30 Day Raw Challenge, Before & After

[hillarylouise]

I've posted pics of myself before and after the 30 day raw challenge on my blog, here (http://jackandhill.typepad.com/jack_and_hill_a_beauty_bl/2008/07/what-30-days-of.html).

It's amazing the total transformation--I'm a different size and shape, but my skin texture has also change dramatically, and I feel emotionally balanced and have a lot more energy for exercise. I do notice that when I'm ready to go to sleep nothing will stop me--I crash like a stone and sleep like a baby.

Attached are some shots that show the weight loss quite clearly.

[deberaw]

WOW!!! You look amazing!!! What did your food plan look like? i.e. anything Raw, or limited nuts etc. etc......truly inspiring...I need to get back to 100% and you are motivating me! Deb:D

[Honeybee]

You look FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!

[rawstrength]

Congrats!! You look stunning!

[Aleesha Sattva]

isn't raw wonderful!!!!

keep working it... another 30 days!!!

[maui_butterfly]

that is AMAZING!!!!! you must be thrilled. heck, i'm thrilled FOR you!

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S

[tanishamarshall]

You look great!!!!

[hillarylouise]

WOW!!! You look amazing!!! What did your food plan look like? i.e. anything Raw, or limited nuts etc. etc......truly inspiring...I need to get back to 100% and you are motivating me! Deb:D

Deb, I really didn't restrict myself beyond striving to be as raw as possible. I also ate a bit of sashimi here and there, about once a week, so wasn't entirely vegan, though no eggs or dairy. I didn't tend to cheat, to my surprise. I gave myself more slack at the outset than I ended up using. Most days I was at 90%-100% raw. That said, I'm not religious about it: if I'm out at a nice restaurant I don't worry about exactly what is in the balsamic dressing or if the sprinkling of nuts are toasted. And I go to people's houses for dinner seldom enough that I will eat whatever they have the grace to serve me, even if it's just a few bites, discreetly avoiding the potatoes and cake, etc.--fortunately I'm the one in my circle who likes to cook, so it hasn't happened yet!

My routine is pretty simple: I have a Green Smoothie every morning, and most days I spend some time midday tackling some kind of creative recipe ahead of time for dinner, like raw lasagne--being able to have sophisticated cuisine keeps it interesting for me, as I love to cook. For lunch I either hit the raw bar at Whole Foods or have leftovers from dinner or a salad--or else I get full tasting dinner as I'm making it. It may be obvious from this that I work at home, which makes it a lot easier.

I have always leaned naturally toward high protein and low carb (I was never a big bread eater), and so I do eat a lot of nuts and greens, and not all that much fruit, usually just the morning smoothie and maybe a nectarine or plum during the day. I experimented with high fruit for a couple of days, to try that approach, and just didn't enjoy it or like how I felt. After the first week or so, I did make an effort to stop snacking on nuts all day, and try to limit them to recipes, so that I wouldn't accidentally ingest 5000 calories sitting at the computer.

[Aleesha Sattva]

so... are you going to stay raw or was it just for thirty days?

[hillarylouise]

so... are you going to stay raw or was it just for thirty days?

I can't imagine going back! My partner is doing his first thirty days now...

[Avacado7]

Very inspiring! Way to go!!!

[monkapotapus]

Congratulations on your amazing transformation! :D

[Aleesha Sattva]

I can't imagine going back! My partner is doing his first thirty days now...

oh that's great! i got the impression (don't know how) that it was your 30 day challenge and you were done. :P

i'm glad to hear you are staying with health!

[deberaw]

...Sounds great! Thank you for sharing your info.....It sounds like that would work for me...I love to cook too, and having a raw recipe for dinner, even a few times a week is good...it's the cooking for kids/family that gets me astray at times....but my hubby just said he wants to get back to eating mostly raw...hooray!......:D

p.s. Hi Aleesha!;)

[Anastazia]

Congrats, you look wonderful! It's amazing what just 30 days raw can do!
~Anastazia~

[Seabie]

Such a change in only 30 days! Great job!!! I wish you continued sucess.

[Bookish Lass]

Good for you! What a great change :)

[ViolinCyndee]

WOW!! Big difference! :eek:

[RawHeaven]

HilaryLouise, you look wonderful!!! RAWmazing.

[moonstar]

...thank you for more inspiration and testimony to the rapid results / health benefits!

[GingerSpice13]

I intend to start the Dec Challenge and would like to see as much change in me as you have seen. What a wonderful change in your body.

[ArcturusXIV]

Wow...this is inspiring. I can't wait to see how I turn out after a month of eating this way!

[HolyGuacamole]

What?!? That's in 30 days? :eek: WOW!

[freshlight]

wooooooooowwww!!! well done.

[Pking]

Wow! You're doing great. Keep it up!

[jacsam]

Wow....raw has been good to you!!!

[ViolinCyndee]

amazing!!!!

[bicb85]

You look fantastic!!! Great job!
Thanks for posting the pics. Its very inspiring for me becaues I have some weight I want to lose too. Its amazing to see the change that can happen in just 30 days!
Keep up the great work and you should be very proud of yourself!

[katacykls]

You look amazing sistah. Your body has changed so much. Keep on keeping on.:)

[potteryroe]

WOW!!!! You look great! Keep up the good work.
Roe

[lovinlocks]

Squealing with joy, bravo! Bravo!

[trinity082482]

Good job! :)