Monday:

breakfast: nectarine

lunch: large bannana and many red grapes

dinner: salad consisting of nearly everything I have: zuchini and yellow squash diced, tomato, avocado, romane lettuce asparagus spears chopped, white mushrooms chopped, garlic clove, shallot clove, olive oil and salt to taste. I ate my fill. It has potential what I made but I need to figure out what needs to be added and subtracted.

the urge to eat normal today was strong, but today was my first day back at work on this new "diet."

Breakfast: 2 oranges juiced, 2 bananas, 1 c spinach blended into a smoothie
Snack: 1 pear
Lunch: hemp quesadilla (filled w/ assorted veggies)
Snack: red grapes
Dinner: stuffed mushrooms

Sorry to hear about your back Khale! Hope you get plenty of rest and you're feeling better soon. Maybe being all raw will help you get better faster! I hope you're still OK about starting this thread. I think everybody here is only so grateful!

Today I just wasn't very hungry (that's unusual for me).

At about 4:30 I had a few small (but fat) apple bananas, 2 nectarines, some pineapple, probably less than 1/4 cup sesame seeds, and 2 brazil nuts.

I plan on doing some weights/aerobics tonight.

If I miss posting tomorrow, it might be because there's a hurricane headed this way, and I have to unplug my computer.

Looks like everybody did great today(!) , but I'd sure like to see rawdancer eat a little more. Maybe tomorrow! (rawdancer, just tell me to shut up any time you like! I'll try not to bug you too much.)

OOOO, Earthquake here!

Exciting start for this next 7 weeks raw!

I'm pleased to see this thread.

I have been totally raw again since Aug 1st.
My Goal is to stay totally raw this time around.

I have experienced two six month and one three month totally raw vegan living periods over the past three years.

I have tried many different combinations over the years. (Raw gourmet/ dehydrated goods low fat & sugar, wheat grass, baby greens & sprouts)

Reading 80/10/10 has re inspired me. It just feels right for me, so I'm currently moving towards it.

This is my fourth serious attempt to be totally raw.
I have been working towards this point for several months.

I'm choosing to do this as i enjoy the freedom that a raw vegan diet brings me.


The first 8 days were easy.

Day 9 I had some cravings for chocolate so I increased my fat intake as it was low.
Night 9 I had very little sleep as I had a lot of pain in the right side of my back. Its almost gone now, just left with a sort of 'ghost pain'

13th August.
Pint warm water plus lemon juice

1pt Juice- spinach, carrot, apple, ginger,lemon, celery.

Lunch Green smoothie- Romanie, banana, mango, water.

Evening large green salad with cherry tomatoes, avo tablespoon sprouted seeds lemon juice.

5 pints of water throughout the day.

Feeling good, lots of energy today. Very positive and relaxed.

Exercise-
30 mins step reebok
1hr dog walk
Makka-ho stretches.

I always have a juice, followed by a smoothie and salad.

This is my journey.
I look forward to sharing it with you all and reading about your experiences.
Love and healing

lorretta

Khale, thank you for starting this thread
( healing energy on its way ..............)

Good morning everyone!

I can't say enough about what a pleasure it is to wake up and "see" all of your brave and hopeful faces shining through your words.

Loretta: I am impressed with your tenacity and endurance. I listened to some of Douglas Grahams' podcast last night where he mentioned that it took him seven years to successfully transition to raw...7 years! and look at him now! He has such a sweetness and humility about him that I was not expecting based on what I've heard of him from here and there.

suncloud: nothing like an earthquake to stir up the earths atmosphere! I pray that any destruction is minimal and that you fare well.

rawdanceruk: good for you! for nourishing yourself yesterday! I want to suggest that you keep yourself well hydrated by taking in as much fluids as you can. I know that today you will do even better than yesterday and I am so glad that you've decided to join us again this time around.

islandgirl: very elegant menu! good work!

knownalien: we can all relate to the desire for "normal" food, but it won't take long before what you consider "normal" now becomes "abnormal"...just hang in there. I think that your dinner salad sounded really good. My only suggestion would be that you consider adding a touch of sweet to your salad: some chopped dates or orange slices or some diced mango or apple. In my experience the more broad the flavor spectrum of a dish, the more satisfying it tends to be. Check it out...

okay...I'm not done yet, but my back is screaming at me so I'll post this and come back to finish in a bit...

khale

I am in. I will start from tomorrow (wednesday 15th) as I've only just seen this.

Phil.

--------------------------------------------------

"Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it" (Chinese Proverb)

Welcome Phil

Venusian, have a great vacation. We'll be here when you get back.

I went through a great deal of pain yesterday and awoke in pain this morning, so today I need to make a decision as to whether I should seek assistance or continue riding this out. M.D.s are notoriously unhelpful when it comes to back pain and its doubtful that a chiropractor will be able to "fix" me in a visit, but all things considered I will probably choose to consult a chiropractor.

The pain is likely stemming from an old injury with resultant nerve damage or a pinched nerve. I say this because the pain is deep and not hindering my normal range of movement. It's more like having a very bad toothache in the back, if that makes sense to anyone. I don't think its organ pain radiating through the back simply because my energy level has not been affected very much (in fact I'm feeling altogether "myself" otherwise), there is no fever or nausea or any other indication that there is infection in the lung, stomach, gallbladder or kidney...all organs near the place of most pain. At any rate, a part of me is leaning toward fasting and rest, while another part of me wants some pain pills and reassurance from someone that I will live through this.

My only regret in starting this thread concurrent with this back crisis is that my diet is not likely to be typical. I have no inclination to stand in the kitchen preparing anything remotely creative or interesting, and in fact yesterday it was all i could handle making some juice. Otherwise, my commitment to staying raw has probably been enhanced by the pain rather than hindered.

I had a 3 banana smoothie with watercress, a plum, a mango pudding, a fresh juice of carrot, celery root, apple and ginger, and some cantaloupe.

I'm hoping that all of you have a wonderful day...

and I'll be seeing you soon,

khale

I'd like to join...at about 90% raw for now.

I've done this before but now I have a good opportunity to deal with detox issues. I'm unemployed and getting ready to go to school full time in a few weeks. Would like to get a headstart on the discomfort before I have to 'think clearly' again.

shoot...i missed the first day...i ate horribly...mac and cheese. not how i wanted to start my seven weeks. though i only had a few bites, i ignored all the delicious produce sitting in my fridge.
today day two started much bett...
i had 3 oranges for breakfast... i feel better and will keep strong throughout the day.
it's nice to see the support on this thread. good luck to all.'brroke

khale Wrote:

>
> I went through a great deal of pain yesterday and
> awoke in pain this morning

a possibility for your consideration.

experienced many times have i
during change of diet
the movement of stored toxins
through my body
and out of my body
and during this time
pain felt have i

yoda

the pain will continue until one of 2 things happens

1. pure diet continues and bodily tissues are purged of pain inducing toxins
2. intake of low quality foods stops cleansing, delaying cleansing and pain for future date

Hi all!

One thing I learned from the last seven week challenge is that if I push myself too hard I get willie nillie, if I don't push at all I become complacent. My goals for these seven weeks are to cut out any "junk." I want to be 100% for 4 or 5 days a week. I have been doing this for a year now with my three kids and husband. The changes I want to make are on days I eat cooked I want it to be "healthier" choices than I have been having. I want to only eat out once every two weeks at Jason's Deli which offers healthier choices and my meal will be at least half raw. The definitions of junk food and healthy food are decided by me and may not be what other's definitions are.

I was motivated by raw for the obvious reasons but also because my six year old and I were sick. I am motivated to participate in the seven weeks because although my candida is better it keeps coming back and has really flared up with the crappy things I have been eating on my cooked days lately. I need to reel myself in and the seven week club is a huge support and help in doing that.

Khale, I hope you are better in no time.

Suncloud, Earthquakes and Hurricanes, how exciting! I hope all is ok.

yesterday I ate:

-banana
-tea
-carrot, apple and ginger juice
-handful of raisins
-handful of brazil nuts
-tea
-save the salmon fingers (sunflower seeds, carrot pulp, onion, garlic, dill, dulse, lemon) on mixed greens with a dressing of avocado, cilantro lemon and olive oil and tomatoes on top. This was really tasty and super filling.
-a drink made of water, apple cider vinegar (ACV) and honey.

Good luck with all your goals averyone!!!

1 cup coffee

treadmill for 30 minutes at incline increases every 2 minutes til 7%, stayed at 7 for 12 minutes.

bkfst- green lemonade consisting of 1/2 a lemon, 1 granny smith apple, cube of ginger, 1/2 head romaine, 2 celery stalks, and about 3 or 4 kale leaves.

mid morning snack was a banana

lunch out at sammy`s woodfire pizza. i had a salad consisting of fresh spinach, walnuts, beets and goatcheese. the dressing was a pomegranite vinegreatte

handful of goji berries

smoothie consisting of a nana,handful or 2 of blueberries. water, maca, and cacao

dinner= raw "spaghetti" consisting of zucchini, 1/2 avocado and marinara sauce

couple glasses of wine

2 handfuls of peanuts

piece of mochi

patty

Hello everyone,
I am not committing to writing down my food on a daily basis at this time -- I have done this in the past and it was drudgery to me. But I am here as a committed observer! I enjoy reading your posts and tracking your progress. It is a human mini-drama, if you will!

I am brand new to raw foodism, and loving every step of this way of living. I just completed 9 weeks of eating about 70% raw. If I had found this post a few months ago, I would have thought you all were starving yourselves. Now I understand how much the appetite changes when processed foods are replaced by living foods in one's diet. It is fabulous!

I am piping in because there may be other observers like myself who are inspired and encouraged by your 7 week challenge. It is such a relief to find this forum that is full of mature raw foodists. I feel like a little sprout that has found its proper environment to grow!!!!

fresh, I didn't know that you are a ventriloquist...love the yoda! And I'm hearing ya. I'm quite willing to perceive this as a healing crisis and to cooperate in whatever way seems appropriate. Obviously, staying on a cleansing diet does.

I made an appointment for this afternoon at a Chiropractic Wellness Center. They do NOT write scripts for pain medication and are an all natural practice and seem quite confident that they will be able to help me. I have only to remind myself that the pain will not kill me.

I took 3 hot baths yesterday followed by cold showers and did a hot/cold alternating shower twice. Both of these hydrotherapeutic techniques worked better than the ibuprophen which did nothing but aggravate my stomach. I am also working with breath and concentrating on not tightening up against the pain; to just relax into it. This is not easy to do. Part of the difficulty is fear, plain and simple, as pain alerts the fight or flight mechanism and the challenge is to use reason to talk myself back in a more appropriate response.

There is some gratitude though for my "gift" of curiosity, which renders even my discomfort interesting.

thanks for listening everyone, and for your support.

khale

I have been raw for 7 weeks now and this wednesday will be the 8 th week.......


Monday the 13 I ate

A hand full of hazel nuts
Ground flax about two tablespoons and two apples ground like applesauce
16 oz carrot and kale juice
another 12 oz glass of carrot juice later
I tried to make a sweet snack with shredded carrots and ground hazelnuts and dates with a squeeze of lemon. I took a couple of bites of it. not bad but not the greatest
large salad with lettuce arugula, small avacado, cucumber, some very hot and spicy salsa with corn, cilantro, tomato, onion and peppers, yum.

for what it`s worth...my chiro said DO NOT SIT when you have back pain...either lay down or walk. hope you feel better soon....back pain is terrible
patty

Hi Everyone,

It is too late for me to join?

I was RAW for about six months last fall and then I "back-slid" into a pretty bad diet, consisting of cooked foodstuff, meat and candy.

I began to fast at the end of July '07 in an attempt to break my addiction, but to no avail. I've committed myself to living RAW (reinvent myself, yet again) and following the "Natural Laws" for all (wo)mankind as of this week. . . I would love to join.

Thanks,

beauty

Hope your pain isnt so bad today khale..xx

I had some water today and cranberry juice.

We are having a buffet at work next week so I am taking lots of fruits in, dont know yet if I will be able to eat but the thoughts there.

Thank you all as always for the support

Aug 14th
1 pint warm water with lemon juice

30 mins step exercise
1hr dog walk

Am
1 pt veggie juice (spinach, carrot,lemon ginger beetroot celery)
snack 2 apples

lunch
Green smoothie, romanie banana mango water

Pm green salad, avocado soaked almonds.

4 pints water throughout the day
Tired today.
I fancy a coffee ( which i dont even drink!)

Hugs and healing
Lorretta

Sorry to post late for yesterday.

Well, my first day (the 13th) got off to a somewhat iffy start, due to a last minute trip to Vegas, also known as the unhealthiest place on earth...

But I tried my best, and am actually sort of proud of the results considering the circumstances...

AM: 2 big bottles of Fiji water (about 3 liters?)
2 small bloody marys (eek, but hey, at least what happens in vegas isn't staying in vegas)

LUNCH: Big salad with greens, baby spinach, granny smith apple, red pepper, raisins, walnuts. W/ bit of olive oil & lemon juice.

DINNER: McDonalds Asian Salad sans Chicken: iceburg, carrots, edamame, snow peas, no dressing. Apple & grapes from the Fruit N' Walnut salad (what is that yogurt sauce that comes with it? Just the smell was narsty). Another liter of water.

SNACK: Handful of raw almonds. Starbucks soy latte (late night drive home!)

As a side note, I hadn't thought too much lately about how this lifestyle is seen by the rest of society. I guess I'm just used to being around people who, if not raw/vegan/vegetarian themselves, have at least some knowledge of what it's all about. My boyfriend (who's going raw with me) & I were talking about it, and despite the riffing we get from some of our friends, we decided that the biggest factor is perhaps age. As in, perhaps younger generations (we're both in our 20's) are becoming much more educated about / accepting of so-called 'alternative' healthy lifestyles. Which is a nice thought. Of course, living for the past 10 years in major cities ( NYC and LA) doesn't hurt, in this respect, what with all the raw restaurants, communities, etc. around.

Anyway, the reason I bring it up is that I had to tell the waitress about being vegan when I asked for olive oil for my salad at the casino. She was trying to insist that I "just taste" the creamy dressing it came with. Well, let me tell you, I've never seen a reaction of such pure horror before...before getting a lecture about how "that can't be healthy." Keep in mind, this woman was well overweight and looked about 60, despite probably being closer to her 40's. I don't mean to sound the snob, at all, it's just that I felt kind of bad for her. I mean, I've come up against a LOT of skepticism in my time, but never such COMPLETE closed-mindedness. Imagine if I had told her I was not only vegan, but raw as well...

I'm late, I'm late!

Count me in. This is exactly the kind of accountability I need. Thank you, wonderful people!

OK. Today I made banana ice cream for dinner....I was too busy to eat lunch, but my friend made a new batch of kombucha and brought over a bottle of it. Yummy!!!
I also ground up some sunflower seeds and flax to sprinkle over the ice cream...mmmmmmmmm.....

Lovers don't finally meet somewhere...they are in each other all along
Rumi

Gosh! Look at all the peoplez!

i'm so happy!

heartfelt welcomes to all who posted in today. I know that I may speak for the rest of the group in saying that we are delighted to have you join us.

bb

khale

August 14th -

Breakfast - peach/banana smoothie leftover from the day before
Snack - carrots, green tea
Lunch - several seed crackers, herbal tea
snack - raw cocunut/chocolate bar, handful of almonds
Dinner - tomatoe/avocado salad (from Gone Raw) - not for me - I am not a huge fan of avocado's

Sunrise

I 'll be around for another week before vaction so....here's today. I woke up starving for some reason....getting a dehydrator maybe tonight which would be great b/c sometime I get a wicked hunger on just salad and smoothies....needing transition time, I guess..anyhow--

b-fast: bananas, coconut oil, mango, mint, cacao smoothie
lunch: wraps with cabbage, cilantro, mint, sesame seeds, tomato, braggs
dinner: 2pears, banana
snacks: green tea w/ almond milk, VMG w/ water

Ashcat Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
last minute trip to
> Vegas, also known as the unhealthiest place on
> earth..
>
> Anyway, the reason I bring it up is that I had to
> tell the waitress about being vegan when I asked
> for olive oil for my salad at the casino. She was
> trying to insist that I "just taste" the creamy
> dressing it came with. Well, let me tell you, I've
> never seen a reaction of such pure horror
> before...before getting a lecture about how "that
> can't be healthy." Keep in mind, this woman was
> well overweight and looked about 60, despite
> probably being closer to her 40's. I don't mean to
> sound the snob, at all, it's just that I felt kind
> of bad for her. I mean, I've come up against a LOT
> of skepticism in my time, but never such COMPLETE
> closed-mindedness. Imagine if I had told her I was
> not only vegan, but raw as well...

LOL tel me about it i live here!! (vegas) funny, there are a number of asian/vegetarian restaurants in town...she shouldn`t have seemed so surprised. maybe she was trying to make conversation? can`t really be close minded and live here...well you can but it makes life miserable.
patty

Aug 14

Ouch...I fell off the wagon today. It was a gradual downward slide. I was hanging on for a while until I just fell off completely. I'm blaming it on PMS....or maybe it was that thread I posted on being "high raw versus 100%". Oh well...tomorrow is another day! I actually contemplated not being 100% honest about not being 100% raw, but for the sake of accountability, my record is blown, but my integrity remains! Here goes...

4 oranges, juiced
1 c chamomile tea
2 pieces of raw cheesecake
1 avocado
raw tortilla chips
6 c popcorn
2 c vegetable fried rice
3 vegetable egg rolls

I had been craving Chinese food for about 4 days. I heard a psychologist the other day say it is better to give in to cravings and get them out of your system. Don't know if that was good advice or whether or not it planted the idea in my head. I have to say I enjoyed it completely and really feel as though I got the craving out of my system. Since I started raw back on June 1, I think I have been 100% most days, although now and then I have a dinner meal out. I had been 13 days at 100% raw until now so I'm back at it tomorrow. I want "raw" to be the norm, but I've decided I'm not going to beat myself up if I have a little cooked. Perhaps being 100% raw 100% of the time is too high a goal or unrealistic for me. I guess I'm still transitioning...and learning.

Here's my Tues, the 14th:

AM: Water
Beverly Hills Juice Club shake (such an indulgence!) -- banana sunflower manna w/ carrot juice & e3 shot

LUNCH: 1 veggie "summer roll" w/ lettuce, avocado, carrot, basil, cucumber

SNACK: Raspberries, 3 olives (I've heard a lot of debate on here as to whether olives are raw. Are they? Mine are from the David Wolfe product line of "raw" foods.)

DINNER: 5 "BBQ" flax crackers w/ sprouted parsley mint hummus.

Made it to Erewhon Market today, stocked up on raw cashew butter, tahini, flax oil, spirulina, etc. woo-hoo! hopefully having a lot of stuff around will keep me on track...

Going on now, cause a friend is dj'ing in west hollywood. there's a good chance i'll get munchy crazed when i get home, so i'll try to post anything else once i've eaten it... ; )

Sorry to jump in here with a random question, but are all of you here trying to lose weight? It seems like nobody eats very much here...I'm trying to gain weight, and despite eating more than anyone here, I am still losing! I don't ask out of judgement; I'm just curious.