"My Bad" with photo evidence

[Mical]

Okay everyone who is waffling about staying raw or who is wondering if it's worth it, or who is trying to decide, does it really make a difference, or maybe who is just wondering who would be stupid enough to try SAD back on after being 99.7% raw for 60 days . . . well, read on . . .

That's right. I was a junk food addict, 183 lbs, and went high raw for two months to see if it would cure chronic, daily back and hip pain. You know how pain is. You feel it, you use Advil (and hopefully you don't go to the emergency room like my "healthy athletic friend" did with a bleeding stomach and almost died) and you hope it goes away. When I went high raw, it was a test to see if it could cure mid back pain that quit responding to chiropractors, acupuncture, stretching, etc. . . I highly doubted it could.

I ended up having to purchase White Willow to make it through the first three or so weeks without Advil. I hadn't realized that I had been relying on the stuff so much . . . okay, daily for at least a year.

The pain DID go away. It DID.

About a week ago, I was in a high stress environment in the middle of nowhere (truly, hours from a grocery store) and my precious sprouting, dehydrator, & blender were left behind. I had snacks with me . . they ran out . . and I crumpled. I'm an emotional eater, and my emotions were running super, super high. Not to mention, I am a two month dieter. Change for me seems to last two months before I go back to my old habits. So I made a last second choice and filled my dinner bows with my all time favorite pasta dish -skyline chili (with beef -- hey, I'm a rancher!). Mmmmm . . . but then I couldn't sleep that night due to immediate indigestion and who knows what else.

I knew I didn't want to do that again. But when I got back to civilization, I just kept doing little cheats. Popcorn at the movies, a dry organic flax waffle, etc. . . (not toooo bad, I thought). Then next thing I know, I'm at MacDonalds ordering . . . I can't even say it. I won't say it. But I ate it . . . no, I didn't super size. But I ate it.

But of course, I wouldn't do that again.

High raw again the following day, then that night, my daughter wants to celebrate at a restaurant . . . I ordered a Panini . . . don't salivate. It was disgusting. I only ate half.

The very next day, I was on the river playing with friends and my daughter. When I got the photos back I about fell over. One week of daily SAD cheats and look how my face & neck exploded. It looks like I gained 20 pounds . . . really, I only gained 5, but oh my, the difference!

The worst part is . . . my back pain came back, almost as strong as ever. Now ladies and gentlemen, those WERE bad, bad cheats. Nothing is worse than pasta and skyline or MacDonalds . . . high processed white flour, bad fats, the works . . . but look . . . I only cheated a few times. I used to LIVE like that. I hope this helps those on the fence of whether to go 100% raw or stay 70%.

Back to high raw for me. Beware those of you who want to cheat. It's written on my face. Follow this link to four images: the darker photos are when I hit 60 days raw. I took them in the middle of the night, no makeup and with a flash. I wish I had before/before photos, because the difference in my skin is dramatic. People thought I had lost 30 to 50 pounds, when in reality I had only lost 15. The lighter images in daylight are a week later after my 1 week whirl of blunders with SAD.
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=4375&page=1&sort=1

[Azianbee]

omg, unbelievable, what a huge difference!! I am sure gonna think twice b4 i cheat.

[Boz]

Mical,
I'm in the exact same raft (hahahah) as you are. Although i wasnt raw for as long, i cheated this week and I look as though I've gained 20 lbs in my face and my belly. I feel so gross right now that it is unbelievable.

We know we have to get back on track, so from this moment on no more cheating!

Also, how did you lose so much weight so fast during those 60 days. Did you eat simply or prepare many dishes?

[Mical]

Mical,
Also, how did you lose so much weight so fast during those 60 days. Did you eat simply or prepare many dishes?

Hi Boz,

Is fifteen pounds in 60 days a lot and fast? I thought it was agonizingly slow! I can lose weight faster on a low carb diet, but my skin/face/energy/back doesn't heal with a low carb diet. I told a friend yesterday (the one who took the horrifying photos) that I had my fingers crossed that raw food would heal my back when I started (thought I didn't really believe it would), but I also was kind of sad that it did . . . that is how bad my cravings were . . . but I love feeling good . . .

. . . then I looked at the photos. I want RAW RAW RAW. Yesterday I marinated veggies in a delicious sauce I made and popped them in the dehydrator -- chunks of broccoli, mushrooms, onions, red pepper, cauliflower . . . coming out of the dehydrator for 24 hours, they tasted like cooked veggies, but ten times better.

Anyway, if you didn't read my post wrong and you still want to know how I lost 15 pounds . . .

I just followed Alissa's advice (except exercise . . . I haven't been exercising very much). I ate tons in the beginning to conquer the cravings (I guess I'll have to go back to that because obviously the cravings are back) . . . and let me tell you, they were hard to fight, because I love nothing more than eating out, and in my first three weeks, I got invited to several of the best restaurants in town that I've been dying to go to for years! I went and ate salads.

I digressed. So, I bought all the gadgets recommended by Alissa, bought a couple other noncookbooks and uncooked a ton . . . sometimes I was happy with the results . . . sometimes I was so depressed I wanted to cry . . . but I always reminded myself that I was in the learning stages and it would take a while before it was easy, before I had a repetoire of things I could make easily and love. I've always been a great cook (I've cooked professionally on our ranch and toyed with gourmet cooking as a hobbie), so it is hard to start over.

I also always had lots of fruits and snacks around and crammed my mouth full whenever I got hungry. I made sure to make a lot of the cabbage salads and stuff like that because it's hard for me to eat vegetables other than salads, so having them prepared and looking gorgeous helps a lot. Also remember, I cook for an unraw and very unhealthy husband and two very healthy, partly raw kids, so I'm around cooked food and junk food (husband, employees who live in my house) all the time.

Oh, and Kombucha tea seemed to help my appetite and also gave me something tough tasting to ward off cravings for my usual pot of coffee. Towards the end, I hit days where I just wasn't that hungry, and ate a lot less . . . and then I'd hit days where I was really hungry and I'd make a pie and eat it in two days.

I just kept telling myself that I was feeding my body food it needed and I'd let my weight work itself out. That's tough for me . . . I've been a yo-yo dieter for years and years .. . and I always panic when I quit losing weight. I didn't panic this time WITH a lot of positive self-talk. "I am feeding my body the healthiest food on the planet and it is thankful and loves me and I love her! I trust her to be as beautiful as she wants to be." (do I sound as weird as I think I might? :D ) Let's face it. This diet is healthy no matter what.

I lost sight of a lot of that. It's good to remember. Probably why Alissa has us journal, which I haven't done.

Part of going off the diet started when a raw nutritionist in my area thought I'd better cut out fruits for awhile. I believe she knows what she's talking about and I bet I'd look beautiful and feel beautiful quicker if I followed her advice, but as a food addict I have to take this a little slower than that, because it kind of scared me off the path, I think. I am working with more than just a regular appetite here. I had an eating disorder for several years. I had gotten over that for the most part over the last couple of years . . . but I think it's still in the background, it still needs recognition. :eek:

Yes, let's quit cheating. Let's give our bodies the love and attention they deserve! ;)

[rawpriestess]

isn't it surprising how fast the pain comes back?


YEP, I've been there, and when you are ready you will get right back on the raw track.

[Boz]

Mical,
Thank you so much for the great information. First off, 15 lbs is alot in 60 days. That is amazing, so give yourself credit for conquering that hurdle. How much weight did you have to lose initally? or rather, what are your stats?

Secondly, that raw nutritionist that you mentioned told you to stop eating fruit for a while. What did she tell you to eat then? I dont know of anything else to eat in a day besides salads and fruits/smoothies. Did she give you more information, or was it basically just eat vegetables and greens whenever you get hungry?

Thanks in advance for your response :)

[Tirza]

Oh, and Kombucha tea seemed to help my appetite and also gave me something tough tasting to ward off cravings for my usual pot of coffee

Hi Michal,
I was wondering about that kombucha tea you mentioned:
I have heard about it on and off for years, but never tried it. After seeing your post I did a google on it and came across a site that studied several cases of severe illness (and one death) in Iowa with people who had been consuming it. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00039742.htm
Now I do realize that there are glitches that can happen with the original mushroom, people may not be handling it properly, etc. but it kind of scared me to see all the bacteria that are growing in it.
Besides all that, how can it be good when it is made with a strong black tea, heavily sweetened with white sugar? Or do you do it differently?
I am interested because I am trying several alternative methods to boost my immunity, and would try this if I were to be reassured as to its safety and about that sugar thing.
Thanks

[Conscious Midwife]

MEAT exacerbates every pain I ever had in my body!!!

OMG 1 week raw and you look like you've been dowN thru there.

That is the most amazing before and after and after shot I've ever seen.

So you are back 100% now, right ?



Gee Whiz.

No wonder wheN I was 3.5 days raw with 5 pounds down pEople were responding to me as if I had lost 25 lbs. My face and eyes must have told all, they always do!!!

[Azianbee]

Hi Mical,

Do you happen to have that veggie recipe? hehe..something that taste better than cooked veggies, I'd luv to make. :)

Tina

[Larue]

Hi Mical, When you do a before and after picture, it's important to do it in the same place with the same conditions. What I see is an outdoor picture where you're squinting, making your brow wrinkled, your mouth is open making your chin drop down and the lighting really affects the look of your skin. The other picture shows you indoors, without the squinting, so your face is relaxed and your skin is a completely different color. Your mouth is closed and face is jutted out so your chin looks smaller. I'm just saying what I see.

I do research for a living and am used to looking at evidence and documents and I can't help that all this just struck me as not a good way to show your evidence! I am not in any doubting your claims, just that it would have been so much better to see the later picture indoors in the same pose you did the week before.

[Mical]

Hi Mical, When you do a before and after picture, it's important to do it in the same place with the same conditions. What I see is an outdoor picture where you're squinting, making your brow wrinkled, your mouth is open making your chin drop down and the lighting really affects the look of your skin. The other picture shows you indoors, without the squinting, so your face is relaxed and your skin is a completely different color. Your mouth is closed and face is jutted out so your chin looks smaller. I'm just saying what I see.

I do research for a living and am used to looking at evidence and documents and I can't help that all this just struck me as not a good way to show your evidence! I am not in any doubting your claims, just that it would have been so much better to see the later picture indoors in the same pose you did the week before.

Larue,

You're absolutley right! I wasn't doing a before and after on purpose, it just happened . . . so it's not scientfic. I tend to avoid cameras. That's why I did my best to find two shots as similar as possible in poses . . though not even close to perfect. Unfortunately, the light is not very good in the flash shot, because I was taking the photos because I was amazed at how smooth my skin looked without makeup . . . and slim. I felt like I was looking at a different person.

Sorry, it's not perfect! But, the difference in the way my body feels and my face IS unbelievable . . . in real life too. I must have some kind of food allergy, because the next day going 100% raw, I dropped three of the five pounds overnight, and my back pain went away.

I am talking back pain that was consistently putting me in bed every day (with Advil), and at night when I was cooking, I had to lie down for 15 minutes just to make it through.

But back to the photos, they're not professionally done for research nor staged . . . And I'm not exactly a walking "guru" trying to change everyone's opinion . . . just amazed myself!

[Mical]

Mical,
Thank you so much for the great information. First off, 15 lbs is alot in 60 days. That is amazing, so give yourself credit for conquering that hurdle. How much weight did you have to lose initally? or rather, what are your stats?

Secondly, that raw nutritionist that you mentioned told you to stop eating fruit for a while. What did she tell you to eat then? I dont know of anything else to eat in a day besides salads and fruits/smoothies. Did she give you more information, or was it basically just eat vegetables and greens whenever you get hungry?

Thanks in advance for your response :)

Thakns Boz,

My stats? I weighed 183.5 when I started raw. In the photo, I weighed between 165.5 and 167. In the after, I was back up to 172.

The nutritionist told me to juice kale and celery. (I did once and nearly threw up it was so bad). We only spoke on the phone for about 15 minutes though, it wasn't one of her true counsels. I had missed our appointment because I had a fever, body aches, swollen glands and a sore throat. I had been fighting sore throats on and off the whole 60 days I'd been raw. That's when she recommneded kale and celery juice and to lay off fruit entirely for awhile. I asked if I could have some nuts, and she said, "a few." So I followed her advice, plus took the silver drops she advised me to take (a natural antibiotic . . . I am not a doctor and I don't have a great opinion of silver drops! So don't quote me!) However, my fever, body aches and sore throat went away the next day.

I can't tell you much more because she didnt' "see" me nor counsel me as she normally does and wanted to see me for a full consultation. I didn't go back. I probably will, but quite frankly .. . I'm scared of eating only greens! I guess I should go . . . but eh . . . you see what happens to me when I get overwhelmed!

[Mical]

MEAT exacerbates every pain I ever had in my body!!!

OMG 1 week raw and you look like you've been dow thru there.

That is the most amazing before and after and after shot I've ever seen.

So you are back 100% now, right ?



Gee Whiz.

No wonder whe I was 3.5 days raw with 5 pounds down pople were responding to me as if I had lost 25 lbs. My face and eyes must have told all, they always do!!!

So meat sets you off? I'm not sure what is was for me yet. It could be the meat . . or the dairy . . . or the white flour . . .. or the .. . I cheated on all levels! (I'm very thorough!)

I'm with you on not understanding the compliments so quickly, but I think raw really does change how we look in ways we're not seeing sometimes. Right around the time I took the 60 day shots, people were falling all over themselves to compliment me and I was like . . . "what?" I mean, people who had been seeing me nearly every day. I wish I knew what I was eating that week! My own mother who lives in town saw me for the first time in a couple of weeks just kept repeating. . . "how much weight have you lost. It looks like fifty pounds!" Then our huge, tough farrier quizzed me on what I was eating and was blown away.

I sometimes think all the attention scares me onto the crooked path.

[Mical]

Hi Michal,
I was wondering about that kombucha tea you mentioned:
I have heard about it on and off for years, but never tried it. After seeing your post I did a google on it and came across a site that studied several cases of severe illness (and one death) in Iowa with people who had been consuming it. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00039742.htm
Now I do realize that there are glitches that can happen with the original mushroom, people may not be handling it properly, etc. but it kind of scared me to see all the bacteria that are growing in it.
Besides all that, how can it be good when it is made with a strong black tea, heavily sweetened with white sugar? Or do you do it differently?
I am interested because I am trying several alternative methods to boost my immunity, and would try this if I were to be reassured as to its safety and about that sugar thing.
Thanks

I bought mine at a health food store. It's called Synergy organic & raw. It's made with organic raw kombucha & fresh juices. I'm not an expert. I'm sure some other posters who are nutritionists could answer your questions better than me. It doesn't say it's pasteurized anywhere on the bottle, but who knows. Nor does it say anything about sugar and black tea. Their number is 877-RE-Juice.

I do know that people who make their own can make mistakes, because it's a fermentation thing and cleanliness is important. Same as canning, etc. You have to be careful.

Hope that helps. I just know it helped me kick coffee and I had it bad and doubted I could get over it. FYI, I thought it would be hardest to kick, but that week I cheated . . . I didn't have any coffee. Go figure!

[Mical]

Hi Mical,

Do you happen to have that veggie recipe? hehe..something that taste better than cooked veggies, I'd luv to make. :)

Tina

Azianbee, here it is:

Szechwan Marinade (from Raw Foods for Busy People)

1/4 cup unrefined sesame oil (I used organic raw olive)
2-3 T rice wine (I don't know if that's really raw)
2-3 T Nama Shoyu (I used Tamari, don't have Nama Shoyu yet)
3 cloves garlic
1 tsp dry mustard (I used 2 - 3 tsp)
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper (I used chili powder)

I cut up big chunks of tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, red onion, red pepper, and whole little bella mushrooms

Then I marinated for a couple of hours at room temp

Then tossed it all in the dehydrator over night and had it the next night. The red pepper was over dehydrated, so you could add those in the morning, I suppose. It was so delicious! It will be a staple of mine.

My other favorite salad is from the same book (it's a small, inexpensive book)

Sweet Red Cabbage

4 cups red cabbage (thinly sliced -- I run it through the food processor)
2 pears or apples slice (same as above)
3 green onions, sliced
1 carrot grated
1/2 cup raisins or currants (I used organic dried cranberries too, mmmm)
4 Tb. apple juice or 2 TB agave syrup (I've done it both ways)
3 Tb Olive Oil
1 Tb. raw cider vinegar
1/2 tsp dry mustard
Salt and pepper to taste

[Mical]

isn't it surprising how fast the pain comes back?


YEP, I've been there, and when you are ready you will get right back on the raw track.

I have enjoyed your posts so long now RawPriestess! You are always so encouraging!

Thank you.

[vm4him77]

When you very first started raw, how long did it take for the back pain to go away? Did it go away completely?

Christy

[Mical]

Christy,

It took about a little more than a month. I remember at about week three thinking . . . ah, ha! So this is NOT going to work.

It was completely gone before I went on my bender.

It came back on the day I took the AFTER photos, but not as bad . . . about 60%. I've been raw for a couple of days now and it's back down to about 20%.

I'm amazed. I really have a hard time believing it myself.

[Conscious Midwife]

COMPLIMENTS AND ATTENTION SCARE ME SOMETIMES TOO.

I think it goes back to my late teens and early twenties when I was continuously treated like an object. Very tall fo my age, mature, articulate and slender got me lots of uninvited attention.

I do better with comments from strangers then those who know me. Hmmm