Dec 5 - Day 5

[Aleesha Sattva]

Welcome welcome welcome!!!

Welcome to the 30 day challenge.

If you haven't already... please take a moment to read the posting rules/guidelines (http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/announcement.php?a=3) of this section. Thanks!


Welcome to the Monthly Raw Challenge!

We're excited about this new area of the forum that is specifically for those of you who are eager to commit to a month of eating 100% raw foods and seeing miraculous results!

WE (one of the moderators) will start a new challenge thread on the first of every month.

We want the focus of these monthly challenge threads to be on staying raw and accountability. Therefore, if you have eaten all raw and then slip up and have something cooked, we don’t want you to beat yourself up over it or dwell on it, but this is not space to discuss it. You are more than welcome to document it in your journal/blog or ask for help in the discussion area, but it is not necessary (and not allowed) to discuss your slip-up here in the challenge threads, just get right back on track and keep going!

In the event that you feel you are not quite ready to fully commit to the challenge and you find yourself having slip-ups often, then please join us again during the following month. Of course you are still more than welcome to participate on other parts of the forum, but we would really like to keep this section dedicated to those who are committed to doing 30 days 100% raw.

Peace, Blessings and Warmest Regards,

Cherie

[maisielou1]

Morning everyone.

GlimR...I am so glad the chiro is helping you. I had 3 herniated discs a couple of decades ago and an osteopath got me mobile again. Like you, there is always pain that’s sometimes worse than others. I am in a “Catch-22” situation – if I exercised it would be much more manageable but since I developed CFS my mitochondria don’t “fire” so the mildest exercise can wipe me out for days (like using up all the energy in a battery). I've also gained nearly 80lbs through inactivity. But I am already beginning to notice that I am doing things I couldn’t have done a few weeks ago and I have dropped 3 lbs. Yay for raw! Do you know anything about inversion tables? I like the fridge bit!

AllergyGirl...Sorry to hear about your fall. Hope you are free from pain today. Glad to hear you are feeling better in yourself.

GreenT...Thank you for those great recipes.


Actually my husband is too, its so funny. I brought up the subject tonight because we have talked about getting another small fridge before in the past for the garage for little stuff like his pop or extra freezer food. I told him that fridge can be his because im in and out too much with my food This idea just keeps sounding better and better. I might just give him his own pantry too down in the basement for all is munchies...Haaa ha ha!!!!

LOL!!!

revdrcyn...cheesecake for breakfast?! Life is good indeed!!!

blizzardfrisbee...Good weekend to you too! (Well, happy Sunday now!)

lifeAgift...Thanks for sharing. I like your posts.

Zuri...Glad I’m not the only one who was in a foul mood due to detox! Mine only lasted Day 2 thank goodness. We tend to think of detox as being only physical but there is definitely emotional detox as well. Not looking forward to a lifetime of emotional repression and denial having to come out further on down the line!

EscapeArtist...Best of luck!

Coconut Love...Hello!

Shooflygirl...Glad the coffee withdrawal symptoms are over for you. How did the Chocolate Chewies turn out?

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR SHARING AND SUPPORT. I DON’T KNOW IF I WOULD HAVE GOT THIS FAR WITHOUT YOU. XOXOXO

[blizzardfrisbee]

Good morning to all !!
My plan for this day:
Breakfaast--citrus meal--grapefruit and oranges

Lunch-will start with a green smoothie and then we always go to out to eat with my mother in law on Sunday- so a salad at a restaurant.

Dinner-- I'll be eating the zucchini prmavera I made yesterday. It was really good--much better in fact than the cooked version.

Has anyone made spanish rice from Alissa's first book??? I made it but didn't like it. I think that maybe I didn't sprout long enough. They seemed chewy.

Talked to my friend yesterday --non raw and she says "I am crazy to eat raw" Funny how she feels about this. I told her " All I know is that my knees don't hurt any more--- I can get on the floor with the dogs now--and because I can do that-- I have been doing it often. Not to mention that fact that I am able to get up and down from the couch again."

Anyway-- it doesn't really matter if she thinks I am crazy!! I have always been one to go against the flow!!

My non raw husband got another refrigerator for us. It is really nice to have the extra one. The only thing I am struggling with that right now in our house is the cheese. I was daydreaming of eating the whole block Better counteract that with making some--- I do like the American and some other versions I've eaten.

Happy Sunday to all!!!

[Zuri]

Talked to my friend yesterday --non raw and she says "I am crazy to eat raw" Funny how she feels about this. I told her " All I know is that my knees don't hurt any more--- I can get on the floor with the dogs now--and because I can do that-- I have been doing it often. Not to mention that fact that I am able to get up and down from the couch again."

Anyway-- it doesn't really matter if she thinks I am crazy!! I have always been one to go against the flow!!


Yes, it doesn't matter! That's like the ones that look at others when they're happy for no reason with jealousy as they ask: "Why are you so happy? What's wrong with you?" Uh, nothing, it's good to be happy for no reason. :) It's so funny, when others are making a real effort to free themselves the ones that aren't free don't like it. NEXT! We're going with the flow. :)

[GreenT]

GOOD MORNING!!! :D

Lol Zuri, So true!!

Blizzard- Your the one that has to live in your body. If eating raw makes you feel better and healthier, thats what matters! How others eat, that is their choice...

Breakfast- Grean tea with Jumble Berry cake :D. That stuff is way too good!

Trying to figure out somewhat of a menu plan for this week, flipped through Alissa's new book this morning and decided to make the Pupusas (type of a flat bread) pg. 342, and fill it with veggies and things that she mentions for my menu for tomorrow or Tuesday or so. I'll be throwing that in the dehydrator later. Its exciting trying and making new things. Thats what really helps me to stay raw.


THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR SHARING AND SUPPORT. I DON’T KNOW IF I WOULD HAVE GOT THIS FAR WITHOUT YOU. XOXOXO HUGS!!!!!!! :)

Hope everyone is doing well on their raw journey. Ill pop in later with the rest of my todays menu.

[AllergyGirl]

I've been nibbling on enchiladas and guacamole this morning, but I made 2 quarts of green smoothie (1/2 bunch red chard, 1 gigantic apple, 4 bananas) and am now in my office studying for finals. I was trying to study at home, but made the mistake of turning the TV on, and got totally immersed in a football game...so it was time to go elsewhere.

Can't make my mind up how I feel about the enchiladas - I liked them fresh out of the dehydrator, but after sitting, they got extremely greasy and even a bit soggy. So I just don't know. Was probably a nice treat, but I don't know that I'll make them too often - took a lot of time that I just don't normally have.

I need to somehow come up with a handful of salad dressings that I like and that are quick to whip up, and just focus mainly on salads, smoothies, and fruit/veggies for snacks, I think. The problem is, the only raw dressing that I've tried and actually liked is my variation of Snowdrop's ranch dressing. I would like to have something else in my dressing repertoire that isn't so nut/seed heavy, so that I could at least rotate dressings once in a while. If I start eating 2 big salads a day instead of just 1, I don't want to only use that dressing - I'd prefer something a little lighter. I was looking at the orange/hemp dressing in Alissa's new book this morning, but I'm a little afraid to buy all the stuff and try it - I haven't had good luck with vinaigrettes, because they separate so badly it tastes like I dunked my salad in oil, and I don't particularly like that.

Anyway, studying is calling me - happy Sunday, rawbies. :)

[Zuri]

I need to somehow come up with a handful of salad dressings that I like and that are quick to whip up, and just focus mainly on salads, smoothies, and fruit/veggies for snacks, I think.

Maybe check out Ani Phyo's dressing recipes or Karen Knowler's? I learned from Ani Phyo how to make more fruit based dressings and from Karen Knowler to not use all oil, but to use half oil half water in recipes, so my dressings are very light. I also don't like nut based dressings and have never used them.

Just got in from the food market and and am restocked until probably next weekend! Wow, it was pretty crowded too! Time to uncook and unwind with a mug of herbal tea. Be back lata! :)

[maisielou1]

Blizzardfrisbee...


All I know is that my knees don't hurt any more--- I can get on the floor with the dogs now--and because I can do that-- I have been doing it often. Not to mention that fact that I am able to get up and down from the couch again.

THAT’S what I’m doing this for. This is so encouraging for me. How long were you on raw before you noticed this result?

AllergyGirl...Wishing you all the very best in your finals this week.

GreenT...


HUGS!!!!!!!

Thanks! I needed that! Today has been really hard going.

I have been making quite a few things to try to keep it interesting and to keep my calorie intake up. Today I had a sandwich made with Mediterranean Almond Bread, “bacon” (eggplant/aubergines), marinated mushrooms and tomato. Yesterday I made Taco “meat”. Neither of them hit the spot for me. I just found myself comparing them with pre-raw and being disappointed because they don’t have that old familiar taste and texture. I know our tastes change but mine have a very long way to go. I have come to the conclusion that I am better to avoid disappointment and temptation by not trying to substitute. I also found preparing these very labour intensive. For someone who’s always hated cooking, this is not an improvement, not to mention being laid up today with exhaustion (it doesn’t take much with CFS). So from now on, I’m keeping it simple.

Today I have eaten: an orange, an avocado, a banana, a slice of banana bread, a GS (spinach, apple, banana), a sandwich (see above), tortillas with salsa and a lemon cookie.

Keep up the good work everyone. I’m off to bed now so goodnight, sleep tight. (It’s 10pm here but only 2pm for those of you on in Western USA and 5pm for you in the East. Funny that!)

[AllergyGirl]

Maisielou, when you feel up to it, could you share your banana bread recipe? I too am fed up with labor (and time)-intensive recipes, and need quick, simple, basic things to keep me going.

[blizzardfrisbee]

Yes, it doesn't matter! That's like the ones that look at others when they're happy for no reason with jealousy as they ask: "Why are you so happy? What's wrong with you?" Uh, nothing, it's good to be happy for no reason. :) It's so funny, when others are making a real effort to free themselves the ones that aren't free don't like it. NEXT! We're going with the flow. :)

Awww Zuri that makes sense what you said. Thanks! I have to remember I'm going with the flow.

I have been raw since August. In August my knees had gotten so bad that I was having trouble just getting off the couch-- one month into raw and I noticed that it was getting easier. 3 months into it this and I my knees don't hurt anymore and I can bounce off the couch and up and down from the floor.

[Zuri]

That's great Kathy about your knees.

Yes I've found that I just don't have it in me to make labor and time intensive meals and to then be disappointed when they don't at all, resemble that cooked meal. It's too much for me, and of course, to each their own. :) I like to keep it relatively simple but still interesting to my taste buds.

Well! Today I uncooked for the coming work week. I wish I had timed it....though it has probably been about 2- 2 1/2 hrs. I've got some kale chips in the 'hydrator. I made salad with fixings (only to last two days max. as it turns brown so fast), dill dressing again (just love that dressing), Alissa's mock salmon pate that I added dill to and Brazil nut milk.

I have some grapefruits, oranges and a few apples that ought to be juiced as they're getting old so I have that do to still. Eats today are pretty low since I slept in and was then out and about. I had herbal tea and a Brazil nut milk, banana, blueberry and strawberry smoothie. Wow, I can't believe that's all I ate! I didnt' realize! Off to relax a little before bed!

[AllergyGirl]

Dill dressing - recipe please? :)

[Zuri]

1/2 c unrefined sesame oil (or whatever you use)
1/2 c water
1 gala apple (skin and all or any other apple like red delicious)
flat parsley to taste (or curly)
a lot of dill
black salt (use whatever salt you use)
1/2 t lemon juice

I just eyeball...don't usually measure. Everything is really to taste. It's a creamy dressing.

[AllergyGirl]

Oh my gosh, that sounds amazing. I love apples and dill!

[GreenT]

Thanks Zuri for that recipe. The apple makes it interesting, i copied it and will have to try that soon. I just love salads and the more the variety the better!!

Allergygirl- the enchiladas the first time i made them, the left overs were also a bit greasy which made the tortilla soggy. This time around when filling the wrap with the veggies i used a spatula with the holes in it and any juice or grease that was extra stayed in the bowl. My left overs today were good and were not half as soggy.

Lunch- Carrot/apple juice and snacked on a couple pieces of the Spicy sweet potato chips as they were coming out of the D..Yummy!

Had another juice a few hours later...Cucumber, grape and a dash of cinnamon. This i just came up with and it was pretty good, hit the spot. And also had one macaroon.

Dinner- Enchilada with tomato salsa

Now im sippin on a Gs - Banana/ spinach

[revdrcyn]

Bananas x 5
Green Smoothie
Grapes
Kale Salad

Lots of great take-out from Que Se Raw Se Raw - OMG!

Pomegranate-Orange Juice
Apples
Pears
Cashew Bar

[EscapeArtist]

Sorry to hear that today has been rough mais.. Toughing it out with you!


Day 6 today and it's finally beginning to suck the life out of me the way detox should lol. I have this heated kind of flu like feeling in my head and behind my eyes but I was cold all day... What's really hitting me hard is the emotional detox!! I posted about it in the detox rant thread. Does anybody get extremely nostalgic, and feel like they have to re-face losses that they before didn't cope with, during emotional detox? It all just comes out!!

Anyway... I mentioned before that the money is extremely tight for me on this 30 day challenge, so even though I was out of most things, I promised myself that nearly all of the raw food in the house must be gone before I buy more. So today consisted of basically ALL fruit and no greens (Eeek not good!) but better raw with fruit now than runnin' out of money and not enough for any raw later! So today it was apples, apples, apples, apples, apples, some carrots, watermelon, dates, and chia seeds.

I'm really struggling today but, I know I won't cave... because it's time to finally LIVE and there's no turning back now!!! I'm grateful for this forum, it's so nice to be doing this with a bunch of others! Best of luck to you all, keep on brimming with that desire!

[shooflygirl]

The Chocolate Chewies turned out well. I made them into little balls and rolled them in coconut. The party was great. My cookie was the only healthy choice but the exciting thing is this: I pulled my excalibur dehydrator out of a box in the basement and also found my mother's food processor which was a must for this recipe. (I tried to blend the ingredients in my Vitamix blender but it was just too thick). Since I have the food processor out, I am going to shred up some red cabbage and make some fermented cabbage. One other good thing. I watched my children eat a fruit roll up given to them as a treat from my dear mother in law Saturday. It looked like plastic and actually had words printed on the fruit. Yuck! Since I now have the dehydrator out I asked the children what fruits they wanted to blend to make their very own fruit roll up! They chose strawberries, rasberries and apple. I am so new at all of this. I hope it works out. I can't thank everyone enough for posting about what they are eating to help give me ideas. At the cookie-exchange party I went to today, I found it very easy not to eat and was able to "vote" for the best tasting cookie by asking a friend which one she liked the best. I brought a spinach salad with peeled mushrooms, sliced carrot and for color - a handful of beautiful pomegranate seeds. Someone made a delicious guacamole so that was a treat. I have been eating an avocado each day anyway. I also was at Target and found large containers of raw walnuts and almonds in the nut section. I should soak some tonight for tomorrow. Thanks everybody for your support. One additional thing I'd like to share: For at least a couple months my left big toe has been killing me (like fire) when I am in bed and try to stretch. I have been avoiding bending my toe. Remarkably, yesterday, all the pain in my toe was gone! I noticed as soon as I woke up and now can't stop wiggling my toes because it feels so good. Although I was never diagnosed, I think eating raw may have helped with an episode of gout or arthritis. I am so thankful.
Healing from the inside out - makes me want to shout!

[Denise Nicole]

Raw 3 weeks and dealt with cravings today for the first time .... for cheese of all things and I have been vegan for years! :eek:

banana, almonds, pineapple, strawberries, and a salad.

I need to start planning ahead, so hoping to be able to sit down tomorrow and choose a few recipes I might actually make. I have the ingredients for the marinara & squash noodles as well as the stuffed portabella. Just have not wanted them yet. I think mostly right now I need ready cut veggies and some dips and dressings on hand. Sometime (OK most) my lil one can make it difficult to make meals, so having them on hand would be ideal :)

[Mindful mama]

ugh! so I logged in, wrote a very long post about my yesterday and today. By the time I hit submit, I timed out and had to log in again, and LOST MY POST!! boo. I am not rewriting it. If you've read my other posts in this thread, you know they're long. groan!

long story short, I've missed you, I'm still raw.

deep breath, shaking fist at computer, and now I'm over it.

light & love...