God has the answer to effective weight loss and excellent health
Summary by Month

Day 1 - 9/18/06
Well this is the first day of my raw foods diet. Lets see how this goes. I went out and bought over $100.00 in raw fruits, nuts, raw honey, etc. I don't know if I can succeed at this diet since I have failed at so many others. However, this one is supposed to be different since it is supposed to help with food addiction issues and I can see how it might work since I don't believe I will be over binging on raw fruits and vegetables. In the past I would be lucky if I ate 1 piece of fruit in a whole month so I think this will be pretty difficult. However, I believe God is calling me to try this for 1 month so I will try it. Quite frankly I am desperate. So I pray that the Lord will strengthen me through this journey and I will get the support of my husband and family as I will need it. Don't know how it will be eating out at restaurants either. I guess I will be ordering lots of salads.

What I hope to achieve on this diet:

Improved health
Better Relationship with God
More energy and not being tired all the time
A huge Weight loss and huge drop in clothing size
Food addiction broken
Return of Self Esteem
Snoring gone for my husband
Sweating to be gone and not smelling
The ability to exercise easily
My husband to be proud of me and really attracted to me

Joint pain gone

Heal spur to stop hurting on my foot

My weight today is 230

Mesurements are
Bust 46
Under bust 40
waist at belly button 43
Hips 47
Butt 49
Neck 14 1/2
left and right thigh 29
Left arm 15
right arm 15 1/2
left and right calf 16 1/2
let ankle 9
right ankle 9 1/2

By early afternoon I started getting a headache from no caffine.

Today is the day where I will take my new measurements. I did have a chance to work out last night and Monday night so that is great. I plan on working out on Thursday next. I am a little tired and have felt like I am battling a sore throat. I am trying to ward it off. Tonight is LOST and can't wait to see it. Had 3 BMs

My weight today is 214

Measurements are

Bust 45 1/2
Under bust 39
waist at belly button 41
Hips 46 1/2
Butt 48
Neck 13 1/2
left thigh 27 1/2
right thigh 28
Left arm 14 1/2
right arm 15 1/2 15
left calf 17
and right calf 16 1/2
left ankle 9
right ankle 9

Down 9 1/2 total inches.

Down 16 pounds !!!

 

2nd Month - Nov 10th, 2006

Well this will probably be the last day that I post before vacation and 2 days from now marks the end of two months so I thought I would take my measurements early. I also weighed in another pound less for a total of 23 pounds down. Hopefully by Monday I will have another pound gone. Had one bm.


Bust 45
Under bust 39
waist at belly button 40
Hips 45
Butt 46
Neck 13 1/2
left thigh 27 1/2
right thigh 27 1/2
Left arm 14
right arm 15
left calf 16 1/4
and right calf 16 1/2
left ankle 9
right ankle 9


Down another 6 inches.


Total down 15 1/2 inches from start
 

Total of 23 pounds down

 

3 Months - Fri Dec 22, 2006  ( Photos from December 9th 2006)

Well today marks the end of a 3 month raw journey. I am trying a persimmon for the first time for breakfast. Boy is it sweet! It is good but a little rich and a little too sweet for me (I can't finish it). I am glad I tried it though. I think it would be a fabulous fruit to juice with other things. Isn't God creative. I was thinking about that as I was walking around the fruit and vegetable market yesterday. I can't believe all the varieties of fruits and vegetables (there are so many I haven't ever tried before and wouldn't even know what to do with if I bought it). But since I have been raw (and by the way today marks my 3 month journey on raw) I have tried for the first time mangos, avocados, pomegranates, portabella mushrooms, young coconuts, gogi berries, fresh beets, and now persimmons. (retried cauliflower, fresh spinach, zucchini, and onions, which I never liked so I never ate them) and found a few to be palatable if combined with other things in recipes. I also use fresh garlic which I never used before and my whole pantry has been transformed with every nut and grains like buckwheat and oat grouts, and flax seeds, etc. I have invested the most time, energy, and money in my health than I ever did before and I feel good about it. You know how when you go on a fad diet you feel like you are getting ripped off? With raw I have improved my health, had more energy, influenced my family for the better to eat more fruits and veggies, and have convinced my husband to stop drinking (or extremely minimize drinking diet Pepsi). He said not to buy it anymore after we run out! Yeah! Had one Bm.

Bust 43 1/4 (down from last month 1 3/4)
Under bust 38 1/2 (-1/2)
waist at belly button 39 3/4 (-1/4)
Hips 42 (down 3 inches)
Butt 44 (down 2 inches)
Neck 12 1/2 (down 1 inch)
left thigh 25 1/2 (down 2 inches)
right thigh 26 1/2 (down 1 inch)
Left arm 13 1/2 (down 1/2)
right arm 14 (down 1 inch)
left calf 16 (down 1/4)
and right calf 16 (down 1/2 inch)
left ankle 9 same
right ankle 9 same

Down another 13 3/4 inches from last month.

Total down 29 1/4 inches from start yeah

Total weight down 36 pounds! Yeah

 

Well today marks officially that I have been raw for 4 months. Wouldn't have thought I could have made it this far. I weighed myself and lost another 2 pounds for a total of 43 pounds. Yesterday we opened up my new digital camera I received for Christmas this year. I was discouraged to see just how terrible I still look (even after losing 43 pounds). I still have so far to go and it is just so frustrating. I guess I didn't gain it overnight so it will take probably a year or so to get it all off. I wanted however, to take a professional photo with me and my family at the end of May (but I know I still won't be down to where I want to be by then) since we haven't had one done since my oldest (who is 11) was 3. What's funny is a few months back I would have been jumping up and down about being 187, but now I am there and I still look and feel extremely fat! I don't know why I am in such a funk about this but it may be the realization of just how out of control I was and how I let myself slip so bad. Having food addiction issues is not a lot of fun. Sometimes I wish my issues wouldn't affect me directly. Its funny, I didn't set out to consciously self destruct but that is what happened. As I turned to food for all different reasons, it robbed me of so many things and the temporary comfort or escape food provided left me feeling more depressed, unhappy, unhealthy, etc. It was a constant vicious cycle that affected so many areas of my life and not for the positive. Well anyway I thank God I am on a better path now however, I can't help to feel sad about where I am still currently at. It is probably a good thing so I can continue to stay focused and motivated. I must admit lately, I have been getting a little weary.

Measurements

Bust 43 (down from last month 1/4)
Under bust 37 ( 1 1/2)
waist at belly button 38 1/2 (1 1/4)
Hips 42 (same)
Butt 44 (same)
Neck 12 3/4 (up 1/4)
left thigh 25 1/4 (down 1/4)
right thigh 25 1/2 (down 1 inch)
Left arm 12 3/4 (down 3/4)
right arm 13 1/4 (down 3/4 inch)
left calf 15 3/4 (down 1/4)
and right calf 16 (same)
left ankle 9 same
right ankle 9 same

Down 6 3/4 from last month

Total down 36 inches from start

Total weight down 43 pounds

 

Well Today is officially 5 months raw.  I wasn’t going to weigh myself until tomorrow as I normally do but I like to post my actual weightloss on the day.  So I lost another 2 pounds for a total of 48 pounds.  I kept thinking my anniversary was on the 22^nd of September, but when I went back to my journal it was actually the 18^th.  So I am doing this 4 days early from last month.  Also a lot of people are actually starting to notice my weightloss.  Someone at work told me she thinks I look like a different person.  It is funny that I had to lose almost 50 pounds before people started to notice. 

Measurements

Bust 42 1/2 (down from last month 1/2)
Under bust 36 (down 1 inch)
waist at belly button 37 1/2 (down 1 inch)
Hips 41 3/4 (down 1/4)
Butt 43 1/2 (down 1/2)
Neck 12 3/4 (same)
left thigh 25  (down 1/4)
right thigh 25 1/4 (down 1/4)
Left arm 12 1/2 (down 1/4)
right arm 13 (down 1/4 inch)
left calf 15 3/4 (same)
and right calf 16 (same)
left ankle 9 same
right ankle 9 same

Down 4 ¼ inches from last month

Down 40 ¼ inches from start

Down 48 pounds total

I am trying to figure out the long-term aspect of this way of eating. When I think that I will never eat any cooked food again, it doesn't seem realistic to me, but I want to stay raw. So I am taking it day by day. I still have a long path ahead of me and figure it will still take me another 7 months or more to get down to where I want to be. And the strange thing is I may not ever even get there. Only God knows where my body will end up. But the point is is that I don't want to drive myself crazy so occasionally I am ok with not being 100% raw everyday. I am very careful though as I know some cooked foods could trigger me to getting out of control. But I feel proud of myself from where I was to where I am now and with being around SAD people 24 hours a day I feel good about what I have done and am doing. Don't get me wrong, I am not setting out to eat cooked food - my goal is to be all raw but I guess what I am saying is that to keep myself eating raw I will occasionally allow myself some latitude on certain things. Ok enough babbling.

Well today officially marks 6 month into my raw journey.  Amazing that I have done this for ½ a year and I didn’t know if I could last one month.  I am proud of this accomplishment.  Well to celebrate the event I guess I should indoctrinate myself with a green smoothie!  I also will feed the shrek smoothies to my kids.  If I can't get them to eat them, I'll hide it in their drinks.  It works!   

Measurements:

Bust 41 (down from last month 1 1/2)
Under bust 35 (down 1 inch)
waist at belly button 37 1/4 (down 1/4)
Hips 39 3/4 (down 2)
Butt 42 (down 1 1/2)
Neck 12 3/4 (same)
left thigh 24  (down 1)
right thigh 24 1/2 (down 3/4)
Left arm 12  (down 1/2)
right arm 12 3/4 (down 1/4 inch)
left calf 15 1/2 (down 1/4)
and right calf 15 1/2 (down 1/4)
left ankle 9 (same)
right ankle 9 (same)

Down 8 ¼ inches from last month  

Down 47 1/4 inches from start

Down 54 pounds total

7 Months - Wed, Apr 18, 2007

Today is Evelina’s first day at her new preschool.  So I need to pick up Ariana early from school so I can be back to pick up Evelina.  Then I need to squeeze in some exercise and Lost is later tonight.  Also today marks my 7 month anniversary on raw food.  Woke up and weighed myself and I am back up the one pound I lost again.    UGH!  I am not too surprised as I have been away for the last few day and have been primarily eating out and no exercise.  So I guess its not too bad.  But as I am looking at this I feel like a whole month has went by with very little progress.  This is completely discouraging!   Had 1 BM.

Foods eaten:

Lara Bar
Young coconut, pineapple, banana, organic cocoa smoothie
raw macademia nuts
Hummus with carrots
½ of a paypaya 

Exercise 20 minutes of circuit training
10 minutes abs of steel

Measurements:

Bust 39 3/4 (down from last month 1 1/4)
Under bust 35 (same)
waist at belly button 37 1/4 (same)
Hips 39 ¾  (same)
Butt 41 1/2 (down 1/2)
Neck 12 3/4 (same)
left thigh 23 1/2  (down 1/2)
right thigh 24 1/2 (same)    
Left arm 12  (same)
right arm 12 3/4 (same)
left calf 15 1/2 (same)
and right calf 15 1/2 (same)
left ankle 9 (same)
right ankle 9 (same)

Down 2 ¼ inches from last month
Down 49 1/2 inches from start
Down 55 pounds total

My day off today and It is my eight month anniversary today on raw food.   I decided to spend it garage sailing.  Found some decent deals and then went out to family dinner night and shopping to try to exchange some clothing my mother in law bought for me in a size 12.  The thing is that the size 12’s fit but now that I started fitting in a 10 I wanted things in that size because I have nothing in a size 10 since I never thought I would get back to this size.  I had lost hope I guess.  Anyway, nothing could go simple as they didn’t have the same things she bought in stock in my size so I ended up shopping longer trying to spend my merchandise credits.   I can’t believe I am in a 10 now and I can actually wear medium shirts.   I have been an extra large for like forever and it was before I was pregnant with Ariana (my 12 year old) that I wore a 10.  I am really tired now. Had 1 BM. 

Foods eaten:

Fruit and nut Manna bread with almond butter and honey

Large salad with guacamole, Pico de Gallo and red pepper

Measurements:

Bust 39 3/4 (same)
Under bust 35 (same)
waist at belly button 35 ¾ (down 1 1/2”)
Hips 38 ½  (down 1 ¼”)
Butt 40 1/2 (down 1”)
Neck 12 1/2 (down 1/2”)
left thigh 23  (down 1/2)
right thigh 24 (down ½”)    
Left arm 12  (same)
right arm 12 1/4 (down 1/2”)
left calf 15 1/2 (same)
and right calf 15 1/2 (same)
left ankle 9 (same)
right ankle 9 (same)

Down 5 ¾” inches from last month 

Down 57 ¼” inches from start

Down 13 pounds from last month

Down 68 pounds total

Have to work later today and have a bunch of cleaning to do around the house.  Today is my 9 month anniversary on raw foods. Had 1 BM.  Foods eaten:

Young coconut, pineapple, banana, cocoa smoothie

Rawvolutions taco meat wrapped with romaine leaves and tomatoes

Tangerine tea

Large garden salad with raspberry dressing

Red grapes

Handful of Trail mix of nuts, seeds and raisins

Measurements:

Bust 39 3/4 (same)
Under bust 35 (same)
waist at belly button 35 1/2 (down 1/4”)
Hips 37 ¾  (down 3/4”)
Butt 40 1/4 (down 1/4”)
Neck 12 1/4 (down 1/4”)
left thigh 22 1/2  (down 1/2)
right thigh 23 3/4 (down 1/4”)       
Left arm 11 1/2  (down ½”)
right arm 12  (down 1/4”)
left calf 15 1/2 (same)
and right calf 15 1/2 (same)
left ankle 9 (same)
right ankle 9 (same)

Down 3” inches from last month     

Down 60 ¼” inches from start

Down 2 pounds from last month

Down 70 pounds total

10 Months - Day 294, Wednesday,
July 18, 2007

Day 18 of my fast and down another pound to 145 and at a size 8! This is cool cause I only have 15 more pounds until I reach my goal weight and one more dress size. Today is also my 10 month raw anniversary. So I have lived this lifestyle for 10 months and have reached a ton of my goals so I decided it is time to think of some new ones! Oh and my new juicer already died so I have to take it back to the store. I was debating if I wanted to keep it or not so I think this is God's way of telling me to take it back! I think it had a faulty plug. One more pound to go and I will be at my wedding weight!  Which is one of the goals I set for this fast.  Did 40 minutes of exercise:

Exercise:

30 minutes of rebounding

10 minutes of abs of steel

Measurements:

Bust 38 ½  (down 1 ¼”)
Under bust 34 (down 1)
waist at belly button  33 ½  (down 2”)
Hips 36 ½  (down 1 ¼”)
Butt 38 ½ (down 1 3/4”)
Neck 12 1/4 (same)
left thigh 21 ½  (down 1”)
right thigh 22 (down 1 1/4”)
Left arm 11 (down ½”)
right arm 11 ½  (down 1/2”)
left calf 14 1/2 (down 1”)
and right calf 15 (1/2”)
left ankle 9 (same)
right ankle 9 (same)

Down 12” inches from last month   

Down 72 3/4” inches from start

Down 15 pounds from last month

Down 85 pounds total

Current weight 145 pounds

11 Months - Day 325, Saturday, August 18, 2007

Today I spent time going through my photos to figure out which ones I wanted to post for my 11 month pictures to go on the website.  It looks like my measurements have still went down since last month which is good since I have been off of my fast for the last 18 days and I also lost a few of the pounds I gained.  I suspect my monthly had something to do with why I was up so much.  I expected to see a big shift in numbers for the negative and I am thrilled to still see a downward trend!  I also made 2 recipes out of Rawvolution’s book today.  I made the summer corn salad and Mediterranean tabouli.   The corn salad is to die for – Awesome.  I finally also fit in some exercise.  Yeah!   Had 1 BM.  Foods eaten:

Young coconut, pineapple & banana smoothie with cocoa & stevia

Small bowl of corn salad

Garden salad

2 small Peaches

Today’s exercise:

50 minutes of rebounding (including abs and arms)

Measurements:

Bust 37  (down 1 1/2”)
Under bust 34 (same)
waist at belly button  32 ½  (down 1”)
Hips 36   (down 1/2”)
Butt 37 ½ (down 1”)
Neck 12 (down 1/4”)
left thigh 21 1/4  (down 1/4”)
right thigh 21 1/2 (down 1/2”)       
Left arm 11 (same)
right arm 11 ½  (same)
left calf 14 1/2 (same)
and right calf 15 (same)
left ankle 9 (same)
right ankle 9 (same)

Down 5” inches from last month     

Down 77 3/4” inches from start

Down 1 pound from last month

Down 86 pounds total

Current weight 144 pounds

12 Months - One Year Raw

Day 356, Tuesday, September 18th, 2007

Today is my one year raw anniversary!  Well how does one celebrate a year of raw?  First thing to do is reflect on the last year’s events and accomplishments and give thanks to God who helped get me here!   I know I could have never done this in my own strength so I give all of the thanks and the glory back to Him!  I also give thanks to my mentor Alissa Cohen (as before her book I knew nothing about the raw lifestyle).  So here’s my overall reflection  -  First thing  I am down from a size 20 to a size 6!  Yippee!  I am totally ecstatic!  That in itself is amazing!  When I first started out I didn’t know if I could last 1 week let alone one year and the task seemed so overwhelming.    I am down 90 pounds – not my goal of 100, but pretty darn close!  My complexion has cleared up, I have BMs daily (vs. weekly), and I am happier, healthier, and feel like a kid again.  I have more energy, don’t have to sleep as much (like the 10-12 hours I used to sleep a night), am not sweating like a pig all the time (in fact now I work out hard for 45 minutes and I am barley breaking a sweat at all).  I am more active now than before.  I can easily do many forms of exercise i.e. roller blading/skating, biking, swimming, rebounding, aerobics, etc. and I love it all!   I actually wore shorts in the summer for the first time in forever and picked out a bathing suit that actually looked decent on me (which was a miracle).  I was also able on my wedding anniversary to get in my wedding dress from 15 years ago and I just recently bought a size small in shirts again.  It is amazing how wonderful and happy I feel.  My joints aren’t hurting me anymore and I almost feel like a 20 year old again.  Also my husband is thrilled and is attracted to me again and is so thankful and my marriage is on the upswing again. 

So what else have I learned this past year?   Well how to prepare raw recipes, where to shop, how to like some things I never liked before i.e. avocados and broccoli.  I learned about sprouting, dehydrating, juicing, etc.  I have had my share of green smoothies this year and learned how to open up a young coconut easily.  I have met a ton of new friends and have been challenged in the Raw & Exercise challenges and have found accountability and friendship (which has also been my lifeline).  Not only do I feel better physically - but emotionally and mentally I am not depressed anymore and feel like a have a new lease on life.   The thing I am happiest about is I feel like I am no longer in bondage to food anymore and I am released from my eating addictions.  I feel as long as I eat raw foods and eat healthy I generally don’t over eat on raw food.  I am not perfect at it but 100 times better than when I ate sad food.  I feel like I have found myself again as a person.  Someone who was lost and hiding under 90 lbs. Of flab.  I realized I at one point disappeared as a person and now I am finally resurfacing after many unhappy years.    My family is proud of me.  My daughter used to be embarrassed to be by me and now I am a cool parent again that can wear hip clothing in the latest fashions.  She is now larger than me and has a hard time keeping up with her old mom!   Another cool thing is I lost my double chin and can actually look decent in photos again.  I plan on taking a new photo with the family very soon as we don’t have any professional photos of our family since Ariana was 3 (as I hated the way I looked in photos, so I stopped taking them).   We don’t have a family photo with Evelina my 5 year old at all.  Eek!  So I need to get it done really soon!

Well here are some new goals I have for next year.

To lose the last 10 pounds/more inches

To maintain my weight loss

To tighten and firm up and tone needed areas

To increase strength and flexibility

To drink more green smoothies

To get family photo done

To continue to exercise and add in weight training after my goal is reached

To continue to eat raw food for life

To work on my family and get them to eat healthier

To keep getting educated about the Raw Lifestyle

To stay Focused!

Today was another master cleanse day and water.  Feeling great and worked a very long day. (12 hours)  It is so busy at work right now but I am not complaining as I will take the work when I can get it.  I am thankful for God’s provision!  Anyway below are my measurements for 12 months!

Measurements:

Bust 37  (same)
Under bust 33 (down 1 inch)
waist at belly button  32 ½  (same)
Hips 35 1/2  (down 1/2”)
Butt 37 ½ (same)
Neck 12 (same)
left thigh 21 1/4  (same)
right thigh 21 1/2 (same)    
Left arm 10 ¾  (down ¼”)
right arm 11 (down ½”)
left calf 14 3/4 (up ¼”)
and right calf 15 (same)
left ankle 9 (same)
right ankle 9 (same)

Down 2” inches from last month     
Down 79 3/4” inches from start
Down 4 pound from last month
Down 90 pounds total
Current weight 140 pounds 

17 Months - February 2008

Today is my 17 month raw anniversary.  It is difficult to think that I am still struggling trying to get off these last 10 pounds.  The last 2 months I fasted within the month and this month I have not so my numbers in my measurements have went up slightly (as expected).  I am sort of bummed about this but at the same time since the lowest number on my last fast last month which was 133 – 18 days later and I am up 5 pounds.  Not happy about this but not totally in despair.  I have to be somewhat realistic that if I am not fasting I will be up a bit in my measurements and weight.  I guess I am a little frustrated and wonder just how am I going to take and keep off these last 8 pounds.  The only way I was ever able to get to my goal of 130 was fasting and quite frankly I liked the way I looked at 130 and want to get there again.  I am still fitting into my size 4’s but I really want to hit my goal and stay there.  I guess I underestimated what it would take to get to my goal.  Right now with me working almost full time I just don’t have the time to work out every day.  I am already contemplating what my next fast will be.  I think maybe I should try a fruit/veggie juice fast with some lemonade thrown in.  Anyway today I have to work later and with the kids being off this week it will be a crazy schedule of nights and days at work.  Had 1 bm.  Foods eaten:

Raw cashews

Young coconut, pineapple, banana, & cacao smoothie

Garden salad with raspberry dressing

Sweet and sour coleslaw

Grapes

Lara bar

Measurements:

Bust 37 3/4 (up ¼”)
Under bust 33 (same)
waist at belly button  33 (up 1”)
Hips 35 1/4  (same)
Butt 37 (same)
Neck 12 (same)
left thigh 21 1/4 (same)
right thigh 21 1/2 (same)    
Left arm 10 3/4  (up ¼”)
right arm 11” (up ¼”)
left calf 14 1/2 (down ¼”)
and right calf 14 ¾” (down ¼”)
left ankle 9 (same)
right ankle 9 (same)

Up 1 1/4” inches from 2 months     

Down 80” inches from start

Down 92 pounds total

Current weight 138 pounds

Today’s exercise:  30 minutes of rebounding/abs

Day 576, Friday, April 25th, 2008

Today I had my photo shoot at Glamour shots and it took me all day.  It was a lot of fun to do and it will be a landmark photo of me being at my goal weight.  Tonight I will be going out to dinner and breaking my fast.  I am looking forward to eating again but scared too.  It has been a great month of fasting and I have been pretty happy living on the limited calories that I have been consuming.  Sometimes I wish I could just never have to eat again.  But then again I love food to much that what got me in trouble in the first place!  Had 1 BM.  Consumed:

Lemonade greentea

Mango slushie

Dinner salad with mango and avocado

Glass of merlot

½ of a r.p. brownie 

Measurements at end of fast:

Measurements:

Bust 37 3/4
Under bust 34 1/2
waist at belly button  32 (down 1”)
Hips 34”  (down 1 ¼”)
Butt 36 (down 1”)
Neck 12 (same)
left thigh 21 (down ¼”)
right thigh 21 1/4 (down ¼”)         
Left arm 10 1/2  (down ¼”)
right arm 10 3/4” (down ¼”)
left calf 14 3/4 (up ¼”)
and right calf 15” (up ¼”)
left ankle 9 (same)
right ankle 9 (same)

Down 99 pounds total

Current weight 131 pounds