Tooo Complicated?

[JinxieKat]

I've been reading alot on here about various ways to 'do raw', IE 8-1-1, PH balancing, all fruit, no fruit, no nuts, raw food pyramids, etc. I'm curious as to why, we as humans, tend to make stuff so complicated!

I find that the beauty of raw foods is that it isn't complicated. I've finally cleared out the communications between my body and my brain. I am finally 'hearing' the signals that it sends out to me in the form of true food cravings. I"m craving coconut over McDonalds, fresh avacado over Subway, it is amazing!

Now, I understand that there are alot of folks out there trying to heal themselves of very serious ailments and for that they need to eat a certian way. But I wouldn't even say that applies to the majority of us talking about this stuff. Can we not trust our instincts after a lifetime of conditioning that cooked food is the way to go? Than repressing our emotions for the sake of society is the right thing to do? That instincts are bad? Maybe that is it, it certianly is a repeated message in society. Insincts are bad, dirty, and need to be hidden from not only the public view but burried deep inside ourselves where they are supposed to curl up and die. Maybe that is part of the problem we need to overcome?

Share your thoughts!

Jinx

[rawfigure]

Jinxie,

Your post mirrors what I have been thinking. Since going Raw I have read so much..

David Wolfe, Gabriel Cousend, David Jubb, Victoria B, and so one and so on.

I am finally confused by all the complication. So I am shelving all these books and just eat the way my body indicates to me.

I have tried eating all these different ways to lose the Winter 5. Ekkkk. I am pulling my hair out with contradicting info. So I am going to un complicate and just eat simple, follow no one plan.

I think we have learned ideas we need to let go of. WE have so many diets available that we think in the Raw World we need to adopt the same ways as our SAD society. And we do not.

Recently when teating the Carrot theroy (that it will not make me fat..) someone saw mw with a bog of babay carrots and commented "you will gain weight eating carrots, its high in carbs..." sigh...

So yes I am "spring cleaning" my diet, throwing out the RULES and just eating like Alissa says, just make it Raw.

[Shivananda]

I agree that Alissa's approach makes a lot of sense, and keeps it fun instead of driving you crazy. That's why I'm reading and posting here, rather than on some other forum.

I'm suspicious that the main reason there are so many different health theories is that there are so many people trying to sell you their book or their line of protein powder or their seminar or whatever. And that's been going on for hundreds of years. Snake oil peddlers they're called, many of them. And they know they can't attract your attention by writing a book that says whatever everyone else is already saying, so they write something different. And since they don't have to stick around to pick up the pieces when people follow their bogus ideas and get into trouble with it, they feel free to invent stuff, exaggerate stuff, blow things out of proportion, all just to create enough different a message that someone will pay attention and they'll get some money out of the deal.

That's why I look carefully for provable facts instead of assertions, ones that have been scientifically studied and validated in clinical practice. Part of the reason I am willing to listen to Gabriel Cousens, MD, for instance, is that he runs one of the most reknowned raw food healing centers in the world, so he's not only got data from a lot of good scientific studies, but he's also got the combined experiences of thousands of actual patients to report back to the public on.

But then the second part of my two-part test for validity kicks in... after I've established that a particular theory or practice seems credible, then I check to see how it actually works for me. Because no matter how wonderful a theory seems to be, if it doesn't work that way with my body, it's outta here. Or it gets modified to fit the only facts that really matter to me... my own. So I like Cousens because he makes sense to me, and what he says seems to work well for me. But I don't buy it all or follow what he says religiously. I just find it's a good general approach for me, when I want to look a little deeper into why something is happening a certain way in my body.

[levamssg]

Jinxie,
I read your post and grinned. When I first went Raw I didn't know the "rules" -- and I was too busy focusing on my medical situation to learn the rules. I didn't know to soak my nuts, combine my food, and balance my intake to certain percentages. So I just ate raw stuff that tasted good and that I seemed to crave. It worked very well.

Since then I've read so many books, websites, etc., and have tried to make sense of it all. I tried to follow all the rules, and do it right. Well, as it turns out, "right" for me means taking those things that seem to resonate with me, and leave the rest. Doesn't mean I don't continue to read what is out there, but I pay more attention to my instincts.

So, I guess I'm back where I originally started ... I eat raw stuff that tastes good and I crave. And it is still working very well. So, when I shop, whatever "makes my mouth water" is what I buy. If I browse through a recipe book, whatever seems to 'jump out at me' is what I try. Life is a lot simpler that way.

[theresaann]

I REALLY like Alissa's approach in that it's a big enough deal to go all raw in the first place, and that not to "should" on ourselves is helpful in the transition phase, whether that lasts 6 months or 2 years.

do people eat raw diets that might not be the healthiest? sure. Can one get too acidic from too many fruits and the fermentation that comes from that and too many fats? probably.

But, intuitively, I love what Alissa is showing us, that if we just get off cooked food, and REALLY do 100% raw, eventually, we'll know when we are out of balance and will know when and if it's time to adjust.

I say, just starting, go with "anything and everything, as long as it's raw" and it'll work itself out.

like I've only been raw about 4 weeks, and already I can tell that I feel better with more greens and less fats, and moderate fruits. But I wouldn't tell anyone else that's what THEY have to do, ESPECIALLY first starting out, you know what I mean?

[faith4u]

For me doing 811 has been the easiest way I have tried raw. I spend less than 5 minutes per day preparing my food. I don't have to spend time dehydrating, soaking and sprouting things. It has been great and very freeing compared to how I started doing raw.

Not only that, I feel so much better.

It is just a matter of finding which raw way works best for you. I needed it to be easy and that is what I found. Now I no longer feel the need to read every book out there.

[lil fairy z girl]

I've been reading alot on here about various ways to 'do raw', IE 8-1-1, PH balancing, all fruit, no fruit, no nuts, raw food pyramids, etc. I'm curious as to why, we as humans, tend to make stuff so complicated!

I find that the beauty of raw foods is that it isn't complicated.

Jinx

i couldn't agree more, your words say it all, i like Alissa's way, as its easy, simple and fun.

yay to raw :)

sal
~*~*~*

[Nenyath]

Ah Jinxiecat, that is just what I have been thinking the last days.. I'm so confused, about everything.. There's all the scientists telling us what to eat, why and how, then there is the industry who want's us to consume certain products and then there are all the confused people trying to advice and critisize eachother for what they eat. It's like there is too much noise to think. Now I want to just close out all of that noise and start listening to my body and my instincts, THEY must know what is good for me and what is not! lol Good to get that of my chest :p Raw feels good though, better than meat and cooked!

Fly forever free,
Nenyath

[lily]

When you've done a lot of diets, like I have, it's really hard at first to shake off that mentality. To start with, I kept trying to find a raw 'system' of rules that I could follow -- and then, no doubt, break, binge and start all over again.

But luckily, instead of that, I found Alissa, and her wonderful, open approach -- and it's working. She is so right that eating what you fancy, or, to put it more grandly, 'listening to your body' leads you to find the diet that you need at any given time.

Gradually, gradually, it's working for me, and I'm so grateful to her and to this board.

lily

[Indi]

[QUOTE=JinxieKat] I'm curious as to why, we as humans, tend to make stuff so complicated!

Maybe because we can!

The very thing that attracts me to raw is that its so simple.
Raw does feel good.
Raw is totally experiential.
No amount of reading, planning, fear, exciement, anticipation questions etc, could have prepared me for this experience!

I have no desire to argue about which guru or diet is right.
I am happy doing my own thing.
I am pleased that the information is out there for me to read, should i feel the need to do so.

Eating raw puts me at one with the world.
I am in a place of pure contentment and peace.
The stressors still come, but somehow i can remain detached from all that stuff!

Coming from this place, I have difficulty understanding why people on a high raw diet feel the need to get so involed in arguments!

It just does not add up and make sense to me!

Oh well each to their own, ive just given it more than enough head space...
Im off to eat some fruit! :) :)

[rawpriestess]

As far as what diet to eat, I am just working my best to stay raw.

And EVERY raw teacher I've ever heard, says, go raw, that is number 1, then after you've been raw a while (and to me "a while" is about 1 to 2 years) THEN, you can make some changes if you need to.

I like to go by, "what does your body tell you?", if you feel great and have lots of energy, wonderful, if you don't, then take a look at what you are eating. and your stress level, and you exercise level, etc.

this is AFTER detox, as detox LIES!!!!-- It will tell you that you NEED and MUST have something cooked. Which is not the case.

[Indi]

as detox LIES!!!!--

I will remember to pack this quote and take it on my journey!
Thanks RP it made me chuckle! :)

[rawpriestess]

Indi, glad you liked it,

but isn't it true though? LOL

[Indi]

Indi, glad you liked it,

but isn't it true though? LOL

Absolutely!

When i read your post, I just got this visual image of 'detox' as some sort of creature, stood there, telling lies! LOL!

That image will stay with me if the going gets tough! :)
It helps to recognise things for what they really are!!!!!

[ljannise]

Ok, a lot of ppl here have offered you some awesome advice, but I'd like to add this little bitty....

This is supposed to be a REFRESHING step away from s.a.d. & what the US government has brainwashed us with. As a poster said above, she was too busy being focused on her illness. It's so hard to imagine that the answer to our problems was always right in front of our face. Some countries have eaten this way their whole lives. In America, we just dont get very much coverage to learn about them.

It's difficult to strip everything you've ever heard about diets, diseases & nutrition, but turn this into a POSITIVE thing. Let us strip that shell we once were & embrace what should be felt as freedom. I'm not saying you arent doing this, but as Alissa has stated so many times... you dont have to make it difficult. Just make it RAW. Listen to what your body wants. Some days you will only want oranges & bananas. Some days mango, blueberries. Some days NO fruit- spinach, avacado, nuts & seeds.

I made myself SO sick attempting 100% fruit. This works for some ppl & that's awesome, but I craved spinach like mad, my nails turned yellow, & I was pale. Some feel that I was doing something wrong & that is why it didnt work for me, but I honestly do feel that everyone has different needs. Esp at 1st. Not in the form of medications- just nutrients.

SOME ppl dont eat fruit. I've learned some amazing stories on women that ate only veggies. I still think thy are dieing for a piece of fruit by the end of the day.

I do like to read the alkaline/acidity graph. Ppl that live in the high acidity % get cancer. Although; I cannot imagine someone getting cancer from an animal free- raw vegan diet, ANY way you look at it.

When I started this whole thing 130 pounds ago, it was a rebirth for me. I was an obese woman with nothing but food on my mind. Society places you in a voiceless corner & I've wanted OUT of that corner my whole life. RAW broke those chains for me. I keep a list of all the things Raw gave back to me.

Picture a bubble in your hands of all these issues you're having. THink about it real hard. Lift your hands & >>blow<< that bubble right off into the air to never return. You are a new person now, since you accepted Raw into your life. You have a butterfly sleeping inside you wanting to come out.

[solarliving]

Wow, some amazing thoughts here. I just had to respond to what you said about, "Carrots being high in carbs." I can't tell you how many people have said to me, "oh carrots are high in sugar, " when they think nothing of eating a candy bar or drinking a soda. I find it comical actually how concerned they are about eating carrots but not all the junk they have been eating most of their lives.

As for making things complicated, yes I have felt this way too. I have read most of the books out there and although they talk about food combining, most of the recipes are going against the general food combining rules. I am mainly thinking of the sugar and fats. In fear of getting candidas, I now make sure that if I have fruit, not to eat anything with fat for several hours. I never thought of this prior to raw. Hell, most SAD food that has sugar has fat. At this point I am just going with what makes me feel the best.

Oh and Ljannise, Way to go on taking control of your health. Thanks for sharing.

[firefaery]

Hearing all of this is very inspiring. I love listening to people talk about living (and eating) intuitively. Makes me all warm and fuzzy.