Living Rawesome

Welcome to my blog about my LOVE for God's Raw Living food. Please join me on my journey towards health and wellness. I truly believe that pure natural raw living food is the doorway to a healthy body, mind, and spirit.
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Beary Berrilicious Sundae

I am back….

I haven’t blogged in over a year, but have literally thought about it every day. When I found out Heathy from sweetlyraw.com was doing another contest, I thought I should break the ice and begin blogging again and enter the Vegan Ice Cream Sundae Challenge.

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Since I haven’t blogged in so long, I wanted to make it a special one and in honor of my mother, I did the ice cream sundae theme about bears because she loves Teddy Bears. My mother has been very ill for the last year. She has been in and out of the hospital with atrial fibrillation, blocked kidney, and neck surgery. I will not draw out the details, but I want my mother to know that she is deeply loved “Beary” much by me and so many others.

To make the “Beary” Berrilicious Sundae there are several steps to take. I started with the Graham Cracker Bears. They remind me of Teddy Grahams but so much healthier and pure.

Graham Cracker Bears

Ingredients
1 cup cashew flour (about 1/2 heaping cup whole cashews)
1/2 cup coconut flour
1/3 cup maple flavor agave
1 t vanilla
1 t cinnamon
pinch of sea salt

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Kitchen tools you will need
Food Processor
1 small bear cookie cutter
Rolling pin
Teflex Sheets or Parchment Paper
Dehydrator or Freezer

Directions

Place cashews into food processor, and make into flour by pulsing.
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Pour into a bowl, and add coconut flour, salt and cinnamon, then mix until blended.
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Stir in the agave and vanilla. Blend all ingredients into ball. If the ball is too wet to pick up with your hands add some coconut flour until it becomes a pie/pizza crust consistency.
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Place on either a Teflex Sheet or Parchment Paper, and use another sheet or paper to cover the dough ball. Flatten the dough ball and roll out to about a 1/4 inch thickness.
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After pulling top sheet off you can then use the small bear cookie cutter to make the Graham Cracker Bears. When the bears are formed you can place them on a Teflex sheet for the dehydrator or a cookie sheet pan with Parchment Paper for the freezer.
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Dehydrate the bears on 115 degrees for 6-8 hours or freeze the bears. I dehydrated the bears and they were crispy after 6 hours, but once they sat out for a short time they softened. I placed them in the freezer in order to keep them crispy.

After making the bears I started on ice cream base. I used a Vanilla Ice Cream Base for the flavors for the “Beary” Berrilicious Sundae.

Vanilla Ice Cream Base

Ingredients
1 1/2 cup cashews
1/4 cup agave nectar
1 cup almond milk (1/4 cup soaked almonds with one cup water)
1/3 cup softened coconut oil
1 t vanilla
pinch of sea salt

Directions
Place all ingredients in high powered blender then pour mixture into ice cream maker. Make according to directions. When the ice cream is finished, divide the mixture into 3 bowls. This base is used for the Straw”Beary” Ice Cream and the Mixed “Beary” Ice Cream.

Straw”Beary” Ice Cream

Ingredients
Vanilla Ice Cream Base
3 T thawed strawberries from frozen organic strawberries
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Directions
Mix strawberries and ice cream base together until the ice cream is pink and still has chunks of strawberries.
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Mixed “Beary” Ice Cream

Ingredients
Vanilla Ice Cream Base
2 T thawed mixed berries from frozen organic blackberries, blueberries and strawberries
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Directions
Mix until the color of the ice cream turns bluish purple and berry chunks remain.
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The third bowl will remain the plain Vanilla Ice Cream.

Now, introducing the “Beary” Berrilicious Sundae….

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There was enough ice cream to make 2 sundaes. The sundaes are enough for 2-3 people per sundae. Cashew Vegan Ice Cream is always very filling to me because of the dense nutrient filled ingredients.
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So when you eat your “Beary” Berrilicious Sundae share it with someone you love and tell them how “BEARY” special they are to you. I LOVE YOU MAMA!!

~~I wanted to give a special thank you to Heathy for inspiring me to blog again and inspiring me to place my energy into making yummies in my kitchen again. I missed it!~~

Posted 11 years, 7 months ago at 8:23 pm.

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Raw Muscle Challenge Prize~4 phone sessions with Santiago (The Raw Muscle)

November 17, 2010

My one month coaching session is officially over with Santiago Guido. I have to say it went extremely well for me on a Spiritual sense. After doing this challenge and winning I realized that I do need a lot of work in the area of meditation and keeping the inside calm. I am always rushing around and eating on the go and not taking time to feel what I should be feeling when it comes to over indulging with food. This is a struggle that I have had for a very long time and Santiago gave me many techniques to overcome the cravings. It was such an honor to talk to him on the phone. His energy is just like it is on the videos. He encouraged me to plan ahead, especially with the flax crackers and buckwheat sprouts. I LOVE Buckwheat sprouts. Since chatting with him I bought a 25 pound bag and I am sprouting them everyday or dehydrating them. What a cheap and easy way to get more protein into my diet. They are also very filling. I have made several breads with them too.
I am so grateful that he also has me on a split routine for my workouts. I am loving it because I am doing the reps, and only resting 20 seconds. Also, I am doing cardio a bit different now. I am feeling stronger and more fit. I even ran at 8.5 miles per hour 2 days ago. Now I wouldn’t have attempted that 3 months ago. Even if it was for only 45 seconds, then rested for 20. Hey I did it and I am getting faster.
My measurements did come down some more and I am happy with it, because I don’t want to lose too fast, I am trying to get used to not eating all the time and just being gentle and honest with myself about my passion for food. Especially in the area of overindulgences!

So as of 11-11-10 my measurements were down. My waist size is actually at 34 1/2 now! Which I am happy about because I was 36 inches last month! Ya know, what Dr. Oz says (A woman’s waist shouldn’t be over 35 inches)! Anyhow, I am still not where I want to be with my measurements, but I am making changes and for that I am grateful!

Posted 13 years, 4 months ago at 2:39 pm.

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I Won!!! The Raw Food Muscle Challenge

I was officially one of the winners of the Raw Food Muscle Challenge. Santiago picked 2 people instead of just one and I was one of them. I just talked to him on the phone on October 12. He gave me a workout and some tips for success. These include deep breathing exercises and some tips for eating. I definitely eat too many nuts and I am working on trying to find low fat raw recipes. I know for so long I have turned to food for comfort and Santiago addressed the issues. I am supposed to walk away from food and go outside if I feel like I am getting a craving. I am supposed to visualize myself as I want to look and feel in my body. Believe it or not it is working. I feel like when I do this, it gets me away from eating too much. I need to keep up with the consistency and keep visualizing.

As for the workout, well I have to say it was hard, and I still feel sore in my upper body even though I did the workout 4 days ago!!! Maybe I over did it. Circuit training really works for me, it keeps things fun and my muscles guessing. I was supposed to go to the gym yesterday, but we had the football game and had to leave at 6:30 am then I went to Marsha’s house for the Raw Ladies Party. I have to say that I didn’t over indulge like I have in the past. My goals were definitely in my mind. Today I went biking and I still need to do my upper body workout. I may just start tomorrow because the gym is almost closed and I went for a longer bike ride then I planned. I do have weights here at my house, so I may pick those up and do the workout at home.

I have this entire month to challenge myself and stick to what he tells me and I am hoping that the Visualizing will really help!

“Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.”~Arnold Schwarzenegger

Posted 13 years, 5 months ago at 4:35 pm.

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Before and After (Yes, they are)

October 1, 2010


After viewing both of my photos, I am rather disappointed that I didn’t see more change. The numbers said it on the scale and on my inches, but I really don’t see an outer change.
I feel inner change in my body. I have been so up and down with my eating these last few months. I even went so far to start eating more fish and eggs. I realized that I not only felt bad in my body (constipation, cramps before menstruation, ovary pain, anger) eating it too often, but I also felt it in my head (sadness, depression, lonliness). After learning so much over all of my years searching for the right “diet” I know that “killing” isn’t my forte. I enjoy eating the plants. I feel a sense of belonging to nature that way. Even though the fish were wild caught and the eggs were organic, I felt like I was contradicting myself and what I have been teaching, but I am MY OWN GURU. I know my body best and my body knows what it needs.
I feel that many of my eating problems come from Emotional Eating. This is the area that I will be working on next. I feel that over the last 6-7 years I have been learning more and more about what works for me and what doesn’t. About 7 years ago, I really became a gym rat and learned as much as a could about Fitness. I spent countless hours in the gym, and had so much fun transforming my body. This lasted for about 3 years. I took about a 2 1/2 year hiatus from the gym. I decided that I was spending too much time in the gym and just quit! Yes, that is right, I quit! Which I don’t recommend anyone doing. So became my Journey to Raw.
I spent about 3 years learning about Raw and how important it is FOR ME. To clean out my system and eat God’s food. I didn’t incorporate much exercise but I learned all about the nutrition of raw and how it changes LIVES. And it changed mine.
I realized that I turn to food for comfort. My body is nourished and fed and I continue to eat even though I am highly mineralized and nourished. I realize that I do have a problem numbing my emotions with food. I know that many people struggle with these issues and I am no exception. Thank God that I eat organic, living food, but too much of any food is not good.
My journey, I feel is taking me on this path to explore more of who I am without turning to food for comfort. I am scared to where it may lead, but I know that the God will only bring me to my inner calling and my divine genius!
I am grateful for this challenge and I will continue on my path to Enlightenment in Every Area of My Life!

Posted 13 years, 5 months ago at 8:19 am.

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End of The Raw Muscle Fitness Challenge

September 30, 2010

I haven’t written in a week, but I still have been truckin’ along with my raw food life! I am sitting here right now eating a collard wrap with fermented Chipotle Almond Cheese and loving every bite. I have continued to eat mostly raw, there are some things that I ate that weren’t, such as, Ezekial Bread, Millet bread, hummus, and peanut butter. I have to be honest here, at first I thought I could do it with just all raw, but bread calls me, even though I know it makes me feel icky if I have too much. I wish I could find a raw version of bread that doesn’t taste like it’s turning to mold. It’s not even the taste I like, it’s more the “comfort” of it all. But collards are my new burrito shells. I have been experimenting in my kitchen so much lately. I am not into making too many desserts these days. I would rather get low glycemic ingredients. They just make me feel better.
I haven’t posted this last week because it was my birthday, potluck and Jason’s birthday. I stayed on the raw path, but I ate such a variety of food that I was honestly lazy and didn’t write everything down.

I have learned so much on this trip that I want to continue with as much raw as possible. I have been sticking to my workouts. I haven’t been doing as much exercise with weights this last week. I have been biking, walking and yoga. I went to my first yoga class of this year, last Friday. It gave me a jump start with my yoga practice again. I have been waking up in the morning to do the 5 Tibetan Rites. I received this video link through an email from the Raw Reform. I of course watched it and thought it would be good to start my day, and I did it once and now I am hooked. It makes me sweat in less than 5 minutes. It’s interesting that such low impact movement can do that, when I can spend 15 minutes on the elliptical at a fast pace and I still don’t start sweating. Yoga is amazing, and makes my spirit and body submerge as ONE! I love it for the grounding energy I feel. I appreciate my body more and really pay attention to it. I am looking forward to going tomorrow to the class again.

I weighed myself today and honestly don’t feel like sharing the weight just yet, but I did lose 4 pounds. Jason measured me and my measurement did come down some. I would’ve liked to see more change, but hey, I know I have gained so much from this. I want to continue it forever!
My Measurements:
8/29/10 Left Leg: 26 inches, Hips 40 inches, Waist 36 inches, Chest 41 1/2 inches, Left Arm 14 inches.
9/30/10 Left Leg: 25 1/2 inches, Hips 38 1/2 inches, Waist 36 inches, Chest 40 inches, Left Arm 13 1/2 inches.
I don’t know how my waist didn’t come down some, ironic that, that is the measurement I was most worried about, because of Dr. Oz’s comment on his show about how the woman’s waist size should be less than 35 inches.

After this month challenge I know I will continue to be fit and eat right.
Another thing I learned is that I DON’T LIKE GOING TO THE GYM WITHOUT JASON! He took a few days off and I didn’t want to go without him. I need to get over that, but I am going gentle on myself and I am active almost everyday. One thing that I forgot when I learned about “RAW” is that exercise is as just as important as eating right. It took me a while to realize it again, but now that I am back getting “FIT”, I want to continue to exercise, eat right, spend time with God, and keep exploring my inner beauty.
**I will post pics tomorrow.

Thank you Santiago at The Raw Food Muscle for this wonderful challenge. I will continue to be inspired by you and your beautiful wife!

The greatest oak was once a little nut who held its ground. ~Author Unknown

Posted 13 years, 5 months ago at 8:50 pm.

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Days #20 and 21 The Raw Muscle Fitness Challenge

September 22, 2010

Today has been a lazy day. I felt so incredible yesterday and today I feel drained. I have been eating about the same that I have been for the last month. I didn’t ruin my raw food choices, but last night I made raw chocolates for Victoria and I tried some and I really felt sick. I tried to make them with Xylitol, and I personally don’t like them. Jason said they are good, but I don’t even want her to try them. I am quite embarrassed, but I tried to make them. The granules will not blend up. I even tried to grind them in the coffee grinder but to no avail. I still feel the crunchiness on my teeth. I don’t like Xylitol. I do use it when I chew the Spry gum, but I don’t ever want to eat it in Chocolate treats. So I am made some raw chocolate yummies with maple syrup and a touch of agave. I know, I know, I don’t want to use agave, but I was afraid the maple syrup would be too overpowering.
I used the a recipe on Goneraw.com to make Raspberry Belgium Chocolates. They, by the way, are extraordinary. I made them for the potluck and some to share with Victoria. I hope she likes them along with everyone else. Mine are not picture perfect like the website, but they are amazing in flavor!!!!!!!!

Exercise:
My exercising is going great. I did 15 miles on the bike on Monday, and I also walked with my dogs. Yesterday I went to the gym did some circuit training and did the elliptical for 30 minutes. One thing I know is that cardio is much better outside than inside on the hamster wheel. But I do like to have the option.

I am on the way to my parent’s house for the monthly Raw Food Potluck and to enjoy my “raw food friends” and delightful yummies.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
Jesus Christ

Posted 13 years, 6 months ago at 2:00 pm.

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Days #18 and 19 The Raw Food Muscle Challenge

September 19, 2010

Yesterday and today were successful with the eating choices. I ate plenty of greens and plenty of veggies. Not too much fat and mostly raw (with the exception of cashews and possibly the tahini I use. But I won’t give it up! The Tahini is the best ever:)

No exercising yesterday. I felt so exhausted, so I slept most of the day. I slept while the boys played with the BB Gun and watched the Gator game. I can always take a nap when Jason’s home. It is the only time I feel I can rest.

Today’s exercise was a bit of hoola hooping. I have missed it and didn’t get to the gym. I will start early tomorrow. I am looking forward to going back, I needed some time off.

Day #18 Food choices:
2 green smoothies with banana, strawberries, Garden of Life Protein and spinach.
1 cup of grapes
1 cashew lara bar
Big Salad of broccoli and lettuce with Raw Crackers with Tahini Garlic and Lemon dressing with Chocolate Honey fudge
Zucchini Spaghetti with Marinara sauce with lots of basil
1 cup parsnips and cashew rice with tahini and a bit of sesame oil
Buckwheat cereal with protein milk and strawberries
Calories~2436

Day #19 Food Choices:
Green Soup with Kale, kelp, onion, red pepper, cucumber, and cumin with sprouted lentils
parsnip and cauliflower rice on salad with Empanadas with a bit of cashew cheeze
Clementines
Bananas with mesquite and cacao
Parsnip rice rolled in chard
zuke spaghetti with marinara and some cashew cheese
lime date torte
Calories~2120

Off to bed, I am ready to go read and relax.

Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.~unknown

Posted 13 years, 6 months ago at 8:50 pm.

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Days #16 and 17 The Raw Food Muscle Challenge

September 17, 2010

Today I feel pretty drained and I feel that I have failed the raw food thing today:(. I will learn from my experience and not dwell on it.

Ezekial bread and raw chocolate doesn’t really belong in my house, because it haunts me! Tomorrow is a new day. I feel that if I was doing this challenge with someone close by I would be doing better, but at least I am back in the swing of things with the eating raw and exercising.

I didn’t exercise today and yesterday I rode my bike. I will relax tonight and do better tomorrow. I realize too that I need to eat less. I feel that if I ate meat I know I wouldn’t eat as much because I don’t like it at all and I love raw food, especially the desserts.

I did make the best chocolate ever, my son LOVES it.

Recipe:
1/2 cup cacao
1/3 cup honey
2 T water
2 T coconut oil, melted

Stir and put into small parchment lined pan and freeze, it comes out like Taffy:) Oh my gosh, delicious!

I have overeaten for 2 days now on too much walnut cake and chocolate, so the last two days are pretty much down the drain, but tomorrow is another day. I did eat mostly raw, other than ezekial bread. That darn stuff. Well, goodnight

“I eat merely to put food out of my mind.”
N.F. Simpson (1919–)

Posted 13 years, 6 months ago at 5:22 pm.

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Days #14 and 15 The Raw Food Muscle Challenge

September 15, 2010

I didn’t post yesterday, I meant to last night, but our rabbit was sick and we had to go to the emergency animal clinic last night at 11:00 pm.  The bunny seems to be doing better, but we will see.  He has head tilt, which is quite common, I guess. So he is on antibiotics and we are hand feeding him. He is drinking and eating quite well, so hopefully God will allow us a few more years with him.

Day #14 Food Choices:
Cantaloupe and Cucumber Smoothie
Before Gym: Buckwheat cereal with sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds and raw protein milk
After gym: apple and banana celery and AB
Ezekial Bread (I didn’t have any raw bread made) with banana and AB
cacao beans, honey, and almonds
Cauliflower rice with a bit of sesame oil and braggs
Zucchini Spaghetti with Marinara

Day #14 Workout:
45 minute bike ride
Chest and Shoulders
All exercises were 3 sets of 20 reps superset of following
Incline Chest (15 lbs) and Dumbbell pullovers (15 lbs)
Peck Deck 40 lbs. and pushups (Pushups were hard to do all regular, so I had to do knee pushups for the last 5)
Bench Press (just bar) and Incline Flies (15 lbs)
DB Shoulder Press (20 lb ez curl bar) and High Pulls same bar
Shoulder raises front and side with 5 lbs
Rear Laterals (5 lbs) and Shrugs (35 lbs)


Elliptical for 15 minutes HIIT training

Day #15 Food Choices:
Cantaloupe and Cucumber Smoothie
Buckwheat cereal with sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds and raw protein milk
Ezekial Bread with AB (still need to make bread)
Almonds, cacao beans, honey
Sprouted Lentil Salad and zuke spaghetti with marinara and nutritional yeast
Fudge and small slice of Walnut cake
Nectarine
*Definitely not enough greens, too many sweets!
Calories~2345

Day #15 Workout
Raquetball and Stadium stairs
*I took it easy today. It was beautiful outside so Jason and I played rball. It wasn’t much of a workout, but the stairs really kicked my booty:).

I continue to make many sweet choices over what I should be eating, like salads or smoothies. I missed my green smoothie today and yesterday. Sometimes I just don’t want one. I have been craving juice lately, but I did spend some time in the kitchen today. I made several things to help me not eat things I shouldn’t, ie. bread. Bread is my weakness. I do feel like my head is cloudy since I ate the flour stuff this weekend. I should’ve used better judgement, even though there were wild edibles in the treats I ate, there were too many bad ingredients to make the recipe worth while. Oh well, I will know for next time.

Off to sleep now. I am really tired, I was up too late to wake up as early as I did this morning. Tomorrow I will bike if the weather is good.

“A house is not a home without a pet.” ~ Anonymous

Posted 13 years, 6 months ago at 9:39 pm.

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Days #12 and 13 The Raw Food Muscle Fitness Challenge

September 13, 2010

I didn’t keep track of all of my food yesterday because I had a little party with the Raw Ladies. I did ride my bike for an hour and I drank some smoothies, then had a big feast with lots of raw yummies. The ladies are so talented. I didn’t take photos, but I am waiting for Marsha to send me them. They surprised my for my birthday with cake and presents. It was a “Magnificent” day:)

Day #13 Food Choices:
Green Smoothie with spinach, raspberries, coconut water, and apples
Sunny burgers from Ani Phyo’s book
After the gym:
Bananas with kale and acai
Nectarine
Mock Salmon inside of a half of a red pepper
Buckwheat cereal with carob and Garden of Life Protein
Mung beans with vinegar and garlic
Store bought hummus with carrots and celery and AB
Dessert: Here is where I ruined my eating:(
Shredded coconut with carob, honey and coconut oil
Calories: 2500

Day #13 Workout:
All exercises were 3 sets
Smith Machine Squats 15 reps 10 lbs superset with 15 Pulldowns with 80 lbs.
Partial Squats on Smith Machine 15 reps with 5 lbs superset 20 reps of rows with 20 lbs
Leg Press with 10 lbs 25 reps superset with underhand pulldowns with 80 lbs.
Leg Extension with 60 lbs for 20 reps superset with Split Squats with 10 lb dumbbells
Front bar squats for 3 sets for 15 reps superset with 1 set step ups on bench(I was not feeling good by this time).
*Early morning bike ride for 45 minutes

One thing is for sure…I am dedicated to the gym. The eating part has always been difficult for me. But I feel like I am making progress by dedicating my time to the gym and not slacking there.

“Man is a goal seeking animal. His life only has meaning if he is reaching out and striving for his goals.”~Aristotle

Posted 13 years, 6 months ago at 9:13 pm.

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