More raw love

The blog is back!  Yay!
I let a co-worker borrow my Vita-Mix this week and she has totally re-inspired me to go back on the raw food kick.  I've kept most of the weight off that I've lost but I have to tell you all that I feel like shit.  I'm super tired and moody/emotional and I can't remember a time in my life when I've felt this bad.  So I'm not gona be a food Nazi this time and go cold turkey.  I am going to take the experts advice and ease into it so that I can stick with this for the long haul.
My biggest food vice is chips.  I love chips more then I love men.  And that's some serious chip love.  So I found a hottie on YouTube that makes raw corn chips and they are in the dehydrator as we speak.  If they turn out well, I'll post a pic of them tomorrow and add the recipe.  Or you can go to YouTube and look up 'rawmodel".  Oh and in an ode to Mr. Delicious (whom we shall discuss later) he has a video clip there of him foraging in Central Park - A must see for everyone in on the "foraging" joke.  Gota love New York - no one does a double take of this guy snipping dandelions to eat - like they see it everyday!  Hilarious!

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Day 22

OK I'm about to tell you a secret...DO NOT GO RUNNING TO MY MOTHER.  I've been doing an experiment and it's actually working so don't flip your shit.  I wanted to see exactly how effective my diabetic meds actually were so I went off of them a week ago. I made a deal with myself that if my blood sugar went back up over 300 I would start taking them again.   And today, my blood sugar is 214, which is super fantastical for me!!!
I know it's kind of juvenile of a 31 year old woman saying not to tell her mother something but if you are questioning me then you have never actually experienced the wrath of Jo Ann.  I am so excited that this raw food lifestyle has actually dropped my blood sugar between 150-175 points...AMAZE BALLS!!

Also, I want to add that I'm not trying to recruit people to a raw food lifestyle.  I started this blog because I wanted to share my experiences and how doing this challenge has effected me.  People seem to enjoy the blog so I have decided to extend the challenge to 60 days!  Yippee! More blogs!  People also want to hear about the guy I'm seeing so I will henceforth call him "Delicious"....you know, to protect the innocent.

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Day 17

I haven't written in a while, and I have gotten a lot of flak about it so here is a new post!! Yay!!


Well....I met a guy.  He's basically Mr. Awesome.  I've been doodling "Mrs. Katie Awesome" in my notebooks during class.  Not really, but he is pretty amazing.  I've had requests to give details about our date on Saturday night so here is the "G" rated version....he cooked me dinner (La Sigh!!...who does that anymore??!!) we talked for hours and played games.  The "R" rated version of the date is that those "games" involved two double mattresses, a plastic pool table cover and half a bottle of mango and tea tree massage oil.  I'll leave the rest to your imagination.  Isn't the imagination a great thing??


My diet this weekend went to crap, and that's OK.  I'm trying to be regimented without becoming the Raw Food Nazi.  I went to a cookout at Josepha's for Memorial Day and decided that I would eat a burger.  I got a little flak for it, but hey, I wanted it at the time and as everyone knows, "I DO WHAT I WAAANT".  So I loaded that puppy up with cheddar cheese, bacon and ketchup.  If no one was looking, I would have rubbed that greasy burger in all it's unctuous glory all over my face.  It was great....for about 30 minutes.  That's when it hit me like a left hook to the gut from Mike Tyson and I pretty much was in and out of the bathroom the rest of the night.  I felt bloated and terrible so I'm back on track today.  

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Day 4-5

Well my Mom wanted to take me out to dinner to celebrate my birthday.  I picked Panera Bread thinking that I'd be able to get a salad and some fruit and everything would be right in the world.  Wrong.  Panera is known for their breads, and they always accompany your order with a piece of baguette.   First, I should have asked them to please not put the bread on my plate.  When I got seated and glorious, yeasty perfume of that bread hit my nostrils I couldn't think straight.  I fell in love...I loved that bread like Syd loved Nancy and Rhett loved Scarlet.  I wanted to sink my teeth into it like Edward wanted to sink his canines into Bella.  Oh man, I'm on a ship and this puppy is going down quick! S.O.S.!
So I gave in to my weakness and broke off a piece the size of a quarter and ate it.  I was able to resist the rest, only by the fact that my son decided to use the remaining piece as a hand puppet.  I've also discovered that my Mother and my oldest son are the biggest enablers on the planet.  My son decided that he wanted me to "be happy"  and eat whatever I wanted.  My mother decided that I should pack up Jacob's mac-n-cheese and bring it home for him to eat later.  What she was subconsciously saying was that she thinks I'm not getting enough to eat and that I should have just eaten it and gotten it over with.  The protein in the cheese is what I need and she knows best.  I tried to plead with her that if I brought it into the house, it would be going straight into my mouth and that is exactly what happened.  So I ended up eating about 4 large spoonfuls of mac-n-cheese and feeling like I cheated on Jesus with the Devil.
After dinner, Mom came back to the house to give the boys some presents from her trip to Holland.  She starts off with "I know your Mom's going to shoot me BUT..."  and pulls out chocolate, cookies and candy for the boys.  Eli tries to force feed me "the best chocolate in the world" and at this point I feel like totally giving up.  I told her I felt like an alcoholic being forced into a bar.  The rest of the night was not so bad and I was able to resist the candy and really explain to Eli that I am happy and I'm eating raw by choice.

Day 5
So I decided not to beat myself up about the dinner disaster the night before.  It's a new day and I am right back on the wagon.  My sugar is 334 but I knew it would go up a bit after that.  I'm glad this all happened so that I could recognize unhealthy patterns and situations in my life.  I know right now that I am not ready to be put in a situation where I cannot control what food is on the table.  I also know that I need to recognize the enabling actions of my family.
So, I did great today and my blood sugar tonight is 224.  Awesome!
When you fall, dust yourself off and keep on going.  Don't stop.  Don't give up.

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Day 2-3

Sorry I didn't post yesterday, I'm really bad about this.  And, who decides to write a blog when they don't really like to talk?  I know people probably think I'm really awkward sometimes but there are moments when I have nothing to say and so I don't. lol Anyway, on with the show...
Yesterday my resting blood sugar was 334, which is really pretty high.  I woke up late and didn't have time to make a smoothie so I grabbed cashews, a banana and an apple to take with me to work.  I don't know why I thought that was enough to go on because I worked 13 hours.  The little ladies in the kitchen at the Hyatt made fried chicken and biscuits for lunch (of course they did!!) and I wanted to curl up into a ball and die it smelled so good.  It was wafting through the vents in the spa, trying to bend me to it's will but I resisted.  Joe really helped me take my mind off of food by working with me a little and showing me his techniques for a deep tissue massage.  He's really taken me under his wing and I'm so humbled and thankful for his mentor ship.  And let's face it, when you have a guy telling you to take all your clothes off, you're really not worrying about fried chicken are you?
So after my stint at job #2 I came home and retested my blood sugar, which was 343 (LAME!)  It's a little discouraging but I knew it would probably take a few days or even weeks to come down.  I made more guacamole and ate some raisins.  I also made a chocolate "mousse" by mixing cocoa powder, vanilla and agave nectar together.


Day3
It's my birthday!  I know I'm 31 but I still get really excited about it.  I tested my blood sugar this morning and it's 282!!!  That's more than a 50 point difference from yesterday!  I totally sat here and cried because I really couldn't ask for a better present.  I think I'm going to prove people wrong with this one.

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Raw Day 1

Well, I feel great.  No, Seriously!!
I made a double batch of mixed berry smoothie (recipe below) drank 8oz. for breakfast and then took the other half to work with me.  I was slammed today so when I finally got my lunch break (at 6:30pm) I drank that, had some pecans and an orange.  When I got home, a made some guacamole and also ate some sliced tomatoes and a few raisins.  All in all it's been a good day.
I was doing great until a co-worker offered me the most delicious looking piece of pizza I have ever seen.  No, I didn't fail you all, I declined the offer.  But I can see craving pizza is going to be a huge issue before this is over.  Also, I know this is the first day on this raw vegan diet but I really have noticed that my mood is more stabilized than normal.  I'm not trying to rip any one's head off when they rub me the wrong way.

Quick Protein Smoothie

1cup Almond Milk
1cup fresh or frozen fruit
1 scoop plant based protein
Ice

Blend for 2 minutes and enjoy!

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Raw "Eve"

So tomorrow is the big day.  Going totally raw.  And I'm a little nervous.
The fancy lads and I got our last hoo-rah at the china buffet for lunch (sushi and ice cream anyone?) and then it was off to the local organic grocery store to stock up on the necessities.  Organic fruits, veggies, seeds and nuts, blah blah blah.  I won't bore you with a detailed list unless you're interested in stocking a pantry for raw eating.  Maybe that will be a topic for another blog.  Anyway, I noticed that there were several ingredients found in common raw recipes that the store did not carry.  What I could not find was Celtic Sea Salt, Nama Shoyu (raw soy sauce) and raw chocolate products like raw cocoa and cocoa nibs.  A great website I've found for ordering products is www.sunfood.com.  You can order food, books, Cd's, appliances, etc...it's worth checking out.
Fridge and pantry were cleaned and stocked.  Sigh.
I'm posting pics of the Fancy Lads here for your viewing enjoyment because we also have a small container garden which includes lettuces, tomatoes, strawberries and Brussels sprouts.  Yes, they think they're hot models and they love to pose.  Hopefully next year we can expand the garden to include a lot more but it's a little more than I can handle on my own right now.
Also, I experimented with the salad dressing that I included with my last post and discovered that it was way too thick to use so when I find a new dressing that I really enjoy, I'll be sending it your way!

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Cleaning House

     Firstly, I'd like to dedicate this blog to Zac Smith, who passed away three years ago today.  He truly was my biggest fan.  I'm jumping into this with both feet and I think I could use some of his southern charm and cheer leading right now. He would have stood there; cigarette in one hand, glass of Jim Beam in the other.  Pinkie sticking out because all four fingers were so thick they wouldn’t quite fit around that glass and he would have said “Good job!  I love you.”

     So today was spent prepping for my 30 day raw vegan challenge.  I have already noticed a red flag in this new lifestyle for me and that is my reluctance to get rid of things.  I've pulled out everything from the pantry and cleaned the shelves with vinegar and water. (if I'm changing my lifestyle for the better why the hell would I want to clean with chemicals?  Just a thought.)  I pulled out everything unopened and bagged it to go to the food bank and everything that was open, I gave to my Mother. (more on that disaster later)  I've put all of the Fancy Lad's juice/snacks/etc.  on the bottom shelf, because let's face it, I ain't bending down there to snag a mouthful.  I still have the fridge and the freezer to finish but hopefully that will be done by tomorrow.
     I also went to see the doc to get the green light on this little escapade of mine.  The reception was a little more lukewarm than I would have liked, but then again, I don't think many people get as excited as Josepha and I do.  When I was pregnant with J, I developed gestational diabetes and the doc kind of took the wind out of my sails when she told me that unfortunately most women who develop that will always be on some sort of diabetic medication.  By God, I'd love to prove her wrong.  She gave her blessing as long as I was getting enough protein.
    Mommy dearest also came home from Holland and I got to see her this afternoon.  I actually was looking forward to the visit but with her usual negative comments, it went downhill fast.  To make a long story short, she laughed and quickly dismissed my raw diet and told me I'd never be able to do it.  I'd love to prove her wrong even more.
     Thank God I have really great, supportive people in my life like Josepha and her family.  They are all super excited that we are doing this and I may finally be able to control my diabetes by diet alone.  Even some of her family members are considering doing the lifestyle with us.  The more that join, the more people to hold you up when you think you're going to fall.  Viva La Vida Rabbit!

P.S.  I'd love to share and swap any great raw vegan recipes you have so please leave me some feedback!!
Here is a salad dressing courtesy of Sexy Bitches Like It Raw.  Enjoy!!!!

Salad Dressing
1/4 Cup Olive Oil
1/2 Cup Tahini
1Tbs Miso
1 Lemon - juice only
Blend together and enjoy a great organic salad tonight!!!

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