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  1. ltcartwright's Avatar
    My results from my weigh-in and measurements are:
    weight loss: 7lbs
    inches loss: 11"

    After my 5 days of fasting, I've had 4 days raw now, not really feeling as bad as my last attempt at 100% Raw.My meals are 100% raw, with exception of 2 days where 1 meal on those days were cooked (1 med baked potato, plain jane). My mind is clear and focus on what I want to achieve and I'm overcoming my old excuses to quit or give into cravings. I make healthy cooked vegan choices when Raw isn't available. I don't beat myself up over it, and I move on. My mantra is "Whatever you put into your mouth now, determines whether or not you fail or succeed at your goal." So if it's not raw, fatty, unhealthy, then I generally, stay away from it. So far, it's working for me.

    Also, if I'm not hungry, I don't eat. If I'm hungry (even after I've finished my Raw meal) I evaluate that "hunger". I wait, drink water, eat a piece of fruit; then find something else to do. Amazingly, the "hunger" goes away forgotten! So far 4 days have passed and it's working.

    In a month or so, we'll be moving to a new apartment. The new apartment is so spacious and has yard space for me to start my own garden!! And kitchen space to set up all of my equipment. I've already designated areas for my Green Smoothie Bar and I finally have a place to put my Dehydrator!!! YAY, YAY!! I'm dreaming about it now where I'm so excited. At first, I was doubtful about moving and now I can't wait! YAY!!

    My head is clear and I'm feeling more "in control". My underwear is starting to fit better (TMI!!!) and I can see some shrinking around my belly. So, I'm just taking it all in one day at a time. I'm dreaming of my new Raw body. Praise God for hearing my prayers!!
  2. ltcartwright's Avatar
    Yea! I made it to the last day of my Colon Cleanse. It's with a liquids only fast, but yesterday I felt horrible! By 8:30p - 9p I decided to eat a cooked potato with a drizzle of olive oil and pinch of sea salt. I felt a little better for a while, then awful. I went to lay down and made it through the night ok.

    Well, I don't know if I did the right thing, but initially before I ate the potato I felt like I was going to pass out. After the potato my head cleared up and I felt good. I'm still getting results from my cleanse with my movements, so I'm not sure if the potato did any "damage".

    Well, I went shopping yesterday night with my husband, so the fridge is stocked. I'm dreaming about eating a nice big salad with raw dressing, I can't wait until lunch time tomorrow!! I end my fast tomorrow morning with canteloupe, then freshly made green juice. Then a huge lunch salad with raw dressing, and I'm not sure what's for dinner, but I'll prolly do a green smoothie. <shrug>

    I have a 21 days Internal Cleanse to do, and I have 4 days of eating solids, so I'll do smoothies and salads; then a Raw Vegan menu for the rest of the 21 days, so back to prepared Raw foods. I'm not about to mess up with anything non-raw (not after this cleanse!!) I'm happy so far that my cravings for SAD (or in my case SBAD) is weaning. I cooked for my husband and wasn't even tempted to pick at his food. That's great!

    So, tomorrow is weigh-in and measurements! I'm excited to see what they will be! More going on personally with me, I may be moving to another apartment, so I'll try to keep my wits about me!!
  3. ltcartwright's Avatar
    Day 3 into my 30 day Internal Cleanse. The cleanse includes a 9 day Colon Cleanse, then a 21 day Internal Cleanse. I've passed my 3 pre-cleanse days and I'm 3 days into my 5 fasting days. Thank God, I have only 2 more fasting days to go. The first 2 days were brutal for me, but today seems to be evening off. I'm not as hungry and I'm able to manage the temptation to eat something.

    I also reordered my books that were cancelled. I'm excited about that! I also found a transitioning tool (I won't go into details since it's not Alissa's product), so I'll be working on that the next few months. My researching has revealed a lot, and I'm very happy that I feel more "grounded". I literally spoke sharply to myself these last few days during this cleanse. I wanted so badly to stop and give up. I reminded myself that if I give up now, I'll never be able to get myself where I want to. I'm tired being the same old fearful person. I need this change desperately!

    I woke this morning determined, right now I'm cooking for my husband, the food smells good, but it's almost as if it doesn't matter. (shrug, can't explain it any better than that...) I know it's something that I like to eat, but it's not important that I eat it...at least to me it's not. Now, that's a breakthrough!!

    I changed my signature today, since I feel like my transitioning is underway. I've changed a lot in my eating/thinking/dieting habits since April 2008 (my Raw introduction). Even though my body has yet to change as much as I'd like it to, it has changed and I'm thanking God for these changes.

    I'm in the planning stages of how I'll break my fast. So, since it's a little easier on me to think about food; I'm putting together some things that I'd like to try and have as "staples". I'm also going grocery shopping on Friday (once my car is fixed) to be prepared. So, righty-oh! I'll be back to update, my 2 year old is calling me...
  4. ltcartwright's Avatar
    Had my first raw savory smoothie today, only I had to eat it as a soup. That's the disadvantage of not having a high powered blender. So, using a spoon I "ate" the smoothie. It took me a good while to "get use", so I'll have to keep doing it. It tasted very good, a mixture of romaine hearts, parsley, garlic, tomato, lemon juice and I added 1/2 granny smith apple and 1 date. guess I couldn't stay away from the sweets!! only the texture bothered me a little. I'm trying savory smoothies because I use too much fruits in my smoothies. Which tend to make me sleepy after I drink them. Plus I listened to some really good information from a Raw Food doctor on YouTube.

    So, today was good to a point food wise, but great in terms of my mood. which lifted tremendously so I had enough energy to finish off some work around the house.

    Ordered my books on Saturday, but I made an error on the payment info and didn't read my email until just now. So, the books will be coming later than expected.
  5. ltcartwright's Avatar
    Haven't posted in a while, but I'm proud to say that I've exercised more in the first 16 days of this year than I've done in over 3 years (yikkes!!!)

    I'm still not 100% raw, but I'm doing whole meals raw or eating more raw than cooked. I was in a little bit of a funk for about 1week, but I'm getting my mood back under control.

    I'm doing a lot of research and reading and I'm listening to some info about food, health, nutrition as a whole, supplements, etc. So, I'm finally getting to "understand" some things.


    I also noticed yesterday, that I'm no longer addicted to mayonnaise, and that I can refuse bread and potatoes without hyperventilating!! That just "occurred" to me yesterday when I opened the fridge and saw the jar there. It didn't move me at all. (My husband's not raw, and he usually goes on these eating sandwhiches only diets so the mayo's there for him.)

    When I realized that my mayo habit was gone, I realize that I've been beating myself up for not being fully 100% or consistent, but I recognize that it truly is a process. Now, it's up to me to not go trying to see if I like mayo still, since I'm not craving it, I'm gonna just move on.

    The foods that I use to not be able to live without, that I now don't even bother with: eggs, mayonnaise, cake, crackers,...(to be continued)
  6. ltcartwright's Avatar
    Ok, I'm getting back to health (this was an awful bout of sickness!) Still have this awful chest constricting, head pounding cough! It's a lot less severe, but its still leaving me breathless and headachy...

    Sigh....can I just say that I've not been totally Raw! I've not abandoned my green smoothies and salads, but I have been mixing in some pretty un-raw and junky stuff!

    I have written down what I've eaten, in my journal. I'm still eating raw, but the percentage isn't what I'm happy with. Surprisingly, I'm getting in more exercise than I have done in years! (That figures with me, I go from one extreme to another! Hope to get things on an even keel.)

    So, tomorrow's another day. I'm going to go do some research and purchase some books....I'm thinking that I need to get more help in the food disorder, emotional eating, etc. category. Plus, I need to redefine my why.

    I'm still gonna post, but in the maintime, I'm going to be doing battle with this demon....

    ....I did learn something new though (well, it's not really new, but it's one of those "Well, duh!" things.) I was watching a youtube interview with Victoria Boutenko who says she makes her green smoothies and store them for up to 3 days (well, not keeping them in there that long, but she PRE-MAKES them, which I didn't know you could do).

    (Duh!) Make smoothies, put in the fridge, open the door, pull out a pre-made smoothie, drink...raw maintained!! I made a batch with lots of kale (more than I usually add) after watching that interview, and I couldn't believe how easy it was just to open the fridge and pour out a 12oz glass, chew/swallow; then go for seconds! Wow!!

    I'm on-line trying to find bigger canning jars with plastic lids. More research and a shopping spree!!!
  7. ltcartwright's Avatar
    Full blown cold/flu, don't even know which one right now. Coughed most of the night, had to sleep on the couch!

    My chest and throat hurts with so much coughing, and last night I thought someone was smothering me with a pillow I was soooo congested. My husband has begged me several times to go to the doctor for meds, he threatened that if I don't feel better by tomorrow he's taking me.

    Well, if he can lift me, then power to him. I refuse to go an get prescribed antibiotics (which they do a lot!) I'll keep drinking water and eating lots of fruits and veggies (when I feel hungry that is). I'll be posting what I ate today later on tonight. But so far, nothing out of the way.

    Gonna go lay down now, I'm tired! (Well, my 2yo is having a fit now, so I'm gonna try and lay down to calm her down. She hit her lip today in a nasty fall and is working her bruised lip to her advantage...hehehe...) I'm gonna go baby her up and lay down.
  8. ltcartwright's Avatar
    Day 3 (made an error with the first 2 days, which should have been Day 1 & 2, respectively)

    Breakfast - Green Smoothie #24 (cilantro, apple, banana, ginger, water)

    Lunch - big salad with raw dressing

    I don't know if it's detox or not, but I've got the cold. For dinner I ate some homemade vegan soup; throughout the day I ate some non-raw, non-vegan things also not meals, but junky stuff that I have no reasons for eating. I'm drinking hot tea with honey & lemon and I'm trying to take it easy...I'm gonna make it an early night.

    btw, in order to be accountable, I've written down in a journal the non-raw foods I eat, plus the moods I was in prior to eating it.

    I don't want to beat myself up over my bad choices, so I'm "rolling with it", making sure that my majority is Raw.
  9. ltcartwright's Avatar
    Day 2 & 3 (since I'm posting late)

    Day 2 - Friday

    1/2 day fast

    Break fast with: 18oz smoothie (no greens due to my lack of planning) made with- 1/2c water, 3/4c unswt aj, 1T sesame seeds, 1t honey, 1/2c frozen fruit consisting of canteloupe, honey dew, green grapes, peaches), 1/2 banana, frozen.


    Lunch - salad greens, cherry tomatoes, shredded carrots, partially-raw dressing (the salad was from Wendy's which I removed non-raw, non-vegan ingredients with some still visible)

    Partially-Raw dressing - olive oil, apple cider vinegar, mustard, balsamic vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper

    Snacking-handfuls of pecans, cashews, 6 Brazil nuts (I measured the pecans but forgot to write it down)

    Dinner - non-raw, vegan (won't go into details, but it was vegetables) My lack of planning (grocery shopping)

    Felt really hungry so I made sweet ice tea with ginger, then a cup of hot herbal tea with honey

    Exercise: Wii Fit 25mins (abs twists, balance tests, step aerobics, yoga)


    Day 3 - Saturday
    Morning after exercise pains (so the Wii is helpful)

    1/2 day fast

    Nibbled on Non-raw food (no details)

    Lunch/Dinner Combo - 2 med bananas, big salad (romaine, 1/2 large tomato, 1/4 piece red onion, 1/4 piece bell pepper, green, dried cranberries, 6 chopped cashews, raw dressing)

    Raw dressing - 1/2 big lemon, olive oil, honey, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic, yellow mustard

    (hah! I'm not really a mustard fan but I'm using it alot)

    As I write this I'm feeling very hungry, and it's after 9pm, but I'm going to drink some water and try to get to bed.


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