The One Month RAW Challenge

[Ginger]

OMG I'm at work and my phone rings. It's Matt Amsden calling to see if I want this weeks menu or next. I was totally speechless. I couldn't believe he was calling to check on an order. OK, I feel better now that I've told ya'll. And all I could think about was you guys saying he needed to eat more

[Res]

How fun! I ordered a box on Sunday - my BD is Friday so that's my present to myself.

So - what are your favorite Raw Cakes? I'm going through Cohen's book to see what's appealing. My all time favorite cake is German Chocolate.

Oh, a strange thing happened in the grocery store today - first of all I shouldn't have been there. I don't think I was ready to be out of my house. But I had the strangest "pull" towards foods that I don't eat any longer. I can't explain it because that doesn't do the feeling justice, but it was like a fog of some sort. It wasn't any food in particular actually, it was more like the "isles". Cereal, canned foods, packaged foods - I wasn't "tempted" but I felt empty as if I was leaving without something or leaving something behind. Weird huh?? It was tangible and even as I think about it that feeling comes back.

Anyway - so Ginger, which box are you getting?

Love,
~Res

[Sim]

Ginger~ That's too funny about Matt...I think he could probably have slipped through the fiber optics and the little holes in the phone to talk to you in person! After the cleanse, it took a week to have a normal BM, then I started going every single time I ate a meal! It was fabulous, since I've been constipated my whole life. Cleanse cured that, too. No, I've not had grainy eliminations. I'm going to say something ridiculous here: are you eating a lot of grains, wheat, oats?

Res~ I have so much information for you! If maybe you were to clean out your private message box, I could send it to you! That is quite a doctor trail you've been following...I bet you're exhausted just from getting the runaround! (Hey, it IS a form of exercise ). I know just what you're talking about and sometimes I think we can't believe any of the doctors. And how dare that endocrinologist not call you back?! Yes ma'am, you paid your money and got no service. That sucks. But I'm doing an experiment, just to show you how evil I can get: I went to the lab today to get the blood tests my doctor (who I will not be using any longer after we talk about my blood results) asked me to get. He won't be back until next week. Anyway, after that I made an appointment with a very well respected naturopath who can't see me until June 11th, but that's okay, since I see the other doc June 6. The naturopath, an Indian woman very involved in Ayurvedic medicine as well as traditional medicine and who is the founder of the CT Naturopathic chapter of the American Naturopathic Association (or whatever its official name is) requires that I fill out a majorly detailed history of my health and lifestyle practices and any ailments, aches, pains, complaints mild or acute, emotional or physical. Then I mail it back. Then she reviews it before I see her. Then for our first visit, she takes ONE HOUR to talk before she even examines! It is a scheduled one hour and 1/2 visit!!! Then there are various things that happen, depending on the patient's condition. The return visit is 3/4 hour to analyze what's gone on since the first visit. I am so psyched...I know she'll do a blood analysis and I'm curious to see what happens between the first analysis from the traditional, old fashioned guy who refuses to give B12 shots because "they're archaic", he said, and the naturopath who seems almost magical to me, given the reviews I've heard about her work. The best part: it's covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield. I can't wait to tell you all how this plays out.

Today when I went to give blood, nothing came out. I'm not kidding! This has never happened to me and of course, I worry that it's the cleanse. I'm thinner than usual, something I never in my life thought I'd be able to say and it's fun but also a little scary...could this thinness ruin me? Obviously I love to eat and it's just the cleanse kind of thinness that's occurring now. After the cleanse, I'll gain a little, of course. But today was kind of funny. The tech then poked the other arm and he almost couldn't get the blood to flow from that one either. Then he asked if I were a zombie. I told him yes, but only at 4:45 am. Then I come alive by five.

I'm getting the weirdest feeling that we all need to meet. I don't know how this would be possible, but where there's a will, there's a way. I know that when I look on the other threads, I'm not inclined to love the posters the way I've come to love and care about you all. Maybe it's a peculiar serendipity that shouldn't be ignored.

I know I'm not doing raw at the moment, but if it's okay with all of you, I prefer to read your posts and stay with you all. I'm very attached

Great piece of news: my 22 year old son has decided to do raw accompanied by some beef, chicken, and fish. He's foregoing most cooked food for the moment. I'm glad he's at least going to try the experiment.

Okay friends. Time to do more research. I did buy my citrus press today at, of all places, Williams-Sonoma. Same price as online and I have it in my kitchen right now! Now to order the Vitamix...

[Res]

Sim! How interesting... about an hour ago I was thinking about all of us meeting. Sorry about my mailbox: I emptied it earlier after getting a "deny" when I tried to respond to someone. lol.

I can't wait to hear from you after visiting "both" of your doctors and getting the results! This will be interesting for a bunch of reasons. If the two results conflict, are you going to mention it to the MD?

An hour and a half! You know of course you're steering the boat and we're all going to be going the same direction. I'm going to pull out my insurance information and see exactly what's covered!

That's weird about the blood test and you being on empty. I wonder what's up with that!

Of course you can stay with us even if you're not all raw!! We wouldn't have it any other way! What would we do without you?

I'm so happy that your boy is going to go raw +. I'm surprised that a 22 year old male is willing to do so. For how long?

Earlier I had a taste of heaven. If any of you haven't had a "young coconut" DO IT! I read that the inside was like pudding - and OH IT IS. What I loved the most though was the juice/milk. WOW! After spilling a bunch of it due to the way you have to whack the top off, I managed to salvage the rest and it was "love at first sip". I don't ordinarily like coconut juice just to drink so I mix it into recipes but THIS! Heaven in a glass. Wow.

Well I'm off to bed. Back to work tomorrow but only for two days.

Love to all,
~Res

[Ginger]

Res - I LOOOOOVVVVEEEEE coconut water. I bought a big cleaver and hack away at the top till I punch a hole in it, pour the water in a glass and finish taking the top off. Here there's a grocery store that sells them 10 for $10. (Actually my BF is a manager for the chain) It's always a treat to find one that's very young and eat the sweet meat. yummy. I ran out yesterrday. Gotta buy more!! I bought my Box on Sunday too. The reason he called was he had one box left from this week and asked if I wanted it, or to wait and get next week's.

Isn't it crazy about the B12? I certainly don't want to be anemic or whatever, but we'll see.

Cake? I'm trying to avoid sweet stuff. It sets me off. I usually have a little fruit at night before bed. I'm afraid once I start eating sweets I won't be able to stop.

Sim - I so agree that we should meet. I have been eating some rolled oats in the morning (muesli), but I think it's more the nuts that are causing it. I wish you luck with the naturopath. I'm surprised insurance will cover it. Maybe I better start looking at my coverage. But, I know it pretty much sucks. That was too funny about Matt slipping through the phone. Now I have this ridiculous picture in my head.

I was ALMOST a teacher. I left school one semester before I'd have graduated. Long story. Now I manage about 100 employees at a Transit system. If ya'll ever come to DC, I'll take you on a tour.

[HealthyBiz]

Res- A quick tip on getting the 'water' out of a young coconut: It takes a screwdriver and a hammer! Really! Poke out 2 to 3 of the 3 indents at one end. Up-end the coconut into a glass or bowl to drain. Then you can crack it open without spilling the nectar. I agree about how wonderful they are. Sounds like you're feeling better. Hope so! (You probably figured this out, but be sure to clean the screwdriver pretty well BEFORE poking out the coconut eyes!)

Ginger - why didn't I realize you're from DC? I think I'll be there in August. I'll let you know if my plans firm up. I used to live in Fairfax. I love D.C.

Funny how many of us are teachers. Most of my teaching is here, but I travel sometimes. In June I'll be in Phoenix and San Francisco. And, yes, to all, I'm game to meet. That would be such fun. We're so spread out - from NYC to midwest to northern & southern CA. Maybe we'll just call it a virtual meeting. Oh, but I guess that's what we've been doing. I'd prefer to see you face to face.

Oh, BTW, B-12 and a naturopath are on my list to check out with my doctor or on my insurance plan.

[Ginger]

Ginger - why didn't I realize you're from DC? I think I'll be there in August. I'll let you know if my plans firm up. I used to live in Fairfax. I love D.C.

Cool Healthybiz. You're sure a long way from home. I'm a Montgomery county native, and have lived all over the area, from falls church to laurel to frederick county, md. I've worked for Metro for over 28 years. Keep me posted on your plans for august. But, I'll be out of the county from the 18th to the 25th. Headed for Curacao.

[Res]

Ginger: The "cake" request was for my birthday this Friday. I plan to celebrate with a raw cake. I think I may have found one - it's a black forest cake in Cohens book. She said she and a friend ate the entire thing one evening but doesn't recommend it. lol

Curacao? You'll be there, Sim will be in Ireland. Can you see me green with envy? For me it's the UK or Bust!

Healthybiz: Holy crap why didn't I think of the screwdriver? I use it with regular coconuts... Talk about tunnel vision and not thinking out of the box. Because the young coconuts look so different and the instructions said to whack it off with a cleaver - I didn't think there was any other way because THEY spilled their liquid too! lol I don't acutally have a cleaver so I used a really long BBQ spatula. It's not even sharp on the sides but the young coconut is much softer than the brown hard ones.

*The Flavor* floored me. It tastes so much different from the brown coconuts. I don't know if I'm making this up, but I remember "feeling" better after drinking and eating part of it - almost as if I had taken medicine and it was kicking in. I'm serious too. It "felt" medicinal without any bad side affects.

Oh - Ginger, I checked my reciept for the coconut (thinking whole foods probably charged me way too much) and it was only $1.99 - not as good as what you get but more than reasonable to me. EVERYONE needs to eat one!

Gotta get back to work.

Love to you all,
~Res

[TeePee]

Oh, you guys are so cool!!!

Coconut water is fabulous!!! I have such fun whacking the hell out of them!! My daughter gets so excited when I open them!!! I had to buy a cleaver!! I now like the way Cohen demonstrates how to open them in her DVD. Make several cuts on the top to create a hexagon shaped cut. Pop off the top to get the water out.

And the meat is like pudding, one of my FAVORITE recipes from Sarma is the chocolate pudding. the ONLY RAW my 7 year old daughter eats!! Fabulous!!


Now, I need to check my insurance to see if I am covered for this cool stuff!!!

I agree, we do all have to meet!!! As, I am late to meet one of my college roomates for lunch!! As I'm typing this, she is leaving me a message to be there at in an hour and I have to shower and an hour drive!!!

Yes, I took two personal days- today and tomorrow before the year wraps up!!! And I am sooooo glad!! (The sub is probably crying by now!!) Just scheduled my massage and pedicure for tomorrow and today I'm spending with friend, driving in convertible in 75 degree sunshine!!

Res, keep on the up and up!!!

Sim, are you using the Breville for your lemonade!!!!????? Do you love it??? I am ready to go juice my grapefruit in it before jumping in the shower!

Great day ladies!!! Love to you all!

[Res]

Oh great, now I need to buy Cohen's DVD.

TeePee have a fabulous time! You've given me a few great ideas for my days off this week.

Chocolate pudding? Oh my! The website I found that showed how to open the coconut also said to put the meat and a little of the juice into a blender, add a little vanilla and whip it up. It looked amazing pouring out of the blender. I'm going back to whole foods on Thursday and stocking up.

Love, love, love,
~Res