Living Rawesome

Day #7 The Raw Food Muscle Fitness Challenge

September 7, 2010

I have been up since 4:30 am this morning. I fell asleep extra early last night, so I decided to wake up early this morning and start cleaning. I have been cleaning all day and finally sat down this evening at Sabby’s Football Practice. I did make it to the gym today and I it was a great workout! I did the circuit that I did last week and kept about the same weight for all exercises. I didn’t feel as tired this time. I was able to keep up with the rest periods and perform almost 15 reps of all exercises.

Well, once again my food choices are not the best for calorie portions. I have been mostly raw for about a week now, which is a great accomplishment, but I would like consume less calories. It is so difficult, especially when I am so used to eating a certain amount of food. I figure that I am making progress though. I feel stronger and my head seems pretty clear.

Day #7 Food Choices:
Buckwheat cereal with Almond milk and 1 T sunflower seeds and 1 T pumpkin seeds with berries

Same meal again

Mung bean salad with Corn Tortillas

Banana Smoothie and Rice Protein and AB

Carrot, Beet, Celery, Red Pepper with Cantaloupe Smoothie (Cuke, Cantaloupe and Tons of Ice)

As you can see they are good choices, but too many calories.
~2300 calories

Day #7 Exercise:
Warm up on elliptical for 10 minutes
Santiago’s Circuit
Each circuit:
Straight leg dead lifts and bent over rows (20 lbs. dumbbells)
Butt kicks and Tricep Kickouts (10 lbs.)
Squats and Bicep Curl (15 lbs for 3 sets, 20 lbs for 3 sets)
Pushups (I averaged about 15 per circuit)
Front raises and Side raises (10 lbs)

All exercises were done for 30 seconds with 15 seconds in between for a total of 6 circuits. I did 30 minutes on the elliptical

I figure I will probably do legs tomorrow or back. Those seem to be my biggest problem areas. I am looking for a new circuit to do too. Next week I will probably go back to my workout that I have been doing for the last month. I miss it already.

Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness. ~Edward Stanley

Day #6 The Raw Food Muscle Fitness Challenge

September 6, 2010

I started my day with a Kayak trip with the family down the Rainbow River. I paddled for about 2 1/2 hours with my son Christian. I would say I got alot of exercise, he pretty much relaxed and didn’t paddle at all. That is okay, it helps my back muscles anyway. It was a beautiful and much needed trip. We were even so fortunate to see an otter swimming about 10 feet from us. The sight of him made me feel uncomfortable at first. When something brown pops up out of the water, I automatically think it’s an alligator, but after my eyes adjusted I realized it was an OTTER. This was towards the end of our trip. The whole day was blissful and relaxing. The boys had a great time and Jason finally got a breather. He is back in school and working many hours. But soon he will graduate and we can have some time together:)

My food choices were a bit better today, but still too many calories. I feel that I rely too much on calories. I should listen to how full I am but I would rather look at the numbers.
Day #6 Food choices:
Buckwheat cereal with berries almond milk and 1 T of each sunflower seed and pumpkin seeds

3 apples
Green smoothie with banana and berries

Mung bean salad with peppers, tomatoes, onion, parsley and olive oil and lime juice with a bit of Braggs LA.

Cuke and Cantaloupe Smoothie.

Big salad and fruit at my parents house. I did have some of their grilled veggies.

So my day was mostly raw. Not too bad.

Day #6 Exercise:
Kayaking

“Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are.”~ Chinese Proverb

Day #5 The Raw Food Muscle Fitness Challenge

September 5, 2010

Well, I overate today and ate stuff I should not have. I ate Rudy’s wraps and Smucker’s Peanut Butter:(. And I had Amy’s Refried Beans on my raw empanadas. Well, I don’t know why I put cooked beans on the raw wraps, but they were good.

No exercise today. I took a short bike trip with Sebastian, but I wouldn’t consider that exercise.

My eating went out the window today, but I will not binge and eat like crazy cuz I had a few slip ups.

Day #5 Food Choices:
Buckwheat cereal, apple, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds

Buckwheat wrap with AB

Cabbage and 4 slices of Rayo Del Sol Bread with 1 T AB and 1/2 banana

Rudy’s wraps with PB and 1/2 banana

Empanadas with Refried beans

And I ask myself…WHERE ARE THE GREENS???????

Better luck tomorrow.

Good night!
How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear;
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.
~John Newton

Day #4 The Raw Food Muscle Fitness Challenge

September 4, 2010

Okay, so now I am completely whooped! I did legs yesterday and back and abs today. I am pushing myself more than I have in a while. It feels so good to be tired and not too sick feeling. A few weeks ago I really felt sick after I worked out my legs. I feel that I am getting stronger.

Day #4 Nourishment:
Buckwheat and protein milk with 1 cup berries, 1 T pumpkin seeds, 1 T sunflower seeds.

Before Gym:
Lentil Salad with 2 apples
After Gym:
1 1/2 bananas, mint, 2 T carob, 1 T mesquite, Garden of Life Green powder and 2 T Rice protein. I don’t care for the chalky rice protein, but I need to buy more raw protein.

4 little slices of raw banana bread made by RAYO DE SOL with 1 T AB

Dinner~ 5 shredded cups cabbage, 1/2 cup onion with 1/2 T olive oil and Pad Thai dressing.

I feel super full so I will not be eating anymore today. I feel good though, I feel like I am actually overeating. I am trying to keep my calories around 2200 calories. I will see in a month if that is too much.
Calories today~2110

Day #4 Workout:
10 minute warm-up on elliptical
3 set of dead lifts with 25 lbs weights on each side=95 Total pounds
Superset with Bent over Rows with 30 lb Dumbbells
4 sets of T bar rows with 50 pounds
Superset with 60 lb bar of bent over rows
Pulldown wide grip with 110 pounds for 6.
3 sets for 15 reps using 80 lbs.
Abs
Roman chair situps
stirrups
side bends

Cardio~20 minutes HIIT on bike.

Well, now I am going to drink some tea and relax.
Goodnight

**Update, I ate a little more. had 4 more little pieces of bread and AB with 1/2 banana and two carrots with some green veggies(broccoli and snow peas)

Day #3 The Raw Food Muscle Fitness Challenge

September 3, 2010

Today is a great day! Great workout and ate good! I made one of the best after workout smoothie EVER!
Recipe: 1 frozen banana, 2 T cacao powder, 1 T mesquite, 1 T spirulina, Garden of Life Raw Protein, 6 ice cubes and 6 leaves of mint, some water! Oh my how refreshing:)

Day #3 Food Intake:
Buckwheat cereal with apple, 1 T sunflower seeds, 1 T pumpkin seeds with protein milk (I used Garden of Life Protein powder and water)

After workout:
Mint Cacao Smoothie

Spring Rollups with Curry Cauliflower, Beets, and Collards with 14 little Brad’s Flax Crackers

Kamut Bread with AB and banana

Pad Thai with tons of spinach (actually about 4 cups)
*This was so filling. Here is the recipe. This is not mine and I don’t know which website I got it from. So if you know who’s recipe it is, feel free to let me know. It is the BEST Pad Thai EVER!
Calories about 2100
Pad Thai Recipe:

Blend everything except the cashews in a blender. Pour over noodles just before serving and mix in the cashews.

Day #3 Workout:
Warm up for 10 minutes on Elliptical
Squats 15 on Smith Machine with 25lb plates on each side
High running in place for 30 seconds
Situps for 30 seconds.
(All Superset with 1 minute break in between)
Superset of Leg Press with 25lb plate on each side for 15
Step ups with 10lb dumbbells for 10 on each side
Leg Extensions for 25 reps with 60 pounds)
Fire hydrants with 10 lb weight
*This workout had me sweating and feeling like I wanted to be sick. But legs will do that to me.

After I ate and read some of my new book Love and Pornography by my friend Victoria Prater I went for a bike ride for an hour in the HOT sun! It feels so good to sweat:)

Now I am off to clean and stay away from the food for the rest of the night.

~ There is no Challenge more challenging than the challenge to improve yourself ~Michael F. Staley

Day #2 The Raw Food Muscle Fitness Challenge

September 2, 2010
Today was a successful day, I did manage to eat completely raw food today AND had a great workout! I made many meals today. I made Pad Thai, Barbeque Chips, Curry Cauliflower and some dressings. I am COMPLETELY feeling so much energy! I love it:)

Day #2 Foods consumed:
Buckwheat cereal with apple and 1 T sunflower seeds and 1 T pumpkin seeds, a dash of cinnamon and stevia.

After Workout: Green Smoothie with 1 banana, apple, berries, Raw Protein, sunflower sprouts, and spinach

Snack: Dehydrated Kamut Bread with AB and 1/2 banana

Lunch: Pad Thai, Beets with Almond Chili Sauce and Snow Peas with a few Dehydrated BBQ chips

Snack: Another bowl of Buckwheat cereal with apple and 1 T sunflower seeds and 1 T pumpkin seeds, a dash of cinnamon and stevia.

Dinner: Collard Wraps with Curry Cauliflower and Almond Chili Sauce onion and tomatoes I feel like I overate, but I am so proud of myself, I didn’t over indulge in raw pies:)!!!

Day #2 Workout:
Santiago’s Circuit
Each circuit:
Straight leg dead lifts and bent over rows (20 lbs. dumbbells)
Butt kicks and Tricep Kickouts (10 lbs.)
Squats and Bicep Curl (15 lbs for 5 sets, 20 lbs for 1 set)
Pushups (I averaged about 15 per circuit, but my last circuit I did 20!)
Front raises and Side raises (10 lbs)

All exercises were done for 30 seconds with 15 seconds in between for a total of 6 circuits. Then I walked later on with Jason. We walked for 1 hour at the park while Sabby played football.

My plan is to do legs tomorrow.
My average calories were about 2,300.

I know it should probably be somewhat lower, but I am working on it.

Another fun day is coming tomorrow. I am sure I will make some new raw goodies. I have buckwheat soaking and mung beans.

This morning I decided to have Sabby take my photos. He took 3. My measurements are as follows:

Just so everyone knows, I contemplated posting these at all, but I figured, maybe it would help me be strict with my food choices. Working out has always been super fun for me, it’s the food that has always hindered my results.

“Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal – a commitment to excellence – that will enable you to attain the success you seek.”~Mario Andretti

The First Day of The Raw Muscle Challenge

I am not going to the gym today.  I started my workout on Monday, but last week I exercised almost everyday, so today is my day off.  I am in need of a break, so I am sitting here listening to what sounds like rain. What a blessed day! I have been preparing food today for a friend and for myself. I made barbeque chips and sauce for the rolls from the Purely Delicious Magazine this month. They look so inviting:). Soon I will be on the way to get some veggies for my Pad Thai and the rest of the wraps. This is officially the first day of The Raw Muscle Challenge, so I will be recording my food and my workouts.  I am embarrassed to show my measurements, but maybe I will show the beginning measurements soon, I have to build up my confidence for that.  I feel I haven’t fully committed myself to this challenge, but with the 2 days of practice I had, thinking that it started, I did a lot of thinking about how I am always waiting for the next day to not eat too much.  I need to set up parameters and stick with them.  I am always bending the rules somehow when it comes to my food intake.  I am well aware of the issues of overeating.  With this challenge I know I will become stronger! It will be a fantastic journey the next 30 days.  And hopefully for the following 30 days after that:) Time will tell….. “The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.”~Leo Tolstoy

Day # 1 Food:

Sprouted Buckwheat cereal with apple, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds

Dehydrated Kamut Bread with 1/2 T AB 10 almonds

Carob Buckwheat wrap with celery

Green Smoothie with 1 banana, 1 cup berries, Garden of Life Protein and 3 handfuls of spinach

Almond and Tamarind sauce with Nori Sheets with Spinach then I had cherries, celery and carrots and some jarred Salsa.  No this wasn’t raw, but my neice turned 15 today and everyone else enjoyed cake and vegan ice cream, which I almost had, but I stopped myself, Yippy!

My goal is to have More Greens and less carbs at night:)

The Raw Muscle Challenge Practice Day #2

Well, I guess I messed up and started on the wrong day, DUH! So let’s just call this practice.

I am feeling good with all this yummy raw nutrition hitting my palate to my belly this week! I am loving working out, and feeling incredible.

Day #2 Food:
Sprouted Buckwheat cereal with sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds with apple

After workout:
onions
peppers
mushrooms
banana peppers
with marinara sauce
slice of pizza with no cheese:(

Dehydrated Kamut raisin bread with AB

Green Juice with Kale, Celery, and Apple.

2 Carob Buckwheat wraps with AB and Banana

Melon for dinner

Carob Buckwheat wrap again with AB.
Dehydrated mung beans with cayenne and a dash of sesame oil.

As you can see I crave high fat:( I am working on that….And it is silly to say I haven’t had a green smoothie in 2 days. I will on tomorrow.

Day #2 Workout:
I decided to watch the video Santiago did for burning fat and building muscle. I decided to do 6 circuits. I rested about 1- 1 1/2 minutes between circuits. *I am sore in my legs and back! Love it:)
Each circuit:
Straight leg dead lifts and bent over rows (20 lbs. dumbbells)
Butt kicks and Tricep Kickouts (8 lbs.)
Squats and Bicep Curl (12 lbs for 3 sets, 15 lbs for 3 sets)
Pushups
Front raises and Side raises (8 lbs)

All exercises were done for 30 seconds with 15 seconds in between for a total of 6 circuits. Then I walked later on with Christian.