What a Week

Wow, I haven't written for a week!  Sorry.... :(  Well, I have reasons as to why, and I'll divulge- see, when Monday arrived, I began my introduction into a raw food diet.  The particular plan I was on actually wasn't solely juicing, but eating LOTS (and I mean lots) of fruits and vegetables along with drinking about 32 ounces of juice and 32 ounces of water a day... all around raw stuff.  Our fridge was stuffed with fruits and veggies of all varieties. 

Well, day one about killed me.  Okay, that's a little dramatic, but it was hard.  I thought I had sufficiently weaned off the caffeine, but apparently not because the headaches were crushing (wait, you're telling me there's caffeine in chocolate?  Well, I screwed up there).  By the end of Monday, I was dizzy and a little nauseated.

On Tuesday, I began the day a little weary and hesitant, but I plugged along, eating my pear/raisin/maple bowl of fruit for breakfast and packing a tall red-based juice with me to work.  Still a little weak, I wasn't really getting a headache... it felt like one wanted to come on, but it stayed at bay and I was feeling pretty fine.  In fact, I actually wasn't even hungry despite what most Americans would consider a measly breakfast and "snack".  By lunchtime, I ate a giant bowl (think Corning Ware size bowl) of Kale with tomatoes, onions, all sorts of good stuff...  I was feeling pretty good, but somewhere in the day I decided that it would probably be a good idea not to limit this diet just to the raw vegetables.  Why?  I missed my greek yogurt.  Yes, I eat that and I like it.  So I thought.... SMOOTHIES! 

Although not a part of the raw food plan (the smoothies that is), I've been very good about sticking to non-processed foods (other than yogurt, but would that be considered processed?).  I did have meat this week in the form of a handmade turkey burger, which I feel good about because I made it and I know what went into it. 

Other than that, I've been having at LEAST one juice a day.  Each juice ranges from 16-20 ounces a piece, and eating LOTS of veggies and fruit. 

PROGRESS:

• I actually have a ton of energy!  I have been non stop all day today, cleaning my house from top to bottom (including all dusting everywhere), doing 4 loads of laundry, organizing everywhere, running errands outside the house, and even topping off the end of my night by making a batch of soap.  Yesterday was similar.
• This may sound gross but, I've been a lot less gassy.  On Monday, I was entirely TOO gassy- it was the kind of gassy that rolls around internally, causing pressure and pain.  It was bad.  I'm wondering if it was because my body wasn't used to so much fresh goodness, and now it is.  
• I feel I have lost some unnecessary bulk, although I haven't weighed myself.  Again, I'm being sick here, but I'm a lot more regular now.  I thought that would be impossible!  That may be why I feel like I lost some bulk (ewwww)
• My husband's eczema has mostly cleared up.  He's had bright red patches of it as long as I've known him, and they are almost invisible now.  I can tell he has lost weight too.  I tell him to be careful about that because he's rail-thin to begin with, now he just disappears when he turns to the side.
• My face glows more.  It sounds so silly, but my cheeks have actually gotten rosier.  I'm more hydrated as well.

I would say the energy part is the best thing that has happened to me.  At this time on a regular day, I would already be in bed about ready to pass out, and here I am typing this wall of text, wide awake.  For someone with Fibromyalgia, this is a feeling I haven't felt in probably over a decade.  Woo!  As far as the pain associated with the Fibro, it's still there unfortunately.  However, I am able to manage it better, just by having the energy alone.  It's only been a week though, so I can't speak for the future.

Anyway, I wanted to share a favorite recipe that was sent to me through the raw food program:

SWEET POTATO AND CARROT "FRIES"

• 2 sweet potatoes
• 2 carrots
• 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 tsp ground cumin (I used 1/2 tsp)
• 1 tsp sea salt

Mix the oil and spices.  Scrub potatoes and carrots, and cut into slices like steak fries.  Toss with spice/oil mixture.  Bake for 30 minutes at 425 degrees.

Well that's all I have tonight!