Social life and raw life

My friend Bella saw me on Valentine's Day and she told me that there was Raw Chocolate at the Health food store in case I was feeling an urge.

Surprisingly, I wasn't.

I've been packing my own little lunches and ordering lots of salads.

Everyone loves my raw crackers and I love my smoothies.

It's an adjustment that involves preparation and communication ( with friends who may be inviting you for a meal)

My palate is a bit more discerning, so if I ( rarely)  grab something from habit and it tastes awful ( burnt, chemical laden, artificial), I just leave it now.

I will have my numbers next week from my before ( Dec 2010 ) and after ( Feb 2011) blood tests!

I will post them here.

Still fundraising for Yoga for Hope www.yogaforhope.ca 

Please feel free to email me if you would like to donate.

Thank you

Rosemary

www.rosemarykelly.ca

www.laughing-lymphercise.ca

Raw at home

I've been back in Canada since very late on Sunday night, I've been living on hot water & lemon, coconut almond smoothies and salads, I've lost 4 more pounds. I've been really sleepy and last night I made my first batch of raw crackers.

Today we are having a snow day, the storm was so bad here that the snow clearance truck never made it to the office  parking lot next door. This is the first time in 8 years that I have not been woken by plows at 4AM.  It is very quiet on the street, but the mail was delivered this morning.

It's been a great time to contemplate the past month and to note that staying raw (Day 33) hasn't been as difficult  as you might imagine. Like Sue says, food prep for one, well  actually the eating alone part, is something you have to work at, it requires determination and focus. It can be easy to slip in to old habits, buy I really love feeling good like this. I enjoy having a peaceful digestive system and a happy tummy, so sticking to it is really a matter of being prepared.

I have learned so much over the past month, Sue is a great, generous and patient teacher.

I was surprised at how quickly the time went by, at how busy we were, and at how well we got along.

I think women are sometimes easier to live with than men! Sue certainly is. It was a very productive and harmonious month

Excalibur Dehydrator

With my limited  budget, I'm really glad that I analyzed what I like to eat most and invested in the dehydrator.

Vita Mix

A Vita Mix is next on my list (eventually), but for now my ancient Osterizer blender will just have to do. It requires a bit more chopping and some ice cube smashing, but it works just fine for now.

The Champion juicer

Eventually I will find a Champion juicer, and I may even do a bit of sprouting.

Sprouting in Jars

I have learned that a good yoga class is where you feel comfortable doing  only what you can do and where they explain pose modification. I now feel confident enough to be participating in the Yoga for Hope fundraiser for HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre at the end of February. All sponsorship (donations to HopeSpring)     

gratefully accepted!

Wheat grass trays

 I've discovered the Magic of Cranbrook, the Livability of Royal Oak and the Splendour of the Fisher Building. I love my "Joes" and know that Trader Joe really has some amazing prices for Raw food staples, I will bring an empty suitcase next time!

I am impressed with the fact that after investing such a big chunk of time to this project, I feel that the good habits have really sunk in.

A la prochaine!

Rosemary

www.rosemarykelly.ca

www.laughing-lymphercise.ca

The Beginning of a New Month...and I'm doin' it RAW!!

February 1, 2011....I must say living alone changes things, many things, preparing food is just one of them.  My cat, Dora, and I have spent most of the day in my bedroom.  It's comfortable, spacious and the way things are right now, the only warm room in the house, other than the laundry room and I don't feel like hanging out there!

I ventured out a few times to make fresh juice and a small batch of Chia Pudding...that was about it.  Still very tired today.  The "big" event of the day, other than my car battery being dead, was the 30 minutes I spent on the treadmill...and the BIG news, of course, is the impending blizzard.  Snow was predicted to start at 7PM and like clockwork, it began falling at 6:45.  Amazing, huh?

February 2, 2011.....And the snow continues to fall!  I find it amazing how weather can be so easily predicted which is what I was thinking about last night when I was overcome with sleepiness and had to stop writing. Weather is predictable, just as is our behavior.

I have been hiding behind 30-40 extra pounds ever since my last child was born and she was 28 years old two weeks ago.  Despite having invested massive amounts of time and money in various programs over the years, knowing the science inside and out, as well as believing it fully,  my brain was not in the game.  Consequently, my predictability for success was nil.  Being raw for the month of January was my choice.  I was ready to commit, willing to be realistic, but I knew I needed support in order to stick it out.  Rosemary was that support and I thank her deeply for participating in the program for the entire month. Everything that I now need to continue on this path has been put in place....I have not even removed the Vita-Mix from my counter, imagine that!

For me, hiding behind my weight was a result of sagging self-confidence and my excuse for not putting myself out there to be seen.  Fortunately, as I have said so many times before, laughter found me, but even more importantly, with the laughter came the most beautiful group of loving, caring souls who have supported and buoyed me up during some pretty dark times.  Family, obviously, should be there, but for me, to be remembered and thought of by a myriad of friends outside my family unit, something I had never before experienced, had a profound impact.  All of it, including getting through breast cancer treatment, boosted my confidence level to the point where at last my brain was ready to think and believe, "Yes, I can....and I will!"  and I did!

I believe it's all about self-confidence which equals self-love which brings me to the lovely Lubbock lady who has started a "30-Day Love Yourself Up" page on FaceBook, so here's to Carla, The Confidence Queen!   I needed that boost during the mid-point of last month, but I need it not just for 30 days.  Let's keep loving ourselves up every day from now on!

Daily reminders...

• Amaze yourself by doing something you never thought you could
• Treasure your health - walk for at least 30 minutes every day, drink at least 64 oz of water, and stick to a primarily plant-based diet
• Never leave home without lipstick...or at least gloss!
• Look at your least favorite body part, caress it tenderly and say out loud, "I love you,_______!"
• Remember, skinnier girls cannot do some things you can do!
• Refuse to be invisible ever again!
• Even if you are a bit inflexible in the yoga studio (or at Zumba!), thank your body for what it can do...and do it!
• Whatever your capabilities, NEVER stop moving!
• Stop obsessing over how you look - appreciate and love your body as it is
• Focus on what you can do and don't compare yourself to others
• Stop worrying about yourself.  Focus on others and how you can make them at ease and happy

My prediction is if our thoughts and behavior are channeled in this direction, the pathway to health and happiness will be a piece of cake....raw, of course!

Santé - to your health!

Sue
www.laughteryoga-michigan.com
http://twitter.com/#!/MICancerCoach