(90-Day Detox) Day 39: The Only Way Out Is Through Part 2
Written by Tera on March 26, 2009 – -I’m sorry to those I promised a support blog yesterday. I certainly had that intention when I started, but yesterday got a bit long winded so here’s where I was going to go with my discussion yesterday:
(Obviously, if you can’t read and have the background music playing at the same time, then you can reduce the volume and just kinda let it play, but I actually want you to know that I spend a lot of time picking these songs and the lyrics themselves could be considered blog posts on their own. So, if you want an extra boost, then listen to it, read the lyrics and enjoy!)
Okay, so let’s get serious. We have some people in distress and I need to address it in a significant way. Beth sent me this is as “Angst on the first day of Spring” and I just want to know if it sounds familiar at all:
Dear Tera,Winter is out the door, and so is my diet. I say ‘diet’ lightly, meaning it as the foods I normally eat. I went vegetarian in June of last year, vegan in October, and spent 2 weeks as a raw vegan during February. Then, hell broke loose. I was stressed out, and instead of reaching for carrot sticks, my hands dove right into the peanut butter, crackers, breads, cheeses, and sweets. I binged like this for two days before I threw up my hands and did something about it.
Unfortunately, what I did was not very smart. Instead of going back on a raw vegan, or even vegan lifestyle, I water fasted for 12 days. While the benefits of fasting are numerous, I hardly received any of them. I developed the flu during my fast, and had to end early. Once I could eat again, instead of going back into fruits and veggies like I knew I should, I dove right into processed food hell. And it’s been that way ever since.
I’m not happy with the lifestyle I’m leading now. I’ve developed a bad reaction to gluten, so I’ve cut that out completely. But, I’m still eating cooked and processed foods heavily. I miss the feeling of being light while being raw vegan. But, I’ve realized that it’s impossible to be raw vegan when I’m under stress.
In the two weeks I was raw, I lost 8 lbs. I used to be extremely overweight. It took me 4 years to go from 262 lbs, to the 170 I am now. Tera, I don’t want to ever be that weight again. And I don’t want to wait another four years to lose 30 more lbs.
Now that spring is here, I want to start a fresh new page. Next week is the last week I would be under as much stress as I’m in now ( I’m heavily involved in a production of the musical Beauty and the Beast…next week is our last week). I’m cutting all processed foods out starting tomorrow. March 29 I’m doing the 24-hour fast, and then starting back into the raw vegan lifestyle, starting with your 7-day detox. Winter is over, and though this first day of spring I’ve had more slip-ups than I’ve cared for, I’m ready to change my life. I’ve stumbled numerous times, but like the saying goes, “Fall down 7, get up 8.”
-Beth
Now, here’s what Beth left in the comments the day before yesterday:
I haven’t posted much and I have to confess it’s because I, how can I say it? Strayed? This weekend, I spent a lot of time with other people, eating meals at others’ homes and at events where I’d really have had to bring my own food to stay close to the raw diet I’m working on. And that meant that, for a few days, I tried to just nibble on the sad little plates of raw veggies and dip that someone brought, but that there was nothing else even remotely close to a raw or vegan offering around. And so I went back to my “old” way of eating. Nothing too bad, but I ate a big plate of lasagna and some meat and some desserts, and not a single meal this weekend felt like it was that good for me – and now I feel like hell. So I’m convinced that I had my body on the right path, and that I need to steer back in that direction. I’m exhausted and grumpy and I feel bloated and ick.
I want to start back at square one with a 7 day detox, and then move back on to the path of the 90 day plan. I feel sort of ashamed to admit it. So for the next day or two, I’m thinking mono meals, and then a 24 hour water fast…and I hope I’ll feel that energy come back soon!
Beth
Beth, thanks for letting me put you on the table. (Just so you know, my dears, I asked FIRST!) But I can GUARANTEE that there are people reading this right now in the same boat, they’re just not feeling comfortable enough to say anything about it or reach out for help.
We have some observable patterns of behavior within this beautiful community related to our reactions when things get rough. Let’s take a look at some of them:
First of all, people tend to roller coaster to the extremes.
The Binge-Purge back-and-forth is going to make for a rough ride. Those of us who are committed to making these dramatic changes need to make the word, “GRADIENT” our mantra. Change happens over time on a sliding scale. We don’t wake up one morning in the middle of winter and realize that Summer is here so let’s put on our bikini.
We’re not here for any unrealistic miracle purges, Ladies. We’re here for long-lasting, life-altering changes of the variety that we can implement for the long haul.
Be GENTLE WITH YOURSELF!! C’mon! Just think of all the things you’ve been through in your life. Think of the things you’ve overcome and endured. Now you’re trying to do something to make life better, more enjoyable, don’t beat yourself up for the fact that you struggle along the way. Babies don’t learn to walk overnight.
Here’s another thing I observe far too often:
People slip-up or “slide back” or “fall off the wagon” and then think the whole show is over and they should go back to Day One!
No, no, no, no, nooooooooo! Don’t DO that, Muffincake. Really. You’ve GOT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE JOURNEY!!
Don’t completely erase for yourself the fact that you had a few glorious days on raw food just because you chomped on a bagel or two. There was a time not too long ago when you would have been eating almost exclusively bagels. If you’re running a marathon and you fall down, you’re NOT going to stand up and day, “Oh well. I better go back to the beginning and try running it again!”
*GASP!!!*
PLEASE, Lovenugget. Don’t do that. Don’t go back to “Day 1″ just because Day 17 was the pits. You made it all the way to Day 17, so pat yourself on the back for that much, at the very least.
Some people race at light speed through a marathon, but they dedicate an enormous amount of time, attention and training to making that happen. Some people get there exhausted and sick for having pushed too hard then never run another one again.
Some people slow it down juuuust a bit, take deep breaths and look around to enjoy the scenery EVEN WHEN they fall on their butts or run into some other unexpected bump in the path.
And some people, sweet diva, some people WALK A MARATHON, but they still get there, for heaven’s sake! They still DO IT! They start in the morning and they get up early and they WORK IT UNTIL THEY MAKE IT!
You are on a journey, here. You DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT need to go back to the beginning because you “slipped up”.
You slipped up because there was something more to learn or overcome and if you completely invalidate all the work you’ve done to get to that place, then you risk missing the point! There’s something to learn. Sit there on your swollen butt cheeks when you fall and look around a bit. Just see what’s there to see, observe and take the learning.
Then get up and move forward at a pace that feels right for you. But KEEP GOING FORWARD!
Give yourself the satisfaction of at least finishing the process. Just like I mentioned yesterday, close one door first. If you start over every time you slip up, you’ll never get there. The first time you do this, it might be rough. But you’ll do it again and the more you do it, the easier it will get.
Find what you can to celebrate about your own journey and acknowledge the adventures. I can’t walk your path, nor should you be trying to walk mine, even if we are going to the same direction–HEALTH and a Vibrant, Passionate Life!
At the end of your days, are you going to look back and think, “I really wish I hadn’t eaten that lasagna!” or are you going to think, “I really wish I hadn’t spent so much of my life punishing myself about the food I eat.”
Look around outside and ask yourself how many others were willing to take the road you’re on. Not many, Sister, so just for having laced up the shoes and started this path, you should be acknowledge and admired for your courage! You’re a trail blazer–a pioneer in the name of health and wellness. What you do here and now could affect the lives of many people.
I only started this website in June of 2007, and now tens of thousands of lives have been touched by what I do here. But what WE do here.
So strap on your proverbial sneakers, today and do whatever it takes to get a win for yourself. It might just be avoiding ONE THING you would have otherwise eaten. It might be just that you drank water after 8pm instead of snacking. I don’t know what that one thing will be for you, but find it, acknowledge it and KEEP GOING!
What we put our attention on grows. Validate the positive and you’ll get more of it. Beat yourself up for bingeing by imposing a hard-core fast on yourself and you’ll get more bingeing. Find grace in this journey. Appreciate the bumps in the road, because they make life interesting and they teach you a lot. Problems are there for you to find creative ways to get around. So bless them and love them.
There’s more I want to say, but I think this hits it home nicely for one day. In case my theme song hasn’t ended yet, let it finish, then soak up this one in the background.
Love yourself first, then all good things will come. Be gentle. Detox self-punishment, guilt and self-invalidation from your life TODAY! Let them go. They never helped you get this far and they’re only holding back your wings now.
YOU are amazing! Live that truth in THIS moment and all will be well, my dear. I promise.
My biggest, snuggliest snuggles to you on THIS, the first day of your new life!
Tera
Tags: 90-Day Detox, Empowerment, living your passion, natural diet, natural raw food detox, Raw Food, raw food diet, Success Stories, Tera Warner, the raw divas, women
Posted in Uncategorized | 21 Comments »
By Alissa on Mar 26, 2009
I think what you had to say is very true. We get so caught up on what we eat and how well we are doing that the minute we slip we believe that we have failed.
Before I started going raw – my husband and I went to a nutritionist and got a list of foods that we were sensitive to. We were good to stick on that list. I lost so much weight and felt incredible. Then we went on a vacation and we slipped up. He kept on saying lets eat that bread – lets be a little naughty or we can be bad this once.
I got so frustrated at him saying that we were being bad that I completely blew the diet out the window. And told him that life should not be about feeling bad about how you eat and what you do.
For a while I ate cooked non vegan food and started to get very depressed. I looked back and saw that I really was not happy and started to discover points in my life where I was happy. One of the times was when I was watching what I ate and cut out the gluten, dairy, and sugar. I am now making points to go back there to seek out that happy person who could flirt and smile on a dime. This is the person I want to be. But I also know that it will not happen over night. I know I will have cravings and eat the wrong types of foods that make me depressed – but I also know that, that happy person is still there and I will get there one day to rediscover her.
The point is that you should not stress over what you eat. But focus on what makes you happy and what enriches your life. It is okay to eat a small piece of bread once in a while if that will make you happy. You are not breaking any rules or going to completely fall off of the wagon. If you slip, you get up and keep on walking. If we gave up or started from day one every time a person made a mistake or forgot to do something – we would not be getting anywhere as a human race.
~Alissa
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By Beth on Mar 26, 2009
Hey Tera! It’s Beth, the one who sent you the email “Angst on the first day of Spring.” I’m so glad you added this into your blog. You know, I was actually contemplating going on another water fast, to ‘get back on track’…well, you know what…I don’t need to do this. I’m planning on doing the 7-day detox starting Monday of next week. But, until then, I’m going on a gradient. My gradient for today: Eat as many veggies as possible, with some cooked/processed food. A few snacks, like pretzels, are okay for today and tomorrow. And, on our dinner break tonight, I’m going to Subway and getting a Veggie wrap. Yesterday, I ate healthy cooked food…but I ate too much…WAAAAYYY too much.
But, you know what, after reading this blog post, I’ve forgiven myself. I fell flat on my face…again. If this is a marathon, then I’m going to come out of it scraped, bruised, and scarred…but I’m going to cross that finish line, hobbling and all! That’s a huge step on this journey…forgiveness. I’m human, I make mistakes, but I’m forgiving myself for the mistakes I made. How do alcoholics and drug-addicts get better? They learn from the past, forgive the things they did, and look foward to their new lives. It’s the same with food addiction. It hurts, but if we let go of the things that bind us (overeating for me) we will eventually come out on top. It’s going to take me a while, but I’m going to make it to the end of this race, a little battered, but victorious!
P.S. I’m going to really start getting more involved with The Raw Divas. I need support on this journey, and I know I can find it here. Thank you for everything you guys have done. You truly are BEAUUUUTIIIFULLLL!!!
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By kathie Enstad on Mar 26, 2009
That is interesting that you bring up the topic of punishing ourselves. Yesterday, I had an experience where my eyes were opened. First, I felt guilty for something. Then shame came to visit. Then along came rejection. Next thing I knew, I was punishing myself by demanding of myself things that didn’t even need to be attempted yesterday, because they would put me on overload. Today’s blog encouraged me in the right direction. Kathie
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By Courtney (C.M.P.) on Mar 26, 2009
Wow, Tera, fabulous post!!!!! This is really one of your best!
So true that the gradient approach is best in the long-term. For example, when I have “cheated”, I usually found that the reason why was either lack of enough nutrients or stress–either one of which calls for more nutritious food, not a water fast. I do think extremes are not good for the body or the spirit. Kudos to Beth for sharing her story to help others. Would love to write more but I have a busy day ahead. Love and hugs.
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By Nicole Lafleche on Mar 26, 2009
Three cheers Tera! We are our own worst abusers aren’t we. Beth, you are a Brave Diva for sharing this experience with us and for reaching out for help…takes A LOT of courage to do that and you’re doing it…you are moving in the right direction…forward, forward all the way…you are a winner! Three cheers for you too!
Love&Light,
Nicole
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By Beth on Mar 26, 2009
Second Beth, here, the lasagna one (perhaps it’s something about the name?
)
Tera, THANK YOU. I really needed to read that right now, and really needed to be reminded that all my effort is not gone just because I made a few decisions I regret. I’ve struggled for years with compulsive eating, and it’s so true that behavioral extremes lead to more extremes – if I get really restrictive to punish myself, then I tend to want to “treat” myself and end up bingeing. It’s a vicious cycle.
So I will just do the best I can today, and will commit to making GOOD decisions for the rest of this week. And maybe when I start to feel really bad, I’ll promise myself to go outside and enjoy this early spring sunshine, weak as it is.
The marathon analogy. That’s what really did it for me. You are a goddess!
Beth
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By Jodi on Mar 26, 2009
Thanks Tera. That was a much needed post and gives me lots to think about. I have to remember “Gradient” and not try to fix everything at once.
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By Amanda on Mar 26, 2009
“What we put our attention on grows.” Oh so true, Tera! Let me show you my gradient: I began doing a morning “personal success ritual” to recommit to my goals everyday. I read my list of 8 major commitments in my life, read a chapter in a personal development book, and write down my intent for the day. Some days it is just to be productive and stay on task, others it is to be joyful and smile at everyone. I don’t concentrate on the bad like the rice pasta, sleeping in late, missing yoga, or the excessive raw “brownie bites.” I feel amazing, it is showing, and as long as I concentrate on how good I feel, I just can’t imagine being unsuccessful. At the end of the day I assess all of the great things that happened during the day, like the huge salad for dinner, or the conversation with my Pilates teacher, or the walk in the sunshine!
Gradient is a fabulous way to view the transition to raw living, and right now I am living it up!!!
Have a fabulous day, ladies.
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By Vanetta Stephens on Mar 26, 2009
This was so very good, Tera. I think for many of us, food as been used as a way to comfort ourselves, or as a way to stuff feelings. Anytime we make changes in how we eat or what we eat, those feelings, thoughts or beliefs that haven’t been addressed WILL come to the surface. For any lasting changes of any type to be made, those ‘issues’ HAVE to be looked at, dealt with. Food really isn’t the root, the issues in the heart IS. It has helped me to see what is really going on inside my thought life, or emotional life that is out of whack, you might say. Once I have looked at it, found the truth and substituted that truth in place of whatever was out of balance, it became easier to make choices that lined up with the changes I wanted to make.
We can be an overweight unhappy person or a thin, unhappy person; a raw food miserable person, or a cooked food happy person. It’s not the what you do that is so important. It’s the inside of the person that is important. What you choose will line up with what you believe about yourself…..how you see yourself, etc. A life of PEACE: that’s what we want to focus on. Deal with the issues that take away your peace and then you’ll be able to make the choices that are right for you by finding your path of peace. No more “inner war”. This is applicable for stress issues as well.
It truly is a journey and not a destinatation. You can’t help but get to your destination when you take things one moment at a time, be willing to shift your focus, change your mind-set, pick yourself back up when you slip and move forward. You will get there.
Hopefully this makes sense. I have to renew my mind all of the time! It’s so easy to get distracted and lose my focus.
Blessings and much peace to everyone as we make our individual journeys
Vanetta
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By Doll on Mar 26, 2009
Definitely needed this today. Staying clear and focused can be difficult for me. Setting my priorities and being true to me is a new concept for me. Also so many times I’ve given up as defeated or at least I thought I had given up but truth is I’m still here. Did someone say gradient???
Love you Tera! You always know what I need to hear when I need it.
hugs
Doll
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By Tanya on Mar 26, 2009
Tera, thank you so much for publishing Beth’s letter (and thank you Beth for writing it!) you’re right, so many of us are going through the same thing!
Thank You!!!!! Your words were truly inspiring. I will make it my mission to learn to celebrate my baby steps, instead of focusing on perfectionism!
Have a great day!!!
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By Lau-raw on Mar 26, 2009
Tera!!
This post was THE POST! I’m sometimes (more times that I would like to recognize
) the “all or nothig” type of person. When I did the 7 days detox I realize that I have to be patient with me and also to honour my own journey. On day 5 of the 7 day detox, I ate a cooked veggie soup, and I was suffering a lot because of that, but then, I just stopped my inner chating and I decided to focus more in what I had achieved. I WAS EATING RAW FOR THE FIRST TIME 5 DAYS IN A ROW!! That was something to celebrate! a veggie soup was not bad at all! We have to learn to be gentle with ourselves and to not be obsessed with what we eat, is not that the name of this incredible 90 detox? This is a every day learning experience. So let’s celebrate our achievements, let’s focus in the positive things! let’s celebrate our intention to grow and be better Divas each day! let’s celebrate that we belong to this amazing DIVA’s community! yey!!
Love and strawberry hugs!
Lau-raw
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By bliss on Mar 26, 2009
Thank you, Tera! I haven’t been posting lately for the same reason. I’ve been getting so frustrated with myself because it seems like I keep doing the same things over and over again and even though I “learn my lesson”, I keep doing it… I just can’t understand why! I was contemplating doing a water/juice fast to “start over” again and see now that that’s not the right way to go. Thank you so much for this post, it was perfect timing!
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By Caitlin on Mar 26, 2009
Tera, I loved your analogy with the marathon, that is absolutely the perfect mentality (and I often try to remind myself of that). I’d just like to add something…
For people who are in Beth’s boat, those who have changed to vegetarian, vegan, and/or raw lifestyles: DO IT FOR THE RIGHT REASONS!!! Yes weight loss is a fabulous side effect but that should not be the sole focus of changing your LIFESTYLE. It should be about making you LIFE better. If you’re doing it for weight loss the emphasis is on a restriction of food AKA a deprivation or punishment, that is no way to go! This raw lifestyle (or vegan or vegetarian or just plain healthier) should be about embracing your body and loving what you eat and how you treat yourself. I started out going vegetarian a year and a half ago not because I wanted to lose weight but because I started realizing how unhealthy and gross meat is (it was a gradual shift, as it should be). About six months ago I went on a 10 day Master Cleanse to CLEANSE myself (not to lose weight, though that was a very nice bonus…doing these sort of things solely for weight loss is not healthy) and during that cleanse I did a little research into veganism to see if I felt it was a better way to respect my body (plus I had gradually started to dislike eggs and milk…cheese was a toughie for me) and I found that it was. I’m now venturing into raw…or at least a very very very very very very very (okay you get the picture) limited amount of processed food because I have discovered when I eat bready and processed foods I don’t FEEL up to par. I feel sluggish and easily irritated and not myself. However, when I drink delicious smoothies and salads I feel amazing! But you can’t look at it as limiting yourself, you can’t say “oh I’m not allowed to eat pizza, I’m not allowed to scarf down a quaterpounder meal at McDonalds” no no no you have to see those types of foods as weights that hold you down. I look at my roommates who literally eat tuna helper or hamburger helper every night and I wonder how they function with all that grease and cheese swimming around in their bellies all night. YUCK! I mean it was only a year and a half ago that that was me but look at how far I’ve come! And it’s by ENJOYMENT not obligation, not punishment, not a temporary diet. Don’t mourn the loss of those disgusting foods that have weighed you down all these years (that’s a reason you’re here doing the 90 day detox after all right?). Find foods that make you happy and feel good. Check out goneraw.com for some amazing raw recipes, many of which are raw, healthy, wholesome versions of the addicting disgusting foods we are all trying to break free from. And of course I’m no saint, I’m only just starting raw myself and sometimes find myself indulging in a bagel or chips and salsa but I always feel gross the next day and I learn from that…it takes stronger and stronger cravings each time for me to stray. It’s a growing process ladies, like Tera said, it doesn’t change from winter to summer overnight! If you look at in these terms, a way to worship your body and be happy of what you put into it, the journey is so much easier, my friends SO MUCH EASIER!
And Tera thank you so much for this blog. You are always a ray of sunshine when I’m having a bad day and need a little boost
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By Sonia on Mar 26, 2009
People also have to learn to LOVE THEIR BODY. I noticed that people who don’t truly love their body or body image or a part of their body (which leads to dismorphophobia) tend to do drastic things to punish themselves because deep down there is something they don’t like or accept about their body which can lead to the binging and purging/fasting yo-yo game…the binging is to stifle their feelings of self-rejection and the purging to release the guilt…I WANT TO SAY THAT IT IS NOT ONLY BAD, IT IS DANGEROUS TO BINGE-FAST-BINGE…A fast is to give the body a rest…to binge right before puts a lot of strain on the body and to binge right after is very dangerous, it can even be fatal (you have to re-introduce foods like you would feed a baby for the first time…starting with juice, then smoothies with fibre, then solid fruit, then solid veggies, etc…). WHEN PEOPLE START TO LOVE THEIR BODY, THE BODY THEN WORKS WITH THEM IN HARMONY AND NOT AGAINST THEM…IT IS NO LONGER A BATTLE…
It also helps to set achievable goals; you can’t undo years of bad habits overnight, it actually takes 33 days to reprogram the brain with a new lifestyle. I remember when I first started out I was so sick that I just tried to make it to the next meal, then the next day, I just focused on what I could do right then and there…On top of it all odds were against me since I had severe allergic reactions to all vegetables, all greens, all sprouts, herbs and fruits but somehow I made through…
WHERE THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY!…YOU HAVE TO WANT IT TO GET THERE…BUT FIRST YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU WANT….Once you know what you want write down your goal and read it to yourself each day…BECAUSE WHEN WE ALIGN OURSELVES WITH WHAT WE TRULY WANT THE REST JUST FALLS INTO PLACE WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP THE FOCUS!!!
SO LOVE, LOVE, LOVE YOUR BODIES LADIES and when you go to bed tonight thank your body for all that it has done for you today…
Sonia
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By Stacey on Mar 26, 2009
You can never say it too many times to me Tera: GRADIENT! GRADIENT! GRADIENT!
I’ve just never been as happy with myself as I was during my first BES and the one month I made it being dairy and gluten-free. But rather than celebrate those successes as just that, I’m constantly working on myself and fighting with myself because it’s not my current ‘norm’.
Beth… I’m going to join you with my own scrapes and bruises as you get to that finish line. I know I’ll keep educating myself and that things will change. As long as I’ve got Tera cheerleading me with “GRADIENT!” in one ear and my friend Glen patting me on the back with “PATIENCE” I’ll find a way to get there.
I’m here today to celebrate success: I HAVE been able to be very consistent with one major new change in my life: giving up meat. It doesn’t bother me and I don’t think about it too much. I’ve totally surprised myself. That is a good first step from where I’ve come from. Have I been 100%? Nope. But I’ve definitely met my own standard of success, and that’s the part that feels good.
I think the next step will likely be dairy, but I think I’m learning that it may be too much for me to do dairy and gluten together. It really BUGS me that I’m addicted to cheese.
This was a great blog ladies! Glad you’re all here and celebrating!
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By Kari on Mar 26, 2009
Thank you (!!!) for this post! I’ve been feeling bad about the buffet I ate the last two Fridays. I’m 100 percent raw the rest of the week, but all I can focus on is the cooked foods on Friday … and beating myself up for it!
Thank you for putting it into perspective. You’re so right. We should congratulate ourselves for even starting this journey. And we’re not at square one, so there’s no need to put ourselves back there.
Thank you!
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By Doll on Mar 27, 2009
Once again…I love your choice of music and lyrics!! hugs
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By Veronica B on Mar 27, 2009
Beth ~ I, too, have fallen and binged on wheat and dairy.
NOT good for my poor body. I have picked myself up, dusted myself off, and am back on that wagon again! Know that you aren’t alone, and thank you so much {{{{{hugs}}}}} for sharing your story: it has been a great encouragement to me.
Tera – thank you for the analogy of a marathon. This has really helped me to put things into perspective. Today I’m having water, juice, and maybe a green smoothie for dinner. Let’s just say that the binge on raw pumpkin pie last night had “diarr” results on my system!!! :-O
Blessings,
Gypsy Queen
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By Margot on Mar 28, 2009
The last couple of weeks I happened to be thinking about this subject a lot already. Maybe we’re not meant to be and stay raw overnight. Maybe our body cannot handle that. Maybe when we do, there will be so many toxins released at once, that we get ill. So cravings are a sort of protection mecanism. And next thing we know we punish our selves, feel unworthy, etc.???
In an interview Angela Stokes said she was nowhere near 100% raw when she lost all that weight. Look at where she is now.
The analogy of a marathon is a great one, as is the concept of gradient.
I don’t think you have to get at the finish line full of bruises as long as we accept that we cannot push our body to do something it’s not ready for, yet.
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By Mary on Mar 31, 2009
I’m loving your blog and your challenge. I confess that I “fall off the wagon” and “hop back on the wagon” all the time. I get what you’re saying about don’t go back to day 1 and don’t be one extreme or the other. However, I find it rejuvenating to pick myself up, dust myself off, and start off with a 24 hour water fast followed by a careful 3-7 day detox as I hop back up on that wagon. It’s a signal to my mind and body that we’re not quitting. All is not lost. We’re continuing the journey. Plus I feel so ENERGIZED after that, it really gives me a boost. I’m currently eating about 50% raw (yea green smoothies!) and 40% cooked vegan and 10% less healthful foods. BUT… I’m not stopping the 90% good part just because of the 10% not-so-good part. I think that’s the spirit of what you’re aiming at, no? Not to obsess, but to keep moving forward with a cheerful spirit of acceptance.
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