Hi, I wanted to check in and update my journal for anyone who was interested in the issues I addressing.
For the past few years I've been recovering from some psychological and physiological abnormalities resulting from trauma. I've been learning to live a competent life from the ground up, and care of my physical body has been both a major challenge and an avenue of healing.
I'm now enjoying eating and have satisfaction and improved health. I no longer think about food with any irregularities in attitude. I'm no longer underweight or constipated.
I'm also no longer spending lots of time dealing with food or hygiene. Caring for my body has become a pleasure rather than a chore.
My description of my diet & lifestyle here aren't intended to be a recommendation, and may not suit the raw paleo community, but I'm offering it for anyone's consideration and as a resolution to the thread I started here.
Diet
50% raw plants
16% raw fat
16% meat
16% cooked refined grain
1% medicinals
I drink about 16oz of green-based juice daily, including a generous amount of fresh herbs. The rest I eat whole and plain. I tend to juice what I wouldn't eat plain, such as cabbage, but try to consume a wide variety of plants.
Most of my raw fat is dairy, but I also eat coconut, cod liver oil, olive oil, soaked nuts, and avocado daily. We try to use mostly fermented dairy, such as cheese, kefir, and cultured butter. I try to eat raw liver once a week.
I'm no longer preparing meals or cooking anything, I just stock the frig and people pick out what they want. I don't cook meat at all. We eat either raw meat (mainly fish & oysters), or precooked grass-fed meat (mainly beef) such as organ sausages, sliced roast, or jerky. We also frequently eat raw eggs.
I bake bread with organic unbleached unbromated white flour. I sprinkle in some whole grains, like rolled rye or pinhead oats, for some tooth and a little fiber. I use ghee and water (no milk), mindful of heat stability. The bread is primarily a vehicle for consuming fat, and does provide some quick energy and satisfaction. I've found that white bread is much easier to digest than fibrous breads - doesn't result in constipation or bloating. Using white flour also eliminates the need to soak or ferment the grain. We also do occasionally eat (carefully selected) breakfast cereal, which is more a matter of convenience than health. We also enjoy hot air popcorn with ghee and sea salt a few times a week.
Medicinals are primarily raw: manuka honey & pollen, hot peppers, seaweed, and "bitters" (currently the BH dewormer). And occasionally powdered eggshell. That sort of thing.
We're drinking distilled spring water remineralized with moist sea salt and "activated" in moonlight. I'm drinking more water than I was before which is helping tremendously - about 32-48oz a day now.
I am still drinking 1 cup of coffee in the morning. I also drink about 1 cup of homemade kombucha a day and frequently have green tea. I also have about 6oz of organic red wine most days, usually with meat.
I'm going into the fitness room daily, even if I only do some stretches or use the inversion table. I'm pushing my body less and loving my body more. When I do work out, about every third day, it feels good - not a trial. I'm still walking a lot and resting more often.
We've all started using the sauna every third day or so and no longer use soap on our skin. Hair is washed with a mild baby shampoo under the tub spout or not at all. Occasionally we'll massage some olive oil (DHC olive virgin oil) and/or essential oil into skin and exfoliate with a warm water and a dishcloth. Otherwise it's only warm water massage for cleaning. Still brushing teeth with baking soda & sea salt & the essential oil blend.
I'm soaking my feet in epsom salts more frequently for detox & relaxation.
Getting more sleep, too.
I really appreciate all the discussions here on the RP forum. The biggest changes in my lifestyle (eating fat & respecting my skin) came from ideas on this board!
Namaste!