O.k., so last night I feasted and not on smoozies. My rationale is that everything I ate would have gone well into a smoozie ~ well, except for the dressing which contained oil (and, who knows what else?). The majority of people who came were new to raw so emailed and asked what to bring. I told them either a green salad of some sort of fruit salad. Other than the zucchini fettucine and the pesto salad, that’s pretty much what we had and boy, was it good! I had about a tablespoon or two of each dish, ate slowly and enjoyed every bit. I had one bite of the “bread” (yes, raw) and had none of the sweet fruit or the cake my friend brought to celebrate my birthday belatedly. (Had a 2 inch square of it this morning by itself ~ and only 2″’s because that’s all that was left!).

About 25 people showed up. It was great fun! We ran out of chairs.. people stood and when a chair opened up, the person who WAS sitting in it lost it. lol No complaints… just more fun.

So, today, I’ve got fruit in the way of berries, one carrot salad and a fruit salad still here, plus about 1 quart of smoothie. I’m good for the day!

We talked about raw; answered questions, shared about 15 of the 60+ books I have; enjoyed each others’ company and many who came had their first experience with simple, tasty, raw food.

Two highlights were when Susan who is vagabonding spoke about her journey and serving others. While I was in the kitchen, Susan, unbeknownst to me, even though she said she would, was cleaning up the sunroom; folding the chairs and tables and putting things away. If I was in my right mind (which, for some reason I wasn’t ~ overwhelm maybe?) I’d have added some cash to what another had given her for gas for her journey. Thank you to whoever did that AND for those who added to the donation jar to keep the potlucks going on.

One of the most delight-filled aspects of the evening was Tao who, while we were eating and talking, was creating hysterical animations of the evening. The one I received shows a pot-bellied gent with 4 hairs sticking out of the top of his head addressing a woman holding a tray of food and him saying: “My concern about eating veg is it might turn me into a girly man”. You have to see it to really appreciate it.

The evening began around 5:30 p.m. when some friends came by. They’d just finished a class on dementia and alzheimers and training people to train caretakers. One of the things mentioned in the program was eating more raw food. Well, they came, they experienced.

The evening ended a bit after 10:30 with plans to hold a raw food class, Saturday, Mar. 7 from 9 a.m. – noon. Now, I need to create a menu and make it known. I did some final clean-up; the rest waited for the morning.

It was a wonder-filled evening. So glad so many came. I hope to see them all again.

Oh! The question some of you may be asking is, what about the smoozie feast? Well, I think I just may continue after I finish the leftovers which, at 3:17 p.m. I’ve not indulged in yet.. just my b-day cake. I’m currently drinking a smoozie AND just came back from the container store after having purchased two, two liter glass jars to hold more smoothies with less air instead of one large half-gallon jug.

Revvell

One thing I’ll say is, I’m colder than normal even with the heat up to 70-72 degrees. For awhile I was keeping it at 64 and doing o.k. Maybe it’s ‘cuz I’m sitting at the computer and being so productive, I’ve not been up and moving.

Very possible I’ll be eating this evening during the potluck. Chocolate doesn’t entice me so that wont be an issue. We’ll see. I’ll make up another half-gallon in a bit, drink it throughout the day and see if I’m hungry or caving in to cravings.

Went to a friend’s home for a gathering last evening. Found myself eying the bread and cheese. My husband is a bread/cheese eater and that’s a tough one. I tend to crave starches of all kinds.. pasta, pizza, potatoes, bread… and cheese. Stayed strong, did not succumb because I knew it was cravings and not hunger.

So, what am I learning about this? That I eat for cravings, not hunger which is how/why I put on extra pounds. I eat a lot less when I’m nutritionally satisfied and, of course, I’m eating better.

What’s been interesting for me is, at one time in my life, I couldn’t drink citrus for 3 days in a row or I’d be non-functional ~ literally. I’d be eating, sleeping, reading. Well, it’s been a number of days that I’ve been drinking orange juice, grapefruit juice and tangerine juice and I’m still functional ~ actually, more focused and productive than ever!

Normally, I don’t feel to go out at night. Last night, my husband was out, picked me up at 8 p.m. and we went to a friend’s. We got home a bit after 10, went to sleep about 11 and I slept soundly until 6; got up and got my work done!

So! If I choose to eat this evening, it wont be much. I’ll have a smoothie before guests come.. and see what happens!

Good book to check out for smoothies is on the left side of this blog.

Until tomorrow… enjoy this day ~ and every day and remember, always play with your food.

The mind is amazing in it’s propensity to undo what one is attempting to do. We call it the monkey-mind. It can be your own worst enemy.

Last evening I heard all the things in my head that others who are concerned about me (really not concerned about me ~ it’s their own issues).. such as “How long you going to do this?” “You’ve got a potluck coming up, you’re not going to eat? Surely you’re going to eat!” “O.k., you’re hungry.. go get some food!” (well, I figured if I were REALLY hungry, I’d go down and get more smoozie because hunger is one thing; craving another, and I WAS craving since I’d been perusing Ani Phyo’s book and saw some “pancakes”. I didn’t go down for more smoozie so, guess I wasn’t really hungry, eh?).

Went to bed about 11 p.m.; woke up at 4… feeling good but thirsty. Drank a 12 (or is it 16?) oz. of grapefruit juice with water. It’s now almost 7 a.m. and I’ve not had anything else.

Yesterday I had two large glasses of grapefruit/water and 3 large smoozies made with orange juice, bananas, black cherries and greens. I did have a bowl of grapes which I figured would go bad by the time I’m done with this experiment.

How long am I going to do this? I don’t know. Until I really FEEL not to instead of letting the monkey-mind talk me into stopping. I’m curious to find out what it’ll really do for me. Right now I can say I’ve got more focus and more productivity happening in the last 3-4 days than I can ever remember. That can’t be bad, right?

Today I’ll be making some more grapefruit juice (reportedly good for cellulite) and another half-gallon of smoozie using blueberries (reportedly good for memory).

Oh! I trained yesterday with Indian clubs, my Bulgarian Training bag, did some push-ups… think that’s it. More today.

Injoy,

Revvell

Smoothies and Smoozies for Life

O.k., completed day 1. Fairly easy. Only had a short period where I almost succumbed to actually eating something and that’s because of smells, visuals, etc.

Besides my husband making cooked food, we’ve got guests who were cooking as well. One soaked beans overnight and the fragrance…!!!! Just rude! lol Anyway, I went through my half-gallon of smoozie, plus about 3 glasses of 1/2 water, 1/2 pink grapefruit juice. I feel fabulous! Went to bed about 9:30, woke up around 4:30. I am so focused lately on my projects, really getting stuff done. Napped a bit yesterday since I got up at 3 but that was no more than about 20-30 minutes.

Yesterday I was on Twitter and received a DM (Direct Message) from a new friend @joshonefitness who asked if I had time to do an interview with him on his online radio program. Yep! Always take the opportunity to share my story/knowledge/experience so, here it is! No Gym, No Problem Radio.

I’ll be back with an update tomorrow!

Oh! by the way, tower racer/athlete Tim VanOrden will be joining me on Let’s Talk Raw, Monday evening, 5 p.m. Pacific. If you’re a member, and can’t be on the live call, you can ask on the site before the interview, have your questions answered and listen when you can!

Injoy!

Revvell

I’ve been heading towards this for awhile now and couldn’t see how to get myself to do it yet did what it took over the last two days to really get started and that was to make 1/2 gallon of smoothies per day, drink that and eat whatever, whenever. I didn’t eat much. Mostly eliminating things that needed to go if I were going to do any length of time doing the feasting.

All that needs to go is gone now. I’ve only got food in my fridge to make my smoozies. The part that may be trying is that on Saturday, I’m holding a raw food potluck here. By that time, I’ll be on day #4 so, should be o.k., long as I keep up with having the smoozies on hand.

Currently, just from drinking them the last two days, I feel really good. Got up this morning after about 6 hours sleep.

What I hope to attain ~ Well, I’ve been raw on and off for about 12 years now. (To me raw means, 100% minus the questionables such as cashews, Nama Shoyu, agave, spices, and an occasionall eating-out dressing, etc.) Today will be day #43. The longest I’ve been consecutively was when I was first introduced to raw and that lasted about 3 months. Since then I’ve had spurts of 100% yet, mostly quite “high-raw”.

When I met my husband I was doing a good job with raw. After getting married though, lots of what I was doing stopped ~ no more hiking in the hills, much less raw.. more SAC (Sad American Crap), less working out/training. 5 years later and 30-35 pounds heavier, I’m ready to let go of all the stuff I (unconsciously) have done to “survive” this change in my life ~ full-time, live-in, 27/7/365 partner. (Never been married before; never even had a long-term relationship).

I’ve been training more; focused more on me and my biz (old habit pattern was to focus on him ~ whoever he was ~ and whatever he was doing). Well, I just turned 60 and it’s MY time to fly! (Been building toward this for the past 23 years (think I may be a slow-starter?); got way-laid/detoured with the marriage ~ my own unconsciousness, not his as he is VERY supportive of all I do).

So, drinking a smoozie as I type. This is Day 1. How long will I go? *shrug* As long as it feels good to me.

In eternal-harmony,

Revvell