Congratulations to all of my cleansing buddies who successfully completed the 10-day Rawvolution with me!
Don't stop now!
Because I adhere to a fairly clean diet and participate in frequent detoxifying cleanses, I can "afford" to digress into the world of warm food often. I follow a strict vegan diet and have very limited sugar and fat intake, so my level of body pollutants is fairly low, even when I'm not cleansing. For me, cleansing is more a device which prods me away from processed foods, while simultaneously increasing the amount of vitamins, minerals, nutrients and alkalizing foods I consume on a daily basis. With my system in optimum health, I have a little wiggle room for when I'm craving pancakes on Sunday morning!
That being said, each cleanse gives me more than a clean slate, it inspires me to maintain a clean plate! I call this transition from raw to high raw my "Fresh Start," because it's the start of something new: a new way to view food in relation to my health, in relation to the environment, in relation to social structures; and it's the start of incorporating more fresh foods into my stale routine.
My mind, being clear, and my body, being strong, healthy, and full of energy, inspire a renewed sense of self and sense of purpose: Making health (of the self, of the planet, of the people, of the animals) a top priority. After all, you only get one body to inhabit, and no one is going to take care of it, but you. And you only get one planet to inhabit, and that's your responsibility, too. And while you can take care of yourself and have the luxury of making healthy, safe, and smart decisions, other [people and animals] in the world aren't as fortunate. But by making wise choices for yourself and the earth, you're helping those who can't help themselves. Every single thing in this world is ultimately affected by what you decide to put in your body.
Amazing, isn't it?
So today's challenge is this: Stay raw for as long as you possibly can, 21 days...30 days...6 months...a year! I dare you. And when you've reached your threshold and can't take another minute without something hot, on a plate, you can eat with a fork, eat responsibly!
Here is the strategy for our household:
We are raw. Except when we're not. What does this mean? It means, simply, that our main focus is raw (fruits and) vegetables. Every single meal of the day, and all the snacks in between, are raw, unless they have to be cooked. For instance, we love sushi. All the veggies are raw, the seaweed is raw, but you can't really eat raw rice (or you at least can't make sushi out of raw rice). So this meal would be considered high-raw. Same thing with spring rolls. Loaded with raw veggies (including dark leafy greens!), but rice paper is not raw. Each meal, however, should be centered around raw vegetables (and occasional fruit), complemented by some whole or sprouted grains (unprocessed), and every once in a while, splurge. Being healthy isn't about deprivation; it's about doing your best and not being too hard on yourself when you can't. Trying to attain (or maintain) perfection is usually a recipe for failure.
Maintaining your health isn't all or nothing!
If you slip up and give into a gas station car snack on a long road trip, don't beat yourself up. The worst thing you can allow yourself to think in that moment is "Well, I just messed up my diet..." because that gives you permission to give up on yourself and sends you down a destructive path. Instead, say to yourself, "That was good. Now back on track..." and let it go. It takes a total of 3200 calories beyond what you burn to gain 1 pound. You burn 1000 calories a day just by being alive. Eating a 500 calorie bag of chips isn't going to sabotage your weight, and having one processed, toxic snack in a week isn't going to curdle your blood. Just be sure you give your body ample time to process and rid itself of the garbage, before your next relapse. Otherwise, you'll take in more than you excrete, resulting in build-up (bioaccumulation) and a backed-up system with all kinds of yucky consequences.
Now that you know you've got the will power, the resolve, and the tools to succeed, steering clear of sugary, starchy, fatty, processed foods should be cake! ;)
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