Epiphany

This has been a meaningful week for me. Nothing dramatic on the outside......it's all about what has been happening on the inside.

I hope that many of you were able to catch our raw food sister, Kris Carr, on Oprah this week and/or the showing of her documentary, Crazy Sexy Cancer, on The Learning Channel. She is a beautiful, groovy cool chick that has been learning to live with "incurable" cancer for over 4 years in both her liver and lungs. Whether you have ever had cancer infringe on your life or not, her message is universal. Watching her made a dramatic impact on me. It made me think about the way I approach my life and it caused me to re-evaluate my thinking: Am I really living my life to the fullest? Am I truly following my passions and making each day count? Am I making a difference in the lives of those around me or am I just sucking air? Am I fostering a positive outlook in the midst of difficult circumstances, or am I a frigging whiner? You've got the picture.

So.....what have I done with all of these deep thoughts and introspective visions? I made a final decision to go ahead and do what I have been thinking, desiring and talking about...I am now enrolled in a program in which I will officially obtain my licensing as a Certified Natural Health Practitioner. Not that raw food coaches NEED any type of certification, but it is just something I want to be able to have as an educational hook on which I can hang my hat, if needed. I already have done a great deal of formal study, years ago, in the field of nutrition and holistic healing, under to guidance of Dr. Joel Robbins, an MD, DC, & ND here in Tulsa. That's who first introduced me to the importance of maintaining a raw food diet, over 18 years ago!

Achieving this certification will involve LOTS of study, some travel and time. All of which I am eager to do. I don't have a specific outcome or a career path that I want to share with you at this point....I intuitively know that this will all unfold as I go deeper and follow my passion.

Green Smoothies are the new SlimFast

I finally ordered Victoria Boutenko's book, Green For Life. I had been wanting to drink green smoothies after reading The Green Smoothie Experience (see my post in late July), but I felt that I lacked knowledge. So I was delighted when I received my copy from Amazon. Once I started reading the book, I knew that I wouldn't put it down until I finished it. When I finished it, I immediately re-read it a second time because I wanted to have all the information assimilated and ingrained into my brain. If you haven't read the book.....get it and read it, ASAP!

So, not a shocker, I started mixing up and drinking green pronto. I jumped right into drinking around a quart of the delicious green concoctions within a day or two. My husband, Gordon, is such a good sport.....he started drinking them with me even before he read the book. But he did read it and he, too, is now a green smoothie lover. We are both blown away by the changes that have started occurring in such a short amount of time.

For the most part I only drink smoothies throughout the day. I have rarely eaten food until my evening meal each day. One thing that blows me away is that after a couple of days I became aware that I was never hungry. No cravings, no restless feelings, no desire to snack....I mean nothing! I've been a grazer my whole life so not having the desire to put food in my mouth all the time was new to me. What happens with drinking so many greens is that they hydrate, oxygenate and nourish the body on a whole different level. People are mainly overweight because their bodies are so depleted of nutrients that they are constantly hungry. They continue to stuff themselves, but the body continues to crave more. The problem is that the standard American diet is severely void of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, etc. With green smoothies, a person is truly being fueled as nature intended.

Personally, I have lost 7 pounds in three weeks. I feel more well rested and I wake up and get up without feeling groggy or tired. I require less sleep. My skin has a softer, more supple appearance. I swear my eye sight seems sharper. I have no inflammation and have zero bloating or gas. After struggling with IBS off and on for the entirety of my life, I have NO symptoms. My regularity is amazing.

Here are the ingredients of my most recent smoothie:

1 young thai coconut (meat and milk)
1 c frozen pineapple
1 frozen banana
1 bunch of collard greens (de-veined)
hemp nut milk
1 pkg. Stevia
ice

I put all of this into my Vita-Mix blender and it took 5 minutes tops. This made about 3 servings. I store the extra smoothie in drinking glasses filled to the very top and then tightly covered in plastic wrap in the refrigerator. I would recommend drinking within 24 hours.

Mentioned in the News

Check out the article that was written by my friend Natalie Mikles, Food and Lifestyle writer for the Tulsa World:

http://www.tulsaworld.com/entertainment/article.aspx?articleID=070816_238_D3_hSupe44780

Getting back in the Raw Game

Yes.....I have been gone from blogging for a couple of weeks. Out of town because my mother in law passed away. I won't go into those details here, I'll just say that now she beautifully rests in peace.

All the while I served and loved my family, away from my home and my raw kitchen......I fell from raw food grace, once again.

But I as I am known to do, I learn from my fall and then I love to get back on that raw food pony and ride. I am at my best when I indulge in lush, ripe, fresh and raw foods.

My children start back to school tomorrow and I look forward to the gift of more time to focus on planning, preparing, exercising, breathing and just being. I also look froward to sharing a few of the nuggets with you.

Peace. Out.

Turbulance in the Night

I am pretty sure no one is reading my blog. I think it must just be a type of self therapy.....a self absorbed, sick past time for me. I am obviously getting something out of it or I wouldn't keep doing it, right? I guess I am asking myself that question, since no body reads this.

Anyway.....I fell from raw food grace last night. I have been all raw since July 16th and then last night I succumbed to temptation. One of my good friends owns the best pizza place in town. I never eat there for obvious reasons. This friend also owns the coolest little bar in town and I do go there to socialize because they don't allow smoking and I can actually have a cocktail and not pollute my lungs as I pollute my liver. Back to the point.....so I am down at the Cellar Dweller last night and my husband and some of our other friends decide to order Pie Hole and have it delivered. I say, "order a salad for me." They are nice to comply. Once the pizzas arrive, I start the sniffing. I smell the New York style goodness and they all gang up on me and say, "What would just one piece hurt??" I think....yes.....I am not a raw food maniac! One piece will not kill me! So I did it I ate one piece and half of a second. There, I did it. Who the hell cares?

I was awakened in the night with a churning cramping stomach. I felt hung over...yet I only had one drink. I went to the bathroom and that's when the fun started. YIKES! My body did not want that slop in there (no offense to my friend). I mean things were working over time to get it OUT!! I have visited the toilet a number of times now and I am quite confident that most of everything I have taken in this week is out! I suppose that is a good thing.

If I had any readership, I am thinking that I have probably just lost them. Bowel movement discussions are always a good way to clear a room in my experience.

I am back to my raw diet today. That's right.....gonna get back on that pony and ride.

Peace. Out.

raw euphoria

It's true. There is a raw food euphoria that comes over a person after they have been eating raw for a week or two. I had sort of forgotten about this fabulously light, clear, sexy feeling that I used to feel. I woke up thinking, "It's back!!" Mmmmmmmm......such a nice gift after all my commitment and devotion of the past two weeks.

So, today I am readying myself to venture out to the Wednesday Morning Farmer's Market. I always love strolling around, smiling at people, talking with the vendors and local farmers. It is a raw foodists passion to peruse these outdoor seasonal markets. One never knows what treasures will be found or what inspirations may surface. And in the mood I feel today, I sense something extra special on the horizon.

Don't worry, I'll let you know how the day unfolds ;-)

Just Over One Week - Totally Raw!

Within one week of changing up my diet, I have noticed these things:

- nearly over my month long bout with pneumonia
(only a wee bit of lingering chest congestion, but I continue to improve everyday)
- lost 4 pounds
- complexion has smoothed out and has a dewier appearance.
- spectacular regularity (2 - 3 poops a day!)
- energy levels are higher
- no more cravings for junk foods or sweets
- needing less sleep
- mind is less foggy and I am able to focus on unpleasant household tasks
- more enthusiastic and bursts of creativity
- general feelings of hope and well-being.

My diet has consisted of fruit smoothies, green drinks and raw foods for dinner. Last night I had shrimp ceviche and a marvelous salad. Night before last, I had zucchini angel hair pasta with arrabiata sauce and pistachio pesto.

I am not hungry or feeling deprived at all. I am not really exercising yet, but I plan to include a simple plan of daily walking and yoga to complete the plan.