*After The Cleanse*

[mtmouse]

You might check out the General Help for Newbies thread. I think peanutterb has an article in there that addresses using the SWF every so often in a "regular life".

[joyfulbeginners]

okay i'll check that out. thank you!

[thesavage]

Doesn't being happy have any weight? I mean credibility weight.

I'm all for detoxing. I'm here. But when we spend our lives searching out foods to fear, I don't think that makes us healthy. For me, the best barometer is how I feel. After you have done a cleanse or two, you should have a good sense of how food affects you.

If the cacao makes you feel bad, stop eating it. But if it makes you happy and you feel vibrant and healthy, then why be on the constant lookout for ways of depriving yourself?

We are here for joy. Eat joyfully.

I believe that our thoughts and emotions are at least as important as our food. I think you can be healthier eating taco bell in joy than the 'perfect' diet (whatever that is - it changes daily) in fear.

Live. Love. Eat. Laugh.

[miss aimee]

amen above!

[rain]

If anyone felt criticized by my previous post, that was not at all my intention. I was speaking only for myself (and coming from a place of exploration and excitement). When it comes to what we put into our bodies, I think we can only speak for ourselves and have no right to dictate to someone else what we think is best for them (ex: to live our version of what we think is happiness). If someone wants to eat cocoa and feels deprived without it, that's their choice (and it may turn out to be my choice, too).

I have no idea how someone could think I'm constantly looking for foods to fear or ways to deprive myself, based on what I've posted here.

I've hung around this forum because it's one place where I've felt supported and respected around how I choose to nourish myself. I imagine alot of us know how deflating it feels to be criticized for doing the MC. Because of that, I assumed there was more sensitivity to one another here than there is in the "real" world (and, for the most part, I've found that to be true).

[Vana]

If anyone felt criticized by my previous post, that was not at all my intention. I was speaking only for myself (and coming from a place of exploration and excitement). When it comes to what we put into our bodies, I think we can only speak for ourselves and have no right to dictate to someone else what we think is best for them (ex: to live our version of what we think is happiness). If someone wants to eat cocoa and feels deprived without it, that's their choice (and it may turn out to be my choice, too).

I have no idea how someone could think I'm constantly looking for foods to fear or ways to deprive myself, based on what I've posted here.

I've hung around this forum because it's one place where I've felt supported and respected around how I choose to nourish myself. I imagine alot of us know how deflating it feels to be criticized for doing the MC. Because of that, I assumed there was more sensitivity to one another here than there is in the "real" world (and, for the most part, I've found that to be true).

Rain, I don't think any of the posts above were aimed at anyone personally (or at least in the spirit of this board I hope they aren't!). If they were then that's not your 'stuff', so don't worry yourself with people getting their knickers in a twist

Being concerned about what you put in your body is not 'looking for foods to fear.', I very much doubt anyone is having a panic attack everytime they catch a glimpse at foods that may be 'toxic'.
I stumbled across the cacao article and wondered if anyone else was aware of it so posted it - I really didn't mean for anyone to get upset !

[miss aimee]

no knickers twisted here. i was obsessing the chocolate devil when i posted. i think that savage was probably just affirming (his?) decision not to give it up.....

and on this note... i just wanted to say that i read both that article and the one that preceded it and i in no way criticize anyone for posting useful information. i applaud it. nothing personal rain and my admiration to you for your strength and love towards your very own temple/house.

chin up and take care.

aimee

[Vana]

nothing personal rain and my admiration to you for your strength and love towards your very own temple/house.

chin up and take care.

aimee

I second that lovely message for Rain

Funnily enough I had a delivery this afternoon from goodnessdirect, and forgot I ordered even more cacao, off to make raw cakes and cookies for friends .... will be omitting the health warning stickers on this batch !

[rain]

Vana and miss aimee,

Thank you for your kindness...it's a relief to read your words!

Yes, I can sometimes find it hard to not take something personally on a forum, with the communication being limited to what we can do with our keyboards (even when I suspect I may be doing that, LOL!).

I have that chocolate obsession myself right now, miss aimee (and am indulging it). I'm starting another cleanse soon, and am curious to see if I can replace my chocolate cravings with something else (maybe just having that intention will help?). But I believe in also making room for gentleness in my relationship to food.

Funnily enough I had a delivery this afternoon from goodnessdirect, and forgot I ordered even more cacao, off to make raw cakes and cookies for friends .... will be omitting the health warning stickers on this batch !

LOL, Vana! Parts of that first article got rather gross, huh? The same day I read it, I also heard something on the radio about government standards for stored grain (how many insect parts, etc are allowed in it). Those standards sounded similar to what that article says they are for cacao! The person on the radio was saying that, when they see the grain starting to move, they know there's critters in there and they kill them (with poison, i imagine!). It's just taken for granted that that's what happens to huge amounts of stored grain, and it's still considered saleable. So cacao isn't a special case, in that regard.

[thesavage]

I had not the slightest intention of offending anyone. I didn't even see prior posts.

I just wanted to affirm to myself and anyone who might be interested that we are here for joy.
Food happens to be one of the things that brings me joy.

I have gone through cycles in my life where I have forbidden myself food. And every time I come back to forbidding myself nothing. I'm always happier, healthier, MUCH more productive and fit when I follow the joy route.

(side note: I used to be very overweight. When I finally stopped forbidding specific foods - even french fries and cookies and such, I lost weight. A LOT of weight. And it was the easiest thing I'd ever done. Knowing I could have as much as I wanted made them a non-issue. And now I've been darn-right skinny for 16 years.)

And please never take offense at anything I or ANYONE says. Even if it IS meant 'personally' (which it wasn't), anything anyone says is a reflection of themselves. Always. Besides, I'm up to my eyeballs in lemonade. No one should take me seriously!

Rain, clearly you are a great contributer to this forum. I look forward to mixing it up with you.
Joyfully, of course!
the savage