Building Muscle on a Raw Food Vegan Diet.

Since becoming raw again, I could tell that my strength was improving when I was working out at the gym. Many times we hear people ask us where we get our protein. It is like a broken record, but these people are serious--they don't know.

How we as Americans have been brainwashed with the nutritional guidelines! There is so much information that isn't bombarded in the media. Of course, the media is meant to make a profit. There is no profit for the meat and dairy industry, if the average person found out that they didn't need to get their protein from dead animals and dairy!

Think about it...where do the apes, giraffes, hippos, horses, cows, etc. get their protein for their enormous muscles? From greens, of course. So, instead of getting my protein second hand, I'm getting it directly from the source.

Also, most carnivores do not realize that by cooking their food, their bodies are only able to utilize about 50% of the protein they are getting.

That is enough of my little soap box. I am just happy to report that since I've been consuming a raw diet since March of 2008, I've been able to consistently push myself more with my weight training.

I'm hoping 2010 will bring even better results. I'm am working on building more muscle to make sure I don't lose any more weight.

Our bodies are miraculous. If you feed it right and treat it with the respect it deserves, it can heal itself and give you the energy and health you need to live an active life.

Here are some links that might interest you. (Use your back button to get back to my blog.)

On Pace: Can vegan diet fuel an athlete? He says yes

Steve Pavlina

Raw Food Diet

Raw Food Videos

Raw Food Pot Luck Change Today!

Because of the cool front and the breeze, I've decided not to have the potluck at the beach today.

Instead, it will be at my condo, since we usually never have more than a handful of people.

Please call me for details and directions, if you plan on attending.

Thanks.

Viveca

Publish Post

Lifefood Gourmet

I FINALLY MADE IT!!! Today I took my parents to the Miami airport. Since I have been wanting to get down to Miami for over one and half years, it gave me the opportunity to go to Miami and finally get to Lifefood Gourmet.

I have to say that it was well worth the wait! I got misplaced along the way since my GPS didn't want to cooperate. John was very patient and helpful each of the 3 times I called for assistance.

Once I arrived, he met me with a smile. He was behind the counter preparing food for the women who had arrived previously.

The restaurant is cozy in size, but the food is fit for a 5-star, spacious restaurant. I decided to try the pizza because the crust was different than most of the raw food pizzas I have tried. I wasn't sure what I would think of pumpkin cream "cheese," but it was very tasty--not what I expected. I was very happy with my personal-sized pizza.

Now, for the dessert....YUM. I asked if they had cheesecake. John said they didn't, but they had a special today. It was pumpkin pie. I had a couple variations of pumpkin pie at a potluck I attended yesterday, but decided to give it a try anyway.

I was VERY happy I did. The pumpkin pie far exceeded my expectations! It had been removed from the freezer about 20 minutes or so before I got it. It felt a little frosty as I put my fork into it. It reminded me of a gourmet pumpkin ice cream. It was all I could do not to take another piece home for later!

Before leaving, I found out that John sells fresh coconut water in glass bottles. I bought one for a treat for later.

I will definitely go back to Lifefood Gourmet the next time I go to Miami. I may find 3 other people to share a ride with me.



For you convenience, I have listed the link below in the link section.

New Vegan Restuarant in West Palm Beach!!

I just found out that a new vegetarian restaurant opened in WPB last week. It is called Darbster. I checked out their menu and saw that in addition to salads, they do have a small raw food section. If enough of us patronize this restuarant, maybe we can influence them to expand their raw food selections.

This is the description I received:

Darbster is a unique vegetarian bistro with a creative menu that will appeal to both the vegetarian and mainstream dinner. Our goal is provide delicious, natural, organic and vegetarian friendly cuisine that will appeal to all tastes.

8020 S. Dixie Highway
West Palm Beach, FL, 33405
561-586-2622


http://www.darbster.com

Raw Food Thanksgiving Potluck!

Here is the notice about this potluck that I received from Susan & Caroline. I plan on going & hope to see you there!

It's Thanksgiving!

Let's socialize!

Let's give thanks!

Let's eat some life-giving raw and living foods!

******* There's plenty of room, bring your friends! *******

THANKSGIVING DAY potluck!

Thursday, November 26, 2009
~ from 3:00 P.M.

at Susan and Caroline's

6800 Country Place Road - off Skees Rd (between Belvedere and Okeechobee, just west of Jog Rd.)

West Palm Beach, FL 33411

561 478-7444

The same guidelines apply as other potlucks -

Bring food (food is required) - enough for 10 people, if not more...

Please bring only organic, raw, vegan food to share (no animal flesh or eggs, no dairy, no cheese). Your recipe and your name placed next to your dish is important for those with special dietary concerns.

If you haven't made a lot of raw food recipes or you prefer to eat more simply, you can bring a simple green salad and a dressing made without vinegar.

For inspiration about what to bring, go to www.rawfoodinfo.com. Also, there are great recipe books out there - Rene Oswald has one www.ReneOswald.com , Jackie and Gideon Graff have several www.SproutRawFood.org, Rhio has a wonderful book - Hooked On Raw www.rawfoodinfo.com and there are countless others to choose from.

There's only 2 very small steps into our home... and two dogs - Sophie the Lab will be playing in the backyard, Sweetie the Yorkie will join us... $2.00 per person helps to cover our expenses

We hope you can make it!! PLEASE RSVP!!

If you have ANY QUESTIONS about what to bring, or wonder if the ingredients are okay, please contact me!

You can email me at VitalLongevity@earthlink.net or call 561 478-7444

To join or learn more about our group and our monthly events, follow this link:

http://rawfood.meetup.com/211

Next Potluck Sunday, December 6

Our next raw food potluck will be on Sunday, December 6 at 3:00 p.m. at Loggerhead Park.

Next Raw Food Potluck--November 1

The next raw food potluck for the the Palm Beach Gardens Raw Food Group will be on Sunday, November 1 at 3:00.

We meet at a pavilion there. Contact me for further details.

Visit our website. While you're there, sign up for our Yahoo Group mailing list to be informed of our potlucks and other events in the area.

Viveca Park

Next Raw Potluck--September 27

The Palm Beach Gardens Raw Food Group will be having their next potluck at 4 p.m. on September 27 at the Loggerhead Park.

If you have any questions or don't see us at a pavilion, give me a call at 951-0471.

Trip to Denver

On August 31, I went to Denver to visit my younger sister, Jann. I was there five wonderful days! What a great little break I had. Although it wasn't a long time, it felt like a real vacation.

My sister was a very gracious hostess. I was able to make my green smoothies every day: we went out to places to eat where I could get a nice salad; we had a pedicure; we took morning walks around different lakes; we went to the movies to see The Time Traveler's Wife, we worked out at her gym, and last, but not least, she gave me a hot stone massage one day, and the next day she gave me an ionic foot spa (detox) and reflexology on my feet and hands.

I even got in a little reading in in addition to what I read on trip to and from Denver--I read two paperbacks.

The weather was gorgeous. Most days it was in the 70s. It seemed cooler at night. The last day it was 66 and overcast. It felt like fall. I wore my cotton sweater a lot since I'm used to the sub-tropics of South Florida. It was a nice change for me.

I'm back to the sweltering weather in Florida, but that is o.k. with me. I love my hot weather. And anyway, I'm inside a lot. Also, I much prefer the heat of summer in South Florida to the cold of winter up north!

Thanks, Jann, for the memorable visit!

New Gym

I switched gyms last Wednesday. I now belong to LA Fitness and absolutely love it! It is a big difference from the gym I belonged to. It just opened the end of April, so it is everything is so new. I've been really pumped ever since joining.

Out of five days, I've gone four days--but I've been five times. I've changed my workout schedule. Instead of just alternating upper and lower body exercises, I'll do a push/pull 3-day split routine. I'll take at least one day off a week and on other days, I'll take a yoga or pilates class, water exercise or just cardio. I'll continue to stretch after every workout.

I know I'll be pushing my fitness to the next level.

I'm also happy that this gym is closer. It is only about a mile from where I live.

Energy Soup

When I attended the Living Food's Institute, we made energy soup every day. It is really a drink and not a soup.
It is thick & creamy and not heated at all.

We used ingredients such as greens (I mainly use kale or collard greens), sprouted mung beans, sprouted lentils, sunflower greens, buckwheat greens, dulse, avocado, and apple.

It didn't taste wonderful, but it wasn't really bad either. We drank this throughout the day. By day two, I was really getting into drinking it, and actually starting to like it.

I can't say that I love energy soup, but for some reason, I crave this and drink it every day. In the close to 3 months since I returned from the Living Foods Institute, I think I've missed making (and drinking) this only 3 days.

I think my body is craving it since it is full of enzymes and nutrients.

I look forward to my energy soup every day!!

You can find the recipe here: Energy Soup Recipe

Next Raw Food Potluck CHANGE

The next Palm Beach Gardens Raw Food Group potluck will on Sunday, May 31 at 4:00 p.m. It will be at a pavilion at Loggerhead Park, which is on US HWY 1 just north of Donald Ross.

We never know which pavilion we will get, so if you don't see us, just call my cell at 561-951-0471.

We now have a website. The link is also listed on the right below.

100% Raw & Getting Stronger

I have to share this information with you because people always ask where a vegan gets their protein (not to mention a raw vegan).

I have done weight training on and off for the past 30 + years. I haven't always been consistent and there have been times when I didn't make it to the gym for periods of time.

This time when I went raw (May 2008), I decided I didn't want to lose muscle. I made sure that I was regular and consistent in my weight training routine. I have to say that I am amazed at how strong I've become Not that I wasn't strong in the past, but I am almost 58 years old and haven't been this strong for a long time.

I am writing this for those of you who visit my blog and think that by going raw or becoming a vegan, you will lose muscle. That is not the case. If you work out with weights consistently and push yourself to higher weights when possible, you don't have to worry about losing muscle.

I don't ever remember having such hard thigh muscles. I plan to continue pushing myself to see how well I can look as I reach my 60s and later years. I am committed to both my raw lifestyle with fitness cross training.

Back in town

Last week my husband, Paul, & I went to Wrightsville Beach for our son's wedding. We took 2 days getting there and 2 days getting back. We stayed there 3 nights.

I must say that I worried about what I would be eating ahead of time--and it was for no reason. Although I guess by being concerned about what I was going to eat, helped me to prepare for the trip. I took a cooler and brought several raw food items, as well as fruit.

Since we had a kitchen at the beach condo, I brought my Vita-Mix. I brought my jars of mung bean & lentil sprouts. I was able to make my energy soup all 3 days we were at the beach.

I brought wheat grass and my portable wheat grass juicer and had my wheat grass juice 2 of the 3 days we were there.

I also made energy soup for the first day of the trip each way. I also made and brought smoothies and strawberry (almond milk) milkshakes.

I brought some soaked & dehydrated nuts with me. I had planned on making the milkshakes while there, but I forgot to bring my nutmilk straining bags. I won't forget the next time!

While eating out, I had some really nice salads. Since I don't really consider a salad a meal, I would go back to the beach condo and eat something else. I never lacked for good food. I was even able to get some sprouted lentils and mung beans at the salad bar at Lovey's Market & Cafe.

Of course, prior to my trip, I looked online for raw food restaurants and health food stores. There were no raw food restaurants in Wilmington or Wrightsville Beach, but I did find 2 good health food store.

It was a bit chilly there, although it was still sunny and nice--just not warm as Palm Beach Gardens. We had a 3-rd floor condo with a nice ocean view. We had a really nice time! All in all, I think I did a pretty good job eating healthfully.

Alkaline Water

I have been hearing so many good things about water ionizers and alkaline water lately. I had the opportunity to drink alkaline water while at Living Foods Institute. They used the one that they found worked best.

They use the Athena model by Ion Ways. After returning home, my father told me that he wanted an water ionizer. He had been reading so much about how important it is to drink alkaline water. He did some further research and decided to go with the Athena model.

I know a lot of people sell the Kangen system. I was told that it was 12-year old technology and the Athena is under a 3-year technology. It is also the only one that cleans the minerals out while being used--it is self cleaning.

In the process of ordering one for him, I decided to become an online affiliate. So, as of today, I have a website to sell these. You can find it here.

If you have any questions, feel free to check out the website and contact me. I'm hoping to make enough sales that I can hurry and buy one for myself!!!!

More Living Foods

Since I've been back from Living Foods Institute. I was right when I thought it could help me move to the next level.

I am sprouting mung beans and lentils and buying the buckwheat, sunflower and pea sprout greens. I am using these daily in my energy soup.

I have been sprouting soft wheat berries and have been making rejuvelac. Saturday I started my first big pot of vegi-kraut.

I have been eating lots of salad, doing a better job of making salad dressings.

I have bought some more Mason jars, and finally also got the wide mouth quart jars.

I feel like I have really increased my level of Living foods, and have so much energy! Since I'm consuming so much more spouts, I feel like my body has become even more alkaline and, therefore, my taste buds have changed. I'm enjoying foods that I never liked before. Such as vegi-kraut and pickled beets.

Going to the Living Foods Institute has really inspired me. I am happy that I had the opportunity to go.

Day 11--Graduation Day

Today we started out with our wheat grass juice and had a chance to visit and then talk with our chef, Isia. We then went into the kitchen and prepared food. We had lunch and then started having our classmates sign our personalized aprons and signed theirs.

Our graduation ceremony started at 3:30. We served our guests and then waited until it was time to go up to give our testimonies and receive our diplomas. Before receiving our diplomas, four of our classmates did a skit. It was hilarious and had our director, Jane, in stitches. She was laughing through tears.

It was a wonderful culmination of many long days, filled with sharing with classmates, filled with experiences of all kinds. The time I spent here will never be forgotten, nor the wonderful people I met, including classmates, practitioners and staff.

Day 10

Today is my day 10. Tomorrow will be graduation! Today is Saturday. We had classes as usual, and I had a reflexology treatment, a detox foot bath, and a colonic, as well as the 3 other things I do on my own (Med-Light, Chi Machine, & rebounding).

We made several things today in our uncooking class. One of the items we made was lasagna. We had a very tiny portion today, but will have more tomorrow at our graduation party.

We watched the dvd You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay. I didn't see all of it because of a therapy treatment, but I had seen it before (thanks, Cathy).

We got out about 1 1/2 hours early. I had a great treat after class because I got off the train at a different stop and met my son, Mike & his fiance, Dela for dinner. It was even better because they took me to a place that I had heard about in class. This place served some raw food as well as vegetarian food, as well as non-vegetarian food. We all were pleased with our choices. I had raw cashew cheese with veggies and pear slices.

They dropped me off at my motel after dinner, and I got here about an hour earlier than usual. That in itself would have been a treat, but I really did enjoy seeing Dela & Mike.

I'm looking forward to our graduation tomorrow and to taste all the different foods we have been making. I'm not sure what we'll be making in the morning, but we're sure to have some tasty food!

Monday will be my day 12, but about half the students will be gone. There will be no classes, but I'll be having my last colonic, reflexology and Indian head massage. I look forward to that. My last treatment will be done by 1, so I'll be heading to the motel shortly after that unless I decide to do something in Atlanta first. Maybe I'll try to find the local raw food restaurant.

Tomorrow will probably be my last posting regarding my Living Food Institute experience. You'll have to visit my blog again after that to hear about my next raw food adventure.

Day 9

Today we had our usual raw food classes, but after that we got some very bad news. Edna, a classmate that had gone home ill the previous day, had passed away. Her husband informed us that is had nothing to do with detoxing. She had been on chemo for a cancer, but at the hospital they found out that she also had a brain tumor that they were unaware of.

As you may guess, this was very upsetting news for us all. She had been a very friendly woman, who was a great classmate. She had been on my uncooking class team, so I had some extra time to get to know her. She had such a wonderful smile, and by her attitude in class, you might not have guessed that she was in pain.

We had bought some aprons and had them personalized. Her apron came in today. We decided to all sign it as though she was receiving it. We will give it to her family along with a plant and a card. We will all remember her in our own private ways. I'm sure she will be with us in spirit on graduation day!

Day 8

I should say "day 8, and I'm feeling great!" I got back to my motel room about 10 minutes earlier than usual. Even better, a new friend decided not to eat her lunch today, and let me take it home for my dinner. That means no fruit for dinner tonight.

I'm eating a duplicate of what I had for lunch. That is salad with buckwheat & sunflower sprouts, lentil and mung bean sprouts, a miso, lemon salad dressing and spring greens; some vegi-kraut, carrot/zucchini salad, flax seed crackers, and a small nut burger. I'm in heaven!!!

I'm in my p.j.'s and plan on being in bed before 9:30. I have been getting up at 5:15, but tomorrow I'm going to try for 5 a.m.

I can't believe that I've been here over a week already. I arrived on Wednesday, March 4th, started classes on the 5th. My last day of class will be Monday, March 16, and I'll be flying back to Florida on Tuesday, the 17th.

We made a lot of things in the kitchen yesterday, and a couple of the were for today's lunch. Today we made almond milk, which we'll use it to create carob milk tomorrow.

I think we'll be in the kitchen most of the day on Saturday because Sunday we will be having a graduation party. The students invite their family and/or friends and also local people attend.

I had my 2nd DNA energy treatment today. It has to do with canceling out imprints from our ancestors. Here is the website from the person who developed this technique.

I also had a foot bath detox. I just looked at my class schedule and see that I have no therapies tomorrow. Of course, I can still do the Chi machine, the rebounder and the med-light.

I'm going to finish my dinner now.

Day 7

Today is day 7 for me, but it is day 6 for many others since I started a day early for treatments. A lot of people were feeling better after the beginning of their detox. However, that was until they couldn't have solid food for lunch today. Today we had a liquid only day.

During our raw food classes, we made 3 different types of smoothies. So along with our usual energy soup, today we also had smoothies. By this afternoon, there were about 5 people who weren't feeling well due to that extra detoxing. Some have opted to eat something at dinner. It was stressed that they stick with a salad and chew very slowly and carefully.

I have decided to go the rest of the night without solids. I brought some alkaline water to drink tonight from the institute.

Today we also made cookies and savory burgers. We will have some for lunch tomorrow, but the majority of what we made will be for our graduation party on Sunday.

The fitness trainer was here first thing this morning and led us through some more exercise. It was nice to learn a few more exercises that I can do when I can't go to the gym or am traveling and don't have access to weights or machines.

Today I had my 3rd colonic, and I had my 3rd reflexology session. I'm in heaven when I have the reflexology. No comment on the other treatment.

Day 6

Yesterday was day 5, and I didn't take time to post. By time I get to the motel room, I usually have 2 1/2 hours before I want to be in bed. If I get a phone call, it throws me off.

Yesterday we had a fitness trainer come and give a little demonstration and led us through a few exercises. He has a 22-minute workout that doesn't involve weights, but still gives you great strength training. He uses rubber tubing and a flex ball.

Yesterday we made raw hummus, guacamole, and salsa. We made burritos, using kale as our wraps. We also had salad along with that for lunch.

I'm sure I'm not covering 1/3 of what we did, but I can't remember many other details now.

Day 5

The time is flying by. I spend most of my day at the institute and right under 2 hours commuting and a couple of hours awake in the motel room before going to bed. I'm not complaining at all--this is such a wonderful adventure!

Today first thing in the morning, I had a DNA energy healing session. I can tell you more about it later, if you're interested. Just send me an e-mail.

Then we had a little class time before going into the kitchen to prepare our daily pitcher of energy soup. I went to have a treatment. I don't have any literature on it, but I think it is called Meta-Tron. I lie back in this chair, with a blanket on, and hold these 2 things shaped like dumb bells. Only difference it that these aren't solid and they seem to be made out of brass with crystals in the part that you're holding on to. They put a sleep mask on you and put a head set on you. The music sounds like Native American chanting, as well as words spoken in the background. I was there an hour. It put me in sort of a theta state. I could hear what was going on the room around me, but I was still having my own experience--kind of like meditating.

Of course, we had our wheat grass juice a few minutes after walking through the door in the morning.

I don't eat before going to the institute. I drink my wheat grass juice and then wait 30 minutes before drinking water. I try to drink a couple cups before switching over to the energy soup. Today I drank 4 large cups of it before lunch and 2 in the afternoon. We had a very large salad for lunch and some vegi-kraut. Later in the afternoon, for our snack, we got some of the ice cream that was made during the raw food class in the morning.

On the way home today, I stopped at a stop about 1/4 of a mile away to go to CVS. I'd been putting this off, but I needed some large jugs of spring water, paper towel and some Charmin. I know Denise is smiling now as she is reading this! :-)

I better get ready for bed. As my dad always said, "5:00 comes awful early." And, that is the time I'll be up in the morning. One good thing, this experience is helping me sift my schedule. I'll be ahead of the game for the summer months! I always like getting up and out early in the mornings during the summer months, when it is hot outside and the sun rays can burn you.

Day 4

I'm planning on going to bed as soon as I blog. Today has been a long day, since the time changed. Also, because it is Sunday, the buses and trains don't run as frequently, I left a bit early for the bus this morning. I ended up getting there before they unlocked their doors, so I did some stretching on their porch. I got there a few minutes before 7. That would be like a few minutes before 6, had the time not changed.

I had to get to a health food store to buy fruit, after we got out at 6. I waited over 15 minutes for a bus to go about a mile. I could have walked it, but I really didn't know where I was going. On the way back, after waiting for a bus 10 minutes, I decided to try walking it. I was hoping a bus would come by as I walked passed a bus stop, but that didn't happen.

At least now I know where the health food store is, and how to get to it, and KNOW that I can walk it.

Today I started out by lying on the Chi machine. Then I had my 2nd colonic. I must say that it went better this time. After the colonic, I had my reflexology. Then we went to the kitchen for raw food classes. We also saw the progress of the planting of sprouted buckwheat seeds, and rinsed the other 2 kinds of sprouts in the jars and drained them to start sprouting.

We made quite a lot in the kitchen and got out a little late, so that we didn't eat our lunch as early as usual. After our lunch, we got to go out and enjoy the sunshine. I took a walk with a couple of women that I've met.

Right after lunch I had the Q2 Quantum Field detox foot bath.

Tomorrow morning I will have my DNA energy session. I haven't done this before, but it sounds very interesting.

I got up about 5:15 a.m. this morning, so I'm going to get ready and get into bed. I hope to be there before 9:30. Tomorrow I get to start all over. At least, now I have a little fruit in my motel fridge, so I won't be hungry in the evening for a few days.

Yesterday--Day 3

I got in from classes about 7 p.m. With the time change coming, I would be in bed in 2 hours.

Yesterday, I had an energy session, which is supposed to help get rid of certain energies within my body which causes some of my physical difficulties. This was very interesting, and I got a lot out of it.

We also had many classes and lectures. Some had to do with healing with affirmations, taken from Louise Hay. We had emotional healing classes and energy classes. We were taught how to ground ourselves, and also things to do protect ourselves from others energy.

Today I am having my 2nd colonic. I'm also having a detox foot bath and reflexology. I can hardly wait for the last two. :-)

I have to get over to the bus stop now. Buses run less frequently on the weekends, and I want to be sure not to miss my bus.

I have my phone off during the day, but you can leave me a message, if you want to keep in touch.

Day 2

Today we started out by having a demonstration on how to do an enema. This was discussed extensively.

Then we went to the kitchen and prepared energy soup ourselves. We also made a tomato/red pepper salad dressing.

We had lots of lectures today. I had my first hydro-colonic today. It was a long day. We got out going on 6 p.m.

I have to be there at 7:45 in the morning.

Day 1

I just finished day 1 at Living Foods Institute. It was a short day because the classes don't officially start until tomorrow. Only people attending the 12-day program went today and also on day 12. The rest of the students are attending 10 days.

So today was like being pampered! I started out by getting there over an hour early. That is because I didn't know the transit system and wanted to be sure that I got there on time. It ended up that I didn't have more than a 2-minute wait when transferring from the bus to the train.

After registering, I drank some wheat grass juice. Then I relaxed until it was time for my first treatment. It was work waiting for. My first treatment was sitting in one of those massage chairs and having an Indian head massage. The areas of concentration are the neck, shoulders, head, arms and back. It lasted 45 minutes and was wonderful.

After that, I had a detox foot bath. This helps remove toxins and is also very relaxing.

Then came Bach Flower Therapy. This was very interesting. This has to do with emotions (since emotions do affect our health). After speaking with me and getting certain information regarding how I deal with things (people, life, etc.), the therapist creates a Bach Flower Therapy. I am instructed to put 3 drops in 12 ounces of water and sip for a period of time. I can repeat throughout the day. I think I may share this information at one of our upcoming meetings, if anyone is interested.

The last treatment I had was reflexology. This was also quite relaxing, as well as beneficial. The therapist could find the tension & pain I had in my neck and shoulders. This was from lugging my suitcase & laptop & backpack more than a quarter of a mile yesterday--plus the stress of flying to a new city, etc.

Then I was instructed how to use 3 different therapies that I don't need assistance. These were rebounding (just a slight bounce without your feet coming off the rebounder), chi machine (both of these help with the lymphatic system. The last one is called MedLight. It has a led light that you hold on any painful areas to help heal them. It is also used for other things.

Throughout the whole time I was there, there was a table of raw veggies, alkaline water, and a large pitcher of energy soup. We were encouraged to have as much as we wanted.

I was so energized during the day and had fun speaking with the other students, most which haven't had much exposure to the raw food lifestyle. I was telling them about Rene's kale chip recipe, and a couple asked me to e-mail them the recipe. I will do that, as well as give them Rene's website address.

That is enough for now. I will write more tomorrow night. I probably won't get back to my motel until about 7 p.m.

By the way, I think I pretty much have the transit system down. Tomorrow, I will catch the bus at 6:36 like I did today since I actually have to be there the time I arrived today. At least getting there early today was beneficial.

Oh yeah, someone tested my antioxidant level. The person who tested me was amazed. I was at the top of the chart. It was at 65,000. She is anxious to see how high it is at the end of the 12 days. Alot of people told me theirs was near the bottom. I guess she could tell that I probably wasn't attending due to a health problem.

I think I'll lay down and read a little of Brenda Cobb's book, Living Foods Lifestyle, that they gave me. I may take a power nap--I have a feeling my eyes will get heaving, and I won't be able to keep them open for long.

E-mail me if you have any questions.

In Atlanta

I arrived in Atlanta early this evening. I had a little adventure taking the train and bus from the airport to the motel. It took me about an hour and a half. The last 20 minutes was pulling my suitcase, with my laptop on it, down the street over a quarter of a mile. Most of which time there wasn't a sidewalk. You should see the bottom of my suitcase!

Anyway, I'm here, and I'm glad I brought some fruit and kale chips with me. I'm getting ready for bed, since I'll have to be up no later than 6 a.m. to start another adventure. Tomorrow I'll be taking a bus to a southbound train and then take an eastbound train. I'll have to time it and see how it goes.

I hope to add to this blog each day while I'm at the Living Foods Institute. I'll share all that I can.

Going to Living Foods Institute on Wednesday!!!

This is just a reminder that there will be no March Palm Beach Gardens Raw Food meeting/discussion group. It is usually the first Thursday of the month. However, I will be gone.

I am going to the Living Foods Institute in Atlanta, run by Brenda Cobb. I will be there for 12 days. I will be attending raw food classes, eating lots of salads, energy soup and drinking wheat grass juice and juices.

I will also be having a lot of different types of therapies such as 5 colonics, 5 reflexology treatments, 5 Footbath Detox treatments, 2 Energy treatments, 2 DNA Therapies, 1 Bach Flower Treatment, 2 Indian Head Massage, 11 Chi Machine treatments, and 11 MedLight treatments.

There will be raw food prep classes as well as some other classes. You can see more at their website. http://www.livingfoodsinstitute.com The last day will be March 16th, and I will be flying back on the 17th.

As you can imagine, I'm so excited about this opportunity. I have been 100% raw for over 9 months now, and this will help take me to the next step. I expect to do some detoxing while there.

I hope to write on my blog almost every evening while I'm there.

Living Foods Institute

AtlantaI am so excited! I will be attending the 12-day training program at Living Foods Institute in March in Atlanta. I was blessed with this from someone who couldn't use it after it was paid for, and it the opportunity is about to expire.

Although I still have to pay for a motel for 13 days and transportation to and from the motel and institute, it will be so worth it! What an adventure for me. There will be lots of pampering going on in addition to the treatments, classes and raw food classes. I'm looking forward to meeting lots of new friends.

I now have my plane reservations and my motel accommodations taken care of.

After I return, I'll share some of my adventures on this blog.

Viveca

Next Poluck February 8th at 3:00

Our next raw potluck will be Sunday, February 8th at 3:00. Please e-mail me to get the directions. It will NOT be at our normal location. vivecapark@gmail.com

Next Meeting February 5 at 6:30 p.m.

Our next discussion group meeting will be on February 5th at 6:30 p.m. in the meeting room of the Palm Beach Gardens library. This is close to Legacy Place.

Our next potluck will be Sunday, February 8th at 3:00 p.m. We will hold it at a different location, just in case it is too windy or chilly at the beach. We will hold it at a cabana at Harriett's condo. I will e-mail this information via our Yahoo Group mailing list closer to that time.