Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Why Wait?...

Dear Diary, 


When my Mom got "sick" I remember researching The Gerson Therapy. "The Gerson Therapy is a powerful, natural treatment that boosts your body's own immune system to heal cancer, arthritis, heart disease, allergies, and many other degenerative diseases. One aspect of the Gerson Therapy that sets it apart from most other treatment methods is its all-encompassing nature. An abundance of nutrients from thirteen fresh, organic juices are consumed every day, providing your body with a superdose of enzymes, minerals and nutrients. These substances then break down diseased tissue in the body, while enemas aid in eliminating the lifelong buildup of toxins from the liver." 


My Mom was diagnosed with Brain Cancer and passed away after 2 heartbreaking years of battling the terrible disease. She really tried everything that she thought would help/cure her cancer; but was scared. The thought of 'wasting' precious time on 'natural treatment' wasn't an option at the time. "The Gerson Therapy seeks to regenerate the body to health, supporting each important metabolic requirement by flooding the body with nutrients from almost 20 pounds of organically grown fruits and vegetables daily. Most is used to make fresh raw juice, one glass every hour, 13 times per day. Raw and cooked solid foods are generously consumed. Oxygenation is usually more than doubled, as oxygen deficiency in the blood contributes to many degenerative diseases. The metabolism is also stimulated through the addition of thyroid, potassium and other supplements, and by avoiding heavy animal fats, excess protein, sodium and other toxins."


But why? Why is it that we wait until we are "sick" to make a huge life-transforming change in our lives and diets? What are we so skeptical about? Why are we so fearful of nature's ability to heal us naturally? Well, here's more "proof" that more often than not, regenerating our bodies with all-encompasing nature, minerals, and nutrients is simply just what are bodies are needing... 


PAUSE.

Men Beware (and be warned before reading on...) I have been contemplating writing this next bit, for weeks because it just seemed 'strange'. It just seemed like a coincidence. But as I have 'researched' and spoken to 'other' women; I know now that its a fact not fiction.... 


PAUSE & REWIND...


Ever since I was 12 years old I have battled with extremely heavy periods. I warned you! I will spare all those who are continuing to read on the scary gory details and simply say, my periods have always been "heavy". Not just "heavy" but combined with terrible cramps, bloating, and many tears. When I was 14 years old I was put on birth control pills to 'help' balance my hormones and calm my cycle. I was on birth control pills from the age of 14 years until I was 24 years old. OMG, right? That's what I thought. But every time I would go to the Doctor and ask questions about the negative effects of being on birth control so young and for so long; I'd always get the same responses... "There are no negative side effects of being on birth control pills for so many years", "No, it won't decrease your chances of getting pregnant", and my personal favorite... "Well, do you want to get pregnant right now?" At the age of 18 years old, do they think I'm crazy? 


Well, luckily enough when I did finally stand up for myself and my health, I had no problem getting pregnant a few years later. Nonetheless, since the age of 24 years old (I am now 31 years old) I have reverted back to having to deal with extremely heavy periods, horrible cramps, and hormone surges through the roof. Until... I embarked on this journey. 


I started eating really 'clean' and mostly raw about 3 months ago; and my last two periods have been almost un-noticable. Okay, that's an exaggeration... But seriously, nothing like before. And like I said, I am not the only one who's had similar experiences with female hormonal re-balancing. Its simply amazing to me, that after all those years of taking a little pill (made from who knows what) I could simple change my diet and get the same better results. So I have to ask again, why is it that we wait until we are "sick" to make a huge life-transforming change in our lives and diets? Why do we just sit back and listen to what our Doctors are telling us without giving nearly as much 'credit' to ourselves and to nature to do what it knows is best? 


Today was Day 1: I am embarking upon a 21 day cleanse... The 21 Day Cleanse from Kris Carr the author of Crazy Sexy Diet & Crazy Sexy Cancer, because I am NOT waiting to get "sick" to make a change!!!






CRAZILY yours, 


Maggie 

Today's Wednesday, Right?

Dear Diary,
Oh, today's my day I write you, isn't it? Well, I can't say that I haven't been thinking about this. I had to admit yesterday, though, that I've officially entered that phase of the semester during which I no longer know what day it is, (The next one is the phase in which I don't remember my name. Yeah, that one's coming.) but the sun is shining and the temperature is rising and I'm sitting here with the doors and windows wide open. My dog is at my feet, my cat is in my lap, and life is good.

I'm not eating as much raw food each day as I did when I arrived home from St. Paul. Don't let anyone tell you that this isn't hard. Hard like climbing a mountain? Hard like fighting an illness? No, absolutely not, but hard to ... It's just hard to do everyday, but it leaves me feeling so good that I want to keep doing it. I love the link Becky recently posted to Facebook. It's a link to blog post written by Rachel Brathen of Mind Body Green and it seems to summarize my experience beautifully.
"Raw food is great. I know it, you know it. But it can also suck. We all know that, too. No way of eating leaves me with as much radiant energy as eating raw food does. And no way of eating stresses me out more that eating raw food does!" 
Isn't that the truth? I guess I'm not the only one for whom this is true. Okay, so it's hard. Sometimes, it downright sucks, but I'm still at it. I'm still juicing every morning and I still strive to eat a yummy raw lunch every day. This is not exactly the practice I was striving for at this stage of the game, but hey - I'm still this much farther along than I was in January and that's what I'm focusing on. I even made raw beet burgers again this week and they were even better than the first time. (Don't think I didn't get a few quizzical looks during lunch at the student center on Tuesday.)

So, I've been considering something lately. I'm calling it my 'this or that' thinking and it goes something like this: 
If I eat a slice of roast beef, then I'm not a vegetarian. If I eat a meal of roasted chicken, steamed broccoli and a baked potato, then I'm not 'eating raw'. If I stop at the coffee shop on the way home and have a scone and a cup of coffee, then I'm just not doing anything right at all. 
It tracks right alongside my 'all or nothing' way of thinking. And, yes, I really did stop at the coffee shop yesterday afternoon. (Oh, how I hate to admit that!) 

I'm really striving to get over that hump and to accept that there are benefits to be had in every small improvement I make. And that big slip-ups don't undo every mile gained. Those slip-ups may simply serve as an attention-getter, a gentle awareness of something I can strive to do better. If my mistakes always take me off track, to a place of giving up, then how do I ever fix them? If I always put myself in a place of choosing between being perfect or not trying at all, then where's my growth? The hard part is being in that place of growth and change, and having those less than perfect parts of myself sticking out like a sore thumb. It's hard to face those things and to accept my tendency to fail. I think that's why it's easier to go to that place of not trying, to the 'all or nothing' place, or my 'this or that' way of thinking.

This seems like pretty deep thinking for food stuff and maybe the food stuff is just an opportunity to look at other areas of myself and parts of my life. Maybe this is a good opportunity for me to say I sometimes fail, sometimes with the small stuff and sometimes in really big ways. Maybe this is an opportunity for me to be more accepting of that in myself. Maybe what Maggie said is true, maybe it really doesn't matter how many times you leave. It only matters how many times you come back. Maybe for me, what matters is that I don't drive myself away and that I stop being afraid to fail, believing that if I can't do it perfectly, then maybe I can't do it at all. Maybe the important thing to believe is that I can do it and that I'll screw up royally sometimes, but that I can do it - even when I can't tell you what day it is.

That's all for now,
d

Monday, February 27, 2012

Orange You Glad I Didn't Say Banana?

Dear Diary,

You've heard of turning Green With Envy, right?  But how about Orange with Carrots?  That's what's going on over here.  I joked a while back that I'm eating so many orange foods that my skin might begin to take on that Just-Back-from-the-Spray-Tanner-Booth glow pretty soon.  And the joke is on me.  This is a real thing.  It's not just what happens to your sweet baby when you feed her too many sweet potatoes and pureed carrots.

I was at book club last night and we were talking about some of our old skin grievances.  One horrid skin issue that's plagued me since having my first child seven years ago is a severe peeling of the skin on my hands (eczema?)  I've seen dermatologists and allergists alike and no one seems to have a clue.  So I try to moisturize and ignore it.  It ebbs and flows.  The good new is, I was bragging last night to a friend that since I've been eating all these whole foods and abundant veggies, my skin issues have vanished.  The bad news is...well, the same friend, while inspecting my peel-free skin, said, "Hmmm..that's weird, the palms of your hands look kind of orange in this light."

It wasn't the light.  They're orange.  I've been eating baby carrots like they're my own raw currency.  And yellow and orange peppers.  And sweet potatoes.  So many sweet potatoes.  Just last night I made (and devoured!) a yummy sweet potato, lentil and kale soup for dinner.


So, I'm orange.  It's better than turning green from kale or blue from countless blueberries, I guess, but maybe I should try to get out that old color wheel and start being a little more careful to vary the colors of the fruits and veggies I eat (and thereby the nutrients I'm getting).  In the meantime, you can count on me to be a very visible reminder that we truly ARE WHAT WE EAT!

Talk to you soon,
Your Little Orange Friend Rebecca

Sunday, February 26, 2012

A Crazy Sexy 21 Day Cleanse...

Dear Diary,

I'm Back!
I've been MIA lately for a plethora of reasons... I apologize, first and foremost. But, as one of my favorite saying goes "It doesn't matter how many times you leave... What truly matters is how many times you come back." Now, this is in reference to your mind wandering off the mat while attempting to meditate or practice yoga; but I thought it seemed to fit perfectly to my current situation. I was here, then I left, and now I'm back!!!
I am back with a vengeance, feeling more determined than ever to make another life transforming transformation. I too am reading (and loving) Crazy Sexy Diet by Kris Carr. I have decided that on Thursday March 1st I am going to do The 21 Day Cleanse. A Crazy Sexy Cleanse is my next great adventure? Hmmm... As Kris says in her book "Perfect is beige. Obsessing over every bite is completely contrary to to the purpose and spirit of my book. Your overall goal is to have a peaceful feeling in your heart and in your body. Its that simple. So don't be afraid, just get out there and and do your thing! If you bottom out or revolt over the course of the next 21 days, just giggle and recommit. Okay?"
So here I am, giggling over the past 10 days and how I've just simply gotten lazy. I am still juicing daily, as I can't live with out my Green Lemonade! But I've returned to old habits such as grabbing a Larabar instead of making a salad and/or juice, mis-combining foods, and eating about 80% cooked meals at dinner time. The result is feeling sluggish, slow, and sad. Its true I feel depressed when I eat the wrong foods for MY body. Not like I am beating myself up for making the wrong food choices, depressed; but simply just unhappy about how the wrong foods make me feel like *&#!
I have been feeling like *&#! for almost two weeks (on/off) and have had enough! I was doing so good and feeling so alive, what happened? Oh yes, LIFE happened. I got busy, life became stressful and a little overwhelming; and when I needed good health/nutrition the most, I bailed on my TRUE SELF!
Well, no more! I am getting right back on track with my CRAZY Sexy Cleanse. And honestly, the thing I am most looking forward to with this 'cleanse' has nothing to do with or without food. Its all the 'other' things that are brought to attention is this cleanse, such as Focus/Intention, Prayer, Affirmation, and my personal favorite God Pod Maintenance (aka self-care)! An exercise that Kris talks about in her book is picturing yourself (or finding a picture of yourself) when you were 5 years old. Ask yourself, as you 'look' at her, how would you have treated her, loved her, fed her, nurtured her if you were the Mother of the little you. I know that I would have done a lot more for little Maggie than I have done in the past 10 days much less 10 years of this life. A huge part of this cleanse is extending the same compassion to your adult self as you would to your 5 year old self. Taking naps, eating healthy food, exploring your imagination/creativity, and being adventurous. Doesn't sound so bad, huh? Well here I am, about to leap yet again into the unknown... On my way into another adventure! Anybody with me?!!!

Courageously Yours,
Maggie

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Beet Me To The Punch

Dear Diary,
Happy Saturday! Wow, this has been one crazy week. My mom's phrase for this kind of busy is to 'meet yourself coming and going', which I'm pretty sure I've actually done a couple of times. It hardly seems possible that the beet juice lemonade post was just one week ago. It feels like I'm a long time getting back to you on that. Do you want to hear what happened?

I absolutely will not be doing that again any time soon. I'm sure it was all kinds of healthy, but holy cow, it didn't look or taste anything like I expected! 

It looked like something more aptly named Red Velvet Lemonade than Green Lemonade. It was deep burgundy through and through - not a hint of green ANYWHERE. It didn't even TASTE like green lemonade. Even after I added another lemon (yes, a whole lemon) and another chunk of ginger. I'll spare you my description of what I thought it tasted like.

Maybe a giant whole beet was just too much. (Do ya' think?) I'm not sure, but what I do know is that after twenty ounces of Crimson Tide (which I was determined to finish) I plan to find another use for those beets in the frige. Just saying.

I'm back to drinking my tried-and-true green lemonade recipe. (That's the one that's hard to beat.) And I'm off to another workshop this morning, tall cup of carrot/grapefruit/ginger lemonade in hand to keep me focused through the morning. I sometimes think that trying to develop a new way of eating is just adding more pressure to my already stressful life, but I also believe that juicing is doing more to keep me going than any absence of stress over keeping old familiar habits.

Happy Weekend!
Let's talk next week ...

Love,
deborah

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Tacos, Tequila and...a Juice Fast? Oh, My!


Dear Diary,

Listen to this:

Consistency is important but you don't have to be perfect.  Health is about keeping in an overall "right" direction.  Will you travel the same straight highway everyday for the rest of your life?  Snoozeville!  You'll take the scenic highways and even stop at Honky-Tonk bars.  You may have a beer and chips in the afternoon followed by a shot of tequila for dessert.  This is life - it's sweet, fun, unpredictable.  I am not perfect and I never will be.  Perfect is beige.  I am red hot!  So are you.  Red and Wild.  You don't politely sit at tables - you dance on them.  And after last call you get back out on the heath highway.


That's right from the book I'm currently reading, Crazy Sexy Diet (Kris Carr).  Nice timing for me, since I had my own little dose of tequila over the weekend.  I LOVE THIS BOOK.  Kris Carr doesn't give you permission get lazy or to give up.  She gives you enough information that choosing NOT to eat healthier after reading it would be harder than choosing to do so. (She outlines the dangers of eating the Standard American Diet, appropriately acronym-ed SAD, with such conviction that continuing to eat - and feed my children - in that way on a regular basis would be akin to choosing to take up cigarette smoking knowing what we now know about nicotine).

BUT...Kris is light-hearted and fun and funny and also reminds us that there's more to life than nutrition and if eating this way continues to stress you out, it may not be worth it.  SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHING.  The goal is not perfection but balance.  As my friend Elizabeth so beautifully reminds me on a regular basis (one of the many reasons I adore her) is that we have to "be gentle with ourselves."  What a beautiful way to put it.

And I heard it again at the doctor's office yesterday while subjecting myself to a long overdue physical.  While describing my treadmill routine (sneaking it in between early morning feedings, earphones on, house alarm set, baby monitor facing me so I can see if it flashes red), she applauded my health-conscious efforts but reminded me that exercise is meant to reduce stress not increase it.  Eek!

In everything I do, I try to do it best.  Determine what I can reasonably accomplish and then push it a little further.  I mean, in order to get myself back into running, in the way that I was before I got pregnant, I decided to sign up for my first marathon in the fall.  Hmmm...I hope I did that for the right reasons.  Or that I end up with the right results (a bright pink check mark on my Bucket List and a rediscovered love for running) and not an injury.

That intensity's fine for a week.  Or even a month or two.  But forever?  It's pretty hard to maintain long-term.  So, I'm trying to remember that I want my New Normal in terms of nutrition to become just My Norm.  Our norm.  Nothing to stress about, nothing to worry over, just the way we roll over here in our little brick house.

But outside these doors, my kids can have birthday cake.  And hot lunch a couple times a week at school.
And...as I proved on Friday night, I can still have a margarita, WAY too many chips, about a pound of guacamole, fish tacos...and get right back on the Green Lemonade Saturday morning.  My Health Food Halo felt a little tarnished, even after a seven-mile run Saturday, so Sunday felt like a good day for a detoxifying juice fast.  Shawn and I did a one-day fast as outlined in Crazy Sexy Diet and felt REALLY REALLY excited about each and every green food we got to actually chew the next day.  Perspective.  Balance.  Maybe?

Still figuring it out,
Becky

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Sandwiched In Between

Dear Diary,
Day before yesterday, I wrote a happy, light-hearted little post to publish today. Does that sound like cheating? Writing my post ahead of time? I wrote it a day early so that I could publish it first thing this morning. The only problem is, that happy little post is just not exactly how I'm feeling this morning. So, now what? 

This 'eating raw' thing is hard sometimes. Sometimes I'm just tired, and I'm out of steam, and I don't know what to eat. (That sounds like such a ridiculous statement coming from a grown woman. For goodness sake, just go eat something and get over it.) Sometimes, I'm just so overwhelmed with the list of things to accomplish between now and semester's end, that I can't get my thoughts around it all and I just want to have a sandwich. Will someone just please make me a sandwich? Or juice me a carrot, or brew me a cup of tea?

I really want to be genuine here, and to write honestly about my experience. Today, that means admitting that I'm struggling. I believe I'll find my way through this part without giving up. I also believe I'll come out on the other side with a better understanding of what works for me - the things I aspire to do as my life becomes more manageable (and in an effort to make it so) and the things I can do right now. For today, however, I want to acknowledge for anyone else out there who's trying to improve their diet and their life, that there are weeks when it's just hard.

Thanks for listening,
deborah

Monday, February 20, 2012

Coconut CANDY!!!



Dear Diary, 

I am delayed in writing to you, for I was out in the jungle collecting coconuts! No, I swear its the truth. The Raw Coconut Cream Pie, made me do it! My family and I decided that ever since I tragically found out I was "allergic" to Cacao (aka CHOCOLATE) we were going to start making young coconuts a staple in our house. After I made this incredible Raw Coconut Cream Pie, I am very thankful for my 'monkey' of a husband and his incredibly brave climbing skills. Today we drove out towards Huelo, to a friends property, to tour their beautifully lush and tropically jungle land. As we hiked across rivers and through taro patches filled with water lilies, we snacked on fresh oranges, ripe bananas, and sour cherries. When we were finished exploring we started hacking and collected about 50 coconuts!!! We are getting pretty used to opening them and no  longer fear their 'hairy' layers. Its a treat well worth waiting for, especially for my son who devours the coconut water like his little life depends on it or like its candy! Tonight I'd like to make Raw Coconut Ice Cream, but now fear destroying my food processor. I am in desperate need of a Vita Mixer!!! Hmmm, off to 'shop' for my a Mandolin, a Vita Mixer, and maybe a new machete!

Sweetly Yours, Mag-Pie

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Hard to Beet Green Lemonade

Dear Diary,
happyfoody.com Green Lemonade with a Twist
I'm up and out the door a little bit earlier than normal this morning. (I've got a big day ahead of me!) So, of course, I'm having my usual green lemonade first thing, and also making a large glass of Tingly Juice to go. This has me wondering ....

What goes in to your Green Lemonade? Any interesting variations or ingredients you can't live without?

Here's mine:
  • 2 - 3 Romaine leaves
  • 2 - 3 kale leaves
  • 2 - 3 celery stalks
  • 1 small Grannie Smith apple
  • 1 small red apple
  • 1" cube ginger
  • 1/2 large cucumber
  • 1/2 lemon
  • 1/4 lime

Here's what I've learned:
  • I love parsley in my green lemonade, but it just shoots right through my juicer without so much as a drop of juice. (sadness)
  • I bought chopped kale from Trader Joe's last week and it pretty much does the same. Back to whole leaf kale this week.
  • I can do without the lime, but green lemonade's just not the same without apples. Or ginger. Or lemon. 

I'm now kind of eager to try this variation. I may have just found a new use for those beets I picked up yesterday. I'll let you know how it turns out!

Until then, have a great weekend and I'll see you on Tuesday.

Happy Weekend!
deborah


(Click here for the follow up to this post.)

Friday, February 17, 2012

Levity

Dear Diary,

One thing I've discovered is that eating lots of fresh food makes me feel more energetic while dense food weighs me down.  In the same vein, last night I remembered just why they say "laughter is the best medicine."  Be it worrying, planning, "deep conversations," or just the weight of all that I have to do in a day, the load on my shoulders has been feeling a little heavy.  I've been feeling a little too heavy (emotionally) lately.

So, last night we did just what the doctor ordered: Shawn and I made big veggie salads, ordered pizza (whole-grain crust, vegan nut "cheese" from Pizza Luce), drank a couple glasses of wine and caught up on all our half-hour comedies in the DVR.  I laughed until I cried last night and today woke up feeling so good, inside and out.

In honor of feeling light-bodied and light-hearted, I thought I'd post this:

My Top Ten Ridiculous Raw-living Facts

10.  Rats.  Ok, not rats.  But squirrels.  And chipmunks.  Even in the winter, I can no longer get away with leaving that bag of trash by the back door until I get it out to the alley...turns out we are finally eating something the animals find palatable.  Hmmm...real food?

9. Not the Sharpest Knife in the Drawer.  I guess we can't wait for Uncle Pieter's biennial visit to get our knives sharpened.  With all this chop-chop-chopping, I need to sharpen my knives like twice a week.  Turns out, it's not that big a job and makes life WAY easier.  Huh.

8.  Well Rounded.  Speaking of knives, it seems that cutting round things isn't as scary as I thought.  I used to fear watermelons, pineapples and even the butternut squash.  But yesterday I broke open my first young coconut.  I guess I'm not as bad with a cleaver as I had feared (but stand back - far back - just in case).

7.  Thank goodness my favorite color is green.  Because it's more than the backsplash that's green in my kitchen now.  My white cabinet are constantly sporting green finger prints and green drip marks.

6.  It's not easy being green.  Not unless you have a money tree in the back yard.  I've spent up to $600 a week on groceries in attempt to eat organic, whole foods.  Reducing the "green" (as in money spent) is something I am really trying to work on.

5.  Hardens hands as you do dishes.  My hands are a mess!  I have green residue under my finger nails and my hands are so chapped from washing fruits and veggies and washing that juicer five times a day.

4.  Holy Buckets.  Funny how dehydrated I must have been before.  I am peeing constantly.  Healthy or not, it's very inconvenient having to make so many pit stops when I used to be able to go half the day without one.

3.  Equal and Opposite Reaction.  I've been amazed at peoples' reactions to my food choices: from those who've also changed their lives too, to those who shake their heads and roll their eyes and wait for me to "get back to normal," to those who, oddly enough, get up in arms about it, you never know with people.

2.  Naked Chef.  Who'd have thought that after all these years, years in which I've envied, idolized and feared those who know how to cook, really cook wonderful food for their friends and families, it would be the Raw food revolution that would teach me the most about cooking?

1.  I love veggies!  Who knew?  I was always good with fruit and ate a ton of it but I dreaded the veggie, scarfed down salads only to feel virtuous.  Funny now I can't stand the taste of processed food but can eat a raw parsnip for breakfast.

That's my Friday Food for Thought.  What have you learned????  I'd love to hear it.

Have a good weekend!

Love,
Becky

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Goodbye my one true love...


Dear Diary, 





Just a random update... 





So, its worse than I thought... I am 'allergic' to cacao! Seriously?!!! This can not be possible... But, it is! It makes perfect sense too. I have been feeling like I am having an 'allergic' reaction (sinus headaches, congestion, watery eyes, low energy, etc) since starting this experiment on the Raw Detox Diet... Well, its because I am allergic to all the cacao I have been consuming in my many many raw deserts. Go figure! I am still going to cut way back on my coffee intake and limit (any whole cow's milk) but at least I feel like there's hope to my health. I'll keep you all (interested peeps) informed!!! 





Its been 5 days since I had cacao/chocolate and as hard as this is for me to admit... I FEEL GREAT! I even had a cappuccino this morning (to 'treat' myself) for my good behavior! I am feeling awesome, and just had to share!!! 





I am still eating about 60%-80% Raw, but adding sprouted 'bread' and avocado to my morning ritual... I think since I am teaching Yoga daily, I need some real food in the morning to get me going and keep my strength and energy HIGH!!! I am listening to by body, and THIS is what its begging for!!! 





Happily Yours, 


Maggie 

















Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Beginning of the Beginning

Dear Diary,

Wow, what a month this has been. I wasn't sure how I was going to make it through the first week and here we are, embarking upon the second month already. I feel like I've learned so much in this month, so much about making positive changes and about just being easy with myself and not trying so hard to solve problems that aren't even if front of me yet. Wondering how I was going to make if through the first week of 'eating raw' is just one example. It sounds so cliche to say we make it one day at a time, but that really is the truth. First one foot, and then the other. 

Through this crazy, amazing experiment, I've really become quite comfortable with my juice routine. I've gone from wondering how in the world I was going to fit it into my morning, to being really excited about making it work, and now, to just being relaxed about it and looking forward every morning to my green lemonade. I've even considered the possibility that I might eventually burn out on it and decided to try and expand my repertoire. This morning, I opted instead for a pineapple/pear/plum/lemon/ginger combo. (No juice seems complete these days without the addition of lemon and ginger.) It's really good, to be sure, but after a few sips, I had to put it to the side for mid-morning and make myself a green lemonade. So much for changing it up, right?

Another big shift has been in the way I look at food. I really have gotten a lot of junk out of my diet. I'm not talking about traditional 'junk food', I'm just talking about processed food that's considered healthy. I was consuming a lot more of that than I realized. Here's a good example: I love those delicious little green pea crisps - you know, the ones that are shaped like snap peas? I think those are kind of yummy - and they're gluten-free, so I considered them a safe snack. Once we began this experiment though, I had to acknowledge that when I fill up on food like that, I'm not going to eat an equivalent amount of fresh, raw vegetables. Besides, gluten-free or not, they're seriously just grown-up Cheetos. 

Some things have been a bit more of a challenge, things I hope to figure out here, in the next month. Despite all my efforts, raw vegetables for dinner just don't seem to sit well, meaning they leave me with one heck of a stomach ache. Not for long, but long enough. Not leafy greens so much as things like broccoli and cabbage, even carrots. I'm not quite sure the reason, but until I figure it out, maybe this takes me back to my original intent of 'raw until dinner'. Despite my good sense in setting 80/20 as my intention, my ever-present tendency to push for more found me striving to eat a dinner of raw vegetables every night and maybe I'm just not there yet. Maybe I'll be steaming my dinner veggies for a while longer. 

minimalistathome.com
I really love this routine and want to continue building upon it. I'd like to try a few new recipes here in our second month and expand my repertoire in that way. I've also been thinking about EatRight4YourType and looking forward to revisiting that book and perhaps incorporating some of the things I learned about myself there, along with the successes, into this practice. (Thanks to Maggie for my renewed interest. Looking forward to more exchanges on that topic.)

I can easily see a strong, vibrant life emerging from the decision to embark upon this adventure together. I can see other wonderful practices growing from it, too. Sun salutation and green lemonade under the clear skies in the morning? Maybe the return of my daily walks? One foot in front of the other. One foot ...

See you Saturday,
deborah

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

I (Heart) Balance (Day 30)

Dear Diary,

I have had so much trouble trying to decide what to post for today.  It's a big day.  The last day of our 30-day experiment.  I mean to say, the last of the FIRST 30 days.  So, what do I want my next 30 days to look like?

Maggie and another friend of mine (who's been on Paleo for 30 days) both experienced the same crazy sinus stuff.  Makes me wonder.  Is it too much?  Too fast?  Or exactly how your body should be reacting?  Just part of the cleansing?

As for me, I've had my ups and downs.  The hardest part for me is the time.  Shopping, chopping, cooking (and un-cooking)...and then ALL the clean up have become such a huge part of my life that I dream about food.  Literally.  Last night it was carrots and sweet potatoes.  My brand new dream kitchen is starting to show some major wear and tear.  My daytime SAHM social life is nearly non-existent.

BUT...but but but but...my family is SO MUCH healthier.  I'm worn out.  I'm confused.  But mostly I'm proud.  Shawn insists I have lost weight.  I don't see it but I can squeeze into even my tiniest jeans now so I guess something moved.  The kids and Shawn...that's what's been amazing...their diets have transformed.  They have transformed.

I am going to keep this thing going for another 30-days.  There are some variations that I'd like to try on a week-to-week basis and not commit to for the whole month.  For instance, one of the hardest things for me in terms of eating is the combine/miscombine thing.  I miss having fruit and grains.  And nut butters and grains.  I may experiment a little in intentional miscombing and report the results.  I'd like to re-read The Raw Food Detox Diet and do a week without coffee (eek!) or any dairy (no lattes, no goat cheese) and report those results.  I'd like to read a few other Raw books and see what their authors have to offer.

Also, I promised Shawn a Valentine's date to celebrate the end of this experiment, one at a regular restaurant, eating our old naughty food.  Don't worry, we're not going back to our old ways, just having one night at our mexican place, where even a "good" choice would make Natalia Rose cringe.  Will we wake up so miserable we'll swear off the naughty food for good?  Or, will we be fine as long as we start off the morning with Green Lemonade and get back on track?

I'm really hoping for the latter.  If this is going to be the New Normal, and it's really going to be a forever lifestyle change, I know I'll have a better chance of being successful if I am able to cheat once in a while (have birthday cake at my child's birthday party or get to visit our favorite pizza place every month or so).

I guess unintentionally, Maggie and I will be able to offer up some anecdotal evidence for both sides of the coin:  Maggie going full-steam ahead and seeing how her body responds to such purity and me, the rule-following, all-or-nothing gal, trying to find a way break the rules once in a while without sliding down that proverbial slippery slope.

As always, I'll keep you posted!

Much love,
Becky

Monday, February 13, 2012

The lesser of TWO evils... (The beginning of the End)!!!

Dear Diary, 


I am just catching up on the last two blog posts from deborah and Rebecca as I was in heaven (I mean Hana) this weekend... We just got home about 30 minutes ago, and as my husband unpacks the car and my son unwinds I am contemplating "As we're coming to the end of this first 30-day experiment, I'm trying to draw some conclusions about what I want my next 30 days to look like." Perfectly said Rebecca, I am right there with you. On the drive back from Hana, in the pouring rain, I starred out the window thinking about the past 30 days of this experiment; and how it has literally transformed me inside and out. I feel like it has changed the cells of my body and my being as a whole. More importantly, I am thinking about and 'planning' my next 30 days, and how to embrace this transformation as my new normal! 


With that said, I have a lot of 'homework' in my near future... I am still awaiting the arrival of Eat Right for your Type book (mainly out of curiosity), booking my first series of Colon Therapy sessions, and making an appointment with my Naturopath. Even though I feel like, for the most part, this experiment has been a success I am having one MAJOR issue and I can't seem to just 'let it go'... I NEVER get colds. I mean, I maybe get a simple cold or flu once a year that might last for 2-3 days. But nothing that a little homeopathy and homemade honey/cinnamon tea can't take care of. Since I started this Raw Detox Diet (aka experiment), I have been "sick" with a sinus cold for about 80% of the time. Thats not the 80/20 I was aiming for... 


When we started, I thought I got some sort of bug/virus while traveling from the mainland and spending way too many hours in the airport; but that sinus cold lasted for a good 2 1/2 weeks! Seriously! I just got over that 'sickness' and finally felt 100% for about 5 days. And now, I am sick again! Sneezing, watery eyes, and completely congested. YUCK! What the heck? I mean, I feel like I am the 'healthiest' that I have been in years, maybe ever! I am eating 80-90% raw foods, juicing 2-3 times day and teaching/practing yoga 4-5 days a week! I should be feeling great, right?


Hence making the appointment with my Naturopath. I have a sneaking suspicion that since I have completely altered my diet, that the 10-20% of non-raw foods are destroying my immune system. I mean, I could not be getting more vitamins and minerals, right? I guess, I'll leave that question up to the professional... 


I am very frustrated though, and dread the answer I can assume is coming... No wine, no chocolate, and NO DAIRY (of any kind). I haven't been eating very much dairy, but I do on occasion enjoy a little organic goat cheese, raw cheeses, and/or have a cappuccino/latte w/ steamed "milk". I always try to opt for Almond milk, but sometimes (esp at Starbucks) I am left with 2 "bad options" Regular COWS milk or SOY milk. Which is the lesser of two evils? I still don't know. Obviously, I should just never got to Starbucks... Duh? But, I too have my weaknesses.


So, like I said, this leaves me with lots of 'homeowrk' for the next 30 days, and my "new challenge"... No coffee! Oh dear God, did I just say (type) that out loud? I think this might be my greatest challenge of all times! I am terrified. I am going to quit cold-cucumber, and let you know how its going in a few days... Nope, I am not done blogging about all this... I am also going to cut way back on chocolate, even the Raw Chocolate Mousse that has come to be my new best friend. And finally, say farewell to DAIRY for good. Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! 


Somethings got to give... There's no way that I can be eating this "clean" and healthy and be getting sick! Especially, when I NEVER got sick before. This is craziness!!! So onto the next experiment, the next 30 days, and yet another life transforming entirety. Yet again, to be continued...


*Would LOVE to hear thoughts, suggestions, or any/all advice...










Experimentally and sniffily yours, 
Maggie 



Saturday, February 11, 2012

One Good Thing Leads To Another (Day 27)

Dear Diary,

Style Me Pretty
Have you ever heard the saying, You can't be successful in just one area of your life? Well, I think that's true. I find that any success I have in any area of my life tends to show up in other areas, too. Maybe it's happiness, maybe it's confidence, or maybe it's just that sense of accomplishment we have when something goes right. We carry that with us and it just gets into everything, doesn't it? This clean way of eating is having that effect, too. It's moving into other areas of my life, as well. 

I've started looking at my house differently. It's so easy to let things accumulate, isn't it? Yesterday's newspaper, last semester's files, and all that stuff in the garage ... It's going to take an act of congress to get that stuff cleared out. I was thinking about all the stuff that crowds us into our tiny home, that chokes down our living space and robs us of our joy in the present. Isn't that the way in so many areas of our lives? There's stuff that gets pushed to the back of the closet that just kind of takes up permanent residence there. It takes up room and serves no purpose save to rob us of our living space. I think we do the same thing with thoughts and emotions, don't we? Shoving them out of the way where they just pile up in some forgotten corner of our heart? I actually said out loud while I was thinking this, I want to have room for my life now! My life today! And in that same moment, I thought about my body, about how the crap that I've eaten, off and on for so many years, may be robbing me of my joy in life today. I want room in my body for the food I'm eating now, room in my life for the now.

This kind of gets back to what I wrote earlier this week so I guess it's a thought that I'm still processing. There's been plenty of talk 'around the water cooler' about that last post, so it seems like people think about it - even if they've been afraid to discuss it. I'm really glad for a place where we can talk about the changes that are taking place in our days, in our kitchens, in our homes and in our lives. Maybe the junk in our bodies is symbolic of the junk in our lives. Maybe clearing out the internal junk is just the first step and maybe that success is just going to get all over everything.

I'm hopeful.

Happy Weekend,
deborah

Friday, February 10, 2012

Rediscovered My Roots and Feeling More Grounded (Day 26)

Dear Diary,

Sorry I'm late.  It's been a busy day.  I had about twenty people at my house this morning for a coffee and play-date.  It was fun but hectic.  My house was filled with some of the women I hold dearest, their delightful children...and the yummy smells of steel-cut oats on the stove, pumpkin bread baking and coffee brewing.  I also made some muffins, defrosted some banana bread and put out an array of fresh fruit.  Oddly enough, my favorite food of all time (any baked/bread item) didn't even tempt me.  I was nursing the last dregs of my new favorite Tingly Juice, (Deborah's carrot-ginger-grapefruit combo) and looking forward to my first cup of coffee with the gals, and while removing the muffins from the tin, a piece broke off in my hand and I popped it in my mouth.  Without even thinking.  But the taste...it was so weird.  Aha!  Sugar.  Deborah just emailed me something about the fact that she had not eaten refined sugar for 26 days and she's right.  We haven't.  Amazing.

This Eating Plan has had it's ups and downs for me.  But recognizing that simple fact - NO SUGAR - has made me want to pat myself on the back.  Pretty big change.  And I don't even want the bad foods very much anymore.  So that's the good news.  The so-so news is that I haven't stuck to my Raw Til Dinner plan for the week.  And, until I got that note from Deborah, and was able to see the forest for the trees again, I had been feeling frustrated with myself:  where's my willpower?  I wanted to do a juice fast for pete's sake and I can't even go raw til dinner?

Maybe I'm a wimp, but I just can't go through the whole day without something more than raw vegetables and juice.  I tried juicing more.  I did that. I tried drinking more water.  Way more.  And less coffee.  And always water-and-wait before eating, just in case it was thirst not hunger.  But I woke up in the middle of the night feeling hungry.  Couldn't fall back to sleep after breastfeeding because my stomach was growling and I was miserable.

And on Wednesday morning, while scrubbing and chopping the Harmony Stew veggie mix I was preparing for dinner I found myself popping bits and pieces of parsnips and unpeeled carrots into my mouth while I chopped.  Later that morning, while making dinner for a friend who just had surgery,  I started nibbling on raw sunchockes (another vegetable I just became acquainted with this month!) and more carrots.  I was that hungry.

I find that giving my kids some of their old comfort foods really creates a willingness to try something new.  Here we have Harmony Vegetable Stew (with coconut milk and butternut squash and curry) with good ole corn on the cob, steamed peas and organic milk.

Remember when I said I hate feeling full?  Well, I hate feeling hungry too.  I think what I hated about feeling "full" was feeling bloated and uncomfortable and like the food was just going to sit there in my stomach indefinitely.  I never feel that way on this "diet" - at least not anymore.  Not when I don't eat nuts/dried fruits.  The feeling I get from satiating REAL hunger is relief.  Satisfaction.  I love the "clean" feeling my body has from running on the fuel of REAL fruits then veggies.  And I love that little buzz I get from the Green Lemonade and Tingly Juice.  What I don't love is when, by 2p.m. I have a headache.  And I'm tired.  And I can't concentrate.  And I just NEED to eat.  And there's where I had still been ending up every day until yesterday.

I had tried eating nuts/dried fruits in the afternoon and ate WAY too much in order to feel satisfied.  That didn't work.  I tried eating more fresh veggies and juicing more.  And drinking more water.  And that didn't get rid of the afternoon hunger problem.  Here's what did:  starches.  I have been trying to avoid this category the most, but maybe I shouldn't have been.  On Wednesday, I caved at lunch and had a sweet potato.  And then finished the other half of Katy's sweet potato.  And I felt SO much better.  All afternoon.  And Thursday, with my big green salad, I ate a little  leftover Harmony Stew with a sprinkle nutmeg on top and felt so much calmer.

I have been thinking a lot about what Maggie said yesterday, about me being me and you being you.  Natalia Rose doesn't lay out one specific set of rules for every person in every situation.  Nor, I imagine does any good nutritionist.  There are general rules of course.  But there needs to be flexibility because people are different and maybe need different foods.  And maybe even for one person, the nutritional needs vary day by day due to activity level and stress and social situations.  That's where we need to apply Common Sense.  Sometimes I get so focused on Following the Rules (or am in some imaginary competition with myself to not mess up) that I can't see the forest for the trees.  Come on, Beck, is it really "better" to suck down coffee so I can stick to my arbitrary decision to eat all raw til dinner or to grab a sweet potato?

As we're coming to the end of this first 30-day experiment, I'm trying to draw some conclusions about what I want my next 30 days to look like.  What works, what doesn't.  For today, it's lots of water.  Not too much coffee.  80% Raw Fruits and Veggies.  Try hard not to miscombine.  And don't be scared of starches.  It's the middle of the afternoon, and here I am typing and not crashing.  As far as I'm concerned, that's no small potatoes.

Until Tuesday,
Rebecca

Thursday, February 9, 2012

What makes Me Me and You You? (Day 25)


Dear Diary,

What makes Me Me and You You?

 “This is the question that is at the heart of the genetic puzzle. It is also central to our exploration of blood types. The key is genetic heritage - the story line of your life. Even though you are living in the 21st century, you share a common bond with your ancestors. The genetic information that resulted in their particular characteristics has been passed on to you.

People who are O blood type have a different set of characteristics than people who are Type B or Type A - they are susceptible to different diseases, they should eat different foods and exercise in a completely different manner. Some believe that personality is influenced by blood type! Dr. D'Adamo, author of the best selling books Eat Right for Your Type and Live Right for Your Type, among others, gives us a blueprint for living in his books. Read on to learn more about the Type O individual.” Dr. Peter D’Adamo
I’ve been doing a lot or reading and researching recently… And have just added these 2 books to my Amazon shopping cart. As we all know, there are an overwhelming assortment of diet & detox information available. It all gets a little overwhelming, sometimes confusing, and often contradicting. I am honestly loving the 80/20 raw “diet” and focusing on proper food combining! It is becoming habitually ‘normal’ for me. With that said, I also believe that its just not that ‘simple’ for everyone; and brings me back to the “What makes Me Me and You You” question. I mean, we are NOT all created equal, and what makes our “diets” any different? Yesterday, I was having this very enlightening conversation (with my dear friend Linda) about ‘eating for your blood type’. And I have to say, I found this topic as a whole very interesting. What is most interesting to me is that I DON’T even know my own blood type. First thing first, is to make an appointment with the Lab. Secondly, I am very interested in learning more about what I ‘should’ be eating to support my blood type.
“Type O-People with type O blood fare best on intense physical exercise and animal proteins and less well on dairy products and grains, says Dr. D'Adamo. The leading reason for weight gain among Type O's is the gluten found in wheat products and, to a lesser extent, lentils, corn, kidney beans, and cabbage, Dr. D'Adamo explains. Ideal exercises for Type O's include aerobics, martial arts, contact sports, and running.”


“Type A-Those with blood type A, however, are more naturally suited to a vegetarian diet and foods that are fresh, pure, and organic. As Type A's are predisposed to heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, "I can't emphasize how critical this dietary adjustment can be to the sensitive immune system of Type A," says Dr. D'Adamo. Type A's prefer calming, centering exercise, such as yoga and tai chi.”

“Type B-Type B's have a strong immune system and a tolerant digestive system and tend to resist many of the severe chronic degenerative illnesses, or at least survive them better than the other blood types. Type B's do best with moderate physical exercise requiring mental balance, such as hiking, cycling, tennis, and swimming.” 

“Type AB-Blood type AB, the most recent, in terms of evolution, of the four groups and an amalgam of types A and B, is the most biologically complex. For this group, a combination of the exercises for types A and B works best.”
Dr. D'Adamo. 

Does anybody know anything about this ‘topic’? To be continued…

Hmmmm...
Maggie

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Gut Feeling (Day 24)

Dear Diary,

So, I guess we all get to this point. Or maybe we don't, but I'm getting there. And since Maggie's opened the door, I'm going to step over the threshold, too. I'm having some thoughts about colon hydration, you know - colon therapy. My interest began a couple of weeks ago when thoughts from two different parts of my life seemed to come together. Let me tell you how it happened ...

First, I want to explain that I have some really wonderful people in my life. I'm married to one of them. A large number are part of my family while still others, I've met along various avenues of this life journey. Two of these people are part of the latter group, women I met through a mutual friend, now long gone, but these two connections remain strong. We live in different parts of the country now, but rarely miss a week of sitting down and connecting with one another. We share all manner of things and, to be truthful, there are precious few things we don't discuss with one another. We talk of travel and relationships, we talk of our homes and our lives, but through it all is an underlying theme of spirituality. (You're starting to wonder how in the world I'm going to tie these two things together, aren't you? Well, stay with me, but at your own discretion. I know that what I'm about to say won't be everyone's 'cup of tea'.)

I've learned a lot over the fifteen some odd years I've known these women and I continue learning. One thing I've learned of is the connection between our mind, our body, and our spirit and that we're spiritual beings having a physical experience. I used to think we learned life lessons or spiritual lessons in spite of our physical bodies, as if our bodies are burdens to be carried around. What a ridiculous notion. Then I began to realize that we have these wonderful life lessons because of our bodies. Our bodies are our vehicles. Just think of the wonderful things we experience while living in these wonderful bodies of ours. The embrace of a loved one, the sound of their voice, the feel of the wind in our hair and the sun on our face ... Rebecca just brought a beautiful new soul into this world, the ultimate in physical experiences. None of these wonders are possible without our magnificent bodies.

In this group of mine, we discuss the connection between our experiences (both past and present, both physical and emotional) our body, and our soul. I've learned that the memory of certain experiences can be held in certain parts of our bodies. I was thinking about this last week when I was reading Natalia's interview with colon therapist, Gil Jacobs. Alright, I know this sounds rather indelicate, but again, with Maggie's encouragement to 'keep this real', I'm going to go ahead and discuss this. So here we go, and don't say I didn't warn you. 

Processed food is really hard for our body to break down. Essentially, all the food gets processed out and we're left with something our body doesn't recognize. I keep hearing that over time, food that isn't digested tends to stick to the walls of our intestines. Yeah, I know, kind of a disturbing thought, isn't it? And if that's not bad enough, this stuff tends to keep building up as 'sticky sticks to sticky'. This therapist explained that those of us who grew up eating the typical American diet, no doubt have intestines impacted with undigested food consumed as far back as our childhood. Are you kidding me? Good grief!

And grief it is. Let's think about this. We've all heard that detoxing can be an emotional process. Now, I think I know why - and here's where it came together for me. Is it possible that whatever emotions we were feeling at the time we ate this stuff are still with us as well? Whether it be grief or sadness, fear or joy ... whatever that emotion was that we swallowed along with that meal, is that still in there, too? Is that why our gut is the seat of our emotion? Where we tend to hold so many feelings about our past experiences?

Okay, I'll just say it. I'm feeling a little bit crummy this week. No, not physically - physically, I feel pretty terrific. It's emotionally that I feel kind of like a ship adrift at sea. Apparently, eating raw tends to "awaken the demons from years of ... bad eating". Well, I certainly have had plenty of years of bad eating.

Ah, yes, maybe that's why I feel like I'm battling demons this week.

Rivers of peace,
deborah

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Thin Tuesday? (Day 23)

Dear Diary,
Remember when, a few years back, I used to keep that saying taped to my fridge, No food tastes as good as being skinny feels.  And, no matter how right that expression was, it rarely stopped me from opening said fridge and binging on something naughty, if I was so inclined.  It just laughed in my face when I went to put the (nearly empty, probably) container back inside when I was finished.  Like Maggie said, the remorse for eating "bad" food is instantaneous.    And for good reason.  The new saying I'd like taped to my fridge is:
No food tastes as good as eating raw feels.
You see, for me at least, eating poorly comes from one of two reasons:

1. I am eating for emotional reasons, not physical ones.
2. I am eating because I am thirsty or craving actual nutrition that I am not getting.

In the last week, I have hit a couple rough patches - and for good reason.  My daughter turned four years old, which was a bit of an emotional thing (she is getting so grown up!) AND another type of challenge too:  we had four birthday celebrations for her.  FOUR!  From the family party (bagels and donuts last Sunday) to the actual birthday celebration (lunch at the club with Grandma and Papa, which boasted ooey, gooey comfort food followed by a molten chocolate cake) to the birthday dinner at home (followed by amazing cupcakes from Sweets bakery) to the kid party (my favorite bakery's cake at home then an outing to the movie theater with 6 little girls under the age of six), I somehow managed to opt for the garden salad, the bag of carrots, the handful of berries every single time.  It was hard, really really hard.  But I did it.  I didn't lick the frosting from my fingers cutting the luscious pink cake, I didn't take even one bite of that old-fashioned glazed donut...I didn't sneak a handful of movie popcorn at Beauty and the Beast 3D...rather, I marched on, eating raw, following the rules.  Then, in the ultimate act of self-sacrifice, I choked down a glass of beet juice like it was that Three Wisemen shot I did on my 21st birthday (I know I should't admit this, it is SO uncool of me, but I HATE BEETS).  Then spent the next hour heaving and nauseous.  THAT WAS THE LAST STRAW.  I about lost it!  (As you heard in Friday's post.)

BUT..since Friday (Thursday, actually, I posted before I started the day on Friday), I have been given lots of advice, via comments and in person, that have really changed my outlook.  And I've been experimenting.  And I think I learned a lot.  Here's what I was doing wrong:

1.  I was letting myself get TOO HUNGRY (I have a big appetite anyway but being a breastfeeding mother and a runner and keeping up with the four kids means that I need to keep myself fed).  I had taken the "Fruit until lunch" rules to mean: get up at 6:30 in the morning, suck down 8-10 ounces of Green lemonade, eat a bowl of fruit, do the million things I have to do in the morning...and drink a bunch of coffee so I don't get tempted to eat anything else until lunch.  And what was happening?...I was okay, hanging in there, starting to lose it...SNAP!...STARVING (or dehydrated, masquerading as starving) and reached for something filling, like way too many nuts or a Lara Bar - something that felt "filling" -in hopes of feeling better.  That brings me to the next point.

2. I AM DEHYDRATED all the time.  I don't drink enough water.  Or juice.  And I drink way too much coffee (read: diuretic!).  Bad bad.

3.  I AM UNPREPARED.  While I have started meal planning (dinner) and juicing at night before bed if the morning will be too rushed, I have not stocked my house, my car...or my juicer...with the stuff I need for my busy, active day...and to ward off the afternoon blood sugar crash.

And speaking of that crash.  That's how I've always been.  I try mind over matter or whatever to stop myself from eating and I do okay for a while but then I have this MAJOR CRASH where I can't concentrate, can't make a decision, start snapping at Shawn and the kids, feel like I'm going to cry if I don't eat something NOW.  And, being in that position makes it really hard to make good choices.  I know the nuts/dates/Lara Bar food group (like Maggie said yesterday) is what I'm going to reach for in that situation every time because I want to feel full fast.  But there are two things wrong with that:

1. I HATE FEELING FULL.  I hate that feeling.  Full, for me, means feeling fat.  Bloated.  Sluggish.  Uncomfortable.  Hence, the immediate regret.  Also, in a weird irony, I feel more sluggish, less energy and decide to just eat more, hoping it will perk me up.  Never happens.  Damn viscous cycle.

2.  MY BODY was probably DEHYDRATED and craving less dense foods and I fed it with the wrong thing AND my body was probably craving nutrients which I just deprived it of getting by eating less nutrient-dense foods.

So...here's what I am going to do:

1. Drink 20 ounces of Green Lemonade in the morning.

2. Drink another juice at some point late morning when my blood sugar threatens to plummet.

3. DRINK WATER.  I just heard a couple of great ideas from friends at a party last weekend, and, putting them all together, this is my new WATER PLAN:  I am going to keep one of those glass to-go bottles with me at all times filled with water (I hate the taste of plastic and/or metal in my water).  I am going to Think Spa and float fruit or cucumber slices in a big glass water pitcher in my fridge.  Also, I am going to think of that pitcher as my daily water tally and make sure it's gone by the end of the day.

4. KEEP A 2-LB BAG OF BABY CARROTS WITH ME AT ALL TIMES.  Thanks, Emily for this trick.  It was a LIFE SAVER at the movie theater.  One of the perks of living in MN is that my car temperature is pretty darn close to my refrigerator temperature, so I am going to keep a bag in there at all times!  (BTW, do you think I'm going to start looking orange, like I got a spray tan, if I keep eating all these carrots?)

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, and in keeping with what Maggie said about CHEATERS NEVER WIN, I'm going to stop eating for the wrong reasons, and stop looking for the Loopholes in the Detox Diet.  No more:  Eat as Much as You Crave because it says "Raw" on the package...as a matter of fact, no more eating things that come out of a package.  Period.  Not this week.  I'd like to start thinking of Nuts, Bananas, Lara Bars in the same way I think of dark chocolate.  A lovely treat - but a little goes a long way.  They are NOT a staple of this diet, but more like an accessory.

MY PLAN FOR THIS WEEK:
  • I will drink 20 ounces of Green Lemonade every morning.
  • I will start my day with something that feels comforting but that is not cheating, namely my new UNCEREAL (a bowl of berries, drizzled in almond milk, eaten with a spoon).
  • I will then eat ONLY RAW FRUITS AND VEGETABLES UNTIL DINNER.
  • I will drink a glass of water first when I feel RAVENOUS and TWO glasses of water for every cup of coffee.
  • I will drink ONE FRUIT JUICE in the morning and MORE VEGGIE JUICES in the afternoon.
  • I will not eat from the nuts/seeds/dried fruit group as a snack, only incurring those foods if part of a planned dinner.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST: I will NOT let a small mishap set me off course but continue on, no matter what.

So, what do you think?  Will this work?  So far, so good.  Thanks, as always, for listening and for ALL THE GREAT ADVICE!

Love,
Becky