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 

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

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