My 28 days on a RAW Plant-Based Journey

How did an omnivore, actually more like the carnivore, decide to dive into the RAW plant-based journey?

I had not been feeling well since last spring.
My energy was droopy.
My digestive system felt like misery.
I wasn't sleeping well.
I took naps whenever I could to make up for the lack of sleep.
I exercised but even then, I wasn't feeling the benefits of the
fitness path.
I had mood swings and tears.
I felt overwhelmed most days.
I was having a difficult time keeping track of things.
I found myself having to jot down information when once upon a time, mental notes did the trick.

I knew this was not the best of ME.

Doctor visits, blood tests, and an osteopath later, nothing seemed to get me out of this funk.
Fast forward this past  January, three vehicle accidents in 14 days raised my stress level to an all time high.

Now I am experiencing hypoglycaemia.

This was not the path I wanted for myself, especially at this point in my life.

About a year ago, my kid sister told me about an author who diagnosed medical conditions in today's world. You could say it's an other worldly book with a plethora of information to create shifts with various medical conditions, by using food as medicine. His advice is far from researched and tested formally by science.

Once I noticed I was diagnosed with hypoglycaemia, I decided to read up Anthony William's first book entitled Secrets Behind Mystery Illnesses and How to Finally Heal.

He explained the reasons why hypoglycaemia occurred, how it begins in the liver, how a diet primarily made up of animal protein and minimal amounts of fruits will keep the individual struggling with the illness and make it worse along the way. I had spent the better part of my years eating a high protein diet and fearing bananas.

To reverse the symptoms meant to adopt a Raw plant-based journey for 28 days where animal and plant protein, dairy, grains, and fat were to be removed. Instead, meals were meant to be an abundance of fruits and vegetables until satiation. This was not meant to be deprivation. This was meant to be tasty and abundant while nourishing the internal organs with much needed minerals, vitamins, phytonutrients, antioxidant and so much more.
This was also meant to give the internal organs a break while breaking down food, to allow the internal healing process to begin. After all, the body is CAPABLE of healing itself.

And so began my Raw plant-based journey on February 5, 2017.
Interestingly enough, a few days later, an ultrasound confirmed what Anthony Williams had said about the link between hypoglycaemia and the liver.
My liver was showing signs.

The journey was a no-brainer.
I figured I will give it my full attention and observe the changes, if any, on my state and my overall health. If all else fails, I can head to my doctor and begin medicating the issues.

I was expecting a rough ride.
Give up my morning lattes, give wine, give up MEAT and my sweet treats.

Instead, I had to learn to start my day with a 16 ounce fresh celery juice.
I would say that was the hardest part of the process.
The juice, on an empty stomach, helps heal the gut, according to Anthony William.
Well it took a few days for my body to enjoy this beverage.
I experienced tingling on my face and was concerned I was having an allergic reaction to it.
By the third day, it had to be violently expelled as soon as I drank it.
I did not give up. I re-read the benefits in his book.
Day four, I gave it one last chance and the gut was able to handle it and ENJOY IT!!!

Second challenge was staying warm.
In hindsight, perhaps choosing to begin a raw journey in the winter was not the smartest approach.
The body needs warming foods like root veggies, oats etc.
This is where herbal teas, ginger root and hot peppers came in handy to warm the bones up.

As far as my mental state was, I was BLISSED out, despite the cold and celery issues.

Through an Instagram account, I photographed my journey and my new rituals.
Celery juice, followed by a delicious smoothie bowl, a salad, more fruits, another salad or cut up veggies, lots of lime, dates or mangoes at night time before bed as it helped calm the nerves he says.

Things tasted good.
Preparation was fun.
I looked forward to grocery shopping and discovering new items I knew little about.

Today is the end of my 28 day Raw Reset My Organs Cleanse.
I feel more VIBRANT!

I sleep more soundly.
My mood has improved.
I have disengaged from certain foods that no longer control me.
I say that, as I do have two sons who still eat like most kids do. Being around the food has zero impact on me. I make it, I serve it and I create my New Meals.
No hunger. Ever. A sense of fullness.

I have stopped the see-saw ways of salt and sweet.
Cravings are no longer dominant.
Although, throughout the process, I was craving Indian Dahl.
I don't even know how to cook it and I think I have eaten it only three times in my life.
But something about the spices and texture was what I was craving.

It's nice not to have to NEED a cup of coffee to place one's eyes in front of the socket.
It's nice not to have a bloated stomach as a result of food combinations that no longer seem to work.
Most of all, it's nice to have a glow in one's skin and peace of mind.

Some followers have asked about weight, and yes one side effect is weight loss.
But not as dramatic as one would think.

As I ponder on what is next, I see myself continuing to somewhat a Raw lifestyle.
My body is handling the breaking down of raw food more gracefully than cooked.
That being said, I still like protein and grains. I was raised on it after all. I am also fully aware that all these protein HYPE is just that....HYPE.

Anthony, has no hard rules about how to start back other than avoiding some foods forever( namely processed foods)

He does, however, asks that each person look within to check in and see what the body feels like eating. I have to say, I check-in regularly now and I see what he means about this NEW awareness. It's a knowing and the mindless eating is no longer there.

I don't expect that my friends and family will all embrace Anthony William's or AKA the Medical Medium's advice to heart. I invite you to recognize that our bodies are GENIUS vessels that are still a mystery to the Western Medical World and that perhaps, the current path we are all on with food choices, diets, trends, procedures and medications may not be anymore sound than the other worldly advice. After all, so much is unknown about the wonder of our bodies and our organs. What if foods can create the health shifts to beat all these ailments?

Food for thought: Let Thy Food be your Medicine.....

How do you feel fear but not become it?

F.E.A.R.S

We all have them. 
A sense of intense worry.
Facing the unknown.
The what ifs and the regrets. 
The physical stress it creates.
Tears. 
Lack of breath. 
Paralysis. 
Masking it all. 
Numbing the pain by drowning in "busy-ness" or unhealthy habits.
Disengaging.
The what ifs. 
The racing mind.
Restlessness.
….and the waves of emotional outbursts that flow.

Fear is a natural emotion.
That is a given.
Question remains how do you feel FEAR but not become it?
How do you acknowledge it but not wear it?
How do you allow it to be but not let it dominate?

I suspect fear and self-love go hand in hand.
Love from within generates a solid life compass which grounds our physical body and mind to deal with emotional winds.
Life happens. Challenges too. 
Experiences shape our lives. Some great ones and some painful ones. 
Through it all, the mind and heart need to radiate to "embrace" life's blessings and hurdles.
                                                                                  
So then, how does one build that self-love?
Forgiveness. Kindness. Patience. Acceptance. 
Though we are all perfectly imperfect beings wandering the earth, we have to accept that perfection and control are futile attempts to live a fulfilling life. 
Allow moments to flow. 
Let things land where they may. 
Allow situations to unfold. 
Watch it and recognize it, but ultimately let things be. When hardships do hit, be kind, LOVING and forgiving to yourself. 
You deserve it.

Love begins from within...

Are some cities better than others for singles?

A sewer drain in Brussels! A work of art! 2012

Almost five days in Paris, and this Princess has been asked to go dancing, share a Bordeaux, sip a café on a terrace and never mind random smiles, flirty exchanges, and savored compliments by the locals.

Which brings me to my questions. Is it easier being single in some cities over others? Could the streets in Paris offer more opportunities to flirt, receive delightful smiles, or witness chivalrous gestures by members of the opposite sex? Why are these opportunities less present back home?

It seems in Montreal, my single friends and I in our forties rely on online dating, meets ups or special singles activities like Cook and Dates or Speed Dating.
Could the European culture and mindset be all that different from the North American one? Are we wired differently?

Perhaps, the vacation mindset of a single traveler is different than when he/she is back home, with the weight of the world on each shoulder.

I know my vibe is different when I embark on a solo journey. I become footloose and fancy free. I feel more confident, and extroverted than my usual self. I happily wear lipstick every morning, as I have the time to doll up and not tend to other members of my family.

But then I wonder. Should I be dolling up for morning carpool and running errands? Will I have a flirty exchange with a gentleman in aisle four at the local grocery store?

While roaming a cobblestone road this morning at 8am, no less, a handsomely suited gentleman (minus his Marlboro would have been nicer), who was about to step in to an office building, stops me to say "you have a beautiful smile", to which I respond "was I smiling?" The gentleman follows up in French with "Oui et vos yeux pétillent" ( Yes and your eyes sparkle).

So, how does one bottle that footloose and fancy free aura and bring some back to one's hometown?

Being single for the last little while and having been blessed with amazing travels, I have always had the pleasure of meeting interesting people from around the world. As for members of the opposite sex, I have met some interesting individuals where we have shared a meal, a drink, a walk/hike, or toured the city discovering hidden gems. The cultural differences make for an interesting dynamic; their accents always hit high on the sexy meter; the topics of conversation are original and varied, as opposed to "first date banter" back home. A tiny reference to dress code: European men rule when it comes to clothing, I think back to my travels to Italy, Scandinavia, France and Belgium, these men make it easy to ogle. I will admit to being shallow at times! Sue me.

To being flirty, footloose and fancy free in Montreal! Should I be contemplating moving to Europe, once my sons are all grown up?
Food for thought, that is for sure!

Vibrant Paris!

If one is looking for a heightened, multi-sensory approach to one's travels, then one should head to Paris!

From the moment my Thalys train from Brussels arrived speedily to La Gare du Nord, in Paris, the experience began instantly.

It took over half an hour to get a cab driver willing to take me to my destination. A group of drivers were arguing over their disinterest to "pick me up" and drive me to La Place de L'Opéra. Just hearing them converse would make one think that I was asking them to drive me to some hell hole on earth! Granted I did arrive on le 14 juillet, also known as French National Day (Bastille), where streets and major arteries were closed down for parades and celebrations.

One brave cabdriver, outside of the ones arguing, walked over to me and offered to take me. Wow! I quickly understood why. He had set up a live feed of the parade on one of his many smart phones. No, I didn't ask any questions! As it turned out, he knew which streets were open and which remained closed.

I thanked him for his bravery, quick thinking and dropped off my luggage, in my closet, also known as my hotel room, complete with a bathroom with no shower curtain or glass. I knew what it was like to be Moses parting the sea after my shower! What a disastrous mess.

So now, I am in Paris again after close to ten years, maybe twelve years. Having walked around what I knew well, namely Place Vendôme, Place de la Concorde, Place de l'Opéra and le Jardin des Tuileries, I was happy to see that many of my favorite eateries and shops were still there. It was comforting to see. My all time favorite Salon de Thé Angelina was still there, on rue de Rivoli. Much like Schwartz's in Montreal, the line ups outside this coffee shop/pastry store are surreal.

Toward late afternoon, I had noticed throngs of people gathered at the majestic Opera House, with busts of the many great composers of times gone by. I made my way to see a busker perform for what seemed like a thousand gathered people, from all walks of life. Tourists or locals, elderly or young, ultra religious or not, rich or poor, drunk or not found themselves standing or sitting side by side, listening to Youri from Capri, Italy sing originals as well as covers from Adele to Freddie Mercury.

I found myself a spot on the steps of the Opera House and basked in his rendition of songs. I listened to what brought this man to leave his "Mama and pasta" and travel the world to find himself. He connected with the crowd through his usage of multiple languages, his tales and his music, which explained how all these differences stood side by side.

A great first day in Paris!

Picturesque Bruges and its Lake of Love

Bruges looks like a fairy tale, complete with meandering canals, narrow cobblestone streets, gabled homes, a charming market square and a tranquil Lake of Love, first founded in 1245 by the Countess Margaret of Constantinople.

The tour guide explained that this Countess was a begijns, a religious woman, similar to a nun, in that these women accepted vows of chastity and obedience but preferred to earn a living by looking after the sick and making lace.

These religious women are no longer around and Benedictine Nuns continue the begijns traditions. The beguine courtyard is a tranquil zone and the Lake of Love is a peaceful place to roam and ponder.

Within my tour group, I befriended a gentleman, an avid photographer, from Quebec City no less. We both happened to be trapped in a mostly German group. It didn't take long for both of us to escape and discover Bruges with our lenses in tow.

We meandered through the tranquil oasis of the Lake of Love and its garden and walked the narrow cobblestone roads. Note to self, runners next time to handle the uneven grounds with less plantar pain.

Early afternoon, we took a canal ride along the river to see Bruges through a different angle. The landscape was magical!

We ended our jaunt at the market square, sat at a terrace and savored Belgian beer, as I was still on a mission to try out their other delightful labels. Not sure my luggage can handle these beer bottles! What to do? Perhaps, ship them?

Blessed in Brussels

This Caspian Jewess was blessed today, in a church in Brussels, by a man, with his hands dipped in blessed water which he in turn used to touch my forehead and either shoulders.
The odd part isn't that this man reached out to me, or that I found peace in a church; rather the peculiar thing was more when it happened. I was leaving the church and throngs of people were entering at that same moment. When the last person entered, he stared at me, dipped his fingers in the holy water and began the ritual.

Why?
Did he sense I was a member of another tribe? Did he feel I needed a blessing? Is this customary in a church to enter and bless the person leaving?
One thing for sure, we both held each other's gaze.

With that in mind, I felt blessed for a variety of reasons. I discovered a cute little organic bakery, Le Pain Quotidien, which offered a variety of organic breads and viennoiseries for breakfast in a family style atmosphere. Huge farmer style dining tables, an array of sour cherry jam jars, churned butter and other spreads. It was a great way to mingle with the locals and start up conversation or sit back quietly and read the local paper.

I also feel blessed for being at ease to roam the winding, cobblestone roads map free! It is a great feeling to know that you can make your way in a foreign city. I know some of my friends will be amused with this particular section of the blog, as they know that there are certain zones in my hometown where I require the use of my handy dandy Tom Tom. Perhaps the pedestrian lifestyle is more my calling?

Last but not least, I feel blessed to be in a foodie's paradise, in Brussels. Surrounded by delicious beers, chocolatiers galore, baked goods and waffle central, I am grateful to be car less, and aimlessly walking about to burn some semblance of these delicious calories!

Pilatus Kulm

As a seasoned traveler, I try my best to avoid tour companies. Over time, I have come to discover, that even as a solo traveler, I am not a huge fan of big groups, obnoxious people in droves, and tired tour guides who have perhaps done the tour one too many times.

That being said, every once in a while, I cave and join a tour company for the day when I wish to discover a place far enough that requires some explaining and some transportation.

Which brings me to Pilatus Kulm, not far from Lucerne. In 2009, I had done Rigi Kulm with this same tour company and was immensely pleased. I was hoping for the same wow factor. Needless to say, the people in the group can make the experience worth while or break it.

Pilatus in itself was a beautiful mountain, at about 7000 feet above sea level. Long time ago, the clergy believed that the mountain was demonized with dragons. It took the clergy a few attempts to trust that the great Pilatus was a safe place and so it was re-opened, once again to the general public.

To get to the top of this mountain, there are two gondola rides which bring tourists to bask in the views of Swiss Alps.
I failed to mention that while on the bus, there was a huge Iranian group from California. I am not proud to say that they were fellow Caspian Sea dwellers. I am also sad to say that understanding every word that came out of their mouths was embarrassing at best.

I guess the buck stopped when this one couple and a silver haired gentleman, all decked in designer labels and heavy perfume began to speak behind my back as we were lined up for a four seater gondola ride.
I was lined up ahead of them and overheard Agha Smelly Pants (Agha meaning Mister) say to his travel buddies that I hope to god we are not going to be stuck with that loner on the bus....we won't be able to be just us.

And so what do you think This Caspian Princess spewed? Take a wild guess? Please.

In a stiff Farsi, (their mother tongue), I said: did you maybe think I may not want to be stuck with the three of you on this Gondola? But seeing as my mother raised me well, please won't you step in?

I love the shock factor. For one, I don't look my heritage. Two, it is quite handy to have a semblance of language in a functional state for that special moment.

Well, needless to say, they climbed aboard and I surprisingly made friends.
At least, they thought so. They even had me sit next to Mister Smelly Pants and took our picture for posterity sake.
Obviously what followed was idle chit chat about my genealogy and the excitement ended once my mother was from Haifa. Mister Smelly Pants quickly mentioned that in the 16 Iranian couples, there was a token Jew amongst them. It's your family, you should meet them,he said.

Oh boy!
How to loose them on The Great Mount Pilatus?