Food Allergies

[peanutterb]

So I never had food allergies. I had allergies to dirt, grass, perfume, smoke, animals, everything in the world except for food.

or so I thought.

Since my first MC in march I've started realizing alot of things.
1. my mouth tingles and/or goes numb - it started with inorganic apples then went on to tofu and even edamame. now it's inorganic strawberries, and spinach and walnuts and a few other random things. (three times i ate some thai food with tofu and once an amy's organic meal with tofu and had a bad allergic reaction with a sore throat and sneezing and everything)

2. I've always had clear skin but since my MC2 I've been getting the ocassional little bump and itching on my chin. I don't wear makeup or use any special face products so I thought that was strange until I realized that reaction is similar (but less severe) to what happens when I'm around cats.

3. Tonight I was eating some raw spinach, sun dried tomatoes, kale, guacamole and pumpkin seeds and the underside of my forearm started to itch. That's also a reaction I get from an allergy to something like a cat or perfume or detergent.

So I'm wondering now, why all of a sudden do I have these food allergies? or did I have them before but because my other allergies were so intense I couldn't pinpoint what it was? Or is my body more sensitive to things now and just rejecting things left and right?

Any ideas on what I can do to figure out what''s going on? ( and i can't take an allergy test bc I don't have insurance so that's not an option right now)

[sopheetsa]

Dear peanutterb:

I started writing to you when I was at work yesterday-- but I got distracted by my JOB. Also--the topic is not easy-- and I needed more time to think.

First of all, difficult as it may be, it sounds like you're more aware of what's going on in your body -- post cleanse than you've ever been before. How our immune systems-- learn what to react to, and what not to-- is very interesting-- and keeps a lot of scientists still scratching their heads. I just went to a crash course on Immunology that my boss sent me to--and it was really interesting to think about how--ideally-- we SHOULDN'T react to "food"-- but many of us do. Our bodies-- actually try to "learn" what TO react to, and WHAT NOT to-- and that's a real challenge, and sometimes things go wrong!

I've heard it said- that after the cleanse, it is a good idea -- to re-introduce foods carefully-- and I can't say that I did that. I went totally out of control, and I found myself reacting INTENSELY to everything.

The cleanse supposedly "retunes" our immune system, which is part of why I did it, and I know it helped me with my allergies (non-food).

One way-- to really figure out if you're allergic to something or not-- and it is a royal pain-- is to completely ELIMINATE it from your diet-- and then-- pay close attention when you introduce it. You probably heard about such a thing-- they talk about doing it with infants-- that is-- introducing foods one at a time to figure out what if anything, they're allergic to.

But ultimately-- you're asking some really good questions:

"why all of a sudden do I have these food allergies? or did I have them before but because my other allergies were so intense I couldn't pinpoint what it was? Or is my body more sensitive to things now and just rejecting things left and right? "

Hope you keep us all posted on what you figure out!

love,

soph

and PS: http://www.websmileys.com/sm/party/fest33.gifHappy Birthday!!! http://www.websmileys.com/sm/party/fest39.gifand congratulations on getting into those pants!!!

[peanutterb]

hey sopheesta!
thanks so much for the response and bday wishes.

It's tough noting what it is that I'm eating that's bothering me something because I'm also eating so many new and raw and delicious things.
I've got a small list and some of the things are only if i eat alot or if I eat certain types of the food. I generally stop eating it when I realize but I don't know what was making my face break out or my hand itch.

I read up alot about allergies and food allergies and how once the body learns to react to something as foreign it always will have the same response so I'm also taking note of that.

the strangest thing is the numbness in my entire mouth or the tingling on my tongue and throat. not nice feelings.

right now, i have a small list
strawberries
apples (in-organic w/ skin)
some tofu (might be the seasoning or the way it's cooked)
edamame from a bag
walnuts
pecans
raw spinach leaves

so I'm not going to eat those and see how it goes.

I'm going to have to put out the money to take an allergy test I think because I hate being allergic to food. I love food.

[sopheetsa]

Hey peanutterbhttp://www.kurts-smilies.de/wink.gif:

No sweat-- I think we're all here trying to figure this out together. To be honest with you, the most difficult part of the Cleanse for me-- is NOT THE CLEANSE, it is *After The Cleanse*! (which is why I think it is SO valuable, that RES started that thread.

I did the WORST with that-- and if I could have-- I know I SHOULD HAVE really put on the brakes. I mean-- coming out of the cleanse your body is in a heightened state of purity-- and-- the WORST THING you can do (which I confess I more or less did) is throw all kinds of food at it.

So yes, you're probably in a heightened state of awareness-- AND it is practically an ORGY to get to eat-- after the cleanse. If you can (and I COULDN'T) try to take it SLOWLY. Introduce new and delicious things one at a time.

I can't practise what I preach there --at least not with the greatest of ease ;)-- and so-- it will take me (with help from my friends-- HEY RES!http://www.kurts-smilies.de/wink2.gif) -- probably the rest of my life, or a good long while, to figure out how to do this right!

Best of luck to you, and looking forward to seeing what you figure out!

______________________________

my reactions to some items on your food list:
______________________________

I react to tofu also, even tho, being a vegetarian (for over 25 years) it was a big part of my diet. I am no longer a "perfect" vegetarian-- but there's a lot to think about vis a vis soy in general... and tofu ...

yes-- inorganic apples can DEFINITELY be a problem-- i've heard it said.

edamame - is soy-- so .... there is the soy issue-- important to read up on that-- hard to digest and it CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS. too lazy to look up websites now, but I'm sure you can find them... lots of debate there.

walnuts, pecans, nuts-- in general-- often cause allergies... oh dear, some of my favorite food! :(

hmm raw spinach. i LOVE raw spinach. all greens have trace to small amounts of toxins-- that's a long story. if you can read Boutenko's book "Green for Life" she tells an interesting story there.

it is important to rotate your greens.

don't DESPAIR THOUGH-- mainly just take it slow (ha-- if you can-- more power to you!)

soph

[peanutterb]

yeah i have been taking it slow. i took 7 days to fully break my 20 day fast. i ate only one cooked meal and otherwise ate all raw for those days.
i have been eating mostly good since then too - except for the muffin and oreo incidents (i ate 12 oreos one night) but that was more out of boredom than anything else.
what happens in the evenings is that i am just sitting around and want to eat or my family is eating and they fuss at me for not so i have a little something and a little something else.
but i'm giving myself more leeway since this is my birthday weekend and i have family in town and my mother thinks i have an eating disorder, but starting next week i'm going to get back on schedule, eating alot more raw food, working out and not eating after 8.


i did all kinds of research on soy allergies and such and the weird part is that it's not all soy products. i'm fine with soy milk, edamame i get from a restaurant and some tofu, especially if i cook it myself. so that makes it harder for me to figure out what it is in particular that's bothering me.

i kinda like that my body is more sensitive to bad stuff because i definitely can tell when i eat something bad (like the oreos) how my body just gets mad at me. :) much apologies body.
i just wish it didn't act out when i eat things i like, a spinach salad with strawberries and nuts is heaven in a bowl.

[sopheetsa]

well, it certainly sounds like you're doing things (ie taking it slow...) very well peanutterbhttp://therawfoodsite.com/forum/images/icons/icon14.gif-- I've got to hand it to you! I think I was pretty good-- for a while-- after my first cleanse.... but-- things creep up-- and-- I'M NOT GOOD at cutting myself slack-- because-- then-- it never ends!

I was afraid to tell my folks I was on the cleanse-- this is so embarrassing to admit-- and I LIVE WITH THEM (grown woman here). The amazing thing was that they were so GLAD and PROUD of me that I lost weight-- that not even reading about it in a magazine-- (ie that I was on the cleanse) seemed to get through to my mom's critical faculty. In fact, she's only started getting on my case NOW-- that I'm putting on the weight.

Anyway-- ENJOY YOUR BIRTHDAY-- but -- well-- good luck being careful in the long run. As for soy-- glad to hear you're ok w soy milk. I LOVE the stuff-- and do drink it-- but it does get to me, and glad you're on top of it-- research-wise....

I'm TOTALLY with you about nuts being heaven-- but-- my prob: i can't stop at one bowl! :)

PS: I know what you mean about eating-- either out of boredom... or family, evenings etc... I am struggling to figure out how the hell-- to NOT DO these things. Obviously-- we can do it when ON THE CLEANSE-- the question is-- how to do it *After The Cleanse*!http://therawfoodsite.com/forum/images/icons/icon11.gif

[peanutterb]

hey sopheesta, i can't figure out how you did the cleanse without the people you live with not noticing! that's amazing! and magical

i have been trying almond milk and rice milk but i think i developed a taste for the soy because i miss it. plus soy has more protein.

below are some links about overeating i posted in the after the cleanse thread. i have been reading them and it's kinda helping and giving me tips. the best one so far is chugging water so i feel full and that makes me stop, also brushing my teeth and also going upstairs and locking my bedroom door. lol.

why do you think you're putting on weight now? any theories?

article on how to stop overeating when you're stressed, socializing, depressed or bored:

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NAH/is_7_32/ai_91563265


another great article about how to stop
http://www.poppink.com/guide/edcgex1.html

and lastly, 101 tips

http://diet.ivillage.com/issues/iportions/0,,bjzg,00.html

hope this helps somebody. it's helping me.

[sopheetsa]

hey peanutterb

I actually saw you posted those articles and thanked you- (I think).

Thanks for asking for my "theories"-- now you're really getting DOWN to it w me-- and believe me-- it isn't pretty!

The story in a nutshell: well I had some probs growing up-- both because I was born cross-eyed-- and .... some other things-- which probably make me overeat. i'm not trying to blame my problems-- MAYBE I AM ;)

As for-- the folks not realizing I was cleansing-- they sure did notice I was dropping weight-- and somehow-- they didn't quite put it all together-- god bless 'em they're getting on in years now...

As for chugging water... yea-- i thought maybe i should get some "natural" GUM-- from Greece... for the whole chewing and oral fixation thing.. and certainly drinking water is good for you-- I was filling up on green smoothies much the same way...

Yea, brushing your teeth's a good one-- and yup-- tried the idea of just going to bed "hungry" ie w/out chowing down till i couldn't stay awake. :)

But the bottom line-- is-- like it or not- I hit the skids some times-- and I UNDERMINE myself and all that I do-- and I USE FOOD-- like other people use drugs.

It's gonna take quite something for me to get passed it-- and I thank you for helping me to think about it!

--

[peanutterb]

i find that wearing or staring at my size 8 jeans motivates me. lol
it's crazy but looking at my clothes i want to continue wearing and fitting in to really keeps me focused.

i think that's my cure for overeating now. I'm going to take those pants with me everywhere! :D

[peanutterb]

Everytime I go into a store - at the outlets, marshall's, macy's, anywhere, my throat starts itching, my face itches, i sneeze. it's so weird. nothing else makes my allergies react like this and this only started happening recently.

[sopheetsa]

Everytime I go into a store - at the outlets, marshall's, macy's, anywhere, my throat starts itching, my face itches, i sneeze. it's so weird. nothing else makes my allergies react like this and this only started happening recently.
Hi peanutterb
I was really happy w myself for quite a while in all my "skinny clothes"-- but now-- unfortunately-- less so as the weight climbs. Try to stay in that "psyched" space if you can, it is the best! Haven't noticed feeling allergic-- in stores a whole lot-- but then I don't go to stores that much-- and on those rare occasions that I do-- I have noticed noticing the "odors"-- those "plastic" and other products, and feeling "annoyed" by them somehow-- like where's the fresh air! But no itchiness...

It may be you're in a more sensitive state post cleanse.

I have allegies that are somewhat excacerbated right now-- but they're to dustmites...dust... and I was thinking it was because I'VE BEEN VERY BAD! G'luck.

[peanutterb]

i think my body is trying to tell me to stop shopping. :D

[sopheetsa]

hey peanutterb
did your body succeed (in getting u to stop shopping)?
I ended up on the Cleanse-- partly thanks to your support/advice-- and I've been shopping less for food-- and more for clothes! :)

right now-- hungry-- and too lazy to make another lemonade, so I'm gonna down my tea and go to sleep.

[peanutterb]

shopping for clothes is better than shopping for food. food doesn't make you look hot. lol
glad to hear you're doing good soph. what day are you on now and how are things going? what did you decide to do about the wedding?
and most importantly, what are you buying?

[sopheetsa]

Thanks for asking peanutterb:)

I didn't do the best thing with the wedding-- although I did make an effort: I started the day on the cleanse, did the SWF etc, and drank lemonade all day. during the weddding (banquet) I managed not to eat a ton of appetizers...eating just some fruit mostly melon. i drank (OK this was not the best because it was cooked) a mixture of OJ and pineapple juice-- with fresh lemon slices. first the bartender, then the waiters kept refilling my glass with this same drink. during the "meal" i ate a ball of cooked spinach (actually a ball) which I drenched in lemon-- and here's the mistake: i ate 1/2 of the salmon, which was TOTALLY unnecessary.

Truth is-- it didn't even taste good to me. Since you're vegan and before that vegetarian-- I will tell you that I was a (dairy) veg for over 20 years (with bouts of being vegan...) i recently started eating fish... Of course I don't advocate breaking the cleanse this way-- but you asked.

Oh, and I left out the dessert: there were 3 desserts that came on a plate--including 2 balls from the traditional french wedding cake: http://www.weddings.org.za/Images/cake10.jpg, chocolate cake, and a "berry cup". Well, by the time dessert came around-- several people at my table were gone-- and although I didn't eat the chocolate cake or the puff balls-- I'm embarrassed to tell you-- I ATE THEIR berries as well as my own! MMMM I also ate the "container" they came in, which was so tasty (some mix of nuts, sugar, and chocolate) that I ended up waking up to a DREAM about it the next morning!

i was also very bad the next day: I was at my boy friend's and he gave me a spoonful of his eggs for breakfast. he also took me to the health food store where i had-- (I'm embarrassed to admit this) a mix of fruit and also-- artichokes and calimari. in the evening-- more cheese (there was some cheese in the spoonful of eggs). the next day i started the cleanse again. I WAS CONSTIPATED FOR OVER A DAY. in fact the day after that-- even though I did the lax tea in the evening and the SWF in the morning-- NOTHING CAME OUT. I think it took a whole 'nother day-- for things to "resolve".

i guess I am telling you the WHOLE of it-- so that people don't think that you can "cheat the cleanse" because in the end-- you're cheating yourself. Finally: my eating was NOT DUE TO HUNGER-- it was due to GREED or something like that- a kind of willfullness that I'm struggling to get the better of-- and i still don't know how I'm going to end THIS cleanse (ie part II of cleanse 3.)

I am now on day 9 of the SECOND part of this cleanse. I could go on and finish 10 days or more than 10 days... I have a conference I'm attending that starts this Sunday in Montreal, and I'm driving up on Saturday. If I stop the cleanse before Sunday, I can probably get in a day of OJ...at least, and then "eat" during the conference. On the other hand-- I could keep doing the cleanse all the way till the conference, and then take my chances with another "bad ending". The conference runs through the following Tuesday. The Friday following that-- (a week from this Friday) I've paid for a "gala" event (http://phys.columbia.edu/~nhc/tdl80th/) celebrating the 80th birthday of a Nobel Laureate, Tsung Dao Lee (http://www.columbia.edu/cu/physics/fac-bios/TDLee/faculty.html), at the school I got my doctorate (as well as the 50th anniversary of "the discovery of the violation of parity"-- which by the way was done by a woman, who used to be my teacher, who didn't get a Nobel: Chien-Shiung Wu (http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9077575). I've already sent in my $55 for the "vegetarian" meal. What's my problem? Well, I weigh 132.4 today. My best weight was 123.8 post cleanse 2, and I'd like to get down to something closer to that.

Question is: when should I break this cleanse? Should I risk another bad ending-- possible complications with constipation-- and continue some sort of "hybrid" cleanse, or should I learn my lesson, end well, and then try my best to "eat well"?

What do you think?

Apropos of "shopping"-- I don't know if you've heard of Julia Butterfly (http://www.circleoflife.org/), but she's the one who lived in the (redwood) tree she called "Luna": http://www.circleoflife.org/photos/butterflys_tale/atop_luna2.jpg to save it from getting cut down...

At some point, I was teaching environmental science (at Brooklyn Tech (http://www.bths.edu/)) and a bunch of students (~200) and I called her up on her cell phone in the tree and she talked to us (on speaker phone.) She told us, that among the best things she thought we could do, was to stop BUYING things (or buy as little as possible), and to reuse what we could...Well, I can't say I've lived up to what Julia said, but thought I'd share it. http://therawfoodsite.com/forum/images/icons/icon11.gif

[mtmouse]

Question is: when should I break this cleanse? Should I risk another bad ending-- possible complications with constipation-- and continue some sort of "hybrid" cleanse, or should I learn my lesson, end well, and then try my best to "eat well"?

Soph,

That was quite a confession/testimonial!

You weren't asking me, but I'm going to put in my two cents anyway. :) I think you should learn your lesson, end well, and then try your best to "eat well".

My main reason: I don't think constipation is the only downside or possible bad ending from all this on-and-off cleanse-and-grab method of eating. There may be many other things happening at a much deeper level in your body, and they may have a much deeper or longer-lasting effect. You are fairly young and your body is still probably pretty resilient, but I don't think treating it this way will help in the long run.

So please don't get too desperate about those 9 pounds, and just transition gently and start eating gently. Wait a while before your next cleanse until you're really ready for it!

Hope you're not offended. In the end, of course--it's your choice, and I can support you whatever you do. You did ask! :p

[peanutterb]

hey Soph
thanks for sharing all that. you need a hug.
~*HUG*~
that one was all for you. no one else can have it.

anyway, i hate feeling greedy. i do it all the time. i actually dreamt i was being greedy and woke up disgusted with myself. lol I had three brownies for no reason. They weren't even good from what I remember.

To answer your question, which you already know the answer to, you need to break the fast correctly. Either break early enough before you go to Montreal so you can eat at the conference or cleanse while in Montreal and break when you return. The stomach pains and bad feelings aren't worth it. You've already lost alot on this cleanse, are those extra pounds worth stayling longer? Is the additional detox worth staying longer? Is the possible breaking of mental chains worth it? Is the food in Montreal worth ending now? Lay all this stuff out and make your decision.

Like I've said before, be good to yourself. Cleansing is such a loving and caring thing to do for your body and not breaking the cleanse right is careless and unkind. You deserve better Soph. If you were a man and your body was a woman I'd tell her to be wary of you. lol. Might sound dramatic but it's true.

Tell your friend Julie Butterfly that I needed new clothes because my other stuff looked like I borrowed them from someone lol nothing fit. I hadn't been shopping since my last trip to europe in 2005 so it was justified. How's that tree doing? :p

My grandfather, who's visiting from back home and who is 96, gave me a speech about eating and not eating too much and all this stuff. It wasn't directed towards anything I'd done, we were just talking, but it was something I needed to hear. He was just talking about excesses and about how food can sustain you and heal you if you don't let t own you. I thought that was great advice.

[HealthyBiz]

My grandfather, who's visiting from back home and who is 96, gave me a speech about eating and not eating too much and all this stuff. It wasn't directed towards anything I'd done, we were just talking, but it was something I needed to hear. He was just talking about excesses and about how food can sustain you and heal you if you don't let t own you. I thought that was great advice.

What a neat grandfather you have, Peanutterb! I still miss both of mine. True gentlemen and fun-loving in their different ways, but since neither lived long enough to know me as an adult, neither had such sage wisdom to share. You're lucky. Perhaps that's where you get some of your wisdom!:)

[bayareababe]

I so hardily agree with Peanutterb grandfather. When I was on a small island in indonesia doing missionery work, we would go out to eat, and order. you were lucky if you got a 1/2 cup of anything! roasted chicken was a skinny little leg! We have such huge food in this country. When I came back I had reverse culture shock from it. It really changed the way I ate and thought. Now MC has changed my food value. healthy vs toxic!


babe8)
MC3 D1

[sopheetsa]

OH MY GOSH: what a lovely set of posts to come home to! A treasure trove! I have to say-- I was crackin up about what I'm supposed to tell Julia Butterfly! that's hilarious-- and as for your grandfather peanutterb I'm really glad you shared it-- very beautiful. Also neat to hear a bit from your experiences in Indonesia bayareababe! Someone at work told me he went back home (to the Dominican Republic) to celebrate his mother's 100th birthday-- and I was really thinking about how people from cultures other than "ours" (by which I mean McDonalds--and the SAD) are doing something really RIGHT-- that we just have to get a hold of or remember, or reconnect to. My own "people"-- back in Greece-- managed to live to ripe old age-- into their nineties and beyond-- whereas the sad thing is when they came here, it seems to have taken the life out of them...

Sorry to go on about this-- I'm actually sort of hungry right now-- been too busy (as is often the case when I'm doing the cleanse) to actually get in my quota of lemonade...

I really appreciate the heartfelt advice and thoughts on what I should do to "end" my cleanse-- and I'm embarrassed to admit-- that I have been feeling that urgent about losing the weight.

Today was a day where the temptation to eat-- was pretty overwhelming at work-- where there is often tons of free food. I think part of why I'd like to STAY on the cleanse during all my upcoming "social affairs"-- is it is really "SAFE" for me not to have a CHOICE. I'm pretty good at going on the CLEANSE-- but-- as I've made it all too clear-- not so great about how I go OFF of it-- although-- my first cleanse-- which was the long one-- I did make quite a good effort-- in the main-- to eat really well afterwards.

So thanks again! I think this *After the Cleanse* thing is a big big big deal for me-- and I'm going to really take in what you said-- mtmouse and pea-b. right now, quite tired-- and still have to make the tea-- drink some more lemonade etc...

[peanutterb]

Soph my love, how are you doing?
how'd you make it thru the tempations yesterday? i totally feel you on how it's easier to not have the choice to eat. because given the choice, i might eat something bad. i mean, it's right there.
go have a glass of water and here's a hug. ~*hug*~ take two of these and call me in the morning. :)

loved your story about Indonesia Babe same thing happened to me after living in Europe for 6 months and every time I go home. I think America is so full of excess.
Before I moved here I couldn't even eat two poptarts lol. Everyone here says I eat like a bird because I eat a little often. Back home people eat one big meal a day. It was weird for me at first because I was with my friend and offered her dinner and she said she couldn't because she already had food for lunch. So she had something small like some nuts and fruit. My mum's the same way. a normal breakfast (eggs and fruit or cereal whatever) and a big lunch or dinner and a sandwich or soup or something small for the next meal.

anyway, i'm excited about hanging out with my granddad today. he hasn't seen my new house and we have so much to talk about. actually it's mostly him talking but i love to hear about his life. this man is 96! he remembers wwII and stuff that happened in 1924 and he remembers my dad when he was a child, that's all so exciting to me. plus his philosophies on life, health, wealth and God are so amazing.

have a good one yall.

[BillySeagull]

peanutterb, why don't you take some notes on your grandad's philosophy of life and post them here. That would be cool!:p Wow, 100 years of wisdom we could all use here!

[sopheetsa]

hey peanut:

Thanks for asking--I'm doing pretty ok--but a bit stressed -- how about you?

I am stressed because I'm trying to rework a paper and prepare a poster for this conference I'm going to. I've been mulling over what you and mtmouse have been saying. I appreciated what you said. The embarrassing thing is-- that DESPITE the fact that there have been stretches in my life where I was eating well and food and body image were NOT a biggie for me-- I am now at a point where-I'm afraid to say: MY WEIGHT IS PRETTY IMPORTANT TO ME-- and YES those 9 pounds MEAN something. At the same time, I don't completely trust myself to make the right food choices to get to where I want to be. I think it is VERY important to "be good to yourself" and to think well about eating and all that-- but I've gotten to a difficult place with the food and body image issues...I haven't decided exactly what my "plan" for going off the cleanse will be. Today is day 10 (of part 2 of Cleanse 3 ;)). My current thought is that rather than go off the cleanse or stay on it I might continue on a "modified cleanse" -- ie stay on the cleanse-- and allow myself to eat-- SOME but not a lot-- during the conference. I know this isn't the most sensible thing-- but I don't think I can "trust" myself to GO OFF and eat sensibly-- OR to STAY ON while there's a lot of activities having to do with food going on. I am thinking I will continue in this "modified" way-- through the end of the month (past the "gala" event I'm attending the following Friday Sep 29th, till my paper deadline (September 30th.) I will then try to follow "Kira's Tips" (http://therawfoodsite.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1642) as best as I am able! http://therawfoodsite.com/forum/images/icons/icon11.gif

Gotta get back to work. Hope you have fun hanging out with your granddad-- and along with Billy and others of us here, would love to hear more about it! :)

PS: I had a rough day altogether and ended up going out to get (organic) oranges and grapefruit to end my cleanse. I still have NO IDEA what I'm going to do-- but one possiblity is that I will "END" my cleanse! It isn't like I know that this is the day to end... I was just super irritable (OK I KNOW THAT'S DETOX) and I wasn't sure about all the upcoming social events.... ;)

[peanutterb]

So here are some tidbits I picked up from my grandfather.
I'm so amazed at his memory.
I'm just going to write the lessons as I remember them so they may not have any order.

Lessons from my 96 year old Poppa
- If you owe someone money or bought something on credit and it's due on the 15 pay it on the 14th and if the 14th is a weekend pay it on the Friday before.
- If someone owes you money, don't be a bank, be a human. Sometimes you lend money, sometimes you give money. And they don't always have to pay you back in money. Good people remember the good things you've done for them.
- Settle your debts before you grow old. Don't pass anything on to your children
- Own your own property
- Be good to those who are good to you
- When you have the opportunity to provide for yourself, be sure to provide for others. (He has a large plot of land behind his house that he's built other houses on for people and charge them minimal rent. He also said he had one of the first tvs in the island and would let everyone come over to watch it in the evenings)
- Nothing is yours. The land, the fruits, everything belongs to us.
- Why pay $6000 for a fancy coffin? you're just going to rot in it. Save your family the money and the time. Be humble even in death.
- Listen to your elders.
- Don't keep up long conversations with people because you will find yourself with enemies
- Do something with your hands. That never goes out of style. (last time I went home in 2004 he was still building houses and all of his kids are mechanics or carpenters)
- Don't let your children ever need anything but let them understand the difference between need and want (he has 7 kids with my grandma and a few misc ones)
- Be true to your word
- Don't ask anyone for anything you wouldn't do yourself
- Don't always fight back, you will make yourself bigger enemies. Don't take the judgement into your own hands
- He eats 3 times a day and several times in between he only has fruits
- He eats on a schedule. 9:30, 1:30 and 6.
- He says he wakes up everyday and gives thanks for life and goes to find good to do because there must be some reason God spared his life another day
- He said that sometimes it thinks of what it feels like to have nails in your hand and feet and that it must be painful and that's why he's not scared of pain because Jesus went through so much
- A man should love to work. And do work he loves. And make sure he provides for his family and for the community.
- Don't envy what anyone has because you don't know how they got it
- Don't have children too close. One should be walking before the other is born. (All his kids were 3 years apart)
- Before you get anything new, finish with the old. (He wears the same 3 outfits until they're tattered and then moves on to a new three)
- People are always going to be watching you. Don't live your life for them
- Watch how the government spends money and you'll know how to vote

ok that's all i can remember now. We've had many convos about his life in general and those are things I picked up or that he told me directly. I'm going to visit with him again on Friday so we'll see what else I learn.
I think he is so amazing. If I can figure out how I'll post a pic on here.

[peanutterb]

trying to post a pic

http://www.olivemonkey.com/miked/learning.jpg