*After The Cleanse*

[Mrs.Squigs]

Ok, I should be coming off my cleanse sometime next week and I am very confused by all the information about healthy eating. The problem with researching - this site or google - is that I'm finding too much contradictory info out there. I'm aware that every person is different and you have to do what works best for YOU, but I have no experience at this. I'm afraid that I'll inadvertantly end up putting toxins back in my body.

I am Extremely torn between being vegetarian and or raw. I've been a meat and dairy consumer all my life. I've read that your body doesn't need meat but how bad for you is it really?

-I don't *get* organics. Are you supposed to buy strictly organic veggies ALL the time? I'm guessing that canned and frozen ones are devoid of the enzymes and nutrients so are they never to be used?? My mom has told me that organic is somewhat bunk and not really necessary.

-Is it really so bad to eat cooked foods?


I'm pretty sure that when I end the fast I will be eating a lot healthier than I was before, but I think I will not be able to avoid eating things that people here would frown on... (fish, meat, eggs, etc.)

I just want to know what people think. THANKS!!!!

[mtmouse]

Hi Mrs Squigs,

I think the most important thing here is that you don't have to get it perfectly right the first time out! You can actually try things and see how it works and if it fits for you and change course if need be. You can cleanse again in a few months if you want, or several times a year. You can try different plans and see which ones feel good to you and produce good results in your body.

I follow the blood type diet, which for my type does include some meats, fish, and dairy. I found it 10 years ago and it just spoke to me, and I've had no trouble staying on it and have had huge health benefits. Now, after finding this site, I still follow those guidelines, but I'm also paying more attention to raw foods and experimenting with that.

I still occasionally put toxins in my body. Not often, and not nearly as much as I used to, but it happens. And you know what? The world didn't end. The last time I did it, I did get a HUGE wake-up call from my body announcing its displeasure, LOL. So I'll probably do it even less in the future.

So, as I said, bottom line; you can take your time to feel your way around and find out what works for YOU. And you can even have fun doing it!

[Mrs.Squigs]

Thank you! You've reassured me. I'm so glad you found a diet that works for you. I found this link about the blood type diet that is interesting but might not apply to you since you already know that it works for you.

http://earthsave.org/news/bloodtyp.htm

this one is good too.

http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk...group_diet.htm

[peanutterb]

[quote=Mrs.Squigs]
http://earthsave.org/news/bloodtyp.htm
/quote]
fyi - this link doesn't work

[mtmouse]

Thank you! You've reassured me. I'm so glad you found a diet that works for you. I found this link about the blood type diet that is interesting but might not apply to you since you already know that it works for you.

This is actually the official one: www.dadamo.com.

Another point I was going to make about finding information about what direction to go in: I think you *do* want to hear from people who are following a plan and getting results. Yes, it's true they will be supporters. But most of the nay-sayers (for anything, including MC) tend to be people who have not tried whatever it is. Every once in a while you will find someone who has tried a particular thing and didn't like it. That can be helpful too, but I think it's less so--you will never know if they really gave it a good try, or followed it correctly, or what.

So frankly, whether it's BTD, or McDougall, or veganism, vegetarianism, raw foods, or MCF, or whatever--I think the best plan of attack should always be to find people who are successful on the plan, then check it out and see if it sounds good to you, then try it yourself and see if you can do it, then see whether you get the results you want from it.

I will agree, you don't want to hear from people who have a financial interest in the thing you're looking into. They will not be impartial. But finding normal people who are happy with something is an excellent place to start. And over time, you will begin to discover how you and your body do best!

[Mrs.Squigs]

[QUOTE=peanutterb]

http://earthsave.org/news/bloodtyp.htm
/quote]
fyi - this link doesn't work

That's weird Peanut... the link still works when I click on it. I agree with Mtmouse to some extent but I found waaaay too much information against the blood type diet. But like you said, it works for you and that is what matters.


I went to Barnes & Noble this morning and looked at raw cookbooks. I got so frustrated that I left without buying anything. I simply cannot afford the equipment for that lifestyle right now. Also I have no clue where I would find any of the ingredients. Whole Foods and Trader Joes are the only health food stores I know of. My aunt and uncle call Whole Foods "Whole Paycheck". >:-(

[sopheetsa]

I know what you mean. So what I like to think: there's the raw lifestyle-- with "dehydrators" and fancy equipment, and recipes and all that-- and then there's knowing that you could eat an apple instead of apple pie...

[Mrs.Squigs]

I know what you mean. So what I like to think: there's the raw lifestyle-- with "dehydrators" and fancy equipment, and recipes and all that-- and then there's knowing that you could eat an apple instead of apple pie...

Yeah! I will have to just go with the simplest recipes I can find and I'll try to find them all online because I'm not paying $30-40 for book that requires equipment for at least half the recipes.

[mtmouse]

You can also get most books from the library to try them out first, and then decide if they'll be worth your investment.

But I think the very most effective change toward a healthier diet is to stop eating fast food, stop eating food that is commercially prepared and full of additives and preservatives.

Keep whatever you eat to the least processed form possible. That usually ends up being a lot cheaper, too, because when you buy something processed off the shelf or from a concession, you're paying for the labor as well as the item. And you're paying for mostly chemicals, not nutrition! You want your food dollar to provide the very most nutrition possible and not to waste it on junk (and, later, medicine because your body is so messed up).

Usually, if you don't have money, you do have time (not always, I realize!). Using the time to prepare whole natural food in loving ways will help you lots more than having enough money to buy books and/or junk.

[Mrs.Squigs]

Thank you. You're so right. I completely agree about the processed food thing. I plan on being really attentive to what I put in my body when I come off this and avoiding that bad stuff.

I'm such a dork.. I never switched over my CA license to a NJ one and you need it to get a library card!! I gotta get on that..... it's only been TWO YEARS!!! hahahaha