Yesterday, my husband finally decided not to be 100% raw anymore (or whatever the percentage has been in our house). I'm both relieved and concerned. I'm relieved because he has been unsure for weeks about what his commitment was going to be. He built in a cheat day a few weeks ago, where he goes to a vegan restaurant and gets whatever he wants, but every day he goes on, wondering about how often he should do that, am I going to do that, and how much he really just wants to go gorge himself at Fogo de Chao.
Then there's the disappointment that has come almost every single night when I serve him his dinner. He just kind of deflates as he looks at it. I know he's not loving this lifestyle. He really enjoys the raw fruits throughout the day, but when it comes to dinners, there's always a let down.
This has been so discouraging for me. I'm actually a fantastic cook, and our meals are usually accompanied by his spontaneous or fished-for compliments. (I usually ask him about five times if he likes it - more if he LOVES it.) Food is definitely a "love language" in my family. I enjoy cooking fabulous, elaborate meals for my hubby. I enjoy him letting me know they are fabulous and elaborate. And it's all for him. Seriously, if I was eating alone every night, I'd be living on cereal or something.
So now that I've undertaken this huge endeavor to totally change the way I eat and give our menu a major make over, I have been so discouraged as I'm feeding my husband meal after meal and he's never in love with what I'm making. He's always very grateful, and open to trying to new things, but that's not the same. I want to see him reach for seconds, or say, "This one's a keeper! Did you write it down? Make sure to write it down!"
I keep asking him to please look up some recipes he'd like to try. That way he can at least take the blame when it's not what he was hoping for. But he hasn't taken the time to do that. Each meal is an experiment - a seemingly failed one.
So, now that he's announced he'd rather be about 80% raw instead, and would like to bring in some beans and rice and other things, I feel like this huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. No more wobbling back and forth, and no more sad faces at dinner time. I hope.
But I'm also a little concerned about this change. It's been so much easier knowing that we were both doing this - you know, "a house divided" and all that. But when I went to the grocery store today to get stuff for our trip back home, I just didn't really know what to buy. Do I still spend an arm and a leg on the berries he likes to eat to keep him motivated to stay raw? Should I get him different snacks than mine? If so, which ones? How un-raw does he want to be? How much should I invest into his raw foods when he'll be supplementing with other things?
I zigzagged across the store in a stupor trying to figure it out.
Then, on the way home, we stopped to get gas and he and our other traveling companion when into Subway to get sandwiches. I just stared at their food. At his food. I've been so blessed to be in a bubble these last several weeks. We've both been raw and I haven't had to be bothered by having my old favorites around. But now...
We got home from our trip a couple hours ago, and our house is pretty bare of groceries, except what we brought back with us. He suggested I go to the grocery story, but I feel so discouraged and tired of what I've been eating that I just don't know what to get. I want to plan out a menu first and remember all the yummy things that are available to me before I go spend my money aimlessly on more carrots and greens.
We sat around for a bit before he invited me to go to his favorite vegan restaurant with him. I said I'd go, and he asked for the millionth time if I was going to have some cooked food while I'm there. I responded, for the millionth time, "No, honey. I'm doing this all the way for 6 months."
In the end, he called the restaurant to see if they had raw food dishes, and they said no. He encouraged me to still come, since they do have salads, but by then I just didn't want to go anymore. So, he went alone. And I'm here, writing this.
**UPDATE: He just walked in the door, and he brought me back a salad. As soon as he picks the chips off, I can eat it.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Revenge of the Ice Cream
I picked up a pint of chocolate coconut the ice cream Saturday night after looking over the ingredients. The main ingredients were coconut milk, agave syrup and cocoa powder. There were also emulsifiers, like carob bean gum and guar gum. I figured it would be ok. I rationalized. I indulged. I even thought I was being cute by posting a picture of it's empty carton on my "Confessions" post.Well, now it's time for the rest of the story.
Within the hour, I realized that my right forearm had broken out into a rash. I looked at my left arm, and I literally watched it go from clear to spotted, right before my very eyes. I couldn't believe what I was seeing!
The next morning, I ran my hand across my forehead and realized that it was covered in small bumps. I rushed to the bathroom and saw that the rash had crept across my face and chest. Within 24 hours of that, the dots had bled across my entire body. Here I am, 72 hours after the fact, and I am covered head to toe. My lips haven't even been spared. Even my FINGERTIPS have been kissed by the ice cream's revenge!
Why I'm THRILLED About This
I am actually so excited about this. This means that the environment in my body has dramatically changed over these last five weeks on the raw diet. My body is in absolute riot mode after eating that ice cream. The excessive chocolate in particular probably caused my liver to freak out, and so now my body is detoxing through my skin.
A month ago, my body would have seen that dessert as a bug on its windshield. But today, it's taking a stand against toxins!
So yes - I have no hard feelings about the war that has been waged against me. I have learned that something is indeed going on inside of my body, and I'm relieved. There is so little evidence to me that anything is actually happening - that changes are actually being made. I don't really know what to measure my success by without getting my blood drawn. But every now and then, there are those a-ha! moments when I realize that things are changing. And those little moments are enough to keep me hanging on for the big payout at the end.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
One Month Down...
Today officially marks the end of my first month on the raw diet. I know I keep saying this, but I am just so amazed that I've made it this far. What a blessing! I am in complete shock. This is especially true because my husband has been wavering a little bit, and encouraged me to loosen up a little bit, too, by having a vegan blow meal once a week.
In the past, I've tended to set my standard by his performance, but not this time. I'm so committed to this. I think he could start eating steaks every day and I still wouldn't budge. I absolutely know that this is going to be my life until February 21, 2014. Period. I'm really glad that I set this up as just a 6-month experiment. I think this has really freed me from the pressure that comes from "NEVER!!!"
Also, I can't believe this month has gone by so quickly. It's gone. I'm coming up on 5 weeks in just a few days, and it seems like it's both been just a few days, and also like I've always been doing this.
One thing that I've really enjoyed is feeling like I'm finally eating in line with my principles about health and nutrition. However, I'm still having guilt all the time about what I'm going wrong, or not enough, or only half-way. Maybe that's just my personality - to always be looking for what else I should be doing. When I was 119 pounds and fully vegan eating mostly living foods, I still beat myself up over the things I was doing wrong.
And here I am, fully raw, and I'm still picking myself to pieces. Gwen, Gwen, Gwen. Just settle the heck down and stop with the criticisms. Ain't nobody got time for that!
I will say that the last couple days have been a little more intense for me. I've been traveling and staying at my cousin's house, and she's trying to eat really healthy right now. Her idea of healthy and mine are totally different, and there are times that I find myself looking at her turkey wrap or chips and salsa and thinking, "How different are they really? What's so bad about what she's eating? What difference would it really make if that's what I was eating?"
Of course, I know all the answers to those questions - but I also easily forget. When I'm alone with my raw foods, it all makes sense and I'm quick to pat myself on the back and celebrate. But when I go out into the real world, it's like I just forget all the reasons I'm doing this.
Luckily, I've at least been able to muster up a, "You're doing this for a really good reason - whatever it is - so KEEP AT IT!" And that's enough to keep me happily munching on my carrots while the rest of the world munches on everything else.
*Sigh*
One down, five to go.
In the past, I've tended to set my standard by his performance, but not this time. I'm so committed to this. I think he could start eating steaks every day and I still wouldn't budge. I absolutely know that this is going to be my life until February 21, 2014. Period. I'm really glad that I set this up as just a 6-month experiment. I think this has really freed me from the pressure that comes from "NEVER!!!"
Also, I can't believe this month has gone by so quickly. It's gone. I'm coming up on 5 weeks in just a few days, and it seems like it's both been just a few days, and also like I've always been doing this.
One thing that I've really enjoyed is feeling like I'm finally eating in line with my principles about health and nutrition. However, I'm still having guilt all the time about what I'm going wrong, or not enough, or only half-way. Maybe that's just my personality - to always be looking for what else I should be doing. When I was 119 pounds and fully vegan eating mostly living foods, I still beat myself up over the things I was doing wrong.
And here I am, fully raw, and I'm still picking myself to pieces. Gwen, Gwen, Gwen. Just settle the heck down and stop with the criticisms. Ain't nobody got time for that!
I will say that the last couple days have been a little more intense for me. I've been traveling and staying at my cousin's house, and she's trying to eat really healthy right now. Her idea of healthy and mine are totally different, and there are times that I find myself looking at her turkey wrap or chips and salsa and thinking, "How different are they really? What's so bad about what she's eating? What difference would it really make if that's what I was eating?"
Of course, I know all the answers to those questions - but I also easily forget. When I'm alone with my raw foods, it all makes sense and I'm quick to pat myself on the back and celebrate. But when I go out into the real world, it's like I just forget all the reasons I'm doing this.
Luckily, I've at least been able to muster up a, "You're doing this for a really good reason - whatever it is - so KEEP AT IT!" And that's enough to keep me happily munching on my carrots while the rest of the world munches on everything else.
*Sigh*
One down, five to go.
Saying Good-bye to Old Friends
I've been stunned the last couple days as I've gone back to stores like Wal-mart and the 99 cent store with my cousin. My "places of worship" the last month have been Trader Joe's and Sprout's. I seriously took for granted how easy it's been to avoid temptations when I'm spending my time in health food stores. I haven't had to walk through isles of Doritos, Halloween candy, and Hostess Sno-Balls for weeks.
Walking among all these old familiar favorites, I could almost hear them calling me by my first name. "Hey, Gwen! Long time no see! I miss you. Let's put in some more couch time, baby."
I looked at them with big round eyes, like a deer caught in the headlights. It's like, "Oh, yeah! That! And That! And those!" It's such an odd sensation. I wouldn't say I'm craving them, or even desiring them. But I'm remembering desiring them. It's like putting on an old shirt that's no longer in style, but remembering how hot you felt when you wore it 10 years ago. Weird. Even still, I don't think it would take too long to erode my will power if I had to walk in there every day and pass by those old friends.
So, I guess I'd better add one more safety feature to my list of 6 things I do to combat cravings - AVOID TRADITIONAL GROCERY STORES. They aren't set up to feed me, but they sure make me hungry.
Walking among all these old familiar favorites, I could almost hear them calling me by my first name. "Hey, Gwen! Long time no see! I miss you. Let's put in some more couch time, baby."
I looked at them with big round eyes, like a deer caught in the headlights. It's like, "Oh, yeah! That! And That! And those!" It's such an odd sensation. I wouldn't say I'm craving them, or even desiring them. But I'm remembering desiring them. It's like putting on an old shirt that's no longer in style, but remembering how hot you felt when you wore it 10 years ago. Weird. Even still, I don't think it would take too long to erode my will power if I had to walk in there every day and pass by those old friends.
So, I guess I'd better add one more safety feature to my list of 6 things I do to combat cravings - AVOID TRADITIONAL GROCERY STORES. They aren't set up to feed me, but they sure make me hungry.
How Do I Feel About Eating Animals?
I'm primarily making this change to raw foods for health reasons, and not because of my stance on the ethical treatment of animals. Right now, I'm still craving meat and looking forward to the end of this 6-month experiment so I can enjoy some sesame chicken.
However, I'm also fully expecting this to change. I was vegan for about 18 months 10 years ago, and it was a similar situation in which I'd made the change primarily for health reasons. But the longer that I went without eating animal products, the more uncomfortable I became at the thought of it. I started to think about how unnatural it is to have these animals mass-produced as food products, and I the thought of eating flesh started to gross me out. This was before Food, Inc. and all those other lovely documentaries came out to give us all the guilt trips of our lives, too.
But then, we started to move away from the vegan life style, and we gradually started to make more and more exceptions with the animal products. Until a month ago, I was back to being a full-on carnivore. I can still psych myself out when I think about what I'm eating, but it takes work.
Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that my mindset tends to eventually come into line with my lifestyle, whatever that happens to be. So even though I currently have a foot stuck in both worlds, don't be surprised when I start posting snippets from Food, Inc. and start protesting against the local butcher.
However, I'm also fully expecting this to change. I was vegan for about 18 months 10 years ago, and it was a similar situation in which I'd made the change primarily for health reasons. But the longer that I went without eating animal products, the more uncomfortable I became at the thought of it. I started to think about how unnatural it is to have these animals mass-produced as food products, and I the thought of eating flesh started to gross me out. This was before Food, Inc. and all those other lovely documentaries came out to give us all the guilt trips of our lives, too.
But then, we started to move away from the vegan life style, and we gradually started to make more and more exceptions with the animal products. Until a month ago, I was back to being a full-on carnivore. I can still psych myself out when I think about what I'm eating, but it takes work.
Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that my mindset tends to eventually come into line with my lifestyle, whatever that happens to be. So even though I currently have a foot stuck in both worlds, don't be surprised when I start posting snippets from Food, Inc. and start protesting against the local butcher.
Travelling Raw
I've been at my cousin's house for the last few days, and this has been my first venture outside of the safety of my own raw pantry. For any of you following my blog, you'll remember that I had an opportunity to travel about three weeks ago, and decided to stay home primarily because I didn't think I was ready to handle the raw thing on the road. Instead, I took those few days by myself to totally immerse myself into the raw lifestyle - watching videos, experimenting with different recipes and foods, and just generally trying to figure out what I was doing.
I'm so grateful that I took that time. I believe it has 100% made the difference in my success thus far, and this trip is no exception.
First of all, I brought a lot of food with me. At first, I thought that I'd brought too much, but as I'm nearing the end of my trip, I'm also nearing the end of my food stash. I've been surprised to find that I brought exactly enough.
Secondly, I tried to bring a variety of different foods so I wouldn't feel overly deprived, but I also tried to keep things super simple by not planning on doing anything that would require any processing. I've basically been having mono meals of carrots or watermelon, and a huge salad somewhere in between. I've found that I didn't bring as much of a variety as I thought, and that the repetitive meals, although easy-easy-easy, have put me in a little bit of a rut today after doing this for about 48 hours.
I think next time I will either prepare some of my more complicated foods ahead of time - like kale chips or burgers - and bring some with me.
Oh, I've also been eating a lot of FAT. I've been snacking on more nuts than usual while I've been here, but I don't care. Seriously, I'm just trying to get through this trip with my raw diet in tact. I don't care about doing it in style, making it pretty, or in appropriate proportions. I just want to get out of here alive.
All in all, I'd say this trip has been a raving success. I haven't been embarrassed to eat so differently, and I haven't been overly bombarded with other foods. My cousin is pregnant, so she's been keeping meals really simple for her family. In fact, one of my favorite parts has been sharing my foods with the children. They loved the watermelon and figs, and braved a sample of coconut water.
I've definitely benefited from having my cousin's full kitchen at my disposal. My next trip will be in a few weeks, and will be a bit more of a challenge, since I'll be at a conference for a week. But at least I get to ease into these experiences little by little. By then, I should be a pro :)
I'm so grateful that I took that time. I believe it has 100% made the difference in my success thus far, and this trip is no exception.
First of all, I brought a lot of food with me. At first, I thought that I'd brought too much, but as I'm nearing the end of my trip, I'm also nearing the end of my food stash. I've been surprised to find that I brought exactly enough.
Secondly, I tried to bring a variety of different foods so I wouldn't feel overly deprived, but I also tried to keep things super simple by not planning on doing anything that would require any processing. I've basically been having mono meals of carrots or watermelon, and a huge salad somewhere in between. I've found that I didn't bring as much of a variety as I thought, and that the repetitive meals, although easy-easy-easy, have put me in a little bit of a rut today after doing this for about 48 hours.
I think next time I will either prepare some of my more complicated foods ahead of time - like kale chips or burgers - and bring some with me.
Oh, I've also been eating a lot of FAT. I've been snacking on more nuts than usual while I've been here, but I don't care. Seriously, I'm just trying to get through this trip with my raw diet in tact. I don't care about doing it in style, making it pretty, or in appropriate proportions. I just want to get out of here alive.
All in all, I'd say this trip has been a raving success. I haven't been embarrassed to eat so differently, and I haven't been overly bombarded with other foods. My cousin is pregnant, so she's been keeping meals really simple for her family. In fact, one of my favorite parts has been sharing my foods with the children. They loved the watermelon and figs, and braved a sample of coconut water.
I've definitely benefited from having my cousin's full kitchen at my disposal. My next trip will be in a few weeks, and will be a bit more of a challenge, since I'll be at a conference for a week. But at least I get to ease into these experiences little by little. By then, I should be a pro :)
An Unexpected Bonus of Being Raw
A couple weeks ago, I was sitting with my husband watching a movie and I was aware of how wonderful it felt to have his hand on my arm. The touch was so sensational and warm. Over the next few days, I became more and more sensitive to his touch (in a totally non-sexual way).
At first, I thought it was because we'd recently discussed and resolved and important issue in our life, and so maybe we were just enjoying the benefits of being emotionally closer. But as the days wore on and I was melting every time he would touch me - my arm, my leg, my back, my foot (don't ask), I connected the dots and realized that this is a direct result of being on a raw diet. I love it!
At first, I thought it was because we'd recently discussed and resolved and important issue in our life, and so maybe we were just enjoying the benefits of being emotionally closer. But as the days wore on and I was melting every time he would touch me - my arm, my leg, my back, my foot (don't ask), I connected the dots and realized that this is a direct result of being on a raw diet. I love it!
Confessions
I'm not 100% raw. I'm probably closer to 95%. Here are the things that I've been experimenting with having in my diet:
Spring-roll wrappers. My husband brought home some fresh rolls one night, and we made short work of getting them into our bellies. Yum! We have since purchased our own rice paper wrappers so we can make these at home ourselves. I have to admit, I'm feeling a little guilty about this one. These are not raw by any stretch of the imagination (although the filling is just raw vegetables), AND we make a cooked sauce to go with them. We aren't using any sweetened peanut butters, but the sauce is still as dead as can be. In addition, when I eat these in place of just having a large bowl of salad, it sums up to considerably less salad per meal (i.e. the amount of salad I'm eating in the wraps is less than it would be if I was just having a bowl of it). I've been eating these for about a week, and we've just about gone through an entire pack of 20 sheets. I'm not sure if I'll be keeping these in my diet - at least not this regularly.
Olives. I'm using these more as a condiment for flavor, and I'm totally fine with that. I've been struggling with getting the flavors of my food as strong as I'd like them, which tends to discourage me and turn me off to eating like this. So, I'm being a little more loose with what I'm using to flavor stuff. I totally draw the line at sugars and animal products, but I did just buy some salad dressings that aren't fully raw. One is some sesame thing, and the other is a vinaigrette sweetened with pineapple juice from concentrate. Right now, that's what it's taking to make my salads more palatable, so I'm doing it. However, we're also experimenting with making our own. We haven't come upon any winners yet, but when we do, I'll gladly make the switch.
Ezekiel Bread. My husband swears it's a living food, and is low-heated to preserve the enzymes, etc., but I don't believe it. I haven't done extensive research into this, but a quick Google search sided with me. However, I've still been eating a slice every other day or so when I'm making meals for the both of us. I've kind of been turning a blind eye to it and keep telling myself that I'll start making my own raw breads, and then we can phase this exception out completely. But... it hasn't happened yet. In the mean time, though, I will say that this bread has not been mucous forming for me at all, and it's been a nice foundation to build on with some of my meals.
Ezekiel Cereal. This is something that I've only had a couple of times. Again, my husband thinks it's raw, and the box even says that it's cooked in a way to preserve it's nutritional value, but I don't think it's actually a living food. I just think that if it was considered "raw" it would be labeled accordingly. I did bring a box of this to my cousin's house while traveling, thinking it would be a good "filler" while I'm on the road and desperate, but I haven't had the heart to open it. It's not good enough to be worth the guilt trip.
Store-bought Almond Milk. My husband keeps buying this milk, and it's sooo much easier and cheaper to reach for this than make my own. I've been drinking about a 1/4 - 1/2 a cup a day with my tea, depending on how many cups of tea I have. But again, it's something that I keep intending to phase out with my own home-made milk, but...
Store-bought Almond Yogurt. It's true. I ate one a few days into my raw diet, before starting to experiment with making my own, and I still buy one every time I go grocery shopping (I still haven't figured out the perfect way to make my own). I know that the base of this yogurt is raw, and it's thriving with active cultures, so I make this exception. I've found that I digest this well, it's not mucous forming, and it doesn't spike my blood sugar - if I don't buy a family-sized version of it and promptly eat the entire thing in 24 hours *blush*. I did that once, and I didn't sleep well that night because my adrenals were so off.
And that's it - that's my complete list of secrets. Oh! I do have one more confession. I ate a cracker! They were handing out samples of this chopped-olive stuff at Trader Joe's, and it was on a cracker. I totally ate that thing. I started to feel the mucous right away. Very interesting. And that was only a couple weeks into being all raw.
So now you know all my dirty little secrets... or do you?
 |
| Fresh rolls and raw buffalo shiitake mushrooms. |
Olives. I'm using these more as a condiment for flavor, and I'm totally fine with that. I've been struggling with getting the flavors of my food as strong as I'd like them, which tends to discourage me and turn me off to eating like this. So, I'm being a little more loose with what I'm using to flavor stuff. I totally draw the line at sugars and animal products, but I did just buy some salad dressings that aren't fully raw. One is some sesame thing, and the other is a vinaigrette sweetened with pineapple juice from concentrate. Right now, that's what it's taking to make my salads more palatable, so I'm doing it. However, we're also experimenting with making our own. We haven't come upon any winners yet, but when we do, I'll gladly make the switch.
Ezekiel Bread. My husband swears it's a living food, and is low-heated to preserve the enzymes, etc., but I don't believe it. I haven't done extensive research into this, but a quick Google search sided with me. However, I've still been eating a slice every other day or so when I'm making meals for the both of us. I've kind of been turning a blind eye to it and keep telling myself that I'll start making my own raw breads, and then we can phase this exception out completely. But... it hasn't happened yet. In the mean time, though, I will say that this bread has not been mucous forming for me at all, and it's been a nice foundation to build on with some of my meals.
Ezekiel Cereal. This is something that I've only had a couple of times. Again, my husband thinks it's raw, and the box even says that it's cooked in a way to preserve it's nutritional value, but I don't think it's actually a living food. I just think that if it was considered "raw" it would be labeled accordingly. I did bring a box of this to my cousin's house while traveling, thinking it would be a good "filler" while I'm on the road and desperate, but I haven't had the heart to open it. It's not good enough to be worth the guilt trip.
Store-bought Almond Milk. My husband keeps buying this milk, and it's sooo much easier and cheaper to reach for this than make my own. I've been drinking about a 1/4 - 1/2 a cup a day with my tea, depending on how many cups of tea I have. But again, it's something that I keep intending to phase out with my own home-made milk, but...
Store-bought Almond Yogurt. It's true. I ate one a few days into my raw diet, before starting to experiment with making my own, and I still buy one every time I go grocery shopping (I still haven't figured out the perfect way to make my own). I know that the base of this yogurt is raw, and it's thriving with active cultures, so I make this exception. I've found that I digest this well, it's not mucous forming, and it doesn't spike my blood sugar - if I don't buy a family-sized version of it and promptly eat the entire thing in 24 hours *blush*. I did that once, and I didn't sleep well that night because my adrenals were so off.
And that's it - that's my complete list of secrets. Oh! I do have one more confession. I ate a cracker! They were handing out samples of this chopped-olive stuff at Trader Joe's, and it was on a cracker. I totally ate that thing. I started to feel the mucous right away. Very interesting. And that was only a couple weeks into being all raw.
So now you know all my dirty little secrets... or do you?
 |
| Shhhhh..... |
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Notes on the Last 21 Days (have I really made it this far?)
I have successfully made it three weeks into my raw food journey. It has been a very interesting road thus far, with various ups and downs.
The thing that keeps nagging at me is, "Am I doing this right?" Even though this is quick to come to my mind - especially after experimenting with rich desserts or recipes that call for lots of nuts - I am also quick to remind myself to be patient with myself. I'm sure there are lots of things that I could be doing better, but I'm also confident that those things will come easier and easier to me with time.
Weight Loss
I have lost some weight, but I don't know exactly how much. I'll be honest and tell you that it hasn't been as much as I would have expected (thank you, rich desserts and recipes that call for lots of nuts). However, my husband (the only person who gets to see me *ahem* naked) assures me that my body is changing, even if my pants aren't as loose as I'd like them to be.
I don't actually know how much I've lost because I stopped using a scale a while ago because I tend to get obsessive about the numbers. Likewise, I'm seeing that I'm starting to get a little obsessive about how fast I'm moving into smaller jeans. But, then I have to remind myself that although the weight loss will be a very welcome side effect of this lifestyle, that's not why I'm doing this.
This is especially important for me to keep in mind because I don't want to give myself more reasons to get discouraged. And let's be honest - going raw is hard enough without the extra baggage.
Speaking of Extra Baggage...
I also mentioned in an earlier post about my....uh..."movement" issues. I was surprised to see how quickly and how fast my plumbing stopped working. It wasn't that fabulous to begin with, but the herbs I'd been taking for months to help with that were no longer doing the trick. Then, to top it off, I ran out of said herbs.
I had two long, miserable weeks of experimenting with different things (sans the herbs), until I finally just ordered some herbs. Well, when I say it that way it makes it sound like I did it grudgingly. But really, I'm just the world's biggest flake and I didn't get around to it any sooner than that.
My favorite herbal formulas are Dr. John Christopher's. His lower bowel formula has been my long-time number one choice, but I ran out a while back and was just using cascara sagrada in the interim. When I finally placed my order for the good stuff last week on Vitacost.com, I only found a formula called Dr. Christopher's Quick Colon. This may be the same thing with a different name (it has changed a few times over the years), or it may just be a stronger version of his last formula. I don't know, but I've been taking it for a couple days, and the name truly says it all. I love it.
Speaking of Movement...
I'm also working to get more exercise into my lifestyle to help support my lymph system. This is especially important to me since I know that I'm going into major detox mode. I want to do everything I can to keep the pressure off of my liver because the liver's first priority is to process hormones. If it's working on that, then everything else gets dumped back into your blood stream, which is why women tend to get a bit crabby during certain times of the month.
Well, since I have hormonal issues all 30 days of the month, it's like walking uphill both ways. I'm always battling those mood swings. Even though I'm confident that, over time, this raw food lifestyle is going to help me with that, I'm also aware that it may do the opposite in the short term as my body is detoxing and putting more of a load on my liver.
That's why I'm also taking Dr. Christopher's liver and gallbladder formula. If I don't have that, then I take other herbs that I know are good for the liver - my favorite is milk thistle. Actually, I've almost been primarily on milk thistle and chaste tree berry (also known as vitex) this last year, and I've seen amazing results with my mood swings.
On the raw food diet, my mood has not been as stable, but I also stopped taking the chaste tree berry a couple weeks ago (but that's another story for another post). So, I don't know if my ups and downs are more because of the transition, or because I stopped what I know was working. Either way, I'm confident that I will move towards greater stability as my journey progresses.
Just as a side note, I also recommend Dr. Christopher's blood stream formula, and his kidney formula - or other herbal formulas that would support those systems. This just about covers all of your avenues of elimination, and your body could really use the help.
My Secret Weapons
The last thing that I'll share about these last three weeks and my current transition is that I'm really finding that the list of 6 things I do to combat my cravings that I mentioned in my last post are really saving my life. There's not a single thing on that list that I could do without. I am amazed that I have gone this long without getting off the train, and it's been relatively easy, compared to what I was expecting.
Of course, I have to give my husband kudos for that because he is taking this journey with me. If I didn't have him backing me up on this, I don't think I could do it. If I was having to either cook or watch him eat all those cooked foods we used to share, I think I would have been lost in a pile of nachos and donuts by now.
So, thank you to him, and good luck to any of you who are also beginning this amazing transformation.
The thing that keeps nagging at me is, "Am I doing this right?" Even though this is quick to come to my mind - especially after experimenting with rich desserts or recipes that call for lots of nuts - I am also quick to remind myself to be patient with myself. I'm sure there are lots of things that I could be doing better, but I'm also confident that those things will come easier and easier to me with time.
Weight Loss
I have lost some weight, but I don't know exactly how much. I'll be honest and tell you that it hasn't been as much as I would have expected (thank you, rich desserts and recipes that call for lots of nuts). However, my husband (the only person who gets to see me *ahem* naked) assures me that my body is changing, even if my pants aren't as loose as I'd like them to be.
I don't actually know how much I've lost because I stopped using a scale a while ago because I tend to get obsessive about the numbers. Likewise, I'm seeing that I'm starting to get a little obsessive about how fast I'm moving into smaller jeans. But, then I have to remind myself that although the weight loss will be a very welcome side effect of this lifestyle, that's not why I'm doing this.
This is especially important for me to keep in mind because I don't want to give myself more reasons to get discouraged. And let's be honest - going raw is hard enough without the extra baggage.
Speaking of Extra Baggage...
I also mentioned in an earlier post about my....uh..."movement" issues. I was surprised to see how quickly and how fast my plumbing stopped working. It wasn't that fabulous to begin with, but the herbs I'd been taking for months to help with that were no longer doing the trick. Then, to top it off, I ran out of said herbs.
I had two long, miserable weeks of experimenting with different things (sans the herbs), until I finally just ordered some herbs. Well, when I say it that way it makes it sound like I did it grudgingly. But really, I'm just the world's biggest flake and I didn't get around to it any sooner than that.
My favorite herbal formulas are Dr. John Christopher's. His lower bowel formula has been my long-time number one choice, but I ran out a while back and was just using cascara sagrada in the interim. When I finally placed my order for the good stuff last week on Vitacost.com, I only found a formula called Dr. Christopher's Quick Colon. This may be the same thing with a different name (it has changed a few times over the years), or it may just be a stronger version of his last formula. I don't know, but I've been taking it for a couple days, and the name truly says it all. I love it.
Speaking of Movement...
I'm also working to get more exercise into my lifestyle to help support my lymph system. This is especially important to me since I know that I'm going into major detox mode. I want to do everything I can to keep the pressure off of my liver because the liver's first priority is to process hormones. If it's working on that, then everything else gets dumped back into your blood stream, which is why women tend to get a bit crabby during certain times of the month.
Well, since I have hormonal issues all 30 days of the month, it's like walking uphill both ways. I'm always battling those mood swings. Even though I'm confident that, over time, this raw food lifestyle is going to help me with that, I'm also aware that it may do the opposite in the short term as my body is detoxing and putting more of a load on my liver.
That's why I'm also taking Dr. Christopher's liver and gallbladder formula. If I don't have that, then I take other herbs that I know are good for the liver - my favorite is milk thistle. Actually, I've almost been primarily on milk thistle and chaste tree berry (also known as vitex) this last year, and I've seen amazing results with my mood swings.
On the raw food diet, my mood has not been as stable, but I also stopped taking the chaste tree berry a couple weeks ago (but that's another story for another post). So, I don't know if my ups and downs are more because of the transition, or because I stopped what I know was working. Either way, I'm confident that I will move towards greater stability as my journey progresses.
Just as a side note, I also recommend Dr. Christopher's blood stream formula, and his kidney formula - or other herbal formulas that would support those systems. This just about covers all of your avenues of elimination, and your body could really use the help.
My Secret Weapons
The last thing that I'll share about these last three weeks and my current transition is that I'm really finding that the list of 6 things I do to combat my cravings that I mentioned in my last post are really saving my life. There's not a single thing on that list that I could do without. I am amazed that I have gone this long without getting off the train, and it's been relatively easy, compared to what I was expecting.
Of course, I have to give my husband kudos for that because he is taking this journey with me. If I didn't have him backing me up on this, I don't think I could do it. If I was having to either cook or watch him eat all those cooked foods we used to share, I think I would have been lost in a pile of nachos and donuts by now.
So, thank you to him, and good luck to any of you who are also beginning this amazing transformation.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
6 Things To Combat Cravings
I know I've been talking a lot about temptations and challenges, but I want to also say that my moments of shock don't last that long, and it's comforting to know that they will pass. Here are some of the things that I've found really help me stick to my guns:
1) Education. I watch a lot of YouTube videos about this life style. One of my most favorite channels I've discovered during this process is Fully Raw Kristina. A couple nights ago, after finishing my last blog post, I found the following video of hers, which helped me enormously. Among other things, she said that the gut-wrenching cravings usually just last about 10 minutes, so it's just a matter of getting through that short window of time. She's been inspiring, educational, and a downright pleasure to watch.
2) Good Food. I try to keep foods around that I sincerely enjoy eating. The more I have, the less likely a craving will cripple me. If things get REALLY tough, I'll go to a raw food restaurant. This is a sure way to put me in a state of bliss, and always gives me new food ideas.
3) Finding New Recipes. Looking up raw food recipes on Pinterest and the Internet helps me realize that there is a world of possibilities that I just haven't explored yet. This gets me excited about trying these new foods, and really helps to scratch my creativity. You can find links to my Pinterest boards for these different raw recipes over on the right side of this blog. These recipes really encourage me, because I'm often surprised by how easy and delicious they are.
4) Vision Board. I haven't done this yet, but a friend suggested I create a vision board. This would give me something to look at when things feel rough, and remind me of all the reasons I'm doing this. I'm going to do this for sure, because when my cravings are really bad, I am so stuck in my own brain that I totally forget why I'm doing this. I just feel trapped, like I have to do this, and forget that I'm making a choice for very specific - and very important - reasons.
5) Herbal Teas. I've already mentioned this, but I like to have a cup of herbal tea when I'm feeling overwhelmed. It's something that I enjoy so much, and it really helps me relax and feel more in control of my situation. If I'm starting to freak out over what I'm going to eat (or what I can't eat), I'll have a cup of tea while I make a plan. It instantly changes my state.
6) Journaling. Writing in my journal has always been an effective way for me to process what I'm going through, cravings or otherwise. It's just a natural way for me to unravel the things that overwhelm me so that I can look at the parts of my situation. That always changes my perspective, and helps me be more in tune to what is, instead of what things seem like.
That's all I can think of at the moment, but I'm sure I'll think of more. Feel free to add to this list by commenting below.
1) Education. I watch a lot of YouTube videos about this life style. One of my most favorite channels I've discovered during this process is Fully Raw Kristina. A couple nights ago, after finishing my last blog post, I found the following video of hers, which helped me enormously. Among other things, she said that the gut-wrenching cravings usually just last about 10 minutes, so it's just a matter of getting through that short window of time. She's been inspiring, educational, and a downright pleasure to watch.
2) Good Food. I try to keep foods around that I sincerely enjoy eating. The more I have, the less likely a craving will cripple me. If things get REALLY tough, I'll go to a raw food restaurant. This is a sure way to put me in a state of bliss, and always gives me new food ideas.
3) Finding New Recipes. Looking up raw food recipes on Pinterest and the Internet helps me realize that there is a world of possibilities that I just haven't explored yet. This gets me excited about trying these new foods, and really helps to scratch my creativity. You can find links to my Pinterest boards for these different raw recipes over on the right side of this blog. These recipes really encourage me, because I'm often surprised by how easy and delicious they are.
4) Vision Board. I haven't done this yet, but a friend suggested I create a vision board. This would give me something to look at when things feel rough, and remind me of all the reasons I'm doing this. I'm going to do this for sure, because when my cravings are really bad, I am so stuck in my own brain that I totally forget why I'm doing this. I just feel trapped, like I have to do this, and forget that I'm making a choice for very specific - and very important - reasons.
5) Herbal Teas. I've already mentioned this, but I like to have a cup of herbal tea when I'm feeling overwhelmed. It's something that I enjoy so much, and it really helps me relax and feel more in control of my situation. If I'm starting to freak out over what I'm going to eat (or what I can't eat), I'll have a cup of tea while I make a plan. It instantly changes my state.
6) Journaling. Writing in my journal has always been an effective way for me to process what I'm going through, cravings or otherwise. It's just a natural way for me to unravel the things that overwhelm me so that I can look at the parts of my situation. That always changes my perspective, and helps me be more in tune to what is, instead of what things seem like.
That's all I can think of at the moment, but I'm sure I'll think of more. Feel free to add to this list by commenting below.
Monday, September 2, 2013
Fighting the Cravings
It was late. I knew I would feel better in the morning. And thankfully, I did. I started off my day by taking my sun dried tomatoes out of the dehydrator and having the rest of the kale chips I made the other night. Then, I walked down to the health food store and bought a bag of organic carrots and a pack of organic grapes to keep me fueled until I could make it to my destination.
What was my destination, you ask? FIGS! And there's only one place I get them - the farmer's market.
On my way there, I stepped into a vegan restaurant to see if they had some raw options. But as soon as I stepped in and glanced at the menu, I knew I had to get out of there. It was vegan - it would have been just too easy to rationalize ordering something that was NOT raw. In fact, I had my sites set on the very thing I wanted. I could almost taste it!
So, I turned on my heel and left - on to the figs.
But in order to get to these tasty morsels, I had to wade through the other food vendors. Oh, my senses were on fire. My mouth was watering, and I was just trying not to stare too long. I just thought about those figs - just a few short booths away. It became a mantra to get me through. Figs, figs, figs....
 |
| Figs. Life just doesn't get better than this! |
Back Home on Safe Ground
I came home and made my first batch of almond milk, which was a huge success. It's so delicious. I could probably thin it out a little, but...it's so delicious! I think I'll keep it nice and thick. Especially since I'm mostly using it for my tea.
Next up is a new recipe for my almond yogurt - it's actually just using the milk instead of the whole almonds. That's why my yogurt is like ricotta cheese - all the pulp! And no thank you. I'd much rather have it creamy. I'm not a fan of having to chew my yogurts, juices, or anything else you're supposed to be able to just swallow. I am NOT a fan of pulp.
But other than that, I think I'm done with experimenting for a while. Now I just want to stock up on the things that I love, and keep them handy. Unfortunately, I'm having a bit of a shortage at the moment. That's putting me into code red, I'm afraid.
It's 9:50 p.m. and my day has wound down. I'm home alone, and all I want to do is snack. I want to be able to go to the kitchen and pour a bowl of cereal. I want to pop open a package of cookies. I want to order some Chinese food and savor every bit of it.
I want, I want, I want...
And it kind of feels like last night, when I started to feel a little panicky over what I'm doing. But it's more like, "WHAT AM I DOING??"
The temptations and the shock of what I'm doing are usually happy to take a backseat and let me do this thing. But there are times that they just sneak up on me and scream in my face. It's very jarring. It's very hard.
I'll be okay.
*sigh*
I'll be okay.
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