beccanoel21
06-09-2006, 04:22 PM
Hey fellow RAW enthusiasts!
Actually I don't know if I can claim "enthusiast" status yet. I am definitely a "newbie". I am your typical off and on yo-yo dieter/exerciser even since before high school. I know better now, I am almost finished with my Doctorate in Chiropractic, and even with our heavy workload at school I still have found plenty of time over the last few years to research more on my own, especially my true love - NUTRITION.
It feels funny calling nutrition my true love because even with years of research it still often remained a mystery to me. I have learned so much valuable information in my schooling and Chiropractic is definitely a NATURAL approach, which I love, and yet I felt I wanted to go deeper, to make a deeper commitment to health in my own life, find a lifestyle that truly promised health on every level, and then be able to share it effectively with others. For a long time I felt like I was on a wild goose chase. I've been distracted by numerous fads and claims. Finally I had to go back to my Christian beliefs and pray for guidance (why didn't I do this in the first place?). I've learned to pray for guidance towards truth and light in my quest for knowledge with school and beyond, but had never prayed so specifically about nutrition. I actually started out researching fasting because I already had a belief and had practiced numerous short religious/spiritual fasts. But I really had to seek guidance and be careful as I researched because I tend to be too extreme, desperately wanting quick weight loss, etc., and most things I have tried in the past end up doing more damage than good because I don't keep the right mentality. I lose my purpose and get distracted by the superficial goals, short-cutting and sacrificing the true long term benefits. And so it was when I was praying for guidance towards TRUE health that I came across www.thegardendiet.com and read this family's inspiring stories.
I realized that a lot of my drive for answers also stemmed from a deep fear about the prospect of having children in the next few years (shouldn't I be excited?) because I didn't feel like I knew how to control my own health and I feel pregnancy would only magnify this, so Jinjee's story especially comforted and inspired me. (Read her ebook "Ecstatic Birth" if you share my fears.) The more I read about the RAW lifestyle the more I truly felt inspired that this is pure TRUTH, not a distraction or artificial means to health like so many other things I had tried. I feel like God approves of this change and will support me in it.
So far I had finished about 3 weeks at nearly 100% with a surprising amount of ease, but then that time of the month came and suddenly I had more difficulty and ended up falling off the band wagon. However, even after only 3 weeks I truly felt a difference when I went back to SAD eating. This may not be surprising to some of you, but to me it was amazing. I have tried a lot of things that helped me to lose weight but NOTHING had really ever made me feel better. I was still always plagued with extreme fatigue even while I practiced much healthier habits thatn most people I know. I have had to learn that I have been blessed with an extremely sensitive body that won't put up with the abuse most people can get away with. ( It's taken me a long time to consider this a blessing instead of a vice.)
I am ready to get back to RAW, the energy is even more motivating than the weight loss for the first time in my life. In the past I have always sacrificed one for the other. Now I can have both! This really is an answer to years of research and prayer, and I can't wait to have practiced and learned enough to help teach this to others!
I realize this is a LONG message but I felt inspired to share. I would love feedback and RAW friends (I don't know ANYONE who eats this way). Especially if anyone is in the St. Louis, MO area. I will be here for a few months until I graduate, then I'm headed to Quincy, IL. Anyone Nearby?
:) :) :) :)
Actually I don't know if I can claim "enthusiast" status yet. I am definitely a "newbie". I am your typical off and on yo-yo dieter/exerciser even since before high school. I know better now, I am almost finished with my Doctorate in Chiropractic, and even with our heavy workload at school I still have found plenty of time over the last few years to research more on my own, especially my true love - NUTRITION.
It feels funny calling nutrition my true love because even with years of research it still often remained a mystery to me. I have learned so much valuable information in my schooling and Chiropractic is definitely a NATURAL approach, which I love, and yet I felt I wanted to go deeper, to make a deeper commitment to health in my own life, find a lifestyle that truly promised health on every level, and then be able to share it effectively with others. For a long time I felt like I was on a wild goose chase. I've been distracted by numerous fads and claims. Finally I had to go back to my Christian beliefs and pray for guidance (why didn't I do this in the first place?). I've learned to pray for guidance towards truth and light in my quest for knowledge with school and beyond, but had never prayed so specifically about nutrition. I actually started out researching fasting because I already had a belief and had practiced numerous short religious/spiritual fasts. But I really had to seek guidance and be careful as I researched because I tend to be too extreme, desperately wanting quick weight loss, etc., and most things I have tried in the past end up doing more damage than good because I don't keep the right mentality. I lose my purpose and get distracted by the superficial goals, short-cutting and sacrificing the true long term benefits. And so it was when I was praying for guidance towards TRUE health that I came across www.thegardendiet.com and read this family's inspiring stories.
I realized that a lot of my drive for answers also stemmed from a deep fear about the prospect of having children in the next few years (shouldn't I be excited?) because I didn't feel like I knew how to control my own health and I feel pregnancy would only magnify this, so Jinjee's story especially comforted and inspired me. (Read her ebook "Ecstatic Birth" if you share my fears.) The more I read about the RAW lifestyle the more I truly felt inspired that this is pure TRUTH, not a distraction or artificial means to health like so many other things I had tried. I feel like God approves of this change and will support me in it.
So far I had finished about 3 weeks at nearly 100% with a surprising amount of ease, but then that time of the month came and suddenly I had more difficulty and ended up falling off the band wagon. However, even after only 3 weeks I truly felt a difference when I went back to SAD eating. This may not be surprising to some of you, but to me it was amazing. I have tried a lot of things that helped me to lose weight but NOTHING had really ever made me feel better. I was still always plagued with extreme fatigue even while I practiced much healthier habits thatn most people I know. I have had to learn that I have been blessed with an extremely sensitive body that won't put up with the abuse most people can get away with. ( It's taken me a long time to consider this a blessing instead of a vice.)
I am ready to get back to RAW, the energy is even more motivating than the weight loss for the first time in my life. In the past I have always sacrificed one for the other. Now I can have both! This really is an answer to years of research and prayer, and I can't wait to have practiced and learned enough to help teach this to others!
I realize this is a LONG message but I felt inspired to share. I would love feedback and RAW friends (I don't know ANYONE who eats this way). Especially if anyone is in the St. Louis, MO area. I will be here for a few months until I graduate, then I'm headed to Quincy, IL. Anyone Nearby?
:) :) :) :)