Raw Food Cleansing

Just recently a new book was released called, “The Raw Food Cleanse” by Penni Shelton. This book was referred to me by a friend of mine who consumes a high raw diet. I decided to purchase the book through Amazon. At $9 and some change before shipping, you can’t beat the price. Anyways, I’ve been reading the book and although I am not quite done yet, I myself am considering doing the raw food cleanses listed in the book. The book lays out 4 raw food cleanses. There is a 3 day energy boost cleanse, a 7 day rejuvenation cleanse, a 14 day deep detox cleanse, and a 28 day total reset cleanse. I had previously considered my diet pretty raw prior to reading the book, but as I continue reading, I have become even more aware of the food I am consuming. I would say that I am about 50-70% raw which is way more than the typical American. The book mentions consuming an 80% raw diet and leaving the remaining 20% up to you for social situations, etc. There are several testimonies of individuals who have participated in a raw food experiment conducted by the book’s author. The participants list the benefits of the raw food lifestyle. Benefits include increased mental clarity, weight loss, clearer skin, brighter eyes, increased energy, better digestion, and the list continues. I am ready to make that shopping list and start cleansing.

My plan is to start with the 3 day cleanse, give myself a break (while staying very mindful of my consumption) and continue on to the 7 day cleanse. At that point, I will decide if I want to move on the 14 day cleanse. I think my biggest concern with doing more than a 7 day cleanse is losing weight. I do not wish to lose any more weight. I am weighing in right now at 127 lbs which is a great size for me. My BMI is at 20 and my body fat percentage is about 18-19%. The benefits that I am seeking from cleansing are, of course, overall health and wellness and increased mental clarity- especially since I am hitting my courses for my degree head on with full force.
Here is a list of things that are holding me back. I do not yet own a juicer or a food dehydrator. These are two tools that raw foodists own. After reviewing the recipes in the book and conducting my own research, I know that I can get by with my cheap $15 blender, but I would have more options with the juicer. I have been looking into buying one. I have searched new and used and, with so many choices, I am overwhelmed. A dehydrator gives you the option of making raw “chips”, dried fruit, etc. This is yet another decision that has overwhelmed me. I will break down and buy these gadgets eventually; it is just going to take some time.

The next item holding me back is……COFFEE. Now, granted I drink only organic coffee with coconut milk creamer, but if you’re going to cleanse, you’ve got to go for it. I know it’s all in my head. I am not a huge coffee drinker. I drink on average an 6-8 cup in the morning with 3-4 tbsp of so delicious coconut milk creamer. I have come a long way with reducing my consumption. I used to drink 20 ounces per day with who knows how many tbsp of Nestle French Vanilla Creamer which is full of terrible ingredients. I just have one word to say about that creamer and it is hydrogenated.

I think I will be okay giving up cooked foods. I am not a big dairy eater at the moment s that shouldn’t be a problem either. So, I guess that concludes my list. No juicer, no dehydrator, and the fact that I have to give up coffee. That’s not such a bad list, huh? I need to get over it. J
So my plan is to do this 3 day cleanse mid week. I will start on a Monday or Tuesday and conclude the cleanse on Wednesday or Thursday. The author recommends doing this cleanse on a weekend, but my circumstances are a bit different since I do not work. With my husband and daughter are at work and school for most of the day, I think it will be easier to focus on my agenda.

I will continue to post about my journey on this cleanse which I will start someday next week. I need to get my plan and my shopping list in order and then I’ll go in with smoking guns.

Until next time….

Energy

I have had so many things on my mind the past few days that I have wanted to blog about that I don't even know where to start. I have been working on my next post for a few days and it was about the health benefits of nuts. I decided to postpone that post. Please bear with me as I am not sure where this post is going as it is written on a whim and may lack in structure.

I go to the gym 6 days a week. I love my small little gym and its friendly staff. However, I have noticed the clientele (especially the women) at my gym do not seem to push themselves to their potential. This saddens me. Women are more powerful than they think....I wish they knew that. Now I am not saying that one has to go the gym and tire themselves out the point of exhaustion every time. But I really want to talk to these people and encourage them to push themselves just a little more with each gym visit. I can be a bit shy at times so I try to speak to them through my own energy.

This leads me to my next thought. There are a few women who go to the gym that work hard. When they walk into the gym, their energy radiates from them. Upon seeing these women and feeling their energy, I increase my level of intensity. I sense that our commitment to health is encouraging to one another. This goes to show that one's energy is powerful whether it be positive or negative. Be the one to radiate that positive, warm energy (prana). You never know who you may encourage just by your presence.

You may be the only one in your family right now who is trying to make healthy changes in their life. This may be discouraging, but "keep on truckin' " Eventually your energy will be inspirational to others. Since I have lost my 50 something pounds, my husband, who was already reasonably fit, lost 20. He also changed dramatically changed his eating habits one small step at a time. My picky children have begun to eat more vegetables (they already ate a lot of fruit) and slowly my teenager is making healthier choices on her own.

I guess this post is about energy. Your energy is important to all those you come in contact with. It's like a domino effect. Energy. You may not be able to see it but you can feel it. Speak and think positive thoughts. Smile. Laugh. Your energy is a means of communication. Now go about your day and just remember to let positive energy radiate from your presence. :)

Until next time....

Relationships: Food and You

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how my relationship with food has changed since adopting a healthier lifestyle. One thing is for sure, I have always LOVED food. Nutrition was never an issue in my home growing up. My family lived on fried foods, red meat, high fat dairy, sugar, occasional fruit and a few canned veggies. When veggies were prepared, they were cooked so long and so many things were added (such as brown sugar and bacon grease- yuck) that the nutritional content was dramatically decreased. As a young adult, I ventured into the veggie and lean meat world and ate a bit healthier. However, I still had a long way to go and I often turned to fast food because it was cheap and easy. When I became a mother at the age of 20, I automatically wanted to do what was best for my child and feed her the healthiest possible foods. I breast-fed and made my own baby food. I, myself, ate healthy- sure, sometimes. Truthfully, I was not a great example. The problem is that nutrition to me always made a lot of sense; it was somewhat natural to me, but I just would not commit. I knew in my heart what I should be doing, but wouldn’t do it. I dabbled in health foods but always turned back to the foods I was rooted in which was a lot of red meat and way too much sugar. I had an unhealthy love affair with unhealthy foods; so much that I would hide, eat in my car, or lie about who ate the most of that cake or cookies, etc. I talked the talk but didn’t walk the walk. Last week on the Biggest Loser, they laid out a buffet of food that two of the contestants would typically eat in one day before Jillian Michaels. It was all fried, large portions….lots of fat, and loads of calories. A year ago, I would have been in heaven.

Today, if I tried to eat that food, I would literally be sick. I know that my body would reject it. So much has changed in my life today. I have applied everything I know about healthy eating to my life and to my family’s lives and I continue to research and read about healthy living. I lead a vegetarian lifestyle. I eat, at the minimum, 9 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. At least half of each meal is completely raw and uncooked fruits and veggies. I don’t drink soda. The truth is I still LOVE food. But now I love to pick it out; choosing only the freshest organic produce available. I love to prepare the food, putting my mind (knowledge of healthy eating and balance), my heart (especially when preparing for my family) and soul into the meals I prepare. When I sit down to eat, I look at the beauty of the food before me. My taste buds are much more sensitive now. My food does not have to be drenched in salt, sugar, or grease to taste good. I can taste the flavor of each ingredient and savor it. Never do I hide and eat food, overindulge or feel guilty about what I eat. I still love indulgences. But my indulgences have changed. I eat dark chocolate with almonds or a piece of organic zucchini bread. I am more satisfied with food than I have ever been. Food makes me feel alive and energized. I know that my body is sacred and worthy of the best and freshest food available and that makes me feel content.

Pondering the New Year

I've been pondering what to blog about as the New Year has come and gone. So many people make resolutions only to find themselves frustrated with the fact that they cannot hold to these commitments. They give up on trying to better themselves and find themselves in a deeper hole than when they started. This year, instead of focusing on resolutions, I would like to focus on what I would like to accomplish in the year 2010.

• I would like to inspire others. I want to commit to the action of inspiring others to make positive changes in their lives. I want to help my friends and loved ones become accountable for their action which is something I would also like to do for myself.
• I want to plant a good size organic fruit and veggie garden to nourish myself and my family. I want my husband and children to do this with me. We can all take part in raising healthy food while reducing our carbon footprint.
• I want to make a large dent in completing my degree. I have already lined up a full schedule of classes and am in the process of making an appointment with my advisor to see where I currently stand.
• I am considering becoming a certified group fitness instructor. I have looked into some workshops and pricing. This may prove to be a difficult task as I am also attending full time classes for my teaching credential. However, this is something that I truly have a passion for and stand alongside my first accomplishment that I would like to carry out.

I have an ongoing commitment to being the best mother and role model to my three daughters and being a loving and faithful wife to my husband. I will always strive to be my best in this area.

Something I have come to realize is that I want to always recognize my self-worth. I want to always realize that I am important. For example, I deserve to put only the best and most nutritious food into my body. My body deserves the best care I can give it through exercise and pampering. I want to learn how to accept gifts, compliments and respect without thinking that I am not worthy.

What would you like to accomplish this year?

"Great things are accomplished by talented people who believe they will accomplish them." Warren G. Bennis