Drinks....The impact?

[Fuzzball]

All,

My wife and I continue our attempt to be 100% raw. We succeed more than we fail, with the exception of what we drink.

She has begun drinking a non-coffee coffee made with organic beans of some kind (Called Maya or something).

I, on the other hand will drink my green tea (two to three 12 oz cups per day) and a couple of "Chrystal Light" type drinks.

So, my question...here is my daily diet (with some modifications, but typical)

Fruit (Banana, Mango, Apple)
Carrot bits (Two carrotts)
Raw Corn Chips or Flax crackers (about the equivalent of a small SAD bag of chips)
Two Cabbage Wraps (filled with various and sundry veggies, sliced and diced) about the size of a burrito, covered in raw homemade salsa.
another fruit.
Salad (tupperware sandwich bowl size) with greens, maybe some dehydrated ("Fried") mushrooms, covered in 1/8 cup same salsa as above.
Evening Salad (Big...very big....about 4 cups or so....)

In amongst all of that, I drink two cups of green tea, 12 oz each with 2 splenda packets each. I also drink two 16 oz Christal Light drinks and I have one energy drink (8.4 oz, zero sugar, zero carb, 4900% of B12 Daily Recommended). I take an organic multivitamin/multimineral twice per day and prescription medications for High BP and Diabetes.

I will often supplement any "misses" with a digestive enzyme made from plant concentrates including spirulina and parsley.

So, now that you know what my entire day looks like, how much damage am I doing to my desire to be drug free and fat free by using the drinks that are not "Raw"?

Thanks in advance for your input.

[VeganVixen]

I think your doing great ,If a few non-raw drinks help you eat raw ,then great -eventually your taste will change, and water with lemon and stevia would be a good idea to replace the crystal light ,if you felt like eliminating that.

[Revvell]

I'm not clear on why you are drinking those things anyway. Just by the very question, I'm thinking you know the answer. Why not some fresh, organic orange juice, a green smoothie or, as VV suggested, water with lemon).

If you really desire to be drug free, then, drop the drugs! As far as the medication drugs go, of course, you need to deal with your doctor on that yet, my guess is, drop the caffeine and see your bp drop.

Here's the thing, either you are attempting to go raw, or you are going raw and if all that's stopping you from do so is what you drink, then, change what you are drinking.

Simple, eh?

Injoy ~

Revvell

[asil]

Well, I'm a person who does better making changes step by step -- too radical and I always seem to fail. It took me about 2 years to completely let go of sweets. Now I could not care less about anything with sugar in it, or even overly sweet foods in general (including raw desserts). It took me about 3 months to let go of my 12 pack of Diet Coke a day habit. Now I can't imagine why I ever liked them.

So if you're more comfy letting go little by little, I say that's OK. The only thing in your list that seems a bit disturbing to me is artificial sweetener. I think the stuff is pure evil. And, there's been lots of news about it causing insulin spikes as bad as those caused by sucrose. I could simply not get rid of sugar cravings until I stopped with the Diet Cokes. Maybe you could make a sweet drink with juice + water + honey or stevia? You could even use fizzy water to make it extra refreshing. What about lemonade?

Whatever you do, good luck and keep it up!

[sachis2112]

Actually the question was "how much damage" and not "am I damaging". So I think you know you're doing damage but you're not ready to be 100%.

Although I haven't had a drop of coffee for well over a week, I was willing to let it go if I did because I was still a good bit on the "better off" side.

I'm sorry that I can't give you scientific fact here. I'm a new rawbie too.

[Fuzzball]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the comments.

I suppose I should try doing the tea without sweetener. I have to have something in the morning, even though I barely take 3 sips on the hour long drive into the office. The other drinks are just because they taste so much better than regular water.

I filter all my water with a filtration system that is NSF certified to remove 99%+ of the contaminants in water, including things like cryptosporidium and other nasty little bugs. Even then I don't like the taste. I also don't like adding Lemon or Lime. I had to do something and I can't overfill myself with sugar until I get off the Diabetes pills.

We don't yet have a juicer or vitamix....so I don't get any good for me raw drinks yet.

Anyways, I haven't been seeing any difference on the scales, so I was wondering if these drinks may be impacting me. I know that I have cheated a few times and I also know that I get feeling quite ill when I do. However, tonight I put my suit on and, since last week I am able to get about a half inch more room in there. I knew I had taken my belt in one notch, but I figured that was just me forcing it, but tonight I proved that the inches loss is not my imagination.

We'll see how the next few days go. Now that I've substituted snacking on Carrot sticks and squash or cucumber for the unsoaked nuts, I think I'm getting the benefits I was looking for.

I'll have to keep the energy drink regardless....considering that the B12 is so high and they taste so good, I'm gonna force myself to drink them (not a problem today!!)

Thanks for all the input!

[Pailani]

Have you tried stevia drops? They seem to work better in some things than others. I don't like it in tea, but I love it in smoothies. Maybe you could try making a lemonade with it? Or find a tea it works with?

[jennplas]

I just wanted to add... i think crystal light contains aspartame (if i remember well) and the first ingredient in splenda is maltodextrin or something like that.. and the information i had on that a while back that made me stop consuming it was that maltodextrin contains MSG. (if i remember well i got that info on MSGMyth.com ) . That site actually started me on my journey here. (long story)

i gave up on drinking anything but water! hehehe :)

good luck and way to go on your journey so far! it is incredible!

jennP

[Sweet lips]

Welcome Mr and Mrs. Fuzzball,

Thought I would jump in here for a moment - I understand you need for something, however, are you using splenda and/or sugar substitutes for a reason because you are a diabetic or because weight-loss?

Try agave nectar available from your local healthfood store - I have found raw as well (my lady will order for me). It is from catus - does not elevate your sugar levels which will increase cravings - as I diabetic, I am acutely aware of the should, should nots, can and cants and all those other things that may affect me.

You may not be aware that unless your package says so - green tea has caffiene, thus it as well as the artifical sweetner, could be slowing down your weightloss.

I suggest to you - throw out the scale or just put it out of sight, and allow your body to determine how it is going to flow. Drink your water -please, add lemon to it so that it takes like lemonade or even as your tea and gradually decrease the additives until it is pure H20 - I do know the longer I eat raw, the more water I desire. I no longer add stuff to it - I do, however, love ice cold water - it is just my choice.

It is nice to hear that you and your wife are doing this together - keep writing and keep striving, you will reach the goal that you are attempting to reach. Besides, I betcha y'all are having fun fun fun - as you grow and gain energy.

[Fuzzball]

Thanks Sweet Lips....


Yes, I've been diagnosed as Type II and have had high blood pressure. I'm using the splenda for the diabetes more than the weight loss, because I just can't stand the taste of plain water right now...(but...self talk rules require me to say I am going to love it soon!!)

I hardly ever get on the scale, I'm using my cloths and my freinds comments to keep me going. Typically I jump on once per week just to get a hard number.

My wife and I are quite a pair...I need to lose the equivalent of what she currently weighs (without losing her ! !). I'm 1/4th the way there and going.

Thanks for your input...I'll be thinking long and hard about that. I'll see about trying the agave nectar too....why not...considering all the new things I've already tried.

[Sweet lips]

FuzzBalls - I know, I just like the idea of adding your names together - I actually have a sweater that I love so much with little fuzzballs on it and anyway, as I digress - back to the subject:

You can really do this- I too am a diabetic, with high blood pressure, but raw has made a difference, a great big difference. I too have weight to lose and so shall I, as you will.

Now, with the water thing - Fuzz, try this - one glass of water per hour with added lemon, or even an apple juice to flavor it- and do it cold.

I will support you Fuzz any way that I can because I too am on this journey.

P.M. me or write me here, ask any questions that you choose, I will avail myself to you.

[VeganVixen]

you should REALLY try essenced sparkling la criox water ,you can get it at central market (go for the berry first then orange or lime) ,they are unsweetened but great and best of all they come in cans and are 3 something for 12 or in large liter bottles for 89 cents heres the web site for more info http://www.lacroixwater.com/

[Sweet lips]

V.V. -girl you are on point with that - I forgot the flavored sparkling waters - I go for a brand that carries a cherry -somebody please if you can chime in - and I love it ice cold.

It does do wonders for my palate.

[rawpriestess]

Hi,

I think what you and your wife is doing sounds wonderful.

I would be more concerned with the artificial sweetners and the crystal light, than the tea, which is natural.

Low glycemic sweeteners are stevia, it is a plant, and I actually grow it in my garden, but you can get it in drops or white powder.

If you like the taste of lemon aid it is easy to make with real lemon juice, water and stevia. You can also make many herb teas, my hubby walks in the meadow and picks wild camomile and makes me tea every morning, also dandelion, stinging nettle, mint, clover, horsetail, etc.

Good luck

[Fuzzball]

FuzzBalls - I know, I just like the idea of adding your names together - I actually have a sweater that I love so much with little fuzzballs on it and anyway, as I digress - back to the subject:

You can really do this- I too am a diabetic, with high blood pressure, but raw has made a difference, a great big difference. I too have weight to lose and so shall I, as you will.

Now, with the water thing - Fuzz, try this - one glass of water per hour with added lemon, or even an apple juice to flavor it- and do it cold.

I will support you Fuzz any way that I can because I too am on this journey.

P.M. me or write me here, ask any questions that you choose, I will avail myself to you.

SL, Thanks!! We will make it, and we will do it together!!!! Like my sig says, if someone can't see it, it's their vision problem, not mine! :D

Thanks for your encouragement.....

[Fuzzball]

you should REALLY try essenced sparkling la criox water ,you can get it at central market (go for the berry first then orange or lime) ,they are unsweetened but great and best of all they come in cans and are 3 something for 12 or in large liter bottles for 89 cents heres the web site for more info http://www.lacroixwater.com/

Thanks VV, I'm going to look for that. I'll let you know how it goes!

[Fuzzball]

Hi,

I think what you and your wife is doing sounds wonderful.

I would be more concerned with the artificial sweetners and the crystal light, than the tea, which is natural.

Low glycemic sweeteners are stevia, it is a plant, and I actually grow it in my garden, but you can get it in drops or white powder.

If you like the taste of lemon aid it is easy to make with real lemon juice, water and stevia. You can also make many herb teas, my hubby walks in the meadow and picks wild camomile and makes me tea every morning, also dandelion, stinging nettle, mint, clover, horsetail, etc.

Good luck

Thanks RP, now I'm REALLY thirsty.... :D

I tried my tea with Agave today....I think I needed a little more than I got, but it wasn't so bad that I didn't drink it.

Thanks for the support and information!