daily – Urban Raw Food

The Detox Has Begun

Ajima — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:04:02 +0000

I’m already seeing the signs of raw food detox and although it’s not always comfortable running do the bathroom during the workday, there are some great results I can already see.

Mainly…

The circumference of my midsection is smaller. I can tell because I’m wearing a form-fitting top today and I can really see a difference.
Let’s just say…more frequent pooping. LOL
More energy – I was not tired at midnight last night. Very strange for a weekday

Haven’t had much of an issue with gas. In the past adding psyllium husk to my smoothies every few days kept that at bay, so that’s what I’m doing now. I’m averaging 40-50 oz of water during the day to try to keep any toxic episode at bay.

Transformation takes time and effort. My body didn’t get all clogged with toxins and fat overnight. I’m excited about greater health and wellness and I welcome it into my life as I continue my raw foods journey.

Day 16 – Back on Track

Ajima — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 13:55:20 +0000

After about 3-4 days where my commitment was lacking, I was back on track yesterday. I did have a few pieces of Tootsie roll easter candy. Can’t lie about that. However, my mind set was better. I woke up at 201.5 yesterday. Damn. Didn’t get me down though. I know that I ate things that don’t contribute to weight loss for the past few days. It’s called consequences.

What I Ate:

Grapefruit Juice
Golden Delicious apple
Baby Carrots
Large salad from Chop’t
Sunflower Seeds
2 Pickles
Faux lasagna

One thing I haven’t slacked on has been doing my P90X workouts. I cut my foot in a dressing room yesterday (Long story. Never get hurt in Macy’s. Believe me.) and still did Kempo X. Dedication paid off this morning when I saw the scale was down .5 pounds and the dress I’m wearing looks good. I guess if you can’t lose pounds, at least lose inches, right?

My goal for today is no office candy or other sweets. So far so good. Sugar is a major part of my food addiction. Raw food is my medication.

Days 12-15 – Down in the Valley

Ajima — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 04:32:15 +0000

It’s day 15 and I’m coming out of a serious valley experience day 12-14. Let’s just say I was only about 50% raw on those days. I was tested and I made it. I ate cooked food on Friday and Saturday. I felt really bad about it. I realized that I was very sad about giving up the concept of choice and that my addictions were running me yet again. Saturday I went to pray and meditate with a good friend from work who is a spiritual guide and minister. I felt so much better. I guess I wasn’t feeding my soul. I took time to reflect on having more than vanity as a guide. I guess because of years of low self-esteem, it’s something I struggle with. Intention is so important. I took some time to solidify mine.

Today’s weight 198.5. Thank goodness.

What I ate

Grapefruit Juice
Raw Peanuts
Sandwich bag full of carrots
Large salad

Tomorrow is another day.

Inspired by Queen Afua

Ajima — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:56:50 +0000

Queen Afua is giving me the inspiration I need right now, before I get lunch.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxdHN_GtC2c]

Oh my goodness. I really want to be this wise and be able to inspire people too. There are so many people like me who have suffered from the “Corporate Kitchen” and food addiction and have looked for answers everywhere. When I went raw 2 years ago it was the best thing EVER! I know it’s part of the answer, a large part. However, education is just as important. I have to educate myself so that my new habits become a lifestyle. There is so much to learn, but it all rings true to me.

What I’ve eaten today:

Green Smoothie – 2 bananas, spinach, cup and 1/2 of frozen mango
Baby Carrots as a snack

Mood – I was very calm this morning. As the day goes on I’m feeling a little irritable because I can’t run to food…my normal coping mechanism.

Repetition is not a bad thing

Ajima — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 20:05:43 +0000

I’ve been 80-100% Raw Vegan for the last month…give or take a weekend. The thing that most surprises me is that eating the same things all most every day is not that bad. A lil boring at times, but not a bad thing. Most days I eat some combination of the following:

Smoothie: Some combo of Bananas, Strawberries, Mango, Spinach
Grapes
Baby Carrots
Raw Nuts: Sunflower seed, Walnuts, Cashews
Water
Raw Honey
Dates
Huge Salad: Romaine, Spinach, Orange slices, sprouts, etc

There is something very comforting about knowing what I’m going to eat. My mind wanders off less. I’m not pondering french fries. I’m not considering shrimp or McDonald’s double cheeseburgers. Why, because I’ve already made up my mind about what I’m going to eat way ahead of time. It’s really quite good, actually.

Day 24 and 25: back on track

Ajima — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:50:02 +0000

Day 23 ended with no meat, no sugar…just a big salad with sunflower seeds, grapes, and some olives later that night. Maybe my body wanted some fat. I had a lil headache but it passes. I’m accustomed to having chocolate when I’m on my monthly (TMI…it’s been different. I can really tell I’ve been eating differently. You ladies know what I mean.), so it was a bit of a struggle after work. Struggle in the mind. I just went home…no stops. It works out better that way.

Day 25

Weight: didn’t feel like weighing myself today.

Today I’ve had an apple, my usual big lunch salad, and a box of rasberries. No candy, nothing that would have me tripping out later. Oh I’m such a creature of habit. i bought a new receipe e-book yesterday from Raw Freedom Community. I can’t wait to make some of the stuff!!! OH my goodness. The food looks so good in the photos. I need some options. I realize that I’m getting bored. I don’t want to be cooking everynight, but I need some options.

I’ve also been watching Louise Hay’s You Can Change Your Life Series on YouTube. I love it. She says the key to good living is to love yourself. I think she’s right. It’s hard though to look in the mirror and say “I love and accept me right now, as I am right now”. I want to be able to say that. It’s not just about weight, but that has been a major issue for me since I was 8 (my first “diet” per doctor’s orders). Oh…the journey…the journey.

Day 4: Feeling good, feeling dry

Ajima — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:06:20 +0000

I need some lotion. I am so dry. My hands and my legs have shown signs of dryness. That would be ASH. You know what I’m talking about sistas and brothers. Amen. I love Nubian Heritage products and I’m about to slather on some of their chocolate smelling cocoa butter lotion after this post. LOL

Yesterday I had a package of fresh raspberries for dinner. Wasn’t that hungry. I was on the phone all night talking to my best friend about a situation with some other of our friends that pissed me off. There was a birthday party and some how we weren’t invited. So high school, right. I know. So, I bitched about it and I’m over it. However, I was proud that I didn’t run out for any nasty goodies out of frustration and hurt. Very proud of myself. Talking it out works much better than eating the pain away. Who knew?

Weight: 184

What I’ve eaten so far:
Green Smoothie: Spinach, frozen mango, 1 banana, frozen blueberries
1/2 cup of walnuts
Large salad with sunflower seeds, olives, mushrooms, carrots and olive oil

I had some stronger hunger pains today right before lunch. They were strongest so far and not terrible, but strong. I’ve noticed my skin is clearing up and looks more healthy. I have an insulin imbalance that causes a dark coating on certian areas of my skin like my neck. That is looking better today as well, although as I was cleansing and decreasing my sugar intake during the month of September, that had been getting lighter and lighter. I feel good. OH and…2 movements of the bowels so far today (I know…TMI…but it’s part of the cleansing process).

Not thinking about and worrying about what I’m going to eat or not eat makes me feel so FREE. That is one of the best things about this life change. I suggest that you not tell an whole lot of people about going raw when you start, because if people were asking and questioning me right now…it would make me think about food and what I was “missing”. I’m sure as my body changes I will get plenty of extra attention directed at how I’m transforming and looking so beautiful. LOL Right now I’m focused and happy.

April 22 So far so good

Ajima — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:53:40 +0000

I had a great Sunday being raw. After going out and looking at a condo I was interested in with 3 of my girlfriends we went out for lunch. They all had cooked food and I had steamed broccoli and read potatoes on the side. No…not raw…but I felt really good about it. I didn’t want the salad because I’ve had it at this particular restaurant and it’s that nasty, iceberg, out of the bag style salad. Wasn’t feeling it. They all shared a chocolate chip cookie and ice cream dessert. I just looked on and politely said no when they asked if I wanted some. Some how I felt empowered. One of the girls is on the Weight Watchers plan and she was lamenting and boo hoo-ing about her meal. How many points could she have? How many calories does this have? After her meal of grilled chicken, rice, and veggies she went on and on about how she just felt like something was missing. Like her meal was not complete without ending it with something sweet so she had a small portion of the dessert.

I really really understood what she was saying. I’ve been dealing with the feeling that my meals were not complete because it’s not “real food”, hot food, or sweet junk food. However, I know that those thoughts are just part of my relationship with food. I don’t want to have this kind of relationship with food anymore. I want to eat to live, not live to eat. I want to be fulfilled by things other than food.

Monday was great. I was really busy, had a very stressful day, but I didn’t medicate or soothe myself with food. The only non raw thing for the day was a can of soda. Today much much more stressful. Crazy drama that I’m only half way involved with at my job. It’s a mess. I don’t need the drama. I ate half of a chocolate chip cookie. Didn’t beat myself up. I knew that it was from stress and I was trying to find relief in the cookie. No relief to be found in the cookie. LOL I wasn’t surprised. LOL I saw a friend of mine during my break and he give me a hug and a kiss hello. That felt so much better than the cookie made me feel. I’m learning more and more that food is secondary to our primary sources…love, friendship, spirituality, environment…etc.

I went to the supermarket after work and was worried that I would walk out with some junkfood or end up stopping for a sandwich or some friend chicken on the way home, but I didn’t. I just went in and got mangoes, bananas, salad, sunflower seeds, apples, and dried pineapples. I was so so so proud of me when I got home. I had a big salad for dinner.

My mantra for tomorrow: I love myself regardless of what I eat. I love myself regardless of external stress.

I fell pray to birthday cake

Ajima — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:42:29 +0000

Yes, I admit it. I just ate the icing off a piece of birthday cake. I wanted it. I know better. I just had that long rant yesterday. But I ate it. AND…there is a Dessert reception at 3:00 (It’s 2:37 now). I have to keep myself in my seat, LOL. Oh, it must be the fact that I’m on my cycle. Yes, that must be. I can’t believe I just at that. Maybe it’s just the social setting thing. When I tried to go raw last time I had a horrible time eating cooked food when I was out with friends. It may have just been a dessert or some fries but I always had something.

Oh well. No need to beat myself up. I feel a heavy feeling in my tummy. I don’t feel the usual sugar high.

So far today I’ve had a banana and and apple for breakfast, and my usual salad for lunch. I’m going to make a faux salmon pate recipe I got from Allyssa Cohen’s book tonight.

It’s going well, but I really want to be 100% raw

Ajima — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:54:49 +0000

My emotional eating continues to be the major revelation I’m having in the process. The reason I’ve eaten to much over the years has nothing to do with hunger or physical need. I eat because I’m lonely, fearful, sad, stressed, confused, bored, lonely, lol. I’m a really happy person, but I wear the mask like everyone else. I’ve been dieting for so long, eating and feeling bad for so long, wishing I was smaller and cuter for so long, envying other people for so long…I’ve wasted a whole lot of time. I realize that I haven’t been happy with my weight since my Junior year of college (at around 160 pounds). That was about 8 years ago. So for eight years I’ve been waisting time. For eight years I’ve been beating myself up. For eight years I’ve been trying various diet plans and getting bigger every year. I could probably teach a college level class on dieting plans…the pros and cons…how to follow them…etc. *Sigh*

It’s time to go 100% raw. It’s time to commit. I’ve been doing well. I’ve been at least 80% raw everyday. I’ve been drinking about 20-24 oz of water per day. I just still have that psychological hurdle to overcome. The cooked food addiction. The addiction that is connected to the cravings. The addiction that makes excuses. I want to stop meeting my emotional needs with food.

Food does not run me. Food does not control me. That is what I want to live…not just strive for, but live. I want to be complete…whole…healed.