn bad. She was going to take us out to eat, but after I explained my new eating habits, she agreed to let my daughter cook for her. We had a fun supper with me doing my own thing. We all sat down together and I did not feel at all deprived. I did eye some garlic bread that was placed next to me. It smelled very good but I just picked it up and passed it on. It landed by someone else who ate several slices. But no one seemed to care what I was eating, we were all talking and laughing too much.
I am still feeling very tired and achy, but I am sure now that my body is just ridding itself of toxins. Getting more rest and drinking lots of water seems to be the answer. My weight is down 10 lbs. now and it is worth everything to keep going.
On Friday I had:
Breakfast: Green juice with collards, kale, parsley, celery, carrots, cucumber and apple.
Lunch: Salad with romaine lettuce, fennel, celery, carrots, black olives, pine nuts, tomato, lemon juice and olive oil.
Supper: More salad, zucchini spaghetti with a tomato sauce of whole tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, a dash of apple cider vinegar, agave nectar, basil, Italian seasoning, and garlic.
My cousin spent the night last night and decided to go back home today since the weather is supposed to turn bad. She was going to take us out to eat, but after I explained my new eating habits, she agreed to let my daughter cook for her. We had a fun supper with me doing my own thing. We all sat down together and I did not feel at all deprived. I did eye some garlic bread that was placed next to me. It smelled very good but I just picked it up and passed it on. It landed by someone else who ate several slices. But no one seemed to care what I was eating, we were all talking and laughing too much.
I am still feeling very tired and achy, but I am sure now that my body is just ridding itself of toxins. Getting more rest and drinking lots of water seems to be the answer. My weight is down 10 lbs. now and it is worth everything to keep going.
On Friday I had:
Breakfast: Green juice with collards, kale, parsley, celery, carrots, cucumber and apple.
Lunch: Salad with romaine lettuce, fennel, celery, carrots, black olives, pine nuts, tomato, lemon juice and olive oil.
Supper: More salad, zucchini spaghetti with a tomato sauce of whole tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, a dash of apple cider vinegar, agave nectar, basil, Italian seasoning, and garlic.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Rough Day
I am feeling extremely tired today. In fact I laid down for a nap and didn't wake up until almost 4 hours later! My joints are swollen and achy and I still feel tired. I don't know if these are detox symptoms or if I really am sick. Either way, I am going to bed soon and hope for a better day tomorrow.
I wasn't very hungry today. I had:
Breakfast: Museli with a variety of nuts, seeds, dried fruits, a banana, an apple and almond milk.
Supper: Zucchini spaghetti with "Alfredo" sauce.
Lots of water!
I wasn't very hungry today. I had:
Breakfast: Museli with a variety of nuts, seeds, dried fruits, a banana, an apple and almond milk.
Supper: Zucchini spaghetti with "Alfredo" sauce.
Lots of water!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Deep in the Heart of Taxes
I really don't like doing taxes. I could rant for an hour about this but, what's the point? This is one of those inevitable things we must do in life along with live and die. Maybe when I am on my deathbed I will prefer to do my taxes. Until then, it's the other way around.
Today I ate:
Breakfast: Power balls!
Lunch: Big Citrus and Avocado Salad with an additional clementine.
Supper: Butternut Squash Soup
Today I ate:
Breakfast: Power balls!
Lunch: Big Citrus and Avocado Salad with an additional clementine.
Supper: Butternut Squash Soup
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Unpleasant chores
Today I didn't get enough calories in to keep me going during the day. By 3:00 this afternoon, I wanted to take a nap. Well, maybe I was avoiding the tasks I had said I was going to do. It was a tough decision...clean the house or do taxes. Sleep was a much better option! I did finally get the first of three sets of taxes done. The other two will take longer, but at least I have gotten into the mind set of doing them now. I hate having to force myself to do something.
But I still feel really tired tonight and am looking forward to going to bed. I feel like my body is getting cleaner every day now and I suspect I need more sleep to allow it to do its job. I have also been noticing strange aches and pains in odd places. The pains seem to come and go and don't stick around long in any one place. After all my body has been through I probably have toxins packed away in tissues all over my body. A noticeable detoxification process will most likely go on for a couple of years. All I can do is be patient with myself while my body heals. It is a much different experience to have pain in my body and realize it is healing. No need to run for any painkillers now.
Today I had:
Breakfast: Green smoothie with a cup each of blueberries and peaches, 2 bananas, and Swiss chard.
Lunch: Celery, baby carrots and red bell pepper with a pate of walnuts, red bell pepper, parsley, and green onion, followed by 2 clementines.
Supper: Zucchini spaghetti with a tomato sauce of 2 whole tomatoes, half a cup of sun-dried tomatoes, a tablespoonful of apple cider vinegar, a squirt of agave nectar, basil and Italian seasoning. For dessert I had a little bit of power ball mixture of almond butter, coconut oil, agave nectar, sunflower seeds, coconut and ground flax seeds.
But I still feel really tired tonight and am looking forward to going to bed. I feel like my body is getting cleaner every day now and I suspect I need more sleep to allow it to do its job. I have also been noticing strange aches and pains in odd places. The pains seem to come and go and don't stick around long in any one place. After all my body has been through I probably have toxins packed away in tissues all over my body. A noticeable detoxification process will most likely go on for a couple of years. All I can do is be patient with myself while my body heals. It is a much different experience to have pain in my body and realize it is healing. No need to run for any painkillers now.
Today I had:
Breakfast: Green smoothie with a cup each of blueberries and peaches, 2 bananas, and Swiss chard.
Lunch: Celery, baby carrots and red bell pepper with a pate of walnuts, red bell pepper, parsley, and green onion, followed by 2 clementines.
Supper: Zucchini spaghetti with a tomato sauce of 2 whole tomatoes, half a cup of sun-dried tomatoes, a tablespoonful of apple cider vinegar, a squirt of agave nectar, basil and Italian seasoning. For dessert I had a little bit of power ball mixture of almond butter, coconut oil, agave nectar, sunflower seeds, coconut and ground flax seeds.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Getting There
Anyone who has tried to go raw knows it is not an overnight process for most of us. There are those out there who have done it and have maintained for long periods of time, but they tend to be the exception rather than the rule. The rest of us try to learn from them and struggle and fail repeatedly before we find our wings and really fly. Even then, there's no guarantee that we won't crash land into the couch with a potato chip bag in our hands tomorrow!
I have been thinking about the process of going raw and have come to some conclusions of my own that seem to have gotten me to Day 17. I want to write down what I have learned now in case I am the one who needs the flight plan tomorrow!
My journey began 22 years ago when I went raw for certain meals out of the day for about 2 weeks. I wasn't sure I could ever maintain a raw vegan diet, so I promptly went back to eating SAD. But the incredible feeling I got from eating just one or two raw meals a day stuck in my memory. I always knew it was the ultimate health plan. Two years ago I went raw for a week with the help of a soy protein powder. Health issues that had plagued me for decades disappeared in 6 days! Again, I was thrilled with the results but knew I couldn't maintain it. I had serious food addictions to coffee, bread, sugar, etc. Over time, I learned to kick the sugar almost completely. (I was and still am the only member of my blood relatives who is not a diabetic.) But the obsession with grain products and caffeine continued unchecked. I had been a vegan back in the early 70s, but never saw it as a permanent way of life for myself. I still was not ready to give up a lot of the foods I loved. My husband and I loved to go on dates to Ruth's Chris Steak House for seared ahi tuna appetizers and the porterhouse for two, all accompanied by a nice bottle of merlot. We had such fun times. How could I give all that up? Or the Saturday afternoons in Starbucks, he with a cafe mocha, I with my hazelnut latte. Our romantic life centered around bad food choices that were costing me big time. He is ten years younger than me, and my health was deteriorating at a much faster pace.
After a series of life events that left me in the poorest health I had ever experienced (see blog entry "Swamp Fever" 12/02/2008), I concluded that my health had to be my #1 priority. People in 12 step recovery programs will tell you that you need to hit rock bottom before you can start to recover. I was there. It was a matter of life or death...choose! For those of you thinking that you haven't hit rock bottom, hopefully this will help raise your bottom. Do nothing about your health and you will die. Sooner rather than later. It is a fact.
After reading "Skinny Bitch" in a weekend, I immediately gave up meat, eggs, most dairy products, caffeine, sugar and alcohol. I ate a vegan diet, but not raw. With the exception of cheese, I have maintained that for almost 6 months now. I began to eat more and more raw foods and began to feel considerably better. In November of last year I did a 30 day raw program that was far from perfect. After 2 weeks I knew that I wanted to go 100% raw for life. But again, I was not able to maintain it.
I also began to realize that my cheating with bread, nacho chips and cheese was really sabotaging my efforts to go raw. I moved grains and dairy products into the food addictions category and realized that there was no "just a bite" that wouldn't hurt me. Those foods were the final frontier for me. I knew that eating those foods was like being an alcoholic...once I started, it was an all out binge. I even experienced a type of hangover from them too. I would feel miserable all the next day after eating those foods.
So on January 31st of this year, after a disappointing experience with a raw group, I realized that this was something I had to do on my own. No one was going to help me take charge of my own health. I had to be responsible for myself. No one knew my body, my addictions, my lifestyle better than me. I was the best authority on putting together a plan for me that there was. So that is exactly what I did. I wrote out a plan that took into account my eating habits and my addictions. It is one that I was able to write out based on the knowledge I have learned about myself over the years. My plan has been my saviour now for 17 days. It is working. I am feeling incredibly energetic and happy. The benefits are continueing to mount and I am beginning to see this as a permanent way of living my life.
If one other person sees this and is motivated to go raw for even one more day, it is worth everything to me. If there is one person who realizes that they are the one to take charge of their health and writes out their own personal plan, my purpose is fulfilled. I wish someone would have told me 22 years ago that I would have to be the one to decide to stay raw. No book, no person, no doctor, no one could have done this for me.
Today I ate:
Breakfast: Green smoothie with a mango, an orange, 2 bananas, and kale
Lunch: Butternut Squash Soup and a few power balls.
Supper: Large salad with arugula, spinach, fennel, red bell pepper, red onion, olives, capers, basil, lemon juice, olive oil and Celtic sea salt.
I have been thinking about the process of going raw and have come to some conclusions of my own that seem to have gotten me to Day 17. I want to write down what I have learned now in case I am the one who needs the flight plan tomorrow!
My journey began 22 years ago when I went raw for certain meals out of the day for about 2 weeks. I wasn't sure I could ever maintain a raw vegan diet, so I promptly went back to eating SAD. But the incredible feeling I got from eating just one or two raw meals a day stuck in my memory. I always knew it was the ultimate health plan. Two years ago I went raw for a week with the help of a soy protein powder. Health issues that had plagued me for decades disappeared in 6 days! Again, I was thrilled with the results but knew I couldn't maintain it. I had serious food addictions to coffee, bread, sugar, etc. Over time, I learned to kick the sugar almost completely. (I was and still am the only member of my blood relatives who is not a diabetic.) But the obsession with grain products and caffeine continued unchecked. I had been a vegan back in the early 70s, but never saw it as a permanent way of life for myself. I still was not ready to give up a lot of the foods I loved. My husband and I loved to go on dates to Ruth's Chris Steak House for seared ahi tuna appetizers and the porterhouse for two, all accompanied by a nice bottle of merlot. We had such fun times. How could I give all that up? Or the Saturday afternoons in Starbucks, he with a cafe mocha, I with my hazelnut latte. Our romantic life centered around bad food choices that were costing me big time. He is ten years younger than me, and my health was deteriorating at a much faster pace.
After a series of life events that left me in the poorest health I had ever experienced (see blog entry "Swamp Fever" 12/02/2008), I concluded that my health had to be my #1 priority. People in 12 step recovery programs will tell you that you need to hit rock bottom before you can start to recover. I was there. It was a matter of life or death...choose! For those of you thinking that you haven't hit rock bottom, hopefully this will help raise your bottom. Do nothing about your health and you will die. Sooner rather than later. It is a fact.
After reading "Skinny Bitch" in a weekend, I immediately gave up meat, eggs, most dairy products, caffeine, sugar and alcohol. I ate a vegan diet, but not raw. With the exception of cheese, I have maintained that for almost 6 months now. I began to eat more and more raw foods and began to feel considerably better. In November of last year I did a 30 day raw program that was far from perfect. After 2 weeks I knew that I wanted to go 100% raw for life. But again, I was not able to maintain it.
I also began to realize that my cheating with bread, nacho chips and cheese was really sabotaging my efforts to go raw. I moved grains and dairy products into the food addictions category and realized that there was no "just a bite" that wouldn't hurt me. Those foods were the final frontier for me. I knew that eating those foods was like being an alcoholic...once I started, it was an all out binge. I even experienced a type of hangover from them too. I would feel miserable all the next day after eating those foods.
So on January 31st of this year, after a disappointing experience with a raw group, I realized that this was something I had to do on my own. No one was going to help me take charge of my own health. I had to be responsible for myself. No one knew my body, my addictions, my lifestyle better than me. I was the best authority on putting together a plan for me that there was. So that is exactly what I did. I wrote out a plan that took into account my eating habits and my addictions. It is one that I was able to write out based on the knowledge I have learned about myself over the years. My plan has been my saviour now for 17 days. It is working. I am feeling incredibly energetic and happy. The benefits are continueing to mount and I am beginning to see this as a permanent way of living my life.
If one other person sees this and is motivated to go raw for even one more day, it is worth everything to me. If there is one person who realizes that they are the one to take charge of their health and writes out their own personal plan, my purpose is fulfilled. I wish someone would have told me 22 years ago that I would have to be the one to decide to stay raw. No book, no person, no doctor, no one could have done this for me.
Today I ate:
Breakfast: Green smoothie with a mango, an orange, 2 bananas, and kale
Lunch: Butternut Squash Soup and a few power balls.
Supper: Large salad with arugula, spinach, fennel, red bell pepper, red onion, olives, capers, basil, lemon juice, olive oil and Celtic sea salt.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Valentine's Weekend
I never would have dreamed that I could maintain a raw vegan diet on a day like Valentine's Day, but I did! No chocolate truffles, no sugary sweet cupcakes, no candy hearts, no heart-shaped pans of brownies. I am thrilled that I have hopefully learned a lesson or two about how sick all that makes me.
In looking back over the past 16 days, I realize that I have also breezed through a family funeral with all the usual church-supper casserole dishes and eating out in restaurants. It seems that I have crossed over into a new world of being raw. I am not "trying" to be raw, I am raw! I plan my daily activities around whatever I need to do to manage my eating habits. I don't even think about it too much anymore. It has become much more of a routine for me now. I work around my family's cooked meals the best I can. I make a big salad they can eat, they save some raw vegetables for me. I still look at recipes and try to think of creative ways to plan meals for all of us, but I don't worry if we can't coordinate things. It really is okay if I just eat simple fruit and vegetables. A handful of nuts is a perfectly good snack. I have also decided that I don't have to explain to anyone about what I eat. I owe no one any explanations. I can walk into a restaurant with a container of my own food and just tell the waiter or waitress, that I am on a special diet. No one cares. Everyone else orders from the menu, so they make their money. Everyone's happy.
I suspect that I am eating way too many calories and grams of fat, but compared to what I used to eat this is very sustainable. At some point I might start tracking everything and make an attempt to control what I eat, but for right now I am pleased that I am maintaining a 100% raw vegan diet.
On Saturday I ate:
Breakfast: Green smoothie with 2 bananas, a pear, blueberries, spinach and a dash of cinnamon.
Lunch: Big green salad with a vinegar and oil dressing.
Supper: Zucchini spaghetti with "Alfredo" sauce...macadamia nuts, pine nuts, lemon, garlic, nutmeg and white pepper.
Snack: Some cashews and a couple of power balls.
On Sunday I ate: Breakfast: Ruby Red Ambrosia (juice of red beets, carrots, celery, apple, ginger and lemon.)
Lunch: Citrus Avocado Salad with pink grapefruit, an orange, 2 clementines, avocado, green onions, spinach and mache with a honey, lemon juice, agave nectar and mustard dressing.
Supper: Butternut Squash Soup made with a small butternut squash, carrots, onion, alfalfa sprouts, almonds, cumin, curry, ginger and water.
Snacks: Cashews and olives
Friday, February 13, 2009
Day 14
It has now been 2 weeks of being 100% raw, gluten and dairy-free for me. It is as if I have stepped over a threshold into a new dimension. Someone asked me today what I substituted for bread. I hadn't given it the first thought. Bread is something I have simply left behind.
It really is a different paradigm being 100% raw. Even when I was 80-90% it wasn't like this. There is a peace and a tranquility about being this way that gives me a completely different view of the world. There is a spirituality that is emerging that is not like what I have experienced before. I have always been a spiritual person, but this is something far beyond what I have known previously. I am accutely aware of my body now and how the spirit dwells in the body.
I have always done deep breathing exercises and meditation right before I go to bed, but now I "tune into" my spirit and the meditations have become much more enlightened. I am beginning to sense what my spirit needs and I am listening to and for those needs. I have a strong sense that I am being guided down this path and that I can trust what I am being given. For all the years of practicing yoga and studying with Indian gurus, nothing compares to this!
On the physical side, I have now released 8 lbs. in 14 days. I am extremely pleased with this progress! While I don't see much difference, I can certainly feel it in my clothes and in how my body feels. It is worth everything to feel like this. I am also noticing how much clearer my thought process is. I am able to focus on things, and solutions to problems are just popping into my mind.
This feels like a state of grace. I have heard that term before, but never really knew what is was. I find I guard this state of grace very carefully. Like an alcoholic, I stay completely away from too much temptation, knowing that I am only one bite from falling back into a dark hole of overeating and binging on junk foods. This success is too precious to gamble with.
During these 14 days, I have had one person who has been a rock of support for me. She is another woman who has decided to follow her own council and is achieving great things. But now we are four. Two other people have decided to join us and I am thrilled to have this little group of committed souls to share the journey.
Today I ate:
Breakfast: Green smoothie with 2 bananas, a pear, a cup of frozed blueberries, collard greens and a big fistful of spinach.
Lunch: Big salad with red leaf lettuce, spinach, tomato, carrots, celery, red bell pepper, mushrooms, sunflower seeds and a dressing of sun-dried tomato, pecans, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and basil.
Supper: A "tomato soup"...whole tomatoes, sundried tomatoes, some baby carrots, sunflower seeds, garlic, basil, and lemon all thrown into the VitaMix and blended. I also had a flax seed cracker as some "bread!"
It really is a different paradigm being 100% raw. Even when I was 80-90% it wasn't like this. There is a peace and a tranquility about being this way that gives me a completely different view of the world. There is a spirituality that is emerging that is not like what I have experienced before. I have always been a spiritual person, but this is something far beyond what I have known previously. I am accutely aware of my body now and how the spirit dwells in the body.
I have always done deep breathing exercises and meditation right before I go to bed, but now I "tune into" my spirit and the meditations have become much more enlightened. I am beginning to sense what my spirit needs and I am listening to and for those needs. I have a strong sense that I am being guided down this path and that I can trust what I am being given. For all the years of practicing yoga and studying with Indian gurus, nothing compares to this!
On the physical side, I have now released 8 lbs. in 14 days. I am extremely pleased with this progress! While I don't see much difference, I can certainly feel it in my clothes and in how my body feels. It is worth everything to feel like this. I am also noticing how much clearer my thought process is. I am able to focus on things, and solutions to problems are just popping into my mind.
This feels like a state of grace. I have heard that term before, but never really knew what is was. I find I guard this state of grace very carefully. Like an alcoholic, I stay completely away from too much temptation, knowing that I am only one bite from falling back into a dark hole of overeating and binging on junk foods. This success is too precious to gamble with.
During these 14 days, I have had one person who has been a rock of support for me. She is another woman who has decided to follow her own council and is achieving great things. But now we are four. Two other people have decided to join us and I am thrilled to have this little group of committed souls to share the journey.
Today I ate:
Breakfast: Green smoothie with 2 bananas, a pear, a cup of frozed blueberries, collard greens and a big fistful of spinach.
Lunch: Big salad with red leaf lettuce, spinach, tomato, carrots, celery, red bell pepper, mushrooms, sunflower seeds and a dressing of sun-dried tomato, pecans, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and basil.
Supper: A "tomato soup"...whole tomatoes, sundried tomatoes, some baby carrots, sunflower seeds, garlic, basil, and lemon all thrown into the VitaMix and blended. I also had a flax seed cracker as some "bread!"
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Dealing With Feelings
It surprised me that I breezed through a two-day out of town trip and barely blinked an eye at SAD food. Heaven knows I certainly had plenty of opportunities for backsliding. Funeral parties seem to be designed to encourage the stuffing of feelings. While I felt I didn't eat enough calories yesterday, I wasn't hungry and didn't go overboard today either. This is a new experience!
I am also surprised that I am functioning so well on so little sleep. Although I am tired, I haven't been sleeping more than about 5 hours a night. Last night was the worst. A terrible windstorm blew all night long and did some damage to our home. I was actually feeling fear that the house was going to collapse. I even noticed that I was feeling the fear in my body. I typically never feel any kind of emotions in my body. I think that being raw for 13 days now is allowing me to feel my body again. I am noticing what my body feels like when it is tired or tense, or any number of other emotions.
Today I ate:
Breakfast: "Museli" with pecans, almonds, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, goji berries, an apple, and a banana with almond milk.
Lunch: Big salad with spinach, arugula, a pink grapefruit, an orange, green onions, some pine nuts, and a few capers with a dressing of agave nectar, lemon juice, olive oil, and mustard.
Supper: Green smoothie with a banana, pear, blueberries, spinach and collards.
I am also surprised that I am functioning so well on so little sleep. Although I am tired, I haven't been sleeping more than about 5 hours a night. Last night was the worst. A terrible windstorm blew all night long and did some damage to our home. I was actually feeling fear that the house was going to collapse. I even noticed that I was feeling the fear in my body. I typically never feel any kind of emotions in my body. I think that being raw for 13 days now is allowing me to feel my body again. I am noticing what my body feels like when it is tired or tense, or any number of other emotions.
Today I ate:
Breakfast: "Museli" with pecans, almonds, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, goji berries, an apple, and a banana with almond milk.
Lunch: Big salad with spinach, arugula, a pink grapefruit, an orange, green onions, some pine nuts, and a few capers with a dressing of agave nectar, lemon juice, olive oil, and mustard.
Supper: Green smoothie with a banana, pear, blueberries, spinach and collards.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Family Time
I had a few pithy things to say yesterday, but suddenly the internet connection was lost and so were my words. They weren't too important anyway.
I have been with my family for the past two days to bury another legendary figure in my family. Aside from the sadness of the loss, there was a lot of joy in seeing and meeting more of my cousins. I have been doing genealogy on this side of my family now for eight years and it was an opportunity to add a new generation or two to my records. One cousin surprised me with a few hundred letters dating back to 1920 that were written between my grandparents and their 12 children. Some were written to an uncle serving in the Army during World War I. I have a tremendous sense of gratitude and responsibility around these letters. I feel it is my duty to read these letters and then tell the story of their lives as it really happened. It is certainly a priveledge to glimpse their lives this way and see who they really were.
Today I had:
Breakfast: Power balls...as I raced out the door to drive 200 miles!
Lunch: A fruit salad and fresh veggies with another experimental dip made of pecans, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, lemon, basil and olive oil.
Supper: A big green smoothie with 2 bananas, a pear, an apple, and some collard greens.
I have been with my family for the past two days to bury another legendary figure in my family. Aside from the sadness of the loss, there was a lot of joy in seeing and meeting more of my cousins. I have been doing genealogy on this side of my family now for eight years and it was an opportunity to add a new generation or two to my records. One cousin surprised me with a few hundred letters dating back to 1920 that were written between my grandparents and their 12 children. Some were written to an uncle serving in the Army during World War I. I have a tremendous sense of gratitude and responsibility around these letters. I feel it is my duty to read these letters and then tell the story of their lives as it really happened. It is certainly a priveledge to glimpse their lives this way and see who they really were.
Today I had:
Breakfast: Power balls...as I raced out the door to drive 200 miles!
Lunch: A fruit salad and fresh veggies with another experimental dip made of pecans, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, lemon, basil and olive oil.
Supper: A big green smoothie with 2 bananas, a pear, an apple, and some collard greens.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Temptation Hits
Today was the first day I really thought about eating cooked food. For some reason the idea of a few cooked foods kept floating into my thoughts. At one point I realized that I could dwell on it or choose to remain focused on what I could be eating. Then it hit me...I have a plan! I can follow my plan! Which I did. I whipped up a small bowl of power ball goo and killed the cravings.
For the last several days I have been keeping a yellow post-it note on a kitchen cabinet door with a colorful number on it to remind myself of how many days I have been raw. Today I reached up and touched it and realized that I didn't want to break my streak. I feel like I have just the right tools to keep me focused and on track now.
There has been a lot of discussion going on among some friends about being 100% raw. There are those who are perfectly comfortable being 50-85% raw. I would love to say that I am one of them, but I am not. I simply do not lose weight if I am eating any kind of cooked food, and with 150-160 lbs. to lose, I simply can not play around with this program.
Today I had:
Breakfast: Green smoothie with 2 bananas, an apple, a cup of blueberries and lots of kale.
Lunch: Power balls!
Supper: Big salad with arugula, baby spinach, red bell pepper, avocado, shallot, mushrooms, sunflower seeds, olive oil, lemon juice, and sea salt.
For the last several days I have been keeping a yellow post-it note on a kitchen cabinet door with a colorful number on it to remind myself of how many days I have been raw. Today I reached up and touched it and realized that I didn't want to break my streak. I feel like I have just the right tools to keep me focused and on track now.
There has been a lot of discussion going on among some friends about being 100% raw. There are those who are perfectly comfortable being 50-85% raw. I would love to say that I am one of them, but I am not. I simply do not lose weight if I am eating any kind of cooked food, and with 150-160 lbs. to lose, I simply can not play around with this program.
Today I had:
Breakfast: Green smoothie with 2 bananas, an apple, a cup of blueberries and lots of kale.
Lunch: Power balls!
Supper: Big salad with arugula, baby spinach, red bell pepper, avocado, shallot, mushrooms, sunflower seeds, olive oil, lemon juice, and sea salt.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
A Full Moon For Sure!
The strangest things can occur around a full moon. Today a man at the gym watched my husband teach me some Tae Kwon Do. He then proceeded to chat me up and follow me around the gym! My daughter thought it was hilarious. I guess I didn't mention to the guy that the man with the black belt was my husband!
But really, I am a 58 year old woman who is overweight and out of shape. I certainly wasn't dressed to impress! What on earth was he thinking?!!
Some disturbing news came in an e-mail from a friend today. She discovered that she had placed her trust in someone to help her maintain a raw diet and then found out that her coach did not, in fact, follow a raw diet herself. The real upset was that the coach had billed herself as someone who was a raw vegan.
This got me to thinking about how we all look for leaders we can trust. We all want someone else to give us the answers and show us how to be successful. We want someone to show us "the way." And while some people and programs may teach us a lot, we still frequently fail to meet our goals. Just ask me how I know this! I want to plunk down my dollars and have my dream body and my dream life now. And if it can't be now, then what do I need to do to make it happen now?
I can be an impatient person. I can be a very demanding person. I expect excellence from anyone I deem to be my leader. (Obviously I have met with a lot of disappointment in my life.) But all this does point to how we often give up our personal responsibility so that someone else can show us what we need to be doing. The real rub here is that the people we are relying on are just like us! None of us has The Answer for everything. But when we trust someone to show us how to live our lives better, we expect those people to have some integrity in their own lives. We are all too often disappointed by our leaders when we discover they don't.
How many politicians and religous leaders have let us down? Big business hasn't exactly been a model of integrity either. So who can we trust to give us honest, reliable answers? I suggest to you that the answer to that question is this: everyone and no one, except yourself.
I have come to believe that I am the one I must rely on to accomplish my goals. I am the one who needs to educate myself to make the best decisions for me. I need to take the information from as many others as possible and then take the best of that for what solves my problems. But most of all, I need to stop looking to individuals to take me to the promised land. I am responsible for my own life and I am the one who can make the changes I want to see.
This is exactly how I became a 100% raw vegan. I took all the information that others could provide and decided what was best for me. I am the only one who could make this decision. No one else could do this for me.
Some good decisions I made for myself today:
Breakfast: A fantastic green smoothie with 2 bananas, 1 cup each of frozen, organic peaches and blueberries and 4 large Swiss chard leaves.
Lunch: Broccoli, celery and baby carrots with leftover "experimental salad dressing" as a dip.
Supper: Large salad with arugula, baby spinach, tomato, avocado, red bell pepper, pumpkin seeds, shallots and a dressing of agave nectar, mustard, olive oil, lemon and sea salt.
But really, I am a 58 year old woman who is overweight and out of shape. I certainly wasn't dressed to impress! What on earth was he thinking?!!
Some disturbing news came in an e-mail from a friend today. She discovered that she had placed her trust in someone to help her maintain a raw diet and then found out that her coach did not, in fact, follow a raw diet herself. The real upset was that the coach had billed herself as someone who was a raw vegan.
This got me to thinking about how we all look for leaders we can trust. We all want someone else to give us the answers and show us how to be successful. We want someone to show us "the way." And while some people and programs may teach us a lot, we still frequently fail to meet our goals. Just ask me how I know this! I want to plunk down my dollars and have my dream body and my dream life now. And if it can't be now, then what do I need to do to make it happen now?
I can be an impatient person. I can be a very demanding person. I expect excellence from anyone I deem to be my leader. (Obviously I have met with a lot of disappointment in my life.) But all this does point to how we often give up our personal responsibility so that someone else can show us what we need to be doing. The real rub here is that the people we are relying on are just like us! None of us has The Answer for everything. But when we trust someone to show us how to live our lives better, we expect those people to have some integrity in their own lives. We are all too often disappointed by our leaders when we discover they don't.
How many politicians and religous leaders have let us down? Big business hasn't exactly been a model of integrity either. So who can we trust to give us honest, reliable answers? I suggest to you that the answer to that question is this: everyone and no one, except yourself.
I have come to believe that I am the one I must rely on to accomplish my goals. I am the one who needs to educate myself to make the best decisions for me. I need to take the information from as many others as possible and then take the best of that for what solves my problems. But most of all, I need to stop looking to individuals to take me to the promised land. I am responsible for my own life and I am the one who can make the changes I want to see.
This is exactly how I became a 100% raw vegan. I took all the information that others could provide and decided what was best for me. I am the only one who could make this decision. No one else could do this for me.
Some good decisions I made for myself today:
Breakfast: A fantastic green smoothie with 2 bananas, 1 cup each of frozen, organic peaches and blueberries and 4 large Swiss chard leaves.
Lunch: Broccoli, celery and baby carrots with leftover "experimental salad dressing" as a dip.
Supper: Large salad with arugula, baby spinach, tomato, avocado, red bell pepper, pumpkin seeds, shallots and a dressing of agave nectar, mustard, olive oil, lemon and sea salt.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Feeling better, but...
I felt much better today but still feel really tired. I read somewhere that during the first 3 weeks of being raw it is common to need more rest. Perhaps I shouldn't fight what my body is telling me it needs. I have a lifetime of not listening to my body, maybe this would be a good time to start!
This afternoon I stopped by a cousin's house to drop off some things and just noticed how much energy this 76 year old woman has. She takes care of her great grandson, still substitute teaches elementary school, and folk dances several times a week! I have never understood where she gets her energy from, but when I watch her eat I have to say she must be doing something right. She eats very little but seems to go more for fruits and vegetables. She eats cooked foods, but never very much. I have never seen her with any kind of fast food either. I will never have her bird-like appetite, but I would love to have her super-charged metabolism.
Today I ate:
Breakfast: Juice of one small beet, celery, 4 carrots, 1/2 lemon, 1 apple and ginger root.
Lunch: Citrus avocado salad with 1 pink grapefruit, 1 orange, 1 avocado, a whole head of romaine lettuce, a fistful of arugula, a couple of green onions and dressing made with lemon juice, agave nectar, mustard, and olive oil.
Supper: Salad with romaine lettuce and an "experimental dressing" of sunflower seeds, pecans, lemon juice, parsley, green onions and garlic all whipped up together with some sea salt and basil thrown in. It was just "okay."
I am turning in early tonight. I guess I need more sleep than I have been getting.
This afternoon I stopped by a cousin's house to drop off some things and just noticed how much energy this 76 year old woman has. She takes care of her great grandson, still substitute teaches elementary school, and folk dances several times a week! I have never understood where she gets her energy from, but when I watch her eat I have to say she must be doing something right. She eats very little but seems to go more for fruits and vegetables. She eats cooked foods, but never very much. I have never seen her with any kind of fast food either. I will never have her bird-like appetite, but I would love to have her super-charged metabolism.
Today I ate:
Breakfast: Juice of one small beet, celery, 4 carrots, 1/2 lemon, 1 apple and ginger root.
Lunch: Citrus avocado salad with 1 pink grapefruit, 1 orange, 1 avocado, a whole head of romaine lettuce, a fistful of arugula, a couple of green onions and dressing made with lemon juice, agave nectar, mustard, and olive oil.
Supper: Salad with romaine lettuce and an "experimental dressing" of sunflower seeds, pecans, lemon juice, parsley, green onions and garlic all whipped up together with some sea salt and basil thrown in. It was just "okay."
I am turning in early tonight. I guess I need more sleep than I have been getting.
Day 7
It is just after midnight but I wanted to note that it has been a full week now of 100% raw, no gluten, no dairy for me. This is a big leap forward on my path to recapturing my health.
Today was much more difficult than the first 6 days. I am not sure why but I woke up feeling achy and tired this morning. I slept well, so that doesn't explain why I felt the way I did. I also noticed feeling light-headed and dizzy throughout the day. My nose was constantly running as well. Perhaps my body is starting to show some signs of detoxification. I am not concerned about any of it as I think it will probably pass soon enough.
I also faced the challenge of my family's supper tonight. My daughter made a big cooked meal for her and my husband, which left the fridge full of leftovers. The smells became so overpowering that I finally retreated to the bedroom for several hours. It is one thing to eat raw and know all the benefits, but to have to smell some of my favorite foods being cooked is quite another.
I also fell behind on my meals today and was particularly hungry this evening. I recognize this as a dangerous situation for me and promptly made a salad to keep me on the straight and narrow. I need to pay close attention to the time of day that I eat my meals. I have a real tendancy to eat more at night unless I have had 3 meals earlier in the day that have left me satisfied.
Here is what I ate today:
Breakfast: 1 banana, 1 apple chopped up with sunflower seeds, pecans, raisins, a few goji berries, chia seeds, and almond milk.
Lunch: 2 zucchinis spiralized into spaghetti noodles with "alfredo" sauce...pine nuts, macademia nuts, lemon juice, garlic and a few spices.
Late supper: Large salad with arugula, Jerusalem artichokes, sunflower seeds, lemon juice and olive oil.
As I look at this, I can see that I depended too much on nuts and seeds today instead of fruits and vegetables. Well, I can work on that for tomorrow.
Today was much more difficult than the first 6 days. I am not sure why but I woke up feeling achy and tired this morning. I slept well, so that doesn't explain why I felt the way I did. I also noticed feeling light-headed and dizzy throughout the day. My nose was constantly running as well. Perhaps my body is starting to show some signs of detoxification. I am not concerned about any of it as I think it will probably pass soon enough.
I also faced the challenge of my family's supper tonight. My daughter made a big cooked meal for her and my husband, which left the fridge full of leftovers. The smells became so overpowering that I finally retreated to the bedroom for several hours. It is one thing to eat raw and know all the benefits, but to have to smell some of my favorite foods being cooked is quite another.
I also fell behind on my meals today and was particularly hungry this evening. I recognize this as a dangerous situation for me and promptly made a salad to keep me on the straight and narrow. I need to pay close attention to the time of day that I eat my meals. I have a real tendancy to eat more at night unless I have had 3 meals earlier in the day that have left me satisfied.
Here is what I ate today:
Breakfast: 1 banana, 1 apple chopped up with sunflower seeds, pecans, raisins, a few goji berries, chia seeds, and almond milk.
Lunch: 2 zucchinis spiralized into spaghetti noodles with "alfredo" sauce...pine nuts, macademia nuts, lemon juice, garlic and a few spices.
Late supper: Large salad with arugula, Jerusalem artichokes, sunflower seeds, lemon juice and olive oil.
As I look at this, I can see that I depended too much on nuts and seeds today instead of fruits and vegetables. Well, I can work on that for tomorrow.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Day 6
It has now been 6 whole days of eating 100% raw and I am feeling great! This is not the longest I have been raw, but it certainly has been the easiest. Perhaps that is because I have finally figured out what works for me. Not everyone would agree with what I am doing, but I have found out through lots of trial and error what I need to do for me. A few of my dear buddies have asked what I am doing, so over on the right is My Own Plan. You may have seen it all before, but this is the combination of "rules" that is sustaining me right now. My plan may change as time goes on, as I am willing to keep looking for the best solutions to my particular circumstances.
Some people may ask why on earth am I doing this. Well, it's like this: it works. In the course of my adult lifetime, I have been on pills, fasts, powdered drinks, and dozens of diet plans. The end result is that I continued to gain weight and my health deteriorated. There had to be another way. I have known about the raw vegan lifestyle for many years but couldn't seem to make it work for me. I always believed it was the ultimate food plan. In the past few months I have made a concerted effort to become a raw vegan and now have seen a tremendous change in my body. My weight is dropping, but also in the past month I have been taken off my glaucoma medication and my blood pressure medication has been cut in half. Other conditions that have significantly improved include:
arthritis pain, lower back pain, fibromyalgia, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, inflammation, skin conditions, sinus problems, irritable bowel syndrome and constant heartburn (probably GERD.) I can't begin to tell you how nice it is to not be constantly in need of Rolaids, Advil, Excedrin, or a host of other prescription or over-the-counter drugs just to get me through the day. I am eating fresh raw fruits and vegetables and my body is healing itself.
After being freed up from so much pain, you won't be surprised to hear that I am absolutley estatic with how I feel now. It is very difficult to listen to a family member complain about all her physical problems when I know now there is a solution. I will acknowledge that not everyone is ready for this kind of eating plan, but for those who are, I am willing to share my experience so you might figure out what's best for you.
Here is what I ate today:
Breakfast: Green smoothie with an apple, 2 bananas, a collard leaf and a fistful of spinach.
Lunch: 3 Power balls while out running around. (Almond butter, coconut oil, agave nectar, ground flax seeds, sunflower seeds, raisins all rolled in coconut flakes.
Supper: A huge sald with arugula, romaine lettuce, fennel, red bell pepper, avocado, sunflower sprouts, olives, pine nuts, basil, Celtic sea salt, lemon and olive oil.
Some people may ask why on earth am I doing this. Well, it's like this: it works. In the course of my adult lifetime, I have been on pills, fasts, powdered drinks, and dozens of diet plans. The end result is that I continued to gain weight and my health deteriorated. There had to be another way. I have known about the raw vegan lifestyle for many years but couldn't seem to make it work for me. I always believed it was the ultimate food plan. In the past few months I have made a concerted effort to become a raw vegan and now have seen a tremendous change in my body. My weight is dropping, but also in the past month I have been taken off my glaucoma medication and my blood pressure medication has been cut in half. Other conditions that have significantly improved include:
arthritis pain, lower back pain, fibromyalgia, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, inflammation, skin conditions, sinus problems, irritable bowel syndrome and constant heartburn (probably GERD.) I can't begin to tell you how nice it is to not be constantly in need of Rolaids, Advil, Excedrin, or a host of other prescription or over-the-counter drugs just to get me through the day. I am eating fresh raw fruits and vegetables and my body is healing itself.
After being freed up from so much pain, you won't be surprised to hear that I am absolutley estatic with how I feel now. It is very difficult to listen to a family member complain about all her physical problems when I know now there is a solution. I will acknowledge that not everyone is ready for this kind of eating plan, but for those who are, I am willing to share my experience so you might figure out what's best for you.
Here is what I ate today:
Breakfast: Green smoothie with an apple, 2 bananas, a collard leaf and a fistful of spinach.
Lunch: 3 Power balls while out running around. (Almond butter, coconut oil, agave nectar, ground flax seeds, sunflower seeds, raisins all rolled in coconut flakes.
Supper: A huge sald with arugula, romaine lettuce, fennel, red bell pepper, avocado, sunflower sprouts, olives, pine nuts, basil, Celtic sea salt, lemon and olive oil.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
I AM the One I've Been Waiting For!
Well, I haven't been exactly faithful to this new venture, but I have been burning up the keyboard this year with exchanges with other raw foodists. I have continued my efforts towards a raw lifestyle that has included a forum where others post their progress, and I mine. My only issue right now is that a new detox program has just been cancelled after I spent a few sleepless nights convincing myself that it was precisesly what I needed to seal in my new eating habits. Well, at this posting I am now on Day 5 of what is turning out to be "My Own Program."
Sometimes it takes a kick in the butt for me to realize that I am the one who knows what's best for me. I have been reading countless newsletters, blogs, books, and websites in search of my raw food guru. This has been a constant pursuit for about 18 months, but the interest in this new way of feeding my overweight body goes back decades. Now with the internet, everything is so much more accessible. The information is readily available and it is easy to see that I am not the only one on this path. In fact, there are many out there sharing their wisdom with the world. But after reading so many people's ideas, I have realized that not one program works for everyone. There is a process one must go through to find out exactly what does and does not work. I think I am finally starting to find my own balance and realizing that I need to dance to the beat of my own drum. It can be difficult just finding the right drum, learning what tempos you like, and then learning the dance. Like the members of Dancing With the Stars, I have made a lot of wrong moves and taken some hard falls. But I believe the benefits of this journey will be a life of health and happiness rather than the sharp slide into a debilitating old age.
Part of the transitioning process from a Standard American Diet (SAD) to a 100% raw lifestyle seems to always include the flogging one imparts on one's own conscious over not doing it perfectly. There tends to be a lot of failing and flailing before one starts to really fly on this light wave. To anyone taking this path, I will say to you right now: every meal is a new opportunity to get it right. Our food addictions in this country are so vast and deep-rooted that it is almost impossible for anyone to just go raw overnight. It can be done and has been done, but there is no point in beating yourself up if you can't do that. Just keep adding in more raw fruits and vegetables into your diet and you will get there.
I personally recommend that anyone who sees the long-term benefits of being raw might want to go vegan first. Make that a lifestyle before you try to move fully into the raw life. There is no point in trying to go raw and suddenly finding yourself stuffing a pepperoni pizza into your mouth! At least make it a veggie pizza!
As some of my dear friends have asked me to tell them how to do this and how well it is working, I shall post my thoughts on this subject more regularly. I will try to leave some bread crumbs on a path you can follow. Just don't eat them! Wheat gluten is not a good thing!
Sometimes it takes a kick in the butt for me to realize that I am the one who knows what's best for me. I have been reading countless newsletters, blogs, books, and websites in search of my raw food guru. This has been a constant pursuit for about 18 months, but the interest in this new way of feeding my overweight body goes back decades. Now with the internet, everything is so much more accessible. The information is readily available and it is easy to see that I am not the only one on this path. In fact, there are many out there sharing their wisdom with the world. But after reading so many people's ideas, I have realized that not one program works for everyone. There is a process one must go through to find out exactly what does and does not work. I think I am finally starting to find my own balance and realizing that I need to dance to the beat of my own drum. It can be difficult just finding the right drum, learning what tempos you like, and then learning the dance. Like the members of Dancing With the Stars, I have made a lot of wrong moves and taken some hard falls. But I believe the benefits of this journey will be a life of health and happiness rather than the sharp slide into a debilitating old age.
Part of the transitioning process from a Standard American Diet (SAD) to a 100% raw lifestyle seems to always include the flogging one imparts on one's own conscious over not doing it perfectly. There tends to be a lot of failing and flailing before one starts to really fly on this light wave. To anyone taking this path, I will say to you right now: every meal is a new opportunity to get it right. Our food addictions in this country are so vast and deep-rooted that it is almost impossible for anyone to just go raw overnight. It can be done and has been done, but there is no point in beating yourself up if you can't do that. Just keep adding in more raw fruits and vegetables into your diet and you will get there.
I personally recommend that anyone who sees the long-term benefits of being raw might want to go vegan first. Make that a lifestyle before you try to move fully into the raw life. There is no point in trying to go raw and suddenly finding yourself stuffing a pepperoni pizza into your mouth! At least make it a veggie pizza!
As some of my dear friends have asked me to tell them how to do this and how well it is working, I shall post my thoughts on this subject more regularly. I will try to leave some bread crumbs on a path you can follow. Just don't eat them! Wheat gluten is not a good thing!
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