RAW ~Out of My Senses~

Raw Desserts class-Cousins Incredible Vitality

2010-03-30T17:56:00.007-04:00

Yum, Yum, Yum!!! Raw Desserts!!!!!! ;0

How can you not ~~looove~~ them. They taste great and are good for you too. I took a class at RGI at Cousin's IV in Chicago on Saturday taught by the fabulous Caroleen. She and her sweet, kind and helpful assistants made the class so much fun. I have knowledge of making raw desserts, but this class took my knowledge to a new level. I so love doing this. It is such a passion for me!! If you ever get a chance go eat at Cousins IV. The food is great and the staff are super great!! Check them out here: http://www.cousinsiv.com/ The raw deep dish pizza is delicious and so is my personal favorite Dolmas.

Since going about 75% raw, I have been losing weight, but even MORE noticible I have lost over 16". This feels so good! I am losing my cravings for processed, refined sugary treats and and flour carb snack. Now I am enjoying good, tasty and good for me foods.

I have heard, stick to a new habit for 100 days and it will become routine and habit no more.

New Beginnings

2010-03-16T18:10:00.004-04:00

So much new is going on. God is blessing my life so abundantly!!! Yesterday I gave my 30-day notice at my full-time job (very hard, yet joyful to do, my boss and I both cried and rejoyced) to go full-time with my massage business!!! Yeah!!!

I have been eating about 75-90% RAW the last week and I feel great!! I have really felt that push over the plateau in my weight and in my emotional attachment to "I can't do this". I have more energy, feel good, feel thinner and more healthy. Although I am definately experiencing detox symptoms: runny nose, stuffy sinuses, but I don;t feel awful or anything like that. I am getting into making RAW desserts and have been sharing them with several SAD eating friends who are liking them. God has placed this on my heart as a 2nd business and I even had someone approach me about sharing my product.

Life is good and new beginnings are exciting!! Be blessed in all you do.

Lose to Win Big

2010-02-16T19:43:00.003-05:00

Well, after a long time, I have decided to post something. I don't really know why. Maybe I will see this as "accountability". :-)

Anyways, we started a weight loss challenge at work (isn't that just all the rage nowadays?), but I decided to join for support. I was asked why I joined. I mean I am not obese, but I joined because my weight is on the verge of being "overweight" and it's what "you don't see" (well, except my lovey hubby ;0!!) that I see as more of my "concern. It's the body fat, especially in those medical "concern areas" such as the belly and the vanity "concern areas" such as the belly, hips and thighs.

So I have joined this challenge at work and it gives me motivation and accountability.

Here's to healthy lifestyle changes.

HEEELLLOOOOOO

2008-01-28T11:07:00.000-05:00

Well, hello to all. It's ben a long time since I have posted. Just busy and honestly not very focused on being raw right now. I know, SAD but true. Get it!!!! ;) I've been reading Fit for Life, very good book and have Diet for a New America next on my list. I have been giving in to lack of consistency and change in my eating habits. The addiction of food.
Thanks to anonymous (you know who you are) for the recent comment. It was real, and honest and real I am not being, but I don't need you to tell me that. Please reveal yourself openly and stop "HIDING" in the wings or just STOP and let it be. I would really appreciate that. Anyways, thanks for the comments. It did make me have to stop and look at myself again, and you are right. I do try to keep reinventing myself but that isn't always bad. It is when I am trying to be something I am not, but we are ever changing so we can be reinventing ourselves in a good way. I realize from the comment that I just need to look at this and be honest with myself. I know I don't love and accept me-I can admit that. I know God is bigger than all this and will help me and I just need to let Him. BTW, happy or not can change in a moments time. It is how I deceide to be and what I let affect me or not and the choices I make about it. God has blessed my life beyond measure since I have accepted Him into my life. Being fat or not, happy or not, is all in how I ((feel)) about myself and what I chose to see.
To all reading this, I rejected the comment. It came anonymous (which I truly dislike!!!!). I KNOW who it was from by the wording, but really, why do people want to read and comment on your blog and be too afraid to comment with their name. Who are they "really" hiding from?
May God bless you ALL this New Year. May He fill you with peace and love and prosper you above and beyond all you can imagine. And if you have feelings like I do about yourself, comment to me and we can pray for each other. The power of prayer is an awesome thing and I am very open right now for anyone who wants to pray together.

Home, building relationships, loving myself more

2007-11-16T10:25:00.000-05:00

It has been quite a while since I last posted-2 weeks. Several things have been happening. My husband and I bought a home-out 1st ever-and we are SOOOO excited!!!!!

The home is soooo cute. A friend of mine at church told me about a month ago to write down on paper everything we are asking God for in a home. So we did and prayed on it and God provided everything!!!!! Of course, this is God's wonderous power and love for us and definately not anything above and beyond His capabilities. He is such a good God!!! Kevin has a studio to continue teaching (he is a professional guitar player and teaches) and I will have a room to set up for doing massage and my M-I-L has here space upstairs while we have our living down in a full finished walk out basement. Everybody wins!!!

Speaking of my M-I-L, we have been bonding the last two weeks. God has show me the importance of breaking down my walls of selfishness with her and looking past the things that "bother" me and see the good in her. I have found out she is funny and kind and needs friendship too. She is a new and different woman in my eyes and I am learning the importance to stop each day and spend some time with her, no matter how busy my day is!!

I have been working on my "journey" to raw still. This month has been dedicated to vegan eating. Although, I will admit I have not had 100% committment to this, so I challange myself as of this day-where is my loyalty to changing my eating habits?

Goals: 1. Start out realistic and transition. 2. Add more raw to my daily eating. 3. Eat vegan this month (this really is NOT a hard goal.)

Here is a bit that really spoke to me, it is from Jingee from TheGardenDiet.com and she wrote: "What we believe is very important. I can be eating the healthiest diet in the world, but if I still worry that I'm eating poorly, it won't do me as much good. Or I can be eaing what I believe is the best diet, and even if it isn't, it will do me good, and it will lead me to a better way of life. The thing is to do what we really believe in. The other thing is to not focus only on diet. The focus is on good health, or on being a balanced person. Then everything falls in place!"

Thanks Jingee! Really made me think about my relationship with food and health.

I have also redone my "top 10 goals" and as I was doing them I learned to be both realistic and not too stringent with my goals. (for example, with exercise I decided to just set a goal of exercise "regularly", instead of do this "X" times a week and that "X" times a week because that type of goal sets me up to fail, I just need to more more and when I mix it up and do what I "enjoy" I will keep at it!!)

Top 10 "Cindy" goals:

1. Read Bible and pray daily. (increase my relationship with God)*

2. Hubby time-one date night per week.

3. Cindy time-massage every other week or some type of "pampering"

4. Increase personal self-esteem*

5.. More family time (prosper in family relationships)*

a. Sunday is family day (me, Kevin and m-i-l)

b. Call "my" family once a week and touch base.

6. Exercise regularly

7. Go RAW

a. Weight down to 130 lbs.

b. Body Fat down to 15-20%.

8. Read, study, listen to CD : something every night to increase my knowledge, interests, and passions.

9. Learn to play bass

10. Set up business

Well there they are. I feel they are good!!! Much peace and love until next time!!!!!!!!

NEW BEGINNINGS

2007-11-01T09:47:00.000-04:00

Well, it has been quite some time since I have posted and I have been working on some "Cindy issues" :) during this time. If you follow my past posts I just went back to eating-full on!!!!-and have gained back 16 of the 17 lbs that I lost.

Well, I want to feel bad but what's the use. I mean, what is REALLY important in life? Is it food, weight or God, family, friends? I would say the latter.

If I want to change my body then I need a healthy plan and trust and reliance on God and family and friends. Juice Feasting IS healthy, I believe, but I did not follow the protocol for it. And, I was not READY for the committment to it.

My goal is to work to eventually being RAW. This month I will be vegan. I will transition into it. There are so many great receipes and support out there to do this-RAW and Vegan.

Anyways, I am working into a healthy eating and exercise plan. I have to remind myself that I and this body are not 25 years old anymore and won't react in the same way to food and exercise. I am trying to find out what is best for me and not be "obsessive" about it. I am looking to God for help and have picked 3 very special women to me that I am going to ask to be my "prayer Circle" of support.

I chose today 11-1-07 as a new day for a new beginning. Tomorrow is my 2 year anniversary to my most amazing husband!!!!!!!!!!!

I plan to still "redo" my top 10 goals (currently in process), follow Karen Knowler's (The Raw Food Coach) protocol steps to "Why doI want to go raw?" Plan a exercise program that "grows" with me and I can committ to not something that starts out with unrealistic goals. Also I read that to do hard cardio and not have good form and weights too, then it does more harm that good.

Well, that is where I am at. A new beginning........................ :)

Pondering change

2007-10-17T10:36:00.000-04:00

Today is a day of pondering change and getting things back into perspective. I haven't been blogging much, as you can see, and I think that is to pull myself away from accountability. I have felt quite changed yet uncomfortable. After juice feasting for 14 days, and then continuing to incorporate juice into my (most) daily intake I have seen some good changes: Loss of weight (17 lbs), better hair and skin, better attitude, more happiness, better comcentration. Good things!!! But, what I see I failed to do was get my relationship with "me" in order!! I went back to food and incorporated a lot of raw but also added in a lot of "junk" and processed foods just because I "craved" them and used no self-control. I saw weight gain (5 lbs), skin breakouts, dryer skin and hair, etc...

Well, all that to say this.....I see the change has to come from within and I need to love me for me and who I am on the inside NOT the outside. I feel it is important to bw healthy and eat well and I still want to eat RAW, but there is more to being thin and healthy than just being thin and healthy. It must come from within too.

I am updating my top 10 goals that I set for myself 3 months ago. I am starting a book called "Victory over the darkness" to work on me. My Pastor's wife gave it to me and I really believe it will do a lot to help me see the opression I am allowing over me in this area and free me from this bondage. I am also going to go to prayer and healing school at church which is held once a week. I need support and teaching and need to quit hiding "in the dark" and trying to do it "my way".

I feel bored with doc'ing what I eat/drink but I feel inside I need to do it so I will. I think I will just keep i my own personal journal and then post "things/eating" that seems necessary. :)

I send Much peace and love to all of you who follow this and read this, I appreciate your prayers and support and comments. :)

The desire for freedom

2007-10-01T16:53:00.000-04:00

Why am I so obsessed? Why do I just give in and quit? How to I break this? I have broke addictions in the past. I CAN do this. Maybe, the truth is, I am not wanting to do this. Let me ponder this some........yes, I am struggling. Any words of inspiraton out there? Thanks!!!!!

Salads

2007-10-01T16:52:00.001-04:00

SALADS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I started a parasite cleanse called Parastroy. I'm gettng tired of sharing what I eat though, only because I don't see it as inspirational and I "want" to be. Well, I started this to be "honest and get real". That's what not sharing is avoiding-admitting my not good choices.

3 c coffee w/ creamer

32 oz water

grapes

peanut butter

chips and salsa

salad w/ salsa

more PB

ice cream-ab 2 T

orange herbal tea w/ honey

32 oz water

Fruits

2007-09-28T17:44:00.000-04:00

Fruits, Fruits, Fruits

I am excited about adventuring out and working woth lots of new, yummy raw food receipes. I am also excited about keeping my new, trim figure and working on it to be more fit and tones through raw foods and excercise.

One thing I need to get addressed is my food addiction. As you can see from my eating today, I start out on the feast breaking goal, and then I give in with no faith or trust to change. Today is supposed to be juice, prunes and juicy fruits.

Eats today:

2 c coffee w/ creamer

2-2'x3' pieces of coffee cake (at work meeting)

6 oz prunes

1 peppermint patty

32 oz water

1 1/3 c grapefruit juice

organic red grapes

^^^^^^^

cheese and mayo sandwich

3 lg spoonfuls of PB&J

piece of coffee cake

4 cookies

potato chips

corn muffin w/ butter

1 slice pizza

5 jalapeno poppers

^^^^^^^^^^^^

26 oz water

OK, the more I just avert from faith and from having victory and not doing and following a meal plan the longer this will go on. What do I and don't I want?

1. I don't want to be fat.

2. I don't want to be obsessed that my looks make who I am.

3. I want to trust that it is what is on the INSIDE.

4. I want to trust God.

5. I want to have faith.

6. I want to work on Victory Over the Darkness.

7. I want to set new/revised goals and work on them.

8. I want to be free from my addiction with food.

Prunes

2007-09-27T14:54:00.001-04:00

Prunes, Prunes, Prunes..... :)

I am starting to plan "RAW" subs for the things I crave- RAW potato chips for ptoato chips, RAWEOS for cookies, etc..... I think that will help get through the craving periods. I really want to take care of my body and be healthy!!!! I can see some things, obviously, that I need to cut out, but I am also trying to just be "kind" to myself right now and not be so hard and unloving to me!!! How can I love others if I don't 1. have a relationship with God and 2. love myself first!!!!

I am going to set some goals for eating and RAWing. I have looked over my 10 goals I set back several months ago and I see some accomplishments/achievements, in processes, and a few still to work on.....that IS progress. I will revamp them to add new to thoser I have accomplished. Updates to follow later................

1 c coffee w/ van creamer

10 oz van soy latte

3 c lettuce/tomato/zuccini/carrot/cayene/italian seasoning

32 oz water

1 T honey

1 T bee pollen

soak water from prunes-YUM!!!!!- about 1+/- C

5 oz soaked prunes

^^5 cookies, 3 saltines, 1 T PB, potato chips, crumb cake batter^^

Day 55, 56, 57

2007-09-24T11:08:00.001-04:00

I went the first 14 days on totally all juice but have incorporated food here and there for the remaining 43 days. I just feel I need to be thankful and appreciative for what I achieved and now move on with this journey in life and have my weight loss experience to share and reflect on. I have achieved some amazing goals in my perspective:
1. the overall loss of (as of today) 15 lbs.
2. accomplishing 14 straight days of JUST juice.
3. incorporating juice into my daily food intake and seeing it's importance.
4. achieving healthier hair, skin and nails.

day 55:
1 c camomile tea w/ honey
1 c canteloupe
32 oz water
1/4 t kelp
1 qt spinach/zuccini/radish/apple/turnip/coconut water/kale
2 T bee pollen
B&P

Day 56:
16 oz blended latte
1 qt grapefruit/orange
1 qt spinach/radish/apple/zuccini/coconut water
4 T honey
32 oz water
B&P

Day 57:
coffee w/ vanilla creamer
1 qt romine/cucumber/zuccini/apple
32 oz water
10 oz van latte
1 qt zuccini/pineapple
8 oz water
1/4 t kelp
4 T honey
2 T bee pollen
5 or 6 cookies
NO B&P

on to the next journey....until tomorrow, peace............................ :)

day 53, 54

2007-09-24T11:07:00.003-04:00

Have noticed a return of underarm odor since the return of all the SAD food..hmm

day 53:
16 oz water
1 c hawthornberry tea
1 qt barlean's greens
32 oz waterX2
(B&P)

day 54:
32 oz water
1 1/2 c camomile tea w/ honey
24 oz water
1 c spinach/zuccini/parsley/apple/radish/kale
16 oz water
(B&P)

Day 52

2007-09-24T11:07:00.001-04:00

I am tired this morning. Wiped out, slow to get going, still somewhat depressed!!!!!!!

went away with hubby tonight-had a great time together-we needed this!!!

1 c herbal tea w/ honey
1 qt zuccini/pineapple
2 2/3 c orange
32 oz water
cinnamon roll
3 c broccli/apple/romine/radish
24 oz water
salad w/ mushrooms/red peppers/cucumbers/tomatos
1 dinner roll
about 12 dries apricots
1 c hawthornberry tea
16 o water

-Day 51

2007-09-20T17:23:00.000-04:00

500 ml water
2 mini candy bars
32 oz water

How do I feel: angry, sad, wore out, tired, depressed
No juice-No raw-SAD
It's the 1st one that does it!!!

2 egg rolls
3 crab rangoon
1 slice cheese pizza
sugar doughnuts
vegetable lo mein
raspberry danish
sm vanilla shake

Day 50

2007-09-19T16:06:00.001-04:00

Well, in the last 3 days I have gained back 5 lbs. I have to accept this will come from eating-especially SAD foods. I have been sooo happy with my weight loss, which I think has been aided by adding more juice into my days. Well, I have cleansed. I have released toxins and weight loss has come from this. I am really facing some demons, some from my past that are reoccuring and I have been giving them power to do that. If you know me or don't, please pray for me. Thank you!!!!!
I had a lot of SAD food today-I feel soo ashamed that for once I don't even want to share it.
1 c tea
32 oz water
SAD food.

day 49

2007-09-18T16:35:00.001-04:00

Still eating food. SAD food. :( I have increased anger and decreased glow especially in my skin and hair.
! C mint tea
1 qt grap/romine/celery
32 oz water X2
3 C spinach/cucumber/apple
coffee w/ van creamer

I am quite "unhappy" w/ me right now-made a plan yesterday and didn't get throught it, not even 1 day!!!!
Tomorrow is a new day!!!!!!!

Day 48

2007-09-17T18:00:00.001-04:00

It was hard to get out of bed this morning. I was very groggy and sleepy. I slept for 91/2 hours. I haven't done that in a loooong time!! All that SAD food-proof enough? I have ingested way more juice than I would on any normal day. So, I can look at what I have accomplished: I really wanted to lose weight and I have-17 lbs to date. I am more aware of how SAD affects me and differs from RAW. I see the benefits of raw juices-healthy skin and hair, the "glow", looking more youthful. I have had amazing changes and good things I have learned!! I will consider undertaking the 92-day juice feast when I am prepared to do so, but what I did do, adding juice to my daily intake has been good!!! :-)
1 qt watermelon
jelly beans, cake, cookie, burrito, chips
32 oz water
16 oz van latte
16 oz water
vegetable soup
slice of bread
PB and jelly sandwich

Day 47

2007-09-16T16:02:00.001-04:00

I find myself breaking and starting over on an almost daily basis. I am experiencing more negative feelings with this behavior than positive and I don't feel that should be part of this journey. Today became a "binge" day with food. I ended up with a stomach ache and just wanted to sleep this afternoon.

Today:
2 c almond/fruit tea w/ honey
junk food-van frosting, cheese, sour cream, cake
32 oz water
more junk-pasta and meatballs, cheese, cookies
1 c mint tea
8 oz water

Day 46

2007-09-16T16:01:00.002-04:00

I am like Winnie the Pooh. I just can't get enough honey. Think it is because all I want is "sugar"!!! I am pooh with my hand in the jar of honey. :)

1 c ginger tea w/ honey

3 T honey

32 oz water

1 qt canteloupe

1 handful jelly beans

1 qt spinach/apple/cucumber

12 oz van cappuccino w/ soy (decaf expresso)

16 oz water

3+ T honey

1 c almond/fruit tea

Day 45

2007-09-16T16:01:00.001-04:00

Just a report:

1 c ginger tea w/ honey
2 T honey
1 qt sweet potato/apple/cinnamon/coconut water -YUM!!!
2 T bee pollen
32 oz water
1/2 oz wheatgrass
3+ T honey
20 oz van latte
1 qt watermelon
24 oz water

be blessed!! until tomorrow.....................

Day 44

2007-09-13T21:10:00.001-04:00

I had a thought about my goals and have to admit that my real goal has been to lose weight. That is what I have wanted first and foremost and that I am achieving. It has been an awesome accomplishment and a real achievement for me to get so close to my goal. I am grateful for the weight loss and very happy about it!!! :)

1 C tea w/ honey

32 oz water

16 oz van latte

3 T honey

1 qt lettuce/red pepper/apple/coconut water

1/2 oz wheatgrass

Day 43

2007-09-13T21:09:00.000-04:00

I awoke feeling stuffed and sick and my fingers were swollen. I felt somewhat ill and light-headed. So today it's a JOURNEY into a new day. It is a choice-that I make. What happens from here???1 c blackberry tea w/ honey
1 qt romine/grapes/celery
32 oz water
1 qt pineapple/zuccini
32 oz water
3 T bee pollen
1 qt watermelon

Day 42

2007-09-10T00:24:00.002-04:00

I went to bed late last night-1:30am and was up early-6:15am so I have felt "crabby". I had all that "junk food" and I look tired, and just not the same as I was. I feel I have lost that "glow". My hair and skin seem drier. I'm noticing some breakouts. I am even noticing some body odors which I wasn't getting anymore since begining the jucing. I was reading today that cravings for chocolate may be a feeling of loss of love. I know my hubby loves me and my God loves me, but do "I" love me?

lemon tea-1 1/2 C
honey 2 T
bee pollen 1t
1 qt orange/grapefruit
honey 1 T
decaf coffee w/ soymilk and shot of vanilla
raspberry cocoa mix
1 pt spin/apple/celery
the binge: (cheese,crackers,bread,hot dog(?), pretzels and dip, oat-rasin cookies)

onward, to another day.....................................

Day 41

2007-09-10T00:24:00.001-04:00

Went to Yoga today and I always enjoy it. I feel so good afterwards. Then I put myself into a position of failure. It can be hard for me to go into a grocery store alone. I feel drawn at times to all the junk food that I am so used to "binging" on. I get it in my head early in the day and allow myself to "dwell" on it throughout the day. Unhealthy thoughts, negative thoughts!!!!! I didn't rely or turn to the One who can and will help me. My lack of faith. That is what I did today.

1C apple-cinn tea
3 c canteloupe/peach
1 qt watermelon
1 carmel
2 T bee pollen
hard candies
1/2 tub cho frosting
12 oz water
small handful of grapes
3 handfuls of potato chips
1 pt spin/carrot/red bell pepper/celery