Day 12

I'm feeling really, really good today! I did go to bed about 11, but I woke up at 5 AM naturally, though I didn't get up until 6:20 when I again woke naturally. No alarm needed. When I wake up twice before my alarm, that's usually a pretty strong indication to wake up. Last night I spoke with Chris Kendall on Skype for over an hour. He's very knowledgeable, passionate and so full of heart about 80/10/10. He is definitely inspiring and someone I want on my side of the table.

Things I walked away with: I need to incorporate more tropical fruits into my diet. Who am I kidding, this can't be hard, I live in Florida! For some reason, I shy away from them. But I need to make it a priority. Another, don't force feed. I have admittedly been chocking down my salads at lunch because I feel like I need them. Not enjoying your food is never a good thing. And while I don't NOT like them, I don't particularly find much joy in eating them. When I was eating out so often, I began to crave salads like crazy and when I finally ate one, I enjoyed it immensely. Chris told me he eats greens maybe once a month. I need to eat what I enjoy. If I could eat one food daily, it would be pineapple. But how to do when pineapples are $4.99 each? I haven't figured this out yet.

I'm also going to start making more soups and stews! That's an easier way to consumer calories without the head ache of chewing until your mouth hurts. That being said, I decided to make a dressing for my salad today. I am going to ease off buying salad though, and just stick to juicing and fruits, if I can afford it!!

Mango Dressing:
two mangos, peeled
handful of cherry tomatos
blend until smooth

I am taking this in a separate container and will add to my salad when I eat it. I need to hit up the grocery store on the way home from work. In other news, my clothes are feeling a LOT looser. I was wearing a shirt and shorts that used to be very tight on me to bed. It was actually becoming loose. I'd like a whole day of doing nothing, organize my paper pile and putz around. Friday night and all day Saturday should be a go for that. Today after work I still am craving a long run, I can run 5 miles no problem, I love feeling the sun pounding down on me and I beat the pavement. Yes, I do believe I will go running again today.

Things are flowing along!

Anticipated MENU today:
Juice
2 apples
4 bananas
HUGE salad with mango/tomato dressing
1 lb strawberries
more juice
cacao banana smoothie
banana berry smoothie

If anything changes, I will adjust accordingly. Pants today are not feeling tight and my stomach feels a lot tighter. I haven't had any cravings besides what I mentioned yesterday, and I haven't really allowed those thoughts to creep in. I'm too motivated, too focused. I can't ruin all I've worked for and I'm excited to see how I good I feel, can it get any better??? I think so!

UPDATE: Holy smokes it was muggy today! And with 85 degree temps, that made it feel like 90. The heat doesn't bother me at all. In fact I thrive in it, but today I had to convince myself to go running because I felt physically tired. I admittedly was hungry all day and getting irritable by the time I was driving home. I was craving a Tijuana Flats burrito. But I hung on and, of course I felt better after I did. Running has become less of a chore and more of a therapeutic activity. Every run is easier and more enjoyable. Today, I literally did not feel the urge to stop once. This is a vast improvement from not even a month ago. I remember when I used to struggle tremendously with running because I would get horrible stomach cramps and that made it painful. I haven't had to deal with that in a while now, and today I felt very strong and lean!! I just feel my legs carrying me along like I am riding in a car. I sweated a LOT today, but I ran my 4.4 mile loop with ease. When its easy, its fun. I definitely enjoy my runs. I got cacao powder in the mail today and made a really yummy shake. I could barely scarf down my salad today, even with the mango dressing. Bleh. I am going to ease off the greens. I need to go shopping, but I just didn't feel like doing that today. Tomorrow I might just drink juice and eat bananas all day instead until I go shopping. Going shopping is the last thing I feel like doing at the end of the day. Now time to shower up, maybe eat, snuggle with kitty and read my book.

 

Mango dressing on salad...reminiscent of pudding

Rando side note: I don't think I will EVER drink or smoke again. I see that as a huge weakness and I really grow more disdain for people who do the deeper I get into raw. Drinking does nothing to promote health and I really just look down on people who do. Oh, and fat people! I see them in the park all the time and run really fast by them, I think to make them feel even fatter. That may seem horrible, but I am actually working hard to be in shape and they are doing nothing to make the world a better place or make themselves stronger. It really disgusts me. MRV says I shouldn't fill my thoughts hating people and I'm trying not to. :-/

Day 11

And here we are at day 11 folks! Today was a good day, but nothing special. I nibbled all throughout the day on my trusty apples and bananas at work. I had a pretty good 5 mile run after work, nothing too strenuous or over the top. A good solid jaunt.
 

I have really grown to dislike obese/lazy people. They are synonymous in my eyes. I am sorry, but there is no excuse to not educate yourself and keep yourself in shape. No, its not easy and its annoying and painful sometimes, but if you have any sort of decency or self respect, you make it a priority. So don't go whining to me about all your problems and expect me to feel sorry for you. And then you go and expect the government to pay for your social security disability when all your problems you caused to yourself. They don't just happen for no reason. Hmmmm maybe all that fried chicken it somehow related to your massive size?? 

 

Here's how I looked and felt today! 

And when I say "you" I mean that generally, not specifically. But that is my rant. I felt really good at work today, I felt lean and sexy. Not that I try to look sexy at work, but I felt it. Speaking of sexy, lol, my bowels have been flowing very sexily lately. LOL! Very quick and easy. :) I have loads of energy always, and I even feel like I am starting to glow in my complexion. But maybe that's just my imagination.

Menu:

Juice

3x apples

2x bananas

Huge salad that I could barely force myself to finish

1 lb strawberries

More juice, pre-run

Huge fruit smoothie with grapefruit juice

It's only 7 PM, I might make something a bit later on. I have been craving salt and fat when I get hungry. Then I usually eat something to quickly fill me up so my cravings go away. But if I could eat anything in the world it would be a vegan pizza! Mmmmmmmm, I'd punish it all by myself. But ask me that same question again and I'd probably say pineapple so don't judge me on that! Pineapple has not been on sale, hence why I would love one! I miss vegan pizza. But I would be just as happy with a raw one, but those don't come very easily.

Meeting with Chris Kendall tonight. Doing laundry now, and then I need to spend some quality time with kitty. :D

 

All you need in the world is a kitten

 

Day 10

Oh YAY for double digits! (As if I had any doubt...) But NOT yay for feeling like I am busting out of my pants. I know I sit all day at work, but damn, I have to admit it is a little discouraging. Let me clarify that I am not doing this to lose weight, but it is a motivating factor. I just don't really understand how I could go from eating whatever I wanted to eating raw and NOT lose any weight. Just not possible. But not feeling it right now. I was in a funk last night and this morning. Sort of irritable but I played it off as being hungry, or whatever. Definitely not a high light. Some discouragement has been creeping in, very slowly and subtly, but I am trying very hard to squash it.

Right now, I am about to go for a 7 mile run. Just for the fun of it! Been eating well, but I just didn't find much joy in eating my salad today. I am looking forward to a BIG chocolate milkshake tonight after my run. I just need to get out and pound the pavement.

Menu:

Juice

3x apples

2x bananas

1/2 salad

1 lb strawberries

More juice

And later...chocolate milkshake

Sort of a blah day, but I hope this run turns things around for me. Not giving up!

        

Looking forward to trying out this recipe! Just need to find some dill, not something I normally keep around.

PS. Just ran 6.5 miles, I felt awesome the ENTIRE time!! I hardly broke a sweat, my legs felt strong and I wasn't exhausted at the end. It's all about the mind, so never limit your thinking!!

Day 9

I am so focused and driven right now! My mind has never been more clear and I am in awe of the power of raw foods! What an amazing 9 days and how much my life has changed for the better. Today I was up early and I went out to watch the super fit athletes compete in the triathalon near my house. Getting wrapped up in the excitement and being surround by so many other fit people is so much fun! I would someday like to compete in a triathalon, but I'm truthfully not a great swimmer. They have a kid/amateur event that I think would be a lot of fun. Maybe next year! And I would really like to get into cycling too! I watched the insanely fit guys cross the finish line in UNDER 2 hours. Swim 1.5 miles, bike 24 miles and run 6 miles. Crazy!!

This got me going so then I had to take a run for myself. It was mid day so hotter than when I normally run. I like getting drenched in sweat though, but I was glad I didn't have to run 6 miles, but I will next weekend! I def excited about it, I know I will feel good. There will be over 1000 participants in the 10k and my bestie Jen will be there to cheer me on.

What else? In just 9 days, my mood has stabilized and lifted. I feel content and satisfied in all aspects of my life. I feel I am on a high, and its smooth sailing. I am not discouraged and I don't allow any negative thoughts to cloud my mind. There is no room for that! 

I am feeling a LOT leaner in the middle. The big chub I have had for so long and thought would never go away is...going away! My stomach is noticeably flatter and my love handles are on their way out the door. Now time to relax with kitty, shower and read a book. Tonight is the first night of the new kickball season, we have two games to play. And tomorrow is back to work. I'm going to run Mon, Tues, Wed and Thurs, and rest up Fri and Sat before the race on Sunday. 

Today was a smoothie day! So hot out, and these were refreshing and all I wanted to eat anyways.

2 bananas

Chocolate milkshake

Fruit smoothie with grapefruit juice
2 glasses juice

4 more bananas
Raw tacos

A light banana filled day, but just what I was needing.

Day 8

Day 8, wow! Today was SUCH a good day! Where to begin? I woke up around 7 AM to the sun streaming through my windows. I tried to roll over and sleep some more, but it wasn't possible. Being that it was Saturday morning, I decided to pack my book and walk to the morning market. I bought a big bowl of fresh fruit while I waited for it to open and read some on a bench in the park. This was also the miniature Triathalon, so it was fun to watch the bikers wizz past me. So much excitement! Once the market opened, I bought two bunches of beautiful organic sunflowers:

 

They look great in my kitchen!

My mom arrived around noon. My neighbor came over with her man friend to use my blender to make sangria, so the three of them enjoyed that at my place over good conversation. I wasn't even tempted to have it, it didn't look appealing. After that, mom and I walked around downtown along the water before heading to the raw restaurant in town, about a 2 mile walk. But the walk was so pleasant and passed a bunch of cute shops, including a vintage furniture one where I found the most perfect little coffee table that I had been looking for, and they are even going to paint it off-white shabby chic for me to match my apartment. So excited about that!

But on to the raw! Wow. All I can say! We both ordered an entree and split it. We also split a bowl of soup and a dessert. Not cheap, but definitely an experience I had to have. And my mom liked it too! I couldn't eat like that all the time, but I left still feeling really good, even though they used soy sauce and salt, which really exploded in my mouth and I didn't like it. Plus, it wasn't low fat, but it wasn't gourmet either, it was in the middle. A real treat!

Me, one week raw with raw Thai coconut soup!

Raw Tuscan pizza on walnut bread

Raw veggie burger complete with raw ketchup and mustard, this was by far my FAV! Look how beautifully it is displayed!

I'm cheesin' pretty hard here, how could I not?! :-)

 

Raw mango cobbler, I can't pass up a raw dessert!

I'm just so happy! And besides the fact that we walked about 6 miles today, my pants that were never loose AT ALL are really slinging low today. I won't weigh myself for another week, but I definitely feel leaner and more importantly, more energetic!! Tomorrow morning is the big Triathalon at 7 AM and I'm def going to get up and walk around, soak up the vibe and watch all the people compete. I love being around people who are fit and healthy, it rubs off on me.

Menu for today:

Fresh juice for breakfast
HUGE bowl of fresh fruit

1/2 raw soup, 1/2 raw burger, 1/2 raw pizza, 1/2 raw cobbler

Chocolate ice cream

Fruit smoothie

I'm feeling fabulous! My life is routine and stable and I am totally in my element. Now settling down to rest my legs and watch a movie and/or read some. See you all tomorrow!!!

Day 7

It was just one week ago but I feel like it's been a lot longer. And that is definitely a good thing! Last Friday night, I felt like getting drunk. I bought a 6-pack of Bud Light Platinum and walked to get sushi. I came back and ate alone and drank alone until I was drunk. Then I met up with my neighbors at a bar downtown. After that, I don't remember much. I think we went to a crowded bar and mingled with other inebriated people. I woke up feeling like shit. What a difference just a week can make! By shifting your thinking and taking control of your own life, you CAN start to love yourself again. I have absolutely NO pity or tolerance for people who are weak in body and spirit, don't stand up for themselves or blame other circumstances for their own miserable existence. I used to be like that. It's hard and uncomfortable to take control, but when you finally do, it's truly magical. Granted, its taken me 26 years to get this this point, but now I can conquer the world!

Another GREAT day! My run was a bit treacherous though. I run on a path that runs along the bay, lots of water and lots of green space. Today though, I almost got hooked by a fishing line and knocked over by a swinging net by some really oblivious, non-observant people. Good thing I'm fast. I was tempted to push those people into the water though, ha ha. I ran the long run, I need my legs to carry me through a 10k next Sunday. I just got home and just topped everything off with a delicious fruit smoothie. After I take a shower, I am going to walk to the grocery store and make tacos again tonight. I am feeling like a treat and I want to feel the vibe of downtown on a Friday night. I love just being in the middle of it, but not actually be partaking in it, if that makes any sense.

Among other things, another thing I love about eating raw is that it challenges me to be creative. Like for example, my friend wanted to go out to dinner to catch up. I didn't want to be awkward, so I asked if she'd rather take a picnic to the park and lay outside. She thought that was a great idea! I can bring fruit for both of us and we can catch up in the sunshine. It makes me feel like a kid again. Before life revolved around food and alcohol and you only had yourself to find ways to be entertained. It's quite nostalgic really.

On the menu:
Juice for breakfast
Apples x3
Bananas x6
1/2 salad, I just couldn't eat a lot of it today
Fruit smoothie, various fruit with strawberries, bananas and the juice of two grapefuit
Butter leaf lettuce, salsa and avocado
Chocolate ice cream

Tomorrow my momma is coming to visit and we are going to the saturday morning market and the raw restaurant. This weekend should also be exciting, I have a kickball game on Sunday and there is a huge Triathalon in the park that will be fun to watch!





 

PS. I feel slightly silly that the highlight of my night is eating my meal...this time instead of butter leaf I made boats out of romaine leaves! Check them out!

 

Absolute love. :) I used to never like avocado without loads of salt...take that all away, let your taste buds build up again and you will wonder why you ever did..

 

Trusty ingredients, nothing complicated!

 

Enjoying my lunch by the pond outside of my office building at work :)

Day 6

I feel that up until this point in my life I have been living a lie. I have been living a life heavily influenced by others. And I always wanted to please everyone around me and not upset anyone. Well, those times are gone! Ever since moving to my city of St. Petersburg, I have let the excitement of my new life distract me and lead me astray. I have finally made it on my own, being self-sufficient financially was all I ever wanted. Now I have a great job that I love, a city that I love, an apartment that I adore and all the friends I could ask for. For a few months straight, I spent a lot of time downtown, drinking at the bars, socializing, partying, eating out at all these restaurants that I thought were great. But deep down inside, I felt like I was get caught up in a lifestyle that didn't truly reflect who I was. I never even liked the taste of alcohol, and I hated waking up hungover and feeling like I was wasting my life. All the food I was eating was so processed and made me feel like shit. I just couldn't go on. I was content, but I wasn't truly happy.

And then something wonderful happened! Something inside of me snapped. And I knew change was eminent right then, right there. No turning back. I think it was an article about raw food in a hippie local magazine. On the cover, a pile of raw vegetables and a very fit man. The title read, "Raw Food Does a Body Good!" Inside, the man talked about being a bodybuilder but never feeling right about taking supplements and extra protein. He talked about how the effects of raw don't even start to take effect until AT LEAST a couple months. That made me realize I'd never really given raw food a fair chance. I wanted to feel as good as he talked about. And now I want to feel the best I've ever felt in my entire life. I am well on my way, now it's day 6. This is making me excited for day 30, 90, 300 and beyond!!

Okay, so that brings me to my run. Today was awesome, fantastic. I felt hungry all day at work though, I will need to increase my snacking abilities. Heh. Anywho, had to run errands after work, which I dislike. Too much traffic. But today was productive and I got everything done. Good feeling. I knew I wanted to stretch myself today with my run, I did the 4.5 mile run and I was feeling a little tired at the end, but by no means was I killing myself. I am running a 10k on May 6 so I've got reason to be motivated. Needlessto say, I'm not worried about it. :) I just feel so good when I'm running. All my thoughts are freeflowing, nothing is clouding my mind, my legs and breathing are in sync and I just zone out. Best feeling ever. I admit I have not always loved running. But when the weather is good, the scenery is beautiful and I feel light because I've eaten raw, everything comes together like magic and I can't get enough. I just wish other people could feel as good as I feel. I one million percent believe that food and diet are related to any and every ailment and pain we may come across. To my core. And I am living my beliefs RIGHT NOW!! I'm so estatic! I truly haven't felt this blissfully happy in a LONG time.

Now as for how I am feeling with my body, I do feel like I am tightening up around my middle. My legs have always been muscular and powerful and now they are even more so. I am starting to feel my hip bones more, but I've still got a major pooch. I just get so excited though, thinking about how I will look after a year of this when this has only been one week!!!

I would like to take the time to address snacking and meals to be eaten in social situations, which I believe is key to enjoying life as a LFRV.

First, snacking is paramount. I have learned to be prepared no matter what. Apples have seriously been my lifesaver. They can sit around all day, and I can snack on them like I would candy. They can really keep you going. That is the same for bananas, but they are less convenient in my opinion.

Second, I need to come up with creative and tasty meals that I can transport. I know my taco recipe would be fantastic for this. Pack up the salsa and avocado, and the butter leaves and you have yourself a meal to go. This can be taken to my mom's house for dinner (she might even want to partake and try them!) or to a friends house. This way you aren't left out of social situations that involve food. I know this can be a sore spot, especially since until now, my life revolved around eating out up to twice a day. I'm glad I don't do that anymore, but I am bracing for the predicament I will come upon when I am invited to dinner with friends. I need to come up with more ideas like this.

I also need to work on finding joy and creating habits that don't involve mindless eating. To find abundant and unwavering joy in the raw foods. To savor each bite and eat slowly. I will admit though, one of the reasons I love eating raw is because I get to eat A LOT. And I definitely like to eat. Hehe. And eating lots of good stuff, what could be better??? I can't think of anything.

On the menu for today:
Apples x3
Bananas x3
Loads of fresh juice
Finished off my salad from yesterday...I added fresh greens
Huuuuuuge chocolate milkshake. I froze a bunch of bananas last night, so I don't even know how many I ate tonight.

Also started reading again, a book that's been sitting on my shelf for a long while. This makes me feel good. Some rando pictures for yas!

Lots and lots o' bananas, I need more!!

Mmmmmmm!

 

The dreaded aftermath, dun dun dun.....

PS. Made a new raw friend, Chris Kendall over at The Raw Advantage. We are meeting up on Skype on May 1st to talk about being cool. I mean raw. I'm so excited to make a raw friend, even if just over the internet!