Raw Challenge


Friday (Day 5!!!!)
September 8, 2006, 10:00 am
Filed under: Our Daily Blog, Sara

Day 5 we made it!!!

Down a total of 5lbs since Monday. Woo hoo! I’m going to have a green smoothie today but I’m going to juice some carrots and turip greens, lemon and an apple and add it to my smoothie of bok choy, parsley, blueberries and bananas. I’ll update later on how it tasted.

Breakfast drink was pretty good I’ve discovered I do not like Turnip greens but I vowed to finish them and they are now gone! Smoothie really filled me up.

For lunch I’m having a salad of avacado, tomato, red onion, garlic, sea salt, drizzled with evoo. Its very good. I’m behind on my water drinking so I am carrying two water bottles around the house with me so I drink them.



Thursday (Day 4)
September 7, 2006, 9:17 am
Filed under: Our Daily Blog, Sara

Woke up and it was cloudy out and only 78 degrees! So I grabbed the kids and we went for a walk, felt great to get my exercise in first thing in the morning and for it not to be 105 out! Came back and had a green smoothie..still drinking it. A bowl of crunchy cereal sounds really good. I am not sure where this new found will power has come from.

Mentally I’m feeling good for the first time in years I’m finally taking charge of my health and it feels good.

Well for lunch I copied Leah and also had bruschetta over and avacado. It was very good. I’m still feeling good, trying to get my house cleaned up a bit. I have no clue what is for dinner… any ideas?

For dinner I just couldn’t have any more veggies. So I had a smoothie with mango, strawberries, banana, 1 tab hemp seeds and 1/2 cup of water and lots of ice cubes. It was sooooooooooooo good. Filled me up.



Wednesday (Day 3)
September 6, 2006, 12:20 pm
Filed under: Our Daily Blog, Sara

Its a good morning. I felt pretty tired as I was waking up but now that I’m awake I feel full of energy. I’ve lost 3lbs but I’m sure its all water weight….although I’ve been working out for 2 weeks now and the scale hasn’t budged so maybe this raw-challenge is what my body needed to start letting go of some pounds.

I’m going to have a green smoothie for breakfast.

Green smoothie for breakfast really filled me up! I just made a huge salad for lunch and as I was making it I snacked on veggies so I’m not that hungry so I’m going to wait until I’m hungry to eat it. With my luck both kids will be awake and I won’t be able to :)

I’m feeling really good today. No strong cravings other than water. Yesterday tuna casserole leftovers sounded so good today the thought of it almost turns my stomach.

Salad for lunch was very filling.

Dinner I had some avocado wraps again. Very good. I am surprised at my will power I made chicken stir fry for dinner for Ken and Hayden..and while the chicken only kind of sounded good the stir fried veggies looked delicious I kept thinking with tofu they would be excellent.

For my dessert I had some raw almonds, cashews and peanuts and a banana. Feeling a little nausious after the banana.



Day 2- from 121 to 120– 1 pound lost!
September 5, 2006, 6:04 pm
Filed under: Larissa, Our Daily Blog

I was so tired this morning, I actually blew off school! That’s so terrible! I’m still convinced that quitting meat, dairy, & hot meals all at once is harder than those of you that were already vegetarians, so I’m going to downshift & only go 80% raw for now. Like I said at EM, this isn’t just a 5 day challenge for me, I’m not going back to ‘anything goes’ when this is over, because it’s not going to end for me. I at least want to drastically limit meat & dairy while adding massive amounts of fresh fruits & veggies to my diet. When Matt had bbq’d steak last night, I was good & didn’t have any, but I did allow myself some grilled mushrooms with cheese & a few pretzles. I think I’ll be having all raw all day & then have something cooked (although uber-healthy) for dinner. This just feels like the right route for me to take, you know?

I’m doing great with the water… I easily killed off a full gallon of purified water yesterday by myself & I think that’s a really important step in cleansing my body. Anyway, Sedona’s hungry, so I’m off to get her some cereal & myself a banana.



Tuesday (Day 2)
September 5, 2006, 9:50 am
Filed under: Our Daily Blog, Sara

Woke up very tired, my daugther has been having some rough nights. She’s 4 months and maybe she is teething.

Started feeling really hungry so I made a green smoothie of: Kale, Parsley, Turnip greens, hemp seeds, bananas and blueberries. My 2 year old is enjoying it as well. I think this will hit the spot. It did yesterday.

Not having any cravings, didn’t really have any yesterday other than a warm meal sounded nice. And I was tempted as I made dinner for my husband and son to sneak a bite of cheese as I was grating it. But I resisted and feel good about that.

Lunch time..was feeling pretty good not feeling ravished until I heated up some leftover egg and cheese casserole for Haydens lunch. I *almost* took a bite, but I didn’t. Again this is showing me how much I usually stick in my mouth while getting his food.

So for lunch I juiced: kale, turnip greens, parsley, carrots, 3/4 of an apple, slice of lemon and a piece of bok choy, it was good. And I had a salad of mixed greens, brocolli, alfafa sprouts, tomatoes, red onion I mixed raw honey and tahni together add a spash of evoo and some lemon. Very good. Feeling pretty satisfied. Still craving some of that casserole, cheese is a huge weakness for me.  

Its 3pm. Needing a snack I think I’ll have some fruit a nectarine and cantelope sound good. It was about this time yesterday that I felt a crash coming on. And since Ken will be home soon and eating a warm meal I better have some food in my tummy before I deal with having to prep myself a bunch of veggies.

Well I snacked on cantelope, a nectarine and a plum. My two year old helped. Dinner was avocodo, tomatoes, jalepeno pepper, lime juice, garlic, green onion and alfalfa sprouts wrapped in romaine lettuce and cabbage.

I was still hungry so I took Hayden swimming. Felt fine until I sat down to watch TV, I usually snack at night. So I made a mango, strawberry and blueberry smoothie…so yummy. But then an hour later felt hungry so I ate a larabar. It was good but then I felt bad for eating it although its “raw” I had hoped to have some more will power.

Today was definetely harder. Lets hope tomorrow is easier.



Day 1 for me so far
September 4, 2006, 8:24 pm
Filed under: Larissa, Our Daily Blog

Ok, so I just hit the Natural foods store because the farmer’s markets don’t operate on Mondays in San Diego. For only $36 I have a load of stuff, but it’s not all organic. I couldn’t afford to do that, but this is still better than nothing. Oh, & the purified water was only 79 cents a gallon, so I picked up 3 & will drink a gallon a day, buying more when needed. I didn’t want to lug 7 gallons home today, you know?

Anyway, I have a Vitamix blender (a really cool looking retro 3600) so I can easily work with seeds & nuts of any size no problem & decided to pick up some flax seeds to add to my meals since it’s cheaper than the bottled stuff . I picked up tons of fruits & veggies, but all I’ve had today as of 1:23pm are 2 small bartlett pears & some purified water. The kitchen’s a wreck, so I need to clean it before I can really make a nice meal. I’ll update later with what else I eat.

I’ve done some research & found some incredibly yummy sounding & looking dishes. I keep reminding myself of this woman I read about– she was diagnosed with breast cancer & immediately went on a strict raw diet. After 2 years, her cancer was completely gone.

The live enzymes repair your cells unlike anything else. I could go on & on with the stories I’ve read. It’s just amazing. I really don’t think a week will be long enough for me. I’d like to try doing this for 3 months at least to see how I feel. If it’s like what I’ve read, I wouldn’t mind continuing on a 85-99% raw & vegan diet forever. And this isn’t just a whim. I’ve been seriously considering this for almost a year now.

Anyway, wish me luck!



Monday
September 4, 2006, 3:55 pm
Filed under: Our Daily Blog, Sara

Well I am getting a later start today its almost 9am hopefully that will help with the hunger. My husband has today off so I am making him a breakfast casserole that he really wants to try. While doing that I’m going to make a smoothie.

I bought a lot of veggies and fruit yesterday. This am’s smoothie will have Kale, blueberries, bananas and hemp seed in it. I’ll edit later to say how I’m feeling.

Well I made my smoothie with water, kale, parsley, hemp seeds, cold pressed flax seed oil, 2 bananas and a handful of blueberries.  It was very tasty. Of course as my husband ate his breakfast he kept asking if I didn’t want a little taste, just a little bite. Then I could start over. Way to be supportive, eh? I love him still.

 So for lunch I had another green smoothie only smaller and it was awful. I used water, bok choy leaves, turnip greens and some fresh strawberries…It def needed a banana but I drank it all. And I had a salad with it that was yummy: spinach, bok choy, grape tomatoes, a few raw sunflower seeds and raw almonds, a diced carrot and I used flax seed oil, fresh lime and one clove of garlic pressed for the dressing it was tasty.

Dinner I have no idea…hoping for some inspiration. I’m feeling okay, a little hungry I think I’ll go have some fruit.

Dinner- one romain lettuce leaf wrappef with avocado, tomayyo, fresh oj and some jalepeno.  I had a salad of carrots, fennel, greens, mint, green onions mixed with lemon juice and evoo



Monday– Kick off!
September 4, 2006, 1:04 pm
Filed under: Leah, Our Daily Blog

Not too bad so far… I had oatmeal soaked overnight in distilled water. I added apples, raisins, cinnamon, and a tiny bit of maple syrup. Not the best breakfast, but it filled me up. I am looking optimistic!

For lunch I had an awesome salad. Earth Bound Organics fresh herb salad with 1/2 tomato, 1/2 avacado, 3 mushrooms, red onion slices, cucumber, raw sunflower seeds, balsamic vinegar, sea salt and black pepper. I took a picture and will load it up soon.

I stopped at the natural market for almond butter — OH SO GOOD!! I had that with 1/2 a granny smith apple. I also bought hemp seeds, raw tahini, raw almonds, and 3 raw Larabars (I thought these would be good for when I was feeling ready to crack).

I will work on dinner in a bit! I am thinking another salad with dressing made from tahini and raw honey??… stay tuned for more details!

Yup, made dressing with tahini. So yummy! I also put 2 tab of hemp seeds on my salad. I think that helped me to feel like I was full. Even now, 3 hours later.. I am still satisfied. I thought I would have a dessert of strawberries, but I do not even feel like it now.

I felt very tired around 3pm and then again at 7pm. I could have gone to bed at 7pm and slept until morning. Now for the TMI parts… I noticed I peed a lot more today. I do not think I really increased my water either. I usually drink a lot. hmmmm…?

I think I will soak some oats for tomorrow’s breakfast. I have my cloth diapering playgroup at my house tomorrow morning. I am not fixing a snack. Usually, I bake something. I just told everyone there would not be food.

I did not have a green smoothie today. For some reason, it did not sound good at all today. I think I need a new smoothie recipe. Melissa?