I am a 43 year old grad student with the ordinary problems stemming from the Standard American Diet: lots of weight to lose, a bout with high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and other issues. I
discovered raw in 2006 and saw it as a true miracle for me, but eating raw was not as simple as I thought it would be. The time it takes to prepare foods and the rising costs of produce are
challenges for me. Despite the health improvements I experienced, I let stress get the best of me and fell off the raw wagon. In 2007 I tried variations of whole foods and raw eating - namely high
raw, vegan and vegetarian- and noticed the effects they had on me. I even got a nutritionist to better educate myself about nutrition. I have decided that if I can manage it, 100% raw is the best way
for me to go. 2008 promises to be an exciting one as I use all that I have learned over the past 2 years to return to 100% raw. Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to raw, so this blog
recounts my challenges and successes in finding my own raw plan.
6/16/2008 9:53 AM
nancyadams wrote:
Hi. You mentioned that you were on week 3 of Armour and "no hair loss yet". Hair loss is not directly from Armour, but from staying on the low starting doses too long without raising. And there's hair loss from having low ferritin. It's all here: www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/things-we-have-learned Hope that helps. Nancy Reply to this
5/31/2008 10:00 AM
Joy Naseath wrote:
We live in a culture where values are based on greed; not on heart. At every turn we are bombarded with sick foods and then "health professionals" who give us drugs to combat the sick foods. It's utterly insane. Fresh, organic food is now mainstream and is so expensive that it pushes poverty and the illnesses of poor nutrition even further down the poverty line. And as a female (strike 1) of color (strike 2) and overweight (strike 3) our paradigm is invalidation, humiliation and downward spiraling. Am I angry? You bet I am! I was talking to a male colleague of mine a few years ago. He has the corporate "look" and was in his late 20's/early 30's. I was higher up on the rung then he; but I told him that in a few years I would be working for him. "No way," he said! Oh, yes, I have the wrong anatomy, I'm overweight and over 50. "What!" he said, "You're over FIFTY?" God, I laughed so hard I thought I would fall down. He totally missed the point. Anyway, my point is that our road is LONG and it's not EASY and the RIGHT thing is the HARD thing. I have felt like a freek at 160 pounds, and at 260 pounds and am slowly coming around to the realization that the more I succumb to the feelings of self-invalidation, the more I empower the Sick System and disempower myself. So the best I can do is to find other like-minded folk who accept me for who I am in this very moment. And I have to accept myself in this very moment before they can. And I have to find a way to move through the blame, shame, invalidation, depression and other self-hurt thoughts and deeds. (This takes courage and is HARD) I've found that the stains on my soul are deep and may never be scrubbed clean. But instead of being ashamed, I find that I can now say that I am a survivor. And in spite the fact that the culture I live in does not support my belief system, this is somehow making me stronger instead of weaker. Somewhere along the line, I turned a corner; well, a lot of corners! And I just FEEL better, emotionally, physically and spiritually when I eat raw. And when I'm in a situation where I can't give myself 100% raw, well, then, I adjust. I don't make a big deal out of it and when I get home I have a green drink and alkalize and look back on how I could do better next time (bring an avocado, etc.) So I say here, go look in the mirror and thank your body for the wisdom it shares with you instead of fighting it and LOVE yourself just as you are in THIS VERY MOMENT. Why? Because God (Goddess, The Universe, whatever) hears you and it will all unfold in time. Have faith, hope and joy. *May many blessings befall your path and may you be conscious enough to pick them up and be grateful* Alison, and ALL WOMEN WHO ARE STRUGGLING, I Honor You for making it this far along your path(s) and send you Love from my heart - Joy Reply to this
5/31/2008 9:57 AMkellie wrote:
Hi, Allison-- I admire your honesty in this post, and I feel for you in regard to the pain you have experienced in the world the way it is.
Don't wait for some magical weight--go out and get the things you want in life right now, just like you're talking about. That will be good for you right now and will also bring you closer to where you want to be on all levels.
Though I have never been what would be considered overweight, I went through a big transformation in my appearance many years ago and experienced a shift in people's reactions similar to what you described. It was shocking and sad to me.
I met my husband on the Internet more than 12 years ago. His weight puts him in the "obese" category. I have constantly been astounded at the obnoxious things people have said to him over the years. I never knew it was that bad for "overweight" people. I never knew people could be so cruel--blatantly and subtly.
My husband and I came to love each other through words (e-mails, etc.) and very quickly he said he wanted to marry me. I said, "You haven't even seen my picture yet and you want to marry me?" And he said, "If you had two heads, I would say, 'Nice profiles!'"
I thought, now this is man worth marrying. It isn't about bodies.
You are beautiful inside and out, Allison. Get out in that sunny life and take it. Forget the icky people!
I am amazed by you and what you are doing toward your transformation. I hope you feel proud and good. Take care. Reply to this
Deconstructing the foods I was craving is one of the things I attribute to me being able to successfully go and stay raw. It really is about the flavorings, not the actual foods, most times!
I wanted to share about my experience with young coconuts, especially if your friend also has high cholesterol. I consumed one young coconut per day for one month and within that time my cholesterol went from unhealthy to very healthy! I think young coconuts can do a lot of good things for people, if they are experiencing certain imbalances in their diets. I'm sure your friend appreciates that attention you are giving to her diet. I hope she can regain some health by learning from you!
4/17/2008 12:58 PMPenni wrote:
That's sick about the wax on tomatoes! I didn't realize they did that, I thought it was just apples and cucumbers sometimes. I will keep my eye peeled when I am shopping from now on. Thanks for sharing the info!!
4/17/2008 8:26 AMWild-Kat wrote:
Hi Allison, I've just discovered your blog and I'm really enjoying reading through it--love to read about your journey! I have a raw foods diet wiki website also that I'm hoping to fill with advice from others...Would you mind if I posted a link to your blog on my site? It's at:
4/17/2008 3:05 AMWendi Dee wrote:
I love how even if you get away from eating 100% raw, you are right back at it again, Allison. You RAWk! How cool of you to help your ex, too. You are a kind soul.
As for the wax on fruits and veggies, it drives me nuts. I'm hoping when we move to California that the foods won't need to be preserved with wax, since we'll be eating them right there where they are grown. That's my hope, anyway, until we have a large enough garden to sustain us!
4/16/2008 6:39 AMBlaq Berry wrote:
I love the way you write!! I'm planning to visit some sites for picking your own produce as well. Something I've been wanting to do for ages now. Funny though, I'll have to restrain myself from just plopping down and eating everything!
The International H Mart where I shop does carry some organic items, which I freaked out about And a lot of what they sell is labeled so you know where the products originated. Each visit is always like a new discovery as they rotate items constantly. And the prices are fabulous, very similar to what you described where you went. Though, the durians here are a lot less per pound and there are usually several different sizes to choose from. I've heard that durian can be quite pricey in some locations. I'm hoping that when an H Mart opens in your area, you'll be able to try it at a fair price.
And, not all durians reek! The ones I choose to purchase hardly smell and taste creamy and sweet (with the usual but most often mild underlying flavor of onion/garlic). From what I understand durians are only transported frozen to the US, but they can be thawed very easily...stored in the fridge for a few days after that (the flavor continues to round out and may even become sweeter). Some people will section it off and freeze some for later, but ours never lasts that long. My favorite way to eat durian is straight up
I've not tried any of the other items you listed, but there are certainly a bunch of other things I have tried...if I could only just now remember what they're called, haha.
3/31/2008 5:31 PMWendi Dee wrote:
I'm all for eating what I'm drawn to at the time. I just haven't been drawn to green juices, yet. I think in the future I will be, but for now they just don't look appealing to me.
I enjoy reading about your raw adventures. Thanks for sharing!
3/31/2008 1:52 PMKristen's Raw wrote:
I like adding extra lemon or lime juice to cut bitterness, that might help you? Or maybe grapefruit juice?
Hope you find your green groove so they can help you feel better Reply to this
3/17/2008 10:21 AMMichelle wrote:
I have juiced bok choy and in the beginning I really liked it's light, refreshing flavor. After a while I couldn't stand it anymore and actually threw away a whole quart of juice with it in there because the smell made me sick. This happened to me with kale too.
One thing I noticed about it was that if I used it with another green it was ok but if I only put bok choy in the juice would separate in a weird way.
I also put peas pods in my juice. Usually sugar snap peas. Yum. I love cilantro and mint (not together :o). They are both wonderful additions to my juice.
Most of the stuff on there I have no idea about and would be a little wary of too. Hopefully someone will be able to give you more info.
3/12/2008 11:41 PMMelissa wrote:
Hi Allison! That must be a huge relief. I admire your actions. I wouldn't know what to do and would probably want to write a note or approach my neighbor, but wouldn't do it out of fear. So go you!
I spend probably 95% of my time thinking about being raw. It used to be quite a stressor in my life, because in my current situation, I feel I am not able to pursue this kind of lifestyle, and that's upsetting!
I think adding in meditation would be a great addition to your life! I walk in the park or on the golf course I live on, and for me that's both a form of exercise and meditation. It's amazing how meditative exercise can be!
3/11/2008 4:53 AMMichelle wrote:
Thanks for the kind words. I loved spreading your juicy love! I am glad you have found your groove for your juice feasting. I think that the blogging and the time spent on healing our bodies is important. I know that the blogging has kept me going throughout my days and I am grateful for it.
I do think I was just feeling a bit cagey. A bit like I want something more. I think that may be where my dissatisfaction has been coming from.
I am feeling better and better everyday. Have a great day! Reply to this
3/10/2008 8:32 AMMichelle wrote:
I just wanted to let you know that I posted your picture on my blog today. Thanks for creating it and sharing it and I am privledged to spread your vision of peace. Reply to this
3/10/2008 8:02 AMMichelle wrote:
I too love the picture from yesterday. It is wonderful. It is so great that you are feeling so tranquil and peaceful while juicing. You brought a smile to my face and a bit of joy to my heart. Thank you for that.
3/9/2008 11:28 PMPippa wrote:
I follow the Modified Juice Feast too and experienced the very same thing over the weekend when I ate cooked food. The drop in energy was absolutely stunning in its apparentness. By the end of the whole weekend visiting and socializing and NOT drinking living food, I was missing my smoothies with a deep and heartfelt yearning. And I was missing the energy even more! Good luck, and keep going, Allison! Reply to this
3/9/2008 10:45 AMPenni wrote:
It's true...I noticed that after having been raw for awhile and then having cooked foods, especially if it contained any animal products, I'd get really mucousy, constipated and really sluggish. That has to be the greatest thing about doing this juice feast...there isn't a thing to weigh you down. Also, thanks for your plug on the article.
3/8/2008 4:39 PMPenni wrote:
I LOVE it! Way to spring back. And yes, I believe this was just a challenge to test your stamina and commitment just a bit. Your juice today sounds very good. You've come along way in putting mixtures together since you first got your VitaMix. Keep those great combos coming! Reply to this
3/7/2008 7:39 AMKristal wrote:
You might be interested in wheat grass powder. This company: http://www.amazinggrass.com/ sells it online, but you can often find it in Whole Foods as well. (At least, I could in California.) It's actual wheat grass, dried at a low temperature, and ground into a powder. I just mix it with water and like it quite a lot. Reply to this
3/6/2008 8:53 AMPenni wrote:
Hey Allison....have you tried using a pinch of Himalayan sea salt in your vegetable juices? I just read that this is a good idea to help bring out the savory flavors. I think I will try it since sea salt has organic sodium in it, surely it wouldn't be bad for us.
I always love reading your blog! xo....Penni Reply to this
3/2/2008 4:56 AMWendi Dee wrote:
It sounds like you have reached a very healthy place, mentally, about your diet. It's so good to drop the feeling that we have to do things 100% and perfect in order to succeed. I found that once I dropped those feelings, I actually *wanted* to be 100% rather than just thinking I *should* be.
I often wonder about the whole, "if you are dying, how would you live differently" question. My answer is always, "I'd live MORE." I don't know exactly what I mean when I say that, but it fills me with an inner excitment. I'd probably go to India to live, which I can't do now because it would mean leaving my husband who refuses to live there. :-/
Anyway, I just wanted to say I love reading your updates, and I love you, too!
3/1/2008 12:17 PM
CherylH wrote:
I also have hypothyroidism and have been on levothyroxine for years. Since converting to a raw diet I started juicing and working out more. Some of the recipes I use for sore muscles and for green juices have a lot of kale, cabbage, and spinach. I have been having lightheadedness and trouble staying awake which is from lower thyroid fucntion. Now I am researching cruciferous vegtables and found your blog and listed websites for more research helpful. The conversion book I am using for raw food lists the following to be helpful to add to your diet for thyroid imbalances. Organic foods, raw foods, green vegtables (not cruciferous/brassica family), green herbs, blue-green algea, gogi berries, green herbs. Kelp seaweed can correct hypothyroid ( 2 to 4 tablespoons of raw kelp seaweed flakes taken daily). Adding maca root powder (2 to 4 tablespoons daily) and/or raw coconut oil butter (2 to 4 tablespoons daily) will help to increase thyroid fuction. Maca( it is a cruciferous vegtable) has a balancing effect on the endocrine system and directly supports the thyroid. Also listed is sunlight on the skin. I am not familiar with Ms. Rose but will look into her information now. The conversion book I am using now is by David Wolfe and I have collection of raw recipe books. I hope some of this information may be as helpful to you as yours has been for me. Thanks much and may all of our thyroids find a healty balance. Reply to this
2/29/2008 5:57 PM
RawHonesty wrote:
Awesome that you're experiencing results which show the benefits of your perseverance, Allison! Well done and keep it up!!! It only gets better and better! Reply to this
2/29/2008 2:09 PMPenni wrote:
Yo Allison! What an awesome report! Ten pounds down in about three weeks is really encouraging. And the skin results are just what I hope to see once I get this ball rolling for a couple of days. Way to go, girl! Reply to this
2/27/2008 1:26 PM
Rawtn wrote:
I am coming around to the same process, although I did the gung ho thing from the get go. I went 98% raw for about 10 weeks (don't ask me how I computed that, lol) then I blew it for a week when I was trying to jump into juice feasting. I realize that this is NOT the time for me to juice feast, though I do believe there will come a time later. I am learning to listen. Reply to this
2/27/2008 12:13 PMWendi Dee wrote:
You are doing so great, especially with your thought processing of all that you are experiencing.
Whether you go 100%, or not, you are doing amazing things for yourself (and for others, through your sharing!).
2/27/2008 11:40 AMMelissa wrote:
Hi sweetie. I think I missed your birthday :X. Happy belated Birthday! I do hope it was full of joy. I hope every day is full of joy. hehe! Just, birthdays should be extra special.
I've definitely been having problems with my green juices being drinkable. I don't have a lot to choose from and since I've never eaten most green things before, I don't know what they taste like before I put them in a juice!
I love what you have to say about juice feasting and haste. When I realized the first time I wasn't able to juice feast properly due to space restrictions in the fridge and transportation, I thought "who cares?! I can achieve good health with eating 95-100% raw foods!" Which hasn't happened yet either! But I am making small changes. I am trying. I am trying to get my main transportation to understand(my mom!) and I wouldn't mind substituting my breakfast or lunch with a green juice!
I think the JF could be more beneficial spiritually, but for health purposes, I think there is a much less drastic way to do it! But it's all up to the individual.
2/27/2008 10:46 AMPenni wrote:
Here I come again with my two cents....Allison, the main thing is that you go with you gut leading on all of this. There is no way juice feasting is something that is going to be right for everybody. I think if it stresses you out on any level, you shouldn't try to push yourself. You don't need me to tell you that because you already know it. I love it that you have having such great results with what you have been doing so far.
We have been learning that all we have is NOW. Deciding what you are going to eat/drink is a minute by minute decision. I think that through this experimentation you are learning to have a deeper level of trust in yourself. I think it's very cool. And 5 pounds down....BRAVO! Reply to this
2/27/2008 8:51 AMDonna wrote:
I have hypothyroidism and have taken synthroid for over 7 years. After going raw March of 2006, I have been able to bring my medication from the 8th highest dosage to the second. I did the juice feast for a couple of weeks in hopes of giving a push to lower it even more. I had to go back on raw, though because I couldn't lose anymore weight. But it looks like my Dr. will be able to lower down to the lowest dosage. It just takes time. I'm in hopes of being completely off my synthroid by next year. Keep working! It's worth it. Reply to this
2/27/2008 7:26 AMMichelle wrote:
I am sorry you are having a hard time adjusting to the taste of the green juices. It can be difficult.
I have been writing my juice combinations since the beginning of my 31 day juice feast on my blog and whether or not they tasted good. Now I know we are all different as to what tastes good but it might help to give you some ideas.
One of my favorites is celery, green of choice, pear and mint. It is very good.
Also, Greens, celery, tomato, cilantro, carrot, garlic, lime or lemon is good too.
Adding a 1/2 a lemon per quart of juice seems to really change the taste of the juice and make it much nicer.
I have found that when I have to premake my juice I don't always enjoy the taste. Drinking the straight veg juices early and saving the fruit mixtures has helped with this.
Kelp can be found in any health food store. If you look on the supplements page of www.juicefeasting.com you will see what it looks like. It is used as a salt substitute so it is in a bottle with a spice type of lid. It is like dried little flakes. It tastes really good in the savory juices. It makes it taste more like food to me which is nice.
I hope this has been helpful and if you need any kind of support, please let me know. Reply to this
2/26/2008 11:23 PMSteve wrote:
Very interesting article, and fun to read. The information provided by you is very good. You gave a clear comprehensive on It is very useful and helpful for every one. Reply to this
2/26/2008 10:42 PMPippa wrote:
Allison, we must be sisters! I went raw for a year and a half and eventually and slowly returned to a SAD diet halfway through 2006. VERY excited to learn about Juice Feasting, I was! But I also feel to go MORE NATURAL and stick to smoothies rather than juices. And to keep the world of BM natural and real. What you researched and wrote helped me a LOT in making this decision, especially since I am hypothyroid. I am excited to see if going raw will make a difference in my low energy and thyroid. I have slowly started incorporating smoothies into my day since last week, and will fully jump into this journey on 1 March. I'm definitely at your side with this!
2/26/2008 2:24 PMPenni wrote:
First of all....I love Natalia Rose. She has probably helped more people move towards raw than a lot of the other 100%-er's. She has a much more realistic approach. Her Green Lemonade recipe is a standard base at my house.
I am glad to see this thyroid issue being raised. I have 90% of the symptoms of hypothyroidism, but I haven't gone to a doctor lately to be checked. I am going to keep your recommendations in mind as I begin my feast this Saturday. Also you should get Organic Kelp & Dulse Granules by Maine Coast Sea Seasonings. You would be able to put a tbsp. or whatever into your juice. Both have super high amounts of natural Iodine. I bought mine at a local health food store.
I am so glad you haven't given up and that you are feeling better about things. It's a journey of learning, right? I am so proud of your determination! xoxo....Penni Reply to this
2/26/2008 9:24 AMTerilynn wrote:
Green juice does take a bit to get use to. Take heart, the more you drink, the more your body will crave it and it won't taste so bad.
2/25/2008 5:52 PMWendi Dee wrote:
Congrats on the beginning of your new journey! I have similar problems (PCOS and IR) and it was great to read someone else writing about her research!
I really need to work more on getting zinc in my diet. Thanks for sharing your path with all of us!
2/25/2008 5:43 PMWendi Dee wrote:
Happy belated birthday to you, Allison!! I hope you had a lovely day and that your year is the best one ever--filled with sooooo much love and health!
2/25/2008 7:12 AMMichelle wrote:
Welcome to your modified juice feast. It sounds like you are doing a great job educating yourself. I wish you all the best.
I am on day 29 of my juice feast. It has been a wonderful journey. Reply to this
2/25/2008 1:33 AMHealthier Food Habits wrote:
Hello Allison, it is nice to hear that you have been researching on raw food stuffs and also i think it is really adorable that you place all your research work into your articles. It is providing good information to the health conscious people. Reply to this
2/24/2008 3:36 PM
RawHonesty wrote:
Good luck, Allison! You've done all the research and it sounds like you've got all your bases covered. You're on your way to restored health!!! Reply to this
2/20/2008 9:38 PM
Melissa wrote:
Hiya Allison, just responding to your comment on my blog! I water fasted about six years ago for 6 days, and by day two, my skin had really exploded into a mess-dry, flaky, and pimply/whiteheads and blackheads too. It took until about the fourth day for me to see it clear up. I just didn't pick or pop or touch my face and they healed extremely quick! I'm not sure what it would be like on a MJF, but I think the healing process would be better and probably not take as long because your body is actually get some kind of nutritional value through the green juice. So, yeah, that might explain the clear cheek!
2/20/2008 5:50 AMWendi Dee wrote:
Wow, Allison! You are doing fantastic!!! I'm sure you are already inspiring others, even if you think your facial blemish is awful. *hugs* You are beautiful inside and out, even if you don't feel it right now.
I've had my Vitamix for about 10 years, or so, and I remember being nervous about burning the motor out in the beginning. Now, I start it on low and very quickly turn it to high and pop it up into the highest mode. I'd probably start it on high if the abrupt sound didn't startle me!
2/19/2008 11:15 PMMelissa wrote:
I totally understand about being embarrassed to tell others about what you're drinking when it's bad! Lol! But, I haven't brought any green juice to work yet. That will happen soon enough. They think I'm strange already, so this probably won't be a huge shocker.
Mmm. I love the texture of some green juice with fiber in it. Maybe it was because I only used spinach and it's really creamy smooth, but I didn't need to strain and mmmm. Too much fiber on my tummy though at once. :/
Glad to hear things are so wonderful for you with your juice feast preparations. Even with the skin! That shows you that it really does work! My skin erupted too. hehe. But, it's always yucky someway, so I'm not really worried about it.
Have yourself some incredibly juicy love, Melissa <3 Reply to this
2/18/2008 3:33 PMWendi Dee wrote:
You are doing so great!! I love the pics of your veggies, too! You are so much braver than I am and I am going to be coming to you for tips when I get up the courage to feast in the future.
It's awesome that you found a nice place to get your veggies cheaper, too! I'd love to find a place like that near me.
2/18/2008 3:25 PMDea wrote:
Hi Allison, to make my smoothies or shakes richer calorically I add one or two tablespoons of coconut oil...it tastes pretty good Enjoying reading your blog btw ciao Dea
Note from Allison: OH- I forgot about coconut oil. Thank you for reminding me, Dea! That's got to taste much better than hemp oil.
2/17/2008 10:10 PMMelissa wrote:
Oooh! I saw that picture in my mail just now and kinda drooled on myself. haha.
That's my problem with Sunflower Market-there's not enough of an organic selection. But, you know, we do what we can with what we got, right?
I have a question about the 5-days thing. How come the weekend days aren't counted? Do people not juice on those days and go without anything?! I'd like juice all week long. However, a two day water fast would probably help some of those pesticides come out, right? Hm! That's an idea, however, it's not worth it by not getting the nutrients your body needs, imo. I usually don't get sick water fasting, but still. I don't like to do it.
I have a nut milk bag-I wonder if just using pantyhose would work better? I'll have to try both. It'll be nice to have a pulp free juice, even though I like the juice(the fiber made me a little erm..runny? these past two days...sorry if that's tmi! just lemme know and I won't mention it again. lol)
Thank you again for everything! I love your blog. <3
2/16/2008 1:10 AMMelissa wrote:
Mm! Thanks, Allison. You've inspired me to try decreasing my sugar intake. I will ask my mom(she works at CVS) to look at the glucose measuring device thing! I think it is something I should definitely look into. My uncle is diabetic and my mom used to be hypoglycemic. When I was younger, I was tested for diabetes and supposedly I was fine, but my uncle didn't develop diabetes until his 20's or 30's.
I love your blog! I cannot wait to follow you along your journey. When is your birthday?! That's what I had wanted to do in January, but it didn't happen that way.
Are beets sugary at all? I am enthralled with the color beets give to everything! Soooo wonderful and refreshing from green.
Sending much love and positive vibes, Melissa Reply to this
2/13/2008 10:51 AMMelissa wrote:
Go Allison! I have been reading through your smoothie journey so far, and eee! It's so exciting. I'm learning a lot through you, so thank you so much.
I would love to try ginger.
Sending lots of good vibes and love, Melissa Reply to this
2/12/2008 2:51 PMWendi Dee wrote:
Well, how did it go with the smoothie? Were you able to drink it? I think you are so brave to jump right into the juices and smoothies! I'd have to work my way up to that many greens in a drink. Did you ever hear anything more about the buzz you experienced?
2/11/2008 3:17 PMKristal wrote:
Hi there! I've been reading your blog off and on for a couple years now, and I thought I'd let you know a couple of my recipes that you could easily adapt to raw. First of all - Tabouleh Salad. I don't eat wheat, so I've started making it with mung beans instead. It's great - and you could just soak the beans for a day or two instead of boiling them.
Mung beans + minced garlic + chopped tomato + tons of parsley + sea salt and pepper. I can't eat enough of the stuff.
Secondly, you could easily make hummus with soaked garbanzo beans. I never cook garbanzos anymore - just soak them for a couple days in a bowl of water. They are one of my favorite snacks, and with your new blender you could easily whip up some raw hummus.
Good luck, and thanks for your great blog! Reply to this
2/11/2008 12:31 PMWendi Dee wrote:
I love adding lemon or lime to dishes I make. It really does make things even tastier! I chuckled about your nightgown being spattered with green.
I created a soup for Terilynn's recipe challenge and thought of you the whole time--since I was using the VitaMix. Here's a link if you want to see the recipe: http://purejeevan.com/blog/?p=296
2/11/2008 9:26 AM
joanna RawTn wrote:
Sounds like you're doing great Allison! Just found your blog fromyour Twitter post, and read through the last few days blogs. I am no expert, but have been making juices without nutmylk bags for 2 weeks now. I strain it into a bowl through the metal strainer first, then through the cheese cloth into the jar or glass. It's working for me until I can order some nm bags online. CHeers! Reply to this
2/10/2008 5:20 PM
carrie wrote:
if you are worried about heating up your smoothie, try adding some ice cubes...
2/8/2008 6:36 PM
RawHonesty wrote:
Yes, that's a painful receipt all right, Allison. I feel your pain Enjoy the Vita-Mix! My new Excalibur dehydrator arrived today and I'll be making flaxseed crackers tomorrow! Raw ain't cheap, that's for sure. Reply to this
As for the expense, I've never done a feast before, so I have no idea what the cost should be. My total grocery expense each month would make just about everyone faint! It's hundreds more than my mortgage payment each month (and I have a big home)!
It's my #1 priority, though. We don't have cable TV, cell phones, a second car, or even a dishwasher. I love organic veggies and fruits more than those things.
I'm looking forward to following your feast and hearing about your VitaMix creations!!!
2/1/2008 6:01 PM
RawHonesty wrote:
I support your NATURAL approach 100%, Allison! (Colonics & enemas are NOT natural.) Your smoothie feasting plan sounds much less fanatical and more healthy to me than juice feasing! You go! I look forward to your posts & I won't likely be far behind you Reply to this
1/29/2008 12:15 PM
Shaun in Tucson wrote:
Allison, I completely agree with you. Thanks for saying it. I'd like to see any actual evidence...citing a peer-reviewed scientific study, for example...of finding years of fecal build-up in anyone's colon.
Also, I agree that a program that requires the purchase of hundreds of dollars worth of supplements really isn't providing the nutrition our bodies need.
I like the idea of simplifying our diets, but isn't that what eating raw is supposed to be doing?
I guess people can't make a living by telling others to just eat fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.
It seems like some people are all about pushing the envelope, becoming more extreme. I wonder how many closet anorexics have joined the raw food movement? Reply to this
1/29/2008 10:17 AMalissa wrote:
i'm scared of enemas too. but i have to say (after just having had a colonoscopy) that the colonoscopy was bad news. not so much the procedure itself. but the chemical prep beforehand was brutal. i really really think that the chemicals in that prep aggravated my issues.
so all i'm saying is that the colonoscopy is not without it's issues as well. Reply to this
1/29/2008 12:14 AMMelissa wrote:
I am so glad you posted this. I have always thought the same thing. Also, I thought that if you were to build up waste like that, wouldn't people get impacted?
I also like your modifications on the juice feast. I had such a problem with it. I still kind of do, just because I feel like I cannot afford to do something like that-it's proving just as difficult to afford being raw! I wanted to spend the thirty dollars just because I was curious too! But, I don't see why they advocate supplements so incredibly much. You can do without! You shouldn't have to use supplements if you were getting all of the nutrients daily, right?
Yayyy! I'll stop there, or I would just continue!
NOTE FROM ALLISON:Thank you for your response! Like you, I'm very cost conscious. If their site cost more than $30 for the month I probably wouldn't join. I believe information about health should be absolutely free. But I like that they make so much health information available to non-members and figure that for $30 I'm supporting people who efforts, on principle, I like. I figure I'm paying for the service they provide- daily support, website costs, software they bought to create the site, etc. By the way, I read that juicefeasting itself costs about $9 a day. I'm not sure if it was for groceries only but it must be, because the supplements they talk about can be pretty expensive. If you round up to $10 (I live in the desert so I believe produce costs a bit more here anyway, plus it's still winter so there are fewer things in season locally) that's about $300 a month for food. If I go through with this I hope to remember to add up the costs to see what I'm really spending.
I know what you mean about not wanting to get the attention of those around you. I hid my weight loss for a long time, because I wasn't comfortable with any comments I might get. :-/
The juice feasting sounds great. I'm not ready for something like that, personally, YET. I know I'll eventually do a juice feast, however, so I'd love to hear your comments if you ever do it! I'd skip the enema, too--it just doesn't seem natural to me.
1/25/2008 8:28 PMMelissa wrote:
Hey Allison, I've been wondering the very same thing! Do you know about the Gilcrease Orchard? It's far away from where I live, but supposedly they have awesome prices! I don't know what kind of veggies they have. Maybe I'll have to take a trip there!
Also, something that I am having a problem with is even *choosing* what kind of foods to buy because I have no idea what I am going to make, since I am so new to raw foods. Reply to this
Great review! It's nice to get your perspective on the product. I really enjoyed your sense of humor through the explanation of the steps you took, the part about the curly parsley especially Gadgets certainly can help make prep less of a hassle. We have several fun gizmos that come in very handy. Can't wait to see what you'll say about the Vita-Mix!
Hi. You mentioned that you were on week 3 of Armour and "no hair loss yet". Hair loss is not directly from Armour, but from staying on the low starting doses too long without raising. And there's hair loss from having low ferritin. It's all here: www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/things-we-have-learned Hope that helps. Nancy
Reply to this
We live in a culture where values are based on greed; not on heart. At every turn we are bombarded with sick foods and then "health professionals" who give us drugs to combat the sick foods. It's utterly insane. Fresh, organic food is now mainstream and is so expensive that it pushes poverty and the illnesses of poor nutrition even further down the poverty line. And as a female (strike 1) of color (strike 2) and overweight (strike 3) our paradigm is invalidation, humiliation and downward spiraling. Am I angry? You bet I am!
I was talking to a male colleague of mine a few years ago. He has the corporate "look" and was in his late 20's/early 30's. I was higher up on the rung then he; but I told him that in a few years I would be working for him. "No way," he said! Oh, yes, I have the wrong anatomy, I'm overweight and over 50. "What!" he said, "You're over FIFTY?" God, I laughed so hard I thought I would fall down. He totally missed the point.
Anyway, my point is that our road is LONG and it's not EASY and the RIGHT thing is the HARD thing. I have felt like a freek at 160 pounds, and at 260 pounds and am slowly coming around to the realization that the more I succumb to the feelings of self-invalidation, the more I empower the Sick System and disempower myself.
So the best I can do is to find other like-minded folk who accept me for who I am in this very moment. And I have to accept myself in this very moment before they can. And I have to find a way to move through the blame, shame, invalidation, depression and other self-hurt thoughts and deeds. (This takes courage and is HARD)
I've found that the stains on my soul are deep and may never be scrubbed clean. But instead of being ashamed, I find that I can now say that I am a survivor. And in spite the fact that the culture I live in does not support my belief system, this is somehow making me stronger instead of weaker. Somewhere along the line, I turned a corner; well, a lot of corners!
And I just FEEL better, emotionally, physically and spiritually when I eat raw. And when I'm in a situation where I can't give myself 100% raw, well, then, I adjust. I don't make a big deal out of it and when I get home I have a green drink and alkalize and look back on how I could do better next time (bring an avocado, etc.)
So I say here, go look in the mirror and thank your body for the wisdom it shares with you instead of fighting it and LOVE yourself just as you are in THIS VERY MOMENT. Why? Because God (Goddess, The Universe, whatever) hears you and it will all unfold in time. Have faith, hope and joy.
*May many blessings befall your path and may you be conscious enough to pick them up and be grateful*
Alison, and ALL WOMEN WHO ARE STRUGGLING, I Honor You for making it this far along your path(s) and send you Love from my heart - Joy
Reply to this
Hi, Allison--
I admire your honesty in this post, and I feel for you in regard to the pain you have experienced in the world the way it is.
Don't wait for some magical weight--go out and get the things you want in life right now, just like you're talking about. That will be good for you right now and will also bring you closer to where you want to be on all levels.
Though I have never been what would be considered overweight, I went through a big transformation in my appearance many years ago and experienced a shift in people's reactions similar to what you described. It was shocking and sad to me.
I met my husband on the Internet more than 12 years ago. His weight puts him in the "obese" category. I have constantly been astounded at the obnoxious things people have said to him over the years. I never knew it was that bad for "overweight" people. I never knew people could be so cruel--blatantly and subtly.
My husband and I came to love each other through words (e-mails, etc.) and very quickly he said he wanted to marry me. I said, "You haven't even seen my picture yet and you want to marry me?" And he said, "If you had two heads, I would say, 'Nice profiles!'"
I thought, now this is man worth marrying. It isn't about bodies.
You are beautiful inside and out, Allison. Get out in that sunny life and take it. Forget the icky people!
I am amazed by you and what you are doing toward your transformation. I hope you feel proud and good. Take care.
Reply to this
Allison, this is a great blog post!
Deconstructing the foods I was craving is one of the things I attribute to me being able to successfully go and stay raw. It really is about the flavorings, not the actual foods, most times!
I wanted to share about my experience with young coconuts, especially if your friend also has high cholesterol. I consumed one young coconut per day for one month and within that time my cholesterol went from unhealthy to very healthy! I think young coconuts can do a lot of good things for people, if they are experiencing certain imbalances in their diets. I'm sure your friend appreciates that attention you are giving to her diet. I hope she can regain some health by learning from you!
Lots of love to you!
Wendi
XOXOXO
Reply to this
That's sick about the wax on tomatoes! I didn't realize they did that, I thought it was just apples and cucumbers sometimes. I will keep my eye peeled when I am shopping from now on. Thanks for sharing the info!!
Penni
Reply to this
Hi Allison, I've just discovered your blog and I'm really enjoying reading through it--love to read about your journey! I have a raw foods diet wiki website also that I'm hoping to fill with advice from others...Would you mind if I posted a link to your blog on my site? It's at:
http://rawfoodsdiet.wetpaint.com
Thanks!
Reply to this
I love how even if you get away from eating 100% raw, you are right back at it again, Allison. You RAWk! How cool of you to help your ex, too. You are a kind soul.
As for the wax on fruits and veggies, it drives me nuts. I'm hoping when we move to California that the foods won't need to be preserved with wax, since we'll be eating them right there where they are grown. That's my hope, anyway, until we have a large enough garden to sustain us!
Lots of love to you,
Wendi
XOXOXO
Reply to this
I love the way you write!!
The International H Mart where I shop does carry some organic items, which I freaked out about
And, not all durians reek! The ones I choose to purchase hardly smell and taste creamy and sweet (with the usual but most often mild underlying flavor of onion/garlic). From what I understand durians are only transported frozen to the US, but they can be thawed very easily...stored in the fridge for a few days after that (the flavor continues to round out and may even become sweeter). Some people will section it off and freeze some for later, but ours never lasts that long. My favorite way to eat durian is straight up
I've not tried any of the other items you listed, but there are certainly a bunch of other things I have tried...if I could only just now remember what they're called, haha.
Great post!
Reply to this
I'm all for eating what I'm drawn to at the time. I just haven't been drawn to green juices, yet. I think in the future I will be, but for now they just don't look appealing to me.
I enjoy reading about your raw adventures. Thanks for sharing!
Lots of love to you,
Wendi
XOXO
Reply to this
I like adding extra lemon or lime juice to cut bitterness, that might help you? Or maybe grapefruit juice?
Hope you find your green groove so they can help you feel better
Reply to this
I have juiced bok choy and in the beginning I really liked it's light, refreshing flavor. After a while I couldn't stand it anymore and actually threw away a whole quart of juice with it in there because the smell made me sick. This happened to me with kale too.
One thing I noticed about it was that if I used it with another green it was ok but if I only put bok choy in the juice would separate in a weird way.
I also put peas pods in my juice. Usually sugar snap peas. Yum. I love cilantro and mint (not together :o). They are both wonderful additions to my juice.
Most of the stuff on there I have no idea about and would be a little wary of too. Hopefully someone will be able to give you more info.
Keep up the good work!
Reply to this
Hi Allison! That must be a huge relief. I admire your actions. I wouldn't know what to do and would probably want to write a note or approach my neighbor, but wouldn't do it out of fear. So go you!
I spend probably 95% of my time thinking about being raw. It used to be quite a stressor in my life, because in my current situation, I feel I am not able to pursue this kind of lifestyle, and that's upsetting!
I think adding in meditation would be a great addition to your life! I walk in the park or on the golf course I live on, and for me that's both a form of exercise and meditation. It's amazing how meditative exercise can be!
Hugs,
Melissa
Reply to this
Thanks for the kind words. I loved spreading your juicy love! I am glad you have found your groove for your juice feasting. I think that the blogging and the time spent on healing our bodies is important. I know that the blogging has kept me going throughout my days and I am grateful for it.
I do think I was just feeling a bit cagey. A bit like I want something more. I think that may be where my dissatisfaction has been coming from.
I am feeling better and better everyday. Have a great day!
Reply to this
I just wanted to let you know that I posted your picture on my blog today. Thanks for creating it and sharing it and I am privledged to spread your vision of peace.
Reply to this
I too love the picture from yesterday. It is wonderful. It is so great that you are feeling so tranquil and peaceful while juicing. You brought a smile to my face and a bit of joy to my heart. Thank you for that.
Have a juicy day!
Reply to this
I follow the Modified Juice Feast too and experienced the very same thing over the weekend when I ate cooked food. The drop in energy was absolutely stunning in its apparentness. By the end of the whole weekend visiting and socializing and NOT drinking living food, I was missing my smoothies with a deep and heartfelt yearning. And I was missing the energy even more! Good luck, and keep going, Allison!
Reply to this
It's true...I noticed that after having been raw for awhile and then having cooked foods, especially if it contained any animal products, I'd get really mucousy, constipated and really sluggish. That has to be the greatest thing about doing this juice feast...there isn't a thing to weigh you down. Also, thanks for your plug on the article.
Have a great Sunday!
Penni
Reply to this
I LOVE it! Way to spring back. And yes, I believe this was just a challenge to test your stamina and commitment just a bit. Your juice today sounds very good. You've come along way in putting mixtures together since you first got your VitaMix. Keep those great combos coming!
Reply to this
You might be interested in wheat grass powder. This company: http://www.amazinggrass.com/ sells it online, but you can often find it in Whole Foods as well. (At least, I could in California.) It's actual wheat grass, dried at a low temperature, and ground into a powder. I just mix it with water and like it quite a lot.
Reply to this
Hey Allison....have you tried using a pinch of Himalayan sea salt in your vegetable juices? I just read that this is a good idea to help bring out the savory flavors. I think I will try it since sea salt has organic sodium in it, surely it wouldn't be bad for us.
I always love reading your blog!
xo....Penni
Reply to this
It sounds like you have reached a very healthy place, mentally, about your diet. It's so good to drop the feeling that we have to do things 100% and perfect in order to succeed. I found that once I dropped those feelings, I actually *wanted* to be 100% rather than just thinking I *should* be.
I often wonder about the whole, "if you are dying, how would you live differently" question. My answer is always, "I'd live MORE." I don't know exactly what I mean when I say that, but it fills me with an inner excitment. I'd probably go to India to live, which I can't do now because it would mean leaving my husband who refuses to live there. :-/
Anyway, I just wanted to say I love reading your updates, and I love you, too!
Lots of love,
Wendi
XOXO
Reply to this
I also have hypothyroidism and have been on levothyroxine for years. Since converting to a raw diet I started juicing and working out more. Some of the recipes I use for sore muscles and for green juices have a lot of kale, cabbage, and spinach. I have been having lightheadedness and trouble staying awake which is from lower thyroid fucntion. Now I am researching cruciferous vegtables and found your blog and listed websites for more research helpful.
The conversion book I am using for raw food lists the following to be helpful to add to your diet for thyroid imbalances. Organic foods, raw foods, green vegtables (not cruciferous/brassica family), green herbs, blue-green algea, gogi berries, green herbs. Kelp seaweed can correct hypothyroid ( 2 to 4 tablespoons of raw kelp seaweed flakes taken daily). Adding maca root powder (2 to 4 tablespoons daily) and/or raw coconut oil butter (2 to 4 tablespoons daily) will help to increase thyroid fuction. Maca( it is a cruciferous vegtable) has a balancing effect on the endocrine system and directly supports the thyroid. Also listed is sunlight on the skin. I am not familiar with Ms. Rose but will look into her information now. The conversion book I am using now is by David Wolfe and I have collection of raw recipe books. I hope some of this information may be as helpful to you as yours has been for me. Thanks much and may all of our thyroids find a healty balance.
Reply to this
Awesome that you're experiencing results which show the benefits of your perseverance, Allison! Well done and keep it up!!! It only gets better and better!
Reply to this
Yo Allison! What an awesome report! Ten pounds down in about three weeks is really encouraging. And the skin results are just what I hope to see once I get this ball rolling for a couple of days. Way to go, girl!
Reply to this
I am coming around to the same process, although I did the gung ho thing from the get go. I went 98% raw for about 10 weeks (don't ask me how I computed that, lol) then I blew it for a week when I was trying to jump into juice feasting. I realize that this is NOT the time for me to juice feast, though I do believe there will come a time later. I am learning to listen.
Reply to this
You are doing so great, especially with your thought processing of all that you are experiencing.
Whether you go 100%, or not, you are doing amazing things for yourself (and for others, through your sharing!).
I love you!
Wendi
XOXO
Reply to this
Hi sweetie. I think I missed your birthday :X. Happy belated Birthday! I do hope it was full of joy. I hope every day is full of joy. hehe!
I've definitely been having problems with my green juices being drinkable. I don't have a lot to choose from and since I've never eaten most green things before, I don't know what they taste like before I put them in a juice!
I love what you have to say about juice feasting and haste. When I realized the first time I wasn't able to juice feast properly due to space restrictions in the fridge and transportation, I thought "who cares?! I can achieve good health with eating 95-100% raw foods!" Which hasn't happened yet either! But I am making small changes. I am trying. I am trying to get my main transportation to understand(my mom!) and I wouldn't mind substituting my breakfast or lunch with a green juice!
I think the JF could be more beneficial spiritually, but for health purposes, I think there is a much less drastic way to do it! But it's all up to the individual.
Much love and gratitude,
Melissa
Reply to this
Here I come again with my two cents....Allison, the main thing is that you go with you gut leading on all of this. There is no way juice feasting is something that is going to be right for everybody. I think if it stresses you out on any level, you shouldn't try to push yourself. You don't need me to tell you that because you already know it. I love it that you have having such great results with what you have been doing so far.
We have been learning that all we have is NOW. Deciding what you are going to eat/drink is a minute by minute decision. I think that through this experimentation you are learning to have a deeper level of trust in yourself. I think it's very cool. And 5 pounds down....BRAVO!
Reply to this
I have hypothyroidism and have taken synthroid for over 7 years. After going raw March of 2006, I have been able to bring my medication from the 8th highest dosage to the second. I did the juice feast for a couple of weeks in hopes of giving a push to lower it even more. I had to go back on raw, though because I couldn't lose anymore weight. But it looks like my Dr. will be able to lower down to the lowest dosage. It just takes time. I'm in hopes of being completely off my synthroid by next year. Keep working! It's worth it.
Reply to this
I am sorry you are having a hard time adjusting to the taste of the green juices. It can be difficult.
I have been writing my juice combinations since the beginning of my 31 day juice feast on my blog and whether or not they tasted good. Now I know we are all different as to what tastes good but it might help to give you some ideas.
One of my favorites is celery, green of choice, pear and mint. It is very good.
Also, Greens, celery, tomato, cilantro, carrot, garlic, lime or lemon is good too.
Adding a 1/2 a lemon per quart of juice seems to really change the taste of the juice and make it much nicer.
I have found that when I have to premake my juice I don't always enjoy the taste. Drinking the straight veg juices early and saving the fruit mixtures has helped with this.
Kelp can be found in any health food store. If you look on the supplements page of www.juicefeasting.com you will see what it looks like. It is used as a salt substitute so it is in a bottle with a spice type of lid. It is like dried little flakes. It tastes really good in the savory juices. It makes it taste more like food to me which is nice.
I hope this has been helpful and if you need any kind of support, please let me know.
Reply to this
Very interesting article, and fun to read. The information provided by you is very good. You gave a clear comprehensive on It is very useful and helpful for every one.
Reply to this
Allison, we must be sisters!
Love, and light
Pippa
Reply to this
First of all....I love Natalia Rose. She has probably helped more people move towards raw than a lot of the other 100%-er's. She has a much more realistic approach. Her Green Lemonade recipe is a standard base at my house.
I am glad to see this thyroid issue being raised. I have 90% of the symptoms of hypothyroidism, but I haven't gone to a doctor lately to be checked. I am going to keep your recommendations in mind as I begin my feast this Saturday. Also you should get Organic Kelp & Dulse Granules by Maine Coast Sea Seasonings. You would be able to put a tbsp. or whatever into your juice. Both have super high amounts of natural Iodine. I bought mine at a local health food store.
I am so glad you haven't given up and that you are feeling better about things. It's a journey of learning, right? I am so proud of your determination!
xoxo....Penni
Reply to this
Green juice does take a bit to get use to. Take heart, the more you drink, the more your body will crave it and it won't taste so bad.
Terilynn
Reply to this
Congrats on the beginning of your new journey! I have similar problems (PCOS and IR) and it was great to read someone else writing about her research!
I really need to work more on getting zinc in my diet. Thanks for sharing your path with all of us!
Lots of love to you,
Wendi
XOXO
Reply to this
Happy belated birthday to you, Allison!! I hope you had a lovely day and that your year is the best one ever--filled with sooooo much love and health!
XOXOXO
Reply to this
Welcome to your modified juice feast. It sounds like you are doing a great job educating yourself. I wish you all the best.
I am on day 29 of my juice feast. It has been a wonderful journey.
Reply to this
Hello Allison, it is nice to hear that you have been researching on raw food stuffs and also i think it is really adorable that you place all your research work into your articles. It is providing good information to the health conscious people.
Reply to this
Good luck, Allison! You've done all the research and it sounds like you've got all your bases covered. You're on your way to restored health!!!
Reply to this
Hiya Allison, just responding to your comment on my blog! I water fasted about six years ago for 6 days, and by day two, my skin had really exploded into a mess-dry, flaky, and pimply/whiteheads and blackheads too. It took until about the fourth day for me to see it clear up. I just didn't pick or pop or touch my face and they healed extremely quick! I'm not sure what it would be like on a MJF, but I think the healing process would be better and probably not take as long because your body is actually get some kind of nutritional value through the green juice. So, yeah, that might explain the clear cheek!
xxx,
Melissa
Reply to this
Wow, Allison! You are doing fantastic!!! I'm sure you are already inspiring others, even if you think your facial blemish is awful. *hugs* You are beautiful inside and out, even if you don't feel it right now.
I've had my Vitamix for about 10 years, or so, and I remember being nervous about burning the motor out in the beginning. Now, I start it on low and very quickly turn it to high and pop it up into the highest mode. I'd probably start it on high if the abrupt sound didn't startle me!
Lots of love to you!
Wendi
XOXOXO
Reply to this
I totally understand about being embarrassed to tell others about what you're drinking when it's bad! Lol! But, I haven't brought any green juice to work yet. That will happen soon enough. They think I'm strange already, so this probably won't be a huge shocker.
Mmm. I love the texture of some green juice with fiber in it. Maybe it was because I only used spinach and it's really creamy smooth, but I didn't need to strain and mmmm. Too much fiber on my tummy though at once. :/
Glad to hear things are so wonderful for you with your juice feast preparations. Even with the skin! That shows you that it really does work!
Have yourself some incredibly juicy love,
Melissa <3
Reply to this
You are doing so great!! I love the pics of your veggies, too! You are so much braver than I am and I am going to be coming to you for tips when I get up the courage to feast in the future.
It's awesome that you found a nice place to get your veggies cheaper, too! I'd love to find a place like that near me.
I'm sending you lots of love!
Wendi
XOXO
Reply to this
Hi Allison, to make my smoothies or shakes richer calorically I add one or two tablespoons of coconut oil...it tastes pretty good
Note from Allison: OH- I forgot about coconut oil. Thank you for reminding me, Dea! That's got to taste much better than hemp oil.
Reply to this
Oooh! I saw that picture in my mail just now and kinda drooled on myself. haha.
That's my problem with Sunflower Market-there's not enough of an organic selection. But, you know, we do what we can with what we got, right?
I have a question about the 5-days thing. How come the weekend days aren't counted? Do people not juice on those days and go without anything?! I'd like juice all week long. However, a two day water fast would probably help some of those pesticides come out, right? Hm! That's an idea, however, it's not worth it by not getting the nutrients your body needs, imo. I usually don't get sick water fasting, but still. I don't like to do it.
I have a nut milk bag-I wonder if just using pantyhose would work better? I'll have to try both. It'll be nice to have a pulp free juice, even though I like the juice(the fiber made me a little erm..runny? these past two days...sorry if that's tmi! just lemme know and I won't mention it again. lol)
Thank you again for everything! I love your blog. <3
xxx,
melissa
Reply to this
Mm! Thanks, Allison. You've inspired me to try decreasing my sugar intake. I will ask my mom(she works at CVS) to look at the glucose measuring device thing! I think it is something I should definitely look into. My uncle is diabetic and my mom used to be hypoglycemic. When I was younger, I was tested for diabetes and supposedly I was fine, but my uncle didn't develop diabetes until his 20's or 30's.
I love your blog! I cannot wait to follow you along your journey. When is your birthday?! That's what I had wanted to do in January, but it didn't happen that way.
Are beets sugary at all? I am enthralled with the color beets give to everything! Soooo wonderful and refreshing from green.
Sending much love and positive vibes,
Melissa
Reply to this
Go Allison! I have been reading through your smoothie journey so far, and eee! It's so exciting. I'm learning a lot through you, so thank you so much.
I would love to try ginger.
Sending lots of good vibes and love,
Melissa
Reply to this
Well, how did it go with the smoothie? Were you able to drink it? I think you are so brave to jump right into the juices and smoothies! I'd have to work my way up to that many greens in a drink.
Lots of love to you!
Wendi Dee
XOXO
Reply to this
Hi there! I've been reading your blog off and on for a couple years now, and I thought I'd let you know a couple of my recipes that you could easily adapt to raw. First of all - Tabouleh Salad. I don't eat wheat, so I've started making it with mung beans instead. It's great - and you could just soak the beans for a day or two instead of boiling them.
Mung beans + minced garlic + chopped tomato + tons of parsley + sea salt and pepper. I can't eat enough of the stuff.
Secondly, you could easily make hummus with soaked garbanzo beans. I never cook garbanzos anymore - just soak them for a couple days in a bowl of water. They are one of my favorite snacks, and with your new blender you could easily whip up some raw hummus.
Good luck, and thanks for your great blog!
Reply to this
I love adding lemon or lime to dishes I make. It really does make things even tastier! I chuckled about your nightgown being spattered with green.
I created a soup for Terilynn's recipe challenge and thought of you the whole time--since I was using the VitaMix. Here's a link if you want to see the recipe: http://purejeevan.com/blog/?p=296
What are people saying about your green drinks?
Lots of love to you,
Wendi
XOXO
Reply to this
Sounds like you're doing great Allison! Just found your blog fromyour Twitter post, and read through the last few days blogs. I am no expert, but have been making juices without nutmylk bags for 2 weeks now. I strain it into a bowl through the metal strainer first, then through the cheese cloth into the jar or glass. It's working for me until I can order some nm bags online.
CHeers!
Reply to this
if you are worried about heating up your smoothie, try adding some ice cubes...
NOTE FROM ALLISON: CARRIE!! How are you?
Reply to this
just a thought...try costco for bulk greens?
carrie
aka chubbiegirl
Reply to this
Yes, that's a painful receipt all right, Allison. I feel your pain
Reply to this
Tomorrow!! Yay!!!
As for the expense, I've never done a feast before, so I have no idea what the cost should be. My total grocery expense each month would make just about everyone faint! It's hundreds more than my mortgage payment each month (and I have a big home)!
It's my #1 priority, though. We don't have cable TV, cell phones, a second car, or even a dishwasher. I love organic veggies and fruits more than those things.
I'm looking forward to following your feast and hearing about your VitaMix creations!!!
Lots of love to you,
Wendi
XOXOXO
Reply to this
I support your NATURAL approach 100%, Allison! (Colonics & enemas are NOT natural.) Your smoothie feasting plan sounds much less fanatical and more healthy to me than juice feasing! You go! I look forward to your posts & I won't likely be far behind you
Reply to this
Allison, I completely agree with you. Thanks for saying it. I'd like to see any actual evidence...citing a peer-reviewed scientific study, for example...of finding years of fecal build-up in anyone's colon.
Also, I agree that a program that requires the purchase of hundreds of dollars worth of supplements really isn't providing the nutrition our bodies need.
I like the idea of simplifying our diets, but isn't that what eating raw is supposed to be doing?
I guess people can't make a living by telling others to just eat fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.
It seems like some people are all about pushing the envelope, becoming more extreme. I wonder how many closet anorexics have joined the raw food movement?
Reply to this
i'm scared of enemas too. but i have to say (after just having had a colonoscopy) that the colonoscopy was bad news. not so much the procedure itself. but the chemical prep beforehand was brutal. i really really think that the chemicals in that prep aggravated my issues.
so all i'm saying is that the colonoscopy is not without it's issues as well.
Reply to this
I am so glad you posted this. I have always thought the same thing. Also, I thought that if you were to build up waste like that, wouldn't people get impacted?
I also like your modifications on the juice feast. I had such a problem with it. I still kind of do, just because I feel like I cannot afford to do something like that-it's proving just as difficult to afford being raw! I wanted to spend the thirty dollars just because I was curious too! But, I don't see why they advocate supplements so incredibly much. You can do without! You shouldn't have to use supplements if you were getting all of the nutrients daily, right?
Yayyy! I'll stop there, or I would just continue!
NOTE FROM ALLISON: Thank you for your response! Like you, I'm very cost conscious. If their site cost more than $30 for the month I probably wouldn't join. I believe information about health should be absolutely free. But I like that they make so much health information available to non-members and figure that for $30 I'm supporting people who efforts, on principle, I like. I figure I'm paying for the service they provide- daily support, website costs, software they bought to create the site, etc.
Reply to this
Congratulations, Allison, on winning an award!!!
I know what you mean about not wanting to get the attention of those around you. I hid my weight loss for a long time, because I wasn't comfortable with any comments I might get. :-/
The juice feasting sounds great. I'm not ready for something like that, personally, YET. I know I'll eventually do a juice feast, however, so I'd love to hear your comments if you ever do it! I'd skip the enema, too--it just doesn't seem natural to me.
Lots of love to you!
Wendi Dee
XOXOXO
Reply to this
Hey Allison, I've been wondering the very same thing! Do you know about the Gilcrease Orchard? It's far away from where I live, but supposedly they have awesome prices! I don't know what kind of veggies they have. Maybe I'll have to take a trip there!
Also, something that I am having a problem with is even *choosing* what kind of foods to buy because I have no idea what I am going to make, since I am so new to raw foods.
Reply to this
Allison,
Great review! It's nice to get your perspective on the product. I really enjoyed your sense of humor through the explanation of the steps you took, the part about the curly parsley especially
Speed in healing,
~BB
Reply to this