VeggieWave

FREE Detox Teleseminar on Thursday, April 16

2009-04-15T00:35:00.007-04:00

Tera Warner of The Raw Divas is
hosting a FREE teleseminar this week all about Detox. I
plan to check it out - how about you?

She will discuss the most common mistakes
people make while detoxing and how to tell if you're due
for a clean-up yourself.

If you are looking for solutions to cravings, this can
help a lot with that, too.

CLICK HERE to sign up!

Tera is hosting her seminar with Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo and it
promises to be a great call! You can read more about it
here:

FREE Detox Web Seminar Info

Tera's gone out on a limb with this one and says she'll be
making a CRAZY announcement at the end of the call for
anyone who is actually registered for the event and attends
this call.

By the way, don't worry if you cannot be there at the exact
time of the call - the recording will be available for 48 hours,
but you will need to be signed up to listen to it.

It's happening on Thursday, April 16th. I'm signed up and
hope you'll join me!

Earth Hour 2009

2009-03-27T18:54:00.003-04:00

Date: Saturday, March 28, 2009
Time: 8:30 PM - 9:30 PM (your local time)
Where: Wherever you are
What: Turn off your lights

Vote Earth For Earth Hour

With the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote, Vote Earth is a global call to action for every individual, every business and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet.

http://www.earthhour.org

A Sad Story With a Happy Ending

2009-03-10T14:50:00.004-04:00

This is the sad story of my raw food crash and burn.

After my somewhat successful 10-day Master Cleanse in November, I really messed myself up with raw foods. It wasn't the raw food diet per se that was the problem - it was how I chose to do it.

There are all kinds of raw food diets out there and lots of good and bad information. I learned a big lesson last Thanksgiving. As I mentioned in an earlier post, when I go to a social event, I usually just eat what everyone else is eating and then go back to my raw foods the next day. It always has worked pretty well for me that way. This past Thanksgiving was different (to say the least!) I decided to go all-raw for the feast - just prepare my own food and bring it along to the family dinner.

After scouring the internet and my books for delectable recipes, I put together a "gourmet" turkey-style dinner - all raw. I had a "turkey" substitute made with lots of nuts, seeds, and poultry seasoning; a gravy of miso and mushrooms; "potatoes" that were actually parsnips and pine nuts; candied yams; and cranberry sauce with raw cranberries, apples and raisins followed by a raw pumpkin pie with a date and nut crust, topped with cashew creme. It sounded great and each item was delicious.

The problem was that it was all too rich and high fat - and a food combining nightmare. I used cups of nuts preparing the meal, not to mention combining sugars, proteins, starches and fats with abandon. Believe me, it was a huge disaster! I felt sick to my stomach that night (even though I am famous for having a "cast iron" stomach!)

The meal was so obnoxious, that it absolutely turned me off from raw foods for weeks. I couldn't even look at a piece of fruit, a nut, or even a veggie without a wave of nausea.

By the time I was feeling more open to raw again, it was getting close to Christmas and I was fully back to eating cooked foods. I went through the rest of the holidays eating whatever I felt like eating, which was mostly cooked and mostly fattening. It wasn't until mid-February that the effects of that started to hit home.

I realized that I didn't feel good any more. My energy was really low, I had gained about 10 lbs., and my skin looked pasty and unhealthy. I really missed the way I looked and felt while eating raw foods. I also missed the taste and texture of raw foods. But how could I get back to it without a cleanse (which makes me so cold!)? It's not so easy to switch in the winter when you're already cold all the time, and turning to comfort foods to warm up. So what to do? What to do?

Well, here's the happy ending: I started by taking my own advice and just adding more raw fruits and vegetables into my day. Fruits or green smoothies became my choice for breakfast and fruits for snacks. I also added a side salad to dinner. After a week or so, the side salad became bigger, replacing dinner, and now I am eating mostly raw again.

Over the course of the winter, I have fallen back on two old bad habits that will need to go. One is coffee in the morning. That won't be hard, though. I enjoy coffee, but I can take it or leave it without any noticeable effect. The other is the dreaded cigarettes that plague my life. That will be much harder and I'm not sure I can do it without another fast. I promised my dental hygienist I will stop this spring, so that's that.

Right now, my raw food diet is a little spare and not very interesting, but the main thing is that I feel like I am in recovery. I've already lost a couple of pounds and my skin is looking more lively.

What I learned from the Thanksgiving fiasco is to keep it simple. I'm paying a lot more attention to food combining. Once I get that working well, I will feel more comfortable about expanding my menu. In the meantime, I'm back on track and feeling very much better!

Master Cleanse, Day 10

2008-11-19T21:17:00.002-05:00

Well, I made it! Day 10 was finished off nicely with a brisk workout at the gym. While I feel that I could go on for another week or two, I am choosing to stop here this time.

This cleanse was not very different from the last cleanse in February, except that I launched into it more spontaneously this time around. That was a mistake. It is useful to spend some time mentally preparing for an extended period of not eating, even if one is receiving plenty of nutrition. There is just something about not chewing that can make me feel a bit deprived unless I have psyched myself up for all the benefits.

I really didn't lose any weight this time. Around day 7, I had dropped to 116.5 lbs., but going to the gym twice this week brought me right back up to 118. (I always gain a few lbs. when I begin an exercise program.) I fully expect to drop some weight within 2 weeks from now. Eating raw and going to the gym will drop it fast.

The whitish coating on my tongue has pretty much cleared up now, so I am satisfied with the length of this cleanse.

On both cleanses, I found I was a little testy and whiny the first few days. By the time I was a week into it, though, I was feeling really well and strong.

Tomorrow, I will begin the process of reintroducing foods. I will start with a day of orange juice and follow that with another 1/2 day of orange juice and then a salad. After that, I should be good to eat whatever I wish.

I think I will plan right now to do my next fast the day after Mardi Gras - the anniversary of my first fast. Hopefully, that will be a nice long one.

Master Cleanse, Days 7, 8 & 9

2008-11-18T21:55:00.003-05:00

Finally! I'm at day 9 and thinking it hasn't been all that bad. I'm going back and forth about whether or not to continue after tomorrow. There are good arguments on both sides of the question. I'm feeling really great right now - not hungry, energetic, very alert, thinking quickly and clearly, not smoking. If I stay on the cleanse, these effects will continue.

On the other hand, if I do stay on the cleanse, I probably won't be ready to eat before Thanksgiving, and I would like to participate in that food fest on some level (hopefully raw food). So, I think I'm emotionally leaning toward making tomorrow the last day and physically leaning toward staying on another week or two.

Yesterday, I went to the gym for a workout. I hadn't been there for at least 6 months. That being the case, I decided to go easy and stick with the treadmill - walking briskly for 20 minutes and jogging lightly for 10 minutes. Frankly, I could have worked out much harder for at least another 15 minutes, (I had that much energy) but I was afraid of being crippled today from too-much-too-soon syndrome (which I usually suffer from). I'm fine, though. Can't even tell I went to the gym. And last night I was energy-packed. It's amazing that I fell asleep at all last night. Hopefully, I will be able to get to the gym again tomorrow.

Master Cleanse, Days 5 & 6

2008-11-16T00:08:00.004-05:00

Day 6 is now done and I am thinking that maybe this time around, 10 days will be enough - at least, emotionally. Perhaps I wasn't psychologically prepared enough this time around. I kind of decided to do it, went out and bought what I needed and started the next day. Now I am starting to feel deprived! LOL I am missing all my delicious raw foods!

It seems as though I have more cravings this time around. I think about food more and notice pictures of food and smells of food much more.

My weight is at 117 lbs. Not much of a loss, but weight loss is not my goal. Also, the last time, I didn't really lose any weight to speak of until about the 15th day. On the other hand, I continued to lose weight afterwards rather than gain it back like many people do.

My thinking does seem to be getting clearer, but I am still experiencing mood swings. I get weepy and frustrated conversing with family members. It feels like they are being argumentative, but I think it's me who is doing most of the arguing. This is most likely withdrawals/detoxing from nicotine. I have smoked for 45 years, so I can hardly expect to not feel a difference. Also, the weirdest thing was happening today. I kept tasting mint all day and evening, even though I had not consumed mint and was not near anything minty all day. Go figure! I have no idea what that was all about.

My skin tone is great, I feel more rested on less sleep and have more energy than I need. Still, I'll have to see if I want to continue when the 10 days are up. I'm not actually hungry - that is, my stomach doesn't growl and no hunger pangs, but I crave foods of all kinds and really want to chew something. Maybe it's just more detox. We'll see what happens in a few more days.

Master Cleanse, Day 4

2008-11-14T00:05:00.004-05:00

Today was very good. I will admit to a few cravings, but nothing too hard to handle. It was enough to remind myself of why I am doing this.

The other day, I saw a post by a woman on the internet saying that it takes a lot more than 1/2 a lemon to make 2 tablespoons. I was noticing that myself and wondering about it since that was not my experience earlier this year.

The lemons I was using came from Market Basket and had very thick pith surrounding the fruit. I was only getting about 2 tbsp. from a whole lemon. After using 10 of them, I tried Shaw's Market. From the outside, the lemons looked the same, and in both stores the lemons were Sunkist. However, the pith was much thinner in the Shaw's lemons and I was easily getting 4 tbsp. per lemon. So, even though the lemons from Shaw's were 7 for $5 versus the Market Basket 10 for $5, I was getting twice the juice per lemon from Shaw's, so I actually save $2 on those 7 lemons. So, if you are not getting enough juice, try another store.

Today, while browsing around the 'net, I ran across a post by a woman who claims to be a doctor with credentials all over the place trashing the Master Cleanse. I was pretty surprised to see that, but downright alarmed when I saw that she did not relay the correct information about the fast. She claimed that it included 1 glass of salt water per day, not 1 quart! She also commented that maple syrup was no different than sugar and that cayenne pepper was only added for taste!!! Needless to say, there was an outraged crowd that commented on her post, but one had to click on a link to get to the comments - they were not apparent on the page with the post.

The sad thing is that I have seen a lot of misinformation about the Master Cleanse all over the internet in forums and blogs and even on sales pages. So, I have decided to include here a link to download Stanley Burroughs' book, The Master Cleanser for free. Please, please, please, if you are planning to do this cleanse, read the book! This program has so much benefit, but not when people take it upon themselves to change the facts and amounts and ingredients. Click Here to download the book for free. (I receive no benefit from sending you there other than knowing that you have the real information in your hands.) It's hard enough to do this cleanse in the first place without doing it wrong!

Master Cleanse, Day 3

2008-11-13T00:03:00.007-05:00

The laxative tea bothered me last night with some cramping throughout the night. That's to be expected with senna leaf tea, but I usually don't have much of a problem with it. I have been alternating using Traditional Medicinals' Smooth Move tea with Triple Leaf Tea's Herbal Laxative tea. Both are senna leaf blends.

I didn't have to wait for the salt water flush to need the bathroom in the morning, either. Still, being one to want to do things "to the letter" when I really want them to succeed, I still drank my salt water like a good girl (blech!)

Today I was given a bit of a reprieve from all the cravings. My mood was much better and I managed to do a small bit of work, too. Lost another 1/2 lb. It still delights me that I can actually lose weight while not smoking. Only the Master Cleanse or a mostly raw diet (more than 75%) allows me to do that. Otherwise, I immediately gain about 30 lbs. trying to stop smoking.

Same thing with menopause - only the Master Cleanse or raw diet work to keep my weight from spinning out of control. As mentioned yesterday, I weighed 20 lbs. more when I first started all of this last February. And all 20 lbs of it (and more) was gained from menopause. I'm so happy to see it go!

I took the shortest of walks today, just to do errands and socializing. My sense of smell is more sensitive. The smell of pizza downtown was pungent and tantalizing, but I was feeling strong and happy to have come this far. I was thinking that if food was tempting, television would be tough with all the food commercials. I'm glad I don't watch TV. It makes everything easier.

As a closing thought ... I noticed a nice glow to my skin this morning. :)

Master Cleanse, Day 2

2008-11-12T01:06:00.006-05:00

Ahhh! Day 2 is complete! It was easier than day 1, but still a little rough. I woke up earlier than usual, drank my salt water, took a shower, then rolled back into bed for about an hour - that is, until the salt water flush took effect!

The miracle of the disappearing cold seemed to be untrue in the morning. I must have sneezed at least a dozen times and coughed up a bunch of phlegm, but after going back to bed, it all seemed to go away for the rest of the day.

My tongue has that white coating that is a sign of detoxification. My weight has gone down 1/2 lb. Weight loss is not a goal this time around. I am 20 lbs. lighter than when I began my first cleanse last February and this is a good weight for me. Yesterday morning I weighed in at 119 lbs. I am 5'3" tall and 57 yrs. old, so I'm comfortable with my size, but a 5-10 lbs. loss would be fine, too.

I'm more interested in quitting smoking without gaining weight and clearing out my digestive tract so that foods are more quickly assimilated and eliminated.

With that in mind, I'm happy to say that I have managed to get through the second day without caving in. The cravings are manageable, but I feel lazy and unfocused. I spent the day procrastinating and never did complete my obligations. Hopefully, I will have more ambition tomorrow.

Master Cleanse, Day 1

2008-11-11T00:04:00.007-05:00

Well, I have survived Day 1! Last night, I went to bed with my senna tea, content in the knowledge that I was about to clean up my system and get back on track.

First thing this morning, it was out to the kitchen to prepare a quart of salt water. I cannot tell you how little I enjoy participating in this part of the cleanse, but it is very effective. The idea is that the laxative tea at night kind of agitates the intestines. Then, in the morning, the salt water flush washes everything out.

The salt water is prepared with sea salt - 2 level TEAspoons mixed in 1 quart of lukewarm spring water. That proportion of salt to water is close enough to the density as blood that the kidneys are tricked into allowing the salt water to go right through your system rather than causing you to retain water.

The quart of sea salt water should be consumed all at once. Try to drink it down within 5-10 minutes. (It does get a little easier to drink after awhile.) It is extremely important that you drink the salt water first thing in the morning - on a completely empty stomach!! You may vomit or be nauseous if you eat anything first.

Immediately following the salt water wash, I made and drank my first glass of lemonade - partly to get the taste out of my mouth, and partly to help speed up the process.

After sitting around for about an hour, waiting for something to happen, I felt a bit of intestinal rumbling and knew it was time to grab a good book and head for the bathroom. I must have spent the better part of an hour in there. Phew!

One thing is certain - if you work outside of your home, start the cleanse on the weekend so you will know what to expect on Monday! It could save you some agony and possible embarrassment at work.

The lemonade is made with 2 oz. of fresh-squeezed lemon, 2-oz. of grade B maple syrup, 1/10th of a teaspoon (a pinch) of cayenne pepper and 8 oz. of spring water. Being allowed 6-12 glasses of lemonade per day, I drank 8 the first day, plus a couple glasses of water, plus a cup of peppermint tea. Peppermint tea is allowed occasionally to keep things from getting too boring. I like it because it can be drunk hot and I tend to be cold on this cleanse.

All-in-all, it was a pretty good day, though challenging. I did, in fact, crave cigarettes, but managed to get through it mostly alright, albeit with some raging irritation. I was also hungry around dinnertime and stayed hungry the rest of the evening. That should pass in a day or two.

I kept reminding myself that during detox, symptoms often disappear immediately after the next morning's elimination. So if I can just hang in there for a couple of days, I will feel much better.

The bedtime laxative tea and salt water flush should be performed every day. For those who have a genuine problem drinking the salt water, another cup of laxative tea can be taken in the morning, but the salt water is a superior method.

Oh! I forgot to mention yesterday that one of the reasons I am doing this cleanse now is that I caught a bad cold that I can't seem to shake. Even after 3 days in bed, it was still nasty. My husband noticed that my sickness seemed to go away throughout the day today. The congestion and thickness just vanished.

Not that today was horrifying or anything, but I really do hope that tomorrow will be easier.

Getting Ready for the Master Cleanse

2008-11-10T00:25:00.003-05:00

Hi and welcome to the VeggieWave Blog! Tomorrow morning I will begin my second Master Cleanse, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to begin a blog and record the experience. Today I have been mentally preparing myself to embark upon this journey.

It is both exhilarating and slightly daunting to be readying myself again. The last time I did the cleanse was in February 2008, the day after Fat Tuesday. My plan was to go for 10 days, but in the end, I went for a full 20 days without solid food. Frankly, it was a great experience! I dropped some weight, my complexion cleared up and so did my foggy brain, and it launched me into my raw food diet with ease. It was wonderful to think with crystal clarity.

Those are the things that I look forward to again. What I dread is being cold. The last time, I just couldn't seem to get warm. So, I am armed with lots of warm clothing and a bit of trepidation.

So why am I even doing this? Well, I have been eating mostly raw since February. I've lost more weight, feel and look better, and generally enjoy this style of eating. Still, it has been difficult to go to family events and not eat the feast of cooked foods around me, so I "cheat" and enjoy it every once in awhile. Also, I have gradually gone back to smoking cigarettes, which I had easily quit on the cleanse. The Master Cleanse really helps with cravings of all sorts, nicotine included. Now I want to lose the smokes again, and what better time than while cleansing myself of all kinds of toxins?

Tonight I take the first step of my cleanse by drinking a cup of laxative tea before going to sleep. My tea of choice tonight is Smooth Move Chocolate. The laxative tea must have senna in it. I'll talk a little more about that tomorrow. For now, I say "Good night" and thanks for joining me. I hope you will visit often and share this experience with me.