NonVegans Take This Challenge!

If you're not vegan, take this challenge:

Go into your pantry, your refrigerator, and your freezer and read the labels. You are specifically looking for Cholesterol. If you see Cholesterol = 0, then the product has no animal products in it. None.

The purpose of this little experiment is for you to notice just how much cholesterol you are ingesting daily (keep in mind, this doesn't include the cholesterol your body makes when you consume animal products to protect your arteries). Overload, overload, overload.

And you wonder freaking why America's #1 killer is heart disease! Wow!

I love you too much to leave you in the dark. Start paying attention. You'll notice 98% of the products you give to your family have cholesterol - this doesn't include the outright meat, butter, and cheese you are using - I'm talking about dairy hidden in a can of roasted almonds or a box of pancake mix, or a can of soup. It's EVERYWHERE! People don't stand a chance to avoid being a victim of heart disease. Someone out there is counting on us all to remain in darkness.

Not on my watch.

Did you know, before I was vegan, I thought I was healthy by drinking 2% milk (insert boisterous laugh)? Yep, I thought I was doing something when I ditched whole milk. LOL! I'm cracking my own self up with this.
Y'all, whether it's 1%, 2%, skim, lactaid, or whatever - it has cholesterol. (shaking my d*mn head). Oh yes, and for all you health nuts, ha! - Check the labels on your "yogurt" and your cottage cheese. Psh! Healthy my vegan *&*!

Anyway - I just want you informed. Cholesterol does NOT do the heart good. If you eat for your heart, you'll dodge America's deadliest disease.

Keeping y'all informed,

Lisa
‪#‎TheMoreYouKnow‬

My Mother Died So Yours Can Live

Oh my gosh! Why is Lisa always posting pictures of her smoothies and her salads? Why does she OVERshare about her healthy eating? Why does she care what in the h*ll we eat?

Good questions. I'm glad you asked. The simple answer is: Because my mother is DEAD - that's why.

Yes, death comes to us all, but there are some deaths that can be avoided - like HEART DISEASE AND TYPE 2 DIABETES - both of which she had. At the time of her death, her arteries were 90% clogged and she was shooting up on insulin. We didn't know it, but she was "dead man" walking. We were all living in the dark back then. I had NO clue that a plantbased diet (no oil) could have prevented her from dying of a heart attack. Eating plants prevents and reverses heart disease. Facts!

So, Lisa overshares, unapologetically, so YOUR MOTHER, can live. So you don't get a phone call one hot June day (2001) that your mother is dead.

No one's Mom should die as a result of Diabetes type 2 complications, a stroke, or heart disease.

Why do I overshare? So that perhaps you will get your head out of the sand, pretending what you eat has NO CONSEQUENCE on the state of your health and open your eyes to be inspired by my oversharing food ideas. My mission is to raise awareness so that YOUR Mom, Dad - you and your spouse (and the kiddos) can live a vibrant life.

I know - unfortunately accidents happen - tragedies descend and people die. Heck, none of us is getting out of here alive anyway. My goal is to remind you that while we are here, we can easily INCREASE the quality of our lives by adapting a plantbased diet (this has nothing to do with being vegan by the way. Veganism is a lifestyle; unless you care about dedicating your life to being a voice for the animals, then a diet is the closest you'll ever come - but for a FIRST step, that's terrific.)

There is science to prove it Friends: Eating animals and their by-products causes our body to send out lethal cholesterol to protect our arteries. EVERY SINGLE TIME You eat something - anything- that comes from an animal, your body shoots out this "protection."
We're a gluttonous society so this "cholesterol injection" happens for breakfast (sausage and bacon and eggs and butter and milk) for lunch (turkey sandwich and yogurt) and dinner (chicken, steak, cheese enchiladas, broccoli smothered in cheese, potatoes drowned in sour cream). Here's the bad news: When does this cholesterol assault begin for us? About 6 months old (or younger if your parents chose formula (cow's milk) over breastfeeding). Isn't it cute (NOT) how Gerber offers CHICKEN in a jar for babies? Reel 'em in early. Tragic. (Research shows children at the age of 10 already have beginning stages of heart disease). What's worse is since animals and their by-products have no fiber, they remain in your body for days - causing major damage. They also have OXIDANTS - free radicals that wreak havoc as well. Without the fighting power of ANTIOXIDANTS (raw plant foods), you're a sitting duck for cancer. Yet, you continue to go to McDonalds, and Chick-fil-A, etc. . . death by food suicide. Sad.

To this end, I will continue to share and overshare in honor of my mother. Hopefully, I don't hear any bad news about you and your family. If Mom (or another relative) does die of a heart attack or stroke, and I know YOU have had access to this life-saving knowledge, I won't say a word - I'll offer my condolences - but you know and I know that I really would have preferred that it didn't have to end that way.

If you can't eliminate animals products outright all at once - DECREASE, DECREASE, DECREASE (Oh, and dairy does more harm than actual animal flesh so says science).

In honor of my Mother Irma Edwards - Gone Too Soon. Her birthday is this Sunday, June 19th - She was ripped away from us for the lack of knowledge on June 25, 2001. Heart Attack. Unnecessarily.

Every plantbased meal you choose for you and your family helps me know my sharing isn't in vain. Each one. Save one.

Eat plants y'all - more raw (antioxidants) than cooked.

I love y'all!

The High raw vegan gets back into the swing of optimal health with fruit.

Rest in Peace Harambe

The article says Harambe, the 400lb silverback gorilla, violently dragged the 4y.o. boy for ten minutes - who remained conscious throughout the entire "attack". Let that sink in for a minute. A 4y.o. boy cannot remain conscious if I violently dragged him for ten minutes. Are you with me? (And I'm no where CLOSE to 400lbs of steel muscle). This is a pic of silverbacks in "attack" mode - does it look like the 4y.o. boy could have survived what you see in this picture for ten minutes?
Please don't believe HOW the media portrays a story. Let the facts speak. If a 4y.o. child remained conscious during an "attack" from a 400lb gorilla, something doesn't add up.
Zoos exist ONLY for human entertainment. We really need to rethink our participation and support of keeping animals caged for the sole purpose of people walking by to gawk and point and teach children to be desensitized to animal cruelty.
I once was blind, but now I see - was lost, but now I'm found. 
#WakeUp #RestInPeaceHarambe 

High Raw Vegan on The Starch Solution

Every time I go on a fully raw fast or a juice/smoothie fast, I undo all my efforts after the fast and gain the weight back. I've been playing with the same TEN pounds for too long now. 

Well, I have heard several people swear by high carb low fat with astounding results. Raw food is life so I've been hesitant to try to starch solution approach, until this week. I'm on day five of the starch solution (high carb-low fat -NO oil) and I'm pleased to say I am down three pounds this week.

This is all experimental for me because I love raw foods, and I still incorporate several pieces of fruit into my daily diet, but I have shifted to meals with cooked starches: rice, corn, potatoes & sweet potatoes - (even made an oil-free hummus to top my potatoes) - and I'm loving it. I love the ALL I CAN EAT approach. If you saw my potato bowls this week you would judge me. I get to eat soooo much food - it's so fun! The rules are:

1. Eat only when I'm hungry and 

2. Stop when I'm full. 

The trick is when you fill your belly with carbs (no oil) you'll be satiated faster. This week, I've been going to sleep happier than I have in years. When I'm fully raw, I try to force myself to sleep because the cravings for a potato drive me crazy! 

I'm even excited to realize there have been no triggers for my autoimmune issues - life is great! 

For hydration, I'm still guzzling a gallon a day, and for exercise, I'll resume a hard core lifting regimen beginning this weekend.

For those of you struggling to lose weight, do your research on The Starch Solution (it's all you can eat carbs - no oil - no processed food). Raw foods rock, but unless you intend to be fully raw for life, once you resume eating cooked foods, your weight may fluctuate. I will say though - I never experimented with a raw food fast followed by cooked starches without oil, so I'm curious what type of results that plan will yield. Oh well - another time, perhaps. As for now, I am loving carbing up with as much rice and corn as my happy tummy can handle!

Spring Clean with a Juice fast in April

Let's think about April: Spring cleaning.

Everyone should allow the digestive track a time to rest at least twice a year. Spring and fall are two good cleansing points. Until you can work up the mental acuity to cleanse at least once a month, begin the mental work now that you will cleanse once in the spring and once in the fall.
I would like you to consider a spring-cleaning juice fast in April. If you've never juiced before, consider a 3, 5, or 7 day fast.

Tips:
1. Join a juice fasting support group now - don't wait until April.
2. Buy your juicer by the end of March.
3. Check your April calendar and choose the days that have the least distractions: no birthday parties, no girls night outs, no anniversaries to celebrate - be sure the days you choose are STRESS FREE!
My best suggestion is to begin with a 3-day fast in April. You see, I believe in the power of small steps. You don't have to conquer Rome in a day.

If 3 days works for you, in the fall, try a 5 day cleanse. If that works, spring 2016 try a 7 day cleanse. Often times, we force ourselves into these lofty goals, then nothing gets done because we quit - thinking we're a failure. Well, no you aren't a failure, you just dreamed too big. I know that's what all the propaganda tells us: DREAM BIG! Believe it or not, that usually doesn't work when you're transforming your health from poor to optimal. Gradual steps work best.

If you think you will try a three day juice fast in April, maybe use March to try a one day smoothie fast or a one day all raw foods fast.

Start the mental preparation. Take off the racing shoes. This isn't a race. The reward goes to those who make it across the finish line.
Don't be in a hurry. This is why I promote 1lb down a month. I'm not being facetious; I'm being real. I bet you didn't lose any weight last year, so don't scoff at 1lb down. It will take you farther than setting a goal to lose 8lbs a month then eventually binging and gaining it all back.
Stop trying to win the race by coming in swiftly. Make finishing your goal.

So, check out my March suggestions for wellness, if you haven't already. Commit to a wellness goal. Then start mentally preparing for a juice fast in April.

I'm successful now eating fully raw because I gave myself several months to process it. During the fall of last year, I was pretty serious that I wanted to start the new year off being fully raw. Lil' Roadie suggested I start before the new year. I tried. And failed. Most people started promptly at the new year; I wasn't quite ready yet. Finally, I jumped in on January 8th and haven't looked back.
Health is our greatest asset. And as long as I have any influence over your life, I will constantly remind you to take care of your Temple. That's my message. That's my mission.

I love you too much to let obesity and disease overtake you.
Cheers to our health - one small goal at a time.

Love y'all,
Lisa

March Wellness Goals

It's so easy to use a new month as a time to reset. Hopefully, you accomplished your February wellness goals; now it's time to set new goals for March. Here are some suggestions:

1. Replace breakfast with a smoothie.
2. Walk 30 minutes each day.
3. Go to the gym each day (do something - no days off).
4. Eat raw until dinner.
5. Eat raw for 30 days.
6. Follow the Engine 2 Diet plan (Week 1 eliminate dairy; week 2 eliminate meat; week 3 eliminate processed oils; week 4 stay the course).
7. If you are not yet drinking a gallon, increase your goal to 1/2 gallon a day (You can do 96 oz as a goal in April and 1 gallon as a goal in May).
8. Start each day with warm lemon water.
10. Follow the nutritarian diet for a month.
11. Train for couch to 5k or 10k or 15k - wherever you are.
12. Incorporate a fitness challenge: planks, squats, pushups.
13. Try intermittent fasting.
14. Eat a BIG GREEN salad for dinner.
15. Eat plants only until dinner.
16. Eat 1lb of raw greens and 1lb of cooked greens (this is part of the nutritarian diet).
17. Read a wellness book that will strengthen your research base towards healthier living.
18. Lose 4lbs.
19. Eliminate refined sugar.
20.Cook at home - avoid fast food for the month.
21. Learn new recipes to incorporate whole plant foods.
22. Put your children on an all plants diet for the month.
23. If you're married, make sex a priority - get it in (pun intended). No less than four times a week this month. Go for it! (If you don't feel like it, it's only because you aren't eating enough plants - I promise). 

Looking forward to hearing about your wellness goals and your success stories.

I am fully raw today because in the fall I SAID I was going to do it for 60 days. Now, I'm considering 6 months to a year. It's important to do what you say you're going to do. So, choose a goal and commit. Then tell someone so you can be held accountable. No lurking and hiding in the shadows. You've done that before - how's that worked for you? It hasn't.

Are you ready? Remember, choose a wellness goal. Commit. Tell someone. And make it happen.

Looking forward to your stories of success at the end of March.