Sarah’s First Raw Food Detox Journal
Disclaimer: This journal contains graphic details of my body going through a cleansing process, including references to the menstrual cycle, diarrhea and vomiting.
After a 1 week long experiment with raw while on vacation in San Francisco, I decided to eat raw food for 30 days to feel for myself what eating close to nature can do. This journal spans my transition period from eating cooked to eating mostly raw food.
My story begins in Ann Arbor, MI and ends in NYC.
*Before and after photos at the journal’s end.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Day 1
Today is the first day of the rest of my life. I am embarking on a 30 day raw food challenge supplemented with dancing 4 days a week and one day of brisk walking. This is something I’ve wanted to do for years and I’ve finally found the courage to follow my instincts.
I haven’t eaten today and I danced this am, but I’m not hungry. In fact, I’m rather bloated from my “last supper of cooked” yesterday. I went all out and had pizza and a caramel brownie. The ironic thing is, I didn’t really enjoy them. Just stuffed my face without thinking, barely tasting. But I will eat when I feel it’s time and I’m not just bored or lonely. My energy has been low the past few days and my skin is breaking out a bit. I’ve been diligently using my dry skin brush everyday, but not ending my showers with cold as often as I’d like. Today I ended with cold.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Survived Day 2
peppermint/ginger tea
2 apples with almond butter
3 bananas
8 strawberries
handful of sunflower and pumpkin seeds
Dancing, dry skin brushing and hot/cold shower.A crazy busy day of working, 5 massages and a yoga class. My head ached in the late morning and I started the rationalization process of “Maybe I should eat a little something cooked to get me through the day. I don’t want my detox to effect my work”, you know how it goes. Luckily I was so busy I didn’t have time to stop for anything, so I was forced to rely on the raw I brought with me. I’m so glad I did. It feels major to make it through 2 days. Weighed myself a work–170lbs. I’ve been this weight since high school. I’m looking forward to having the body I choose, not the one left over from my inactive and malnourished youth. Sorry mom, but you know it’s true.
Friday, June 03, 2005
Three
Raw was pretty easy today. Ate similarly to yesterday, but added fresh veggie juice and it really helped a dull headache to pass. When I looked in the mirror today I was overwhelmed with my beauty. I haven’t felt this way about myself since the my first experiment with raw in San Francisco in March.
Sunday, June 05, 2005
4 & 5
Each day brings more ease with the raw lifestyle. I’ve added salad to my daily regime and I look forward to it with the same anticipation as chocolate. I did drink two ginger brews, ate goddess dressing and a few pickled garlic cloves. However, I don’t view any of this as cheating, although I’m sure it is by raw definition. I’ve also indulged in packaged raw treats, as I am a hardcore quick food junkie. Whenever I step into a kitchen, I suddenly exhibit symptoms of ADD. My attention goes to paying bills, watching a movie, plucking ingrown leg hairs–anywhere except the task at hand. But look at me now, I’ve made salad two days in a row. Maybe I can change. I’ve also lost one pound and overall feel rather calm.
Monday, June 06, 2005
Bloody Monday
When I was a teenager, I had green menstrual blood. Not every month and not for the whole cycle, it lasted a total of three months and the green didn’t appear until the third day. It was the bright green of well hydrated grass. I made up a story about blood inside the body being green and somehow this blood had skipped the chemical process that made it red. This blood was evolved. Eventually it turned brown instead of green and now it’s all bright red, but the third day syndrome still haunts me. On my third day I always get this achy, shooting pain that lasts a few hours accompanied by an outpouring of blood. It’s as if my uterus is crying and releasing her latent aggression from the month. I’m curious about the cycles of my female friends. Any stories, patterns?
Today was my most unraw day. I caved and ate veggie sushi, but I’m cool with it. The rest of my diet was raw and I think the sushi helped my uterus release herself from bondage.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
7+1
The legendary burst of energy that makes raw famous came today–it does exist!! I couldn’t stop dancing, not the bee bop, swaying from side to side dancing, I’m taking about jumping, kicking, gyrating with sweat dripping off the clothes. I feel amazing! I thought a of great way to encourage dance–put on your favorite music with the intention of choreographing a piece. You’ll create a work of art while getting vital exercise.
I’ve added organic raw rennet less goat cheddar to my salads, it’s so luxurious. Also ate raw muesli with water when I was feeling a little tired and instantly felt more alive (perhaps it’s the iron in raisins). But I did eat my salad a little late in the evening tonight. That could adversely affect me tomorrow. My skin feels and looks amazing-soft, clear and rosy.
Friday, June 10, 2005
HoDgePodGe
Had sushi again yesterday and was heavy and achy afterward.Today had non-raw feta and it was so salty, I thought I might choke.
Lost 2 pounds total.
Not much exercise today or yesterday.
I will be completely raw…I will be completely raw…
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Positivity
Raw very easy today. Noticing my tendencies to be negative and trying to figure how to catch myself before thoughts get that far. How can I keep my expectations positive?
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Moving forward
Things I’ve noticed-
-I’m very productive
-My mind is able to comprehend more complex thought
-I’m pushing myself harder physically, mostly through yoga and dance
-Keeping my physical space clean is more important than previously
-I look leaner
-I’m more creative in everything
-I notice details that previously would have passed me by
-Today I started bleeding again, but it’s all old and brown. My pelvis definitely feels like it’s discharging.
I’ve decided to continue on raw for the summer. So far it’s been remarkably easy and 30 days doesn’t feel like a good measure of the capabilities of this lifestyle.
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Keeps on flowing
It’s day 16 of my raw food cleanse and I started bleeding again. It happened while I was teaching yoga tonight. The pregnant students brought their partners with them today and although it was exciting to see these happy couples together, it was also heart wrenching to view their intimacy when I have none of my own as a current reference. Did this cause me to bleed again? I don’t know, but the all the bleeding is starting to feel peculiar. My weight hasn’t changed since week one. My thoughts turn to nachos.
Monday, June 20, 2005
Painful lesson, graphic details included
I was feeling bored with raw today and also in a hurry, so I picked up dolmas (stuffed grape leaves) for lunch. It seemed harmless enough, but then I also ate sushi for dinner. Both of these dishes were cooked. It started with stinky little farts and foul tasting burps that wouldn’t go away. But after dinner, it all came rushing out any door that would open. While working on a client, I had to excuse myself halfway through because I was doubled over with abdominal pain. Then the diarrhea came. When I felt clear, I went back to my client, only to end the session early so I could vomit–4 TIMES! Diarrhea followed me home and finally the worst has passed, but the memory of the pain will live on every time I look at one of my former favorite foods. It felt like garbage had infiltrated my body’s defenses and she pulled out every available tool to rid herself of the invader. I will choose hunger over torture next time I’m tempted.
Friday, June 24, 2005
Reflecting
My senses are becoming more enhanced. I’m able to smell what my clients have recently eaten as well as the sweat on the sheets. This is an unexpected and often disgusting benefit of this new lifestyle. It took 2 1/2 days to fully recover from my cooked food adventure and I was chastised severely by one of my coworkers–”You ate RICE? From TAKEOUT!” She quickly reminded me of transitioning between foods, suggesting homemade veggie broth and soup before progressing to statchy rice in the future.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
No title
I had a dream last night about the medical establishment and how it’s designed to keep people sick. Today I saw a client who is checked in at the hospital and the dream proved to be accurate.
I’ve lost only 3lbs so far, but fit into a size 12 pants. I used to wear 14 and 16.
Friday, July 08, 2005
30 days for 30 minutes
My trip was fabulous, full of synchronicity and many moments of simple bliss. I could live anywhere and be happy and that’s part of my problem, I want to be everywhere-RIGHT NOW. Do you think that happens when you die?
Raw on vacation wasn’t too hard, but I have found I’ve become hooked on Larabars. I’m a raw foodist and still addicted to packaged food, the advertising industry got me at a young age. I feel like I’m falling in love with myself for the first time. That’s what raw has done for me. But I’m also noticing there is something significant missing from my life I NEED a daily dose of heart pumping, body contorting, muscle building exercise. I’ve always been a lazy person, but seeing the shape of some of the older people I work on has made me reconsider this tendency. One of my most important lessons from giving massage–if you don’t care for yourself when you’re young, it’s gonna totally suck when you’re old. It’s a minor progression, first there’s a pain in your shoulder that just won’t go away, but you’re too busy to stretch and bodywork is too expensive, so you learn to live with it. Then you strain your back from picking up the kids. You know that yoga helps your back feel better, but there’s too much to do in a day. While washing the dishes, you imagine yourself doing yoga, hoping your thoughts will transfer into your body. You walk with a slight hump and can’t fully extend your arms over your head. Sex is difficult unless you’re in missionary position, it’s also infrequent and you can only tolerate it for 10 minutes, you’re just so tired all the time. As more serious health issues take center stage, you notice that most of your energy revolves around trying to trick yourself into feeling better. Even though you live a full life, you feel like shit. You want to go for a walk, but are too depressed to leave the house, besides you’ve never gone walking before, why would you start now? This is my path unless I make a change now, so today I’m starting a 30 day/30 minute exercise challenge. Today I’m going running.
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Day 40 Detox
Today is the first day I’ve experienced detox symptoms; headache, pimples, lethargy. I hope it doesn’t last long.
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Taste buds
My once supreme treat, raw cheese, now tastes like mold.
Friday, July 15, 2005
Delighted
I have finally passed my weight plateau, now weighing 164lb for a total of 6 lbs lost, the last 3 in the past week. I’ve made a number of changes recently; running 4 times this past week and no more cheese, so I’m unsure if one or all of these factors has contributed to this weight loss. My grandma is afraid I’m becoming anorexic. I tell her that I eat when I’m hungry, but after watching Jessica Hahn talk about her anorexic mother on Larry King, she has adopted the term “anorexic’. I wonder if Larry has any shows on raw foodism.
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Energy changes
I slept 13 hours last night and now I feel groggy. I sampled some raw cheese at our local gourmet shop and I wonder if that’s why or if I’m just detoxing. Every few days I vacillate between having abundant energy and wanting to crawl into a hole.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Experiments
The thing I thought would never happen to me has occurred, I’ve developed a relationship with the kitchen. It’s a relationship of necessity, but so far I’m enjoying it. It has taken me almost 50 days to realize that if I want interesting food in my life, the only one who can provide it is me. Today I made an apple pie, walnut/raisin butter, hummus and a strange dessert concoction with almonds, kiwi and cranberry juice. It was a really great first try preparing raw meals outside of salad. The hummus is a bit bland, but I think a few kalamata olives will give it a delightful zing. The pie looks like crust with green pudding inside (the apples are Granny Smith). I’m bringing the dishes to Fab’s house to share with any brave souls I may encounter. The thing I’m missing most with this lifestyle are chips and the crunchy, salty excitement that comes with every bite. As soon as I find a job in NYC, I’ll be investing in a dehydrator to make chips my reality.
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Revving up
I should be packing, but instead I’m sitting in a cafe, drinking juice and writing. After the excitement of Fab’s beautiful wedding, I’m looking for motivation to pack–AGAIN! Everyone always asks me, “When are you going to settle down?” I usually reply with, “Never” but when moving takes center stage on such a frequent basis, I’m feeling that a home base isn’t such a bad idea. But the questions of where and with whom are still at the forefront and until those are answered, it’s a life of wanderlust for me.
I made it through the extended wedding weekend all raw, although the first few days were extremely difficult. The support I received from everyone helped me succeed, thanks everybody! 16 days to NYC…
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Over 60
It has been over 60 days on raw. The main thing I’m noticing is how sensitive I am to nuts. When I’m busy I tend to eat more nuts for their convenience and end up feeling very bloated. Now that I’m at Grandma’s and in a more stable place, I’m relying more on salad and feeling much better.
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Health update
My goal of 30 days of exercise was a failure. Stopped thinking about it after day 3 or 4. Still working on a way to convince my brain that daily vigorous movement is a priority.
Still raw, although my jaw is starting to ache from all the hard core chewing. I’m going to incorporate more juices and see if it helps the pain subside.
Sunday, August 14, 2005
A certain freedom
It is a tremendous relief to have a variety of food in my life again. Raw restaurants, stores and snacks are abundant here in New York. Choice is an essential liberty for happiness. What choices are you making in your life?
Monday, August 15, 2005
Gushing
Miss Monthly Flow came early again this month. She was ushered in with dark spotting and proceeded to make herself known by masquerading as a bright red waterfall.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Blue skies
Today is my 3 month anniversary with the raw lifestyle. The flavors and textures available in NYC have made the duration incredibly easy. I see myself continuing with this experiment for many more months.
I stopped writing this journal at 3 months, the duration of my transition from cooked to raw. The following entry is an update of my current status.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Longevity
I am still raw and loving it, but I don’t think about it obsessively the way I once did. It has become a part of me and is therefore automatic in my thought processes and actions. I still carry food with me everywhere and I know where to get Lara Bars throughout Manhattan. I eat less than in the beginning, but I still have a weakness for nuts, particularly cashew butter. It actually makes me a little ill when I eat it, but its rich creaminess is an indulgence that I’m not ready to give up.
My menstrual cycles are normal, with very little cramping and the blood is consistently deep red, not brown. I don’t spot in between cycles as I did in the beginning.
My average daily diet includes:
dandelion greens, kale, avocado, tomato, tahini, sprouts, sauerkraut, zucchini, pumpkin seeds, olive oil, various fruits, agave nectar, oats, raw cacao, cayenne pepper, himalayan crystal salt and sometimes Lara Bars. However, I’ve become a coffee addict since moving to NYC and coffee is a very non-raw and acidic product. I’m slowly building the motivation to replace it with a healthier beverage, such as green, neem or rooibos tea.
