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

Day 30 - We Did It!!

Rosemary and Sue - January 1, 2011

Rosemary and Sue after 30 days of Raw!

January 30, 2011...I was saying to Rosemary this morning as I took her to Windsor to catch the train for Kitchener, two weeks would not have been enough for me.  At the two-week mark, I was finally ready to release myself from thinking that I really needed and wanted that feta omelet.  It took me that long to remove myself from its clutches, that long to cut my avocado portion in half (1/4 per day, instead of 1/2), and that long to relinquish excessive amounts of fruit.  It was my internal belief that if I didn't feel any suffering whatsoever, I could manage.  The only suffering I felt, was when I could not continue to move the weight on the scale to the left! I was not hungry, my food was delicious, for sure I was not suffering in any way, so I released the fruit and avocado......and with it, I began releasing weight as well, amazing!

It has been an enlightening, and overall,  amazingly easy and painless transition.  The real challenge was changing habits which I knew would not happen overnight and why I suggested the 30-day time frame.  I asked Rosemary if she would post what she had learned in the past 30 days when she settles back into her home in Kitchener.  I will do that now......

What I Have Learned in the Past 30 Days

Green Smoothie

Energy Soup

• Posting events to the calendar on my iphone is really simple and it makes my life so much easier
  
• Mailing packages is a smarter alternative than letting them sit in the back seat of my car for months
• Zumba can be for seniors, haha!
• Perky music in the kitchen (with Zumba moves!) makes food prep so much more fun!
• Life will not come to an end if my Vita-Mix and Champion juicer remain sitting on my kitchen counter.  Kitchen Police have not arrested me yet!
  
• Weighing myself AND recording it EVERY morning is an ABSOLUTE must!
• All that I do for others is of no avail if I fore go taking care of myself first
• There is life after Starbucks
• I can and will take time to prepare food for myself
• When I move, I feel soooooo much better!
• I like having my picture taken when I look and feel good
• I should have listened to my daughter years ago about yoga and what it could do for me
• The Detroit area is filled with incredible beauty, ie Cranbrook, the Fisher Building, U of M
• Pants were meant to be buttoned!
• Cancer makes life better in more ways than I can even begin to explain
• If I am to be truly better, my internal landscape must be drastically changed
• In order to accomplish that change, I must and will claim my own personal power on a daily basis
• Cracking a young Thai coconut is not a big deal
• Preparing and planning food in advance is the only way to stick to a healthy diet
• I will never again host a dinner in my home without having someone help me in the kitchen
• Sharing my knowledge of raw food and how to prepare it is such fun and so rewarding
• A full body massage by a knowledgeable therapist makes everything feel better!
• Laughing alone may be therapeutic, but shared is soooooo much better
• "Really good food" is not necessarily the best for me and my body...taste is not an indicator of "good"
• Public bathrooms are not so bad and often necessary when drinking a gallon of water a day!
• Dry skin brushing makes me feel alive and well all day 
• Making delicious green juice and energy soup is a challenge, but so easy
• Drinking delicious green juice and energy soup is an energizing delight!
• Doing all of this with a supportive friend is much easier than doing it alone
• Forget the schedule - sleep is more important
• Always keep a stock of fresh fruits, veggies and herbs clean and ready for use
• Remove all "no-no" foods from your home, once and for all!
• Make "To Do" and "To Buy" lists - post them on your phone, yes!
• Stop making excuses...life is too short - just DO IT!

This project will not be complete until I lose A LOT more weight and get much healthier...it may never be complete!  I will continue to blog, because now that Rosemary is back in Canada and I am here alone once again, YOU will be my support system.  I promise, I will not let you down....but more importantly, I will not let myself down!

16.25# in 30 days - YOU can do it, too!

Santé - to your health!

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

Now, the hard part

Rosemary, Day 27 and 10 pounds lighter, yay!

I am leaving the safety of Sue's Raw Kitchen today. I'll be back home late tonight. I wonder how  a month could fly by so fast and what can I eat on the train?

Tomorrow morning I'm having blood work done again at the lab. I will be comparing those numbers with the results from 2 months ago. It should be interesting.

I will record my challenges, strategies and successes  of continuing raw by myself at home.

It has been a fantastic month, I have learned so much, THANK YOU SUE!!!

I plan on participating in the Yoga for Hope fundraiser for HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre, Waterloo, Ontario at the end of February, this is something that I never would have considered attempting before.

Would you like to sponsor me?  All donations, in any amount, gratefully accepted.  Please email me if you'd like to contribute.

Good luck to all of you on your path to radiant health.

Rosemary

www.rosemarykelly.ca

www.laughing-lymphercise.ca

healthymoves@gmail.com

Day 29 - Celebration Time, Come On! It's up to you, what's YOUR pleasure?

Me on Jan 2 with Rosemary

Me, 27 days later and 15 pounds lighter!

Amazing, huh?  I can't even begin to tell you how much better I feel in every way - my skin is perfectly clear, pants I have never been able to button, button with ease now and others are ready to fall off.  Aches and pains I had 27 days ago are long gone.  The biggest change is in my feet...absolutely no swelling whatsoever.  I pulled out a pair of Prada heels I bought at least four years ago, but have never been able to walk more than across the room in and was ready to sell on ebay.  Today I not only walked with them for several hours, but I actually skipped and ran through the house with them on!  The only problem is...I still have absolutely no reason or place to wear them, so they still might go on ebay!  I also took a headless photo in pants and bra Jan 1, but I am not quite ready to post before and after's yet!  It looks like I lost a few years with those 15 pounds, as well....yippee!

This is all well and good, but facts are facts and I still need to lose at least another 25-30 pounds and re-evaluate at that time.  I intend to continue with a primarily raw diet until the weight is gone for good, with at least 75% of my diet continuing forever raw.

We have a busy day tomorrow with no time for posts, so thought I would send this off tonight, along with the menu for our dinner tomorrow evening.  Rosemary's before and after photos will be posted tomorrow.

Appetizers

Herbed Cashew Spread, Spicy Thai Spread, Olive Tapenade, Marinated Tomatoes and Basil, Indian Mango Eggplant Spread, Indian Garlic Eggplant Spread served with a variety of Raw Veggie Crackers

Salads

Red Cabbage with Pineapple and Dried Fruits and Berries (raw)

Pad Thai (raw)

Lentils, Brown and Wild Rice (cooked) served on a Bed of Spring Greens  

Entrees

Zucchini Pasta with Basil Pistachio Pesto (raw)

Falafel (raw) 

Veggie Spring Rolls (raw)

Desserts

Mont Blanc Parfaits (raw)

Marinated Fruit Kabobs (raw)

Beverages

Herbal Teas

Sparkling Water

Although not everything is raw, all is vegan.

Enjoy the weekend...Bon Appetit!

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

Day 28 - OMG, Down 15 Pounds!

Yesterday I was whipped, feeling very tired all day.  Rosemary wanted to tape some food preps and I did one, but I just wasn't into it.  Sleep has been a big problem with me for some time, much worse during and after chemo.  It is so frustrating to awaken at 3AM and not go back to sleep again until 6, but last night, a perfect 8 hours, yay!  An even bigger "yay!" when I got on the scales and knocked that weight even further to the left - one more pound!

My unwritten goal for this month was 20 pounds which I realize was a bit unrealistic, but 15 is fine with me!  I am able to fasten pants I have never fastened...others are ready to fall down.  My bra is now very comfortable.  My coats button without a pull.  Two days ago, I went for a haircut.  My Russian hairdresser looked at me with a big grin and said,  "Ah, Sue, you look so good!  You have new love?"  The raw truth was, the glow was from greens and nothing more!   She was so excited about it, I went back yesterday with samples of crackers, Chia Prune Pudding, Spicy Thai Sauce with carrots and a Brownie Bite.

Today we will be busily preparing for our 30-Day Raw Celebration Dinner tomorrow evening with about 15 friends, so I need to get busy, but first must share the delicious green smoothie I created last night.

Hmmmmm.....this is Michigan and I have only U of M connections, but think I will call this drink, "Go Green!"....it was an unexpected winner!

GO GREEN!

The flesh of one cantaloupe
About 1/4 fresh pineapple
One large handful of fresh basil
A spot of cayenne

Blend all together...and there you have it - a real winner!

My fruit was room temperature, good for this time of year in Michigan, but this would be delicious chilled or over ice.


Fifteen pounds today, BRAVO for me....now, on with the day!!

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