Out With The Old In With The New

Water Fast Day 6

I feel weak (but not in a bad way) am shedding weight. Today was a very productive day, went through paper work, filled in applications, cleared out email in boxes , did filing and the like. Plus some tidying. It was all very straightford with no dithering.

Water Fast Day 7

Feel weak but buoyant. The 'clear out' continues, and this is not something I planned. I went through all my clothes and shoes item by item. There is isn't an incredible amount but felt strongly that this was something I had to do. And I 'knew' what could stay and what could go. Also had bowel movement (oops if that was too much!). The purge spilled over into my sister's stuff before you could say 'what's in that bag?' it was all done.

Later that evening I went dancing and I danced for three hours solid. Would not generally recommend this! But I love to dance and was happy to go. Each fast is unique, as you fast more and become stronger you get to recognise your boundaries.

Water Fast Day 8

I woke up very dehydrated because of the dancing so had a load of water. Guess what? Yes, the big clear out continued, old college/uni assignments all gone, cleared out trinkets and practically most of my old photos. You may not believe it but I am actually a minimalist. Took everything to the charity shop or binned for rubbish. So liberating.

Water Fast Day 9

Feel good but weak. Looking lean. Have a spot on my face. Something that I would suggest when fasting, may sound odd but always shower, even if you are just going back to bed. It is so refreshing. Went for a walk, great being outside.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Hope you are all enjoying the festivities in love and freedom!

Water Fast Day 3

Felt weak but better after showering. Went into town to run some errands and then popped into work to check a couple of things. It was very peaceful and quiet, I enjoyed the walk back to the station.

Water Fast Day 4

Felt very weak today. Arms and legs heavy. When sitting I'm a dead weight! And even putting something on my lap feels burdensome. Lots of Christmas cooking smells around! I think today is major toxin purge day.

Water Fast Day 5

Felt stronger today but still weak. Stayed in and read, and listened to audio very productive day. Am doing well with keeping up with the water intake even though I don't feel like it. Seeing visible signs of ketosis. For the record no headaches or breath issues.

On a completely different note this may be of interest and I will be having a gander too as I get it for free if I help spread the word ;)

I'm evaluating a multi-media course on blogging from the folks at Simpleology. For a while, they're letting you snag it for free if you post about it on your blog.
It covers:
The best blogging techniques.
How to get traffic to your blog.
How to turn your blog into money.
I'll let you know what I think once I've had a chance to check it out. Meanwhile, go grab yours while it's still free.

Lara Bar Feedback

Water fast Day 2

Started yesterday, felt great. Went into town, plus did some errands locally. Today feeling more like I wanted to sleep, had a couple of appointments that took me out. And met briefly with a couple of friends in a bar after church. Had water obviously! But they ordered nuts too. And although I wasn't hungry they looked appealing! Need to up the water intake 1-2 pints every hour.

Got a great response from Lara Bars re the mouldy product. Am really chuffed about that because I really wanted them to live up to my expectations and they did. I've found out they are now sold at Sainsbury' s. I saw pecan pie, apple pie and ginger snap. My favourite was cashew cookie but think that's been usurped by ginger snap. http://www.iherb.com/ has great discounts if you want to buy in bulk.

Now it is generally understood that combining nuts and dried fruit 'aint great. So for those who are thinking that, what I'll say is this when you eat these you don't get the coating on the teeth you get when eating dates alone, and or large quantities of nuts, which is not that beneficial if you can't get to a toothbrush quick. This is probably because of the way the ingredients have been pulvarised. The packet is clearly labelled with nutritional info and calorie content so you can monitor your intake. So one bar is really going to be okay. Eating more than that will depend on your individual constitution, and whether you eat them in close proximity to other foods. I don't have a problem with them at all, I just try to have a very good intake of fresh fruit during the day to keep the numbers down! But these are great for transitioning and for something denser particularly in the colder months. The main thing is to eat or nibble them slowly (yes hard I know) and chew thoroughly as you should do with all food. The bars are great for sharing with cookies and rawies alike and can be a great conversation starter on raw. So pack a bundle to your Christmas day gathering, to help you (and maybe some others) pass on the crisps and chocs!

Eating Raw is Sexy

Exercise: Lots of walking
Food: 4 bananas, green smoothie (canteloupe, melon, mango, spinach), bought salad (lettuce, baby corn on cob, beetroot, mange tout, green beans, broccoli, 3 Lara bars, a few pistachios and cashews, a fruit pudding (5 small bananas, about half a mango and frozen acai pulp)

Today I was standing on the station platform and was discreetly (or so I thought) eating my bananas. And it was four which is a few as it is usually six or seven at a go. This rather attractive guys maneouvers himself to my side and looks or rather stares at me, I say "hi" and introduce myself and he gave his name too. He then asked me "how many bananas did you just eat?" To which I laughed and replied "four". He said "very sexy"... Well there you go eating raw pulls in the dates.

My Christmas green smoothie of yesterday didn't work out (I know after all the build up). It was clementines, spinach and apple. The little I had at the time tasted great. But yesterday after being in the fridge it tasted very bitter, maybe to do with the pith settling. Probably needed to use fewer clementines, no problem with the satsumas though. I tried sipping it while holding my nose, it didn't work. So unfortunately it went down the plug hole.

Raw Christmas

Exercise: pushups, walking
Food: satsuma, pear and spinach green smoothie, salad of avocado, cucumber, red pepper, tomatoes and baby leaves, cashew nuts and later at home banana, coconut and pineapple juice smoothie

Had work drinks today so quaffed champagne (ok cava) and picked at a few nuts. So looking forward to having a break.

Am getting creative with my green smoothies, getting a bit Christmassy with the seasonal citrus fruit. Have got a brand new one for tomorrow, so tune in then. Can't wait to get a digital camera to get some images up.

If you are in London then you should go check out the raw fairies site www.rawfairies.com
They are putting on a gorgeous Christmas raw food feast at the Bonnington Cafe in Vauxhall on Sunday, unfortunately I can't make it this weekend but will be checking out the cafe in the New Year.

If you are eating raw even if it's not yet at the level you'd like, know that you are part of a revolution. Oh yeah.

Good Eating Habits

Exercise: Lots of walking, push-ups
Food: I had three distinct eating times today, 12 noon a box of cherries, 4.30 salad - baby leaves, avocado, tomato, cucumber and yellow pepper, 6.30pm - 7pm a bowl of 'chocolate mousse' - acai, coconut milk, 3 large bananas some shredded raw coconut, followed by a few almonds. So achieved both aims of eating from 12 noon onwards and stop eating by 7pm!!

I had about 4hrs sleep approx. last night and that's after being out dancing. So when I woke up I felt like I hadn't had enough sleep but still felt vibrant and my skin looked really fresh. And I put this down to the fact that I stopped eating at 7pm yesterday. I have had days when I have had more sleep but have literally just got into bed after eating something and not necessarily something light! Then have woken up the next day feeling dehydrated and not refreshed at all.

So hope to continue with this no eating after 7pm, except for my rooibos tea and raw honey if I need it. Good habits make the journey easier and more enjoyable. So here's to a few more in 2008! An excellent book that I have just re-read is the Ultimate Secret to Getting Everything You Want by Mike Hernacki. It will help you in your pursuit of optimum health and other worthy goals. It's very easy to read and would be an ideal stocking filler if you are looking for meaningful gifts.

On a completely different note I had to send some of the Lara bars that I bought in NY, back to the company in the states. They had mould on them and they weren't out of date, but shows they are viable. Anyway sent them back a couple of days after I got back. Still waiting to hear.

And another aside had another great date on Saturday, woo hoo!

Acai - The Chocolate Fruit?

Exercise: Dancing, push ups and lots of walking
Food: Acai and banana smoothie (at agency meeting!), green smoothie (mango, satsumas and spinach), Large salad - baby leaves, avocado, tomato and cucumber, I tried a new raw bar (very green) called miracle bar, found it in Planet Organic. I liked it but not sure the average punter would. A few lara bars, and when I got home I made my own acai smoothie with acai (bought frozen), green coconut pulp (frozen), sun-dried shredded coconut and a few bananas. Absolutely delicious like chocolate mousse but a zillion times better.

How cool a fruit that tastes like chocolate. That's is what you call a real treat.

Seeds of Change

Exercise: Pushups
Food: Green smoothie, 8 bananas, salad - leaves, tomato and avocado, pineapple and celery juice, a small smoothie of guava and clementines, a few nuts and lara bars

The guava smoothie was okay but should probably have removed the seeds! The clementines really worked prob due to hardly any pith. I've done a whole orange smoothies and it was as bitter as bitter, due to the pith. But reckon this method would suit satsumas and clementines to produce whole juice.

Went out for yet more drinks tonight but I stuck to water! I've just had the best news one of my lovely friends who encourages me and says that I'm inspirational seems to be fastracking her way to eating vegan!! And with a significant raw element and I'm sure the percentage of raw will grow, it's only a matter of time. One of my bosses told me I look well, and said he'd seen me eating a pile of green stuff. My salad. He then asked how long I had been veggie (that's what he sees it as, I don't shout about eating raw at the moment I just do it) and I said around five years. He said he could see himself at a push not eating meat, but couldn't give up fish. I love conversations like this because people's minds begin to open up and the seeds of change are being planted.

And I can't ignore the fact that the health habits of those who hang around me change for the better whether I'm saying anything or not. Family, flatmates, friends, colleagues etc. And that is so encouraging, and so emphasises the need for us to live intentionally and purposefully.

Party Time

Exercise: Push ups
Food: 12 bananas, salad (baby greens, tomatoes and avocado), pineapple and celery juice, a few lara bars, a few bellinis, sun-blushed tomatoes, olives, a bit of houmous and a few chips

The party season has begun in earnest. Went out for drinks with some colleagues/friends to Bluu bar in Hoxton. Great venue and excellent staff. I stuck to mango bellinis, and water, they ordered food. And they ordered with me in mind as they know me as eating 'vegan' and not explicitly raw. So it was olives, sun-blushed tomatoes, artichokes, houmous, bread, chips. I was very touched by their thoughtfulness. And I could have just picked at the tomatoes and olives but had a sneaky few chips. They did taste nice ( I don't eat them because they don't taste nice, but because they are not the best food for me) unlike some things I cannot stand the smell or taste of now. But I didn't feel like I wanted more or that I was missing out by not including them in my diet. I didn't touch the bread and had no inclination to which is very interesting.

What I learnt tonight is that when I set clear boundaries, it helps other people to help me even unwittingly. And also I have some lovely people in my life.

Gen 1:29

Exercise: Pushups
Food: 6 bananas, green smoothie - mango and spinach, a few lara bars, salad of baby greens, tomatoes and avocado, 3 bellinis

I'm mulling over Genesis 1:29. Until I saw this quoted I had never realised it was there. And I have read Genesis before but it has just never registered. How utterly intriguing.

And God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food"..... Read the next verse.

Got taken out for drinks tonight at the Dollar Bar and Grill in Exmouth market. Had three bellinis and two big glasses of water. The partying has begun. I only drink occasionally and if I do it's usually a champagne cocktail and nothing else. Had a bracing walk from work to the bar which was about 40 mins away from work and then from the bar to the station. It is very cold! Today it's 4 degrees C. Although I feel the cold, I notice it has less impact on me now. I enjoy being outside in the cold when it's dry, and it doesn't affect my mood or influence my decisions on going out/socialising. It's something I've only recently just noticed.

Lovely Day

Food: Acai, banana and apple juice smoothie, 2 conference pears, salad of baby greens, carrot, alfalfa sprouts, mushrooms and mung bean sprouts/red cabbage mix, a few Lara bars (yeah you saw that one coming)
Exercise: Dancing

Today was just a fantastic day on every level. I had the day off work, so had a lie in until about 11am but I did go to bed around 3am, so all relative. But on a normal work night I get about 5hrs sleep which works well for me particularly when I don't eat at least 3 hours before sleeping. Hurrah this habit is now finally kicking in. I do love to wander around town when I have spare time, I like being outside and I like being around and observing people. So went to Carnaby St and Soho. Treated myself to a smoothie and salad at Fresh and Wild. And found a great woolly hat (I had imagined this exact style and it was like there it is!) bought it in black and red.

Then I had a random date. Won't go into details but it was just so low-key and lovely. Raw food didn't come up as we weren't eating. But somehow I think that if it had come up this guy would not have been that fazed. I used to think how on earth am I going to find someone who eats raw. But that is scarcity thinking. I just need to be who I am, everything I will ever need already exists. And then later I went dancing. Eating raw plays a huge part in helping me to be me and to live the life I love.

Green Goop

Exercise: Dancing
Food: Green pudding! (2 mangoes and a bag of mixed baby spinach, rocket and watercress), pint of freshly squeezed pineapple juice (lovely and pulpy), lara bars (key lime pie, cashew cookie, ginger snap and pecan pie, I know). Five bananas. Was out and about today, very wet and windy and bought some cashews. I didn't even want them, but managed to finish the whole pack. Now maybe I can apply the same perseverance to stuff I do want to do!!

Went dancing last night which carried over to 4am this morning, so counts as today's exercise. Yesterday had a green pudding of mango and baby spinach, and today mango and mixed greens. It was this pile of very dark very delicious green goop in a round white bowl. Personally I think baby spinach is the best green for a greenie (green smoothie) and mango the best fruit to go with it. So smooth and extremely nutritious. I know some people just love kale, I have to admit I haven't even bothered to try it yet, it just looks as tough as old curtains. Some like romaine, but it is quite watery so can dilute flavour. Whereas I find with the baby spinach it doesn't dilute the flavour, it enhances it. I sound like a green anorak. And just when I thought my Lara bar consumption was abating, I found out one of my local health stores, Victoria Health stocks them!! Like I need another reason.

Taste Test

Exercise: Pushups
Food: 6 large bananas, 2 apples, 3 lara bars, a few pistachios, salad - mixed leaves, carrot, beetroot, sundried tomatoes, avocado and basil. I bought this from a place where you get to choose all the ingredients and then they mix it all up for you. In the evening made a soup recipe but didn't love it so straight to the freezer for now.

Forgot to feedback on how colleagues received Lara bars. Well they got finished. Although I think they were a bit of a shock to the system, as no added sugar, no e numbers etc. One girl positively loved them and asked where she could get them. One guy positively hated them. I was surprised as he had cashew cookie. But anyhow he is an older man, set in his tastes. I think his exact words were, 'I can use this to stop the leak in my shoe'.

Raw London

Exercise: Pushups
Food: 3 tiny bananas, 6 large bananas, a few lara bars, green salad with tomatoes and cucumber, a little pineapple juice

London is great place in case you didn't know. And I love doing raw here. It's so easy to get fresh produce all year round, plus you can easily get mangos, papayas and even guavas and coconuts from the local supermarket.

Bananas are everywhere, as are juice and smoothie bars, chopped salad places, nuts and dried fruit stalls, you can even get freshly squeezed orange juice from the AMT coffee stand in most rail stations. Pre-packaged salads in the supermarkets are creative and plentiful including raw vegan options. And of course Wholefoods and Fresh and Wild (bought by Wholefoods). I picked up frozen acai berries from Wholefoods recently so I get to try out that 'chocolaty' (but not chocolate) smoothie I had in New York. I have at least four juice/smoothie bars within walking distance of where I work, and two chopped salad bars, not to mention good old Marks and Spencer's. You may not have all this, but celebrate what you do have, it'll spur you on. This is a great time to be alive!

Looking Ahead

Exercise: Pushups
Food: Five small bananas, salad (baby greens, pomodorino tomatoes, cucumber), a few lara bars, strawberry, banana and pineapple juice smoothie

Today stopped eating now just before 8pm! Have not yet managed to try out my guava and clementine smoothie or a soup recipe I found, hopefully will get to experiment before the end of the week.

I've started looking ahead to 2008, thinking about what in former days were vague New Year resolutions, but what are now detailed values-based goals. And I would suggest you start to mull over this too (I know it's only 5 Dec) and when things come up that you think may be a good idea to explore, just write them down. This way once you do sit down to firm up your goals whether it's Boxing Day, 31 Dec, or early Jan you won't be coming to the exercise cold. Therefore making it a much more enjoyable and productive thing to do.

I'll be carrying on with an ultimate goal of pursuing wholeness, this will be broken down into various elements like my raw adventure, my running, my relationships, my commitment to learning etc.

I'm excited for the future, but will also be looking back at the past year, the things I've learned, the achievements, the breakthroughs, the challenges and best of all... the myriad blessings.

Rice, Potatoes, Nuts or Bananas?

Exercise: Yoga
Food: Green smoothie - (spinach, mango, banana) 6 small bananas, green salad - baby leaves, tomatoes, cucumber and avocado, lara bars, strawberry, banana and pineapple juice smoothie.

I'm still eating from noon. This is established now. I am hungry enough to eat by then but I think waiting a couple more hours would make the eating experience even more fufilling. That might be a goal for 2008. Have managed to avoid eating after 9.30ish the past couple of days which is progress. I'd like this to eventually be pushed back to 7.30pm.

The Lara bars add a more substantive bite which I seem to need right now. And although for some combining fruit and nuts might not be the best fit, it's working for me. I think this is partly because the amounts of nuts and dates in each bar are relatively small, compared to say eating a bag of nuts/and or a bag of dates. The bars also contain clear nutritional data, so easy to track your consumption. Anyway I've bought some to take in to work. I'll let you know if the lovely cookies love the bars. A more beneficial and fun alternative to the inevitable rounds of mince pies and yule log!!

Fruit is my mainstay though. Bananas are to me now, what bread was to me some moons ago. I would always hoover up the bread basket if I was eating out at a restaurant, didn't matter how many slices or pieces were in there, I'd sort it out. And if you've read my previous posts you'll know that it is a miracle that I'm eating bananas at all, the fact that they are my staple continues to amaze and amuse me. God has a sense of humour.

What Exactly Are You Trying To Say?

Exercise: Push ups and leg stuff
Food: 5 small bananas and green smoothie (banana, mango spinach and a little shredded coconut), 1 apple (jazz variety it was rather big, and wished I hadn't started eating it, but ate it all anyway, around 4pm had salad of baby spinach, rocket and watercress with pomodorino tomatoes, cucumber and avocado (no dressing) simply scrumpslicious (yes just made up that word), Later at home around 7.30pm had started thawing a green smoothie, but it wasn't quite there so scooped off the top, green smoothie ice-cream!!! And for the life of me I can't remember what I put in it. I froze it in a hurry on the day I flew to New York. Also had a few Lara bars. Actually had one too many, but pleasantly full not painfully full. What lovely food I get to eat!! And I move around a lot I run up and down the stairs all day. Regularly going up three fights of stairs to use the loo (when there is one on my own floor) just for the fun of it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7124501.stm

Read this today at work. This is not the first time I've read about acrylamide. But what really struck me was how confusing the article was. First of all you're told eating fried, grilled and roasted food could harm you. Then it says but don't panic? then it says it's virtually impossible to eliminate these from the diet (well that is not a fact, whether we want to or not is another matter), then you have some other experts saying food should not be 'over-cooked'?? How helpful is that advice? Then a glimmer of hope with some other advice to try and eat a balanced diet with lots of fruit and vegetables. But what is balanced? It's presented in a rather confused fashion, do you think the majority of readers will be helped by this to take action in any way?

I didn't get much sleep last night as I had a CD playing (deliberately) but it was too loud but not so loud as to get me out of bed so I suspect I didn't get any deep sleep. I woke up feeling a bit rough but as the day wore on I just got more alert and right now feel very energised, and wasn't grumpy at all. Whereas if I had been eating cooked I'm sure I would have been wiping the floor with myself. No kidding, and probably anybody that crossed my path.

Wholefoods

Exercise: Resting
Food: Water fast

Yesterday had to go to Kensington for an event, so decided to pop into Wholefoods on my way home. I wanted to check out whether they had the sun-dried coconut, and flaxseed crackers. Well as it happened they had neither, you lovely rawies in New York are well and truly spoilt.

Although I have to admit that the store here is amazing. I must have spent an hour browsing and it's not like it was my first visit. I spent ages in the produce section looking at the different varieties of apples (got some french ones, Sonya and Jazz), the different types of chard, mushrooms, mangos etc. I made a mental note not to go wild as I had already done my food shopping. Bought some guavas to emulate the smoothie from Tate Modern, but will be using clementines instead of mandarins. I bought a few Lara bars, but it would be more economical if I buy direct from website, plus some fennel that I couldn't find in Sainsbury's for a soup I'm trying out. I also saw Jicama, a starchy vegetable, never had it before, but the write up said it is eaten mainly raw with lemon juice and salt. Think I'll try it with guacamole.

The abundance of choice is phenomenal and the combination and recipe possibilities are endless. Certainly here, lack of produce is not an issue, what with the supermarkets, greengrocers, pick-your-own, farmer's markets, speciality and ethnic food stores, and of course the trusty Internet. And Wholefoods is in a category all of it's own. The salad bar deserves an award. Okay if one of your excuses was don't know where to get stuff, I think I just anihilated that one.

How Much?

Exercise: Bodyweights
Food: Green Smoothie - spinach, mango and coconut, 5 small bananas, salad of green leaves (watercress, rocket and spinach) tomatoes and cucumber with pesto dressing. Ate at 1pm as I had meeting 11.30-1. Brought the bananas in because I knew I was going out in the evening. Smoothie at restaurant, later at home mango and coconut pudding, and five small bananas, and a little juice from the pineapple I juiced and put in the freezer, as the fruit was getting quite ripe.

Went to see 'Shibboleth' also know as the 'Crack' at the Tate Modern. Bought some pistachios and cashews (sold loose) on the way. Met friend at the Tate and perused the crack. I could right a thesis on the conversations that could be developed around it. One is the fine line between eating what we want and eating what benefits us. What we find (though not necessarily immediately) when eating raw, is that if we cross over the crack, eating what benefits us becomes eating what we want and vice versa.

After that went to the in-house restaurant, I said I wasn't eating as I had my salad at 4pm and had just had some nuts about 6pm. So friend ordered soup and I skimmed the menu and saw seasonal fruit smoothie. Asked if it was fresh no yoghurt etc. And waiter concurred, so I ordered. It was mandarin and guava, it was lovely, fragrant and tasty. But small. Served in a whisky tumbler glass, what's that about?

I have a pretty good idea of how much food to buy to get me through the week. It looks something like this about 8 bunches of bananas, 10 mangos, 1 bag of Spinach, 5 bags of mixed baby leaves, 1.5 boxes of pomodorino tomatoes (my favourite, delicious smell and taste), 2 cucumbers, 3 avocados (if using), a couple of pineapples (if 2for1 and then would reduce mangos), pineapples could be substituted by melons or oranges or berries. I may tweak things, but I know this amount will get me through. I have some nuts in the freezer and sometimes buy some on lunchbreak as snack. It's a great feeling. it's like when you are learning a new language and something kicks in, and you don't have to think about your words, they just come.

Anyone For Dessert?

Exercise: Bodyweights
Food: Green smoothie - mango, spinach, shredded coconut (scrummy), baby leaves (rocket, watercress and spinach), one lara bar (apple pie), some pistachios, later one banana, mango and coconut pudding, some almonds

New green smoothie, lovely bright green and thick, tasted yummy. And then at home tried out just mango and coconut, it was a gorgeous yellow and delicious, better than custard. It was thick, even with water, will try without next time. I added some raw honey because the mangos though juicy, were not the sweetest on the block. Hurrah another one for the collection.

I didn't take any bananas in today. Think the smoothie is enough now to take me through to the salad. Then can have the bananas later at home if I need them. Less load to carry. I'll see how I go.

Is It The Food That Is The Problem?

Exercise: Bodyweight exercises
Food: 12 noon, Six large bananas, 1pm pineapple and spinach green smoothie, two Lara bars, 4pm big green salad with tomatoes and cucumber (herby dressing), 7.30pm some pistachios, then plate of salad leaves mixed with grated carrot plus a couple of tiny potatoes, fruit salad, later at home porridge (banana and coconut)

Went to an evening event today that included dinner. They were serving mixed leaves as the side salad. I asked if I could just have salad, in an easy confident way, and offering no justifications. And the guy serving happily complied, asked for a couple of potatoes too. The leaves were shot through with carrot, and I popped some dressing on top. The salad was fresh and yummy. The potatoes were okay tasted like potato, a little flat. Think this is because I'm used to eating vibrant foods now. But I honestly preferred the salad and didn't feel I wanted more potato or anything else. And that felt good, and affirming.

I think with raw it is not so much the food that is an issue, because really you can eat all you like, and there is enough to choose from, you can do gourmet etc. And people do tend to see results fairly quickly. But I think it is more the social aspect particularly when you are not quite ready to 'come out', you're still establishing yourself and growing deep roots. So it is a case of avoid social gatherings for a while, or be prepared to ask for what you want, and answer questions that may arise. There are many ways to get round this

- I'm on a health kick right now for 60 days solid
- I'm vegan
- I had a huge lunch
- Or you can focus on the benefits, ie. I need less sleep when I eat this which is great as I really need the extra time
- Or if you want to eat some cooked go with that
- Or put cooked stuff on your plate but just leave it there. This may not work if you are battling cravings. You may end up hoovering the lot which is not great if that was not your intention.
- If possible go along with another 'rawie' or 'veggie' so the spotlight is not completely on you

I had a woo woo moment yesterday thinking is this how I'll eat now for the rest of my life? Wrong question, will I do all it takes to stay on the path to optimum health.... yes.

Be Alive

Exercise: Yoga
Food: Six bananas, green smoothie - spinach and mango, green salad with pomodorino tomatoes and cucumber (and herby dressing), a couple of lara bars, and some almonds and pistachios

I keep mentioning these Lara bars, find out more here http://www.larabar.com/

Found this quote:

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
Howard Thurman

How true is that. And see what Lara has done, by following her heart she is helping people make healthier choices. I am passionate about wholeness and health.

What makes you come alive? None of us is perfect but we should be passionate and purposeful.

Porridge?

Exercise: Dancing
Food: 7 over ripe bananas, mango, spinach and goji berry smoothie, green salad with pomodorino tomatoes, cucumber and coriander and lime dressing, couple of Lara raw bars (apple pie, and pecan pie), 'porridge' a few almonds just before bed and was doing so well before that, hadn't eaten since 9.30pm and going to bed around 1am. Tomorrow is another day .. Still eating from 12 noon but still working on a good 'end of eating' time.

Devised a great recipe that tastes just like porridge, how cool is that just as we are moving into winter. It's so simple just two ingredients and some water. Take three very ripe bananas (lots of brown spots) and two full tablespoons (or more) of sundried, raw shredded coconut and put in Blendtech (or whatever you have) and blend to whatever smoothness or choppiness you want. Even when smooth it's still 'bitty' due to the coconut, and you can thicken it up with more banana if you like your porridge solid. It tasted divine and looked like porridge, pour into a little round bowl and adorn with berries or anything else you fancy. Or just go au naturel. Great for 'cookies' wanting to add some more healthful fare to their diet, and simple and nutritious for children too. If you add more water you get a 'milky' smoothie. Two for the price of one. A word of warning though, I wanted some more but spotty bananas were finished. Used a couple of yellow ones with no green bits but tasted 'green' to me. Just so you know.

I know there are recipes for nut based porridge but they will be quite rich for a lot of us for regular consumption, plus they don't necessarily look like porridge. Minor aside. I got my coconut from Wholefoods in New York, but sure it wouldn't be hard to get hold of - try supermarkets, speciality food shops, health food stores, and the good old Internet.

Flexible Goal-Setting

Exercise: Resting
Food: Water fast

After zooming around New York, plus all the other exciting stuff I've been doing over the past few weeks I've taken some time yesterday and today to dig deep spiritually. There are things that I need to do, but I don't want to lose sight of who I am called to be.

Right, I've decided that I'm going to introduce a new exercise programme, because the weather is not conducive to my running at the moment. I'll keep running on the weekends as much as I can. I'm learning the importance of asking myself what I'm really aiming for when I set a goal. One of my goals was to run outside everyday, and I have successfully achieved this until recently. I was getting a bit frustrated at being thwarted by the weather. So I had a think about the reasons behind that goal, and they are to get fresh air, start the day doing something life-enhancing, keeping physically fit. So in order to keep those elements, I'm going tweak my physical fitness activities, get fresh air every lunchtime (more, plus run at weekends), and start the day with prayer. Win, win.

Same thing with eating raw, work out your 'why' first. The 'how' will be different for different people and will change as your life changes. For example some people will start of eating partially raw or raw gourmet i.e. eating their previous cooked food menu but in raw form, but later on they may find their body doesn't like that anymore and their health may be impeded, or that they want to spend less time in the kitchen, or find that it is not an easy cuisine to travel with, so in that case remembering their 'why', they may then decide to eat gourmet or cooked at weekends or special occasions only, and begin to introduce simpler raw eating strategies to motor them towards their 'why'. Win, win.

Abundance vs Scarcity

Exercise: Lots of walking today
Food: 7 large very ripe bananas, Green salad with tomatoes and cucumber (coriander dressing), and a few lara bars which are raw bars of 2 to 5 ingredients mainly dates and a nut e.g. cashew cookie (dates and cashews), pecan pie (dates, almonds, pecans) etc. The Lara bars are a great way to introduce raw food to 'cookies' because they are in a familiar context i.e. packaged.

I was reading an email from the raw divas today. I love their stuff and their infectious way of being. I was thinking this week about how there is no scarcity, but our limiting beliefs are keeping us in bondage to scarcity lifestyles. And this was what the email was about. It's the same with eating raw, you may get asked whether you miss cooked food. Which is scarcity thinking in action i.e. you're missing out. When really you are eating raw because of abundant thinking i.e. better health, more time, deeper relationships, authentic living.. if this isn't the case for you, your joy will be diminished. Spend time increasing your 'why' for raw and your scarcity thinking will decrease and your abundance thinking will increase.

Back To Simplicity

Exercise: Up and down escalalators, push ups
Food: 7 very ripe large bananas, smoothie with mango, goji berries, cacao, banana and spinach, salad of baby greens, cucumber and pomodorino tomatoes, coriander dressing. Four Lara bars

I bought the goji half-price on special as a treat to add to my smoothies, gives a glorious colour. I bought the cacao nibs ages ago and decided I need to use them up. So putting in my smoothie. Tasted great for me, but probably wierd to someone else ;0 Like my food simple now, but do enjoy experimenting. Don't know that I'm bothered about the whole raw chocolate thing. I'm not knocking it, I see it being fine for the occasional indulgence but not really the point of eating raw if you know what I mean. Karen Knowler carries an excellent article on this on her blog of the same name, and I have also seen an informative article by raw teacher, Paul Nison. It all comes down to the 'why' we choose to do anything.

No avocado for a while because I'm sure my fat quotient went up at the raw food restaurants (plus am eating Lara bars), as most of the desserts epecially are based on nuts, ground, chopped, or creamed for 'ice cream'. The creativity at these restaurants is quite simply amazing. And they are great for a treat, or even more frequently if you are wise about the meals you choose.

In Pure Food and Wine, I started off with a sea vegetable salad with grated carrot and a sesame vinegrette. It was lovely although a tad vinegary. Just needed a touch. My main was 'ravioli' with a pesto sauce. Very innovative but too rich for me. Before eating I had a 'mighty amazon' smoothie made with acai berries and banana. This tastes chocolaty in the way I think chocolaty should taste. And had another one for dessert. Hmm you heard right another one. The ambience in the restaurant was spot on, very sophisticated and would make a great date space. Pricey though and we didn't have wine.

At caravan of dreams I had a delicious spinach and coconut raw soup. I loved this and hope to recreate it at home. I brought some raw sundried coconut back from Wholefoods. My main was a salad of leaves, avocado, sea vegetables, cucumber, baby tomatoes and a Thai dressing. Very yummy. For dessert I had berry cheese cake which was fab and beautifully presented. And made with fresh fruit and nuts. I had an acai smoothie here too made with coconut water. This was my favourite restaurant. The waiter was extremely helpful. The venue has a hippyish feel in a welcoming earthy way. It also serves cooked vegan fare.

At Qintessence also in the East Village, the atmosphere is very cosy. It is a tiny affair. The waitress was great. My starter was dips and chips, one was raw guacamole with flaxseed chips, and raw salsa with raw corn chips (dehydrated at a low temp to preserve vitality). Had a carob smoothie but tasted powdery. My main was a sea vegetable salad with a sesame sauce. The sea vegetables had been soaked. They were very soft with no trace of salt. No other vegetables involved. For dessert I had pecan pie with nut ice cream but it was rich so I didn't eat any of the crushed walnuts on top.

So to summarise Pure Food and Wine, beautifuly presented raw gourmet cuisine, high end restaurant with prices to match. Very helpful staff. (Flatiron/Gramercy)

Caravan of dreams, fantastic salads, best desserts, great staff, real and earthy, brilliant prices. Would recommend everytime. (East Village)

Qunitessence, cute local restaurant, get a lot of one to one attention, lots of gourmet dishes like Indian Thali and pasta with marinara sauce. (East Village)

Buena Noche

A Bite of The Big Apple

Exercise: Walking for England
Food: Miscallaneous, bananas, fruit smoothies, raw food restaurant fare (salads, soups, puddings, 'pasta'), Lara raw fruit and nut bars

I have been in New York for the past five days. And got to road test three out of the myriad of raw food restaurants there. Worked out great that our hotel was only ten minute walk away from pure food and wine. I'll go into detail later on the dishes I sampled. It is so easy to eat raw in New York city, there is a salad bar on practically every corner and most delis have fruit. Then there is the phenomenon that is Wholefoods. Right now I need to get to get to bed as I arrived back this morning, and haven't slept properly in 24hrs. I went out this evening and mentioned that fact. And my friend said wow you look so perky how do you do it? There is nothing like hard evidence to spur you to keep doing what you are doing, or to help you decide to stop what you are doing.

Banofee Pudding

Exercise: pushups and running up and down escalators
Food: 12 small bananas, mango, apple and spinach green smoothie, a few pistachios, salad - baby greens, avocado and tomato with coriander dressing. Banana and date smoothie. Had a bit of the orange juice I've squeezed for tomorrow. And found that I have three more tupperware boxes of almonds in the freezer, so picked a bit at those.

Now if you are someone who loves supersweet things, and gets mega craving for sugary stuff. You should try this. I got it into my head to blend some bananas (5) and some dates (125g) to see if it would be toffee-like. It was very sweet and very rich nutritionally. Tasted what I think Banoffee would taste like. It made one glass, imagine 5 bananas in one glass. Way too sweet for me so I added some water, and could have done with some ice cubes. Over ripe bananas are enough sweet for me. However this recipe would make a very rich dessert ideal for cooked foodie friends, if done to a thick consistency and put in fridge to chill. Or add water or coconut milk (Dr Martins raw) to a more liquidy consistency for a high energy smoothie. Or shock horror you could actually add some alcohol, for a raw creamy cocktail better than the out of the bottle stuff.

Sweet dreams.

Keep it Simple?

Exercise: Push ups
Food: 14 small bananas, pineapple and spinach juice, mango, apple and spinach smoothie (3 mangos, handful of spinach and 2 pink ladies), a small handful of raw pistachios, salad - baby leaves, baby spinach, tomatoes and avocado with coriander and lime dressing. Had juice at noon followed seven kids bananas, then had the smoothie around 2pm, pistachios around 4pm followed by the salad. In evening had rest of juice and seven more small bananas.


On the whole I like to eat simply, it fits with my lifestyle and I spend minimal time in the kitchen. However I do want to experiment more with gourmet raw vegan fare. Mainly so I can offer up guests food that they can deal with while introducing them to raw. I don't think many will be able to cope with a meal of seven bananas straight up...intellectually or physically.

As with most things in life the surer you are about a vision of something the more you will continue to prune what needs pruning in order to get you there as fast as you can. It's the same with eating raw as we go along the road to optimum health we find we are eating simpler meals, and certain things begin to drop off the menu, food and otherwise. I think those that come to raw through eating vegetarian, particularly vegan, (ie high fruit and veg versus grains/beans, not high grain and processed products versus fruit and veg) have an easier ride. Their bodies are already detoxing but at a slower rate. They are also used to abandoning an attachments to different foods. So they are mentally more attuned, and can use this knowledge to keep going when starting to eat 100% raw.

Rampant omnivores may well struggle and are the ones who would most likely want to immerse themselves in raw gourmet. See useful links opposite for details of classes and recipes.

While those who eat raw due to health reasons, may feel cheated, like they had no choice in the matter. The ability to 'choose', is a powerful gift with consequences of which when used well can bring unsurpassed joy, or a whole other range of things. But funnily enough I prefer unsurpassed joy.

Are you an honest person?

Exercise: Push ups
Food: Canteloupe milk, 9 bananas, a few pistcahios, a few dates, salad of chopped cucumber, tomatoes and avocado. Herbal tea with raw honey.

Tough questioning (in a loving way) can really help to tease out the real deal of an issue. In fact this is what coaches do, in whatever subject or discipline they operate. We can choose to relate and exist on a very shallow foundation. Or we can be searchers who respond to the truth we find within the boundaries of God's love.

Some questions:

-Why do you eat raw? (fill in survey opposite)
- Or why do you want to eat raw?
- Are you following the Joneses?
- Is eating this way ringing true for you?
- Do you care about your health?
-If you find more truth on nutrition matters, would you act on it?
- Do you believe what others tell you without testing it?
- Have you read lots of books and websites on raw?
- Have you seen a picture of someone who eats raw, and inspires you to carry on?
- Do you have someone/people to support you on your adventure?
- If you did not have this support, would you still be able to forge head?
- What dreams did we have as children?

I could write more... but I won't because I need some shut-eye.

Be Prepared

Fri: Water fast
Sat: 11 very ripe bananas, salad of cherry tomatoes, celery, lettuce, spring onion and avocado, dates, pistachios, another salad of beetroot, carrot, lettuce and cucumber, and rest of the avocado, balsamic and olive oil dressing
Exercise: 4hrs of dancing non-stop
Sun: Water fast

Went away for the weekend as part of a course. So needed to plan ahead re my eating requirements. I'd been before so I knew there was a Marks and Spencer store nearby with a great range of salads, and a health shop too where I could gets nuts and dates if I wanted. Arrived on Friday evening and no meal provided ie expected to arrive after eating dinner so no problemo plus I was fasting. On Sat I had taken a whole load of bananas down with me, heavy but worth it. They were very ripe and just delicious. I was able to nip out in the coffee break on the Saturday to get a salad for lunch and an avocado. In the afternoon free time slot bought another salad to have with the other half of the avocado. And also bought some raw pistachios and dates from across the health shop on the other side of town. Broke my fast at 12 noon with the bananas. And had more bananas in the evening. The evening entertainment involved a disco so got a great workout too. Plus we were on the seafront. I had a great seaview from my room, and went for a lovely wander to inhale the crisp air.

So getting the food was very easy. Next challenge takingin my own food to the dining room and being 'different'. My strategy was to just to get on with it. Just pull out my salad and cut up my avocado like it was the most normal thing in the world. And that was exactly the response I got. At the first meal one of the other diners simply said, "oh you've got an M&S salad they're great". Next meal I got "you're really healthy, how come?" And I said "oh eating like this helps me be more me, and do what I need to do". He then told me he had become pescatarian because his girlfriend was a vegetarian. Another friend there decided not to have the dinner because she didn't want more 'meat, potato and two veg' fare. So went and bought a sandwhich, some oj and admittedly some brownies. But the point is people all around us are changing as best they can with what they know to make better choices for health. Exciting.

Get Into Your Lab

Exercise: Bodyweight exercises
Food: 7 bananas, canteloupe 'milk', salad - cucumber, avocado, pomodorino tomatoes and herby dressing, dates and some almonds.

Canteloupe milk is canteloupe melon whizzed up in my Blendtech blender with some water. It looks and tastes like milkshake. Strange but true. The almonds are finished now, and I want to take a break from nuts. Although again digestion and elimination today excellent, which I put down to a combo of things waiting until noon to eat, eating simply with distinct gaps between 'meals' and by no means the least, regular fasting. So today I had bananas at noon, 'milk' at 2pm, salad at 4pm, dates at 7pm and almonds (very late at 10 pm) and I will probably go to bed at 1am. I have been sleeping very well but haven't got up to run which I miss. I think leaving out the nuts will help me still sleep well, but also able to bound out of bed for a run. And next week I'll restart the experiment of not eating after 5pm.

The upshot of this is it is good to experiment, and test things. It keeps things exciting, and helps one find the right 'flow'. You know where everything just fits and seems effortless and so enjoyable. Found another great website www.rawfoodexplained.com

I think I am going to start a separate fasting blog. I've done quite a few now and would love to share what I've learnt to date. Fasting is the most underrated spiritual discipline and health promotion tool ever. And quite frankly that is a complete and utter travesty.

Why Do you Do This?

Exercise: Bodyweight exercises
Food: 7 bananas, orange and apple juice, salad- baby greens, pomodorino tomatoes, avocado with coriander and lime dressing/sesame citrus dressing, 250g dates, some almonds

Got home late could have not eaten the almonds but did. But about six hours from my last meal. And will be up for a couple of hours. Today the digestion and elimination were very good despite the almonds eaten rather late. So eating them on an empty stomach helps plus remember I'm not eating until noon. That is making a difference no doubt and is becoming a habit which is great.

The timetable for eating seems to be falling into a pattern bananas 12noon, smoothie or juice at 2pm, salad 4/5pm. I have a lot of evening commitments so sometimes get some dates, or nibble on almonds when I do finally get in. But if I were to go straight home then potentially I would have maybe fruit pudding, or canteloupe milk, other fruit or smoothie around 7pm and that would be it.

I have fifty reasons why I do this, (actually more than fifty now). Here are a few,

- Mental alertness
-Intuitively drawn to it
- Spiritual clarity
- Investing in my health
- Brings more simplicity into my life
- This is one of God's original blessings to us (Gen 1:29)
- Have loads of energy
- Need less sleep
- I like being different/pioneering/visionary
- I'm a truth seeker
- I like adventure
- It brings me more freedom
- Intellectually it makes a lot of sense
- Emotionally it makes a lot of sense
- I see the benefits
- It helps my fasting
- I can inspire others
- It's an outworking of my purpose
- Enhances the enjoyment of exercise
- It fits with the vision of how I want to live my life
- It 'increases' my time
- It helps to clean my internal environment
- I love looking at my kitchen full of fresh fruit and veg..everywhere
- My body tissue is clean and elastic
- Great use of my food budget
- I'm changing my world/the world
- I can live consciously and passionately
- I radiate health and well-being
- I look and feel great
- It benefits, me, others, the earth
- It shows that I am open to, and can change
- It helps me pursue other worthwhile goals

Enough for you? There are loads more.

Sleep 101

Exercise: Yoga
Food: 6 bananas, celery and mango smoothie, salad - baby leaves, avocado, pomodorino tomatoes with french dressing, some almonds.

I think I had about 3 hours sleep last night. I woke up okay but not completely refreshed, which in the main part was because I was nibbling on almonds up until I went to bed. I knew this wasn't a great decision to make but did it anyway. But it's good I learnt more. So basically my body was digesting them all night. Began to feel sleepy during the day but functioning very well. I noticed that when I am eating very low fat raw, basically the above without the almonds (I only use half a small avocado in my salads) I can sleep for four hours and I wake up refreshed and don't feel sleepy at all during the day. And I feel even better the next morning if the previous day had been productive on many levels ie used my time wisely. So lessons for me.
1. Don't eat up to the wire
2. Keep it low fat as much as possible
3. Living purposefully improves quality of sleep regardless of length of sleep

I may revise my no eating after 7pm because at the moment it does not seem to fit because of my many evening engagements. So maybe I will just stop eating after my late afternoon salad and see how I go. It's just a more easily recognisable cut off point in my current schedule. The reason I will try this is not to deny myself, but I actually don't feel hungry after that. But if in my experiment I feel the need to have something then I will.

Many people who eat raw (whatever amount) find their need for sleep decreases but it varies in amount, in fact for some it increases. I think this is linked to the state of your health when you start, how raw you go which is linked to how much cleansing will be taking place, plus your own unique sleep needs. I find I need more sleep particularly when doing extended fasting and I just go with it. It's not a competition, it's an ADVENTURE.

The Riper The Better

Exercise: Dancing
Food: 6 bananas, strawberry, mango and celery green smoothie, salad-baby leaves, avocado, pomodorino tomatoes and tomato dressing, some dates and a few almonds

The smoothie wasn't great, needed more mango, and the mango that was in it wasn't ripe enough. I've gotten used to having my fruit very ripe but it takes a few days to get there. The fast really cleared out my tummy.

Very ripe mangos are great for smoothies. So are very ripe bananas, but I love to eat them just as they are. I still marvel at this because those who know me, knew that as far as bananas were concerned in the past, I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole. My reality is continually being rearranged.

That's why I always say keep an open mind, you don't have to do anything. But there is something about keeping an open mind that can catapault you into another dimension. One minute you're there and suddenly you're here, and you hardly know how. It's like a ripening of you.

Like Peas in a Pod

Exercise: Run
Food: None - water fast

My tummy is now perfectly fine. Fasting and eating raw definitely go together. Fasting certainly helped me transition to raw much more easily that maybe I would have done. It help brings focus plus of course the physical cleansing. And eating raw makes fasting much easier and more enjoyable. Because biologically appropriate foods are regularly being consumed the side effects normally associated with fasting are eliminated or reduced greatly (depending on the condition of your health to start with). I don't have any headaches or weakness. I know it's only a day but that would floor many, including myself not that long ago. If you do fast as part of your lifestyle and you eat cooked I would encourage you to break your fast with raw foods and aim to eat only raw for at least a week afterwards. This will allow you to better feel the effects of fasting and help your body adjust to solids. And you never know it may be the start of something new.

And if you eat raw (however much), I would encourage you to try fasting, water or juice(maybe starting off with missing an evening meal if you are a complete newbie) to help you on your raw journey and give your body time to do some healing work. This can all be done with the support of a competent medical or health practitioner. A couple of sites to check out are www.freedomyou.com and www.fasting.com

Fasting and eating raw, like two peas in a pod.

Topsy Turvy Tummy

Exercise: Run
Food: Almonds, strawberry/spinach/pineapple smoothie, 5 small fairtrade bananas, strawberries blended with almond milk, herbal tea with raw honey

Had such a lovely sleep, could have stayed in bed all day, but didn't. I bought a load of fruit from Sainsbury's last night but the bananas and the mangos need to ripen more. So at noon had some almonds. Then remembered a bit later that I had some green smoothie left from yesterday and had that. So far so good. Went for a run about 3pm, still good. Had shower, then popped out to get some apples and pick up dry-cleaning, not so good, tummy is twisting and turning. Came home, and had the bananas I'd just bought. They were just on the cusp of ripe but tasted less so because I'm so used to brown spots now, lots of them. Tummy still twisty. Think it was due to not enough of a gap between the almonds and the smoothie combined with the run. A case of trapped air. Settled down now. Finished off almond milk by blending with strawberries. Too be honest didn't taste that grand, but then again I wasn't exactly hungry, just didn't want the 'milk' to spend another day in the fridge.

Today I'm again mulling over the need for courage to live a purposeful life. It is absolutely essential. Courage is feeling the fear and doing it anyway because of a deep conviction to be congruent, authentic and passionate. This came up because I was thinking that the attachment to cooked food is the greatest addiction that ever was. It's quite something, and add to that the fact that we need to eat.

Without courage there can be no happiness. Courage to be, courage to love, courage to seek God, courage to eat raw, courage to be vulnerable, courage to change.

Lies, Damned, Lies

Exercise: Pushups, general running around and up and down stairs
Food: 6 bananas, strawberry, pineapple and spinach green smoothie. Wasn't sure if it would work but it did. Salad - cucumber, tomato and avocado, with coriander dressing. Drink at bar orange and pineapple juice, and yes freshly squeezed too, woo hoo. Chomped on some almonds more than I wanted or needed even but hey ho.

I'm really getting on with this eating at noon thing. My body definitely appreciates it. And my very ripe bananas just taste so scrummy. I feel like I have to pinch myself. Because it is sooooo different from what I see in my day to day life now. At work there is just a constant stream of sugar and caffeine passing through, but more heart-breaking are the messages attached to it. 'I'm not worthy', 'I'll find love in this slice of cake', 'I'll go out and buy doughnuts, and then everyone will like me', 'I'll have some coffee for energy'. Once upon a time I bathed in that stream, one way or the other. Lies, damned lies.

But there is hope, I just have to look in the mirror to know that. And that's why I love writing this blog, it's like a black and white version of a new reality. And that's why I get excited when I find more lovely people doing this raw ride in their own unique way. I got a sweet message from the raw divas, check them out, the site is vibrant, sassy and real. www.therawdivas.com

Simply In Awe

Exercise: Run
Food: 8 bananas, spinach and orange juice, salad-baby greens, tomato and avocado with tomato and pesto dressing, some pistachios and cashews

Today is a very short post. I'm simply in awe of the Creator of the Universe. Simply in awe.

Count The Blessings

Exercise: Run
Food: 7 very ripe bananas, banana and papaya smoothie, salad-green leaves, cherry tomatoes, avocado with a raw pesto dressing. Later in the evening some almonds, and almond nut milk.

Ate first meal at 11.30am because I had a two hour meeting at noon. Had the smoothie at 2pm and the salad around 4.30pm. Due to an evening engagement ate later than planned (nut milk).

My skin is absolutely glowing. The thing is I've always been complimented on my skin, but now even I do a double-take when I look in the mirror. It's just so amazing the changes that take place when we eat raw, or rather when we remove the things that don't benefit us, mentally, physically and spiritually, and add the things that do.

God is love, and he has truly blessed us.

It's Just An Emotion

Exercise: Bodyweight stuff
Food: Pineapple and spinach juice, 7 bananas, salad -cucumber, tomatoes and avocado with herby dressing, in the evening a few nuts and dates.

Have continued to wait until 12noon to eat and it feels good. Didn't get to post yesterday because of Internet problems. Yesterday went dancing, and had spinach and mango smoothie at noon followed by 7 very ripe bananas, late afternoon about 4pm same salad as above with a tomato dressing, and before 7pm some dates. I wasn't that into the dates, taste for them may be tailing off.

As well as eating from noon, I'm now by and large stopping eating by 7pm. May vary depending on what I'm doing on any given day and what time I'm going to bed.

Started and finished reading a book on Sunday, by Randy Gage, called 'why you're dumb, sick and broke'. I don't agree with everything in it, but there's a lot to work with. It emphasises what I've said before about always knowing why you are doing something. And the fact you will be more successful in the venture if it is linked to your values. Gage argues that your values, should inform the principles that you live by. And any decisons made should be based on your principles and thought through to their logical conclusion. This he says is a more conscious way of living and brings more happiness. And helps us not to be at the beck and call of our emotions. An example you value health, so one of the principles you live by is that you will always invest in your health using the best knowledge available. You find out about raw food, because of your principle you must decide whether to go raw. Thinking it through to its natural conclusion you understand the benefits of eating this way, and not to proceed would mean you would not be congruent with your values, so the decision is made you will go raw. You may falter, but you know 'why' which is your motivation.

My take is that we all have emotions and some of us are more emotional than others. As great as they are, emotions do need direction or we can find ourselves being tossed and turned all day and all night long. So for example with eating raw, when you start to agonise about whether you are doing it right, getting enough this or that etc. You can speak some truth to your emotions, telling them that you value your health, and of all the options available this seems to be the best fit for now, and that you will continue to seek, and listen to your body and make changes as necessary.

This will help bring peace, and help your emotions to work with you and not against you.

Real Taste

Exercise: Resting
Food: None

Am doing a water fast today. Noticed some toothache yesterday, so hoping as my body rests it will be able to focus on helping that heal, remineralise etc.

While we are on the subject of fasting, I've observed when I was eating high raw but significant cooked vegan too, that whenever I broke the fast the only thing that actually tasted like it did 'in my head' was raw fruit and veg. You know how you begin to anticipate breaking it with the food of your choice, well this once I had sourdough bread and houmous. And no lie the houmous that always tasted great, just seemed sooo salty, and the bread like cardboard, even though normally I would have found it delicious. Even if you are eating cooked, I would not recommend breaking a fast with cooked food. On the other hand one time I just cut up a fresh pear and it was even better than I imagined it would be, absolutely stunning.

Your body talks, learn the language.

Winter of Content

Exercise: Run
Food: Dates, banana and mango pudding, handful of almonds, edamame, picked at bits of my sister's salad from Wholefoods - beetroot, carrot, sesame seeds, mushrooms, greens.. pineapple, lime and apple juice. A little lime goes a long way, it really 'cuts' the sweetness of the pineapple.

It is officially winter time as the clocks have now gone back, and I get an extra hour in bed if I so choose. It will be interesting to see how the raw dynamics play out. People do ask how they can keep warm. I understand that could be a real concern when facing bitter winters. But in London even though we may think otherwise, our winters are nothing compared to Scandinavia, Canada etc.

And if we can keep our environment warm that will help no end i.e. good heating systems. There is definitely a natural tendency to hibernate, draw down and become cosy. Hence porridge, which was one of my favourite foods ever. And that's what I believe is the crux of that matter, we really want cosy bulky food to accompany the season. I'll probably be having a lot of fruit puddings and fleshing out my salads with more avocado and raw hummus (I noticed there is a courgette one in RAWvolution), and probably looking for more variety. I don't think I'll go the mega nut route, consuming vast quantities that is, because I simply don't feel my best and don't want to grind to a halt. Maybe nut milk and see the effects. Anyway I will be striving for excellence (the best I can do at any given time) and not perfection. To that effect I'm sure rooibos tea will be featuring more.

Excellence enthuses, perfection stresses.

Just Ask...Nicely

Exercise: Run
Food: Four very ripe bananas, mango and banana pudding, a few dates, quite a few almonds

I have been away on a course in the Hertfordshire countryside. It was a real treat to be surrounded by plenty of greenery, plus was able to go for runs and long walks every day I was there. Prior to the trip I was a little concerned about the 'eating arrangements'. But decided that instead of seeing it as problem, to just tell them my needs, and find out what was on offer.

As it happens there was a salad bar every lunchtime, and creative stuff too, chopped cucumber and cherry tomatoes, beetroot, baby greens etc. And that is quite something for conference catering. I decided to not bother with breakfast and simply eat my first meal of the day at noon. I'd lugged a whole load of fruit - bananas, dates and pears, and avocados to supplement the salads. I determined that come what may I needed to use up these supplies, as it was not an option to lug the bag back home at the end of the course.

I had salad at lunchtime and thus blended in easily, pardon the pun. For dinner I had asked for salad instead of the 'hot' option. The evening version was rather 'simpler'. The first evening I got lettuce and tomato, so I promptly whisked out an avocado from my bag. But each evening there was a particular lady who would bring me my salad and she would look for me with a smile. And I could tell some effort was going into making it more interesting for me. Because carrots sticks, celery and red peppers appeared later. I really was looked after. Of course I attracted some attention, particular when avocados kept appearing. But I just side-stepped the questioning. There was one guest though who had apparently been half-way to vegan-ville, before getting married earlier in the year. So we talked about that and then she mentioned that some of her friends had radically changed their dietary habits. And I recognised she was alluding to raw eating. We'll keep in touch. I have no problem talking about raw but always try to be mindful of the time and the place.

I have to say I did feel the effect (in more ways than one)of not having as much fruit as I would have liked. Ideally I would have loved a big banana and mango smoothie, or just a load of bananas for dinner. But that wasn't going to happen, the bananas in the fruit bowl were green. And I couldn't have brought any more fruit without an extra pair of arms to maneouver it. Yes, there were shops in 'town' but their fruit wasn't ripe enough.

But all in all I was able to stay completely raw except for one day when I added some potato which was the best option for me at the time. So I learnt the importance of preparing mentally, and practically for what I wanted. And I clearly stated my needs. There was always the risk that they might not have been met, but it was up to me to articulate them.

If you don't ask, you don't get. (It's good to be home, I don't think I've ever been so pleased to see brown-spotted bananas in all my life).

Timbuktu

Exercise: Run
Food: Mango and spinach green pudding (blended with no added water), looks funky but tastes yum, big green salad with some deliciously sweet vine tomatoes and Hass avocado, 6 bananas, some dates and a small packet of almonds. Even though it's late I really fancy some fresh pineapple juice so will be having some later.

My run was so enjoyable today on every level. I went at a good steady pace, you know just right, so flow kicked in very quickly. There was a nip in the air, but the sun was shining and warm in places, golden brown leaves littered the roads, and there weren't many people around it being a Sunday. I now actually yearn to be out in the fresh air which is simply phenomenal as I would never have considered myself an outdoors person before, though I have always loved London's parks. I guess it is now a matter of priorities. I need to spend time outside everyday now. Even when it's raining I notice that I'm really not that fussed whereas before I most certainly would be.

I was flicking through Matt Amsden's RawVolution this afternoon. It really is a beautiful book, (you've probably gathered I'm an aesthete). I smiled to myself as I read the introduction, it revealed Matt had found out about raw foods by listening in to Howard Stern on the radio. I love it, something just comes from left field. And I bet he never dreamed he would be developing a gorgeous raw recipe book even a couple of days before hearing that broadcast. I love that so much, that a by choosing the right thing at a critical moment, it seems the whole course of your life has changed..for much much much better. That's adventure.

If anyone had told me five years ago that I would become a vegan, never mind a raw one, I would have laughed them to Timbuktu and back. Love it. Love it. Love it.

Paradigm Shifts

Exercise: Run and push ups
Food: None (one day water fast)

More and more, I'm realising that the more I open my mind, and challenge long-held beliefs that don't seem to be backed up by truth, the greater the propensity for paradigm shifting change.

Sometimes I get a little 'ohmigod' feeling about eating raw. But I refuse to see myself as isolated or a victim. I choose to do this. I am a pioneer and so are you. By living consciously we attract and inspire others to live more authentically. In the same way we ourselves have been attracted to and inspired by others.

There is no doubt in my mind, and despite some appearances to the contrary, people do want to enjoy good health. And many are seeking the way to optimal health, no small feat with all the 'noise' out there. I truly think that in five years time eating raw, biologically appropriate food (whatever percentage) will be as common as veganism if not vegetarianism.

Is eating raw a price to pay or simply investing for a better return?

Cooked food poison?

Exercise: Push ups and lots of running upstairs to get somewhere (not just for the sake of it)
Food: 6 bananas, mango and spinach green smoothie, dates, green salad with avocado and tomatoes, banana and mango pudding. I make my salads with half an avocado, and this week have had no dressing. I have had about four and a half hours sleep each night, and am doing exceptionally well with full time work and external evening commitments/activity every evening. Plus things to do when I get in including updating blog, journal, food prep, going through mail etc.

I've noticed that I have been doing exceedingly well, on low fat eating. It will be interesting to see any changes when I get my fresh nuts delivered and begin eating them more frequently. Miss my running confined to weekends at the moment, due to it being so dark in early morning.

I was thinking today about cooked food, not wanting it but the fact that some call it poison. Is it? I would say that raw food is what it is, and cooked food is what is. ie in and of themselves they simply 'are'. When eaten however raw food is biologically appropriate and an enabler, it can be broken right down to provide meaningful nutrition. Cooked food when eaten is a drainer. Picture it in your mind for a minute, how do you feel after you have had something cooked? Cooked food can be broken down, but it is not meaningful in the fullest sense of the word i.e. it will sustain life for a short or a long while but it does not enable life in the way it should be enabled in our bodies.

While it may be true cooked food has toxic effects on the body, I will reiterate again sitting on a plate in and of itself it is what it is. Who puts it in your mouth?

It's good to use helpful language when explaining things. Projecting fear onto something is not the greatest strategy . I think trying to do it in a way that promotes truth, integrity and freedom is much more attractive. So for example our brain mainly consists of fat, you decide to eat a doughnut, think about when you chew it down to the fine watery/creamy state before you swallow. What does that mush consist of, white flour, tran fat, sugar, that's it bar any hundreds and thousands, chocolate or jam., oh and possibly artifical additives Now this is digested broken down into its component parts and released into the bloodstream. So this is food for the brain. Ever heard of the term brain fog.... exactly.

I would encourage you to experiment with this way of thinking before putting anything into your mouth. The thing with basing actions on fear is that it can be sabotaging in the end, as you worry that if you fall of the wagon or something you've failed. And then you start to beat yourself up about it and then you're tempted to just jack it all in. Whereas with the other way you are taking responsibility and being intentional. So if cooked food is chosen and it is always a valid choice if not the most beneficial one, you can go on to evaluate how you feel afterwards. May be illuminating.

There is no failure only little adjustments

Sleepy head

Exercise: Resting
Food: 7 bananas, Green salad with baby greens, avocado, tomatoes and celery, dates, banana and mango pudding

(Thanks to Kristen for my first comment!)

I have averaged practically four to five hours sleep this week so far and I feel grand. When I get sleepy I just go to bed. And that is an important point, I don't get tired but I do get sleepy. Anyone else feel that way? So when people say 'I'm tired' could eating cooked foods be having an impact, or a cumulative effect even, due to the energy-intensive process involved in digesting it?

I do love having a good think about things. Because often there is an insight that is just staring you in the face that you never picked up before.

Sleep needs can change and you should just fall in line with what your body is asking for. There was one week when I was becoming sleepier earlier. So I went to bed earlier. This can happen when the body is going through internal cleansing and healing. And could also be linked to the changing seasons, and just how much we've got going on in our lives at any given time.

Be a truth-seeker not an 'I've made up my mind, don't confuse me with the facts' person. It's much more fun. If you start from a place of fear then truth will scare you witless, but if you start from a place of love, then you'll just get more to love.

Your Body is Magnificent

Exercise: Pushups
Food: Mango and spinach green smoothie, 10 bananas, 500g dates, green salad with avocado, tomatoes and baby greens, no dressing

Am eating really simply and like it, particularly because I've got a number of projects on the go all at once. But when I get a moment I might look at some more salad combos, and am really missing conference pears, while not being into apples at all right now. Strange. Even though it may seem I'm eating pretty much the same things on rote, I am enjoying it. Nutrition is the key not variety. It's just a bonus that we can choose from so much.

I was thinking how wonderfully we are made. Your body is magnificent you know, yes your body whatever, size, colour, shape, length it is. We all tend to celebrate raw and yes it is fun and yummy and exciting and challenging sometimes. But it is not raw food that works the magic, it's our bodies that work the magic every time, utilising raw nutrition and other elements, fresh air, sunshine, elegant thoughts, spiritual truths, physical touch and many more. Isn't that amazing? And the best bit is you can 'switch' this magic on anytime you like. Just start removing what doesn't benefit your body and add what does. And because there is total connect between body, mind and spirit, you will begin to feel results in body, mind and spirit.

If it's worth doing, it's worth doing now.