Changing my life right now

[English Tracy]

I have finally had enough of yoyo dieting and going raw for a few weeks than going back to bad food ways. I have to get a grip and so my New Year's Resolution has been made early.

I have set up a blog (details below) to follow me through my raw food journey from an overweight, tired person to a more slender, revitalised super woman.

Will anyone else be joining me? I often look at other people's blogs and journals and they are so inspiring but it would also be good to link up with others who are starting a serious lifestyle change at the same time as me.

I'm fortunate enough to be getting support from Karen Knowler, who runs The Fresh Network in England www.fresh-network.com and also works as a raw food coach www.therawfoodcoach.com She has done the transition to raw and is very motivating so is the ideal person to keep me on track.

Check in the 'About' section of the blog page to see a current photo of me and some other details. You can also post comments (nice encouraging ones please!!) for me.

Best wishes.

Tracy


www.rawfoodjournal.typepad.com

[raw-siobhan]

I am so sorry about Mitzi. I really, truly hope there is nothing medically wrong with her. If that turns out to be the case and if you do decide to take her back home may I suggest a product I have just started using. It is called "Comfort Zone" by Farnam with Feliway. It has synthetic cat facial pherimones in it and I have read rave reviews by people who bought it. I have only had it in the house for several days and it says it does take up to a month to have a full effect on the cat. I have several cats and I bought it as a destressor for them, as it can be stressful to have multiple cats in the same house. If you would like, I can keep you updated on how it works. Anyways, I am not finished reading your blog, but I wanted to let you know about my cat situation before I forgot and just wish you the best of luck with Mitzi.

Also, I am working on getting to 100% RAW, but it has been a struggle for me as my addictions/cravings kick in the very moment I decide to go RAW each time and I just havent exercized enough discipline thus far. Again, my best wishes. I will be following your blog. :)

[SedonaSun]

How sad and traumatic to maybe have to make a life and death decision for a reason you're not sure about. I feel for you.

I had a cat once who would bite my feet and pee on stuff all of a sudden. I gave him away to a friend who knew about his behavior -- he took the cat to a vet and turned out he had a hormone imbalance. I thought he was just a brat and never thought about the vet.

I imagine your vet would have checked for that, but it's something to ask about if he/she didn't.

As for the serious raw... I'm with you! I'm actually contemplating a year long challenge. Just a no-nonsense, just do it life change. By then I'll be thin and healthy and raw will be my life. That's the plan.

My blog is http://rawintucson.blogspot.com Hasn't been updated in a month, but I will start writing regularly as I go through this.

[rawpriestess]

Tracy,

we are all here for you, and for Mitzi, please keep us posted on both.

[English Tracy]

I spoke to the vet a little while ago and she has said because Mitzi has become so aggressive that no other rescue organisation will take her. Since being at the vet's, Mitzi is hissing and spitting at anyone who goes near her. The vet said if she was a dangerous dog she would have to be put to sleep under terms of UK legislation. The vet said such behaviour is very unusual in a domestic cat.

The vet has advised me that it would be best to put Mitzi to sleep. She said she will probably continue to attack and that cat bites can be fatal. We can't take the risk. The other option is very expensive tests - an MRI scan will cost about £4000 plus lots of blood tests etc. We don't have pet insurance as we haven't had her long and we can't afford to pay out that much especially as the vet said a) the tests may reveal nothing and b) she may still have to be put to sleep.

I'm leaving work early to go and say goodbye to Mitzi at the vet's, but I don't think she will recognise me and will still be in this weird frame of mind that has made her unstable. I can't bear to be with her at the end - my mother said it may be traumatic as she may fight the vet - but want Mitzi to know that she is loved.

Thank you all for your kind words.

Tracy

[English Tracy]

I left work early to go and see Mitzi at the vet's. At first she was a bit snarly and hissy but when the vet’s assistant left she started meowing as if to say she didn’t understand what was going on. I’m sure she recognised me as she calmed down enough for me to touch her head through the cage. The vet’s assistant said she didn’t think I should get Mitzi out of the cage as she still seemed unstable.

The vet was going to put Mitzi to sleep later in the evening so by now she will be gone.

I just wanted sweet little Mitzi to know that she was loved. I miss her already.

Tracy

[MsBananaHammock]

Good luck Tracy! :) Make sure to have some yummy substitutes planned for when you get those icky cravings:p

[SedonaSun]

Oh, Tracy, I'm so sorry! I can only imagine what it's like for you today. I'm sorry you had to make a choice like that. Many hugs!

[raw-siobhan]

I am so sorry for your loss. I lost my dog about a year ago...she was old and very sick, so I opted to have her put down as she had severe congestive heart failure, etcetera. I went with her and held her while she passed. While I felt good about being with her, I have to admit that the memory will stay with me forever and I simply cant get rid of those last few sad moments...not a pretty thing for me to take to my own grave, unfortunately...so perhaps it is best that you werent there with her. I hope this isnt offensive, but with all my heart I know our sweet animals go to a better place and for Mitzi's sake I am very, very happy. For you and your family members, however, I hope you will recover from the loss quickly. :(

[RawTruth]

I lost one of my dogs a few months ago after a hit-and-run. She was always a runner and a workman left the door open a bit ... and the next thing I knew the neighbors were screaming, I was carrying her bleeding to the car, then racing to the emergency animal hospital. She ended up being put to sleep the next day and the best decision I made was NOT to be there as she took her last breath. It's been a long time until I didn't cry when I thought about it ... and I know that image would have never left me. As it was, the **** hospital sent me a card afterward with an ink footprint they'd made from her paw (like a new baby footprint!). What the h***!! That was supposed to make me feel better? Way too painful.

Obviously, I, too, think it'll be best for you in the long run that you weren't there.

So sorry for your loss.

[rawpriestess]

Tracy, I am so sorry for your loss, I have had many pets in my life, and each one still lives in my heart.

I have held them while they were put to sleep, I have held them while they passed naturally, and I have left them to the vet, nothing I did ever helped me get through it.

Each time one passed, it felt like I lost a child, part of my heart, and I still remember each one of them with utmost love and affection.

Playing with a ball, in the yard, curled up at my feet, scittering across the kitchen floor, waiting to be fed.

They are all unique beings and blessed, they are all angels, loving us unconditionally, no matter what we look like, or say, or do, or own, or even when we forget to feed them, they still love us deeply.

Please know that whatever Mitzi was going through was not about you, it was an imbalance she had somehow, and having the strength to allow the vet to do what he had to do, is the bravest thing you could ever do.

She will always love you for being her person, and know that she is now able to romp and scurry and play with her katnip mouse in heaven.

Animals do go to heaven, I've seen them there, and she will be waiting for you and her family of humans when they all pass too.

Rest assured, that she is now happy and her playful kitty self laying in the cool grass in the sun, with her belly up, sun bathing while she sips on catnip wine, and nibbles on mousie parts.

She's happy now, probably chasing an ellusive butterfly.

[trinity082482]

You can do it! =)

[luckitri]

I can feel my deceased pets just as I can feel my deceased ancestors and even my husbands ancestors (just the closest ones on his side). I don't know what this means but I think it is because of the love. How the love can transmit beyond generations I also don't understand (how I can feel our relatives that I never met in this life)......and how is it that I know who they are? With our pets, I think that when we have exchanged love with our pet, well it seems that it is true that other animals know and respect that (not all.) I think that if it is a cat, other cats will know right away that you had this bond with Mitzi. Another cat will try to take her place - wanting also to share that bond with you - as if the new cat knows there is a current void in your life. Well, not "as if" - I believe that the animals "see" things in ways that we do not - because our rational mind has been trained to require proof - so I therefore believe that all the cats can see that you had a strong relationship with a cat and that the cat part is missing. The cat that is desirous of having such a relationship with a human (the cat can see what kind of relationship) will choose you. The other cats will stay away. I often wonder if other people sense this the way that I do. I cried for a days for a cat once. It shamed me because I cried more for her than a human.

[Raw Jewelrylady]

My heart goes out to you during this difficult time. :(

Just so you know-your post made a difference in my life-as I downloaded the e-book from Karen-it's great & had motivated me back to Raw.

All my best wishes.

Lana

[English Tracy]

Thank you all so much for your kind words. I had a tearful moment in the supermarket last night when I was shopping with my husband. I passed the aisle with all the catfood in and I became so upset that I started crying. Lord knows what the other shoppers must have thought.

I didn't realise you could become so attached to animals in such a short time. We only had Mitzi for 3 months and I have really missed her this week.

Tracy