Nearing the end and I still want coffee.

Realizations:

I no longer have a coffee addiction BUT I am all kinds of disoriented without it.  I have energy but manage to just kind of fumble around and run into things in the morning.  Not good.  I will definitely have much more of an appreciation for good yummy coffee after this.

I am 15.6 lbs down in 23 days.  Go me.

I don’t cheat if I make the time to make food.  If it’s made, I’m not going for cheese despite the fact that I may want it.  Make sh*t ahead of time.  Check.

I think remaining 2/3 RAW will be good for my energy and psyche.  I do feel cleaner and lighter and I’d like to think I can keep going, maybe even easier now that there’s no deadline or time restrictions or anything.  You know, once the pressure is off and all.

Oops…..clients here.  More later.

Sweet Potato Puree.

Sadly, I broke my blender.  But I have a warranty on file so they better take it back!  Being raw without a blender is super hard!

Sweet Potato Puree:
1/2 sweet potato
1.5 tbsp light agave nectar
1 tbsp cinnamon
1/4 cup coconut milk
2 tbsp olive oil

Puree!
Add walnuts, raisins, and a sprinkle of sea salt to finish it off!

12.4 lbs down.
Still craving coffee.
Skin feels well hydrated.

Sweet Potato Puree.

Sadly, I broke my blender.  But I have a warranty on file so they better take it back!  Being raw without a blender is super hard!

Sweet Potato Puree:
1/2 sweet potato
1.5 tbsp light agave nectar
1 tbsp cinnamon
1/4 cup coconut milk
2 tbsp olive oil

Puree!
Add walnuts, raisins, and a sprinkle of sea salt to finish it off!

12.4 lbs down.
Still craving coffee.
Skin feels well hydrated.

11 lbs down in 18 days.

I’ve cheated.  Who hasn’t.  But I’m able to just get a taste if I want it.  Like this organic mac and cheese I made for hubby and my stepdaughter.  Old Jessica would have hid in the bathroom with a bowl and devoured it.  New Jessica just ate 2 spoonfuls and moved on to her enormous salad topped with pico de gallo.

I’m still missing coffee something fierce, but since I do have as much energy as I’ve had, I’m gonna severely cut back to 1-2 cups a day.  Before I went raw I drank as much as 8 cups a day.  Hello dehydration!

My sleep has finally begun to regulate.  Before, I felt like I had twirly eyes like they do in the cartoons.  I’m still waking up a little earlier than I’d prefer, but if I don’t need more than 8 hours sleep, then I guess I don’t.

11 lbs in 18 days.  And I was kinda off the wagon for 2 days so it possibly could have been more.  Still awesome though…..

Massaged Kale Salad

Kale
Grape tomatoes
Walnuts
Almonds
Raisins
Beet stems
Green onions

Marinated in:
Lemon juice
Olive oil
Sea salt
Pepper

Tips:
Massage kale in olive oil before you add any other ingredients
Store for 2-3 hours to let juices soften the kale

Cheese Conquered

So I gave in to my extreme PMS craving last night and ate some cheese.  But life’s too short for guilt so I just jumped back on the RAW food horse and continued on.

Progress:

1. I have sooo much energy which is lovely for work, errands, and housecleaning, but super detrimental towards my sleep.  However, when I’m tired, I’m out.  Like in 2 minutes.
2. I’ve lost 8.8 lbs in 12 days.  A lovely feat I believe.
3. I’m not having some of the PMS issues I was before like bloat and lower back pain and cramping, but I am having headaches and cravings and breakouts which I didn’t think would happen.  Super hormones.
4. My joints feel more lubricated and I’m less sore in the morning.

Thus far it’s not too bad.  The cravings are getting rather dreadful and this being my last month of food stamps, I’m produce-ing up.  I just hope I look and feel totally bangin by my wedding, December 1st.

Today begins Course in Miracles classes and 21 day Abundance Meditation.  Spiritual November is officially underway!

Nut Dressings.

I have read and read and read about soaking nuts to use them to make milk or salad dressings.  So I soaked 3 cups of cashews for a day and decided to make something.  After reading about a delicious red pepper dip/dressing, I decided to make my own version of it(particularly because I am sure everyone has nutritional yeast in their cupboards…I mean, who doesn’t?).  So here is a green version of this, which I will call Green Yum Yum’s.

Green Yum Yum’s Dressing/Dip/Spread:

1 cup soaked cashews

1/3 cup filtered water or alkalined or distilled

handful of spinach

1/2 avocado

salt and pepper

1 clove garlic

3 tbsp or half a lemon of juice

1 dollop of tahini, pref over 1 tbsp

Put all ingredients in blender and top off with 1 tbsp of olive oil.  Blend until chunky.  Gradually add in more olive oil and fold until a creamy smooth texture develops in the blender.

 

It’s soooooo yummy.  I make a spinach walnut pesto and it really reminds me of that.  Super happy.

On an additional note:  I’ve lost 6 lbs in 9 days and have way too much energy.  I did cave in to some regular red wine though simply because I have only found 1 store by me that carries sulfite free wine.  Hopefully, I find a new one soon!  But if I am so strict on everything else, a little wine concession isn’t really bringing my spirits down.  No pun intended.

I am 100% RAW today.

And I feel:

wayyyyy more energetic, less headachey, and optimistic about these 20 days.

I definitely notice how much I crave coffee still and how I am soooooo addicted.  Which is not only kind of shocking to me, but the fact that I am basically caffeine free and have this much energy is a beautiful thing.

I bought a new scale yesterday because new scale #1 was a piece of sh*t and you had to stand on it a certain way and several times to get the same number and be able to tell your weight.  However, new scale is super accurate and pointed out to me in such a blunt way that apparently I am 4 lbs heavier than first scale indicated.  I mean, I’m still 5 lbs down from when I started weaning onto RAW but 4 lbs heavier than I originally thought…….boo.

I wonder just how creative I’ll get with my raw cooking.  I still feel like I tremendously enjoy cooked food, but you just can’t argue with results.  I enjoy raw fruits and veggies but am not a huge convert on the legumes yet.  I am more appreciative of raw nuts though(no dirty pun intended).

20 days.

I got this.

My first Gazpacho.

Tomato Gazpacho makes my lips soft:
3 tomatoes
1.5 cups light coconut milk
1 clove garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tbsp sea salt
1/4 cups chives and parsley
Curry
Paprika
Cayenne Pepper
1 tbsp Agave Nectar

Blend for 2 minutes, gradually adding olive oil.  Season and drizzle olive oil to garnish.

Coffee withdrawals.

Well today I am officially 2/3 Raw and this is where I plan on staying after my 20 days.  My main issue right now is Major League World Series coffee withdrawals.  Not caffeine.  Coffee.  I clearly am an addict.  Slightly jarring discovery. 

Meanwhile…..changing subjects to avoid going in the kitchen and breaking already.  I am down 4.8 lbs in 3 days.  Hello water weight detox!  It comes with a side of acne. 

Going to Whole Foods.  Avoiding the coffee aisle.