Well, I made it to 8 weeks on a raw food diet. I must say my initial goal was at least 12 weeks but I succumbed to the helm of fun park tour guide duty for my little brother and his girlfriend. What would a fun park be without ice cream, donuts and well more ice cream and donuts. Ha! I must say I paid for this over indulgence later with a bloated stomach, zits and well, not to mention the few extra kilo’s I’d like to refer to as “My Winter Coat”.

The results of my 8 weeks on a raw food diet certainly surprised me.

• I lost approx 5 kg’s which busted all the myths that you have to restrict both calories and carbohydrate to lose body fat. Remember I was consuming around 2500 calories per day. For all the gym junkies on a high poison, I mean high protein diet I wonder what the long term health implications to this fad of high intake of animal flesh will be. Hmmm, only time will tell!
• I had absolutely no period pain for the first time since I started the good old monthly cycle when I was a teenager.
• My skin cleared up and was looking better than it has for years.
• My bloated guts trimmed down.
• I had an amazing amount of energy which helped me work out like a crazy woman when I was instructing my fitness classes.
• I spent a week learning and studying to become a trained Demartini Method facilitator. Spending up to 12 hours a day in a class room environment in the past has left me feeling drained and sluggish, especially when it hits tired O’clock (the afternoon slump). During these days I felt energetic, inspired and alert! I’m sure much of this was due to the amazing content I was learning but I’d also  say not bogging myself down at lunch times with a heavy meal with hard to digest proteins and processed carbs made an astonishing difference.

I’m off next week to go crew a Tony Robbins event for 10 days called Date with Destiny. My days will start from around 6am and can finish anywhere from 10pm to 2am the following morning. Yes, Tony Robbins is a machine when he gets on stage! My game plan is to eat raw natural foods continuously throughout the day (which reminds me I have to go up the shop today and stock up on dates, nuts, seeds, organic apples, banana’s, celery and carrots to make sticks I can munch and crunch on). I know this will keep me energized, on my game and rip raring to go. There is a lunch and dinner buffet on offer so I know will eat some cooked food as well but keep it to vegetables, vegie soup etc. Living foods equals a living, fully functioning body.

The Diet Plan from here on:

I certainly benefited by following a raw food diet. I do enjoy my cooked soups and vegies too though. My partner made a beautiful vegetable curry from scratch last night and at this stage in my life I don’t want to give this up to go 100% raw. Sorry all you 100% raw foodist out there. I did become a vegetarian 10 years ago and do not consume dairy (most of the time) so maybe one day I’ll do the 100% raw. Until then mostly raw will do it for me .

The simple fact of knowing I lost weight on a high calorie diet has totally changed my mind set about restricting calories and starving myself to reach that ever-elusive dream body!

My focus is and since I was 23 when I found out I had a tumor in my head that had to be removed is HEALTH! Not fads, not processed foods, not diet drinks, not protein shakes, not “diet” products, not starvation!

The guidelines I like to follow when it comes to my nutrition are:

1. Eat natural, whole, living foods (not processed, chemical laden foods)
2. Drink water plain and simple (avoid diet drinks, fizzy drinks, juice from the supermarket, flavored drinks etc)
3. Avoid dead foods (this includes rotting animal flesh, processed foods and anything that does not resemble how it grew in nature).
4. Avoid processed sugar
5. Avoid white breads etc.
6. Indulge in moderation and have fun. The old saying of it’s not what you do 5% of the time that determines your health it’s the other 95% of the time. (ice creams at fun parks is all good. Hahahahaha).

Many people preach many things when it comes to health and nutrition. Dr’s are backing diet drinks, celebrities think they know it all (usually they got paid to look like they know it all so you buy the product they’re endorsing), some personal trainers tell people not to eat fruit, peas or corn as there’s too much sugar in these things (like WTF!), the muscly lad on the T.V is promising you the body of your dreams if only you buy his diet products which include protein bars and shakes (to fill his pocket with money) and scientists are making new discoveries about special “genes” that make you fat (then people can blame something other than what they are putting in their mouths).

We are bombarded with terminology like, low fat, low sugar, no sugar, low carb, no carb, light, skinny, healthy, gluten free, fat free, lactose free, sugar free, salt free and I think this is allowing people to be brain free. Just because a product is marketed in a certain way don’t stop using they grey matter between your ears. Take a look at this product from boost Juice. On the packet it claims it’s made from “real fruit”, uses “all natural colours and flavours”, has “added calcium”, has an “all natural berry flavour”. Lets take a closer look!

The ingredient list:

Fruit 32% (concentrated apple puree, dried apples, contains preservative 223), reconstituted mixed berry juices 1.5%,wheat semolina, maltodextrin, Yogurt confectionary (7%) (sugar, vegetable fat (hydrogenated palm kernel), milk solids, Yogurt powder, emulsifier (soy lecithin), citric acid), sugar, isomalt, wheat protein, coconut (preservative 220) seaweed extract, humectant (422), acidity regulators (330,296), vegetable oil. Natural Flavour, natural colours (120, fruit and vegeatble extracts), glazing agents 553b,904.

There’s also a note: conains sulphites in quantity greater than 10mg/kg, and should be noted by sensitive persons.

What it means:

Preservative 223 – this is used in non organic dried fruits and wines. This preservative can cause reactions in many people. Its prohibited in food for infants and is a suspected respiratory, kidney and immunotoxin. Can cause asthma,headaches, hay fever, headache, migraine, skin and gastrointestinal ailments.

Hydrogenated palm kernel-Hydrogenating oils creates oxidization. The dangers of oxidized palm oil include organtoxicity of the heart, liver kidney and lungs, as well as reproductive toxicity.

Isomalt – is prohibited in foods for infants and can cause flatulence and diarrhoea if consumes in large amounts. Can contribute to gastrointestinal and liver problems.

Humectant 422 – This may be genetically modified and concerns about safety have arisen because babies’ resistance to chemicals.

Colour 120  – This grosses me out – this colour is extracted from the dried bodies of the female Dactylopius coccus insect. Potential health effects include contact dermatitis, asthma and anaphylaxis.

Glazing agents 553 – Long term consumption may cause kidney stones and it is prohibited in foods for infants. 904 is also prohibited in foods for infants. It is derived from the resin made by the lac insect found India

In a nutshell this product should have a label on it stating infants should not consume. If an infant should not consume then a breast feeding mother should not consume this product. Many of the ingredients are suspected, or are toxins.

This is an example of why steering clear of processed foods is a great idea when it comes to your health. This includes many if not all “so called” processed health foods.

If you need a snack for you or your children the healthier option is definitely to grab an apple, banana or a handful of nuts. You may even find a siamese twin banana like the one I did below.

Put your health first and fill your day with fruits and vegetables.

• If you eat meat use it more like a garnish than the staple of your meal.
• Include many green leafy vegetables
• Drink plenty of water.
• Eat a well rounded natural food diet
• Avoid processed foods.

Until next time remember to:

• Live life on your terms
• Respect yourself and others
• Set realistic goals and most of all

HAVE FUN!!!

Cheerio

Larissa Halls

http://www.perceptioncoaching.com