transition vs. just going for it

[twinyoga]

I know everyone is different. But I'm just wondering who out there has decided "hey, raw is what my body needs, and I'm not looking back (i.e. just eating raw and enough is enough with anything else)"?

I'm in a transitional stage with raw and very, very tempted to repeat the above as a mantra and just do it. A lack of confidence is the only thing stopping me.

Please share.

[shakti17]

hi deb! i just posted on april 21 too -- well, i think you can have confidence - you have come such a long way. i remember when i first met you here about 6 months ago you were still doing the cooked dinner thing - and i have watched you blossom into a raw goddess! your life is inspirational to me! seriously - i am so proud of your juicing, cleansing, yoga practice, staying raw, etc.

imo, just get back on the wagon and avoid the first bite of anything cooked!

shakti

[ShelShel]

A friend sent me a link to shazzie.com one night, thinking it was interesting, I spent 4 or 5 hours reading her journals. I was amazed...I had never heard of anything like this. So, I kept reading...then I googled...I found this site...and the next day started my raw journey.
I thought I was completely raw...LOL...boy did I have a lot to learn...and still do. For about 2 months I kept getting more raw...and more raw. Then after a week of being 100% raw, (which I had planned to do Mon-Fri and then eat with my fam on the weekend :o ) I had dinner out with my hubby. It was romantic...the food was incredible...Italian! Yummmmmmmmmmm. Within 15-20 minutes my nose closed up and I had a hard time breathing the rest of the night. Plenty of rest and a good night sleep...I was better. But it jaded an otherwise lovely evening. My husband was shocked and asked what happened. I shared with him about changing my diet perminently...and he thought it was a very good idea. (After seeing my reaction to eating cooked.)
My reaction is extreme...especially since I have just started this...but my body wasn't just pointing at the direction it wanted me to go...it was screaming! :p
So, here I am on day 4 of my 100% raw challenge. I'm in love with it. I don't feel like I am deprived...because for the first time in my life I can eat...and eat...without the guilt I feel for overeating on junk; I'm losing weight (first time ever...without extreme exercise and denial); I can live and function without coffee (used to drink 36 oz a morning just to make in until 4 pm and then I would need a nap); My acne has cleared up! (have had horrible skin since my teens!) I actually go without make-up! :) The list goes on and on.
So, for me...this is the most freeing thing I have ever done with my life. I feel like, wow, this is me...I love living!

[twinyoga]

That's so funny, shelshel. Because last night I had cooked food and I was very uncomfotable with a mild tummy ache. So, it ruined an otherwise lovely evening. Who wants that?!

Thanks for sharing.

edit...you know, I just think it's time to do it. No hesitations, no fears. Pure confidence (regarding me, I know everyone is different...)

[ShelShel]

That is awesome Twinyoga! I look forward to hearing about your journey! :D

[maraw]

When I went raw last year (Spring 2005), I went all raw. For about 45 days, I ate 100% raw. I had some detox issues, but really I felt wonderful. Then, my family took a vacation and I started to cave. I rationalized it thinking that I was still eating mostly raw so that should be OK. But by the end of the year, I was hardly eating any raw food at all. In fact, I was eating enormous quantities of food and had gained back 15 pounds.

I think it is different for everyone - I believe some do better transitioning slowly, like my children for example, and for others it's the "all or nothing" approach. I find that I keep a better dietary discipline if I focus on raw and nothing but raw. Plus, I feel better too.

It sounds like you are headed down the right path twin, just keep going and you will hit your mark eventually.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

[Guppy]

I had been playing around with raw all of last year, but try as I might I could not make it to one single day 100% raw. When I saw that Carlene had opened up a raw food bootcamp for people will less than 75 lbs to lose, I jumped right in. Having that commitment and accountability was all I needed to stay 100%. I successfully completed my 30 days there and I also lost 10 very stubborn lbs!

I decided to not keep going with bootcamp at this time and am now in week 2 of my 30-day challenge here. Bootcamp was a great way to kick off my raw journey though. Perhaps you should go take a look?

I say Jump In! The water's fine.
emily

[Sharon in Colorado]

Hey Debbie!

I think it may be easier for a cooked carnivore to transition to a veggie over a couple of months, and then once they are veggie go all raw 'cold-turnip'. I have known of a lot of people to go from a meat based processed cooked diet to raw overnight and then backslide several months later back into their original diet. So I think transitioning to vegetarian first and then going all raw seems to work for 'most'.

It is harder for most people I know to stick to any level of raw, and easier to do it all the way, because keeping a certain percentage or raw to cooked is hard for most people who have food addictions.

Although I have known a few who are highly disciplined type "A" folks who can eat raw all week and then have some brown rice and veggies once in a while and get right back on all raw again. I'm not one of them though!

The e-book "The Garden Diet" from www.thegardendiet.com has a great transitional plan and recipe section...just read it the other day, and wish I'd read it many years ago!

I've been doing the on and off raw thing for several years just like RP. I know I'm moving forward, even though my raw stints are 3-4 months at a time. I've been a constant vegetarian for over 5 years, so I call that progress.