*After The Cleanse*

[sopheetsa]

Thanks Res!!
It is soo nice to eat again. I felt really weak today and almost faint so I didn't go to the gym as I had been doing almost every day during the fast.
Can I blend all the vegetables that I used in the soup up together and drink it tomorrow as well?
Can I have soft vegetables in the soup tomorrow?
Can I start to expand the fruits I am eating yet?
I don't want to go too fast, but I do want to start eating more variety. It will be my 3rd day off the 20 day cleanse. Thanks!
I have been having withdrawals from the super high I had during the fast.

hey Honey

Sounds like you did phenomenally well on your cleanse and now coming off! i have to admire your "go slow"-- because I haven't always done that-- and suffered the consequences. On the feeling of weakness --it may be that you are not taking in enough calories. At the same time that it is a really good idea-- to take it slow-- you can -like you were thinking- add maple syrup, for example. While you were on the cleanse-- if you were doing even the minimum amount of lemonade you were probably getting at least around 500-600 calories a day for the minimum (6 glasses), and double that for the max (12 glasses at 80-100 calories per glass if you used the full 2 tbs maple syrup/glass). Now this caloric intake is already considered to be LESS than a starvation diet-- which is about 900 calories/day. The "high" from the cleanse-- comes at least in part from freeing up your digestion. But now, as you come OFF the cleanse, you're cranking UP your digestion. This means, you will also come off your "fat burning" metabolism-- which also helped you be on your "high", but you have to start REPLACING that with real nutrition.

Consider this-- from what you say-- all you had today is some OJ, an orange, a grapefruit, and some vegetable broth. If you say the orange and grapefruit combined come to a little more than 100 calories (74 for the grapefruit and another 37 for the orange) and even give a generous 300 calories for the broth and OJ combined you're barely taking in as many calories as you had on the CLEANSE! It is a good idea to go slow-- but feel free to INCREASE THE AMOUNT of what you're having-- especially if you're feeling faint-- since right now-- you're going rock bottom on the calories. On the other hand- it is AWESOME that you're taking your time about doing this because it really is the BEST WAY to end the cleanse!

Finally-- it probably would be a good idea to start having a "blend" of your veggies-- tomorrow-- especially if it feels like something which might "sit well" in your tummy.

All the best to you and your husband *After the Cleanse*!!!

[Honey]

Dear Sophe Thanks for all the counsel. Sure sounds like you know what you're talking about. Yes, I have started eating more. I had two bowls of soup and veggies tonight. It was delicious!! I also juiced 2 apples and 6 carrots for lunch. I will start having herbal tea with the MS to also give me more calories. My husband is off his 10 days tomorrow and is looking forward to some nice meals so I am searching for some good meals for him and myself.

Thanks again for all your help and support!!!

Honey

"It's always too early to quit!" -- Norman Vincent Peale

[sopheetsa]

great to hear it Honey -- does that mean you're feeling less "faint"?

(glad it sounds like I know what I'm talking about-- but actually-- all I did-- was add up the calories for what you told us you ate--and compare with the cleanse.... hope I didn't overwhelm you with useless information! )

The object is not necessarily to just INCREASE your calories--but only to do so if you need them-- to support your body function. I think it's great you're still low on the calories and WISH I HAD DONE THAT! The hard part-- is to learn to "listen to your body" to figure out what you REALLY need-- and not eat for -- you know-- all the wrong reasons. If you're eating less than you used to (before the cleanse)-- maybe that's EXACTLY RIGHT or closer to what you should be doing! I struggle with overeating for the wrong reasons-- so- -I think where you're at right now is really fantastic and wish you all the best in finding out what works well for you.

Part of what this thread and this forum are about are figuring out how to eat on the "Raw Food Lifestyle"-- so you might want to check out some of the books and recipes available through this website--- for example:

Click here--> LemonHead Recipe Box and browse, or go to the last page.

You can also check out: Victoria's books on raw foods

Good luck, and hope you have fun getting to eat together with your husband!

[Res]

Aww Soph: look at you picking up the pieces here. Honey sorry for not responding...it's been hell week. Really, really, hell week...

Tons of love to everyone who's made it to this day whether you're cleansing or not!!

~Res

[bayareababe]

Aww Soph: look at you picking up the pieces here. Honey sorry for not responding...it's been hell week. Really, really, hell week...

Tons of love to everyone who's made it to this day whether you're cleansing or not!!

~Res

runs over and hugssssss Res here... have some yummy soup I made

[sopheetsa]

hey Res!!!
hardly pickin up pieces-- but u know me-- if there's a calculation to be done-- i can't resist-- and honestly-- I'm OBSESSED w the thought that I should be eating less--and what's the right amount to eat...there I go again! Nice to see you here in any case!

What's in your soup babe? I'd love to know-- I could use some inspiration. Right now I have some butternut squash, tons of greens, beets-- and other veggies-- but don't know what to do.

[Honey]

Thanks again Sophee for answering me and giving me some suggestions. Res I am praying for you and for things to get better.
My husband is his first day off the diet and he is very hungry so I am encouraging him to go slow. He already ate a small piece of strudle cake. We had a nice soup together for dinner with carrot and spinache drink. Is there anything that says you shouldn't drink with your meal? I guess you can;t help it if you eat the veggies and drink the soup, huh?
Is there a list of fruits that you should peel and those you shouldn't peel to go in the juicer? I know not to use the peel for the grapefruit and orange, but what about other fruits?? I don't think any of the fruit thast I buy is organic. Sophee also thanks for all the recipe links. I wish I had all the ingredients they talk about. OK, we are hanging in there and I will be on my 5th day tomorrow. I should be able to start eating otyher foods now, right? Like oats for breakfast?? I had yogurt with MS today and also a litre of the wonderful lemonade!!
Thanks for being there......
--- Honey

"It's never too late to do the right thing!"

[Res]

Hello Buddies!

Thanks for the hugs, prayers, well wishes and SOUP! Mmmm

TGISaturday. It's BEAUTIFUL outside!!!! It rained all night (left my bedroom window open ) now today it's cloudy and moody. *sigh* I come alive in this weather and I'm SO thankful for it! It's getting colder and the air is fresh and crisp. It makes my longing for my holiday in the UK seem a bit more real and closer (Depeche Mode playing in the background probably has a lot to do with it too. ).

I HOPE that you're all doing well today. PLEASE remember to be KIND to yourselves now that you're off the cleanse and back to reality. The reality part can be difficult, but if you make a PLAN and try, try, try to stick with you'll be less likely to crash and burn. Make sure you're eating at least 50% raw.

This is a great combo: sliced carrots, mushrooms and black olives. I took this to work on Friday and I really liked the sweetness of the carrots with the saltiness of the olives...the mushrooms were meaty and gave a fun substance to the combo. Oh yeah, yellow sweet onions were on the side and YUM! Do it, Do it!

I love you all!
~Res

[Res]

Honey:

Chuckling at your menu.

If you're juicing fruits, I wouldn't peel anything (except the orange and grapefruit) but wash the fruit first. Here's a GREAT juice recipe from Dr Mehlmaur (I make this often):


6-8 Carrots
3 stalks celery
1/2 beet
1 clove garlic
1 zucchini
1 apple
1/4 fresh lemon with peel
LARGE ring of fresh pineapple with rind

Wash ingredients and don't peel. *Cut in sizes that will fit the juicer. *JUICE IT!

Don't omit any ingredients (they may sound like a weird combo, but you have to taste it to believe it). *

*Note, the greens can be interchanged, i.e., celery and zucchini can be replaced with broccol, spinach etc, but I like it as is.

As for oats (mmmmm ) I'd eat them. Usually I take them raw to work, then pour hot water over them and let em sit for about 5 minutes...then maybe add 1 tble maple and top with fresh or frozen berries.

Try to stay as close to "natural" as possible...meaning keep away from canned this and that - lunch meat is terrible because of what's added to the meat so cook a chicken or meat and slice it yourself if you can.

Check out the recipe box...it's kind of out of whack but hunt around. There's a nice assortment of fun food there.

Love,
~Res

[Honey]

Thanks Res for your answers and recipe. Yes, I will look at the recipe section and block the ones I think I would do. We have the frozen fruits so I will try this with the oats. Also the celery/banana and dates recipe put in. I always look forward to the soup at night though. My husband will get tired of this soon so I better start looking for other meals. Thanks again for all your help. I will be sending out info about this site to all my mailing list (about 50) for those who are serious about losing weight and detoxing and starting on a healthy diet. I greatly appreciate this support group that helped me through my 20 days. God bless you!!


--Honey

"It's always too early to quit!" - Norman Vincent Peale