What's up with Debbie?

Once again it’s been a while since I blogged – so forgive me. The truth is, I don’t like writing unless I have something to say or share. Although I have made quite a few things that I felt were delicious and easy to make, the photos came out terrible. So, I didn’t feel inspired to share them. I’ve also made some things that were just awful…edible, but not mentally edible. I definitely didn’t want to share those things with you – yuk! Then I viewed a post that Bunny left on Raw Fu about raw food disasters. Boy, is it ever true sometimes. So I know that many aspiring rawfoodists suffer from this too.

Anyway, I’ve been going through a lot of different things over the past couple of weeks, and I thought I would talk about that. I am participating in another 100-day raw food challenge on Raw Fu. It started on January 1st. I have been so dedicated to following this challenge through up until about 5 days ago. I’m still about 80-90% focused, but having trouble. I don’t know if it’s from the cold weather, anxiety, or what, but I broke down and started sneaking Trader Joe’s organic corn chips again. Usually when you crave something, it’s because you are supposedly lacking in a nutrient of some kind. Well, the only thing I can think of is salt or sodium. The ingredients of the chips are just organic corn, organic sunflower seed oil, and organic sea salt. So it has to be the salt, since I have been getting plenty of fat lately through avocados, nuts and seeds – probably too much fat. Anyway, I also noticed that I feel thirsty but nothing is satisfying me. I’ve been bloating a lot, and feeling constipated again. So it has to be the chips, and some raw food combining. Maybe too many nuts and seeds carried over from the holidays. Something has to give!

Well, over the past couple of weeks I have also been reading several different books. I'm currently reading The Raw Food Diet Myth, which is an excellent book. I truly have benefited from reading this book, because it helps me see where I'm fitting into this whole raw food thing right now. You can learn more about this book by reading the review posted by Raw Food Right Now. The other book I'm reading is the book my son got me for Christmas, Oneness With All Life: Inspirational Selections from A New Earth. It's more of an inspirational daily reading book than anything else, but it has been a real help to me - a lot like The Secret, has been to me - another book I highly recommend you read. In addition to these two books, I decided to read Lose Weight, Have More Energy & Be Happier in 10 Days, Second Edition. This will be the second time I read this book. This time around I'm more serious about actually doing the Master Cleanse.

In fact, yesterday when I was at Whole Foods I came so close to not buying any food, and just getting the lemons for the cleanse...but I chickened out. I figured, "I just made carrot burgers - can't let them go to waste." What an excuse right? Well, I believe that in order for any kind of fast, or change to happen, you have to be mentally and spiritually committed in order to make the physical commitment. I'm ready spiritually, but not quite there mentally. I have a lot of anxiety related to the fear of failing in seeing the cleanse through the whole 10 days. This is pretty much the reason why I haven't committed to the global juice feast yet. I know one day I'll be ready - just not now. Part of my fear of failing is that I have had so much personal stress in my life that I have been dealing with over the past 8 months that just being raw has been major. I'm so happy for changing to a raw diet, but it came at a time that wasn't acceptable to my family and coworkers. Now it is, because they have seen the miraculous transformation in me. So now I get the support I need to make it happen.

I have been hit with financial stresses, work stresses, relationship challenges, scheduling challenges, sleep deprivation, and such, that it has been a juggling act - plus I have so many damned interests that I want to pursue. Don't get me wrong, I am so grateful for each and every day that I have managed to find the balance I need in my life, but I am still striving for more. Life is definitely looking up in my eyes, because I feel it in my heart, and I'm in a different place mentally. Don't get me wrong, I'm still suffering from the occasional anxiety though. What do you expect from an obsessive compulsive raw foodie like myself? Lol... :)

Well, I did decide that I truly need to finish my vision board (which is half way done and in my closet - good place for it - not!). Also, I am going to start the cleanse probably next week. This way I can save on groceries and start my very needed cleanse. I realized while writing this, that part of my bloating and constipation is not just due from food combining (cause I really haven't been that bad), but it could very well be from just eating too much - even if it's too much raw food, too much food is too much food, and it's hard on the digestive system! My body needs a break!

I've been watching Matt Monarch's and Angela Stoke's show, Raw Success, every day, and Matt has been talking a lot about the importance of colon cleansing. So I realize I really need to get myself mentally geared up to do a colon hydrotherapy session and soon! I started looking into it after Raw Fu's Bunny did one, but then chickened out. So, I'm going to definitely add this procedure to my vision board of things I want and need to do.

There are so many things that I want to do and accomplish, but prioritizing them or even grouping them is difficult. I'm just now relearning how to balance my life to make time for myself and those things that serve me and my family better both spiritually, mentally, and physically - but it's not an easy task. We get so stuck in our ways, right or wrong, and habits are hard to break. I just try to take one day at a time, and set mini goals as well as big goals. Plus I'm learning not to be so upset, or disappointed when things don't work out as I thought they would or should, and learn to see the value in all experiences. That is truly a part of being grateful. I have a journal to start writing in each day of what I'm grateful for. So far, I have mainly written it on my computer - but I will write in this journal...I will...lol...

Well, I want to write more, but need to close for now and take care of some other things around the house. The next post will be about the books I finish reading, yoga, and hopefully the beginning of my master cleanse. Maybe I'll write sooner and post some recipes, we'll see. Until then, have a blessed fill week!

Peace!

- Debbie :)

Reflections, reaching out, and raw food

Hope everyone is doing well. It's getting closer and closer to Christmas. I'm not even ready for it. We still haven't put our decorations up - which is unusual for us. Normally the lights and decorations both inside the house and outside the house would be up right after Thanksgiving. But this year has been different for us. Hopefully this weekend we will get our holiday act together!

My son will be celebrating his 15th birthday next week on the 16th. I just can't believe it! Time goes way too fast. I can remember when he was just a toddler - like it was yesterday! I'm so proud of him too! He is and always has been a great kid! Very smart and cute too!



My husband will be celebrating his 46th birthday next week also. His birthday is the day after my son's. It's been a tough couple of years for him - and for us. But we are working through it. We have been together a long time now - just shy of 17 years, married 15 of those...wow! I really feel that this year is going to end with many new and wonderful opportunities that will take us into the new year with a great big positive and prosperous bang! I know we need it! It's been tough - really tough these last couple of years - especially this year! Whooo!

However, with all the obstacles over the year, I have had a major transition and transformation in my life - I discovered RAW FOOD! I'm serious about it too! It has changed my life. I actually found in August of 2007. But it has really gotten me in the most positive way over the last 7 months! I'm certain that changing my lifestyle has done nothing but great things for me both physically, mentally, spiritually, and socially. I'm truly grateful for that! I even think it has saved my family relations in many ways too! I'm super grateful for that too!

No matter how tough times have been lately, I keep thinking about all the things I'm grateful for. I may not have the money or sometimes the time to do the things I'd like to share with others - especially those I care about. But I do try hard to let them know they are always in my thoughts, and prayers, and that I wish nothing but positive energy and love for them.

I have a special person in my "raw cyberspace" life that I consider a mentor and a friend. She is a young, talented, beautiful, and giving person, who needs our help. I'm talking about Heidi Ohlander of Raw Food Right Now. You can learn more about Heidi and her need for your support by reading her blog, "Heidi's Smile Back." Please help out and support Heidi's project by donating to the Heidi Smile Fund. You can find out more about it by visiting Raw Food Right Now. Thank you!

On another note, I have been spending some extra time on the Raw Fu site, enjoying many of the beautiful food photographs and trying out the recipes. I recently prepared a recipe that was shared by fellow Raw Fu member Rubarb, and a recipe by fellow Raw Fu member Linda. Both recipes were fantastic! Here's how they turned out. If you'd like the recipes you'll have to join us at the Raw Fu site. We are currently involved in a 40-day mini raw food challenge that is about half way over...but you are still welcome to join any time and be apart of a great raw food community! We all love it there, and we love the hostess - Beth "Bunny" Berry! She is definitely fun!!!



Tonight I made a delicious - you guessed it - kale salad! Today's salad was made with beautiful red kale, nice fresh organic asparagus, organic mini heirloom tomatoes, all marinated with a nice tangy mustard sauce, and served with a side of sliced organic avocado. Yum-yum!


For lunch I ate a delicious mixed seaweed salad, with EVOO, apples, and avocado. Very yummy and very filling!


Well, that's it for tonight. I'll try to write more before the end of the week! Have a great one!

Peace!

- Debbie :)

Doing the body good...

My son Brad and I have made it to the Recreation Center 7 times over a two and a half week period. We have also made it to two full hours of yoga over a two week period, plus I went an additional ½ hour the first week we started. We go Monday, Wednesday, and then again on Friday. Each time we go, we walk at least 1.25 miles around the indoor track, lift weights (resistance equipment), and also complete stretches. This past Monday, we actually walked over two miles before hitting the weights. This is only because my son was a little embarrassed to go into the weight room area when people who knew from school were there. Teenagers are so funny! But hey, it was a great extra workout for us, so it was well worth it!

On Wednesday is when we take the yoga class. It’s actually a yoga fitness class, so it’s harder, and definitely gets the heart rate going. It’s a great class because we work hard, and then we cool down to such a relaxed and focused state…its wonderful! We really love it so far. I love it so far! I’m thinking about purchasing my own yoga mat, so I don’t have to keep using the rec center’s mats.

Not only have I been going to the rec center to workout, but I’ve also been riding the recumbent bike at home still. I do this on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and occasionally on the weekends too. Yesterday was the best bike ride I’ve had in weeks. I was very happy about that! Oh, I even go swimming at least once or twice on the weekends – just to keep that heart rate up, stretch those limbs, and enjoy the refreshing water, and soak up the sun! Fun, fun!

I feel like I've really been doing the body good! :)

I’ve been using the heck out of my new juicer, and loving every minute of it. I’ll make yummy juices, and then turn them into yummy smoothies! Very cool! I haven’t done much dehydrating, except for some spicy corn chips and creamy spicy ice cream that has already been gobbled up by my family and me. But for the most part I’ve been spending most of my time working, exercising, making juices and smoothies, and reading my raw books. I’m really hooked on “Raw Magic” by Kate “Magic” Wood. This book is so cool! I can’t even describe it in words. The first part of the book digs deep into super foods and all that it is…I actually purchased several recommended items because of this book. I’ve gotten my purple corn extract, now I’m waiting for some other “oddities” that are very good for you. I plan to make her recipe for Cake Mates. It looks absolutely devine!

There are lots of original and creative, and delicious recipes in the book too! But right now I’m stuck on the information part of it first. Kate provides web links to resources for a lot of the things she writes about in her book. So I research them as I read along. It’s actually a great marketing tool…lol…Another great feature about Raw Magic is the wonderful layout of the book, the shiny smooth pages and cover, and the terrifically cool photos that are in the book. I believe Shazzie, of “Naked Chocolate: The Astonishing Truth About the World's Greatest Food” fame, is the one that took the pictures. It really is a cool book! This is the one I purchased online directly from Kate’s website in the UK, and had her sign it. She’s a celebrity in my eyes!

I consider many of the raw foodies in cyberspace, “raw celebrities!” In fact, this weekend I’ll be seeing another one, right here in Arizona – “Kristine Suzanne”, I can’t wait! This Saturday, July 12th, will be the first raw food preparation class I have ever taken, and it’s with Kristine Suzanne. She is teaching a raw chocolate class at Whole Foods. I know it’s going to be great!

Well, it’s getting late, and I really need to get ready for bed. So, I’ll close with a simple yet yummy smoothie. Here it is:

Papaya-Mango Green Smoothie:

1 medium papaya
1 fresh mango
1 cup frozen organic mango chunks
2 big handfuls spinach
1 handful parsley
Coconut water and ice to cover

Place all ingredients in the blender, and puree until smooth and creamy. This smoothie is easy, filling, and very refreshing!

Looking back over the past year...giving thanks to the Raw Food Community

I remember over a year ago I was tired of feeling bad. One of my coworkers was studying to become a nutritionist and performed a hair analysis on me. Based on the results, I decided to start changing my diet, and stress levels. In the process I started creating recipes that I would enjoy that would cut out a lot of the things that were making me ill, such as refined sugar, artificial sweeteners, gluten, and white flour. I gave ups Starbucks (that was hard, but worth it!), and cut back on my processed chocolate bars. I started using more stevia in my recipes – after all, my company manufacturer’s the best and healthiest quality stevia you can find. One day I decided to make a low bake, low glycemic, and gluten free carob chip cookie.

I came up with my own recipe using stevia and oatmeal that was an absolute hit at work and home. I baked it at a very low temperature, and not for very long, then let it dry in the oven until it was set. These cookies were so good, that I began researching how I could make a raw cookie. Not because I was thinking about going raw, just because I thought it would be healthier for me to eat when I craved “junk food”. I got out my raw book that I purchased years ago, Raw: The Uncook Book: New Vegetarian Food for Life, and started looking for something that would remind me of a chocolate chip cookie – but didn’t really find what I want. So, I went to the internet for answers and came across http://www.goneraw.com/. That’s when I discovered a whole world of delicious and easy raw food recipes to try. So, I was hooked – line and sinker! I began making my own recipes up and posting them on the site. I started researching more about the topic, and began reading my raw cookbook again.

Not to digress, but just need to mention this…it’s funny how things come to you in life. I mean, years ago when I worked in Semiconductor, my coworker bought Raw: The Uncook Book: New Vegetarian Food for Life book. She bought it for the pictures and layout. I mean, it is a spectacular looking book! When I saw it I was so impressed, I purchased my own copy. When I started reading about Juliano, raw food, and how some of the recipes were prepared, I started getting a little interested. I myself have tried vegetarian diets, even vegan diets, so I’m no stranger to eating healthier – just never was disciplined enough. Food always meant so much more to me then just food for health. It was thought provoking, emotional, passionate, exciting, mysterious – dangerous (ha, ha, ha)…just too hard to just not try it all (cooked, uncooked, processed, baked, fried, grilled, chilled…you name it, I wanted to try it!) So, that’s why the book ended up in my kitchen bookshelf with all the other “exotic” cookbooks…Now back to my journey to “RAW”.

One day while at the bookstore, I was looking for raw books, and discovered that Carol Alt was a raw foodist. Well for me that was great, because I knew who she was. I read the preface of her book, The Raw 50: 10 Amazing Breakfasts, Lunches, Dinners, Snacks, and Drinks for Your Raw Food Lifestyle, and a little bit about her journey, and decided to buy the book for myself. Wow! Now I was even more impressed by this whole concept of raw foods. So then I started talking about it on myspace.com. That’s when I discovered Heidi and Justin Ohlander. Or should I say that they found me, and invited me into a whole new world and community of fellow raw foodists, and enthusiasts. “Thank you Heidi and Justin!”

That’s when I really started to dive into raw food whole-heartedly. I started looking at YouTube.com clips on Angela Stokes, and Philip McCluskey, and emailing them about how inspiring their stories were. And the cool thing is they are both very special and warm people. They both wrote me back. I thought that was way cool, since I’m sure they get bombarded with “fan” mail…lol.

Instead of watching the Food Network, I found myself watch YouTube.com clips of Karen Knowler, and Ani Phyo preparing the best darned raw food recipes – I tried each one of them for myself!

Anyway, every person I’ve met so far in the raw food community has been wonderful. I can’t wait to meet some of these people in person. I’m especially looking forward to meeting Kristen Suzanne someday, since she lives here in Arizona –and not too far away. Carmella, and Shannon Marie are also terrific gals that I would love to meet someday. There’s so many of these warm and inspiring individuals, it would take pages just to list every single one of them!

As you know, I’m not a purist…maybe some day. Until then, my main focus is to continue to incorporate as much raw food into my diet everyday – over 80% or more. Some days I know, and have, fallen off the wagon – but I still have managed to eat more than 75% a day no matter what. So, that’s not too bad for someone like me who is basically “addicted to food”! Blogging is definitely therapeutic for me, and helps me acknowledge my focus.

I truly appreciate all of you who take the time to read my blogs, and for the supportive comments. I hope that you too benefit from some of what I share. For all of you on this journey to optimum health and well being through raw food – I wish you life long success!


Hey, how ‘bout another smoothie recipe…I know, I’m obsessed lately with creating smoothies!!! Enjoy!

Stone Cold Smoothie:
(I gave it this name because the fruits used in this recipe are considered stone fruits, or drupes - fleshy indehiscent fruit with a single seed).

2 fresh apricots, stoned and cut
2 fresh peaches, stoned and cut
4 fresh plums, stoned and cut
4-6 dates, pitted and chopped
2 small bananas, peeled and chopped
2 handfuls goji berries
2-4 handfuls macadamia nuts
½ - 1 T maca powder
½ - 1 T lucuma powder
1 scoop raw protein
drizzle of agave nectar
lots of fresh purified ice
water to cover (more or less depending upon thickness)

Place all ingredients in a blender, and puree until smooth and well blended. Makes about 2-4 full servings. (Recommendation: freeze your fruit, and then add it to your smoothie. It will make it colder and more like a shake; also, replace nuts and water with your favorite nut mylk for a creamier smoothie).

One more...

Carob-Cao Dessert Shake:

1 scoop raw chocolate ice cream
1 scoop raw vanilla ice cream
1-2 scoops raw carob powder
2 small bananas
1 handful raw cacao nibs
drizzle agave nectar
handful goji berries
4-6 purified ice cubes
purified water to cover

Place all ingredients in the blender, and puree until very smooth and creamy. Makes about 2-3 full servings. Yummy-yummo!

Till next time!

- Debbie :0)