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”.

Most of the sushi you see (the individual rolls of sushi pieces with a seaweed wrap) are called Norimaki. Inside-out norimaki, with the rice on the outside and the seaweed on the inside is an American thing. I’ve seen a good number of custom sushi recipes here in the US, like barbeque sushi, sweet potato sushi, cheese steak sushi, even sushi with cream cheese and sausage. (honestly, whatever tastes good mixed together with rice is pretty much a decent sushi roll… but someone needs to break out and do some soul food sushi… chicken and waffles roll, anyone?)

Oh, yeah, this is a site about raw food… stick to the subject, veggiebro.

Anyhow, like i said earlier, I’m starting to mix up my foods a bit more. It’s dinner time and my daughter asks me to buy sushi for her from the local Sarku Japan (bleah)… but, I’m going to do her one better. I’ll break out the Daddy Rolls make her some sushi instead… and, I’ll make myself some as well… heck, yeah! And I thought ahead and bought everything I need. For rice, I’ll be substituting chopped cauliflower. (Just so you know ahead of time, I’m not an artistic sushi maker… my first sushi rolls always look like crap. My sushi looks better the more I wrap, but first ones look terrible. But they still taste good.)

Raw Sushi Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 package nori seaweed wraps
• 1 cup of cauliflower
• 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar
• Himalayan sea salt to taste
• Thin slices of carrots
• 1 Avocado, cored and sliced thinly
• 1/4-1/2 of a cucumber
• Bean sprouts (optional)
• Cayenne pepper (optional)
• Pickled ginger (you know, the pink leafy stuff you normally get with sushi – optional)
• Tamari for dipping

Directions

1. Put the cauliflower and vinegar in a food processor and chop until grainy.
2. After chopping, shake a little sea salt into the cauliflower.
3. Lay a nori wrap on a flat surface and spread a layer of the cauliflower mixture to the edge on about 3/4 of the wrap
4. Near the edge, place a row of carrots, avocado, cucumber and bean sprouts on the cauliflower mixture.
5. Tightly roll the sushi mixture from the edge where you’ve placed the veggies.
6. Once you’ve completed the roll, seal the edges with a little water (almost like an envelope)
7. With a really sharp knife, cut the roll about every inch or so.
8. If you want a little more spice, you can shake a little bit of cayenne pepper on the rolls. (just a little)
9. Put some tamari in a bowl, grab a roll with a slice of pickled ginger, dip it in and enjoy.

Nice! Here’s a pick. Like I said I will not win any artistic sushi competitions, but I will win on taste, darn it!

Enjoy and stay raw, beautiful people!

Started on 4/22
Start Weight: 207
Weight this morning: 201.5 
My first goal is 20 pounds: 187
Overall goal: 140 

Yesterday, I had half a portion of Fry Bread at the National Museum of the American Indian in DC.  Too good.  I love it.  Took a long walk with my doggie and my future step-daughter from Eastern Market down to the National Mall. Great exercise for all.

On Friday I went to a girls night at one of my best friend’s place in DC.  Had some wine and a few sweets.  Didn’t go overboard.

Breakfast: Green smoothie or 1 banana and nuts (raw almonds or cachews)

Lunch: For the most part I have a salad from Chop’t for lunch.  It’s a God send to have this salad place so close to my job

Dinner:  Nut meat on Romaine or Fruit bowl lately.  There are a lot of options but I haven’t been to hungry lately.  I definitely don’t eat late.   I may have a pickle or fruit leather if I’m hungry.

So far so good.  I don’t beat myself up.  This is a lifestyle change, not a diet.  Raw for Life.  Raw foods for a better life.

My goal for this week is 5 pounds.  I’ll keep you posted.

I’d say I’m 90% raw.  My baby encouraged me to recommit after a long trip off the wagon.  He’s doing the first 14 days with me.  More to come.

Muah!

I need food I can prepare fast and carry to work since I’m there during most of my awake hours.

Still working out.  YAY P90x!

Still eating about 70-90% raw.

Still losing more inches than pounds but beggars can’t be choosy.

Feeling sarcastic today.  Sigh.

I Ate

• Fresh Grapefruit Juice and raw peanuts
• Bag of baby carrots
• Large Lunch Salad full of raw veggies, kalamata olives, and fruit.  Had non raw walnuts on it.
• Large Smoothie with 2 Bananas and a cup and 1/2 of strawberries with raw wheat germ

Weight:  200 on Thurs morning

Results:  I’m a good 10 pounds bigger than the last time I could really wear my size 12 jeans…but they fit better now than a year ago.  Wow.  Almost no muffin topping near the waist band.  P90X has really worked.  It’s hard for me to see it because I’m always looking at the scale.  All of my clothes are fitting much better and I can actually do push ups.

Feeling great today.  Starting off my morning the same way.

That is the only word I’ve been focused on for 2 days.  Why.  Because I’ve been a little down following last week’s high after losing 5.5 pounds.  I’m back to 200 pounds.  I think it’s mainly bloating and water since I always gain 2-3 pounds each time I have a period.  Lots of women experience this, it’s normal.  I know I should just calm down, but I hate it.  I’m just trying to focus and know that it’s not my eating.

What I ate:

Day 10

Orange Juice
Raw Peanuts
Large Spinach Salad
Large Golden Delicious Apple
Faux Nut Meat wrapped in Romaine

Day 11

Grapefruit Juice
Raw Peanuts
Large Spinach Salad with non-raw walnuts
Bag of baby carrots
Faux Nut Meat wrapped in Romaine

Both days I’ve continued to do P90X workouts.  I can’t say I’ve given 100% in my workouts though.  I haven’t wanted to do them because I didn’t feel like it, but I pushed through.  Gotta stay focused on the goal.

Dear Lord, continue to protect me from all easter candy. Amen.  LOL

I snacked for lunch (2 nut/date balls and a pickle.  I know, weird right).

I ended up eating a couple of bites of my boyfriend’s shrimp/pesto/quinoa/wild rice/sugar peas dish.  It’s a dish I always made for him and it’s one of my favorites.  In keeping with the challenge, I didn’t beat myself up, but I did want to be honest and tell the world.

At the start of day six I was 198 and as of day 7 I’m 197.  Just proves that just by doing 70-80% raw you can still see changes.  Whoo Hoo.

Yesterday as also my rest day on P90X.  Back to exercise today.

What I ate:

• 1 Banana
• Grapefruit juice
• 4 nut/date balls
• Large spinach salad with apples, oranges, walnuts, kalamata olives, and red onion
• 2 apples for dinner

For the past few days I haven’t been hungry much in the evenings.  That’s actually a great thing for me because in the past nighttime cravings have been my downfall.  I continue to work out every night with my boyfriend doing P90X so that’s been great too.

Started the day with grapefruit juice and raw peanuts.  Had some hibiscus and camomile tea (the rest of my tea has not come in the mail    ).  Had some carrots as a snack before a late lunch around 2:30 due to meetings.

At home I had a banana and an apple for dinner.  I was a little more hungry last night than I’ve been the past few nights.

Preview of Day 5 (Since I’m writing this on Day 5)
Woke up this morning with terrible pain in my tummy.  I don’t think it was hunger.  Felt more like dehydration and I know I didn’t drink much water yesterday.  Was much better after a glass of water and a banana.  I’m down to 199 as of this morning.