My Journal (6) covers the period March 14, 2011 to June 30, 2011 and beyond.

Notes:
(1)
If amount or type is unspecified, assume it's the same amount and type as last mentioned for that fruit.
(2) spinach = Swiss Chard.
(3) C = degrees Centigrade/Celsius
(4) F = degrees Fahrenheit
(5) % = humidity.
(6) * = each.
(7) g = grams.


14 March 2011 - 31 May 2011: 

On 12 March I bought another set of 3 small avos for R5, which lasted me for the 12th and the 13th.
Yesterday I also finished the 140g of Brazil nuts that I started with on 12 January. That means, I ate about 70g yesterday - I call that a binge. Still, the 140g over the 2 month period adds up to an average of less than 3g per day.

I've really abandoned my idea of no overts. That was okay for about 8 weeks, and helped to speed up the detox maybe. From now on I'll try keeping in touch with avos, with at least 3 - 7 small ones per week, and nuts also, to a more realistic tune of about 20g per day. Don't tell me that is high fat. In the old days (1975 winter) I ate ten times that.

I find the idea of overts far more palatable - and stomachable - than the idea of plentiful greens. In any case, this is a diet designed for the high-detox, weight-losing start of my campaign. I definitely want to get rid of ALL the accumulated, toxin-carrying fat I'm carrying, and I don't mind my weight dropping a bit below optimal.

Today looks like this:
1. Grapes during the morning, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. - with one tomato to break the sweetness.
2. My hour-long daily walk.
3. The spoils of my walk, a chunk of watermelon, for lunch, with one date to break the wateriness.
4. Odds and ends: a pear, 3 or 4 bananas, some sweet grapes, 2 or 3 tomatoes, one small avo finally (eaten all on its own) before lying down at 3 p.m. for an hour's rest. No nuts today, I haven't bought any yet after yesterday's binge. It's nearly 5 p.m. now, for the rest of today I can choose from a mango (a must, as it's getting too soft), bananas, grapes, tomatoes,sour figs and even, if I like, another small avo.


17th March 2011

On the 15th I had one small avocado, and 6 Brazil nuts, carefully limited to that figure.
And yesterday (the 16th), exactly the same. In line with my new, but temporary, scheme of keeping fats UP to the 80-10-10 level, and giving up the 955 stretch. Those overts are in addition, of course, to the fruits as main staples.
The point being, that after 2 months of my experiment in banishing cereals, legumes and potatoes, I am still very much in full-scale detox mode and so in no position yet to assess the particulars of this experiment.
The thing is now just to get through another month, and then assess the position. As long as I do not eat any toxin-producing or -containing stuff, that's all I'm really concerned with. If I stop the intake and production of toxins, things can only get better, even if they seem to get worse.

Apropos is this messsage I posted today:

Michele Schmidt,

I think your experience is a very important one to share, as few people have much idea of the time spans  involved in diet.

This very morning I was thinking of writing something (the fruits of 40 years of experiments!) along these lines:

when trying a radical experiment in diet, do not assess the results within the first two months: you can expect the situation to get worse and worse.

However, after 3 months, you are in a position to assess. Things should have bottomed out by now. If  things are still nose-diving, your experiment was too ambitious and you should ease off so that you can start recovering. In other words, add back some of the items you cut out in your experiment.

In the light of your experience, maybe I should revise my period of three months to four?

Greens: Yesterday I was tempted by some very fresh-looking spinach, with nice thick, fleshy leaves, to buy a bunch. I quite enjoyed chomping about a quarter of the bunch, leaving enough for a good few more days at this rate.


19 Mar 2011:

 Today I am trying some new ways of looking at things:

To live thus: get up automatically to do something (usually on the computer).  Now at every moment I must choose from these possibilities, in this order of importance: if I can imagine enjoying a rest, then rest; else if I can imagine enjoying some work, like writing or organising photos, then do it; else if I can imagine reading and eating, then do it....

which brings us to the question: what to eat next? I've been eating grapes and watermelon every day as staples, now I must face that w/melons are going, and make grapes my one staple.

I have tried grape mono diets of various lengths several times in the past, and they never seemed to do anything plus for me. Easier is to eat grapes until the idea of something else, to act as a "spacer" between grapes, calls out strongly. Usually a tomato, or an overt, or greens - anything not too sweet, maybe even banana. (I think I'll take a break here. Go and get my remaining spinach, and finish it while I read Anna Karenina...)

Week 10: 16 - 22 March
(note, if I do not specify quantity, it's the same as previously)

16th: Bowl of Grapes,1/4 watermelon,2 dates,6 tomatoes,mango,6 leaves spinach,1 small avo,6 Brazil nuts.
17th: Grapes, watermelon, dates, tomatoes, spinach, avocado, 5 bananas, Brazils.
18th: Grapes, w/melon, dates, 4 very ripe small mangoes, tomatoes, spinach, bananas, Brazils. NO avo.
19th: Grapes, watermelon, tomatoes, spinach, bananas, 2 small avocados, 4 Brazils.
20th: Grapes, watermelon, tomatoes, 1 cucumber, bananas, avocado, Brazils.
21st: Grapes, watermelon, tomatoes, bananas, 3 small avocados, Brazils.
22nd: Grapes, 1 mango, tomatoes, bananas, 3 small avocados, 10 Brazils.

23rd, morning: Detox seems to have diminished a lot, especially the mucus discharges through the anus, though I'm sure there is much more debris in me still to be removed. (The nagging little cough not yet entirely gone...). Could be the avos and nuts slowing the detox, maybe, or my system taking a rest, or whatever, doesn't matter anyway.

Week 11: 23 - 29 March
During this week the detox returned to the previous higher level. But I've had no more thoughts of potato salad or anything else off my plan. I'm just letting the amount of overts find their own level, just following my desires naturally in this.


24-Mar-2011:
sunmaiden, Anne, and Raspberry, it really feels good to be here with you guys, I feel so much on the same wavelength with your ideas.
All three of you express the same attitude of relying on one's personal taste and experience, rather than on dogma or scientific speculations. Correct me if I'm misreading you, please!

One of our supermarkets here in Wynberg gets in tempting looking packets of rocket, and of mixed herbs (mainly varieties of lettuce, and watercress). I felt like giving them a go, so I bought one packet of each, total 225g of leaves, for the price of about 14 of the small avos I've been eating at the rate of 3 a day lately. I thought if I'm going to eat leaves, at least splash out a bit to get more flavour.

I finished off half the leaves today, must say I quite enjoyed them, just hope the mustard oil doesn't damage my bacteria friends inside.

During the leaves I ate 3 small tomatoes, not in the same mouthful though. And just after all that, I had one of my small avos.

Yesterday and today something new for me - instead of eating 2 - 4 of the old, rather boring and ordinary, pitted dates, I tried something double the price, "Medjool" dates. Had 2 yesterday, plan 5 today. A good discovery, definitely worth it!

Raspberry, your 8 - 10 avocados a day made me smile, I thought that was going it some, then remembered the old days when I once hit 14 avos in one day. If you have actually reached a point where you can get overweight on raw then you have got somewhere where I have never yet even been near. In my 9 years of raw I stayed on my bottom of 109 lb (for 5'9" height, decidedly too little) for 7 years, and never got much above that... despite eating 200g of nuts and 4 - 6 avos a day.). But then I never saw myself as a natural for this diet, because I have seen others adapting much faster than me.

I will stuff this post on my site too, so others can see it there too.

Here's health!
*******
23 Mar: grapes, 3 tomatoes, 1/4 watermelon, 1 mango, 3 bananas, 2 Medjools, 2 medium avos, 10 Brazils.
24 Mar: grapes, 4 tomatoes, watermelon, 2 mangoes, 1 banana, 5 Medjools, 125g greens, 3 small avos, 6 Brazils.
25 Mar: grapes, 5 tomatoes, watermelon, 4 bananas, Medjools, 75g greens, avos, 9 Brazils.
26 Mar: grapes, tomatoes, watermelon, 4 dates, 2 avos, 8 Brazils.
27 Mar: grapes, tomatoes, watermelon, 5 Medjools, 2 avos, 6 Brazils.
28 Mar: grapes, 2 tomatoes, 1 large mango, 6 bananas, 2 avos, 5 Brazils.
29 Mar: grapes, watermelon, 5 dates, 8 bananas, 150g lettuce, 1 papino, 3 avos, 16 Brazils.


Week 12: 30 Mar - 5 Apr :

30th Mar: Today it's raining lightly for the first time this autumn. It dried out a bit at noon so I delayed my walk to the shops till then. My umbrella got just a little bit wet on my way back, but I didn't bother to open it. I loved walking in the cooler weather.

W30 Mar: grapes, 3 tomatoes, watermelon, dates, 3 bananas, 3 avos (still small), 6 Brazil nuts.

Today I added the page Biorhythms to my new site http://gurthbruins.wordpress.com .
It rained most of today, the first rain for weeks, but my walk fell in a dry hour. I needed a jersey for it.

T31 Mar: grapes, 6 tomatoes, watermelon, dates, 2 bananas, spinach, 3 avos, 7 Brazils.

Note that today I bought a huge bunch of spinach, and ate half of it with much less discomfort to my throat than last time. There was no more rain today, and I took my jersey off before I went for my walk. It was 23C/74F.

F1 Apr: grapes, 5 tomatoes, watermelon, dates, 1 banana, 1/4 bunch spinach, 2 medium avos, 8 Brazils.
S2 Apr: grapes, 3 tomatoes, watermelon, dates, 1 banana, spinach, 1 small avo, 3 Brazils.
S3 Apr: grapes, 4 tomatoes, 18 dates, 2 bananas, 3 small avos, 1 large avo, 11 Brazils.
M4 Apr: grapes, 3 tomatoes, 60g dates, 1 pear, 2 bananas, 1/2 bunch spinach, 3 medium avos, 9 Brazils.
T5 Apr: grapes, 3 tomatoes, watermelon, 30g dates,  1 pear, 1/4 bunch spinach, mango, 2 medium avos, 6 Brazils.

Note: I had a bout of "flu" on Sat, went to bed about 4 pm with no supper, but was too bored to lie in bed Sunday, so ate a lot of overts and played around on my computer with pics and albums. Missed my walk Sun (not up to it) but fine enough Mon and even better today after a heavenly night where my coughing seemed to have departed. It's made a few returns, but less than before. I'm feeling good.

Week 13: 6 - 12 Apr:

W 6 Apr: few grapes (too terrible to eat more - I don't know what has happened to the quality of the grapes here, it seems to have collapsed. Irradiation perhaps? The grapes seem to be lifeless somehow)
1 pear, 1 smallish pineapple, 3 tomatoes, 20g dates, last 1/9 of small bunch spinach, 5 bananas, 3 small avos, 6 Brazils.

T 7 Apr: grapes (found some better ones, red seedless), 3 pears, 3 tomatoes, 10g dates, 1/4 bunch spinach, 1 banana, 1 small mango, 3 small avocados, 9 Brazils.

F 8 Apr: grapes, 1 pear, 3 tomatoes, 1 apple, 70g Medjool dates (nice!), 1/4 bunch spinach, 3 medium avos, 11 Brazils.

Today was heavenly, hot for April at 28C/82F with humidity down to 62%. Dollops of mucus evacuated: I love to see this happening, it's such a visible evidence of improvement. At night sometimes I wake to find my gums sticking together like velcro - reflecting action of the stomach lining. Then later on it has just gone back to normal.

S 9 Apr: grapes, 4 tomatoes, 1 large mango, 3 apples, 2 bananas, 30g Medjool dates (couldn't keep up with yesterday's intake!), 1/4 bunch spinach, 2 avocados, 10 Brazils.

S 10 Apr: grapes, 5 tomatoes, 1 pineapple, 4 apples, 4 bananas, 70g Medjools, 1/8 bunch spinach, 2 avocados, 10 Brazils.

M 11 Apr: grapes, tomatoes, 3 apples, 1 banana, 30g Medjools, 2 other dates, 1/8 spinach, avocados, Brazils.

T 12 Apr: 1 Kg grapes,3 tomatoes, 2 apples, 1 pineapple, 1 banana, 2 Sayer dates (10g), 3 avocados, 8 Brazils.

The 12th was also my 3rd monthiversary of 100% raw vegan diet. On this day I had perhaps the biggest surprise of the whole 3 months: looking for a bunch of spinach, I found the shops empty of it except for one scruffy-looking bag in one shop - that didn't appeal to me, not did they even have their usual packets of fancy lettuces. Too bad, I went without greens for the day. The surprise was how disappointed I felt! I must be getting addicted to greens... not that I will have any reason to resist them, if my bodysoul calls for them.


Week 14: 13 - 19 Apr:

W 13 Apr: 1 lb grapes, 2 tomatoes, 1 apple, 1 pineapple, 9 Sayer dates(40g), 1/4 bunch spinach, 4 small avocados, 8 Brazil nuts.

T 14 Apr: grapes, 6 tomatoes, 1 pineapple, 1 banana, 1 mango, 9 Sayer dates, 5 fresh dates(50g), spinach, 3 small avocados, 9 Brazils.

F 15 Apr: grapes, tomatoes, 2 apples, 1 pear, 2 bananas, 2 Sayer, 7 fresh dates(70g), spinach, 3 medium avocados, Brazils. (bought 50 sour figs R6)

S 16 Apr: grapes, 2 tomatoes, 1 apples, 1 mango, 6 fresh dates, spinach, 2 large avocados, 5 Brazils.

S 17 Apr: grapes, 2 tomatoes, 2 pears, 2 bananas, 1 mango, 3 fresh dates, spinach, 5 Sayer dates, 1 large avocado, 14 Brazils.

M 18 Apr: grapes, 1 tomato, 3 pears, 1 banana, 3 fresh dates, 3 Sayer dates, spinach, 2 medium avocados, 9 Brazils.

T 19 Apr: grapes, 2 tomatoes, 1 pear, 1 apple, 3 bananas, 1 mango, 6 Sayer dates, spinach, 2 avocados, 10 Brazils.

Note:  Spinach leaves enjoyed every day; of all items, bananas the least exciting. I think somehow they are not of high quality, I don't know what is done to them, they look alright on the outside.

I added another article, "Letter to an overweight omni friend", to my Articles page yesterday.


-------------------------------
Week 15: 20 - 26 Apr:

W 20 Apr: grapes, 3 tomatoes, 2 pears, 2 bananas, 1 mango, 6 Sayer dates, spinach, 2 small avocados, 9 Brazils.(This evening 20C/68F is coldest daytime yet this autumn. Drizzle this morning)

T 21 Apr: grapes, 3 tomatoes, 1 apple, 1 banana, 3 pears, 1 papino, 6 Medjool dates(66g), spinach, 2 medium avocados, 11 Brazils. (8.40 am: 16C/61F; 5 pm: 19C/66F/66% humidity)

EF 22 Apr: grapes, 1 tomatoes, 1 apple, 4 pears, 1 mango, 6 Medjools, spinach, 2 medium avocados, 11 Brazils.

ES 23 Apr: 1/2 lb grapes, 2 tomatoes, 2 apples, 2 pears, 1 pineapples, 6 Medjools, spinach, 1 avocado, 6 Brazils.

ES 24 Apr: 1/2 lb grapes, 4 tomatoes, 5 apples, 1 pear, 1 pineapple, 1 papino, 6 Medjools, spinach, 2 avocados, 7 Brazils(25g). (9.30 am: it's just started raining and the temp is 17C/63F with 80% humidity.)

EM 25 Apr: 1/2 lb grapes, 3 tomatoes, 1 apple, 4 pears, 4 bananas, 5 Medjools, spinach, 3 avocados, 14 Brazils(50g). (10.20 am: 16C/62F/78%; dry, sunny, cloudy)

T 26 Apr: 1/2 lb grapes, 5 tomatoes, 1 apple, 4 pears, 1 banana, 8 Medjools, 1/4 lettuce, 3 avocados, 18 Brazils(60g). (much rain overnight. 10 am: 17C/62F/75%, clearing, windy) -Couldn't find spinach today, so bought lettuce instead. The holidays have interfered with grape picking, none available at the moment.

With the first cold spell and wet weather, I'm feeling a bit weaker psychologically. I don't like to see the overts escalating as they appear to be doing. At some stage I might judge that it would be better to eat some boiled sweet potato instead of too much fat from avocados and nuts. Detox is showing no signs of coming to an end. Today is exactly three and a half months of 100% raw vegan.
-------
Week 16: 27 Apr - 3 May:

W 27 Apr: grapes, 4 tomatoes, 1 apple, 2 pears, 1 pineapple, 12 Sayer dates(50g), 1/4 lettuce, 2 avocados, 9 Brazils(25g). (Much rain last night, showers this morning, cold)(15C/59F)

T 28 Apr: grapes, 4 tomatoes, 1 apples, 1 pear, 1 pineapple, 3 bananas, 12 Sayers, 1/4 lettuce, 6 avocados, 9 Brazils.(9 am: coldest yet this year: 14C/57F/82%)

F 29 Apr: 1 lb grapes, 5 tomatoes, 1 pear, 2 bananas, 5 Sayers, 1/4 lettuce, 3 s avocados, 9 Brazils.(9 am: 14C/57F/82%)

S 30 Apr: grapes, 3 tomatoes, 1 apple, 1 pear, 3 bananas, 8 Sayers, beet leaves, 3 s avocados, 9 Brazils. (9.40 am: 15C/59F/77%, dry and sunny, but a bit of a chill factor from the strong breeze)(2.20 pm: 19C/66F/68%, the breeze having abated).

S 1 May: 1 lb grapes, 3 tomatoes, 1 apple, 1 pear, 1 banana, 1 Sayer, 1/4 bunch spinach, 2 avocados, 9 Brazils.(9.25 am: 15C/58F/76%: perfect day!)

M 2 May: grapes, 2 tomatoes, 1 apple, 3 pears, 1 pineapple, 3 bananas, 6 Sayers,  spinach, 3 small avocados, 12 Brazils(33g).(9.45 am: 22C/72F/74%. A lot warmer, but overcast and windy.Had a nice, leisurely 2 hour walk to Plumstead before lunch.)

T 3 May: 1 Kg black grapes, 5 s tomatoes, 2 apples, 1 pear, 1 pineapple, 1 banana, 1 Sayer, other dates(55g), spinach, 3 s avocados, 7 Brazils(18g), walnuts(25g). (Rain overnight. 10.20 am: clearing, dry, 20C/67F/79%. 12.30 pm: very sunny.)

---------------------
There are signs the last week that the detox is easing off for longer periods during the day. The
nagging cough is no longer nagging but mostly gone, the velcro in my mouth at night is hardly noticeable, the anal discharge of mucus less, with less gas. The BMs first thing the last two days have been unsurpassed in my past: solid, well-processed debris, very clean, with no gas or mucus. This is in contrast to the old days when I used to consume enormous amounts (like 120 tomatoes per day) and my BMs seemed to be very little processed and numbered about 12 a day. Currently they are about 2 real ones, and 1 - 3 mostly just gas and mucus, per day.)


Week 17: 4 - 10 May:

W 4 May: 1 Kg grapes, 3 small tomatoes, 3 pears, 1 pineapple, 3 bananas, 2 persimmons, 8g dates, 1/4 bunch spinach, 3 small avocados, 25g walnuts. (noon: 22C/72F/73%; 5.30 pm: 23C/73F/74%)

T 5 May: 1 Kg grapes, 5 s tomatoes, 1 pear, 1 pineapple, 1 banana, 50g dates, spinach, 3 s avocados, 50g walnuts. WEIGHT: 56 Kg=123 lb.(noon: 20C/69F/76%, cloudy with N breeze)

F 6 May: 1 Kg grapes, 4 s tomatoes, 3 pears, 1 pineapple, 2 bananas, 10g dates, spinach, 3 s avocados, 25g Brazils.(4 pm: 20C/69F/76%. Today started cloudy, then became sunny, later clouded again)

S 7 May: 1 Kg grapes, 4 tomatoes, 1 pear, 50g dates, spinach, 4 s avocados, 50g Brazils.(9 am: 18C/64F/80%, sunny, fresh southeaster)

S 8 May: 1 Kg grapes, 4 tomatoes, 1 pear, 3 bananas, 25g dates, 100g Mazafati dates, spinach, 3 s avocados, 50g Brazils. (8.40 am: 18C/64F/77%, sunny)

M 9 May: 1 Kg grapes, 2 s tomatoes, 5 s pears, 1 pineapple, 1 banana, 75g Mazafati, spinach, 2 avocados(250g each), 50g Brazils. (noon: 22C/72F/68%: warm wind)

T 10 May: 1 Kg grapes, 4 s tomatoes, 2 s pears, 25g dates, 50g Mazafati, 20 s naartjies, 2 avocados(2x275g), 50g Brazils. (11 am: 19C/66F/79%: showers overnight and this morning)

Comment: The 5th May was the first time I've weighed myself in years. The weight 56 Kg compares favourably with the 49.5 Kg which was my chronic weight during my first 7 years of raw veganism (1974 - 1980)


Week 18: 11 - 17 May:

W 11 May: 1 Kg grapes, 5 small tomatoes, 5 apples(Golden Delicious), 1 s pear, 75g Mazafati dates, 9 s naartjies, 1/4 bunch spinach, 1 large avocado(350g), 50g Brazils. (10.20 am: 18C/64F/77%, cloudy with North breeze (prevails in winter)

T 12 May: 1 Kg grapes, 5 s tomatoes, 1 apple, 100g Mazafati, 2 s naartjies, spinach, 350g avocado, 50g mixed nuts(almonds, cashews, Brazils, Macadamian), 25g Brazils. (11 am: 18C/65F/77%, fine day)

F 13 May: 1 Kg grapes, 7 s tomatoes, 2 apples, 2 bananas, 100g Mazafati, 5 s naatjies, spinach, 400g avocado, 75g Brazils.(11 am: 17C/63F/80%, a sunny day)

S 14 May: 1 Kg grapes, 2 tomatoes, 1 apple, 2 Packham pears, 50g Mazafatis, spinach, lentil sprouts, 300g avocados, 50g mixed nuts.(10 am: 16C/61F/80%, overcast)

S 15 May: 1 Kg grapes, 2 tomatoes, 1 pear, 1 banana, 100g Mazafatis, spinach, lentil sprouts, 400g avocados, 25g Brazils. (11 am: 15C/60F/82%; overcast but calm.)

M 16 May: 1 Kg grapes, 3 tomatoes, 2 Packham pears, 100g Mazafatis, spinach, lentil sprouts, 450g avocados, 25g Brazils, 25g Cashews, 25g walnuts. (Packham pears: 200g each, very juicy, delicious, yum-yum!)

T 17 May: 1 Kg grapes, 3 tomatoes, 1 banana, 3 pears, 75g Mazafatis, spinach, 500g avocados, 75g cashews&walnuts. (10.15 am: 16C/61F/80%)

Note: This week the discharge of gas and mucus has increased again. I feel, however, more vigorous in the cooler weather, and enjoy walking faster.


Week 19: 18 - 24 May:

W 18 May: 1 Kg grapes, 1 tomato, 1 banana, 2 pears, 25g Mazafatis, 1 leaf spinach, 250g avocado, 75g cashews&walnuts.(9 am: 16C/62F/80%, thinly overcast, calm)

T 19 May: 1 Kg grapes, 2 tomatoes, 1 pear, 1 brown pear, 50g Mazafatis, 3 green outer lettuce leaves, 1/4 bunch spinach, 400g avocados, 30g Brazil nuts. (noon: 18C/65F/73%; nippy SE breeze, sunny with thin cloud)

F 20 May: 1 Kg grapes, 6 small tomatoes, 1 pineapple, 75g Mazafatis, 1 lettuce leaf, spinach, 600g avocados, 50g Brazils. (10 am: 14C/58F/79%, partly sunny, calm)

S 21 May: 1 Kg grapes, 2 s tomatoes, 1 brown pear, 1 Packham pear, 1 Kg Papino, 75g Mazafatis, spinach, 350g avocados, 50g Brazils. (9.40 am: 15C/59F/76%, overcast, calm)

S 22 May: 1 Kg grapes, 7 s tomatoes, 1 P pear, 50g Mazafatis, spinach, 222g avocados, 30g Brazils.( 9.40 am: 16C/62F/75%, overcast whole day)

M 23 May: 1 Kg grapes, 6 s tomatoes, 1 apple, 2 b pears, 3 P pears, 3 small naartjies, 75g Mazafatis, spinach, 600g avocados, 345g Brazils, 25g desiccated coconut.(10 am: stormy, 19C/66F/78%)

T 24 May: 1 Kg grapes, 6 s tomatoes, 1 apple, 3 P pears, 5 s naartjies, 100g Mazafatis, spinach, 350g avocados, 40g Brazils, 16g desiccated coconut.(showers. 9.30 am: 18C/64F/80%)

Note: I can't remember when last I drank a drop of water, or anything for that matter. Weeks ago I think.



Week 20: 25 - 31 May:

Note: If amount is unspecified, assume it's the same amount as last mentioned for that fruit.

W 25 May: 1 Kg grapes, 4 small tomatoes, 1 apple, 1 Packham pear, 6 naartjies, 50g Mazafati dates, 1/4 bunch spinach, 300g avocados, 40g Brazils, 16g desiccated coconut.(9.30 am: showers, S wind, 15C/60F/80%). WEIGHT = 57.5 Kg = 126 lb.
(compare 5 May)

T 26 May: .7 Kg grapes, 2 apples, 2 red pears, 3 P pears, 2 naartjies, 100g Mazafati, spinach, 300g avocados, 50g Brazils, 16g coconut. (9 am: 15C/59F/77%, clear sky, calm)

F 27 May: .5 Kg grapes, 3 s tomatoes, 1 apple, 1 red pear, 2 P pears, 1 pineapple, 3 naartjies, 100g Mazafati, spinach, 300g avocados, 60g Brazils, 16g coconut.(9.15 am: 13C/56F/77% - perfect weather. 4.20 pm: 18C/64F/67%)

S 28 May: .8 Kg grapes, 5 s tomatoes, 1 red pear, 1 P pear, 3 naatjies, 100g Mazafati, spinach, 3 s avocados, 25g Brazils, 16g coconut.(9.20 am: rain starts. 4.25 pm: Dry. 16C/61F/72%)

S 29 May: .8 Kg grapes, 1 s tomato, 1 red pear, 2 P pears, 3 naartjies, 75g Mazafati, spinach, 3 lettuce leaves, 3 s avocados, 39g Brazils. (10 am: 14C/56F/80%, wet.)

M 30 May: .2 Kg grapes, 10 s tomatoes, 8 apples, 2 P pears, 100g Mazafati, spinach, 3 lettuce leaves, 3 s avocados, 50g Brazils. (9.30 am: stormy and wet, 15C/59F/78%)

T 31 May: 7 s tomatoes, 2 apples, 2 brown pears, 1 Paki pear, 3 naartjies, 2 bananas, spinach, 350g avocados, 75g Brazils, 60g raisins.(9.30 am: overcast, showers; 13C/55F/80%! That's rock bottom daytime winter temperature in Cape Town! Now I can start getting used to that...)



Week 21: 1 - 7 Jun:

Wed: 8 naartjies, 3 apples, 1 Paki pear, 3 bananas, 7 small tomatoes, 100g Mazafati dates, 10 leaves spinach, 350g avocados, 60g nuts (Brazils, with a few almonds and cashews). (9.30 am: 14C/57/77%, cloudy, north wind)

Thu: 7 naartjies, 5 apples, 1 brown pear, 1 Paki pear, 2 bananas, 5 tomatoes, 100g Mazafati, 14 spinach leaves, 350g avocados, 50g nuts.(10.30 am: 14C/57F/78%: sunny and calm with some cloud cover)

Fri: 8 naartjies, 4 apples, 3 brown pears, 1 banana, 5 tomatoes, 100g Mazafati, spinach, 350 avocados, 55g nuts, 80g raisins.(9.20 am: 13C/55F/80%, partly overcast)

Sat: 6 naartjies, 5 apples, 1 bananas, 3 tomatoes, 100g Mazafati, 250g spinach, 400g avocados, 70g nuts, 30g raisins.
(10 am: 15C/58F/84%, wet. 12 pm: 16C/61F/85%, dry, a bit of sun.)

Sun: 6 naartjies, 2 oranges, 7 apples, 5 s brown pears, 6 tomatoes, 5 tomatoes, 100g Mazafati, 250g spinach, 300g avocados, 40g Macadamian nuts, 25g Brazils.(9.30 am: 14C/56F/78%, showers, wet with blue sky and clouds.)

Mon: 3 naartjies, 2 oranges, 1 Golden Delicious apple, 2 apples, 12 s b pears, 5 tomatoes, 100g Mazafati, 100g lettuce, 400g avocados, 65g Brazils. (9 am: 13C/55F/78%, showery)

Tue: 11 naartjies, 2 oranges, 1 GD apple, 2 apples, 9 s b pears, 1 tomato, 50g loose dates, 150g spinach, 300g avocados, 50g Brazils.(9 am: 13C/55F/74%, cloudless, icy SE wind)


Week 22: 8 - 14 Jun:

Wed: 6 naartjies, 3 oranges, 1 GD apples, 1 Packham pear, 4 s b pears, 4 tomatoes, 2 bananas, 50g dates,  200g spinach, 350g avocados, 65g nuts(Brazils, Almonds, Cashews) (9 am: 16C/60F/81%, half cloudy, SE breeze)

Thu: 5 naartjies, 2 oranges, 1 GD apple, 4 Pink Lady apples, 7 s b pears, 2 tomatoes, 50g dates, spinach, 450g avocados, 75g nuts. (9 am: 17C/63F/84%, half cloudy, SE wind. This 17C is a warm front, as opposed to the 13C of two days ago.)

Fri: 14 naartjies, 1 orange, 1 GD apple, 2 PL apples, 3 Packham pears, 3 pears, 1 tomato, 2 bananas, 50g dates, 100g Mazafati dates, spinach, 350g avocados,75g nuts.(12.30 pm: 18C/65F/76%) 

Sat: 13 naartjies, 2 oranges, 4 PL apples, 1 Packham pear, 2 pears, 4 tomatoes, 2 bananas, 160g Mazafati dates, spinach, 230g avocados, 20g Brazils. (9 am: 17C/63F/83%, overcast)

Sun: 15 naartjies, 1 orange, 4 PL apples, 2 Packham pears, 1 pear, 3 tomatoes, 3 bananas, 90g Mazafati dates, spinach, 230g avocados, 35g Brazils.(9.20 am: 16C/61F/77%, fine and calm, a perfect day to be.)- My mind is setting itself to reduce overts, because it seems to me they need longer to digest than fruits and greens, slowing all the intestinal traffic and making it more difficult to eat enough to satisfy one's hunger without feeling bloated.

Mon: 13 naartjies(500g), 5 PL apples, 2 Packham pear, 1 tomato, 2 bananas, 150g Mazafati dates, spinach, 500g avocados, 75g Brazils.(9.20 am: 15C/59F/80%, overcast with cold south breeze, perfect for a long walk of 90 minutes to fetch the best, thick-leaved spinach from Access Park - the first time I've walked all the way there.)- 5 MONTHS OF 100% RAW VEGAN COMPLETED.

Tue: 4 small naartjies*50g, 1 naartjies*120g, 6 PL apples*130g, 2 Packham pears*210g, 2 bananas, 100g Mazafati dates, spinach, 300g avocados, 30g Brazils.(9.20 am: 15C/59F/80%)WEIGHT = 57.8 kg = 127.2 lb : compare 25 May: a slight gain.



Week 23: 15 - 21 Jun:

Wed 15th: 7 small naartjies*50g, 2 naartjies*120g, 4 PL apples*130g, 2 Packham pears*210g, 250g Romanita tomatoes, 1 bananas, 50g raisins, 250g spinach, 350 avocados, 50g Brazils.(9.20 am: storm,wind and heavy rain - 15C/59F/80%)

Thu 16th: 9 s naartjies, 2 naartjies, 3 PL apples*130g, 2 Packham pears*210g, 250g Romanita, 3 bananas, 50g loose dates, 50g dates, 250g spinach, 500g avocados, 50g Brazils.(11 am: storm,wind and heavy rain - 15C/59F/80%)

Fri 17th: 5 s naartjies, 1 naartjies, 4 PL apples*130g, 1 Packham pear*210g, 250g Romanita, 1 banana, 50g dates, 150g spinach, 600g avocados, 50g Brazils.(dry, cold, mostly overcast with cold wind:good for a brisk walk to Access Park, and back, after getting a lift one third of the way there. Somehow my usual timetable ran late today, only getting away for walk at 2 pm)

Sat 18th: 5 s naartjies, 1 naartjie, 2 PL apples*130g, 1 dark red apple*120g, 3 Packham pears*210g, 250g Romanita, 2 bananas, 75g dates, 150g spinach, 600g avocados, 20g Brazils.(9 am: 12C/54F/79%, blue skies with promise of perfect day. 1 pm: temp up to 16C, humidity down to 69%.What a fantastic pleasure it was to go walking down to the fruitseller, coming back through an open field in the sun, finding some nasturtium and fennel shoots to pick and chew on the spot. Got a book by Malouf out of the library, I don't know him, looks as if it might be a discovery, we'll see... Ten minutes ago David called me to come and see an amazing sight on the bougainvillea: a tiny, tiny baby chameleon, sunning itself with its tail curled up.  Quite unfazed by the terrific storms we had this week. 1 - 2 pm I sat in the garden reading Ransom in the sun while chewing spinach leaves.)

Sun 19th:  3 naartjies, 1 PL apple*130g, 2 dark red apples*120g, 1 Packham pear*210g, 4 bananas, 25g dates, 100g seedless raisins, 150g spinach, 600g avocados, 50g Brazils.(10 am: 15C/59F/83%, last night back to hectic storm weather, heavy rain and wind - it's continuing this morning...)

Mon 20th: 7 s naartjies, 2 PL apples*130g, 3 dark red apples*120g, 4 Packham pears*210g, 2 bananas, 50g dates, 100g seedless raisins, 150g spinach, 400g avocados, 50g Brazils.(10 am: 14C/56F/80%, storms over, semi-overcast but will probably clear)

Tue 21st: 7 s naartjies, 3 PL apples*130g, 3 dark red apples*120g, 1 Packham pears*210g, 1 banana, 65g dates, 180g spinach, 400g avocados, 50g mixed nuts. (9.15 am: 11C/52F/76% - the lowest I've seen this year - but it's a perfect day and by 3 pm reached 17C)

Comment:

 After 5 months of 100% raw vegan, this campaign at the moment is still all about detox. Marked detox continues, to my great satisfaction as all I am interested in at the moment is reducing the accumulation of tox till it becomes normal rather than abnormal as it still is. Then I will start considering optimising my diet, to carry detox on to extreme levels of purity.

I am pleased that my weight  has apparently bottomed out at about 123 - 127 lbs. I have only weighed myself 3 times, on 5th May (123 lb), 25th May (126 lb), and 14th June (127 lb). This weight is perfectly acceptable to me, though I wouldn't mind if it increased further.

On 24th May I noted that I had not been drinking any water. Nor have I drunk any since then, since I have never been thirsty. Of course my diet is over 90% water so drinking water is patently unnecessary. Dry fasts would be more useful, if anything.

A typical routine of events appears this week:

I go to bed at variable times, usually between 7 and 11 pm, then get up at 8 - 9 am. No abnormal anal or nasal discharges overnight, but I urinate (normal discharge) about 5 times.
Then I get up, often to produce a gas-free and mucus-free crap, and soon abnormal discharge of mucus through the nose starts and continues for 4 - 6 hours. The other usual symptoms of a cold are NOT present (facial itch, discomfort, irritation and malaise). During this period I breakfast on fruit and sometimes some spinach leaves, then take a walk of 1 - 1.5 hours, usually to go shopping.

Sometimes I have not yet crapped by this time, sometimes I will have crapped twice already. Other times I will only crap after my walk.
Then I have a big lunch of fruit, greens, avocado and nuts. This provokes a build-up of gas which is discharged through the anus, with copious clear, liquid mucus. Sometimes there will be no gas, only the mucus discharge. Sometimes there will be crap too.

I am eating for about 6 hours each day, and always when I am eating, I am reading. This is my spiritual nourishment.

My afternoon eating is usually interrupted by me taking a lie-down of 1 - 2 hours. Then it continues till bedtime, but is interrupted for an hour while I watch TV. The soapies give me much spiritual nourishment.
Week 24: 22 - 28 Jun:

Wed 22nd: 10 naartjies*87g, 5 PL apples*150g, 2 Packham pears*240g, 1 bananas*100g, 1 tomatoes*61g, 90g dates, 100g spinach, 600g avocados, 50g mixed nuts (mainly almonds & cashews). (9.30 am: 15C/59F/79%, stormy NW-er which will probably bring rain by evening... the rain started at about 4 pm, lots of it..)

Thu 23rd: 10 naartjies*87g, 2 PL apples*175g, 2 Packham pears*240g, 2 bananas*100g, 1 tomatoes*61g, 50g dates, 100g raisins, 150g spinach, 300g avocados, 28g Brazils.(9.30 am: 14C/56F/76%, heavy showers, wind lighter.)

Fri 24th: 9 naartjies*87g, 1 PL apples*175g, 2 Packham pears*240g, 2 bananas*100g, 1 tomatoes*61g, 100g dates, 100g spinach, 400g avocados, 50g Brazils. (9.30 am: wet, heavy showers, wind stronger.)

Sat 25th: 10 naartjies*87g, 1 PL apples*175g, 1 PL apples*130g, 1 Packham pears*240g, 1 brown pears*200g, 3 bananas*120g, 2 tomatoes*61g, 50g dates, 100g raisins, 150g spinach, 300g avocados, 20g Brazils.(1 pm: 15C/59F/77%, dry, overcast, calm)

Sun 26th: 6 naartjies*87g, 1 PL apples*130g, 1 largeGolden Delicious apples, 3 brown pears*200g, 50g dates, 150g spinach, 250g avocados, 40g nuts, 100g sprouts (mung, lentils, chick peas).( 11 am: 15C/59F/75%, perfect day). Nice walk to P&P Gabriel Rd: timed myself 27 minutes to return, at a steady but never hurried pace.

Mon 27th: 7 naartjies*87g, 1 PL apples*130g, 1 largeGolden Delicious apples, 2 Packham pears*240g, 3 bananas*120g, 1 tomatoes*61g, 100g dates, 150g spinach, 500g avocados, 50g Brazils, 100g sprouts.(9.20 am: 13C/56F/72%, partly overcast, calm)

Tue 28th: 6 naartjies*87g, 3 PL apples*130g, 1 largeGolden Delicious apples, 1 Packham pears*240g, 1 bananas*120g, 2 tomatoes*61g, 50g dates, 150g spinach, 500g avocados, 50g Brazils.(9 am: 11C/52F/80%, sunny, N wind.At 11 I walked to Access Park (2.5 Km) to buy spinach and some avocados - in the cool weather I enjoyed a fast walk downhill most of the way.Later the temperature rose to 15C. At exactly 1 minute past midnight the first shower came down.)


Week 25: 29 Jun - 5 Jul:

Wed 29th: 3 naartjies*87g, 5 PL apples*130g, 1 Packham pears*240g, 3 bananas*120g, 100g dates, 200g spinach, 400g avocados, 25g Brazils. (9 am: 14C/57F/82%, heavy showers since midnight, strong NW-er)

Thu 30th: 1 naartjies*91g, 1 oranges(navels)*150g, 4 PL apples*130g, 1 Packham pears*240g, 4 brown pears*140g, 1 bananas*120g, 75g dates, 80g raisins, 200g spinach, 340g avocados, 25g Brazils, (10 am: 12C/54F/79%, wet, showers from the south, likely to clear up)

Fri 1 Jul: 5 naartjies*91g, 2 oranges(navels)*150g, 2 PL apples*175g, 1 P pears*300g, 1 brown pears*140g, 3 tomatoes*88g, 50g dates, 150g spinach, 2 large green outer lettuce leaves, 400g avocados, 25g Brazils, (9.30 am: 11C/53F/80%, dry, overcast, SW breeze)

Sat 2nd: 3 naartjies*91g, 2 oranges(navels)*150g, 2 PL apples*175g, 1 P pears*300g, 1 brown pears*140g, 1 bananas*86g, 3 tomatoes*88g, 85g dates, 200g spinach, 240g avocados, 25g Brazils, 0.5 coconut. (9.30 am: 12C/54F/83%, wet, showers, SW breeze. This winter is sure turning out wetter and colder than the last few.)

Sun 3rd: 3 naartjies*91g, 2 oranges(navels)*150g, 2 PL apples*175g, 1 P pears*300g, 2 brown pears*140g, 3 bananas*86g, 1 tomatoes*88g, 50g dates, 200g spinach, 120g avocados, 0.5 coconut. (9 am: 11.5C/53F/83%, wet, showers, SW breeze - we left for Muizenberg in the rain but once we were there the weather cleared up)

Mon 4th: 9 naartjies*67g, 2 oranges(navels)*150g, 2 PL apples*175g, 1 P pears*300g, 2 brown pears*140g, 3 bananas*86g, 1 tomatoes*88g, 60g dates, 200g spinach, 520g avocados, 50g Brazils, (9.15 am: 12C/54F/77%, dry, patches of cloud and blue sky, cold SE wind.)

Tue 5th: 14 naartjies*67g, 1 oranges(navels)*150g, 2 PL apples*175g, 2 P pears*300g, 100g dates, 200g spinach, 400g avocados, 50g Brazils, (9.45 am: 12C/54F/79%, dry, mostly blue sky, SE breeze.)
Today I had a very nice 1.7 hour walk to Access Park again, to get more spinach and also dates and coconuts.
Having eaten a coconut this week, the first coconut I've had in years, my verdict was: not too bad, if I had to choose between avos and coconuts I'd stick to avos, but I think I'll add some coconut to my list of permissibles for this stage of my programme. So I bought three more today.




Week 26: 6 - 12 Jul:

Wed 6th: 10 naartjies*67g, 3 oranges(navels)*150g, 2 PL apples*175g, 2 P pears*250g, 1 bananas*137g, 80g dates, 200g spinach, 300g avocados, 32g Brazils. (9.30 am: 13C/55F/75%, perfect day. 100 minute walk to AccessPark to buy spinach, dates and 3 coconuts.)

Thu 7th: 11 naartjies*68g, 1 oranges(navels)*150g, 3 PL apples*175g, 2 P pears*250g, 4 bananas*137g, 56g dates, 200g spinach, 300g avocados, 14g Brazils. (9 am: 12C/54F/76%, dry, partly overcast)

Fri 8th: 10 naartjies*68g, 4 PL apples*175g, 1 P pears*250g, 3 bananas*137g, 90g dates, 200g spinach, 500g avocados, 50g Brazils. (9 am: 12C/54F/76%, perfect day. Max temp today 16C.)

Sat 9th: 7 naartjies*60g, 1 PL apples*165g, 1 Crisp Pink apple*250g, 2 bananas*170g, 8g dates, 200g spinach, 280g avocados, 0g Brazils. (9 am: 12C/54F/76%, again; perfect day: rose to 15C.)

Sun 10th: 15 naartjies*60g, 3 PL apples*165g, 2 bananas*170g, 32g dates, 200g spinach, 180g avocados, 25g Brazils, 1 coconut, 75g sprouts. (11 am: 15C/59F/64%, again; perfect day, rose to 19C.)

Mon 11th: 11 naartjies*60g, 1 PL apples*165g, 1 P pears*250g, 1 bananas*170g, 40g dates, 100g spinach, 240g avocados, 30g Brazils, 25g sprouts. (9.40 am: 16C/61F/67%, half cloudy)

Tue 12th: 7 naartjies*65g, 2 PL apples*165g, 2 Crisp Pink apples*250g, 6 brown pears*117g, 2 bananas*164g, 40g dates, 200g spinach, 300g avocados, 30g Brazils, 0.35 coconut, 50g sprouts. (9 am: 15C/59F/77%, no cloud)

I celebrated the completion of 6 months today by finding myself emerging from a really fine bout of detox in the shape of the so-called common cold - a pleasingly acute attack, with a very ferocious cough. It sent me to bed at 3 pm on Saturday, but wasn't able to stop me from my hour's walk on any single day. Fortunately the weather stayed fine.