Raw foods’ lifestyle leads couple to teach local classes
By Kiri Lanice Walton, Staff Writer
kwalton@williamsonherald.com
In 2000, Celeste and Phil Davis were suffering from a plethora of illnesses and disorders. However, after going on a raw-food detox program for 21 days, everything from Type II diabetes to erectile dysfunction was completely eliminated and has never returned. The Davises have never returned to their regular diet again either and are helping others see similar results with their business, The Wellness Workshop Cool Springs.
Their company does helping others lead healthier lives by blending a raw food detox lifestyle habits with life coaching, since often people’s relationship with food is the symptom of bigger issues.
Their four-week program consists of healthier eating habits combined with principles that help people maintain their diet and learn the causes of their unhealthy diet.
The couple holds a couple of workshops each month at the Whole Foods Market in Cool Springs.
Celeste was 42 years old when she found out her true body age was 67, she said.
“When you calculate that people live to be 70 to 80 years old, that didn’t give me a very long life span,” Celeste said. “It was quite devastating to me.”
The couple had tried diets and pills and finally, Celeste prayed for the Lord to intervene because she couldn’t do it on her own.
“I said, ‘God, I can’t do this. I need your help,’” Celeste said.
At this time, the couple that had pastored churches in Oregon, western Montana and southeastern Alaska for 15 years moved to Las Vegas to be closer to their daughter and grandchildren, and Celeste got a job working for a chiropractor.
In 2005, she worked for a chiropractor in Las Vegas, who required all his employees to detoxify completely before being employed there.
Phil wanted to support his wife, so he joined in.
For 21 days, Celeste and Phil — equipped with very few directions, no guidance or recipes — ate a vegetarian, mostly raw diet.
Phil was very much into sodas and went through withdrawals for the first few days from the lack of sugar.
They lost a combined total of 36 pounds in those 21 days, as well as Type II diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, eczema, bronchitis, erectile dysfunction, back pain, body aches and mind fog.
The next four months their total combined weight loss had increased to 132 and none of their maladies had returned.
“It was just like waking up a new person practically every day,” Celeste said.
It was music that brought the Davises to where they currently reside in Chapel Hill, Tenn. They began their business and now hold workshops twice a month at the Whole Foods Market in Cool Springs.
Now, the duo is completely vegan, though they do not recommend a completely vegetarian lifestyle to their clients.
They never have to count a calorie or watch their carbs because what they eat has so few calories, they said.
“As much as you want whenever you want,” Celeste said.
Phil said that eating raw has helped their marriage in some ways, adding that he had loved Celeste since she was 15 and he was 17.
“Actually, I’ve come to be more of a part of what goes on in the kitchen to help her to prep as opposed to before where I would get home and tell my wife, ‘Where’s my newspaper? Where’s my dinner? The ball game going to start,’” he said.
“We’re on the same team,” Celeste agreed.
When it comes to their business, they want to spread awareness and support of a raw food lifestyle.
Besides their face-to-face consultations and their group classes, Phil and Celeste offer virtual detox classes on their Web site which can be accompanied by their weekly phone conferences on Monday nights.
They also are beginning to work with churches and would like to do more of that, Celeste said.
Celeste thought it was better to have her husband involved because “men and women handle food differently” and because they focus on the issues behind how people deal with food, and sometimes men may just be more comfortable discussing these with another man.
“We don’t just work on food issues. We work on forgiveness, bitterness, resentment, trust, time management,” Celeste said.
“Our business is really lifestyle and wholeness type of counseling. It’s very biblically based,” Phil said.
One reason that many people find it hard to stick to a diet or lifestyle change is because they begin to develop what Celeste and Phil call a “depravation mindset.”
“One thing we teach our clients is to live with intention…You could never cheat on yourself because you always know what you are doing. You can only treat yourself. When you think of cheating, then you’re living in this depravation mindset,” Celeste said.
“When you eat raw, you have to be intentional about it.”
‘Be intentional’ is the theme of the third week of the detoxification program.
During the first week, participants learn to “be aware” of food and how it affects their bodies. The second week is a chance for individuals to get back to the good stuff in life with the theme “be engaged.”
Phil pointed out during a recent raw food workshop that it is not difficult to find a family at a restaurant that may not be completely tuned into each other. The children may be watching DVD players, playing video games or texting. The parents may be checking e-mail or messages on their Blackberries.
For one past participant, who was a busy executive, his week never ended. He took it to heart and now makes it home to eat dinner with his family and to see his children’s ball games as a result.
The third week can be the hardest for many people. It is about forgiveness and is entitled “be free.”
Phil said that participants struggling with this week will usually cease the program all together.
However, those who can make it through can go on to the fifth principal, which is to “be confident.”
“When your life stops being centered around food, you can go anywhere with anyone socially and enjoy yourself because food is the secondary thing, instead of the primary thing,” Celeste said.
For more information, visit www.wellnessworkshopcoolsprings.com or call The Wellness Workshop at 975-0186. They hold their food workshops at Whole Foods in Cool Springs every second and fourth Thursday. Pre-register at customer service or on-line at www.wellnessworkshopcoolsprings.com
How to begin a raw food diet:
Start slowly.
DRINK WATER.
Add one raw item to each meal.
Drink half your body weight in ounces of water each day.
Southwestern slaw recipe by Celeste Davis
1 1/2 cups raw cashews, soaked
1/2 medium-large white cabbage
1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, cut in half
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded & diced
1 large clove garlic
3/4 cup cilantro, chopped
Toast cashews on a skillet or in the oven at 350 for 5-10 minutes (watch closely), stir while toasting.
Thin slice cabbage. Pulse tomatoes, jalapeno, garlic & cilantro in food processor until coarsely chopped. Refrigerate until serving time.
Dressing:
1/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
1/4 tsp fine grain Celtic sea salt
Whisk dressing and toss in salad right before serving.
Fold in cashews.
Posted on: 4/8/2009
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