May 2011 - 30 Day Challenge - Join at any time of the month!

[Aleesha Sattva]

Welcome welcome welcome!!!

Welcome to the 30 day challenge. and welcome to our new monthly format.

This is our monthly challenge thread. We are choosing to do one (or perhaps split into two) continual threads so we can create a community of support within this challenge. You can join this thread at any time during the month. Don't be shy... we love new posters!!! So if you want to join us... please do!

I welcome people who are already 100% raw to join in the conversation - supporting our challengers in their quest!

This thread is specifically for those of you who are eager to commit to 30 consecutive days of eating 100% raw foods and seeing miraculous results!

I will start a new challenge thread on the first of every month. If I forget... send me a quick email and remind me... I'll get the challenge thread online for you quickly.

The focus of the monthly challenge is on staying raw and accountability. Therefore, if you have eaten all raw and then slip up and have something cooked, don't 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! This thread is about celebrating what you are eating that IS raw!

I welcome you all to share pics of your dishes, ask questions, share what you are consuming (as long as it's raw). We are here to listen to your emotional and physical challenges. So share share share!!!

OH and the best part of this (not only the support but...) you can subscribe to this thread and get notified every time someone posts to it. This way you will be connected!

So let's get this party started!!!

[Aleesha Sattva]

Please do not post in this thread until May 1st.

Thank you,
Admin

[Random]

Day one! Woo-hoo!

I started my morning with a smoothie: sunflower seed milk, spinach, mango, blueberries and chia seeds. So thick I had to eat it with a spoon!

And as I'm typing this, I'm munching on a handful of almonds.

While I've tried raw on and off for the past 7 years, my longest stint was only 3 weeks. I'm excited to be starting on the first of the month and having the support of everyone else taking part in the May Challenge!

[Dougal]

So I thought I could wait after the performance to start the diet and I looked in the mirror and just felt horrible about myself... I realized there's no way I can wait. I started out the day with a raw smoothie with an apple, banana, kale, and an avocado and a handful of almonds.

Has anyone ever had eating raw help with anxiety? I've been super anxious lately... hoping it will help.

[Amba]

The day # 1
Good Morning!
My morning food:
- soaked flaxseeds
- tomatoes
-avocado
-carrots

[vickie52]

I have been drinking green juices of the morning and eating fruit till lunch. Then I have a big salad. The evening was when I either went vegan with a Subway Veggie sandwich or was taken out by my guy and tried to eat as light as possible. This was my routine for the past 4 months.
I had planned to use May to learn how to make some RAW dense "mealtime" recipes and rack up more all RAW days. Roy, the man in my life, and I were vacationing in June for two weeks and I intended to try for July's challenge. But life decided to interupt. My daughter's mother in law is losing a 3 year battle with cancer and there will be a funeral in a week or two. And Roy got tested at his doctor's insistance (thank God) and now is having triple bypass surgery this Thursday. I have an anxiety disorder and take Xanex for it. Ever since I drove Roy to the doctor and heard about the operation, I have really been stressed. Cravings were coming back. (I lived on Diet Coke, sugar and fried meat before this January)
So even though I don't feel I have enough recipes to really get me through, I want to try the challenge now. I really need an hourly day by day focus to keep my mind off of other events I have no control over.
I am doing this with just a regular blender, and good juicer. I don't own a dehydrater or the wheatgrass type of juicer. I do have a small food processor to grind up nuts.
I live an hour out of Dallas where there is a RAW restaurant. I plan to reward myself each weekend I can with a gourmet meal there.
No one I know supports this. More fruits and salads vs. candy and Diet Coke, yes- all RAW food "That's crazy!"
I have Arthritis as well as the anxeity problems and my knees are swelling (probably the stress). I also use estrogen patches. The money for the medicines add up and I dream that I will see a dramatic change that will push me to continue and hopefully be able to drop the costly meds.
This morning I made carrot/apple juice, ate a banana and drank orange juice as Roy ate breakfast. I've had about 5 clememtines since then. I'm trying to save the big salad for dinner.
I am 58 years old, 5'4" and weigh 145.

[Moringa]

Today was

Sugar Snap Pea pods for breakfast

Kale spread with Pistacio nut butter and diced red peppers for lunch

Dandelion greens, shaved cucumber, pine nuts, and avocado with a raw dijon, peanut oil, and vinegar dressing

Happy May, fellow participants!

[MysticTree]

I wish I liked dandelions ... as a forager I should but they are just too bitter for me.

Not a bad day here. Lots of fruit, veg, salad, nuts and dried fruit. It's going through me like a dose of salts now ...

Georgina

[Random]

I'm eating a lot and making sure that I enjoy my food. I've decided that if it says it's raw, then it's raw. I'm not going to worry about whether or not my almonds or agave is really raw. (Even though I just read about agave being as bad as HFCS...I'm not going to waste the bottle I bought, but I don't think I'll buy another). Here's what I ate today:

8:00
almond butter cup: almond butter, coconut oil, agave, cacao powder, nutritional yeast

9:00
green smoothie: sunflower milk, blueberries, mango, orange juice, chia seeds, spinach
handful of almonds (15ish)

12:00
“tuna” wrap: sunflower seeds, celery, onion, sea salt, apple cider vinegar
sliced apple with almond butter

2:00
grapes, banana, almonds (10ish)

5:00
green smoothie: blueberries, orange juice, ground flax seed, kale
choco-cado pudding: avocado, cacao powder, agave

And if I'm hungry this evening before bed, I'll have another apple and/or another banana.

TO VICKIE:

Sorry you're having such a rough time right now! If it makes you feel any better, I don't have that "stuff" either. I'm just using a blender and a food processor. I do own a dehydrator, but it's tucked away in the basement and I'm not digging it out! (We're starting to show the house next week).

[MysticTree]

the juicing attachment on my food processor broke today. It's been a cross-patch for a while now and finally gave up. I can't afford a juicer just now but will start saving.

Georgina

[Eva]

Going to post about food soon... but for now... can I just say... it is SO EXCITING to be able to post in this thread. A couple months ago I had to dip out of the challenge b/c it was hard to not talk about my pregnancy cravings.

Happy to say: BABY LOVES RAW FOOD AS MUCH AS MY BODY ALWAYS HAS!

How lucky am I? My cravings are for, like, KALE! lol!

[speltrong]

Eva, happy to have you here for May! :-)

Today was a great day.. the weather was gorgeous again, so we got up early and went to the farmer's market to stock up on green goodness. Then we went on a nice long hike and ate a lunch of an orange and a flax cracker at the top of a huge hill. Now we are home, and I have no idea what we're doing for dinner.. most likely a big salad.

I'm also kind of craving some raw ice cream, and I think there must be a way to do it. Maybe with almond or cashew milk & berries? But then I guess I'd need an ice cream maker too..

Hope everyone else is having a great day too! Welcome to May, woohoo!

[Temptastic]

Count me in~!!!

[ILuvJesus]

Okay I am going to try this.

I have a lot of health problems that are really starting to scare me. I just have to stick around here for as long as I can. My husband is autistic and so is my son.

I started a Gluten free diet in feb. I sleep better and the pains in my stomach are not as bad but the other pains I think have maybe gotten worse so I have to do something.

So this is where I am turning. And I know nothing. I don't eat veggies and really probably can't tell you the names of most of them if you pointed to them. But I am going to do this.

I haven't eaten much today but it has been all raw. So any help I can get will help. Plus the cheaper the better we go to food banks and they don't give raw food so this will be a stretch but the Lord will provide.

Thanks everyone.
Peggy

[Random]

For ice cream, just stick frozen bananas in the blender! Once they're all blended, they have a soft serve texture. Sooooooooooo good!