Last night, my husband and I sat down and had a talk. This is not what you think. It was actually wonderful. These moments are few and far between with three small children and we cherish them (the moments…OK, the children too). We talked about a few things, but I’m going to discuss what is relevant here.
At dinner last night, we were eating home made fried rice. My husband and children love a good cooked meal. Well heck, so do I. We started talking a little bit about how I feel when I eat raw vs. cooked. He said if it’s what I feel like I should be doing, then do it! That’s as far as we got, because our four year old daughter was sitting in a box acting like a dog and wanting us to watch her eat her eggs. My son was standing on the table in his superman underwear asking us for another egg and the baby was sitting there watching it all unfold. We laughed and rolled our eyes. What could we do?
After the kids were in bed, we actually got into a conversation. My wonderful "self development guru" of a husband is very into visualization. As he should be. If you can see it, then it can be true. He wanted to know if I can visualize myself a hot sexy mama! I told him when I think about eating raw vegan, then yes I can. We discussed other reasons I wanted to do this as well. There are things in my life and goals that I have that are dependent on my mental, physical and spiritual growth. I’ll have to indulge you with the details later as they are personal and need their own time to reveal themselves.
Even in the raw world, raw foodists all eat different. The lifestyle itself is as original as each individual. Why some will consider raw nuts raw, other don’t think they are truly raw because of how they are processed. Some people think eating Bragg’s dressing or the like is OK, while others shy away from anything that is not in its true raw form. There are many raw foodists who own a dehydrator. With this, they can make meals that remind them of their SAD days (Standard American Diet…isn’t that interesting how that acronym works out?). If you "cook" something below 118 degrees (some say 116, 108, 105…just depends on the person again) that it will hold onto all of it’s nutrient and enzyme properties. I do not own a dehydrator yet, so will remain simple right now. I think making these meals helps people with their cravings from their SAD days.
I do own a Vitamix and a Jack La Lanne juicer. With these I can make fresh juices, smoothies and even warm soups. Also, nut milks, raw guacamole, raw nut butters, etc. There’s nothing like fruit and greens blended up in a Vitamix. Green smoothies are refreshing, energizing and nutritious.
What I Will Eat:
-I plan on eating mostly fruits, especially in the morning. As I am coming off a fast from the previous nights sleep, I want to eat simple nutritious fruit. This way my body can digest and heal.
-Salads and cut up fresh vegetables with Bragg’s dressing will be another staple. I plan on making my own dressing, but for now Bragg’s will suffice.
-I am going to go easy on nuts and seeds. When I lost 60 lbs eating a high raw diet, I hit a plateau. I realized it was the huge bowl of nuts I was eating every day. I calculated it and realized it was about a 1000 calorie snack. I cut that out and started losing again. I think with a raw diet, your caloric intake is low, so having some nuts and seeds for calories and good fats is fine. I’m just not going to eat a huge bowl of them. I have a bag of organic sprouted raw sunflower seed and pumpkin seeds. Right now almonds are pasteurized and not available raw.
-When I have a craving I will probably eat some raw crackers or make a treat with raw nut butter and raw cocoa. For me, this is necessary right now. I have too many cravings and need to kick my sugar addiction. These "treats" will help. You can buy raw crackers at your local Whole Foods. I also will eat sprouts when I am in the mood. I have been looking into sprouting my own. I think this would be fun for the kids.
As far as my husband and children are concerned, that will unfold on it’s own. Just a few minutes ago, my husband said, "Wait, I don’t want you to be healthier than me!" With all joking aside, he is very supportive of all my adventures, this one included. He is deciding if he wants to eat all raw or just high raw. My children will be high raw, but they will have raw cheese and Ezekiel bread products, etc. At least for now.
I am very excited about this journey. I am looking forward to 2008 being a RAW year and all the health and clarity I will receive. I have many goals and am finally going to take charge of my life. No more blame, no more excuses. It is time to live and love living!
I will be posting pictures from today and my health goals in posts to come. I can not wait to see how my body changes. I also am looking forward to the changes I will have in other areas of my life from this change. Eating an all raw diet is not just about the food you put into your mouth, but also the thoughts you put in your head, the words that come out of your mouth and the actions you take in life!
OK, so you are probably thinking, "Man, starting a raw challenge right at Christmas time is not too bright. This girl must not think things through!" Well, I have no shame in telling you that you are right! I’m giving myself a big smack on the forehead for you!
The Saturday before Christmas we went to my Dad’s house. I was all prepared to eat raw food, so I thought. The crunching of chips and bright colors of the cookies form the local French bakery would not leave me alone. They followed me all around the house and pestered me until I gave them a nibble. Well, I couldn’t just tease them, so I had to go all they way. After 5 Christmas cookies and a sugar rush that had me racing around and jumping up and down, I thought, ‘Hmmm. Maybe not so good". After they were fulfilled and got what they wanted they left me! They left me tired, unfulfilled and bloated! I was so tired that night, I had to keep my eyelids open with toothpicks. The next morning I could not get out of bed until 10:40 am! This is someone who is up at 6 am with her kids every morning. When I eat all raw, I do not feel anywhere near this. I was cranky all day too. Ask the hubby. It was not a good day. Sunday and Monday I focused on eating high raw, but not 100%.
I had the yummiest vegetarian Lebanese food on Christmas. My grandmother is part Lebanese and she pays a Lebanese woman to make our family recipes every year for Christmas. That’s right, grandma pays someone else to do it. Christmas Scottsdale style! It was so delicious. I’m not going to lie. I’d eat it again! The day after Christmas I started all raw. While everyone else ate the leftovers, I had 2 huge salads and veggies. It was actually really good. Then my evil aunt brought over cookies again. Damnit, it’s like an affair that won’t end!
Something that I am concerned about it my daughter. She is 11 weeks old and I think all these changes are effecting her a bit. When I eat all raw, I wonder if I am releasing toxins in my breast milk. I can not be sure if she wasn’t feeling well on Christmas because of eating raw or eating cooked. I can not tell how long what I eat effects my milk.
I have been thinking of eating a high raw diet and transitioning into all raw. I know that after eating 2 days all raw, I feel like a different person. I feel healthy, happier, more energy and there’s not bloating/gas. I have to find how I can do this while nursing and taking care of a family that doesn’t want to be 100% raw. My husband eats vegetarian and raw to support me, but he doesn’t mind cooked foods and some meat. He wants them sometimes. Which is fine. Also, I have my kids to think about. They look at me in the afternoon, with a look that says, "Woman, how about a real meal here? You are starving us!" I guess this is all part of my journey, right?
So, for now I am putting the raw challenge on hold. I am going to do what worked last time I got healthier and lost weight. I ate a very high raw diet, with healthy vegetarian cooked meals. I ate raw dairy as well. And…..I walked.
So, that is what I am going to do. It may change tomorrow, so stay tuned!
*I didn’t have a picture of me exhausted, so I thought a picture of Brandon and the kids passed out would do. I don’t know how he feels about that though. LOL
Today was good! I enjoy eating fresh foods. I truly do believe that "you are what you eat". I want to be ALIVE! That is why I am eating LIVE foods. Staying away from dead foods is key to overall health. By staying away from man made crap in a box and dead meat, I am ensuring that my body is only getting the best nutrients possible. Instead of having to work through all the dead food, my body can focus on regenerating and continuously healing. Losing weight will be another wonderful side effect! I actually like vegetables now…even radish! Never thought that would happen.
Going Vegan and Raw seemed to be too much for me, so I am going vegetarian and only eating raw dairy. So, if I eat out, I guess I’ll be eating Vegan, b/c I will not eat dairy from any dairy factory farm. Awful! I will only be eating raw milk, cheese and cream from farms I know. This will take more work, but it’s worth it to me. I will write another post on this soon. That is why this is a journey. I have to find what’s right for me.
I Am What I Eat:
-Green Smoothie with an orange, clementine, banana, spinach and carrots!
-An o. red apple
-A bowl of sprouted sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, cut up tomato, cut up avocado and topped with Bragg’s dressing
-A bowl of sprouted sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, fenugreek sprouts,cut up tomato and Bragg’s dressing to top it off
-Cut up o. apple, slices of raw cheese (had this snack twice today).
-Raw Crackers, apple cinnamon from Kathy’s Krakers in Utah
-Dried o. mangoes
-Synergy Kombucha
I felt great all day and having the apple/cheese snacks and seed snacks helped a lot with hunger.
Did I Exercise Today?
No. OK, I decided to walk outside in the mornings and the weather decides to finally get cold. I have to figure this out! Maybe yoga from home for now? Help!
Overall and Tomorrow’s Goals:
I feel great. I like how I’m eating. I’m proud of myself for being flexible. Instead of thinking "oh, now that I want cheese, so I should throw it all out the window", I am accepting what I am feeling. I’m making good food choices and allowing myself to enjoy those good foods. I just need to keep up what I’m already doing and get some exercise!
