The Lockdown Starts Tomorrow!

I am signed up for the 11 week initiative in the Vault!   The private room at Raw Food Rehab for those who will actively be participating in the higher level of level of commitment & accountability during the 11 Weeks of Falling Into Raw - October 2nd - December 17th, 2010

It's going to be interesting.  I need all the help I can get thru the holidays.  I always fail during the holidays.  I won't this year!

http://rawfoodrehab.ning.com/group/ivault4

I love Raw Food Rehab and think everyone can benefit from this site, rather they are Raw or not!

Magnificent!

My friends all think I am a freak because I love Mornings!
It's something about renewal I think.

I am doing good, well today anyway!  Yesterday.. uh.. not so much. 
I had veggie pizza (no dairy) for lunch and a very fatty (but still RAW) dinner that was fab but a little too high cal for me for a regular basis but I have to write about my Thai Green Curry Soup I made!

This is sort of a recipe in progress:

Green Curry Thai Raw Soup:

For two nice size MEAL servings of soup:

Soup BASE:

Coconut water from two young coconuts
Coconut meat from two young coconuts
Ginger (just a little fresh)
Lime juice (juice of one lime for two servings)
Green curry paste (half the can is nice and HOT - see link below to the kind I think is the BEST)
Dash nama shoyu
Small teaspoon of raw honey
1 T shredded basil
1/3 avocado added to base to sort of emulsify it

I add a little of the coconut water, the coconut meat and the avo to the Vitamix first than blend.. then throw the rest in.  Blend well.  It's nice and thick! 

I pour the base in the bowl and then add the rest:

Add to the soup base before serving:

avocado (rest of the whole one.. divided between the two bowls)
Small cubes of red bell pepper, cucumber, eggplant and zucchini (all opt. - I make small 1/4" cubes)
bean sprouts
shredded basil (just a touch)
Lime round to float on top (opt)

My DH who LOVES Thai with all his heart thought this was some of the best soup EVER!
I found this green curry paste that I think it the best quality, although I am pretty sure it's not truly Raw, it has very limited ingredients and no preservatives:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EUJKR0/ref=oss_product

I made a nice light salad to go on the side:

Japanese Ribbon Salad

1 large cucumber, cut into ribbons with a veggie peeler (peel cuc first)
1 large carrot cut into ribbons with a veggie peeler (peel carrot first)
small handful cilantro chopped fine (more or less to taste - also good with mint)
2 T chopped pickled ginger (not Raw but an amazing ingredient.. could use a small amt. of fresh ginger instead)
Dressing:
1 teaspoon raw honey mixed into juice from 1 large lime.

Toss and serve in small bowls.

ʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ

Rawkin' On..

I love that...
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I wanted to come in and post since it's been a couple of days.  I am doing fine.  I have been still high Raw just been very busy lately.  I really, truly need to post every day so I am going to work on that!

Yesterday I ate 70% Raw.  Had a cooked vegan meal for lunch but my other meals for the day were Raw.

I made a great salad the night before last that has been my very fav. salad for YEARS.. it's fresh baby spinach, grape tomatoes, sweet onion (needs to be like Walla Walla or Vidalia) sliced very thin into rings, half an avocado, AND an entire pink grapefruit cut into sections and a half an orange cut into sections.  I used to use a fat free French dressing on it but have made my own Raw French dressing that is SO good it beats that old chemical soup FF dressing big time:

Raw "French" Dressing
1/3 cup sundried tomato, soaked (save soaking water you will need it!)
1 medium fresh tomato
half a Dried Ancho chili – soaked (too much and dressing gets bitter) 
I get mine at penzeys: http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/p-penzeysancho.html
cayenne to taste
2 dates
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
half a lime worth of juice or more to taste
1/2 cup tomato water (saved soaking water)
garlic powder (raw is too strong in this IMO)
1 tablespoon Italian seasonings
1/2 teaspoon sea salt or more to taste

Place ingredients in a blender. Process until smooth and creamy - add more water if needed...

I was so excited to come up with this recipe.  IMO it's very important to eat lots of salads on Raw.  It is fun to have Gourmet Raw and I love to make those recipes but a good salad is better to have on a regular basis so I am always looking for fantastic Raw dressings. 


More to come soon.  I've got some new products in I want to write about!

Food Yesterday:
smoothie (cherry and Raw cacao and hemp) breakfast
fruit salad snack
Vegan Indian veggie korma with papadam (bread type) late lunch
raw coconut and jungle peanuts (also raw) snack
green smoothie dinner


Anyway I am good.. I am holding in the weight loss but I am actually down 44 pounds total over the last year and a few months and I think by body is just seeking an equilibrium.  I am not concerned, besides now I am more worried about getting HEALTHY.. Weight loss, of course I want it but I won't push myself into unhealthy actions to lose it.  I have had issues in the past and know that slow and steady is what I need.

Time to Re-Commit~

"Nature's Mandala" Photo from The Sunny Raw Kitchen.  I am SO in love with her blog!!  http://thesunnyrawkitchen.blogspot.com/


There are so many wonderful blogs out there but there is something special about her blog.  It's so inspirational and she's one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen... she's walking the talk!

Well I have not done that bad the last few days - still pretty high raw (around 65-70% I would say).. but I have had a vegan cooked meal EVERY night the last three days and need to break that so I am calling today my day to re-commit.

I feel I could do very close to totally Raw much more often if I could just get myself better organized and of course get my dehydrator finally here!  It should be here within the next 10 days.  I want to make (and keep in stock in the fridge) wraps and sandwich "bread" to make veggie sandwiches.  I used to LOVE a good veggie sandwich and always used Ezekiel sprouted grain bread... I still do right now from time to time but want to make some nice onion bread in the dehydrator.. oh and play with other bread and wrap and cracker ideas.. I have LOTS of recipes stashed and also want to make some corn chip type crackers for my homemade salsa and gauc!...

I have an idea for a carrot raisin cinnamon bread for in the morning also. 

It is harder to be Raw.  It's not so hard to do high Raw but I really want to do this as high as I can and that takes planning and prepping a few days in advance.

Blarg.. again today. Come On!

Good Morning.

I wish I could say I feel great today but so far pretty blah. 

On my Detox:
Well today I am having sinus again.. no energy, just feel like staying in bed all day.


Mindset:
Very motivated.. VERY even though I feel not so grand I won't truly let it get me down.. well at least not for long.
I have been reading juice feasting blogs.  I do want to do a juice feast in Oct. .. I am going to start with 5 days. Maybe even 7? Will see.  I don't always do well with the fasting mentality.

I signed up for the next upcoming lockdown detox in the Vault on RawFood Rehab and am really looking forward to it. 

Food Yesterday:
Banana
HUGE megga mango YUM (noonish)
Apple
Cherry pie lara bar
Walnuts
2 small veggie burgers (cooked) for late lunch (3:45pm)
walnuts 4:30 about maybe 7 halves
carrot, broccoli, sunflower, raisin, lemon juice and honey salad
lara bar
honey, raisin, cacao, walnut "pudding" (a bit)

I think I would have not eaten a cooked meal at lunch yesterday (or at night the day before) if I had something planned that could have been somehow warmed. I need to order that instant read thermometer and plan to have some soup ingredients.. even if it’s just tomatoes and frozen corn and sprouted garbanzo or something to throw in a bain marie and warm. I need to figure out some things I can make that are not cold. I think while I have this sinus yuck I am really craving warm and SPICY.

I need to re-commit and go to the grocery store but I am not feeling great and normally would ask DH to pick up a couple of things on the way home but he is on call and having a hard time of it right now.

I have to get it back in gear.

I am eating fruit today until late lunch and then making a green juice.

I don’t have allot of stuff in the house to eat.. hard to believe after spending $175 last week at WF but there it is.

I should have planned some meals this weekend and stocked up at the store but we sort of just vegged out .. and Patrick really needed it.

I can’t wait for my dehydrator.. I have to figure out a good veggie burger to make a large batch of and keep in the freezer for emergencies.

I have to get some ideas started.. I will build up some recipes.. I found a chili recipe idea… and LOTS of other ideas.. I am mostly worried about dinners..

So I have eaten cooked the last two days in a row.. I will break that today.  Don't want to start a habit.  I know I am shooting for High Raw but truthfully it's only because of poor planning that I would have to have cooked vegan more than a time or two a week.

I found a great video (three actually) on making the Krazy Kracker Lady’s bbq crackers and onion rings here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/krazykrackerlady#p/u/8/j06iDUgkKm0
　

Detox.. I think?

Feel like hell today.
Headache, sinus yuck (need to use my neti pot!).  Feel like even a very slight fever maybe.  I find it interesting that I am detoxing thru my sinus. 

I have zero energy.  I just want to lay in bed all day.

I have had diarrhea since day 1! I keep thinking it has to get better that makes it 31 days of diarrhea.  I stay hydrated, lots of water, herbal teas and fruit/veggies and juices.

Another VERY interesting thing Detox wise:
I have had in the last few days (it’s a little better today) this strange ache that was even sore to the touch in my upper arms almost up to where my shoulder meets my arm, toward the back of my upper arms but not actually all the way under my arms.

I looked on line and this area appears to be a place with lymph nodes! I can actually feel little knot areas. DH gave me a good massage in that area two nights in a row and it seems to have helped. It’s interesting.. I am sure it was toxins! It’s till slightly sore so I am going to ask for another little rub tonight.

I have more to write soon but I've got to crawl in bed.. I sure wish I had a laptop!

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Ok I am back.. wanted to write MORE..
  
I ate a cooked vegan dinner tonight.. still 75% Raw for the day.. I did a percentage calc. of my percetage raw since August 21 (I have each day percentage of raw in a spreadsheet since day one) and even with my two days that I pretty much took off over a weekend when my sister was here I am 85% raw over the last 30 days!! That is fantastic.. I am working for High raw so a cooked vegan meal a couple of times a week (I don’t do it every day) is fine for now.. I am working up to as close as 100% as I can and have had many days in the last 30 that were 99%.

I am having lots of hot herb tea today.  I am feeling a little better.. my love of hot tea is one of the reasons I can only get up to 99% on days when I am eating as raw as I can.. I truly believe in herbs (and green and white tea) and am not sure I will ever give them up.

I also want to order some licorice root and make my own tea. I love licorice tea.

30 days RAW!

I have been doing very well on Raw.  I started Raw on Aug. 21st so today is 30 days!  Wow I just added that up.  I am so proud of myself.  This is incredible. 



I have been mostly 85-99% with a couple of days I ate cooked vegan that came in around 60% raw still.  I can't believe it has already been 30 days.

I have lost 12 pounds and I have been eating lots of nuts and seeds and avocado.  Lots of fruit and green smoothies and gourmet Raw occasionally.  I have made things in the dehydrator (concentrated calories with seeds and nuts).. I am so very fulfilled with my food.  I have never gone hungry and I have lost 12 pounds! 

I have plans for the future.  I want to do a juice feast.  I want to eventually do 30 days but I am going to start with 5 (thru the week).  I am not sure when but soon.  I also am considering adding a one day a week fast.  Not sure yet, just considering.  It's very important to my constitution that I don't get too radical too quick.  I have a very all or nothing nature and it's easy for me to get crazy carried away and I don't want that.  I want to continue this metamorphosis in a calm and easy fashion. 

In all honesty I would love to just fast for days but I know I will have a rebound effect from that.  I used to have binge eating problems and have even seen it appear a few times on Raw.  I had issues one day with raw muesli and also with cantaloupe.. just couldn't stop eating it until I ate the whole thing.. Yes it's healthy food and no I didn't gain weight but the mental aspect is still the same... loss of control.  So it's important that I keep it slow and easy and no extremes.. that turns into diet mentality for me and it's not safe.

A few fun things.
I can certainly tell a difference in how my clothes are fitting.  I wish that 12# would make a large difference on my body like it would someone smaller, but I am pretty heavy so 12# does not really make a huge difference.  I still need to lose maybe 80-90#.  I weigh 213 and am only 5' 4".   In all honesty I could probably still lose 100 pounds but I think I am shooting for around 130.  This girl likes to have a little arse and hope to keep some of my boobs!  I like curves on my body. I like curves on all women's bodies. I don't understand the fascination with boyish bodies.. "model" bodies. To me, HONESTLY it is not attractive.

On the clothes front:
I have these old Victoria Secret flannel shorts.  They are so cute.  They are lavender and have cherubs on them.  They are an XL and have always been snug.  This morning they slipped right on effortlessly.. even quite big in the waist.  I just smiled this huge smile.  I can't wait until I can wear clothes I really love and they just slip on and I feel good in anything.  Finding flattering clothes when you are large is a bitch. 

I want to be able to look good in anything.  I know for sure I will be a clothes whore.  I was when I was younger.  It's going to be bad.  I will be making up for too much lost time... like 15 years.  God bless my credit card.  It's gonna be painful.

The Joys of Raw Foods!!!

First off,
Yesterday was good.
I went to St. Petersburg to visit my mom.  She is not feeling great.   A good friend of mine.. D. and I were going to take her with us to Leafy Greens - the Raw restaurant in St. Pete but instead we brought her take out from there.

The meal was insanely good.  I am constantly blown away and very encouraged when I eat at these places.
Leafy Greens is different from Cafe 118 here in Orlando.  I love both but Cafe 118 uses more nuts and seeds and coconut oil.. more heavy meals (which I love and really helped me transition) while Leafy Greens is less heavy, still uses these ingredients but with a lighter touch.  The meal was much more delicate in taste than my last one at cafe 118.  But again I love cafe 118 and am so grateful it's here!

Leafy Greens, St. Petersburg, Florida..
At Leafy Greens yesterday I had an absolutely incredible Green Thai Curry soup... 
I didn't get any pix (always forget my camera!) but I did find a few on line of a couple of the things we had but alas not the soup.

But my very fav was this Green Thai Curry soup.  It was so good that I ordered a few things yesterday to make it. 

Info on the Thai curry soup..
The soup base had lime juice and coconut water blended with young coconut.. it also had a slight ginger taste and inside it was thinly cubed (like 6mm cubes) zucchini, red bell and cucumber.. It also had chunks of avocado and bean sprouts floating on top and a thin round of lime.. and thin shreds of basil.  It was so good!!!  It was room temp and something about the flavors really lend themselves to being room temp.  It was fresh and zippy and such an incredible flavor.  I will absolutely figure out how to make this soup!

I had a pizza slice too..

This was AMAZING!  I wish I had a piece right now!  Fantastic combo of flavors.  The base crust was flexible, I checked the menu on the website and they said it had hempseeds, walnuts and I think zucchini I remember in the crust.  It was spread with cashew hummus and olive tapanade with the red bell and zucchini and cucumber cubes and olives and very thinly sliced (and maybe somewhat dehydrated?) onion. It had Italian spices dusted on top. The menu said it had shredded fennel on top. Also could just add a few fennel seeds to the top instead. Green fennel sprigs (the dill like pieces on fresh fennel) were on top..

D. had a great wrap sandwich. 

The bread was so good!!  I get excited about things like this because I actually love veggie sandwiches even before I was veggie.  and there would be so much you could do with this bread.. Right now I am thinking making it thicker and using it as a breakfast bread and topping it with avo, onion and tomato and CAPERS... OMG love those salty little babies!

The wrap D. had also had the same cashew hummus on it as I did on my pizza.  It was very good and LARGE.  They said the onion bread was made out of yellow and red onions, sunflower seeds and and nama shoyu.. I am sure it had to have something else to hold it together.. I am going to figure this out!

The meal was excellent. My friend D. also had a chocolate macaroon..

I have to learn how to make these.. mom loves these.. would be cool to make some while I am visiting her next time.  Very rich and decadent and Raw cacao is incredibly good for you.. YES.. freaking chocolate that is good for you!  It had chocolate sauce drizzled over it.  I ordered some Raw chocolate sauce from The Wilderness Family on line, and excellent source for Raw and organic supplies.

http://www.wildernessfamilynaturals.com

I also ordered other things from them yesterday that I will talk about when they come in and MOST EXCITING!!! I ORDERED MY EXCALIBUR DEHYDRATOR!! 

These bad boys are expensive and I have been saving for a month for it.

I am going to be able to do so much with it.  I am very first thing going to learn how to make those onion wraps like D. had on her sandwich!

A Successful New Recipe and Feeling Good!

I feel like some Magic has come into my life...

I have so much I want to write about...

OMG I made an amazing shake for DH I wanted to write about.  He is doing semi-Raw.. mostly Vegan with me 90% of the time but he does occasionally have cheese..

I have been making him protein shakes in the AM.  He really enjoys them.  Yesterday morning's shake was incredible!  I used frozen organic cherries, 2 T cocoa, half scoop green powder, almond milk and whey protein (I am getting Hemp protein powder for us soon, I was amazed to read it's Amino profile), I don't use whey as I have given up all dairy but he still likes it.  Anyway the shake was Fantastic!!  I think I could make it much more toward the raw food lifestyle so I could eat it too… Organic frozen cherries (fresh are out of season), raw cocoa powder, almond paste and water (raw sprouted almonds ground into paste and watered down into milk) instead of the almond milk in the paper box from WholeFoods, hemp powder protein and green powder. This is SO good I need to get the stuff to make it.

On the TMI front I am finally over my period. 9 freaking days! WTF. Normally I am 4 days on. I guess my body is full of toxins and hormones released from all those fat cells that are shrinking! I know the hormones can play havoc. 

I have fair energy now - I feel like I am thru my major Detox (maybe?).. feel like I could get a few things done today! I want to fast.. I want to get on thru this detox for sure ASAP into some BLISS damn it!

I guess if I am totally honest I am wanting to go on further with the fact that I am not that hungry. I want this fat off.. I want to be much smaller come the holidays so I have to motivation to stay on RAW!  I am already looking for things to make when the winter comes that are still Raw.

Also I wanted to post that yesterday I had my first what felt like sort of a binge. It was on that granola (not raw) muesli by Bob's red mill.. I had issues with it a while back and today I just decided I wanted it again. (not buying it again, I will make Patrick some good Raw granola with sprouted Oat Grouts and nuts and dates.. etc).

I ate about a cup and a half (a half cup three times!) and had lots of almond milk also not raw. I normally eat about a cup of nuts/raisins at this time of the day but just didn’t want too.  I need other ideas for late afternoon snack.. like gauc and veggies to dip or red bell pepper hummus or pesto and veggies to dip… Something substantial.  I tend to be fine munching on fruit till about 3-4pm then get hungry from something heavier. 

Yesterday the first day I was not as raw as I could be in 10 or so days I think. I had the cereal around (kept traipsing back to get more). Then I had a cooked Amy’s vegan meal (good) and a small glass of red wine… GOOD. I didn’t really feel bad.. maybe a little more tired than I would have been but it was time to relax anyway.. went to bed at 10pm.. had a bit of rumbling in my belly and gas.. which I know is a sign of not digesting well.

Oh and I wanted to write that I also made a HUGE batch of veggie goulash (raw) and put it in the dehydrator.. Pix of it marinating:

I used butternut squash, acorn squash, eggplant, red and orange bell pepper, a half a HUGE red onion and a half a HUGE vidalia onion, I forgot the carrot and I didn’t have corn. I used the marinate I wrote about yesterday that I use on portobello steaks and use to make eggplant jerky.  I will post another pix of it when it's finished so you can see how much it looks like yummy oven roasted veggies.

I reuse the marinate a couple of times (Nama Shoyu is expensive!).. I just keep the marinate in the fridge.  I keep whatever is marinating in it in the fridge as well so I am sure the marinate is fine to use a couple of times.. another thing I love about Raw fruits and veggies is not worrying about e-coli or freaking some other nasty food poison..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I just went to WholeFoods to get a few things.. well fucking $175 worth of a "few things".. (DH calls it Whole Paycheck!).  it’s insane how expensive stuff is there.. I HAVE to start only buying what I HAVE to there. I could have got my fruits at Publix. I did get LOTS of Lara Bars that I could have got at Publix but I wonder if they actually cost any more at Whole Foods than elsewhere.. they were 4 for $5 at WF.

While I shop at WF I always get one of their green smoothies and I had the best raw smoothie drink there I have had so far.. I wish I could remember what all is in it.. it’s called Clearly carrot or clear carrot.. something like that.. It had 5 stars for Detox which is what I am doing - concentrating on detox!.. I know it had apple, carrot and beet for sure and I think it had celery.. I will write it down next time.

I got dandelion greens! I also got dino kale and spinach.. I am going to make green drinks over the next couple of days.. I will have one for breakfast in the AM too.. DH might even eat one!

I will have one today around 3 or so for a late lunch.. I am still full from the one at WF!
I know beets have to be used with caution they are so strong in their detox of the liver.

Oh and my raw "goulash" is good! I am happy with it.. it’s till pretty crunchy but it has a rich flavor from the marinate and certainly will be very good slightly warmed in the dehydrator. I think I will also warm some of the marinate and pour a bit on it and stir it up before I serve it.

Tomorrow I am going to pick up a friend of mine in Tampa.  I am really looking forward to seeing her.  It's been too long and I have sort of hold up in my home thru this last couple of weeks.  It will be my first entire day out and about by myself since going Raw.  I am not concerned though.   and we are going to see mom and take her to the Raw place in St. Pete.  I really love that restaurant.

I want to go to Selby Gardens tomorrow too.. not sure we will have time.  I will take lots of water and some nuts and raisins to much on and make a nice green smoothie to drink for breakfast and I will be good to go.

I want to find a pretty insulated tote to use to carry nut milks and maybe salads and fruit with me when I spend days out.  I will have to start looking around. 

I am so enjoying this Raw food lifestyle.. Oh and I have been totally VEGAN for 28 days today!  I freaking am doing excellent.  Yeah me!!!

Blarg...

Hummm well where to start,

Yesterday was a magnificent day, truly amazing I had TONS of energy and got lots of work done.   I have ceramic tile thru the entire house and mopped half of the house yesterday and did lots of laundry.  I also had so much energy that I stayed up too late.. I just was not tired (oh and I ate 99% Raw yesterday.. I always say 99% when it's as good as it can be because I use some spices from time to time like cinnamon and black pepper and I am sure they are not truly Raw).  Anyway I woke up with so much energy and was just feeling on top of the world.  Today is a different story...

I feel so drained. Maybe I was TOO quick to try to get so much done yesterday but I have really slacked the last 10 days "taking it easy" as much as possible and my house really has suffered.

This morning I didn't want to get out of bed. I still feel good sinus wise which still remains amazing to me. I gave up dairy 3 weeks ago and had no idea I was never REALLY breathing well. I had chronically inflamed sinuses but didn't know.. sort of like you don't know how bad your vision actually is until the first time you get glasses!

It's amazing to me to be able to breathe so well so I am looking at my blessings but sure wishing for another day like yesterday as soon as possible.
I don't feel like eating either, I have slight nausea again. This has been fairly constant for a while and I try to drink LOTS of water. Yesterday I had 120 oz plus 3-4 cups of hot herb tea. I hope that's enough, prob. not.
Gosh I sound whiney! Wah, Wah... Got to focus on the good! So far I am down 12.5 pounds in a little over 3 weeks. I can breathe, my husband is supportive - even enjoying some of the raw meals with me, my family is supportive - mom doing Raw as much as she can and my sister at least thinking on it.  They certainly are supportive of ME anyway. I did have a great day yesterday and know another one will come. I feel closer to divinity. I am more at peace in my soul.

So lots of good to focus on.
On with the day.
Oh and food yesterday:
Fruit till about 4pm then a cup of mixed raw nuts and raisins (cashews and pistachios and golden raisins) and for dinner I made the marinated portobello steaks.. These are so incredible.  I just get three huge portobellos for each of us and marinate them in this:

My Marinate for Eggplant – Goulash – Portobello Steaks Etc:

Nama Shoyu (about 1/3 bottle)
Seasalt
Drited Chipotle pepper or soaked to rehydrate (penzeys spices sells these on line)
1 Date chopped
2 T Raw Vinegar (with the mother)
1 T Chili powder
½ T cumin
1/2 t Black pepper
1/8 T liquid smoke
Several large dashes of worstershire

Marinate as long as you have time for.. or remember to!
Good on eggplant for eggplant jerkey.
Good on all kinds of finely chopped winter veggies, marinate and then spread in dehydrator for a half day or so also I use this for portobello steaks.. so far the best steaks have been actually marinated two days (forgot to get them in dehydrator in time day before in order to warm them)..
This is a great marinate.. sort of a work in progress and I am aware it's not 100% raw but I am doing High Raw so it's great for me.

Anyway the portobello steaks were fantastic, I forgot to get them in the dehydrator the day before, in order to give them time to warm up so they actually set in the fridge in the marinate for two days.  They were incredible.  My DH LOVED them.

I made a salad with shreadded jicima, avocado and raw tahini with seasalt and black pepper.. it was fair.  Well it was pretty good but I am really wanting something different on the side.. not sure what yet.

~~~~~~~~~

Today I have alot to do but so far don't feel like doing a damn thing.  I think I am going to try to do the winter veggies in the marinate (I use the marinate twice, just keep it in the fridge in the ziplock freezer bag I use and save it and use it twice.  The Nama is so expensive.).. I have a butternut squash and an acorn squash and red bell pepper, carrots, sweet potato and I am thinking of finely chopping this and putting it in the dehydrator to have for dinner tomorrow night.

Tonight I am doing a simple carrot, broccoli, raisin, sunflower seed, lemon juice and honey salad.  DH will eat a vegan cooked meal with his salad.. I am good with just a salad as I am really not all that hungry right now.

Have a good day friends (if anyone is actually reading this blog)..
More soon.

Fasting today..

I am not hungry at all, it's strange.  I actually have a slight nausea.  Just decided I didn't have to eat if I didn't feel like it.  I have been eating very well every day normally.  Strange to just not be hungry, I think the nausea is part of detox. 

Trying to drink lots of water as I have read that the nausea is too much released toxins and not enough water in your system.  BTW.. "The Live Food Factor" is an amazing book.. HUGE (Biblical proportions) over 700 pages but so much info, it looks like a life's work.

Oh and also I also have this deep ache in my upper arms.

I have myofascitis in my upper left arm and it's really acting up.. I also have had ringing in my ears a few times today.  Wonder what that is all about.

Emotional Bubblings...

I am not sure how else to describe it.. that is what it feels like.  I just keep having various emotions and feelings bubbling thru me. 

I have read that persons that are obese and lose a good amount of weight go thru this, sort of like peeling an onion, layers being "exposed" and having to be dealt with.

Oh Holy Hell.  How do you "deal" with freaking crap you pushed down and away for years anyway?

Just this morning I realized I have not really allowed myself to "feel" for months.. maybe years.  I sort of live my life on "numb"..

I am not sure that I really have any idea how to even start.  I guess it's good to just let it "bubble" thru. 

Detox could have lots to do with it I guess.  I have read that excess hormones, especially Estrogen, are stored in fat cells.. I imagine that any excess hormone being flooded thru my body can make me feel crazy.  I just keep telling myself that the fat is leaving and I will deal as it comes.  I know I am fortunate to have the life that I do, that I can do this for myself (and DH), that I can finally start to take care of us.  I know that there are many women who would not have to ability to stay at home and lay in bed when they can't see straight because of a detox migraine... Ya.. counting my blessings.

Raw Lasagna was a Hit!

This stuff was so good (see previous post for pix and recipe).. DH and I ate it last night.. it was VERY rich.. interesting to me that I thought it was rich as in the past I could eat a huge heavy meal (Low Carb.. lots of CHEESE and cream and butter) and not have issues but I guess I have been Raw long enough that I am already starting to not love all the fat. I felt slightly nauseated after eating it (but wow again, it was the best Raw dinner so far!) and still slightly nauseated this morning.
I am not eating today for a while.. maybe even until dinner time. Just don't feel like it (at least not so far).. the nausea seems to be staying with me.

I had a HUGE glass of Lime Perrier this morning and I love that stuff in the AM. Wow. I have totally given up Diet Cokes which is amazing to me.. I was So ADDICTED to Coke. My mother said my first word was COKE!... (she used to give it to me in my bottle.. back when no one knew soda was so bad for us). So with me loving this stuff since practially being born, it is megga amazing that I am off it now.

The bubbly mineral waters, like Pellagrino and Perrier have helped me so much.. even cans of seltzer (not soda water.. too much sodium). I started just drinking some bubbley water whenever I craved a Coke and now I crave the water!!! Right on..

Anyway, I am feeling fair.. still don't have much energy but I know I am detoxing!!!  Just the thought alone of all the badness leaving my body makes me smile. 

Beautiful Sunday Morning!

I have been playing around with my photo program.  Green is my fav color now so I had to play up the green in this sunrise photo.  I could spend hours playing in photoshop!

I am feeling fair this morning.  I am still having nausea from time to time. I noticed when I got up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom that I felt slightly nauseated. I don’t think I am drinking enough water.. I am going to drink much more today.  I am also still feeling like sh*t at night. I had another headache last night. I wonder too still if this is because I am not drinking enough water.. will see tonight. I will measure my water and drink it out of the SmartWater 20 oz bottles.. I will go for at least 120 oz today. I am also thinking I will fast until say 3pm.. Patrick will sleep till 11 or so and won’t really be hungry until 2-3 so I can then just make a huge bowl of cantaloupe/honeydew for us when he gets hungry.

I just realized I bought all the stuff to make Raw lasagna a few days ago and have to make that tonight! I just put in my nuts and seeds to soak. I had planned on DH and I going to a Raw potluck meeting today with the Orlando group but I am always lately feeling so yucky later in the day that I begged off… they don’t meet until after 5pm and by then I am feeling like freaking crap lately. It seems my detox symptoms get worse the later it gets.
I am still having sinus yuck and pressure. Last night I used my neti pot twice and it seemed to help each time but after about an hour it would come back. I know in the long run this is good (detox) and I am welcoming it but I sure can’t believe how long it’s been going on.  (today will be six days).

I am thinking of a couple of fasts until dinner time next week. I think I handle that better than an entire day and night fast.
I have to say how excited I am! I have noticed my clothes fit much better (I need to lose about another 90#, so 10# lost does not really show that much yet on my body) but my clothes are more comfy and I am really looking forward to looking and feeling better. I have several things in my closet that I have bought over the last couple of years as "motivational" pieces and one of them is this beautiful rich golden brown velvet "jeans style" jacket with embroidery on the back.  I can't wait to just be able to throw that on and walk out the door.. I bought it because it will look amazing with a pair of jeans. 

I am afraid of our credit card bill when I get this weight off because I used to be clothes crazy! I actually got into designing jewelry to go with all my clothes!
I am writing down my water today.. so far I am up to 40 oz.. I am thirsty! I really hope it helps my sinus yuck and headaches.

Oh and this is the Raw Lasagna I am making tonight:

(Pix from the amazing Raw Model website:  http://rawmodelcom.blogspot.com/  )

It is best to plan and start this the day before, soak nuts and seeds (cashews only need a 2 hour soak though). You can use whatever nuts/seeds you like of course. This has three sauces and they are layered between thinly sliced (I use a vegetable peeler) zucchini ribbons:

Raw Ricotta:

1 C soaked cashews
1 C pumpkin seeds *see note below re: soaking pumpkin seeds
2T star nutritional yeast
2 T lemon juice
1 T seasalt
1 T water (may need more)

Basil Pesto:

½ c pine nuts
2 C basil
¼ C olive oil (sometimes I leave this out and use a little lemon and water instead)
sea salt
Black pepper

Marinara sauce:

1 C tomato
1 C sundried tomato
2 T balsamic
2 T red wine
pepper
1-2 cloves garlic (vein removed)
2 dates
½ C lemon juice
dulse (or salt)
½ teaspoon cayenne


*Hulled (out of shell) Pumpkins are a very quick crop. They soak for only an hour and are nutritional dynamos at that point. They don't store long, but they taste so good that that isn't usually a concern. Do not try to grow them longer or store them more than a day or so - they just don't do that.

We consider these “soaks” as opposed to sprouts. From the TOTALLY AMAZING SPROUT PEOPLE SITE: http://www.sproutpeople.com/seed/print/pumpkin.html


Directions for Raw Lasagna:

Mix up three sauces (can be done ahead of time and put in the fridge).  I use my VitaMix.  It's especially good for the tomato based sauce as you don't soak the sundried ones ahead of time.. it's what gives the sauce a thick, creamy consistency.

To assemble:
Layer 2 layers of zucchini directly on the plate you are going to serve it on. I do a criss cross pattern

Add a layer of Ricotta, more zucchini noodles, layer of pesto, more noodles, layer of Marinara, more noodles, repeat and top with dusting of ground pistachio and pinenuts (I like ending with Marinara then ground pine nuts).

I wanted to also comment on the above recipe for the Marinara. I make this often just by itself and add 1/3 cup of soaked cashews and only use one date and NO Lemon juice.. add an extra splash of wine and Dulse flakes and a little water. This is BEYOND GOOD on kelp noodles or any spiraled veggie for noodles. I like a mixture of yellow summer and zucchini squash as my noodles.. I use the spiralizer and make them angel hair thin..  This simple sauce over veggie noodles has been a staple for us this last couple of weeks. 

I will be weighing again in about a week.. still can't believe I have lost almost 11 pounds in three weeks.

I'm so doing this!

OMG I just realized it's Sept. 11th.  I still can't believe that these horrible attacks happened.  My heart goes out to all who were touched by this hate.  I am still struck numb by the thought of it, to this day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well I just realized I have not posted in a couple of days.. I wanted to quickly come in and say I am doing very well.  I am down 10.5 pounds.  I weigh 214.5 pounds today.   I have stayed very high Raw (around 95%) the last few days.  Last night I was having SUCH a hard time with detox (horrid migraines and sinus yuck) that I decided after reading some other long time Raw foodists' blogs that I needed to slow down the detox a bit so I ate a Organic Vegan cooked meal for dinner but it was the first cooked food for several days.  I was having such a hard time at night with nausea too.  (another detox symptom I am told).  I would be fine during the day but as night came on I would get a horrid migraine and just have to get down. 

I read that Angela Stokes (lost 150+ pounds on Raw) had to back off to about 75% for the first year after really bad detox symptoms but still lost 100 pounds that year.  I want to do as close to 100% as I can but eat a cooked meal when I just have to because of severe detox symptoms.  You have to also know that I went with it for several days before I finally decided to have cooked.

This morning I could not believe the scale!  I am averaging a half pound lost a day! 
More later.

Had such good intentions and you know what they say...

Well yesterday was NOT a fasting success!

I did make it all day till 8pm but for some reason just decided to cave. I am pretty sure I was coveting the idea of Patrick having a dinner and decided to just have one too and then I just started eating..

I had a banana and some eggplant jerky I had made (good) and some nuts and dinner (my first cooked food in a week).. around 1100 calories total I figured. I was not that upset.. for two reasons. First I am on my freaking period! Going to give myself break and also because I did fast all day and although the cooked meal was veggie (this is HIGH Raw, not 100% - at least not yet) and lastly I LEARNED a serious lesson...

I got sick! I am sure it was the cooked Amy’s meal as it was the first cooked food all week AND it had dairy (cheese). I instantly got all slammed shut on my left sinus and got a headache when I went to bed.. I also felt like my nerves were jangled and noticed my pulse was racing when I was trying to settle down and fall asleep. I just felt like ugg and somehow "off".  I will not be doing any more freaking dairy and am going to stay as Raw as possible. No dairy for sure!

This morning I got up and was at least cleared up sinus wise.  I was hungry so I ate. I didn’t worry about combining food correctly either (had been eating nothing but fruit till noonish all week).. I had this eggplant "jerky" I made and then I made this GREAT green and fruit shake!

For both of us (two large breakfast shakes) in the blender I added four frozen bananas (three would work too), 1 T Raw honey, two handfulls of ice, water, three scoops green powder and 3 huge bulging tablespoons Raw cocoa… It was SO good!!  I added a bit too much honey, prob. more like 2 T than 1.. It was a little too sweet for my taste but man.. it was wonderful and DH loved it.

Here is eggplant jerky recipe:


3 eggplants (large) cut ¼” thick

Marinate:

4 T nama shoyu

1 T good seasalt

dried ancho or chipotle (soak first till soft) (penzys spices sells these on line)

2 Dates

2 T good vinegar with mother

1 T chili powder

½ T cumin

1/2 t pepper

1/8 t liquid smoke

¼ t cayenne

Marinate slices at least 45 min.. took two days in my dehydrator.. need my new one damn it!

Today is a Fasting Day...

Well down another pound and a half from my last weigh-in!  Still doing 95% raw and for the last three weeks I have been having lemon water in the AM (been having a hot water in a teacup with fresh lemon juice).  DH and I normally have a cup of coffee each AM in bed before starting our day, it's sort of a ritual for us.. it's actually a long draw espresso that I make us each AM - we take a half hour or so to spend waking up and talking before the hectic day has to start..

Since going Raw I have been doing the hot water with lemon instead of my coffee.  NOT saying I will totally ever give up coffee (we do use organic) but right now I am concentrating on detoxing my bod so no coffee.

Today I woke up and felt like I could fast so I decided spur of the moment to have a fast day… actually I think I was thinking about it last night because I was not hungry for dinner, I had eaten a heavy fatty (but still RAW) meal of an entire avo and two of my zucchini/corn/nut/seed crackers.. I was still full at 8pm so decided to just skip dinner and started thinking I might be able to get in a fasting day today so there it is. 

So far it's been easy (it's 1:30pm my time).  I plan on breaking my fast at 8am so that will be a 40 hour fast.  That has to be good for me. 

I can't believe how in control my appetite is.  Up until a month or so ago I had serious craving issues and problems with occasional binge eating.  It’s ALSO incredible to me that I actually started my period today without much in the way of cramping AND no crazy hunger. I am in awe. Normally when I start I have known a week ahead of time because my hunger gets way over the top.
I ate totally raw yesterday, here is my food:

-Hot water with lemon
-Raw Waldorf salad (soaked raw walnuts, raisins, apples, celery and juice from a lemon).  For the dressing I used soaked raw cashews, salt, a date and 1/3 C water.  This was a really good breakfast and DH loved it.
-More soaked walnuts and almonds and cashews snack
-SW Flax crackers (2)
-DH and I split the water and meat from a young coconut for another snack (we are loving these!)
-2 SW Flax crackers and a whole avocado

(I think one of the reasons I was not hungry for dinner was the high fat day! ).  It's amazing to me that I can lose weight eating that much fat. 

Since I am fasting today I am taking it easy.. reading and lounging mostly. I did do some business this morning, (have a home based business) but only worked a couple of hours. Making sure that I am drinking lots of water also today.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It’s 2pm now and I am actually a little chilly.. which is strange as it’s 78deg in the house (I usually have to have it at least 75 to not be burning up here in central FL). It’s like 98deg. Outside.
I wanted something hot to drink so I made some of my Genmai Cha reen tea ( “Genmaicha is a traditional Japanese green tea. The lovely vegetal green flavor, indicative of Japan's steaming process, is balanced by the nutty flavor imparted by the roasted rice. The combination becomes and earthy tea that is soothing to the soul.”)

http://theteaspot.com/genmaicha-green-tea.html
Something about this tea makes fasting easier for me. I really like it. Normally I add a touch of stevia to it but when I am fasting I don’t want any sweet flavor at all so I don’t use stevia then. I have sort of an obsession with coffee and tea and tea cups! Drinking tea is such a ritual to me. I think having a lovely teacup set and nice sterling demitasse spoons make it special and it feels like such a treat that when I am dieting or fasting it’s especially nice.  I think these little things are important and really can help.  I also really like blossoming tea. 

I am feeling a bit hungry.. not anywhere like I normally would though.  I have had a tiny rumbling in my stomach a couple of times but I am good.

I am reading blogs about fasting and cleansing and detox today too, they keep me motivated.  I know that I might need a nap later, will see.

Will post more as the day goes on.

Normally when I fast it's the night time that is a BITCH and I have never fasted more than 3 days in a row.  I do think I will do a few days in October.. you know.. OCTOBERFAST.. instead of OCTOBERFEST!.. Ha.

Holy Freaking Grocery Bill, OMG!

Well I have been kidding myself that it's going to be cheaper to live the Raw food lifestyle.  I am spending almost double what I was.  Fresh produce is crazy expensive here (Orlando) even BEFORE its organic! .  I will have to find other places to cut back because even in this short three weeks, I am already seeing a difference in my body, my skin and my spirit.

I feel lighter, calmer and more peaceful.  My ever on-going adult acne on my chin has cleared and I have had this stuff for years.  I actually got out of bed this morning and couldn't believe how good I actually looked just crawling out of bed! 

Well Yesterday was a good and very busy day. DH and I stocked up on RAW foods for the week (and a few Amy’s organic emergency meals for him - I can believe he is as "on-board" with me on this as he is!).

I am making 5 raw meals for dinners this week. Raw Lasagna, Thai Salad, Asian Cucumber Salad, Portobello steaks with jicama/avocado/tahini salad and zucchini spaghetti with creamy marinara sauce.. actually made that last night and MAN, OMG this stuff is amazing!! And I am making my SW crackers to go with salads.
Here is how I made the sauce for the spiraled zucchini last night:

1 C tomato (used a large beautiful dark burgundy heirloom tomato from WF!)
1 C sundried tomato (not considering this true Raw as I am sure they dehydrate at too high temp and I don't have my dehydrator yet!)
2 T balsamic
3 T red wine (I guess wine is not raw either?  Well this is HIGH Raw..)
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (I love spicy red sauce)
1-2 cloves garlic (vein removed) used one large
1 date
dulse (a large pinch for the mega minerals and a salty flavor)
1/3 C cashews


I forgot to soak my cashews.. need to get a day ahead of myself so I know what I am doing.. I want to make my raw lasagna soon but it has a nut layer so I need to soak them.

This creamy marinara sauce was AMAZING!!! We needed two zucchini each (had enough but had to use some I had bought for the lasagna so next time buy extra zuch)! We added a sprinkle of raw pine nuts (which DH liked!) on top and it was so good.. truly amazing.

I want to learn to make this Raw cashew Parmesan I had read about.. it’s aged. I have seen Raw foodies talking about it on forums. I want to try several of the cheeses.. AGAIN I need my damned dehydrator.
Spent $260 dollars yesterday! At this rate I will spend $400 more a month on food that I was originally!  I am pretty sure I have almost everything I need for the week but OMG..

I did get some things I won’t need again for quite a while like dulse, nutritional yeast, etc.. but crap.. that’s lots of money… I hope I didn’t buy too much produce.. I need to start going to the grocery store TWICE a week.. so I can make sure I don’t get too much produce and it end up going bad… We actually went to Walmart AND Whole foods.. (bought a few veggies like zuch, carrots, cucumbers that I will peel so they didn't have to be organic IMO )and also some organic that Walmart is now carrying.. I actually don't like Walmart.. it gets on my nerves to go there, not going to elaborate on that *smile*, so I didn’t even spend all the money at WF.  (DH calls it "Whole Paycheck".!)

I need to start shopping at farmers markets maybe? I did get pine nuts –Fucking $15!!! But they are for two - three recipes. I got raw cashews that will last a while I also got lots of greens for green smoothies that DO need to be Organic from WF.  I also got some bulk stuff.

On Detox:
I have constant diarrhea (sorry, TMI I now) but I have decided this is how my body detoxes and I will just make sure to stay hydrated. I am going to have MORE greens and continue with the nothing but fruit till noon for a while but make a green smoothie for lunch.. and have lots of greens with my dinner. I want to work on getting alkaline.  Other than that I had flu like symptoms for a couple of days (mostly hit me at night) and sinus yuck for a few days but I think I am over most of that.  Today is day 16 I think.

Now for a bit of bitching:
I have to write about something that really surprised (and honestly upset me a little yesterday). When I was at Walmart, as we were checking out I happily commented on all the produce we were buying and the lady that was checking us out commented “you know being vegetarian is not good for you”.. It infuriated me!  The lady was much larger than me (100# more I would estimate) and I am considered obese at my weight.  Her little face was very bloated also, it was sad, but what really saddened me even more was what looked like acne all over her face and arms . I was blow away that she would comment on my diet, we were complete strangers… maybe if she was in amazing shape I could see her wanting to voice an opinion about diet but ... I could not believe it and I got very upset.  At the time I was put off, now I wish I had been further along in my path and could have commented back and maybe given her some knowledge and encouragement but I couldn't, not really and I was sort of struck numb and didn't know WHAT to say!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have so much to do today so I HAVE to get off the computer but wanted to say again how amazing I feel!  Well here's to another beautiful Raw day and a peaceful Sunday!

Nori Rolls..

They were a hit.  I couldn't get the nori to stick well though.. Moistened edges with nama shoyu, didn't work well but they tasted excellent!  (recipe I posted yesterday).

I don't have much more to post today other than I am rocking RAW!  I was 99% raw yesterday (some hot sauce in the almond pate was cooked I am sure) and today so far 100% raw.

Food yesterday:

2 apples
1/3 melon (honeydew)
2 corn/zucchini/jalapeno crackers w/ 3 T Raw Almond Ginger Pate
later on in the afternoon.. 2 more crackers w/ pate
later on a handful walnuts and several cherries
dinner:
Miso soup with wakame seaweed
Ginger Almond Nori Rolls (yummo)..

I will be weighing on Monday (gonna make Mondays my official weigh in day.. will keep me real -hopefully- thru the weekends)..
do feel like my waist is smaller.. it has more of an indention.  Feel pretty good.
had a BAD headache last night and ached all over right before bed time.  (detox?)

More later!

Wow!

I made my "pate" for my Nori rolls already.. it's so good I can hardly believe it!

I used 2 C soaked raw almonds, 2" knob fresh ginger peeled, 1 large clove garlic finely chopped, juice of two lemons, 3 T Nama Shoyu, 3 T Gold hot sauce (from Oriental Mkt - it's sort of sweet and hot - not raw) and maybe 3 T water (kept adding a bit as I needed).. I blended it all in my VitaMix and REALLY needed the plunger. 

This stuff is freaking insanely good!  (this is a double batch for us, enough for 4-5 Nori rolls.)



Oh I have been forgetting to post my food..
today I had:

2 Apples for breakfast
1 Cup cherries about 2 hours later
1/3 Honeydew melon about an hour later
2 large Corn/Zucchini/Sunflower/Jalapeno crackers for lunch (with a handful raw walnuts)
about 1/3 C above mentioned Pate after I finished making it (had to force myself to cover it and put it in the fridge!
another corn/zucchini... etc, cracker later
Nori roll with above mentioned pate (one full roll/8 pieces) with an apple for dessert later

I tend to eat every 2-3 hours.  Not a ton of food at a time but during the day it just seems to be what my body needs. 

I also wanted to write about a new book I just got in.. It's "The Live Food Factor" and I have not really even got a chance to start it, just skimmed thru and WOW, this has got to be the largest Raw food book I have ever seen.. It's Biblical proportions!  Seriously! over 700 pages.  I think I made the right decision buying this bad boy.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0977679519/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0977679500&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=07FF01Z5GR2Y1PH83Z7G

Pattern Emerging...

Well there seems to be a pattern here. I do great all day and then at night I am so used to a heavy cooked meal that my body is really being awfully insistent. (or is it my mind?). I know my body does not NEED this heavy meal and I need to develop some kind of coping thought or something to help me when night falls.

I need to think about the fact that I am so freaking overweight my body does not need to be bogged down with heavy cooked food EVERY night!  (This is HighRaw tough.. not 100% so I know I will have a cooked meal here and there but I have to stop the every night I think).  I think I need to have a RAW PLANNED DINNER more often.

I think waiting around and just thinking about dinner at 6pm does NOT WORK! I need to have it already figured out and maybe even started.  I spent some time online this morning and found something I am making tonight (with a few tweaks using what I have in the house).  I got my truly Raw almonds and walnuts in yesterday!  I quickly put about 2 cups of almonds in water to soak over night and I am sprouting them today.  (or at least I think they will sprout?).  I am making Ginger/Garlic/Almond paste to use in veggie Nori rolls for dinner!

DH and I went to this huge Oriental mkt in downtown Orlando and while I was there I got Nori sheets and some sweet pickled ginger (whole) that I am going to slice up for the side.  I have carrots and celery and red bell and some other veggies I am going to slice up to add to rolls and I have some arugula that I will use.

I saw a video by Ani Phyo on Youtube and this is what gave me the idea...




I have pretty much everything I need except bean sprouts so I will just use thin slivers of several of the veggies I have.. I will try to remember to take a pix tonight when they are finished.

Back to my "pattern"..
I do think I am doing fair though. I am not going to kick myself about the cooked food cravings. I have got to get more educated about my options and know that this is going to be lots of trial and error. I admire people that go 100% overnight but that’s just not me. I have so many issues with food and think I am doing pretty good taking all that into consideration. I am certainly detoxing (diarrhea, cramps, maybe even back ache is sort of detox symptoms) and maybe the cooked food is keeping me from feeling like total hell on wheels.

I will be working up to more raw.. I would like to be 100% soon and am looking forward to my transition.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had two apples for breakfast and have been drinking Perrier (pamplemousse!) and I love this stuff.. It's a splurge but it has got me off COKE!!! It's worth it to me so I have to keep it in the house.

I am saving the bottles too. I recently saw a really cool garden edging done at my good friend D.'s house using wine bottles pushed in upside down to make the edging. I loved and and think these green large Perrier bottles would look very cool too!

Oh and I WALKED! It's been months I think. I walked Suki (my puggie) and then myself. I walked for only about a half hour but I will work up.

More later~

Feelin' Fine~

Well I am down another pound!  That is four pounds. 

I did great all day yesterday on my fast but when DH got home I was taking the zucchini/corn/jalapeno crackerbread out of the dehydrator and just started eating it. I then continued to eat the next two hours. I was really hungry and once I started I could not decide to just stop.

I think I ate around 1800-1900 calories.. had even had a cooked Amy’s meal.. lots of nuts, fruit, the cracker bread (which BTW is freaking amazing!).. I was a little down on myself last night but decided to be kind to myself and also to not kick myself about the cooked veggie meal as this is HIGH RAW and I am doing ok and to top it all off I was down a pound this morning.
Today I will eat mostly fruit till early afternoon (had a few bites of the cracker bread as I was making Patrick’s lunch) until then a few cracker bread (2-3 maybe per my hunger) with sliced veggies on them.  Dinner I am having the other young coconut . I will drink lots of water and herbal tea and green tea.. I won’t be hungry.. I will eat when I need it.. I have lots of fruit and fresh veggies in the house.
Tomorrow I need to do a couple of green drinks as I have the greens in the fridge. So I will add some banana I have in the freezer to them.. and some extra greens powder. Tomorrow.
I realized this morning that I am getting more and more serious and thoughtful about Raw. This morning I was actually thinking I am ready for some detox symptoms and going to really stock up this weekend on more Raw. I need to figure out what to do about DH and dinners and I did come up with the idea of making large salads for both of us and a piece of meat or fish for him or an organic veggie meal. I will buy good meat/organic and free range/grass fed.. etc for him and I will work on being as totally raw as I can. I will do green drinks and maybe in two-three weeks after my period, I will do a 7 day green drink fast. I am excited. I REALLY, REALLY AM EXCITED. I want to see what my body does detox wise - I am actually looking forward to it.
1:20pm..
I just laid out a while and read more of Angela Stokes download book “Reveling the Physical Changes” http://therawfoodworld.com/index.php/?main_page=product_info\&products_id=1001314

And really am enjoying it. I suggest if you have weight to lose and are thinking about Raw that you read her books.. she has several on her site.
I am feeling pretty good today. I really need to get out of the house.

I think I need to come clean with something about me...
I go for days without leaving the house.  I am such a slug.  I have a home based business and can go all week without leaving the yard.  I think it has actually turned into a problem.  I will find myself not wanting to go to the mail box if I have something I send out and see people out.  I really am not sure what the deal is, I don't feel depressed, just extremely anti-social.  I do go out on the weekends with Patrick to visit family and we go to the store on the weekend, stocking for the next week but I have no true social life.  I am going to work on that.

I have totally stopped my walking (I used to walk 2 miles every morning and it's been like 6 months.  and I am starting back in the morning!!.. I just found all my walking clothes, water bottle and my tennies. Suki (my pug) will sure love it! I really have got to get out of the house more.. I found a Yoga studio about 30 min from here that has a beginner class but I am so self concious about my weight that I want to wait until I am under 200.  (22 more pounds).  Maybe planning a WholeFoods trip in the middle of the week would be nice.. Just me getting out of the house.  and maybe a trip on Wednesdays to the farmer’s mkt at a nearby neighborhood would be cool.. I have to get OUT more often.