Days 101-106 (Sunday-Friday): Karen Knowler has kidnapped me!

The reason I haven't posted here in about a week is that I've been actively involved in an on-line coaching group being run for those who want to take "eating mainly raw foods" to their own personal next level, so to speak. It's probably been one of the best investments of time, energy and commitment I've ever made ... but it's just that -- quite the commitment. So time has been scarce to record here in my "diary." It's entitled "30 Days to Raw Support" and is described as "a fully-supported 30-day group program to help you get from where you are now with your raw food diet to where you want to be."

It incorporates all kinds of great tools to help each person reach their own individually-set goals. Some of the features of the program: an invaluable, information-packed book called "Getting Started in Raw Foods," a companion workbook, and recipe book as well. It also includes a confidential e-group where each participant can post emails, comments, questions, and offer support to one another generally via our own experiences throughout the month. It includes a group coaching conference call (held every Monday evening), that participants can join live, or if they miss it, they can listen later via podcast at a time more convenient to them. It also includes the option of teaming up with one other person in the group -- kind of like a cheerleader for one another. Coincidentally, in an online group of people from such diverse places as England and New Zealand, middle America and the West Coast, I've managed to find a "buddy" right here in NYC.

The theme of the first week is AWARENESS, the second will deal with ENVIRONMENT. It's a great opportunity to really make strides in improving my health, and I'm thankful for having stumbled on it at Karen Knowler's website. She has a marvelous ability to inspire and coach (indeed), and again, I highly recommend her website for anyone who just wants to begin this adventure ... of eating predominantly whole, living foods.

Just five days into the month, I'm already having some ah-ha moments, but what is better, is that I'm seeing noticable positive results.

So ... check out the woman who's got a lot of good things to teach about all this Raw stuff -- but keeps it all simple and doable. That's her "magic"! Do be sure to listen to Karen's welcome message by clicking on the button under her photograph, located on the right-hand side of her home page. It's a wonderful introduction to what you will find at her site -- which I personally think is a veritable "treasure trove" of raw food information.

The Raw Food Coach

Aloha for now -- don't know when I'll surface again, but I'd like to remain faithful daily to this blog because it's still a great way for me to stay focused ... and to keep on keepin' on.

Days 99 and 100 (Friday and Saturday): Renewal!

You've heard the expression that "every day is a gift." Well, today I particularly sense that. And I've got a couple of reasons why: Reason One: I've had a wonderful shift in attitude from being down on myself for not accomplishing FAST enough what I've wanted (weight-wise). Along this line, for the last week or so, I'd found myself in a bit of a negative spiral concerning some upcoming plans I have made. But after some rethinking and some prayer, I've returned to that thoroughly positive place I HAD been residing in for months now, and by making one decision I feel renewed and encouraged to "keep on keeping on" -- a phrase that seems to have become my personal mantra lately.

Reason Two: The decision I'm talking about was to join Karen Knowler's "30 Days to Raw," an online coaching/group support thingy that has given me a renewed "shot in the arm" to keep on my raw food path with joy. Joy is the key for me!

You can find out more about it by clicking on the logo up top on the right that says, "Want To Go Raw But Don't Know Where to Start?"

Karen Knowler will be coaching us via live, weekly phone calls/podcasts with all of us participating in the "30 Days to Raw" group, as well as offering support through daily emails and a group chat room and bulletin board. We had our first call on Thursday for 90 minutes, and it was terrific. She's a wealth of info and wisdom, someone who genuinely has the interests of each person at heart and freely shares years of learning in such a way that you feel you are in her living room and being treated as a welcome friend. You will get that sense as you spend time on her website as well. If you scroll down to earlier blog entries of mine, you can watch some of Karen's "uncooking" videos I posted a few weeks ago.

Reason 2: Besides a bunch of good things I've already experienced since becoming part of the "30 Days to Raw" group, an email from Karen just this morning has encouraged me even further. Karen emailed the group (it's a good number of people -- just about 20 of us) to check out her blog, where she wrote about a guy named Markus Rothkrantz.

Karen Knowler, The Raw Food Coach

If you have interest in incorporating more raw foods (fruits and vegetables) into your diet, getting healthier, fitter and and just feeling "your old self again" or "years younger," you may want to check out Markus' website. It's a bit dramatic and a tad "over the top" in parts -- but, hey, the guy works in Vegas, what would you expect?

But he has one info page called Getting On With It that is worth its weight in GOLD. So don't be put off by the razzle-dazzle of his website.

GoRawNow

If you read nothing else ever again about raw foods, blah, blah, blah -- read "Getting On With It." I've been researching this way of eating/living for over two years (and only practically living it for the last three months) -- and I don't think I've ever come across a more SIMPLE PRESENTATION on one page than Markus presents here as to how to tap into the blessings of life that God's provided for all of us on this earth. (As usual ... things that are the most simple, usually are the most true.) There is enough on this one page to positively affect most anyone . . . and to encourage anyone who may be struggling with ill health or excess weight or loss of vitality, etc. that there IS help for them and a way through the morass and maze (more like gauntlet) of diet industry gimmicks, medical disinformation, and pharmaceutical/corporate propaganda that's out there.

Getting On With It

Well, talking about what I ate yesterday and today will have to wait for later, as I must catch the daylight and get away from this computer for a while. Besides ... there's so much cool stuff on these links, who wants to read about what I ate?

Day 98 (Thursday): Great Day!

Today has been a great day -- I've done very well for both breakfast and lunch . . . with the exception of forgetting to drink water. (I'm also v-e-r-y tired, I noticed, from not getting to bed early enough three nights in a row.)

Breakfast: super simple - 2 bananas -- Lunch: a large salad of mixed lettuce and all kinds of raw veggies with a Caesar dressing - compliments of the office cafeteria.
Dinner: Who knows?

Been considering being a part of a month-long support group online that is for "beginners" just getting started on eating mainly raw foods. Karen Knowler offers it through her "Raw Food Coach" website. I'm thinking I could use some "support" ... and more of a plan. I'm feeling like I'm sort of free-floating at the moment -- want to feel a little more grounded and focused. We'll see.

I'm going to hit the hay early tonight as I've been keeping ungodly hours lately -- mostly due to reading late or getting caught up in some cable show or whatever. My body is telling me to get a good long sleep tonight.

Today's selection from online -- I learned what a "tiffin" is. Who knew?

What's a Tiffen?

Days 96 and 97 (Tuesday & Wednesday): Depression and White Flour

Been mulling a bit on white flour. (Some people I know mull over more profound topics -- like ancient Hebrew words and their meanings! I mull over white bread.) When I think of the food I've eaten most during my lifetime, white flour has to be at the top of the list -- from childhood right on through adulthood. And white flour registers in the body exactly as sugar does. Chemically, it causes the pancreas to secrete insulin, the fat-storing hormone that stimulates the appetite and slows down metabolism. (The latter part of the sentence above is taken directly from the article I've posted below.)

What caught my eye in that sentence was that the releasing of insulin after ingesting white flour does two not-so-cool things if a person is trying to detoxify his/her body: (1) It stimulates the appetite (for more of the same, usually); and (2) it slows down the metabolism. So, I've decided that the white flour I've been allowing myself has to go. In fact, what I'm realizing if I want to see amazing results ... not just modest results ... is that I need to let go of ALL things that in any way do not contribute to DEtoxifying this body of mine. If it adds to the toxicity, it needs to go.

White Flour: The Other Sugar

During my hydrotherapy yesterday, I expressed some discouragement with my progress in getting more fit, and the first thing the therapist said to me is that if you're eating any white flour at all, it can contribute significantly to the blues, the blahs, etc. ... i/o/w, depression (which she perceived to be at the root of my discouragement). I had to wonder if she might be on to something as far as what was affecting me. I've been having pasta salad here and there (today I even had mac and cheese, about 3/4 of a cup), and often have croutons in my salad or crisp bread w/ parmasian on top. These little white flour add-ons . . . that seem small . . . are not helping me detox. In fact, if what is written in this article is true, they serve to stimulate my cravings for more white flour and sugar, and they slow down my body's ability to get rid of toxins -- which is one aspect of losing excess weight (exercise is the other biggie).

So at least for a while, I'm going to streamline my meals to no longer include white flour. Given where my body is at present, it will only hinder my progress, not enable it. My hydrotherapist also said something encouraging. She said to just "continue on." That may not sound like a big deal of a thing to hear, but for me it was. She said that even though I am not where I want to be, remember that I'm dealing with years of poor eating habits, etc. (and added that ALL Americans are!) -- so just continue on and be at peace knowing my body is detoxing one day at a time and changing for the good . . . that any self-criticism about not seeing "results" fast enough is worthless and will just impede my progress. Even though I knew what she said already, I really needed to hear it yesterday.

By the way, here's my hydrotherapist's website (still under construction):

Love Your Transformation

Days 93-95 (Saturday-Monday): Simplicity!

green fresh 青々, originally uploaded by Watari Goro 渡五郎.

This weekend I did well -- raw food-wise, but what I noticed is that the raw food I prepare for myself is simpler than the raw food bought in take-out restaurants, usually less dense and caloric. I had zucchini "lasagna" prepared at Pure Food & Wine's take-out (purchased two portions which I ate over the weekend). I noticed that the food was extremely dense and filling -- in that the "meat sauce," the basil and tomato pesto sauces found in the layers of the lasagna all have nuts as the base ingredient. The "meat" sauce has pine nuts, the tomato sauce has cashews and the green pesto sauce is made from pistachios. Thus there are a lot of added calories. Probably why it was also so filling. Lesson from buying the take-out: detoxing happens best if I stay simple and make most of my own food.

Today, Monday, I had a green juice for breakfast -- spinach, celery, cucumber, kale and apple -- and for lunch I had a large salad w/ a vinaigrette dressing. Tonight I'll raid the fridge and see what appears. Heading out to catch the daylight.

I love all this added daylight!

Day 92 (Friday): Summertime, Summertime, Sum-Sum-Summertime!

watermelons, originally uploaded by Saratica.

Today was the first full day of Summer. And it is a beautiful SPRING day! I love it. Summer can take all the time it wants to come in for all I care ... Spring is my eternally favorite season. I'm about to head down to the Village to pick up a couple of books and some dinner at Pure Food & Wine's take-out shop.

I wanted to post some stuff on Max Gersen, a major "pioneer" in the natural foods movement ... who, understandably, was hated by many an "orthodox" doctor.
The whole video is DEFINITELY worth viewing, but this particular chapter deals specifically with the importance of having a clean food supply in order to remain vibrantly healthy.

Click on Chapter 8: Our Depleted Food

And Chapter 9 deals with SLEEP ... and how significant that is ... and the implications of ingesting animal proteins. It's fascinating!

Click on Chapter 9

WOW ... the last sentence amazed me and a light went on. He stated that the modern soy bean if ingested actually BLOCKS THE ABSORPTION OF NUTRIENTS! For years and years -- at least 10 or 12, I ate many soy bean products (tofu, tempeh, soymilk, soynuts, etc.) thinking that soy was good for me. All the while, it was contributing to poor digestion. I've also since learned that soybean ingestion negatively affects the thyroid gland. Ahhh. The things we learn too late sometimes! I'm thankful for what I'm learning NOW, though ... so it's onward (and downward).

If you don't have time to view anything else ... check out the Epilogue below:

Click on Chapter 11 - Epilogue: What Matters

Day 91 (Thursday): Found An Amazing Blog Today

I'm learning how to download photos onto this blog ... and today I picked these red peppers snapped at a farmer's market. (I suppose the next photo should be a wee bit smaller -- right now I don't know how to change the size!)

Peppers Farmer's Market, originally uploaded by JAGwired.

Red peppers are like candy ... and yet they are only 10 on the Glycemic Index, an index ranging from 0 to 110 ranking foods based on their immediate effects on blood sugar. They make a great snack and also are terrific as part of a salad dressing when made in a high-speed blender.

Today I had a mini-quiche for breakfast with a slice of pecan french toast (minus any maple syrup). I skipped lunch as I felt so full I wasn't a bit hungry. It's now close to 7:00 p.m. and I'm heading home ... I'll have some nori veggie rolls for dinner -- avocado slices, cucumber spears, tomatoes, basil pesto and some fresh mesclun greens -- roll 'em up for an easy-peasy, filling dinner.

While following some links today, I found a blog that was quite amazing. It was posted by a woman who has lost 92 pounds strictly by having blended green drinks daily on a restricted-calorie basis -- allowing herself about only 800 calories per day. It seems extremely drastic, but given that she has much weight to lose, she felt it was the path for her. This woman began her road back to herself at the incredible weight of 528 pounds. God bless her! May she succeed beyond her wildest dreams. She has some great links on her blog and some beautiful photos of all kinds of vibrant-looking veggies.

Valerie Winters' Blog: "Green Smoothie Experiment"