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The Transition to Food and My New Raw Vegan Food Plan/Regimen…Week 3

February 2, 2010 · Filed under caloric restriction, raw vegan food, Transition to Food/Eating Plan · Tagged , , , , , ,



The Transition to Food and My New Raw Vegan Food Plan/Regimen

Week 3

Day 15 – Tuesday January 26, 2010

It is hared to believe that I am already starting the 3rd week since I ended my cleanse. I have been on a sleepless spree (not completely with out sleep) in the last few days and I am definitely feeling the affects. I woke up at 4 am to use the bathroom and actually went on back on the computer for a while (I had left it on when I lay down to go to sleep) and then went back to sleep till 9 am. I am still having mostly loose bowel movements and have at least a couple in the morning when I wake up. My head was feeling really off today from the lack of sleep and I plan to make it a much earlier night tonight (it is great to have the unlimited access to the internet at home, but my sleep means more to me then that and it can wait till tomorrow, so 10 pm is my deadline from now on!). I ate a kiwi and 6 oz container of blackberries this morning. The sun was out this morning so I figured I would get some laundry done (it was misleading because it didn’t stay out very long). I put it outside by about 10 am and the sun was only out for an hour and then it got cloudy. I hope my things will still dry, but if they don’t I will have to use my indoor wall heater to help out. I was planning to go and do some outside errands, but then I got busy with some other work. I ate an apple, pear, a container of plum tomatoes and some laver seaweed this afternoon. Since the sun didn’t last, I couldn’t do my sunning this morning or go for a walk. A friend called me today and I ended up going out and meeting with a new client to help him with shopping and start on a new food plan. I was home before 5 pm and it had not started raining yet. I did have to use the heater to dry my blanket (picked the wrong thing to hang outside and it took awhile for it to dry inside). I had a salad for dinner with parsley, dulse seaweed, cucumber, celery, large tomato and some juice of half an orange squeezed on top. The rain started at about 6 pm and it has been steady ever since, but nothing like last week when it was really heavy and intense for 5 days. I was hoping to get to sleep by 10 pm, but instead, I got to sleep at 11 pm (at least it was before midnight!).

Day 16 – Wednesday January 27, 2010

I woke up at 2:50 am to use the bathroom (loose bowels) and then went back to sleep till I woke up again at 7 am and had another loose movement. I went back to sleep till 10 am and then got up to start my day. It was great to sleep late for a change and my head feels much better than it did yesterday. I continue to have loose movements and many in one day. It was a beautiful sunny day and I was happy that I would be able to get outside today. I had a kiwi, 1 persimmon and 1 mango at about 10:30 am. I went outside to get my vitamin D for about 30 minutes. I ate some tomatoes and laver seaweed and then I went out for my walk on the sand at 1 pm. For some reason I was having some serious gas/bloating and I rubbed around my intestines in a clockwise motion to help my body release the distress. I allowed me to burp and pass gas which made me feel better. I had to use the bathroom while I was out and had to do a #2 and it was another loose movement. I did some food shopping and came home after 3 pm. I had a 6 oz container of blueberries and a red delicious apple. The bloating seemed to have dissipated and I have a couple of more loose bowel movements this evening. I had a wonderful salad for dinner with a whole bunch of cilantro (in case you didn’t know it is a chelator/heavy metal detoxifier), celery, cucumber, tomato and some raw sauerkraut (Rejuvenative Foods brand – salt free/organic; www.rejuvenative.com 1-800-805-7957). Tonight is bath night, yey! I am using bath salts and beeswax candle from the same company that I have mentioned earlier in my journal. I got to sleep at 10:30 pm (doing much better with my time of getting to bed!).

Day 17 –Thursday January 28, 2010

I slept very well last night and woke up at 4:15 am to use the bathroom (had loose movement). I went back to bed until my alarm rang at 6 am and had another loose bowel movement. I ate a kiwi, 6 oz container of blueberries and a persimmon. I had another bowel movement at 7:30 am and this one was solid. I washed the floors of my kitchen and bathroom before leaving this morning, so I can get a head start on my weekly pre-Sabbath house cleaning. I left my place at 7:45 am, as I had a busy day. My first appointment was to donate blood for research. Of course, I have to have good iron levels and I usually eat all the right foods to help with this (including spinach, parsley, seaweeds like kelp and dulse, grapes, etc) and have vitamin c foods along with this to help absorb the iron (such as tomatoes, citrus on the greens, kiwi, etc). I had an 11 0z container of coconut water about ½ hour before I was to donate blood, as I wanted to make sure that I am hydrated. Before I donate blood, the nurse tests me to make sure my iron levels are in the right parameters, as I give a considerable amount (but not as much as when you give at the blood bank). I had not doubt that my levels would be good, but this time they were much lower than usual. I tested at 12.1 and my last donation in October 2009 was at 14.3 (my feeling is that I have been having consistently loose bowel movements since I have completed my cleanse and that signifies that I am not absorbing the nutrients in my food and when I have had solid movements, I know that my body is working optimally). I was still able to donate blood as my number was fine for females. I ate a pear and apple after that to get some nourishment in my body before I start my 1 day a week dry fast. I usually like to start the fast from the night before when I go to bed, but since I was giving blood this morning, I could not do that. After I finished there, I had another appointment for a couple of hours and then went to visit with a friend. I had the chance to weigh myself, but it was on a digital scale, The time was about 12:30 pm and it said I weighed 110.4 lbs (minus my clothes, I would say is at least a pound or two, so I would say 108). I seem to have maintained fairly close to what I weighed when I finished the cleanse and I am happy about that. The main reason I know, is because I am eating very low fat (have 1 avocado, 1 day a week). It was another magnificent and sunny day outside. I made sure that I got home in time to go for a walk while the sun was still out (I missed a connecting bus because the bus I rode was a couple of minutes late and then I had to wait another half hour- besides that my earlier appointment went over by half an hour, so I lost a total of 1 hour), but it was later then I had planned. I had another solid bowel movement before going for my walk at 2:30 pm. I enjoyed my walk very much and was re-energized. I find that when I fast even for 1 day (especially with dry fasting) that I have to get rid of more mucus from my throat and also have more wax buildup in my ear. My conclusion, is that because I am not giving anything to my body, it can eliminate faster what it finds to be toxic and that is a good, no great thing! I left again afterwards to go shopping at my co-op/health food store. I didn’t stay out that long and returned home by 6 pm. I saw a friend of mine on the bus I was riding. Tonight I plan to go to sleep early, as I feel the need to rest more when I am not eating. I am happy to say that I went to bed at 10:40 pm tonight!

Day 18 – Friday January 29, 2010

I slept very well last night and woke up at 7:40 am and used the bathroom and my bowel movement was half and half (loose and solid). I was still on my fast, so I started doing some other things till I would eat at 10 am. I had another movement at 8:45 am and solid small pieces this time. I put a clay mask on my face and then I did some dusting. It was a bit overcast outside and I hope to still get to do my sunning. At 10 am I ate a kiwi, 6 oz container of blueberries and a persimmon. I had some grape and cherry tomatoes a little while later and some kelp and nori seaweed. I felt satisfied and continued with my day. I noticed this morning that I had a bit of an odor in my arm pits. After eating I had solid bowel movements at 11:10 am and 12:10 pm. I did get out to do some sunning in the early afternoon and then finished my cleaning. I went for a walk and then did a couple of errands before coming home. Tonight I get to relax and rest, as my Sabbath is here. Yey! Yesterday was no food day and now from tonight till tomorrow night (follows the lunar calendar) is no work day! I ate dinner this evening with iceburg lettuce, celery, pepper, tomato, cucumber, 1 avocado, lime juice, kelp and dulse powder. I read quite a bit tonight before going to bed at 11:30 pm.

Day 19 – Saturday January 30, 2010

I slept well last night. I woke up at 1:40 am and had a solid BM and went back to sleep till 6:55 am to use the bathroom again and had another solid BM. I decided to get some more rest and slept till 9:15 am. I had a loose movement this time. The sun was already shining outside and I was happy because I’d be able to do my sunning and go for a walk later. I ate at about 9 am and had a kiwi, 6 0z container of blueberries, a persimmon (only have 1 left in the freezer) and a small ataulfo/champagne mango (yellow skin color) which actually wasn’t the best tasting I have had. I went outside to do my sunning for 30 minutes and then got ready to go to services at my synagogue. I had another loose movement at 11:25 am. I went to the synagogue and they were having a special weekend with 300 students from different university/college campuses. At first I didn’t see anyone I knew until after the services ended. I didn’t stay around for lunch (they don’t have food I would partake of, anyway). I went for my walk at 1:30 pm and it was very pleasant. I got home and ate a couple of apples and pears, cherry & plum tomatoes, laver and dulse whole seaweed. I read when I got home , until the Sabbath was over. I had another loose movement at 4:55 pm. In the evening, I got busy with phone calls, internet and ate dinner salad with red leaf lettuce. At 7:10 pm I had another loose movement (as you can tell, I have many movements in one day, as my body tends to have consistent eliminations and gets rid of what it doesn’t need). I had another late night as I had quite a bit of work to do and did accomplish a lot, so it was time well spent. I went to bed at 2 am (yikes!).

Day 20 – Sunday January 31, 2010

It is hard to believe that the month of January is over and I am almost 3 weeks post cleanse. I slept well, but not enough. I awoke at 6:25 am and had a loose movement and then went back to sleep. I then woke at 9:15 am and started by day. I ate a kiwi, 6 oz of blueberries and 1 delectable mango that was sweet, juicy and heavenly. I had another loose BM at 9:40 am. I was glad to see the sun and went outside to do my sunning for 40 minutes. I had another loose movement at 10:20 am, 12:10 pm, 4:35 pm, 6:10 pm and 7:55 pm (now I have shared with you the whole days worth of elimination, in case you were wondering). I went outside for my walk at 1 pm and then went to do some food shopping. The temperature cooled down a bit, so I was glad to had an extra layer to put on. I came home and ate some apples and a pear and in the evening I had a salad with green leaf lettuce. I plan to get to bed much earlier tonight, as I have a busy day tomorrow with some travels out on the bus and some work in the evening. I went to bed at midnight (yes, it still is late, but 2 hours earlier then last night and that is great – so don’t beat yourself up if you have been doing the same).

Day 21 – Monday February 1, 2010

I slept very well last night and woke up once at 2:20 am and had a loose BM. I went back to sleep till my alarm woke me up at 6:30 am. I had another loose movement. I felt rested even though I could have slept more. Starting tomorrow, and from then on, I will be writing about specific topics, instead of merely telling you about my day and what I have been eating. I will discuss various areas that will help you optimize your health & wellness and fit it the scheme of my daily life (they are actually things I do most every day that I haven’t delved into in very much detail and/or I’d like to share more about them with you). I ate a kiwi and 6 oz blueberries this morning. I had another loose movement at 9:20 am. I had plans to go do some errands this morning, but I delayed them because the sun decided to come out and I wanted to do my sunning and walk on the sand. I had an pear and apple after my walk and then some cherry tomatoes and seaweed at home. After my walk, I came home and had another movement at 1:35 pm. I was finally going to get on the bus and do some errands, when I received a call that my evening appointment was canceled. I decided to walk to my co-op/health food store instead of taking the bus. It took me an hour each way and I enjoyed it, especially with it being a beautiful day outside. I had a unexpected tumble on the sidewalk when I was almost home. I was thankful that I was wearing a long skirt and also a jacket so I didn’t have much bruising, only a mild abrasion on my left knee. I always put my hands down in front of me, instinctually to protect my head. I also always carry a product with me called Rescue Remedy from Bach Flower Remedies (www.bachflower.com; 1-800-214-2850) and it comes in spray or dropper. It is a wonderful homeopathic remedy (it is not raw and does contain grain alcohol which is the best way to extract the essences) and is used when you experience any kind of physical, mental or emotional trauma/stress. It is taken immediately after the occurrence and is safe for all ages and even pets. Most times it is the stress that can kill someone more so then the sustained injury, that is why I would highly recommend everyone carry this product with them daily. I felt much more calm and balanced after taking it and then I continued on my walk. (Note: for these situation which are acute in nature, I take more then the directions recommend and I take it straight without water, if it is in liquid drops because I want to calm down as quickly as possible). I came home and had a great appetite. I ate a few apples and then made a salad with some baby spinach, as my greens for the day. I had another loose bowel movement at 7:10pm. I don’t have any plans for tomorrow, so I will probably stay up a bit later to get more work done and sleep in later tomorrow. I went to sleep at 2 am after being on the computer for a long time and listening to some very enlightening videos on health.

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The Transition to Food and My New Raw Vegan Food Plan/Regimen…Week 2

January 26, 2010 · Filed under caloric restriction, raw vegan food, Transition to Food/Eating Plan · Tagged , , , , , , ,



The Transition to Food and My New Eating Plan/Regimen

Week 2

Day 8 – Tuesday January 19, 2010

I slept well and woke up at 4:45 am to use the bathroom. I went back to sleep till about 8:20am and used the bathroom again. I then slept till 10:20 am and got up to start the day. I used the bathroom again (it is amazing how many times in a day I am evacuating, sometimes as much as 7-8 times and I usually have no clean up either). I ate some a 6 oz container of blackberries and raspberries at about 11:30 am. It didn’t start raining till about noon and it was very heavy. It was actually a bizarre day because it rained heavy and then the sky would clear and get bright and then there was another heavy downpour for a while and the sky would clear again. I stayed in most of the day and did some work inside I spoke with a friend of mine for a while and then went out to do some food shopping with another friend who picked me up. We spent a few hours together, as I am working on helping her out with her food choices and she helps me out by giving me transportation to where I need to go. It works out well for me! I had another salad for dinner with spinach. The rain has stopped for tonight, but is due again tomorrow. I went to bed tonight at 2 am. It was later then I planned.

Day 9 – Wednesday January 20, 2010

I woke up to use the bathroom at about 6 am and then again at 8 am. I went back to sleep till about 8:30 am. The rain had stopped for now and the sun was actually out. I decided to wash my bed sheet, as it doesn’t take that long to dry. I know the rain is due to return today, but from the looks of the sky, you would think not. I had some fruit at 10 am, which consisted of 6 oz each of fresh blueberries and blackberries and 1 kiwi. Since it wasn’t raining as yet, I embarked on a gardening project (although I didn’t really intend to). An area next to where I have my compost pile (I have not put any food scraps in there for a long time, as I have had tomatoes growing there that are volunteers), there is a bush that has lots of dead shoots and also crabgrass growing in it, so I started pulling it out and now it is a really small bush, but it looks much better. It does flower on occasion, but hasn’t in a long time. Once I was done there, I wanted to put my window screen back in that came out yesterday during the rain storm. My neighbor helped me, as I couldn’t do it myself. Then it started getting very windy and the clouds were rolling in, but the sky was still bright. My clothes drying rack isn’t that sturdy and it toppled over a few times and I had to put a chair next to it as a barrier. I wanted to go out to a store in the neighborhood, before the rain comes today because I know the deluge of wet weather is supposed to continue for a few more days. I decided to eat some more fruit before going out, so I had a mango. I didn’t leave at the time I intended to (around noon), as I was talking on the phone for a bit. I used the bathroom a couple more times this morning to evacuate. I want to share with you some important information which I neglected to do so until now and I realized that it is a habit I have been doing for years and realize that others may not know that it plays a very important role in your bathroom habits. So what am I talking about? The importance of squatting (which is the natural way) for a “#2.” Most of us will not do that, so what I suggest (it is what I do), is to put your feet up 6 to 8 inches on a waste basket, footstool or even a study box/carton. This opens up the anal canal more directly and you are not squeezing and bearing down on your anal sphincter (which is harmful to your body). If you also raise and stretch your hands above your head, the transverse colon can empty more completely with ease (information taken from “Miracle of Fasting,” by Paul and Patricia Bragg, page 80). Once you start doing this regularly, you will not be able to do it any other way and you will find that you are not straining and don’t have to “sit” on the toilet as long either (sorry, if you like to get your reading done while in there you won’t be spending as much time in the bathroom). That is why I don’t like it when I have to go “#2” someplace other than at my place and I have been known to bring a box with me when I stay over at someone else’s home so I can continue to follow my normal routine. I finally went for a walk to a nearby store (I also had not walked around outside in a couple of days because it has been raining and really wanted to get some fresh air) at close to 2 pm and noticed that it was starting to drizzle (I did bring my umbrella with me). I didn’t spend much time in the store and when I left it started raining at a steady pace. I got home and wasn’t all that wet, as the umbrella I have is quite large. I’m glad it wasn’t that cold outside, though. I was home a little after 3 pm. The heavier rains came much later in the evening, at about 6 pm. They subsided before 8 pm. Tonight I had another salad with green leaf lettuce and same veggies I have been using (cucumber, tomato, red bell pepper and celery) since I completed this cleanse. I have been eating a different green every day (rotate them) and will share with you tomorrow why this is important. I took a bath tonight, but the water didn’t stay hot enough for me. For some reason the water level went down before I got in and I had to add more hot water (now I know to only have the hot water faucet on while drawing my bath and then add the cold at the end, so it stays at the temperature I like). I went to sleep at 1:30 am (again, later then I planned, but I know I will get better with that).

Day 10 – Thursday January 21, 2010

I slept well last night and woke up at 6:30 am to use the bathroom (had loose bowel movement) and then went back to sleep. I was woken up at 9:20 am by the sound of my answering machine going off, but no message left. I went to the bathroom again (another loose bowel movement) and then went back into bed till 10:30 am. It was another cloudy and rain soaked day. I decided last night that I was going to do a dry fast today. You may say, “all right, Mindy, you already did a 42 day cleanse, why do you need to do this?” For me it is a regular ‘thing’ to take a day off every week as a dry fast or only consuming coconut water or stevia in my water. I actually like fasting (when you have done fasting for as many years as I have, you find that it is enjoyable to do, as funny as that may sound!) and look forward to doing. I also came to the conclusion that Thursdays will be my ‘rest day’ (like the Sabbath when I rest from doing any work) from food. I can accomplish more when I don’t have to prepare a meal and eat because it takes time. The body expends energy when it has to ‘work’ to process the food you give it (i.e. digestion, etc.). This way I tax my body less, as well. I didn’t doing anything outside this morning (I do miss my sunning and also walking on the sand) because of the steady rain falling. At 2 pm the rain stopped (for now) and the sun started to come out. I thought I could do some sunning, but it is very windy and quite chilly and the sun didn’t stay out for very long.

I wanted to share with you more about the concept of rotation of your green leafy vegetables so you can understand why it is important to do. This information is taken from a response to this question answered by Rene Oswald on her blog – www.reneoswald.com.

There are small amounts of natural toxins, called alkaloids, on all greens. However, each green contains a different alkaloid, so generally, if you eat a variety of greens you won’t have any problems. Some scientists believe that these alkaloids are there to prevent us from eating the entire crop , so that there will always be more for future generations.

You will find out, naturally, how much is safe to consume. When you eat a green in moderation it tastes great, but when you’ve had enough, your body will tell you by the taste. It generally starts to taste bitter, can cause nausea or you may notice your mouth becomes very dry. This bitter reaction is very obvious to most people when they eat the stronger greens, like chard, collards, arugula and dandelion.

Sunflower greens and spinach taste very mild to most people until their body has had enough, then they tend to make the mouth feel very dry. Listen to your body and only eat the amount you need, then go on to a new green for your next meal.

You’ll notice that when you blend greens in a recipe with lots of other ingredients (like in greens smoothies or blended salads) your body doesn’t always tell you when you have had enough. This is because your body is picking up on all the different foods at one time and it is confusing. I recently worked with a woman who was consuming large amounts of spinach every day in her green smoothies. She suddenly started feeling very light-headed and nauseous, she said she felt like she was going to faint all day long. When she stopped eating the spinach and substituted it with a different green in her smoothie every day, her dizziness went away. I suggest typically adding the amount of greens you would comfortably eat in a salad when making a smoothie, energy soup or blended salad.

It is very important to rotate your greens daily, which is the natural way to prevent any problem with over-consumption of one green. If you eat a new green every day, you’ll typically rotate at least 7 greens in your diet. The typical greens that are available to most of us, are romaine, red or green leaf lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, kale, Bibb lettuce and bok choy. The highest quality greens are those that are dark green in color, organic and locally grown. Add small amounts of the stronger varieties, such as dandelion, arugula, mustard greens, beet greens, etc.

I decided to get do some of my weekly cleaning today so I wouldn’t have to do it all tomorrow. It was still light out when I started. I dusted and washed the bathroom and kitchen floors. I took a break after that to relax and do a crossword puzzle. It is interesting to me that I was able to do the 42 day cleanse and didn’t have a headache-y feeling from day one and tonight my head is starting to bother me. I looked at the clock and it was only 7:30 pm. My eyes felt like they were ready to close and I could go to sleep right now! I was not able to get the internet connection at home for a while, but then I tried it again and it worked, so that kept me from going to sleep as early as I thought I would. I went to sleep at 10:10 pm (what a great change from the previous days and also since I wasn’t eating or drinking my body felt it needed to rest more)

Day 11 – January 22, 2010

I woke up at 11:47 pm to the sound of thunder in the sky and then went back to sleep and slept through the night and woke at 8:20 am. I had a loose bowel movement at 8:45 am, 9:10 am and again at 9:50 am. I ate (after 31 ½ hours of dry fasting) at 9 am. I had 1 kiwi, 6 oz container of blackberries, 1 medium size tomato (it was starting to get mushy, so I didn’t want to have to dispose of it, even though, it goes into my compost and not the trash) and 1 fuyu persimmon (I know you can’t get them in the stores anymore and I got some while I was still on my cleanse and put them in the fridge when they were getting some and still have quite a few left). After I ate that I had to go to the bathroom the 2nd time. I felt like having some seaweed this morning, as well and ate some raw laver (which is a wild form of nori) and some cherry tomatoes and after that is when I had to use the bathroom the 3rd time. There was quite a bit of rain this morning and now it is almost 11 am and the clouds are breaking and the sun is coming out. Hopefully this is the end of the rain storm that have been around since Monday. I was able to get outside for some sun, but only for 10 minutes and then it got cloudy again. I finished my cleaning and had

time to go out for a walk. It wasn’t cold outside and I was actually too warm with the layers I was wearing. I have not walked on the sand since Sunday and hopefully will be able to do so this weekend. I was glad when the Sabbath came so I could relax and read. I went to sleep by 11 pm. It took me a while to finish my big salad, as I ate it quite slowly and enjoyed every bite. I had my once a week avocado and iceburg lettuce in my salad.

Day 12 – Saturday January 23, 2010

I woke up at 2 am to use the bathroom and then go back to sleep. I woke again at 7 am to use the bathroom and then stayed in bed and slept till 8:30 am. I used the bathroom again (all 3 times, I had loose bowel movements). It was a beautiful sunny day outside. I was able to do my sunning this morning and that was great! I went to services at my synagogue and then went for a walk on the sand (finally, after not being able to do so since last Sunday!). I stopped to visit a friend before I went home and by then it was already nearing 4 pm. I had a couple of more loose bowel movements later in the day (my body seems to evacuate so much since I have stopped my cleanse). I relaxed at home for the rest of the day and after the Sabbath ended, I started to do some work. I had some apples and pears this afternoon and still eating lots of tomatoes and seaweed. I had a nice salad this evening for dinner. I went out again for a walk to a store at 8:30 pm and it was a pleasant evening. I heard that rain is coming again early in the week (like we haven’t had enough already!). I stayed up really late tonight working on a new project online and it took longer then I planned. By the time I went to sleep, it was 2:30 am.

Day 13 – Sunday January 24, 2010

I did not sleep much last night, but it was very deep. I had a lot to do today, so I actually set my alarm to wake me up at 7:15 am. I didn’t feel like eating right away. I did get up with a bang (so to speak). I was a bit weary, but not really tired. I had a few loose bowel movements this morning. I ate a 6 oz container of blackberries before I left my place at 8:15 am. I had some shopping to do and since it was a beautiful sunny day, I wanted to make sure I get to go for a walk before I have to leave again for an afternoon appointment. I got home by about 11 am and took care of some things before I went for my walk. I had a kiwi before I left for the afternoon. I wanted to spend the whole day outside, but knew I had to take the bus to get to my appointment and it would take about an hour travel time. When I got to my destination, I was early and made some phone calls and sat outside in the beautiful warm sun and soaked it all in. I really miss getting my daily Vitamin D (I call it sunning) and it is more important than most people realize. A deficiency in this vitamin is linked to high blood pressure, obesity and Type 2 diabetes, as well as loss of bone density. Harvard researchers have found that higher blood levels of Vitamin D appear to double survival rates in colorectal cancer and similarly for breast and other cancers. What is most important is to expose at least 40 percent of your body exposed to the sun for at least 20 to 30 minutes a day. You need to do so between 10 am – 2 pm when the sun is strongest to absorb the vitamin. If you have fair skin then build up the time gradually and you can rotate front and back of your body so you will not burn. Do not put any sunscreen/sunblock on, as that will prevent your body from absorbing vitamin D (for information on the toxicity of all sunscreens please go to www.terressentials.com {best to cover up with a long sleeve shirt when you don’t want your skin exposed to the sun}).

Another important thing brought up by Dr. Mercola in one of his videos is that you avoid showering with soap (can use under your arms and in your private area) because the soap will wash off the vitamin D which takes up to 48 hours to be absorbed into the body.

Great information on Vitamin D – check out this website: http://www.mercola.com/article/vitamin-d-resources.htm and this 1 hour YouTube video by one of the primary researchers in this area and it is informative and also funny, so make sure you both listen and watch it: Importance of Vitamin D by Dr.Holick http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq1t9WqOD-0

I had my appointment at 3 pm and it didn’t last as long as I thought it would. I was finished before 4:30 pm. I had not eaten anything since I left at 1:15 pm and was not hungry, as yet. I waited for the bus to come and was going to go to one other store to shop, but as I got closer to my place, I decided to get off the bus and go home instead. I didn’t want to get home any later and it was already 5:30 pm. I had many things to do this evening before going to sleep. I finally felt like eating, so I had an apple and pear and then I worked my making my daily salad and used green leaf lettuce, this evening. I have a feeling that I will be going to bed late again tonight! I stayed up till about 2:30 am.

Day 14 – Monday January 25, 2010

I slept well and woke up at 5:30 am to use the bathroom (had loose bowel movements) and then went back to sleep till 8:30 am. I got up and had another movement (this time it was solid, yey! so my body is absorbing my food better) and then another solid BM(short for bowel movement) about half an hour later. I is another beautiful day and I plan to spend as much time of it outside. I did my sunning outside for 20 minutes. I went out to do my recycling and then left at 11:40 am and walked an hour each way to my health food store to do some shopping. It is amazing how much energy I have on very little food (I ate a kiwi and a 6 oz container of blackberries this morning and then a 6 oz container of blueberries before going for my long walk). I did have another solid BM before I left to the store. I was also thinking that because I only eat my overt fat once a week, I virtually have no underarm odor (that usually happen from the added nitrogen in proteins and fats). Try it for yourself, and you will see the same results. Now it may not happen right away, if you have been eating large quantities of even raw fats and proteins (like nuts, seeds, nut butters, sprouted beans, dehydrated crackers, etc) and more so, if you are still consuming of the Standard American Diet. When I came home, I had time to go for a walk on the sand (it started to cloud over a bit and get chilly, so I shortened my time) and also do some errands. I ate an apple for a snack. I had plans this evening to go to a movie at the library with a friend. For dinner I had spinach with tomatoes, cucumber, celery and red pepper. The movie outing was great and I got home by 8:30 pm and stayed up late again to catch up on work because I did not get on the computer all day. I went to sleep finally at 1:30 am.

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The Transition to Food and My New Raw Vegan Food Plan/Regimen…Week 1

January 21, 2010 · Filed under caloric restriction, raw vegan food, Transition to Food/Eating Plan · Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,



The Transition to Food and My New Raw Vegan Food Plan/Regimen

Week 1

Day 1 – Tuesday January 12, 2010

I did not sleep that well last night. I did fall asleep right away, but then awoke at 3:40 am to use the bathroom and went back to bed, but my mind was thinking and processing. I stayed in bed anyway and then did fall back to sleep for a while and finally got out of bed at 6:50 am, as I heard the blower going across the street at the school and it is annoying. I was feeling a bit weary at first because I didn’t get enough sleep. My tongue was really coated this morning and at first I didn’t have any evacuation. My neck was really tight when I first woke up this morning probably from the heavy things I was carrying yesterday. Then I started eating some bosc pears (I had them in the fridge for a while and some were starting to go bad). Wow! that first bite and it was sweet and juicy. I don’t know if they were the cause of me have a bit of the runny loose smelly bowel movements, but I had it had 7:25, 7:35, 8:10 and 8:25 am. I ate a total of 3 pears and then my head was feeling a bit off, too. As if it was saying, “hey, what are you giving me? I am not used to this stuff! You haven’t fed me in 42 days, so take it slowly! I know that for a fact and that is why I stopped after that many pears. It is another beautiful day outside and I didn’t end up going out with my friend today, so I can take care of my errands and get out in the sun and walk, too! The way I am starting off is to only eat mono meals of fruit (mostly). Whether I do it for 1 meal or for the whole day. I will do that for at least the first few days and then starting adding a meal with greens like lettuce with celery, cucumber and tomato and possibly some seaweed. I would like to continue to eat mono fruit meals regularly. I also plan to eat smaller quantities of food, 2 meals a day and stop my food consumption by 5 pm, at the latest. Then if I feel the need for anything afterwards, it would simply be something to drink like stevia water or coconut water and then nothing more after 7 pm. My goal is to keeping going back on the time I stop eating till I reach 2 pm. I had a busy morning making phone calls and also got out in the sun. I wanted to get out to do my recycling and by the time I was ready to go at 1 pm, my neighbor drove me over there. Afterwards, I went to weigh myself (was supposed to do yesterday, but never had the time to) at a fitness club that was in the same shopping center. It was after 1:30 pm and it said I was 107 lbs. and that is with clothes on in the middle of the day. I would say I am probably closer to 105. Now I plan to maintain as close to that as possible. I went home afterwards to bring a plant to exchange at the store I bought it from, as they were having a plant sale and I wanted one that was healthier and vibrant and also bought another free standing plant. I came home and finally went for my walk at 3 pm. It was much later in the day then I planned so the sand wasn’t hot, but the sun was out. I had plans for my new friend to take me out to do some shopping not too far away and had to push it back some. Then when I returned, I left my keys in my place and my neighbor helped me get in through my window. What a day it has been! I was feeling fine on just eating my pears. Instead of having them as a meal, I ate them sporadically throughout the day and it worked better for me. I went out shopping with my friend and we hit it off superbly. I came home and was able to get on the internet at home again. I was planning to take a bath, but never did, as I was zoned into my access online. It has definitely made my life easier because I didn’t have to go to the library and stayed up late tonight because of that. I didn’t get to sleep till the ungodly hour of 2 am. Not my usual pattern and it is fine sometimes and no judgment needs to be there.

Day 2 – Wednesday January 13, 2010

I woke up when I heard the phone at 6:45 am and stayed in bed till 7 am when I had to use the bathroom. I am starting to have more bowel movements and they are still somewhat loose and getting more solid. I went back to bed and then got up again to use the bathroom at 8:30 am and stayed awake, even though I was still a bit tired. Today it is an overcast day (haven’t had one of those in a while) outside and supposed to rain, too. I didn’t eat anything today till 11 am, as I wasn’t hungry at all. I ate 6 kiwis and then needed something else because it was a bit too acidic for me, so I had a fuyu and a hachiya persimmon. I was going to do mono meals, but I am ok with this, too. I did get to go out for a walk today once the weather cleared up. I ate some more persimmons throughout the day. I was doing a presentation this evening on raw foods and I went there with my neighbor. It was a very successful event and I was feeling really great. I continue to have bowel movements throughout the day that are partly solid and loose. My food choices in these first 2 days have really worked well for me and I plan to continue as I go forward. The only thing that is keeping me up, as in awake, is that I have been able to get on the internet at home and staying up late using it. I went to sleep at 1 am (will work on getting to bed earlier, best by 10 pm at the latest!)

Day 3 – Thursday January 14, 2009

I slept well last night with no disturbances or trips to the bathroom. I got up at 8 am and felt good. My throat was a bit dry, but went away once I had something to eat. I went to the bathroom right away and had a very large evacuation that was all loose. I didn’t eat anything till about an hour after I got up. I decided not to have as many kiwis as yesterday because it is too acidic. I decided to have only one and then had a 6 oz container of blackberries and 1 fuyu persimmon. I still may do mono meals, but for today I did not. I plan to start having a salad later in the day for dinner. I do plan to keep to the goal of not eating after 5 pm, but it can be challenging (I have the will power to do so, as I have accomplished so much including the 42 days of not eating!). It is a beautiful sunny day outside and I plan to enjoy it! I got outside to do my sunning and then went to see a friend and go for my walk. I had some more loose eliminations at 3, 5 and 9 pm. My body is trying to get used to the food I am eating, but I guess it wants to get rid of more because it hasn’t had regular daily evacuations. I plan to get to sleep earlier then the past couple of nights, but still have work to do that will keep me up till at least 10 pm or so. I ate a yummy salad tonight which included cilantro, cucumber, tomato, celery and mango. I did have an apple and persimmon in the afternoon. I had an extensive amount of work to do this evening and didn’t get to sleep till 1:25 am (yikes!). I will be changing that habit immediately, as next week I have to be up early to start work with a regular client for the next few weeks.

Day 4 – Friday January 15, 2010

I slept well last night, though not enough. I woke up once at 4am to go to the bathroom and had a significant loose evacuation. Then I got up at 7:50 am and another loose elimination. I really wanted to go back to sleep, but knew I had a lot to do today and it is a shorter day because the Sabbath starts at sundown. I decided not to eat anything today till noon, for a change. As I have been eating when I first get up for the past few days. It was a mostly overcast day, bummer! I didn’t get to do sunning today, but I did go for a walk and it wasn’t cold. I am having a really intense bloated feeling today. I have been burping a lot and trying to release the gas from my colon by rubbing it, and it has helped. I have had many loose eliminations throughout the day. I am happy that I decided to eat later in the day because I didn’t feel hungry. I plan to get to sleep early tonight because I know I am tired from the last few late nights. I was glad when the Sabbath started so I could relax and read. It took me a while to eat my meal, which was a big salad of parsley, tomato, celery, cucumber, avocado [first overt fatty food in a month and a half] and red bell pepper (as I was reading and chewing my food well). I fell asleep at 11 pm, but hadn’t really planned it that way. I did not do my nightly regimen before going to bed. I woke up at 1 am and then washed up and went to sleep.

Day 5 – Saturday January 16, 2010

I slept through the night after I woke up about 1 am. I slept till a few minutes shy of 10 am (I guess I was really tired!). I felt good this morning and the sun was already shining. I didn’t eat anything right away. I got my day started with my regular routine and then ate a kiwi, 6 oz container of blackberries and a small mango at 11:30 am. I got out to do some sunning for a while in the early afternoon. Then it started to cloud over and didn’t feel as warm. I didn’t go for a walk today as it started getting windy and the sun didn’t come back out. For some reason I have been craving lots and lots of tomatoes. I had quite a bit yesterday of cherry and sugar plum varieties. To me, it is like popping candy in my mouth. I know if I am craving it, then my body must need it. I also have been eating a substantial amount of sea vegetables, especially wild nori/laver and dulse. Again, my body must be needing the minerals that it is providing me with. I am still have lots of loose bowel movements throughout the day (usually when I wake up and at least 5 or more times in the day). I had another salad this evening with the same ingredients as last night, except with a different green (red leaf lettuce). I had a lot of work to get done after the Sabbath and stayed up much later then I planned, but the work is done! I went to sleep at 4 am (nutty, huh!), but I finished my work.

Day 6 – Sunday January 17, 2010

I did not get enough sleep this morning because I went to bed at 4 am and set my alarm to wake me up at 9am. I woke up a few minutes before that. I had plans to get together with a friend and he was going to pick me up at 11am. It was a nice sunny day outside and I wanted to get out to do some sunning and also go for a walk before he picks me up. I did get out while the weather was still nice, as it started to cloud over some while I was out on my walk. My friend ended up arriving later then we first planned, so I didn’t have to cut my time short. The week coming will probably not allow me to walk on the sand, as rain is expected every day. I went to the farmer’s market with my friend and spent a few hours together. I came home and then went out again to do a few more errands before the rain comes. I am not going to be working tomorrow, as I thought, so I can sleep in tomorrow (yey!). I continue to have numerous loose bowel movements throughout the day and for the most part, it comes out so clean that I barely am using any toilet paper. I am really keeping the late night hours lately, but again I have been accomplishing a lot by doing so and this is the case again tonight. I have still been eating lots of tomatoes and seaweed today. I had some persimmons, apples, mango and a couple of pears. For dinner I had another big salad with romaine lettuce and same veggies as yesterday. I finally got to sleep at 3:45 am (15 minutes earlier than yesterday – yipee!) and was totally exhausted!

Day 7 – January 18, 2010

I slept well and woke up once to use the bathroom at about 6 am. I was woken up by hearing my answering machine message come on, but no one left a message. It was only about 9 am. I did get up to use the bathroom an the went back to sleep till 10:20 am. I was a cloudy and windy day with rain expected today. It was dry for the morning and then the rains came at mid afternoon. As it turns out, I will not be working this week, as I had thought. With the rains and all, it is probably best. I will be able to get more home projects done. Today was another day of numerous loose bowel movements and eating lots of tomatoes, too. I didn’t eat anything till close to noon. I had a kiwi and blackberries. Later on I had a persimmon, apple, kombu/kelp seaweed and a sheet of raw nori. I had another big salad for dinner with cilantro and same veggies as in previous days. I will be going to bed much earlier then I have been for the last few nights, as I would like to break my habit of going to sleep so late. I went to sleep tonight at 1:35 am, which is a big improvement on previous nights and hope to go to bed even earlier tomorrow night.

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