This Monday, with our camel milk diet going quite strong, we woke early, milked Jamila, drank our breakfast, cleaned the enclosure, fed the camels and then headed home to Ramona to pick up our own supplies. We packed our milk and dates for the road, and with Doc and Noodle in tow, headed home for a few hours of laundry and on-line soap order processing.
Wow! What a mistake! Leaving the safety of our fair routine and venturing into the outside world proved close to unbearable for my appetite!
With every new mile, a new craving simmered into my head. Triggers everywhere: fast food, Momma Rosa's, Jeremy's on the Hill, El Michuacan, Subway... I had had enough dates! I wanted food!
But we drove right on past everything, stopped at Henry's Marketplace to pick up, you guessed it, more dates and drove all the way home.
It was so great to see home. All the animals and birds greeted us heartily as Gil and I strolled around the fruit trees, marveling at all the delicious, sweetly ripe fruit.... we could not eat! We did our chores, I picked up and kissed all my kitties, played with parrots and we even watched a l little TV. In between we drank our pre-packed camel's milk and dates and although the milk went down smooth and delicate... the dates where really starting to bug me!
The trip home jump started all my food cravings with the jolt of a truck battery. It's Tuesday morning and I am still really, REALLY struggling with it.
Gil and I continue to lose weight. For the first time during our Camel Milk Challenge, we are both concerned. In my case, I'd like to lose about fifteen pounds so on one hand... this is quite convenient. However, this diet is supposed to maintain our normal levels of health and function. Other than initial water loss and a little weight loss as things get aligned into their right places, theoretically we should not be experiencing such loses and certainly do not welcome them next year when we are doing our one-month desert crossing. We both continue to drop about one pound a day.
We need more food. We need more milk. And it doesn't look like we're going to get it. Jamila, as lovely a camel as she is, is still very temperamental about sharing the milk she makes for her young son. We milk four times a day: alone at 7:00 and then three times for shows at 12:00, 2:30 and 5:00. Due to Jamila's fussy nature, Gil milks one side only and one teat only. We are only getting about 18 to 20 ounces per milking. So Gil and I are averaging about 32 to 40 ounces of milk daily plus water and dates. (Did I mention those dates are really starting to bug me?)
As we drank our morning milk today (Tuesday) Gil and I had a very serious conversation about what to do next. We came up with a few options:
- We do have frozen milk stockpiled in the refrigerator. We could start thawing that. (although next year in the desert... that will not be an option) But we could see how much milk we need to maintain weight and energy.
- We could "add" something to our diet. Something that would help supplement for the milk. Perhaps chicken or other protein. (the nomads probably shot and ate what they could on their desert treks)
- Perhaps one of us could just stop doing the diet while the other one finished out the Challenge having twice the milk for themselves.
Interestingly, although each of us is seriously craving something savory and satisfying, neither of us wants to give up the Challenge. We both want to continue through the designated finish of June 29.
So what to do, what to do... perhaps we leave it up to you
If you have a thought, suggestion or even just some words of encouragement; please post or email us.
This has suddenly gotten serious!
Learn more about Gil, Nancy, The Oasis Camel Dairy and the CAMEL MILK CHALLENGE by visiting our website: www.cameldairy.com. Subscribe to this blog and get immediate updates. See the latest pictures, comment and video on our facebook fan page: Oasis Camel Dairy
so amazing what you're doing...but now I'm hungry for you! I think the best idea would be the 1st one to stay as true to your challenge as possible.
ReplyDeleteHave you consulted a doctor or nutritionist prior to this? Perhaps they can advise on what you might need to round out the nutritional part of this diet. It seems overly restrictive and, you're right, a pound a day after the initial water weight isn't terribly healthy. There have to be other proteins that nomads might have had access to in the desert - even if it's bugs and lizards (yuck).
ReplyDeleteWhile it's true that nomads CAN live up to a month on nothing but camels milk and dates, they probably are not in the best shape of health or have a lot of energy. Not to mention, they are used to this kind of diet. If your "American" body is suddenely deprived of the nutriets and calories it is used to, you will lose a LOT of weight and energy. If you were to try to stay on this lifestyle, you would probably reach plateau and be able to get your body used to the new diet and start feeling better. I would still be worried about your health.
ReplyDeleteEither way, whatever you decide, I'm sure you can make it to the 29th... hopefully you have saved enough in food money in that time to go CRAZY @ the fair once you can eat again. Good luck!