Day 11... yes I'm still here

Oops! I guess I'm a bit behind on my posts. It's been a wee bit busy the last few days. I also have a confession to make... I ate something that wasn't raw. On Friday I had to go to a meeting and didn't go prepared... so, I had to eat part of a bagel. Trust me I paid for it afterward. Bloating, a feeling of uncomfortable heaviness in my stomach ALL DAY! I was hungry and there wasn't really much of an option so.... Lesson learned, keep raw bars or a bag of dates/nuts in my bag at all times!!!

Speaking of which I need to tweak my own larabar knock off recipe this week. Yesterday I started dehydrating raw curried falafels. I had to sprout some chickpeas, it took a couple of days for those to finish sprouting and by tomorrow I will have raw falafely goodness to take in my lunch. My next goal is to find a good raw wrap recipe so I can make falafel sandwiches.

Again this morning I caved and tried on the skinny jeans... I was able to get them almost all the way up... I seriously need to hide them somewhere until I've reached my goal, but can't seem to bring myself to do that. I honestly believe that I love self torture!

To Facebook or Not to Facebook...

Yesterday I abruptly deactivated my facebook account. I've been trying for months to make the leap, only ever able to stay off for a few days at a time. In recent weeks I have been trying desperately to finish 3 book projects, all off which are 2/3rds done. I keep finding myself being drawn away from my first love and to the distraction of that terrible drug.. facecrack. I pulled the plug yesterday and though going through withdrawal I am going to stick to my guns this time. There truly is nothing on there for me, I can't become a better person with Facebook, I'm not going to save the world or cure AIDS on there and I sure as hell am not going to get these books finished and published by being on there either.

The ironic thing here, is people I didn't think would really notice my disappearance have messaged me to make sure I am ok and the people that should have noticed have said nothing. It's funny how we use a cyberspace networking tool to gauge the sincerity of those around us. Weird if I don't say so myself. In all honestly I need to step back and take a hard long look at myself and what is really going on in my life. I've already started to take my health and fitness to another with the raw diet and the beginning of my own boot camp. Now I have to do the same with personal life. I constantly preach to others that life is supposed to be forward moving. I have been doing this at a snails pace and need to start kicking myself as hard as I kick others. The first step for me is to break the bad habit of procrastination with my life. Step 1 of the 12 step program, GET OFF FACEBOOK.

Then there is my crutch... the cell phone.

I am not a people person. I am introvert who would rather chat on MSN or text than actually talk to someone face to face or dial a phone and have an actual conversation. It seems that the fates have decided enough is enough and over the last week my crutch, AKA my Blackberry has begun to die a slow... jerky death. Randomly shutting itself off till it finally gave up the ghost this afternoon. I called my provider to find that after dropping it in a sink full of water a few months ago, it was only a matter of time before the battery said adios. I unfortunately can't get a new battery till after work on Monday, so am with out the ability to cower behind the safety of BB messenger and text. I actually took the brave step of giving out my land line number to people and telling them to phone me rather than message or email. Step 2 of the 12 step plan.

Whew, 2 out of 12 steps in one day is plenty. That alone is exhausting in itself.

Step 3 of 12... an actual date with someone? Do I dare....

Addendum: It's been almost 1.5 weeks since I left Facecrack, and I have no intentions of going back until I have fulfilled 3 promises I made to myself. I'm not sharing those promises, they are too personal, but until they happen, my own personal facebook page stays deactivated.

Day 7... ewwwww you wrascally wabbit!

I'm craving carrots.... is that normal... who craves carrots. I don't think this has anything to do with being on a raw diet. I am craving the taste of carrots. Normally when I fast or do detoxes, I crave other things, salty things. Usually potato chips or fries. Today this crazy... crazy craving for carrots kicked in. Because I don't have a peeler at work I would have had to buy those terrible baby carrots. I won't buy those because it is too hard to determine which are the carrots that aren't washed in a chlorine bath to preserve them. That's right folks. Ever notice they turn white after a while...

I am going to deal with the craving in about 5 minutes. Rather than chaw on 3 or 4 carrots I am going to juice them instead. That will kill the craving I hope!

I've figured out a plan to help being raw easier. Once a week I am going to make up marinades, sauces and dressings, likely mid week. Then one of the weekend days make two or three dehydrated things. Someone also said to chop up your all your veggies twice a week, but I actually don't mind the chopping. Just like washing dishes it is therapeutic for me.

I'm also considering a two day juice fast. I am trying to figure out what weekend and what juices to drink. Though they suggest you do a green juice fast, I may combine others as well. Still looking into that.

Ok... time to go juice my carrots!

Day 5 -- Hello! I'm hungry!

Hello Metabolism I'm Carolina, the person you will be tormenting for the rest of her life. Yesterday I was hungry ALL DAY. I'm not complaining, it just means my sluggish metabolism is waking up again. Same scenario today. The way to work around this is several smaller meals. I am starting that tomorrow. I also realized I need to add more live and less dehydrated stuff. I am dehydrating to keep me from getting bored, but have to remind myself that a lot of the dehydrated stuff is full of fat and calories. Some might say good fat and calories, but for someone who needs to get her body working to lose weight again needs to first lose the weight, then she can indulge!

I was searching for a link for a friend and came across this site. http://rawfoodswitch.com/. It's perfect! She sends out recipes every few days and you can take a coarse on how to transition! If you join her mailinglist you also get a couple free recipe book pdf's.

Yesterday Salar and I went to Kensington/Chinatown to stock up on veggies etc. It was a perfect day. Sunny and filled with busy happy people. The gorgeous weather will do that. I am trying to get into a habit of going to Chinatown twice a week to stock up. I also need to pick a day every week and make up my dressings and sauces for the week. If I pre make stuff it will make life sooo much easier.

The next things I am going to dehydrate though, just to keep things interesting are raw falafels, cookies and I need to tweek my larabar knock off recipe.

Day 3 of the Raw Challenge

Ok... I told myself I wouldn't do this till April 30. Though I know even then they still won't fit.... grrr...

I was looking through my closet, pulling out clothes for tonight and there they were staring at me... my skinny jeans... the jeans I could get into 2 years ago.... against my better judgement, I tried putting them on... and um, well, you know the end result.

HAVE I GAINED THAT MUCH WEIGHT! Apparently, I have.

Being raw isn't just to lose weight. For me it is a change in lifestyle, just like becoming Vegan. It is also about my health. The vain part of me just wants to fit in those damn size 8's again. Weight isn't just going to fall off and as Janis is always reminding me, you lose weight first, the last place you gained it. I have to keep reminding myself this is a journey that I have to have patience with. I'm not going to wake up tomorrow and be a size 8 again. Deep breath.

I am looking forward to my shopping trip to Kensington and Chinatown tomorrow. Salar (who is doing the raw challenge with me) and I are going to stock up on lots of fruits and veggies. For around $20 I leave with two bags full of goodies! I plan on doing this twice a week. Being raw doesn't mean having to break the bank. It can be done on a budget. The entire point is to be eating living foods.

I've shoved the jeans to the back of the closet again... they are staying there till April 30. I know they still won't fit, but at least I will know if I've made any progress with the weight loss part.

Day 2 of the Raw Challenge

I'm obsessing about coffee! I don't think it is the caffeine that is the issue. I think it is the ritual. Every morning before I go to work I get up, make fresh juice, shower then have a cup of coffee. On the weekends, I walk the dogs, come in and have 2 cups while I read the paper. Coffee is part of my daily ritual. How do I change this.

Today after cleaning my apartment, I went for a walk. Even with my to do list only partially done. I couldn't pass it up, 25 plus degrees and the 2nd day of April. Unheard of! The issue, I would normally stop and get a coffee to accompany my walk. As I walked past the coffee shop it took everything in my not to stop and grab a cup of java. But I didn't.

When I got home I realized in order to stay raw, I have to ensure I have variety, so I started dehydrating. I dehydrated the usual nut loaf from the Matt Amsden's Rawvolution. I also made raw tart shells and faux lara bars (which are amazing by the way) and tart shells from the Raw Chefs blog, http://therawchef.com/therawchefblog/fennel-cherry-tomato-balsamic-crust-tart-with-macadamia-cheese (sign up for the news letter)

Some of my favourite blogs need to be shared with others!
http://www.rawmazing.com/
http://www.therawdessert.com/
http://www.living-foods.com/recipes/
http://www.simplyrawrecipes.com/
http://www.aniphyo.com/

Day 1 of Raw

April 1 isn't just April Fools Day -- it is the first day of the 30 day raw challenge! I have everything ready, am hoping to do some dehydrating tonight and tomorrow, that seems to be the only thing left. I am fortunate to have my friend Salar also doing the challenge with me, it always helps to have someone else to do this with.

I've been Raw off and on over the last 3 years, a 6 month stint at one point. I am hoping that the challenge is just the beginning of being 90/95% raw on a permanent basis. The 6 months that I was raw I remember felling fabulous, then due to major life changes I fell off Raw. Now my life is completely back in order and I have no excuse.

Raw does come with it's stigma's. Many don't attempt this diet for several reason:
~too time consuming
~too expensive
~having to dehydrate
~won't be satisfied

None of the above have to happen. If you do things like cut up veggies ahead of time, shop in places like Chinatown or discount grocery stores and stick to live foods rather than pre made raw or dehydrated raw, you can do it cheaply. You don't have to have all the fancy tool to be raw, though I personally do suggest a couple good knives, and at the minimum a blender. For me over the years I have bought all the tools, so am lucky enough to have all the things I need... again another reason I have no excuse to fall of Raw again.

Though I won't be able to post every day, I will check in from time to time to let you know how things are going.