go raw

I’m doing it! I have someone to hold me accountable (in addition to myself.) Someone who I’m actually paying to create a meal plan for me, complete with recipes! and has experience with all the cravings, detoxifying, and uplifting factors of the raw food process. I’m very very excited and optimistic, and also grateful for the supportive people I have around me, especially my roommates.

This is it.

Ever since beginning my Yoga and Ballet classes I have been exposed by my body of my poor eating habits. I am not too pleased with what I have done with myself. My body is a temple and I should treat it as such. If I do not have my health I have nothing. What good am I doing it if I am forcing it to lug around extra pounds daily? What good am I treating it if I keep yoyoing my body weight and continue to lose precious muscle mass?
Well I am proud of my recent attempts to gain all that has been lost in the past three years. The bigget improvement being eating less. I have cut out junk food completely, dairy, meat, and processed foods. My portions are at the recommended size and I am seeing a decrease in my common bloting. The best part about it is I am not obsessing about food as much as I used to.

I’m really not thinking this is going to be a long-term thing. Just like I indulge in cupcakes on someone’s birthday, and desert at nice restaurants, I intend to continue to indulge on grains and dairy and cooked foods. However, I do see that my normal diet is not healthy nor ideal for me. I eat mostly grains and dairy, some meat, and few fruits and veggies. I want to totally switch that up to where I am eating mostly fruits and veggies, some grains and dairy, and meat next to never. I figure going RAW for at least a week will help me reintroduce fruits and veggies into my diet. I have tried in the past to say, “I will eat more fruits and veggies.” or, “From now on, I’ll make breakfast or lunch an only fruits and veggies meal.” but it never works. This is a drastic measure in which I am only eating fruits and veggies for an entire week. And, of course, only raw. That way, when the trial period is over, it should be more than easy for me to keep a large amount of fruits and veggies in my everyday diet. I do not see going RAW permanately on these foods being a long-term thing because I am not 100% certain on it’s healthiness. Obviously fruits and veggies are incredibly healthy, but to only eat those things at the exclusion of everything else does concern me. Also, I have a tendency to be underweight with my body type, and have been many times in the past, and it’s not something I want to do again. I am at a good weight right now, and while losing ten pounds would be nice, losing any more than that is not something I find healthy nor attractive- so going totally RAW on fruits and veggies and dropping who knows how much weight is not going to happen. Eating mostly fruits and veggies and indulging on dairy and grains from time to time, while keeping an ideal weight and feeling great about what’s going into my body.. that’s what I’m shooting for. :)

I am prety far from a raw diet right now.. I’m not even a vegetarian. However, today I have started my one week trial run of eating only raw foods.. no meats, no grains, no dairy. Basically only fruits, veggies, and seeds. Like a squirrel, yes. I’m excited to see if I can do it- It should be quite hard considering I eat grains and dairy at every meal, and meat at least once a day. But, we’ll see! I’ve done well today so far.. 6 and a half more days to go!

As shameful as this sounds, I am a fat vegan. I know horrible right? The thing is I know why I am this way, I consume way too much wannabe meat/dairy products and I ignore how much fat and calories are in these substitutes.

I researched about the daily intake for vegans and I now know how I can change my eating habits. The intakes are as follows:

Legumes: 2 or more servings per day
group includes beans, peas, lentils, tempeh, tofu, & meat/dairy substitutes. source of fiber, protein, iron, calcium, zinc, and B vitamins.

Vegetables: 3 or more servings per day
group includes broccoli, collards, kale, carrots, & sweet potatoes. source of vitamin C, beta-carotene, riboflavin, iron, calcium, & fiber.

Fruit: 3 or more servings per day
group includes citrus fruits, melons, berries, bananas & apples. source of fiber, vitamin C, and beta-carotene.

Whole Grains: 6-11 servings per day
group includes bread, rice, pasta, hot or cold cereal, corn, millet, barley, bulgur, buckwheat, oats, and tortillas. source of fiber, complex carbohydrates, protein, B vitamins and zinc.

Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is produced by bacteria commonly found in the bodies of animals. Vegetables are not reliable sources of B12. Vegetarians should include reliable sources of B12 in their diet by consuming a multi-vitamin, a B12 supplement, or foods fortified with B12.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Most people consume too much fat, but few people get enough of the healthy Omega-3 fatty acids. These essential fats can be found in walnuts, canola oil, and flax seeds. For maximum absorbtion, flax seeds should be ground up in a blender or coffee grinder, then added to smoothies or sprinkled on top of other foods. Flax seeds are also rich in protein, potassium, magnesium, boron, and lignans, which may help prevent cancer.

Vitamin D and Calcium
Vitamin D and calcium are important in bone formation. Vitamin D can be obtained from sunlight exposure. Vegans who get little sunlight, or those who live at high latitudes, should take a vitamin D supplement,or consume fortified soymilk or rice milk. Vegans should also get 3 servings of high calcium foods each day, such as kale, broccoli, collard greens, and fortified soymilk & orange juice.

I will now refer to this everyday and carefully plan out my meals beforehand from now on.

Eliminate all processed foods. Carefully examine which simple and complex carbohydrates are positive for the body.

I have failed so hard at this goal. An epic fail, really…

Everyday I start out totally ready to tackle the raw lifestyle. I begin with an apple and a banana, some water…but by midday, my resolve starts to slip. I start thinking about all of the things I want to eat, but can’t. Bagels, pizza, ice cream…

Thing is, I’ve realized that I don’t particularly like any of those foods (well, okay, except pizza. My favorite). They don’t taste great, and they make me feel like crap after eating them. I need to stop deluding myself that I can’t be raw when what I’m doing now clearly isn’t working for me!

So, I’m raw again on Monday (tomorrow). This time, I’ll try for just one day. I haven’t even made it one day yet.

the two Goals stood there, teeth gritted, hands clenched around their weapon of choice

Quit Smoking
vs.
Go Raw

“There ain’t room enough in this town for the both of us” one growls, while the other grasps its weapon tighter

• * *

in the end, Quit Smoking seems to have won, for now

I’m going “raw” on Sunday (after I stock up on some stuff)! I need to modify it, though, since I can’t really get almonds anywhere at this damn school. I’ll be allowing myself one or two grilled chicken patties a day…but otherwise, I want to be totally RAW! Wish me luck!

I want to try to go raw for at least 10 days (longer if possible). Just to try and train myself to eat well…to wean myself off of all the crap, like candy and soda, and to get used to more raw fruits and veggies.

Don’t know where I can get nuts, though. I might have to eat some grilled chicken for protein or something. Soy milk? I eat in a college cafeteria and I’m broke, so it’s hard for me to really find good substitutes.