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Members' Journals => Journals => Topic started by: primavera on July 16, 2009, 07:31:16 am

Title: primavera's journal
Post by: primavera on July 16, 2009, 07:31:16 am
Hi everyone!  After a few days of 100% raw,  I feel it's time to make a more proper intro and start my journal. It wasn't my plan to start one, but as I continue to learn from this forum, I see how relating one's experiences can provide much needed support and information to someone out there.  The more people the better, yeah!

I've always felt there was something off about the recommended 'healthy' diet.  Little things just didn't add up, like why do we need to brush our teeth all the time?  You never see wild animals with bad teeth.  It didn't make sense that cavemen would get cavities.  And when the experts would describe fish, or olive oil, or a particular plant food as 'essential' for good health, I would think of the areas in the world where getting the particular food would be impossible, and yet people survived and continued to evolve in those areas.  When I did my raw fruitarian trial, I was amazed at the sheer amount of food I had to eat just to keep from feeling hungry!  I thought, wouldn't all fruits and veggies run out very quickly if paleolithic peoples ate like this?  And it takes the longest time to chew, it seemed like there wouldn't be enough time in the day if it wasn't for my blender!

So anyways, after the trial I got curious to know if humans were capable of eating raw red meat (I thought we had 'evolved' out of that lol!).  I found that not only are we capable, but that whole societies continue eating this way.  I was amazed.  :o (ya call me ignorant, lol)  I then found this forum and I was eager to try raf out.

Originally, my parents were going to use me as a guinea pig, but they decided to join me!  :) My dad is a big meat eater so he pretty much convinced hisself, and then he convinced my mom (who's a big cheese eater).  But now I think of it, the reason she craves cheese so must be because of the high protein/fat.  The whole of last week was one big pig out as we tried to finish the food we had before our Slanker's order arrived. lol

We ordered a month's worth of hi-fat ground beef 78/22 to start off because we though it'd be easier to eat.  Now I'm not so sure.  I try not to breath through my nose when I eat, or else I'm liable to gag, it's so unsavory.  When I exhale through my nose I can 'taste' somethin inside my nose.  It's weird, strong and musky I guess.  Is this something all raw meat or fat has?  I think it's the fat, but I can't be sure.  I haven't tasted either raw meat or fat alone.  What are your taste experiences with ground beef?  My current technique is to form large 'pills' of meat inside my mouth and swallow them with a sip of water.  Does water affect digestion?  But if that 'nose taste' is standard, I might as well skip the water and start getting used to it right?  In any case, next order will be lean meat and suet.  We'll try to feel for that 'stop' that I've seen mentioned here.   

Other than the ground beef, we're eating a small portion of berries, just so we won't be zc outright, though that's the ultimate goal.

One positive effect I've noticed soon after starting is no morning breath!  Wow, that's a big deal for me since I wear retainers through the night.  Even my dad has less coffee breath (he continues to have his coffee every morn').
Another major thing is increasing energy and mental clarity, and we've only been on it for four days!

I'm quite overweight, 'bout 35-40 lbs. My face seems to be slimming down already.  Though it's probably just inflammation caused by SAD that's going away, rather than actual fat.
Let's see what else, oh I have eczema and I'd love to see that fade away post haste.  The eczema is most likely caused by candida (I did a saliva in water test).

We bought D&C for our three dogs, boy are they happy about it!  I wonder why they don't have problems adjusting and humans do?  One doggie is recovering from anemia (caused by a bacteria transmitted by a tick) and she's doing very well on d&C.  She's gained some weight.  :)

Some strange things have happened since we've started eating this way.  Two days ago, for the first time, a cat was in our backyard.  And then yesterday, there was another different cat in our laundry room!  It was like wth?!  Our dogs chased them away of course.

My location is Arizona, the Phoenix area, and it is real hot.  >D  Nothin' but sun, hot air, and dust.  Just curious to know how your guys' individual current climate is?

I will continue to post as changes become noticeable, and when I've lost the excess weight I'll post before/after pics of my tummy or something.
Title: Re: primavera's journal
Post by: phatdave on July 16, 2009, 07:47:37 am
wow, ur parents are onboard for the get-go? I'm amazed, but thats brilliant. :) Thanks for sharing, and let us know!

David
Title: Re: primavera's journal
Post by: primavera on July 16, 2009, 01:00:47 pm
Hey David! yeah I was surprised too, but my parents are cool like that.  8)  They're health nuts anyways.  Will do!
Title: Re: primavera's journal
Post by: goodsamaritan on July 16, 2009, 04:36:56 pm
Invite your parents to post here in the forum as well.
Title: Re: primavera's journal
Post by: primavera on July 17, 2009, 12:08:33 am
Hi GS, oh they're kinda secretive people.  :)

Well, I'm really excited cuz I just weighed myself and I've lost 8 lbs!  :D That was fast... I better take my 'before' picture now.
Title: Re: primavera's journal
Post by: PaleoPhil on July 17, 2009, 05:56:14 am
Hi Primavera. Grass-fed beef and suet is indeed musky tasting. I've gotten used to tallow (as I transition to raw), which has most of the musky bits removed, but I still tend to add a bit of pepper and/or salt to grass-fed ground beef to overcome some of that muskiness until I get used to it.

Water doesn't seem to affect my digestion, but theoretically it might because of partly neutralizing the stomach acids.

I find raw lean meat, jerky and tallow easiest to eat as I transition.

Berries was also the last fruit I ate. It seems to be the closest approximation to Paleo fruit, and I get some wild ones in the summer.

I have also noticed the disappearance of morning breath and film on the teeth (which even an electric toothbrush and water pick-type device the night before didn't get rid of). Maybe the bad mouth bacteria died off?

Same here about energy and clarity, better sleep, etc. If you keep at it, most of your fat should disappear and you'll probably begin to see some muscle definition become apparent. I can even see muscles in my face that I didn't know existed--but I'm overly thin, so maybe that's why.

I didn't have any problems adjusting, like constipation that Lex and others discuss--quite the contrary. Maybe it was because I was already standard Paleo? And I don't feel a need for a lot of water like others mention, yet my dry skin has mostly disappeared.

We have had a rather rainy and cold summer in Vermont, which is fine by me because cold doesn't bother me as much with my improved circulation and it keeps the population down here so that maybe there will be enough undeveloped land for fishing and hunting to continue for a long time.

Having lived in Florida for a bit and hearing the people down there complain about the massive influx of newcomers attracted to the sunny weather, with the resulting rapid urbanization of the state, and noticing that the last remaining hunter-gatherers in the world live in inhospitable places, I realized that the best places in the world to live for me are the ones with BAD weather, not good.
Title: Re: primavera's journal
Post by: goodsamaritan on July 17, 2009, 06:46:16 am
Quote
Let's see what else, oh I have eczema and I'd love to see that fade away post haste.  The eczema is most likely caused by candida (I did a saliva in water test).

Primavera, have you seen my altruistic Eczema Cure website http://www.eczemacure.info ?

Can I make an advance request for you to post your eczema cure story / journey? Before and after pics as well.

I have no doubts raw paleo will work for you and you will see in that website the reasons why it will work.
Title: Re: primavera's journal
Post by: primavera on July 27, 2009, 08:53:11 am
Hi PaleoPhil, nice avatar. :)
Vermont sounds beautiful.  I've always been attracted to cool and wet areas.  That's a nice philosophy about living in harsher conditions.  I'm looking forward to being able to handle colder and hotter temps, as well.  I'm keeping an eye on your journal!
Title: Re: primavera's journal
Post by: primavera on July 27, 2009, 08:53:43 am
GS, yes actually I have read your website.  Your story is amazing, and your kids are too cute!  I look forward to the healing of my eczema.  I forgot to add that I did take a picture of the fold of my arm, where the eczema is, but I dunno if my camera phone picked up enough detail.  It's pretty mild.  But maybe the pic looks clearer on the computer.     
Title: Re: primavera's journal
Post by: primavera on July 27, 2009, 08:53:55 am
I've been wanting to post for a while now but it's been a busy, busy week.  I think I'll just do weekly updates.  But I'm still reading all the new posts!

Alright, so a summary:

It's now exactly two weeks since I've started eating raw.  First week was great, but during the second week I felt tired, had hunger pangs, rancid armpit smell, strong breath (which smelled like raw meat), and even had diarrhea for a day (which also smelled like raw meat).  This weekend though, I've been feeling great and I've increased my physical activity.  I used to just weight lift once a week but now I'm starting to jog and do some yoga as well.  

One thing left over from the second week is the stinky armpits.  Is that standard for raw meat eaters?  How do you guys smell?

During the second week, the reason for the hunger pangs was because we started eating our meat in one meal.  I loved the convenience, but we couldn't take it anymore so we divided it in two portions again.  What does this mean?  I mean we're supposed to be able to handle one meal a day, right?  Are we eating too little?  I'm eating around 1 lb a day, I'm 5'1".

We've started drinking a little itty bit of salt dissolved in water, to taste, because my mom started to have cramps.  I think the salt has cleared that up.

On Thursday, we ate liver for the firstest time.  It was a lot easier than I anticipated!  If it's cut up, it just slides down your throat.  Also, I'm used to the muskiness of the meat and fat now, I'm really happy about that.  :)

Re my weight, I've been steadily losing weight though the rate has slowed.  I now weigh 132.5, starting weight was 148.  -15 lbs in two weeks!  I have cheekbones now, haha!

Re my skin, the eczema and dry skin has not improved, not even a little.  I expected my skin to show changes before anything else.  And I've been taking cold showers every other day, too.  hmmm...

Starting tomorrow, I'm going zero carb.  I'm going to take mineral supplements to see if that prevents or lessens the nocturnal cramps that may come.  I'll continue reading this forum and updating weekly!
Title: Re: primavera's journal
Post by: primavera on July 27, 2009, 09:37:13 am
I just ate my last portion of berries.... they will be missed  :'( 
Title: Re: primavera's journal
Post by: PaleoPhil on July 27, 2009, 10:25:15 am
....One thing left over from the second week is the stinky armpits.  Is that standard for raw meat eaters?  How do you guys smell?
Just the opposite for me. My pits smelled bad on SAD and high carb/low fat, then smelled much better on standard Paleo and I think slightly better still on ZC near-RPD.

I worried about the smell of my tallow at work, but two people said that my "scented candle" smelled great. LOL I didn't tell them that it's beef fat.

Quote
During the second week, the reason for the hunger pangs was because we started eating our meat in one meal.  I loved the convenience, but we couldn't take it anymore so we divided it in two portions again.  What does this mean?  I mean we're supposed to be able to handle one meal a day, right?  Are we eating too little?  I'm eating around 1 lb a day, I'm 5'1".
I think it means you were hungry. I tend to eat a small breakfast (a few of strips of jerky with tallow and some raw chicken or quail eggs), moderate lunch (jerky with tallow) and big supper (ground grassfed beef cooked as lightly as I can handle in tallow or raw steak with tallow or raw marrow and/or raw venison sausage).

Quote
We've started drinking a little itty bit of salt dissolved in water, to taste, because my mom started to have cramps.  I think the salt has cleared that up.
I got a tiny bit of foot cramps a couple of mornings after 5 days without them (I used to have to take potassium every day to avoid them when I was eating carbs) and found that eating some raw venison sausage gets rid of them and eating 3x a day tends to keep them away. Still haven't had to start taking supplements again yet.

Quote
Also, I'm used to the muskiness of the meat and fat now, I'm really happy about that.
Good for you! I'm still getting used to the musky grassfed beef. :D

Quote
Re my skin, the eczema and dry skin has not improved, not even a little.  I expected my skin to show changes before anything else.  And I've been taking cold showers every other day, too.  hmmm...

Starting tomorrow, I'm going zero carb.
Yeah, my skin didn't clear completely until I went ZC. I'm still shocked that even small amounts of fruits or nuts bring back my dry skin and acne.

Dang, I miss berries most too. Why did you have to remind me?  :(  ;)
Title: Re: primavera's journal
Post by: goodsamaritan on July 27, 2009, 10:48:09 am
I just ate my last portion of berries.... they will be missed  :'( 

never say "last"... always be open to change
Title: Re: primavera's journal
Post by: wodgina on July 27, 2009, 11:22:34 am
Take a before photo!
Title: Re: primavera's journal
Post by: primavera on July 30, 2009, 10:44:55 pm
Just the opposite for me. My pits smelled bad on SAD and high carb/low fat, then smelled much better on standard Paleo and I think slightly better still on ZC near-RPD.
My armpits don't smell no more!  Thank goodness.

Yeah, my skin didn't clear completely until I went ZC. I'm still shocked that even small amounts of fruits or nuts bring back my dry skin and acne.
Yes, I read a post of yours mentioning that.  Others have said so as well.  That's why I decided to go zc earlier than originally planned.  I've stopped using lotion to see how my skin is really progressing.

Dang, I miss berries most too. Why did you have to remind me?  :(  ;)
Well I had to share my pain with someone!  ;D
Title: Re: primavera's journal
Post by: primavera on July 30, 2009, 10:48:51 pm
GS, I get what you mean.  But I need a lot of conviction to abstain from berries, so I say it that way to cut myself off completely.  Especially with my mom and dad still eating them.  I'm a berry addict!   
Title: Re: primavera's journal
Post by: primavera on July 30, 2009, 10:53:33 pm
Hey wodgina!  I already took a before photo, but I had already lost 8 lbs.  So technically it isn't but it's close!  I'll post a before/after when I reach my ideal weight, 115 lbs.
Title: Re: primavera's journal
Post by: primavera on August 04, 2009, 08:08:11 am
Blah, I ate a piece of cake at a b-day party, so I just set myself back a week. I'm disappointed in myself because I know I was progressing (I was starting to feel little cramps in my lower abs). Well, that won't happen anymore.
Title: Re: primavera's journal
Post by: PaleoPhil on August 04, 2009, 09:47:43 am
Luckily I was never a big fan of cake (I used to have pumpkin pie at my birthday parties  ;D), but I also either eat before I go to a party or stick some jerky or pemmican in my pocket.

In the places I worked at in my youth people never had cake at work for birthdays--that was something reserved for home and mostly for kids. Probably in part because cakes in my area tended to be really dry and crappy back in the 70's and early 80's. Then cake makers seemed to develop moister and richer cakes by the year, adults were eating them more, and people started having cake at work for everyone's birthday, leading to the ridiculous situation in which either cake or bagels with cream cheese or donuts or pastry seemed to be given out every Friday. It's pretty disgusting. Anyone else notice this trend?

My sister served watermelon for her son's birthday and the kids actually seemed to enjoy it more than cake--not one of them complained (only a parent or two looked perplexed). Cake now seems to be more for the adults than for the kids!!!!!
Title: Re: primavera's journal
Post by: TylerDurden on August 04, 2009, 05:21:54 pm
In the UK and most other Western countries, pastries have been indeed mostly too dry. Not so in Austria, where most of the cakes are moist(as they use a lot of dairy and alcohol and similiar gooeye stuff). The result is that there's been well over a century of cake/coffee-shop culture with people stuffing themselves with cakes, especially the adults. I have to admit, one of the very few cooked foods I regret not being able to sample any more are the Viennese cakes such as the malakofftorte , the sachertorte, and the tichy eismarillenknoedel. Just as well I don't live in Austria, these days.
Title: Re: primavera's journal
Post by: primavera on August 15, 2009, 10:58:23 pm
My family had bulk bought a lot of beans before going raw, and the bag was already open and half-empty so we couldn't give it to a food bank. The task of finishing the bag was delegated to our dogs (poor things). But within a week their stools were too messy and were a pain to clean up. And after another week, one of them started vomiting the beans (they were fed D&C separately). My dad really did not want to throw away this sub-par "food", of which there was now about a quarter left, so we started eating. Therefore, ever since the cake, I have not been carb-free. Today is my first day in a while that I'll be eating meat-only, and I'm so happy! My dry skin and eczema got worse, I gained back 4 lbs (surprised it's not more), bowel movements were frequent and messy, and my gums bleed a little. Not to mention energy levels are not what they were. So, yeah I'm very glad that's over.