Raw Odyssey

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Running out of food makes you very creative, which can be a good thing. Yesterday I had tried to make a raw Waldorf salad using tahini for the dressing. Although It wasn’t too bad, it still had the taste of a desperation meal. I tried again today by making a fruit salad for lunch using apple, mango (the smaller kind I don’t like), grapes and some tangerine juice. I grated cinnamon over it. Today’s fruit juice “dressing” was much better than yesterday’s tahini-based one, but my brain still rebelled because my favorite fruit salads have berries, grapes, watermelon and large, juicy mango, not dry stuff like apples. When I first started eating the salad I was totally disinterested in it, but after two bites my tastebuds totally perked up. It’s very strange when my tastebuds enjoy something that my mind rebels against! Maybe that was a sign that my body was benefitting from the the meal. Unfortunately, applea often give me a stomach ache, and that’s what I’m suffering from right now.

I weighed myself this morning and discovered I’ve lost 20 lbs!!! This absolutely amazing to me. I’ve never lost so much weight in such a short amount of time. Not only that, but I’ve had none of the guilty feelings I used to have when trying to lose weight in the past. When losing weight in the past, I used to overeat the foods I really liked, and then a few days before weigh-in I would practically starve myself and work out extra hard in order to lose the weight I knew I had regained. The day of weigh-in- and often the day after- I would “treat” myself with fattening foods like hot fudge sundaes or fast food. The most extreme of my binge/starve routine caused me to gain 9 lbs in one week and then lose 9 lbs the following week. I really tortured myself in those days! Although I’m still facing challenges in getting used to a life of raw foods, those challenges don’t involve shame, anxiety or depression. It’s almost like a dream! Now, today is not my official weigh-in day, so we’ll see what the true verdict is on Sunday. But I’m excited!!

TODAYS MEALS

BREAKFAST
Organic Raw Black Sesame Tahini (Living Tree), 2 tbsp
Flax Seed Crisps, RAW, Mauk Family Farms, 0.75 oz

LUNCH
Apples, fresh, 1 medium (2-3/4″ dia) (approx 3 per lb)
Grapes, 1 cup, seedless
Mangos, 1 fruit without refuse
Tangerine Juice, 4 fl oz

DINNER
Taboule Salad, 2 tbsp
Flax Seed Crisps, RAW, Mauk Family Farms, 0.5 oz
Avocados, California (Haas), 0.33 fruit without skin and seeds
Baba Roasted Garlic Hummus, 5 tbsp

SNACK
Organic Raw Black Sesame Tahini (Living Tree), 1.5 tbsp
Flax Seed Crisps, RAW, Mauk Family Farms, 0.75 oz
Pine nuts, 1 tbsp
Banana, 1 large

Calories 1,325 Carbs 177 Protein 47 Fat 30

This blog has been copied over to http://rawodyssey.blogspot.com/.
I find that location easier for uploading and editing. My last post on this site will likely be tomorrow’s post, and then this blog will be taken down. The new location is still titled Raw Odyssey and contains the same information as this site, but will eventually include more pictures. Please feel free to leave comments, questions, etc. at the new location.

Thank you!!!

Ha- I didn’t have TIME to eat! That’s how I stayed raw. So the problem has not been solved. Class let out early, so I was able to get home before I died of hunger. I can see that for a day like today I may not be able to eat someting messy like trail mix or loud like an apple. I have very little time to get from one class to another A banana might work best.

TODAY’S FOODS

BREAKFAST
Banana, fresh, 1 large
Centrum with Lycopene, 1 serving
Nature Made Calcium Citrate, 1 serving
Cantaloupe, 1/4 melon, medium

LUNCH
Cantaloupe, 0.25 melon, medium (about 5″ dia)
Avocados, California (Haas), 0.75 fruit without skin and seeds
Green Giant Spring Mix Salad, 1 cup
Baba Roasted Garlic Hummus, 1/2 cup
Taboule Salad, 8 tbsp

DINNER/SNACK
Apples, fresh, 1 large
Grapes, 15
Goji Berries, 1 tbsp
Tahini, 1 tbsp
Banana, fresh, 1 large (8″ to 8-7/8″ long)

I start back at the university today. I’ll be out all afternoon into the mid-evening and I’m a bit nervous. I have no money to buy food at school today, so I’ve decided eat “strategically”. I had fruit for breakfast (cantaloupe and banana with grated cinnamon). About 40 minutes before I leave I’ll have a hummus and taboule sandwich with a bit of extra hummus and avocado to fill me up. I’ll take a homemade trailmix of sprouted nuts, goji berries and raisins, plus an apple and a banana with me to keep me until 8pm. That should be fine, right? Wish me luck!

Wow- I’m really eating less than I thought I would! I’m feeling satisfied these past couple of days at a calorie range closer to 1200, which is the magic number I always kept in mind when trying to lose weight in the past. As I write this it is 9:15 pm and I’m having a snack of a 1/4 cantaloupe. It is SOOO good- this must be what food tastes like when you’re really, truly hungry. I’m used to eating whenever I feel like it, but I never really tasted my food. In fact, I often didn’t want to taste it after a while because it would simply be acknowledgement that I was overeating. It’s very different when you eat without guilt. I really taste the food now, and I don’t have to hurry through it.

Today I read a really interesting article by Chet Day, who has seemingly valid and sensible concerns about raw vegan diets. He talks about proven deficiencies in 100% raw vegan diets and advocates adding animal-based foods in order to make up for deficiencies in zinc, B12 and other minerals. I hadn’t thought about zinc, so I added that nutrient to Sparkpeople.com and sure enough, I’m WAY low on zinc on the days I don’t take my multivitamin. But what to do? I don’t do well on cheese, and yogurt will have the same binge-inducing effect, I fear. Eggs might be a good alternative. I could hard boil one and put it in my salad, or just eat it as a snack by itself. I agree with Chet Day when he downplays the importance of sticking to a 100% raw diet just to be able to say you are raw. Quality of health is much more important to me. You can read Chet Day’s articles at http://chetday.com/vegandietdangers.htm .

Before I list my meals for the day, I wanted to thank people for their kind comments and helpful suggestions. If anyone has particular topics they are interested in seeing in the blog, drop me a line. I’m all about knowledge (can’t help it- I love learning!) so I’m happy to look into topics and I’m not afraid to hear all sides of an issue. I believe in straight talk, honesty and practical advice that people can put to use, I don’t agree with a lot of stuff I’ve been reading about raw foodism, but I’m happy to look at where the information comes from and what the many controversies are all about.

On to today’s menu:

BREAKFAST

Banana, fresh, 1 extra large (9″ or longer)
Banana, fresh, 1 extra large (9″ or longer)

LUNCH
Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Bread, 2 serving
Hummus, 1/4 cup
Romaine Lettuce (salad), 1 inner leaf
Avocados, California (Haas), 2 oz

DINNER
Romaine Lettuce (salad), 1 inner leaf
Avocados, California (Haas), 56 grams
Romaine Lettuce (salad), 4 inner leaf
Flax Seed Crisps, RAW, Mauk Family Farms, 1 oz
Tomatoes, red, ripe, raw, year round average, 1 cup cherry tomatoes
Baby Carrots, raw, 2 medium
Garlic, 1 clove
Salt, 1 tsp
Taboule Salad, 4 tbsp
Onions, raw, 1 slice, large (1/4″ thick)
Pine Nuts, 1 tbsp
Goji Berries, dried (Himalania), 1 oz

SNACKS
Cantaloupe, 0.25 melon, medium
Centrum with Lycopene,
Nature Made Calcium Citrate, 2

Calroies 1,186 carbs 188 fat 43 protein 34

My friend mentioned to me today that I eat hardly any greens at all. I didn’t really notice that, but she’s right. I definitely will be adding greens (spinach, especially) to my diet! That will help with my nutritional deficiencies.

I’m not sure how many people I actually reach with this blog, but I’ve been interested in doing a podcast* about a raw food lifestyle and am wondering if those of you who stop by would be interested in such a podcast. My purpose is to both motivate myself and to provide helpful information to others in an enjoyable format. However, I don’t want to pursue this if there isn’t much need for it, so if any of you would listen to a raw food podcast please leave me a comment. Also let me know what topics you’d like to have covered. I plan to continue the blog regardless of whether I add a podcast.

*(For those of you who don’t know what a podcast is, it’s basically an audio file, generally in MP3 format. It can be an interview, a recording of a radio show, whatever. After downloading the file many people burn them onto CDs to listen to in their car or portable CD player, while some put them on MP3 players such as iPods. They can also just be left on the computer).

At the moment I’m basking in the lingering aroma and flavor of the garlic I grated into my hummus/taboule sandwich. MMMMMMMM. Its amazing how a meal that was getting boring can be renewed with garlic.

Today I decided that since I’m satsified at 1340 calories, I’ll just stop eating. I’m not going to try to eat more, even though my calorie range for a weight loss of 2 lbs per week is, according to Sparkpeople, around 1450 to 1750. I’ll just take things one day at a time. I’m sure some days I’ll want to eat more, and others I’ll be satisfied with less.

My Meals for the Day

BREAKFAST
Banana, fresh, 3 extra small (less than 6″ long)
Centrum with Lycopene, 1 serving
Nature Made Calcium Citrate, 2 serving

LUNCH
Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Bread, 2 serving
Hummus, 0.25 cup
Romaine Lettuce (salad), 1 inner leaf
Avocados, California (Haas), 56 grams
Olive Oil, 1 1tsp
Orange Juice, 6 fl oz
Pomegranates, 1 pomegranate (3-3/8″ dia)

DINNER
Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Bread, 2 serving
Hummus, 0.25 cup
Romaine Lettuce (salad), 1 inner leaf
Avocados, California (Haas), 56 grams

SNACKS
Organic Raw Black Sesame Tahini (Living Tree), 1 tbsp
Flax Seed Crisps, RAW, Mauk Family Farms, 0.5 oz
Taboule Salad, 2 tbsp
1/4 medium sized cantaloupe (added at 11:30 pm!!)
CALORIES 1,391 CARBS 212 FAT 46 PROTEIN 41

I’ve lost two more pounds, started taking vitamins, and seen some more changes.

WEEKLY SUMMARY

NOTE
I started taking Centrum and Calcium Citrate this week, but I don’t remember to do it daily. I’ve also decided to track nutrients that raw vegans/vegetarians are said to be low in: B12, calcium and Iron. I notice that I am very low in these nutrients unless I take a vitamin.(I was probably low in these things while eating the Standard American Diet, too).
NUTRIENTS

-Fat ranges from………… 57 to 73 grams

-Protein………………………49 to 63 gms

-Calcium……………………17% to 836% RDA (due to vitamins)

-Magnesium……………….7% to 100% RDA

-Folate…………………….. 5% to 71% RDA

-Carbs……………………….117g to 272g

-Cholesterol………………..29mg to 119mg

-Potassium………………….390mg to 2,912mg

-Calories…………………….1344 to 1979

-B12 ………………………….3.9% to 103%

-Iron………………………….8% to 146%

-Water………………………..average= 6 glasses a day.

WEIGHT LOSS

STARTED WEEK AT: 325

ENDED WEEK AT: 323

TOTAL POUNDS LOST SINCE JANUARY 1ST 2006: 18

CHANGES NOTICED THIS WEEK

I’m remembering to take vitamins (Centrum and Calcium Citrate) more often. On those days, my RDA for calcium, B12 and vitamins D and E are met are almost met. I’d like to improve my diet so that I get more vitamins and minerals from my foods.

I have been waking up earlier in the morning, ready to get out of bed. Instead of waking up between 9 and 10 a.m., I wake up refreshed as early as 5:30, even if I went to bed at midnight. Thus far I’ve chosen to stay in bed and listen to the radio, but I think I’ll start getting out of bed and celebrating the extra waking hours. This is great because it comes just in time for the new college semester when I need extra studying hours.

I had bad sinus pain this morning- this is not common for me.

My eyes have been watering less and less.

No more jaw pain!! I used to have terrible pain from all the sweets I was consuming. I’d take a sip of Pepsi or bite into some candy and could feel the sugar entering my molars and causing immediate, intense pain. Cold beverages did that to me as well- that initial shock of cold was horrible. But since January 1st I’ve had NO pain whatsoever! I know my cavities haven’t suddenly disappeared, but the quality of the foods I eat now are definitely different. SInce I’ve increased my fruit, however, I’ll have to really keep up on brushing my teeth and drinking water to rinse the sugars off. I hear of many fruitarians who report bad teeth due to the sugar content of fruit.

I still have the intestinal problem but it hasn’t been as bad as last week.

I have to mention that my lower back pain seems to have worsened. I don’t know if that’s my imagination or what. Guess I’d better see a doctor. I’ve been eschewing my usual Alleve, but it’s really bad some days- especially first thing in the morning. I just want to make sure it’s not something other than weight-related.

FOODS CONSUMED

Pretty much the same as last week. I’ve removed cauliflower, cabbage and jicama because I can’t stand them right now. I added sprouted bread, which I really like and which has not sparked any food cravings or desire to overeat at all. I’ve eaten the rest of my cheese and won’t buy any more for awhile since that does spark cravings. I’ve found that while I can eat sprouts, the seeds themselves are just too bitter for my palate.

Today was another strange day for me because it is now a quarter to 11 pm and I’ve not made my minimum number of calories for the day. I’m hungry now, so I’m going to eat a very late meal. Don’t know if that’s good or bad, but I’m gonna do it anyway. I’ve found that 1/4 cup each of hummus and taboule fill me just fine rather than the 1/2 cup each I was having before, so that contributes to the lower number of calories I’ve been eating. Maybe (gasp) I’m actually getting used to eating LESS food! Still, I’m concerned with the amount of calories I eat because I don’t yet trust my body to guide me. One thing I know from past weight loss success is that if one eats too far below one’s caloric reuirements, weight loss can slow down considerably, and I don’t want that to happen.

Lately I’m really noticing how good non-raw foods smell. I’ve been overcome by the aromas of coffee, pizza and peanut butter in my own home. But I’m proud to say that I have not wanted to eat any of those foods- my family is not raw, but so far I’ve been all right with that.

TODAY’S FOOD

BREAKFAST

Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Bread, 2 slices

Hummus, 1/4 cup

Romaine Lettuce (salad), 1 inner leaf

Avocados, California (Haas), 2 oz

Taboule Salad, 1/4 cup

LUNCH

Flax Seed Crisps, RAW, Mauk Family Farms, 0.75 oz

Green Giant Spring Mix Salad, 1 cup

Baba Roasted Garlic Hummus, 4 tbsp

Taboule Salad, 4 tbsp

DINNER

Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Bread, 2 slices

Hummus, 1/4 cup

Romaine Lettuce (salad), 1 inner leaf

Taboule Salad, 1/4 cup

SNACKS

Cucumber 1/2 large

Baba Roasted Garlic Hummus, 5 tbsp

Taboule Salad, 4 tbsp

Raisins, (1.5 oz)

Pine Nuts, 1 tbsp

Raw Trail Mix (Mauk Family Farms), 1/2 oz

Goji Berries, dried (Himalania), 1/2oz

Total calories

CALORIES 1,508 CARBS191 FAT 57 PROTEIN 56