Had a fabulous dinner tonight!
baked potatoes x2
creamed Cheweese (soaked cashew nuts with lemon and salt, ground with a little water to make a 'paste')
fresh tomato, with chopped salad onion, coriander, basil, parsley spinach and salt and a dash of olive oil. warmed in the oven - just warmed on a low temperature and left to sit so that the flavours married.
......... and then:
Banana chunks topped with Raw Chocolate (home made)  and a fresh strawberry..........    delicious.
I loved every bite
and so did hubby, though he had normal cheese on top of his baked 'tato.
((()))fang :-)
Just an idea i thought I'd share, though not all raw, still had the fundamentals of raw in it.

Hey Jen
do you sprout your own sunflower seeds: I've had a go but did not do all that well.  Have you got any tips?

Aw gee! Jen - you're lovable                  -      we don't even see you to know if ;you are fat or thin - LOL
I realize that this is a serious matter but making light of it with hopefully some truth for you to gleen a grain of loving-ness from...........
((())) fang

Heyyy Jen,
Well so far i have completed a food diary for the first week, and completed an outline of what i expect from the program; a pre-program focus form that invlolved answering preset questions which led me to focus on why i wanted to eat raw foods and what i exepected to get from doing the program. I also completed a form which was related to my physical aspects, such as foods that i liked to eat, weight, measurements,medical and health history, dietary, family health history and current diet.  There were also parts that related to digestive problems, eating disorders, skin nails etc. There were so many questions it took me ages to answer them all.     But, I am impressed with how thorough the program is and her organisation.

I'm not sure about what Karen means that it is not about the food...........? There is no real focus on 'other areas' however she did ask whether there was other things apart from what i wrote down that i may need help on, such as family etc.  May be Karen means that it is more about committment and knowing where and why you are doing this?  Perhaps she also means that it is about health and well being more than just eating!     
((())) fang:-)

I have received week two of my Raw Coaching PRogram. 
Enclosed in the email was a 90 page workbook on menus and foods and some recipes.  I have also received a 9 page nutrition coaching assigment.  Very comprehensive and takes some work.  It took me all week to complete the first 3 documents for the first week.        I am sure it will take me all week to finish the assignements for this week.     Next week we start email dialogue after Janet gets this weeks info back. 

I have been really busy giving my house a 'tidy up'.  Even hubby got in on the act and took to clearing out his drawers.  LOL he forgot what he had in some of them        thats men for ya!  It is soooo nice to have things straightened up. 

Have not done any swimming this week at all except to take a grandie for an hour or more for this one - Will start again on Monday. 
((())) fang :-)

Well said Jen!
Poor Anni - is flooded with support and suggestions!
Take it easy anni

Thank you for the Moo Goo suggestion will check it out and let you know
((())) Fang:-)

Am working on my homework and am emailing it off tomorrow some time.  Quite a lot of questions to answer and information to give. 
I will get feed back in a cupple a dayze   
((())) fang:-)

Hi Melb, thanks for the information   
 if that is the case,  then that would make a lot of sense as i did a 5 day water fast in july, so that makes a lot of sense!
Yep the pools i swim in are chlorinated, but i have never had any probs before now, and have been swimming for 4 years in the same pools, but will try the almond oil (as i have some in the cupboard) on the nails that is a very good observation and practical suggestion.
I am keeping the nails short at the moment as they wont grow any way without flaking, and am keeping an eye on them. 
I will look for some jojoba oil to rub into them and keep you posted.
Thanks so much for the info.  Most helpfull   
((())) fang :-)

Hi mummabear
Love the monkey, I have  been looking for a pic that shows the FANGS    and that one is a beauty!
((()))fang:-)

hi Viking girl, huge big step changing countries, cultural, linguisitic and leaving all those who are dear to you behind, but they are still there for you when you want to visit them. 
Making friends in a new country is the best thing for home sickness,
just thinking of you - lots of adjustments to make, encouraging you to keep on making friends and getting out,  walking, is a marvellous past time and amazing how many people you can chat to about all sorts of things if you walk around your area. 
Hope i'm not saying anything out of place 
((()))fang:-)

Hi and Welcome
Here is a good place to learn lots to take with you on your journey into life, 5 weeks is just the beginning but it is always good to start at the beginning.
((()))fang:-)

Hi Jen, Just popping in to say Hello,
good to hear that you are 'lastic legs' as well     that's what i call my daughter who has started yoga and loves it.  Olive oil - popeye's girlfriend always comes to mind when i think of yoga 
great for the posture, great for the mind and great for the body -
((())) fang:-)

Must try the cucumber/date treat, sounds an unusual combination but could be delicious! 
((())) fang:-)

Have started on my 30 day coaching session with one of Karen Knowlers coaches Janet Butler of 'fresh in the city'.  I have realized that i have not been drinking enough water.  Wayyy below the 3 liter mark.  Funny I always thought that i was drinking heaps of water........

This first week she has emailed me with 3 forms that i need to complete by Wednesday and email her back.

Below is what i can expect - I am impressed so far with her organization and method which i have copied and listed below for any one who wants to know what i am doing.  It seems to me to be a very rational and simple approach.
What to expect:
The base nutrition programme is a 30 day nutrition therapy programme to assess your health goals, your diet & health history and will provide you with professional food and supplement recommendations from a qualified nutrition therapist.
How it works:
Week 1: You will be emailed or posted your 7-day food diary and your nutrition questionnaire. All of these documents need to be filled in and emailed or posted back as soon as completed, and by the end of week 1.
Week 2: As soon as these documents have been received, in week 2, you will be given the link to download the How to give yourself a fresh menu makeover eBook to read over the next week. You will also be set your first coaching assignment to be completed while I look over your information.
Week 3: During week 3, we will arrange a convenient slot for our 1 hour nutritional coaching session.  In this session, the findings of your nutritional assessment and food diary will be discussed and eating and supplement recommendations made. You will be given your second coaching assignment and we will arrange a time for your 1 x 30 minute Q&A session.
Week 4: You will have your final coaching call and will be emailed or posted your recommendation page along with a post call questionnaire, which will need to be filled in and emailed back or returned in the post. I will look over your coaching assignments and you will have your final 30minute Q&A session, which concludes the programme, although you will be informed of continued support options should you want them.

If you need to contact me over the next 30days with any queries, the email you need to use is janet@freshinthecity.co.uk or telephone +44 (0) 161 209 9066.  A quicker response is usually obtained by email.

I'm not sure how the telephone call works but she has done this program before over the internet so i expect it will be ok.

Am away for a break this weekend - well needed. 
I went for a long walk yesterday 6kms with hubby and was telling himhow i'd love to do the mini triathlon in Feb which is hld here and that i was concerned about the running part after broken ankles and feet.  Any way we got sick of walking and decided to jog a bit,
Heyyy, I'm not even stiff today and i ran about 1.5kms.  It was great, I do enjoy running, so i will aim to work up to the 4 km distance so that i can enter the tri.
have to go
((()))fang:-)

Hi RGG,
great way to handle the wedding thing.  Well done, a good help for me with my hubby's weekend fishing trips, i cook for and often have up to 10 people for dinner.  People have looked at me funny when i PILE up my plate with salads.  And i do mean PILE, but i just keep chatting and eating  LOL 'cos its normal for me.

Only things have lables, lets not put ourselves into boxes!
((())) fang:-)

Hello Anii,
Welcome,
I dont have UC or colitis my problem is on the outside, Psoriasis - over most of my body.  If you check out my journal I have posted pics of my skin.  I have not TO DATE had an immediate response to the healing of myskin but have found that very slowly i am seeing improvement.  I have had the problem for about 10 years but it became worse in the past 4 years after a breakdown and burnout.  I find rest very helpful.  After having something for 10 years i could wish it would disappear overnight but realistically it will take time for me to heal. 

If i can suggest that you dont go off your meds immediately as you may have withdrawals and reactions that can often be severe, but slowly build up your immune system until you notice an improvement in your body, this may take months, and then gradually wean yourself off of your meds. 

May i also suggest that you plan your course of action before going to your doc? Consider carefully that you may need to see him again so therefore  to go into your doc and simply announce that you will go off all meds and are going raw, may not create good relations if you need to go again because what you have done has not caused a good reaction, work out how you can enlist his support, then by building your health  he will see that you are feeling better and he will respond to this by reducing your dosage voluntarily.  Often this process can take some time as the body takes time to respond, it is a living organism, by doing it this way it sets you up for success and his/her support when the success comes.   If you cannot enlist the docs support then may be you will need to try to find another doc who is supportive of natural healing, there are a few around, I belive that the Medical Register in your state might have a list of them.

I'd suggest that you also read Ehret's book on fasting and healing for health available on this web site, and also Dr. Joel Fuhrman a medical doctor has an excellent website (subscribe) that would be very helpful toyou.  He consults over the web.  He is a medical doctor who has had a great deal of success with prescribing diet and fasting to heal all sorts of diseases.  He has a very balanced diet as well.  He also has a team of dietitians and doctors who practice the same philosophies.  With your problem it may be good toget some professional alternative advice.  Well worth joining.  full of research papers and information that is tried and tested.  There are also professionally monitored support forums on his site.  The joining fee is very reasonable. 

This web site is invaluable for support "in the raw" and there is lots of valuable advice, but sifting it is difficult when you are new.  Read, REad, REad all you can, one book has started you on this path, others will build on this foundation and take you further along the track until it becomes a roadway. 
Keep posting - I have not been raw long, and enjoy eating raw, i can see it is a long journey - that lasts a life time.  Take it one step at a time, you will experience many changes and many challenges and the support you find here will help you with them.  Well done you are taking the right steps to your new body.

((()))Fang:-)

The pics i was referring are no longer there, I was not aware that when they are deleted from photobucket they are deleted from my post, OOPs , so will post again when i get back to town, I am on dial up here so it is too slow to do it now