Into Raw

Day 365 - Tuesday 1st December 2009

2009-11-30T15:57:00.000-08:00

Today is officially one year since I first discovered the Raw Lifestyle and made the decision to change my life for the better. There have been a few hiccups along the way, however I seem to be back on track again and looking forward to better things ahead.

Today is Day 18 of once again 100% Raw and I'm doing fine. My arthritis pain has reduced a little and things are looking good. Have dropped a couple of kilo's again, since returning to 100% raw, but feeling really good about it.

Went to a BBQ on the weekend (took my own salad) and was surprised by a comment I received from a friend who I hadn't seem in a few months. She had always said how skinny I looked and that I should put on weight, because I looked sick. Well her comment to me on this day, was that I looked a lot better and was actually looking good.

This commment surprised me quite frankly, because if anything I am now two kilo's lighter, but other than that nothing had really changed and I was still who I was a few months ago. Anyway, not use to getting comments like that from people who knew me before, I thanked her and said it had to do with balancing out my food and knowing how much you need to eat. She was happy with the response, so that suited me just fine.

One thing though that I have found since becoming RV is the amount of people that comment on how skinny I look. It use to really upset me when they'd say I'm too skinny and need to eat more. Now I just tell them that is exactly what I do and that if they are comparing me to what I use to look like, then yes I'm skinny, but this is normal and healthy and what I was before, wasn't.

I love being thin and not having to worry about putting on weight. Before raw my weight use to fluctuate up and down from 5 to 10 kilos (11-22 lbs), now the margin is more like 1-2 kilos (2.2-4.4 lbs). My weight has always been a major concern to me since my late teens, now I don't even entertain the thought.

It's so simple, when you eat raw, you just don't need to worry about your weight.

Day 352 - Tuesday 24th November 2009

2009-11-23T17:45:00.000-08:00

Just thought I'd check in and say that everything is running smoothly once again. It's now Day 12 of a new journey into the world of 'RAW'.

Have seemed to have settled back into a routine with eating fruit during the day and a salad for dinner. Have had no cravings for cooked food and have also noticed a little reduction in the arthritic pain.

The most painful part of the day for me has always been first thing in the morning. After sleeping for hours the joints seize up and make it painful and difficult to move. My morning exercise session, does help, although after showering, getting ready for work and a twenty minute drive, the joints seize up again and I struggle to get out of the car.

This morning more than any other I noticed that upon performing this simple task, the pain didn't seem as bad. This is a really good sign and could very well mean that my body is starting to mend itself again.

Day 345 - Tuesday 17th November 2009

2009-11-16T12:16:00.000-08:00

Well it's actually been quite a few months since I last posted a blog and boy, so much has changed. I've been re-reading old posts and have realised just how different my life is now (and not for the better, I'm afraid to say).

In my old posts, I spoke of how good I felt, how my arthritic pain had diminished quite considerably, how much more in control of things I was and how happy I felt.

Now all of my pain has pretty much returned, I'm tired & lethargic a lot of the time and not happy with the way things are going. And now in all honesty, the reason for all these problems I am having............cooked food!!!! What more can I say?

It all started back around Easter. Hubby and I hadn't had a break in many years, so went away for three days over Easter. Eating out every evening was were everything went wrong. During the day, there was no problem, I stuck to eating fruit, but at night it all went down hill. I would generally start the evening with a small avocado salad as an entree and then have stir fry vegetables as the main.

At the time and for a month or so later, after getting into this habit and eating more and more cooked vegetables over this time, I felt great. Obviously, this is what my body wanted, I told myself. Oh how things quickly changed.

It was not long after this first month when all the old symptoms returned and I once again felt like shit. Did I do anything about it though? No! Although when I truly think about it, I didn't put this pain down to eating 'cooked' , I thought I was overdoing the exercise, because due to the arthritis I have to be careful about how much and the type of exercise I do, so I don't aggrevate it more. So this is when I cut back on my daily exercise sessions. So as you can guess, this did not make a difference.

I kept eating my 'cooked' vegetables, oblivious to what I was doing to my body. Then one day, it suddenly hit me.When I realised about six weeks ago that 'cooked' had to be the culprit for my problems, I decided to do something about it. Within three days of reverting back to raw, I started to see and feel an improvement. This unfortunately only lasted for another few days, before I was back eating 'cooked' vegetables again. I quite simply had lost my willpower, which had always been a part of me when I wanted it and up until a few days ago I thought I had lost it forever. So how did I get it back? A wonderful Raw Vegan site called 30Bananas A Day (30BAD).

When my eating habits began to spiral out of control, I stopped visiting 30BAD and also stopped posting in my blog. I guess I felt ashamed and a failure. I felt I didn't deserve to be associated with the 30BAD community, a dedicated bunch of raw vegans, while here I was doing exactly what wasn't a part of the major plan. Avoiding the inevitable, was easier than facing my critics, so to speak.

I was at work one day, when browsing my 'favourites' that I came acrosse 30BAD and decided to sign in to see if I was still a member. Let me say this was the best decision I have made over the last 7 months. I soon realised after reading through others posts, that this community was a part of the reason I became raw in the first place. The support, understanding, assistance and encouragement I received, was what made me stick to a RV diet and nothing had really changed. So I stuffed up! We all learn from our experiences and mine was a hell of a lesson. That's when my willpower finally kicked in again. I knew what I had to do!

So now, here I am again, still in the early stages (Day 5), but I'm back being who I want to be. A low fat raw vegan (LFRV). I'm just as determined as I was at the beginning of my journey almost 12 months ago and once again know that this is what I want. Constant pain and feeling generally shit, is not what I want. I want to be where I was all those months ago and now know I can do it again.

This is only the beginning................

Day 189 - Wednesday 10th June 2009

2009-06-09T23:01:00.000-07:00

Day 4 Food Consumption

3 Med. Oranges
3 Lge. Mandarines
12 Medium Strawberries
1 Med. Apple
150g Papaya
4 Bananas

To be continued.......

Day 188 - Tuesday 8th June 2009

2009-06-08T23:17:00.000-07:00

Well an awful lot has happened since my last post, with the majority of it not being good.

My stint back eating 100% raw, as mentioned in that post, lasted all of about 3 or 4 days and then I caved in again and started eating some cooked vegan.

Since then my arthritis has got progressively worse and although I have still not succumbed to taking medication again, the pain at times has been quite unbearable to the extent of interrupted sleep. When I roll over while asleep, I find myself waking, because of the pain. This happens more than 1/2 dozen times a night.

I am still exercising, but with pain 98% of the time.

The weather is getting colder here now by the day and a lot of my pain could be associated with this, however I don't believe it is all to blame.

As of three days ago I have begun to record the foods I am eating, as a diary of food consumption, moods, pain etc... I hope to get some sort of indication if anything raw I am eating is affecting the arthritis, or whether it was strictly the cooked foods in my diet or just the cold weather without medication.

I have now been left with no choice, due to giving in to the cooked temptation. It's pain-free or painful, that it's now come down to and you certainly don't need to be an Einstein to work out the choice I made. I am back - 100% raw, again (this is now the third day).

Here, I will also record my daily eats, moods etc...

Day 1 Menu

2 Med. Custard Apples

1 Lge Dragon fruit

4 Passion fruits

2 Sm. Bananas

5 Sm. Mandarines

10 Almonds

Salad - 16 slices continential cucumber

4 cups mixed lettuce

1/2 cup baby spinach leaves

2 sm. mushrooms

3 snowpeas

1/2 grated carrot

1 sm. avocado

1 lge. tomato

1 Glass Lemon Water

2 litres water

Day 2

2 Glasses Lemon Water

800g Mandarines (juiced)

450g Papaya

3 Med. Bananas

6 Brazil Nuts

4 Sm. Mandarines

200g Med. Strawberries

2 Lge. Pears

5 Macadamia Nuts

12 Cashews

10 Almonds

2 Med. Oranges

5 Passion fruits

Today's menu: (Day 3 - 100% Raw)

6 Med. Passion fruit

1 Lge Dragon fruit

1 Med. Apple

2 Med. Pears

12 Med. Strawberries

5 small Mandarines

8 Brazil Nuts

8 Macadamia Nuts

18 Slices Continental Cucumber

1 Med. Tomato

1/2 Med. Carrot

1 Stick Celery

1 Glass of Lemon Water

2.5 litres of Water

Pain: Seems to be subsiding some what since starting 100% raw again.

Not as painful rolling over in bed and can actually now lie on my side for short periods without intense pain and discomfort.

Only woke twice during night.

Still very painful first thing after waking in morning, until I do my exercises. Find it hard to get out of bed until the joints warm up and then the pain is manageable providing I keep moving regularly.

On scale 1-10 today's pain - 7.5 to 8

Mood: Feeling really tired and worn out today.

Detox has well and truly set in. Have had a headache on and off for the last couple of days and the bad wind, stomach curdling and diarrhea started today. (Oh, how I love detox!!!)

Day 170 - Thursday 21st May 2009

2009-05-20T21:40:00.000-07:00

So, I'm back on my 100% raw journey again, after a bit of a hiccup.

It's been only the second day now and already my digestion pains have eased and my bloating has almost subsided. I no longer feel nausea and I'm beginning to feel a lot less wrecked. Now I just need to wait for the onset of detox to hit and I'll then know my body is almost back on track.

My arthritis pain returning has me a little worried, although I do tend to think that it could be related to the oncoming cold weather we are experiencing, with winter coming on and all. I have not yet experienced a winter without drugs, so do not really know how my body reacts to the cold. Obviously, time will tell.

Day 168 - Tuesday 19th May 2009

2009-05-18T22:38:00.000-07:00

Okay, well I guess I'm finally here today after a couple of weeks, to pretty much confess that it seriously looks like I've become addicted to cooked food again. Don't get me wrong it's certainly not the typical SAD - I'm still a strict vegan (no grains, dairy, meat etc...) but I've resorted to cooking my vegetables, particularly now that it is getting colder here and have started to consume more nuts, avocados and dates for some reason. As a result this is killing my digestive system and I'm feeling bloated, have indigestion and stomach pains, yet continue to eat cooked.
Why???
I know the reason why, yet it certainly doesn't help me or solve the problem. You see the last month or so my fruit intake has declined which has meant I crave cooked food and overt fats (nuts, avocado's) more. I know I have to increase my fruit intake again in order to take the cooked cravings away, but what do you do if you quite simply don't want the fruit?
There are a few fruits that I use to really like eating that now turn my stomach and as the days go by I'm finding that I'm wanting and eating less and less fruit. I can't actually believe I'm saying that, because I love fruit, but it's true.
As well as the problems I'm experiencing with indigestion, I've also found that my arthritis pain has increased again, particularly in the morning when it is quite bad and that if it wasn't for exercising I don't think I would get through the day. I still haven't resorted to taking medication again, although some days I could easily do so because of the pain.
Whether my pain has returned because of the cooked food, the salt I put on the cooked food, the increase in overt fats, or even the weather turning colder, I am yet to discover.
At the end of each day, when I go to bed feeling quite frankly wrecked, I tell myself that tomorrow will be different, however I have been telling myself this now for weeks and still nothing has changed.
I feel like I have totally failed, when this is something that I so wanted. I know how raw and then 811LFRV (80/10/10 Low Fat Raw Vegan) made me feel, yet I still allowed myself to get to this point.
The mind is a powerful thing and willpower is something I generally have a lot of...........where has it gone now that I need it so much?

Day 155 - Wednesday 6th May 2009

2009-05-05T14:07:00.000-07:00

Well, a few days after recording my last post I suffered severe heartburn, indigestion problems along with a lower back ache. This lasted for two days before I thought that perhaps it could be the cooked food I was eating, so I went back to strictly raw again and within a day the pain dissappeared.

So what did I learn from this? A cooked meal every now and again is fine, but too frequently and it starts playing havoc with my digestion. I can't believe how different is made me feel and how quickly it upset everything internally, just by having one cooked meal a day over a period of about ten days. It wrecked me!

Saying that though, I did make a homemade vegie soup the other day.

Monday here, was a public holiday and was a really cold, windy day (I'd hate to see what winter is going to be like). I suffer terribly in the cold and just could not get warm all day, even after having a couple of hot lemon waters. I needed to warm up, so decided to make a soup (vegies only in water on the stove top for about three hours). It made a chunky veg soup that went down really well and certainly did its job of warming me.

If winter is going to be colder than normal this year, I will need something to keep me warm and if too much cooked food is going to affect me, then I might have to try vegie soups, but broths only, with the vegetables discarded after cooking so just the liquid is left. Perhaps this might digest better over longer consumption. Will give it a go anyway if I need to.

Everything else has been going along smoothly for me and other than the small hiccup I mentioned, am feeling pretty good.

Day 146 - Monday 27th April 2009

2009-04-26T14:09:00.000-07:00

Have been keeping an eye on my weight of late and have noticed that I have again lost more weight and am now down to 52kgs. My goal weight was 55kgs, but somehow I went below that. Maintaining my goal weight is harder than I expected, but hey, having the difficulty of putting on or maintaining my weight is a hell of a lot better than trying to get the weight off. I think this is probably the first time in my life that I've had to deal with this. That makes a nice change in a way.

Since my last entry, I can honestly say that my diet has changed for the better. Although I am still a strict vegan, I have incorporated one cooked meal a day back into my diet. This is another reason I believe I am still losing the weight, as vegetables are low in fat and carbs, so have little on their own to increase the weight. I have dropped off eating as much fruit as I use to, so will have to increase the higher fat/carb fruits like dragonfruit, bananas, avocado's and include more nuts and seeds. I want to still stick to a low fat diet, because high fat plays havoc with my digestion, but by including more of the above my weight should start to plateau. I will have to make a point of doing my measurements again this week, as it has been quite a while since I last recorded them.

Made a delicious nut cheese the other day, which is awesome and have been putting it into my salads and stir fries of late. Discovered a really great wrap bread, called Mountain Bread that has no dairy, eggs, sugar etc... that I have been eating of late also. It does have a rice wheat in it though, which probably shouldn't really be in my eating plan, but I'm enjoying it and it doesn't make me feel bloated and digests quite well. I generally fill up the wrap with salad or stir fry veg and with a little nut cheese is really tasty.

I'm happy with how I feel at the moment and the foods I'm eating are really agreeing with me. My cravings for SAD have pretty much dissappeared and although I will admit that a lot of the foods smell great when they are cooking, that's as far as I generally want to take it. Tasting these foods now, does not even enter my head, but instead I look forward to eating vegan.

Changing my way of living and eating vegan has made a huge difference in my life. The difference is not only noticeable on the outside, but also on the inside, which is why I feel so much more healthier than I have ever felt before. My body now teaches me what to feed it and what agrees with it. Just the other day hubby took me out to dinner at Sizzler for my birthday where I could choose from a large array of fruits and salad items to fill me up. Upon eating a salad that I thought was tomato, onion, capscium, herbs, I soon discovered it was actually a very spicy salsa salad that gave me stomach and digestion pains that made me literally feel sick. The next day I was still recovering.

Since becoming vegan I have discovered the following about my digestion and the foods I eat.

I cannot consume melons on an empty stomach.

Too many nuts and seeds causes constipation, bloating and stomach pains.

I need to avoid spices in foods.

Fresh, whole raw foods do digest easier, but so does cooked vegetables also.

My body quickly tells me what it likes and what it doesn't and while it continues to, I will continue eating this way.

Day 134 - Wednesday 15th April 2009

2009-04-14T23:10:00.000-07:00

Well Easter has now gone and our few days away did us the world of good - very relaxing and enjoyable.

Was expecting and fully prepared to eat cooked while away and did so, but still vegan. Had stir fried vegetables on two occasions and a vegan pizza without cheese on another. The food went down a lot better than I expected and did tend to give me a lot more energy.

Have been feeling quite tired and lethargic lately and the cooked foods seemed to give me a bit of a boost. Have now decided to incorporate a few low fat cooked vegan meals into my diet, but with no dairy, wheat or eggs, to see if I start to feel any better. Basically, I just have no oil, stir fried vegies in mind as the alternative, this way I can incorporate a lot of greens into it, seeing I can't stomach the taste of green smoothies.

I still want to follow all the raw vegan guidelines, except a few days a week my evening meal will be cooked. If after a few weeks it makes no difference or I feel any adverse effects, I will go back to all raw. The last thing I want is for my health to start to suffer, my wellbeing now is my main priority.

Day 121 - Thursday 2nd April 2009

2009-04-01T21:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was officially 4 months since I became a Raw Vegan and today is day 75 without medication.
I'm now getting out of bed each morning, without feeling really stiff and sore from arthritis and that feels fantastic. I move a lot freer and can tend to do a lot more now than I use to and I'm also gaining strength back in my upper arms. My health is improving all the time and from this point, I can only get better.

This month, I also experienced my first pain free menstruation in years. The fibroid has always made that time of the month very painful for me and in the last 12months extremely heavy bleeding also. This time around everything was different. Not only totally pain free, but also light bleeding. Hopefully, this is a sign that it will continue this way.

Checked my weight again yesterday morning and it seems I've lost another 1/2 kg in the last two weeks, which brings me down to 53.5kgs.
I'm trying to maintain the weight at the moment and it looks like I'm nearly there. If I just increase my calories a little more I should have my food consumption and calorie intake right.
I've been on the Nutridiary site a couple of times trying to record and log foods and meals, but it's so time consuming, that I give up after a couple of days. I think it's just easier for me to continue the way I'm going, which is to eat higher fat fruits more frequently, which will balance out the weeks food intake and have me maintaining my weight rather than losing.

After reviewing a few things I've written over the last month or so, I saw at one point that I mentioned I was taking ACV (Apple Cidar Vinegar) daily, for my fibroid. Well while reading
80 10 10 in late February, I stopped taking it, due to the acidity in it. If it is suppose to get rid of fibroids, by slowly eating them away, imagine what else it would do to me. ACV hasn't been a part of my diet since then and it will remain that way.

I'm currently really keen to get an idea I have in regards to the raw lifestyle, up and running and am in the process of doing research and gathering information. As the idea has only been floating around in my head and on paper for a few weeks, I'll keep it under wraps for the moment, until I've progressed a little more with it. I feel really positive about it and want to make it work, so am treading slowly, to ensure everything is right. When I feel the time is right, all will be revealed.

Day 114 - Thursday 26th March 2009

2009-03-25T17:54:00.000-07:00

Custard Apples are in season at the moment, so I'm really enjoying the abundance of this super sweet fruit. Thought for sure that they would be high in calories, considering the quantity of sugar they have in them, however I was very surprised to find that they are only around 100 calories for a whole fruit. They are so delicious and I really love this time of year, particulary too at the moment, as they are so cheap. I got them at the markets last weekend and they only cost me eighty cents each. It's just a pity that I ate the last one about 1/2 an hour ago and now will have to wait until I can get more.

Oh well, I guess you can't have what you've already eaten.

Discovered something quite, well I really don't know how to explain it actually, but it's sort of exciting I think. On Sunday when I went to shave my legs (my weekly ritual) I discovered that the hair was only half the length it usually is after a week and in actual fact I didn't really need to shave (although I did anyway). I can only put this down to the raw diet as this has never happened to me before and only seems to have happened in the last week, although I can't say I actually took much notice the week prior. If this is actually the case, it has to be a huge bonus, after all what woman likes to shave her legs? We all, I'm sure, find it a task that just has to be done, if we don't want to look like something that's just come out of the pre-historic days that is.

Day 113 - Wednesday 25th March 2009

2009-03-24T18:19:00.000-07:00

Have purchased myself another piece or exercise equipment - an AB PRO machine, that tones the abs. Today is the second day that I have had it and find it gives you a really good workout. I can already start to feel the ab muscles being worked, so should hopefully start to see some minor results within the next few weeks.

At the moment toning is my main priority, as there is quite a bit of flab that looks unsightly, that I'm aiming to be rid of. I'm noticing now I've got more muscle tone in my upper arms, although the tuckshop arms are still there and this I'm also working on.

Prior to becoming a raw vegan, I hated exercise, now it is a part of my life and something I make sure I do. There has been days where I would rather sleep in, than get up and exercise, but I just remember why I'm here and what I am striving for. There is only one person that can get me where I want to go - and that's me. I know I can do it and that's what keeps me going.

Day 106 - Wednesday 18th March 2009

2009-03-17T16:37:00.000-07:00

It's been a month since I last did my official weigh in and measurements. Although I know I reached the 55kgs I was aiming for, I have not done any measurements until this morning, where I also weighed myself again as part of my fortnightly routine.

Current results:

Weight - 54kgs

(loss 1.5kgs since last official weigh in)

Bust - 82cm (loss 4cm)
Waist - 68cm (loss 2.5cm)
Hips - 90cm (loss 2.5cm)
Thighs - 91cm (loss 5cm)

Total loss - 14cm

Loss since first starting raw on 1st December 2008:

Weight 14kgs

Measurements 39cms

Have started eating tomatoes, capsicum and pineapple again. It has made no difference to my wrist pain, giving them up. The pain is definately not arthritic and if my wrist was playing up for whatever reason, so would the rest of my arthritis.

I'm considering going to a natural therapist like acupuncture, bowen, reiki or something along those lines, to see if they can ease the pain, if it doesn't improve shortly. Will see what happens.

Next month hubby and I are going away for four days (first time in many years, so we're really looking forward to it). My main concern is meal times and the food available, so I've reserved myself to having cooked vegetables (steamed of stir fried), whichever they will do, but only if absolutely necessary. Salads should be available at the majority of places, so I shouldn't have a huge problem, hopefully. Although in saying that, at Christmas time I had the problem of a venue saying that it wasn't on the menu, so I couldn't have it. Will see how I go anyway.

Day 98 - Tuesday 10th March 2009

2009-03-09T23:41:00.000-07:00

I have the wrist brace back on. That didn't last long.

The pain is quite bad today, very sharp, piercing pains. Don't really know whether it is tomatoes/capsicum that is causing it. I think I may be more inclined to think it is something like pineapple, as I have been eating a lot of that also over the last couple of weeks, but then a gain, I don't really know, I'm guessing as usual.

The last few days have been a little tougher than usual. I'm having really bad cravings for cooked food all of a sudden. I don't know why, but whenever I smell food cooking, I imagine myself eating it and can taste it and it tastes great. I no sooner think this when the raw side of me kicks in and feels the digestion problems, the stomach ache, the sick feeling, the disgust in myself for giving in. It's this raw side of me that has prevented me from succumbing, so far. This is the good side of me. The side that I want to stick around. This is the side that keeps me honest. The side I have become and want to stay. This journey I am on is all about successful healing, health, fitness, wellbeing and feeling good about myself. Nothing can stand in the way of my progress, I will not let it (she says, as the smell of barbequed chicken waifs in from the shop next door).

Day 97 - Monday 9th March 2009

2009-03-08T19:05:00.000-07:00

Today is Day 5 without tomatoes & capsicum and I am again free of the wrist brace. Whether this is another fleeting moment without the wrist brace or related to being tomato/capsicum free is yet to be decided. Will continue to exclude these from my diet for a little while longer to see is there is a noticeable difference. Further posts will be completed to monitor this.

Day 95 - Saturday 7th March 2009

2009-03-06T16:43:00.000-08:00

I'm in the process of doing a small experiment, whereby I cut out tomatoes and capsicum from my diet. These are generally acidic vegetables that contain a mineral or something that can be detremental to rhuematoid arthritis.

For the last week I had noticed the pain had returned in my wrist and then last night and today I am back wearing the wrist brace. Over the last week I had increased my tomato intake quite substantually, as I have been enjoying some delicious tomato recipes.

The pain started out as a niggle and eventually got to the stage where it was quite painful, so the brace is now on again for support.

I have downloaded a list of foods that have this particular mineral that can be harmful and will gradually over a period of time, eliminate certain foods from my diet, then reintroduce them, to try to determine if any of them have an affect of my arthritis.

Today is Day 3 of eliminating tomato & capsicum and to date it has had no effect.

Day 92 - Wednesday 4th March 2009

2009-03-03T19:02:00.000-08:00

Today was suppose to be another weigh in/measurement day, but with it again being that time of the month again, I deferred the usual measurements, although I did have a slight peek when I popped onto the scales. I couldn't help myself, just to see if I had reached 55kgs yet.
I am happy to say that even though I will weigh slightly more due to the time of month, the scales still managed to read 55kgs. Yippee!!!

Have had a slight set back in my road to recovery though, although not major, but it still exists, which worries me slightly. My wrist seems to be playing up a little in the last week. Not enough to wear my brace again, but there is still that dull, niggle of pain that is present. Don't know if it is related to my menstrual cycle or whether something else has happened. Can't say it's actually related to any food intake, as nothing has changed to what I've been doing for the last three months. Will have to keep an eye on this and wait and see what happens.

Day 87 - Friday 27th February 2009

2009-02-26T16:08:00.000-08:00

I start off today by saying that I am now officially 80 10 10rv (3 days now) and have also read Dr Graham's book 'The 80 10 10 Diet'.

I was lucky enough to have the book on loan from a lovely lady on one of the Raw Food forums I frequent and have thoroughly enjoyed the read.

Not only was the book an eye opener in many areas, but it also taught me a lot about nature and the human body. I believe now after reading it that I understand the body more and how it works.

I don't believe that 80 10 10 is the type of book that you read and then forget about it, quite the contrary actually. I feel that if you change your diet to raw in particular 80 10 10rv (raw vegan) you are more likely to care about your body and what you put into it. I want to be in touch with my body more and want to give it the best chance at increased health & wellbeing.

Since discovering raw, particularly low fat raw, I feel that an awful lot of the raw communtity are still harming their bodies by continuing to eat high fat/gourmet raw. I mean don't get me wrong, this is how I started out; raw breads, biscuits, chips & snacks and it helped tremendously with the transition from SAD to raw. I pretty quickly though became aware of what my body wanted and what tasted better and it wasn't long before I stopped eating those foods.

Gourmet raw I found was very rich, filling, heavy in the stomach and didn't digest well. It was not a hard decision to make to stop consuming these foods, even when I did, I still left myself open to go back that way if I wanted, but to date I haven't and don't want to.

I enjoy eating fresh fruit & vegetables more than I ever thought I would. I mean I always liked fruit, but generally only as a snack and certainly not as a meal. If I had a sweet craving, like anyone following SAD, it would be a chocolate or a piece of cake that I would grab to satisfy those cravings. Now, except perhaps for one particular time of the month, (when I will have a few dates to satisfy that craving) I do not suffer them. Cravings are now pretty much non-existant.

I know since becoming raw, more so now in the last month, I have changed as a person, though, in a good way. I have become more in tune with me, don't seem to stress as much, am in control more of my life. I care more about what I put into my mouth and use on my body. I have changed my soap, shampoo/conditioner, facial products & toothpaste to 100% organic and am now slowly working on replacing the other chemical laden products that are used daily, in the household.

If we want to live life to the fullest, we need to do something to make the changes necessary to live a happy, healthy and fruitful life.

If I can make a difference within this little space of the world I occupy, then I can feel proud I've done my bit. Life is far too short to sit back and watch, hoping someone else will fix things or that things will get better. I did this for far too long and accomplished nothing.

It may have taken me my entire life to work it out, but now that I have, I can do something to make the necessary changes to live the rest of my life healthy in the best possible way.

Day 80 - Friday 20th February 2009

2009-02-19T22:22:00.000-08:00

Well it seems I'm almost over detoxing. Have stopped running to the bathroom twenty times a day (slight exaggeration, but it did feel like it at times). My gas filled stomach has subsided and I'm getting back to normal again.

Can't really say I'm a ball of energy though, although I do feel a lot more energetic in the morning up until about ten o'clock and then I start to feel a bit flat. Today is a really hot and humid day, so that wouldn't be helping things either.

I think my mood could be related to work too though. With the business on the market, I think I've finally had enough and just want to be out of here. My energy levels seem to increase when I get home, so perhaps the shop does have more to do with it than I think. Working six days a week and doing 12 hour days over three years, I think has finally taken its toll on me. I feel like I could just go to bed and sleep for three days.

Anyway, best plod along, after all there's not much else I can do. Things are bound to improve eventually.

Day 78 - Wednesday 18th February 2008 - Weigh In Day

2009-02-17T12:43:00.000-08:00

Well it looks like I'm slowing down in the losing weight department. Must be getting very close to my intended weight. I estimate 55kgs, which will suit me nicely, I think.

Size 10 are becoming quite loose on me now and the size 8's in my wardrobe are fitting very snug. The extra kilo's I need to lose, should make these clothes fit perfectly.

Am continuing to exercise, twice daily, fifteen minutes in the morning and around 1/2 hour in the evening.
I am incorporating weights now in both sessions, which should build up my arms and shoulders. My main area to concentrate on is the stomach, hips and legs. I need to get these toned to give my body the overall trim look. At the moment it just seems to be my torso that looks this way. More work in those areas, should elimate that extra fat that my body just loves to hold on to.

Perhaps I may even consider going to the gym twice a week, to help me shift that fat. Will see how I go.

Todays weight/measurements:

Weight 56.5kgs (1.5kg loss)
Chest 86cm (Nil loss)
Waist 70.5cm (1.5cm)
Hips 92.5cm (Nil loss)
Thighs 96cm (Nil loss)

Day 77 - Tuesday 17th February 2009

2009-02-16T17:43:00.000-08:00

Well this is now Day 5 of my food combining 'experiment', I guess you'd call it.

Since the second day of this experiment, I have been going to the toilet, very regularly. Instead of the usual 3-4 times a day I was going, I am now going more like 7-10 times.

I've also been experiencing a lot of wind, a headache, lethargy and light-headiness, yet at the same time am feeling lighter and cleaner within (if that makes sense).

I know I am only going through the detoxing stage, so don't really mind. Once my body gets use to the change in the way I am eating, again, it will settle down. Boy what our bodies put up with!

I've really felt that the food I'm eating is digesting easier also, except for last night that is. I had a fruit salad last night and ate all the right combinations together, so the only thing I can put my cramps & pains down to is perhaps I combined too many fruits together. I'm sure I remember reading that food combining should be done with no more than three different types of food. I think I may have overdone it there, then. I know I felt really full and bloated after and probably did eat too much also.

This is all still very much a learning process for me and I imagine it will take some time for me to feel happy with what my body does and doesn't want.

Day 73 - Friday 13th February 2009

2009-02-12T17:11:00.000-08:00

Well today is the first day for starting proper food combining. After a lot of suggestions and recommendations etc., I have been told that I should be reading the 80/10/10 diet by Doug Graham, which is a book that explains food combining on a low-fat raw diet.

The 80/10/10 ratio relates to 80% Carbs, 10% Protein and 10% Fat for better health, digestion and well being.

So after doing research myself I came across a food combining chart on the net that explains what foods to eat with other foods etc.. for better digestion & health. I will follow this plan for a few weeks to see if I notice any change, before making any further committment by purchasing the 80/10/10 book. I have tried to buy it online a few times but am finding it difficult to outlay over $50 for a book, when I hardly ever read.

Everyone is telling me it is totally worth it, the best investment that I will ever make and I'll read it more than once, but that still doesn't help me fork out over $50, does it?

Anyway, we'll see how things go with this other method and then make a decision later about buying the book.

Day 70 - Tuesday 10th February 2009

2009-02-09T13:17:00.000-08:00

Well I'm pleased to say that on Sunday for the first time in a very long time I was able to fit into a Size 8 dress. Wow!!! It feels so unbelieveably fantastic.

My weight loss plan when first starting raw, was always to get to a size 8 but I didn't really expect to get there to be quite honest. I was being hopeful that I would, but realistic that it probably wouldn't happen. Not that I'm generally negative, but of all the previous diets that I have undertaken, none of them got me under that 60kg mark.

Last Wednesday when I stood on those scales and saw the dial stop on 58kgs, I could have yelled at the top of my voice with excitement and probably would have if the family hadn't still been in bed sleeping.

I love the way the excess fat is dissappearing from my body and I am slowly looking slim. Knowing that I am doing it by eating healthy & raw, still blows me away a little when I consider where I was over two months ago.

I have gone from not really liking myself, being overweight, eating unhealthy fatty foods (Atkins Diet), no exercise, riddled with arthritic pain, on medication, feeling generally unwell, and exhausted most of the time to now feeling proud of my achievements, enjoying who I am, losing 10kgs and looking trimmer, eating raw healthy, nutritional food, exercising twice a day, arthritic pain easing, no longer taking drugs for my arthritis and feeling healthy within with no bloated feeling.

I can honestly say that I feel proud of myself for my achievements to date and when you feel this good, there is no turning back

Day 67 - Saturday 7th February 2009

2009-02-06T15:31:00.000-08:00

Not feeling 100% today. The pain is a little stronger today than it has been. Also feel generally lethargic and my back is also playing up again.

On top of this, it is that time of the month again and I can feel my fibroid playing up (very bad pains in the stomach). Will have to press on - too much to do.

Will NOT cave in, to drugs.

Eating raw now just seems to be routine and is now a permanent part of my life. I know this is the food I want to eat and generally don't go looking for fatty SAD foods to fulfil me. The other day I had a craving for dates while at work, so when I got home I had a few and that really satisfied me and kept me going until dinner.

Have not been having too many greens of late as I haven't really felt like them. At the moment I seem to be sticking more to fruit, which I always seen to enjoy. I know I should be getting more greens into me, which could be one reason why I feel lethargic, but honestly, I'm not really enjoying them. I use to have a salad for lunch every day, but have only had them twice this week, instead opting for more fruit instead. Whether this is okay for me, I don't really know, but at the moment if feels right.

After my weigh in the other day, I've decided that I would like to get down to around 55kgs now, which is another 3 kgs I need to lose. Once I've lost the weight, the challenge will then be to maintain that weight, which I think will be quite difficult. I've heard that a lot of raw vegans (newbies, like me) generally can have trouble, which is why they say it's important to calculate your calories, so you know how much your eating, otherwise there's a good chance you'll keep losing weight. I still haven't been doing this and just generally eat what I want, when I want. It seems to be working at the moment, but that's obviously because I want to lose weight and am currently losing it. It will probably be a different story when I'm at my goal weight and need to maintain it.

I'm still exercising daily, on the Infinity in the mornings and palates style exercises in the evening. Still too early to notice any change in body tone, but I feel better for doing them and it also warms up the joints, which allows me to move with less pain, which is really important for me seeing I am no longer taking any drugs.

The vegie garden is coming along great now. I'm sure the lettuce is about ready to pick, so that now saves me buying them. Home-grown fresh organic vegies - can't wait!

Day 64 - Wednesday 4th February 2009

2009-02-03T16:06:00.000-08:00

Another fortnight has passed and today was, weigh in and measurement day.

My current measurements are as follows:

Weight - 58kgs (2kg loss)

(Yippee) First time in many many years that I can claim to be under 60kgs. God it feels great! That is now a total of 10kgs that I have lost since the 1st December 2008.

Measurements - Chest 86cm (Nil loss)

Waist - 72cm (Nil loss)

Hips - 92.5cm (2.5cm loss)

Thighs - 96cm (1.5cm loss)

Day 62 - Monday 2nd Februay 2009

2009-02-01T18:07:00.000-08:00

Well have now reached Two Months raw. It feels great to be able to set a goal and achieve it. My next goal is still a size 8 and at the moment I'm about half way between a size 10 and an 8. Have tried on a few different size 8's and although they fit, they are way too tight. The size 10's I am wearing are starting to become loose, with a couple even too big now - boy does that feel good.

Feeling very lethargic and flat today due to no exercise. Woke up this morning at the time I would usually leave for work, so didn't get a chance to exercise. Never would have imagined that you could feel so down, just from no exercise. Will have to fit in my morning exercise tonight when I get home and try and get back a little energy. Have a leftover salad from last night that I can have tonight, so the time I would have spent preparing that can now go into the exercise. Sounds like the perfect opportunity!

Day 60 - Saturday 31st January 2009

2009-01-30T15:44:00.000-08:00

Having a really good day today, as far as pain is concerned and feeling on top of the world. Usually after my morning exercises, I'm still a bit stiff and sore for a couple of hours, but this morning, the joints and muscles loosened up quite quickly and I feel great.

Over the last few days, I'm having a really strange craving for fish. This might not seem strange to the average person, but considering I'm not a huge fish eater and then when I do eat it, it has to be a very mild fish, like hake or something, I consider it very strange. This obviously means I'm lacking in something and my body is crying out for a particular mineral/vitamain - but what? Need to do some research.

Day 59 - Friday 30th January 2009

2009-01-29T21:11:00.000-08:00

Have had someone recommend a website to me that explained the benefits of Apple Cidar Vinegar in your diet. Have read a lot of wonderful testimonials about how ACV has cured a number of different ailments & health problems, in particular fibroids.

I recall when I was in my twenties, being diagnosed with a fibroid, which is usually a non-cancerous growth, like a cyst, that grows in the uterous. I have had no problems with it until last year when I suffered very bad bleeding, stomach cramps and bloating. After an ultrasound it was discovered that the fibroid that was very small all those years ago, is now 8.5cm in size and resting on my bladder.

The medical option - a hysterectomy - which I was prepared to have, until being directed to this website on ACV, that spoke about others fibroids that had shrunk/dissolved completely.

As of Wednesday, I started taking ACV, a dessertspoon, twice a day and washing it down with water. I will continue to take it daily to see if I notice any changes and will report it here.

I thought perhaps this would also be a good time to keep a record of all my ailments before starting raw, to see if the raw diet has any affect on these. Below is a list of these.

* Heavy Menstruation

(Fibroid)

*Rotting Teeth

* Warts

(On right foot, toes & heel)

* Back Pain

(Re-occurring Pinched Nerve)

* Sinus

(Running nose)

*Bloating Stomach

(Fibroids)

* Hair Loss

* Arthritis

(Stiff, Sore & Swollen Joints in feet, ankles, knees, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands & fingers)

*Varicose & Spider Veins

* Lethargy

(Arthritis)

Of the above, I have so far noticed the following which have seemed to improved:

Arthritis

(Have ceased taking drugs & swelling in my knees has reduced)

Sinus

(Previously I would be constantly blowing my nose during the day and now I only seem to be doing it a few times a day.

Hair Loss

(After doing my hair in the morning, I would usually have numerous hairs on my clothes.

Now there only seems to be a couple).

Keeping a regular check and recording it here, will give me an indication of what is happening with my body.

Day 57 - Wednesday 28th January 2009

2009-01-27T17:15:00.000-08:00

As of this morning, I have given up the walking and instead am using an Infinity Elliptical Trainer (you pedal like an exercise bike, but instead of sitting, you are standing). Pedalling can be done in the forward or reverse motion (reverse is a killer), but fantastic. Purchased it for only $50.00 from the local Tender Centre. Other than a couple of batteries it needed for the display screen, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. Used it this morning and it worked a treat. Definately a better work out than walking. Started out slow with a 10 minute workout and was hot, sweating and puffing by the time I finished. I could certainly feel the different muscles working. Below is a picture I found on the net (an older model than this one, but the same type of treadmill). I've only had it one day and am already in love with it. I might even incorporate it into my evening exercise regime as well. Definately a way of staying fit and toning the butt and legs.

I hope I'm not jinxing myself by saying this, but today is 11 days since I last took any drugs for my arthritis. I am totally wrapped, as the longest I have gone previously without drugs, was for 3 days, before the pain became too much and I once again had to start taking my drugs again.

I am not pain-free by any means, but it is bearable and I feel I can put up with it in order to be drug-free, which has always been my aim. The mornings are still a bit of a struggle (very stiff & sore), but after exercising the stiffness disappears. There's still a long way to go, but so far, it's looking good (real good) for my health. The new raw lifestyle I have adapted over the last 57 days has definately attributed to this change. There will be no going back now.

Day 54 - Friday 23rd January 2009

2009-01-22T21:37:00.000-08:00

After using the organic beauty products I purchased the other day, I'm a little dissappointed in myself for not checking it out further. After yesterday, suffering from a really bad reaction to the deodarent (very sore red lumps under the armpit), I've read the ingredients on each of the products and discovered that they all have aloe vera in them. Last time I used a product with Aloe Vera in it, I broke out severely. Will perservere with everything else for the moment, as there is so side effects from the shampoo & conditioner, body wash or moisturiser, but I'm afraid I'll have to give the deodarent a miss. Still quite sore today, ansd had to use normal deodarent this morning. Maybe I'll give the apple cidar vinegar a go to see how that works as I don't really want to go back to normal deodarent if I don't have to.

Received some organic soap today in the mail, that I ordered earlier in the week. Will put this in the cupboard to replace the previously used soap and see if I get any comments from the rest of the family. If I can start to change little things like this that don't really affect their lives, they will probably accept the change more than if I was to ask them outright to try something.

Day 53 - Thursday 22 January 2009

2009-01-21T19:37:00.000-08:00

Last night was the first night I felt I had trouble staying raw. While preparing lunch for hubby, I literally craved the bbq chicken that I was putting on his sandwiches and could taste it in my mouth, without even taking a mouthful. This has happened before while I have been raw, but last night for some reason, the thought just would not escape me. I did get through it though without having a taste, but it was a little more difficult this time than previously. I just kept telling myself that I was doing this for a reason and to 'be raw' meant to 'stay raw'. For me there is no in between. Do it right the first time or don't do it at all is my motto, which some would say is being a little hard on myself, but for me to stay on the straight and narrow I need to be focused. I know myself too well and one little taste of this or that would eventually lead to me falling off the wagon and reverting to my old eating habits.
It is important for me to succeed in this 'new way of life' I have chosen, if ever there is a chance of healing myself, being slim & healthy and maintaining that lifestyle.

Day 52 - Wednesday 21st January 2009 - Weigh In Day

2009-01-20T13:12:00.000-08:00

This mornings measurements, three weeks since last weigh in, are as follows:

Weight 60kgs (2 kg loss)

Bust 86cm (3cm loss)

Waist 72cm - Nil loss

Hips 95cm - (1cm loss)

Thighs 97.5cm Nil loss

Total to date: 8kgs approx.

(Due to no weighing done at start. Estimate loss of 3kgs in first 17 days.)

Cm loss: 16.5cm

Have been sticking to the walking each morning. This morning was my third day at it, but had to cut it short, half way through my walk, due to rain. Did enough to loosen the joints and free up the pain & stiffness though.

Day 50 - Monday 19th January 2009

2009-01-18T18:26:00.000-08:00

Well finally got my act together this morning and went for a walk. Was up 15minutes earlier than I would normally get up (usually 3.30am) and went for a 1/2 hour walk. Got out of bed in a fair bit of pain, due to my arthritis, and the first 10 minutes, pretty much strugged to keep going. I perservered and found my body loosening up after this and felt a lot better after the walk. Am trying not to overdo it too much and starting out slowly until my body gets use to it and then I'll increase the length of time I walk. I'm still continuing with my evening exercises (palates & yoga style exercises), but I would imagine it will take quite some time before I start to see the results of exercising, due to only being able to do a little each day. Some exercise though, has got to be better than none and it's allowing my muscles and joints to move, which it vital.

Purchased some organic body/skin products on the net the other day and received them in the post today. I've decided that if I'm treating the inside of my body with natural foods, then I should start to do something about the outside as well. After a lot of research, I decided on an Australian product called 'Sukin' which has a blend of organic botanicals, essential oils and natural ingredients and is also a carbon neutral product. They have over a dozen different products, and I decided to try the shampoo & conditioner, deodarent, body wash & facial moisturiser. Looking forward to my first use, which will be this evening with the body wash and facial moisturiser.

Got the watering system up and working on the weekend, along with some shade cloth over the vegetable garden, to protect it a little. Once the pump is switched on the water then feeds straight from the creek onto the plants. So much quicker than the hose and it allows me to do other things while the garden is being watered. Also planted some seeds into small punnets, on the weekend; parsnips, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, snowpeas, onions, capsicum, pumpkin & zucchini. Once they have sprouted and are around 7cm tall, they will be ready for planting. In the meantime, we have to extend the vegetable garden and prepare it for planting when required. Will probably tackle this sometime over the weekend, seeing it will be the Australia Day long weekend. Another job to add to the list.

Day 48 - Saturday 17th January 2009

2009-01-16T14:09:00.000-08:00

Well the wrist brace, I'm happy to say, is still off, however I had to give in and take some arthritis drugs this morning. I'd put up with the extra pain yesterday and this morning could barely move, so I succumbed, in order to get a little normality back in my life. After four hours, I'm almost back to normal again.

Was able to fit back into my 3/4 length jeans this morning which are a size 10, but are a smaller 10 than other's I have. It has been over 3 years since I was able to fit into these, so I'm thrilled that I can once again wear them. My set goal now, I've finally decided, will to be a size 8, which I estimate would probably be around 57kgs, at a guess. I don't think I really want to go much past this, otherwise I will be getting too skinny and have the bones protruding. I can already notice a significent drop in weight from the top half of my body, now I just have to work on the bottom half. Will endeavour get myself out of bed at 3.15am on Monday, to start walking again.

Day 46 - Thursday 15th January 2009

2009-01-14T22:29:00.000-08:00

Buying heaps of fruit & veg of late that there wasn't enough space in the fridge, so have now acquired a second fridge (thanks to the in-laws).

Am finding already that most of my bigger clothes (Size 12) are way too big for me now and am back wearing the size 10's again (yippee!). If I can get into size 8's over the next month, I will be even more pleased. Can't even remember when the last time was that I fitted into a size 8, but this is my firm goal for the next four weeks.

Have stopped wearing my wrist brace, once again. I've now been three days without it. Let's see how long it lasts this time. The last lot of arthritis drugs also taken three days ago.

The vegie garden is coming along nicely, new shoots are popping up already. Have been watering it every day since Sunday and hubby said he was going to set up a sprinker system to save me watering it by hand, which does make more sense. Looking forward to our first crop of vegies, which will probably be in around six weeks at a guess. Will get into potting all the seeds on the weekend, so the sooner that's done, the sooner we'll have more seedlings to go into the vegie patch.

My excitement at finding an organic market on the weekend, didn't last long. Hubby went yesterday with a list I had written, only to discover the unbelieveable prices.
Eg: Lemons $14/kilo, Oranges $12/kilo, Tomatoes $6/kilo, Banana's $8/kilo - just to name a few. I certainly can't afford to pay these prices considering the amount of fruit and vegies I've been eating, so it looks like we're back to the supermarket and the weekend markets to try to get the best we can. Now I know why we started our own vegie garden.

Well yesterday should have been weigh in day, however with it suddenly being "that time of month", I've now put that on hold until next Wednesday. Another week to lose the extra fat, I say! Come on Wednesday!

Day 44 - Tuesday 13th January 2009

2009-01-12T17:11:00.000-08:00

Feeling great and am doing well on raw. I should probably be working out how many calories I am eating over a day, but I really don't find it important at the moment. While I'm losing weight, I am obviously not over eating and I'm sure my body will tell me if I'm undereating. At the moment I feel like I'm doing just fine and if feels right for me somehow. When I'm hungry, I eat, it's that simple and I'm certainly not doing without. A few times a week I'm eating raw bread, avocado's, nuts & seeds, which are all quite high in fat, so feel I'm certainly getting enough calories. All in all everything is going to plan, except for the exercise. Need to start walking again, like I've said previously, but haven't yet got around to it.

Day 43 - Monday 12th January 2009

2009-01-11T19:14:00.000-08:00

Discovered the most delicious fruit over the weekend, which I found at our local markets.
There was a fellow selling organic dragonfruit, which has a soft, smooth, bright pink skin and is white in the centre with tiny black edible seeds throughout.
They are truly delicious, with a soft, smooth, melt in your mouth texture, and a very refreshing taste. Apparently they also come with a bright pink/red centre also, but don't know whether the taste differs between the two, though.
Anyway, just had to share my new taste experience with all.
Try it, if ever you get the chance.....truly mouthwatering!

Spent most of yesterday in the garden. The vegie garden now exists! Planted corn, sweet potato, carrots, mixed lettuce, radish, beans, passionfruit, pineapple & rockmelon. Have now got to prepare seeds for tomatoes, onions, snowpeas, cucumber, zucchini, pumpkin and capsicum. Once they have seeded for a few weeks then they will be ready for planting. I think the small patch we set aside for planting is suddenly going to be a lot larger than first intended. Doesn't matter though.........fresh organic fruit and veg will be the outcome. Can't beat them!!

Day 41 - Saturday 10th January 2009

2009-01-09T12:38:00.000-08:00

I'm really starting to notice the difference now going raw. Not only am I losing weight but I'm starting to feel the difference in so many ways. The usual aches and pains that I think everyone at some stage seems to experience, yet we all tend to put up with and accept as part of living, are now pretty much non existant. Occasionally, if I don't feel 100% I can generally trace it to what I have eaten, or the combination of food that I have eaten. For example this morning for breakfast I had watermelon and a banana. For some reason the combination didn't go well together and I found that it left a bit of an intigestion type pain. It's funny how you tend to be more aware of what your body wants and how it reacts to different types of food, then when eating standard cooked foods. A general feeling of unwell, pretty much sat with me daily before raw, now if it happens, there is a reason and that reason can be corrected.
Knowing you have so much more control of your body, feels different, yet great at the same time. I beleive it is possible to cure yourself through eating raw. I am now feeling so much better within myself due to a change of diet and exercise. Eventually, over time I'm confident that my arthritis will if not be cured, will improve. Many others have cured themselves of arthritis, diabeties, high blood pressure, cancer and more through living the raw lifestyle. I feel without a doubt, that I will be able to also.

Day 36 - Monday 5th January 2008

2009-01-04T20:45:00.000-08:00

Well finally got around to making myself a 'Green Smoothie' - GS. Have been told that the easiest way to get more greens in your diet is to blend the greens with fruit, hence The Green Smoothie. I've been avoiding the GS for the last 34 days, but on Saturday decided I would make one for dinner. Into the blender went, bok choy, water, pineapple, watermelon, orange, mango & rockmelon. Once blended I discovered I had quite a bit more than I intended (2 litres to be exact). Oh well, I thought. Be game, I said to myself as I took my first mouthful of the thick, green smoothie. Yeh, not too bad. Has a hint of green taste. Well after the first glass, that was about as far as I really wanted to venture, but unfortunately there were still a few more ahead of me. So I dug my heels in and sipped away. Every sip getting a stronger and stronger green taste. Well about fifteen minutes after the last swallow, I then proceeded to run backwards and forwards to the ladies around half a dozen times, (a great system clean out), before my stomach was finally settled and I was able to go to bed.
Not being deterred, the following morning I thought I would have another go, however this time I added a banana as well. Well, what a difference a simple banana makes. Definately the way to go when making further GS. This time the ladies room only saw me twice (boy, what a relief). So all in all the GS (providing you add a banana) isn't really that bad..
I don't know why I made such a fuss, after all.

Day 33 - Friday 2nd January 2009

2009-01-01T19:50:00.000-08:00

Well the wrist brace is back on again (that didn't last long). All was going well and then yesterday afternoon it started to ache again. By the time I did a few things around the house, it was back to square one and wearing the brace again. Oh well, will keep plodding along.

The exercises are going well still. Find them relatively easy on the arthritis, with not too much additional pain. Plan to start walking again next week, which will require me to carry a torch, considering the earlier than usual start.

Finally got around to planting my sprouting seeds yesterday. Although the vegetable garden is nowhere near being finished, the seeds we're well overdue to be planted, so we planted them in buckets until we can work on the garden. At least now there in dirt and can continue their growing the right way.

Bought a few different types of seeds today, thanks to the internet. Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Pumpkin, Capsicum, Onion, Carrots, Snowpeas, Zucchini and Strawberries. Also bought a banana tree which apparently re-sprouts a spore and this spore is then the new tree for the next year. Always wondered how bananas grew, now I know. Will be kept busy once the garden is ready and can't wait for my own fresh organic vegetables.

Made some more 'raw' bread yesterday. Delicious! It has apple, sweet potato, almonds and seeds in it and it's dehydrated. It is really nice and nothing like what you'd probably expect.
Also dehydrated some banana and tomatoes. Banana could have been a bit thicker, as they came out pencil thin and the tomatoes came out perfectly for sun-dried tomatoes I am making. Still need to put them in olive oil with some garlic & herbs and they should be great. Will definately be making more of these.

Day 31 - Wednesday 31st December 2008 - Weigh In Day

2008-12-30T13:04:00.000-08:00

Weight on scales 62kgs (3kg loss)

Chest 89cm (1cm loss)

Waist 72cm (2cm loss)

Thighs 96cms (NIL loss)

Hips 97.5cm (3.5cm loss)

Well today's New Years Eve and will be starting the New Year with a positive attitude towards my weight loss and fitness goals. After weigh in this morning I am very happy with my progress and look forward to more pleasing results.

I seem to have a set pattern now of the foods I eat during the day and the following is just an example of an average day.

Breakfast

1 Banana

1 Apple or other fruit

(On Sunday due to not working I have a large fruit smoothie, which consists of banana, mango, orange and any other fruit I wish to add. This generally makes anywhere from 1-2 litres depending on the amount of fruit I add).

Morning Snack

A couple of pieces of fruit

Lunch

A large salad which always contains:

lettuce, tomato, cucumber, capsicum, mung beans and sometimes also carrot, celery, pepitas/sunflower seeds, cabbage, beans, onion and anything else I want to add.

A raw dressing is then usually trickled over the top.

At the moment I'm really into a garlic, olive oil, apple cidar vinegar and herb dressing that just gets better the longer it stays in the fridge.

Afternoon Snack

A couple of pieces of fruit

Dinner

A large fruit smoothie

a salad with avocado or seeds

a salad with raw bread

Dessert

Although I only eat dessert 1-2 times a week or when I have a sweet tooth, I have of late been having a piece of raw chocolate fudge

a raw banana nut cookie,

which I made a few weeks ago. I have been freezing these and just having a piece when I feel the need. They do not actually freeze, but instead just stay really cold.

These always fix the craving, as both are very sweet, even though neither have sugar.

As far as any problems I've experienced, there quite frankly are none. Haven't craved chocolates or chips or any other SAD food to date.

Haven't noticed any real change with my arthritis, although today is the third day that I have been without my wrist brace. This has happened on many occasions though previously, so until I can be without it for two months, which was how long I went last time without it, then I'll just count it as a blessing that I don't have to put up with.

Exercise is also now a part of my daily routine. I do a lot of stretching, similar to palates, sit-ups, twisting and leg & arm holds etc. May start to walk again a little later on, but will probably have to do it of a morning, due to not having enough time of an evening. This will mean that I'll have to get up earlier than my 3.30am wake-up, in order to fit in the walk and getting ready for work.

Have been sprouting sweet potato & avocado for about a month now and pineapples for the last couple of weeks. They're all very overdue for planting, along with a passionfruit vine we purchased last week, so will definately have to make a point of planting them tomorrow or on Sunday, before they take over the house.

I'm looking forward to starting my own organic garden to not only save on purchasing produce, but because my ultimate aim is to be organic raw, which is the purpose of being raw. At the moment there is very little that I purchase and eat that is organic and to be able to see the full health benefits, I feel that I definately need to be organic. This is one of my goals, to be completed within the first couple of months of 2009.

Day 29 - Monday 29th December 2008

2008-12-28T14:28:00.000-08:00

Well here we are almost the end of another year, but this year is ending quite differently than previous years. This year I am entering into a new year, healthier and more fit than I have ever been - and feeling great for it. My usual size 12 black work skirt that was previously a very snug fit is now quite loose on me, meaning I can feel it move around me when I walk. This is an excellent sign of more weight loss, which I am thrilled about. Wednesday will be my next weigh in and I'm looking forward to seeing the results. I am very happy to have been able to wear a couple of dresses in my wardrobe over the Christmas period that were previously too small. These figure hugging dresses now do there job, rather than show off every ounce of fat that previously invaded my body.
As far as my goal weight - this is something I haven't quite decided on yet. It's been a few years since I was slim and what weight I carried then, may not suit me now, so it will be a bit of a wait and see goal at the moment. It's just important at this stage that I lose the weight, exercise and stay 'raw' healthy.

Day 26 - Friday 26th December 2008

2008-12-25T12:32:00.000-08:00

Well Christmas Day was a breeze being raw. While the family sat and ate pork, turkey and ham, I stuck to my two bowls of salad with a raw dressing. Although it did smell and look good, I was not tempted to try some and was quite content eating my salad. When dessert entailed steamed pudding, I ate fruit. The only thing I did slightly over indulge in, but still raw, all the same, was almonds, cashews and sultanas. I guess after doing so, I can honestly say, that they did sort of sit in the stomach and did not digest as well as I would have liked.
Lesson No. 1 learnt - don't over indulge in nuts and sultanas.
Today is Boxing Day and I guess we're up for a little of the same as yesterday. I'm happy going at this pace and feel great for it. Raw is definately making me feel a whole lot better and I'm pleased with my progress to date.

Day 24 - Wednesday 24th December 2008 (Christmas Eve)

2008-12-23T18:20:00.000-08:00

Looking forward to the next couple of days off and definately need the R & R. This week has certainly been a hectic one, but great for business.
I'm still enjoying my raw journey, although I can now honestly say, after more than three weeks, the thing that I miss the most about being on a raw diet is chicken. Love my chicken and have craved it on a few occasions, particularly when I buy a BBQ chook for hubby's dinner and lunch, but these things are sent to test us and so far I've passed. I just have to ensure I stay focused and concentrate on my goal. So far everything is going to plan and if I continue on this current path.....I will succeed.

Day 23 - Tuesday 23rd December 2008

2008-12-22T16:17:00.000-08:00

The dehydrator I ordered arrived last Saturday, so the weekend was spent experimenting with different combinations. Made some bread (very nice - has a taste very similar to Ry-vita), Potato Cakes, Banana & Raisin Biscuits, Dehydrated Apple. I was quite impressed with the way they all tasted and will definately be going down that road again. Can't see me using it every day, due to the time involved in dehydrating, but on weekends, it will be a definate item on the list of things to do.

Looking forward to a feast of fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds on Xmas Day, along with gourmet foods (done in the dehydrator). There's some pretty awesome raw recipes, which I can't wait to try.

Anyway, better go, have plenty to do and not enough hours in the day.

Day 19 - Friday 19th December 2008

2008-12-19T02:10:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've posted, due to being without a computer. Now that I have a new one (the old one literally died), I can get back to blogging.

Have been feeling a little tired the last few days and I do realise that it probably means I need more greens in my diet and I know that means the 'green smoothie'. Can't quite get up the courage to put greens into my yummy smoothie, although I know I should and I have to in order to get the extra nutrients I need.
Other than feeling tired, everything else seems to be going along great and haven't really had any bad detox symptoms or massive cravings that I can't get over. Generally any craving I do have is a sweet craving and a piece of fruit generally fixes that.
Finally got hold of a dehydrator (purchased from ebay) and am now just waiting for it to arrive (hopefully it will be here before Xmas). Can't wait to try some savoury and sweet recipes!

Day 17 - Weigh In Day

2008-12-19T02:03:00.000-08:00

Weight on scales - 65kg

Measurements

Chest - 90cm (Nil loss)

Waist - 74cm (4cm loss)

Thighs - 96cm (4cm loss)

Hips - 101cm (1cm loss)

Day 10 - Wednesday 10th December 2008

2008-12-09T17:49:00.000-08:00

Have had a really dry throat now for a couple of days, with today probably being the worst. It's not sore at all, just very dry and annoying. Eating or drinking doesn't seem to make a difference. As well as this there is a huge zit on the face (which I very rarely get). These are both obviously symptoms of the body detoxing, getting rid of all the impurities and toxins out of the system. Have only just noticed today also that my forehead, which is always quite oily, doesn't seem to be as bad. Perhaps this is also a sign of diet change.
Still enjoying the journey and looking forward to what is yet to come.
Have noticed that my work skirts are looser around the waist and hips, which means this diet is working. Was going to measure myself today, seeing it was one week today that I have done it, but I decided to wait until next Wednesday and will then make it fortnightly. This will then enable me to see the full benefits of my weight loss over a two week period, rather than no change or very little over a weekly measure. Still haven't weighed myself though (mental note - "buy battery for scales"). It's unfortunately something I never think of while I'm out, but will have to get it together and do something about it.
Still don't have my dehydrator. Have been trying to purchase one online, with no luck. Have been able to find them, but haven't been able to contact the sellers. I am losing my patience very slowly and soon I will go elsewhere.

Day 8 - Monday 8th December 2008

2008-12-07T18:52:00.000-08:00

Day 8 and powering along. Feeling happy & content and no longer have that bloated feeling, even when I am full. Yesterday, although not intended, ended up being a bit of a detox day, due to all the juice I drank. For breakfast I made a huge orange, mango and banana smoothie which filled me up for the morning. At around 2.30pm I then made myself a 'not as big' watermelon juice. Dinner comprised of a standard salad with a sweet orange and carrot salad. So far everything is going along smoothly with no recorded problems or complaints to report, although I do need to find motivation to start exercising again. Just the 30minute walk I was doing makes all the difference.

Day 5 - Friday 5th December 2008

2008-12-04T12:56:00.000-08:00

After my last post, I couldn't stand it any longer, so I went out and bought myself a blender/food processor (all in one). I felt like I was missing out on some of the wonderful food that a blender/food processor can prepare, so tonight I will use it and make a Sweet Tomato Chutney which will go inside my lettuce rolls that will be filled with tomato, cucumber, grated carrot, grated zucchini, onion, snow pea sprouts, sunflower seeds and pepitas.

Seems like yesterday was just a good day as far as not wearing my wrist brace. Today it's back on and very painful once again. Although it has only been 5 days I am feeling more alive, cleaner inside (if that makes sense), not as bloated and food seems to digest a lot easier.
Was almost tempted to have some of hubby's barbeque chicken last night, before dinner, but I restrained myself.

Day 4 - Thursday 4th December 2008

2008-12-03T22:23:00.000-08:00

Feeling less tired today and for the first time in weeks I am not wearing the wrist brace I normally wear for my arthritis. Will not at this early stage put it down to the change of diet, because the extra pain I do experience in the wrist that causes me to wear it, does come and go quite often.
Didn't eat as many dried fruits and nuts today, only the leftovers from yesterday. Will have to ensure I have fresh fruit for the sweet tooth instead.
Have definately eaten less than yesterday and am managing okay.
Today I ate:
2 bananas
Medium bowl of watermelon
Salad - Lettuce, tomato, cucumber, celery, carrots
Large handful of mixture of: almonds, sunflower seeds, pepitas, dates, sultanas.
For dinner I will have a couple of lettuce leaves topped with avocado, tomato, grated carrot, cucumber, snowpea sprouts, bok choy.
Last nights dinner wasn't bad. The main problem that I encountered was because I didn't have a blender the almonds for the sauce did not mush up and go creamy like they are suppose to. Finely chopping nuts and putting them in a milkshake maker with the other ingredients, didn't quite work (not at all actually).
Mental note - buy a blender very soon.

Before Photos & Starting Measurements - Wednesday 3rd December 2008

2008-12-02T20:45:00.000-08:00

My measurements at the start of the Raw Food Diet, as taken on the morning of Wednesday 3rd December 2008, after two days on the diet.

Height 175cm

Bust 90cm

Waist 78cm

Hips 100cm

Thighs 102cm

Size of clothing - 12 sometimes 14 (due to the large hips)

Weight was not measured on scales due to scales currently being out of action.

At an estimate I would say approx. between 65 and 70kgs going on past weight measurements, clothes fitting etc.... Will post correct weight, when scales working again.

BEFORE PHOTO'S

Pretty embarrassing actually, when I look at these photo's. To think I let myself get to this stage. I look so bloated, which is obviously a combination of a few things. Arthritis drugs, alcohol and eating the wrong foods, are all contributing factors in why I look like this.

I am here with a vision, a plan, an idea, a goal. My aim is to be thin, free from drugs & pain, happy, healthy, fit and live a 100% Raw life.

This is only the beginning of my new life.........

Day 3 - Wednesday 3rd December 2008

2008-12-02T19:05:00.000-08:00

So here I am at Day 3 and quite enjoying the transition so far, although I am finding that I am hungry more frequently. I finish eating and half an hour later find I am still hungry. Obviously this has a lot to do with water in the fruit and veg. So I'm definately eating more frequently, which I believe is better for you anyway, apparantly. There's still a long way to go until success, but I'm looking forward to the challenges that I'm sure lie ahead.
Since my last entry, I have discovered that I may be eating too much dried fruit and nuts and need to eat more green leafy foods. A good way of doing that is by having a 'Green Smoothie' in the morning, which consists of juice or water, banana and spinach. Sounds pretty disgusting, I must say, but I'm up for a challenge (see, I have one already) . I might give it a go with juice though, rather than water. Water I would tend to think would be too bland. I know I don't have any spinach at home (that's because I hate spinach), so looks like I will have to stock up on that veg....soon!
Due to work commitments, I'm up very early in the morning, 3.30am, so normally don't have something to eat until around 7.00am. This morning though hunger did take a hold and I ate early.
Today's food consumption by days end will be:
2 Bananas
Large bowl of fruit salad
Vegetable finger food (1 carrot, 2 sticks celery, 1 small tomato, 10 slices cucumber, 8 beans, sprig of snow pea sprouts
2 large handfuls of a mix of almonds, cashews, pepitas, sunflower seeds, sultanas and dates.
A sweet honey salad (lettuce, grated carrot, sultanas, snow pea sprouts, thinly sliced beans with a drizzle of a mixture of honey and water.
Broccoli & Carrots in Spicy Almond Sauce and served with Zucchini Pasta (which is actually thinly peeled zucchini strips.)
I guess it seems like a lot when you look at it written down, but when you consider my early starts and the fact that most of it is watery foods, you can probably understand.
Anyway, tonight will be the first night I actually make a recipe rather than just have whole raw foods, so it will be interesting how it turns out, but looking forward to it.

Day 2 - Tuesday 2nd December 2008

2008-12-01T22:33:00.000-08:00

Made a really delicious fruit salad last night that has finely chopped almonds, cashews, pepitas and sunflower seeds in it, along with the fruit (of course). Have just finished eating the last of what was left over from lunch and boy was it yummy, to say the least.

My food consumption was pretty much the same as yesterday, except instead of the actual salad for lunch, I chopped up vegies in chunks and sticks. Celery, Carrot, Cucumber, Lettuce, Tomato, I served more like finger food, so I could pick throughout the day. Generally whatever I prepare for the day, is eaten as I feel like it. For example at around 10.30am this morning I felt like celery and carrot sticks, so had a few and then the container went back in the fridge. Half an hour later I felt like some fruit, so out came the fruit salad. I'm finding that I tend to snack more throughout the day (while at the same time, not eating more, just more frequently), rather than sitting down to the traditional breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Found a food dehydrator on the net today, so should have that in about a week or so. That will make my meals very interesting and can't wait to share my experiences.

Went to weigh myself yesterday so I can check my progress over the course of the coming weeks/months, discovered the battery was flat. Electronic scales! Give me the old style any day. So seeing I can't get to a shop, I'll have to settle on measurements and by feeling the fit of my clothes. Will get hubby to take a photo of me tonight, so I have a before shot which I will post to this blog. Once I have reached my goal weight, I will post an updated photo, so the results can be seen.

Found today a little tougher, though still not too bad. Had a slight headache, feeling a little lethargic (although that can also be related to the arthritis). Generally feeling not too bad.
Well tomorrow is a new day, so until then.

Day 1 - Monday 1st December 2008

2008-12-01T20:12:00.000-08:00

After a couple of days of research, today was the first day of my raw food diet. The Raw Food Diet.....is exactly that. Nothing is cooked. Everything is eaten raw or dehydrated and the food eaten is from the earth. The food should generally be chemical free and organic, however due to my work commitments and costs, this cannot always be possible, however going 'raw' is ultimately the aim. Everything I have read, tells me I should be doing this slowly, but I'm stubborn and impatient and want to see the full benefits of this new eating plan straight away. My aim is simply to, lose weight, look and feel healthier, and be as pain free as possible.

The pain I suffer from, is the result of rhemotoid arthritis, which I was diagnosed with about 5 years ago. I have tried many natural remedies, creams, pills and more over the years, all with little or no effect, and so while reading up on the Raw Food Diet, specifically for the purpose of weight loss and general well being, discovered that by following the plan, it was also capable of heeling the body. This was a bonus, which pretty well made me determined to give it a try.

I am now at the end of my first day and feeling pretty pleased with myself. Had no problems at all, (well perhaps one or two, but I wouldn't call them problems). I had to forgo my morning ritual of a can of 'Sugar Free' Red Bull and stop myself a couple of times getting into the 'Sugar Free' Chewing Gum (that stuff I'm addicted to, or should I say, was addicted to), other than that the day ran pretty smoothly.

Over the course of the day I consumed a large salad, which contained salad and finely chopped or grated vegetables. Watermelon, carrot sticks, nuts, seeds and sultanas were the other things I also ate thoughout the day. I can honestly say that for the first time in a while I went to bed satisfied and not bloated or full, which felt great.

Tomorrow I'm looking at purchasing a food dehydrator, which not only dries your fruits, but also dehydrates certain foods for particular recipes like potato cakes, coconut balls, vegetable slice and a number of other foods I can't wait to try. To think, that I thought all I would eat was raw fruit and veg (how wrong I was). There is an abudence of recipes like soups, dips, drinks, desserts, snacks and main meals to experient with, and they look so delicious. Oh and did I mention there is also chocolate cake, biscuits and ice cream recipes? Who'd have thought.
Well tomorrow is a new day and another challenge.