Sourdough bread and dark chocolate

So yesterday was the first day that I ate cooked food after about 32 or 33 days of 100% raw. Matt has been accepted into a graduate program at CUNY, so he decided that he wanted sourdough bread to celebrate. I bought some sourdough bread the day before at Whole Foods, as well as Dagoba dark chocolate with raspberries and rose hips, which is organic and contains only trace amounts of dairy and soy. It was the only chocolate at Whole Foods that had the least amount of ingredients, and of course it was organic which I think is better.

When Matt got off work we ate several slices each of the sourdough bread, and I did enjoy it. We both ate about half of the chocolate bar, which I also enjoyed. I kept waiting for the infamous upset stomach, because so many people who eat cooked after so many days raw say that their stomach hurt badly or they were sick. Neither happened.

I did notice that my bowel movements were different this morning. With 100% raw you're pretty much guaranteed a good bowel movement in the morning. With cooked it isn't so guaranteed. Without trying to sound gross, I pretty much had to sit there and try and force myself to have a bowel movement.

Because of not being able to get rid of all the food in my body, I did weigh exactly one pound heavier than I weighed yesterday.

Part of the problem, I think, is the fact that we were eating after 8pm last night. As a general rule we plan on only eating cooked foods for lunch, but not dinner or breakfast. I think that that will make a difference in our weight and even our bowel movements. Last night was an exception because we wanted to celebrate Matt's success in getting into CUNY. I'd like to celebrate my new job by going out to eat somewhere - but I hope to do it on a weekend when we can go for lunch.

Anyway, I am in favor of a mostly raw diet, and I think we can accomplish that. I just thought I'd post my "findings" and thoughts on last night's little splurge.

Before and After

Here the befores and afters with Day 1 on the left and Day 29 on the right:

Matt
























































Samantha

Matt - Day 31

I too have finished my 30 days raw. Unlike Samantha I can indeed say that I have clearer skin, and generally I feel healthy. The biggest improvement is weight loss - and no negative side effects like extra hunger, increased tiredness or anything like that normally associated with other diets I've done. This diet works for me.

I'm still going to add a few cooked things back into my diet only for lunches. But not yet. It's so easy for me to stay raw that I'm in no hurry to get back to cooked food. I also tend to eat quite a bit more than Samantha so that could be why I don't feel tired like she does.

We both have pictures, maybe she will post mine up there tonight too. I weighed and I was still 211.5 today.

The morning after...

Well, I have completed 30 days of nearly 100% raw (with the exception of Bragg's, 1 toasted nori sheet, sundried tomatoes that have chemical preservatives added, and probably a couple of miniscule things here and there). It is somewhat relieving to have the 30 days done, although I imagine that I will continue on for a few more days as long as Candice is staying with us as she is in the early days of raw.

I am amazingly hungry today, although I felt like I stuffed myself last night. Maybe this whole idea of being able to eat cooked foods today is making me more hungry. I was looking at our vegan cookbook, The Mediterranean Vegan Kitchen, last night for ideas of what we can make for our lunches. It was interesting because some of these recipes didn't seem so daunting as they have in the past. A couple of recipes say that the dough has to sit for a few hours before use - after having to let things sit for hours at a time during raw, I think I can wait a measly four hours for dough to do its thing.

Anyway, I don't know if I will eat cooked today. So far my day has been raw. I just finished a mango a few minutes ago. I also am feeling a little under the weather still, so I may not want to eat any cooked foods today.

This morning I woke up and weighed myself and I was at 115.8 lbs. which is the lowest I have been yet. I was actually surprised that I was under 116 lbs., because I did eat a lot of food last night.

As far as health issues go I know that I said that I wanted to have more energy, end my breast pain, improve my breathing issues (sometimes my breathing is a little weird - it's like there's stuff in my lungs or something - maybe I have mild asthma or something?), and have clearer skin. I honestly can't say if I have improved any of these things. If anything I seem to be more tired sometimes, I still had breast pain this month, my breathing is still weird sometimes, and I am still getting acne. Obviously 30 days isn't enough to improve everything or even one or two things, but I guess the main thing is that internally I don't feel bogged down by cooked food. Cooked food usually sits in my stomach for long periods of time, whereas raw food passed through my system nearly every day. For me eating a 100% raw diet hasn't been the miracle cure-all, although I suspect that it has the potential to be that if committed to long-term. Which - I am not exactly ready to do that long-term. I am, after all, eager to try out a few recipes from the vegan cookbook that I haven't tried yet. I'll continue to keep you posted on how that goes.

I am interested to know the difference in how I look from day 1 to day 30 (actually day 29). When I get home I'll try to post some pictures.

Day 30 - Samantha

Weight: 116.4 lbs.
30-day weightloss: 6.6 lbs. (started at 123 lbs.)

Today I have felt kind of sick. I think I may have caught something on the train or the subway. I have been feeling almost flu-like. I don't believe that it is detox. Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow.

I have eaten a few things off and on today. I had some leftover pesto stuffed mushrooms and meatloaf. I ate half a mango, some celery, a peach, and some other things I can't remember. I also made Apple Cobbler:

Apple Cobbler from Vital Creations by Chad Sarno

4 apples, 3 sliced thin, 1 chopped
1/2 c raisins* soaked 2-4 hours
T cinnamon (I used 1/2 tsp. instead)
1/2 T lemon juice
t nutmeg (I used 1/2 tsp. instead)
1/2 t Celtic sea salt*
2c pecans*
1c pitted dates* (I also soaked these)

In a high speed blender, blend 1chopped apple, soaked raisins, cinnamon, lemon juice, nutmeg and Celtic salt until smooth. Pour sauce over thinly slices apples and toss well. Continue by spreading an even layer of apple mixture in a medium sized lasagna pan, set aside. Next, in a food processor pulse the pecans until finely ground then add the dates and continue to grind until evenly mixed. Crumble an even layer of pecan mixture over apples. Dehydrate the whole pan at 110 degrees for 2-4 hours. Delicious served warm with Coconut Cream. Also try other variations with peaches or pears, omitting the apples. [Note: We've found that this recipe is also delicious without dehydrating. You can eat it right away, or let it sit and marinate for a few hours so the apples really absorb the flavors. Also, we like to add a few handfuls of whole raisins to the apple mixture before tossing.]

I have made this several times and today was the first time that I had put it into the dehydrator. It turned out pretty well that way. The flavors seem to mix better when warmed up like that for a few hours. They also mix together quite well after sitting in the fridge overnight.

Day 29 - Samantha

Weight: 116.8 lbs.

Today we had the raw food potluck. I made Pesto Stuffed Mushrooms, Meatloaf, and banana ice cream (frozen bananas homogenized with the blank plate in the Champion Juicer).

The potluck went pretty well. Everyone really seemed to enjoy it. I enjoyed most of the food there, although I have to admit that there were a couple of things that I didn't like that much. I also filled up pretty fast. I guess my stomach is shrinking!

We went to Connecticut for a few hours after the raw food potluck, and by the time we got back I was hungry again. I ate two or three sheets of raw nori with Braggs sprayed on it. If we had had some avocados on hand I would have had that wrapped in nori. Oh well... They are also very expensive right now. Everywhere I go to shop they are about $2/avocado.

Matt - Day 29

Almost done with my 30 day challenge!

Weight: 211.5
Gain/Loss: -16 lbs

Today we took some pictures. Hopefully I can get them posted soon. I'm actually anxious to see how much of a difference there is.

We had a RAW food potluck today in our apartment. I should post the pictures from that as well. There were 7 of us altogether that came. The dishes that we had were as follows:

Ranch Dip with Veggies
Pesto Stuffed Mushrooms
Gazpacho
Pasta with Marinara Sauce
Nut Loaf (Meatloaf)
Banana Ice Cream

Everyone really enjoyed everything and I even took some down for Meesh to try. He really liked everything as well - I was suprised. I'm amazed at how people really like the ranch dressing too. It's good to know that I'm not the only one that thinks it's insanely good.

We're going to stay 100% raw for a few extra days since our houseguest Candice is just starting RAW and we want to be sure that she has support her first week. After that we are going to incorporate some whole grain bread (homemade only), rice, and beans into our diet. We will only eat these for our lunch meal. We're going to continue being mostly raw, and remain vegan. We'll see how that goes.

I'm glad to see that I've lost quite a bit of weight. I do weigh myself every day, but I've noticed that I lose a couple pounds, then I gain back a pound or two and stay there for a few days before losing again. This week I was hanging around 213 for like 5 days before I finally broke through that level. On Sunday I'll probably be back to 212 for a day or two. I can't wait until I break the 208 level. That was how much I weighed my senior year in college in 2001. Then the next target is to break 200. Then the next major one will be 185 which is the lowest I ever weighed in college.

I had a community member in the cafe ask me if I was losing weight and tell me that I looked good! I was really happy about that because it's hard for me to tell sometimes that I'm losing weight. I do feel a little lighter, but it's hard to notice sometimes. Anyway - that made me feel good.

That's all for now. More later (and hopefully some pictures too!)

Day 28 - Samantha

Weight: 116.6 lbs.

Today I ate a banana, peach, a bunch of dates, a salad with arugula, tomato, onion, and some dressing that Matt had made. I also ate some carrots with the dressing.

I am considering staying 100% raw for a few more days for our guest's sake (the one who is trying to do the 30-day challenge). The reason is because I don't want to be making bread or tortillas and making her want to fall off the wagon, so to speak. They are going to probably leave sometime this next week, however I am not entirely sure. I think it would be best to support her, so we might just do it a few more days. I haven't told Matt this idea, but I am sure I will shortly.

Tomorrow we are having a raw food potluck at our apartment. One of our friends suggested it. We are going to provide meatloaf, pesto stuffed mushrooms, banana ice cream, dip and veggies, and I am thinking that if I feel like it I may make Alissa's Date Nut Torte. (Found on her site under recipes) I'll be interested to see what others bring to the potluck.

Day 27 - Samantha

Weight: 117.4 lbs.

This morning I got up and made fruit salad with mango, apples, grapes, blueberries, peaches, and bananas. That's it so far.

One of my coworkers brought in some dark chocolate to share with everyone. I LOVE dark chocolate, so that is the one thing that I am having some temptation over here at work. It is a good quality chocolate, too. I won't have any, but it is tempting. Oh well.

Day 26 - Samantha

Weight: 116.6 lbs.

Ate a bunch of fruit, some raisins and dates, and meatloaf.

Matt was meeting a friend for lunch up close to where I work, so I went and had lunch with them. We ate at a nice italian restaurant, and I probably would have cheated and gotten some pasta if Matt hadn't volunteered to the waiter that we were rawfoodists. We both had very large salads. Mine was arugula based with pear, hearts of palm (which may not have been raw), and tomatoes. Matt brought along a raw vinegrette-type dressing which was good.

One of our guests staying with us right now has decided to try and be raw, but she doesn't know where to start, so she's asked us to make food for us while she's at our place. So when I got home I made Pesto-Stuffed Mushrooms (also stuffed 3 small tomatoes with the remainder of the pesto).

Matt also made his creamy dip and I had some of that with baby carrots.