Cold turkey or transition - what's YOUR opinion?

[VSL]

I'd love to know what everyone's opinion on the best method to go raw is..

Alissa is one of the few who goes for the 100% cold turkey approach, while others, such as Natalia Rose, think that a gradual transition is the best way.

What do people here think?

[please no 'whatever works for you' posts :D ]

[Veganforlife]

I jumped in 100% six weeks ago today. To date I have lost 14 pounds. I have had NO migraines, which for my whole life (I'm 52) there has NEVER, EVER been a month that has gone by that I have not had at least one. I am sleeping SO MUCH BETTER. I wake up refreshed. I have oodles of energy.
I was however Vegan prior to being raw and prior to being Vegan, was Vegetarian, so this was 'easy' for me. I will never go back to cooked. Ever. I have not felt this good in, well, I can't remember when. So yep, for me, I leaped in - feet first and LOVE IT!!! :D
My opinion? I can only speak for me. Whenever I do ANYTHING though, I do it 100% plus...

[Biff]

I think that because of the time that it takes to learn how to prepare foods, that a transition path is sometimes a good way because otherwise the people feel guilty about not being 100%. (they cheat because they do not know how to make yummy raw foods/know how to shop and prepare.)

Learning how to make foods in the dehydrator, vitamix, food processor -- this takes time. To make the transition easy, people want to know how to make/eat raw bread, raw pizza, tacos, tostadas, pates, and desserts. The people who hear about the "raw diet" and decide to go 100% cold turkey the next day without knowing how to prepare the foods are setting themselves up for failure. (and then might quit altogher and then badmouth how horrible it is, and how bad the food is.) I know that some people can do it, but I would think that most wouldn't be able to do it successfully.

Give them a time to learn how to make the foods, and then the 100% raw 30 day challenge is a piece of cake! (raw cake!)

[Rawmommie]

For me, 100% is the only way to go. Transitioning was just a slippery slope for me (and my compulsive eating) and I never could get to 100% when trying to transition. I only ate worse and worse because of the cravings.

I've seen transitioning work for other people, but I'm an all or nothing kinda girl. :D

[Veganforlife]

I think that because of the time that it takes to learn how to prepare foods, that a transition path is sometimes a good way because otherwise the people feel guilty about not being 100%. (they cheat because they do not know how to make yummy raw foods/know how to shop and prepare.)

Learning how to make foods in the dehydrator, vitamix, food processor -- this takes time. To make the transition easy, people want to know how to make/eat raw bread, raw pizza, tacos, tostadas, pates, and desserts. The people who hear about the "raw diet" and decide to go 100% cold turkey the next day without knowing how to prepare the foods are setting themselves up for failure. (and then might quit altogher and then badmouth how horrible it is, and how bad the food is.) I know that some people can do it, but I would think that most wouldn't be able to do it successfully.

Give them a time to learn how to make the foods, and then the 100% raw 30 day challenge is a piece of cake! (raw cake!)

Gosh, I never looked at it this way. I guess I don't worry about how other people eat, just trying to feed my body how it feels and functions best.
Biff - very well said!!! However, I do agree with Alissa that the more cooked food you keep in your system - the cravings will be there. Yes, there is the pre-planning and preparing to consider. I'm still getting the hang of it. Yep, the 30 day challenge IS the way to go I would think for most. I have not eaten crap food for so long that it was easy for me. But I think I'm in the minority with my way of eating (previous way)...

[Denise Nicole]

I think it's different for everyone. I am a transitioner, learning new habits and replacing meals, finding one's I love etc takes time for me. Cold turkey would have been way to overwhelming for me and I would have given up, come back, given up, come back, which in essence would have been transitioning! :p

Anyway, it's what works for me, I am already vegan, was already cutting out processed foods, so making the switch to raw is a matter of finding the recipes I love. I am not looking to lose weight, and my health is pretty good already, I'm just looking for the best way to feed my body so the immediate "i better get results or else it's too hard" feeling wasn't an issue for me. :)

[Sunshine9]

Transition.

[Nini]

I tried transitioning twice. Didn't work.

Cold turkey worked. 100% no slips - so far.

[Biff]

The original poster (VSL) is talking about "cold turkey 100%" vs transitioning to 100%. She is not talking about "100% Raw" vs. "high raw" -- am I right VSL?

So the people who are saying that transitioning didn't work for them, and only 100% works for them -- I think they are missing the point. You learned how to make foods before you went 100%.

[rawbeliever]

I went cold turkey myself (from SAD to raw) before I even knew there were raw food recipes and such and other people who were doing raw. I was just eating simple salads and fruit. I prefer the cold turkey approach, though it may take some practice...I have fallen of the wagon at times, but then I got back on. Now that I'm more experienced, I prefer cold turkey WITH social support, such as this web site forum. It's the social support that made all the difference for me, not the recipes, which I only use for holidays, except for a few really simple ones. I think whichever way one takes, it's an individual journey, and it's always going to take practice and time and patience to get good at it.

[rawpriestess]

100% is way easier than transitioning, but some people just don't seem to be able to do it.

I have done it 100%, but it took me several times to do it, I am now almost 6 months 100% raw, and have lost 72 pounds (so far) I feel great, look way younger, have loads of energy, and there is nothing to block my progress, nothing in my home or near me to tempt me.

although I do go out with friends, since I am eating 100% raw, it is very easy for me to eat, I just grab some water, fruit and maybe some greens, there is no worry, about well, I have a slice of bread yesterday, and I was going to stop wheat today, but I can just fudge it on this one day, and start tomorrow.

you see, that doesn't work for me, if I allow one thing in, I will justify it being in more than once and eat a little hear, a bit there, some over here etc.

But, if I am 100% raw, then there is no gray line, no maybe just a bite, no just this once, no only a taste, I'm either raw or I'm not, now again, this is what works for me.

But, I also understand that I was a vegetarian for many years before I started raw, so maybe that makes it easier for me.

and the MAIN reason, I think raw works for me, is NOT because I want to lose weight, that is the proverbial raw gravy of eating raw, I am raw, because it resonates with my soul, it feels right, it feels like this is the way I am supposed to eat, down in my soul.

So, that is what I do, I eat raw food.

good luck to you on your choices.

I find that people have trouble with raw, because they don't have enough good recipes around, and cut up fruits to eat, so make lots of stuff have it easy to get to and enjoy the process of becoming healthy again.


IT RAWKS TO EAT RAW!!!!

[Larue]

So the people who are saying that transitioning didn't work for them, and only 100% works for them -- I think they are missing the point. You learned how to make foods before you went 100%.
I also believe that going back and forth and back and forth from 100% or high to SAD *is* transitioning. Each time you go back to 100% or high raw, you do it from a place of experience. So in my opinion, unless you go 100% raw the first time with no slip ups, then you can say that for yourself 100% works! But that is so few and even Alissa says she experimented with this lifestyle before becoming 100%. Therefore, everyone, except for about what .00001 of the population of raw or high foodists transitioned.

The most important thing is to just do it VSL. Learn as much as you can and listen your body. But most importantly, don't get down on yourself if you don't live up to an ideal you have set for yourself. Sometimes I think *that* is the thing that keeps people eating SAD, not that they slipped up. Just read some more, ask questions and keep trying.

We are all coming at this lifestyle from such different perspectives and for many different reasons, so that is why we all have many different opinions on how to do it!

[VSL]

The original poster (VSL) is talking about "cold turkey 100%" vs transitioning to 100%. She is not talking about "100% Raw" vs. "high raw" -- am I right VSL?
Yes.

Now, I know that when people do go 100% raw they have usually attempted raw in the past (and thus, could be considered to have transitioned), but what I mean is; what ultimately worked in getting you there?

I would consider the cold-turkey-ers to have either gone 100% from the outset, to to have this experience:

I tried transitioning twice. Didn't work.

Cold turkey worked. 100% no slips - so far.

While a transitioner would be this:

I am a transitioner, learning new habits and replacing meals, finding one's I love etc takes time for me.

I do agree that many will want to learn the recipes (or at least know them) before starting though.

[Biff]

I also believe that going back and forth and back and forth from 100% or high to SAD *is* transitioning. Each time you go back to 100% or high raw, you do it from a place of experience. So in my opinion, unless you go 100% raw the first time with no slip ups, then you can say that for yourself 100% works! But that is so few and even Alissa says she experimented with this lifestyle before becoming 100%. Therefore, everyone, except for about what .00001 of the population of raw or high foodists transitioned.



My point exactly!

[Lay-Lay]

I'm a firm believer in doing what is most comfortable to you. When I originally started over 3 years. I immediately went 100%. I know in my heart of heart if I had the knowledge of Alissa's approach and that I could eat ALL the fruit I wanted and that I didn't have to limit myself I would have stayed 100%. So you could say I am a believer in cold turkey for myself.

That brings me to my husband. He is not a cold turkey kind of guy. He had NEVER had a raw vegetable except maybe some iceburg lettuce prior to us meeting. He had ate very little fruit, nuts, heavily salted and usually candied or chocolate covered. Jumping on the raw food wagon for him would just be way too much for him. He is making a slow transition. I don't push him. He is going at his own speed. He hates vegetables and so I told him don't eat them if you don't want them. He is eating mostly fruit. Somedays he eats all but 1 meal raw and other days it's just fruit for snacks. He said someday he will be 100% raw like me. That is his longterm goal.

I think everyone must find their own way and do what works for them. We each come from different backgrounds. Unlike my husband I grew up eating alot of raw fruits and vegetables. I always ate more raw then I did cook.

[Dutchie]

For me transition works the best.
I know myself, so....
I take little steps, and I will
reach my goal in that way. ;)

[sport]

I intended to transition and had a game plan but I started my raw journey by spending the first week at The UK Centre for Living Foods.
While I was there I was looking forward to toast and marmalade when I got back and it was so dissapointing that I just went cold turkey

[dreamrawalwz]

I had to go cold turkey. I'm either 100% raw or 100% not.

I never transitioned within my SAD diet either. I never ate SAD. The only canned things I had were Amy's organic soups/beans or I had fast food restaurant salads and some diet sodas (ok, I lived off them until 5 years ago). I mostly ate steamed veggies, brown rice, and lean fish/chicken. I guess it wasn't much for me to transition to though. I never really did recipes. The occassional simple raw spaghetti + sauce (w/ 4 ingredients) or cookies (with 2 ingredients). Other than that I've been simple fruits and veggies, that's it!

ANY amount of cooked sends me into a tailspin with binge/purge. It's a horrible place to be.

I guess I've never considered going off and on raw as transitioning, just waht it was...falling off and getting back on.

It is a journey so you should do waht you feel best doing. Heck, you can start transitioning and if you think you can go 100% then go for it, or if you are 100% and it becomes too much then just step back a level.

[Dimond]

Transition. If you already were eating vegetarian or some other healthier diet, you already transitioned. But for the average person, going from complete junk, I mean SAD :D , is too difficult & the majority won't stick with it.

[JEN]

It totally depends on you. I tried to go 100% at first but the detox was sooo bad that I couldnt function to care for my family. I think the caffiene detox had a lot to do with my detox being so hard. I decided to transition to ease some of the detox and it worked much better for me. The only thing about transitioning is you need to go ahead and give up all the processed junk or youll keep wanting to eat it. Make sure you do a healthy transition. Storm and Jinjee have a great way to transition listed in their book. Check out their website....www.thegardendiet.com

[Tiggerwoos]

I don't know how mine will work out. I started with a raw weekend, just 2 days, but still going strong as going in to my 4th day now.

I definitely will find it easier when I get a dehydrator though as really want to start making onion style breads and other yummy dishes.

[DavidZaneMason]

-Opinion:

-If you transition...you can always speed up because it's too easy.....and arrive at 100% quickly. But if you are miserable at 100%...then you went to fast! Ha! ha!

-Just my experience.

-David Mason

[cdepalmer]

I am just an all or nothing kind of gal and I went cold turkey.

[mcasburn]

Transition, for sure, but I don't have ED in my background and so do not have the related control issues around food that many others have expressed. I can have a bite of cooked and be 100% raw the next day with no struggle. And when I dabble, I make very intentional choices. I'll take the food with a simpler preparation and a raw component, like Salad Rolls with Tofu, over something complex and fully cooked, like Pad Thai.

This permission to dabble is exactly what KEEPS me high raw.

[AliCat]

100% would be the only thing that works for me..in every aspect of my life ;)

[cassidy]

T-R-A-N-S-I-T-I-O-N for me. I set myself up for failure if I try to go 100% right out of the gates. And when I do fail, even just a little, I let myself crash and burn. Then it takes me a while to get back on my feet. If, however, I alow myself a little of my favorite SAD food here in there I am anticipating I will be much better off.
But I do have a friend who decided raw was great and went 100% and never looked back.
To each his own I guess!

[luckitri]

For me - I intend 100% and end up transitioning. If it were just me in my house I would probably just go 100% but I am expected to be Mom and come home and cook after work. I don't cook that much - tonight I made fresh salsa (I do everything by hand) and grated the cheese for my little guy. He gets to build it himself. There is still crock pot meat and other SAD food in the fridge. Our dogs eat really well. I have always had this thing about not wasting food and my family are not consistent in the volume that they eat so now I can't finish it for them. If I knew I had a cancer I would probably tough it out immediately. Although I have an idea that I need to get in shape for a new job in the not too distant future and I need to get off this computer and be 100% raw as I was too miserable SAD to get the exercise I need. I have not made any recipes, dehydrated or anything like that yet and I really don't want to get involved with that and sprouting so I am trying to be raw without it. Making salads and cleaning all the produce and blending the fruits is enough work....oh and making the coconut blend drink from young coconuts. Hopefully when it gets cold I will just add more root vegetables and nuts and not want something hot on a cold day. I think that one can be 100% without doing all the recipes. I will consider recipes in the future just to entice my family or to please my sweet tooth. I say go for the 100%. Your body may give you a hard time but I agree with RP it is too easy to get involved in giving oneself too much permission for too much SAD. My body is not young and healthy and so does not give itself over to drastic change easily - I do get problems with horrible cravings for specific SAD foods - and I get a negative "high" that feels like I am starving myself and I don't feel strong or fully perceptive when that comes over me - so I guess I am what is called "high raw". Also I have had the "detox" a couple of times and needed the reassurance of this board's members to know that is what it was. I am sure that I have alot of "detox" to go - just not today! So maybe it is true that I am prolonging my misery by not going 100% and sticking to it.

[SNMB]

Transition for me. I would have said 100% a few months ago but since then I've crashed and burned several times. If I try 100%, I'm either eating all raw or all crap. Allowing myself to eat healthy-ish vegan SAD (black beans, soups, brown rice) in addition to RAW is so great for me. I'm getting nutrients from eating SOME raw food and I'm gettin comfortable with it. I have physical proof, too! While I was trying to do 100% but failing and eating horrible SAD (fish and chips, Lucky Charms with chocolate milk, etc.) the nail on the middle finger of my right hand was so thin and worn down past the line where nails grow. Now it's all grown back and healthy looking! So anyway, I'm at least 50% raw if I count by calories now, usually more like 60-70%. I'm doing it by meals though. Big green smoothie for breakfast, big salad for lunch, something cooked for dinner. This also helps with my budget. I plan to incorperate one day of fasting per week as well as adding a few all-raw days each week. I'll get there eventually. But I'm not going to drive myself crazy on the way.

[spicyfull]

For me 100%...........

[JennaBoBenna]

I can't transition because I'll just go overboard with cooked foods. It's cold turkey or nothin'!!

[Rawzula]

Transitioning for me, is the best approach. Going cold turkey didn't work out for me. I was a vegetarian for a month before I caved:eek:. I attempted vegetarianism a couple of times, but was not able to keep it up due to financial problems AND not being fully committed.

I had went 100% cold turkey and failed. This time around, I will be more careful of my eating choices. I have an ED, so I have to be extra cautious about my diet.

I know that I will reach my goal of being 100% raw..one day at a time. Going 100% without a transition period was disastrous for me. I would make the promise to be veg, only to crash and burn weeks later. Everytime, I ate even a little bit of cooked food, I felt horrible. Plus, going 100% now would wreck my budget. I am on a VERY limited income, and I must spend wisely. I plan on being 100% by January. Moving away from my insensitive roommate will make the transition to 100% raw MUCH easier.

[madmel]

Interesting question!

I think this is a very individual thing really.

When I (ED background) tried to go cold turkey, I failed. After some really rough weeks I have restarted two weeks ago, now I am transitioning. But I am high raw, I would say 90% and some days even more. Now that I allow myself something else than RAW, I am not really craving and thus not binging or purging. It's going so much better.

To each his own, everyone has to find his/her way.

mel

[juliebove]

For me, transition. I felt I needed a dehydrator and food processor and I did not have these things. Meanwhile I learned how to sprout things. I am still not 100% raw, but getting there.

[Sooboopa]

For me, transitioning is the right way. Going 100% raw straight away throws me out of balance. I want the journey to be joyful. I love and adore raw foods, when I take this approach. I don't want to feel despondent and yearning for cooked food. The emotional and physical detox is too much for me. I am taking a holistic approach. Diet is kind of like the substrate on which everything else rests. Social eating is one of the big reasons why I find 100% raw hard. Instead of feeling like a failure if I eat some cooked, it is built into my transition plan. I absolutely cannot eat meat (including fish and chicken)...nor eggs (if they are the main part of a dish, like an omelette). As I become more and more pure and refined and cleansed and detoxed...I am hoping all cooked food falls away. Or if I consciously choose to eat some cooked, it is quite rare and done with joy. Even Sapoty Brook practises 10% conscious debauchery. I admire 100% raw foodists tremendously though. I wish I had their absolute certainty and resolve. I am like that regarding eating meat, but not cooked food. I'm sure I could be 100% raw if I lived with Raw Priestess.

[lissomllama]

I say, jump in at 100%. I tried this 3 times. The first time I failed after a week, the second time I failed after a day, but the third time, I've been raw for 3 months and still haven't failed even a single time. I'm raw forever and there will not be any slip ups at all. I think that going 'cold turkey' (I dislike that expression, lol) is difficult and does tax the system a bit but I think it is the best way to go because it really shows you how bad cooked food is for the body. Gradual changes don't seem to bring about enough detox. I like to see drastic changes because it means more to me. Also, I've never had the patience for gradual changes. Gradual changes are usually best for most things in life but for some reason, the thought of eating even a little bit of cooked food during a raw transition just wouldn't work for me. It was too addictive and I just wouldn't have been able to do it.

[Rawzula]

I know for sure that I would be 100% raw if I didn't live with my roommate/friend. He is a hardcore meat-and-potatoes guy. Raw doesn't even register on his radar:eek:. Trying to be 100% raw now is nearly impossible living with him. He's not even supportive, which I expected. I will eat as much raw foods as possible and stay away from meat and soda:eek:!

I'm eating some cooked foods, but once I move into a place of my own, bye-bye cooked foods:).

[lissomllama]

It IS hard to be raw with a meat and potatoes person living with you but it isn't impossible at all. My beloved husband has an atrocious SAD diet and I even cook his meals for him but I'm 100% raw with no slip ups. It is YOUR body, so you make the choice. Either you eat cooked or you don't but living with someone who is cooked doesn't mean you have to be. You just have to make the choice, even though it isn't easy at all.

[GreenPrince]

The first time I saw ”cold turkey” was on this board. Eventually I understod the meaning as opposite to a transition period.
I just wonder about background of the expression. I know that I miss something. Of course, I know about your
SAD-tradition of eating turkey at Thanksgiving and the emotions around it, like the Christmas.

But,
What is so special with a cold turkey? Why not a cold duck or a cold potato?
Can you go ”cold turkey” in other fields, for example as an non-runner,
just leave the sofa and out for running a marathon?

Finally, If you choice a slow transition to raw food, is it then warm turkey?

Anybody? Just a cue... a hint.

[Biff]

GreenPrince:

from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_turkey

"Cold turkey" is a slang expression describing the actions of a person who gives up a habit or addiction all at once, rather than gradually (easing the process through tapering off or using supplemental medication). This is, of course, the cheapest method of quitting any habit, and its supposed advantage is that by not actively using supplemental methods, the person avoids thinking about the habit and therefore, the temptation.

The term allegedly derives from the comparison of a cold turkey carcass and the state of a withdrawing addict — most notably, the cold sweats and goose bumps. It is often preceded by the verb "to go," as in "going cold turkey."

Sudden withdrawal from drugs such as benzodiazepines and barbiturates can be extremely dangerous, leading to potentially fatal seizures. In long-time alcoholics, going cold turkey can cause life-threatening delirium tremens and thus is not an appropriate method for breaking an alcohol addiction. Although many people disagree, it has been said that nicotine cessation can be the most difficult form of cold turkey, more difficult than even heroin or cocaine. [1] Health Canada

In the case of most other drugs, going cold turkey may be extremely unpleasant, but not actually dangerous. Stopping to take a medication that has been prescribed, however, may be dangerous.

[GreenPrince]

Tanks, Biff.
Everything now is clear as water. I use to google, but I missed this.

[Graciebeliever]

COLD TURKEY!

I studied about raw (oh what very little I knew then) for a day or so from raw boot camp and BANG that was all I needed.

Never went back to SAD, today is day 74 100% for me :)

I have never been successful at anything eating related so you can imagine my JOY and delight at winning at this.

Not that there haven't been hard days.. there has been but NOTHING is worth going back to the old way for N O T H I N G !!

[Tiggerwoos]

I jumped in and did 8 days straight, but found my digestion came to a big standstill despite eating loads of good stuff. I have been previously vegan for a while and went for a number 2, two or three times a day.

I have now discovered that by transitioning..... am now up to around 60% it has not been too much of a shock to the system and my, erm toilet habits haven't been halted! :D

[Boysenberry]

TRANSISTION.

I am with Biff on this one. I think that whatever it takes to get you to 100% raw is what is important. In the begining, before I had enough information, 100% would have been way over the top for me. I am currently at day 53 of a 60 day challenge. I find that I have to start a new challenge when one ends to keep up the 100%.

I feel amazing on raw. I love it. I love how differently I see the world. 100% is the only way to be, but is difficult to attain. At least it has been for me.

I love not having food addictions. I love not having hypoglycemic reactions. I love having more patience and love for my children and husband and people in general. I love not feeling angry and depressed. I love the energy. I love sleeping less. I love the peace eating 100% brings.

It is all about the journey.

[Denise Nicole]

It is all about the journey.
Yep, I agree :)