Monday 29 December 2008

Human Bean checkin' in...




Long time no post.



In this age of reality shows, I think it not completely nuts to air my truth out.



I've been SAD since Oct or so...in more ways than one. While I'm currently on the flip side of fabulous, I'm not done flippin'.



I went raw in the summer, during our roadtrip. But upon our return, we both just got lazy, and our last effort was 11 days raw in late October.



Then, for reasons unbeknown-st to me, at least, in this state, it all kinda went to hell.



Life is not the same on SAD food. Bloated, itchy, constipated, moody, chunky, aging...



We are climbing our way out of this now. Funny (not haha) how ya go back to sleep. It's a whole different level of being when you go raw. Can't say I'd believe ya if I hadn't done it. You don't even think the same way when you're raw. It's like you're looking out different eyes. Vibrancy replaces cynicism.



I know that once I release this addiction to SAD foods, my world will clear up again. Lately, I am pretty lost. And more lately, I'm finding my way back.



Onward...

Human Bean checkin' in...




Long time no post.



In this age of reality shows, I think it not completely nuts to air my truth out.



I've been SAD since Oct or so...in more ways than one. While I'm currently on the flip side of fabulous, I'm not done flippin'.



I went raw in the summer, during our roadtrip. But upon our return, we both just got lazy, and our last effort was 11 days raw in late October.



Then, for reasons unbeknown-st to me, at least, in this state, it all kinda went to hell.



Life is not the same on SAD food. Bloated, itchy, constipated, moody, chunky, aging...



We are climbing our way out of this now. Funny (not haha) how ya go back to sleep. It's a whole different level of being when you go raw. Can't say I'd believe ya if I hadn't done it. You don't even think the same way when you're raw. It's like you're looking out different eyes. Vibrancy replaces cynicism.



I know that once I release this addiction to SAD foods, my world will clear up again. Lately, I am pretty lost. And more lately, I'm finding my way back.



Onward...

Sunday 9 November 2008




That which is not bound to happen doesn't have to be prevented or avoided. Vibrant health is normal and will exist unless disease is caused.
- Susan Hazard, PhD



That which is not bound to happen doesn't have to be prevented or avoided. Vibrant health is normal and will exist unless disease is caused.
- Susan Hazard, PhD

Friday 7 November 2008

Natural Hygiene Article



What To Expect When You Improve Your Diet By Stanley S. Bass, D.C.

If I were asked, "which is the area of greatest misunderstanding and confusion in the field of nutrition?", I would immediately be forced to reply, "It is the failure to properly understand and interpret the symptoms and changes which follow the beginning of a better nutritional program."


What is meant by a better nutritional program? It is the introduction of foods of higher quality in place of lower-quality ones. For example—if a person replaces a protein-rich food such as pork with beef, the beef may be considered the superior of the two due to its easier digestibility, lower and less-saturated fat content, etc.,—chicken is superior to beef, and fish is superior to chicken because of its more rapid digestion and lower-saturated fat content. Lima beans, lentils or chick peas which are eaten at the same meal with vegetables are superior in all the nutrients mentioned. Then we ascend to the nuts and seeds which are eaten in the natural state (raw and unsalted). To summarize—the closer the food comes to its raw, unfired form, the higher the quality is. In this condition, all the enzymes are found intact. The amino acids are in their finest form. The minerals, vitamins, trace elements, carbohydrates and life force are present. This life force, in turn, is capable of reproducing tissue which is full of life and longer lasting in structure.


This same classification of quality which we analyzed in relation to protein-rich foods applies to the carbohydrates (the starches and sugar-rich foods), the fats, the mineral-rich foods (vegetables), etc.


The quality of a nutritional program is dramatically improved by omitting evil and toxic substances such as coffee, tea, chocolate, tobacco, salt, pepper, etc.


What is the relation of quality of foods to recovery from illness? It is this in a nutshell—the higher the quality of food that we eat, the quicker we recover from disease—provided we are able to properly digest and assimilate the quality level. To this must be added the knowledge of: (a) proper food-combining, (b) proper order of eating the different kinds of food at a meal (e.g. the most easily digested food should be eaten first, the more complex one second and the most-concentrated item last), (c) the correct quantity of food to be consumed (of each type) in the meal, and (d) the correct time for eating (when hungry, and not by the clock).


When Diet Improves, the Body Casts Out Accumulated Toxins and Unfit Tissues


Now what happens when a person follows these rules and makes a decided improvement in the quality of the food consumed? Remarkable things begin to happen to the body (as well as the mind). The amazing intelligence present in every cell of the body, the wisdom of the body in its operation immediately becomes manifest. The rule may be stated thusly: When the quality of the food coming into the body is of higher quality than the tissues which the body is made of, the body begins to make room for the superior materials which it uses to make new and healthier tissue. This is the plan of Nature—of evolution. The body is very selective and always aims for improvement—for better health. The body always tries to produce health and always will, unless our interference is too great. Only then do we fail to recover and degenerate further into disease. The remedial nature of many conditions such as colds, fevers, cuts, swellings, and injuries, furnish endless examples of how the body tends toward health—always—unless we do something to stop the process.


"Withdrawal" Symptoms Follow Use of Improved Diet


What are the symptoms or signs which become evident when we first begin to omit the lower-grade foods and instead introduce superior foods—those which are more alive, more natural than we are accustomed to? When the use of a toxic stimulant such as coffee, tea, chocolate or cocoa is suddenly stopped, headaches are common and a letdown occurs. This is due to the discard by the body of the toxins called caffeine and theobromine which are removed from the tissues and transported through the bloodstream to the eliminating organs. When the blood coagulates through the brain during its many bodily rounds before the noxious agents reach their final destination for elimination, these irritants register in our consciousness as pain—in other words, headache. The letdown is due to the ower action of the heart—the resting phase which follows the stimulation or more rapid heart action forced upon the body by certain poisons called stimulants. The more rapid heart beat (or pulse) produces a feeling of exhilaration and the slower action produces a depressed state of mind. Usually, within three days, the symptoms vanish and we feel stronger due to the recuperation which follows. To a lesser extent, the same process occurs when we abandon lower-quality foods and replace them with better foods. Lower-quality foods have undergone more reparation. Spices, salt and other ingredients have been added and they tend to be more stimulating than less-prepared and more-natural foods. Animal foods such as meat, fowl and fish are more stimulating than cheese, nuts and vegetable proteins. Consequently, the withdrawal of stimulation which follows the abandonment of animal food produces a slower heart action—a resting base—which registers in the mind as relaxation or a decrease in energy. This initial letdown lasts about ten days or slightly longer and is followed by an increase of strength, a feeling of diminishing stress and greater well-being.


Don't Judge Results Prematurely


Now, let us return to the symptoms which occur in the process of regeneration.


The person who starts a better diet, stays on it for three days to a week and then quits will say, "Oh! I feel better on the old diet—the new one made me feel weak." He ailed because he didn't give his body a chance to adjust and complete its first phase of action—recuperation. If he lad waited a while longer, he would have begun to feel letter than before he started.


During the initial phase (lasting about ten days on the average to several weeks in some), the vital energies which are usually in the periphery or external part of the body much as the muscles and skin begin to move to the vital internal organs and start reconstruction. This shunting of much of the power to the internal region produces a "feeling of less energy in the muscles which the mind interprets as some weakness. Actually, the power is increased, but most of it is being used for rebuilding the more important organs and less of it is available for muscular work. Any weakness which is felt here is not true weakness, but merely a re-deploying of forces to the more important internal parts. Here it is important for the person to stop wasting energy, and to rest and sleep more. This is a crucial phase and if the person resorts to stimulants of any kind, he will abort and defeat the regenerative efforts of the body. It is important that he have patience and faith here and just wait it out, and after a while he will get increasing strength which will exceed by far what he felt before he began the new program. Success in recovery or improvement of health hinges upon the correct understanding of this point—realizing that the body is using its main energies in more important internal work and not wasting it in external work involving muscle movements. Be wise—take it easy here and relax. Just coast in your work and social obligations until you're out of the woods.


As one continues on the improved dietary and gradually raises the food quality, interesting symptoms begin to appear. The body begins a process called "retracing." The cellular intelligence reasons something like this—"Oh! look at all these fine materials corning in. How wonderful—now we have a chance to get rid of this old garbage and build a beautiful new house. Let's get this excess bile out of the liver and gallbladder and send it to the intestines for elimination. Let's get this sludge moving out of the arteries, veins and capillaries. These smelly, gassy brain-stupefying bowel masses have been here too long—out with them. These arthritic deposits in the joints need cleaning up. Let's get these irritating food preservatives, aspirins, sleeping pills and drugs out of the way, along with these other masses of fat which have made life so burdensome for us so long. Let's get going and keep going till the job is done—till we have a beautiful house and from then on we'll keep it a beautiful, ideal model house."

Natural Hygiene Article



What To Expect When You Improve Your Diet By Stanley S. Bass, D.C.

If I were asked, "which is the area of greatest misunderstanding and confusion in the field of nutrition?", I would immediately be forced to reply, "It is the failure to properly understand and interpret the symptoms and changes which follow the beginning of a better nutritional program."


What is meant by a better nutritional program? It is the introduction of foods of higher quality in place of lower-quality ones. For example—if a person replaces a protein-rich food such as pork with beef, the beef may be considered the superior of the two due to its easier digestibility, lower and less-saturated fat content, etc.,—chicken is superior to beef, and fish is superior to chicken because of its more rapid digestion and lower-saturated fat content. Lima beans, lentils or chick peas which are eaten at the same meal with vegetables are superior in all the nutrients mentioned. Then we ascend to the nuts and seeds which are eaten in the natural state (raw and unsalted). To summarize—the closer the food comes to its raw, unfired form, the higher the quality is. In this condition, all the enzymes are found intact. The amino acids are in their finest form. The minerals, vitamins, trace elements, carbohydrates and life force are present. This life force, in turn, is capable of reproducing tissue which is full of life and longer lasting in structure.


This same classification of quality which we analyzed in relation to protein-rich foods applies to the carbohydrates (the starches and sugar-rich foods), the fats, the mineral-rich foods (vegetables), etc.


The quality of a nutritional program is dramatically improved by omitting evil and toxic substances such as coffee, tea, chocolate, tobacco, salt, pepper, etc.


What is the relation of quality of foods to recovery from illness? It is this in a nutshell—the higher the quality of food that we eat, the quicker we recover from disease—provided we are able to properly digest and assimilate the quality level. To this must be added the knowledge of: (a) proper food-combining, (b) proper order of eating the different kinds of food at a meal (e.g. the most easily digested food should be eaten first, the more complex one second and the most-concentrated item last), (c) the correct quantity of food to be consumed (of each type) in the meal, and (d) the correct time for eating (when hungry, and not by the clock).


When Diet Improves, the Body Casts Out Accumulated Toxins and Unfit Tissues


Now what happens when a person follows these rules and makes a decided improvement in the quality of the food consumed? Remarkable things begin to happen to the body (as well as the mind). The amazing intelligence present in every cell of the body, the wisdom of the body in its operation immediately becomes manifest. The rule may be stated thusly: When the quality of the food coming into the body is of higher quality than the tissues which the body is made of, the body begins to make room for the superior materials which it uses to make new and healthier tissue. This is the plan of Nature—of evolution. The body is very selective and always aims for improvement—for better health. The body always tries to produce health and always will, unless our interference is too great. Only then do we fail to recover and degenerate further into disease. The remedial nature of many conditions such as colds, fevers, cuts, swellings, and injuries, furnish endless examples of how the body tends toward health—always—unless we do something to stop the process.


"Withdrawal" Symptoms Follow Use of Improved Diet


What are the symptoms or signs which become evident when we first begin to omit the lower-grade foods and instead introduce superior foods—those which are more alive, more natural than we are accustomed to? When the use of a toxic stimulant such as coffee, tea, chocolate or cocoa is suddenly stopped, headaches are common and a letdown occurs. This is due to the discard by the body of the toxins called caffeine and theobromine which are removed from the tissues and transported through the bloodstream to the eliminating organs. When the blood coagulates through the brain during its many bodily rounds before the noxious agents reach their final destination for elimination, these irritants register in our consciousness as pain—in other words, headache. The letdown is due to the ower action of the heart—the resting phase which follows the stimulation or more rapid heart action forced upon the body by certain poisons called stimulants. The more rapid heart beat (or pulse) produces a feeling of exhilaration and the slower action produces a depressed state of mind. Usually, within three days, the symptoms vanish and we feel stronger due to the recuperation which follows. To a lesser extent, the same process occurs when we abandon lower-quality foods and replace them with better foods. Lower-quality foods have undergone more reparation. Spices, salt and other ingredients have been added and they tend to be more stimulating than less-prepared and more-natural foods. Animal foods such as meat, fowl and fish are more stimulating than cheese, nuts and vegetable proteins. Consequently, the withdrawal of stimulation which follows the abandonment of animal food produces a slower heart action—a resting base—which registers in the mind as relaxation or a decrease in energy. This initial letdown lasts about ten days or slightly longer and is followed by an increase of strength, a feeling of diminishing stress and greater well-being.


Don't Judge Results Prematurely


Now, let us return to the symptoms which occur in the process of regeneration.


The person who starts a better diet, stays on it for three days to a week and then quits will say, "Oh! I feel better on the old diet—the new one made me feel weak." He ailed because he didn't give his body a chance to adjust and complete its first phase of action—recuperation. If he lad waited a while longer, he would have begun to feel letter than before he started.


During the initial phase (lasting about ten days on the average to several weeks in some), the vital energies which are usually in the periphery or external part of the body much as the muscles and skin begin to move to the vital internal organs and start reconstruction. This shunting of much of the power to the internal region produces a "feeling of less energy in the muscles which the mind interprets as some weakness. Actually, the power is increased, but most of it is being used for rebuilding the more important organs and less of it is available for muscular work. Any weakness which is felt here is not true weakness, but merely a re-deploying of forces to the more important internal parts. Here it is important for the person to stop wasting energy, and to rest and sleep more. This is a crucial phase and if the person resorts to stimulants of any kind, he will abort and defeat the regenerative efforts of the body. It is important that he have patience and faith here and just wait it out, and after a while he will get increasing strength which will exceed by far what he felt before he began the new program. Success in recovery or improvement of health hinges upon the correct understanding of this point—realizing that the body is using its main energies in more important internal work and not wasting it in external work involving muscle movements. Be wise—take it easy here and relax. Just coast in your work and social obligations until you're out of the woods.


As one continues on the improved dietary and gradually raises the food quality, interesting symptoms begin to appear. The body begins a process called "retracing." The cellular intelligence reasons something like this—"Oh! look at all these fine materials corning in. How wonderful—now we have a chance to get rid of this old garbage and build a beautiful new house. Let's get this excess bile out of the liver and gallbladder and send it to the intestines for elimination. Let's get this sludge moving out of the arteries, veins and capillaries. These smelly, gassy brain-stupefying bowel masses have been here too long—out with them. These arthritic deposits in the joints need cleaning up. Let's get these irritating food preservatives, aspirins, sleeping pills and drugs out of the way, along with these other masses of fat which have made life so burdensome for us so long. Let's get going and keep going till the job is done—till we have a beautiful house and from then on we'll keep it a beautiful, ideal model house."

Friday 31 October 2008


I enjoyed a full-on un-cooking day!

It actually started last night when I made flax bread. I used last week's flax cracker recipe, but instead of hand-mixing it and putting it straight away in the dehydrator, I followed the recipe to the letter and put the mixture in a large bowl, and covered it with a tea towel and let it sit on the counter until morning. This is so that it could slightly ferment.

In the morning, I put the slightly puffy mixture onto teflex sheets and dehydrated to a bread-like consistency, pulling them out before they dried more and turned into crackers. I got the most beautiful, bend-able bread, perfect for sandwiches. This is a keeper!!
I also made eggless egg salad to spread on it at dinner. You can see some on the spoon.


Then I made Ani Phyo's Red Beet Salad, using the yellow beet I had on hand, and skipping the dill because I had none, not even dried. Note to self...


Next I prepared a fajitas recipe I had in my file. I've never made this one...loosely, it contains an onion, a bell pepper, garlic, mushrooms, cumin, cayenne, oil, lemon juice, bit of salt. I threw in some chick peas too, cause that's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh, we like it, uh-huh uh-huh...



I pretty much had to make raw sour cream, then didn't I? :) So I did, (seen in the photo below) using a recipe called The Best Sour Cream in the World...1 and 1/4 cups pine nuts, 1/2 cup cashews...1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon light miso, 1/4 teaspoon salt, juice of 1/2 lemon...and WALLA, The best damn sour cream evah... Oh, and the lettuce leaf is the wrap :) The whole business looks pissed off! But I bet it's yummy!!


This next dish needs no introduction... raw vegan brownies... you all know I'm over the moon about these! A girl's gotta have some dessert!

Actually, you know who's gonna flip when he gets home...you got it, my other half. He's a fool for these, and raw dinners in general. See, I either keep it real light and 'grazey', like, maybe a smoothie for dinner, or whip up a salad if we get real hungry... or I go all out like today. The grazey days can be real slim pickins and sometimes we just want steak, lol, but we persevere. These dinner nights make it feel special! I planned this last night, shopped for it, and I was home all this rainy day, and between creative painting bursts on canvas, I made one of the dishes. I just kept pokin' at it all day like that, until I have a mighty impressive raw dinner this evening!! I hadn't planned on the brownies, but I was on a roll... :)


Dinner is Served...







I enjoyed a full-on un-cooking day!

It actually started last night when I made flax bread. I used last week's flax cracker recipe, but instead of hand-mixing it and putting it straight away in the dehydrator, I followed the recipe to the letter and put the mixture in a large bowl, and covered it with a tea towel and let it sit on the counter until morning. This is so that it could slightly ferment.

In the morning, I put the slightly puffy mixture onto teflex sheets and dehydrated to a bread-like consistency, pulling them out before they dried more and turned into crackers. I got the most beautiful, bend-able bread, perfect for sandwiches. This is a keeper!!
I also made eggless egg salad to spread on it at dinner. You can see some on the spoon.


Then I made Ani Phyo's Red Beet Salad, using the yellow beet I had on hand, and skipping the dill because I had none, not even dried. Note to self...


Next I prepared a fajitas recipe I had in my file. I've never made this one...loosely, it contains an onion, a bell pepper, garlic, mushrooms, cumin, cayenne, oil, lemon juice, bit of salt. I threw in some chick peas too, cause that's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh, we like it, uh-huh uh-huh...



I pretty much had to make raw sour cream, then didn't I? :) So I did, (seen in the photo below) using a recipe called The Best Sour Cream in the World...1 and 1/4 cups pine nuts, 1/2 cup cashews...1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon light miso, 1/4 teaspoon salt, juice of 1/2 lemon...and WALLA, The best damn sour cream evah... Oh, and the lettuce leaf is the wrap :) The whole business looks pissed off! But I bet it's yummy!!


This next dish needs no introduction... raw vegan brownies... you all know I'm over the moon about these! A girl's gotta have some dessert!

Actually, you know who's gonna flip when he gets home...you got it, my other half. He's a fool for these, and raw dinners in general. See, I either keep it real light and 'grazey', like, maybe a smoothie for dinner, or whip up a salad if we get real hungry... or I go all out like today. The grazey days can be real slim pickins and sometimes we just want steak, lol, but we persevere. These dinner nights make it feel special! I planned this last night, shopped for it, and I was home all this rainy day, and between creative painting bursts on canvas, I made one of the dishes. I just kept pokin' at it all day like that, until I have a mighty impressive raw dinner this evening!! I hadn't planned on the brownies, but I was on a roll... :)


Dinner is Served...






Day 11 of 98% Raw

First off, Happy Hallow'een! This photo was sent to me in an email and it makes me laugh.
**********************************************************************************


I'm a health nut these days (again!) and I'm so thankful that the shoe finally dropped. All that fence-sitting was starting to hurt (and to show). I gained back some weight and I could see the inflammation return to my face, easily seen in the puffiness of the nasal labial fold. (That line or groove from the corners of your nose to the corners of your mouth.) When I'm raw, the plumpness of this area goes down and it becomes less pronounced (less inflamed).

So Day 11 brings this progress. :) That, and my pants fit better, looser. I'm a notch down on my belt, and my skin glows to the point of people commenting on how well I look.

This means a lot to the hypochondriac in me. Come to think of it, my health anxiety is calming down now that I'm eating raw, because I know I'm building health.

My energy is pretty good, but not like it will be. :) This time last year, I was unstoppable. The energy and bright outlook are my favorite aspects of being raw. I'm heading in that direction, and that alone feels wonderful and hopeful. That's the feature difference in eating a SAD diet and eating a RAW diet. With SAD, I have thoughts and feelings of guilt, and fear at what I'm doing to myself. Maybe it's being 45, but all those media-driven campaigns make a girl paranoid. But back to RAW, I feel that by eating this way, and having the subsequent, inevitable changes bloom in the rest of my life as a result, I feel much more in charge of my health and myself, rather than a victim of modern society's cautionary tales and fear-mongering that we're bombarded with.

Food and lifestyle are the cure.

Here's a general look at my eating lately.

dandelion tea, nettle tea
green lemonade (1 head lettuce, lg handful leaves like kale, spinach, collards, chard...alone or mixed...1 whole lemon, 2 apples)
green smoothie (lg handful romaine, lg handful kale or spinach, 1 apple, 1 banana, goji berries, blueberries)
spinach, romaine, and red chard salad with tomatoes and cucumbers
avocados
walnuts, pine nuts, cashews
garlic
onion
apple cider vinegar
turmeric
apples
flax crackers
maca, spirulina, flax oil
all varieties of fruit and vegetables

So far, I'm noticing that my sleep/wake hours are changing. I'm getting up way earlier, good to go. But I'm having detox-y dreams, full of anger and extreme drama.

The biggest thing, though, is the settling down of my dark side. Well, I'm keeping SOME ;) but releasing the unhealthy fears.

Raw rocks so hard!!

Oh my gawd, I forgot to mention a couple biggies.

In the past few months, I was getting too cozy with those giant sized Green & Black's almond chocolate bars, snarfing them down like a machine. While I'll never profess to being sick of those, I did suddenly decide to stop the insanity. So I tossed them in the 'good ol' days graveyard' where they sit amongst the beer, the pot, and the fast food.

Something must have happened to my palate, as I then did the truly unthinkable. I dumped all coffee, even decaf!!!

And I'm just fine!

Having a cold last week was a 'good' start. My throat was so sore, coffee didn't sound desirable at all, so I went a few days without it and didn't miss it, and then when I was feeling better, I thought, Wow, might as well keep going...

So here I am, keeping going :)

Day 11 of 98% Raw

First off, Happy Hallow'een! This photo was sent to me in an email and it makes me laugh.
**********************************************************************************


I'm a health nut these days (again!) and I'm so thankful that the shoe finally dropped. All that fence-sitting was starting to hurt (and to show). I gained back some weight and I could see the inflammation return to my face, easily seen in the puffiness of the nasal labial fold. (That line or groove from the corners of your nose to the corners of your mouth.) When I'm raw, the plumpness of this area goes down and it becomes less pronounced (less inflamed).

So Day 11 brings this progress. :) That, and my pants fit better, looser. I'm a notch down on my belt, and my skin glows to the point of people commenting on how well I look.

This means a lot to the hypochondriac in me. Come to think of it, my health anxiety is calming down now that I'm eating raw, because I know I'm building health.

My energy is pretty good, but not like it will be. :) This time last year, I was unstoppable. The energy and bright outlook are my favorite aspects of being raw. I'm heading in that direction, and that alone feels wonderful and hopeful. That's the feature difference in eating a SAD diet and eating a RAW diet. With SAD, I have thoughts and feelings of guilt, and fear at what I'm doing to myself. Maybe it's being 45, but all those media-driven campaigns make a girl paranoid. But back to RAW, I feel that by eating this way, and having the subsequent, inevitable changes bloom in the rest of my life as a result, I feel much more in charge of my health and myself, rather than a victim of modern society's cautionary tales and fear-mongering that we're bombarded with.

Food and lifestyle are the cure.

Here's a general look at my eating lately.

dandelion tea, nettle tea
green lemonade (1 head lettuce, lg handful leaves like kale, spinach, collards, chard...alone or mixed...1 whole lemon, 2 apples)
green smoothie (lg handful romaine, lg handful kale or spinach, 1 apple, 1 banana, goji berries, blueberries)
spinach, romaine, and red chard salad with tomatoes and cucumbers
avocados
walnuts, pine nuts, cashews
garlic
onion
apple cider vinegar
turmeric
apples
flax crackers
maca, spirulina, flax oil
all varieties of fruit and vegetables

So far, I'm noticing that my sleep/wake hours are changing. I'm getting up way earlier, good to go. But I'm having detox-y dreams, full of anger and extreme drama.

The biggest thing, though, is the settling down of my dark side. Well, I'm keeping SOME ;) but releasing the unhealthy fears.

Raw rocks so hard!!

Oh my gawd, I forgot to mention a couple biggies.

In the past few months, I was getting too cozy with those giant sized Green & Black's almond chocolate bars, snarfing them down like a machine. While I'll never profess to being sick of those, I did suddenly decide to stop the insanity. So I tossed them in the 'good ol' days graveyard' where they sit amongst the beer, the pot, and the fast food.

Something must have happened to my palate, as I then did the truly unthinkable. I dumped all coffee, even decaf!!!

And I'm just fine!

Having a cold last week was a 'good' start. My throat was so sore, coffee didn't sound desirable at all, so I went a few days without it and didn't miss it, and then when I was feeling better, I thought, Wow, might as well keep going...

So here I am, keeping going :)

Wednesday 29 October 2008

Ode to Green Lemonade




Isn't it beautiful? Welcome to my breakfast. One head lettuce, handful leaves kale, 2 apples, 1 whole lemon. Stick it it in mr.juicer and drink 'er down.


Quote from Natalia Rose's Raw Food Detox Diet, page 48 'Devour Green Lemonade':


"If I were to tell you that there is something that you can drink that literally infuses your body with millions of enzymes, keeps your immune system strong year-round, offers unparalleled protection against osteoporosis, and tastes highly refreshing and filling, would you want some? It's called Green Lemonade, and I don't know a single successful raw foodist who does not drink some variation of this recipe as the foundation of their Raw Food Diet.

It's a fact: nothing is more enzyme-rich than freshly extracted vegetable juice. Ounce for ounce it is the most enzyme-loaded, easily absorb-able form of nutrition available on the planet today..."

"...There is a way to make vegetable juice tasty and borderline addictive! I call this 'Green Lemonade'. Try it! You'll love it!












Ode to Green Lemonade




Isn't it beautiful? Welcome to my breakfast. One head lettuce, handful leaves kale, 2 apples, 1 whole lemon. Stick it it in mr.juicer and drink 'er down.


Quote from Natalia Rose's Raw Food Detox Diet, page 48 'Devour Green Lemonade':


"If I were to tell you that there is something that you can drink that literally infuses your body with millions of enzymes, keeps your immune system strong year-round, offers unparalleled protection against osteoporosis, and tastes highly refreshing and filling, would you want some? It's called Green Lemonade, and I don't know a single successful raw foodist who does not drink some variation of this recipe as the foundation of their Raw Food Diet.

It's a fact: nothing is more enzyme-rich than freshly extracted vegetable juice. Ounce for ounce it is the most enzyme-loaded, easily absorb-able form of nutrition available on the planet today..."

"...There is a way to make vegetable juice tasty and borderline addictive! I call this 'Green Lemonade'. Try it! You'll love it!












Sunday 26 October 2008



Gillian's Raw Lemon Pudding


I got this light, refreshing dessert recipe from Gillian McKeith's website. I whipped it up last night and it made the yummiest, creamiest dessert! It's quick, too... other than the messy part about making sure all the seeds are out of the lemons. Hello hangnails.


Ingredients:
2 cups soft avocado, mashed
1 ½ cups of lemon flesh
½ lemon for freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ orange for freshly squeezed orange juice
2 cups pitted dates
3 tbsps maple syrup (keep out until end. We may not need this)*I didn't*
2 tbs pear juice

Method:
Peel lemons with a knife stripping away the peel and seeds, using only the interior of the lemon flesh.
Place all ingredients together and squeeze in the fresh orange and lemon juices.
Then mix in a blender or food processor.
Fantastic dessert.


Gillian's Raw Lemon Pudding


I got this light, refreshing dessert recipe from Gillian McKeith's website. I whipped it up last night and it made the yummiest, creamiest dessert! It's quick, too... other than the messy part about making sure all the seeds are out of the lemons. Hello hangnails.


Ingredients:
2 cups soft avocado, mashed
1 ½ cups of lemon flesh
½ lemon for freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ orange for freshly squeezed orange juice
2 cups pitted dates
3 tbsps maple syrup (keep out until end. We may not need this)*I didn't*
2 tbs pear juice

Method:
Peel lemons with a knife stripping away the peel and seeds, using only the interior of the lemon flesh.
Place all ingredients together and squeeze in the fresh orange and lemon juices.
Then mix in a blender or food processor.
Fantastic dessert.

Friday 24 October 2008

DeLIGHT

'Snapshot' copyright Lucie Walker 2008


Ok I'm over myself.


:)

Time to rawk on again.


My word for this weekend is LIGHT.


Light foods


Light from the great outdoors


and


Light heartedness.



Get on with the business of what makes me feel wonderful.




I'm going to unbake a raw apple pie this weekend and I'm going to uncook some raw pizza. I've been missing this delicacy and it feels to me like the perfect 'lighten up' food!



I honor my pissedoffedness annnnnd I kick it to the curb. Lightly.


DeLIGHT

'Snapshot' copyright Lucie Walker 2008


Ok I'm over myself.


:)

Time to rawk on again.


My word for this weekend is LIGHT.


Light foods


Light from the great outdoors


and


Light heartedness.



Get on with the business of what makes me feel wonderful.




I'm going to unbake a raw apple pie this weekend and I'm going to uncook some raw pizza. I've been missing this delicacy and it feels to me like the perfect 'lighten up' food!



I honor my pissedoffedness annnnnd I kick it to the curb. Lightly.





I am as mad as a wet hen!!!!

I'm a grown woman. I know my body, and I know myself. I am a firm believer that we are our own experts.

Why, then, WHY does my doctor's office call to get ME to go in to see the doctor? Is it patient recruitment??

I have told these buggers repeatedly that when I need to see a doctor, I will book in. I'm a big *&*&$ girl.

I've told them over and freakin' over to not phone me to tell me it's TIME to come in. (Let's keep that 'patient mentality' going, people. Let's keep up the notion that they know me better than I know myself.)

I've told them not to phone me. I've told them to make a note on my chart and on the computer to not phone me.

Well again, they phone me today. Dr. Wanker (kidding) wants you to come in to.....

I said, 'Does Dr. Wanker have time today, then?'

"Well, no...."

I said, 'Well then, I'll call in when I feel the need for an appointment.'

"Well, Dr. Wanker..."

I said, 'Ya know, I've asked you guys to not call me, and...'

She said, "Well, when the doctor asks us to, it overrides a patient's requests."

I said, "Well, that's just RUDE! I'm NOT coming in."

Fuck this, ya know. It's not like I'm under a doctor's care for anything. I haven't had to see a doctor for over a year for anything other than driving myelf to emerg when I steam-burned my arm. And THAT dr.Wanker wanted to give me a tetanus shot!! Just cause! I got the hell outta there.

HONESTLY, people.

Honestly.

I'm so pissed.



I am as mad as a wet hen!!!!

I'm a grown woman. I know my body, and I know myself. I am a firm believer that we are our own experts.

Why, then, WHY does my doctor's office call to get ME to go in to see the doctor? Is it patient recruitment??

I have told these buggers repeatedly that when I need to see a doctor, I will book in. I'm a big *&*&$ girl.

I've told them over and freakin' over to not phone me to tell me it's TIME to come in. (Let's keep that 'patient mentality' going, people. Let's keep up the notion that they know me better than I know myself.)

I've told them not to phone me. I've told them to make a note on my chart and on the computer to not phone me.

Well again, they phone me today. Dr. Wanker (kidding) wants you to come in to.....

I said, 'Does Dr. Wanker have time today, then?'

"Well, no...."

I said, 'Well then, I'll call in when I feel the need for an appointment.'

"Well, Dr. Wanker..."

I said, 'Ya know, I've asked you guys to not call me, and...'

She said, "Well, when the doctor asks us to, it overrides a patient's requests."

I said, "Well, that's just RUDE! I'm NOT coming in."

Fuck this, ya know. It's not like I'm under a doctor's care for anything. I haven't had to see a doctor for over a year for anything other than driving myelf to emerg when I steam-burned my arm. And THAT dr.Wanker wanted to give me a tetanus shot!! Just cause! I got the hell outta there.

HONESTLY, people.

Honestly.

I'm so pissed.

Thursday 23 October 2008

My Dinner Was Divine!!

Boy was my dinner wonderful!! Lesseee.... I made a purdy romaine and spinach salad, then chili with homemade flax crackers, then avocado fries, thennnnnnnnnn the infamous brownies. It was only after we ate the salad and the fries that I said, "DANG I forgot to take photos for my blog" and I snapped the chili. Then the brownies came out of the freezer and I could hardly hold the plate still and keep hands out of the photo...




My Dinner Was Divine!!

Boy was my dinner wonderful!! Lesseee.... I made a purdy romaine and spinach salad, then chili with homemade flax crackers, then avocado fries, thennnnnnnnnn the infamous brownies. It was only after we ate the salad and the fries that I said, "DANG I forgot to take photos for my blog" and I snapped the chili. Then the brownies came out of the freezer and I could hardly hold the plate still and keep hands out of the photo...




Still Rawkin'

Day 4 and I'm rawkin' hard!!! My headache was mercifully gone by the time I woke up yesterday, YEHAAAA! And none too soon.

I dug around some old recipes yesterday and made the ever-delicious eggless egg salad, and spread it on my home made flax crackers from the other day, added tomato and spinach and took a really bad picture of it before chompin' it down. :)

I mean, that really doesn't look very appetizing, does it? But it was delish!!! The broccoli you see is (look hard) is a raw recipe called Marinated Broccoli... I made it last year and loved it, but this year, I felt it had too much garlic, and the whole business hurt my teeth, wth? I'll be adjusting that recipe or ditching it, not sure. Probably adjusting it, cause coming up with anything good that has raw broccoli in it is a challenge for me. I love the taste, but the texture is over the top when it's raw. Maybe that's just one of the things I need to lightly steam. But cruciferous veggies shouldn't be missed, right, so I do need to figure this one out. Any good raw broccoli ideas out there?

I'm already waking up feeling lighter and my boyfriend swears I'm looking lighter too, and well, why would I argue with that? :>)

Today I'm shopping for the ingredients of raw chili from Gabriel Cousens' book Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine (geez I think that's the name of it, haven't cracked that thing in months!) haha but today's the day. So that's dinner, along with raw vegan brownies...yes, THOSE!! Can't wait!! So chili, a salad, flax crackers, and brownies.

Life is good :)

Still Rawkin'

Day 4 and I'm rawkin' hard!!! My headache was mercifully gone by the time I woke up yesterday, YEHAAAA! And none too soon.

I dug around some old recipes yesterday and made the ever-delicious eggless egg salad, and spread it on my home made flax crackers from the other day, added tomato and spinach and took a really bad picture of it before chompin' it down. :)

I mean, that really doesn't look very appetizing, does it? But it was delish!!! The broccoli you see is (look hard) is a raw recipe called Marinated Broccoli... I made it last year and loved it, but this year, I felt it had too much garlic, and the whole business hurt my teeth, wth? I'll be adjusting that recipe or ditching it, not sure. Probably adjusting it, cause coming up with anything good that has raw broccoli in it is a challenge for me. I love the taste, but the texture is over the top when it's raw. Maybe that's just one of the things I need to lightly steam. But cruciferous veggies shouldn't be missed, right, so I do need to figure this one out. Any good raw broccoli ideas out there?

I'm already waking up feeling lighter and my boyfriend swears I'm looking lighter too, and well, why would I argue with that? :>)

Today I'm shopping for the ingredients of raw chili from Gabriel Cousens' book Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine (geez I think that's the name of it, haven't cracked that thing in months!) haha but today's the day. So that's dinner, along with raw vegan brownies...yes, THOSE!! Can't wait!! So chili, a salad, flax crackers, and brownies.

Life is good :)

Tuesday 21 October 2008

Holy Headache from HELL Batman


Well it's Delicate Day Two and my head's gonna come off. Wtf. I know all about detox, but so soon? I guess I don't know alllll about it, cause this comes as a surprise.


I did so well yesterday, but maybe it was too much, too soon? Bam! 100%! I didn't think a day of that would send my head out to die. Holy crapoly.


I'm thinking it's a good thing, though, right... whatever is in there needs to not be in there, better out than in, and all that.


On the sunny side, I did make 'bread' in the dehydrator last night...first time in a lonnnnnng while. It's gorgeous, too, if I do say so myself.


It was great to wake up to! I used this recipe:

Blend together:

1 c water

1 large onion, chopped

3 stalks celery, chopped

4 cloves garlic (medium)

2 tomatoes

1 tspn caraway seed

1 tspn coriander seed

1 tspn sea salt

Then add:

2 c golden flax seed, ground, to the blended mixture.

I put it in the dehydrator on teflex sheets for 2 hours at 115 degrees, then lowered it to 105, flipped it off the sheets and onto the mesh, 'scored' it so it would snap apart easily, and left it in there overnight, waking up to a wonderfully aromatic kitchen!


And for my next trick, I've got Marinated Broccoli sitting in the fridge, um, marinating, until dinner. Along side that, I'm going to make 'Raw Vegan BBQ 'Beef'...one of my old favorites!! All this, with the top of my head coming off. Now THAT is commitment!!!! Or insanity, not sure. ;)


Ah, it's just sissy detox stuff, I can take it!!


Enjoy your day... I'll try.... :)

Holy Headache from HELL Batman


Well it's Delicate Day Two and my head's gonna come off. Wtf. I know all about detox, but so soon? I guess I don't know alllll about it, cause this comes as a surprise.


I did so well yesterday, but maybe it was too much, too soon? Bam! 100%! I didn't think a day of that would send my head out to die. Holy crapoly.


I'm thinking it's a good thing, though, right... whatever is in there needs to not be in there, better out than in, and all that.


On the sunny side, I did make 'bread' in the dehydrator last night...first time in a lonnnnnng while. It's gorgeous, too, if I do say so myself.


It was great to wake up to! I used this recipe:

Blend together:

1 c water

1 large onion, chopped

3 stalks celery, chopped

4 cloves garlic (medium)

2 tomatoes

1 tspn caraway seed

1 tspn coriander seed

1 tspn sea salt

Then add:

2 c golden flax seed, ground, to the blended mixture.

I put it in the dehydrator on teflex sheets for 2 hours at 115 degrees, then lowered it to 105, flipped it off the sheets and onto the mesh, 'scored' it so it would snap apart easily, and left it in there overnight, waking up to a wonderfully aromatic kitchen!


And for my next trick, I've got Marinated Broccoli sitting in the fridge, um, marinating, until dinner. Along side that, I'm going to make 'Raw Vegan BBQ 'Beef'...one of my old favorites!! All this, with the top of my head coming off. Now THAT is commitment!!!! Or insanity, not sure. ;)


Ah, it's just sissy detox stuff, I can take it!!


Enjoy your day... I'll try.... :)

Monday 20 October 2008

WHO'S the Girl??

collard wraps with carrot/beet salad surrounded by alfalfa sprouts...yummy

:)

Today, something kicked in again, at long last. I've been doing my shaky best to keep it raw lately.

Well today was the day I committed again. I feel so good about this! I know, I know. I've said it before, especially lately.

But today was different. I poured through all my recipes, and organized my next couple day's eating, went to the grocery store, and loaded up my fridge with greenery.

:)

WHO'S the Girl??

collard wraps with carrot/beet salad surrounded by alfalfa sprouts...yummy

:)

Today, something kicked in again, at long last. I've been doing my shaky best to keep it raw lately.

Well today was the day I committed again. I feel so good about this! I know, I know. I've said it before, especially lately.

But today was different. I poured through all my recipes, and organized my next couple day's eating, went to the grocery store, and loaded up my fridge with greenery.

:)
I've been staring my beliefs in the face. I'm finding that it's not always pretty, the stuff tha propel
I've been staring my beliefs in the face. I'm finding that it's not always pretty, the stuff tha propel
I've been thinking a lot about my beliefs around food lately. I believe
I've been thinking a lot about my beliefs around food lately. I believe

Monday 6 October 2008

Friday 3 October 2008

Progress Report


Well ya know what? I'm starting to notice a glow in my complexion after several days of Green Lemonade mornings and Green Smoothie afternoons. :) (See photo, above) Just kidding, that's my dog Gracie, snoozing contentedly. I think her expression matches my progress report. :)
Anyway...

I felt lighter today, too.

Mid-day I have either salad, or an avocado sandwich on sprouted grain.

I love jazzing these up with spinach, red pepper flakes,tomato,etc. Yum!

And I really can't say enough about Green Lemonade and Green Smoothies and I recommend working your way up to both in a day. Start with one or the other. You don't want to 'poughkeepsie' like Charlotte in Mexico (Sex & the City.)

The days are definitely getting easier and it's mindless to stay raw. It's not that I ever cooked during the days, even when eating SAD (Standard American Diet) it's more that I was being unconscious about it. Not thinking of eating all day, then pigging out at night.

For me, letting the raw lifestyle get 'sloppy' and slip away really is about getting unconscious again; going back to sleep. Though I just read somewhere about the raw diet being idealistic rather than realistic, at least long-term. Well, maybe; I prefer to think of the detours and slips as part of the journey. I mean, here and there, not all the way to junk back to all the way raw.

Eventually, your times 'off the path' get shorter as you experience more contrast. The biggest thing I notice about SAD is the lack of energy and fatigue by 3pm. With raw, I'm up dawn to dusk, with an even, abundant amount of energy, it's unreal. I can't wait! I am heading towards having that sparkling, child-like energy again!!!

I am also heading towards calming 'monkey mind' about my hypochondria. Yep, it's back. It had shut right up when I was high raw and 100% raw. Knowing more than I ever have about health, nutrition, and natural hygiene, it has been impossible to quell this nagging voice in my head. Knowing that food is the cure, has made this foray back into SAD rather pointed and painful. And, thankfully, brief and medically uneventful. Just a heads up; a kick in the pants.

All that said, for the past month, I've been transitioning beautifully, with my best efforts this past week. I'm making a practice of mindful eating, and feel like I'm at the wheel again. And what woman wouldn't be motivated by this: it's starting to pay off.

Progress Report


Well ya know what? I'm starting to notice a glow in my complexion after several days of Green Lemonade mornings and Green Smoothie afternoons. :) (See photo, above) Just kidding, that's my dog Gracie, snoozing contentedly. I think her expression matches my progress report. :)
Anyway...

I felt lighter today, too.

Mid-day I have either salad, or an avocado sandwich on sprouted grain.

I love jazzing these up with spinach, red pepper flakes,tomato,etc. Yum!

And I really can't say enough about Green Lemonade and Green Smoothies and I recommend working your way up to both in a day. Start with one or the other. You don't want to 'poughkeepsie' like Charlotte in Mexico (Sex & the City.)

The days are definitely getting easier and it's mindless to stay raw. It's not that I ever cooked during the days, even when eating SAD (Standard American Diet) it's more that I was being unconscious about it. Not thinking of eating all day, then pigging out at night.

For me, letting the raw lifestyle get 'sloppy' and slip away really is about getting unconscious again; going back to sleep. Though I just read somewhere about the raw diet being idealistic rather than realistic, at least long-term. Well, maybe; I prefer to think of the detours and slips as part of the journey. I mean, here and there, not all the way to junk back to all the way raw.

Eventually, your times 'off the path' get shorter as you experience more contrast. The biggest thing I notice about SAD is the lack of energy and fatigue by 3pm. With raw, I'm up dawn to dusk, with an even, abundant amount of energy, it's unreal. I can't wait! I am heading towards having that sparkling, child-like energy again!!!

I am also heading towards calming 'monkey mind' about my hypochondria. Yep, it's back. It had shut right up when I was high raw and 100% raw. Knowing more than I ever have about health, nutrition, and natural hygiene, it has been impossible to quell this nagging voice in my head. Knowing that food is the cure, has made this foray back into SAD rather pointed and painful. And, thankfully, brief and medically uneventful. Just a heads up; a kick in the pants.

All that said, for the past month, I've been transitioning beautifully, with my best efforts this past week. I'm making a practice of mindful eating, and feel like I'm at the wheel again. And what woman wouldn't be motivated by this: it's starting to pay off.

Monday 29 September 2008

Green Lemonade Revisted

Wow, I just had a Green Lemonade, for the second day in a row. (This is a juicer drink)


I'd forgotten how marvelous these are!! The recipe is from Natalia Rose's Raw Food Detox Diet:


1 head romaine lettuce
5 or 6 stalks kale (any type)
(I split between kale and spinach; 2 kale stalks an a small handful of baby spinach)
1-2 apples (fuji, macs; a sweet apple)
1-2 inches fresh ginger (optional, and I don't)

Dayum, this is good. I've been lost in green smoothie land and had stopped making these, but yesterday I had a wild hair and made one.

Well I liked it so much that I went out and bought more produce today and made another.

I'll still have a green smoothie, it doesn't have to be one or the other, right? I can have my smoothie as an afternoon snacky!!

Green Lemonade Revisted

Wow, I just had a Green Lemonade, for the second day in a row. (This is a juicer drink)


I'd forgotten how marvelous these are!! The recipe is from Natalia Rose's Raw Food Detox Diet:


1 head romaine lettuce
5 or 6 stalks kale (any type)
(I split between kale and spinach; 2 kale stalks an a small handful of baby spinach)
1-2 apples (fuji, macs; a sweet apple)
1-2 inches fresh ginger (optional, and I don't)

Dayum, this is good. I've been lost in green smoothie land and had stopped making these, but yesterday I had a wild hair and made one.

Well I liked it so much that I went out and bought more produce today and made another.

I'll still have a green smoothie, it doesn't have to be one or the other, right? I can have my smoothie as an afternoon snacky!!

Thursday 18 September 2008

Yunch!





























My little 4 year old friend calls Lunch YUNCH. Well yunch just got better around here... here is my week in photos...

Yunch!















My little 4 year old friend calls Lunch YUNCH. Well yunch just got better around here... here is my week in photos...
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