I def find avyrudevic (I always spell that word wrong) cycles really work for me.
That is, that we function best if we are asleep by 10pm at the latest and awake by 6am at the latest.

I'll be in Thailand this year, but probably not until Oct.

There are some amazing places to stay for hardly any money at all. Fresh fruit juice at train stations, fruit stalls on the streets, cane juice, cheap natural health treatments, Raysana Raw Cafe (Bangkok), Sanctuary Retreat with partially raw menu (Ko Pha Ngan) and the friendliest people you'll ever meet... not to mention Rumbutans, Durian, Mango, Logan, Lychee, Dragonfruit, Ladyfinger Bananas....

If you needed convincing, I hope I've provided it! 

Excuse my ignorance Cee, but where is Cinque Terre?

You all look gorgeous - thanks for the inspiration.

I took a before photo a few months ago - unfortunately I'm not ready for the after shot yet!

I love your words Miss Bliss... please don't delete!

I love your new pic Patricia - you look gorgeous.

My avatar is actually me durian feasting in Thailand. I can alreayd see you doing it Neet and Duchess!

For me... to raise lovely raw kiddies (not yet though!), combine my counselling with raw nutrition so I can start offering my clients more holistic solutions and to love people like Jesus did. More goals than a fantasies I guess!

Great thread PB...

I so enjoy reading your posts Rabbit - but this one most of all!  What an amazing birth story...
Congratulations!!!
Hope you're doing great.

b x

Once I was watching Oprah (and thus the confessional begins...) and she had a poo doctor on. Can't remember the professional term.
He explained what healthy poo looked like. It was great because he explained it so well and it is something noone talks about.
He recommended (no surprises here) fruit, water and high fibre foods from memory.

I will try and re-tell what I can remember as non-grossly as possible...

Good poo comes out all in one go (he explained that if its in bits and pieces then parts are still stuck in your colon)
Its not too runny, not too solid, but just right...
It has come out of your bowel so it should be shaped like it, if it has all come out. So it should be slightly S-shaped.

Ok, thats enough for now... what a topic...

b x

This dip is my saving grace when it comes to taking something raw to parties. Everyone loves it. My husband sprinkles it over his salads. Great on cucumber rounds or as a pesto type sauce with zucchini pasta.

Had another swim at the beach yesterday, its really helping the detox process. I can;t remmeber it being this intense last time?
Yesterday I was really off food and I've developed a wicked little cough.
I haven't been able to exercise as much so I feel like my body is actually looking worse, but am thinking that by tomorrow I can start running again and then hopefully it'll be looking mean & lean in no time.
I am sleeping sooo much too! I am normally a 6 hour a night kinda gal, and I am struggling to function on anything less than 9 at the moment... would that be a detox thing?
Hubby is just cruising along, barely feeling a symptom... although admittedly he is eating a greater quantity of 'transition foods' than I am.

I am really looking forward to this sore throat clearing up. Does anyone know an effective, raw, natural alternative to the old throat lozenge?

Am finding I am having a lot more clarity about my future too which is great - am on track to reaching my goals for Feb too (well, most of them!) which is exciting.

Have an amazing day everyone!

b x

Hey PB
How are things for you today?
How did your colonic go?
I am feeling lots of support through your journal and hope you feel supported too...
Lots of hugs,
bella x

Today I am feeling worse physically (have developed a cough to add to the rest) but I am in a much better place mentally.

I am really seeing this as detox not just 'sickness' and am visualising that all this gunk is leaving my body for good.

It makes me want to not go back to toxic living as I don't want to go through this again.

I am in a really good place today - am seeing raw lifestyle as a lifestyle of abundance that opens doors of opportunity.
I realise that I was seeing eating raw as nothing but self-discipline, denial, limitation and missing out.

I ended up having a day off work today as I felt so crook, but I have been able to have a swim in the ocean, gargle salt water, eat lots of yummy vegies & juice, read a raw book etc etc so I'd say that has a lot to do with being in such a good place too.
For some reason, detox has always panicked me a bit, maybe its the body letting go of emotional associations to junk food.
But I've had a real revelation that if I can incorporate some of the things that have really helped in the last few days - swimming in the ocean, massage (even if self-administered!), exfoliation, gargling salt water, deep breathing - into my every day life, I can keep focused on what this really is that I am going through. It is detox and I am on my way to better health, it isn't a cycle of sickness that I am going to be caught in.

Ok... I've raved enough!

Love b x

Thanks so much for sharing Maree - I am realising that there is a whole world of natural birthing out there that I never knew about - my mind is really being stretched at the moment and I am loving it. Thanks again for sharing - will PM you about those contact details.

Thanks Sheryl & Blythe... apreciated! b x

Thanks for this Jen. There's some great clips of homebirths on YouTube as well, posted by very proud mums.. worth a look.

Speaking of natural birth... I have  question...

I have private medical insurance - find it financially worthwhile for massages, chiropractic etc.
I am covered for pregnancy and birth also. I called up the other day to see if that included a homebirth with a midwife and was told that midwives no longer have insurance to deliver at home (don't even get me started on the politis behind that...) and so if you want a private midwife to help you deliver at home, you have to pay the full cost.

Does anyone know how much that would be?

Thanks....

I can relate to that Brett - I have made some terrible combinations before, although if they've involved pricey produce I've made myself eat them, even though they tasted disgusting. Funny funny...