The One Month RAW Challenge

[peanutterb]

Ginger - you'll be eating sooner than i will

[Ginger]

Oh yeah

[luanova]

When do we start? I am so excited to be in this challenge. I finished my first MC 2 weeks ago and have been eating pretty much everything raw since. Cooked food just does not appeal to me, and the few times I ate it didn't make me feel good. Plus I read Patricia Boutenko's books last week which were very inspiring and educational. Have fun everyone and bon appetite!!!

[Natalyawoo]

I'm finishing day 3 of the 30 day raw challenge. I've turned down the pizza I fed my students, the carrot cake, champagne and bread at lunch today, and a tempting (but NO) dangerous encounter with Desert Swirl Frozen Yougurt. I'm not quite getting into the rhythmn of the whole raw thing, so tonight I prepared all my veggies so I can just throw them into "something" for the week.

My only complaint, this stuff ain't cheap! Eating raw may be easy on the body but it isn't easy on the checkbook!

Peanutterb I really appreciate the menu. I think that's what I need to do or else I'll get bored and just start eating handfulls of nuts. That's been my demise lately; I won't put stuff together, I'll just down a handfull of something like nuts, fruit, veggies. It doesn't feel like I'm sitting down for a meal.

Res feel better soon! I've been there with the food posioning and thought I'd die before it was over!

Well, I'm pluggin' along. Stick with it, those of you who've already begun. Good luck to those beginning, and join in everyone else. It'll be fun!

[mtmouse]

Natalyawoo,

Good for you to stay strong at the party! And I think you have a good idea to make an eating plan for yourself, too, at least at the beginning, so you feel like you know your way.

Interestingly, I did a comparison check of how much I spent on food since the beginning of the year compared to the same time period last year, and I was really close! So I haven't noticed quite the same financial drain as you eating this way. (I've been mostly raw since January, including a cleanse in there.)

Anyway, make yourself up a few good staples (toona is the best!) so you've got something good on hand, and away you go!

[mtmouse]

I called my Costco today and learned that they do occasionally offer Road Shows selling the Vitamix, but the next one won't be until late July. I don't know if I can hold out that long! (However, I must hold out through estimated tax payments in June, so maybe it won't feel like so long to wait after that. But I still think I'll look online and see if I can come up with anything.)

[Natalyawoo]

mtmouse have you tried ebay? I've had friends get tons of things they couldn't afford for super cheap.... If you can handle a used blender. A little bleach... you might be able to find one new, too. Thanks for the advice. I'm writing down everything I eat and am working on a meal plan today for the rest of the week. Perhaps if I have a plan I'll find myself spending less, too.

I'd like to drop 10lbs. Do you think it's possible? I'm still trying to watch how many calories I consume. Is this a good idea while eating raw, or is that no longer a good measure for how much I should be eating. Thanks for the advice all.

[mtmouse]

Natalyawoo,

I've thought about eBay but haven't gotten serious about actually looking yet. Good idea, though.

I don't think it's a good idea to count calories when you're eating raw. The best approach, IMO, is to have a large variety of veggies, pates, blender sauces, fruits, and nuts and seeds. And then check in with yourself every time you're hungry and eat what it is you want. Eat until you're satisfied, and then stop. Wait until you're hungry again, and eat what you want.

Trying to squeeze yourself into predetermined rules is self-defeating, IMO. So what if you overeat for a few days or gain a few pounds? (Especially if you have just finished a cleanse--that in itself will often put some weight back on, just by filling up the colon again.) If you stick to all raw for the 30 days, I'm willing to bet you will learn all sorts of things about yourself and how and why you eat, and I suspect you will have fallen into a pattern of eating in a way much more likely to achieve and maintain your goal weight.

As to whether you can lose 10 pounds, I would think it's certainly possible. But it definitely won't happen if you starve yourself into overeating! It's fine to have the goal, but it's also very important to get out of deprivation mode.

But if it helps, I also have the same goal (well, my stated goal was 5-8 pounds--I'll take 10 if I get it, LOL).

[Res]

Kathy, Sim, Teepee are you on? Ok, I'm on Amazon right now ordering Tibetan Goji Berries and need to know which book to buy next. I have two, the eating for 1 or two, and one from the green smoothie lady. Anyway I'll check the other threads, I just don't remember and I'm not 100% yet in being back to health.

Love to all,
~Res

[Res]

Ugh I don't like paying full price for books - and so far Cohen's book is $29.99 and it doesn't get any better than that. And it's Paperback! Egads.