Friday, July 30, 2010.....Day 195

Day 195 of the Fruit Feast. Deuteronomy 20:19 ....for the tree of the field is man's life..

i am finding this Bible truth to be more & more real in my own experience. Both now and in times past whenever Fruit has been the predominant food in my life, my energy level and spiritual clarity reach all-time highs. Such is the case now as i am experiencing power surges in my own person. The question mark for me is, how will my muscles react over the long term? In the past i have noticed (both in my own experience as well as the testimony of others), that Fruit appears to really have benefits in terms of endurance. Endurance athletes seem to reach much higher levels of stamina on a Fruit-based diet. i have not seen many examples for those that do mostly strength/resistance training like i do. In fact i have only seen one example, that is a fellow named Richard Blackman. But even he seemed like a smaller guy to me. It will be interesting to see what i look like when i am doing 8000-10,000 push ups per month. i hope to reach the 8000 point in December of this year. In 2006, i tried to bulk up using heavy amounts of nuts but that did nothing but clog my system as i definitely over did it on the nuts. i was also using weights which i think was unnecessary as i am in love with body weight training. i am using nuts and seeds now but much more sparingly. As i am at the six and one half month point of this particular foray into raw, i like how i feel.

As posted earlier, i realize my downfall has been grains. i need to stay away from them and i have weakness for them. i am not surprised having been raised on them (like most Americans). So far, so good but we will see how i handle the Autumn season which is my weakest time. i am getting noticeably stronger as i continue my push up/chin up regiment. i finished this month with 7930 push ups and 1492 chins. This total is an aberration since July had an extra week. Over the last four weeks it was more like 6400/1300 which is still ahead of my own schedule (i planned on being at 6000/1200 for July). My goal for August is to match July's Four week total and then increase for September. i still weigh in at 200lbs mostly because i am using salt but i am fine with that as my overall fitness level is good in my estimation.


The mangoes are excellent right now and i am trying to obtain them whenever i can. i am hoping the quality lasts into September this year. The melons i planted in my garden are not looking too good, but the sweet peppers look good. The jury is still out on the tomatoes. But i have been able to obtain some locally grown melons and tomatoes recently and they are excellent as well. My salads lately have been just cucumber with tomatoes and seeds. The tomatoes are so good i could just eat them alone. Well, that is the report for this week. i pray all who read this receive a blessing.

Sabbath Peace and Grace to all in Christ.

Have a wonderful Weekend!

todd

Friday, July 23, 2010....Day 188

Day 188 of the Fruit Feast. The price of mangoes went up dramatically today so i am out of them for now. But i was able to get some delicious watermelon very cheap along with some ready-to-eat bananas. Breakfast and lunch consisted of these and supper was some raw cabbage wraps. Of Christ the bible says,

Psalms 85:10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

What a combination, Mercy & Truth. Some people are very crude and vulgar and use the excuse that they are telling the truth. But in Christ one can speak the truth and not be crude, cold and hard. Truth can be combined with mercy. i pray that combination be developed more fully in my character to the glory of the Father.

i have had a very good week in terms of working out. i played 21 games (Twenty-one!) of full court basketball on Wednesday. i was totally soaked (it was in the 90s) and totally drained afterwards. It felt fantastic! It was just me, my son Joshua and two other 19 year old kids. We played until almost 10pm at night. Like i said it was great. i also did 1630 push ups and 222 chins total for the week. Light on the chins this week as i did not do them in Dallas on Sunday so i missed a day. When i do the push ups, my form is not what would be considered strict. i pump my body up and down so as to maintain the isometric stress (it also feels really good). But today i decided to finish the week with very slow, very strict movements. i did a total of six sets of push ups 15-20 per set, going all the way down until my chest brushed the floor and all the way back up to the locked position and holding it there. i did the same thing with the chins. This way i only did 31 chins and 100 push ups. Great way to finish off the week.

Breakfast:
About 8lbs of watermelon, 6 bananas.

Lunch: 10 bananas.

Dinner: 9 cabbage wraps.

Spiritual Bread: Psalms 85-89

Exercise: 100 push ups, 31 chins.

Sabbath Rest and Peace to all in Christ.

Have a wonderful weekend!

todd

Tuesday, July 13, 2010..........Day 178

Day 178 of the Fruit Feast. Its July and i love this time of year because of the fruit that is available. Mangoes are at their season, peaches are starting to appear and there is an abundance of locally grown melons. i have had some nice push up/chin up workouts over the last couple of days. Time always goes by fast and i know it will be autumn very quickly so i want to enjoy each day the summer has to offer. even though troubles and trials are part of our lot here on planet earth there is much to enjoy and be thankful for also. Its been raining very heavily here over the last two days so we have not been able to get outdoors too much. But we needed the rain after about a week of temps in the high 90s. Not that i am complaining about that because i will take that any day over the cold. i think its the fruit but i have definitely come to appreciate tropical weather.  i have been blessed to enjoy all of these.

i am preparing for a trip to Dallas, Texas this week. Going down there to perform a baptism for two precious souls. Also to visit with others i know in the area. i have never been to Texas so this will be all new. Wherever i am and whatever i am doing, i just want Christ to be seen and my heavenly Father to be honored.

Breakfast: 6 large bananas. 2 mangoes.

Lunch: mix of raw sunflower seeds with pistachios. About 7lbs of watermelon.

Dinner: 40oz of watermelon-cantaloupe juice.

Spiritual Bread: Psalms 51-56, Daniel 11

Exercise: (This is for the last 2 days total). 1000 push ups/ 190 chins.

Grace and Peace be multiplied.

todd

Friday, July 9, 2010.......Day 174

Day 174 of the Fruit Feast. It is now Friday evening. i have just finished doing our Revelation bible study and its almost midnight. It is quiet. It is the hours of the Sabbath of rest. As i am reflecting on this past week, i see how good my God is to me. i am learning of His Love more and more through the exercise of trials that develop patience. The simplicity of the raw food diet is a metaphor of the simplicity of Life in Christ. Its not complicated. Its not rocket science. It does not require a high IQ. But it does require patience (which is something i do not naturally possess).

Many times during a regular day i am placed in situations/circumstances that develop the Love of Christ through patience. When i am hungry because my system is cleaning itself and i know its not time to eat. i must wait and be patient. When those closest to me are used unwittingly to try me, i must be patient. When bad news comes my way that threatens me, i must be patient. By all of these things and more i realize the Father is causing me to trust more in Christ (through Grace) and developing in me that patience which represents His Love.

1 Corinthians 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind;
1 Corinthians 13:5 ....... is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

i realize the road for me is very long. But i am so confident in my God that He will finish the work in me. The road to being where i would like to be in the Raw diet requires patience. It is not a quick fix. i am 100% raw, but i really would like to be able to live without salt. Right now, its not happening. But i will continue to move forward. i am thankful that i am 100% raw and that its not a problem in and of itself. i am excited as i continue to see improvements in mental and spiritual clarity. But i realize i have a long road in front of me and i must take one step at a time.....with patience.

Breakfast: 6 bananas, 1 mango, 32oz OJ

Lunch: Guac with raw dehydrated crackers.

Dinner: bowl of watermelon.

Spiritual bread: Psalms 32-38

Exercise: 500 push ups/120 chins (For the week i did 1600 push ups/360 chins, moving forward albeit slowly).

Have a wonderful Weekend!

Sabbath Peace and Rest to those in Christ.

Grace and peace be multiplied.

todd

Friday, July 2, 2010.......Day 167

Day 167 of the Fruit Feast. Well, as far as diet is concerned, i am just rolling along at 100% raw. Its very easy to me at this point probably because i have been going at it on and off for more than 6 years. As i was pushing to get rid of salt (and failed again) it seems just eating all raw, whether it be gourmet or not, is very easy now. Of course i am retaining water that i was not retaining when i was salt free, but at this point i am at peace with that. In fact, i am at peace with pretty much everything right now. i know the clarity of mind from the diet is helping me connect with the Holy Spirit on a more intimate basis. i am still having trials in my life, but there is more peace about me now. Jesus said,


John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

The peace of Heaven is different from anything the world can offer. Its not just sitting in a quiet place and meditating. Its not just having low blood pressure or being in great physical shape. Its an abiding, supernatural, peace that He gives me that stays with me regardless of what is outside me. Its a love that brings rest to my soul. i am very grateful for this peace and thankful for the Love of Christ that passes knowledge. My goal remains to be filled with the Fullness of Christ and reflect His character while i live on this planet. The clarity of mind and body from this diet is helping me achieve this goal.

i am still eating much of fruit (in fact almost all fruit). But i am also enjoying kelp and other seaweeds on my non-sweet salads as well as nut sauces. i am feeling very strong physically as i am focusing on calistenics (particularly push ups and chin ups) for my workouts. Tonight we are conitnuing our online study of the book of Revelation followed by an all night prayer service which will start around 11:30pm and end at 5am. i am getting so much out of the book of Revelation these days as, like the rest of the Bible, it seems to be talking to me.

Since i have only eaten breakfast at this point, i will post yesterdays meals.

Breakfast: 5 bananas, 64oz watermelon-canteloupe juice.

Lunch: Non-sweet salad with cashew dressing and seaweed wraps with guac.

Dinner: 32oz of watermelon-cantaloupe juice. 4 mangoes.

Spiritual bread: Revelation 8-17

Exercise: for the week i did 1500 push ups, 360 chins, 30 tricep presses, 40 bench dips. Played ball for about 2 hours on 2 different days.


Have a wonderful weekend!

Grace and Peace be multiplied.

todd