GMO's? Are you kidding me?

Wow....  So I just watched a film the other day called "The Future of our Food" on netflix.  With out going into too much detail it was talking about how food has been genetically modified and the links that it has with cancer, allergies, and many other issues.  I became so upset when I found out that there have been no human trials on this food and there is no labeling on food to let you know if a food is genetically modified or not.

I was so upset that I couldn't even juice that morning.  I didn't even want to eat at all.... ever.  I found myself being crabby most of the day, but then realized that I have already made so many changes in my family's diet and have mostly excluded the food that is/could be genetically modified.  What about the other families who have no idea?  How can the government let this even happen?  One could only assume that this is their way of population control.  I would bet that if people were told about GMO foods and health risks (similar to a warning that is on a pack of cigarettes) people would choose not to use these products. 

I felt even more guilty when I heard that somewhere around 80% of soy grown in this country are genetically modified.  When breastfeeding didn't go so well after the first 2 months with my son Brandon (now 6 years old) I fed him soy formula.  Brandon is the only son that I had given soy formula to and he is the only child that has these allergy/asthma problems of my 3 kids.  (Steph was breastfed exclusively for 13-14 months, and Zachary was breastfed til he was 6 months then put on regular formula) I feel extremely guilty for not looking into things more back then.  He has issues with allergies and a slight case of asthma and I feel responsible for it.  I am hoping that as my kids learn to love fruits and veggies as their mother does, that these issues for him will reverse.

I also read a book called "Eat to Live" by Dr. Joel Fuhrman.  It was recommended to me by another juicy friend who is actually starting up a challenge for this.  The low down of the book basically discusses the importance of "whole foods" being the most important for our bodies.  Lots of fruits and veggies, some beans, nuts.  I am looking forward to starting it this next week so that I can maybe have better success with that than how I have been doing with being 100% raw.  This allows you to eat much of your food raw, but also a good majority cooked.

I feel kinda weird about trying all these different ways of eating, but ultimately - how would a person know if they can stick to something if they don't try it out in the first place. 

I am really looking forward to watching the DVD that came in the mail today from Netflix called "Dying to Have Known."  I'll let you know how it turns out....  Still really looking forward to seeing the film "Forks Over Knives" but it is not even showing in MN anymore.... kinda sad that I never made it to the theatre, but I saw on Amazon that it comes out on DVD sometime in August.... 

Well all.. have a great weekend!  I have one more paper to write for my college course and then I am done with school for the rest of the summer.... SOOOOO excited!!!

Juice on peeps!

Where'd I go??

So I took a little bit of a break from the blog...  Going raw is much more difficult than I could have imagined.  As of now, I am to the point where I for sure juice for breakfast, and usually juice or eat something raw for lunch.  Dinner has been my downfall.... 

Another thing I have noticed is, while I am busy making dinner for myself (preparing raw stuff), I have been trying to cut down dinner preparing time for my family.  I got into a rut where I was making frozen pizzas or chicken nuggets for the hubby and kids.  Sounds like a raw deal right?  (sorry...not punny....)

I found that while I am making myself healthier in the process, I am still feeding poison to my family.  Not cool at all. 

So I realized that I need to find a happy medium...  At the moment, my husband refuses to eat fruits and veggies.  (Unless it is potatoes or corn on the cob with loads of butter.)  I suggested that the least I could do was prepare real foods in a healthier way without using boxes of processed junk.  So the rules (oh great... here I go with more rules...) for the house will be no trans fats or partially hydrogenated oils, no high fruitous corn syrup, and limit the white flour (hopefully using whole grains instead).  I'd like to reduce/eliminate the regular milk, and use a rice milk and cheese.  Oh yea, and no nitrates!

So the hubby agreed.  I also started him on this really awesome supplement called GREENSuperFood made by AmaZing Grass.  It tastes so much like chocolate milk, that he drinks it willingly...  Some of the ingredients include, organic: wheat grass, barley grass, alfalfa, spirulina, spinach, chlorella, broccoli, acai, maca, carrot, beet, raspberry.... with many others.....  and get this... he drinks it with rice milk! SCORE!!!

While this isn't exactly close to the goal of raw that I want for myself, it is helping me make a transition slower and easier to stick to.

I have found that while I am eating more and more fruits and veggies, that meat does not go well in my diet....  it may soon be eliminated totally.. :)  we will see.... but that's not a rule... yet..

So when does this start??  Well, I agreed not to throw away stuff that is already in the house, but we can not buy more of it.....  So...  I would say that this has started already- with the intent of doing even better when all the processed junk is gone...

Juice on people.... 

Day 11: Quit eating raw, and lets go to McDonalds!

The title of this post is inspired by my 6 year old son Brandon.  He has been very good at trying various things (including my new things from Pure Market Express) and has seemed to like most of them...

When I told my husband this, he mentioned Brandon might just want the toy.  Sure enough, when I asked Brandon if he wanted the food or the toy, he couldn't help but break out in a smile and said, "well...  the toy, I mean... no... no.. MOM!!!  I want the chicken nuggets."

I was pretty close to feeling bad for him... but I found out about Brandon's motives and I'm not convinced he really wants to eat McDonalds. 

For the record, the rest of the family is able to eat whatever they want, it just can't be from a fast food place.

My Dad is no longer doing the challenge offically, but I still put a juice on his bedside table and he drank it for breakfast.

We ended up having a non-raw pizza for dinner last night, and needless to say I felt a little ill after eating it.  I felt so weighed down compared to how I feel after I eat a raw meal or my juice. 

So today I'm back to eating raw.... 

I'm trying to convince the hubby to let me make a small order for a few entrees to the raw food delivery place here in MN....  It sure is nice to have a fancy raw meal once in awhile... :)

Now I just have to check out the ecopolitan....

Day 9: Pondering assignment....Fun

I had an interesting phone call this morning.  I was discussing my new way of eating with a family member and all the good and bad things about it...
She then asked me, "so what do you do for fun?"

I paused... and didn't really know what I do for fun... I've been walking?  Hang out with the kids?  But what do I really find super fun?

Food has always my go to for fun.  I love cooking, I love cooking for others, I love trying out new restaurants, I love having dinner with friends.... 

Uh oh...  so everything I love to do is surrounded by food.  No wonder I was so miserable the first couple days...

So today I am going to spend time pondering that very question...  What do I find fun....

A few ideas already... I have fun watching a movie cuddled up with my kids or husband.  I enjoy playing tennis.  I enjoy rollerblading.  I enjoy looking up recipes on youtube for raw foods.  I enjoy going to the health food store to find ingredients for recipes.  I love tanning. 

I love knowing that I am not controlled by food.  I get to control what I eat and what I put into my body.

I may not always be perfect but it is certainly leaps and bounds better than what I was just 10 days ago....

I choose to have fun regardless of if food is going to be involved or not... 

Oh, one more thing...  I am going to have loads of fun shopping for a new wardrobe... :)

Day 8: or should I say, Week 2, day 1...?

It's been a few days since I last blogged...

I was getting pretty mad at the world, and by the end of day six I told my husband I intended to quit in the morning of day 7. 

Well, I woke up on day seven, and I was craving one of my juices really bad...  So much for the quitting idea.

Needless to say, juicing has been going pretty well and for dinners I usually have a veggie and a slice of my "special" bread.

Tonight I did have a little cooked chicken (1 oz) for dinner.  I have been craving chocolate (as I normally do this time of the month...) and I decided to make some brownies...  I know I know... I'm horrible - but guess what, plan backfired and they didn't turn out.  So needless to say, I did not have a brownie and I am happy about that.

I'm thinking that I might only post once a week unless I feel motivated to write more frequently.  I have been so bogged down with homework - since I am trying to work ahead to get done with my class sooner.  If I do that I will have more time to juice - exercise - paint the walls of my house... 

Oh yea, that's right... exercise!  Me and my Dad went on a 3 1/2 mile walk today... it felt so good.  I want to go on another walk tonight, but I am waiting for it to cool the heck down...  it's about 82 degrees outside!  It should be in the 70's tomorrow.

Well - off to go clean my van with my husband!  I love the new energy I have... :)

Day 5: Minor setback..in my own mind

My highlight of my day was when I juiced for lunch which was a combo of apples beets and carrots.  It looked just like fruit punch!  I let my 4 year old try a sip and his exact words were, "Wow Mom, This is wonderful!"  I'm not sure I have ever heard him use that expression.  It was so cute.

Earlier today I was invited to a get together this weekend and I made an excuse to not attend.  This weekend is pretty busy, but I could have fit it in...  I seem to find myself getting uncomfortable being too far away from my juicer and being tempted by anything that might be offered for food at a party.  I'd like to think I would have enough will power, but who knows at this point. 

I made the rest of the family "Italian dunkers" which consist of a sloppy joe like meat and garlic cheese bread.  Even though I agreed to eat dinner with the family; when I ate half a slice of the bread and some meat, it made me feel extremely guilty.  I just feel like it is a let down that I am not able to just go raw over night... 

There is a part of me that wants to still have some my old regular food ( at dinner) because I don't want to gain weight right back when I am at an ideal weight.

Oh well... I need to be happy with the progress I am making.  Even if I do have a regular dinner every night, it sure beats the way I was eating before.... right?  There was a part of me that wanted to eat more junk because of how bad I felt about what I already ate, but I recognized that as a old bad habit and did not act on it.

Really wanting to go watch the movie "Forks Over Knives..."

Hoping the hubby takes me out on a date to watch it soon..don't worry.... I don't like popcorn, so that wouldn't be a temptation... :)

Day 4: ....and I'm feelin' fine :)

Wow... 

I feel so much different about this way of eating compared to yesterday.  I have lost all food cravings, and as far as the new rule for eating dinner, I can decide to take it or leave it.  Tonight for dinner I plan to make the "mean green" juice and maybe a slice of sprouted bread with hummus..  It's so yummy.. :)

Not only that, but I jumped on the scale a little early and it said...  I lost 8 lbs already.  This is impressive to me for a couple of reasons.  The first reason is this is the time of the month where I normally retain water (if ya know what I mean).  Two, I have done NOTHING for exercise, except for today.  I didn't have any energy the last few days to do that, but now... I do :)  When the weight loss number nears closer to 20 lbs that will be exciting.

I wouldn't say I have a TON of energy yet, but I would say that I feel much better than I have in the last three days.  I am waiting for my daughter to wake up for her nap and then plan to take the kids on a walk to the park.

I am happy to say that I finished reading 3 chapters of my textbook last night and should be able to finish 3 more chapters tonight... (hopefully!) so I can take my first exam this semester on Saturday.

I know this might sounds gross....  But on the movie "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead," the woman who goes on the juice fast for 10 days said she spent so much time the first couple of days on the toilet.  I must admit that I was a little bit worried about that sort of mess... lol... but without going into too many details - that part of my life hasn't changed any....  Well it's changed, but the frequency part hasn't.....  I know, I know... super gross, I'm sorry, but if anyone else does this, I'd like to think they would want to know if they need to know if its a for sure thing...

I am going to try hard to start exercising regularly now that my energy has begun to pick up some.  Can't wait to keep seeing progress!!

Hey Day 2....  the motivations over here!!!