I've just had a really busy week with visitors and not a lot of time to write in my journal.  I've been a bit up and down this week.  Too busy to stay organised and getting tired and reaching for the sugar.  But I am trying to stay focused and considering the week I have had I think I have done pretty well.

I have had really sore mouth ulcers all week which have been very annoying.  I am hoping that its just something being detoxed out of my body, rather than a deficiency.  I haven't have a litre of smoothy every day, and I think I am missing that.  And I had really bad headache on wednesday again, after netball tues night. 

So I need to listen to my body a bit more and eat less and exercise more!! 

On the sprout front, my alfalfa sprouts didn't work too well, I might try growing them on absorbent paper next time or get a sprout bag.  My mung beans were great.  and my wheat grass is coming along well, its about 5cm high.  Today I am soaking some brown rice to see what that will be like sprouted, more mung beans and some more wheat.
MS

Hey Shauna thanks for the post.  I am much better this week, more time to focus on myself and my little family.  Yesterday I just had fruit and smoothies all day and a salad a very very green salad for dinner and I feel good today.  Although I am quite tired, I went for a run on Monday morning (only a short one but there was lots of sweat in this heat) and again last night, so I think my body is tired from that, it will take a while to get fit and used to it. I did feel really good last night after I got back though.

You are probably right about the water.  Must try and drink more.
My littel girl is unwell at the moment which depresses me.  I try so hard to make my kids as healthy as possible.  She's had a high temp for 48 hrs, and thats all no, other symptons.  She is cooler today but very very tired, but eating so hopefully her little body has been able to fight off what ever it was.

Yes, I love the mung beans, is it the heat that makes them sprout so quickly?  My alfalfa seems to be coming along OK on the paper, I've got it on a sunny bench and the little leaves have gone green this morning its magic to see.  I know what you mean about the sunflower sprouts, I haven't tried any yet.  Do you get the seeds from the health food shop?  I soaked some that I bought at the supermarket a few weeks ago.... the chooks enjoyed them.  Yuck how have we evolved into a civilisation that puts up with this rubbish. 
Actually I have some old dead sunflowers in the garden I should sprout their seeds.  If I am allowed.  My daughter governs the sunflowers.

Off to have a big glass of water.
MS

   don't fret about it, you are doing more than the average person out there!   If you go slightly off course, just start again tomorrow and the next day..........
Results do not happen immediately, they creep up on you with consistent, persistent effort.   I had at least a year of ups and downs before I felt really good.  Patience, love yourself for doing all you can at any given moment. 

joybell       "choose to live a life that matters"

Thanks Raw Sensation for those encouraging words. I have always had a pretty healthy diet so going Raw wasn't such a huge transition for me, especially in summer when I usually live on salads.  The part I find hard is having to cook for the rest of my family, so if I do eat cooked it is usually a little bit of protein.  But I have found it makes me feel a bit too heavy so I have kept it very minimal this week.  And no I haven't stressed about it, I've resigned myself to just doing the best I can.

I did step on the scales this week and was pleasantly surprised, so although I don't obsess about my weight I did get a feeling of achievement with having lost a few kilos.

My alfalfa sprouts on the paper towel worked really well I was quite pleased with them, my wheat grass wasn't such a success I harvested it and without a proper grass juicer I only got about a teaspoon of juice.  I have grown some more anyway and this lot looks great.
I am soaking some organic sunflower seeds at the moment to see if I can get them to sprout.

Went to a party last night and had a couple of glasses of wine (the first alcohol I have had since beeing raw) and I felt dreadful this morning.  But not as bad as I usually would have and instead of the usual hangover food... I had an apple and some prunes and lots of water and was fine.  I think my body is obviously much better at clearing all those toxins away after a few weeks of raw.  But I did need some chocolate today... another first! Someone told me once that chocolate restores something in the body that alcohol depletes.  Not sure if its true or not but I always crave chocolate after drinking.  I only had a small amount and then I was satisfied.

One thing I have noticed about my journey so far is how conscious I am of the effect foods have on my body.  I am paying a lot of attention to how I feel after eating, whatever it may be.  Its very interesting. Watermelon is by far my favourite food thankgod I live in a state where it is available all year round.
MS

Wow its been a whole week since I've updated my journal.  A pretty average week at that. 
I have been getting lots of headaches.  Had one on Thursday and Friday and again today, and I am so tired all the time.  I read last night that a lack of tyrosine can cause lethargy, lack of motivation, tiredness depression etc.  Which is me...  so I did a bit of reading on the net today and found that tyrosine is often a trigger for migraines and it isn't recommended.  So was very very confused after that and went and bought a piece of "complete protein" and had it on my salad for dinner.

I know I have to be patient with going raw, but I have had one or two good days (in 6 weeks!!!!) I just can't work out what is wrong and why I am getting all these headaches.  I am going to forget about the tyrosine thing and maybe concentrate on gluten.  I will go without it completely for a week ( as hard as that is for me) and then do an allergy test and see what happens.  Maybe that is the trigger.  I have read that you can crave things you are allergic to (strange as that sounds) I crave bread etc so maybe thats it...

Who knows If only the human body came with a manual.

Day four of absolutley no grains and feeling quite good... Fingers crossed it will continue.  Was quite hungry yesterday but lots of green smoothies and fruit and its all good. Heres hoping it stays that way.

Hi Eve, Thanks for the message, have read through your journal too.  Goodluck with your new beginings.  I have been feeling the same about 2008.  Lots of changes afoot.  All the best to you.

I think my raw-ness has hit a new level today thankyou Melchoir-magic!!!  I had what I will call "Shauna Pasta" for dinner last night and it was really delicious.  A golden Zucchini (grown organically by a friend so even more special) grated and soaked in some salad dressing left over from lunch (Olive and avocado oil, lemon juice honey etc) and then i added a few other finely diced vegies.  Very good.
And my buckwheat sprouts have been quite a sensation.  I really like the flavour of them.  I had some on my fruit salad this morning and the rest in a Green smoothie that will possibly take me all day to drink, but thats OK.

I have been having a shot of wheat grass juice each day too which I think really gives me a boost.  Its quite a process getting the juice out... in the absence of one of those wizz bang stainless steel grass juicers but I am managing and feeling the benefits.

I've got some lentils soaking to see how they go sprouted? I'm enjoying all these culinary adventures.
Day five of no gluten and its making a huge difference.
Love to all
MS