Day 5: Going Raw

So today marks day five of our raw(ish) diet, and we've survived so far! :)

This has already been quite the experience for me, particularly.  I've been surprised at how in some ways it feels easier than I expected, and yet how in others it is requiring a lot more of me than I thought it would.

The best thing that I am noticing is that my energy level throughout the day is really steady.  I normally get tired and sometimes even weak in the afternoons but for the last few days I have not only not felt a dip in energy, I actually have more.  I spent most of yesterday afternoon organizing my closet and the kids' rooms.  That, my friends, is proof that we're on to something!  ;)

I will say that I don't think my body is really use to the changes yet and I find myself wanting to eat all day long, which was not the case before.  But it feels really good to snack on fresh fruit or some snacks from my new favorite brand, Go Raw.  They have some great things to munch on that are full of super healthy, raw ingredients.  I've been surprised that I have actually found a few items that I truly enjoy because I honestly did not think that would be the case.  I have also found a few that taste like they were dipped in the toilet before they were dehydrated... seriously.  So it really is trial and error.  But to find something that is so surprisingly pleasant can be very exciting, and may even cause you to exclaim, "These are awesome!!!" when you taste them in the store. haha

I definitely still have cravings from time to time, particularly for chocolate ice-cream and occasionally pasta.  (We're only on day 5, though)  I'm hoping that those will get better over time as I retrain my body to crave the natural foods that are good for me instead.  And it is good to see that I can retrain my taste buds as well!

 My focus during this time is on finding healthier alternatives to the normal go-to foods that fill the grocery stores and restaurants.  I've already learned so much just by more closely examining what is in so many of these products and realizing that there is way too much sugar, preservatives, and nasty chemicals that I can't even pronounce in many of the things that I thought were harmless.  We're talking stuff like bread, yogurt, cereal.... basics that have become far from basic when we take a closer look.

On the other hand, I do not want to become a person that obsesses over every tiny little thing.  We should be responsible for our own health without letting fear dictate our decisions.  But for me, that doesn't mean being ignorant either.  The food that our grandparents ate is far from much of the "food" that we eat today, and as a result we are seeing ever increasing numbers of deadly diseases.  When some of the leading causes of death in our generation were so rare just a couple of generations ago, it would be wise for us to take a step back and examine what we are doing.  I didn't realize that so many health issues are directly related to our diet, but it makes sense.  We build our immune system through eating healthy foods and through a healthy lifestyle.  That thought has kept me very encouraged so far to keep going, even when cravings have come up!

I hope to check in sometime next week with more updates.  This is really exciting for us!