A Royal Pain in the #%+&* #21

This week was pretty much the same as last week. Just the basic routine of food preparation and getting as much paperwork, research, etc done as possible.

What is different, is the growing pain in my groin. A few weeks ago, I thought the discomfort might have been due to a small intestinal blockage as a result of the addition of cooked food. From the amount of swelling on my left side, however, I'd say it's probably an inguinal hernia. I haven't gone to see a doctor here, as I'm reluctant to start the medical process while in BC.

While it's possible to get my treatment done here and have it covered by Alberta Health Care (AHC), the logistics and paperwork involved as a result are not appealing. Since my flight back to Edmonton is already booked for the 14th, I've decided to try and tough it out.

I almost forgot. Today, March 28th, is my birthday. (I actually don't mind birthdays as I find the alternative unappealing.) Besides, I got to spend it with a good friend at the lovely Fireside Grill in Saanich. It is a lovely location with great ambiance and fabulous food. They were also more than willing to modify the menu to meet our dietary restrictions. Highly recommended, (but not for raw food).

Here are the stats for this past week:

                             03/21/10              03/28/10        Change

Weight              125.2 lbs.               123.9                   -1.3 lbs.

My weight seems to have stabilized in the 122-127 range, which is OK for now.

Body Fat           15.1 lbs.                 14.4                     -0.7 lbs.

Only half the loss is fat, which suggests that the other half is muscle mass which I can't afford to lose.

BMI                     19.7                       19.4                    -0.3

A reflection of the weight.

Body Fat           12.1%                     11.6                    -0.5      

Same as above but as a percentage.

Water                64.1%                     64.3                   +0.2

Above 64% is a good place to be.

Bone Mass        6.3%                       6.3                     No Change.

Holding steady.

Sauerkraut -it's good for you. #20

In Elyse's raw food class (mentioned in the previous post) she recommended a bit of sauerkraut morning and evening to promote healthy levels of intestinal flora. Why didn't I think of that? 

I bought a jar of hers after the class and have been eating a small portion as an appetizer before lunch and supper ever since. I also bought her flax crackers and serendipitously discovered that they compliment each other nicely -the texture and the neutral taste of the cracker soaks up the tartness of the sauerkraut.

Healthy and delicious!

The pain in my groin continues, coming and going for no apparent reason. It does, however, seem to get worse after walking. I decided to cancel my colema appointments until it clears up.

The watery stool situation is improving, so I've started bringing in more raw food into my diet this week.

It's official. My flight back to Edmonton is booked for April 14th. I'm going to miss the charm of Victoria, the scenic views, the amazing weather, the people I've met.

I'll be back!

Here are the stats for this past week:

                             03/14/10              03/21/10           Change

Weight              124.4 lbs.               125.2                   +0.8 lbs.

It looks like last week's loss is this week's gain.

Body Fat           15.0 lbs.                 15.1                      +0.1

Looks like I put a little meat on (instead of fat).

BMI                     19.5                       19.7                     +0.2

A reflection of the weight.

Body Fat           12.0%                     12.1                    +0.1       

Same as above but as a percentage.

Water                64.3%                     64.1                    -0.2

Above 64% is a good place to be.

Bone Mass        6.3%                       6.3                     No Change.
Holding steady.

The Battle of the Good and Bad Flora #19

 Having eaten out more often these past three weeks (in search of accommodations and getting settled in) has made it difficult to get back into the groove of preparing raw food. It's amazing how easily I can slip into old habits. Eating raw is definitely not a habit just yet.

It has also been a busy week and I haven't been paying my diet as much attention. I did, however, go to a colon hydrotherapist for a colema. (A colema uses gravity feed for the water as opposed to a colonic where the water is under slight pressure).

After my conversation with the therapist, I agree with her that the watery stool, which has been an issue since mid-January, is contributing to an imbalance in my intestinal flora. I've purchased some Acidophilus  which I've now started taking. I hope that this will improve the situation sooner rather than later.

From the numbers below it seems I've definitely hit a plateau. Here are

the stats for this past week:

                             03/07/10              03/14/10           Change

Weight              125.2 lbs.               124.4                   -0.8 lbs.

A very slight drop. 

Body Fat           15.0 lbs.                 15.0                    No Change.

BMI                     19.7                       19.5                     -0.2

A reflection of the weight.

Body Fat           12.0%                     12.0                   No Change.       

Same as above but as a percentage.

Water                64.3%                     64.3                   No Change.

Still a good number.

Bone Mass        6.3%                       6.3                      No Change.
Holding steady.

Pain is a great motivator. #18

This is my the first week at my new address in (Saanich) Victoria. It's small, but everything I need, with decent bus service to downtown. Getting set up, however means that I've been out and about again this week. Finding a new place and getting settled in is why my postings for the past few weeks have been so late. Thank you for your patience.  

It seems that over the weekend, the back pain I spoke about in a previous posting, has migtated to my groin area. I suspect that with the change in diet, there's been a slight blockage of the intestines creating a definite level of discomfort, particularly when I'm walking. At times, the pain can be quite sharp, and when it hits I can barely walk. As a result, I've gone from walking an hour or two a day to taking the bus whenever I can.  

Pain is a great motivator. The colon hydrotherapy appointment I've been postponing is the first item on Monday's Things To Do list. Hopefully, that will be all that is necessary to clear things up.

Last week I ordered a couple of electronic devices. They just arrived on the weekend. More about those in next week's posting. Until then here are
the stats for this past week #18:

                             02/28/10              03/07/10           Change

Weight              126.5 lbs.               125.2                   -1.3 lbs.

A slight drop. Not sure why exactly. Been on the road a lot and maybe not eating as well or as often as I would at home.

Body Fat           15.7 lbs.                 15.0                    -0.7 lbs.

Virtually half of the loss is fat.

BMI                     19.9                       19.7                     -0.2

A reflection of the weight.

Body Fat           11.4%                     12.0                     +0.6%       

Given the loss is body fat above, this increase doesn't make sense. Let's see what happens next week.

Water                64.0%                     64.3                    +0.3%

Back in the upward groove.

Bone Mass        6.3%                       6.3                     No Change.
Last week's slight increase disappeared this week, which seems to suggest that I'm right on the cusp between the two. The slightest variation in the reading of the scale could have me going one way or the other. It suggests that my bone mass is holding steady.

Color me Twiggy #16

A while back I had to buy a new belt to account for my weight loss.

This past week I had to buy another new, smaller, belt and smaller pair of jeans. What surprised me the most, besides getting the jeans at a remarkable sale price, was that I got them in the boys department. A size 20, whatever that is. That hasn't happened since way back when my mother did the shopping!

The TCM doctor said I had lost some muscle mass and I agree. Given the circumstances, I was prepared to do that, but only to a point. After consulting with the team, I've decided to bring in some cooked food to slow down the cleansing process.

Even though I'm quite thin, even too thin, I feel pretty good. That's why I'm continuing with this process. In hindsight it might have been wiser to bring in some cooked food sooner -but that's hindsight for you.

I feel good about the weight loss so far and my decision to slow the process down. I've been on this journey 17 years now. A few more months isn't going to make much difference.

The stats for this past week:

                                02/14/10           02/21/10            Change

Weight              123.6 lbs.               122.9                   -0.7 lbs.
(Actually, I was at an all time low of 121.7 lbs at one point this week.) Definitely feels low.

Body Fat           14.1 lbs.                 13.4                    -0.7 lbs.

100% of the loss is body fat.

BMI                     19.4                       19.3                     -0.1

A reflection of the weight.

Body Fat           11.4%                     10.8                     -0.6%       

Same as above but as a percentage.

Water                64.7%                     65.1                     +0.4%

Still going in the right direction.

Bone Mass        6.3%                        6.3                        No Change.

A bit below normal, but acceptable in the short run.

Week Fourteen Summary

Being on a 100% raw food diet for 14 weeks has been an interesting journey. It continues to be.

In that time I've lost almost 40 pounds of excess fat and, in the words of my naturopath,  "tissue that doesn't contribute to my well-being." Although I'm the first one to admit that I'm a little on the thin side at the moment, it does feel good to not be carrying any extra weight.

Somehow this body reality is also affecting my emotional reality. What thoughts, beliefs, ideas, am I carrying that "don't contribute to my well-being?" I suspect there are quite a few.

For some time now, I've been thinking about a course called Psych-K. (Basically, it utilizes muscle testing to look at eight or so areas of one's life and corresponding beliefs.) As providence would have it, it is being offered here on the outskirts of Victoria this coming weekend. I registered this afternoon. We'll see how much "weight," read baggage, I can lose.

I've also noticed that my weight loss and the feeling of being lean is making its presence felt in the area of material possessions as well. Some time ago, circumstances provided me the opportunity to radically pare down what I owned. What little I didn't need on a daily basis, I stored in my brother's basement.  (Thanks bro.)

It's not that much really, but I'm feeling the need to go through what's left and let go of whatever "doesn't contribute to my well-being" anymore.  I'm looking forward to seeing how much stuff I can eliminate and -more importantly- how little I really need. A couple of months in Montreal, and almost that long here in Victoria, has shown me that it is surprisingly little.

A little "spring cleaning" seems to be in order.

The stats for this past week:

                             01/31/10             02/07/10           Change

Weight              124.9 lbs.               125.5                   +0.6 lbs.
The first increase in weight since I began in late October. It might be an anomaly or a sign that I've bottomed out on the weight loss. Either way the coming weeks should tell the tale.

Body Fat           14.7 lbs.                 15.1                    +0.4 lbs.

Interestingly, this modest increase in weight is mostly fat. My diet hasn't changed a lot, so I'm curious about where the fat is coming from.

BMI                     19.6                       19.7                     -0.4

A reflection of the weight.

Body Fat           11.8%                     12.0                     -1.0%       

Same as above but as a percentage.

Water                64.4%                     64.3                     -0.1%

Virtually unchanged.

Bone Mass        6.3%                       6.3                        No Change.

A bit below normal, but acceptable in the short run.

Week Thirteen Summary

Week Thirteen and I feel like I'm back in the groove. I'm remembering to take my drops most of the time and I'm taking my carrot juice more often. I confess I did have a helping of sushi rolls this afternoon when I was feeling particularly tired and hungry. On the whole, however, I'm sticking pretty close to the 100% raw diet.

My weight has gone below 125 pounds for the first time in decades, probably not since Grade 9 or 10. I don't see how I can lose much more weight. If fact, I'm looking quite Gandhi like! I'm thin enough that I've put off doing a fast this month. I'd like to see my weight stabilize first. If it goes below 120 I will definitely be calling the naturopath to discuss the matter.

In the meantime, I continue work at bringing some variety to my meals. I came across a search engine, Food Blog Search, that searches over 3000 food blogs. I just type in "raw+ whatever vegetable I have in the fridge, or want to work with that day" and see what comes up. (Omit the raw and you'll find some great recipes, they just won't be raw.) Either way,  a site worthy of putting in your "Favorites" folder.

I still consider myself a newbie, and consequently gravitate to the recipes that are the simplest. Using this approach, I haven't had a tossed, green salad in weeks. I've recently prepared a spinach, a zuchinni, an asparagus,  a Greek salad (minus the feta cheese) and so on. I will post one of them in the coming weeks to give you an idea of what can be done to make eating raw more interesting.

I also dress up the meal with baby carrots, radishes and/or snap peas, in combination with avocado dip. This approach has made food preparation -and eating- much more interesting.

The stats for this past week:

                             01/24/09             01/31/09           Change

Weight              127.2 lbs.               124.9                   -2.3 lbs.
Another couple of pounds again this week. I continue to feel healthy and because I'm interested to see where this leads, I will continue.

Body Fat           16.3 lbs.                 14.7                    -1.6 lbs.

Once again a significant portion of the weight loss is body fat. Although I don't know where it's coming from as I'm not carrying any extra weight these days.

BMI                     20.0                       19.6                     -0.4

A reflection of the weight loss.

Body Fat           12.8%                     11.8                     -1.0%       

Same as above but as a percentage.

Water                63.6%                     64.4                     +0.8%

The increasing water content continues to surprise me, particularly as I'm not making any particular effort to drink more water. I keep repeating this, but it's true.

Bone Mass        6.4%                       6.3                        -0.1

Another very slight drop in bone mass. I'm below normal, but not by much. I will continue to monitor the situation.

Week Twelve Summary

Week Twelve and I'm hanging in there.

The drops that last week were so hard to remember to take are starting to be a habit once again.

I was able to pick up a 25lb bag of carrots early on in the week and did my first batch of carrot/apple/celery juice. In Edmonton and Montreal the bags were typically $25 each.  LifeStyle Markets, a large, organic grocer on the edge of downtown Victoria, has them for $30. Serendipitously, I was able to pick up a bag at a local grocery store, a one-time special of $20.

I was going to buy a twin-gear Green Star (link) juicer like the one my sister has. It's a top of the line twin-gear juicer, but the $550 US price tag made me pause. A conversation with a friend of my sister's led to the recommendation of a Lexen (link) unit.

It uses a single auger, isn't as robust, or high quality, but they've done a great job of getting decent performance at the price point of $150 US! That's the one I ordered and have been using. The pulp is a bit wetter than I remember with the Green Star, suggesting that it isn't quite as efficient.

However, for someone on a budget, or unsure if they're going to be using a juicer on an ongoing basis, I would say this is a great machine to start with. One can always upgrade down the road. (There are other machines as well. I will be doing a more in-depth comparison of various machines at a later date.)

The stats for this past week:

                             01/17/10             01/24/10           Change

Weight              129.0 lbs.               127.2                   -1.8 lbs.
A similar weight drop to last week. I'm somewhat surprised that I continue to lose weight. I continue to feel strong and healthy, however, so will continue with the raw food.

Body Fat           17.2 lbs.                 16.3                    -0.9 lbs.

Exactly half the weight loss this week is body fat.

BMI                     20.2                       20.0                     -0.2

A reflection of the weight loss.

Body Fat           13.3%                     12.8                     -0.5%       

Same as above but as a percentage.

Water                62.9%                     63.6                     +0.7%

The increasing water content continues to surprise me, particularly as I'm not making any particular effort to drink more water.

Bone Mass        6.4%                       6.4                       No change.

The bone mass seems to be holding its own.

Week Eleven Summary

Week Eleven and I'm back into the swing of things eating raw 100% of the time.

Psychologically, weaning myself off the Brie cheese, etc has been difficult. (My grandmother was very French and when visiting her as a kid, Brie and Camenbert were served on special occasions.) Every time I go by the coolers where they're kept, I just want to reach in and grab one.

Getting into the routine of taking my drops, etc. has been even more challenging. It's amazing how quickly one forgets what one doesn't like doing. Just before I left Montreal, the naturopath added two tablespoons of Vita Spec each evening to my list of "medications." I'm wracking my brains trying to figure out what it was for, but don't recall at the moment. (I will email my sister to find out.)

He also added 2oz. of Essiac daily. Essiac (link) is proported to be an Ojibwa remedy composed of burdock root, slippery elm bark, sheep sorrel and Turkish rhubard. Rene Caisse, (link) (Essiac is Caisse spelled backwards), a Canadian nurse, obtained the recipe in the 1920's and promoted it against much opposition from the medical establishment of the day.

Her story makes for a fascinating read. There are a number of books out on the market that chronicle her experiences with successfully treating cancer (and diabetes) patients.  Today, partially as a result of her secrecy, there are also many suppliers, each claiming to have the original/best recipe. (The two links above are a couple of entry points into the controversy.)

The Essiac I purchased at the naturopath's clinic was $4/oz. Not cheap. There are do-it-yourself recipes where one can brew up the herbs at home for a fraction of the cost. Unfortunately, I've heard it can be quite a smelly process, so I'm hesitant to take that route at the moment.

I was also able to get a lead on organic, juicing carrots and will follow up with that in the coming week.

The stats for this past week:

                             01/11/10             01/17/10          Change

Weight              130.2 lbs.               129.0                -1.2 lbs.
A much smaller drop this week from the almost 5 pounds last week. I never imagined I'd drop under 130 pounds, but here I am. Looking at myself in the mirror, I notice how thin I am. I feel fine, however, and am happy with my progress, so I'm going to continue.

Body Fat           18.1 lbs.                 17.2                   -0.9 lbs.

Virtually all of the weight loss is body fat. A good thing.

BMI                     20.4                        20.2                 -0.8

A reflection of the weight loss.

Body Fat           13.9%                     13.3                 -1.6%
Same as above but as a percentage.

Water                62.9%                     62.9                   0.0

Water content is holding its own.

Bone Mass        6.4%                       6.4                     0.0

The bone mass seems to be holding its own.

Week Ten Summary

Week Ten and all is well.

I've enjoyed the modified diet. Over the past two weeks, I've indulged in some Brie cheese, Ryvita and other types of non-gluten crackers along with some "Holy Hummous," dip,  a few helpings of cooked, organic rice cereal, and some very tasty lentils made by a friend of a friend. Pretty tame really, but appreciated all the same.

Taking a break at this time of year feels like the right thing to do. And, given my weight loss it also felt good to slow the cleansing process down a little with a bit of cooked food, etc.

Of course getting back on board is a bit tough.....

The stats for this past week:

                             01/03/10             01/11/10           Change

Weight              134.9 lbs.               130.2                   -4.7 lbs.
Almost 5 pounds! Now that I'm back on the 100% raw food diet, the downward trend in weight has returned.

In my last meeting with the naturopath, he emphasized how it was raw, vegetables and fruit that provided the nutrition and the cleansing action. Seeds and nuts are also nutritious, but don't assist with the cleansing process. In fact, they are much harder to digest and the reason why they should be eaten only after having been soaked. Both these reasons are why he cautions against consuming seeds and nuts too often.

Body Fat           20.9 lbs.                 18.1                    -2.8 lbs.

A significant part of the weight loss is body fat again this week.

BMI                     21.2                        20.4                     -0.8

A reflection of the weight loss.

Body Fat           15.5%                     13.9                     -1.6%       

Same as above but as a percentage.

Water                61.7%                     62.9                    +1.2%

Amazingly, my water content is continuing to rise, in spite of my inattention to my water intake!

Bone Mass        6.4%                       6.4                       No change.

The bone mass seems to be holding its own.

Week Nine Summary

Week Nine. It feels good to be starting the New Year with this new diet. I'm also pleased the changes to my diet so far have been minimal.

It's taken some time and effort to get set up anew here on the west coast. Fortunately, I did order some items ahead of time, one of which was a book on salad dressings. Salad Dressings for Life (available from Hallelujah Acres) http://ecommerce.hacres.com/Educational/Recipes-Books has proven to be quite helpful. I also went out and bought a wide assortment of spices and herbs which has made it possible for me to make a number of tasty dressings.

These dressings, Orange-Tahini,  Lemon,  Russian,  Avocado Tomato,  Tangy Mango  etc. have gone a long way toward creating a sense of variety in the salads I've been having. This is particularly important when raw vegetables are pretty much the only things one has to work with.

I'm not much of a cook, so having a few recipes, some of them quite simple, has boosted my confidence and encouraged me to be more intentional and adventuresome around my "cooking."

The stats for this past week show an interesting change of direction:

                             12/27/09             01/03/10           Change

Weight              133.7 lbs.               134.9                   +1.2 lbs.

Interesting how the introduction of cooked food quickly changes one's weight.

A few years ago I spent about a month in a health spa in Mexico. I lost about 25 pounds and arrived back in Canada weighing about 140 pounds. Once home, I continued to eat well but, unlike Mexico, cooked food was a bigger part of my diet. I put on one or two pounds a week. Within six months, I was back to my old weight of about 165 pounds.

I'm no doctor, but this anecdotal evidence (along with the resumption of weight loss in the coming weeks once I return to raw food) strongly suggests that a raw food diet goes a long ways in assisting a person lose any unnecessary weight.

Body Fat           20.3 lbs.                 20.9                    +0.6 lbs.

Half the increase is fat. Not totally surprising as I've indulged in delicious Brie cheese and hummous this past week.

BMI                     21.0                        21.2                     +0.2

A slight increase due to a slight weight gain.

Body Fat           15.0%                     15.5                     +0.5       

Same as above but as a percentage.

Water                62.0%                     61.7                    -0.3%

For the first time, a very small downward change. Not sure if it's a reflection of the weight gain, or the diet.

Bone Mass        6.4%                       6.4                       No change.

The bone mass seems to be holding its own.

Week Eight Summary

Note: 1/16/10. My apologies for the delay, a combination of Christmas holidays and some technological challenges in my new location. I hope to catch up over the coming week.

Week Eight. Two months have come and gone, and I'm delighted to say that I'm doing pretty well.

A few days after my lemon fast I started feeling more energy, and that has continued through to today. I don't seem to need the same 10 to 12 hours of sleep as I did in previous weeks. Eight to ten hours seem to be sufficient these past few days.

I've decided to take a break from Montreal (and the snow) to visit friends on Vancouver Island. My Christmas Eve flight to Victoria went well. The airports were busy, but not unduly so.

I prefer to consciously take a break from the raw food diet than to find myself overwhelmed and in a moment of frustration "fall off the wagon." Given the temptations of the season and the challenges of preparing a new place with the appliances and food necessary to continue with my diet, I've decided to take a modified approach the last week of December and the first week of January. No big changes really. A bit of cooked food I wouldn't otherwise have, a bit of cheese and other nibbles, that sort of thing.

The electronic scale used for the measurements this week is made by the same manufacturer, for the same company, but it is a different model than the one I was using in Montreal. (I'm sure that the results will be essentially the same as those I would have gotten in Montreal, but I felt I should note the change.)

The stats for this past week:

                             12/20/09            12/27/09           Change

Weight              134.4 lbs.             133.7                   -0.7 lbs.

A very slight drop this week.

Body Fat           21.0 lbs.               20.3                    -0.7 lbs.

Another week where 100% of the week's weight loss is body fat. Amazing!

BMI                     15.7                        21.0                    

This new scale puts my BMI index much higher. Not sure what is going on, but since it is a calculated field (based on height and weight) I will just go back to the previous weeks and do the calculations manually.

Body Fat           21.1%                     15.0                   

Same as above but as a percentage. (Another calculated field which seems off. I will review and adjust if necessary.)

Water                61.5%                     62.0                    +0.5%

The continued rise in my water percentage continues to amaze me, as I know only too well I've not been drinking a lot of water in the course of the day. I can only attribute this to the water content in the raw food, and the absence of coffee, which is a diuretic.

Bone Mass        6.4%                      6.4                       No change.

If I continue with a healthy diet, this very slight deficiency in bone mass will slow down and eventually rectify itself as the body becomes more alkaline and the levels of calcium start to rise from eating raw food.

Week Seven Summary

Week Seven has come and gone, and I'm hanging in there!!

Except for Monday this past week, I've been on a lemon juice fast. With the exception of one day, it's was easier than I thought. I really didn't feel all that hungry most of the time. And when I did, I simply had a cup or so of the lemon juice, and that would hold me for awhile. If anything, I had trouble drinking more than four glasses a day.

I saw the naturopath this week and he was pleased with my discipline and the progress we've made so far. He was expecting more at the level of the liver (specifically, corn kernel-sized deposits in my stool, yellow, orange and/or yellow-orange in color).

When I explained to him the visceral manipulation I had done with the osteopath, he felt that this would almost certainly account for slower progress. He suggested another month of the drops and upped the Essiac from 20 ml. to 2 tablespoons, 2X daily.

Almost two months and I've not had so much as a crouton of cooked food! It has been a challenge to be sure, but hey, I've made it. The real test will be the coming two weeks -all the invitations to dinner and the goodies that come with the Christmas and New Year festivities. Time will tell.

Until then, wishing all of you a joyous, blessed Christmas Season.

The stats for this past week:

                               12/13/09              12/20/09      Change

Weight                 138.6 lbs.               134.4              -4.2 lbs.

I haven't been at this weight in decades! I feel pretty good overal, a little weak from being on the lemon juice fast, but all things considered I 'd rather be this weight than where I was two months ago before I started on this journey.

Body Fat             25.2 lbs.                  21.0               -4.2 lbs.

Last week I wrote, It seems I´ve dropped the easy part; I suspect the rest of the fat will be slower to drop off. It seems I couldn't be more wrong. 100% of this week's weight loss is body fat. Amazing!

BMI                     18.2                          15.7                -2.5

Well it seems my BMI index is dropping like a stone. I spoke with my naturopath and he said this was to be expected. Whatever part of the body, including muscle, was not healthy tissue would be flushed out as part of the first phase, the cleansing process. In the second phase, the rebuilding process, new tissue would be created as needed, and my weight would start climbing again until it found its proper level.

Body Fat             18.2%                     21.1                +2.9%

Same as above but as a percentage. (The math doesn't seem to work out. Will check this again next week.)

Water                  59.8%                      61.5               +1.7%

Given that I only drank lemon juice flavoured water all week, this much of a jump in water content is not surprising. The trick will be to up my usual intake of water over the course of the coming weeks, so that my percentage doesn't drop too much.

Bone Mass          6.4%                        6.4                  No change.

The naturopath said that some bone loss was not out of the ordinary. The body sometimes chooses the lesser of two evils. If acidity in the body was the major problem, then it might get calcium, which is alkaline, from the bones if no other source was available -even if that meant creating a substandard level of bone density.

If I continue with a healthy diet, this deficiency in bone mass will slow down and eventually rectify itself as the body becomes more alkaline and the levels of calcium start to rise from eating raw food.

Week Six Summary

The weekly summaries keep coming in. Week Six already. It feels like I started just a little while ago -and ages ago- at the same time.

For the most part, this past week has been a continuation of the previous week: more tired than usual,  less stamina, more fragile, a tenderness in the abdomen area, especially higher up in the sternum area and not quite as mentally positive. At a few points, Thursday and Saturday evenings in particular, I could easily have packed it in. It really is one day at a time.

Except for Wednesday afternoon, I passed on my exercises this week. It was probably a good thing to take it easy and not push things. 

I will be starting a 1-to-10 day lemon juice fast on Monday or Tuesday. I don´t know whether or not I will have the energy to do my morning exercises. We´ll see. 

(I did do a lemon juice fast in my mid-twenties. I recall the first few days were difficult, but from the fifth day or so till the 10th day, I felt surprisingly energized.)

Stats for this past week:

                             12/06/09             12/13/09    Change

Weight              141.8 lbs.              138.6             -3.2 lbs.

I´m getting closer to my high school weight of about 135 pounds. Except for a month or two at a Mexican health spa a few years ago, I haven´t been in this vicinity for a long time. I would prefer more muscular definition, but on the whole I feel pretty good.

Body Fat           26.1 lbs.                25.2               -.90 lbs.

A smaller percentage of the weight loss is body fat this time around. It seems I´ve dropped the easy part; I suspect the rest of the fat will be slower to drop off.

BMI                     18.4                      18.2                -0.2

Last week, I noted that 18.4 was at the low end of the low range. I expected that, as the naturopath advised, my weight, and accordingly my BMI index, would drop even further before rebounding back to my ideal weight. I still agree with that.

Body Fat           22.2%                   18.2               -4.0%

Same as above but as a percentage.

Water                59.6%                   59.8               +0.2%

I keep being surprised by the steady, albeit small increases, in water percentage. I presume that it´s partially a result of the higher water content of the fresh fruit and vegetables. With no coffee, there is no diuretic affect either.

Bone Mass       6.5%                       6.4                -0.1%

With very little exercise most of last week and all of this week, this is not a surprise. Still, bone loss is a serious issue. I will be speaking to the naturopath about it this week.

Week Five Summary

Week five has been as interesting as it has been unexpected.

In the post, "Me and My Liver," I wrote about how at my Wednesday appointment, the osteopath, using visceral manipulation, was able to free my liver which was stuck to my diaphram. It felt great to be able to breathe so much more freely.

After the hour and a half session, I decided to go downtown and run a few errands. By the time I got home around 7pm, however, I was feeling pretty tired. Nausea had set in and I wasn´t feeling that good. Thursday, I felt nauseous as well so I took it easy, passed on the morning exercises and went to bed early. Friday the nausea went away, but the tenderness in my adbominal area was still there as was a general sense of being tired, even weak.

Saturday, was essentially a repeat of Friday with a bit more energy. Today, Sunday, has been good with more energy and clarity, but my abdomen, particularly higher up near the sternum area, is still quite tender. Interestingly enough, it feels much like one would feel a few days after being punched in the stomach. (Some would say the cells are in the process of releasing the cellular memory of the trauma, hence the similarity to the original sensation.)

All of this time, I´ve taken a break from my morning exercises and have been sleeping twelve to thirteen hours each day.

In hindsight, I should have realized that having my liver release from my diaphram and drop back into its proper place after forty years, is a pretty significant development. Not only are the diaphram and liver having to function from a different position, most of the other internal organs have to shift around to make room for the recent arrival of my liver. It´s no wonder I´m feeling tired and tender.

All in all, it has been a welcome adventure which will no doubt speed up the cleansing/healing process. I have an appointment this coming Friday and I´m curious as to what the osteopath will have to say.

In the meantime, here are my stats for the week:

                             11/29/09             12/06/09    Change

Weight              146.8 lbs.              141.8             -5.0 lbs.
Last week I suggested that my weight loss would likely slow down, but that hasn´t been the case. Another 5 pounds this week which surprises me. Not so surprising is that I feel lighter, more agile and have a better sense of well-being. Having approximately 20 pounds less to haul around all day can to that to a person. 

Body Fat           29.4 lbs.                26.1               -3.3 lbs.
Once again a significant portion of the weight loss is fat.

BMI                     20.0                      18.4.               -1.6
The weight loss is reflected in the Body Mass Index calculation. 18.4 is at the low end of the low range, but I expect that as the naturopath advised, my weight, and hence my BMI index will drop even further before rebounding back to my ideal weight.

Body Fat           23.0%                   22.2               -1.0%
Same as above but as a percentage.

Water                58.4%                   59.6               +1.2%
Here, too, I´m surprised. Even though I´m making slow progress in drinking the recommend 8 glasses of water a day, my water percentage keeps rising. Over a full percentage point from last week.

Bone Mass       6.5%                       6.5                No change
With very little exercise this week, I wasn´t expecting any change.

Week Four Summary

This past week, my fourth, has been pretty good overall. I'm feeling a bit stronger and alert in the mornings. Every once in awhile I have the energy to go later into the evening than say a couple a weeks ago when I was bushed by 8pm or so.

This past week I finished a five-day grape fast. It went well. I was pleasantly surprised by how well I was able to maintain my activities without a major drop in my energy levels, despite eating only grapes the entire time.

Below are my stats for the week.

                            11/22/09                  11/29/09         Change

Weight            147.6 lbs.                        146.8        -0.8 lbs.

Doing the fast last week skewed the results somewhat. Accordingly, this week´s weight loss is minimal. I suspect weight loss here on in will be much slower as I reach my ideal weight.

Body Fat          30.1 lbs.                          29.4        -0.7 lbs.

Virtually all of the weight loss is fat, which is great.

BMI                    20.4                                 20.0         -0.4

The weight loss is reflected in the Body Mass Index calculation.

Body Fat           23.2%                            23.0         - 0.2%

Same as above but as a percentage.

Water                58.1%                             58.4         + 0.3%

 Up again, ever so slightly, which is great. Still having difficulty remembering to drink 8 glasses of water a day.

Bone Mass         6.5%                               6.5         No change

No more loss which is a good thing. Hopefully, we will see an increase in the weeks and months to come.