What made YOU go raw?

[dreamrawalwz]

I'm just curious as to why people are going raw. What led you to this? How did you find out about raw? What health problems, if any, are you wanting to heal through raw?

[Angelic]

My main reasons for going raw is to stay young, and to lose a few pounds..these were my motivating factors in going raw..although I have gotten way more out of it than I had hoped for so far! hope this helps! :)

[juliebove]

I read a magazine article about Carol Alt and the raw food diet she was on. That's when I realized that most of what I was already eating was raw. I was simply eating what I liked of what I could eat. Diabetes and food allergies rather limited what I could eat. Now, I didn't follow her diet. Hers is not vegan.

[Im2Fruity]

I've been a vegetarian my whole life, and I decided to go all the way and become a vegan so I did a lot of research to find recipes, info about vitamins, etc...and I stumble upon Shazzie's website and read her journals...I've been fascinated by Raw ever since :) I attempted it last summer but bombed royally because I wasn't eating enough, eating the "oops-it's-not-raw" things, and having no support....this summer I lived on my own for a bit so it was easy, and now I have support from my dear mom (and all of you fabulous people!!) :)

[DavidZaneMason]

1) A desire to show love to myself.
2) I did research that showed that cooking food created a lot more problems and poisons than otherwise!
3) High blood pressure, obesity & various addictions.

-David Mason

[luvmyfruit]

My sister n law was fighting breast cancer and a dear friend of mine who is 100% raw and cured of cancer 5 years ago, which she attributes to her raw diet...Well I'm getting off track :confused: My dear friend came to help us in hopes that we might could save my SIL, sadly we couldn't, :( but I have no doubt in my mind if we had gotten to her sooner she would still be with us

[Coriander74]

I was turned on to this forum by Shmoopie. (Where are ya girl)
I was immediately intrigued by the possibility that going all raw could end my chronic pain and help my depression.

Plus, the articles on cooked food grossed me out! :D

* to heal my pain
* to relieve some of my mental issues
* to be healthier overall

[Tirza]

To cure/prevent recurrence of cancer (I already had a bout with it)
To cure/prevent pain in joints
To get healthier generally

[lissomllama]

Hmm, there is already a thread on this somewhere here. Anyway, I went raw to conquer my eating disorders, to be able to get in touch with my earth worshiping ancestors, to bring more beauty and love into my body, to be able to eat however I want within this lifestyle, to help our mother earth and conserve resources, to blossom both bodily, spiritually and mentally, to be clean and pure, to have control and meaning, to take preventative health measures so that I will never have to experience scary health issues and degenerative diseases, to stay forever young and flexible, To stay lean, curvy and strong all at the same time. To eat how my anatomy was built to eat, to stick it to the big, bad corporations that are tearing the world down with its advertising and horrible, poisoned food and to balance my chakras and be a healing machine!

[Helen Of Tennessee]

My health led me to raw. I have thyroid disease and I wanted to find out why and that is when I read the book by Rev. Maulkmus "Why Christians Get Sick". It was in that book that I first read anything about eating raw and how it related to our health.

[Veganforlife]

Hmm, there is already a thread on this somewhere here. Anyway, I went raw to conquer my eating disorders, to be able to get in touch with my earth worshiping ancestors, to bring more beauty and love into my body, to be able to eat however I want within this lifestyle, to help our mother earth and conserve resources, to blossom both bodily, spiritually and mentally, to be clean and pure, to have control and meaning, to take preventative health measures so that I will never have to experience scary health issues and degenerative diseases, to stay forever young and flexible, To stay lean, curvy and strong all at the same time. To eat how my anatomy was built to eat, to stick it to the big, bad corporations that are tearing the world down with its advertising and horrible, poisoned food and to balance my chakras and be a healing machine!

Right on! I agree with all you've said here. First for me - for my health and second to stick it to the big corporations! Even smelling cooked food now almost sickens me...not sure if I can change the world, but just this small part of it will be...and maybe others will follow.
Well said lissomllama!!! Very profound!
also wanted to add that I've been a Vegetarian for 28 years, then the last two became Vegan and this was just by a fluke that I found out about this. My health store gal told me about Alissa. I kind of blew her off, thinking I could NEVER go raw; bookmarked her website, but never gave it much thought. Then my son, son's girlfriend and my Mom, a couple weeks ago, were having a Vegan dinner I prepared and my son told me about an article in the Baltimore City Paper about Vegans going raw. I went online, started to read and my curiosity krept in. I truly believe this is HOW to properly eat. It all makes sense. Oh, and besides the face that Alissa is one of my Angels sent to me... :D

[lifelover]

my mother ate raw, my dad ate mostly raw and so that what I eat too.

[RawFoodieMom]

1) A desire to show love to myself.

I love that! :)

[RawFoodieMom]

1. Fed up with having no energy and brain "fog"
2. A desire to change my attitude towards myself that I'm not worth anything
3. Years and years of research on processed food and what goes into it (mostly garbage as we all know!)
4. Years and years of yo-yo dieting and still being very overweight and hating the way I look and feel
5. Wanting to be healthy, vibrant, and live long!

[RawFoodieMom]

my mother ate raw, my dad ate mostly raw and so that what I eat too.

That's so awesome! What amazing parents you must have. :)

[lifelover]

yeah, their ok, haha.

[Lay-Lay]

I was sick and found a flyer about anti-aging and I went to a little seminar in Altanta and they were talking about healng theough superfoods. I had no idea what they were talking about so I thought what do I have to lose. I signed up for a class and it was awesome and pretty natural for me because before I dd that Atkins diet I ate alot of raw veggies and fruits.

Raw foods in the past 3 years has really cured alot of my health issues already, but the one thing I am stll working on healing is my estrogen level and my precancer.

[Pailani]

I started with a vegetarian diet - I'd read about it and it made sense. Then, on and off for a few years, I kept hearing about people doing a raw diet, and it sounded intriguing. But it wasn't until my energy levels started being consistently low, my immune system seemed weak and the aging process started accelerating that I decided to try it myself. Then, after I'd done it for a few months and slipped a little for a few months, I started having monthly migraines and I felt like my immune system was weakening again - I got a tick bite and had a reaction to the bite and it really showed me that my body must be in pretty poor shape - and I knew I'd need to get serious about it if I didn't want to go downhill fast.

[berrymarymac]

Been a vegetarian for 7 years, since I was 12, and about a month ago my mom and I watched this show on tv here in Atlanta, some public station. And this 600 pound woman was on and they talked about these smoothies. Well, that night I researched it and came across raw vegan diet. Then I found this forum and joined because I have a habit of joining forums lol. I really need to lose weight, even though my friends say I don't. I'm considered morbidly obese by the books -_- It makes me sad and I want to live long and be healthy. I have thought about becoming vegan for a while and did it for about 3 months.

[Gosia]

Curiosity!

Gosia

[RawChicky]

Cooked vegan just wasn't doing it for me.

[livingatthetop]

one very short word GAS I had embarassing gas from all of the irritants of prossesed foods and meats and everything cooked so aafer 5 helpless doctors I took it into my own hands and raw has helped me tremendously. :)

[Ginger]

I was 5 months pregnant & decided to stop in this place called The Raw Truth cafe & juice bar for some juice. Just sounded good, I had no idea it was a raw food place nor had I ever heard of a raw food lifestyle before. My life changed forever that day! As soon as I learned what that place really was it was like a light bulb went off in my head! It just made sence! I went 100% raw that day! Stayed raw for a month too but then have been swinging back & forth since then due to stupid freaking food addictions. Longest I was raw for in a stretch was 6 months with an occasional cooked sweet potato towards the end.

[ellenalesa]

:eek: I am 42 and have battled my weight for just about 1/2 my life. I've heard the "you've got such a pretty face" comment for years and years. Even tho I've been up and down the scales a few times, I always went back to pizza and ice cream. And I'm a stress eater. Vanity was never enough to keep me on a program.

I went to Italy in June and it was very very hot one day. I was doing a lot of walking and my legs felt very heavy. I looked down and I had no ankles, due to swelling. When I got home I had to put my legs up to drain them and that scared me.a lot...I thought I had heart problems. Turns out I'm fine, but I am taking it as a warning.

I thank God every day that this happened to me, because being fat and feeling tired and unhappy w/myself just didn't give me the incentive to take better care of myself.

And now when my fiance is chowiing down an ENTIRE pizza and I'm eating salad, I just have to think about why I'm doing this. And I tell myself that if I really really want it, I can have it, some other time. Just not today. It helps.

Ellen

[swingbolder]

I had severe asthma and knew from past experience (juicing, mainly, plus I knew a woman back in the 90s who said that eating raw had cured her asthma) that raw food could help.

[Graciebeliever]

I started because of my weight (I have been extremely over weight since I was a teen).
However, after 2 weeks, I saw such a vast improvment in my health that my weight issues took a back seat and I have been motivated to stay and live Raw because it makes me feel so much better!!

My mother died when I was 30 (she was 61) of a TON of health issues and I didn't want my life to imitate hers.
My Father, on the other hand, always ate better and lots of raw and he is going to be 82 and he still walks 5 miles a day :)

I'm 45 and I wanna live to see 82 or beyond but I want to do it with Health!!

[Dimond]

Health reasons. But it's something I've really been meant to do as my diet kept getting healthier and I've always been interested in chemical-free products and natural healing. Now I'm trying to help others become healthier.

[konmai]

Well, I was reading up on how to water fast. A certain book said to eat raw after the fast as to not gain all the weight back. I think that's how I found this board, b/c I didn't know how to eat RAW(Yeah. I was so clueless!). After reaping the positive results of eatting raw, I decided to change my WOE to 100% RAW. :p

[Momof4boyz]

Hi I am new here. I read about eating raw a couple months ago and I thought that it made sense. I wanted to try it to see what kind of improvements I would see in myself. I don't have any serious health conditions. I tried eating raw all day and for dinner eat cooked meal with my family. That didn't work very long. Then I read that it is better to try 100% raw so after some serious thinking I decided I would jump in and try it 100% raw. I have been that way for 6 days now!

[CAdreamer]

dh's diagnosis of 'medically' incurable cancer....

[RawFoodieMom]

I was 5 months pregnant & decided to stop in this place called The Raw Truth cafe & juice bar for some juice. Just sounded good, I had no idea it was a raw food place nor had I ever heard of a raw food lifestyle before. My life changed forever that day! As soon as I learned what that place really was it was like a light bulb went off in my head! It just made sence! I went 100% raw that day! Stayed raw for a month too but then have been swinging back & forth since then due to stupid freaking food addictions. Longest I was raw for in a stretch was 6 months with an occasional cooked sweet potato towards the end.

Hey RawVeganMom, glad to see you around again. :) I can totally relate to your "stupid freaking food addictions". They're really giving me a hard time, but I'm starting attempt #3 at going and staying 100% raw. I'm soooo hoping the third time is the charm for me!!

[TP]

1. weight loss
2. health (both my parents have high cholesterol/blood pressure when i turned 35 this year i figured it is high time to prevent the usual SAD related complications.. i knew what healthy food could do for me because i was high raw/food combining/natural hygiene in my hippy college days.. )

[luckitri]

Health. Trying to stay alive and have enough energy to have a life while here.

[greeninlosangeles]

My mom died from colon cancer when I was six. I want to live for my son. I did not have, at least did not have diagnosed cancer, but I do not like doctors so I rarely go there. I did started getting absceses in the same spot in my underarm and some weird heart palpitations several times a day, so I decided, I should get serious with my health - both of the problems are gone. So are the 30 pounds...
If I am tempted by cooked - I remind myself, that I am doing a favor not just for myself, but for my son and his future kids and even his future grandkids too. What can be better than to give a gift of healthy habits? They won't need to struggle as we all do now...

[MamaBeth]

Mostly I want to lose weight, but as far as my physical health - I have no energy, a thyroid goiter modern medicine is happy to ignore despite going back and forth between hyper and hypo symptoms, seborrheic dermatitis and some sort of zit-like thing going on on the backs of my arms.

I heard about raw vegan diets when I started researching vegetarianism. Somewhere in there I came across Storm and Jinjee's site. I've been intrigued ever since. I realized that I didn't eat really anything raw on a regular basis and have been going up from there.

[Nini]

I have cancer and my hair completely fell out in a matter of weeks.

I took matter into my own hands.

[Ginger]

Hey RawFoodieMom! :D I am heading back to raw as we speak! Incorporating more & more every day & feeling SO MUCH BETTER again! It's like i'm awakening from a dream.. a SAD dream lol! My blessings to you on your journey I hope the third time is a charm too! We can do it!

[lil fairy z girl]

i was veggie/vegan and i was disgusted at how much weight i had put on by comfort eating, i couldnt even get into my jeans without my stomach bulging yuk, so i decided i needed to do something drastic. i did a search for weight loss and diets and read how people had lost weight by raw food, and seen the before and afters, and it seemed the most sensible thing and so i tried it, and yes it works. i did the 30 day challenge and my weight and shape did change. i have continued with raw as i believe it is healthier that cooked food, and its better for me. i also want to continue losing weight.

sal
~*~*~*

[mcasburn]

I steadily gained 45 pounds over the last 10 years. I bave suffered from food sensitivities, constant bloating, IBS, constipation, diarrhea, increasing fatigue and caffeine dependence (including trouble sleeping and waking), poor circulation and constantly cold feet, dry skin and hair, chronic sinusitis and year-round allergies, common colds that would last 2-4 weeks, depressed immune system, nutritional defiencies due to lack of vitamin/mineral absorption, increasing mental instability and foul temper, acid reflux, a sickly pallor to my skin...

Is that enough? :)

[cwareing]

Well my main reason is because of obesity. Secondary is what comes with obesity. Possible heart disease, diabetes, and on and on. The list is huge. Thankfully I have not fallen that far medically but I do suffer from fatigue, depression, acne, headaches, stomach ailments, and many more. Thirdly I am doing this to prolong life and in hopes of having a child when I am healthy. I yearn to have a child now that I am 32 and know that I cannot do this until I am healthy enough for us both. So these are my reasons....

[chilove]

I went raw to heal chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. I had tried everything else, every conventional and alternative treatment and nothing worked. I ran across something about raw on an alternative health site and started researching everything I could about it. I am so grateful that I found raw because now I am fully healed and loving life more than ever! Yay raw!!!!

All the best,

Audrey
www.rawhealing.com

[MendhiGrl]

My body lead me here. I started looking for cookbooks with more fresh fruits and veggies, I wanted that taste and that lightness, but the ones I bought didn't have the right foods, the right tastes. (When I made Alissa's Pad Thai, it hit me that THIS is what I was looking for!) Carol Alt's book jumped off the shelf at me one night, and I just knew that this is the way to go.

Even as of a couple of years ago, I could taste the chemicals in processed foods and didn't like that. I was also getting more and more aware of the chemicals in ALL processed foods... and for what reason are they there?

I am encouraged by the happiness, excitement, and pleasure I am regularly getting at the grocery store surrounded by all of the fruits and vegetables. I'm encouraged that even with a lot of junk food in my diet right now, my acne is 95% gone. I'm encouraged that after a week of 100%, the excess pounds do come off, and that I can lose weight instead of letting it creep on.

[raintree]

My health led me to raw. I have thyroid disease and I wanted to find out why and that is when I read the book by Rev. Maulkmus "Why Christians Get Sick". It was in that book that I first read anything about eating raw and how it related to our health.

Sorry to change the subject, but I recognise you from Shazzie's site! I remember reading your story and deciding to go raw because of it. *Shakes head* Such a small world :)





My reasons are health, but now they've changed slightly. My health is still a huge one, but now it's also to do with caring for the enviroment and the connection I now feel with the natural world :)

[GreenPrince]

Instinct > I didn't plan going raw... but here I am ╚:)╝ Forever.

[Deenasmiles]

My lymphedema, horrible skin and added weight made me go raw. After doing research on water fasting, I discovered that I was battling these things due to a very toxic system. I wanted to water fast for 10 days in order to detox, but was never able to make it past day 2. After researching other detox methods, I stumbled upon the raw food lifestyle. I'm so glad that I did! Today is day 3 for me and I feel so energized! It's amazing!

~Deenasmiles~

[Ariannah]

What keeps me on raw is how low-maintenance I feel. I don't even wake up thinking "how do I feel today?" as there are no problems and I feel like a human.

Before raw, and during times I'd foolishly go back to cooked food I always had chronic problems that I just thought were "part of life", such as fatigue, depression, heartburn (the heartburn was SO bad and SO constant that I had heartburn relief medicine in every room in my house, and every bag I used to take with me anywhere outside the home), mouth sores, lethargy, and many more things that I probably can't even remember.

I don't have to babysit any of these problems with raw, as they simply aren't there.

[Raw Jewelrylady]

I went raw to heal chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. I had tried everything else, every conventional and alternative treatment and nothing worked. I ran across something about raw on an alternative health site and started researching everything I could about it. I am so grateful that I found raw because now I am fully healed and loving life more than ever! Yay raw!!!!

All the best,

Audrey
www.rawhealing.com


I had the same situation as Audrey. I even went to *Alternative Clinics* & payed huge rates but no mention of Raw. I read about RAW in an alternative health book-started searching & found this site. Raw is still changing my life- & this site & support is such a blessing.

Besides the body/health benefits-I love the mental clarity & peace of mind I get when Raw. I sense a difference in me spiritually that is just as good as the physical changes.

I have to be honest-hearing about Demi Moore changing her look through Raw was a motivater as well...LOL

Lana

:rolleyes: HI Audrey-doing well over here...Many Thanks to you !!!

[RawFoodieMom]

Demi Moore is RAW?? I had no idea, LOL.

I know Woody Harrelson is raw, but that's the only raw "Hollywood famous" person I know about I think. ;)

Sorry to go off topic..

[Raw Jewelrylady]

Demi Moore is RAW?? I had no idea, LOL.

I know Woody Harrelson is raw, but that's the only raw "Hollywood famous" person I know about I think. ;)

Sorry to go off topic..

Sorry to Hijack-but I have to answer-

Yes-that is how she got into shape for Charlie's Angels-(Never saw the movie-but I watch some of the *how stars get into shape shows*) She looked better than the girls 10 years younger.

Lana

Ps- Other famous Rawbies are ( I believe) Pierce Brosnan, Carol Alt, Sting, Alicia Silverstone, Kelly Rowan-from the *OC*, I know there is many more but cannot remember.

[RawFoodieMom]

Thanks Lana! I forgot about Carol Alt, I took her book out of the library once, lol. Didn't know about Sting and some of the others, so interesting! :)

I'll stop hijacking now. :o

[JennaBoBenna]

Cooking is just too complicated!!!

Temperatures, timers, so many pots and pans!! I tried cooking dinner one night and I was runnin' around making sure everything would be done at the same time! It was a nightmare! No thanks!!
Raw is so easy. Here, have an apple. If you're still hungry afterwards, have another one! lol!

[Raw Jewelrylady]

Cooking is just too complicated!!!

Temperatures, timers, so many pots and pans!! I tried cooking dinner one night and I was runnin' around making sure everything would be done at the same time! It was a nightmare! No thanks!!
Raw is so easy. Here, have an apple. If you're still hungry afterwards, have another one! lol!



Jenna- that is sooo funny. BTW- Love the new Avatar... :)

Lana
PS...I just read your answer to my husband & we are both ROFLOL !!! :D :D :D

[RawFoodieMom]

Cooking is just too complicated!!!

Temperatures, timers, so many pots and pans!! I tried cooking dinner one night and I was runnin' around making sure everything would be done at the same time! It was a nightmare! No thanks!!
Raw is so easy. Here, have an apple. If you're still hungry afterwards, have another one! lol!

ROFL! Jenna, you are just too funny. Thanks for the laugh. :p

[JennaBoBenna]

Lana,
hehe thanks! Gosh, it took me forever to get the right picture! I'm glad I could make you guys laugh :D

RawFoodieMom,
hehe I'm happy to give you the laugh :p

oh oh oh, and the other night I was making my bf dinner which was pasta and soup. So, I had to use the little pot for the sauce, the slightly bigger pot for the soup, and then the bigger pot for the pasta! Then I had to make sure they were all ready at the same time. Waiting for water to boil... making sure the pasta doesn't boil over...checking the sauce (its always too cold or boiling! :mad: ), and the stove gets all hot! :rollseyes:
After making all that, I had a basket of strawberries for dinner! lol

But really, the main reason for raw was weight loss. That's what sparked my interest! Now I do it because I can't eat anything else without getting sick! I also love the healthy, light feeling ;)

[Raw Jewelrylady]

Jenna- still laughing at your description of cooking. I was so bad I could not even make *Jello*-although that isn't a food-obviously-so maybe it was divine intervention. :D

Lana

Ps- Now I'm off for some strawberries-that sounds good. :p

[JennaBoBenna]

Jenna- still laughing at your description of cooking. I was so bad I could not even make *Jello*-although that isn't a food-obviously-so maybe it was divine intervention. :D

Lana

Ps- Now I'm off for some strawberries-that sounds good. :p


;) :cool: lol @ Jello! Gross! every time I see a commercial for Jello I cringe! Good thing it's not often as I don't have cable

I just had strawberries again for dinner! Mmm Mmm Mmmh!

[alex]

All roads lead to RAW.

For me a long jouney over the past few years. The more I learned about human health the more I was led to RAW. I am not 100% and may never be, but I am about 90%.

I still eat sprouted grain tortillas and some sprouted grain bread both topped or filled with raw veggies, sprouts etc.

I had a number of health challenges - almost all have disappeared.

Was interesting to read all of the other reasons people had that led them here.


alex

[musicalfruit]

I am really hoping to be able to clean out my plumbing, so to speak! I keep reading about how a person should poo at least 2x a day and I can't seem to do it no matter what I eat or drink. Any suggestions? I have only been raw for 4 days, and only about 90% at that, I am working up to 100%..
thanks!