A friend just shared this VERY good article, Raw Food: Healthy Simplicity that I think everyone should read. It sums up the raw food lifestyle and helps answer some basic questions that often come up. So as I re-embark on this journey I thought it would be appropriate timing to share. :)
So far this lifestyle is way more fun and relaxed to do since I've already been through this! I have learned some things to avoid and other things I need to make sure to do. One of those things I am prepared for is the detox phase. I remember feeling tired, hungry (because I didn't eat frequently enough) and sprinkled with a dash of feeling just a tad miserable overall. But it's worth it because it passes and then the reward comes!
The Raw Foods Witch (taking the spooky out of raw food magick) explains what detox can look like in this blog entry. I think she articulated the process very well - much better than I could! I've also added a link to her blog on the right side of my blog for future reference.
Off to get some beauty rest...also very important when going through a detox (of any kind, really!).
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Guess...
...who's baaaccckkkk!
Me!
A newly re-invigorated and trying to get re-focused me.
I have now lived my old "normal" lifestyle (i.e. SAD diet) for about 5 months now. And I feel terrible - both physically and emotionally. :(
I knew this was the trouble of giving myself some leeway. I won't get into the details at this time, but basically I am choosing to go back to eating raw vegan. I feel worse than I have in months and I KNOW it's because of my diet.
I knew there was a reason I didn't actually delete this blog! I was recounting to Ry some of my experiences from those 5 months of eating solely raw vegan and I basically reminded myself of all the GOOD and it made me question my current behavior.
I have learned a lot from my experience that began last summer and now I know some things that I need to watch/do differently this time around. I think a piece that was extremely helpful was me being 'raw' (ha!) in terms of sharing my experience on this blog. It helped me stay focused and helped me processs thoughts and feelings about all of it.
So join me if you will as I restart my raw vegan lifestyle...like the first time, I don't know what this will look like. Obviously I now know what I can expect but even though I thought I had learned all the things I needed to before, I was obviously not right about that. There is a different slant to my purpose this time around, so off I go!
Me!
A newly re-invigorated and trying to get re-focused me.
I have now lived my old "normal" lifestyle (i.e. SAD diet) for about 5 months now. And I feel terrible - both physically and emotionally. :(
I knew this was the trouble of giving myself some leeway. I won't get into the details at this time, but basically I am choosing to go back to eating raw vegan. I feel worse than I have in months and I KNOW it's because of my diet.
I knew there was a reason I didn't actually delete this blog! I was recounting to Ry some of my experiences from those 5 months of eating solely raw vegan and I basically reminded myself of all the GOOD and it made me question my current behavior.
I have learned a lot from my experience that began last summer and now I know some things that I need to watch/do differently this time around. I think a piece that was extremely helpful was me being 'raw' (ha!) in terms of sharing my experience on this blog. It helped me stay focused and helped me processs thoughts and feelings about all of it.
So join me if you will as I restart my raw vegan lifestyle...like the first time, I don't know what this will look like. Obviously I now know what I can expect but even though I thought I had learned all the things I needed to before, I was obviously not right about that. There is a different slant to my purpose this time around, so off I go!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Drawing Me Back
So I have been for sure eating a vegetarian diet these last couple of weeks and vegan sometimes. I have found that in trying to transition back into a somewhat "normal", more "socially acceptable" diet, that it is really difficult. No wonder I liked the hard-core lifestyle of raw vegan. It is actually uncomplicated and there are not so many decisions to be made because they're already made for me!
I am disappointed especially in the lack of fresh vegetables that I haven't eaten. Sure, I've still eaten some, but not even close to the quantity that I had been. Fruit has always been easy to consume and still is. I have not had any caffeine still and had my first surgary drink early last week. Otherwise I have been sticking with water like I had been before.
After eating so 'clean' for 5 months, my body is reacting to me introducing not-so-healthy foods back into my systems. I would say the biggest thing I've noticed is that I have felt "thick". My weight hasn't shifted, but I feel like it has. So this weekend I realized I kinda can't stand that feeling! So, I have restocked my kitchen with loads of fresh veggies and fruits and I have a new plan of action.
What I have been trying to do these past couple weeks is eat healthy in my day-to-day life because I can easily control that. Obviously, with it being the Christmas season, there have been a lot of dinner parties and family gatherings. My plan with those has been to eat what is being served, but avoid meat and try to avoid animal-related items (by the way, that is almost impossible with all the cheese and cream sauces, etc. in many dishes!). So in this week leading up to the feast that is to come on Christmas Eve, I am going to incorporate more green smoothies than I have been eating and I want to be more strict with the other foods that I eat.
I have trained my brain and body to want super healthy foods these past few months and after eating foods that don't fit into that category, I am coming to terms with the reality that I think I really AM changed forever. Sure it has been fun again to eat foods I haven't tasted in months, and it's great in the moment, but I do not like the way it is making me feel as a whole. So I'm going to go back to the basics (again!), but with a differently outlook than before.
Overall, I don't necessarily view foods outside of the raw vegan boundaries as poison, as I have called them in the past. But I also don't want to run to them because they really don't make me feel better...at all. I'm coming to a place (I think) where raw vegan is my goal, but I'm also not going to freak out when I don't have that option available.
Okay, that's enough journaling for tonight. :)
I am disappointed especially in the lack of fresh vegetables that I haven't eaten. Sure, I've still eaten some, but not even close to the quantity that I had been. Fruit has always been easy to consume and still is. I have not had any caffeine still and had my first surgary drink early last week. Otherwise I have been sticking with water like I had been before.
After eating so 'clean' for 5 months, my body is reacting to me introducing not-so-healthy foods back into my systems. I would say the biggest thing I've noticed is that I have felt "thick". My weight hasn't shifted, but I feel like it has. So this weekend I realized I kinda can't stand that feeling! So, I have restocked my kitchen with loads of fresh veggies and fruits and I have a new plan of action.
What I have been trying to do these past couple weeks is eat healthy in my day-to-day life because I can easily control that. Obviously, with it being the Christmas season, there have been a lot of dinner parties and family gatherings. My plan with those has been to eat what is being served, but avoid meat and try to avoid animal-related items (by the way, that is almost impossible with all the cheese and cream sauces, etc. in many dishes!). So in this week leading up to the feast that is to come on Christmas Eve, I am going to incorporate more green smoothies than I have been eating and I want to be more strict with the other foods that I eat.
I have trained my brain and body to want super healthy foods these past few months and after eating foods that don't fit into that category, I am coming to terms with the reality that I think I really AM changed forever. Sure it has been fun again to eat foods I haven't tasted in months, and it's great in the moment, but I do not like the way it is making me feel as a whole. So I'm going to go back to the basics (again!), but with a differently outlook than before.
Overall, I don't necessarily view foods outside of the raw vegan boundaries as poison, as I have called them in the past. But I also don't want to run to them because they really don't make me feel better...at all. I'm coming to a place (I think) where raw vegan is my goal, but I'm also not going to freak out when I don't have that option available.
Okay, that's enough journaling for tonight. :)
Friday, December 3, 2010
Final Revelation
To put it simply and directly, I think my strict raw vegan journey has come to an end. Not for reasons you may think, but for deeper reasons that are too private to share here. It has nothing to do with the food itself.
I think it has fulfilled its purpose in my life, just not the purpose I thought it would or had hoped it would. I am forever changed though after eating this way. I think I will always lean towards much healthier eating - green smoothies are a staple for me now!
It has now been 5 months of eating this way and I didn't know where this journey would take me. I found my destination now. I will never be the same as I was before.
I think it has fulfilled its purpose in my life, just not the purpose I thought it would or had hoped it would. I am forever changed though after eating this way. I think I will always lean towards much healthier eating - green smoothies are a staple for me now!
It has now been 5 months of eating this way and I didn't know where this journey would take me. I found my destination now. I will never be the same as I was before.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Breakaway
This morning while I was working out and listening to my iPod, the song Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson played. And it just hit me. Like a ton of bricks. I am breaking away from my old life and old patterns and into a new, healthier version of myself. When I think of my raw vegan journey, this song is a great representation of me right now.
My favorite, empowering phrase in the song is:
"I'll take a risk, take a chance, make a change and breakaway"
I wish I was better with words b/c I have so much more to say about this, but at the moment, it's more of a feeling...that I'm letting sink into my soul. It's a good feeling. One filled with excitement, accomplishment, defeat, change, remembering the old me, dreaming about the new me - the person I want to be. Sure I have said in the past that I want to be healthier, but healthy people behave differently than I used to behave. I am trying to become a person who does healthy things so that I can be a healthy person!
Now for the lyrics. Maybe this song speaks to you in a different way than it did for me this morning.
My favorite, empowering phrase in the song is:
"I'll take a risk, take a chance, make a change and breakaway"
I wish I was better with words b/c I have so much more to say about this, but at the moment, it's more of a feeling...that I'm letting sink into my soul. It's a good feeling. One filled with excitement, accomplishment, defeat, change, remembering the old me, dreaming about the new me - the person I want to be. Sure I have said in the past that I want to be healthier, but healthy people behave differently than I used to behave. I am trying to become a person who does healthy things so that I can be a healthy person!
Now for the lyrics. Maybe this song speaks to you in a different way than it did for me this morning.
Grew up in a small town
And when the rain would fall down
I'd just stare out my window
Dreaming of what could be
And if I'd end up happy
I would pray
Trying hard to reach out
But when I'd try to speak out
Felt like no one could hear me
Wanted to belong here
But something felt so wrong here
So I pray
I could breakaway
I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
I'll do what it takes til I touch the sky
And I'll make a wish, take a chance, make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won't forget all the ones that I loved
I'll take a risk, take a chance, make a change
And breakaway
Wanna feel the warm breeze
Sleep under a palm tree
Feel the rush of the ocean
Get onboard a fast train
Travel on a jet plane, far away
And breakaway
I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
I'll do what it takes 'til I touch the sky
And I'll make a wish, take a chance, make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
I won't forget all the ones that I loved
I gotta take a risk, take a chance, make a change
And breakaway
Buildings with a hundred floors
Swinging 'round revolving doors
Maybe I don't know where they'll take me but
Gotta keep moving on, moving on
Fly away, breakaway
I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
Though it's not easy to tell you goodbye
I gotta take a risk, take a chance, make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won't forget the place I come from
I gotta take a risk, take a chance, make a change
And breakaway, breakaway, breakaway
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Persimmons
I had heard the word "persimmons" before, but didn't realize it was a food! And no, I'm not blonde, just not very adventurous enough to try things that have weird names like that! My wonderful coworker D has once again helped me broaden my horizons! She always has some type of fruit sitting on her desk at work and this week she has a bunch of these:
Did you know that they grow on trees? Who knew such a thing existed?! They are either shaped like a tomato or like a heart. First they need to be peeled, then you can eat them raw, cooked or dried; cut up into slices or eaten like an apple! They are high in glucose, with a balanced protein profile, and possess various medicinal and chemical uses - and are not to be eaten on an empty stomach I've heard.
Since I've never had them before I didn't know what to expect. The one I had was a bit firm and honestly didn't have much flavor. They can also be eaten when very ripe by cutting off the top and scooping out the insides...how interesting! I will definitely eat these again.
I'm trying to not be afraid of food I've never seen before and have NO idea how to eat - that's what Google's for, right? :) Thanks again D for sharing your exotic foods with me!
Did you know that they grow on trees? Who knew such a thing existed?! They are either shaped like a tomato or like a heart. First they need to be peeled, then you can eat them raw, cooked or dried; cut up into slices or eaten like an apple! They are high in glucose, with a balanced protein profile, and possess various medicinal and chemical uses - and are not to be eaten on an empty stomach I've heard.
Since I've never had them before I didn't know what to expect. The one I had was a bit firm and honestly didn't have much flavor. They can also be eaten when very ripe by cutting off the top and scooping out the insides...how interesting! I will definitely eat these again.
I'm trying to not be afraid of food I've never seen before and have NO idea how to eat - that's what Google's for, right? :) Thanks again D for sharing your exotic foods with me!
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