August 1st - Day One

[bowie]

Welcome to day 1!

[Carly]

I'll be the first to sign up for this challenge! I'm excited and have decided to do 100 days (longer than I've ever done before by 25% - and that was 6 years ago!), but I have to get through the first 30 first! The last time I was Raw was for a month back in November.

I have a wedding reception to go to tomorrow (I had the date wrong and just found out about this a few days ago) but I committed to an 8/1 start date and that's still the plan. I'm telling everyone about my 100 day 'experiment.' I even told my hairdresser! I only see him about every 3 months anyway so that will be good accountability! Well, I'll check back in tomorrow. Maybe I'll start a blog too. Not that anyone will read it, but it will keep me more accountable (I hope). My mom is doing the 100 day challenge with me, but is not into blogging or forums.

[SunChild]

Hi Carly, I'm In!

[carlye]

I'm in too!!

ps. Carly, I love your name LOL :D

[mmaynard]

I'm in again this month, too! Good luck everybody! :)

[Carly]

Hi SunChild and Carlye! Have you two been doing these challenges right along?


I'm in too!!

ps. Carly, I love your name LOL :D

LOL Thank you! I've seen you around here and always wondered if your name was the 'e' was an initial like Carly E. or if it was part of your first name which was pronounced Car-lie. OK I'm probably not making any sense now...

SunChild, is that you from Lindaland? I'm Shankara over there! If you have no idea what I'm talking about then forget I said this.

I went shopping for my raw foods today, and now have to lug my dehydrator in from the hall closet.

[SunChild]

Carly, yes I suspected it was you from Lindaland, you wrote your post similar. How nice to meet in here! totally cool.

[EZ rider]

August 1st, 2009 is my second anniversary of being raw. I joined the "RAWgust" challenge on Aug 1, 2007 and with a little help from the RAWkers here on RFT I completed the 30 day challenge and have continued to be a RAWker since then. During that time I have lost about 70 pounds and re-discovered what it feels like to feel good again. I wish everyone lots of success on their Rawgust challenge. :)

[Barbie2]

Bowie, I would love to be a part of the 30 Day Challenge starting
August 1st. Today is July 31st....right??? So the Challenge starts tomorrow. Right?

[jesslcochran]

I’m signing up for this one! I actually started today. I’m hoping to be 100% raw for as long as I live. I love being raw. It has helped so many of my health problems (when I’ve done it in the past that is). I feel happier and more energetic while raw.

*hugs*
Jess

[rawtango]

I'm in too. It's winter where I am, but I haven't felt good since my last raw experience several months ago. Good luck to all!

[dread head vegan]

i am in for this month too!!!!

going to be a good month!!!! i am going camping in the middle of the month and my husband is comming home at the end of the month :D

[kidkid]

I'm so in! i mean, i guess it technically starts tomorrow, but I'm so already in! I feel so energized and ready for the challenge!
so july 31st was:
B -- cucumber slices with dollops of mint salsa on top (mint, cilantro, tomato, green pepper, leek)
L -- Green smoothie: cucumber, spinach, hazelnuts, cinnamon, stevia
S -- a small avocado
D -- more like a dessert. I had a smoothie with durian, pumpkin seeds, coconut butter, agave, and cinnamon. YUM.



I'm in too. It's winter where I am, but I haven't felt good since my last raw experience several months ago. Good luck to all!

oooo where are you? Winter sounds so nice right about now...we're in the middle of a heat wave.

[GoneRaw]

Hi All:

I just joined the forum and plan to take on this challenge for the first time. Looking forward to joining you raw foodist.

[JessicaMarie]

I'm in too...have fun everyone!

[ab_raw]

I just re-joined here today. So how does the monthly challenge work? Do we post our food here? Or just check in each day?

[Carly]

Ab Raw, I'm not really sure how it works, but maybe I'll go have a look at previous challenges. 10 more minutes until I'm officially raw LOL...can you tell I'm excited?

[kidkid]

you know, people usually just come on to post up what they ate that day, which is cool but personally I think that gets kind of boring to read when its only that. I'm much more interested when people tell about their lives and how things are changing or staying the same as they do the raw thing. Also, people don't really discuss things or talk to each other in these challenge threads, which i think is kind of lame. I think it would be cool if we didn't emulate the past challenges, and instead make this next month super cool and exciting here by talking about all kinds of things pertaining to us and to our challenge.

[Veganspirit]

Hi All!
I am in for another thirty days and am quite excited. I have never felt better and have never had more energy. Hope everyone has a great August.

[jesslcochran]

OK so today is the day! I almost had something cooked this morning (Honey Bunches of Oats). Then I thought about the challenge and I'm like, "I'm not going to eat this."

In the fridge I had raw granola that I made a few weeks ago. Because it has so many ingredients I wind up making a large bowls worth. lol I keep it in the fridge because I didn't dehydrate it entirely (I like it a bit moist). I'm just glad it's still good! lol

I'm going food shopping later so I have more food. Not sure what I'll do for lunch. I prefer to do fruit for breakfast but I only have cherries right now and I'm not in the mood for them. hmmm.... At least there's fruit in my granola (dates and raisens...is coconut a fruit?).

Anyway, I hope everyone has a lovely day!

*hugs*
Jess

[sil219]

I'm in!!
It will be a great month! :)

[SunChild]

Success, day 1, (blogged! )

Going from eight-five percent to one-hundred percent has not felt as much of a distance. I now see and understand why it is difficult (for some) to jump from minimal raw to 100% raw, except for a few individuals who seem to be in a prime position to do it over night ie. the foundations are support, security, and stability, and need to be in alignment. For those who are missing one or two, then transitioning is the key. Things will fall into place.
Now I can make sense of why I had not made the leap to 100% sooner.
Some days I was not ok with it, and today I realise that is now my beautiful reality.

A poem came to mind ~ it is in my blog.

[contessa20]

So far today:
4 nectarines
2 chopped bananas topped w/raw, fresh made peanut butter & diced strawberries

[TanjaJo]

I did 30 days for the month of January. I really need to do this. I want to feel that awesome again. :)

[Carly]

Good Morning TanjaJo, SunChild, Cris, and Sil219, and Jess!

Well, I went to my Weight Watchers Weigh in today, and of course I've gained 2.2 lbs in the past 2 weeks, which means I've gained 4.8 lbs since June 12th. But I've lost exactly 60 lbs overall since 12/27/07, so it's all right. I haven;t eaten anything yet today, because I usually wouldn't eat this early anyway.

When I went to bed last night I was so nervous about starting this, but when I woke up today I felt great, happy, and excited. I usually seem to do better in the mornings and at night is when my fears and cravings kick in. I made some Jalapeño - Cilantro crackers, some Basil - Oregano - Sun Dried Tomato Crackers, and some Kale chips last night, which I checked this morning. They need to dry a little longer. I've made the crackers before, but usually they are cheese flavored and not those spices (I took advantage of the fresh spices I've recently started growing). I've never made Kale chips before and I think I made them too spicy but we'll see.

I took some 'before' photos of myself. My avatar pic isn't really 'honest' because I'm leaning over to stretch the facial fat (good trick, isn't it?)...it wasn't a pleasant experience seeing the true straight-on photos without tricks.. I'll post them after the challenge is done with the 'after' pics (that is, if I've made any actually progress LOL).

I'll CBL and Happy 1st day Raw (or at least first day of this challenge) everyone!

[PammieTaj]

I'm in!

The plan for the day -

green smoothie breakfast

salad for lunch

maybe zuchini marinara for dinner?

some fruit (I need to go to the market)

And an hour on the elliptical.

[rawtango]

12am my time - breakfast was a giant grapefruit (delicious, from a friend's tree!) and 1.5 bananas.
Feel so much better nourished than when I eat empty non-raw! Then my stomach is like a bottomless pit...

[kitlynne]

This morning I had a sunrise special smoothie (1/2 a banana, 1 orange, 1/2 papaya, 1 cup of blueberries and a small handful of spinach) and a ziplock baggy of my favorite veggies, carrots and celery. For lunch the plan is an apple and a salad with Spinach, Tomato, Avacado, Cucumber, Walnuts, Grapes, 2 tablespoons raw agave and a pinch of celtic sea salt all shaken up.

Dinner: Pad Thai! I have to do it again it was just too good! 1 spaghetti squash spaghetti-ized (my saladacco is coming.. WOOT.. with a live juicy papaya tank top..) bean sprouts, 1 cup of almond butter, 1 orange juiced and a splash of braggs.

To Drink: I down 1 gallon of water every day with a lemon in it (quartered) and 1 table spoon of raw clover honey.

If I don't gorge myself this will serve as dinner tomorrow night. Lunch tomorrow is a salad with salmon pate. =D

WOO! I'm excited!

[easyrawliving]

I love your additional challenge to yourself... I'm starting today, too... here's to our health!

[Barbie2]

So far today I had a huge slice of Canteloupe. I love melon! We have watermelon growing in our garden and I can barely wait for it to ripen. Ripe Watermelon from the vine! So wonderful!

We just came back from grocery shopping. Bought lots of yummy friut and veggies for the week ahead. Plan to do some uncooking today. Already have green beans fresh from our garden in the dehydrator so I have a crunchy "salty" snack, to avoid potato chips.

Barb

[easyrawliving]

I'm in for the 30 day challenge.... love the forum.... need the support.... I've been raw before (last time over a year ago) and not sure why/how I let cooked creep back into my life.... I, too, want to feel that awesome feeling again... of ultimate health... and so we begin.

I went to the farmer's market this morning (as I do almost every weekend) this time with thinking not what veggies would be great on the grill, rather what would I be creating raw this week... I gathered some truly gorgeous produce around me.... and tonight I will peruse some of my fabulous raw recipe books and set to planning a menu for the upcoming week... I think that will help me focus and I'll be less apt to grab something that's cooked simply because I don't have to 'think' about it...

I think I will post my pic here.... I'll have a friend snap one... that way I can really see the progression towards reclaiming my health....


I'm blogging as well, so will try not to be too repetitive....

I'm looking forward to our shared successes!

....scatter joy....
lindy

[kidkid]

today's the day. and it's beautiful. cloudless sky, warm and breezy. fridge stocked. garden lush. fruits ripening all over the city. I'm so happy to be doing this challenege with you all. The next month will be interesting.

[Carly]

Right now I'm drinking my breakfast/lunch - a smoothie made from 2 bananas, a peach, kale, dandelion, freshly picked parsley, a ring if pineapple, and some blueberries. It's okay; I usually like a pear in my smoothie but they aren't ripe yet. I had a few of the kale chips and they were pretty good actually - but I'll tone down the spice next time. I think I still prefer spiced nuts but it was a nice change. I had a bit of my cheese crackers when taking them out of the dehydrator and they were great as usual.

[ClareMarie]

Hey all!

I'm in for at least the first two weeks of August! Today I'm starting a 14 day juice feast. I may go on longer, but I'm going to do at least 14 days. So here is to 14 days of amazing green juices!

[somelikeitraw]

Been thinking about doing one of these challenges for a while now. So, today I'm in.

B - 1 pink lady apple
L - two small bowls of soaked aduki beans with meyer lemon juice, olive oil, fresh pressed garlic, and a splash of ACV
D - Will be Rawssian Borscht from Victoria Boutenko's 12 steps to Raw Foods book.
Dsrt - Chai Spice Raweos (the carob ones have lightly roasted carob powder :() and a couple frozen medjool dates.

Don't have a dehydrator yet. Just got a commercial BlendTec mid June. Been having fun with it! :D

[katchmoleen]

Hello, folks, I am in for my third 30-day challenge (I got in the first one late. I am now on day 50 of being raw. Yaya!). These challenges really help me. There are times when I am tempted to have a tiny little something, but I tell myself, you are in the 100% raw challenge. You have to stay 100% to the best of your knowledge and ability. So I will keep plugging away here.

B: Green smoothie of kale, banana, pumpkin seeds, coconut oil, and cinnamon. Took it to work and sipped on it all morning.
L: Walnut basil pesto with zucchini noodles
S: I have a pizza crust I want to do something with. May try Russell James' carmelized onion pizza if it is not too complicated. After 10 hours at work I don't want to do much in the kitchen when I get home!
Plan to make some cashew cherry ice cream for a treat to celebrate my two girls (including one raw) getting home from teen bible camp.

We leave for family camp in one week (I am going to be a cook!:eek:) and have much to do to get stuff ready for my daughter and me to stay raw while there.

[Barbie2]

I just had the best Kale Salad for an early dinner!

It had a bunch of Kale chopped into small bite size pieces, the juice of a 1/2 lemon, and olive oil, massage the Kale with this mixture. Then add small amt chopped green onion, garlic clove minced, thinly sliced cucumber, small amt. sundried tomato, and sliced Kalamata olives. I also added a pinch of sea salt and basil. Then I let it marinate in the refrigerator for several hours. I bet this well be even better tomorrow, for lunch. Still have a half a bowl left. I made it in a medium sized mixing bowl. Yum!

[mmaynard]

Good afternoon,

I tried a different smoothie today by just mixing banana, mango and coconut oil. It tasted like a banana cream pie to me and was sooooo good. For lunch I made Alissa's creamy avocado dressing for my salad. I think I put in too much ACV but it at least filled me up. Not sure what else I'll have today but may make some watermelon soup.

This month is going to be tough for me and I think I will need to make more gourmet food to feel satisfied. We have family visiting for 10 days and then some friends coming right after that for another week. I know there will be a lot of get togethers and that's when I tend to lose sight of my goals.

Anyway, hope you are all having a great weekend!

[dani_b]

I would like to join the August challenge

[carlye]

great day yesterday :D

B: Green Lemonade (pear, celery, silverbeet, lemon and ginger)
L: Fruit
S: almonds and walnuts
D: Green Smoothie (banana, dates, strawberries, spinach, almond milk)

that was the first time i used almond milk in a green smoothie and think it didn't actually make a huge difference, might just use water in the future

[tvillemom]

Hi all!! I'm in! I'm hoping to remember to post!!!!!
Today has been a great raw day!
herbal tea
peach
zuchini marinara
GS (spinach, banana, mang
For dinner I don't know what I'm going to have, probably a salad.

[sil219]

Hi Everybody!!
Here in Italy the day is over. The [B]first[B] day.
As Carly said, during the day is quite easy being raw: So many things to do, so many things to see. Enthusiasm is everywhere when the sun shines.
Today I went buying things for my holiday (camping in one of our National Parks). Just one last working week and then 15 days in the Casentino Forests, the best place to find peace, harmony and soul.
But when the day starts to end and the darkness arrives... Eating cook food is like some kind of "protection", one comfortable habit which can reassure you at the end of the day, which gives you the feeling of being full... as having a full stomach means you have a full life.
What a terrible thing. I think this is part of the cook food addiction, part of what we want to fight. Part of what I want to fight.
And I will!
With your help, of course!!:D
I wish you a nice evening. See you tomorrow.

[At-Home-In-Rawsville]

Greetings all. Been lurking and being supported by this forum for a few months now. Time to out myself and join the challenge. I'm in for August. 100% RAW

No breakfast today.
L : Cauliflower and Broccoli pieces with Rich Cheddar Sauce
S : Pineapple
D : Kale salad
S : Cacao-Almond Mylk-frozen Banana shake

[Thick]

43 so far! wow. I am also going to be joining in on the challenge this month. I look forward to getting to know you guys=)

Today-
2 lara bars (very wierd for me, but we were in a hurry and my son is very inot larabars atm)
chinese buffet (that's right you heard me)--
6 romaine wraps filled with mung bean sprouts, cucumber shreds, basil, cilantro, jalapenos, red bell peppers
watermelon
canteloupe
I dont know wtf to have for dinner (nice planning, eh) but I have decided to head out the door and get some spinach and bananas and a ton of other raw stuff at Sam's (except the stuff I know I can get at the farmers market wed)

[Marna]

I'd like to join this month's challenge. I believe the "accountability" will help remind me of what I want when I'm forgetting:)
I really started last week
Marna
S.W. 164
C.W. 160
G.W. 130
B. Green smoothie(bananas, spinach, pear, flax seed, super greens, cononut oil) + 2 oranges
L. Green smoothie (sans super greens and coconut oil) + handful of almonds
S. 2 apples
D. salad

[carolv]

Hi everyone! I'm continuing on with the challenge from the past 2 months. WOOHOO!!




...I now see and understand why it is difficult (for some) to jump from minimal raw to 100% raw, except for a few individuals who seem to be in a prime position to do it over night ie. the foundations are support, security, and stability, and need to be in alignment. For those who are missing one or two, then transitioning is the key. Things will fall into place.
Now I can make sense of why I had not made the leap to 100% sooner...


SunChild - I so agree with you. Nicely explained.


Katchmoleen – Glad to see you’re hanging in there. It’s so great that your daughter is joining you on this journey.


24 oz juice – carrots, celery, apple, tomato, cucumber
Lara bar
48 oz smoothie with hemp seed milk, large peach, pluot, apricot
Cucumber with miso
48 oz water total

[katinka-katinka]

I'm in for this!

[Carly]

Katchmoleen - Day 50 already! Great job so far. Do you find it's getting easier or is it still up and down? Do you have a goal in mind (like 100 days or 6 months) or is it open ended?

Barbie - that salad sounds good and I have all of those ingredients I wonder if I could use a mixture of kale and baby spinach/field greens?

Sil - It's interesting you feel the same way about it being easier to stay raw in the day time. I like how you said But when the day starts to end and the darkness arrives... "Eating cook food is like some kind of "protection", one comfortable habit which can reassure you at the end of the day, which gives you the feeling of being full... as having a full stomach means you have a full life."

I went to the wedding reception today and it was fine and I stayed raw. It was a buffet so I filled my plate up with salad and I brought some salad toppers and salad dressing.

B - a green smoothie made from 2 bananas, a peach, kale, dandelion, freshly picked parsley, a ring if pineapple, and some blueberries.

L - 3 long celery sticks with raw almond butter and raising, plus an extra spoonful of almond butter, some cherries (mmmm), 4 strawberries, and 4 olives.

S - Olives, peppers, carrots, and celery at reception

D - Big salad with iceberg lettuce, tomato, and onion, then I added olives, jalapeños from the other table and also almonds and raisins that I brought. I also brought some ginger-miso dressing that I made and honestly the whole things was super tasty.

S - Small plate of kale chips, some of my cheese crackers, a madjool date, and some grapes.

I felt fine today though I really exhausted now and a little achy, though that could be from the party and wearing those blasted heels.

[kidkid]

Sil - It's interesting you feel the same way about it being easier to stay raw in the day time. I like how you said But when the day starts to end and the darkness arrives... "Eating cook food is like some kind of "protection", one comfortable habit which can reassure you at the end of the day, which gives you the feeling of being full... as having a full stomach means you have a full life."


I definitely need to remember that one. It's day one of the challenge and I already faltered. no big deal, but the above statement rings true for me. It's like at the end of the day, i feel like I need something to reassure me and give me comfort. I wonder what that's about, and why we feel so vulnerable before we sleep.

[Belladonna]

Hi all I'm in for this one as well =D already been raw for awhile but I think it'd be nice to have a bit of "support" here simply by reading how many of you are doing it too!

Carly; I have the same issue too, as far as craving comfort food goes. I'm good about staying "on the wagon" but I crave ridiculous amounts of sweet things like dates and honey w/walnuts or sunflower seeds, and cacao etc. I am so good in the day but once the sun goes down I want to pig out! I really despise it lol. I lose all self control or somethin! At least I manage to stay raw i guess... But I really want to know WHY this is. :rolleyes:

[Anastazia]

I was just diagnosed with diabetes,
a bladder infection, low iron, & a few other things...
...I'm in, I'm back to as close to 100% as I can get, & feelin' better by the minute.
{& I reek of garlic!}

~Anastazia~