Day 11 of my Nutritarian Experiment

So, I haven't blogged everyday like I was hoping, but other things take priority in my life besides blogging. But on this day 11, I thought I would give you all an update. Since, last Monday, I have lost 4 pounds! Pretty awesome, if I do say so myself, but that is not what it exciting...

Last week was rough for me..I won't lie! This week....completely AMAZING!!! My body asks for for nutrient-dense foods and when I deliver...I am rewarded. Today I probably had my hardest triathalon class I can remember...and I wanted to keep going.

It is soo nice to feel strong..to feel happy..to feel relaxed...to feel energized...to feel at peace...to know that I am doing a great thing for myself and for my family!

The coolest part is...is that I feel like I am helping people. I have had a few people email me with some more specific questions, a few phone calls, and a few people knock on my door wanting to learn what I have learned...and I am happy to share. Happy to share a message of success, of longevity, a message of renewed balance and especially, ENERGY!

Have the STRENGTH to branch out and BE BRAVE...be brave to do something that others laugh at, and many don't understand...They only tease you or don't understand, because they lack the knowledge that you have...the knowledge to live a disease-free life!

WE have a huge choice to make while we are on this earth...to LIVE or DIE? You get to pick the path you are on...even if you are sick...even if you are in chronic pain and you can't see an end to your suffering...you still get to choose at this very moment if you are fighting and doing everything in your power to LIVE!

I CHOOSE TO:

If what I say isn't enough, here is what DR .FUHRMAN says about increasing your life span:

High-nutrient, low-calorie eating results in dramatic increases in life span as well as prevention of chronic illnesses. From rodents to primates, we see:

1. Resistance to experimentally induced cancers
2. Protection from spontaneous and genetically predisposed cancers
3. A delay in the onset of late-life diseases
4. Nonappearance of atherosclerosis and diabetes
5. Lower cholesterol and triglycerides and increased HDL
6. Improved insulin sensitivity
7. Enhancement of the energy-conservation mechanism, including reduced body temperature (i can tell mine is lower now..which is awesome for an athlete, because it gives you that extra allowance to push yourself that you competitor might not have)
8. Reduction in oxidative stress
9. Reduction in parameters of cellular again, including cellular congestion
10. Enhancement of cellular repair mechanisms, including DNA repair enzymes
11. Reduction in inflammatory response and immune cell proliferation
12. Improved defenses against environmental stress
13. Suppression of the genetic alterations associated with aging
14. Protection of genes associated with removal of oxygen radicals
15. Inhibited production of metabolites that are potent cross-linking agents
16. Slowed metabolic rate

The link between thinness and longevity, and obesity and a shorter life span, is concrete." (Eat to Live, pg. 27)

Days Four - Six

The last few days have been super busy, but I did want to share something with you that continues to help me start my day, especially during this "Nutritarian" quest!

FACT: It is easiest for me to get most of my raw veggies in by putting them in my green smoothie.

Here is what I have been doing the last few days. This is just a take off of THIS smoothie!
In your blender, add:
1 small banana
1 T. chia seeds
1 T. goji berries
1 zucchini, cut up (weird I know, but it actually gives the shake a great consistency)
1 handful fresh spinach
2 Collard Greens leaves
2 small Kale leaves
1 C. frozen mixed berries from Costco
1 C. frozen strawberries
2 dropper-fuls of Stevia (don't know what this is. Go HERE!
1-2 C. ice
1-2 C. water.

Blend all in your Vita-mix and enjoy! This makes a totally large smoothie...but fills me up COMPLETELY and gives me the energy I need for the morning, especially after a hard training morning, like a triathlon bike class combined with a hard training swim!

Two out of my three kids like this smoothie and my husband wants to me make this for him before he goes to work.

Here is the kicker...After I make my smoothie, I take out a little bit and mix in 1 t. chlorella. I down this really fast! This is the highest form of chlorophyll you can buy and can reverse toxins in your body. This is natural energy in a strong-tasting powder form..Not my favorite taste, but it is powerful...let me tell you.

Then, I take another little bit of shake and mix in 1 T. of my "Four Thieves" apple cider vinegar formula...I have not been sick since October...no fever, so sore throat, to coughing...nothing.. I really do attribute my staying healthy (especially when everyone around me has been sick) to this little concoction. You can read about it HERE!

Here is what Dr. Fuhrman says about consuming raw vegetables:
"There is one food that scientific research has shown has a strong positive association with increased longevity in humans. So which food do you think that is?
The answer is raw, leafy vegetables, referred to as salad. Being healthy and owning a disease-resistant body is not luck; it is earned." (Eat to Live pg 72)

"Raw foods have a fast transit time through the digestive tract and result in a lower glucose response and encourage more weight loss than their cooked counterparts. The object is to eat as many raw vegetables as possible, with a goal of one pound (sixteen ounces) daily. (Eat to Live pg. 212-213)

Day Two and Three

So..today is day three of my "Nutritarian" experiment and I have learned a few key things about myself:
*I have obsessions with snacking....realizing, even thought most of the time they are healthy..I usually want to be eating something all the time
* I usually help my kids finish their plate (lots of extra calories there)
* I eat very quickly...which I think contributes to me not feeling very satisfied
* When I am tired or stressed, I turn to something sweet to help me relax...and now that I am not having any for six weeks..I have found myself staring at my fridge and then walking away when I realize that nothing is going to work...but then I can take a deep breath and say a little prayer and be fine
* I realize how important it is to establish good eating habits with your children...to help them make good choices and to let them know that food is not the only reward for good behavior and that they TOO do not always need to be eating. Let's reward our children with our love and fun experiences, not just a drive through to their favorite fast food joint!

Here is what Dr. Fuhrman says about children:
"Most Americans are not aware that the diet they feed their children guarantees a high cancer probability down the road. They don't even contemplate that eating fast-food meals may be just as risky as letting their children smoke cigarettes.
You wouldn't let your children sit around the table smoking cigars and drinking whiskey, because it is not socially acceptable, but it is fine to let them consume cola, fries cooked in trans fat, and a cheeseburger regularly. Many children eat doughnuts, cookies, cupcakes and candy on a daily basis. It is difficult for parent sot understand the insidious, slow destruction of their children's genetic potential and the foundation for serious illness that is being built by the consumption of these foods." (Eat to Live, pg. 21)

Day One...Hard

Yesterday was the first day for me following Dr. Fuhrman's program for a "nutritarian" life style. I think it was hard, because we spend an ENTIRE week on vacation last week and really ate stuff that I haven't eaten in six months...It was hard on my body...I could feel it. So, I think yesterday was the start of another mini detox for me. Here is what I had to eat:

Breakfast:
Brown Rice Cereal with Coconut Milk and Fresh Strawberries
1/2 orange

Lunch:
Giant Salad with 1 C. kidney beans and a veggie burger (new at Costco)
2 C. lightly steamed zucchini and yellow squash mixed
1 small apple

Snack: I was dying so I did have a snack of 1 T. natural peanut butter and a small banana...Pretty sure this was still toxic hunger...but for the sanity of myself and my ability to handle my children..I did have this snack

Dinner:
1 fresh spring roll with just a dab of dipping sauce (recipe on post above)
Green Salad
Small Fruit Salad
Small bowl of cheezy broccoli soup (recipe also will be posted above this post)

I ate a little bit more for dinner than I normally will, but we were at a dinner party and the host and hostess made the whole dinner Vegan...so I had to taste everything (except the raw chocolate pie that my friend Liz brought. I was drooling the whole time!)

Today, I feel a little cold and shaky, but already less irritable than I did yesterday. I am used to eating something ALL the time and I know my brain is trying to play tricks on me. I can see how these symptoms don't really seem like a big deal and probably because of the way I have already been eating. For someone else who may be making a HUGE transition in their way of eating by doing this, just be patient and trust in your TRUE self. You are more powerful than you know.

Once you commit...don't give up or give in. Here is what Dr. Fuhrman says about this:
"I ask you to let me make my case, and try this plan for six weeks. After the first six weeks (the hardest part) it becomes a lot easier....When you get married, does the religious figure or justice of the peace ask, "Do you swear to give this person a try?" When people tell me they will give it a try, I say don't bother, you have already decided to fail. It takes more than a try to quit addictions; it takes commitment. A commitment is a promise that you stick with, NO MATTER WHAT! Without that commitment you are doomed to fail. Give yourself the change to really succeed this time. Make a clear choice between success and failure. It takes only three simple steps. 1. buy the book. 2. read the book. 3. MAKE THE COMMITMENT!" (Eat to Live pg. 10)

Nutritarian Video

This is my friend, Elisha Exon who has been trying the Nutritarian thing out herself for the last five weeks. Here is a quick video of her and her experience so far. She also talks a little about the program. You can read her journal and get great recipes from her website HERE! Enjoy!

Nutritarian Experiment Starts Today

Today I am starting a six (maybe eight) week long "Nutritarian" Experiment.
What is a nutritarian? You can find out about it HERE!

The timing for me works out really well, because I just got all my allergy tests back and found out that I have MAJOR sensitivities to: wheat, eggs, all dairy and oats. Also, my candida (yeast) level is up to 100. It should be "0."

Dr Joel Fuhrman has coined the term "Nutritarian" which means eating foods that are nutrient dense. It isn't about counting calories...it is about fueling your body with foods that are so rich in nutrients, that you can actually reverse several disorders you have, lower your blood pressure, lower your cholesterol, and overcome cravings once and for all, and basically be disease free!

This isn't just about losing weight..you WILL lose weight, because eating this way is soo different than the SAD (Standard American Diet).

First of all, read the book, Eat to Live. It is 12$ on amazon or 16$ at your local book store. It took me about a week to read the whole thing..Faster if you have more time than I do. I promise that the information will fascinate you. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Fuhrman has helped over 10,000 patients change their lives. He refers to over 2000 studies to support his theories. He has been on every major network and TV show. Dr. Oz says that Eat to Live is "A medical breakthrough...There is no question in my mind that it will work for you."

You can also visit Dr. Fuhrman's website: www.drfuhrman.com. He has great video clips and awesome information for you to read.

Here is what I will be doing (which goes perfectly with all my allergies and the yeast problem I still have):

Every Day

Consume Unlimited:

All raw vegetables (goal 1 lb. daily)

Cooked greens and non-green vegetables (goal 1 lb. daily)

beans, legumes, beans sprouts and tofu (goal 1 C. daily)

fresh fruit (at least 4 daily)

Limited:

Cooked starchy vegetables or whole grains:

butternut squash, corn, white potatoes, rice, sweet potatoes, whole grain bread, cereal (not more than 1 cup daily)

ground flax seeds (1 T. max per day)

raw nuts and seeds (1 oz. max per day)

dried fruit (2 T. max per day)

avocado ( 2 oz. max per day)

Off Limits:

dairy products

animal products

between meal snacks

fruit juice

oils

This plan will help you overcome toxic hunger and cravings and really cleanse your body.

What is Toxic Hunger vs. True Hunger:

Dr Fuhrman states, " What I have observed and quantified with thousands of individuals is that the drive to over consume calories is blunted by high micro-nutrient consumption. The symptoms that were thought to be hypoglycemia or even hunger, which occur as soon as glycolysis begins, simply disappear after eating very healthfully for a few months. After that 2-4 month window, when micro-nutrients in the body's tissues have accumulated, the symptoms of fatigue, headaches, irritability and stomach cramps go away and people get in touch with true hunger, felt primarily in the throat. True hunger makes eating more pleasurable....

Healthful eating is more effective than portion control for long-term weight control. It modifies and diminishes the sensations of toxic hunger, enabling overweight individuals to be more comfortable eating fewer calories...

True hunger is felt in the throat, neck and mouth, not in the stomach or head....

True hunger requires no special food to satisfy it. It is relieved by eating almost anything. You can't crave some particular food and call it hunger; a craving by definition is an addictive drive, not something felt by a person who is not an addict."

As many days as possible, I will post my meal plan, my feelings about the day and a quote from Eat to Live. I am very excited. Dr. Fuhrman's program really isn't much different from "Original Fast Foods," my other favorite book..but I appreciated getting all the science behind this type of eating and why it is so important to flood your body with important nutrients.

This really won't be much different from how I already eat, except for the fact that I am cutting out completely dairy, meat, eggs for the next 6 weeks and staying away from wheat and oats..which I am allergic to. I also snack a lot and eat more sweet stuff than I should (even though they are made with honey and agave...I still have that desire to eat sweet things).