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From: veganskater ( -66.214.229.196)
Subject: Vita-Mix, Raw Food, Digestion, and Caffeine
Date: February 4, 2009 at 11:57 pm PST

In Reply to: Re: The Vita-Mix Learning Curve posted by Jo Stepaniak on February 4, 2009 at 8:45 am:

Thanks Jo!

All right.
I've been veg since '88, vegan for 9 years now. (since '99) I'm very happy with this lifestyle. I don't drink or use any drugs or smoke. Oh, and I gave up coffee on 1/1/09, and all caffeine about 2 weeks later. (almost 3 weeks ago now) This past winter (Oct-early Dec.) I went through some fat cravings and scarfed a bunch of Veganaise and greasy AWESOME tasting vegan burritos. I was also doing soy vanilla lattes every darn day. All of this soon showed up on my love handles. I turned 40 last month and I said, by God, I'm gonna change this!

For many years I had HUGE trouble digesting raw food. I'd feel full (stretch receptors in stomach) but my stomach would growl and I would get these wicked powerful food cravings--my body was essentially screaming that it couldn't function any longer without at least some cooked food.

My digestion is MUCH better now after much general healing, including chiropractic. Even so, I can't do an all-raw diet. I strongly believe in the need to LISTEN to my body. Also, I don't really want to be all raw.

I can tolerate the Vita-Mix food better than any raw food I've ever eaten. It seems to overall sit well with my body. Today I had a Vita-Mix fruit smoothie (with maca and green powder & some spinach) for breakfast; and (cooked) whole wheat tortilla with hummus & salsa for lunch. Had green Vita-Mix soup for dinner: avocado, a glug of olive oil, spinach, kale, tomatoes, garlic, & Trader Joe's seasoning. It was yummy! I felt full & satisfied until about 9PM, by which point my body was SCREAMING for more food like what I'm used to. So I went out & had a yummy grilled vegan sandwich with mango chutney & hummus.

I guess my questions are:

Has anyone else ever had any difficulty switching to raw food? (I don't want to be all raw; but I definitely want to keep adding more fruits & raw & cooked veggies; & the Vita-Mix seems the best way to do it.)

I think I'll do better if I gradually move my diet in that direction, given the really strong response of my body. Anyone have any thoughts/experience about this?

And does anyone want to share any particularly yummy Vita-Mix recipes? Hopefully not ones requiring tons of ingredients.

Oh, and --is it normal for my energy level to still be a bit lower than normal, after giving up all caffeine 3 weeks ago? (I ran on a lot of caffeine for a long time.) I suppose I should be patient & give it some time, no?

Thanks everyone for your thoughts!
Much love,
VS

Follow Ups:

• maybe a TINY bit helpful ... Janet 2/20/09 (2)
  • Woohoo...Janet!!!!!! Hello, hello, hello, hello!!!!! Jo Stepaniak 2/22/09 (0)
  • Oops, here's the link - and more info Janet 2/20/09 (0)

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