So, after completely blowing my Raw diet Sunday and Monday after only three days success. I sat and thought for a few days, toyed with my food, keeping at about 80% raw, and basically feeling like a complete and utter failure.
I didn't fail.
I learned my limitations.
I know staying RAW during Ohio's extreme's in weather is going to be difficult. I wasn't prepared for just how difficult. I think warm liquids are the answer and so have spent my time searching for raw drinks and soups to warm my body and soul. I am fairly anxious to try some of them...
But that will have to wait until I finish eating all of the mangoes, tomatoes, and melons, I bought for the next week or so...
Today I am going RAW...AGAIN! I am Meditating, Visualizing Success, and still watching Motivational YouTube Videos. I love Dan the Man...he struck a cord with me...he may or may not move you. Here is one of his videos:
How To Start A Raw Food Diet Today
I like Dan's simplistic approach.
In other news, HUBBY is now COMPLETELY ON BOARD!!!!!!
He isn't promising 100% raw, but he is willing to eat all-raw meals with me, and after sitting and holding my hand while I cried for two days over being such a pathetic loser (I know I'm not really...now) I think he's relieved I'm giving it one more go-around. I also asked him to be my raw-police in addition to being my MSG-police, since he does such an awesome job protecting me from MSG. Now he's being entrusted to protect me all forms of cooked food. Wish Me/Us Luck!!!
Today's Food Breakdown:
Breakfast: 150 Cal, 5.0 fat
Banana
8 Almonds
Hot Tea - an English Breakfast blend (I'll limit this one because it does have caffeine, but as far as warming the soul goes...this one is nice:)
24 ounces water - after, not during the meal
Lunch: 45 Cal, 0.8 fat
Heirloom Tomatoes
3 Ginger Carrot Crackers
24 ounces water - after, not during the meal
Snack: 115 cal, 0.1 fat
Orange Juice
Dinner: 250 Cal, 16.8 fat
Stuffed and Dehydrated Spicy Portabella Mushrooms and Mimi Kirk's Raw Caesar Salad
24 ounces water - after, not during the meal
Total: 560 cal, 22.7 fat or 39%
Food Summary:
The fat intake today is a disaster. Even when I was eating meat and cheese I never topped 28%. So this is bad. How am I ever going to maintain a less than 10% fat diet if every raw recipe calls for a bazillion nuts?
Time to do some nut research and see if the types of fat in nuts will make my RA go as crazy as the fat in meat and cheese...
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Day Four: Disaster
Okay, no worries, it wasn't a life-or-death tragedy, just a temperature drop from 105*F to 52*F over night. I froze to death working at the Ohio Renaissance Festival and to make matters worse did not go prepared with the appropriate food for such a temperature shift...
I started out holding a baked potato wrapped in foil to keep my fingers warm... and then I ate it.
To make matters worse, we had company for dinner and although I was prepared to face a cooked meal with just my salad, I caved...
I'm blaming the damn weather, and my weak resolve...
The spaghetti tossed with garlic and sun-dried tomatoes was yummy. The home-made Italian bread, dipped in garlic butter was the true nemesis. I could eat my weight in just bread. Love. love, love it. Now I gotta figure out a way to say goodbye to it...or make peace with my addiction. That, my friends, is a worry for another day because I am too tired to breath and I hurt in places a body shouldn't hurt.
Tomorrow's weather bodes for a repeat of the same and I am too exhausted to think about meal planning.
I'm going to bed and hoping for the best, because the effort my body is exerting to digest the cooked food has stolen any reserve of energy I had left. Good night.
I started out holding a baked potato wrapped in foil to keep my fingers warm... and then I ate it.
To make matters worse, we had company for dinner and although I was prepared to face a cooked meal with just my salad, I caved...
I'm blaming the damn weather, and my weak resolve...
The spaghetti tossed with garlic and sun-dried tomatoes was yummy. The home-made Italian bread, dipped in garlic butter was the true nemesis. I could eat my weight in just bread. Love. love, love it. Now I gotta figure out a way to say goodbye to it...or make peace with my addiction. That, my friends, is a worry for another day because I am too tired to breath and I hurt in places a body shouldn't hurt.
Tomorrow's weather bodes for a repeat of the same and I am too exhausted to think about meal planning.
I'm going to bed and hoping for the best, because the effort my body is exerting to digest the cooked food has stolen any reserve of energy I had left. Good night.
Day Three
Today was the start of Ohio Renaissance Festival and I was able to work!! (After announcing my retirement due to health reasons last year) So that made me very, very happy.
One hundred and five degrees in the shade did not make me happy...
I dropped five pounds.
I'm not hungry. I haven't been hungry all day. Air-conditioning spoiled me this year, not that I'm complaining about all the modern conveniences of the new house. I like air conditioning, and filtered artesian well water, and lots of space to disappear in...
Food today was:
Breakfast:
Goatblood Smoothie (seriously, all it is is beet's and strawberries)
Lunch:
Mango Salad
Dinner:
Tomatoes
I didn't do a calorie/fat breakdown...I know it's low, probably too low...
I drank a ton of water and went prepared with 2 bottles lime water, I love lime water...
Lime Water Recipe
Juice 6 key limes
1 T honey
24 ounces water
One hundred and five degrees in the shade did not make me happy...
I dropped five pounds.
I'm not hungry. I haven't been hungry all day. Air-conditioning spoiled me this year, not that I'm complaining about all the modern conveniences of the new house. I like air conditioning, and filtered artesian well water, and lots of space to disappear in...
Food today was:
Breakfast:
Goatblood Smoothie (seriously, all it is is beet's and strawberries)
Lunch:
Mango Salad
Dinner:
Tomatoes
I didn't do a calorie/fat breakdown...I know it's low, probably too low...
I drank a ton of water and went prepared with 2 bottles lime water, I love lime water...
Lime Water Recipe
Juice 6 key limes
1 T honey
24 ounces water
Friday, September 2, 2011
Day Two
I feel amazing and surprisingly did not wake up starved to death like I thought I would. Later in the day however, I did start craving carbs a little... the antidote, which I won't be able to take advantage of until tomorrow, is Carrot Ginger Crackers I'm dehydrating overnight. For today, I settled for a handful of raw nuts.
Breakfast: 125 cal 0.4 fat
Goat's Blood Smoothie
**made with beets and strawberries, so don't worry, no animals were harmed in the making of this smoothie
Lunch: 150 cal. 1.5 fat
Almost-Raw Cous Cous Salad
**see yesterday's post for recipe
Mid-day Snack 250 cal, 0.7
Sushi, raw tuna and raw veggies wrapped in raw nori (www.rawguru.com)
Pickled Ginger
Dinner: 44 cal 0.4 fat
Heirloom Tomatoes
**each meal was followed by 24 ounces of water, I do not drink during meals
Again, I was really worried about the total calorie count and added the sushi midday due to that fact. Still, even with the sushi my count seemed low. Also, I had a few MSG allergy issues (migraine) after eating the sushi even though I though I was being very careful and read all the labels. So, I'm not sure what's up with that... and in fact, in hindsight, the cous cous may be the true culprit, not the sushi.
Total cal: 569
Total fat: 3.0, 7% fat
Going forward I will eventually have to address the calorie issue, but since I could stand to lose twenty pounds, I'm not worried for now -- as long as my energy stays high, and right now, it's pretty dang high, even after the migraine...
Breakfast: 125 cal 0.4 fat
Goat's Blood Smoothie
**made with beets and strawberries, so don't worry, no animals were harmed in the making of this smoothie
Lunch: 150 cal. 1.5 fat
Almost-Raw Cous Cous Salad
**see yesterday's post for recipe
Mid-day Snack 250 cal, 0.7
Sushi, raw tuna and raw veggies wrapped in raw nori (www.rawguru.com)
Pickled Ginger
Dinner: 44 cal 0.4 fat
Heirloom Tomatoes
**each meal was followed by 24 ounces of water, I do not drink during meals
Again, I was really worried about the total calorie count and added the sushi midday due to that fact. Still, even with the sushi my count seemed low. Also, I had a few MSG allergy issues (migraine) after eating the sushi even though I though I was being very careful and read all the labels. So, I'm not sure what's up with that... and in fact, in hindsight, the cous cous may be the true culprit, not the sushi.
Total cal: 569
Total fat: 3.0, 7% fat
Going forward I will eventually have to address the calorie issue, but since I could stand to lose twenty pounds, I'm not worried for now -- as long as my energy stays high, and right now, it's pretty dang high, even after the migraine...
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Off To A Strong Start!
I woke up thinking about RAW...and smiled...because I feel like I made a miraculous transition in mental state. Maybe it's just the first day of something new, but I felt strong, and still feel strong after an entire day.
Here's what was on the menu:
Breakfast: 105 cal, 0.5 fat
1 Banana
1 Apple
cup herb tea (peppermint) (drank after meal, not during)
**Normal I start the day with a smoothie...I have for almost a solid year now. Strangely, this morning, I pulled forward the blender, lined up the fruit...and ate the banana. Then I diced up the mango for later and mixed with the blueberries. I sat looking at the apple for awhile and decided, "What the heck" and ate it. So breakfast was a little strange for me, but pleasantly enjoyable.
Lunch: 250 cal, 0.5 fat
Blueberry Mango Salad
24 oz water (after meal not during)
Dinner: 150 cal, 1.5 fat
Couscous Salad
24 oz water (after meal, not during)
**recipe below
**also, since I immediately had a raw friend tell me I couldn't eat couscous because couscous isn't raw, and wheat, which is a "dead" product. I have a few things to say about that:
First, made traditionally, couscous is a raw product. Granted, all couscous made in the US is cooked. Hence I found a "how to" video for making traditional couscous and will try that method next go around. If successful, I'll share the experience...obviously...and if I fail miserably, I'll probably try a few more times before I declare defeat online. Either way, you'll know eventually. I'm attaching the how to video at the end of this post in case you want to give it a go yourself.
Second, the whole dead vs alive argument could take whole novels at length to argue out. Here's my opinion...Grain, like seeds, are not dead, merely hibernating. They can be sprouted. Granted, there's no sprouting my semolina flour. It's a goner. But, it my humble opinion, if a few grains of semolina can help me stay raw, then I'll take a 99% raw-foodie label for now. Ditto on the honey...
Summary of my day, I feel good, I'm not hungry. I listened to calming music, I meditated, I did yoga, I spent some time in my garden and I walked a mile. I doesn't get any better than that. I have energy to spare. My only concern is today's total calorie count. I am pleased with being able to maintain less than 10% fat easily.
Total calories: 505
Total Fat: 2.5 g - according to www.fitday.com is 4%
Recipe:
Almost-Raw CousCous Salad
1/4c dry couscous, hydrated
1 large bunch broccoli, heads only chopped fine
1 pkg baby portabella mushrooms, diced
1 vidalia onion, diced
2 heirloom tomatoes, diced
1 large handful bibb lettuce or heirloom type mixed greens
juice 1 lime
1 T honey
3 cloves garlic
6 basil leaves chopped (or 1T dried herbs to taste)
Hydrate couscous
In bowl mix juice of lime with honey, add minced garlic and herbs...set aside while dicing veggies, adding veggies as chopped. Add couscous. Chill. Add tomatoes and lettuce just before serving.
How To:
Make Traditional CousCous, recipe according to Ibn Razin, at Tugibi, 13th century, Andalusia
Here's what was on the menu:
Breakfast: 105 cal, 0.5 fat
1 Banana
1 Apple
cup herb tea (peppermint) (drank after meal, not during)
**Normal I start the day with a smoothie...I have for almost a solid year now. Strangely, this morning, I pulled forward the blender, lined up the fruit...and ate the banana. Then I diced up the mango for later and mixed with the blueberries. I sat looking at the apple for awhile and decided, "What the heck" and ate it. So breakfast was a little strange for me, but pleasantly enjoyable.
Lunch: 250 cal, 0.5 fat
Blueberry Mango Salad
24 oz water (after meal not during)
Dinner: 150 cal, 1.5 fat
Couscous Salad
24 oz water (after meal, not during)
**recipe below
**also, since I immediately had a raw friend tell me I couldn't eat couscous because couscous isn't raw, and wheat, which is a "dead" product. I have a few things to say about that:
First, made traditionally, couscous is a raw product. Granted, all couscous made in the US is cooked. Hence I found a "how to" video for making traditional couscous and will try that method next go around. If successful, I'll share the experience...obviously...and if I fail miserably, I'll probably try a few more times before I declare defeat online. Either way, you'll know eventually. I'm attaching the how to video at the end of this post in case you want to give it a go yourself.
Second, the whole dead vs alive argument could take whole novels at length to argue out. Here's my opinion...Grain, like seeds, are not dead, merely hibernating. They can be sprouted. Granted, there's no sprouting my semolina flour. It's a goner. But, it my humble opinion, if a few grains of semolina can help me stay raw, then I'll take a 99% raw-foodie label for now. Ditto on the honey...
Summary of my day, I feel good, I'm not hungry. I listened to calming music, I meditated, I did yoga, I spent some time in my garden and I walked a mile. I doesn't get any better than that. I have energy to spare. My only concern is today's total calorie count. I am pleased with being able to maintain less than 10% fat easily.
Total calories: 505
Total Fat: 2.5 g - according to www.fitday.com is 4%
Recipe:
Almost-Raw CousCous Salad
1/4c dry couscous, hydrated
1 large bunch broccoli, heads only chopped fine
1 pkg baby portabella mushrooms, diced
1 vidalia onion, diced
2 heirloom tomatoes, diced
1 large handful bibb lettuce or heirloom type mixed greens
juice 1 lime
1 T honey
3 cloves garlic
6 basil leaves chopped (or 1T dried herbs to taste)
Hydrate couscous
In bowl mix juice of lime with honey, add minced garlic and herbs...set aside while dicing veggies, adding veggies as chopped. Add couscous. Chill. Add tomatoes and lettuce just before serving.
How To:
Make Traditional CousCous, recipe according to Ibn Razin, at Tugibi, 13th century, Andalusia
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Countdown to RAW
Okay, I know, I know...I keep saying (how many years now?) I am going RAW 100%... and a few days ago I made the decision to "go for it" because every day I was getting bombarded with MSG. I honestly believe it is in everything. Hot sauce shot me down...I was on the couch with a blinding headache and excruciating gut pain for an entire evening. Parmesan on my Caesar salad the day after that...same story. And then after every MSG attack I have joint pain for 48-72 hours! How am I supposed to figure out if the Simponi is working if I keep having MSG reactions?
Hubby has promised he is in for 30 days. Do I expect to change his life? No.
Do I expect to change my own life? Definitely.
I've always been the one to do the positive motivating and life coaching...as Sensei and as Guru. I'm entering new territory here. This is scary stuff. I have 47 years of SAD food conditioning to overcome. I talked to hubby about the standard three meals a day I've grown accustomed to. That model won't work for RAW. At least not for me. I've had too many blood sugar crashes. I'll have to learn to graze...
September 1,2011. That's my start day.
The cupboards are almost completely bare and ready to be filled with raw goodness. I have a grocery list.
I was so excited when I came up with this plan a few short days ago. I was on cloud nine. But as the deadline approaches, I'm getting worried. I've failed so many times. Will this be one more? And this after being 70% raw for most of this year. I know, insane right? I should be ready by now.
What's holding me back?
Dairy?
Bread?
Meat? I really don't think this is an issue at all. Seriously. Fifteen years of being ovo-vegan prepared me to go meatless, although that almost raw, rawer than rare steak two weeks ago was amazing. That was my downfall when I fell of the vegan wagon in 2007. Bloody steak. I think I've decided that my anemia was the culprit then. I was severely anemic. I'm still anemic but not nearly as bad. I may need to figure that part out sooner rather than later.
In the meantime I need the motivator to come to me...and what better way than via youtube?
Enjoy the show...
Now listen...same guy, no flash...really. listen.
http://www.markusrothkranz.com/rsf08_21m.mp3
Hubby has promised he is in for 30 days. Do I expect to change his life? No.
Do I expect to change my own life? Definitely.
I've always been the one to do the positive motivating and life coaching...as Sensei and as Guru. I'm entering new territory here. This is scary stuff. I have 47 years of SAD food conditioning to overcome. I talked to hubby about the standard three meals a day I've grown accustomed to. That model won't work for RAW. At least not for me. I've had too many blood sugar crashes. I'll have to learn to graze...
September 1,2011. That's my start day.
The cupboards are almost completely bare and ready to be filled with raw goodness. I have a grocery list.
I was so excited when I came up with this plan a few short days ago. I was on cloud nine. But as the deadline approaches, I'm getting worried. I've failed so many times. Will this be one more? And this after being 70% raw for most of this year. I know, insane right? I should be ready by now.
What's holding me back?
Dairy?
Bread?
Meat? I really don't think this is an issue at all. Seriously. Fifteen years of being ovo-vegan prepared me to go meatless, although that almost raw, rawer than rare steak two weeks ago was amazing. That was my downfall when I fell of the vegan wagon in 2007. Bloody steak. I think I've decided that my anemia was the culprit then. I was severely anemic. I'm still anemic but not nearly as bad. I may need to figure that part out sooner rather than later.
In the meantime I need the motivator to come to me...and what better way than via youtube?
Enjoy the show...
Now listen...same guy, no flash...really. listen.
http://www.markusrothkranz.com/rsf08_21m.mp3
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Still Dealing With MSG Issues!
All the prepackaged food is gone from the pantry...
There is no eating out. Period. So I am making everything from scratch, right down to the condiments like mustard, mayonnaise, and barbecue sauce...
And still I'm having MSG issues:
Blinding headaches (migraine or cluster)
Severe abdominal pain
Debilitating fatigue
Joint pain
(How do I know it's just not the RA I'm dealing with? Because all of these symptoms manifest within 30-45 minutes of eating anything with MSG...)
So where is it hiding? There will be a video at the end of this post that really delves into the problem. So here is where I found MSG this week ... my whole chicken (its in the liquid and the water that's injected into the bird (our govt says up to 30% liquid is allowable)), it was in my spices (the garlic and turmeric were imported from China and were not labeled)...
Call me frustrated...
This video explains a lot:
There is no eating out. Period. So I am making everything from scratch, right down to the condiments like mustard, mayonnaise, and barbecue sauce...
And still I'm having MSG issues:
Blinding headaches (migraine or cluster)
Severe abdominal pain
Debilitating fatigue
Joint pain
(How do I know it's just not the RA I'm dealing with? Because all of these symptoms manifest within 30-45 minutes of eating anything with MSG...)
So where is it hiding? There will be a video at the end of this post that really delves into the problem. So here is where I found MSG this week ... my whole chicken (its in the liquid and the water that's injected into the bird (our govt says up to 30% liquid is allowable)), it was in my spices (the garlic and turmeric were imported from China and were not labeled)...
Call me frustrated...
This video explains a lot:
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