Onward and upward!
Let’s just cut to the chase, shall we? The answer is no. No, I am not still 100% Vegan Raw and no I will not be making my 30 days. And that is a-okay.
I began the challenge because I was dared, I wanted to see if I could do it and I thought my body could use some detoxing (which it definitely got!) Since January 1 was approaching it seemed like the perfect time to start something new, not as a resolution or permanent lifestyle change, but something different & fun.
Well, it turned out to be exactly that and then some. Here are some of my lessons learned along the way:
Its all about the planning: When I agreed to the 30 day challenge I completely forgot about the fact that I’d be going to Disney World for a week and that when I got back I had a slew of dinner meetings to attend. For the first 10 days I was able to make all of my green smoothies, salads, and meals in the comfort of my own kitchen and take food with me whenever necessary. But when we arrived in Orlando, all of that went out the window! On the first day there we walked into a restaurant in the Magic Kingdom famished (bad). Luckily they were able to seat us without a reservation, but we only found out as the food was being served that it was a fixed menu…with a whole heck of a lot of meat! I filled up on the salad & veggies as best I could, but I was so hungry I broke. This was day 10. I got back on the wagon, but half way through day 11 I was done. Had I planned better for the trip & the outings I might have lasted longer. Happy to report though, now that I’m back home I’m still drinking my spinach green smoothie!
I CAN survive without coffee! (but just don’t want to): Despite breaking for good on day 11 I didn’t have any coffee until day 16. Caffeine withdrawals were horrible, but I was ok by the second week, and I think what I missed was the warmth in my tummy. Tea did the trick for a few days, but I really did miss the taste of my morning coffee too. That first taste again was sheer bliss.
Trying new things is good for the soul: I love diving in and trying new things. Sometimes I don’t weigh all the pros/cons or work out all the details because I get caught up in the excitement of the idea. I used to think this was a fault of mine, but today I don’t and I like that part of me. My biggest fear was that if I didn’t complete something that people would think I was a failure, and maybe they do, but WHO CARES?! I certainly don’t anymore. Who says I have to go balls to the wall all the time? As long as I’m not hurting anyone, I will continue to try, experiment and challenge myself as much as possible. If it works, it works. If not, on to the next.
My online family ROCKS!: From the moment I announced the 30 day challenge I received nothing but amazingly wonderful support from my online peeps. Ya’ll are so frickin awesome!! I am incredibly thankful to have your support and honored that you all share your lives with me every day. I am still amazed every day at how cool it is that we all get to connect, share with one another, and be a supportive community all without having met in person. LOVE that!
So, what’s next for me? Don’t know yet. But you will be the first to know when I decide to jump into a crazy challenge again!
Now its your turn. How did it go, how is it going, what’s next for YOU?
photo cred: fireflythegreat
Jan 18, 2010
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Chandra D, Fitarella. Fitarella said: Raw update and other lessons learned http://bit.ly/7TMHvX [...]
Jan 18, 2010
I love your honesty and more than admire you for even giving this a shot.
And you know me.
I’m a fan of the stopping/quitting/whatever you wanna call it if you find …one finds….something simply is NOT working for you.
Im a little caffeine following suit. 6 days
Almost by accident…
Jan 18, 2010
You rock!! I would not have lasted that long without cooked food or meat or COFFEE!!
Seriously, you are AWESOME!
much love,
Jen
jen (@bwJen)´s last blog ..mindful menu – week of 1.17.10
Jan 18, 2010
I’m so glad you posted this and didn’t try to gloss it over. I think we share that “dive in headfirst without always working out the details” mindset. When it works, it’s awesome and I think, “Damn, I have the best instincts.” But when it doesn’t, it’s easy to think, “Well of course I failed. That’s what I get for not thinking it through.” But I love how you just embraced that and said, “Oh well. Not gonna bother me.” I think I need to learn from that. And I gave my kids a spinach smoothie today, too. =) Keep rockin’ on, Mama. Can’t wait to read what happens next. I’ve missed you!
Donna Bush´s last blog ..#EMIHA progress report
Jan 18, 2010
I really enjoyed following you on this adventure…Can’t wait for the next one!
Paige´s last blog ..on the topic of Sunday Stumbling
Jan 19, 2010
I have to give you huge props – 10 days is a lot!!! I don’t think I could last 2! LOL
It is fun to try new things – esp. things that make a cooked egg seem downright decadent!
Jan 19, 2010
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by Fitarella: Raw update and other lessons learned http://bit.ly/7TMHvX...
Jan 19, 2010
I am like you….I can’t go without coffee….well, ,I guess I could but it is a joy of mine in the morning! Good job on doing it for this long…LOVE your blog..I look fwd to the new challenges of 2010!
sian-girlgetstrong´s last blog ..Melanie Takes On Genuine Health’s 21 Day pH Challenge
Jan 19, 2010
On 2 the next one!!!! Girl LOVE THIS POST!!! wooohooo brutally honest and that’s how it should be!!! I love trying new things too and while the rawness in its entirety wasn’t for me.. it opened my eyes to a new way of eating and I’ve incorporated more RAW meals into my diet..
BK´s last blog ..The Beat Goes On
Jan 21, 2010
“Who says I have to go balls to the wall all the time?” Hells yes! You have to do what’s right for YOU. And it’s wonderful when we figure those things out via experimentation.
With my own raw food challenge, I’m sticking with it the whole 31 days, but I’ve been lucky because I haven’t had to do any traveling etc (which was a big part of the reason why I decided to do this challenge in January). But I won’t be continuing it past January, either. The raw food diet just isn’t for me.
Sagan´s last blog ..Day 21 of the Raw Food Challenge
Jan 21, 2010
Man I could never do the Vegan/raw food thing. I give you major props for lasting as long as you did with it!
Jan 22, 2010
Jan 22, 2010
You were open to trying something new, that’s what matters! I’m a vegetarian and trying vegan raw twice a week was tough for me!!!!
NaturallyJanet´s last blog ..Minimalist Janet