My Raw Food Journey

Day 2, again: 90% raw

willona — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:28:49 +0000

I was able to do my juice fast all day and had whole wheat orzo and salmon for dinner. No soda, no sweets. It was a really really good day.

I had carrot juice with green powder and chlorophyll. I also had a huge mango and banana smoothie for lunch.

My boss doesn’t believe I’m going to make it. He knows I’m a sugar addict. I’ll make it, I’m determined.

Back on the Raw Wagon: Ok…that was a close one

willona — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:36:50 +0000

Well, I just wasn’t ready in October. Trying to be raw, living with a friend of mine while my brand new apt was being finished, letting go of an ex-boyfriend…I just couldn’t focus on going back to RAW FOOD Living! I was weak…the flesh is so weak I tell ya!!!

Anyway, armed with a great new living space (as of Mid-November), a clearer mind, more balanced finance, plenty of resources and research, and determination…I’m ready.

I started today and was 90% raw. Yay. The only non-raw I had was some smoked salmon on my dinner salad and some dried mango from Whole Foods. I feel really really good. I’m on a modified fast from sun up to sundown. Juices basically. I had a Mo-Beta Odwalla and a Mango Banana Smoothie today. I also had Fasting tea from Blue Nile (Great place to know if you’re living holisticly in Wash DC). I had a salad and dried mango for dessert when I got home from the Gym. I did 30 min on the eliptical. Didn’t feel worn out or drained after. I got plenty of water all day. That is key when transitioning and detoxing.

When I got home I took some photos. At the gym, the scale read 198.3…dag. I can’t believe I’ve gotten this out of control, but it’s written all over my face. Literally. So, I took some pictures to commemorate the day. I’ll post them in the future, but I’m to…unhappy with them currently. I need a “X weeks later” after photo to go with them. LOL

Well that’s the end…or might I say the beginning. I’m Black, I’m Vegan, and I love raw food.

The 25th and 26th and 27th: All raw…almost

willona — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 00:10:30 +0000

I was all raw on Thursday and Friday. My cold was finally going away so I’m feeling better. Just a lil extra mucus in my throat. I feel really really good

25th
Bananas and Grapes in the morning
Big Salad for Lunch
Bag of Baby Carrots
Faux Salmon pate on collard

26th
Banana/Mango Smoothie
Big Salad for Lunch
Small Bag of potato chips
Another Large salad

So far today I’ve had grapes, strawberries, bananas, and some olives. I need to have a large something…salad…maybe some raw sushi from Whole Foods. Yummy.

My salads are usually made of garbanzo beans, broccoli, olives, romaine lettuce, tomato, purple onions, sunflower seeds, carrots, olive oil and vinegar.

I’m much calmer…no sugar highs and lows. I’m still dealing with sugar cravings (mostly chocolate). Sometimes I give in…but I think I’ll always have a love affair with chocolate. I want to be 100% raw…it’s just my vice.

Days 8 and 9: I’m well on my way

willona — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 05:54:12 +0000

Tuesday and Today went very very well. I had some candy, can’t lie. Chocolate is such a problem. However, I was 95% raw on both days. I ate:

Grapes
Bananas
A huge salad at lunch
Baby Carrots
Fresh Orange juice
Apples
Mango
Dried Mango

This is what I ate Tuesday and today…this is what my diet has consisted of (other than Hershey’s). I’ve noticed that my “movements” are longer as it’s been noted in many of the raw food books and vegetarian reading I’ve seen over the years. The body must eliminate all of the excess waste I’ve been storing in my body…so I’m happy to see this change. I’m experiencing lesser cravings as well. I went by the Bally’s in PG Plaza Mall to find out when their new location across the street will be open. Not until the Spring. Too bad…I’ll wait. The fitness room in my complex will be done by then, no bother.

Oct 22, Day 7: afternoon blah

willona — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 15:54:27 +0000

Breakfast: 2 bananas

Today is day 7 and my commitment is renewed. I can’t wait for noon so I can go get a salad of romain, olives, purple onion, raw sunflower seed, mushrooms, and some fruit on the side for an afternoon snack. I decided last night that I really need to be more serious. I had too many “Oh, just this once.” momments this weekend. Social situations can be a real challenge, but I already know that from being a raw vegan a few years back. You just have to eat before you socialize or make sure that the host or hostess is aware of your food preferences. Most people don’t mind having a salad or some fresh fruit available. That’s what friends are for.

I’ve never really sacrificed for my health, for my happiness. A great part of why I’m doing this is weightloss. As a woman, I feel better when I’m not carrying an extra 50 pounds of weight. I feel better physically, but I also feel better on an emotional/mental level. It’s hard being overweight, let alone overweight and single, in a world that is so visually focused. I know people would say…love yourself, you’re ok. Well, I know that. But if I continue to eat the Standard American Diet…I don’t see me being much happier with my body or my love life. That’s just reality for me. Exercise is key, but what you put into your mouth is just as important, if not more. You have to be a whole, well rounded person and do things in perspective. I can’t focus on the health side and ignore the fact that feeling more beautiful, and wearing what I want to wear is part of my motivation. I need all the motivation I can get right now. lol This journey is about a lot of things. I need to be free. I need to be free of the reasons why I don’t want to post my before pic yet. I feel like I look so fat and ugly in that photo. I don’t like it. I don’t want to be that person anymore. I’m not happy with that person. That’s real. That’s what I really think. But…I’m working toward change and acceptance.

Day 6: Better than yesterday

willona — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 20:56:54 +0000

Today was much better than yesterday. I only had a slip up with bread. I went to a friend’s home for a brunch gathering. He’s a caterer…so there was temptation all around. I don’t feel like I ate enough today, and that contributed to me eating that croissant. Evil flaky bread products. I’m very very excited about this week. I believe that I can make it through at 100%. My cravings are subsiding. I still have some flem coming up, but not like last week. However, that may mean I’ve slowed the detox with all of the cooked food I’ve had. I feel more committed, though I’ve had lots of thoughts of sweets. I’ve tried to be very conscious of that and I’m finding those feelings are triggered by loneliness and boredom. I can’t shove something in my mouth and think the root causes will go away. I’m ready for Monday.

Day 5: Chaos

willona — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 02:05:27 +0000

Chaos…was raw all day…then I had a real meal…with meat.

I feel terrible. Pray for me

Day 3 & 4: I’ve had some good days, and I’ve had some hills to climb

willona — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 02:03:27 +0000

Well, I made it through days 3 and 4 without a whole lot of cooked food…but not 100% raw. This is blog is about me being real…transparent, so…

I was raw all day Thursday…then I went out to dinner with my ex-boyfriend at Buca Di Beppo in Dupont Circle (DC). I have about 1/3 of an order of calamari (my boy can eat) and a salad with gorgonzola cheese. I drank some cleansing herbal tea when I got home because I was already feeling sick. OH, and I tried to drink some diet pepsi…it was nasty. That’s a good thing because I know soda will be hard for me to let go of. All day I had a real calm. Other than that there is a lot of mucus coming up…it’s like I have a cold. I have a cough that sounds terrible, but I feel fine.

Day 4, Friday, I was totally raw except for 2 cookies at a co-worker’s welcome back gathering. They were calling me…I mean it. LOL. I know I know. No excuse. But I had no other slip ups…no Diet Coke, nothing. Still a lot of flem…but I see that as my body getting rid of the excess and getting healed.

I feel a lot more mellow.

Day One: Smooth sailing

willona — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 22:38:07 +0000

I made it…at least half way. It’s 6:30 as I begin writing this and I’ve been 100% raw all day…but I really really want some chocolate covered peanuts. I just can’t explain how much. Let me stop talking about that…carrots, carrots, carrots. Let me get my mind off of that. LOL I had no run-ins with diet coke either. Yay! I had grapes, carrots, a banana, and huge salad…and lots of water. No cooked food has crossed these lips today. I took a BEFORE picture but I’m not confident enough to post it. I need a 2-weeks later or more better picture to go with it. UGH!!!

I also checked Nature’s Rhythm’s website about getting a much needed colonic. They have some type of Ionic foot bath that shows toxins in the body…something like that. I’ll have to look into it.

I’m home right now so if I stay at home…I wont’ have any slip ups. So I’m going to stay put. Oh help me Lord!!!

Tomorrow it begins

willona — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 04:54:29 +0000

I tried raw food in 2005, and it was the best I’d felt in a long long time. I looked better. I felt so healthy. I just could not believe that lost 30 pound in 2 months with little to no exercise. It was truly phenomenal. So tomorrow I will begin a 100 day quest toward living 100% raw.

I’m doing this for my health, my lasting beauty, and the peace that come with not worrying about weight and bad health (that comes with the Standard American Diet). I weigh about 195 currently (I’ll due an official weigh in at some point..soon). I turned 30 in February and I’m just tried of saying over and over and over and over that I’ll lose the weight by _______ [pick a date, any date]. Now I know there will be nay-sayers and people who ask about protein sources…blah blah. I know what works for me…and I do have a doctor. I think people put way too much faith in our current medical system without common sense. Junk food is junk. Processed food with dyes, preservatives and other chemicals is not good for the body. There is a reason why cancer and other diseases are so much more rampant than they were 50 year ago. I could go on and on…but I’ll do that later. That’s why I have this blog right. What I also know is that seeing is believing. So, I’m going to let you…the public…in on my raw food diary. I’m going to let you walk with me on this journey. You’ll see and hear about my ups and my downs. You’ll see my before photos and glorious after shots. I can’t wait.

I’ve been preparing for about 2 weeks. I’ve kept my diet at around 70% raw. It’s been…interesting. Well, actually it’s not that bad…the cravings are just nerve racking. I’m a sugar addict so I’ve had at least some candy or chocolate everyday. I’ve also had chips, popcorn and diet coke. I’ll have to give all that up. I think that in the long run I’ll probably be about 90-95% raw for life. We all have some slip ups from time to time. However, for the next 100 days I’m committed to being 100% raw.

Wish me luck!!!!!