Month 1 Wrap Up & The Worst Cravings Ever!
Ok, so 28 days isn’t exactly a month yet. For ease of navigating from the main page of the trial, I’ve made weekly links, and have “ended” month one after 4 weeks.
I broke down the first 4 weeks into a daily journal, and will switch to posting week to week to ease up the time commitment. Each week’s post will include meal highlights, new recipes, updates on fitness, body pH, overall wellness, and health/raw food tips.
I had intended to stay on Phase I for 30 days, but caved-in two days early. I just had to have some fruit!
Phase 1.5 (I planned to begin after the 30 day mark) allows low glycemic fruits (bluberries, grapefruit, strawberries), carrots, miso, and apple cider vinegar.
Today I encountered some of the worst cravings ever, buckled under the pressure, and ate a grapefuit. It was the best-tasting grapfruit of my life!
Not-so-great start to the day
Not only did I wake up extremely tired, with my sinuses going haywire; I was sluggish much of the day, craving chocolate and coffee, (not to mention a nap). If someone had presented me with a chocolate bar, I would’ve eaten it.
A day like this so far into the trial is a mystery. Maybe my body had had enough of this no sugar diet. I did feel great after eating that grapefruit.
What else did I eat?
Breakfast:
crackers and coconut oil
Snack
Avocado with sea salt, and red pepper slices
Lunch
An interesting new salad: Spicy Kale and Cabbage
Wilted kale
Napa cabbage
Purple cabbage
Lots of cilantro (key ingredient #1)
Dressing: mashed avocado, lemon juice, garlic,salt, cayenne pepper (key ingredient #2), and a little water to thin it out.
Optional – a few Tbsp of hemp seeds.
After eating it, I realized a higher ratio of Napa Cabbage would make it seem less soggy/more crisp. Pumpkin seeds might be a good variation on the hemp seeds.
Definite keeper!
Dinner
By dinner I was still terribly sluggish and sleepy (I hadn’t had the grapefruit yet). My cravings were the worst in weeks!
I was craving anything but salad. I had coconut butter mixed w/ coconut oil, sweetened w/ a bit of stevia, on my crackers. It tasted like a yummy coconut spread. This really hit the spot!
I was in such a craving frenzy that I didn’t even take photos.
I returned home from a school function at 8pm and the cravings and hunger were back. That’s when I gave in and ate the grapefruit.
What’s Next?
I’m progressing to Phase 1.5 starting tomorrow. I wanted to kick-start this diet on the strictest level because I thought it would be a good experience, good for my body, and interesting to see what the results were. However, I knew doing a full three months on that level would be too much. The next two months will be on Phase 1.5, before moving to the maintenance level (Phase 2). It is recommended that a person goes 3-6 months on Phase 1, so I chose 3 since I had already been eating about 90% raw vegan for 6 months.
What surprised me the most?
I really didn’t expect to feel as sick as I did for the first 2 weeks. I was surprised how much cutting out sweet foods affected me after already eating raw for 6 months. I learned that all raw food is not created equal.
My pH level declined the first few days, and stayed at an acidic level for almost the entire month! That is the complete opposite of what I expected. I found that this was a normal result of the detox that was taking place. By the end of the month, my body was testing more alkaline again, showing me that the diet was working.
Fitness
My running has been the biggest disappointment so far. I have felt absolutely terrible on most runs. My muscles have felt weak, and “heavy” for lack of a better word. I had hoped to feel “light and energetic”, and instead felt like bricks were tied to my legs. I’m hoping this was a result of the detox, and acid pH readings I was getting throughout this month. I’m looking forward to seeing the continuing effects of this diet on my running.
Stay tuned for the next two months of weekly updates on the Gabriel Cousens disease prevention diet – “Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine.”
