Newbie from IL

[Elouet]

Hello all! :D
I've been too scared to introduce myself up to this point, but now I'm very excited to join the community!
My name's Aly, I'm a 15 year old in suburban Illinois. I have been a veggie for about 3 1/2 years now and basically vegan for 1. When I was in 7th grade (about two years ago) I started down the path of an eating disorder by way of a very controlling diet. Still today I'm trying to regain a positive mental attitude toward food and a healthy body. I feel that raw food can be the key to my health, and I just feel so much happier after eating them! My family, unfortunately, is none too excited about my decision and they all try to have me eat cooked food, and animal derived (mostly eggs, as I won't touch meat) foods whenever possible. I hope that gaining some weight and radiating health will convince them otherwise!
Thanks for this awesome forum!

[sport]

Hi Aly and welcome. Maybe you should get your mom to read some of the success stories here and it would help to get her on your side. There are others here in your age group who may be able to help as well. It would be so much easier for you if you had support at home but you can not blame them if they do not have the knowledge that you have so let your light shine.

[michigan roman]

welcome to alissas sight elouet . i wish that i was smart enough to have become a raw foodist at your age . goodday :)

[maydolphin10]

hi aly! ur story sounds just like mine! im 16 now and i was anorexic beginning 7th grade but ive recovered since then. i gained my weight back by eating raw, so it is possible. my lowest weight was 86.5 lbs and im now 105. i live in the northwest suburbs, where are u? mayb we could meet sometime! welcome!

[misslinda]

Welcome !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

under one condition, have fun :)

love,
ml

[Elouet]

MayDolphin, I live in Carol Stream, part of DuPage County, about an hour out of Chicago. Our stories do sound alike! I'm really inspired by your weight gain by raw, I would LOVE to meet and talk with you so much! I don't know how to send a private message but I'm sure we could work something out!

[EmeraldGlow]

Hey Aly, Welcome to the boards!

My name is Di, and I'm 17 :). It seems like there are more and more ppl our age joining these boards now a days. It's so exciting!!! When I first joined (about a year or 2 ago? I can't remember! :p ) there wasn't that many younger ppl, but there sure were really great ppl! And there still are! I'm veggie right now and I'm on my way to 100% raw! My mom had a really hard time with me not eating meat in the beginning, but shes doing pretty good with it now. Oft times she "forgets" that I dont eat meat and will offer me some...lol. Your family will see the changes in you and soon will follow. And if they dont? It'll all be okay...just be patient. Do you have any siblings? What do they think about you eating "differently"? I find that while my younger sister calls me a veg head, shes also the first one to come and eat up all the raw dishes I make!

Really glad your here!

::: :D :::

p.s. We dont have private messages anymore. But you can always get someones email and reach them that way!

p.s.s. I love your avatar!

[Elouet]

Thanks EmeraldGlow! It is really nice to have young people here that are close in experiance, but everyone has been so wonderful and encouraging. I'm not afraid to ask anyone anything, because I know their response will be honest and good-hearted! I have a younger brother and he does poke fun at my not eating meat, but he's tried anything I asked him to and I know that younger siblings to look up to us. My parents are generally good, except for the occaisional spazz-out (sure you understand). I think it's true the more we shine our health the more accepting people become.

[dreamrawalwz]

Hey! My story is similar to yours, in fact it seems like quite a few of us have similar backgrounds, unfortunately. It's great that you're trying to get healthy now! My sister lives in DuPage!! Maybe when I visit her we all could meet up.

[Errigal_lass]

Hey, Aly! Good for you! Stick to your guns young lady and you will, in time, be glowing in beautiful health and your family will see!

I used to live in Barrington, Ill...many years ago though. Loved it there!

Have a great day and keep smiling!

[maydolphin10]

elouet- i sent u a message through flickr.com. have u recieved it yet?

errigal_lass- i live in south barrington!! and i c ur in PA now, thats where my sister is at college. small world

[Zena]

Wow, you're 15? Awesome, I didn't know you were so close to my age! I'm really impressed by you, making the decisions to be veggie/vegan/ and now raw on your own, with some disapproval of your family even! I wouldn't even know about it if it weren't for my mom, so it's really cool that you just found out about it somehow and decided to do it, I really admire that. You've commented on my threads and other places i've seen already, so welcome is kind of odd to say, but I really hope you continue posting and it's really nice to have you here! :D (P.S., nice icon, I used to love CCS!)

[maraw]

You guys are amazing. I am so excouraged by each of you. My children are all very young at this point, but reading your stories really supports my theory that teaching my kids about raw foods and healthy choices is the right thing. In spite of my in-laws or social pressures.

Thank you, and again, thank you!

Anna

[rawpriestess]

Welcome Welcome Welcome