DAY 22 OF 100 80/10/10 ---- MARKET DAY ON A BUDGET

I've had a very successful cleaning business for over 20 years.  I operate it by myself.  I have a strong clientele and this business has been my main support all these years.  I've learned tons of lessons from it in people management.  I could write a book about my experiences for sure.  With my health as bad as it was last year I let things slow down.  Natural attrition occurs and normally I replace those who leave with new clients easily.  I had 5 openings that I used for recuperation and I was happy to have that extra time off from physical labor. 2 weeks ago I lost a MAJOR client do to some family issues in the household.  I had been with them for 4 years and they paid me very well.  My income went down substantially and I had to scramble after the shock wore off to come up with a game plan to survive until I replaced them.  They had all day Friday every Friday.  This normally would be a day I would have 2 to 3 separate clients every week.  I moved one of my other long time clients onto that day so I still have 4 openings just on Fridays.  I also have 2 other current clients that I need to perhaps replace.  So a total of 9+ new clients coming in to my flock in the next couple of months. 

After my cleaning business is substantially more financially stable I will direct my attention to my mentoring business which has already started.  I want 4 more weekly students at my home.  But 1st things 1st.  I need a higher base income from my cleaning business. 

Because of this down turn in finance,s added to the huge cost of my health needs the last several months, including converting my kitchen to raw, new smaller clothing, etc., I have had to make several cuts in expenditures including my budget for raw organic produce.  I make a detailed listing of what I NEED, not "want", bring my calculator and weigh all the items I am purchasing so I won't be "surprised" at the final tally at the register.  I am very well appreciated at the Boise co-op and the produce department especially.  I've asked for some consideration during my financial down-turn and they are happy to help.  They are trimming the tops off the pineapples and the leaves off the cauliflower.  Truly!!  LOL  Yesterday I only went over by $4.00 on my total purchases at the co-op.  That was amazing!!  This included taxes which I didn't calculate so actually I was spot on. 

The co-op is about 12 miles and 10 minutes from my house.  I also am around that area several times a week so it is feasible to shop there.  A new organic produce store opened up literally 1/4 mile from my home during my juice feast.  Natural Grocers.  It is a far cry from my beloved co-op but they do have their good points.  I've made some contacts there in the produce section (of course!) and they often have fruit that is "too ripe" for the general buyer that is almost ripe for me.  I buy organic bananas on close-out for .29 per lb!  I find these throughout the week thank goodness!  I go through about a dozen bananas a day.  Another new organic grocers opened up about 15 minutes away from my house on the same side of town: Rosieres.  I haven't been there yet and there is no reason to make a special trip.  What I'm waiting for is the opening of Whole Foods finally.  They dragged their feet and got into legal hassles and tried to throw their weight around in this male-dominated Mormon-led town. LOL LOL  The woman in charge at their end didn't realize her "proper" place in the scheme of things here.  That was a mistake!  So it has taken 18 months to do what should have taken 4 months.  The building is built and now they are working on the innards.  The other 2 stores opened up before they did and that is going to cost them dearly. 

Yesterday I went back to Natural Grocers and found they had dropped their price on organic watermelon down from $1.79 per lb last week (previous week had been .79 per lb!) back down to .79 per lb!!  I had a sheit fit and requested an explanation from my friend Steve.  He tried to gently explain to me that the produce manager had made a mistake and he corrected it.  However that meant last week I had shelled out $8.00 MORE for watermelon and that got me really mad.  He tried to soften me up by offering me an apology and some mangos on a very deep discount.  It worked!!  LOL 

This raw organic low fat high carb life style is incredible!  Wonderful health, vitality, good will towards everyone, perfect effortless weight management, and a quick path to sustained joy.  But it has some challenges.  You must stay one step ahead at all times.  Planning and budgeting are a new tool to your raw diet.  You can't slack off and you need to stay conscious of your overall program. And, budgeting/pricing/sales are your friends.

 The hunt for new intriguing and tasty recipes is another challenge.  One that I'm facing right now in fact.  Adding fruit to my vegies is far from appealing to me.  Oranges and mangos in a dressing for a salad makes my stomach do flip flops thinking about it. Many other "low fat" raw recipes are too high in fat for me and use nuts and avocados.  Overt fats are kept to a fraction of what is being used in most raw recipes.  The other choice in HCLF recipes are things like mono-meals and they do not appeal to me.  I like variety in my food.  I like to prepare something that is interesting and unique.  Having 12 bananas for a meal isn't my bag either. LOL 

My stats yesterday were great.  2097 calories 88.6% carb/4.7% fat/6.7% protein. 
I had water, watermelon, ABC smoothie=10 cups, left overs from yesterdays dinner salad; TomBurger and some mashed cauliflower. 

Yesterday's food wasn't that great for some reason.  I've gone back and forth about overt fats.  I think as long as I stay within my 80/10/10 guidelines I'm going to be fine.  So, I'm going to try something this week.  I'm going back to the co-op and getting some seeds to put in my fixings.  I'll use just 1/2 tsp of what I choose for that day.  This is minimal and still gives me something a little more than just vegies.  I will keep you all posted.  I'll also keep a close watch on myself on this matter. 

Sorry for the long blog, LOL.  Have a fruit-filled day everyone.