Ok.....confession time.
A couple weeks ago I went to visit my parents for the weekend. I came equipped with a couple Lara Bars, and while I was there, my mom and I checked out the health food store to stock up on things I can't find here.
Things were going along swimmingly, until Sunday evening. I suddenly had an absolutely overwhelming urge to eat sugar - processed, chemical-filled sugar, not dates or grapes or some other healthy substitute.
And, you know what? I did. My dad brought home concretes from MaidRite, a burger/ice cream joint that featured prominently in my childhood. Concretes are like Blizzards on steroids, and they have nostalgic qualities that far surpass the basic appeal of sugar consumption.
After that, things nose-dived off of a culinary cliff. I'm not going into details, but lets just say that I'm amazed the raw-food police have busted down my door. I've tried to get back on it, and will have a few good days before biting the dust once more.
So, we're doing a re-set. Another 45 days.
I've already eaten cooked food today, so it'll officially begin tomorrow.
There two caveats....One, I can't go without coffee again. It just isn't within me to place myself under that kind of deprivation again. *sigh* Its one of the supreme joys of my life, and believe me - I ain't got a lot of joys. My compromise will be: no lattes, cafe mistos, double shots on ice, or any other drink involving milk. Only straight coffee or espresso. Oh, and no nasty chemical creamer at work. That'll be hard, since the coffee there is like a toxic sludge. See? It's not as if I'm taking the easy route here.
Two, sushi. *shrug* What can I say? I have a friend is about to have a baby, and we were supposed to celebrate by going out and having sushi. And believe me, I'm gonna have me some sushi.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Day 12
Today I ran by the health food store on my lunch break. I was feeling adventuresome, so I picked up a bottle of kombucha.
(Mine was GingerBerry, which isn't up there...but picture it in pinky purple.)
This stuff is...interesting, to say the least. It is a fermented green tea, filled with active cultures (live bacteria) and all sorts of enzymes and amino acids. At least, so says the label. In fact, the label claims that there are 2 billion organisms in each bottle. That's a lot of zeros, folks.
I googled kombucha and was thoroughly grossed out by what I saw. The way its created seems to be putting a solid mass of bacteria into a vat of tea and letting it grow. *shudder* I was put-off to save pics and post links....so here's just the general link to the Google search.
I was prepared for the stuff to be nasty, although steadfastly resolved to drink the entire thing (at $3.49 a bottle, I wasn't letting a single drop get away from me.) I cracked it open and it hissed like a bottle of Coke; unlike a bottle of Coke, it strongly resembled the sent of vinegar. Holding my breath and wrinkling my nose, I took a cautious sip.
It was different - a slight berry flavor, with the sharp bite of the ginger and acidic underpinnings. The fermentation caused it to be slightly carbonated (and with a trace of alcohol. Less than .05%, but I told my boss that if I started dancing on my desk, it was the health drink - I swear.)
I could only get through half a bottle, and the rest is waiting for me in the fridge at work. It was...filling, in a way. I had half a bottle of that and a few dates and pumpkin seeds, and I was good until I ate dinner at 8:30 p.m.
Overall, not bad stuff. And its good to keep healthy bacteria in my system.
(Mine was GingerBerry, which isn't up there...but picture it in pinky purple.)
This stuff is...interesting, to say the least. It is a fermented green tea, filled with active cultures (live bacteria) and all sorts of enzymes and amino acids. At least, so says the label. In fact, the label claims that there are 2 billion organisms in each bottle. That's a lot of zeros, folks.
I googled kombucha and was thoroughly grossed out by what I saw. The way its created seems to be putting a solid mass of bacteria into a vat of tea and letting it grow. *shudder* I was put-off to save pics and post links....so here's just the general link to the Google search.
I was prepared for the stuff to be nasty, although steadfastly resolved to drink the entire thing (at $3.49 a bottle, I wasn't letting a single drop get away from me.) I cracked it open and it hissed like a bottle of Coke; unlike a bottle of Coke, it strongly resembled the sent of vinegar. Holding my breath and wrinkling my nose, I took a cautious sip.
It was different - a slight berry flavor, with the sharp bite of the ginger and acidic underpinnings. The fermentation caused it to be slightly carbonated (and with a trace of alcohol. Less than .05%, but I told my boss that if I started dancing on my desk, it was the health drink - I swear.)
I could only get through half a bottle, and the rest is waiting for me in the fridge at work. It was...filling, in a way. I had half a bottle of that and a few dates and pumpkin seeds, and I was good until I ate dinner at 8:30 p.m.
Overall, not bad stuff. And its good to keep healthy bacteria in my system.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Day 11
On my drive home from work I began to contemplate what I would like for dinner. Then it occured to me -- I hadn't eaten lunch. Or breakfast.
Part of this whole healthy thing was a more regular meal schedule.
Whoops.
I ate a lot yesterday, trying to keep myself from cheating, so I'm not surprised that I forgot to eat today.
I drank iced green tea today. I know that it's not technically allowed, but I need something to get myself to drink more water. I'm picky about water - very picky - and if the flavor is even the slightest bit off I can't drink it. Ice tea is a good way to disguise the flavor of less-than-stellar water. I figured that there isn't much caffeine, and I obviously don't add sugar. A small sacrifice, so get more water into my system.
Part of this whole healthy thing was a more regular meal schedule.
Whoops.
I ate a lot yesterday, trying to keep myself from cheating, so I'm not surprised that I forgot to eat today.
I drank iced green tea today. I know that it's not technically allowed, but I need something to get myself to drink more water. I'm picky about water - very picky - and if the flavor is even the slightest bit off I can't drink it. Ice tea is a good way to disguise the flavor of less-than-stellar water. I figured that there isn't much caffeine, and I obviously don't add sugar. A small sacrifice, so get more water into my system.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Day 10
This morning I decided to make myself a nice creamy chocolate protein shake using my hemp powder (9 grams of protein!) I had seen recipes and although I didn't know the exact ingredients, I thought I remembered what this particular smoothie entailed.
I used 2 bananas, 2 handfuls of spinach, some water, 4 spoonfuls of hemp powder, 2 TB of raw cacao powder.
Overall, I was pretty excited about it!
Then, I looked at it.
I'm not going to contemplate what it looks like.
Worse still, I tasted it. It tasted like mud. Of course, I've never eaten mud so my frame of reference is a little skewed. Perhaps it was just my brain filling in where my experience left holes...but it was definitely muddy.
And thick.
And frothy.
*shudder*
Still, when you're a semi-broke girl living on a fresh-produce diet, wasting food just isn't an option. If you make it and its still edible, you eat it. Or slurp, as the case may be.
I managed to force down this glass, and stuck the rest in the fridge for later. By the time "later" came around, though, I had lost my nerve. Waste or no waste, the remaining goop was poured into the trash.
Even this lunatic has her limits.
I used 2 bananas, 2 handfuls of spinach, some water, 4 spoonfuls of hemp powder, 2 TB of raw cacao powder.
Overall, I was pretty excited about it!
Then, I looked at it.
I'm not going to contemplate what it looks like.
Worse still, I tasted it. It tasted like mud. Of course, I've never eaten mud so my frame of reference is a little skewed. Perhaps it was just my brain filling in where my experience left holes...but it was definitely muddy.
And thick.
And frothy.
*shudder*
Still, when you're a semi-broke girl living on a fresh-produce diet, wasting food just isn't an option. If you make it and its still edible, you eat it. Or slurp, as the case may be.
I managed to force down this glass, and stuck the rest in the fridge for later. By the time "later" came around, though, I had lost my nerve. Waste or no waste, the remaining goop was poured into the trash.
Even this lunatic has her limits.
Days 8-9
Friday
It's fascinating how your entire perspective on comfort and craving can change if you just put your mind to it.
I have no shame in admitting that I'm a comfort eater. At the end of a long day (week) of work, I'd typically make my way to Krogers and prowl the aisles for something to take the edge off of my life as a cubical rat. Some of my favorites were...
and
And of course, Ben and Jerrys always made an appearance.
Now, obviously, going raw throws a kink in my weekend junk-food indulgence. But that's ok really, because raw food has comfort products of its own. Now, it's not exactly pizza and ice cream, but its good eatin' nonetheless.
This Friday night I did some shopping, and got some good stuff. Here's the spoils--some of my favorite foods while on the raw diet..
Sprouts...not just any sprouts -- the "crispy mix." No idea what that means, but they taste like little bitter beans and have a crisp, firm texture. Darn good.
Avocados. I've got nothing but love for avocados. I can't justify buying them too often, because of their insane expense, but I could eat their creamy goodness every day.
Grapes. I like to freeze a couple pounds at a time, and keep several bags full for snacking. They're like little bite-sized popsicles!
Corn. Some people say its not safe to eat raw corn. Maybe they're right. Am I giving it up? Not until I end up puking on the floor.
Saturday
Today, Kroger had their Lara bars on sale. These things are the bomb -- 100% raw food bars; dates, nuts and fruits ground, pressed into bars and dehydrated until firm.
It was weird spending a weekend without coffee. Weekends are typically my "coffee day." I can't afford to get expensive Starbucks every day, so I limit myself to one latte per week, typically on Saturday.
It's fascinating how your entire perspective on comfort and craving can change if you just put your mind to it.
I have no shame in admitting that I'm a comfort eater. At the end of a long day (week) of work, I'd typically make my way to Krogers and prowl the aisles for something to take the edge off of my life as a cubical rat. Some of my favorites were...
and
And of course, Ben and Jerrys always made an appearance.
Now, obviously, going raw throws a kink in my weekend junk-food indulgence. But that's ok really, because raw food has comfort products of its own. Now, it's not exactly pizza and ice cream, but its good eatin' nonetheless.
This Friday night I did some shopping, and got some good stuff. Here's the spoils--some of my favorite foods while on the raw diet..
Sprouts...not just any sprouts -- the "crispy mix." No idea what that means, but they taste like little bitter beans and have a crisp, firm texture. Darn good.
Avocados. I've got nothing but love for avocados. I can't justify buying them too often, because of their insane expense, but I could eat their creamy goodness every day.
Grapes. I like to freeze a couple pounds at a time, and keep several bags full for snacking. They're like little bite-sized popsicles!
Corn. Some people say its not safe to eat raw corn. Maybe they're right. Am I giving it up? Not until I end up puking on the floor.
Saturday
Today, Kroger had their Lara bars on sale. These things are the bomb -- 100% raw food bars; dates, nuts and fruits ground, pressed into bars and dehydrated until firm.
It was weird spending a weekend without coffee. Weekends are typically my "coffee day." I can't afford to get expensive Starbucks every day, so I limit myself to one latte per week, typically on Saturday.Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Day 6 (and 5....)
Well, I just kicked another rule to the curb, eh? That'd be the Blogging Everyday one. Whoops.
Yesterday was a testament to the amazing energy that raw diets bring. I woke up at 6, worked all day (and that job wears me out, yo) and then went to a friend's house to help her paint. After painting I stayed up until 12:30 reading.
All this without coffee, people. And let me clarify -- my bedtime is 10 p.m.
Today, well, I'm not sure about today yet. Food went fine. Grapes for breakfast, green smoothie throughout the day, tomato soup and some avocado for dinner. We're going to see if my raw body can handle stress any better -- the cable guy nicked our water line and my roommate and I are dealing with that crisis.
So far, I'm all for abandoning ship and staying with a friend until its resolved. No harm, no foul. *shrug* I guess raw foods help out the stressing too.
Yesterday was a testament to the amazing energy that raw diets bring. I woke up at 6, worked all day (and that job wears me out, yo) and then went to a friend's house to help her paint. After painting I stayed up until 12:30 reading.
All this without coffee, people. And let me clarify -- my bedtime is 10 p.m.
Today, well, I'm not sure about today yet. Food went fine. Grapes for breakfast, green smoothie throughout the day, tomato soup and some avocado for dinner. We're going to see if my raw body can handle stress any better -- the cable guy nicked our water line and my roommate and I are dealing with that crisis.
So far, I'm all for abandoning ship and staying with a friend until its resolved. No harm, no foul. *shrug* I guess raw foods help out the stressing too.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Day 4
Whenever I tell people that I'm following a raw vegan diet, the typical response is a raised eyebrow and a cautious "Why?..." This is typically said in a tone of voice that implies that I am some lunatic that may snap and begin mauling those around me with my fingernails. (Hm, that reminds me - I need a manicure.)
*ahem*
My typical answer is a sheepish shrug and a timid "Um, 'cause I like it?"
The concept that I'm doing this of my own free will, and not because of some doctor's mandate, only serve to reinforce the idea that I'm plain nuts.
So, in case any of you (all 3! *grin*) who read this have wondered or are wondering, what the heck your crazy friend is doing, here's a summary.
What is a raw diet?
Well, that should be pretty self explanatory. If its raw, I can eat it. Right now, I'm doing 100% raw vegan, but I have eaten raw cheese in the past (made from unpasteurized milk.) No, I can't have steamed vegetables. Frozen fruit really isn't acceptable, unless I freeze it myself and can be confident that it wasn't blanched before being frozen. Quite obviously, coffee is out. So is hot tea, milk, or other beverages (I'd do some crazy things for a Diet Mountain Dew right now.)
Why would any sane person do this?
I'm not knowledgeable enough about this to be really technical....but here's the gist, from what I've read. Whenever you cook food and raise the temperature past 112 degrees (some say 117,) you kill most of the enzymes. These enzymes that are naturally present in the "living" food, are supposed to help your body break down, digest and really use the food. When they are dead...well, they're dead. Your body has to work twice as hard to extract nutrients, and while it can supply its own enzymes, this taxes our system.
There's also a bunch of hoopla about acid and alkaline balance. I don't really get all of that, except to know that this raw food thing tends to keep you in good balance - whatever that is.
Forget sane - why are you doing this?
In short, I feel better when I do this. I go from needing 8+ hours of sleep, to needing about 6+ hours (huge, for me.) I lose weight. My skin clears up. My candida goes away. My metabolism speeds up. I have energy. I can eat my full, and more, and never feel like I need to roll myself out the door after a meal (hello, pasta?)
Plus, I like doing crazy things. ;)
As for this day's report, things are going peachy-keen. Detox is starting, and I always get this weird lower back pain when I detox. But, oh well, this too shall pass. Here's to day 4, and 41 days to go!
*ahem*
My typical answer is a sheepish shrug and a timid "Um, 'cause I like it?"
The concept that I'm doing this of my own free will, and not because of some doctor's mandate, only serve to reinforce the idea that I'm plain nuts.
So, in case any of you (all 3! *grin*) who read this have wondered or are wondering, what the heck your crazy friend is doing, here's a summary.
What is a raw diet?
Well, that should be pretty self explanatory. If its raw, I can eat it. Right now, I'm doing 100% raw vegan, but I have eaten raw cheese in the past (made from unpasteurized milk.) No, I can't have steamed vegetables. Frozen fruit really isn't acceptable, unless I freeze it myself and can be confident that it wasn't blanched before being frozen. Quite obviously, coffee is out. So is hot tea, milk, or other beverages (I'd do some crazy things for a Diet Mountain Dew right now.)
Why would any sane person do this?
I'm not knowledgeable enough about this to be really technical....but here's the gist, from what I've read. Whenever you cook food and raise the temperature past 112 degrees (some say 117,) you kill most of the enzymes. These enzymes that are naturally present in the "living" food, are supposed to help your body break down, digest and really use the food. When they are dead...well, they're dead. Your body has to work twice as hard to extract nutrients, and while it can supply its own enzymes, this taxes our system.
There's also a bunch of hoopla about acid and alkaline balance. I don't really get all of that, except to know that this raw food thing tends to keep you in good balance - whatever that is.
Forget sane - why are you doing this?
In short, I feel better when I do this. I go from needing 8+ hours of sleep, to needing about 6+ hours (huge, for me.) I lose weight. My skin clears up. My candida goes away. My metabolism speeds up. I have energy. I can eat my full, and more, and never feel like I need to roll myself out the door after a meal (hello, pasta?)
Plus, I like doing crazy things. ;)
As for this day's report, things are going peachy-keen. Detox is starting, and I always get this weird lower back pain when I detox. But, oh well, this too shall pass. Here's to day 4, and 41 days to go!
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