Obese Raw Foodists April '08 [Archive]

ManyLittles

04-02-2008, 04:12 AM

So you may have been wondering if ManyLittles fell off the face of the earth...or just off the wagon. Or maybe you didn't notice I was gone. :p Anyway, the answer is...of course, off the wagon. AAAAAAAAAARRGH! Oh well, no pity parties here. Except that I gained back 11 pounds. :mad: AAAAAAAARGGH! Okay, I'm done.

You'll laugh at the reason. I was having bad insomnia again. It was driving me crazy, not being able to sleep. Not that I was actually all that tired, thanks to raw. I was still fairly energetic. I think it was more the idea that I COULDN'T sleep, rather than the actual lack of it. One night, the devil :eek: whispered into my ear "you know, if you ate cooked food, you would get tired and fall asleep."

I know, dumb! :rolleyes: I tried to tell myself that's because that poison would overtake my body and make it want to shut down so it could repair itself. But the thought of sleep was so sweet...and then certain food items started dancing before my eyes. I won't tell you which ones, that would be mean, and could be "triggering" for you. Anyway...I got in my car and drove all the way to the next town (the only fast food open all night) to get some junky sorry excuse for food. Or should I say "food".

Well, you know how the story ends, my fellow obese friends. I don't know how long it's been...a month, maybe? Long enough! I just couldn't get back on raw. Beware, newbies, don't even take one bite. It is much harder to get back on raw the second (or third....or fourth) time around. Maintain your healthy craving-free bliss, and don't cheat for any reason. It's not worth it!

My husband naturally followed my "cheating" ways, and gained back up to 268. For one horrifying day we weighed the same...remember he's a foot taller than me! I started back on raw yesterday at 265. I'm high raw right now. We don't have much money (spent more on junk than we would have on raw) so I probably won't be all raw til Friday when we get paid.

One good thing about all this...my husband is now dedicated to staying raw. He said he's felt so tired and yucky this month on cooked foods. As much as he likes meat, he realizes he can't control himself with any cooked foods, just as I can't. And we feel soooo much better on raw. So it's raw forever for us. Onward and downward!

Frugal Raw

04-02-2008, 08:07 AM

Hi Many Littles! So glad you are back:D Sometimes we just need to convince ourselves to be able to stay on the wagon, and falling off is the only way. I find it interesting that you are beginning where I began with raw living - I was at 267.5 Last June! (My highest weight ever was somewhere around 325 pounds in 2001.) I lost down to 209 by the end of the year 2007 on raw:).

I've been feeling the need to fast/feast and began this just over a month long cleansing time on March 29th. I did 3 days of water only and went to o.j. yesterday. I'm taking it slow with the o.j. - only did 24 ounces plus a whole lot of water yesterday. I don't want to flood my body with too much acids all at once. This I will be doing until 4/16, and then switching to smoothies and green smoothies that afternoon ( 4/16 is my birthday;) ).

I'm on day 2 of my orange juice feasting, and am down to 194.6 this morning!! LOVING IT!!!!! That puts me only 14.4 pounds away from exiting the "Obese 1" category!

RawSinger

04-02-2008, 08:57 AM

Hi ManyLittles! My name is Francesca and I'd like to join this thread. I'm about 5'4", my highest weight was 220lbs, current is 214lbs, and my goal weight is 120-130lbs. I guess I'm technically on my fourth attempt to be 100% raw. My goals this month are to stay 100% raw and to start a regular exercise program. Take care :)

GuruRas Kaur

04-02-2008, 09:15 AM

I'd like to join too. I just weighed myself. I'm 5'4" and am 184lbs.

Today's day two on the April challenge and I'm doing good so far.

I've done a lot of things with food:
- a 10-day supervised raw vegan cleanse : Nov 2007
- Weight Watchers : 2002-2003
- Therapy : 1997-99
- Overeaters Anonymous (Gray Sheet which is no carbs, weigh and measure, commit to a daily food menu, and talk daily with a sponsor) : 1996
- years of self torturing and binging around food

Eating live/raw foods is my favorite. I think each of these experiences with different ways of eating has taught me things. But this is where I'm at now and loving it. I feel good about my food *before* my body changes and I've learned how essential it is to be satisfied by your food. So yippee!

My best to you all!

Frugal Raw

04-02-2008, 09:52 AM

Welcome RawSinger and GuruRas Kaur! So glad you joined the thread!

Conscious Midwife

04-02-2008, 12:58 PM

Count me in

Became overweight in late 2004 after a dreaded and regrettable tubal ligation. WOMEN, PLEASE DON'T EVER STERILIZE YOURSELF! EVER!!!

Hid the weight with my 6'1 height and funny personality.

Now I weigh 4 pounds less than when I was 9 months prego with #5. So yes clinically obese. Dreading it.

I can always count on a quick 10-12 pound weightloss with a week of RAW, but gettting that week of RAW in with no slips or intentional binges has been the problem this year.

UUUUUUUUUUUUUGgggggggggggggghhhhhh!

So I'm here with a

10lb release short term goal;)
and an 85lb ultimate release long term goal:eek:

Signed up for the APRIL 30daY RAW CHALLENGE AND BLEW IT BY 1:47PM

Hmmmmm at this point I would be tickled to maintain a 30 DAY VEGAN diet minus the deadly whites too.

baltochef

04-02-2008, 03:05 PM

Greetings!!

I've been toying with being raw since April 2006..

Never got to be more than 50% raw (several isolated days) on any given day-week-month during the past 2 years..I was able through some mild dietary changes to drop from 251 lbs. (my heaviest weight ever in early March 2006) to 199 lbs (late August 2006)..I was probably at best only 25-40% raw on any given day during this weight loss..I am 5 ft. 9 in. tall & should weigh in the neighborhood of 150 lbs..

I haven't been totally without successes..My successes during the past 2 years are:

#1. I no longer drink soda (quit April 2006, no relapses)
#2. I no longer drink coffee (quit May 2006, 3 relapses-see mocha)
#3. I no longer drink caffeinated teas (quit September 2006)
#4. I quit drinking liquid chocolate in the form of Mocha coffee/milk/chocolate drinks (99% quit in May 2006, although I relapsed 3 times between May 2006 & my last one in March 2007)..
#5. I reduced my consumption of manufactured chocolate (my favorite sweet of all time) starting in May 2006 to 1-2 bars of the best dark chocolates per week..I last ate chocolate in any form in December 2007..This includes raw cacao, which I have made the decision never to consume again..
#6. I no longer drink milk (quit July 2006)
#7. I no longer consume milk on dry cereal or in cooked cereal (quit June 2006, although I relapsed approx. 20 times between June '06 & December 2007)
#8. I have been 90% successful in eliminating dairy products from my diet that were not incorporated into another cooked food..In other words, I don't eat cheese (imported cheeses are an addiction), drink milk, eat yogurt, etc..If I can successfully avoid eating cooked food, then I'll have eliminated the other 10% as far as dairy is concerned..The exception to this was the cheese I ate during the cheese steak/cold cut sub binge..
#9. I no longer drink alcoholic beverages in any form (quit April 2006; 1 relapse of several sips of white wine in November 2007)

In early January 2008 I was able to go for 3 days 100% raw (my longest period of raw to date) before falling spectacularly off the raw wagon..I ate cheese steak subs, cold cut subs, & French fries from mid-January 2008 until this past Friday March 28..Interspersed with fresh squeezed orange & grapefruit juices..Raw tomatoes & romaine lettuce on the sandwiches, no other veggies..Filtered water my only beverage..Even so I only gained 15 lbs., going from approximately 220 lbs. to 234.6 lbs. (my weight at 10 A.M. Saturday morning)..

I have been successfully raw since last eating some cooked chicken rice soup at 1:00 A.M. Saturday morning..I don't know what has made the past 4+ days different from my previous attempts, but I'm not going to argue with my short-term success..When hungry, instead of eating something cooked I have been able to eat a few nuts (cashews or pecans), or squeeze several oranges & drink the juice..

I know for others that the ever prevalent green smoothie is the secret to their success..However, my nose, taste buds, & brain just DO NOT like either the smell or the taste of even the mildest green smoothies..So I have been drinking smoothies made mostly from fruit..

So far I have dropped from 235 lbs. on Saturday to 226 this morning..In addition, my BM's have gone from a liquid to semi-liquid state (the past 2 months) to their normal consistency..

I start the AM drinking an 8 oz. glass of filtered water every 30 minutes for 2 hours..Then, using my Breville Citrus Juicer, I squeeze 1 large grapefruit along with 4 Navel oranges (16-20 oz. including the pulp that I scrape out of the juicer..I drink this all at once over a several minute period..I wait 1 hour before resuming drinking 8 oz. glasses of water every 30-45 minutes for the next 4 hours..Then I make a smoothie consisting of 8 oz. of strawberries (including the leaves), 8-12 oz. pineapple (including the core, approx. 1/4 of a pineapple), I whole apple (including the seeds), I banana, 1 small carrot, 1 small stalk of celery, & enough filtered water (8-12 oz.) to allow the mix to pour freely..I drink this down all at once over a several minute period..I wait 1 to 1 1/2 hours before resuming drinking 8 oz. glasses of water every 30-45 minutes..I do this until I start to feel hungry again..This is usually somewhere around 6-7 PM..I then eat 3-4 oz. of nuts, 2 oz. of dried fruit, & a 16 oz glass of water..I'll drink 8 oz. glasses of water depending on whether or not I feel thirsty the rest of the night..I try to stop drinking 1-2 hours before I go to bed..

So far I have abundant energy eating this way..I am aware that I'll have to consume more raw calories as I drop more weight & start to approach 200 lbs..When I reach 200 lbs. I am going to start riding my bicycle again for short distances..I used to ride all the time..In the meantime I am going to walk, & when funds allow to start practicing Bikram yoga..

My goals are to try & maintain this blessed rawness of the past 4 days, without beating myself up if I fail..I need to work on eliminating dairy 100% from my diet, even if I relapse back to cooked food..I can really tell when I consume dairy, because of the mucus it forms..I want to eliminate grains, especially rice & all forms of wheat, from my diet permanently..I can also tell whenever I eat anything made from wheat..

Good luck to all others that are on this marvelous journey..May you be successful above & beyond your wildest dreams!!..

Bruce

avanderland

04-02-2008, 08:06 PM

I would love to join the thread this month, if I can! I watched it last month, and everyone was so friendly and supportive, with so many good tips!

I have no scale now, but when I started high raw about 2 - 2.5 weeks ago, I weighed 190lbs at 5'5".

My highest weight was 210, and I've ALWAYS been overweight, usually in the "obese" BMI cateogry. I remember being 9 years old and weighing 150, and feeling huge. I was never really able to get below 190, despite all kinds of calorie restrictions and working out intensely for six or seven hours a week. Then, I also got some minor thyroid issues. I've always been overweight, and NEVER been successful at getting below 170. Given my frame size, which is rather small, I think that the proper weight for me is probably 135 or below.

However, on raw, I never feel restricted! I'm so excited to share my journey with you, and hear about all the journeys and paths that everyone is on.

Radiantly Raw

04-03-2008, 12:01 PM

Welcome to those who are just joining this cozy group!!:D I wish you much success, happiness, and all the best that raw has to offer you.:)

ab_raw

04-03-2008, 05:01 PM

I've been here almost a month. I've been 100% raw except for 2-3 days when i blew it good.
I could really use support because I see this as a long term solution to a life time of eating SAD and what that has done to me. I have been on everything and anything you can imagine as far as 'diets' go. To me this is not a diet at all, this is the best way to eat as far as I'm concerned.

I started off at 277 and on Apr 1 weighed in at 267. I'm only going to weigh myself once a month because the scale makes me crazy.

the week after next I am off to San Francisco for a few days and am worried about staying raw. I'm going to shoot for having at least 2 meals and all my snacks as raw. the other challenge that I have is that I am prone to binging. I have binged a couple times raw on nuts and raw desserts, so that is another area for me to work on.

But other than all that, I think this is really great and I look forward to travelling this road with all you great people here.
Anita

sfdreams

04-03-2008, 08:01 PM

Hi all!! Welcome to all the new people on this thread.

I am stalled at 270lbs (for like 3-4 months now!!! Grrr!) I am having surgery on Monday morning... so probably will be absent for awhile.

I have re-committed to raw...but keep having SAD food--especially vegan hot dogs (been craving them for some reason!) I had blood work today for pre-op reasons....plus I added a few more tests (one of the benefits of being a clinical lab scientist!!) My lipids are not that great, although I was not fasting, in fact I had some non-raw dark good quality chocolate with raspberries just 2 hrs prior. My triglycerides were pretty high...I'm hoping it was the candy bar. In January, I had lipids done two hrs post eating (all raw, I believe) and everything was so good I was amazed!! I may have even posted the results here somewhere.

But the best news is that my Hemoglobin A1c (a diabetic indication of the last three months of blood sugar) was 5.3!!! (which is phenomenal!!)

I decided to take vitamin/mineral supplements recently....as I have been iron deficient for several months now (although today that was much better too) and sometimes I know I don't eat enough or varied enough to get all my nutrients. I sort of feel like a failure, but until I can straighten out what I eat, I feel it is better to supplement and have my nutrients than not supplement and become sick.

Anyway, it is my bedtime...got to work tomorrow (last day before surgery..woohoo!!)

kiwilorne

04-03-2008, 09:36 PM

Hi, I'd like to have somewhere to come and share my journey... and learn about others too.

I am eating raw for breakfast and lunch. For dinner I eat cooked with my husband, and sister who is staying with us for a month or so. This way of eating works well for me.

I weight 87kg, sorry I don't know what this is in pounds....

It is great to meet others in a similar situation to me.

Rawzula

04-04-2008, 09:31 AM

I am mostly raw. Due to my finances, I still eat some cooked foods.

I weigh 290 lbs, the highest I've ever weighed.

I definitely need to get my weight under control

IamLoved

04-04-2008, 12:41 PM

Hello,

Thanks ManyLittles for being so upfront and honest. I think that many people (non rawers) would read your post and not understand but I do and it still amazes me what we do to ourselves sometimes. The cooked food cravings are so deep and it can be very difficult to resist it sometimes. I know, because I am surrounded by SAD all the time and it is very frustrating. I have seen too that every time I fall off it IS harder to get back on track and when I eat SAD I don't just throw in something "healthy" it is raw vegan, or SAD garbage. I wanted to say thank you too for not describing in detail what all you ate. Thank you so much for that!!!!! Because you are right, it could definately trigger someone, I have had issues with these types of things in the past.

Anyways, I am back (again!) I was all raw for three months this time through Thanksgiving and Christmas before caving for something stupid and have spent the last 3 months alternately binging and trying to get back on track again. Today is day four. I am working through some issues and trying to maintain control. So often we stuff food in our faces instead of dealing with our issues. I have this image in my head of how I look but when I see myself in the mirror it doesn't match that image in my head. That can be very depressing which tends to make me want to eat bad stuff which just makes me look worse and it is this vicious cycle that I am trying to get out of. It doesn't help that I am surrounded by SAD food all the time and literally when I have a weak moment everything is right there at my disposal so I have to have extremely high will power to not just eat something. Also none of my clothes fit me so I never look good and I have boxes of clothes in my basement that USED to fit me when I was raw for 5 months a couple years ago and lost so much weight. I don't want to buy new clothes because that would be like saying that I am ok at this weight, and I am not.

Blah. blah, blah.....sorry.

Frugal Raw

04-04-2008, 01:24 PM

Welcome all of the new and returning members to this thread!!

RawSinger

04-04-2008, 01:41 PM

Thank you for the warm welcome! I have kept 100% raw since 3/31/08 and have lost some weight. I went down from 210 to 207 in a day :eek:. I'm not complaining just a little worried about the effect on my metabolism. I do always eat until I'm full so it's not like I'm starving myself. I'm not going to worry too much, just make sure I eat a balanced diet.

avanderland

04-04-2008, 03:51 PM

I decided to take vitamin/mineral supplements recently....as I have been iron deficient for several months now (although today that was much better too) and sometimes I know I don't eat enough or varied enough to get all my nutrients. I sort of feel like a failure, but until I can straighten out what I eat, I feel it is better to supplement and have my nutrients than not supplement and become sick.

You just posted so much amazing news, so much motivation for everyone here, so much to be joyous about, especially with your A1c. Be proud, don't think of yourself as a failure! You are just doing what you need to do to be your healthiest you can be, and it is all a journey and a process.

I know that me saying may not change your mind --- I've said plenty of things like that about myself before, I'm sure we all have, and it's so HARD to get out of that cycle! But I wanted to say it, because it sounds like you are really making improvements, and I wanted to congratulate you on that! I hope that your surgery goes easy and well!

Conscious Midwife

04-04-2008, 07:23 PM

Going to weigh in weekly
Get serious about exercise and fun dancing
increase my water intake to @ 1gallon of distilled or spring per day, just intially to aid the detox
MEDITATE DAILY with a specific focus on my body composition and healing

kiwilorne

04-06-2008, 10:32 PM

menat

04-07-2008, 12:32 AM

I am 5'8" at 221 lbs. My goal weight is 140 which I want to lose by New Years of 2009.

I am 90% and I am trying to go 100%. My only unraw vice is soy cheese, shrimp cocktail and flour tortilla to make my veggie wraps. After this week, I am gonna get rid of these items.

Frugal Raw

04-07-2008, 05:26 AM

Hi groupies... I am just wondering and I hope you don't mind me asking. How much weight do you lose on average each week being high or 100% raw? I am wondering what I should be aiming for and what is the norm?

Thank you in advance.

We're all different. In a period of 6 months, I released around 65 pounds last year high/100% raw. Most days I was 100%, and on rare occasions, had a cooked meal here/there...usually only 1 or 2 times per month. That includes some plateauing, which will happen as you go. Ways to knock yourself off of that are boosting cardio exercising, fasting, juice or smoothie feasting, or dropping the nuts/oils and upping the avos and olives.

I'm currently on a fast/feast and have lost over 16 pounds in my first week. This is jumpstarting me this year to release my remaining unhealthy weight. I'm fasting/feasting for 33 days this time.:D

Horselady73

04-08-2008, 07:20 AM

Hello. I am obese and have been raw for 1 month. I have now developed a sour stomache(about a week ago). I think it's gone and then it comes back. Anyone know anything about this? This is no fun!

Frugal Raw

04-08-2008, 09:52 AM

Horselady73 - What are you eating? What type of lifestyle did you have pre-raw? We'll need a bit more info to possibly determine what could be the irritant. Hope you get to feeling better!

Radiantly Raw

04-08-2008, 11:44 AM

Hi groupies... I am just wondering and I hope you don't mind me asking. How much weight do you lose on average each week being high or 100% raw? I am wondering what I should be aiming for and what is the norm?

Thank you in advance.

Mine was more at first, then less as time went by. I think I had one month where I barely lost any. Mattye had great advice on breaking plateaus. They will happen though. I look at them as a natural part of the process. Check out Morn's site- I kept checking her monthly weight loss to see if I was doing ok.;) She continually lost weight, but it wasn't always huge amounts each month. But it was always a loss. Morn's monthly summary (https://home.comcast.net/~morn/mornsum.html) Her journal section is great too!

I emailed you yesterday, did you get it?!:cool: I keep checking for your message!:)

Frugal Raw

04-08-2008, 05:58 PM

My appointment to have my (spousal) military ID card was this afternoon - and it felt SO good having him change my weight from when my hubster first filled out the application (at 205) to 190 pounds!!! I haven't done my official weigh-in this week, but I was asked to give an approximate, and last week's was 192.6. :D

I felt really silly though - I'd forgotten that military ID card photos are done only in black and white! You should have seen me looking around for something the 'right color' to wear (that actually fit just me and not a band of gypsies to boot) this morning!!
LOL!!!

sfdreams

04-08-2008, 07:28 PM

You just posted so much amazing news, so much motivation for everyone here, so much to be joyous about, especially with your A1c. Be proud, don't think of yourself as a failure! You are just doing what you need to do to be your healthiest you can be, and it is all a journey and a process.

I know that me saying may not change your mind --- I've said plenty of things like that about myself before, I'm sure we all have, and it's so HARD to get out of that cycle! But I wanted to say it, because it sounds like you are really making improvements, and I wanted to congratulate you on that! I hope that your surgery goes easy and well!

Thanks so much for your kind words! They came at the perfect time...I am currently in my hospital room feeling miserable (see my separate post). Thanks for putting me in my place and reminding me of all that I have accomplished.

VeroP

04-08-2008, 07:50 PM

High weight - 311 pounds
Start of raw weight (April 8, 2007) - 298 pounds
Current weight - 192 pounds
Height - 5'7"

That's 106 pounds down and just 1 pound from having a BMI reading of "overweight" instead of "obese" or worse yet, "morbidly obese!".

So I hope this helps with the question of how we are each doing individually on releaseing weight - though it doesn't necessarily give others what to expect.

My daughter and I have been 99% raw during the entire year - it just made sense as the next step in our vegan lifestyle. (1% is due to occassional weird salad dressings when we eat out - which isn't often in today's economy . . .)

It has been an interesting journey for us so far - our current goals include:

increasing meditation time
starting a fitness program which is sadly missing (though may not happen this month)

Peace to all - enjoy the journey (it's amazing to feel healthier AND to shop in the "ladies" section of the store . . .)

VeroP

kiwilorne

04-08-2008, 11:44 PM

Thank you to everyone for sharing your losses and experiences in answer to my question above....

Frugal Raw

04-09-2008, 06:10 AM

DawnW

04-09-2008, 06:26 AM

Count me in. I am 4'11". My highest weight ever was 189 while not pregnant.

I am currently at 166, but still in the obese category.

My current goal is to get to 125. I know I would look best around 110, but that seems imposible to me right now.

Dawn

Frugal Raw

04-09-2008, 07:13 AM

I'm down to 189.6! WOOOO-HOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

northernstars

04-09-2008, 06:17 PM

but I don't know how to do it.

Anyway, my daughter, Dawn, is in the hospital in Anchorage with blood clots in her leg (hip and behind her knee). She does not have any insurance so they are sending her home tonight. She has lupus and von Wildebrands (a blood platelet disorder) and gets these clots every year or so. The funny thing is the medicine would be paid for if she stayed in the hospital, but the hospitalization would not be paid for. The prescription costs $1100 for 5 days!

She just went to the health food store last night to get the things for a Master Cleanse she was going to start today. Now, they are telling her she cannot ever eat foods with vitamin K again!

She is also very obese at just 5 foot tall. Please think about her and if YOU have any suggestions that would be helpful, too.

Thanks for listening and any suggestions as to how she can eat a good, healthful raw diet and deal with the blood clot issue.

avanderland

04-09-2008, 06:51 PM

I'm down to 189.6! WOOOO-HOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

Congratulations!!!

Northernstars, I don't have enough expertise to give you any advice, but I am definitely giving you positive vibes and good thoughts. That's a very expensive prescription!!! I will keep you and your daughter in my thoughts!

I don't have a scale, so I don't know if I have lost weight yet, but I think so! I think my clothes are looser. I also find that my stomach bloatedness goes down when I drink green smoothies... Definitely something I need to incorporate in my day to day!!

VeroP

04-09-2008, 10:31 PM

Hey VeroP! We're on very similar trends! My highest weight was somewhere around 325 back in 2001. I was at 265.7 when I began releasing weight for good last June. I only lost about 12 pounds before I went raw and the rest has come off since raw on 8/1. I'm only 5'5," so my exit on the obese cat 1 is 180.2. Later this morning I'll be weighing in to see how close I am to that milestone. Wonderful for you that you too have escaped that morbidly obese category! Brava!!

Yes, I have watched some of your posts and have seen your amazing pictures over the past few months. I like your thought on "releasing weight for good" - it is also nice to say good-bye to a weight that you never expect to see on the scales again . . . unless someone else stands on the scales with you, of course :)

VeroP

Frugal Raw

04-10-2008, 06:14 AM

Yes, I have watched some of your posts and have seen your amazing pictures over the past few months. I like your thought on "releasing weight for good" - it is also nice to say good-bye to a weight that you never expect to see on the scales again . . . unless someone else stands on the scales with you, of course :)

VeroP

You mean those days when my Pomeranian sneaks up behind me and plants his paw on j-u-s-t enough? LOL!!! Seriously, thanks, VeroP - I'll be posting a new before and current photo spread on Wednesday 4/16:) ...as well as one I have recently found of me when I was 18 and around 126 pounds!

rawenergy

04-10-2008, 06:27 AM

Hi everyone...
I'm Jenn, and would love to join you. I attempted to begin a couple weeks ago, but didn't do that well, and have begun anew this week. So far so good. I've had a couple bites of stupid things here, and there, but have been 90% raw this week, aiming for 100%.

I was really wanting to cheat last night, and even took off by myself to the pharmacy to pick some other deals up, but ended up controlling myself :eek: who would've imagined that one....LOL I am going to develop self control especially with food this year!

Anyhow I weighed in at 240.1 this morning, and would love to shed a nice chunk off the remainder of this month, so I am going to do my personal best to make it happen! I also have MS and am in the middle of a relapse, so am not exercising right now. It's all diet for now. I expect a full recovery, since I am in the beginning of this stupid disease, so I am going to begin Turbo Jam which I ordered as soon as this is over.

Frugal Raw

04-10-2008, 09:00 AM

Hi Jenn! Welcome!! I wish you the best of rawesome health on your new journey! If you haven't already, begin a blog - it will be a "safe" place where you can write all of your thoughts down as you make this transition. Also, pop in on here and check in as often as you like:) We're a friendly crowd!

baltochef

04-10-2008, 09:30 AM

Greetings!!

Thought I'd check in with an update..Have lost a good bit of weight since returning to raw on 3-29-08..

Going through some mild detox at present, mostly sniffles, sneezing, & mucus in head & throat..Got nauseous last night..Vomited up mostly water..Making sure that I drink plenty of water & fresh-squeezed O.J. today..Don't know if this was due to detox, my stomach's reaction to the raw refried beans that I made & ate, or both..

Until Saturday morning, March 29, 2008 I hadn't weighed myself for the better part of three months..This is not the heaviest that I've ever weighed, although it is probably the third heaviest..Since returning to Baltimore from Alaska in July of 1983, I have been either over weight, & or obese virtually all of that time..At various times during the past 25 years I have been been very physically active..For several years (1986-1997) I rode both road & mountain bicycles an average of 10-35 miles every day..Although my cardiovascular fitness during this time frame was high; I continued to be over weight, never dropping below 185-190 lbs..I am 5 ft. 9 in. tall, with a heavy bone structure, & should weigh at most 165 lbs..My goal is to be able at some point this year to easily fit into a pair of well laundered 32-32 Levi's jeans that I have been saving from the time when I was not overweight or obese..

Weight loss since returning to raw on March 29, 2008..

03-29-08----234.6
04-01-08----226.4----8.2
04-03-08----225.6----9.0
04-04-08----223.2----11.4
04-05-08----222.4----12.2
04-07-08----220.4----14.2
04-09-08----220.2----14.4
04-10-08----218.2----16.4

I am a little concerned about the amounts of weight that I have been losing, & how quickly I have been losing it..I continue to feel well (except for the mild detox) with as much, perhaps slightly more, energy as I had before returning to raw..I am now halfway through my 13th day 95%-100% raw, my greatest success to date..The cravings for cooked food seem to come & go..

Today I start walking in earnest, as well as doing all of the spring chores in the yard that need doing..

Good luck & best wishes to all on this journey!!..

Bruce

Horselady73

04-11-2008, 07:21 AM

Hey, I am so glad you guys are losing weight! Problem is, I'm gaining! When I started this(again) I was 308 pounds. Within two weeks I was 303. Now (6 weeks in) I weigh 307. I am following the diet very closely and have been detoxing a lot! I really don't understand this. Any advice? Thoughts? Thanks. You guys always come through for me.:)

DawnW

04-11-2008, 08:37 AM

sfdreams

04-11-2008, 05:26 PM

I am going to assume you started your weight at 234.6 and not 334.6???? Over 100 pounds in just a few days would concern me too! :eek:

I really can't comment on the fast weight loss, hopefully someone else can. I think that if you are feeding your body all that it needs I wouldn't be too concerned about it, but I am not an expert.

Dawn

Bruce, I too, assume that we are not talking about a 100lb loss in a few days (:eek: ). But, I lost really fast at first too, and men tend to lose much quicker than women. I lost 8lbs my first week, then 5-6 lb per week for the first month. Then I slowed WAAAAYYY down. I had a period of a couple of months where I lost nothing in Nov/Dec then started losing again (1-2lbs every week or so) then hit another plateau for several months. I just now lost 3 lbs, but I was hospitalized and not eating much at all--could just be water loss. We are all different, but I would not be concerned (at this point, anyway) if I were you.

Welcome Jenn!! Glad to have you with us.

Horselady, I'm not sure why you are gaining. Are you eating enough?? Sometimes if you don't eat enough, your body thinks it is starving and shuts the metabolism down. Try eating more, especially good fats, like avocados. Eating avocados broke my first plateau.

Northernstars, I,too, don't have the expertise to advise you, but will hold Dawn in the healing Light and send positive vibes her way.

I am home from the hospital, feeling pretty good. Not much pain (woohoo!) and feeling more energy than my last abdominal surgery. Raw rocks!! I managed to drink 3 green smoothies while in the hospital, but otherwise was bland, SAD liquid diet. Not too inspiring. On my last day (after I finally "tooted", Thank God!) I was able to eat regular food, and the hummus, while not raw, was wonderful!! Then I came home and had the avocado my body was craving!! :D

At this rate, with all the energy I feel, I'm not sure if I will need to be off the four weeks that my doctor said it would take. (Though I just might not let my work in on that!! ;) ) Anyway, glad to be home, and back to the board more frequently, though I REALLY enjoyed having the laptop at the hospital! I may have to get one of my own.

northernstars

04-11-2008, 10:26 PM

I weighed myself today after therapy and was down to 177. Did some calculations and that is 47 pounds gone!

Dawn, my daughter with the blood clots, is doing much better. She had a blood test today that showed the medicine is working. She is still unhappy that they told her she is not to do anything drastic with her eating for a couple months. She is really wanting to do the master cleanse and begin her new lifestyle eating raw food. I told her that she should be okay with the raw foods anyway so long as she doesn't eat the ones high in vitamin K. Hopefully that will be okay.

Frugal Raw

04-12-2008, 07:08 AM

Yay for you and your daughter, northernstars!!! Yippee!!!!!!!

SuBu

04-12-2008, 09:47 AM

Morning Everyone! Sorry I've been AWOL for so long. Glad to see this thread still has life and lots of activity.
Welcome to all the newbies and those coming back. I've been up and down and have HAD to get back to all raw. I felt so bad physically that I finally had to admit it to myself that it just isn't worth it to deviate. Of course, I did more than just merely deviate...I threw myself under the wagon and let the horses trample me too! Old bad habits came right back--binging and just plain overeating. I have gained, of course. But in just 2 days of getting back to raw, I've dropped 6 lbs. Lots of sodium, sugar (both make me swell badly) and just plain dead bulk in my colon--gone. Not sure how many times I have to do this to myself before I GET IT!!! Raw works for me. I am sleeping better at night, no longer bloated, constipated (sorry), and my clothes fit again. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Maybe I just needed a hard lesson to make me appreciate how good raw is for me. It is harder to get back on track--best never to deviate in the first place. But we are so stubborn--or full of ourselves (oh, it'll be different w/ME!). NOT! Bad eating is bad eating. No way around it. Just warning others...you'll go off it and think you'll be okay...but if you look around the board here you'll see how many have strayed and come back, thankful that RFT is still here for us! Everyone understands and is so warm and welcoming as we come back sheepishly, with out heads down, appologizing for the obvious! "I know, I know...you warned me!" Well, I'm going to try to maintain from now on. I still have 40-50 lbs to lose to be "happy" w/myself. But I've finally realized that it's so much more than the weight loss. I FEEL better on raw. "Food is not my friend; it is an energy source" I don't remember now who posted that, but it has become something that I think about daily. Nothing--and I mean NOTHING--I've eaten off raw has tasted good enough to feel badly over. It's just fuel--nothing more. FUEL -- to run my body. And some fuel is of a higher grade than others. If you take the emotion out of the equation--food takes on a whole new meaning--a much less important one than I've always given it. Hopefully, I've learned a life-lesson and not too many others of you will have to go through learning it the hard way. Will someone remind me about this post if I do this again??!!!
Sorry -- this should have been a blog!! Just needed to cleanse my soul and conscience along w/my diet!!! Miss everyone and hope you all are having a wonderful RAW weekend!

Susan

baltochef

04-12-2008, 01:43 PM

Sorry!!..LOL!!..

I went back & corrected the post to reflect 234.6 lbs. as my starting weight..My internet connection went down at 11 A.M. on Thursday morning & was just restored several minutes ago..

northernstars--I hope your daughter gets better..I'll be thinking good thoughts about her..

Good luck to everyone!!

Bruce

kiwilorne

04-14-2008, 09:23 PM

Hey all,

Has anyone had success losing weight through fasting on green smoothies?

Thanks in advance

Conscious Midwife

04-14-2008, 09:29 PM

I just dismissed 13lbs in the past week and went down one pants size!:eek: :D

I feel fabulous!

Took a RAW hiatus today, egg fo yung calling my name;) :o , but I'll be back to releasing and dismissing via RAW tommorow. Plus getting in more calesthenics and cardio!

blizzful7

04-14-2008, 11:35 PM

I've been dabbling in Raw for about a month now. Today I started the 30-day 100% challenge.

I've struggled with weight forever. Recently, I've gained about 10 pounds:( after losing about 70. So, I'm trying the 100% Raw angle. I know of all the health benefits of raw food eating. But, when I'm at my most honest, I really care about weight loss.

I'm following Alissa Cohen's suggested menu. I'm concerned with the amount of nuts involved. Should I be worried or will it all work out?

Conscious Midwife

04-15-2008, 07:11 AM

Depending on your body type the nuts, EVOO and avocado will actually prove to be a catalyst in you weight releasing journey!

Congrats on the 70lb. dismissal/ release.

Oh and check your verbage.

Around here "loosing weight" means you might need to go back and "find" it.

Release it to the UNIVERSE. There's some underweight, diet coke drinking, french fries dipped in mayo, doughnut for breakfast eating skinny chic who needs it. As a matter of fact there are few lean RAW foddies on here that want the weight, so gift it to them!!!

Rawzula

04-15-2008, 08:39 AM

Valerie Winters lost 127 lbs last year, fasting on just green smoothies:

http://greensmoothieexperiment.blogspot.com/

kiwilorne

04-15-2008, 05:53 PM

Valerie is just a star!! I checked out her site... wow, she must have had some inner determination... big thumbs up to Valerie!!!!

Does she ever post on here? Does she have a new blog?

Rawzula

04-15-2008, 06:02 PM

joyfulmama

04-15-2008, 06:11 PM

I am 135 lbs over weight. I would love to join..
I will post tomorrow more of the details.. I hear kids screaming so I have to get..

kiwilorne

04-15-2008, 07:42 PM

She used to post here often, but has moved on.

I did a banana search and there are no new posts from her.

I think she mentioned that she wouldn't be blogging anymore.

Green smoothies fill me up fast and will be doing a GS fast in the near future.

Do you mind me asking, what is a banana search????? lol sorry for my stupidity....

I am disappointed to hear she has stopped blogging. I would love to hear how she is doing now.....

erialicia

04-15-2008, 10:07 PM

Hello,
I am starting my raw journey tomorrow! I am very excited, a bit nervous though, I have close to 100 pounds to lose....

menat

04-15-2008, 11:28 PM

Hello,
I am starting my raw journey tomorrow! I am very excited, a bit nervous though, I have close to 100 pounds to lose....

Good luck. I decided to write my weightloss in my signature! I lost 4 lbs in almost a week!

blizzful7

04-16-2008, 11:20 PM

Menat,

You list your starting weight as 221.7 (4/11/08) and your current weight 117.1 (4/15/08). Are your weights wrong or the dates? Curious. I just starting eating 100% raw three days ago.

Rawzula

04-16-2008, 11:54 PM

On top of this page, you'll see a banana with "search" under it.

menat

04-16-2008, 11:56 PM

Woops, the dates are wrong. I will change!

But basically, the more i eat avocados and use olive oil in my vinegrettes and put flaxseed oils in my smoothies....the quicker I lose.

1bigfamily

04-17-2008, 12:56 AM

I would like to join. I started going raw 2 weeks ago. I am about $90% right now and I want to go 100% but I am afraid to because I am nursing my baby and I don't want to make her sick with the toxins. She is only 4 months old.

I am currently at 244.5. Any advice or help is soooo welcome!! :)

Frugal Raw

04-17-2008, 08:15 AM

Howdy (I can say that because I am originally from TX, too) and welcome!! So glad you found this thread. Since last year around the beginning of June, I have released 81.9 pounds! I started out at 267.5 pounds, and am now down to 185.6 thanks to raw living. Blogging really helped me a LOT, as does keeping before and now photos going. So, if you haven't set up a blog yet, do, and definitely check out our before and nows photos section!!

kiwilorne

04-19-2008, 09:14 AM

Welcome 1BigFamily...
Sorry I am new to this and have no wisdom.. but wish you well!

1bigfamily

04-19-2008, 09:33 AM

Well, I ahave eliminated 3.5 more pounds and the only occasional unraw thing I have is chips with my salsa and guacamole. Oh, and the occasional few chocolate chips because I don't have any raw treats yet to have if I have that craving or mostly when others are eating desserts in front of me and I can't hang! lol I have real no desire to eat SAD anymore though. Even though I really liked those foods, I know how they make me feel and I dont' like that!! After the first few days of high raw I tried eating a small amount of cooked food and I could tell the difference instantly. I did it two more times and I decided to stop. If I had other things to eat with my salsa and something to eat as a treat, I would be 100% raw everday. I just realized I do have something I can have as a treat! Wahoo! Now for something chip like.....I don't want to get a dehydrator and use all that energy running it all night so.....I may have to do it anyways. I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you!!

avanderland

04-19-2008, 10:10 AM

1bigfamily:

You should check out the post that someone made recently... They were asking about how we are being earth-friendly, specifically with dehydrators. Someone looked it up! Surprisingly, using a dehydrator for hours and hours and hours still does not even use the amount of energy that a stove would use in one hour.

And I say that if using that tiny amount of energy means you will buy lots of fresh food that comes in FAR LESS packaging than even just SAD chips do --- go for it! :D

Rawzula

04-19-2008, 11:31 AM

I haven't used a stove in nearly 5 years.

They emit SO much heat, it's like being near a furnace:eek:.

Dehydrators emit much less energy (and barely any heat:D).

1bigfamily

04-19-2008, 11:52 AM

yay!! I will get one then!!! Go Raw!! Go raw!!

kiwilorne

04-20-2008, 02:05 AM

I have read on a few posts lately of people taking coconut oil to aid weightloss. Can someone tell more about this. Does it really help?

Thank you!!! :)

erialicia

04-20-2008, 08:59 AM

I would like to know this too. I have some and do plan on putting about 2Teas in my smoothies once a day. My guess is it would make you feel full longer.

Radiantly Raw

04-26-2008, 04:19 PM

:D Just checking in to see how everyone is doing!! I miss you all.:(

ManyLittles

04-27-2008, 06:58 PM

Thanks everyone for your support. Yep, fell off the wagon right after I got on it. :rolleyes: :o

I'm having an especially hard time coming back to raw this time around. I could kick myself for ever going off it. I think I'm ready now, though. I haven't been eating much sugary stuff, but the other day when I had some, I just had the feeling for the next few days that my teeth were rotting out of my head! And I didn't really enjoy the junk anyway.

I'm really wanting to get back on raw. My husband does too, but it worried about the money. It's tight right now. But I told him that what we've been spending on pizza and fast food (shudder) certainly would cover the cost of raw. It's just "sticker shock" when you pay it all upfront at the HFS cash register, rather than dole it out a bit at a time at the driv thru!

1BigFamily: I think you could easily go 98% raw without a problem while nursing. I was probably 95% when I nursed. Really, when I went 100% I barely felt any detox symptoms. A little nausea for a few days, on and off...mostly off. But then, everyone is different. So you could probably go all raw except for salad dressings, or some boneless chicken, or some homemade whole wheat bread, etc. Just adding in a tiny bit of cooked food to keep from detoxing.

Arty

04-28-2008, 05:40 AM

Hello everybody,

I'm Arty, and I am making another attempt at the raw food way.

I joined this forum last year, managed to go raw for few weeks, saw good weight loss in that short period, felt great, then BAM, had one slip and it's all been down hill since.

I now find myself at my heaviest weight ever at 180lbs, and I have had enough of abusing my body with toxin laden food.

So, today is day one. I've been to the grocery store, and stocked up, and emptied my fridge and cupboards of anything that isn't good for me.

Just thought I would pop in and say hello. I find this forum so inspiring. Raw seems the simplest most natural way to eat - it just makes sense. I know I feel so much better when I eat this way, and I am kicking myself for allowing a slip to lead down this toxic road that I have been on.

Anyway, that's a bit about me! :)

ManyLittles

04-28-2008, 05:58 AM

1BigFamily:

For a great treat, try RP's brownies. Do a search for it, the recipe is on here somewhere. I didn't like it with the frosting. Instead, I made took the raw brownie "dough" and rolled it into truffle-like balls, and rolled in raw, unsweetened, shredded coconut. Perfect! Very chocolatey.

Also, when you do go all raw, you could replace your corn chips with raw dehydrated flax seed crackers. I use it with Alissa's tomato salsa recipe, and it's great.

ManyLittles

04-28-2008, 02:53 PM

Arty, SuBu, and other newbies/returnees: Welcome (back)! Isn't this place great?

SuBu, I can totally relate to your comment of being trampled by the horses and the wagon, lol. Isn't it more like we throw ourselves in front of the wagon and horse team? :p Seems so stupid. But you know what? We came back, didn't we? That's the most important thing. How many diets have we abandoned because they didn't work (and probably weren't good for us anyway)?

The fact is, raw is good for us. We instinctively know it is the way we all were meant to eat. So no matter how "low" we may sink, going on cooked food binges and maybe even telling ourselves we'll never be able to stick to raw, because we always fail with every "diet", in the end, we come back. We come back because we know there are others like us here waiting to welcome us back. We come back because we know it is the only real solution to our weight and food issues. Most of all, we come back because we know in our hearts that this is the right way to eat, and regardless of weight, we need raw food for our health.

Isn't it funny that once you've gone raw, even a month or more on cooked food never really brings back the "enjoyment" of it? Even the best meal I had that was cooked wasn't really that great, and I didn't enjoy it the way I enjoy raw meals. And sweets have really lost their appeal to me. I like the IDEA of sweets, but the reality is that once I have them, I am disappointed, and then feel yucky afterwards. Eating raw changes you...even when you aren't eating it anymore, you still have a semi-raw mindset.

So I'm glad to be back. Hopefully it will be for good this time, but if it's not, I'll still be back, again and again. It's where I belong. I won't get too down on myself, and call myself a failure. I have to remember that I face unique challenges in the food arena because of my weight and my issues with food. :rolleyes: My healing raw journey will be a little longer than for most raw foodists, and the path may be a little rockier and winding, but I'll get there.

We all will!

Good luck, and keep it RAW! :cool:

ManyLittles

04-28-2008, 02:58 PM

Oh, I forgot to add that, naturally, I gained even MORE weight since my brief resurfacing at the beginning of this month. My scale is broken (it wasn't me, my boys kept "missing" while in the bathroom, I think it short circuited :p it has been dying a slow death) so I can't be sure of my weight. It was 269 :mad: last week, but that was the beginning of my TOM, so hopefully I'm less now.

So I guess I'll be going cold-turkey with the scale this week. :eek: I may have to drive to Walmart to check my weight on a scale there. LOL

oceanee

04-29-2008, 10:16 AM

Hi everyone ~
I know I pop in and out of this thread and I hope that is okay because in this journey I know I do better when I stay in touch.
I am currently doing a MC to "reset" my inner body clock after a few months of cooked food abuse. The nights are tough but I am going to post like a madwoman and review my list of WHY I want to release toxins, be healthy and so being food obsessed!

Frugal Raw:[/COLOR]Such inspiration releasing 81+ pounds since June 2007 ! That is fantastic. Did you fall now and then or were you able to stay raw all along?

Many Littles:I sure know about falling off the wagon, so to speak and all the inner voices that go along with that! I use this forum for help and it has saved me just knowing I am not alone and I will complete this journey. Isn't part of it knowing we are all different,our stories are different and we all only want the best for each other. I am continually trying and yes we do come back!

Arty: Have you read Alissa's book or watched her DVD? So many times it runs through my head something that she said about wishing she'd never found raw. Meaning, there is no other way. Boy, can I attest to that so why do I set myself to fail.....as a dear raw friend reminded me ~ switch that outlook from failure to focusing on what raw goodness I have provided for my body. We can do this !!

[COLOR="Red"]Radiantly Raw:How are you, always loved your sweet positive posts. Baby must be growing so wonderfully!

[COLOR="Red"]Subu:Miss you ! How's it going?

Okay so I keep getting interrupted:rolleyes: . Just wanted to reach out in this post as it helps me so much.

Oceanee

SuBu

04-29-2008, 11:25 AM

Hello All~~~AGAIN!!! Can't believe I've let myself stay away so long. In fact, I was shocked to read a note from ManyLittles yesterday to me--and realized that I'd gotten off and back on raw since my last long post about getting back on the wagon!! Up and down. I think I just can't live without something--or I don't plan and think "oh this one meal won't hurt me"--and then a week or two have passed and I am feeling awful and have to pick myself back up and get "real"!! Real=as in real food! I feel so much better after just one and a half days of getting back on raw foods. My body just needs RAW! SAD makes me bloated, constipated, and feeling icky in general! Why do I insist on poisoning myself? We are so silly, aren't we?! Thankfully, you are all so understanding and welcoming--which really helps. Don't need to beat myself up--SAD food has already done that. Now I have that same old 15 lbs to get back off and then on from there. I guess I'll get the hang of it one of these days! It will just come naturally. If not, it's still worth the effort. And knowing I'm not alone makes it so much easier.

Conscious Midwife

04-29-2008, 11:40 AM

13LBS RELEASED, AGAIN!!!:eek: :)

Hey UNIVERSE I DON'T WANT THEM BACK

I promise!!!:D

SuBu

04-29-2008, 12:15 PM

Awesome lifeAgift. So what's the total? And what's the goal?

oceanee

04-30-2008, 08:14 AM

Morning all!

Subu ~Glad to see you are back, me too ! You were the one to get me to join this thread . I have deviated as well, same old silly reasons ....gosh we know all the triggers and the downside of SAD ~ I'm back and so happy to see you are too !

Lifeagift~Congrates on the big release! That must feel awesome!

Have a great day everyone~I'm doing some detoxing and feel kinda oouey:( if ya' know what I mean....but it will pass:) ~

Oceanee

Conscious Midwife

04-30-2008, 09:08 AM

Awesome lifeAgift. So what's the total? And what's the goal?

TOTAL- 13 lbs (lost that the first week after the April new moon, found it again, and this time I've released it and totally dismissed it)

Goal- Until I'm beyond sexy and can complete a 1/2 marathon:D

Doing the May Raw Challenge, hoping for an additional 15lbs or more released. Trying to walk daily and get back into the yoga/ilates groove and do some belly dance workouts too.

SuBu

04-30-2008, 09:25 AM

lifeAgift~~Beyond Sexy!! I love it!!

Oceanee~~Thanks for the shout-out! Know you are working hard on the MC and am sending my love!

Hope everyone is doing well today and gearing up for a wonderfully raw May. Time to get a fresh start if needed (definitely, in my case!). If the 30 day challenge is too daunting we could do a week-to-week one here (or a day-to-day, if needed!). Just something to help with the accountability. It really does help. Maybe just trying to post daily will help without a formal challenge. Let's just all try to do our best this month and see what happens?! And let's all really cheer each other on. Your kind words have always helped and encouraged me. I'd love to do the same for everyone else. I have gotten away from posting regularly here and it really made a difference. Posting keeps the enthusiasm going for me. Keeps it from becoming mundane. I'll try to do better at posting in May. Hope to hear from you all.

oceanee

04-30-2008, 07:07 PM

Thanks Subu !

Beyond sexy ~ I loved that as well. I think I should add that to one of my 4x6 notecards or shall I call them "be raw flash cards"?

May will be a wonderful month ~

oceanee

carolg

04-30-2008, 09:02 PM

I didn't even realize how I looked before I got a trainer. Now I am down 31 pounds as of today, but last week I lost ONE ounce only. Talk about frustrating. He said I need to increase my protein. I started a thread about that.

I would love to knock off 18 pounds still. I have given up so much so now I am hearing increase my green smoothies to 2x day. I do eat lots of fruit so that can be holding my weight on. I practically have given up everything except my fruits.

I'm reading away and always inspired by others.

Northern:
Lots of great testimonies at www.hacres.com if your daughter can start where she is at. It's not 100% raw since most can't do that, but 85% if she can do that. Lots of inspiration at that site too. Best to her.

We flew my daughter from TX to CO to see a great practioner here for her Crohn's and IBD. She tested Sept. to bad numbers, 34, and now in April to normal: 12. She went through NAET treatments and acupuncture with 2 foot baths, ion cleanse known as too, with practioner who changed plate often which is vital. Need more details email and I will post here as well. Just not always around. Super reasonable too for all treatments.

carolg