*After The Cleanse*

[Heidi000]

Hello,
we are now 10 days post cleanse. I am about 75% vegetarian anyway pre cleanse and have been vegan since Feb 7. Mostly raw, but have cooked brown rice with veggies twice. I am not craving fish just yet, though sashimi crosses my mind sometimes, but I am really wanting a cup of coffee with milk and sweetner. It's been three weeks! I like tea but just would love a cup of joe. Why is caffiene so bad for us? And a little milk, sould that creat havok on our squeaky clean insides? Plus the wrinkly skin issue, as Sim put it, mine is bereft of fat and even healty oil. Any advice here? Feel great but look like I aged 5 years, except for my skinny but!

[Heidi000]

Hello all,
In addition I go to the gym and feel I need protien after a work out. I am taking wheat grass supplements and eating some sprouts but fear it isn't enough. Though I feel good, I cannot help but think my system is a bit over-depleted. I would consider going on the cleanse again in a few months for a longer perios of time than 10 days but fear it would age me even more. I have followed the cleanse to the leter now 3 times but was just sapped tremendously this last one. Tired and hungry and slept a lot during, and pretty much put working out on the back burner throughout. Maybe it was just tones of holiday excess coming out, I don't know but it will be a while before we do this again. My husband lost 15 lbs, looks terrific and likes the food we are eating, which is good as he is of midweastern steak and potatoes backround. Me, no meat in over 30 years, just a bit of fish sometimes, though not an everyday thing for sure. Thanks again for the support of this BB. Heidi

[NewDirection]

Hello Ladies!

Just stopping by for a quick check in/up.

I am now 30+ days 100% raw. That includes three weeks of business trips
with no blender, dehydrator (which really - Ive only used once or twice for
fruit going bad - not yet proving to be money well spent) or really anything
other than a fork, knife, spoon & cooler.

None of my coworkers are giving me hell for being raw vegan anymore, in
fact when there are new people around they talk about it in a positive manner
talking about my insane transformation.

I am only 4 pounds under my lowest weight reached on my 30 day cleanse -
and yet I've lost over a FOOT of fat (love saying that) and I am much
stronger than I was last season. In fact I have been on a slight upward
gain in weight (a few ounces - half a pound per week) and my clothes are
totally hanging off of me - so much so I've had to replace most of my business
attire.

I didn't sleep over 4 - 5 hours a night for well over three weeks, at the same
time I was putting in 60 - 70 hours @ work, plus taking care of my family,
snowboarding, and going on fun photo shoots. I am back to sleeping 6 or
7 hours now and feel like I can run a marathon each day.

I can't even explain. I am so in love with raw... it has been said and I know
I will repeat myself again in the future but it's the best thing that ever
happened to me.

I'm done blathering now. I miss you people terribly. I look forward to work
slowing down so I can stop in more frequently - and actually read while I am
here.

I hope you are all well.

[fxyMNgrl]

Day 1 post cleanse.

I did the orange juice, and ate some orange segments. I also took Daily Dolphidus (sp?) probiotics. All is going well! Feeling much better than I did on the cleanse.

I did 16 days on the cleanse, and lost 5 lbs. I suppose I didn't have a whole heck of a lot to loose, but somehow I thought all the toxins I got rid of would weigh more. But I'm sure I'll keep detoxing on a raw diet, which I'm really looking forward to

NewDirection Congrats on staying raw!

[dkotschessa]

My problem with a raw diet comes down basically to cost. I was wondering if anybody here can be specfic with regards to the amount of money they spend on their raw groceries.

Anybody that eats raw or has done the 30 day challenge - how much did you end up spending in a month?

I'd really like to work towards a raw diet but I just feel like it's hopeless sometimes with regards to my financial situation.

-DaveK

[Heidi000]

Hello all,

I am having a bit of an issue with fatigue right now, completed our 3rd cleanse in a year 17 Feb. On my days off I feel like sleeping....a lot. I am about 80% raw and even the 20% is oatmeal or brown rice and veggies, totally vegan. But I am T-I-R-E-D!Just sapped of energy. I do get it together for work, of course, but just come home and drop. My husband is back on chicken and veggies but careful about combining. (I never eat chicken and have not eaten red meat in over 30 years.) But I did eat some fish prior to this point. Hubby says I need to eat some protien, I say I am still in a state of detoxing, probably alcohol since that was the worst that I put in my body and now none in nearly 4 weeks. I just want my energy back. Oh, and my skin took a beating this last cleanse. Do I need more flax oil? Anyone out there have some advice about: 1) Protien, how should I get this back into my system and 2) healthy oil to brighten my skin? Oh, and should I be taking supplements? (I am taking probiotics, C, calcium and wheat grass tabs).

SIM, I am inspired about your taking the raw challenge to new levels. I found a place about an hour from home that has weekly raw uncook classes I am going to check out.

Anyway, thanks to all, again. So glad I found this site!

Heidi

[dkotschessa]

I have to admit I am kind of disappointed at the silence I always run into with this issue. I always see things like "wel cost shouldnt' be a consideration for your health." and so forth. Some of us really need to consider cost though. What are we to do? Sometimes I think the raw diet is a rich diet.

Sorry for the rant, but this is frustrating.

-DaveK

[mtmouse]

I feed two people. I'm raw most of the time; he isn't totally.

I buy organic when I can, but not if the price is too high (I googled "20 top foods to buy organic" and pretty much stick to that), and I do comparison shop so I buy my groceries at three or four different stores. I also buy many things (like agave and raw cacao powder) online. But lately my health food store has had raw carob and bulk goji berries at very good prices, so that's where I buy those. I buy a lot of nuts and produce at Costco.

We eat virtually no packaged foods of any kind and make everything from scratch. We rarely go out to eat because it costs so much more and it's so much less satisfying.

We spend about $425 a month for the two of us on groceries. That didn't change when I went raw.

[dkotschessa]

Oh thank you! I'm glad I'm finally getting some info here. I guess that's not really bad for that many people.

Is cosco one of those member places? I don't think we have one around here.

-DaveK

[mtmouse]

Yes, Costco is a member club, like Sam's Club. But what's important is just to check around where you live and check out prices.