The July Sizzlin' Hot 30-Day Challenge 2008 Archives

[Raw Hope]

i'm in:)
Glad to be a part rest is need
i know this will have me vibrant again

[saxmaam]

Still here! Had some discomfort yesterday from eating too much at once. My stomach stayed full way too long. So I'm going to be more careful about that.

I scored some awesome apricots from a tree in the neighborhood. The very ripe ones went into the freezer in quart bags. The rest are on the counter to ripen. Yum.

Have a good day, everyone.

Susan

[Raw Hope]

Hello ladies about to make a large romaine salad with tomatoes avacados and onions with lemon

Hope you all have a Holy Spirit-Filled Day

[Raw Hope]

Off topic
Rawkinlocs do you have a hair album

[Anastazia]

Good morning everyone!

Up all night again, *sigh*, but decided that instead of napping a few hours & then trying to go to bed early, & not being able to, I'm just going to stay up all day & go to bed real early tonight, knowing I'll likely sleep 11 hours or so, & get up early, & turn it around once & for all...(please pray I can, I'm sooooo tired of this!)

...not that this has anything to do with my raw food intake today, except that I'll likely have little appetite again, I don't eat much when I'm tired...(& it's so frustrating, I just have little strength to exercise, but I am stretching, & using hand-weights a little...)

...going to have a honeydew melon for breakfast, smoothies later, & maybe a salad...& snack on fruit if I get hungry...I'm nervous about weighing myself, I know when I don't sleep enough the scale stops goin' down, & sometimes even goes up, even when I stay raw & don't eat much...

I think I might even make the best cake ever today, & topping it with raspberries! {I may even have a ride & will get walnuts! Woohoo!}

Have a really wonderful, peaceful day, eveyone...get out in the sunshine...or at least nature, even if it ain't sunny! Just saw on a gardening show that just looking at trees & plants measurably lowers blood pressure & reduces stress! I definately felt better after the hours in my raspberry bushes the other night, & an hour or so yesterday!

~Anastazia~
P.S.
If ya like carrots, check out my blog today...

[foxieroxie104]

I know I am a bit late but I did start on Monday July 7, 2008. DH and I went shopping y/d and all ready to go. We are doing the meal plans Alissa has mapped out in her book. We tried this once before for lent but it didn't work. We really didn't know anything about raw or vegan for that matter. We talked to his buddy and he gave us some pointers but not the same. So for the past months I have been reading alot and bought the book and highlighted and studied it and now have a better understanding. I know we will make it this time.

Thanks
Roxanne

[oceanee]

It's another lovely day in paradise.
GS-spinach,berries and peaches,maca & flax
Salad or oranges for lunch
Dinner? hmmmm ..maybe cantelope and blueberries?
It's so fun to listen to all you northern rawbies delighting in summertime activities, fresh local produce etc !
Oceanee

[Thick]

Good morning Y'all=)

Today is the day I am resisting going to the grocery store, so I can use up the groceries I already have...

B-
GS-pear and spinach
L-
yesterday's "beans and rice"
more guacamole
S-
grapes
D-
zucchini marinara
salad

Today I'm going to finally try out some dehydrator crackers. I'm going to make some sweet ones for nut butter and some salty ones.

This morning for the first time in about 10 years I saw the number 229

Which is really exciting to me=) I have been down to 235 in the past a couple of times, but this is almost new territory for me. I can't tell you how thankful I am for raw foods, their source, and all of you fellow travellers, Thank you!!

[hillarylouise]

Good morning everyone!

Up all night again, *sigh*, but decided that instead of napping a few hours & then trying to go to bed early, & not being able to, I'm just going to stay up all day & go to bed real early tonight, knowing I'll likely sleep 11 hours or so, & get up early, & turn it around once & for all...(please pray I can, I'm sooooo tired of this!)



Anaastazia, I feel for you. Once insomnia takes hold, it gets harder and harder to shake, and it never helps that people who haven't experienced it think it should be easy to fix--how many times have you heard about the hot bath and glass of milk? Feh! I don't have a cure that works for me every time, but sometimes for me vigorous exercise can break the cycle--but really hard, want-to-die exercise, like an eight mile hike with lots of hills, which on no sleep can be an absolutely miserable experience, though no more so than another sleepless night! The other thing that has worked for me in the past has been travel--going away for the weekend or even a short business trip can break an insomnia streak for me, I don't even know why, maybe it's the change of context? Sometimes just spending the night on a deep, cushy couch has the same effect, as it keeps me from tossing, and gets me away from the bed where I have come to expect not to sleep. Right now I'm sleeping consistently well, and being raw and exercising daily seems to work as preventive medicine, to keep the stress from building up to trigger insomnia, knock on wood.

[Kendra]

CONGRATULATIONS THICK!!!!!!

Hi everyone. :) This raw thing seems to be getting easier and easier (which is great - b/c I thought it would get harder!) My cravings for anything non-raw are very low - and I am so grateful for that.

Just made some more fresh-squeezed OJ this am - my daughter loves it. It's so nice to know she's getting the REAL thing.

Hmmm, what shall I eat today? Probably a smoothie with frozen bananas, pineapple, and OJ. May skip the greens in the smoothie today - will make sure I get them in later today.

Have a great day, everyone!! :D

[smb106]

Still here! Sorry that I have been away but I have been staying raw.

This morning I made a simple GS. Lunch and snacks consist of snap peas, carrots, and apple/pear juice. Dinner will probably be zuc. pasta with marinara.

The weather is crazy humid here, but a storm is coming in tonight to cool things off. It has been too hot and humid to eat.

Have a great raw day!

[Zuri]

Good day all!

Still hangin' over here and feeling good. Too bad the battery to my mp3 player is about dead...and I have 5.5 more hrs. here at work! I've had peas, avocado, a banana, and a peach today thus far. I'm hoping to have some extra time to uncook because these pieced together meals are getting old.

congrats to all who made it to day 9!
9 is the magic number! :D

[Green_Woman]

I LOVE RAW!!!


Stayin' raw and strong over here.


Had some "nachos" again for dinner last night. Yummmmers!!!

[Kendra]

Hey Green Woman - how do you make the nachos? :)

[Elisabeth]

I didn't have time to make my green smoothie this morning, so I actually brought some food to work today. I had a banana and leftover cheezy corn chowder from last night, which I didn't love to death but was pretty good. I think next time I'll sub sweet potato or white mushrooms or something for the carrots. They dominate everything! I also brought some almonds and walnuts.

We're going to McDonalds tonight to be in some air conditioning (it's 110 today) and so that the little ones can play, and we'll be bringing a nice avocado dressing and getting salads.

People have really been noticing my skin and my weightloss the last few days, and I've been getting all sorts of compliments. I've even gotten a couple of my co-workers interested in trying raw.

I feel soooo fantastic! :)

[Emma-Liza]

Didn't want a hungry day like yesterday, so came to work prepared with ready-to-eat food!

B--
eaten throughout the morning:
2 bananas
big handful pecans (late morning)
1/2 cup coffee w/lf organic milk

L--
Usual caf salad bar salad:
mixed greens, tomato, onion, cuke
avocado half (from home)
oil and lemon dressing

D--
fruit plate:
sliced canteloupe
blueberries
pureed strawberry sauce

5 large, warm mushrooms dipped in a tahini-lemon dressing
(this really was good!)

S--
probably date nut torte

[StampThineImage]

CONGRATULATIONS THICK! WAY TO GO. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! I BLAZED INTO NEW TERRITORY MYSELF, UNDER 300. IT IS EXCITING.
oops sorry about the caps lock.
breakfast was smoothie. too much parsley tho. ick.
lunch, well, um, something...
Dinner back on track...made some collard wraps. I made a mexican flavored walnut pate with cilantro and heirloom tomatoes, a jalapeno creme sauce (some call it cheeeze) and some grated zukes and diced bell peppers. even my kids asked for seconds. WHOO HOO!
some fresh GOlden raspberries tonight.
my blood sugars are still low. its no fluke. had a 101, a 110 and a 117 this week! a few months ago, they were in the 240's. This raw thing is an answer to prayer, and I am excited to be doing it, instead of just reading about it!

[Rawkinlocs]

Have a wonderful time being raw today!

===============
Please remember, no mention of slip-ups (not that you're gonna have any) - just focus on raw and staying positive and most of, have FUN and enjoy yourselves!

[saxmaam]

All going well here, except I think I caught a bug from some sniffling colleagues at work.

Yesterday I took a couple of Not-Cheezits to work with some Not-Cream Cheese (cultured macadamia nut cream!) for a friend at work to sample. I think she was very surprised how good they were.

The scale maybe moved down a tad. I hope that's starting. I see the threads by raw fooders who can't GAIN weight. Gotta wonder.

For food I've got cauliflower rice, Not-Turkey-Loaf, and Marinara Zuchinni noodles. Plus fruits and veggies. No starving today!

[oceanee]

Yes it's the 10th :) . Great sleep , always cool dreams and at work extra early. Had a GS with fresh mango, banana, spinach, maca. Ready to get my water in which is great as the day flies by and I haven't hydrated myself as well as I'd like. Oranges for lunch, mixed salad tonight and maybe some raw chocolate cake with a fresh fruit puree. I am loving arugula this week. Yum !
Have a fantastic raw Thursday everyone !
Oceanee

[Thick]

I'm going on a daytrip today to visit my dad and to a pick your own farm with my kids. So I know I have lunch covered=) I'l be dining out with my dad, though--probably a restaurant salad with no cheese, dressing, etc.

B-
GS-Spinach and grapes
S-salty, soaked, dehydrated pistachios
L-salad in a big bowl from home w/food from the farm
avacado
D-restaurant salad of some kind
S-cherries,when home, if needed

I hope you guys have a wonderful day full of inspiration and easiness.

[raw4u]

Good morning everyone. I had a great day yesterday also. Jumped on the scale this morning and I'm down 4 pounds (yay). I'm really loving eating RAW and how good I feel. Let's see today I'm having a peach, banana, orange smoothie with some flax oil for breakfast. Lunch is going to be a salad with lime juice, dinner is going to be a gs and I will snack on watermelon the rest of the day. Hope everyone has a great day.

[Elisabeth]

I have my big green smoothie today (with banana, mango, coconut oil, and spring mix), and I haven't decided yet what to have for dinner. I'm thinking another nice cucumber and tomato salad with avocado-spinach-hemp seed dressing. It's sooo great for hot days like we've had here lately.

I'm so excited! Costco is selling Vita-Mix 5200's right now for $390, and I'm going to pick one up after work. Yay for smooth smoothies and chunkless soups!

[Anastazia]

Finally got my nites & daze turned around...now if i can just get 'em to stay that way!

Just led to eat lotsa fruit today, will make a green smoothe later, & for tonight, I think I'm making a cold soup & lettuce wraps! yum!

Have a fun day, y'all!

It's georgous & hot & windy here, with the occasional round of thunder & a little sudden rain, then back to sun...sun showers are my all-time favorite weather!

~Anastazia~

[Kendra]

Hi everyone. :) I'm starving today - my own fault. I had 2 plums for breakfast, then a lara bar for a snack. I've been out with my daughter all day and haven't really prepared. I also need to go shopping. I can munch on some cukes and carrots, but that will only last me so long. I really want to make something - I just don't know what!

Oh, my dehydrator will be here any day now - I am soooo excited!! I've wanted one for so long.

I have a new job starting Monday, so I'm not sure I'll be able to check in here every day. But I will do my very best to stay 100% raw!!

Have a great day, everyone!

[brewcat]

Very nice Thick, to be able to pick your own veggies locally. We have a farm not too far from where we live, I'm planning to save up for next year so we can do the same thing!

I used to be really afraid to order something special off of a restaurant menu, not anymore. Today I was out to lunch with my Out To Lunch Bunch and I asked the waitress if the chef could make the Spinach Ahi Salad minus the Ahi and add a bunch of veggies. She said Sure! And he did! It was one of the best salads I've had in a long time - avocados, mushrooms, red onions, fresh pears - very cool http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l417/nshepardson/59.gif!

Having some detox today, feeling a little more tired than I have been, but if I put it in perspective - I still feel so much better than I used to at this time of day.

I plan to have another big watermelon smoothie with celery and some lime or lemon when I get home. If I'm still hungry after that, I'll fix my daily gs. I missed that today.

Congratulations on getting your "nites & daze" turned around Anastazia. Enjoyed your blog and will visit you again!

http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l417/nshepardson/well_done2.gif

[Green_Woman]

I'm munching away on some "macaroni'n cheese" right now. (Alissa's "creamy american cheese" recipe souped up and poured over some zuccini "pasta"... LOVE IT!!!)

:D

[sweetlime]

got a headache today. it's either detox, or the fact that i slept in late today.

besides that, i'm feeling pretty good. i went to a co-op and they had a whole area for raw goodies! so i splurged on some raw "junk food." i got a raw cookie, raw cocao bar, raw crackers, and a raw brownie! delicious stuff, too bad it's so expensive. i'm sure i could make all this on my own, but i don't have a dehydrator.

today i had:

-- 1/2 a mango & 1 apple
-- handful of almonds
-- 1/2 a coconut/almond date
-- Huge salad: kale, 1 tomato, 1 avocado, spicy walnut/sunflower seed taco meat, sprouts
-- munching on a raw cocao bar

if i am hungry later, i'll probably have a smashed up banana with agave and dehydrated blueberries. this has become my form of "ice cream." =)

[suptz1]

Hi everyone. just checking in. Staying Raw. Had some veggie chilli tonight, but ate it cold and made it gazpacho instead. I love that recipe. It is so versatile. It is just about my mainstay. With seasoning, I can make it spaghetti, chilli, gazpacho, dip. It is a great recipe. I also ventured into Raw Brownies. I make adaptations to all recipes. I am like so many that I see that don't measure. My grandson ate some raw chilli this evening. His mother was very pleased. Glad to see that everyone is doing so well. Congratulations, Thick. Very Happy for you. I have had a little insomnia, but nothing like yours, Anastazia. :)

[Rawkinlocs]

Have a super day!

===============
Please remember, no mention of slip-ups (not that you're gonna have any) - just focus on raw and staying positive and most of, have FUN and enjoy yourselves!

[saxmaam]

Wow, this month is going by quickly.

Called in sick yesterday and took a magic THREE hour nap in the morning. I'm not sure what that was all about but I feel better today.

Yesterday I finished off food from the Monday food-prep.

Did I mention that Alissa's "Caesar Dressing" is fantastic? I didn't like the first couple in her eating plan (just a matter of preference), but that one is really uber-yummy.

Also I'm experimenting more with fermented nut-slurries, leading to a result that is like sour cream, or cream cheese, or yogurt. The main challenge is how to avoid mold. Some people don't seem to mind it and they just scrape it off the top. That's what I've done, too, but I'd really prefer to avoid it completely. I've made some progress with this by using a vacuum food storage container. I think I'll do a little research and open a new topic on this in another sub-forum.

Susan

[lodestar]

here, raw, happy, focused and sizzlin' hot! :D

[oceanee]

Morning oh sweet rawbies ~
Moving slower today after a great day yesterday. I am doing the wake up in the middle of the night and think of all these cool things to do/expand/promote for my business and so then whew wake up a bit sluggish. On top of my game nonetheless with raw !!!
GS, some fruit for lunch and then either basil pesto over zuke noodles or I go to the store. We'll see how I feel at the end of the day....
Happy rawness all :rolleyes:
Oceanee

[Thick]

Good morning everyone=)

Today has to be store day. Here's the plan if I don't go=)

B-spinach/peach smoothie
S-walnuts
L-guacamole salad (restaurant)
S-almond butter/cocoa/maca shake (have you had these yet?yum!)
D-fantasy after store dinnner--taco salad
mixed greens
pico de gallo
sprouts
avacado
tomato
rawfried beans

[Emma-Liza]

I'm wondering if it might be helpful to record my sleep. I have read that you don't lose weight if you don't rest enough. Last night, I was up late and this morning, my weight was up, too!

Sleep last night--
5:15 hrs

B--
rest of smoothie from last night (1/2 - 3/4 cup)
banana
pecans (too many)

L--
salad bar bonanza:
they had lots of choices today!
mixed greens
onion
tomato
broccoli
alfalfa sprouts
cucumber
carrot
avocado (from home)
oil, lemon, and balsamic dressing, s&p

S--
brought an orange

D--
mango/spinach smoothie
probably something else

[Kendra]

Hi everyone. Day 11 and still going strong. :) It's been a pretty lazy day, which is nice considering the last few days have been crazy.

So far today, I've had a GS with 2 frozen bananas, 2 peaches, almond milk, and spinach (yummmm), a handful of cashews, and a few ounces of fresh-squeezed organic OJ.

I will probably have another GS soon and a dinner for salad. I can't wait until my dehydrator arrives so I can make more exciting meals. :)

[Elisabeth]

I got my VitaMix yesterday (yay!) so this morning I had a super crazy sexy smooth green smoothie. I forgot to bring my cup to work, though, so I can't sip on it throughout the day. I am going to be sooo hungry when I get home, lol.

The hubby is going to try his hand at some tomato soup for dinner, which is cool because although he's been eating raw with me, he has so far refused to try uncooking (he is a great cook and before we shared in the cooking responsibilities). We'll see how it turns out.

:)

[Kendra]

DUH - I meant "salad for dinner" LOL And I didn't end up having it. I ate way too many cashews b/c I had the munchies, then felt like crap for awhile. I had some watermelon and grapes for dinner. Before that, I made a strawberry shake with 2 frozen bananas, a handful of strawberries, and almond milk. I was planning on it being a GS, but it looked so tasty w/o the greens - it was fantastic as a shake. :)

[sweetlime]

i've released about 5 pounds! only 20 more to go! hooray!

today i walked A LOT. a crazy amount. so i feel good!

here's my food intake:

- 1 peach
- 1.5 dehydrated crackers
- 2 almond/coconut date rolls
- 2 bananas
- 1/2 a pineapple


gnight rawbies!

[Rawkinlocs]

Have a fantastic day!

===============
Please remember, no mention of slip-ups (not that you're gonna have any) - just focus on raw and staying positive and most of, have FUN and enjoy yourselves!

[saxmaam]

I'm still in :)

Trekked to Whole Foods on the bus and paid a :eek:FORTUNE:eek: for one red bell pepper. I bought other things, too, but ... my goodness. I have decided to "just say yes" during this 1 month challenge. That is, go ahead and buy the things on my list and never mind the cost. But reason will have to prevail eventually:rolleyes:. Dawdled around and didn't finish my food prep day.

The fermented macadamia + pumpkin seed yogurt I made came out great with NO mold. The trick was using some of the last batch as a starter, plus a smidge of new probiotic powder and honey. The honey is to help the good bacteria get started. The original recipe I saw was all macadamia nuts, but I see that pumpkin seeds have better quality protein.

We had the stuffed portobello mushrooms from LOLF last night, plus a kale/spinach/lettuce salad with the 2nd Caesar dressing from LOLF. Great dinner. I didn't think I'd like the raw mushrooms so much, but they were fine. The dressing was good, though it's based on tahini which will never taste like a caesar dressing to me.

One thing I like about this experience is tasting a whole bunch of different things. Sometimes my preconceptions about a recipe are right, other times wrong.

Best to all!

[oceanee]

Another lovely day ~ corn chips and raw oatmeal cookies in the dehydrator as I type:) . Trying to decide how to spend my day off....so many choices ~
GS- spinach,strawberry's,banana and fresh OJ, maca and flax.
Later ??? Have lots of veggies to create...
Oceanee

[hillarylouise]

My weight hasn't changed for a week or more, so I'm going to change things up a bit, as I do want to get rid of another 5 or 10 pounds. I figure I can cut back on either nuts or fruit. I will try each for a time. Since I'm not a big fruit person, I think I'll start with cutting that down and see if it stimulates the metabolism. Fortunately, I like savory green smoothies as much as sweet ones.

In the big picture, I'm glad not to be losing as much weight as I did the first month of raw, as I want this to be a viable long term diet.

[Thick]

Good morning=)

Today we are going to a nearby farmers market for the first time. I have been going into the city to a farmer's market I already felt comfortable with if ykwim. So, I have no idea what Ill have for lunch and dinner today, butit will be ripe, organic and wonderful=)

Also, my hair is as curly as when I was a little girl lately. My dds have ringlets and people use to cast a glance at my frizzy hair and say to them,"where'd you get those pretty curls?" It makes me wonder about the amazing transformations going on inside my body as well=)

Have a good day everyone. Thank you for helping me through this.

[gingincal]

Can't believe today's the 12th already. I haven't posted in a while but am still raw. :)

Today's a glorious day. The tiny kitten hubby snatched from the jaws of death yesterday is recovering nicely, so I guess we'll have yet another pet. :eek:

Food for today so far:
B - blue/green smoothie (oranges, frozen strawberries, frozen blueberries, cucumber, wheatgrass and spirulina powders, and agave)
Snack - cantaloupe
L - romaine salad w/creamy avocado dressing
Snack - dried coconut, macadamias, cacao nibs, and agave

Rawk on, everybody!

[Emma-Liza]

Farmer's market day! Doing lots better than yesterday, when I think I ate 3 days' worth of nuts. I never knew I could eat nuts like that!

Last night D--
Mango, orange, and spinach smoothie with almond milk & stevia
(The spinach taste was too strong, think the greens were a little past their goodness)
Raw peanuts in the shell

Sleep: 5:30 hrs

B--
blackberries

S--
cherry tomatoes

L--
Inspired lettuce wraps that contained:
swiss chard dressed in olive oil and salt and left for a few minutes to soften
shredded carrot
julienned yellow bell pepper
avocado slices
tahini/lemon dressing
butter lettuce for the wraps as the leaves are already cup-shaped

D--
I liked lunch so much, I might just make it again and add some scallions and sesame seeds.

[Anastazia]

Sorry I've been AWOL, have major PMS & too much lower back pain to sit too long, & am kinda out of it, not sleeping enough, etc...

...& no appetite at all the last few daze...

...have only had rasperries today, & it's almost 5...guess I'll make a smoothie for when my appetite finally kicks in...no doubt my metabolism's slown down, the scale ain't movin' right now...

..my sweet girl came home with a big bag of fresh-from-the-garden mint from a yard sale this afternoon for fifty cents!

Now if only & had cocoa or carob, I'd make a chocloate-mint shake!

I need a massage!!!

& a nap!

hey Gingincal, tell your hubby for me that he's a sweetie for rescuing the kitty!

Give it a great name, K?!

~Anastazia~

[Kendra]

Hi everyone. I've had some serious cravings the past couple of days, but have managed to stay strong. Today I had:

B: GS with 2 frozen bananas, pineapple, almond milk, spinach
S: lara bar, handful of cashews
L: salad with greens, carrots, red pepper, tomato, walnuts
D: choco orange smoothie (from gone raw website)

The scale is barely moving - I wonder if it's because of the back pain I've had for the past week or so. Hopefully it will feel better soon so I can start exercising and get the metabolism revved up. :)

[sweetlime]

it's been so hot in portland! i was riding my bike and had to stop and sit for 30 minutes--i got a massively over-heated. it was horrible. i almost passed out. so i have been keeping it easy, and drinking lots of water!

today's food:

* 1/2 pineapple
* 1 banana
*1 peach
* 1/2 cocao chocolate bar
* HUGE salad: kale, lettuce, corn, red pepper, 1 avocado, sprouts, tomato, and apple vinegar/olive oil dressing
* 1 dehydrated cracker
* 1 almond/coconut date


been keeping my meals really simple these days. it's nice.

[Thick]

Here's what I actually ate today=
dandelion tea
banana
3 homemade raw bars bought at the farmer's market ( one cacao/orange, 2 lemon/coconut)
one bite of a raw revolution bar (didn't care for it)
Lots of roasted, spiced, dehydrator roasted pumpkin seeds
Lots of "" "" pecans
bite of dd's pickle
32 oz carrot juice from jamba juice

Seriously nut heavy today! I'd laugh to see fitday's analysis today!=) I'm goingtopost what I actually ate every evening, if Im around the computer. I often deviate from my perfect plan in the a.m.!

The new farmer's market was all out of produce when I got there. They were all shocked that they had sold out so fast. I am just glad that people in my area are awakening=)

[Rawkinlocs]

Have an awesomely-rawesome day!

===============
Please remember, no mention of slip-ups (not that you're gonna have any) - just focus on raw and staying positive and most of, have FUN and enjoy yourselves!

[saxmaam]

I'm still here! Food-Prep Friday kind of bled into the weekend and it feels right now like I'm in the kitchen all the time. I've let the focus of my free time be food lately. I guess that's OK for a while but it's starting to seem meaningless.

Wednesday I'm going to a raw "meetup" here in town. So one of the Food-Prep Monday recipes needs to be a dish for the meetup. I'm a little bit nervous about that ... say I make a "Date-Nut Torte" and people question how raw were my walnuts? Sigh.

One of the recipes I was making yesterday was "Chile Rellenos," to use up one of the many bags of new mexico green chiles that have filled my freezer for way too long. Only I left the chiles in the dehydrator too long (before adding the cheeze) and they got stiff, thin, and dry. I think I'll make the cheeze anyway and make little chile sandwiches out of them. If those are good, I could make more for the meetup.

I'm curious ... among those who are doing the challenge this month, who is doing raw for the very first time? Are you happy with your experience? I'm doing raw for the first time, and I'm surprised that it's pretty easy and I'm not too hungry all the time.

Susan

[oceanee]

Morning all ~
Up kind of sluggish....I think because it's been cloudy for the past couple of days and oh...maybe cuz I ate a bazillion olives last night ? I couldn't stop craving them...
Corn chips and raw oatmeal cookies came out great in the dehydrator.....making pesto over zuke noodles for later....got lost of fruit and veggies for the week so many yummy choices ahead !
Saxmamm~ oh my ....about the "are the walnuts raw " question. I started raw 11 months ago, feel a couple times and starting back with the 30 day challenge is such a help accountability wise for me. You sound like you are doing well, trying lots of recipes and staying focused. Yeah raw !
Oceanee

[Kendra]

Hi everyone. My back is hurting again - owwwww - very bad timing since I start a new job tomorrow. :( Please send me healing vibes. Thanks!

So far today I've only had a GS with bananas, pineapple, spinach, and almond milk. I'm not sure what else I will have - a big salad is definitely on the agenda for later today, though.

Come on, dehydrator, don't you know I'm anxiously awaiting your arrival? ;)

[Thick]

Hello everyone=)

Today my dh is coming home from out of town. Whereas, I was getting away with giving the kids guacamole or just fruit/nuts for some meals, Im back to the serious challenge of dealing with him and his 3xs day fast food/restaurant cravings.

Okay here's the plan=

B-banana/spinach smoothie (the only want I want lately=)
cashews
L-big,huge bowl of romaine w/caesar dressing (thanks Saxmaam)
D-I just want tomatoes &avacado--but haven't been to the store

I'm glad you guys have stuck around. It helps me so much to know that you guys are here to read what I think. Thank you so much!=)

[saxmaam]

L-big,huge bowl of romaine w/caesar dressing (thanks Saxmaam)

Do you like the dressing?

[Honeybee]

I'm still here and raw.

After spending all day at the computer at work, I just haven't been able to bring myself to get on to the computer after work.

Just got back from the health food store. Stocked up on some goodies.

I made Thick's butternut squash rice receipe yesterday and it was GREAT! Most of my raw receipes don't seem to come out tasting very good so I was pleasantly surprised. Of course I bought some more butternut squash today.

Have a great raw day everyone.

[brewcat]

I'm curious ... among those who are doing the challenge this month, who is doing raw for the very first time? Are you happy with your experience? I'm doing raw for the first time, and I'm surprised that it's pretty easy and I'm not too hungry all the time.
Susan

saxmaam - I'm not doing raw for the first time, been trying for about a year and half now. This time is different for me. It doesn't seem difficult, it's fun, exciting to watch the changes, and amazing how simple it really is. I used to think it was difficult. Now I know it's definitely a mind set. I believe the biggest difference this time is that I really want it. It's all starting to make a great deal of sense to me. Health, vitality, peace of mind, contentment.

http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l417/nshepardson/cat.gif
This has been my experience this time around.

Today I'm having:
blueberries
mangos
power soup - strawberries, alfalfa sprouts, romaine lettuce, small beet, agave syrup to taste
big green salad w/ avocado, tomatoes, mixed greens, cukes, radishes, carrots anything else I find in the fridge sounds good!

Have a great day everyone!

[sweetlime]

so far today i've only had 1/2 a baby watermelon. think i am going to munch on some dehydrated crackers right now. saving my appetite for a raw potluck i am going to tonight! i am so excited!

[Emma-Liza]

saxmaam/susan--this is my second attempt at raw. I'm finding it much easier this time. I think my expectations are more realistic and I'm far more patient with myself

thick--I'm glad you're here, too. weekends get a little thin on this part of the board!

Dinner last night--
butter lettuce cups filled with
shredded carrot
sliced tomatoes
wilted chard salad (chard, salt, olive oil, lemon)
tahini dressing

Blueberry Pie (LOLF) yum!

Sleep last night:
8 hrs !

B--
blackberries

L--
(my 82-year-old daddy loves the senior breakfast at (insert chain restaurant here), so I go there every couple weeks with him. they make me a special salad, bless 'em!)
plate sized salad of:
iceberg lettuce/carrot/cabbage mix
black olives
tomato
peppers
celery
red onion
oil and vinegar dressing

S--
mango smoothie:
coconut water (doubt it was raw)
mango
banana
pineapple
too big to finish it all!

[Anastazia]

...but I don't mean food-wise...

I just sent Hannah off to camp...I miss her so much already...I have my period, took DAYS of back pain to finally fully begin, very intense healing/cleansing of my womb goin' on {sorry if TMI!}...feel like I've been hit by a train...still craving chocolate....still have none...still raw...

Little sleep, no appetite, trying not to nap...

I've had half an organic honeydew melon so far....have salad in the fridge...will just snack on fruit.

Be blessed,
~Anastazia~

[Thick]

Do you like the dressing?

I'm ashamed to tell you that I changed my mind about lunch today. Instead I had a salad w/alfalfa sprouts, cilantro, tomato, avacado and cayenne pepper. I do have the stuff to make it though, because of your review=) There are not many recipes that I have found that I really like..but I am discovering what I do and don't like now. In the beginning, I would read a recipe and couldn't imagine the taste without making it--now I can read something and know more if I would enjoy it or not.

Everyone has different tastes though. I have made things that I was ready to put in the garbage, and lo and behold, my 10 year old son liked it..

For instance, I don't care for dates very much in chocolate recipes--or dried figs either. But I love, love fresh dates with a pecan or two stuffed inside--they are fantastic.

I'll let you know after lunch tomorrow!

[Thick]

I'm still here and raw.

I made Thick's butternut squash rice receipe yesterday and it was GREAT! Most of my raw receipes don't seem to come out tasting very good so I was pleasantly surprised. Of course I bought some more butternut squash today.


I am so glad you like it! I wouldn't post a recipe unless I thought it was great!=) After I made it the first time, I also went right out and bought more butternut squash! It's especially gratifying that people like it because no one in my family would touch it with a ten foot fork=)>

[Rawkinlocs]

One week down! Enjoy your day!

===============
Please remember, no mention of slip-ups (not that you're gonna have any) - just focus on raw and staying positive and most of, have FUN and enjoy yourselves!

[Zuri]

Hi Rawbies!

Wow, one week down. It seems like it has been longer! I missed the past few days 'cause I was just busy. Back at work and today I have MANY goodies: a salad with italian dressing (Alissa's and I must say it's quite good), avocado, kale salad, peas, those pink plums you can only get at the farmer's mkt., blueberries, and half a honeydew. Hahaha! Yep, it' a lot of food, but I had so much to pick from and next Mon. I'll start prepping for a two week fast so I'm super excited to eat this week! I saved so much money shopping at the farmer's mkt.!

Have a great day all and it's great that so many are still in the challenge! :D

[brewcat]

Hey fellow rawbies!


I'll start prepping for a two week fast so I'm super excited to eat this week! I saved so much money shopping at the farmer's mkt.!
:D

What kind of two week fast are you doing Zuri? My DH is doing really well on his low-fat diet. He's really into simple things and is trying a lot of the raw dishes I've been creating. It's simple for him because he just sits down and eats! :p It works for me. I enjoy the prep time now but I really enjoy him eating healthy and sharing this journey with him! :D

Thick I'm trying your butternut squash recipe today but substituting some sweet potatoes I want to use up.

Sooooo good to have so many of us staying with the July challenge! Rawk on my "peeps"! http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l417/nshepardson/dan-men.gif

[lodestar]

half way through another raw juicy month...yea for us!

[Zuri]

Hey fellow rawbies!


What kind of two week fast are you doing Zuri?

A juice/lemonade/coconut water fast; I'll switch up when I get tired of one.

[oceanee]

Where does the time go.....
GS- spinach,mango, banana and strawberries w/maca & flax
lunch- blueberries & watermelon
Dinner- Mixed salad
snax-maybe a few raw oatmeal cookies ( though very sweet and next time I'll cut the sweetness in 1/2 and maybe add cacao).
Have a great day all !
xoxoxox

[Thick]

Good morning=)

I have a lot of groceries today. It's so exciting! Should be easier to stay witha plan today, since Im not having to wing it. I made the Ritz crackers last night, and they are almost ready. I tasted a corner this morning, and I can tell you that they are in fact good. Not ritz crackery imo, but good. Kind of like a nutty pita crisp. I'll give you guys the full review later=)

Ok the plan=
B-swiss chard ( my first time!=) and apple smoothie
S- *roasted* pumpkin seeds
L-romaine & caesar dressing w/ *ritz* cracker croutons
S-papaya w/lime juice ( I used to hate papaya, still not a huge fan but drawn to it anyway--the lime juice makes it much less um, musty)
D-Ritz pizzas--Im gonna try- garlicky almond butter for cheese, then tomatoes,garlic and spinach

I hope you get what you want today!=)>

[saxmaam]

S- *roasted* pumpkin seeds


Does the *roasted* mean "not really roasted"? (no criticism implied)

I'd sure like to get away from recipe names that are the opposite of what they mean. Or even OTHER than what the names mean. Like "real cream cheese" to indicate fermented macadamia nuts. Maybe I'll start writing in my own names in my recipe books :p Starting with "Sour Macs" for the above mentioned.

Anyways, I'm still here. I'm having some digestive reactions to yesterday that I'm not enjoying. (Rejoice! I'm sparing you all descriptive detail). Realized after posting that my new mexico green chiles are, of course, roasted. I went ahead with them anyway and some of them are SO hot.

[Thick]

Does the *roasted* mean "not really roasted"? (no criticism implied)

.

Well I soaked them in salt water, then mixed in spices and more salt, then dehydrated them until they are crispy and roasted tasting. They are really excellent this way. My kids would only eat raw pecans and walnuts before I tried the dehydrator roasting.

Haha, I know what you mean about the recipe renaming--but haha, the ones I want to rename are the ones I'll definately not make again!=)

[saxmaam]

Well I soaked them in salt water, then mixed in spices and more salt, then dehydrated them until they are crispy and roasted tasting. They are really excellent this way. My kids would only eat raw pecans and walnuts before I tried the dehydrator roasting.

Haha, I know what you mean about the recipe renaming--but haha, the ones I want to rename are the ones I'll definately not make again!=)

I'll try your, UH, roasting technique. Sounds good!

I suppose it would be disrespectful to post your alternate list of names.

[gingincal]

Good morning to all! :)
B - GS

Yesterday I made Spanish Rice using butternut squash "rice" instead of soaked barley - it's good! I think this was Thick's idea - I read so many raw recipes that I don't remember for sure. :o

If y'all haven't checked out VFL's post re: 70 green smoothie recipes, please do so right this minute. I have to go produce shopping today and am taking a printout of VFL's recipes with me...watch out! ;)

[Emma-Liza]

After three weeks of no grains at all, I have soaked, "sprouted," and eaten some oat groats. They were labeled "raw" at Whole Foods and I sure hope they were! I loved them! I put some details of how I fixed them in my journal.

I had a food prep day and made oat groat "oatmeal," Rich Cheese Sauce, Sunny Pate, Blueberry Pie. All good!

Dinner last night--
butter lettuce cups filled with
Sunny Pate (tweaked with loads of extra parsley)
tomato
5 olives

multiple tastes of the "cheese" sauce I was making (Morn's Serene Allison recipe) It really is the bomb!

Sleep last night:
7 (restless) hours

B--
oatmeal!
honey
cinnamon
almonds

L--
I brought :
1/2 lg tomato
1/2 lg avocado
Sunny Pate
will probably go to salad bar for greens, onions, and hopefully some sprouts

Snack--
I brought my stick blender and a tall container of:
chard
pineapple
blackberries
flaxseed meal
tiny bit of almond milk

D--
cheese sauce and....

I'm appreciating you all very much today!!!! It's so great to be able to come here and share this incredible journey!

[Anastazia]

If y'all haven't checked out VFL's post re: 70 green smoothie recipes, please do so right this minute. I have to go produce shopping today and am taking a printout of VFL's recipes with me...watch out! ;)

I musta missed that one, can you share a link? I'll go try to find it, me & that banana search don't always see eye to eye...
(...maybe if it were a potato...never mind...)

Today's been in slow-motion, just lemon water, then raspberries for breakfast {I bet you're all tired of hearing about my overflowing raspberry bushes, huh? Don't worry, I think their production is finally slowing down a little...}

...I'm planning on juicing today (carrots/apple/celery/spinich/whatever else in the fridge looks like it wants to join 'em! Maybe a little ginger?)

...& will be snacking on grapefruit, oranges, may make an Orange Julius type of smoothie/shake....anyone got a good recipe for that? I keep trying different things, haven't quite got it yet...

Veggies & dip for dinner, maybe a quick blended cold soup...

Other than that, Hannah's at camp, so I'm missin' her like crazy, but revelling in the solitude & silence~
(& re-doing her bedroom before she gets home! Does every mom do that when their kids are away? *grin*)

~Anastazia~

[Green_Woman]

I'm sippin' a hemp/GS right now. :D

[sweetlime]

hello all!

today i made that coconut/chocolate/banana smoothie out of alissa's book. i could only drink 1/4 of it---it was so good, but just way to much (the coconut milk got to me...)

i think i will freeze the rest and eat it for ice cream.

going out for sushi later today. hope they don't freak out when i order it "without rice." that happened to me a couple weeks ago and it made me very sad!

today i am wearing a pair of jeans i haven't been able to fit into for months! i am happy happy happy!

[Kendra]

Hi all. I can't believe we're halfway through July already!! Today was my first day of my new job - and all I will say is that staying raw was challenging. :( But I will keep doing the best I can and focus on the positive.

It's going to be hot the next few days, so I think I will focus on green smoothies - yummy and easy. :)

[Honeybee]

Hello everyone.

I'm still rolling along. Just had a strawberry, banana, romaine GS. Very tasty.

Not much going on here. Hope everyone has a great night.

[StampThineImage]

Hi all,
been soooo busy with packing(getting ready to move the end of July), havent had much time for much else, not to mention the computer problems! I am thankful I have my computer savvy son for a short time more before he heads off to College. He put together this laptop for me.<smile>
anyway,
breakfast strawberry,blueberry,banana kale ginger and bee pollen smoothy.
forgot my spirulina!
lunch fruit salad: apple strawberries, blueberries, banana, walnuts and agave
dinner: carrot chips and a ranch style dip i made, and
I tried something new: avocado with raw sauerkraut. I read that combo somewhere i cant say that I liked it too much. Maybe I will try it again some other day. So with the other half of the avo i squeeze a bit of lime, a pinch of sea salt and some cayenne. Now that was good!
Lots of ice water, and fresh cherries from my trees today. rainiers and bings.
delicious! The trees are soo loaded down, they are hanging like grapes. I am inviting as many as I can to come share!
SWEETLIME: forgot to say Congrats on the jeans! I am looking forward to those kind of moments. Keep it up!

[Thick]

Here's my review of the "Ritz" crackers and the caesar dressing.

Ritz crackers--so, unbelieveably good. In fact, I wonder f I can possibly lose weight eating these--they are wonderful. Try them! I had some with avacado and I had one with almond butter and honey--both so delicious!! Expect to see them a lot in my menus!=)>

Caesar dressing- Saxmaam was so right, this is really good. My 10 yo son said it was the best salad dressing he'd ever had and I ended up giving him half my dinner salad. I didn't follow the recipe verbatim. I didn't have the white miso, so I added some tamari instead ( to mimic the anchovy). I also put some ritz cracker pieces in it for crutons and wow was it good. Very much liek caesar dressing, in fact I don't think a SAD eater would even notice the difference.

I am very much looking forward to tomorrow's eating with these leftovers hanging around=)

[sweetlime]

SWEETLIME: forgot to say Congrats on the jeans! I am looking forward to those kind of moments. Keep it up!

thank you so much!! ::bows::

i just moved, so i know what you're going through! good luck with the packing!

[Rawkinlocs]

Have a spectacular day!

===============
Please remember, no mention of slip-ups (not that you're gonna have any) - just focus on raw and staying positive and most of, have FUN and enjoy yourselves!

[saxmaam]

I'm still in. It's a work day, so I'll be packing lunch/snacks/dinner.

Thick, thanks for the reviews. Glad you like the Caesar dressing. I made the second one in LOLF, with raw tahini, and it was alright, but did not resemble a Caesar dressing IMO. It needs a new NAME! Tahiniesqua?

Yesterday was food prep day and I didn't finish the food prep before it got too late!

I made the LOLF "Pesto Lasagne" and "Potato Salad". I'm a little scared of the former, but I'll post my review after I try it.

The "Potato Salad" I hereby dub "Jicama Salad." I accidentally spilled a bunch of salt in it and fished out as much as I could. Fortunately it wasn't ruined. It has the addictive, creamy, mustard/mayo/dill pickle/boiled egg texture and taste that made my grandmother's potato salad so yummy. It is almost too much to believe that it contains none of those ingredients.

One more review (or not really ... you'll see)

Last week I made the "almost tuna" recipe with Arame seaweed instead of kelp. It's horrible! I think it must be the Arame seaweed since the first thing I made with it was nasty, too. So I guess I can't judge either recipe fairly. I've gamely eaten more than half of it, but I'm afraid the rest will be worm food now, in the compost pile.

[lodestar]

happy, focused, green and going strong. :D

[Thick]

Good Morning=)

Plan-
B-avacado on "ritz" crackers
L-caesar salad
S-Pico de gallo salad
D-papaya w/ lime(skipped this yesterday)
carrot cake (actually very good)

It's so nice to look forward to this day of eating. Yum yum.

Saxmaam--I haven't yet found any seaweed recipe that I like. I had some in a restaurant that was great, but when I tried to make it at home following an online recipe--it was terrible. Maybe it's an aquired taste. What's funny is that my very, very SAD dh loves seaweed and nori. I mean , he only eats corn and green beans for vegetables,the lettuce and tomato on a taco/burger is his only salad-he is so, so picky--and HE likes seaweed? So, I'm going to try again in a few months../shrug

I'll try the jicama salad since it wasn't renamed anything more derogatory=)

I hope you guys find some new reasons to smile today=)>

[raw4u]

Good morning everyone. Everything going good here. I'm not feeling good today so it's going to be a carrot, ginger root, apple and lemon juice drink for the day. Hope everyone has a great day.

[Emma-Liza]

Raw4U--hope you feel better soon!

Saxmaam and Thick--Is the caesar salad dressing recipe online? Thx!

Yesterday afternoon, I had a rosacea flare-up that left bumps this morning. In general, this condition has been so much better, so I was bummed. Driving home from work, I head northwest and the sun comes in the driver's side window for at least 20 minutes and causes all kinds of havoc with my facial skin. I have no trouble with the first and last couple of hours of the day, but 5:00 is tough. My skin condition is what brought me back to trying raw diet again.

Dinner last night--
cheese sauce and celery sticks
big salad of tomato
onion
lettuce
corn
yellow pepper
avocado dressing

S--
blueberry pie

Sleep: 7 hrs

B--
peach oatmeal:
(buzzed in the mini)
small peach
1/3 c oat groats
tsp almond butter + a little water to thin it
2 tsp sliced almonds
drizzle of honey
dash of cinnamon

L--
green smoothie that I brought yesterday and was too full from pate :mad: to make:
pineapple/blackberries/chard/flaxseed
(Update: Ya'll, that was the worst smoothie I've ever tried to drink! My first failure! I mean, with a smoothie! :D Thank goodness the salad bar was open! Mr.Liza downed it. He said it "wasn't bad," but I know he just hates to waste food.)
greens, onion, carrots, and broccoli
tomato, avocado (1/2 each)
avocado/lime dressing

S--
orange and/or banana

[Zuri]

Hi all!

What's this about "ritz crackers"? I must have missed that part. How do you make them or where do I find the recipe again? I have a large salad with basil dressing again today, an avocado that I left home yest. on the counter, cherries, honeydew, peaches, peas, and marinated mushrooms. I feel great, never better. Have a good one all! :D

[Green_Woman]

Fruit smoothie for breakfast and two raw bars down so far...


ONE WEEK TO SCOTLAND!!!! :D

I'm making fruit leather to bring on the plane, and also going to pack a bunch of raw bars/crackers/dried mangos in my carry-on for the trip itself... :D

[Honeybee]

I made Fajita wraps w/smoked jalapino cheese last night. It was sooooo good I had it for breakfast this morning and dinner tonight. The nights still young, I might have some more later. It's almost gone, I'm going to have to make more. I can't stop eating it. :D

Hope everyone has a good night.

[sweetlime]

i haven't been hungry lately because it has been so hot. but i know i need nutrients, so i guess i'll force myself to eat.

so far i've had:

1/2 a baby watermelon
1 bottle citrus kumbocha

going to make a green salad of some sort right now.

tonight i am attending an introductory raw class! yippee!

[oceanee]

Great day.
GS- collards,kale,blueberries,banana,maca & flax
Lunch- mixed salad
PM-guac,salsa,raw corn chips, 5 green olives
snac-blackberries a few raw oatmeal cookies
Had a comment on how my face looked awesome ! Love that.
Oceanee

[Anastazia]

LIVIN' ON RASPBERRIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
{Did I mention I LOVE 'em???}

Fruit salad for breki,
veggies & dip for lunch (unless my sprouts are ready, then it'll be salad!)
& smoothie for dinner!

I'm soooo feelin' better by the day!

I LOVE RAW!!!

~Anastazia~

[Bananna]

Can you join in anytime, or should I just wait till the next one to join?

[Rawkinlocs]

Have a GREAT, raw-filled day!

===============
Please remember, no mention of slip-ups (not that you're gonna have any) - just focus on raw and staying positive and most of, have FUN and enjoy yourselves!

[brewcat]

Hi everyone,

It has been so hot and humid in our neighborhood! http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l417/nshepardson/sweating.gif it's a blessing to be raw, feeling so much lighter and less irritable than I used to in this kind of weather.

Thanks for the link Zuri. Have a juicy good fast!

On the menu today:
Thick'sSquash dish w/sweet potatoes (loving this) :D
watermelon smoothie
gs w/pineapple, parsley, banana, fresh coconut water
green juice

It's going to be even hotter today, so I plan to stick with a lot of water and lots of liquid treats!

[Thick]

Good morning=)

I live near Houston, where the heat and most of the the humidity used to be totally unbearable this time of year. But, like you Brewcat, I am dealing with it much better this summer=) I feel the heat, but its more of an external, wow my skin feels warm kind of heat. It used to be that I was hot from the inside and would be red faced and sweating like crazy. I love Raw food so much!

Today, Im going to the dentist. Which might not sound fun, but since I get a babysitter for all morning, let me assure you I will be in high spirits=)>

Here's my plan-

B-piece of carrot cake
L-my Mom will want to go out to eat, I'll choose well
S-ripe, sweet canteloupe
D-Salad--think I'll make the caesar dressing again.

Which reminds me--here's the link for the ritz crackers.
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=19073

I made Alissa's caesar salad dressing, but I changed it a bit. I only added 1/2 a date, and a lot of cracked black pepper. I used all olive oil instead of the flax oil. I'm not sure what the protocol is for posting her recipes, so..

I hope you get inspired to do the thing you've been putting off today=)>

[oceanee]

Tons of rain down here and my energy level is feeling it today ~ I definitely notice lack of sunlight into my brain::( ....It is amazing to live in the land of sunshine but feel the difference when we are in the rainy season. This has been an exceptionally rainy week and I seem to feel great one day then sluggish the next. I am sure raw helps as in the Northeast where I lived for years I would be sluggish/depressed for days on end.
I also agree with those of you about not feeling as hot eating raw, Isn't that another awesome perk!
Thick~I've tweaked that recipe the same as you. I don't think there's a problem with other notes/tweaks :D .
GS- berries,collards,kale
Lunch - salad
Dinner-fruit
snax-choc. cake with some sort of fruit puree if I feel like it!
Have a great day everyone !!
Oceanee

[Zuri]

Join whenever you want!

[oceanee]

Anastazia ~So glad you are still loving those raspberries !Yum yum !! Are you able to freeze some for your loooooooooong winter?
Oceanee

[Garlic]

I have been a vegetarian for 8 years.
I have been a strict vegan for 3 years.
I gave up, alcohol, sugar and all flour products 5 years ago.
I lost 100 pounds and have kept it off.

so, I tried the raw food diet December 2007 through Februrary 2008.
three months solid . . . 100% raw.
it was a wonderful experience but I couldn't help thinking of all the cooked food I was living without.
and it wasn't even all the junk food that usually pulls people back from raw.
it was just cooked grains, tofu . . . stuff like that, that I was feeling drawn to and missing.
I remember thinking "I'm so sick of being damn perfect!!"
so I went back to cooked foods.

as of this past Monday, July 14, I began 100% raw again.
I'm really enjoying it so far.
just keeping it simple this time . . . not whipping up recipes in the dehydrator left and right.
that was exhausting!!!
I'd like to stay 100% raw until August 16th, when my cousin and I will begin a 28-day Master Cleanse together.
I've done a 10-day MC before and look forward to trying a 28-day one (a little frightened too!!!)

so, here I go again!!
I'm hoping I stick with raw.
I've been doing 3 green smoothies a day.
and 3 small meals a day too.
I have to be careful with the nuts because the last time I went raw, I was poppin them in my mouth all throughout the day and I started to gain weight.
no more . . . just having them with meals and in things.

wish me luck!!!

[brewcat]

as of this past Monday, July 14, I began 100% raw again.
I'm really enjoying it so far.
just keeping it simple this time . . . I'd like to stay 100% raw until August 16th, when my cousin and I will begin a 28-day Master Cleanse together.
I've done a 10-day MC before and look forward to trying a 28-day one (a little frightened too!!!)
wish me luck!!!

Good luck Garlic and welcome back!

Thick I just love, love, love your Spanish Rice with butternut squash recipe. This is the second time I made it and used sweet potatoes again. I added some fresh corn off the cob and tomatoes . . .YUMMO! I feel like Rachel Ray today, only alive and RAWKIN! :eek: I love raw food too!

[gingincal]

Hiya! I had 2 pears for b-fast and a grapefruit GS for a.m. snack. :D I'll head to the gym this afternoon for some cardio and strength training,

Hope everybody has a terrific raw day! Keep up the good work. :)

[Emma-Liza]

It amazes me how often I reach for food out of boredom, restlessness, or other minor stresses!

Last night
D--
1/4 c each:
Sunny Pate
Cheese Sauce
Veggies to dip:
Celery, yellow pepper, carrot

dessert smoothie:
pineapple/banana/almond milk

Sleep: 7 hrs (funny dreams:p )

Today
B--
orange

S--
banana
6-8 pecan & walnut halves

[sweetlime]

just finished a yummy GS with spinach, watermelon, and agave.

don't know what else i'll eat today, but i'm sure it will be yummy!

[Elisabeth]

I have my green smoothie again today (these are soooo much better made in the VitaMix!), and I'll probably have pizza tonight. I made an italian herb and sundried tomato type of bread yesterday that I'll use as a crust, and I'll probably whip up some sort of nut cheese when I get home.

:)

Oh, and I'm down 3 more pounds since yesterday, lol. I was feeling a bit bloated, and I increased my water intake and peed like a racehorse last night. :D I think that all of the smoothie drinking makes me tend to drink less water, and I have to keep that in mind.

[Garlic]

boy, I'm really getting used to these green smoothies.
I make them the same every time.
I have three a day.

frozen strawberries
banana
dried cranberries
cucumber
carrot
and loads of mixed greens (spinach, chard, kale, collard)
and sometimes some lemon juice

I've been drinking three quarts a day.
and then have three small meals.

I'm the same way . . . I would just graze all day long if I didn't put boundaries around my food.
so what I decided to try (and so far, so good), is that I have these three one-quart smoothies and three meals that weigh no more than one pound each.
so I use my food scale and whether I'm having fruit, salad, dressing, a recipe, a raw dessert, nuts . . . I just throw it all on the food scale and when it weighs a pound, I have enough.
nuts can never be more than 2 oz. of the meal.
I may need to tweak this over time, but for now it's working.
I seem to be satisfied and we'll see what my weight does.
I could lose 5 to 10 pounds.
time will tell!!!!

[Anastazia]

Howdy, everyone~
Feeling much better today, :o was pretty sad yesterday after I wrote a post sharing that I'd released 14 pounds in 12 days, 50+ people read it, but not one commented...
...I guess I shoulda shared it here, but it was the end of the day & everyone had pretty much already checked in already...

...anyways, now it's 16 pounds in 13 days! Woohoo!!!
& yes, Oceanee, I'm freezing them....whatever I can't eat! Raspberry smoothies are sooooo yummy!!!

...& welcome back to Raw, Garlic, looking forward to getting to know you! :D

I just went shopping, was able to be on my feet longer, walk further, less pain afterwards than the last time I attempted to shop...it's amazing how a few weeks of raw & releasing just 16 pounds made such a difference already!

...breakfast, mono meal of 9 or 10 (lost count!) mandarin oranges...
...lunch will be a BIG salad!
...Dinner will be either a smoothie or a BIG bowl of raspberries & maybe some other fruit thrown in...maybe...but raspberries RULE!

& I got a BIG watermelon for tomorrow!!! Let's see if I can eat it ALL in one day! :eek:
(I know once you put it in the fridge it loses most of it's nutrition! I'm so thankful I have a coldroom!)

~Anastazia~

[oceanee]

Keep up the great rawness Anastazia ! Way to free those toxic fat cells:) !!!Oceanee

[Anastazia]

Keep up the great rawness Anastazia ! Way to free those toxic fat cells:) !!!Oceanee

Wowie, I have my own personal cheerleader!!!!
{She's everywhere, she's everywhere!) Thanks so much for sharing in my excitement, it makes it that much more joyful!!!!

& I LOVE that, 'free those toxic fat cells!"
"Go free, little cells, run, excape, fly away! I release you!"

Raw is sooooo amazing!

& suddenly sooooo much easier than it's ever been before!

~Anastazia~

[Garlic]

Anastazia: 16 pounds in 13 day?
WOW!!
just going raw did that for you?
amazng!!!!

today is my third day of total raw.
and I have to say I feel tired . . . not full of energy.
maybe I'm detoxing or something and the energy will come back.
but right now, I feel drained.
and I know that I'm eating enough so that's not it.
hmmmm..............
anybody, have this happen?
first few days feeling more tired than before?
and I'm typically a very active person, never feel like lounging around.

[Anastazia]

Yup, (I'm amazed, too!) & I've barely been active, hardly been sleeping, (cat in heat howling all night, & too much pain) & have had a very intense (long-overdue) period, & the weight still seems to be just fallin' off! Of course I have a lot to lose (details are on my blog) & I'm sure eventually it'll slow down, but hopefully not anytime soon!!!
I'm hopin' for 30 during these 30 days...!

..& yes, the first few days were really tiring for me, I think it's definately part of detox...sleep is when we heal & cleanse the most, & I always need more when I'm transitioning & when I first go 100&#37;...

~Anastazia~

[Garlic]

the first time I went raw, I don't remember experiencing this tiredness.
oh well.
I imagine it will pass.
but I like the food that I am choosing to put in my body.
I really don't have weight to lose but 5 or 10 wouldn't hurt.
"you can never be too rich or too thin", so they say!!
ha ha ha

I made nori rolls for the very first time tonight.
OMG!!! where they ever delicous!!!
go to youtube.com and search for Ani Phyo Nori Rolls and a video will come up showing you how to make them.
it's pretty simple and they were VERY good.

Anastazia: keep up the hard work.
you are worth it.
and you can do it!!!!

[saxmaam]

I'm checking in late today. Headaches and sinuses yesterday followed by poor sleep and a nasty bad dream UGH. I notice that this week I'm getting headaches after eating and finally I put it together that it might be the raw onions in the current batch of recipes that my body doesn't like. In the past I've avoided them for this very reason, so it's probably true that they bother me still...

So .... I think I just may toss some food in the compost tomorrow and give away my fresh onions. I can test them again later. I can't wait to see if tomorrow is better.

Otherwise the raw experiment is proceeding just fine.

Be well!

Susan

[gingincal]

I'm just reading up on the posts and enjoying a watermelon/cilantro smoothie after a fantastic workout this evening. Ahh.... Have a rawonderful night, everyone!

[Anastazia]

the first time I went raw, I don't remember experiencing this tiredness.
oh well.
I imagine it will pass.
but I like the food that I am choosing to put in my body.
I really don't have weight to lose but 5 or 10 wouldn't hurt.
"you can never be too rich or too thin", so they say!!
ha ha ha

I made nori rolls for the very first time tonight.
OMG!!! where they ever delicous!!!
go to youtube.com and search for Ani Phyo Nori Rolls and a video will come up showing you how to make them.
it's pretty simple and they were VERY good.

Anastazia: keep up the hard work.
you are worth it.
and you can do it!!!!

Ha, I can't even imagine ever thinkin' I'm gettin' too thin! Maybe one day!

The tiredness will pass, just pace yourself, rest as needed, try to get an extra hour sleep at night (or go to bed early enough that you can sleep until you wake naturally, without an alarm!) & sometimes exercise that makes you SWEAT clears away that feeling!

I keep hearing about Nori Rolls but HATE fish, & anything that tastes fishy...also I've never added salt to my food, so can only handle so much of that! I do love her video's, though!

Thanks so much for the encouragement! I really appreciate it, & it really helps to know I'm not in this alone! Sometimes, I know the things you wrote, & sometimes, I don't...so I'm cutting & pasting your words of encouragement to read when I'm not so strong! :o

Have a peaceful eveing, everyone! I had company, so only had all those mandarin oranges, then HOURS later, after my company left, I was tempted to open a can of soup or something, but decided to take the time to throw together a big salad, & I'm sooo glad I did now, it's sooo satisfying, & worth the wait! (& I did nibble as I made it, so I could handle waiting for it to be ready!)

~Anastazia~

[Rawkinlocs]

Have a rawkin' good time today!

===============
Please remember, no mention of slip-ups (not that you're gonna have any) - just focus on raw and staying positive and most of, have FUN and enjoy yourselves!

[saxmaam]

Is everybody still here?

It might be a challenge to fill my lunch box now I'm avoiding onions and there's no time to prepare much food. May have to get creative.

Have a good day,

Susan

[Garlic]

well, another day down!!!
feels GREAT!!!
I made nori rolls last night and boy were they delicious!!!!!
they were ani phyo's recipe on youtube.
very simple and yummy.

today, I'm ready for another day of raw.
it really does feel good to be taking good care of myself.
I really gotta crank up the workouts.
I do regularly walk but when I work out with weights, I get such an amazing sense of power.
I feel so strong and powerful and healthy, like I could rule the world!!!!
that is my plan for this weekend . . . to gradually get myself back into full strength training workouts.

but for today, I'm going to walk, eat raw food and drink lots of water!!!
all is well.

[raw4u]

Good morning everyone. Still going strong here.

B-gs
L- salad
D- mango, pineapple and fresh ginger smoothie
S- watermelon with raw honey, cilantro and lime

Need to make sure and get in exercise and lots of water today.

[StampThineImage]

Hi all
my dd and I are still here, doing Raw and loving it!
yesterdays meals were
b fruit salad grapes, banana,strawberry,orange
s apple
l salad spinach, mushrooms, red pepper broccoli,carrots and raw sunny seeds
dinner:
we made CHEEZE_-THE BOMB posted here and tried the idea someone had with grating zuchini on my mandolin and stirring it up, making a Zuke and Cheeze meal Itwas sooo yummy! Even my SAD dh and SAD ds17 liked it! My three yo loved it so much, I am fixing that for her breakfast this am, have it in the dehyd now to warm it a little.
dessert: I made a carob sauce (1 heaping teaspoon of raw carob powder mixed it with agave and a little bit of coconut oil til smooth and runny.)
I drizzled this over a sliced banana sprinkled with thawed raspberries slightly mashed. Was Delish!
over the course of the day had h2o and fresh picked cherries here and there.
LAst night made
Chrissy's Goddess Kale Chips I had to dehyd about 8hours, mm do they smell good!I only eat fruit til noon, so I cant dive it yet!
Today meals
b smoothie strawberrie blueberry banana kale and spirulina with bee pollen
L celery sticks with CHEEZE_THE BOMB and raw corn kernels, and kale chips
s cherries
d collard wraps with tahini sauce
dessert. I hoping to have time to make some raw fudge. or maybe some raw fruit "ice cream" since SAD dh came home with 3 tubs of the real thing last night. ugh.
Have a Great day!

[oceanee]

Raw is the best and it's so fun to read everyone's daily food intake and ideas !
Yesterday I ate everything in site or so it felt as I stayed home. Flooded roads kept me home and it was a real treat. I still didn't over eat by a caloric stand point but it sure felt like I was on a binge......
Today~
GS - banana, strawberries & kale
Lunch - pint of blueberries
snack- a few raw oatmeal almond butter cookies
Tonight - assorted veggie salad
and if I need more some fruit...maybe a peach
Not feeling the need to eat today like yesterday at all.
I find I am feeling calmer these days, reflective on my past and the emotional detox continues ! NOW that could be a daytime story:rolleyes: !
You guys rawk !
Oceanee

[Emma-Liza]

StampThineImage--You have convinced me to try the zuke and cheeze. I have them both in the fridge right now!

oceanee--I agree about the sense of abundance in this way of eating. And the beauty of everything, my plates of food are so intensely colorful, I want to show them to everyone around me and say, Look how you could be eating!


Last night D--
sliced Fuji apple
almond butter, honey, cinnamon dip

S-
4 raw peanuts in (shell)

Sleep: 7.5 hrs (I overslept, or it wouldn't have been that much!)

Today
B--
I was busy, so I forgot to eat until around noon, and then realized I wasn't hungry, anyway. so I waited.

L, about 1:00--
4 butter lettuce cups filled with sunny pate and zucchini humuus
1 c red grapes

S--
brought smoothie-makin's
peaches, blueberries, outer dark leaves of the butter lettuce head

[sweetlime]

today i have had a quarter slice of baby watermelon, 2 plums, and a coconut/almond date.

i will probably have a bottle of kombucha....and a big salad later on.

i made sweet nori rolls for my non-raw friend, and he LOVED them.

[Anastazia]

Today is watermelon day!!! I've got a BIG one waiting for me, & I'm going to eat it, juice it & make a smoothie out of it...maybe a frut salad, too! (Gotta keep eating the raspberries!!!)

...then, a BIG salad for lunch & dinner like I made last night, spring mix lettuces, cherry tomatoes, fresh mushrooms, cukes, green onions, purple onions, celery, sunflower seed sprouts, & an amazing dressing that was just a mix of a bunch of stuff (can't even remember what!) It was ALL organic, too! SOOOOO incredibly satisfying!!!

Feeling better by the day, still up too late, but getting enough sleep, finally!

~Anastazia~

[Rawkinlocs]

Have a wonderful day!

===============
Please remember, no mention of slip-ups (not that you're gonna have any) - just focus on raw and staying positive and most of, have FUN and enjoy yourselves!

[saxmaam]

Felt better yesterday and slept better last night without the onions. This is a revelation. Found a few quotes on the subject of onions and headaches. Here's my favorite.

“The onion being eaten, yea though it be boyled, causeth head-ache, hurteth the eyes, and maketh a man dimme sighted, dulleth the senses, ingendreth windinesse, and provoketh overmuch sleepe, especially being eaten raw” --John Gerard quotes

Other pages refer to raw onion as a headache CURE. Not for me, thanks!
----------------
Anyway, it's food prep day again. I have had some miscellaneous cooked-food cravings. For beans and New Mexico red chile sauce, for example. It's easy to guess that the bean fantasies are about protein. So I think I'll emphasize the high quality proteins today.

Have a good day, all :)

Susan

[brewcat]

Emma-Liza said yesterday - oceanee--I agree about the sense of abundance in this way of eating. And the beauty of everything, my plates of food are so intensely colorful, I want to show them to everyone around me and say, Look how you could be eating!

Nicely put Emma-Liza. It's fun to sit down with a plate full of living color isn't it?

Congratulations on shedding 16 lbs. Anastasia!

I have a Drs. appointment this morning. Getting a blood draw and a PAP. I believe PAPs are designed to be lessons in humility. Hopefully my Dr's office won't be air conditioned to death!

I plan to consume:
watermelon
raw tomato soup
finishing up the last of the Spanish Squash Rice ala "sweet potato"

A little tired today, probably more "work" related than food related. When I think about the weekend and washing and prepping all my fruits and veggies, I get energized and so, so happy. Funny, I used to dread washing and prepping my veggies and fruits. Now, I look forward to it! Amazing what a little extra energy boost from eating live food will do to ya'!

http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l417/nshepardson/dan-men.gif

[oceanee]

Wow ~Can you stand it...day 18 already? I have been dealing with emotional eating desires BUT not physical. I realize this seems to "threaten " me whenever I get close to 3 weeks raw. I WILL NOT succumb to mind games this time!!
Saxmaam~Love the onion quote....I love onions though and could never stop eating them. Same with garlic, though some "raw gurus" state they should not be consumed. It is interesting how we are all so different in what our bodies require. Have you ever thought about your heritage, what they ate? I am Mediterranean and I know I go for those regional foods.
Emma-Liza ~Right on raw sista !
Brewcat~Happy legs in the air to you! Bring a fleece blanket with you ~~

So, back to emotional eating desires. I did NOT stop at the store on the way home last night as I had enough food left to make a few salads....darn good move....I am learning....had the salad, lots of mixed veggies , olives and an avocado. Later I ate a peach and I just kept telling myself it was TIME I dealt with this aspect which continually ( in the past ) got me in trouble AND since I was NOT hungry to get over it ! I kept busy, was not tired but got into bed early to read and then was sleepy. I made it ! I do know that I am committed to 6 months raw which is through the end of 2008 and the one day at a time philosophy isn't enough for me. I have made it several 30 day challenges and almost 2 months but I need to push and yes it is easy one day and a bit more challenging the next.( I am committed to raw forever but I it helps to think of a short 6 month challenge where I am most assuredly going to see dramatic results).

My, did I go on or what !

GS- Collards/blueberries/peaches
Lunch-Salad
Snax-Apple
PM-Big Salad

~Go free toxic fat cells go free~:p
Oceanee

[Emma-Liza]

Yes, oceanee, I tell myself, "You're not hungry, you're bored / restless. Food is NOT entertainment! Distract yourself with SOMETHING ELSE!" Yes, I talk to myself in all caps!

saxmaam, I believe I'm going to be compelled to try to work the phrase "engendreth windinesse and provoketh overmuch sleep" into a conversation this weekend. :)

brewcat, oh, lord, the pap! Maybe the prospect of good bloodwork results with be sustaining. I'm looking forward to my next check up, my first since going raw, at the end of July.

Last night D--
Marinated mushrooms and "gravy" on
bed of arugula with honey mustard dressing
(so in the mood for mustard!)
Later, a few thin slices melon

Sleep: 7 hrs (dreamed I ate a bunch of SAD and then panicked because I had forgotten that I was eating raw!!)

B--
brought oat groats and dried apricots, soaked overnight and buzzed in the mini (this really doesn't do much to the groats, but makes the fruit into a slurry)
Almond milk
banana

L--
at the mercy of the salad bar
I need GREENS, so will concentrate on those

[saxmaam]

saxmaam, I believe I'm going to be compelled to try to work the phrase "engendreth windinesse and provoketh overmuch sleep" into a conversation this weekend. :)

Oh good, you'll have a story to tell us later on :)

[lodestar]

loved exercise today...of course the green smoothie preceeded the workout! :D

[StampThineImage]

today i have had 2 green smoothies (strawberries, banana, kale, spirulina, coconut oil, bee pollen)
and an orange.
i also ate some kale chips.
Been to busy to eat much else! But thats ok, because I know its good for me, and honestly, the smoothies stay with me quite long.

I weighed in and have lost 22 pounds!Yippee! I started RAW the first day of summer, so that is in 28 days. Not bad. I hope that I will hit 30 by the end of July.
my dd14, has lost 4 pounds in 2 days. she is excited enough to keep going.

[Rawkinlocs]

Have a terrific day!

===============
Please remember, no mention of slip-ups (not that you're gonna have any) - just focus on raw and staying positive and most of, have FUN and enjoy yourselves!

[lodestar]

hey all...let's have a juicy, raw weekend. still making amazing soothies and squeezing a lime in each one is really making them taste delicious. :D

[oceanee]

Hey everyone ~ It's a beautious day, extra hot so I'm headed to the beach. I am having a tasty GS w/ collards/pineapple/orange/banana & coconut water. Later a few oranges for lunch and to the store. I think I'll make ratattouille(sp- I know I botched it up:rolleyes: ) and perhaps a carrot cake this weekend. I think I'm over the emotional "I wanna eat hump". Yeah for me I stayed RAW!

Go free toxic fat cells ~ go free...z( love this quote from another rft er.
Have a super weekend !
Oceanee

[Thick]

Hi=)

I'm still here=) I had to wake up really early the last fewmornings, and so didn't have a chance to get on the computer until nighttime, then felt too pooped to write.

Here are the two most exciting things that have happened to me since I last wrote=

1. Size 16 old navy jeans. I cannot tell you how sexy and young I feel in these! I have never been able to buy clothes inthe women's department at old navy--ever. I did shop there occasionally for my children, and for ahem men's clothes for myself--but not anymore!!

2. HEB dancing..I was shopping for groceries innocently yesterday. Putting the overpriced $7 figs and dont weigh them or you won't buy them organic pears in my cart, when I saw a produce worker chunking orange and yellow bell peppers into a cart. Since I am full of newfound courage and self esteem, I asked him, "Excuse me, what does HEB do with that old produce?"--and I found out that -I could have allll the peppers for 99 cents, and all the "single" bananas (poor little fellas) for 99 cents as well. I was ecstatic. He said, just let me know what you want and Ill put a sticker on it. Oh, the days of $150 groceries bills twice a week are over my friends!! I was actually dancing and grinning ear to ear (with my newly *fixed* front teeth--also adds to the confidence, being able to smile) When the cashier routinely asked, "Did you find everything allright today?"--you know I almost bursted into song about those peppers and bananas. So, get brave girls and ask the produce people some questions=)

Today=
B-carrot/beet juice
papaya w/lime
L-salad
S-dehy roasted pistachios
S-figs
D-not sure yet, but it will be delicious, colorful and raw

[Emma-Liza]

Had some new (to me) foods last night and this morning!

Last night D--
Raene's chili (this did not digest well for me:( . I think the heartburn issues I was having before switching to raw are more endemic that I thought. I still need to be careful with dried chilis, even though I like the taste of them:mad: )
Matter of Flax cracker (I reviewed this and another cracker on my blog) @3x4" piece

Sleep: 6.75 hrs (taking care of 3-month-old, so got up early)

Today B--
1/4 canteloupe (magnificent!)

S--
smoothie:
banana
hemp seeds (new!)
almond milk
no greens--I've been out of greens since yesterday!
1x2" chunk of a seed/seaweed cracker (new!)

Planned L--
Sunny Pate (At first, I did not find nut pates highly exciting, but they are really growing on me!)
Flax cracker
I want a tomato to go with this, so I'll try to hit the store B4 lunch!

For the rest of today/tomorrow, I have the makin's for a walnut jalapeno burgers and I'm sprouting some lentils to make bbq chicken fingers with. I'm zooming with energy these days, feels so good!:)

[saxmaam]

Hi y'all, I'm still in and in compliance. Finishing yesterday's food prep day while listening to books on tape. Made a nice big fruit salad: pineapple, canteloupe, peach, nectarine, probiotic power. Yum.

[sweetlime]

Hi=)

I'm still here=) I had to wake up really early the last fewmornings, and so didn't have a chance to get on the computer until nighttime, then felt too pooped to write.

Here are the two most exciting things that have happened to me since I last wrote=

1. Size 16 old navy jeans. I cannot tell you how sexy and young I feel in these! I have never been able to buy clothes inthe women's department at old navy--ever. I did shop there occasionally for my children, and for ahem men's clothes for myself--but not anymore!!

2. HEB dancing..I was shopping for groceries innocently yesterday. Putting the overpriced $7 figs and dont weigh them or you won't buy them organic pears in my cart, when I saw a produce worker chunking orange and yellow bell peppers into a cart. Since I am full of newfound courage and self esteem, I asked him, "Excuse me, what does HEB do with that old produce?"--and I found out that -I could have allll the peppers for 99 cents, and all the "single" bananas (poor little fellas) for 99 cents as well. I was ecstatic. He said, just let me know what you want and Ill put a sticker on it. Oh, the days of $150 groceries bills twice a week are over my friends!! I was actually dancing and grinning ear to ear (with my newly *fixed* front teeth--also adds to the confidence, being able to smile) When the cashier routinely asked, "Did you find everything allright today?"--you know I almost bursted into song about those peppers and bananas. So, get brave girls and ask the produce people some questions=)

Today=
B-carrot/beet juice
papaya w/lime
L-salad
S-dehy roasted pistachios
S-figs
D-not sure yet, but it will be delicious, colorful and raw



Congrats on the jeans!!! And cheap groceries! =)

[sweetlime]

Going strong on the raw!

so far i have had:

1 apple
1 bottle kombucha
zucchini noodles with pesto & tomato
2 date/coconut rolls


for some reason, after i ate the noodles, i got really tired and fatigued. perhaps i need to take a nap...

i am thinking i will have a yummy banana cocao milkshake later. yipee!

[Anastazia]

Hi, y'all!
Having a much better day today than yesterday...(see my blog for the sad details...)
...had a big smoothie for brunch, & a huge salad for dinner, & made a blender fulla fruit & am freezing it for Hannah & I, she came home from camp sick...

...sugar every day, not enough sleep, & everyone got it the last day or two...

...she's been in bed sinse she got home, but asked me to make her a popsicle type of thing, for her throat...it has blueberries, apricots, tiny bit of banana & agave, oranges & lemons, & boy, was it yummy! I get the feeling she'll be requesting it even when she's NOT sick!
Hopefully it freezes well!
~Anastazia~
P.S. Sometimes, sweetlime, you get tired after eating cuz whatever you ate affects blood sugars, (a sign of pre-diabetes if it happens often...hopefully that's NOT the reason for you!)

[Rawkinlocs]

Have a great day!

===============
Please remember, no mention of slip-ups (not that you're gonna have any) - just focus on raw and staying positive and most of, have FUN and enjoy yourselves!

[saxmaam]

Hey all, I'm still in.

:p I'm going to make a blueberry cheesecake today :p
:p I'm going to make kale chips today :p
<smile!!> I'm going to make eggplant bacon today! <smile!!>

Been feeling bloated, too, and maybe refluxy at night. So maybe I will start paying more attention to food combinations ... start my day with green juice, then fruit, later a big salad.

How inspiring. I hope y'all are also eating well and loving it.

Susan

[Thick]

Good morning=)

Oh Saxmaam the kale chips are so fantastic. You have to really use quite a lot of dressing and let them marinate awhile--then make sure you don't just let them go indefinately in the dehydrater, too.

I bought some eggplant yesterday to make bacon, too. Please let me know what you did and how you liked it!

Today I am planning on going to the Children's Museum and also possibly the art museum with my kids (dd's plan=) I am going to pack a picnic basket full of stuff. I am looking forward to feeling beautiful and clean while Im out today!

Here's the plan=

B-pineapple/parsley smoothie
S-pistachios
L-picnic & snacks--avacados, salad,pecans, figs, lara bar, orange bell pepper "chips"
D- might get corralled into going out or-
*Ritz* cracker sandwiches w/avacado, lettuce, tomato and jalapeno

I've been out of the Ritz crackers for 2 days now and you'd think I was out of fruit or avacados or greens--they are my new food group!=) So, I'm going to put some in the dehydrator before I go out and maybe they wil be done enough for dinner tonight.

I wish you an infinite number of wishes!

Catherine

[oceanee]

Gosh, I swear I posted already but then as I was catching up on other threads I noticed I hadn't?
Anyway, all is well, Ate late last night so just drinking water. Waiting for my ratattoulle to be ready ( tonight) and I'm anxious to see if I like raw eggplant...sometimes for me it's a consistency issue.
Have a great day everyone.
Oceanee

[sweetlime]

i've been craving sweet fatty foods lately. it's strange.

today i went to the co-op and got an *amazing* GS of pineapple, apple, and spinach.

then i had the rest of my zucchini noodles & pesto & tomato--*so* good!

and 1 coconut/date roll.

my banana cocao milkshake turned out sublime last night. it gave me just the energy boost i needed for my theatrical performance that night. yay raw!

[Rawkinlocs]

Wow! Three weeks down! You're almost 'home'...keep it going!

[souldanzer]

Upon waking – cup of tea and 2 shots of body balance

Breakfast – Green Smoothie with kale, carrot tops, chard, parsley, a lemon, an orange and tsp of DHA/EPA oil, MSM, spirulina.

Lunch – 6 apricots, handful of green beans, a small beet, half a bunch cilantro, handful of baby greens, cup of mung bean and lentil sprouts with 2 tsp of flax seeds.

Snack – 6 apricots :D YUM!

Dinner – big bowl of baby greens mixed with half a bunch of kale, a yellow squash, a small beet, tsp of flax seeds, tbsp of poppy seeds.

Exercise - 20 min elliptical and 3 hours of weeding and working in the garden :D

Everything organic, including exercise :p (well, except for the elliptical)

[saxmaam]

I'm here :)

I have about 35# to lose and this 20 days of raw hasn't budged the scale. I'm ok with that, but I guess it's time to pull back on my fat intake. The first step (started yesterday) is the morning to noon eating plan - green lemonade, then fruit, then green smoothie. Then on to more weighty things like a big salad with yummy dressing (oil!) and blueberry cheesecake (nuts!). Well ... Rome wasn't built in a day, was it?

I sampled the kale chips this morning. They were divine.

Thick: The eggplant bacon is in the dryer now. It soaks up oil like crazy. I used pomegranate molasses (a sweetened kind, only because I have it and not plum vinegar) instead of the plum vinegar + honey combination. I'll report later.

[Thick]

Good morning=)

Today=
B-ritz crackers (yay!) w/ avacado and cayenne
L-papaya &lime
S-banana ice cream
S-ritz w/ almond butter and honey
D-huge caesar salad with,you guessed it, ritz croutons
S- marinated yellow and orange bell peppers cut into chips during movie

Saxmaam, I'm really sorry that he scale isn't moving for you. Do you feel better or different in any way? Are you drinking enough water? I think that there are certain set points that our bodies hang on to for some reason. For example, on my way up the scale, I stayed at 185 for many years, then after my 1st baby 255 for a couple of years, then 235 for a long time (hence the excitement this month on seeing the 220s)--even though I was eating anything and everything under the sun. So no matter if I ate a buffet or a _____, I'd stay that weight.

I think we get stuck at those setpoint weights on the way down the same way we got stuck on the way up. I don't remember which poetic poster wrote recently with the advice to meditate on the emotions tied to that weight and work through them to move below your comfort zone.

My husband is afraid he has cancer all of a sudden, so we're going to the doctor soon. He asked me last night, "Do we have any fruit?" LOL!! yes we do, in fact, honey...I guess I am rubbing off..

[sweetlime]

yesterday i ate a lot of fat/sweet stuff, so today i am going to try and eat a lot of greens.

right now i am chugging a yummy GS: spinach and peaches.

later i will have a big green salad, and maybe for dinner a banana smoothie.

i feel great and energized! my 23rd birthday is next week, and my boyfriend suggested we plan a "raw" picnic! i am so excited! he is not raw, so it will be fun to introduce him to it.

have a great day everyone!

[brewcat]

Hi everyone,

Boy am I ever grateful to have found this WOL! :)

I've been absent, taking care of my Aunt in Wisconsin. She's 77 years old and went into the hospital with congestive heart failure. She and her sister live together, AND her sister has macular degeneration, is legally blind and can't take care of things around the house by herself.

I remember bringing my raw food Thanksgiving Dinner to their house last year and they laughed at me, thought I was on another "fad diet." I explained to them that this was something I was really serious about, but that they didn't have to participate. If they wanted to try some of the food they were welcome to do so. I left it at that.

They eat the typical SAD, with the exception they eat at home a lot, but lots of microwave convenience foods, etc. In the meanwhile, I'm just trying to live by example, not preach, just be there for them with some simple solutions if they're willing to try some new approaches. I cringe to think of the prescriptions the Dr. will probably write for her . . . :( Well, one step at a time, one day at a time. She's alive and feisty and ready to move forward.

I just finished my "Watermelon cooler" (watermelon, celery and lime) and plan to have:

Ritz Crackers - I love those too Thick
Kale Salad
Romaine wraps with raw corn salad, guac & salsa for dinner
sweet potato chips (barbque)

Feeling great today, lots of energy, just worried about my aunts.

[oceanee]

Yikes, feeling a bit overwhelmed at work today, It's a 24/7 kind of thing and I swear I cross things off and then pile on a ton more. Guess I love making work for myself.
Anyway....onto subject. Thank goodness I am raw. It makes ALL the difference and I look forward to the emotional, deep down into the past cleansing to cease. I do believe I have been allowing different angles to surface from the past and that is very very welcoming. I spent yesterday paper purging files from a heart breaking 10 year event in my life. I was ready except for the 10 journals that I am still holding onto in case I ever write a book ! Big step for me and it felt great. Then there are the very busy nightly dreams, anyone get those?
OK, so today's food ~
GS - strawberries, blueberries,banana & spinach.
Lunch-ratattouile(sp- oh I continue to butch that poor word).
PM- salad
Snax-Melon?
Hang in there Saxmaam ~ you'll release a big chunk and jump into a smaller pair of shorts before you know it :D !
Thick ~Aren't you so happy your fridge is full of great immune building goodies !
Have a great day everyone one !
Oceanee

[Emma-Liza]

saxmaam--I was raw for 2 months last summer. I was super careful about fats, fairly restrictive, in fact. I didn't lose any weight the first month, and only lost a few (10?) lbs (I was 80 lbs overweight and usually lose a LOT of initial weight any time I start a non-junk food regime). I just thought, raw doesn't work for everyone and it's not for me to lose weight with. Never mind how great I felt! (I know, what was up with that?)

Fast forward to this spring when I'm now 90 lbs overweight. I was reading the book Ultrametabolism and the author explains why unhealthy bodies have trouble dropping weight. I slapped myself in the head as I realized that I had spent 2 months doing foundational work, getting healthy enough to lose weight, but since I hadn't kept at it, I lost the benefit. I started with a much calmer attitude this time and took almost a month to transition.

A tiny sermon:
We are building a foundation of health and each of us has different requirements. I believe our bodies will release excess weight when we have fed them well enough for long enough.

"Well enough" IMO means balance, a proportion of types of food. For me, from high to low, that would be greens, fruits, other vegetables, seeds, nuts, oils & other condiments. I measure some foods to ensure I don't eat mindlessly (my downfall!), but if I'm still hungry, I eat more, aiming for my preferred proportions.

If your body is getting ready to be thinner, restricting fats probably will neither help nor hurt you. The body has it's own timetable! Go in peace and enjoy your food! So sayeth Emma-Liza!

[saxmaam]

Saxmaam, I'm really sorry that he scale isn't moving for you. Do you feel better or different in any way? Are you drinking enough water?

I'm pretty sure I drink enough water.

Better/different is hard to say. I started this path with Ultra Simple Diet, transitioned into Ultrametabolism. These include an elimination diet, detox, whole cooked foods (and some raw), no flours, no sweeteners, most things low glycemic index. My hips, chronic achey and sometimes painful, quit hurting. I think that was due to the elimination of dairy. I quit having lethargic episodes, too. Those seemed to come from high GI foods and tofu. I lost 4# on USD/UM and definitely have felt better since I did that in early May. I think the way I feel on raw has been degraded from the raw onions that I realized (finally!) give me headaches and other unpleasant feelings. I'm also suspicious of my reaction to my home-fermented foods like kimchi ... which might just break my heart if they really turn out to be a problem!

So the elimination of problem foods seems to have helped the most. I will eventually retest these problem foods and I keep looking for others.

Also on raw, I quit paying attention to GI of foods and I've used sweeteners (honey) in dessert recipes. That hasn't seemed to be a problem until today, when the green lemonade and blueberry NUTcake gave me a sugar buzz ... I didn't have those together but a few hours apart. But both gave me a very zingy feeling and I don't much like the aftereffects (yawn!).

I moved on from USD/UM to raw because my weight plateaued. I like the raw diet -- always had tendencies that direction anyhow -- and in the absence of social pressure could eat this way indefinitely.

So I guess I have two next steps now: re-ditch sweeteners, cut down on oils.

Susan

[saxmaam]

saxmaam--I was raw for 2 months last summer. I was super careful about fats, fairly restrictive, in fact. I didn't lose any weight the first month, and only lost a few (10?) lbs (I was 80 lbs overweight and usually lose a LOT of initial weight any time I start a non-junk food regime). I just thought, raw doesn't work for everyone and it's not for me to lose weight with. Never mind how great I felt! (I know, what was up with that?)

Fast forward to this spring when I'm now 90 lbs overweight. I was reading the book Ultrametabolism and the author explains why unhealthy bodies have trouble dropping weight. I slapped myself in the head as I realized that I had spent 2 months doing foundational work, getting healthy enough to lose weight, but since I hadn't kept at it, I lost the benefit. I started with a much calmer attitude this time and took almost a month to transition.

A tiny sermon:
We are building a foundation of health and each of us has different requirements. I believe our bodies will release excess weight when we have fed them well enough for long enough.

"Well enough" IMO means balance, a proportion of types of food. For me, from high to low, that would be greens, fruits, other vegetables, seeds, nuts, oils & other condiments. I measure some foods to ensure I don't eat mindlessly (my downfall!), but if I'm still hungry, I eat more, aiming for my preferred proportions.

If your body is getting ready to be thinner, restricting fats probably will neither help nor hurt you. The body has it's own timetable! Go in peace and enjoy your food! So sayeth Emma-Liza!

Thanks EL,

As you can see from my last post, I got to raw through UM/USD. Maybe the key is to carry the UM/USD lessons into the raw plan. I'm thinking especially about avoiding sweeteners and going easy on high GI things.

[Thick]

blueberry NUTcake

!!!!!!! LOL=)>

As for the sweeteners and fats, I think you are listening to your body. A time might come where you want them again, and I know you'll l isten to that, too.

[Emma-Liza]

(((saxmaam)))--I hope you find out what works for you soon! I totally meant to be funny and not bossy, so I hope I do not offend! I forget that my tone of voice isn't present when I write! I loved reading USD/UM and breezed through both of Gillian McKeith's books, too. Like you, it just seemed to me they were pointing (back) to raw. And I thought, why not just go there first? So, I didn't do USD/UM, I just used a few recipes and the info, which I loved.

[saxmaam]

I totally meant to be funny and not bossy, so I hope I do not offend!

You weren't bossy or offensive. Don't worry!

[Rawkinlocs]

Have a wonderful day!

===============
Please remember, no mention of slip-ups (not that you're gonna have any) - just focus on raw and staying positive and most of, have FUN and enjoy yourselves!

[saxmaam]

Work day. I'm a little light on prepared foods that I actually want to pack for the day, so I'm thinking of packing TWO substantial salads (I pack snacks, lunch, and dinner since I don't get home before I need to eat dinner), 2 green smoothies, and some fruit/veggie hand-food. I bought a backpack cooler to carry my giant lunches!

Breakfast: green lemonade, not much apple, then watermelon

Ok, dinner last night was totally decadent: eggplant leather (bacon) on a field of kale chips.

Thick, the eggplant bacon was good, although oilier than I wanted. It's a little bit of a problem that the eggplant soaks up oil SO fast that some pieces will absorb all of the marinade while other pieces don't have any, with the result that you have to use a lot of oil. I'm trying to think of a way to get even coverage of the eggplant while using less oil. For the record, I left the skin on, and sliced the eggplant with a mandoline. The skin didn't detract from the final product.

Before that I ate half of a 15# watermelon.

Have a good day, everybody.

Susan

[lodestar]

another raw juicy summer day! loving watermelon. :D

[brewcat]

Hi everyone,

It's a beautiful day in Chicago! I love summer when it isn't hot and muggy. :p

All ready had a green smoothie today. I'm having lunch with an old friend so we're going to a small italian retaurant in her neighborhood where I know I can get a decent salad. Tonight I plan to whip up a creamy tomato soup with some fresh, raw corn in it.

Has anyone else found their appetite fluctuating? I keep going back and forth from feeling starved to feeling totally stuffed. Hopefully I'll settle somewhere in between. This is the longest I've ever maintained a 100% raw food program.

Tomorrow I'm going up to Kenosha to see how my Aunts are doing.

[Emma-Liza]

saxmaam--maybe you can use one of those oil sprayers to spray the liquid part of the marinade over the eggplant. I don't know what's in the marinade, but if there are herbs, etc, they could be sprinkled on after the spraying. I have gotten both a Misto oil sprayer and just plain olive oil in a spray bottle at Marshalls, if you have those or their counterparts where you are. The eggplant "bacon" sounds yummy!

Last night the 3- & 4-year-old nieces spent the night. It was all pasta (mine was raw:)), applesauce, and Cinderella movies! We had a great time!

D--zucchini pasta with rich cheddar sauce
baby lettuce & tomato salad with oo and lemon jc

Sleep: 7 hrs

Today so far
B--orange, banana

For lunch, I brought the last of walnut jalapeno burger (Boo hoo. Must have more!)

Planning on salad bar salad with strawberries from home to put on top
For dinner, I haven't had a green smoothie in several days and I'm feeling the need!!!

[oceanee]

Hey everyone ~

GS - Blueberries, peaches , collards/kale and hemp seeds

Late lunch - marinated veggies

Tonight - Mixed salad & maybe some melon as it is super yummy in the summer!

Gotta run ~

Oceanee

[Anastazia]

Havin' a watermelon smoothie day here, not much appetite, then salad tonight, & lotsa mystery fruit....don't know what it is, friend picked it from her tree (she doesn't know either!) & it's small, sweet, & soooo yummy!

My raspberries are almost done! Waaaaaah! (Good thing I have a bunch in the freezer, but not the same as fresh from the bush! *sigh*)

Way to go, Brewcat, for making it this long! I'm totally like that, too, (appetite fluctuating...) especially depending on how much sleep I get!
Have a sweet visit with your Aunt's, I'm keeping them in my prayers~

~Anastazia~

[sweetlime]

my appetite has been crazy too! yesterday was very difficult--i was *so* hungry and craving SAD food like no tomorrow. to compromise with myself, i went to the local store and got some yummy olives, mushrooms, and tomatoes from the anti-pasta olive bar. i made a really decedent salad with it, and it totally satisfied my fat-craving.

today i was craving olives again! so i went and bought more and made a *huge* salad with green lettuce, sunflower seeds, tomatoes, and avocado. for breakfast i had a banana.

i think cravings have been hitting me because i haven't been eating regularly throughout the day. i need to get better at making sure i have a solid breakfast in the morning. munching on some date/coconut rolls right now. =)

[Rawkinlocs]

Have an awesome, rawesome day!

===============
Please remember, no mention of slip-ups (not that you're gonna have any) - just focus on raw and staying positive and most of, have FUN and enjoy yourselves!

[saxmaam]

Has anyone else found their appetite fluctuating? I keep going back and forth from feeling starved to feeling totally stuffed.

Yes! I'm used to feeling "hungry and empty" and "not-hungry and full," but on raw I've experienced "hungry but full" and "empty but not hungry."

[Thick]

Good morning=)

Still here and looking forward to the rest of the month raw. Here's what I will eat today=

pineapple parsley smoothie
taco salad w/ guac dressing
ritz crackers w/ avacado
chocolate/almond butter/banana/maca shake
nachos w/ orange bell pepper chips, jalapenos,rawfried sunflower beans, tomatoes, another avacdo

(yes, I have avacadoes to get through today, but believe me, I don't mind)

Incidentally, I am here to report that the avacado chocolate pudding is so fantastic--I added a bit of vanilla and some salt. Wow!!
2 avacadoes
agave
cocoa/carob
vanilla
salt
process into the creamiest, guilt free pudding. Definately great enough to trick any sad eater.

I'll do the bacon today. It means sooo much that after preparing it, you are still calling it "eggplant bacon", Saxmaam!=)I see some rawgasmic BLTs in tomorrows future, with Ritz crackers as bread..

Let's do some really wonderful things for our future selves today!

[saxmaam]

I hope this is LUCKY number 23, 'cause I need some luck today. The water is shut off due to a plumbing disaster and I hope it gets fixed ... today! I went into this with a sink full of dirty dishes, so I'm handwashing rinsing in the sink with water carried from neighbors outdoor faucet. SLOWWWWWW.

The sleep deities sent me some insomnia last night so I'm running late as well. Thanks!

Yesterday's food was lower fat, though not low, and avoided added sweeteners (honey, agave, maple syrup) entirely. I was hungry a lot and ate often. This does seem like the right path, though. At least for now.

I'd better git ... work in the kitchen will be tedious and I'll have to come home from work early to help with plumbing.

Susan

[saxmaam]

I'll do the bacon today. It means sooo much that after preparing it, you are still calling it "eggplant bacon", Saxmaam!=)I see some rawgasmic BLTs in tomorrows future, with Ritz crackers as bread..

That's purely a communication strategy, Thick, so you'd know what I was talking about. The eggplant leather (need a better name) is much better than bacon. (I don't like bacon!)

Please report on your experience :).

Susan

[Emma-Liza]

I'm doing well in every regard except my skin (rosacea), which is in its worst flare up EVER. :mad: I look so scary, my friend at work wanted me to go home. No point, though, and driving in the bright sunshine would just exacerbate the problem.

Last night
D--
broccoli and rich cheddar sauce, warmed in the D
green smoothie:
spinach
mango
peach
strawberries
almond milk
ice
vanilla & almond extracts
stevia

S--
big double handful pecans

Sleep: 6.5 hrs

Today
B--
another green smoothie, same as last night's but also added:
extra spinach
hemp seed
flaxseed meal
almond butter + water instead of almond milk
agave instead of stevia

L--
will be a broccoli salad, made last night:
broccoli
sliced carrots
raisins
sunflower seeds
green onion
dressing of lemon juice/olive oil/agave/tahini
sea salt & fresh ground pepper, as always (my favorite spices, I'm sooo simple!)
I also brought an avocado and a lemon in case the salad needed a bit more creaminess and/or tang.

S--
big juicy orange
some pecans

[lodestar]

another awesome rawesome day for me...yesterday ended up good but it sure got tough...what's up with that?

[oceanee]

Hey folks~
Tired today as I seem to be staying up till 2 AM doing great work catch up...got to get to sleep earlier and I prefer to get up with the sun on the other end !
Banana strawberry spinach smoothie this AM, i am upping my greens . I realized my problem ( ha~ one of them ) is that I do not eat enough during the day and then crave something I mentally do not want all night long. I tend to not have time to relax and eat at work ~ it's eat on the fly sort of thing.
Saxmaam~Hope the plumbing improves or I'll send my washboard your direction!
EmmaLiza~I bet that flareup is going to have a sweet ending and you are releasing some serious go flare elsewhere toxins:) !
Thick~I just love reading your enthusiastic food excerpts! How much parsley are you throwing in those pineapple - parsley smoothies?
Awesome rawsome as Rawkinlocs says ~ ( whew say that 10 times fast:D )
Oceanee

[sweetlime]

i need to start eating more frequent meals. i am making myself go crazy by not having my first meal until 1pm. bad bad bad.

i had a yummy spinach/apple/pineapple/lemon smoothie at the co-op. and just ate a HUGE salad of spinach, green onions, avocado, sprouts, and spicy walnut taco meat.

but i'm STILL hungry! probably cause i waited so long to eat today. so i am going to have a banana with agave & almond butter. that should fill me up for sure.

[Rawkinlocs]

Make it a FUN, raw-filled day!

===============
Please remember, no mention of slip-ups (not that you're gonna have any) - just focus on raw and staying positive and most of, have FUN and enjoy yourselves!

[brewcat]

Anastasia said: Way to go, Brewcat, for making it this long! I'm totally like that, too, (appetite fluctuating...) especially depending on how much sleep I get!
Have a sweet visit with your Aunt's, I'm keeping them in my prayers~

Thanks Anastasia, especially for your prayers. It's also reassuring to know someone else bounces back and forth with their energy levels too! I hadn't thought about how much sleep I get. That certainly plays a part I'm sure!

I was so exhausted yesterday I didn't even get back to the forum. It's sad to see my favorite aunts go from robust and healthy and fun to sick and tired and scared . . . .I'm working at going to gratitude - grateful for finding raw foods, grateful for all those pioneers like Alissa who made raw foods so easy and accessible to incorporate into our lives, grateful I'm able to help out. It feels good to be able to help them out this time. They were always there for us (my family) when we had difficulties.

So how is everyone? Still raw? My energy levels are still fluctuating, just accepting it as part of the journey and am intrigued by the changes going on in my head AND my body! I haven't lost much weight this time around. When I first started dabbling in raw, I did several MC's and took off about 15 pounds. I've 10 off and want to lose these pesky last 5 lbs. but don't want to do anything as harsh as a MC again.

I guess the real difference for me this time around is that my real incentive is not only losing weight, but getting to my own "healthy" state of being, if that makes any sense. I've always wanted to be skinny and have fought with my bathroom scale enough to know that my body type is just not tall, lithe and slender - I'm more short, stocky and athletic (my DH says pudgey!) So, it is what it is. . . .

I plan to eat:

green smoothie
grape & fig detoxifier
ritz crackers
raw corn salad on romaine w/guac and salsa
avocados

Craving avocados lately.
http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l417/nshepardson/images-1.jpg

[saxmaam]

So how is everyone? Still raw?[/IMG]

Yep. And as for body type, I think it's good to not be a twig that's gonna blow away in the wind! Sturdy bones and muscles are good things.

OK. My guy stopped the leak and turned the water on! It was less than 24 hours without running water, but that was plenty for me. He is in good graces.

Nothing much to report on the food front. Took 60 oz of smoothie to work since making that didn't involve many dishes (no running water). Took a whole canteloupe, 2.5 ears of corn, salad with "chick-un bits", and a couple of lemon cucumbers.

Weight. The scale still says the same thing. Patience ... !

Hey Thick, how'd you like the eggplant leather? I'm thinking that I want more eggplant this weekend in some form. And nori rolls ... oh, yeah.

Have a good day, all. Susan

[raw4u]

Good morning everyone. Still going strong here. Think I'm finally starting to get over my detoxing as my headaches are getting less. After so many years of SAD eating I'm not surprised it's taken this long to detox.
B-pineapple, blueberry, mango and fresh ginger smoothie
L-salad
D-fruit smoothie
S-gs and watermelon (I still can't get enough of watermelon)

I have more energy today so I think I will go out for a walk before it starts to rain. Hope everyone has a great day.

[Thick]

Hi=)

I haven't made the eggplant leather yet, all I wanted yesterday was huge bowls of romaine with the caesar dressing. In fact, typing that makes me want it for breakfast, too=)

Last night, dh had some dove chocolates, and I really wanted some. So, I mixed some coconut oil, cocoa, honey, vanilla and salt together and poured in some almonds. It won't be on the cover of any magazines, but it tasted good=)

You know, I wonder why it is that the 60ish poeple who signed up for this challenge aren't still posting? I wish they'd just dust themselves off and get back up on the horse with us..

here is the plan-
B-pineapple/parsley smoothie
S-caesar salad
S-carrot/beet juice
L-ritz crackers w/ avacado
S-almond butter/cocoa/honey/maca shake
D-taco salad, maybe more caesar

As far as foodprep goes, today Im going to make the eggplant jerky, more ritz crackers, and Im going to sprout some alfalfa seeds.

It's dark and thundery today, I'm planning on doing a lot of catching up on my housework while listening to audiobooks=)

[Emma-Liza]

brewcat--sleep is really important to weight loss! I've been tracking when the scale goes down for me, and when it doesn't is after a night of less sleep. Also, I've read that lack of sleep increases appetite. We gotta get those Zzzzs!

saxmaam--yay for running water. we had to shut off our water one cold winter night (pipe under the house burst!). It was 9:00 pm and I had just come back from a run! I had to sponge bath from the reserve water in the tank of the toilet. :eek: Mr.Liza said it was clean. At the time, I felt like a pioneer woman, but now...I wonder was he jiving me??? I can't believe I did that! :o

thick--your food always sounds so so good! Do you use Alissa's caesar dressing recipe?

Last night
D--
Greek salad
seed cracker

S--
chia seed pudding

Sleep: 6.5 hrs

Today
B--
green smoothie
pecans

L--
more Greek salad
1/2 avocado

S--orange

(Food details in my blog.)

[sweetlime]

i am feeling good today!

i got up early and did some yoga and meditated. now i am enjoying my favorite new GS: pineapple, apple, and spinach! it is SO good. except it came out REALLY foamy...but that's ok. it still tastes great.

i am going to go bike downtown and run some errands. i am running out of food, so who knows what i will eat for the rest of the day.

i do have to say that i am very proud of myself: last night i had *the worst* food cravings. i was *starving* and was very close to walking to 7-11 and grabbing some pretzels. BUT i walked right on home, ate a yummy lara bar, and then went to sleep. i am very happy i did not cave!

have a great day everyone!

[oceanee]

Crazy day ~ Glad you guys are all still here !
GS-banana,pineapple,collards,kale,maca,flax, fresh OJ, water
Lunch- tomatoes
PM-melons, strawberries, blueberries
Can't wait to get in bed later and read!
Oceanee

[Anastazia]

Hey, brewcat~
Glad you're able to be there for your Aunts~ & yes, sleep is crucial...I find it decreases my appetite (to not get enough) but clearly slows down my metabolism, & I've read studies that confim weight gain can occur just because of lack of enough sleep...
...& yes, health is a far more important goal than just weight loss...there are plenty of ways to lose weight, but RAW is for RAWSTORATION of the health we were created to have!!!!

Had a little juice for breki (no sleep again) & finally got a little hungry & had a salad for lunch, followed by some almond butter fudge I attempted to make...(a little runny, except when straight out of the fridge, but still quite yummy!)

...& later, I have a pinapple waiting to be devoured, when Hannah gets home to share it with me!
That'll likely be my dinner...

& yea, where IS everybody who signed up?
~Anastazia~

[saxmaam]

brewcat--sleep is really important to weight loss! I've been tracking when the scale goes down for me, and when it doesn't is after a night of less sleep. Also, I've read that lack of sleep increases appetite. We gotta get those Zzzzs!

Amen to that. I was sleepy AND hungry today. I don't think it's a coincidence.

I wanted spring rolls from local restaurant after work today. Came home and made nori rolls with wasabi and nama shoyu. Filled the nori rolls really simply: pulsed zucchini in food processor plus soaked/dehydrated sesame seeds. Piece-o-cake. Probably not a nutritional powerhouse but filled the "dip a roll into a wicked sauce" prescription.

S

[Rawkinlocs]

Have a terrific day!

===============
Please remember, no mention of slip-ups (not that you're gonna have any) - just focus on raw and staying positive and most of, have FUN and enjoy yourselves!

[oceanee]

Don't ya' just love the number 25?
GS-banana,spinach,strawberries,orange,plum,apricot(a mystery blend:rolleyes: )
Lunch:mixed fruit salad
PM:whatever veggies available to create a salad with..
Can you tell it's the end of my week?
Have a great day everyone !!!!
Oceanee

[raw4u]

Good morning everyone. Today looks like a great day. We're having sunshine in the mornings and rain in the afternoon/evenings (it gets around 40 degrees here at night). I'm headed off to the farmers market today to pick-up my fruit and veggies for the week. I found a place last week that actually makes raw crackers so I plan to pick some up today.
B-blueberry, mango and banana smoothie
L-Salad
D-Fruit (probably watermelon as we are going to a BBQ)
S-lara bar and fruit

Hope everyone has a wonderful day.

[Emma-Liza]

oceanee--I would call your GS "tutti frutti," because I just love to say it!
raw4u--I'm just jealous as all get-out for your cool temps. I bet my face would never act up if it were cool in the summer. A girl can dream...

I got a package from Alissa's store last night. Fun! :)
I'll put product reviews in my blog as I can.

Last night
D--noshes from my package and the fridge: Raw Crunch Bar, Sunny Pate, flax crackers, sun-dried olives (oh, these were GOOD!)
S--1/4 pineapple, sprinkled with a bit of coconut, small handful walnuts

Today
B--green smoothie
L--greens, last of the Greek salad, avocado half, o&v dressing
S--(if needed) orange (never ate it yesterday b/c of a thorny computer problem at work taking up all my attention for HOURS. grr.)

[Thick]

Hello=)

This morning I (gasp) didn't drink my usual herb tea. I just drank a glass of water with lemon. When I used to read of people doing that, I thought I'd never be one of them.. I'm not saying I'll never have tea again, but today it became unneccessary.

B-carrot/apple/beet juice (feels very luxurious as this is what I used to order at juice bars)
L- romaine lettuce w/caesar dressing (I'm sure I'll get tired of it one day--but hey I never got tired of some sad meals..)
S-watermelon ( I slice it into steaks and let my kids use cookie cutters to make shapes)
D-lettuce tacos w/ walnut taco meat, some orange bell pepper cheese sauce(orange bell peppers, pecans, garlic, salt and jalapenos), avacado and tomato
S-salsa verde green smoothie (avacado, lime, salt, cilantro, garlic, water)

Emma-Liza- I do make Alissa's caesar dressing, but I add some tamari instead of miso, and all olive oil instead of flax, and only a half date, and a lot of cracked black pepper. It is especially good with "ritz" cracker croutons.

This is about the time of month when all the hesitant challengers begin to lurk, so let's all be extra inspirational=)

[brewcat]

Thanks everyone for reenforcing the whole sleep thing. As a kid I always wanted to stay up late! I guess it's the fear of missing out on something . . . . I'd rather "miss" a few pounds! :D

Sooo last night I went to bed plenty early and got up 8 hours later feeling great! Had a good workout this morning on the old rebounder and had a grape & fig detox smoothie for Breakfast.

For the rest of the day I plan to have:
Ritz crackers w/avocado and tomato
GS with spinach, pineapple, mango and banana
Caesar Salad

Yes, I'm finally going to make the Caesar Salad Dressing I keep hearing about.

Thick, thanks for sharing how you tweak it! I'm definitely going to try it tonight.

"Tutti Frutti" - Nice, I like that Emma-Liza.

"This is about the time of month when all the hesitant challengers begin to lurk, so let's all be extra inspirational=)" Yeah Thick ! I totally agree. And Oceanee25 is an excellent number - I never imagined I could feel this good or have this much energy - even with all the "stuff" going on with family.

Rawk on rawbies! http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l417/nshepardson/rock.gif

[saxmaam]

Hi All,

Inspired by Thick, I'll jump in and say that the challenge and the daily posting have been totally helpful in keeping me on the raw plan this month. I keep thinking that I may change some things next month, but each time I know that this month it's raw raw raw.

I started out doing Alissa's recipe plan but finished early because there were a few recipes I just didn't want to make. The last food-prep day found me feeling tired of food-prep days so I didn't do much. Today I've picked 3 recipes and I'll do the shopping later. It looks like I may devolve into one food prep day/week instead of two.

I'm happy today and feeling good ... I think because I slept well for a change. I used a "go to sleep soundtrack" on my stereo as I drifted off. If that keeps working well, I'll tell y'all about it. No details now 'cuz ... so many things don't work so well in the long run.

Peace!

Susan

[oceanee]

Tutti Fruitty:p:p :p

Gotta love that :D

Oceanee

[Anastazia]

Tried to go to bed early last night, couldn't sleep, too much pain, so still only got about 5 hours, & then woke up to Hannah yelling cuz she dumped my water jug on the phone & it was making weird loud noises! *yawn*
Had pineapple for breakfast...nothin' sinse, & been up about 5 hours...no appetite...
...when it returns, I'll make lettuce wraps, with peppers, avacado, cherry tomatoes, & cukes...
...then some raw fudge tonight for dinner...is that allowed??? Lol!
~Anastazia~

[Rawkinlocs]

Have a super day!

===============
Please remember, no mention of slip-ups (not that you're gonna have any) - just focus on raw and staying positive and most of, have FUN and enjoy yourselves!

[oceanee]

Up early for the weekend ~ so much to do in order to have some fun ~

Making another ~ Tutti Fruitti GS this morning ~ :D

Come on over and join me ~

Later, we'll just have to see.

Rawh rawh rawh !

Oceanee

[brewcat]

I agree saxmaam who said - "I'll jump in and say that the challenge and the daily posting have been totally helpful in keeping me on the raw plan this month."

The support from this board helped me so much this past month. Just knowing I had a place to check in with other like minded folks who are eating the same way I am - I felt "a part of" something, something important we were all committed to doing for our health. It made a huge difference for me. It helped me get rid of my fear of being accepted and "liked." The monthly challenge folks on this forum are supportive - not critical, positive - not negative . . .that's what makes the difference.

My DH and I are going to a bar-b-q today. They're going to be flipping hamburgers and hot dogs and we're going to be eating fresh, sexy, juicy fruit and dipping colorful, yummy veggies in a decadent creamy cheddar cashew sauce! I'm looking forward to it! :D

On to rebounding . . . and then a GS with spinach, banana, mango and strawberries.

[brewcat]

I almost forgot - Love the Tutti Fruitti colors Oceanee! Very cool! http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l417/nshepardson/dan-men.gif

[hillarylouise]

Almost two months of raw. I have been forgetting to post here, which I think means that this is no longer a challenge for me, but a lifestyle. I've been raw long enough now that I walk into the kitchen and open the refrigerator and just make something. Yesterday it was a walnut, basil and sundried tomato meat in romaine boats. Today I'll thin the leftovers into sauce and put over butternut squash rice.

[Thick]

Good Morning=)

Today my plan is=
B-pear
dragonfruit w/honey &lime juice (the one I bought was not sweet and very little flavor so I helped it out=)
L-avacado & romaine salad
S-watermelon
S-cocoa/almond butter/maca/honey shake
D-green bell pepper nacho *chips* with guacamole and cayenne
S-maybe buttered pecan ice cream (frozen bananas, pecans,maybe agave, pinch of salt--process until creamy)

Last night I had such a good salad I have to tell you guys about it. I made some "cheese" sauce recently with orange bell peppers, garlic, salt,jalapenos and pecans. It was good-very queso-like (at east to my new taste buds). It was so excellent as a salad dressing--it very much fulfilled the wanting to eat huge amounts of spicy/crunchy things. I am so in love with salad lately.

How are you guys dealing with the other eaters in your house? I have managed to get some fruit and fresh juice into my husband, and my children eat a lot of fruit and avacadoes and nuts...but I feel so guilty giving them _____ and my husband always buys a lot of junk--I really hate to see them eating any of it. I know I should lead by example--and I never give them the junk food--but he does...

I hope you are joyful today=)

[saxmaam]

I was a little oink oink this morning ...

Started innocently enough with last night's leftover salad and eggplant roulade. But then I was craving the blueberry nutcake from the freezer. Ate a good-sized piece FROZEN. Still hungry. Had some cherry-sized plums. Ate a piece of flax cracker. finally I was ready to stop eating.

Shared a piece of that blueberry nutcake (cheesecake from Alissa's book) with a neighbor last week. We both felt that it improved after a day in the fridge. I notice that a lot of raw dishes improve in the refrigerator, given time for the flavors to mix.

Brewcat, how long have you been at this raw thing?

Y'all have a good day now.

[sweetlime]

you know what i love about RAW? being able to drink a chocolate milkshake for breakfast!

right now i am chugging down a banana/almond butter/cocao shake--it is divine! i think i might be fancy later today and make some zucchini pasta. just need to find a sauce recipe.

i love raw! happy saturday!

[Emma-Liza]

brewcat and saxmaam--I totally agree that the challenge thread is a very important part of my being able to do this. It IS a supportive, positive site and you all have made all the difference!

thick--I know what you mean about feeling guilty, only in a different way--I tend to worry about "ruining" the food! I threw a leftover 1/2 cup of lentil sprouts into a pot of something I had on the stove for Mr.Liza. As they went in, I had this sudden pang -- they're being boiled alive! I apologized to them! :D I will NOT do that again!

B--
smoothie with fruit, seeds, nuts, greenfood powder

L--
Sunny Pate, tomatoes, flax crackers

D--
pasta with Alissa's alfredo sauce
broccoli
stuffed mushrooms, if I have time to make them

[Emma-Liza]

... I felt "a part of" something, something important we were all committed to doing for our health. It made a huge difference for me. It helped me get rid of my fear of being accepted and "liked."

That really describes how I feel, too! So well put! :)

[Thick]

I had a different dinner tonight than what I posted. I made the most excellent salad dressing. Pecans,jalapeno, lemon,garlic,salt, water--Im starting to see that any nut+garlic, lemon, salt +extra ingredient makes a great salad dressing.

The buttered pecan ice cream was so good. If you haven't tried frozen banana ice cream, you should! It is the same texture as ice cream and was one of the dishes that made me know I can be raw forever. Tomorrow I'll make it chocolate ice cream.

Are you guys going to stay around for the August challenge?

[Rawkinlocs]

Have a wonderfully-raw day!

===============
Please remember, no mention of slip-ups (not that you're gonna have any) - just focus on raw and staying positive and most of, have FUN and enjoy yourselves!

[Anastazia]

Had a lovely raw day today, though sleeeeepy!

Got some great organic greens from the farmer's market guy I met in the parking lot (well, stopped his truck as he was pullnig out & asked him if he had anything left!) & had a HUGE salad tonight, sooo good! made a weird dressing, but the avacados kept it from overpowering it, thank goodness...dressings are still a challenge for me...I guess I hate experimenting & wasting ingredients if they turn out yucky! Lol!

...then had some raspberries over some raw fudge....yum!
may have another peach before bed, just cuz they GOTTA get eaten, but may save it for breki...

...not sure about August, only cuz I'm doing Bunny's 100 day challenge, & need to spend less time online & more time on my feet! But I'll still be on the site daily!
~Anastazia~

[oceanee]

Good Morning all you sweet rawbies~
Had a great day yesterday, finally making it to the beach~I am such a water woman ! It clears my soul and rejuvenates me~
AM: GS w/ blackberries, pineapple,banana & tons of spinach.
Lunch: Fruit
Dinner:marinated zuke,maybe I'll make a carrot cake- we'll see ...time is always short for me....
I have come to this 30 day challenge for many months over the past year (wow- it's been a year since I began the raw journey) and having the camaraderie and accountability has been a HUGE help. I was wondering if we shouldn't start a 2-6 month thread where people could just pop in and out ( or post daily if they wanted) just to have a "place" to go for support along the way.
Any thoughts ~
Oceanee
Thick~You are so good about experimenting with the recipes, I must make more time for that. I love reading about your ideas.

[Thick]

Good morning=)

Today I'm taking my husband's 87 yo grandma out to get her haircut and nails done and to buy a new purse=) I clean her house for her and bring her some groceries and flowers.(she still lives alone) It is so important to me that my kids see me caring for their great grandma. It is also important to me to bring her fresh fruits and some prepared salads and raw nuts..=)> It is very rewarding to help her and I am anticipating a great day.

Today's plan=
B- was green grapes and 2 bananas
S- bringing some walnuts in my purse
L- a salad wherever Grambo wants to eat
S-lara bar maybe
D-romaine salad (gasp!) w/ the leftover pecan jalapeno dressing
S- maybe chocolate banana ice cream w/ walnuts

I agree that you guys have been so helpful in keeping me raw. Thank you for all your encouragement and camraderie. Even if I haven't followed my plans verbatim, just making a plan every morning and thinking about what I have available to eat has been so valuable.

I plan on continuing through August. I might even be posting in this challenge thread 5 years from now (assuming that the mayan calendar is wrong lol). I'd also post in a 6 month challenge thread , too... Perhaps there could be a different thread in the "the oficial Living on Live Food Challenge"?

How come being fruity, nutty or a vegetable are such deragatory terms?=)

[hillarylouise]

Today was a first for me--landed at lunchtime in an area with several raw-unfriendly restaurants (chinese fast food, etc.), and the supermarket had no salad bar--so we bought a whole ripe avocado, an heirloom tomato and a basket of strawberries and ate them au naturel sitting at an outdoor table. I was surprised at how completely satisfying a meal it was, without so much as a packet of salt. I've come a long, long way in nearly two months, and so, apparently, have my tastebuds.

[saxmaam]

And Thick, why do people say "sick as a dog" when dogs aren't usually sick?

hillarylouise, I'm gonna try to remember the supermarket trick.

Anyways ... I'm still in, been gorging on raw nutcake for past two days so now my stash is gone. Probably a good thing, too! I'm probably gaining weight.

Funny sleep last night (>11 hours??!!) and feeling unmotivated. Doing chores today and playing a biofeedback computer game each I get something accomplished. I hope I have more energy tomorrow.

Susan

[brewcat]

Saxmaam I've been at the raw food WOL for about a year and a half or so. This is the first time I've been able to stick with it and feel comfortable about it. I feel a lot like what hillarylouise described when she posted- "I have been forgetting to post here, which I think means that this is no longer a challenge for me, but a lifestyle. I've been raw long enough now that I walk into the kitchen and open the refrigerator and just make something. " That's very cool.

I agree with Oceanee - You really are very creative with your food preparation Thick. You've added so much to this forum this past month.

Today I planned and had so far:

raw cacao gs
creamy tomato soup
and I'll finish up with
Caesar salad ala Thick's tweaked Caesar Dressing from Alissa's book.

The jury's out for me about posting next month. I'm certainly going to try but will begin to get very busy at work - looks like our project may get funded this month - soooo we'll have much to do by way of emails, typing correspondence, fundraising, phone calls, etc. I may be a little more sporadic in my posting which is why I like Oceanee's suggestion. How would we do something like that, set up a separate thread I mean . . .?:o

[Emma-Liza]

oceanee--can't we just sign up for a the next month's challenge and meet back here? I hope that's how it works, cuz I don't want to stop seeing ya'll here!

thick--that is so cool about your husband's grandmother. you must be so young! My dad is 82....is her nickname really Grambo--I love it!:)

hilarylouise--what a great supermarket idea!

Dinner last night-- I wanted to share my recipe:
Stuffed into 10 baby bellas the following: 2 big handfuls fresh spinach, large basil leaf; 6 sundried tomatoes, little olive oil, all chopped fine in the mini chopper. Dehydrated in the little ronco about 1 1/2 hrs. I drizzled this with Alissa's alfredo sauce. So heavenly. A raw meal that doesn't taste like a salad! It really had a meal feel. :) Four of these, plus a side salad filled me up!
S--a few pecans

Sleep: 6.5 hrs

B--apple
L--romaine boats with veggies
S#1--small handful pecans
S#2--enormo milkshake with raw cacao I haved dubbed "the chocolate monkey" :D

Hope all is well in your worlds!

[Rawkinlocs]

Have a great day!

===============
Please remember, no mention of slip-ups (not that you're gonna have any) - just focus on raw and staying positive and most of, have FUN and enjoy yourselves!

[raw4u]

Good morning everyone. Today looks like another rainy one here so no walking outside for me. I will have to do the treadmill here at the house. I'm feeling great today with lots of energy:)
B-gs with spinich, grapes, celery, fresh ginger and cucumbers
L-salad
D-gs
S-watermelon and green lemonade

Hope everyone has a great day.

[Thick]

Hi=)

I woke up starving today and ate before I even drank anything..Despite having eaten a big bowl of chocolate walnut ice cream last night around midnight...(was good, still love the texture, but I need to find a way to enjoy the banananess of it --or hide it--I'm thinking cinnamon or lemon)

B-Ritz crackers w/ avacado&cayenne
S-green grapes
L-papaya w/ lime (still can't believe how I like papaya now)
S-salad w/caesar or avacado
D-Ritz sandwiches w/ avacado,tomato, lettuce and lemon/olive oil mayonnaise
S-lemon ice cream

I have been having very spiritual insights and often it feels as if the universe is opening and approving of me and shining warm love and happiness and pride down on me and through me. As if a loving mother had been waiting by the bedside of a comatose daughter, not being able to do more than be near in case she woke up--and now I feel --not always--but patches--of the most intense love and joy and gifts of the most enormous insights.

For example, I have often thought that he universe is infinately large, and as well infinately small beyond what we can imagine. I have often thought that we might all be cells belonging to Earth, which might just be a circling electron around a nucleus of the sun, which could be an atom of something we cannot even imagine in the larger universe. Yesterday, I fully realized that I am a community of cells as well. Oh, how I rocked with love and gratitude for my cells and body. Now, the lives of each of my cells has improved and now as a whole I am improving with them. As for me and my cells, we will serve the universe=)> As I sat and thought about this, I was thankful for each of my body's organs and systes and reeled from the amazing creature I am. Then, I even cried when I realized that the most amazing thing about my body is my ability to be able to think all the thoughts I had been having. To be able to reflect, and be thankful, and communicate in any way with the universe, ah...we are so loved=)

I am going to try really hard to accomplish some heavily procrastinated upstairs cleaning today. I'm going to invite my harshly critical in-laws over next Saturday to provide the impetus to clean myself crazy this week=)> Although they have been over when my house is a wreck, they still give me that panic that allows me to care about the dust on my mirrors and mopping behind the toilet=)

So, I'm off to detox my house.

[Emma-Liza]

raw4u--your food sounds so light and juicy! I'm still needing some nuts and a bit heavier foods.

thick--that is an amazing experience you had! I love to just sit with the mystery of what is, but lately I, too, have been feeling these (albeit little) surges of love and openess. I mostly feel so much more patient with people and things. Not always! :D But in general, noticeably more. Maybe it's a little like what is going with you.

Last night D--rest of stuffed mushrooms w/alfredo, extra sliced mushrooms,
lettuce & tomato, walnut jalapeno burger
S--part of Larabar

Today
B--green smoothie
L--brought avocado, lemon, will get rest from salad bar
S--brought a peach
D--walnut jalapeno burger, maybe in romaine wraps w/salad-y accoutrements

[oceanee]

Cool stuff going on Thick~ I love it when that happens ~
Had weird detoxing dreams last night so I am off kilter today ....makes me want to sink my teeth into something....so I am eating nuts and raisins.
Who know what the day will bring....watermelon for sure !
xoxox all
Oceanee

[Anastazia]

Been up all night & all day (so far!) AGAIN... ...it's getting old...

...no appetite, but had some raw fudge with walnuts & tahini in it. Yum.
Want a smoothie, but want a nap more...trying not to nap so I can go to bed early for the night, & FINALLY get this turned around once & for all. No appetite, really....{always happens when I'm tired.}

If this is part of detox, it's NOT fun.
At least I'm staying raw.
*YAWN*
~Anastazia~

[saxmaam]

*YAWN*
~Anastazia~ I've got my fingers crossed for ya!

I'm still here. I feel like hitting the sack at 6:20 pm myself, but that would probably throw MY sleep schedule off.

Not much to say about food. Had green lemonade, kale chips, eggplant jerky, a big salad, mac-nut cheese, butternut squash patty with avocado chutney, snitches of tomorrow's fettucini alfredo, and miscellaneous fruit, including some mangosteen that I saw in an asian market. It was ok, but very little edible flesh in the thick, expensive skin. Try everything once, right? Well, not everything. That's a lot to say for being nothing to say, isn't it?

I hope you're all doing well. Just two more days of this 30 day challenge. Can you believe it?

Susan

[Rawkinlocs]

Have a wonderful day!

===============
Please remember, no mention of slip-ups (not that you're gonna have any) - just focus on raw and staying positive and most of, have FUN and enjoy yourselves!

[brewcat]

Hi everyone!
I'm off to Kenosha to do some care taking with my Aunts today. :)

We're bracing for a hot and muggy week in Chi Town. Soooo I'm happy to be having light fare on the menu:

B - Super food smoothie
Snack - watermelon, later grapes
L - Ritz Cracker (bread) with smashed avocado and pink sea salt
tomatoes, sprouts
D - Caesar Salad

Finally lost a couple of pounds! Cleaned out my office yesterday at work and plan to help my Aunts clean their carpet and furniture today. Feels so good to have the energy and stamina to accomplish a list of to-do's every day. :D

[oceanee]

Morning~Up at it. Going to exercise with my new rip cords and do some crunches then off to work.
GS- peaches,mango,collards,kale
Lunch - salad
PM- watermelon or salad ( cleaning out fridge as I'll be away on business this weekend ).
Have a great day all ~
Oceanee

[Thick]

Good morning=)

Brewcat, have you tried the ritz crackers as croutons in the caesar salad?=) What are some of your other favorite raw things to eat?

Emma-Liza, I'm going to the store to get the jalapeno walnut burger ingredients today. Did you dehydrate them? Did you make the avacado fries? I am so glad that you are also experiencing moments of love and joy! Believe me, it's not with me all the time, either. I mean I do have a 10 yo son, heh. But, like you I am also much more patient and I don't yell and fume--and on the rare occasions when it is called for---it doesn't upset me the way it used to. I can play drill sergeant and then be right back to my mellow joy-buzz.

Saxmaam, are you going to stay 100&#37; on july 31st?=) Is this a 30 day challenge or a July challenge?=)

Anastazia, Im so sorry you are battling your body over sleep=/

Oceanee, I admire your dedication to exercising. I should get a job making excuses, with all the experience I have=)

Raw4u, I am so glad you joined us!


Okay, here's today's plan=

B- cilantro/romaine salad w/ lemon garlic olive oil dressing, pecans & tomatoes, and cayenne (not a green smoothie, but not too far away)
S-going to finally cut the watermelon
L-watermelon
S-lara bar in purse (taking dh to the doctor..)
D-either walnut jalapeno burgers with greenleaf buns w/ avacado fries (if Ive been the store by then) or caesar salad
S-cinnamon ice cream (didn't make lemon last night, was too full from snacking on ritz w/honey..ahem)

Here's today's assigment= drop at least one 30 day challenge recommendation into threads where people are asking for help, are struggling etc =)

[Emma-Liza]

brewcat--my energy is up, too! It's a grand feeling! Grand--I sound like my grandmother; she used that word a lot. She used to ask me, "What are the young people saying when they like something? Cool? Groovy?" She was so cute!

oceanee--What are rip cords? They sound...strenuous!:)

thick--I did not dehydrate the walnut jalapeno burgers, nor did I use the spices. I tried a little of it with tamari and didn't like that, either, so I ate most of the first batch with just nuts, veggies, salt & pepper. The second batch, I had the Nama Shoyu, and I used only half the recommended amount. I thought it was perfect. I was not in a spice mood, but you could use herbamare, grill seasoning, greek seasoning, mexican blend, etc ad infinitum! I hope you like!

Whoo, I'm wordy this morning!

I had a yummy food day yesterday. Got greens at all three meals, plus a little extra water (my minimum is 3 liters, so got more than that!). And still, my weight was up a little this morning. :(

<rant>I wish I didn't care so much! It's just, I've lost almost 20 lbs (13-14 on raw) my clothes are getting looser, I'm feeling lighter, but I can't see it in the mirror and no one else can tell, either. :mad: Edited to add, wanting other people to notice is amazingly immature, I know. just being honest here!</rant>

Back to yumminess!

For dinner last night, I made pepper nachos: (borrowed this from thick, I think) little sweet bell peppers split lengthwise and filled with 1 tsp each Rich Cheddar Sauce and Walnut Jalapeno burger. Chopped scallion/raw black olive garnish. They looked so adorable on a bed of baby greens! They were really satisfying, too!

Snax throughout evening:
seed cracker square with big spoonful of raw honey (molto molto buono!:D)
handful raisins, small handful nuts, 1 raw-ish ritz cracker

Sleep: 7 hrs (went to bed late and then overslept)

Today
B--gs: strawberry, peach, banana, spinach, flax, green powder, stevia
L--salad with greens, onion, tomato, broccoli, avocado
S--orange and/or peach
D--nacho salad with ritz crackers on the side

[foxieroxie104]

thick--I did not dehydrate the walnut jalapeno burgers, nor did I use the spices. I tried a little of it with tamari and didn't like that, either, so I ate most of the first batch with just nuts, veggies, salt & pepper. The second batch, I had the Nama Shoyu, and I used only half the recommended amount. I thought it was perfect. I was not in a spice mood, but you could use herbamare, grill seasoning, greek seasoning, mexican blend, etc ad infinitum! I hope you like!


[/QUOTE]

I would love the walnut jalapeno burger they sound yummy. I am going to make the pecan carrot burgers maybe tonight and put them in for the morning so we can have burgers for dinner.

So my husband and I have been 100% raw since 7/7/08 that is 23 days. I feel great and have lost 17 lbs so far. I have allot more to go but I think I can stick with this. My dh and I are really liking this new way of life.

b-fruit smoothie he made it so not sure what he put in it. It was a pretty pink ;) LOL!
s-pistachios w/sea salt
l-tomatos and cucumber evoo & cv ss&p
s-fruit medly
d-?
I am not really hungry so I may not eat anything till after I w/o.

Luv,
Rox

[rawlinda_sue]

This is day 19 for me! 100% RAW! :D

(I was 90%)

[Rawkinlocs]

Have an awesome day!

===============
Please remember, no mention of slip-ups (not that you're gonna have any) - just focus on raw and staying positive and most of, have FUN and enjoy yourselves!

[saxmaam]

I'm still here, woohoo!

Another giant, simple lunchbag for me... big old green smoothie, big salad with mushroomchinni-al-nutto on top ... plus a bunch of fruit ... when I get this right, I'm done eating for the day when I leave work at 6 pm.

Does anyone have something special in mind for the 31st?

Susan

[raw4u]

Still going strong here.
B-banana, mango, blueberry, pineapple and fresh ginger smoothie
L-salad
D-gs
S-watermelon and green lemonade

Have a great day everyone.

[foxieroxie104]

Hello everyone

I am now 24 days raw and going strong. I made 3 trays of ritz crackers and for the other 2 trays I added cinnamon and raw honey and wow did the house smell great. They should be ready by the time we get home. I also did 2 sweet potatoes and 1 banana. I am really having a hard time with those my daughter really likes the banana chips and I don't want to buy them when I can make my own but they are turning brown and just don't look right. I am not sure if they are in long enough or to thick or thin anyone have suggestions :confused: Thanks.

Also I am looking for the jalepeno burger recipe.

b-fruit smoothie I saw the almonds strawberries banana not sure what else dh put in.
s-l-I have packed pistachio,sunflower seeds, cucumbers, fruit, banana
d-crackers and guacamole

I have yoga today and I really don't like eating allot after class I ususally crave fruit.

Well have a great day

[Thick]

foxieroxie--scroll down a bit, you'll see the jalapeno burger recipe

http://thesunnyrawkitchen.blogspot.com/

I can hardly wait to make those avacado fries, too!

[Thick]

I feel as if we were some sort of raw food disciples together. Though we live 1000s of miles apart, we came together at such a similar place in our lives. I am truly thankful for you all!

Here's today (still haven't shopped)

B-currently eating the most indulgent meal yet
Ritz sandwich w/romaine, tomato and parsley sunflower pesto (soaked sunflower seeds,oo,salt,garlic,2 lemons,bunch parsley)
S- no way will I want a snack before lunch with those 2 sandwiches in me
L-romaine w/ sunflower pesto as dressing
~store~
S-watermelon (yesterday me and my kids ate a whole one...and it was the best one ever)
D-walnut jalapeno burgers and avacado fries

As for the thirty-first, Saxmaam--If Rawkinlocs doesn't start a 31st thread-I hope to see you August 1st=)

[sweetlime]

not been having much luck with my green smoothies lately. they have been coming out 90% foam---really gross! so i decided to keep it simple this morning: pineapple and banana smoothie! so simple yet so good! have to go shopping for more food but a big salad with olives sounds good today.

[Raw Angel Mom]

Sweetlime, USE frozen fruit in them or ice cube. This is a trick to prevent the foam forming.

[Emma-Liza]

Day 31, I will be blogging as usual! I hope to see you all on the boards, whether you come back Aug 1 or not! I'll be here, but probably NOT bright and early!;)

thick and foxieroxie, I didn't make the avocado fries, so please report if you do!

I watched a "Good Eats" the other night about oils. After watching them "press" (I think it was a demonstrative skit) avocado, sesame seeds, and olives into oil, I started thinking --again-- about how oil is a processed food, separated from its context. I think I need to start experimenting with salad dressings that don't use it or don't use so much of it. Not to make them low-fat, but to make them more of a whole food. I don't strain my nut milks for the same reason, or strain those pesky seeds out of a raspberry sauce. (Why do they seem so much huger in a puree than when you just eat the whole berry?)

Last night D--4 baby sweet peppers stuffed with walnut jalapeno burger on bed of mixed greens with 1/4 avocado, scallion, grape tomatoes, vinaigrette
S--3 ritz crackers, 2 with honey and cinnamon on top

Sleep: 6.75 hrs

Today
After spending all dadgum morning at the doctor's office, whence I went fasting, I sped home and had a delicious lunch before coming to work.

L--jalapeno burger (I cannot seem to stop eating this) and chopped grape tomatoes rolled into butter lettuce leaves
Strawberry dessert smoothie: berries, almond milk, chia seed, vanilla, agave
S--Raw crunch bar
S#2--2 ritz crackers that my coworker couldn't eat ("too oily, I can't digest that!" "Oh? Well, all the more for me!" :D)

[oceanee]

Hey everyone ~ I'll be heading out for a long weekend work trip but will try and post tomorrow. I have been SO hungry lately. I think it's stress....
GS- strawberries, spinach,banana
Lunch- watermelon
PM- salad,corn salad, avocado ,berries
Oceanee

[Anastazia]

Howdy, I think I missed yesterday...been missin' a lot lately with the sleep I've been missing...but still raw...not sleeping has definately slown down the scale, still only 16 pounds off this month...(with a little back & forth, & lotsa stalling...)
Oh, well, I still feel better for being raw!
Today:
~ Cantalope, banana, oranges, strawberry & fresh from a garden lettuce smoothie! (YUM!)
~ HUGE salad!
~ Few walnuts
~ Hemp nuts (hard to ONLY eat a few!)
~ Veggies & avacado dip

Can't believe how fast this month's flown by!
~Anastazia~

[Rawkinlocs]

Well done and congrats to you for completing our July 30-day (well, 31-day) raw challenge!

Be sure to join in on the August challenge!

Have a good one!

[oceanee]

Yeah for everyone:D ~ I'm off and running with a GS in my hand !
Oceanee

[Thick]

Good morning=)

If you like the ritz crackers, you might like the cookies I just ate for breakfast. Last night I made some brownie batter stuff and just wasn't in the mood for it--so I added a processed zucchini, agave, cocoa, flaxseed and hempseed and put it into the dehydrator overnight. I absolutely love them (haven't tried it on anyone else).

Ritz Chocolate Cookies- I prefer them still softish like a freshly baked cookie

pecans
agave
cocoa
vanilla
salt
1 zucchini
ground flaxseed
hempseed

Sorry for having no measurements, but if you've made the ritz before, you know what it's supposed to look like=) I only made one tray of them, just to make sure they were good. They are so good, maybe I shouldn't have the full recipe at any one time...Nah, they are raw and delicious!

Here's my plan today=
B- ritz chocolate cookies=)
S-papaya w/ lime and cayenne
L-leftover sunflower pesto salad
S-pear
D-walnut jalapeno burger on romaine
(avacadoes aren't ripe enough yet for the fries)
S- more cookies if there are any left by tonight

I have learned a lot this month. I have learned how to be 100&#37;--and yes, i struggled a lot during this month . So I learned that the hardest part of staying raw is to keep trying and if you mess up--get right back on the horse. For me, the motto of this month was "Fake it 'till you make it" and I am so, so grateful that I have made it.

Here's some stuff that raw has done for me this month=
1. my hair is curly again
2. I have lost weight
3. I am less crazy
4. I am never sad anymore
5. I didn't scream at my children
6. I have quit drinking coffee and decaf coffee
7. I am much more a citizen of my body and in tune with it, rather than living like an uncaring queen giving bad orders from the top--I am living with my body in a much more peaceful way-recognizing the genius of every cell and organization of systems and seeing the beauty rather than the faults.

I'm glad to have travelled with you guys this month! I hope your roads lead you to happiness.

[raw4u]

Wow! Can't believe a month has gone by. Feeling so much better after going RAW. My headaches, backaches are gone and I'm sleeping better than ever since going raw.
B-fruit smoothie
L-watermelon
D-watermelon
S-gs and raw mac nuts

Hope to see everyone in the August challege.

[Emma-Liza]

In the last 35 days ( I started 4 days early :rolleyes: ), I have lost 15 lbs, slept better, completely abstained from soft drinks (a BIG deal for me!), eaten out and stayed raw at a number of restaurants, had far fewer cravings than when I was eating anything I wanted (huh! that was a nice one!), and made some fabulous new friends, right here!

I have also learned through personal experience to believe in detox (so hoping it was at least partly psychological! ;) ) I'm kidding!

Last night, stressed and unhappy about my doctor's visit (more detailed whining on my blog), I wanted to eat something "for comfort." I stayed raw, but had really just phoned most of the day in (meaning lots of nuts). Finally, I told myself off. Eating is not comforting in the slightest; it's just eating. It would only make things worse.
D--apple, celery sticks, almond butter (have just learned today that maranatha raw is not really raw :( ), raisins
S--seed cracker with honey

Sleep: 5.5 hrs

B--gs: mango, apricot, peach, spinach, flax, chia, green powder
S--almonds
L--WF salad bar: lettuces, red cabbage, carrots, peas, corn (not raw, but fresh), olives, cauliflower, grape tomatoes, cuke slices, red onion. I splurged on some vegan dressing, but it may have been raw. No obvious cooked ingredients.
S--almonds
D--likely the last of the jalapeno burger with some kind of salad. leaning to experimenting with making tabouli. Will let ya'll know, next month! :)

[sweetlime]

i just finished eating the most EPIC salad. i love epic salads. it included: tons of greens, parsley, marinated artichoke hearts, avocado, and tomatoes.

for breakfast i had a yummy tahini/banana/vanilla smoothie.

i love raw!