vegan – Karina in Wanderland

Yes, you read that correctly. I am going to eat raw foods for 100 days.

For those of you thinking or telling yourselves, “I could never do that or I would never do that…”. I get it, I was there once. Before I begin telling you how the past week has been so far, let me tell you where I was at with my eating lifestyle a few years ago.

5-10 years ago

My foods consisted of:

Chick-Fil-A sandwiches, waffles fries and biscuits (a few times a week since I worked there)
Snickers bar every other night
Publix cookies (And I could eat half the container in one sitting)
Chipotle, Pollo Tropical, and Tijuanas Flatts every week (literally)
Delivered pizza every other week
McDonalds and Wendys

I remember feeling drained most of the time, I always needed to take naps. I was grumpy and depressed around my friends and ex-boyfriend. I would get annoyed and aggravated very easily.

2-4 years ago

Chick-Fil-A salads, grilled sandwiches and fruit
More home cooked meals that consisted of pasta, rice, chicken, fish, vegetables, and boiled eggs
Processed foods

Four years ago I started eating “healthier” or so I thought. I was still angry but it was mostly because I didn’t have a good relationship with food after my ex-fiance called me fat. I lost a lot of weight but I wasn’t healthy. It was like I wasn’t living.

Even though I was still aggravated but my body was recognizing some differences as I was changing my eating choices. Looking back, my body was calling for help. I wasn’t getting my menstrual cycle, my joints especially my knees were in pain, my jaw was locking, and in all honestly, I was not happy.

1-2 years ago

I started to eliminate chicken, eggs, and dairy.
I was eating fish a few times a week
Tofu and tempeh
More vegetables and some fruits

I was feeling a bit clearer and realized I wanted more in my life. I wanted to live and I was becoming grateful for everything in my life. Almost every day I would write in my journal what I was thankful for. Things started to seem brighter and I felt like my life was flowing.

This past year

I become vegan almost a year ago.

I started to fast once a week and then I would fast for three days once a month (I did this for a few months)
I did several three-day juice fast and in January I completed a 28 day juice fast
I began intermittent fasting (only eating between 12 pm – 8 pm)
I included A LOT more fruit in my lifestyle
I did a couple mono fruit fasting (I did a 3 day grape fast and then a 3 day mango fast)
I eliminated a good amount of processed foods

The reason I changed my lifestyle so drastically was because I started somehow guided to a place called Pure Life Health Centers where I started to get care. They showerd me in love and guided me and demonstrated how eating clean could change my life.

As I was cleaning my body, I noticed how mentally clear I was getting and all the compassion and love I had for everything. I felt amazing.

These past few months I started tuning into my body and started feeling drained, exhausted and not as light when I ate cooked foods. I felt very heavy. I could see my body and face bloat.

Then a couple of weeks ago I over did it.After doing 5 days of just fruits, I ate processed foods and then ate more the next day. My body was not able to process all of this food and I ended up vomiting. I felt disgusting and I just wanted to apologize to myself for putting my system through that.

I forgave myself and knew I needed to go even cleaner with my eating.

My dear friend Kellyanne texted me (I swear it’s like she knew I needed this push) and asked me if I wanted to join her for 100 days of raw eating.

I kind of PANICKED. I immediately told her that I needed to think and meditate on it. Part of me didn’t want to, I just wanted my baked sweet potatoes and hummus. But after a couple of hours, I knew what the answer was. I decided to join.

This is what I had my last two days before I started my challenge!

7 days in and I do not want to turn back. I feel amazing. I haven’t even craved any cooked foods. Okay I lied. I craved a veggie burger for like 5 minutes on the Fourth of July and then got over it.

It’s actually been fun. It’s inspiring me to find ways of replacing things I loved cooked such as:

hummus (it’s not considered raw because the chickpeas are cooked!)
Veggie burgers and falafel (they can be dehydrated!)
Noodies and Thai food
SOUPS

I wanted you to know that it’s truly been a journey for me. I am blessed that I am able to do this and that I am having so much fun with it.

Part of me wishes I started sooner but I am happy with my story and how it’s playing out. I feel so healthy and I feel my body thanking me.

It took me years to get here and I still judge myself for what I eat. But I remember to look back a year ago or even 6 months ago and see how far I’ve come. I am amazed and I am truly proud of myself and where I am in life.

Thanks for letting me share this part of my journey with you! Below I have a few things I have been eating the last 7 days.

I love you all.

Raw Vegan Hummus!

I learn to make my own 🙂