Day 3

So far so good. I just finish drinking some senna tea. I just hope it works before I go to work in the morning. I watched about half or more of Jinjee and Storms documentary video. It is really good. You can pick up a copy at http://www.TheGardenDiet.com
Tonight was funny. Like a bad mother I brought pizza home for my son and my mom. I had in my purse 2 tangerine. My son devoured the tangerine. He was begging for more. He did not even want the pizza. When I get my act together I know it will be easy to transition Steven in to a raw vegan lifestyle.

Michele

Day 2 of fast.

Today was pretty good. I did have the usual headaches. I just had juice and tea. Harris Teeter had collards buy one get one free. I guess the whole new years thing where you eat greens on new years. I will be having a green drink.

M

40 Day fast!!

Well it is time to get in gear. I am starting off the new year with a 40 day fast. I am very excited. I have crept up to the horrid 200's again. This will be the last time. I am also going to try harder to transition my son to a mostly raw diet. I am very excited about this new year coming up. I will also try to post a video diary of my fast and of Steven's raw transition.
I am also going to write more on my blog and stop being lazy, finally get the ACE personal trainer home study, try yoga, move out of this horrible apartment, have a closer relationship with God....boy I'm on a roll.
Today is day 1 of my 40 day. I will keep you posted.
God Bless.
Michele

Day 2

Today was a good day. I did drink 3 cups of coffee with a energy drink called Mochatonix and it had me a little jittery. I need to give up the coffee. I had a salad for lunch and apple for snack. When I got home this evening I had a big salad. I really do enjoy salads. I am going to try to stay off the scale and only get on it once a week. This morning I did get on it and I was 203lbs. I lost a pound from yesterday.

Back on track

Okay I am back on track. Today is day 2. I fasted until about 8pm last night and then I had a salad. My tahini dressing came out to vinegary. That's what I get for not measuring. I have decided to just weigh myself just once a week. We will see how that goes. I know how I am I will mist likely be on the scale everyday. I have gain so much back. At the height of my last fast I was down to 187lbs. When I weighed myself yesterday I was 204lbs AARRGGGG!!! I am so sick of this cycle.
I really wanted to weigh around 160 Christmas time....well really 135 to 140. Since I screwed up so much. I doubt that will happen. I am not going to fast right now for any long period of time. Maybe next year. I am going to fast once a week.

Just pitful!!

I am so pitful. I don't even know where to began. I am not even going near the scale for a few weeks. I tried to eat all fruit today. I came home and ate a ton of Lance crackers. God only knows what is wrong with me. I will try again tommorow and eat fruit and drink my carrot juice and drink tea.
We will see. I know as soon as my cycle is over I will get my butt on the treadmill....how many times have I said that over the past months.
Please pray for me :)
Michele

Plateau

Well I am at a plateau now with my weight. I am around 192-194. I want to get down to 185 before my birthday August 19th.I have to exercise. I am going to start taking supplements to get my ass up and get on the treadmill. I know raw foods suppose to give me great energy and I should be able to exercise just eating raw....well I am lazy as hell. I need all the help I can get. I don't feel it is cheating on my raw lifestyle to much. I still will eat 100% raw.
I am going to start out with this product. It's called Mochatonix. I love it. I use to take it a few years ago.

It will give you energy, mental alertness and heightens your endurance levels. I will start Monday or Tuesday whenever the product comes in. I will let you guys know how I do.

Well it has been awhile. I completed my fast. I did 18 days. I went to a family reunion last week and totally fell off the wagon with raw foods. I ate cooked and junk food. I did not eat meat though. I am back on track now. I was really discouraged about falling off wagon and I was talking to my father what he said made sense to me. I can’t let it be a burden to me. If I fall off the wagon I can’t beat my self up for it just get back on. That is what I did I am back on and I am fine. It was really hard on the road to eat raw. All the places we stopped were convenience store and fast food restaurants. At the reunion I have not seen this family in over 11 years I did not want to isolate myself from them. I ate cooked greens and some pasta…..oh yeau and a few sweets. I feel at peace with myself. I know I have accomplished a lot with my fasting and raw food lifestyle and I will accomplish much more

Before and after

Here is a couple of before and after pics. I have lost 61 pounds so far. I still have another 50 to go. My goal is not that far off!!
This color pic was taken April 18th, 2006. The black and white was taken today June 10th, 2006. Just under 2 months raw! What a difference!!

Finally under 200!!!!!!

My fast is going really well. I have been fasting for 12 days. I really don’t know how long I will go for. I know it will at least be 20 days. I did have a rough time the other day with detox. I was really nauseas and I had to throw up (Excuse the gory details) nothing but mucus came out ugh. I feel really good though. I still am not drinking enough water. I am working on that.

This morning I weighed 194.8lbs. I am so happy to be under 200lbs. I have been over 200lbs since my son was born and he turned 8 last Monday. I am still slacking on the exercise. I really want to conserve my energy. When I am back to raw foods I will hit the treadmill and weights. Off to work I go. Have a good day!

Fast

Well I have decided to do another juice fast. Spirtually I need another fast. I think I am going for 25. If not 25 at least 20 days. Today is day 3. One thing I have to remember is drink water, water, water. My last fast I had a hard time drinking lots of water. During a fast you can lose your appetite as well as thirst. Keep me in your prayers as I embark on this journey.
M

Eating out

Well let me tell you about my lunch at a Mexican restaurant. I did not want to go in the first place but my co-worker begged me and said she would pay. So I was thinking I could get a salad. I had my own tahini dressing in my purse.
I asked the waiter if I could just have lettuce with celery, carrots, bell peppers and jalapeños. I see on the menu the different veggies they put in the burrito. So I assumed I could get it on some lettuce. The waiter tells me they could not do this. I hand him back the menu and tell him thank you and headed to the front to talk to the manager. I told him what I wanted and that I do not want anything cooked. I want the veggies raw. He nodded his head on agreement and said you want the veggies fresh? I said yes.
I get back to my seat and a few minutes later they hand me a plate with lettuce, 2 slice tomatoes, sautéed onions and sautéed bell peppers. What the hell?! Who eats a salad with cooked onions and bell peppers. I just did not feel like arguing. I just ate the 2 tomatoes. I was ticked!!! Next time I will make sure they get it right even if it means sending the order back a couple of time.

Workouts

Yesterday during my lunch hour I went to our fitness center and did 20 minutes on the treadmill. I really need an IPOD. Holding my CD player was just not working for me. This morning I could not get my ass out of bed to walk on the treadmill but I did do my legs during my lunch hour. American Council of Exercise is coming to Winston Salem in November. I just knew I would be able to take the test to become certified. I have not even purchased the study kit yet. So I saw that they are coming to Charlotte in Feb. 2007. I think I can do it by then.
I made a pizza this weekend it did not turn out great. I guess practice make perfect. I know exactly what I did. I put Olive oil on the dehydrator sheet. The bottom of the pizza was smushy. I guess that's an old habit from cooking.
Today I had about 3 bananas, a kiwi and salad (x2 lunch and dinner). I also popped a few fudge balls. I LOVE those things.
Well I need to get to bed so I can get up at 5am to climb on the treadmill.

M

Vitamix! Vitamix! Vitamix!

I finally received my vitamix. I LOVE it. I don't know how I ever lived without one. I made my usual dressing with it and I made Steven a smoothie. The smoothie consisted of a banana, strawberries, blackberries, orange and I snuck in a few spinach leaves. He liked it!! Mikey liked it!! :)
Tomorrow I am making a pizza for my mom. We will eat it Sunday after the crust dehydrates. I talked to a personal trainer today because my ultimate goal is to compete and become a personal trainer myself. I want a body like this.




These beautiful ladies are Cathy Savage girls. I hope to one day attend her camp. The personal trainer was as sweet as a raw pie but she proceed to tell me that I can't eat raw forever and I will have to have meat in order to exercise heavy. She said the best source of protein is meat....sigh..here we go again. I know I can get a body like the Savage girls eating raw. What do you guys think?

M

24 Days!!!!

Well it has been 24 days since I have been 100% raw.
I have been away from my computer I stayed with my mother while my sister was on vacation for her birthday. Hoochie! Anywho I made angel hair pasta for my mom with the saladacco that I ordered. I also made raw ravaoli(sp) it was really good. I also made fudge balls. My son did not like any of the stuff I made. I don't know what I am going to do with him.
I ordered my vitamix off ebay. Very excited about receiving that.
I weighed my self yesterday and I am at 207.0. I am very excited almost under the 200's Yes!!
I thought I would feel differently. For so long I have wanted to lose this weight and now that I am I am not really excited as I thought I would be. Does anyone have an idea what the hell is wrong with me? Maybe when I hit under 200 I will feel something.

M

Just ordered Saladacco

I am excited I just ordered my saladacco and some raw carob powder. I want to make fudge balls with the carob powder and angel hair pasta with the saladacco. I can't wait to get it. I paid 10 dollars for 3 day shipping . It better be here in 3 business days.
Still searching for a vitamix. Will most likely get from ebay. I just have to make sure there is a manufactred warrenty on it.
Off to work I go.

M

Treadmill!

Well I finally got my lazy butt up and got on the treadmill this morning. I only did 10 1/2 minutes but hey that is better than none. I hope to work myslef up to 20 minutes of HIIT. I did run for 45 seconds at 6.0 speed.
Now I am going to have some green juice mmmmm.

M

D@mn Olives!!

I loovvveeeeeee olives black and green. I just recently stopped eating the green ones and have been just eating black ones. I'm going to have to give those up to. Number one they are not raw. They are the only thing that is holding me back. I can eat a whole jar/can in a sitting then I wonder why my scale has jumped up 2 pounds.
Sooooo today I am renouncing the olives! Olives be gone! No more. Either raw olives or no olives. I think I will wait until I have more weight lost to even eat the raw ones.
The other day me and Steven made coconut macaroons. They were good a little sweet though. I think I put to many dates in.



This is Steven forming them and putting on the dehydrator tray.
Off to work I go. Will write later.

Day 10

Today was a really good day. I made a banana, orange and mango smoothie this morning. I handed my 7 year old son a cup praying he would eat it. He asked what it was I told him and walked out the room. I did not want to hover over him with anticipation. He ate it and asked for seconds! Thank God! So now I think that will be his breakfast and fruit on other days. One meal down.
I had a a smoothie for breakfast, orange for snack, salad for lunch and a salad for dinner. Two bowls of salad :) with my favorite dressing.
I woke up this morning at 4:56 am. Do you think I got up to get on the treadmill...no. I have got to get in gear. Tomorrow I think I am going to do a colon cleanse. I should drink tea tonight but I am to full now. On a empty stomach I might drink the 32 ounces of warm salt water that is described in the Master Cleanse book.
We will see how tomorrow goes.

Michele

Day 7

Today was a good day. I went and brought some ingredients to make some more salad dressing. I brought a few ounces of raw walnuts, some coconuts flakes. I am trying to find some raw carob powder on line so I can make some fudge balls.
I spoke with a lady at a yoga place to see about holding classes there. She thinks the owner would let me. So I will call her Monday and see. My mom wants me to make her a pizza and calzone. I am going to tackle the pizza for her sometime next week. I want her to go 100% raw she is depending on me to make the food for her.

I ate salads all day with my dressing. I weighed myself. I am 214.0. I weighed in the afternoon so I am most likely less than that. I do not know exactly what I weighted when I started my challenge. Last time I weighed myself I was around 223.0. Still need to hop on the treadmill. I am aiming for Monday.

Michele

Day 4

I ate so much the past few days that I am still kind of full. I only ate a orange, apple and banana today. Of course it is only 6:30 pm now. I think I am going to make a dressing and a big salad ummmm. I did not get up to exercise this morning..laaazzzzyyyy. I am looking forward to the energy that I will have from eating so healthy. I want to pop up at 4am full of energy so I can get my butt on the treadmill.
I'm going to make my salad now and Steven wants a orange and banana smoothie. Speaking of smoothies I tried a green smoothie this morning. It had spinach, apple and water. My blender sucks. It did not turn out well at all. I have got to get a vitamix!
I keep forgetting my weight scale at my moms. I think it is a good thing. I am to obessive about my weight and I do not want to get discourage if the numbers on the scale don't move. I know that inside I am making wonderful changes.
I went to the library and checked out The China Study, Sprouting Handbook by Ann Wigmore and another Raw Gourmet book.
I'm going to go make that salad and Steven's smoothie and start to read .

Michele

Full of Food and Knowledge

I am stuff with good raw food and raw food knowledge. I had such a great time with Schall Adams. She is truly a blessing. I really hated to see her go. I have met some wonderful people in the Level 1 chef class.
So my plan for tomorrow is to try to get up early to walk on my treadmill before work, make myself a green smoothie. I might just take fruit for work tomorrow. What I need to be do is get off this computer and go make a salad and dressing for work....but I'm going to bed.

Michele

Day 2 (30 day Raw Food Challenge)

I am stuffed and tired. I was at the Level 2 chef class all day today. We started around 9am until 9 pm. We made all kinds of foods. Schall kept us busy we made a lot of recipes. We made oatmeal. ravaoli, fudge balls again, tacos, chocolate shake, calzones, pizza and alot more. I am so tired I can't even remember it all.
I went to Target and purchased a 8 cup food processor. I really did not have the money to get it but I will have to sacrifice something..maybe the heat bill..ha! I made Steven some banana icecream in it tonight. He had 2 kiwis and a couple of bites of the ice cream. I will most likely give him the banana ice cream in the morning for breakfast. It will be a whole lot better than Captin Crunch.

Michele

Day 1 ( Raw food 30 day challenge)

Today is day one of my challenge. My mother has my scale so at the moment I do not know what I weight. I guess it is a good thing. I am obsessive about getting on the scale every morning. Last time I weighted my self about a week ago I was at 219.0 lbs. Before I did a 30 day fast at the end if December 2005 I weight 247.0 lbs. My goal is 140-145lbs in 6 months. That is around 75- 80 lbs. It rounds out to about 13 pounds a month. It can be done. With this raw lifestyle I know it will melt off. I just need to do my part in eating right and exercising.
Earlier I had a spinach salad with just cherry tomatoes, black olives(non raw), jalapenos (non raw) and mushrooms. I used this awesome tahini dressing I made that Schall told me about. It taste like blue cheese.
I will make a green juice later with my Jack Lalanne juicer. The juice consists of:
Romaine lettuce
Apples
Celery
1/2 lemon
Ginger to taste
mmmmm good

Here is a pic of my pride and joy. He is part of the reason I am going raw. I need to live to see him grow up. His diet is horrible he eats way to much sugar. For breakfast it usually cereal, pancakes, waffles or fruit and cream oatmeal. Lunch is whatever it could be a TV dinner, chicken noodle soup from a can or ravaoli from a can or he could eat any of the breakfast items again. Dinner...ha yeau it's about the same thing. And I wonder why he is hyper, can't concentrate in school. I know, I know it is my fault that is why I am turning it around now!

Alissa Cohen Level 1 Class with Schall Adams

Yesterday I attended a Level 1 chef class taught by Schall Adams. I must say it was very enlightening. The recpies are so easy to duplicate. At the moment I do not have any equipment except for a dehydrator. So I am in the process of finding a food processor and a vitamix. I also want a champion juicer.
Yesterday we made Coconut Macaroons



1 1/2 cups raw coconut flakes
2 large dates (soaked)
1/4 cup Agave Nectar
1 tsp Vanilla

Pulse all ingredients through a food processor just until dates are finely processed. It will be a stucky dough. Form into patties and dehydrate at 105 for 5-6 hours.

These were soooooo good!!

We also made Banana Ice Cream yummmm.

Peel and freeze bananas. After you take the bananas out the freezer let them sit out for a minute and then try to peel them. My fingers were so cold trying to peel the bananas right away.

With a Champion Juicer or any juicer that will homogenize run the frozen bananas through with the "blank" on. As you can see it can also be done with a food processor. We also made strawberry and raisin and walnut toppings. My son loved the ice cream.

Mock Salmon Pate on celery sticks

A delicious pink pate with a hint of salmon flavor! I eat this all the time on top of a large salad with a vinaigrette dressing. It’s such an easy pate to prepare and oh so delicious!
2 cups walnuts
2 stalks celery
1 large red bell pepper
1 large scallion
½ -1 teaspoon sea salt
Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.Serving suggestions: This can be served on a plate as is, over a salad, rolled up in a green leaf, or spread on crackers

Angel Hair Pasta and Marinara Sauce

Angel Hair Pasta
3-4 Large Zucchini

Marinara Sauce
2 1/2 CupsTomatoes
12 Large Sundried Tomatoes, Soaked
3 Organic Dates, Pitted and Soaked
1/4 Cup Olive Oil
4 Cloves Garlic
2 Tablespoons Parsley
1 Teaspoon Celtic Sea Salt
1/8 Teaspoon Cayenne

Spialize the zucchini in the Saladacco and then Pour the Angel hair zucchini pasta into a large bowl.

Place all of the Marinara ingredients into a food processor and blend until smooth. Next pour the smooth sauce from the food processor onto your angel hair pasta which is in the large bowl. Now serve.

We also made Chile and onion dip.

I did not get a picture of the chile or onion dip. I was to busy eating.

This is Andreu cutting up the red pepper for the chile. Andreu is an inspiring raw gormet chef. He has a powerful testimony of how raw foods has improved his life. Once I get the link to his myspace from him I will post.

This is me and Schall. I look really big in this picture this shirt did not help matters either. I am really looking forward to the weight loss aspect of this raw lifestyle.