Been A Really Long Time!!! :) Thoughts On Balance, Joy, and Raw Food.

[L.]

Hi guys :)  I know I've not written in ages... May 11 was my last entry on here and I used to write daily.

Well on my new medication for arthritis, I haven't felt compelled to write on here because I've been feeling so much better :)  It's been such a relief...there are still it's cons, like the fact that I have to drink lots of water all day in order to keep myself from being dehydrated from it (it's a big side-effect), but all and all I know I've made the right decision for me.  The pain is sooo far less than it was, and because of it, I've been doing so much more, finally feeling like I'm truly living.  I feel a lot more sane now because I'm able to live my life again.  I've been able to work and make money, and now--I can afford a lot more raw foods.  I still eat extremely healthy--but you know what.  If I desire something not so great for me--I have it.  That being said, I'm still a vegan and enjoy being a vegan, never feel deprived with that, and don't feel a reason to go back.  However I allow myself these foods because that allowance seems to give me a mental balance I wasn't really having before, because I was constantly feeling deprived and having a hard time enjoying a good portion of what I was eating.  I would add lots of salt to my raw foods and that too would dehydrate me, was bad for my skin, and made me carry a lot of waterweight.  I haven't been weighing myself, but I can see since allowing myself a more balanced vegan lifestyle (balanced for me--everyone needs something different, I know), I can clearly see I've lost at least 5 pounds, and I'm losing more.  I also have tons more energy... I do have somewhat of a high-metabolism, and I'm also someone who deeply appreciates and loves physical activity (I've been going on bikerides almost daily and on my feet all day no problem many days!!  plus working part-time!!) and I couldn't really afford to buy enough/use the time to grow enough raw foods to satiate the caloric RDA that would be right for me.  Growing a garden takes a lot of time.  My boyfriend's grandma has a huge property that she mows twice a week with this 20 by 10 foot garden and at least a dozen fruit trees, and even he understands how time consuming it can be to weed, water, and care for areas much smaller, as he helped her every day as a child.  I do enjoy gardening every once in a while, but I'm no green thumb yet and I don't have the room here at my mom's condo to even enjoy a garden that would satiate a small portion of my dietary needs.  I also don't have the time to care for one, as I spend lots of my free time with my boyfriend when I'm not working, and I prefer using my time to do things that I truly enjoy, and gardening, to be honest, isn't even in the top 15.  Life is short.

I've found this way of life has made me a lot happier as a person.  I just feel more optimistic about life now, I feel more excited to get up in the morning and like my life isn't a waste.  I truly do feel blessed now that I'm living in a way that makes me the happiest, although that's not to say I've let go a lot of my values that I stand right and true by, because that wouldn't leave me feeling my happiest either.  I still do love a good kale chip and I still eat banana icecream almost every day--because I love it.  I prepare and order the healthiest meals possible whilst still maintaining the highest levels of enjoyment I can from my food and my life.  I go to wholesale produce markets, local stands, and the farmer's market, and I still purchase lots of the plants of the earth for my consumption.  I greatly enjoy doing all of those things.  I still eat far healthier than most--but this time in a way that brings me more joy than strain.

I was eating a very high-raw diet previously, almost always going far above and beyond the potassium RDA, which in other times of my life, I didn't even think was possible.  Now I'd say I'm around 40-50 percent.  I think I'm more realistic with myself too, and this helps me forgive myself better than I ever could.  I can take a bite of my boyfriend's grandmother's non-vegan cookie that's going to go stale anyway because she made far too many  and not feel an ounce of shame because I just made someone extremely happy and prevented waste.  That is not to say I'd ever bake any non-vegan cookies on my own, or purchase anything non-vegan, but nevertheless I can appreciate and enjoy in a situation where it feels the most appropriate.  I've had probably 3 bites of non-vegan things, intentionally this year now, total.  I don't plan to eat much more than that per year, in fact I don't desire it at all and those bites only furthered my love towards how amazing vegan food is.  I still consider myself dedicated to the protection and well-being of animals and an activist against unnecessary cruelty and abuse to animals, and the self-righteousness people carry in eating animal food with unknown, highly-potentially cruel sources still lovingly frustrates me, and sometimes not-so-lovingly, but I'm also loving and forgiving to the ones around me, and I've found that this has only helped them be evermore convinced of my sincerity.  Mom bakes her own vegan breads now, rather than purchasing them, dad eats vegan icecream, and my boyfriend has replaced a lot of meat based meals with bean based ones thanks to me (and my dad, who's an amazing cook...he's less tempted by my own cooking, but I'm trying!).  My closest girlfriends have also attained far more aware and healthier diets, and I don't think it's brash to say that my own influence might have helped.  One has lost over 30 pounds now, partially from replacing a lot of old staples with just-as-delicious, healthier versions, and the other is going to graduate school now in Public Health, because she, like me, is fascinated with how little people know about nutrition and how it affects the body, although I am not a science/math brain like she is, and I don't have any desire to go into this sort of field.  I am much more in love with writing, painting, photography, dancing, singing, drawing, and other right-brained endeavors that take me away from such a world of structure, rules, and studies.  I've been thinking about applying to work at an art gallery or studio or maybe being an elementary school teacher, things I truly enjoy.

I disagree with a lot of how information is put out there in the raw food world, and it's taken me a long time to figure out exactly why and how I've been feeling this way.  It is true that raw food has turned many people's lives around and healthy lifestyle changes can truly improve anyone's lives, for many reasons.  But this is not to say that raw-food is THE cure-all answer to all of life's illnesses and problems.  I don't think it's fair for anyone to make such claims or even to lead people to making those conclusions.  Have you met and tried this with everyone on earth?  Furthermore, is everyone truly happy with a 100 percent raw lifestyle alone in curing a disease, let alone with a smaller part of the lifestyle itself?  Although it's definitely a positive thing, no one has the right to say that it's the answer for everyone.  We all do what we can in life to sort out our problems, and, thus far, there is no cure-all way to fix every disease.  I definitely think everyone should at least try this lifestyle, and try to find what foods work for them in this lifestyle--as many as you can--but in the best possible way.  Your mental health is equally as important, and if you are starting to lose your happiness in the effort to heal yourself, then maybe it's time you looked at other options in addition to what you are already doing.

We all do what we can, and even if you feel small, you do have an influence on the people around you, and if everyone starts making small changes for the better, that in itself does make a huge difference.  You never know just how far you'll reach, but the point is, you are reaching.  On the other hand, if you surround yourself with dogma and cure-all-claims, people can and will start to question your sincerity, even if/though you have the best intentions at heart.

Life is short, and we have to all live it to the fullest in whatever ways make us the happiest, in the most compassionate ways we can possible.  I love raw foods, and I love juices, but right now a high-raw lifestyle simply doesn't make the most sense for me.  I'm happier and healthier than I've been in a very long time.  I don't love taking medication, but I do find it to be very necessary for a lifestyle that I most enjoy at this point in my life.  That's not to say it won't change.  Everyone changes and their sources of happiness are constantly morphing over time.  But I am accepting both what I want and need right now, and I feel that's more healthy than any other option.

I'm still going to continue visiting the site because I enjoy the raw recipes and information, and find it very useful.  Also, you guys have been so wonderful and supportive and I feel truly lucky to have found a place filled with so many aware and compassionate people.  Hope I haven't hurt anyone's feelings, just my thoughts and views.  I definitely don't know everything and I don't claim to, and I know it can be pretty easy to come off that way in writing.  Hope this was unbiased and fair.

Lots of love :) Lyza

[L.]

I've never tried any hemp products except for the hemp seeds themselves (sooo good but so expensive!!).  I hope one day I stop liking my vegan butter, although I do like it better than real butter, as I agree--too oily or something, and because I haven't had dairy in so long it has a really strong dairy milk flavor that's very unenjoyable (I know this because my boyfriend gave me a bite of one of his meals out at a restaurant once, which he believed not to be vegan, and my mouth was flooded with this flavor and I immediately spat it out!).
I love blueberries too :)  They make everything look so pretty.  Happy second day of summer now too!  It is for sure!! :)

Hi Jill!!  Lovely to see you :)  Hope you are doing well!!!  Take care too Doll ;)

Hi Angela :)  Aww thanks so much.  The pain is so under control and thank goodness!!  Love and gentle hugs to you too :)

Hi djd!!  Thanks so much, it means a lot to me that you enjoyed it! :)  Can't wait to see more of you on here too!

[djd]

I enjoyed reading where you are now, especially that you are suffering less and are able to work.

[angela usher]

Lovely to see you back Lyza and that life is treating you well...you sooo deserve it. Glad to hear that the pain is under control too. Love and gentle hugs Angela XXX

[jill anderson]

Hey Lyza,its funny as I havent been out here to much lately myself,and pop out to read the postings.I was happy to see and read ur!So glad ur doing well:)well just wanted to stop and say "Hey Doll"take care,Jill

[Alessandra]

I do very much like hemp and coconut products.  Two of my sons like coconut milk....use it regularly....I used to love butter.....but now I find it too oily or something....much prefer raw nut butters on my toast or avocado or nothing at all......lately I have been eating alot of blueberries.......love those blueberries! 

Happy First Day of Summer!!!  It's going to be a hot one!

 

[L.]

The almond milk, rice milk, coconut milk, any nut milk really, hemp milk, soy milk, etc, and coconut whipped cream are all clean, usually there's only about 3-10 ingredients, all of which I've seen in raw recipes, and if you make it yourself, even better.  In fact I'm sure there's a way to make raw vegan coconut whipped cream, if you know how to make raw coconut milk similar to the kind that comes from a can, and there are bpa free cans of it, and it's just like the real thing, plus super fun to make.  The store-bought vegan butter I've seen is definitely questionable but I love olive and coconut oil anyway...and I'm also certain there's a way to compensate for that too...I've seen recipes online but I honestly don't feel like it.  Daiya's ingredients are actually pretty clean, although in regards to how they process those ingredients, I have no idea, and that seems to be a big concern here, plus nut cheese can be just as good or better when made and handled properly, although it's not as cheese-like as daiya.  Vegan mayo, both nayo and the other kind, are extremely clean.  It's easy to make nut cheese spreads, as I'm sure you're well aware...Also a lot of vegan icecream is extremely clean, and most times organic like that, but it's even more fun to make your own.  I've also found if the texture of vegan icecream is off, put on top of it some freshly made, hot grilled fruit (still very clean!) and it not only fixes the texture to divine perfection but makes the icecream scrumptious.  Grilled peaches are the best for sure and I really don't see the harm in moderation of cooked foods.  I think the hardest things to replace currently are eggs and certain cheeses, understandably.  I love tofu egg salad but I know that's simply not good enough for some people, while others here are against soy.  It sounds like you're pretty ahead of the game already, so sorry if I just spewed out a ton of information you're already well aware of :P

[Alessandra]

I eat mostly vegan and don't miss meat in meals...I one time made these awesome tempeh burgers that everyone in my family liked...but unfortunately misplaced the recipe (not that it would be too hard to recreate one...).   I am a good cook.....so can usually make things turn out well.  However I am not keen on the fake vegan dairy products as I don't think they are healthy.  I don't think what they do to stuff to make it seem like dairy is very natural so I just would go without.   Or use a raw vegan version.

 

 

 

 

[L.]

Hi Alessandra so glad to talk to you again!!! :)  Yes it's true, I've been very busy and a lot happier!! :)  I know what you mean, it's so hard to let go of old habits when they're surrounding you all the time!!  It helps to do research and watch documentaries on what is going on--a lot of people go vegan because they're so driven to once they know just how awful the industry currently is.  Although I've completely lost my taste for it, if someone feels it's necessary for their diet, I'm not really against all meat and dairy, but I am against supporting such unnecessary abuse... Maybe you could find a local farm to support instead who have more humane ways of retrieving the animal products!  Or go one step at a time and decide every Monday you'll have a meatless Monday or every Thursday night a vegan dinner, and find new recipes and gradually eliminate more meals over time.  Every little bit counts!  Are their any vegan restaurants in your area?  A good one can really help convince you just how awesome this lifestyle can be.  I'm not the best cook, but I'm not terribly picky anyway, but I know it can be harder for some people unless than presented with really good food first, like my boyfriend.  Most vegan meals I make are never even tasted by him, but because my dad is a part-time caterer, he will eat and love the vegan meals he makes when we get to see him.  Like there are omnivorous bad cooks, there are vegan bad cooks too LOL but don't let the bad meals set you to believing they are all bad, as it's simply not true :)  In fact I did work at a sports bar when I first went vegan, and our typical entrees included animals like bison and even frogs!!  When I told the waitresses I worked with that I am a vegan, they asked me a lot of questions and they were amazed that there's a decent replacement for pretty much every dairy product except stuff like fancy cheeses (but I'm sure one day someone will figure it out.  if you happen to eat a gourmet cheese in france, it more likely than not was produced humanely anyway since they get it straight from the farm.  if I ever visit somewhere like france I probably will eat a cube of cheese there just to get the full experience, although I wouldn't touch the meat because that desire is gone now).  I think the best advice I can give you is if you are going to go that route, make sure the meal is worth it... Like don't waste your time on wal-mart steaks for example because a great vegan dinner is probably going to be way better than that anyway, and have caused a lot less cruelty not only to animals but to humans as well.
LOL oh goodness I'm rambling.  Sorry about that!!!!!!  Totally understand if you never get around to reading all of that.

Hi Kate!!! :)  So happy you agree!!! :)  I really am so much happier and feel so much more free--it is right!!  You too :)

[Kate Frances]

Absolutely agree, Lyza. If you feel well and healthy on what you're doing then that's clearly what's right for you. Enjoy your food and life! Be healthy and happy.

[Alessandra]

Yay Lyza!  I was starting to worry about you....wondered where you'd been....was hoping it was just that you were too happy and busy to post...so glad to know I am right.  and love what you have to say....right on girl right on!  I have come to accept the fact that I will never be 100% raw...that high raw is good enough for me.  I am not vegan, but I could get there....just have these ingrained habits....and big hungry boys who want meat.  I don't think meat is the healthiest (but I don't think good quality meat is unhealthy, in moderation) but it is a good quick fix for hungry boys.  I do think about the animal cruelty part....and it does bother me....but clearly not enough!  Anyhoo so glad to see some news from you!

have an awesome summer!

 

love ya!