Todd's Raw Journey:
2007
E-mail: tglasco4 at yahoo dot com
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Todd's Raw Journey:
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February 4, 2007 Hi. Remember me? I know its been quite a long time. Alot has happened since I last blogged. I am high raw right now and will be going to 100% for at least 30 days beginning probably later in the week. It has been some year. I am glad 2006 is gone. I will definitely spare you all the details, but in the last 12 months I have been: 1)Homeless (about 3 months).
2) Separated from my wife and children (not by our choice).
3)Penniless (many can relate to that)
4)Taken to court.
5) Served by sheriffs
6)Businessless and jobless (starting back to work on Monday).
7) Very depressed, but fighting it with God's grace.
Despite all of this, the Lord brought me through in one piece. My family and I closed on our new home on Jan 9th. We have relocated to Virginia (outside of Roanoke). I am starting over with my business and I begin with MassMutual as a financial advisor on Monday. So things are definitely looking up. I still haven't figured out how I am going to pay this large mortgage but I know the Lord has not brought me this far to drop me. During the 3 months we were homeless, my wife and children stayed with my mom in California, while I went from one friends home to another while looking for a home for us with no money.
That began in October and went through the holidays. I guess in a way it was a holiday season to forget, but one I will never forget at the same time. I stayed vegan but definitely not raw, as I did partake of chinese food (mostly eggplant and broccoli with garlic sauce) and Olive garden pasta with cheeseless eggplant. I did eat about 7-12 pieces of fruit most days but with all the stress and lack of exercise I know my system is clogged and the scale attests to it (206lbs up from about 190-195lbs). I did get out and run once about a week and a half ago and I plan on going out again tomorrow. I am also going back to pretty much all fruit and fruit juices for at least 30 days. Well, thats all for now. Here is what I ate today:
Breakfast:
2 bananas, 32oz of fruit smoothie (bananas, mango, oj, water, dried pineapple).
Lunch/dinner:
about 2 or 3 cups of grapes. 2 sliced oranges, 2 avocados mixed in some bulgar wheat.
no exercise today but will slowly build it back in.
I want to thank all of those who sent emails checking in on me. May the Lord bless you for your thoughtfulness and kindness.
February 5, 2007
Well today was officially my first day all raw since I ate the (non raw) bulgar yesterday. It went well. I did the salt flush this morning, but didn't have time to eat other than that. I had a good lunch and dinner. I am doing all fruit for the 30 days. Breakfast: 32oz of water with 2 teaspoons of sea salt. Lunch: 3 cups of grapes, one avocado, 3 bananas, 1 fuji apple. Dinner: two 32oz glasses of fruit smoothie. 2 oranges. one avocado. couple of grapes. Its about 8:30pm here and I am still full. LOL.Going well. February 6, 2007
Day two. Not bad at all. Last night late I had a serious taste for some unsweetened banana chips (not raw), but I resisted by God's grace. This morning I realized something that I had suspected for a long time.....I have salt addiction. Because my body craves it, I sometimes seek stuff like the aforementioned snacks because they have a salty taste. For some reason though, its different with the salt flush I am doing in the morning. But I will see as I am only doing that for a total of 10 days (2 down, 8 more to go). I am hoping that the way the fruit diet got me over my sugar addictions, it will also get me over the salt addiction. Until today I just categorized people as being one or the other, but I have proven to myself that one can be addicted to both at the same time. It makes sense because people are many times addicted to more than one drug (either prescription or illegal) at the same time. I would like to have victory over that, but right now I just want to stay raw and stay on all fruit. So far, so good. Breakfast: 32oz water with 2 teaspoons of salt. Lunch: 3-4 cups of grapes, 4 bananas, one fuji apple Dinner: large bowl of fruit salad, 32oz of fruit smoothie. no exercise today. February 9, 2007 Day 5. I didn't expect any issues with this and so far I haven't had any. Eating all fruit is like being with an old friend. My wife and children have made some really delicious looking cooked stuff and I have not really been tempted at all. Today I worked from home and stayed in my pjs most of the day. Got dressed late in the afternoon to do some errands. I had not been eating anything for breakfast all week and didn't plan on it today but my wife was nice enough to cut up some fruit for me so I had that. Breakfast: 32oz of water with 2 tsp of sea salt (salt flush day 6) Bowl of grapes. 2 bananas (couple of hours later). Lunch: Bowl of grapes and 2 bananas. Dinner: 32oz of fruit smoothie. Fruit salad (cantelope, raisins, bananas). no exercise worth mentioning, but I will get back into it soon. February 10, 2007 Didn't do the salt flush today. To be honest the thought of it made me nauseous so I left it alone today. Had some regular water instead (of course not the same thing by a long shot). Traveling on a long journey tomorrow, driving to CT to tie up some loose ends and see the few clients I still have. The fruit thing is going well, but its only been 6 days so far. Breakfast: 2 bananas, one avocado, one apple. Dinner: 32oz strawberry/banana smoothie (delicious), bowl of fruit salad, one avocado. Exercise: 4 mile walk. February 12, 2007
Monday. Arrived in CT on Sunday afternoon after driving 10 hours from VA. Had alot of clients to see in CT since I am switching to MassMutual. All fruit diet is actually going very well, but I wish I could get some exercise in. Hopefully when I get back I will. Planning on driving back down on Wednesday, but the weather report is calling for a blizzard so I may stay in CT until Thursday. My body is really getting a good cleansing and I am feeling much more energetic already, looking forward to see what the next 3 weeks of all fruit brings.
Breakfast:
2 bananas, one whole large cantelope
Lunch:
one apple, one avocado, 4 bananas.
Dinner:
32oz fruit smoothie, cup of grapes, one banana
February 13, 2007
Very busy day today. One of those days that didn't seem to have enough time in it. But I am glad its over. I am stuck in CT for an extra day because of the snow storm going thru the Northeast region. Raw/fruitarian thing is going well. This is day 9.
Breakfast:
One whole cantelope. large bowl of red grapes.
Lunch:
One avocado, 3 bananas, 3 cups of red grapes. Dinner:
2 avocados, 2 bananas. February 15, 2007
Thursday. I set out at 4:45 am to drive from CT to Virginia. I hoped the roads would be cleared from the previous days snow storm. I was wrong. I am glad I pray for protection every time I get in my car, because it was a treacherous journey of 17 hrs. The authorities closed the interstate I was one while I was on it (I-81 in PA). Of course I did not know it as I sat there for about 2 1/2 hours. I finally got off the highway, not knowing where I was going but knowing it was the opposite direction of where I wanted to go. I got to a small town and bought a map at a convenience store. I was able to take back roads and get back on the highway away from the trouble. All of this caused me a little frustration I must admit, so I broke my fast of all fruit and stopped in a chinese food restaurant for broccoli and garlic sauce....lol. This is no legitimate excuse mind you......but it is what I did. Overall the fast that was planned for 30 days actually lasted 11 days. I decided rather than start again and embark on another 30 days......I will modify it to make it alittle easier on myself and gradually come back to it. Monday-Friday I will do all fruit. On the weekends I will do fruit for breakfast, have a light cooked supper (like steamed veggies and either rice or bulgar wheat) and if I want to eat later more fruit. I would guess this is high-raw. We'll see how it goes.
Some things I learned from this experience:
1)Overall, I feel great from the 11 days I did eat just fruit. I want to make fruit my staple (which is something I always believed in anyways) going forward.
2) I believe its the craving for salt combined with the stress of the situation that did me in. I am finding that addictions to salt and sugar are just as strong as addictions to any narcotic or cigarettes or alcohol. By the Grace of God I overcame sugar.....now its salts turn, somehow I think for me its the harder of the two (although I didn't realize it until now).
3) I am glad for the experience because it will help me to help others later on.
My meals were as follows:
Breakfast:(in the car on the road)
bag of red grapes, 2 avocados, 3 bananas, one apple.
Dinner:
Broccoli with garlic sauce and white rice.
no exercise.
May 8, 2007
Tough times don't last forever......but sometimes they are prolonged. Thats been the situation here since I last posted. Very difficult to stay 100% raw because I simply cannot afford the fruit I usually consume. What I have been doing is eating fruit in the morning, steamed veggie or avocado or chopped apple with rice or bulgar in the afternoon. Thats about it. I'd say its high raw for sure, but I really would like to eat more fruit. I have been fasting on water from time to time and I have been running 3x per week (2 miles at a time).
I am definitely learning to be patient in tribulation. I am determined that my faith shall stand no matter what. Faith only gets stronger as it gets tried. May the Lord bless all of you on your own raw efforts.
May 15, 2007 Tuesday. I have been trying to figure out the best way to be as raw as possible on a poor man's budget. I think its an excellent situation because of the fact that it would help others who want to experience the raw lifestyle but may not have the resources they would like. I began today to implement a plan which I hope will prove beneficial. The goal is to eat whole, raw fruit in the morning. Then have my largest "meal" at midday. If I want to eat anymore later, I will either have a small smoothie or just a few pieces of fruit. Yesterday I did this being about 80% raw (I will post what I ate). Today I will do it at 100% raw. Now what I have to work with is not much. I have alot of raw oat groats that I bought in bulk last summer. I have soaked some and will use it in a smoothie with bananas and pears as my large midday "meal". It is quite heavy and filling since I will drink at least 32oz of it. I was able to buy a case of bananas from Sams Club for a little less than $17. Even with my large family that will last about 10 days to 2 weeks. The local grocer had mangos on sale 3 for $1. So I bought 30 of them last week for $10. I will buy more today because they aren't ripe (which is a good thing since they will last longer). The pears were 99 cents per pound and they are small so I was able to get about 20 of them at a very reasonable price. The most expensive things are the Organic sugar (which we use for our childrens cereal and I use for smoothies) and olive oil. I have been jogging the 2 miles pretty consistently but have not added any other exercise at this time. I am interviewing with 2 firms for a financial advisor position, both look very promising. In the meantime I am working as a temp moving boxes in a warehouse 2nd shift. What an experience! My goal there is to do as good a job as possible however humble the work may be (I pray to be a witness for the Lord). The men there are very hard and tough as one would expect in such a place. But its also excellent exercise and I am thankful for it.
Well so far so good. Yesterday my meals went like this:
1 pear, 3 bananas, 1 apple, 1 avocado with rice for a brunch (no breakfast yesterday).
4 bananas, one mango for what may be called dinner (it was 12:30 in the morning when I got in).
Today so far:
2 bananas, 2 avocado, one apple for breakfast.
I am going to prepare a smoothie which will have:
one cup of soaked oat groats, 3 or 4 bananas, 2 pears, 4 tblspns of sugar, 30oz of water.
I ran 2 miles this morning with my younger son (that was very good).
May 17, 2007 Thursday. Didn't get the chance to journal yesterday, but I will cover what I ate here. Today is day 3 at 100% raw. I am finding that the cleansing effect of the fruit is causing me to feel hungry at times, very hungry. But I am mindful that after that goes away (no telling how long it may last it can be anywhere from 2 weeks to 8 weeks), my system will be at a much higher level in terms of efficiency. I read somewhere that % raw can be measured by weight of food. That makes sense. These days its easy since I am not eating anything but raw. Its actually not been too bad despite the sudden hunger pains that make me feel like I haven't eaten in days when I just ate an hour ago. They go away after awhile though. Worked out with some weights yesterday. Btw, the bodybuilding experiment is long done. All I wanted to find out was whether or not one can build muscle on a raw diet and you can. Muscle in general takes awhile to build up regardless of what you do (with the use of drugs being the exception of course), but I will be happier just being fit and full of energy. Not necessarily big and muscular. Well yesterday's menu went like this:
Brunch:
2 mangos, 3 bananas, one apple. avocado with alfalfa sprouts.
Dinner:
Fruit smoothie (3 bananas, 2 pears, one mango, 3 spoons of sugar and 40oz of water). One apple.
Today was similar.
Breakfast:
about 56oz of smoothie (3 spoons of soaked oat groats, 3 bananas, 2 pears, 3 spoons of sugar, 40oz or so of water). One avocado with alfalfa sprouts.
Dinner:
4 bananas, 2 mango, 2 avocado with clover sprouts mixed up.
Exercise:
Yesterday I did 2 sets of dumbell curls, one set of 100 squats with my 22lb vest on.
May 24, 2007
Thursday. This is the 11th day of 100% raw and all fruit. It was about at this point I caved to steamed broccoli and rice in February. No such problems this time. I am very determined to give the fruitarian lifestyle a shot. I have always admired it in theory and even ate that way mostly (although I was technically high raw as I look back on it) but never really went 100% raw and all fruit. Although I have been putting soaked oat groats into my banana smoothies because I have so much of it and it saves on the food bill. Plus its filling. I do feel very good and am looking forward to seeing how my system progresses although I have been thru this before when I started raw 3 years ago. The 30 day juice fast and the initial 14 day OJ fast did give me some experiences, but now eating the whole fruit will be interesting and unlike those experiences I am not intending to stop after 30 days. I would like to go for at least 3 months like this. I may break down and have something cooked after that but we will see. I also will probably have a raw apple pie sometime in the next few weeks if I can afford it. I worked a double shift (16 hours) in 2 different factories. Good thing I am eating all fruit as I needed everything I had lifting heavy boxes. Because of that I have only run once this week but am expecting to get a run and light resistance work in tomorrow by God's grace. Today's meals went like this (and this is pretty typical of the week):
Breakfast:
48oz smoothie, a banana eaten while making it. Smoothie was 3 bananas, about half a cup of soaked oat groats, 3 tblspns of organic cane sugar, sliced mango, chopped pear. (the mango wasn't very ripe so this smoothie could have been better without it), a sprinkle of sea salt and water.
dinner:
3 bananas, 2 mangos, one avocado.
Exercise:
8 hours of lifting boxes.
June 10, 2007
Sunday. I have been 100% raw and mostly fruitarian for 26 days now. Eating 2 meals per day and having the last meal at midday. I sort of messed that up today as I had my last meal at about 3:30. Doesn't sound too bad but I am really wanting to stick to the plan. 2 meals per day the first one between 7-8am and the last one between 1-2pm. No snacking in between, 100% raw mostly fruitarian.
The "mostly" fruitarian thing is out of necessity. In fact this whole thing started out of necessity. I am really poor right now and getting food stamps. I just started working officially last week and being on straight commission, I won't see any money for awhile....But inspite of all this I am giving praise to the Lord. For now I can show people who are interested in the raw lifestyle that one can do it (with some prayer and discipline) without having alot of money. I had about 10lbs of raw oat groats (now about 5lbs) when I started and I have about 20lbs of raw wheat berries. Those things are indeed raw, but wouldn't be considered "Fruitarian" by most fruitarian standards. I soak them and use them in my smoothies as fillers. Works great. Keeps me energized. When I went to 100% 25 days ago, I was 207lbs. Not obese at all, but more than the 193lbs I was before this saga began. Now I am at 197lbs and losing. I tell you the truth, eating your heaviest meal at midday and eating nothing else will help anyone lose weight and I dare say it doesnt much matter what you eat in that regard. I have a friend who is a huge meat and potatoes guy who ballooned up to 250lbs and just decided to eat his last meal at noon and ate pretty much whatever and lost 55lbs in about 4 months. It does take prayer and discipline, two words people don't like to hear with regard to eating, but I have found they have great rewards. Especially prayer. I pray
"Lord Jesus, please take over my perverted appetite" and He does it for me everytime I am tempted to eat after my scheduled meals. 2 meals at day also makes the whole "what to eat" situation much simpler. Today I made a pate out of some almonds, raw sunflower seeds and millet (have alot of that also) of all things........when I finished seasoning it with sea salt, onion and garlic powder and some cayenne......it was delicious!! I soaked the nuts, seeds and millet overnight and blended them all together. I also have a tremendous amount of broccoli and alfalfa seeds and mung beans. I have something sprouting every day. Today I ate mung bean sprouts with the pate.....scrumptous. I have been trying to run consistently but it will be tougher now that I am working again. I will eventually settle into a workout schedule when my work settles down. Right now I just want to stay 100% raw and high fruitarian. I want so see how I feel after 60 days. I feel great now, but I am feeling better and better each day. More clarity,energy and lightness of being.
Todays menu was:
Breakfast:
64oz of smoothie. 2 bananas. The smoothie had (4 bananas, half a cup of raw oat groats, 2 pears, 2 tblspns of organic sugar, pinch of salt and water).
Dinner was:
about 25% of a large watermelon, one mango, half of a normal sized cantelope. Large bowl of mung bean sprouts (seasoned), with my pate mentioned above.
Exercise:
3 mile run.
June 11, 2007
Monday. Great day today. I got word from our managing director that the firm will begin paying me a weekly salary until my commissions start flowing.......then I got a $2000 check in the mail from someone I never personally met but I ministered to online......she said God told her to send it to me......I am so thankful that my God is so Faithful. He knows my every need and He provides always right on time!! Today is day 27 !00% raw. Definitley used to the 2 meal plan. In fact I felt full and had to force the 7th piece of fruit at lunch time. Its now about 8:30pm and I feel great with no hunger at all. Good news brings energy as well so I have to take that into account. My meals today were:
Breakfast:
2 bananas, large wedge of watermelon, 2 mangos. Bowl of mung sprouts with one chopped apple covered in nut pate.
Lunch:
3 bananas, 2 mango, one avocado, one pear.
I am really now understanding the true meaning of breakfast......"Break" "Fast"........on this 2 meal plan there is a 16-17 hour interval between my last meal of one day and my first meal of the next day. That means that I am fasting for 16-17 hours each day while still getting nutrients over the course of 5-6 hours (the time between breakfast and lunch). The more I do this, the more I like it.
June 14, 2007
Thursday. This has been the busiest week for me in many years. I had about 20 appointments. I love it after so many months of inactivity. Today was interesting on the food front. I have been packing a lunch for myself when I am running around or in the office. Its always just whole fruit usually between 6-8 pieces. I usually find a place outside with a bench and eat it there. Today it was raining. So I couldn't eat outside unless I had some cover. I couldn't (or wouldn't) attempt to eat the 2 mangos I brought as part of my lunch in my car, they can be messy. Plus, I was driving all over a city that is new to me. So I found a local library and asked the librarian if there was a park nearby with some cover. She gave me directions to one that was very close. When I got there I saw that, indeed, there was a pavillion situation there...great. There were also a bunch of roughnecks having a heated game of dice or cards or something. They were the only ones in the park. So here I come with my lunch bag of fruit in my business suit out of the rain, and the gamblers a few feet away barking like dogs over their crap game........was strange and funny. I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch. Today is day 30 of 100% raw and high fruit. Here was today's menu:
Breakfast:
36oz shake (2 bananas, half cup of soaked oat groats, one pear, 2 spoons of organic sugar and a dash of salt). One large cameo apple.
Dinner/Lunch:
3 bananas, small bag of grapes, 2 mangos, one avocado.
no time for exercise until sunday probably.
June 15, 2007 Friday. 31 days 100% raw. Feeling healthy and energetic. I have not been able to workout since sunday, yet I am feeling like I have. There is nothing like the energy the body has on the raw diet. Nothing can quite duplicate it. Its a lightness of feeling and movement that is wonderful. There are cravings to overcome no doubt, but when one gets to this part the feeling is that its all worth it. Today's menu was:
Breakfast:
Large bowl of broccoli and alfalfa sprouts seasoned with a chopped apple and topped with raw almond pate. 2 bananas.
Lunch/dinner: 2 mangos, 2 avocados, 3 bananas.
Have a wonderful weekend and happy Fathers day to the dads among us.
June 22, 2007 Friday. Was on a business trip to CT from VA this week. The last time I went on such a trip I was also 100% raw when it started but ended up caving in to steamed brocolli and rice at a chinese joint. At that time (February) I went 13 days of 100% raw, all fruit. This time was different, there were many stresses on the trip, but I can report by God's grace this time I went thru victorious. Today was day 38 all raw. I am still eating just 2 meals per day, the last one before 2pm. The trip was easy in that regard because it was all whole fruit. Seems these days its mostly, melons, bananas, avocados and mangos. Can't get enough of the avocados and mangos especially. The only drawback is that I am so busy these days that I don't have time to exercise on a regular schedule. That will definitely change. It appears to me although situations and circumstances change, the Lord allows me to find a way to eat raw if I want to. I have figured that it costs me about $50 per week to eat the way I am eating now. Sometimes less if there is a sale on something. I also figured its cheaper if I ate 75% or less of raw, but I don't want to do that unless I have to. So far, I haven't had to. Here is what I ate today (btw, I drove 10 hrs today from CT to VA so the first meal was in the car):
Breakfast:
one mango, 2 avocados, 3 bananas, some red grapes, one pear.
Lunch/dinner:
one cantelope, 3 bananas, 2 avocado, one mango and handful of grapes (bigger dinner than usual).
June 26, 2007 Tuesday. Hot day today and very busy as has been the case these days. I am loving it. Not out of the woods on the financial front yet, but doing all I can. Once one does all that can be done, the rest is in Heaven's hands, I will leave it there. Raw is going great. I am feeling better and more vital every day. The 2 meal per day thing is going wonderfully also. I have been having some either fresh squeezed lemonade or orange juice when I get home as a treat, but as far as solid food, I have been done by 2pm at the latest. Actually got in alittle calistenic exercise today. As I have experienced in the past, the more time I spend 100% raw, my energy level sort of keeps sneaking higher and higher. As that happens I naturally crave more activity such as exercise, which is what is happening now. I also noticed how much easier it is to rise early in the morning on this regimen. Because I have no food on my stomach when I go to sleep and I am getting to be at a good time (usually before 10pm), when I awaken I am not groggy or sluggish. I usually wake up around 5am. Whenever I have done that in the past, there needed to be serious motivation (like making money), but now its just part of the journey. I wake up early even on the weekends. My wife was alittle surprised at first because I usually sleep in on sundays, but I just can't. I have to get up. My diet today was:
Breakfast:
32oz of banana-orange juice smoothie; 3 whole bananas.
Dinner/Lunch:
3 bananas, 2 avocados, 2 mangos
Exercise:
2 sets of 24 lunges (no weight), 2 sets of 24 dumbell curls (20lb pair), 2 sets of 25 squats (no weight), 2 sets of 20 dumbell flyes.
June 28, 2007
Thursday......day 44 of 100%. running low on some raw fruits, but that the Lord I get paid today. My system was eliminating more waste than usual today. I know the system does that from time to time, on raw its much more effiicient. Things are always attacking our bodies from the environment no matter how we eat, but the system can fight it off when it is alkalined and filled with enzymes. The Immune system is indeed the cure for cancer and every other disease, but too many billions are being made for Big Pharma to let that out. Todays menu was: Breakfast:
Large side of watermelon. 48oz banana-oat groat-pear smoothie.
Lunch:
3 bananas, 2 mangos, one cantelope.
later:
32oz of fresh squeezed OJ.
July 7, 2007
Friday. 52 days 100% raw. Feeling great and very busy. This week I had pretty much blocked out to look for a home for my brother in Christ. He is relocating himself and his family down here to VA and he is a truck driver. He is on the road for nearly six days per week. So I began house hunting for him. House hunting is exciting but it is also tiring. What makes it more difficult is a pushy realtor. When I was looking for my own home I had a good realtor, he listened to what we were looking for and sought to help us find it. He also listened when I told him our situation and worked out our offers accordingly. I wish I had him now, but he is in a different area of the state than we are looking. The person I have now is very pushy and seems to seek to try and sell us her own listings whether they fit our situation or not. Friday I was about fed up with her and would have fired her but two things happened. First she said she would be busy the next time I was looking so she asked her partner to take us out and also her husband had to be rushed to the hospital suddenly today. That made me feel sorry for her. Anyways, that was life's adventure this week, as for raw, it was very good as usual as I had a chance to witness to the realtor and her partner about the benefits of including more raw fruit and veggies in the diet. My menu today was pretty much my normal one, I could not exercise at all this week except the run I had on last Sunday.
Breakfast:
Side of watermelon. 32oz of banana-cantelope-grape-oat groat smoothie........sweetened with dried pineapple.......delicious.
Lunch:
4 bananas. 2.5 avocados, 2 mangos, one cantelope.
Later:
32oz of fresh squeezed OJ
July 13, 2007 Friday. It was a good week. The firm I am now with has a sales target that I must meet within 5 months. If I don't meet it, I am out. I met it in 5 weeks. All praise goes to the Lord for He is blessing the work of my hands. I am new to the area, I didn't know anyone and there were doubts at the firm because of those factors as to whether I would make it, doubts are gone now (smile). I am getting such a blessing from this phase of my raw experience. My mind is getting new levels of clarity that I did not expect. It really is a journey, so those of you who are struggling with it, don't be discouraged, keep getting up and moving forward. It will work out. My main purpose of being raw is and has always been to have a closer walk with the Lord. To be able to more effectively communicate with Him or, more precisely, to more clearly hear Him as He speaks to me. This has definitely been happening. I am able to hear, as the Lord reviews with me where I have been and prepares me for where He is sending me. I am learning from past mistakes, accepting the lessons and moving forward. The raw diet is a tremendous help in this and without it I don't believe these things would be possible. I fasted yesterday because of a certain situation that my wife and I felt called for a fast. The situation worked out well, but I was surprised at how good I felt after 40 hours with no solid food. I did drink OJ and water so I wasn't depleted but the way my system handled it was much smoother than in the past. I put in a 12 hour workday during the fast and although I was tired last night I awoke this morning with energy. I broke the fast with easily digestable fruit although I wanted some hummus (had it later). My meals were: Breakfast:
3 bananas, banana-dried pineapple-pear-nectarine shake (32oz).
Lunch:
Large side of watermelon, bowl of chopped cucumber, apple and celery topped with raw hummus.
July 20, 2007
Friday. Seems to be the best day to journal for me these days. I can look back on the week and reflect. This has been a stressful week work-wise. Not busy, but issues. But that is life on this planet. I was able to play some basketball with my son this week. I have not played a game of basketball in about 6 years or more. My wife was watching and said I looked pretty good. I felt good, I was playing with guys in their 20s. I don't want to play too much because I don't like the competitive spirit, but its good exercise. As far as raw, its going smoothly. I did have one slight bump. My wife thought she was giving me a treat by making me some white bulgar wheat today. I ate alittle of it, but I was surprised how heavy it felt on my stomach. I liked that actually because it shows that my system is really used to the raw fruit and nothing heavier. I did have quite a feast today as my wife also got me some nori to make wraps with. I wrapped some chopped cukes, celery and apple with cashew sauce and seasonings in some bulgar and nori, it was very good. Meals today were: Breakfast:
2 bananas......Banana-pear-dried pineapple smoothie (32oz).
Lunch/dinner:
a mix consisting of 4 stalks of chopped celery, one chopped fuji apple, one chopped english cuke, dripped some olive oil on it and mixed it well. Then sprinkled some sea salt on it. Then put some raw cashew creme on it (don't know how it was seasoned my daughter made it for me, but it was delicious), I added some chopped olives and chopped sun-dried tomato. I used some of this mix in the nori to make wraps. Couple of spoons of bulgar wheat with an avocado and more cashew creme. Quite a meal I'll tell you that.
July 21, 2007 I have been meaning to send a picture of what a typical day's fare looks like for me.....its a little different on the weekends because I am sitting down with my family which means food that has been prepared alittle more vs whole fruits. So these two pictures are breakfast and lunch from a typical weekend morning and midday.   July 26, 2007
Thursday....been a hold-your-breath type of week. Certain situation we are dealing with caused us to fast today. I must say, I find fasting very effective on many levels, spiritual, physical and mental........but honestly, I don't really enjoy it. Its probably not meant to be enjoyed, but endured I suppose. Jesus said that when we fast we should look our best and not appear to others to be fasting. I like that idea. I don't want to make it any worse by declaring it to the world and looking for sympathy or wearing it as some sort of badge of honor. Nah. But it is good for a person, no denying it. I am looking forward to watermelon, mango and avocado for breakfast......delicious. I did drink about 64oz of fresh squeezed lemonade today......also played about 2 hours of basketball. But overall, a day of silent and secret prayer. August 1, 2007
Wednesday.....can't believe its August already. Much stresses in my life, but by God's grace I am handling my business and moving forward in faith. Had a treat today as I drank a large glass of fresh squeezed pink grapefruit juice. Delicious. Also expensive as my daughter had to use 6 grapefruit for one 28oz glass of juice ($5 for the grapefruit). But it was every bit as refreshing as the OJ. I like the pink grapefruit better than the yellow myself because its a tad sweeter. My wife was concerned about me drinking it because she says I have been looking gaunt lately and it may make me lose weight. Its strange how raw can make you look that way during some periods even though your weight changed very littIe (I have been about 193 for nearly a month now). I had a pretty big detox episode over the last 5 days though, so I think that had something to do with it. I got a cold sore on my lip last week and a sore throat and felt weak and tired. In fact, I lost my voice for about 3 days. It never slowed me down (I played basketball in 90 degree heat with my son on Sunday), but it was detox nevertheless. It wasn't as bad as the episode I had about 15 months ago. That was bad (it knocked me off my feet for a day). But I think it contributed to my looking a little sickly. Also, I have been making nori wraps with my cucumber-celery-apple mix. I have become quite proficient at it. At first the wraps broke into pieces every time, but now I can wrap it nice and neat. I also found this other seaweed called Wakame and I really like it. I sprinkle some of that on top of the mix after I put some either hummus or cashew dressing on it. Feasted on that this morning. Well, here is the official menu today...btw, this is day 79 of 100% raw and 2 meals per day. Breakfast(6:30am):
mix of one chopped large English cuke and 2 chopped Fuji apples (didn't have any celery in the fridge today). Topped with cashew dressing, wakame and a dash of cayenne.
made nori wraps with it (about 7 I would guess) and sliced up a avocado adding a little bit to each wrap.
Lunch(noon):
4 bananas, one mango, one avocado, one Fuji apple.
later:
28oz of fresh squeezed OJ
No exercise today.
August 6, 2007 Monday. Started out as a difficult day, but ended up on a very good note. I'll take that anytime. I have a very busy day scheduled for tomorrow. I am having strange thoughts about my raw diet these last few days. I am eating 2 meals per day, nothing in between, and eating the last one early, yet I am feeling now that I may be eating too much! As I thought about that I know it sounds completely ridiculous, but that is how I am feeling. I think what I am going to do is continue the same regiment but just cut back alittle on the amount of food and see how it goes from there. Raw is quite a ride, I'll tell you that. But its literally all good. Today's menu was:
Breakfast:
48oz of fruit smoothie. one banana, one avocado.
lunch:
2 mango (totally delicious), bowl of chopped apple, celery cucumber and avocado, covered with wakame and cashew sauce.
Later:
couple of glasses of lemonade.
August 14, 2007
Tuesday. I have noticed that here in the South, people are ........well......larger. There are alot of fast food joints that serve the type of "food" that would tend to make one larger. The raw food lifestyle is foreign in most parts of the country (with the exception of places like california maybe), but here in Virginia, its like your from another planet. To say you're "vegan" is definitely a strange thing, but to mention "raw"......folks here just can't interface with that. I think its great. A perfect environment for the effects of raw to shine. That is what's been happening. People make comments about your skin, how young you look, how slim you are and then note what you are eating. The power of example is the best teacher there is for sure. As far as my diet, just rolling along, no issues to report. Lots of whole fruit, smoothies and some bulgar these days. The bulgar is rare, more like a weekend thing I would say. But I did have some today because it was leftover and some of it went bad from the weekend. Menu was: Breakfast:
A salad of chopped apple, cucumber, a garden tomato and celery. Ranch-style cashew dressing. some bulgar wheat. Wrapped all that up in some nori (3x). Ate the rest. 2 bananas.
Lunch:
2 avocado, chopped watermelon, 4 bananas.
dinner:
glass of lemonade.
no exercise today......I have been playing basketball about twice a week with my son. I have been working 55-70 hr weeks so its been tough to find the time for a real workout. But I figure that will work itself out in time (no pun intended).
August 24, 2007 Friday. It was generally a very good week. We are not out of the hole yest but steadily climbing for sure. I have not been able to exercise at all this summer with the exception of my weekend basketball games with my son. But even, so, as I got out the shower at one point this week and took a good look at myself, I realized I look the same as I did when I was running the 8 miles per day and lifting weights. I don't understand it except I know for sure it has everything to do with the raw diet. As I am writing this entry, it is nearly 8:30pm. I am sipping what remains of a banana-pear smoothie I made. I normally would not have that this late but I ate a very light lunch and had a very active afternoon. Things have been very stressful, but the grace of God has kept me calm and cool. The raw diet has definitely kept me energized and going strong. Very energized. But with all that being said, I have not completely ruled out a return to some cooked foods in the future in some limited capacity. I am missing broccoli and garlic sauce for sure. smile.
Todays diet was:
Breakfast:
bowl of cut up apple, celery, cuke with raw cashew sauce and wakame. one avocado with bulgar wheat.
lunch:
slices of watermelon and 2 mango
later:
fruit smoothie.
August 31, 2007
Friday. I cannot believe how fast time is going by. This is the last day of August and I don't know where the summer went. I was contemplating how that over the last 3 plus years my mind has gotten so much sharper. I see things much more clearly than ever in my life. I know of course its no coincidence that I have been raw (either high raw or 100%) over the same period. Losing weight and feeling very energetic is great. These are definitely benefits of the raw lifestyle. But my main aim was to have my body clean for an habitation of the Holy Spirit and His teaching. This my joy is being completely fulfilled as I am learning more in the last 3 years, than I knew in all the previous years combined about my God, His Word (especially with regard to prophecy) and myself. There are tmes when I indeed get cravings for cooked. Especially my beloved chinese food. But I have not caved in to that in about 6 months. In fact, I am at 109 days 100% raw right now. But, I reserve the right to have some chinese in the future if I want to.
Today's menu was:
Breakfast:
2 mango, 2 banana.......32oz fruit smoothie.
lunch:
bowl of cut up apple, celery, cucumber. with wakame and cashew dressing.
some of it placed in nori wraps with red bulgar wheat and avocado.
no exercise today......too busy of late.
September 6, 2007
Thursday. Labor Day is behind us now. Unofficial end of summer. Things have been looking up for me business-wise. I thank the Lord for His blessings. I am meeting so many people who really need what the raw diet lifestyle can provide. Nearly every day, I am finding myself talking to people about it. Its a wonderful opportunity and again, I am very thankful for that. I had an extra surge of energy hit me the end of last week. I had not felt that in awhile. Its like your system is going to a new level of energy. Hard to explain, but it really feels fantastic. 115 days 100% raw and counting so I suppose I should expect something. If you have followed my journal, you will notice that I tend to stay with the same foods for a long time. This is not by design I assure you, but its easier and as long as its satisfying I just stay with it. When I have a taste for something different, then I go for that. Right now its been a waldorf type of menu for one meal then whole fruit for the second. Not sure how long its been going on but I realized today its been awhile and I am definitely not tired of it. On weekends I tend to use the wakame and nori wraps as a treat. Can't express enough how really fantastic my body is feeling. So full of energy and life. My mind is very sharp and I am able to grasp things quicker than I used to. Usually I hear when one gets older its the opposite. Anyways, today's menu was:
Breakfast:
Waldorf with chopped cucumber, celery and apple. Mixed in olive oil and certain spices. Then had red bulgar with avocado.
Lunch:
4 bananas, one large mango, half a nectarine (it was bone dry).........chopped up the other half with 2 bananas and made a smoothie (which I didn't finish).
No exercise today.....but plan on playing bball with my son tomorrow.
October 3, 2007
Wednesday. October is probably my favorite month of the year. I simply love the fall. We went apple picking last sunday and the apples were delicious!! They had red delicious and golden delicious (aptly named). I am firmly raw, no doubt about that. Its been nearly 3.5 years now (Michelle do you believe I have been on here for 3 years? I don't). The only question is when, if ever, will I eat any cooked again. I mean I had some earlier this year and late last year when we were moving, poor and under great stress. Even then, I was still about 75-80% raw. Sometimes I honestly feel that I'd rather fast (especially if I have access to fresh made OJ) than eat cooked meals. May sound like a silly question, but my daughter asked me "Daddy, will you ever eated cooked on special occasions?".........It was the type of question that really says "Daddy I will follow you". So I didn't want her to force herself to be raw because of me. So my reply was "Sure sweets, I will indeed eat some chinese once in a while". I saw her get a relieved look. But honestly, I was thinking of doing that anyways. I must say though, I am slightly nervous about that. I mean I feel fantastic. I have tremendous energy. My face is glowing. My mind is clear. But I think, "will steamed veggies and rice really hurt me"?......I don't know. The whole thing sounds crazy, I mean its not as if I am thinking of eating beef or dairy or something. I don't know. But for now, I will stick with my regular fare.
Breakfast:
Chopped apples, celery, cucumber with olive oil, sea salt and cayenne. White bulgar wheat with an avocado.
Dinner:
32oz of fresh apple-carrot juice out of the champion.
Exercise......no time for that these days, but I know that will change. I have been walking.....but at this stage I don't even count that.
October 21, 2007 Sunday. Been very busy lately so I wanted to touch base. I have eaten some banana chips and some sesame sticks so with that I officially was not 100% raw anymore. But of course that is not an issue for me. Eating those things probably makes me somewhere in the 90% area by volume of food. But what is the latest thing for me is the use of green smoothies. I have been using them for about 2 weeks now and I definitely feel the difference. I drink it for a meal probably 3 or 4 times per week. Some days I drink as much as 64oz of it. My wife and daughter love it as well. But I have found that since I started doing alot of green smoothie, my weight has ticked up slightly.......I wonder if anyone else has experienced this? I will continue to drink it though because I want to see the afffects over a several month period. Today's fare was typical for me of this recent period:
Breakfast:
32oz of green smoothie, 2 bananas.......(green smoothie had fresh spinach and mustard greens, bananas, dates, dried mango, dried pineapple and water).
Lunch:
bowl of chopped apple, cucumber and celery covered with avocado and raw cashew sauce (more fat than usual). bowl of bulgar wheat with avocado.
Exercise (yes, I do some of that on sundays), 2 hours of basketball (mostly full court). Very good workout.
October 27, 2007
Sabbath (Saturday for those at home)......I would like to start journaling more consistently again. Some have emailed me and alluded to this. I am so happy to know that the journals are being of help and encouragement to many who are seeking to embark on the raw lifestyle. Its certainly been a great, great blessing to me. The wonderful thing about it (among many) is that I am still learning and growing. I go thru periods when I am 100% and then periods when I am high-raw (like now) during each phase I am learning and growing. I love the energy, clarity and freedom from sickness. I can't express how much more I have learned from my Bible, its been tremendous over the 3 plus years I have been raw. Today, I had an interesting experience that I have not had in quite awhile.
We have been visiting a certain church, I feel like we have been led there. I don't intend on becoming a member of the group, but I feel like I can be of help to some there. In the 4 weeks we have been coming, that is what I have been told several times. Because most people who bring food to churches are not vegans, much less raw, in order to not offend by having to ask what's in everything, we bring our own food. We always bring enough so that is someone asks we can share. Well, today after we finished eating, we went to the kitchen to clean our utensils prior to packing them up for the hour plus trip home. A woman stopped me, saying she was offended by how I eat. I never have discussed my diet with anyone there, nor has anyone asked me about it. She asked for Bible answers for why I eat the way I do and I gave them to her. She had nothing she could answer me about it, but said "you should pray about it, because even though its right, you are offending people (meaning her) with it".
For the record, we should always show love to everyone we meet. We should never be harsh or ill-tempered with anyone. If we are christians, we should let His Spirit be seen and not ours. But we should never apologize for doing what is right. Even if someone is upset about it. I let the woman say her piece and at the end I told her that I didn't feel I should apologize for the way I eat. Nor should I decide to injure the temple of God (my body) in order to get along. Such thinking is causing much harm to people thru intemperance. I asked her to pray for me as well as for herself. But I have to admit, although I wasn't rude (by God's grace) it did ruffle my feathers (enough for me to journal it I guess). Well, that was today's adventure.
My meals today were:
Breakfast:
Green grapes and 32oz of green smoothie (baby spinach, bananas, 2 small apples, black and green grapes, dried pineapple, water).
Lunch:
salad (chopped apples, celery, cukes) with raw carrot stuff my wife makes (delicous), some red bulgar, avocado, one banana, some cantelope, some red grapes, a couple of slices of kiwi and some rice crackers (was it a feast or what?)
Later:
32oz of green smoothie (left over from Breakfast)
November 2, 2007 Friday. My youngest son turned 16 yesterday. I can't believe it. Its almost not fair how fast children grow up. I am fasting today. I just decided to do it yesterday. I have been eating much later than I should. Yesterday I ate at 5pm. I like to have my last meal by 2pm at the latest. Its been creeping up slowly, so I thought it was time to fast. I believe its good timing as I feel very good already. Yesterday a good friend of mine sent me a youtube of Jack Lalanne speaking about the damaging affects of processed suger. It was from 50 years ago, but how right he was then and now. He was always one of my hero's, I used to faithfully watch his show when I was a child and one of my goals was to be in shape as a senior citizen. As I watched there were a number of other clips from his old show. It inspired me. I decided that I will now make time for my workouts again. I plan on starting out just doing about 30 minute workouts and graduating to 45-60 minutes. I have no weight goals at this time because I am not over weight at all. I just want to stay active and make exercise the habit it has been for me for many years. I have just gotten away from it since our move to Virginia.
I have been running intermittently and playing basketball with my son weekly, but that is not what I am used to. Now its time to get back to work!
Meals today: Air.....(I haven't even had the urge to drink anything but I will probably have a cup of water later).....
November 10, 2007 Started running again. It felt great. I am glad I started in the fall as the weather is perfect (for me) to run in. I did four miles sunday and Tuesday. Then Wednesday I made a mistake. started resistance training. Too much, too soon. I had not done any such training for at least 10 months, maybe more. I was so sore on Thursday, that I could not run. Lesson learned. I will run again (by God's grace) tomorrow and do some very basic calistenics (some chins, pushups and squats with the medicine ball). Just about 10-15 minutes. I think the running has become key for me as it gets everything involved then I can add some other training to compliment it.
The raw is good as ever. I am still high-raw at this point, mostly fruit. I want to get back into fasting regularly again, but it will have to wait until after Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday). Plus, Thursdays seem to be the best day for me to do it. Either Thursdays or Mondays. I am loving this lifestyle, the longer I am doing it the more I love it. Obedience to the laws of nature brings much freedom and health. As obedience tends to do. Love and obedience seem to be mutually exclusive in the modern order of things......I'll leave it at that.
Today's fare was different as it usually is on Sabbaths:
Breakfast:
none today.
Lunch:
Bowl of chopped apple, celery, cukes with olive oil, sea salt and spices. some bulgar wheat and some nori (made 2 wraps). I ate some sesame sticks after.
Later 32oz of fruit smoothie (bananas, peach, pear, medjool dates, water).
Exercise: none today.
November 19, 2007 Monday. Yesterday was probably my worst day as far as raw in years. It started when my wife awoke and stated that she did not feel like cooking. That is code for "can we order out?". Just so happens, I did have a taste for steamed broccoli and garlic sauce. So we ordered chinese takeout. Broccoli, green beans, eggplant, veggie spring rolls and vegetable lo mein. I had the broccoli, eggplant and spring rolls. The only raw I ate was 32oz fruit smoothie in the morning. I had scheduled today as a water fast day, I believe that was definitely in the back of my mind as I agreed to all this yesterday. Went for a walk afterwards but did not run or do any serious exercise. I don't feel too bad today at all. I am alittle disappointed at having missed a run, but I will do that tomorrow by God's grace. I had planned to have the same meal for Thanksgiving so that is coming also. I will be 100% raw tomorrow and Friday. Knowing I would have the chinese as a Thanksgiving treat, I planned to do a once-per-week water fast (as I have done in the past), to cleanse my system and along with eating my usual fair of fruit I believe everything will be fine. I am not sure what all this means but I am just rolling with it for now. Also, at some point prior to the new year I would like to do a 5 day water fast. I solicit prayers about that. I have not done that since I was a teenager. I have done fasts on juices (as noted in the journals here) and short fasts on water (usually 1-2 days), but never 5 days on water. The last time I embarked on it I made the serious mistake of running (I don't recall how far, but I believe it was 8 miles) on the first fast day. That wiped my out by the end of the second day. I felt so weak and lightheaded I really thought I was going to pass out. I won't do that this time. Should be challenging and fun. We'll see. I will keep you posted when I am going to start it.
Today's intake will be just water. I will take a walk of about 4 miles. I will break the fast with a smoothie tomorrow morning by God's grace.
November 29, 2007 Thursday. Since about Thanksgiving, probably a few weeks before, I have been including brown rice in my diet. I have come to learn more about my own system during my raw journey than at all the years prior combined. Of course I am still learning and will continue to learn (which is one of the very interesting aspects of this lifestyle). I have learned that my body does not digest any leavened bread well and anything with wheat flour at all. I was snacking on sesame crackers on and off for a few weeks and immediately began to feel like my system was clogged. It was indeed and I began to bloat and gain weight. All told I gained about 7 pound during the time. I noticed the leading ingredient of the sesame sticks was organic whole wheat flour. It is probably the same reason I cannot eat most breads. I can eat unleavened crackers. I purchased some ezekiel wraps to try. I have eaten them in the past but that was over a year ago. Now none of the things I have mentioned heretofore are raw of course. I am still consuming much fruit and it is still my the primary food stuff. But this year, the fruit crop seemed to be the worst in the 3.5 yrs I have been raw. This is just my opinion. But I have not been able to get any good oranges consistently. The nectarines were oftentimes dry (I was able to use them successfully in smoothies to my delight). The apples have been good as have the bananas. The real saving grace for me has been the grapes. I have found them to be sweeter than other years on average. The mango season was no ways near what it was a year ago. So with that, I have not been totally satisfied.
Maybe I needed some greens in my diet was my first thought. So I began to consume green smoothies. They are delicious and I did feel a surge of power in my being from them. But they also seemed to put weight on me. Someone suggested it is because of the amount of fruit I add to them. I believe that has some merit, but without the fruit, no way I would consume the greens raw. Vegetables raw on the whole have never been very palatble to me. Steamed is another story. I love them that way and since Thanksgiving have been regularly eating them that way to my joy.
A week after I stopped eating the sesame sticks, my body went thru a major cleansing. In pretty much 3 days, I lost the 7 pounds. I had started running again, so that may have something to do with it, but I know it was the sesame sticks. I have also begun some light resistance training again. With moving and all the stresses I have had in the last 12 months (betrayal, homelessness, separation from family and friends), I know its the grace of God I stayed raw at all. But I did. I am still high raw and for now I am very fine with that. I am feeling wonderful physically and my runs are getting stronger each time I go out. I am still planning to fast weekly (I have been doing it on Mondays), with a 5 day attempt at a water fast sometime in the near future, but things are going well now. Today is typical of my fare these days:
Breakfast:
32oz of fruit smoothie
Lunch:
Bowl of black grapes. 3 bananas. Brown rice with steamed broccoli and steamed green beans.
Dinner:
32oz of fruit smoothie.
Exercise:
I did 57 pushups with an assortment of higher repetition exercises with very light weights (squats, lunges, db flyes, db curls).
December 20, 2007
Thursday. Happy Holidays to all who celebrate them. This has been a strange period in my raw experience. I am speaking of about the last 2 months or so. Pretty much right before Thanksgiving. I had been 100% raw for most of this year, but from that time to now I haven't. I have not really, honestly tried to be. I am not sure if that is good or bad. I definitely have been eating healthy. I have still had no desire for the sweets that used to consume me prior to going raw. But I have had cravings for things savory. Like steamed vegetables and brown rice. Now for about 99% of the population of the planet, that sounds like a healthy meal, but for the one who having been 100% raw for extended periods it feels like eating junk food. Its mental mostly, which is why I stated this was as strange period. Feeling guilty about eating steamed veggies and brown rice? Thats crazy. Nevertheless, that is my emotional state right now. I have also eaten chinese rice crackers and this coming sunday is my 23rd wedding aniversary and my wife wants to go to The Olive Garden. Which means lots of salad and a plate of cooked eggplant. Now I have totally avoided leavened breads and pasta. I will hopefully continue that practice as I have learned these are definitely no good for my system. I will request steamed veggies in place of the pasta.
I still want to go on a fast of several days, but I began to wonder if that was just the guilty feeling talking. A friend of mine who I have been assisting in making dietary and lifestyle changes is going to go on a Master Cleanse after the new year. I may join her in that or some sort of liquid juice cleanse. I believe it will be good in more than just the physical way. It seems everytime I do such a cleanse, my whole being is lighter and clearer. I think I need that right now. If anyone wants to join me, I am planning on starting Friday, January 11th. I would like to start off with 10 days and then see how I feel. I will be praying for Grace to accomplish my goals. The first of which is always a clearer mind for Heavenly communion.
My fare today is pretty typical of what I have been eating:
Breakfast:
32oz of fruit smoothie, a small bunch of globe grapes, 3 bananas.
Lunch/Dinner:
Large bowl of chopped celery, cukes and apples seasoned with olive oil, sea salt and cayenne topped with some wakame....Bowl of steamed collard greans and brown rice.
Later:
32oz of cantelope juice (delicious).
Exercise: 4 mile jog.
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