Living Rawesome

Day #11 The Raw Food Muscle Fitness Challenge

September 11, 2010

Well, I woke up with a very sick stomach and felt really bad and gassy. I knew that I shouldn’t eat that flour stuff, this is not the first time I have felt sick from it. Any how I did eat today, but not as much.

Day #11 Food Choices:
Coconut water, spinach, acai powder, very small banana, celery, raw protein smoothie
apple, pear
Empanadas with cashew cheese and red pepper with some nori on the side with chili almond sauce
Buckwheat cereal with raw protein and water and 1 T sunflower seeds with cinnamon and stevia
Buckwheat wrap with almond butter

Calories~1800

No exercise today. I needed a break. I will start again Monday morning. I have a raw potluck tomorrow afternoon. I can’t wait to see my “Raw Ladies”! They really are so special to me, I love you all:)

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one”~C.S. Lewis

Day #10 The Raw Food Muscle Fitness Challenge

September 10, 2010

I just returned from the Incredible Edible enormous spread at Chinsegut Park.  What an amazing experience that was!  This event happens once a year in Brooksvile.  The volunteers and staff harvest wild food all year long and prepare it for everyone to enjoy.  They had an array of beautiful and nutritious food, including wild greens, pancakes made with Black Walnut and Persimmon Syrup, Wild Grape Jam, Sumac-ade, Wild Grape Juice, Tread Softly cooked with Cactus, they even had venison burgers and wild hog stew.  I tried several of the treats and we brought home several dishes for Jason to try.  The kids and Grandpa had fun and I just LOVED it.  I want to go back to the next one.  I will be making some Sumac Tea in the next few days, and I have plenty of Spanish Needle in my yard to keep my Green Smoothies amped with Wild Raw Yumminess!

There are so many foods right near my home that are edible.  The Spanish Needle can be used in salads and the flowers can be eaten or used for tea.

Spanish Needle Flowers

The Beauty Berries were used for jelly and can also be used for tea.  I have always been told that the beauty berries are poisonous.  But I had some jelly tonight and I am doing okay;-)

Beauty Berries

Sumac-ade and Wild Grape Juice

Sumac is beautiful and so are the Wild Grapes.  They are both out this time of year (September).

Sumac Tree and Flowers

Wild Grapes

This was my plate, so as you can see I ate some cooked stuff and I ate processed ingredients.  I haven’t done this in so long.  Right now I feel okay, but who knows about tomorrow.  I didn’t eat all of this plate, I saved it for Jason, but I did have 3 persimmon and wild hickory nut cookies, and I really don’t know how they were made.

My Sample Plate of Wild Foods

I would say that I overate FOR SURE. My food choices were pretty much the same as yesterday, but ate some stuff not on the plan, I won’t dwell on it. The Incredible Edible experience was something different and something I have been waiting for.

Day #10 Exercise: My exercise was good today.  I did legs and back at the gym.

3 sets 15 reps of each exercise
Warm up
Squats, superset with plie squats on smith machine with 20 lbs. then one arm rows with 30 lb. dumbbells
Straight leg deadlifts with 30 lb dumbbells followed by T bar row machine with 25 lbs.
pushups superset smith machine pullups
Wide grip pulldowns with 80 lb dumbbells
*I am forgetting one leg exercise and one back. I am really tired.

Well, I am off to sleep. Goodnight. Hope to be completely raw tomorrow.
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”~Buddha

Day #9 The Raw Muscle Fitness Challenge

September 9, 2010

I just got home from Football practice. It’s been a long day today. I had a great bike ride this morning with Jason. We rode for 45 minutes. We didn’t go as far as I would have liked, but I won’t complain because I got to spend time with him. I did pretty good on my eating today for this challenge. There is not alot to say tonight, other than I realized that on the average I eat about 2300 calories and maintain my weight, so I need to cut more food out. I know that I don’t want to exercise too much more than I have been.

Day #9 Food choices and exercise:
Biking for 45 minutes
Buckwheat cereal with rice protein milk sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds and 1/2 cup berries

Buckwheat cereal with rice protein milk sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds and a small apple with cinnamon

Empanadas with onion, tomatoes and cilantro

Coconut water and spinach with raspberries

Buckwheat wrap with banana and AB *Note* I really just wanted a salad, but I was too lazy to make it. My kitchen was a mess and I wanted to eat something then that was quick.

Dinner: Cauliflower “fried rice” with peas and sesame oil and a touch of Braggs LA.

Snack at night: celery, grape tomatoes, and carrots.

Hot Tea
Calories:~2,030
Well, I am hitting the gym tomorrow, so now I am going to lounge on the couch with my man:)

Eating Superfoods, vegetables, and herbs is essential!  It is our insruance policy for health and long life.~David Wolfe

Day #8 The Raw Food Muscle Fitness Challenge

September 8, 2010

Well, another day down for this lovely time in my life. I am so grateful that I have discovered this challenge. It really hasn’t been so much of a challenge for me, but rather a discovery of my love of RAW again. I have been making recipes everyday of some sort. I made coconut wrappers today and Ani Phyo’s Sesame bread. I actually made them for a friend. I bought her coconuts and I bought some too, so I have lots of water and will have plenty of coconut jerky. I made coconut jerky with apricot balsamic vinegar marinade. They are in the refrigerator overnight then I will dehydrate them for 24 hours or less. I want them chewy, not hard.

My food choices today were great, but again the calories were high. I may not be eating the amount that I should but I will get it fine tuned. It’s all a learning experience for me. I haven’t been almost raw and counted calories the way I have been. So it is fun for me to discover more of what my cravings are and what time of day I like to eat.

One problem I feel I am having is dinner time. I feel I want something more substantial. Tonight I had sunny burgers on collards with tomato and onion, but to me that felt more like lunch. It made my belly full though, so that is all I needed. I spent some time tonight looking for some recipes. I will go shopping this Friday and get some yummy food for recipes.

Day #8 Food Choices and workout:
Buckwheat cereal with almond milk 1 T sunflower seeds and 1 T pumpkin seeds and berries

Went for a 20 mile ride and came home and drank a huge green smoothie with melon, spinach and coconut water.

Gym to do back and abs. All exercises performed were 10 reps except pulldowns these were 15. 3 sets Deadlifts with Straight bar and 40 lbs., 4 sets T bar rows with 30 lbs., 3 sets one arm rows with 30 lbs. superset with smith machine pullups., 3 sets Bent over rows 60 lb ez curl bar, and pulldowns with light weight (more like a stretch). Abs: side bends and weighted ab machine

Collard wraps with lentil salad with 2 small apples

Empanadas with cilantro, tomatoes, onion

Super food smoothie with coconut water, goji berries, acai, mesquite, carob, cacao, stevia, banana and tons of ice:)

Buckwheat wrap with banana and carob and PB (I need to buy AB)

Collard wraps with Sunny burgers with onion, and tomatoes

Total calories~2500.

I even feel a bit hungry, so I don’t know, maybe I am eating too much, but maybe not. I guess I will see in one month when I have the results of this challenge.
The bike ride was the best today. I really enjoyed myself. I am hoping my hubby will go tomorrow with me. He hasn’t been down the bike trail as far as I have been now.

“Live like we’re dyin'”~Kris Allen

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