A Raw Journey To Wellness 12/14/09

Hey Everyone,

I'm back! A friend yesterday told me that they missed my blog. And I thought to myself I actually missed writing and sharing it. I also thought that one of the things it did for me was created a checks and balance for me on my journey. I haven't shared since the day before Thanksgiving and boy do I have a lot to share...

1st: Many of you who are on FB know that on Thanksgiving morning I went out and ran 8 miles. I was afraid of going over to my wife's family's Thanksgiving feast and caving in. Well during my run around mile 6 I had this feeling of strength and a sort of aha moment. I said to myself I can do this and I thought I will just go out and buy some fruit and make a fruit salad and have that.

Well, I underestimated the amount of food that I would have to look at, smell, and not eat. But the funny thing is I didn't desire or crave the food at all. I ate my fruit salad, enmeshed myself in my favorite past time watching my Cowboys and it was an easy task.

2nd: I got home that night and the lactic acid started to kick in from my run. Mind you this is the farthest I've run in my life and at 244 lbs I was still carrying a bit of weight. Also, my body wasn't used to daily running. Nevertheless, I could barely make it up the stairs in my house. I sat on the couch and got extremely cold. I felt my body breaking down. I had the chills, night sweats the whole 9. The next morning I was not better. I couldn't understand what the heck was going on. I'm supposed to be healthy I couldn't be catching a cold right? I eat only raw foods and I just completed a juice fast. My body should be in optimal health.

Well you guessed it I had a cold. My body was shutting down on me. I realized though that it was a cold like I normally get it was a little different. I had the sniffles, mucous, very little coughing and I had the hot and cold. So instead of fighting it I decided to sit back and analyze what was going on. I had intense cravings for cooked food. And yes I did indulge. I had some potatoes, yams, chicken noodle soup tons of potato chips and popcorn and peanut butter and crackers. It didn't help my cold at all but it sure made me feel sedated. Oh and I also took tylenol for the fever.

Okay, fast forward a two weeks to the present about a week ago still mostly raw (I'd say 60/40) but added in a few cooked foods. Two of the people that I follow most (for information) in the Raw Food lifestyle came out and said that they were no longer 100% raw one for health reason and the other I don't know why. This confirmed it for me. This wasn't the optimal diet for my health and well being. Otherwise why would I get sick right? So I was just going to eat a relatively healthy diet with some cooked foods and just continue to eat a lot of fruits and veggies.

Well, I was feeling awful, body puffy and started gaining water weight again. But had a feeling of not being able to go back 100% or at least 90%. In fact, for the first time in months I was all of a sudden craving meats. I thought this is not good at all.

Last week, I came across a guy by the name of Brendan Brazier. He's a raw food guy that does the triathalons, ultra marathons etc... And I bought his book. Thrive. And I started reading. In the first chapter, he talks about the effects of various types of stress on the body. Physical, mental, emotional etc... Stress causes the body to be over acidic, and the body MUST remain in a slightly alkaline state and will do whatever it takes to get back to where it's supposed to be. I had another aha moment. And realized that I did this to myself by overdoing it with the running. My body shut down so it could repair itself. Then when i added cooked foods while my body was trying to repair it further exasperated the problem.

What I found is that the harder the body has to work to digest foods the more stress. And now me being a food addict. (I'm to food what Whitney was to Crack I honestly think food is equally addictive) "Food is Whack" LOL.

I also discovered a guy by the name of Roger Haeske from NJ and a Rutgers Grad same year(imagine that). He has given me some pretty good ideas on how to better sustain on the 100% Raw Food Diet. I will share with you on future posts...

Anyway, I'm now back to "normal". And back on the Raw Food diet again fighting cravings almost like starting over. But I'm determined to fight and keep at it. I like how I feel, I like how I look, I like how I think while I'm eating the good life giving foods.

So, if you've read thus far that means you are still with me. Stay tuned because the battle is on!!! Love you all and see you next time!!! Jeff