Success Inspires Me

[SimpleGirl]

I have been trying to be 100% raw for several years. (Rawfiddler-I actually learned about Raw Foods at an Earthsave meeting in Cincinnati about 4 years ago!) I am fairly convinced that being 80% raw is not good for me. Too much temptation to binge on the 20%. I have read many of your journals and I always feel inspired by your success.

A few days ago, someone I believe it was Indi said "raw food has changed my life". Her comment stuck with me. I love reading about the pure joy of not feeling sluggish, tired, sniffly and heavy-I love reading your success.

I am really leaning toward doing a 30 day challenge. I would love to lose a few pounds (I only have about 7 stubborn pounds to lose), sleep better and feel alive.

So if I may ask-Could those of you who feel wonderful just make a brief inspirational comment to help motivate me. I'm sure it will help many others to take the 30 day challenge.

Thanks

[sport]

I am 54 and my husband has said to me many times "slow down, ladies do not run around like that". I know that he is wrong but I do not know anyone my age (and few younger) who moves as freely or with more energy than I do. Guests in their twenties struggle to walk up my stairs but I run up.

[pinenut]

If this helps at all...

I'm just starting my 30 day challenge today (pictures and journaling soon to come) and I've been feeling really excited about it. I've spent all of last year as an alcoholic and was recovering from major reconstructive back surgery, so I know this is exactly what my body needs to fully recover from the inside out.

I went out grocery shopping last night and it felt soooo good to be able to go through the store and totally fill my carriage with nothing but raw healthy produce. The best part was the comments I got from the checkout girl and from some of the customers in line behind me! They all couldn't believe that I was buying nothing but produce, raw nuts and seeds and mineral water. It felt especially good when I saw the nasty, fattening, surgary, heavily processed and packaged foods that was being put on the little convayor belt from the customer behind me.

I couldn't help but feel "smug" in knowing how much better I was going to feel after a days worth of eating my food compared to how that person was going to feel after eating a days worth of his foods. :p

I will say it won't be easy biking home from work every night because I have to pass by all these wonderful outdoor restraunts that smell beyond heavenly. (The smell of Caribbean Jerk alone is enough to make me fall off my bike!)

But I know it all comes down to how I feel about myself when I wake up each morning: guilty and sick because I ate a bunch of dead, unhealthy foods or drank alcohol, or happy and excited to start another day with a clean conscious and clean body.

[Indi]

A few days ago, someone I believe it was Indi said "raw food has changed my life". Her comment stuck with me. I love reading about the pure joy of not feeling sluggish, tired, sniffly and heavy-I love reading your success.


Hi, Yes it was me that said raw food has changed my life! :)

I wrote this in response to Anna@the raw table's request for raw stories for her new website.
Thought you might like to read it!

Eating a Raw vegan diet has totally changed my life. IBS, severe bloating and excess candida related problems led me to eating raw food. I have struggled with those symptoms for over ten years. I chose not to take medication. I worked with exclusion diets and natural therapy to try and heal my body. Eating living food felt like the next natural step to take.

For about three weeks, I increased the amount of raw food in my diet. 21 days ago, I began eating a totally raw vegan diet. These are some of the benefits that I have experienced during my transition. I sleep better. I have lost weight. My skin is clearer and my teeth look whiter. My Eyesight is sharper. Injuries heal quickly. I can exercise without tiring easily. I have lots more energy. I am more open and easy going. I feel more connected and grounded, more at one with the world. I am able to switch off, let go and relax! The same old stressors still hit, but I deal with them differently. I am so much calmer and positive. The debilitating 10 year illness that led me to raw has GONE. I feel so alive!

All this in just a few short weeks. Its fantastic!

Update....
I have managed a full month now and life just keeps getting sweeter every day!
Happy healing honey!

[theresaann]

these are a few great things I've experienced and I"m only 3 1/2 weeks at 100% so far!

teeth whiter and stronger-no more pain on chewing tough things, like apple skin-yea!

lost 12 pounds so far (out of 38)

my face looks already 10 years younger-lines totally going away (I'm 41). Looks like I've had botox or collagen, or something!

sleep deeply, wake up ready to get up-no "groggy feeling"

ZERO cravings for cooked food, except popcorn a couple of times

much more emotionally centered, calmer overall

my intuition is so clear, can access subtle energy info quickly and easily (professional psychic by trade-this benefit is MOST welcome!)

My brain seems to be working better, like my memory is better and I can read faster.

I figure that's a lot in just 3 1/2 weeks! I wonder what the next several months will bring!!

[fiddler]

I have been trying to be 100% raw for several years. (Rawfiddler-I actually learned about Raw Foods at an Earthsave meeting in Cincinnati about 4 years ago!) I am fairly convinced that being 80% raw is not good for me. Too much temptation to binge on the 20%. I have read many of your journals and I always feel inspired by your success.
So if I may ask-Could those of you who feel wonderful just make a brief inspirational comment to help motivate me. I'm sure it will help many others to take the 30 day challenge.
Thanks

SimpleGirl,

Don't know if you went to my humble blog (www.rawfiddler.com)? But, there I mention why I went from the Hallelujah Diet to all raw. Honestly, I felt good on both diets. The main reason I tried raw was because I kept slipping past the recommended 15% cooked recommended by Malkmus. Now that I'm raw (since 8/31/06), I definitely find it easier to avoid the cooked food. Don't feel like I arrived yet where I want to be because my fat intake is still slightly higher than what I'm shooting for -- but I'm climbing the stairs and heading to the top. I'll get there soon.

Most of the time, how I feel is not really related to diet. Instead, my energies/moods are impacted more by the other factors such as job stress, relationships (wife, family, friends), sleep, etc... I feel I got a good grip on the diet thing (most of the time.). Now, I'm just trying to balance the other areas in life that I feel are just as important if not moreso. Its like Dr. Graham has mentioned -- you're only as strong as your weakest link. If we try RAW and get that down pretty well for a few months; then, I think we need to get to managing the other areas.

Lately, I'm fairly energetic -- working out every day either by running, lifting weights or doing a new "Core Secrets" w/ ball video that my wife bought for herself. :) If you're ever in my krogers store, you may find me zipping around quickly on my cart like a 20 year old riding a skateboard. Seriously, I get excited going to the produce store knowing I'm there buying nourishment for my body and continuing my health journey -- so I ride my cart like a skateboard -- its fun!

Anyway, I'm planning on attending CintiEarthSave this Sunday. If you make it there, I'll be the one eating whole, ripe, fresh, raw, organic food. I'll bring some extra fruit for you if you make it. I'll probably bring some organic Florida juice oranges since I just bought a case today -- they're delicious!! Maybe some bananas too :)

Good luck to you. If RAW is what you're seeking, I wish you the best and feel free to email me anytime.

Cheers,
Gil

[JinxieKat]

I've been raw for a little over a month now. It is amazing the changes. I've lost 14 lbs, most of the time I do have more energy. I think I'm going through a detox at the moment. I cut out alot of fat, not on purpose, it just happened, and I've been feeling it. I'm putting more in as of today *lol* I can feel what my body wants and I listen to it. If I want veggies I eat veggies, if I want fruit I eat fruit. And of course, the perfect food, a coconut smoothie :D When I exercise I don't get as winded as I normally would. That is a _big_ difference there. They have been really stepping up things in my clogging class lately. My body feels like I should be breathing very hard, yet I'm just breathing like I was walking. That is really neat. My moods are more even and the back and shoulder pain I was having after a car accident are gone. I think there are more things, I kept a very detailed journal over the 30 days. Check it out if you'd like :)

Jinx

[SimpleGirl]

Thanks for the posts. Today is Day 1 . I plan to start a journal.

Sport-your comment is right on. I want that kind of energy.
JinxieKat-Your journal is on my favorites. I hope you keep posting past 30
theresaann-I love the feeling of waking refreshed. Your results inspire me.
Indi- I feel the same way at the grocery. We eat mostly raw now and I know when I have an all raw day I am going to wake feeling better than usual.
Rawfiddler- Yes I read your blog. I showed my DH to give him some inspiration. More men need to blog. My DH is onboard for an all raw month. Don't know if we will make it to Earthsave. It is past the 2 year olds bedtime. Maybe I could go by myself.

[fiddler]

Rawfiddler- Yes I read your blog. I showed my DH to give him some inspiration. More men need to blog. My DH is onboard for an all raw month. Don't know if we will make it to Earthsave. It is past the 2 year olds bedtime. Maybe I could go by myself.

Hi SimpleGirl ... Good luck to your DH for the all-raw month!!!! It can be a challenge as most of us know :) I ended up staying home to watch my Kentucky Wildcats go down in defeat against the Huskies Sunday -- so I didn't make it to the EarthSave. I hope to make the next meeting though. Again, best wishes to you and your DH in his raw 'venture.

Cheers,
Gil

[macybare]

Hey simple girl I'm also from cincinnati. Where do you get most of your raw food. You ever been to findleys market?

[Rawmommie]

I've been raw since November of 2004. I didn't even know I could feel this good!!!!!

My fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue disappeared the first month. My acne cleared up within a few months. My energy level soared. My runny nose, itchy ears, stuffiness disappeared. Even my mind seemed to clear and things became brighter to me. I now enjoy my life to the fullest, when before I realize that I was just surviving.

[fiddler]

Hey simple girl I'm also from cincinnati. Where do you get most of your raw food. You ever been to findleys market?

Hey macybare, fwiw, the Hyde Park biggs has some of the freshest organic produce around at the best price. Right next door is Wild Oats but they're more costly. If you're North of the river, then you might check out Jungle Jim's. Here in Northern Kentucky I just hit Krogers and then Crossetts -- a produce wholesaler distributing to many of the chains around this region. If you can buy certain things in bulk you get a much fresher supply at a lower cost. btw, I've been to findley market. Hoping to find some other local markets this Spring and Summer too...

[misslinda]

I'm still in shock about the power of RAW.............to make it brief and short


I hated myself for over 20 some years. I lived with anorexia for 17 years with viscous bulimic tendencies of swallowing laxatives by the packages.......drinking coffee so thick that it resembled tar.........diet pills that contained ephedra that has been known to kill people. I NEVER wanted to live.......it wasn't about being skinny...........instead, I was wanting to slowly waste away and die. I wrote this in my diary every nite since I was in junior high school. :(

Fast forward, approx 2000, I remember laying in a hospital bed and hearing my mother tell my sis that I was not going to make it. :( How could I? Living off of 1 tbsp of yogurt and exercsing 3 plus hours a day should have killed me a log time ago..........my health got worse.

Finally 2004, after neck and back injuries, I disocvered rawfoodtalk by accident---more like meant to be..........

I NEVER not in a GAZILLION years ever thought I would be able to eat every 3 hours consisting of whole foods,nuts and seeds without FREAKING out! having the food make it's way to my stomach FEELS good for once in my life!!!!!

People and strangers that come up to me and ask me how I do what I do.........I had several gals at the grocery store comment on how I always come into the store in my running clothes and only buy healthy foods......people are literally confessing their food issues to me and that is w/o asking at all!!!!!!!! :eek: that just shows how powerful RAW is and the energy I am giving off to my environment. I have developed so much self love and continie to heal in many ways..........in deeper ways that words cannot even express accurately..........there is a kind of "knowingness" that overflows within........

:)