features
Raw for a Month
by Mike Carney
I decided to go raw for a month to, in part, celebrate Fi’s launch of iloveraw but mainly to see if I could hack it. I’d seen the health benefits for Fi and I’ve been about 50% raw myself since January, but I wanted to feel what it was really like to be pure raw. Was it manageable for me and was it something I’d recommend from personal experience.
By mid afternoon the first day I wasn’t hungry but there was an empty feeling in my stomach and an urge to fill it. Emotions were coming up that I was aware I’d been avoiding, I was compelled to do some exercise. I had a flare up over nothing and realised, and was kindly reminded, that I was projecting my emotions in order to avoid what I was really feeling. I went to bed that night thrown by the strength of my feelings and how quickly it had all come on. I asked for some Divine help and slept like a baby.
Planning is key – I was crazy hungry by mid afternoon, my craving time the first few days. I’d be searching for something to dull the empty feeling in my stomach and, not having planned my meals out better, I was being lazy with what I was eating. I was gently made aware I was snacking on too many nuts. Avocados were another favourite.
The emotional ante was being upped. I had an email from a dear friend with some very wise words in and a lot of other signposts coming up throughout my day.
By day three I was already feeling the benefits of my raw diet. I was sleeping far more soundly and feeling much more energetic. I was missing poached egg on toast, which the rest of the family were enjoying from our chickens, and I did miss a cheese sandwich.
Day four and I was getting much more in touch with myself. I was still feeling pretty jumpy mid afternoon, it was starting to sink in that I needed to eat more regularly. I have a general empty feeling in my stomach a lot of the time but I’m not feeling that hungry. I’m starting to have some pretty big emotional realisations and shifts as I allow myself to feel them.
I got totally overwhelmed emotionally by day five. A turning point.
Spiralina helps, I got a lot more energy by mixing some of this with my morning green juice mix. I’m also planning my meals better so I’m eating regularly and not getting my mid afternoon jitters.
The end of my first week 100% raw and it’s emotions galore. My Law of Attraction seems out of control with its speed and obviousness. The empty feeling in my stomach is getting less but I’m getting sick of that cellulose sensation and begin to sprout various new things to help vary my diet. I’m craving nuts at the moment and find sultanas help.
It’s only day eight and I had a huge emotional experience today. That evening I unconsciously ate some cooked beans with a salad, not made by me, and had an upset stomach.
I’m much more settled with my diet and emotions now and the cravings are far less. I made sprouted humus with my salad tonight, so much nicer and made a lovely change.
By day 10 my cravings have gone and so has the empty feeling in my stomach. I’m finding my own way with my food, having got a bit over cellulosed I’m going much more with what feels right, far less questioning.
After I0 days I was feeling so much. Having allowed myself to experience some of the emotions that were coming up I’d cleared some pretty deep stuff for me. The food side was easy now. I could feel the benefits of being raw in my whole system. I slept well every night, I’d lost weight, I had more energy, my whole digestive track felt clear and I was much more in tune with my emotions. I sense though, that from the outside, I may have appeared a little crazy at this point.
Really the rest of this journey for me has been emotional. Lessons in letting go, slowing down and always trying to choose to feel my emotions and when I can’t acknowledge that to myself, lessons in faith and trust. For me asking for and accepting help has been key.
On day 24 I went on a course to build with cob as part of where I’d allowed myself to go on this journey. For I’ve found it has been just that. I decided that I would eat the vegetarian lunches provided as it felt right to do so, but equally I was very aware of the changes to my body. Having dropped to 50% raw my digestive system reacted and on the second day I was quite gassy.
Having the change made so apparent between 100% and 50% raw made me smile. Everything is acutely more real when you’re 100% raw, everything is faster but in a good way if you let it. I see far more clearly now how I use food to suppress emotions. I’m going through a lot of change, letting go and leaps of faith and it’s the most amazing journey to be on when you’re more in tune with who you really are.
I’d fully recommend trying 100% raw for a month and to see where it takes you. If you let it, you’ll love it and look back and smile, or at least that’s what I’m doing.
ILR >> Thanks to Mike for sharing his experience.
by Mike Carney
I decided to go raw for a month to, in part, celebrate Fi’s launch of iloveraw but mainly to see if I could hack it. I’d seen the health benefits for Fi and I’ve been about 50% raw myself since January, but I wanted to feel what it was really like to be pure raw. Was it manageable for me and was it something I’d recommend from personal experience.
By mid afternoon the first day I wasn’t hungry but there was an empty feeling in my stomach and an urge to fill it. Emotions were coming up that I was aware I’d been avoiding, I was compelled to do some exercise. I had a flare up over nothing and realised, and was kindly reminded, that I was projecting my emotions in order to avoid what I was really feeling. I went to bed that night thrown by the strength of my feelings and how quickly it had all come on. I asked for some Divine help and slept like a baby.
Planning is key – I was crazy hungry by mid afternoon, my craving time the first few days. I’d be searching for something to dull the empty feeling in my stomach and, not having planned my meals out better, I was being lazy with what I was eating. I was gently made aware I was snacking on too many nuts. Avocados were another favourite.
The emotional ante was being upped. I had an email from a dear friend with some very wise words in and a lot of other signposts coming up throughout my day.
By day three I was already feeling the benefits of my raw diet. I was sleeping far more soundly and feeling much more energetic. I was missing poached egg on toast, which the rest of the family were enjoying from our chickens, and I did miss a cheese sandwich.
Day four and I was getting much more in touch with myself. I was still feeling pretty jumpy mid afternoon, it was starting to sink in that I needed to eat more regularly. I have a general empty feeling in my stomach a lot of the time but I’m not feeling that hungry. I’m starting to have some pretty big emotional realisations and shifts as I allow myself to feel them.
I got totally overwhelmed emotionally by day five. A turning point.
Spiralina helps, I got a lot more energy by mixing some of this with my morning green juice mix. I’m also planning my meals better so I’m eating regularly and not getting my mid afternoon jitters.
The end of my first week 100% raw and it’s emotions galore. My Law of Attraction seems out of control with its speed and obviousness. The empty feeling in my stomach is getting less but I’m getting sick of that cellulose sensation and begin to sprout various new things to help vary my diet. I’m craving nuts at the moment and find sultanas help.
It’s only day eight and I had a huge emotional experience today. That evening I unconsciously ate some cooked beans with a salad, not made by me, and had an upset stomach.
I’m much more settled with my diet and emotions now and the cravings are far less. I made sprouted humus with my salad tonight, so much nicer and made a lovely change.
By day 10 my cravings have gone and so has the empty feeling in my stomach. I’m finding my own way with my food, having got a bit over cellulosed I’m going much more with what feels right, far less questioning.
After I0 days I was feeling so much. Having allowed myself to experience some of the emotions that were coming up I’d cleared some pretty deep stuff for me. The food side was easy now. I could feel the benefits of being raw in my whole system. I slept well every night, I’d lost weight, I had more energy, my whole digestive track felt clear and I was much more in tune with my emotions. I sense though, that from the outside, I may have appeared a little crazy at this point.
Really the rest of this journey for me has been emotional. Lessons in letting go, slowing down and always trying to choose to feel my emotions and when I can’t acknowledge that to myself, lessons in faith and trust. For me asking for and accepting help has been key.
On day 24 I went on a course to build with cob as part of where I’d allowed myself to go on this journey. For I’ve found it has been just that. I decided that I would eat the vegetarian lunches provided as it felt right to do so, but equally I was very aware of the changes to my body. Having dropped to 50% raw my digestive system reacted and on the second day I was quite gassy.
Having the change made so apparent between 100% and 50% raw made me smile. Everything is acutely more real when you’re 100% raw, everything is faster but in a good way if you let it. I see far more clearly now how I use food to suppress emotions. I’m going through a lot of change, letting go and leaps of faith and it’s the most amazing journey to be on when you’re more in tune with who you really are.
I’d fully recommend trying 100% raw for a month and to see where it takes you. If you let it, you’ll love it and look back and smile, or at least that’s what I’m doing.
ILR >> Thanks to Mike for sharing his experience.
