First Marker

Tonight marks my first full week raw.  Things learned so far:

• Cauliflower finely ground in a coffee grinder makes a pretty damn good substitute for cous cous and mashed potatoes.
• There's a restaurant/caterer in the Towson area that sells dishes to Wholefoods called Zia's.  It makes a raw apple cobbler that, though slightly scary looking, is the best apple cobbler I've ever tasted.
• There's a restaurant in Fell's called Liquid Earth that makes an amazing raw Chai Smoothy.
• I'm missing the part of my food processor that makes the blade spin (hence the use of the coffee grinder).

Effects noticed thus far:

• Skin is clearing up, complexion more even.
• Body toning up in arms, legs, and abdomen.
• Bags under eyes pretty much gone.
• Body feels lighter and lankier.
• Eyes more vibrant.

The only downside I've noticed, or rather, benefit I expected but have not yet experienced has been the increase in energy that so amazed me the first time.  However, I don't necessarily attribute this to the diet itself.  Returning from spring break to the college that I no longer want to attend, while the person who I want most to be on this campus is across the world, and freaking out about being behind in school work became somewhat overwhelming.  Not to mention that I have a predisposition for hormone/chemical imbalances, for which I had stopped taking medication last semester (and was doing great up until C left for New Zealand), as well as a predisposition for escapism.  

So, yeah. Not feeling the energy yet and sort of struggling a little (and ironically not with the slightly extremist, quite difficult diet I'm attempting but rather with everything else).  Well, at least something is coming easily right now.  As I work at coping with the school situation and day by day deal with the distance between C and I, I am hoping that the mood and energy will lift.  We're breaking it all into manageable chunks and tackling one at a time.  Today not only marks my first week raw, but also the purchase of my plane ticket to New Zealand on May 8th.  This Friday is the half way point of C and my time apart, as well as the opening night of my friend's musical AND my roommate's and my "Christmas in March."  The week of April 1st I go home for the weekend.  From the weekend after that I only have 1 more month until I leave.  Then it's all down hill with finals, packing up the apartment, packing for New Zealand, etc...  Manageable chunks.  

My aim is to continue with the raw foods up until I leave for New Zealand.  It's a lot more feasible down here than I initially believed (though it's proving to be pricey).  Once I find more farmer's market's and local natural food markets, hopefully I can more effectively cut costs.  Oh well.  Someone once said that it's all about learning.  Even in times where I feel like I'm not accomplishing anything else, I can't deny that I am at least learning something.