1 month, 100% raw, with no added fat foods ....almost!

Over the past month, so that I didn't offend a friend, I ate a couple of mouthfulls of jackfruit loaf which she kindly brought back from India as a present. I would have devoured it normally, but the jackfruit loaf was cooked and full of fat and sugar! There was a similar situation at home where I had a taste of some home made greengage creamy moose. I managed to restrain myself so that I had only 1 spoonfull. It was totally delicious, so I had to exercise some will power!

Other than the 3 mouthfuls that I descibed above, today I've just completed 1 month, 100% raw, with NO fat foods. i.e. no nuts, seeds, oil, avocados, durian, etc. Well... I'm still here to tell the tale, so it can't be that bad for you! 

When I was on holiday just over a month ago, I tried to go with the flow and let go of my diet for the odd meal, but my acne came back, my skin felt very greasy and I felt tired and grumpy. I got so sick of it that I told my wife half way through the holiday that I couldn't cope, and I had to get back onto my raw diet. I went for a drive and eventually found somewhere that sold fruit and vegetables. These rare places are not easy to find in the Lake District!

My spots cleared up within a couple of weeks and my skin feels so much better now. It's more pliable, fresher and cleaner, in fact it's never been better. I need less sleep. I've had more energy (apart from when i ate too many runner beans) and more joy. I'm wondering if we ever need to eat any fat foods at all? My body certainly doesn't seem to miss them, I don't even crave them anymore. I've had some comments from friends on how well that I've been looking too.

I've been eating quite a lot less than I normally do becasue I've had to stop most excercise since I had my hernia operation 2.5 weeks ago. However, I still feel energetic and continually get the urge to go running! Short walks will have to do for now. As long as I don't overdo things, the pain from the hernia operation is pretty much gone. No strenuous lifting for another 6 weeks!

It's interesting that the body seems to know when to stop eating when on a raw diet. I'm exercising less and desire food less. When I was very active before my operation, I desired food so much more. Our natural appetite is controlled by what our body actually needs, and this works as long as we only eat foods that are naturally available to us without having to use tools, machinery and heat to prepare them.

If anyone is struggling to make this diet and lifestyle work, then try a zero fat month. i.e. Eat lots of fruit, plenty of greens, green smoothies and some salads. Try and eat mono meals as far as possible. A mono meal is a meal consisting of one type of food (eg just watermelon, or just bananas, but not both).

Hernia operation recovery - 1 week update

Today it's 1 week since my operation and for some reason things have suddenly improved and I've been so much more comfortable and mobile. I've had my dressing changed 3 times now, and the nurses were very impressed at both the neatness of the scar (to the surgeons credit) and how quickly I appear to be healing. I am really pleased that I chose to ignore two pieces of their advice though.

The first piece of advice was to use several types of painkillers that I was given (3 bumper packs). I managed to get by and use absolutely none of them. I applied what I'd learned with water - drinking more water eases pain. I've heard that this is a reason why headache tablets appear to work, they are consumed with water! The second piece of advice I was given was to eat plenty of 'protein' foods (meat, fish, eggs, etc). In avoiding these very foods, I really do feel great! To get my protein, I've been eating plenty of fruit and green smoothies. I've had no problems building muscle using just fruit, salads and greens before my operation and I see no reason why I should change now. Last night I had so much energy that I couldn't sleep. I wanted to go for a run! I guess eating cooked food may help to subdue me and slow me down, I also guess it may also slow down the healing process.

Now I can get around for most of the day without discomfort. When it does get uncomfortable I just go and have a lie down to rest. Earlier in the week I spent most time resting with the occasional 5 or 10 minutes up and about. I am pleasantly surprised at how pain free it has been, although it was excruciating attempting to sit on the loo! It was so painful that I didn't actually have a poo until Monday - that's 3 whole days. For someone eating a 100% raw vegan diet that's a long time! After managing to do my business, I had to lie down and recover for an hour! Since then things have steadily become easier. I can't even feel any pain at all from the very neat scar. Any pain or discomfort is internal, it feels like a ripping and burning sensation. I guess it comes from the mesh that was implanted inside of me. My tissues will eventually grow into it and the whole thing should become stabilised and pain free. I'm certainly on the mend.

I was however reminded that I'm not fully mended yet. I was in the garage looking for something and I moved my daughter's bike. My insides were becoming very uncomfortable, hence I'm now resting and writing this blog!

Highlight of the day.

Malcolm, a good friend and neighbour was in hospital at the same time as me, only he had a kidney out - a rather more severe condition than mine! I was just finishing off eating my water melon and was planning to pay him a visit, but who should knock at my door?, Malcolm - my dear old friend! We compared scars. Mine was a few inches, his looked like he'd been cut in half with a chain saw! Malcolm was like a spring chicken, full of energy and bounce! I thought I was doing well until I saw how well he was doing in his circumstances! Thank you for visiting Malcolm - you are such a blessing. :-)