Newly Raw in Colorado

[Lua]

Hello Everyone. I started today with lunch. I'm 100% raw as of the past six hours. I'm 58, live in a small cabin in the Colorado Rockies with my husband, have three children and ten grandchildren. This diet is my only option. It is live raw or die, literally. I weigh 342 pounds, have arrythmia pretty bad, am off the chart toward risk factor on the last ccrp test (11.4) and am suffering from inflammation all over my body. The pain is too great to handle. So, here I am.

Last week I bought a book titled, "12 Steps to Raw Foods" and thought it was a guide about the specific foods to remove first in a transition toward raw. I was wrong and am so glad I bought it! It has changed my paradigm into an understanding that with cooked foods I'm dealing with an addiction every bit as severe as the addiction to sugar - and likely more so. As a result, I understand that I have to go cold turkey. So, I have been spending the past few days getting my kitchen ready. Today for lunch I prepared a raw sweet potato casserole that was absolutely wonderful. It was a good way to begin.

Lua

[rawbrandie]

You are in the right place...you might want to look at www.shazzie.com. There are some great stories about people who have gone raw and overcome some incredible illnesses. This is the first thing I thought when I read your post.

Good luck! Do it for yourself!

[mypinkbow]

Glad you found the site. i emailed you today and we exchanged phone numbers. You are going to love it here.....

[Ariella]

good to meet you! i live in fort collins :)

you could join coloradorawmoms (a yahoo group) if you would like some extra support. we have people on there of all ages. we do have raw lucks where you could try lots of new and yummy raw treats!

anyway! sounds like you are off to a great start and have a great attitude!

Ariella

JUICE PLUS+
www.juiceplus.com/+dj73561

my journal: www.ethicalcentral.com/main

[maraw]

Hi Lua! You are in the right place at the right time. This is a wonderful board for support and encouragement in living a raw food lifestyle. And that's the best way to look at it. I know when I first started eating raw food my primary goal was weigh loss and to increase my energy. But after a very short time I began to understand the appeal of it, and was really committed because of the way it makes me feel - all the time. It is a true lifestyle, and a lovely one at that.

One side note: if I may make a recommendation? Keep it simple. Enjoy the creativity of it, but don't allow yourself to get bogged down in the gourmet. Raw food is great when served simply. Have a giant bowl of watermelon for lunch, or an entire head of spinach for dinner if you feel like it. There are times when I really enjoy making a fuss, and then sometimes I just want to eat and/or feed my family. Those are the days we have fun with it, and just eat whatever. It's great, really.

Glad to have you here - enjoy and best wishes,
Anna

[threedogs]

Hi Lua -

I'm just starting, too. I have about a hundred pounds to lose, but I was close to your weight a few years ago. Congrads on your decision!! (Make sure you have some before photos - I at least have a couple from years ago - I was so artful at keeping away from the camera.)

I was disabled when I was at my heaviest - could hardly leave my room. Now, life is so much better, but I realize the dangers that lurk if I stay with the same eating habits. Besides, I want to be actually healthy, not just somewhat healthy!

This is also such a good example for your kids and grandkids, besides giving them additional quality years with you!

threedogs

[lwynne]

Congratulations on your bold decesion... Though I do not have weight to lose I went raw 10 years ago for only six months at a time. Prior to this time I had been thinking about it for the last two years. Finally--with a vegan cooked diet--I still was not getting the energy I craved raising two children 3 and 6. Already I am feeling better...Also--I recomend Gabriel Cousens book "Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine..." I have found that there is a large spectrum of healthy raw and though you are making a giant leap--it will go smoother and faster results if you are able to not start out with high glycemic foods. Look forward to hearing about your progress!!! :)

[rawpriestess]

Welcome Welcome Welcome

[TreeAdams]

How's it going Lua? I would love to hear... :)

[Sharon in Colorado]

Lua where do you live? I'm in Colorado Springs.

[Lay-Lay]

I am soooo excited that you will be joining us. I feel for your weight issues and health issues. I did all raw a few years ago and recovering from my illnesses and lost some weight too. I transitioned back to a mid raw diet and found my illnesses and weight piling back on me, so I mad up my mind 53 days ago that I was going all raw for life! So here I am and it has been a wonderful raw 53 days. I must admit the first 3 days were rough, but after that things get tons better.

I know this is the life for me. I can see my future through my family. Almost all of them are sick and ?morbitally? obese. I knew that something had to change for me. I could see all those things manifesting in myself and I had the knowledge that I didn't have to die that way, I could live raw.

I am know you are going to be a raw success. Please feel free to contact me. Congrats on taking the journey and welcome to the lifestyle.

[Oceana]

Hi Lua, Glad to have you here!