Why 30 days?
Well, it’s about establishing a relationship with yourself and your food choices and being committed to something that you wouldn’t normally do. And I say relationship because there’s always the potential to go back to your other boyfriend or girlfriend while you’re going raw. You know them… those relationships you have that make you feel good when no else could, but you know they’re no good for you… ben and jerry… mcdonalds… krispy creme… you may even have a relationship with 5 guys… however you do it, I won’t judge. I, personally, I’ve been in a great relationship with raw food for the past few weeks, and it feels great. It makes me feel healthy, strong and alert. And raw food treats me well… I wake up in the morning thinking about what to eat for the day, and I cap my day with a raw food snack at night.
But it’s only been a few weeks, and all relationships are great in the beginning. So, I need to give it a month. After a month, I can make a decision about whether or not this is something I want to continue with… to commit to… like any relationship. And even if I don’t stick with it, I will take away valuable information from this experience. So far, I’ve learned that the relationship I had with “normal” food has not been a good one, and it’s been self-destructive. My definition of eating healthy has changed, as well as my definition what really is food has changed (it’s like having someone in your life for a long time, losing them, and ending up in the arms of someone better who’s been there for you all along… but you never thought of them that way… raw food won’t treat you bad… raw food is love…). I’ve also learned I can lose weight with a healthier diet, and very little exercise. And I feel like my body has become re-energized.
And a 30 day challenge doesn’t have restricted to a raw food diet. If there’s ever anything you’ve wanted to try… like working out, or stopping a bad habit, or pursuing some other passion…. give it 30 days. Everything changes in 30 days… after doing something for 1 month straight, it becomes part of a routine. I did p90x, and the first 2 weeks were horrible. After a month, I felt obligated to see where it was going to go, and I had to see it through to the end. It became a routine and I didn’t miss a workout until the end of the 10 week program. Same thing with yoga…. been going for 3 years straight. If you do a raw food diet for 30 days, I guarantee you that based on how you feel and how you see your body transforming, you will think twice about going back to “normal” food again. And you’ll learn to love yourself better.
And my hope is to drop the whole “diet” part from raw food and turn it into “lifestyle”.
]]>I am man, and as man, I must watch football. I love my nachos, chips, wings and pizza, but that’s the kind of talk that got me to where I was in the first place. So, what can I munch on instead while yelling at the tv for the next 3-4 hours?
One of the things I like about going raw is the fact that you need to think ahead when it comes to eating, and I’m quite horrible when it comes to planning for anything. So, being temporarily more organized is a plus. You also need to have a have an idea of how much raw food you have in the house because if you run out, you don’t want to be tempted by some other non-raw alternatives. Snacking is healthy when it comes to eating raw because you really don’t have large meals for lunch and dinner and I’ve actually found myself becoming less hungry. (one of the great benefits to doing this is your body is chemical free, and the chemicals in most non-raw foods actually make you crave more food… non-raw food is extremely addictive and it’s done on purpose). The other thing you need to plan ahead for is the prepping the meals in general… you need to know what ingredients to use in your dishes. And, if you want to “cook” a raw food dish, you’ll have to use a dehydrator.. And if you use dehydrator, it’s going to take a good amount of time for “cook” a finished dish. So, you normally you need to plan at least a day ahead for cooked raw meals, because some raw meals take 4-12 hours to dehydrate.
Hey, I thought you couldn’t cook, veggiebro?
You can’t “cook” food the traditional way, beautiful people, so instead you dehydrate the food. Raw food has to be dehydrated using a temperature of no more than 104 degrees. So, yes, it takes a long time to “cook” anything at that rate, but by dehydrating food at that temperature, it doesn’t destroy any of the nutrition and enzymes within the food… So, if you’re going raw for real (like, f’ real, f’ real), get a dehydrator (I’ve actually heard there are now stoves that have built in dehydrators. And, if you are buying a dehydrator, from my experience, the more you pay for quality, the faster your food will “cook.”) But, back to football… what am I eating?
I prepped some celery stalks, brocolli, and carrot sticks. Still missing the naughty food factor. Luckily, earlier in the week I bought some sweet potatoes, so I decided on sweet potato chips.
Ingredients
Instructions
After the chips done (if you want soft chips. take them out early, if not, let them stay in until crispy like potato chips), take them out, freak out your friends by telling them you’re on a raw food diet, explain to them how you no longer eat cooked food because you want to look fabulous and live forever, and share a chip with them. It may change their lives.
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For the “taco shells”, we will use romaine lettuce. It’s a long leafy lettuce that wraps quite nicely around foods due to its natural shape.
For the “meat”, we’ll use ground nuts and other spices. Toppings are easy because most taco toppings (except sour cream and certain olives) are mostly raw. Thus, nut meat! (keep your minds out of the gutter, folks… this is your health). You’ll need a food chopper/processor of some sort as well.
Ingredients
Instructions
And that’s it, folks! Raw tacos!
PS: Weight check-in. I’m down another half a pound! 160 > 157. Cruising along and feeling great!
]]>It got this recipe from an Ani Pho raw food cookbook, who is highly regarded as a top-notch, world-class raw food chef with several great books in print. This recipe is for Avocado Cups. So, here’s how we do it…
Ingredients:
Instructions
I love dates. I love the taste of them. I love the sweetness they provide me when I’m going raw, because if you were/are a big consumer of sugary products (and most of us were as kids, and perhaps as adults… candies, most morning cereals, specialty drinks from starbucks, “fruit” juices, breads, milk… well, pretty much everything has sugar in it… I could go on for a while), you’ll find yourself craving something sweet every once and a while. And dates, much like apples, pears, watermelon, bananas or any other sweet fruit (even carrots sometimes taste sweet after you’ve gone raw for a good amount of time) can fulfill your desire for something sweet.
Now, here’s the kicker.
I’m allergic to dates… and all other dried fruits…
Well, I WAS, until I went raw for the first time.
Now, I’m not asking you to try this… nor am I promoting this in any way, but I got over my food allergy to dried fruit by going raw the first time around, and now, I can eat dried fruit without a problem. In the past, my allergic reaction to dried fruit was really bad… potentially fatal. My throat would close up, my chest would get tight, I would get nauseous and pretty much just throw up anything in my stomach. When I did a raw food fast the first time around, I wanted to move beyond simply snacking on raw foods and eating salads. I wanted to prepare foods and make meals like raw burgers and breads, breakfast bars, pretty much raw versions of anything I made with cooked recipes. But, I found a lot of the recipes I researched used dates or other dried fruit. The first recipe I tried with dates was a raw ketchup recipe (it was a decent recipe, but I didn’t really care… I really missed processed ketchup… notice I didn’t say REAL ketchup… you know, the red stuff made with sugar, salt and high fructose corn syrup). I was about 2 weeks into my raw food diet when I really felt the need to try some different recipes. I blended up the other ingredients and added the dates, just like the recipe suggested, gave it a taste and waited for my allergic reaction to kick in.
Nothing. Not a sniffle. Not a twitch. Not a dry heave. Nothing. And it didn’t taste that bad either.
So, I picked up a date and gave it a sniff. My allergies in the past were sensitive enough to be triggered even by the smell of dried fruit. No reaction at all. I decided to really tempt fate and nibble off a bit of a date. And to my surprise, I tasted the sweetness of a date for the first time in my life without having an adverse reaction. After finishing off the date, I tried my luck at eating a raisin and later a dried cranberry. I didn’t like the taste of either of them but I didn’t throw up or have any difficulty breathing. I had to ask myself, “what happened? How is it possible that I was suddenly no longer allergic to dried fruit?” That’s when I realize what eating a raw food diet was doing for me. I think my body was no longer busy fighting the chemicals from processed and cooked foods I was putting in my body and it was able to focus on other things like fighting food allergies. Like I said, I’m not telling you to try this, but I’m just letting you know this actually happened to me.
Some raw food enthusiast believe when you’re eating cooked and processed food, it isn’t really food in the truest sense of the word because it’s devoid of nutrients that your body needs, and you are, in a sense, poisoning your body. The human body really only has the capacity to break down actual food, and everything else is simple waste that either gets deposited by your body or retained by your body in the form of fats and other items which are bad for internal and intestinal health… and since you’re potentially poisoning yourself, your body isn’t receiving enough raw nutrients to be able to fight off basic things like allergies or basic sickness (since I was eating fairly healthy before I went raw, I never related my dietary habits to my resistance to disease, but I hadn’t been sick for close to 3 years… I went through flu season last year without a sniffle at all or any medication) And, from what some raw food nutritionists believe, if you eat poorly long enough, your body will stop managing your sugar levels effectively and potentially leave you more susceptible to other diseases like diabetes and cancer (some have reported a raw food diet even helps with autism). This is actually the basis for chronic illness treatment at places like the Gerson Institute.
So, what am I saying? Personally, I do not know if a raw food diet can cure cancer or any other chronic disease. Diabetes, sure, a raw food diet can definitely help, or if you have any other intestinal health issues, consuming food with a high nutritional value can really help. All I know is what was working for me. And that I’m no longer allergic to foods that used to affect me. And my body can endure some pretty highly contagious environments (kids both had strep throat last year during my raw food diet and I didn’t get sick at all…). But, if you’re feeling tired all the time or you’re feeling generally unhealthy or stressed, think about what you’re putting into your body and ask yourself if it really is good for you. And if you know it isn’t, you should figure out a way to stop eating it, because there are most likely long term effects on your body you may have never even considered.
By the way, did I mention I love dates?
P.S. Still raw. Down another 1/2 pound. 160 down to 158 so far.
]]>So, why the gigantic run-on sentences? Because it’s how I felt all day (AND because I went to art school for college… we didn’t stress grammar much… just art history and pretty pictures…). I felt a little manic and really energized. I snacked all day on cashews, dates, bananas, and oranges all day, along with a few stalks of celery and the salad I had for dinner. An increased sense of energy is one of the best reasons to go raw. The amount of energy a body has once it’s fairly chemical free is truly remarkable. My nostrils were clear, my senses were super sharp, and I started to feel really bad for putting my body through what I did over the Thanksgiving holiday. But, enough with the self guilt…
I’m doing great right now, and I’m really in a groove. The most important thing is to stop myself from getting bored eating only raw food. I love to cook and I love the process of cooking and prepping food, and for now, it feels like I’ve only been snacking and grazing. So, I need to start mixing up my foods a bit more (instead of just making salads) and start making actual raw meals. Everything I do, I’ll share with you all.
]]>Well, in the past I was a big time coffee drinker, and over the thanksgiving holiday, I caved in a drank about a cup a day. Now, I don’t entirely poo-poo on coffee drinkers, because studies have shown there are a few health benefits to having a cup a day… most notably for men, lower rates of prostate cancer (and us brothers are most affected by prostate cancer… if you haven’t had an exam yet, put away your pride and get one). Here are a few other benefits from the huff. Also, if you do drink coffee, I have a 2 word limit when it comes to ordering a coffee from starbucks… if you have to say anything more than grande coffee or tall pike, you shouldn’t get it. Everything else is just sugar, layered with sugar, layered with coffee, and another layer of sugar. And espressos are for people who are seemingly bored with everything in life, so don’t do that either. (honestly I have a whole theory on how Starbucks is ruining the American economy in general, but I’ll elaborate another day)
But, when I’m going raw, I’m going raw, baby! If it didn’t come from the ground, or if there are any type of unnatural preservatives in my food, I’m not going to ingest it during my raw fasting time. With that said, your body on day 2-3 starts to go into a bit of a shock from the withdrawal of the bad foods you’ve been feeding yourself, but also from the additive ingredients you may find in other items you may have been consuming, like coffee or soda. (Speaking of soda, I haven’t had a soda in about 15 years… just too much sugar and overall bad for your health… it’s even more insulting when soda companies put the word “diet” on a label… THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS DIET SODA!!! Crap is crap, regardless of what butt it came from… You should be drinking water regularly or juicing during a raw food diet. Sugar is bad, but an artificial sweetener is pure chemicals. Way worse…
Right now, I can feel a headache coming on from the lack of coffee. It’s starting from the back of my head, and it’s slowly making it’s way to a point on my forehead, and it’ll sit there for a few hours, making me regret changing my dietary habits yet again. But I’ve done this before. The first time I went raw, on day 3 I was actually sweating like a drug addict going through withdrawal and I really didn’t think I was going to be able to make it through the day without a sip of caffeine. But I held on, and I did it, and in the end it felt like my body had experienced a biological rebirth… and that’s when I knew I was doing the right thing.
]]>For breakfast/lunch, I had some decaffeinated tea, 3 bananas, 2 oranges, some salad, cashews, dates, and a crap load of water (whatever dieting you do, it’s very important to hydrate a lot… also, water helps stave off hunger). My starting weight, after a VERY happy thanksgiving, is 160. My goal by the end of this will be 150 or less. I will keep you informed of all my meal choices and weight check-ins.
Remember, I’ve done this before, so if you never have, you may find this to be difficult. (My daughter tried to go raw and she was very proud of herself by being raw for 6 whole hours). So take your time and pace yourself. If you can get through the first 2-3 days without straying off course, you’ll be fine and it gets easier.
]]>Still going raw, and still going strong. Lost 2 1/2 pounds last week and I’m really feeling great. I’m going to start my day off with a great blast of carrot/apple juice with a hit of ginger. AAAAAAH! Check out my sexy carrot juice pic! (look at it… you know you want some…) I paid good money for it, but it’s very filling and keeps my hunger at bay for most of the day and it’s better for me than a muffin and coffee from Starbucks.
Now most people think when it comes to juice, you can simple pick up a box of Tropicana orange juice or some other fruit juice, and you’re drinking something that’s relatively healthy and nutritious for you. And you may also think you’re staying true to your raw food regiment. But, most fruit juice you buy in a store is loaded with one main ingredient which is just horrible for you… SUGAR! And sugar is the devil. The other thing you need to consider when drinking fruit juice is look at the label, and if there’s anything in the juice that isn’t natural, then you shouldn’t consume it.
Here are the ingredients for Dole Strawberry Kiwi Juice as posted on the Pepsicola site (which makes Dole fruit juice… that should tell you something)
Um… there’s nothing natural about this juice at all. Oh wait, there are natural flavors… and all the concentrate.. and something called cochineal extract (which is described as a color… I’ll have to look it up in the next j Crew catalog). Nonetheless, the one thing I want you to really “concentrate” (that’s a joke, folks, laugh with me) on is the lack of any real juice you may be potentially consuming if you drink a bottle of strawberry kiwi . And it’s the same story for all of the other juices Dole/Pepsi serves as well…
Here’s another example. This is a list of ingredients for Dole Orange Juice with Pulp.
So, what am I saying? Ultimately you’ll pay a little more for real juice, but when it comes to drinking fruit juice or vegetable juice, just look for REAL ingredients… a bottle of orange juice should simply have “Orange” and “Squeezed the Crap Out Of Them” on the label and nothing else. Carrot juice should simply be “Carrots”, and that’s really it. Nothing else added… no ascorbic acid or anything else. How else can you drink and eat healthy unless you know it came directly from the fruit or vegetable itself? Thinking about a V-8? Well Campbells tells us we consuming…
RECONSTITUTED VEGETABLE JUICE BLEND WATER AND CONCENTRATED JUICES OF
You can also read more about “natural flavors” at the following site.
So, my advice… buy juice from a juicing vendor or buy yourself a juicer (I have a Breville juicer) and make your own natural juices. Juicing is a great way to lose weight and deliver the nutrients your body needs directly from the fruits and vegetable. And it’s simply healthier and better than anything you can drink (besides water)
]]>My girlfriend and I were constantly trying to work out and lose weight. Some attempts were more successful than others (we did the whole p-90x series and loosely followed the diet plan) The one thing we noticed was the P-90s diet plan really was a great plan, and if you follow it, even without the exercise, you would probably lose weight anyway. The exercise just helped tone the body. But, remember, I said loosely, so despite sticking to the workout plan, we didn’t really see the results we wanted because we weren’t really following the meal plan. Then, my lovely girlfriend told me about raw foods.
First let me tell you I thought my girlfriend was a little nuts. Who only eats raw foods? And why would anyone pursue a raw food only lifestyle. Well, for starters, I wanted to lose weight. And she told me a raw food diet would help with that. Another thing I had going for me was a strange allergy issue with my nose and ears, and I was told a minor issue like allergies would probably clear up with a raw food diet. So, I thought I’d try it for 2 weeks.
I didn’t have a enough confidence in myself to go any longer than 2 weeks. Plus, i just wanted to see what it was all about. So I set out on my diet and purchased a weeks worth of fruits, veggies, and raw nuts. And you know, the first few days were AWFUL!!! I was a big coffee drinker (2-3 cup a day), and by the 3rd day I was experiencing a major detox (headaches, light-headedness, sweats, nausea, you name it). But, after the 3rd day, something amazing happened. It was like the calm after a hurricane… my head was clear, my sinuses were open, my body was pain free, and I felt great! Better than I had in a long time. I jumped on the scale to check my weight progress, and I was down 3 pounds in 3 days! And the best part was I ate as much raw food as I wanted during my 3 day raw fest. So, I lost weight, felt great and was immediately hooked on my raw food diet.
Initially, I thought I’d try it for 2 weeks. But I liked the results and I really liked the way I felt. So I tacked on an extra week (because it was easier to stay on than get off) and jumped on the scale for my final weigh in. Starting weight: 167. After 3 weeks of raw food – final weight: 155. I later did a 1 month raw food diet and went from 157 down to 147. But summer arrived, and I jumped off the raw food band wagon and poisoned my body throughout the season with cooked food (it’s summer, it’s tough). So, now I’m back… and I’m fat again. But this time, I’m going to be a little more serious and I’m going to record what I do. Coming up soon… I’m going to launch a 30 day challenge and end it right before thanksgiving. And I’m going to take you all with me on my crazy ass raw food journey!
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