Finally finally finally!!! (w pics :) )

[eatyourbroccoli]

i know ive posted on here about detoxing out birth control i had been on for 5 years, and id just like to say that after a WHOLE YEAR of struggling with bad acne, mood swings, depression, etc after going OFF of birth control, and after my emotional detox (hardcore) last weekend, i feel as though im FINALLY coming into balance..holistically!!

AND..no more acne!!

i have to share the difference..i was comparing pics earlier and i was just amazed at what SAD and medication WAS doing to me, and how much healthier i look RAW and without artificial hormones!

Before raw (im the chick heheh :p ):
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g249/ashtonhowe/Picture005.jpg

After raw:
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g249/ashtonhowe/DSCN29382.jpg


:) :) :)

im so super happy!! about the changes AND just in general bc raw balances my moods :D

i had to share..im just excited :o

stick with it everyone, its worth it!

[dreamrawalwz]

wow! I can't see any acne on the first picture, but you don't look tired anymore! Your complexion is so much smoother and you just look perky!! You're eyes have seemed to lighten, unless that's just the lighting. Perty!

[Nenyath]

I'm very happy for you and it really am worth it! I do not see any acne though but you look generally more radiant!

Fly forever free..

[dreamrawalwz]

I showed my mom the difference and she said "she looks better in the first one. She's too skinny!" :eek: Uhh, no mom, sorry haha. Don't listen to my mom, what does she know?

[eatyourbroccoli]

my eyes have gotten a little bit lighter, and my hair has gotten darker. these arent two good pictures to use to demonstrate that though lol..my roots used to grow in a dirty darkish brown and i would dye it all dark..now they grow in the daaaaaaaark brown/black color of the second pic and i havent needed a touch-up in color in..i cant even remember how long. i was born with rich, black hair..so maybe its comin back!

and the acne i had was all around the lower parts of my cheeks, and though its there in the first pic (but not too visible) it REALLY started showing up about a month and a halfish after the first pic was taken, around last september (the pic is from last julyish)

dreamraw..i think you and i are ALWAYS on this forum lol :D

[eatyourbroccoli]

I showed my mom the difference and she said "she looks better in the first one. She's too skinny!" :eek: Uhh, no mom, sorry haha. Don't listen to my mom, what does she know?
yeeea..my mom/boyfriend tell me im too skinny. but whateverrr..im happy! :D

[LightLover]

You look amazingly , already in the before pictures, but I see there
some "obstacles" in your way.
But in the "after" pictures, well you shine like a light-conductor.
:D
If happiness is free flow of energy, you make us happy, please look at yourselve with our eyes
LL

[Sharon in Colorado]

Both your pictures look great - gorgeous eyelashes! - would be nice to see a full face shot of the second one too, as it is hard for me to see a difference, however I'm sure you could tell.

You remind me a lot of an old friend I had named Juliette.

[dreamrawalwz]

yeeea..my mom/boyfriend tell me im too skinny. but whateverrr..im happy! :D

Yup. I'm ALWAYS on here. I obsess haha. I'm really dissapointed if I don't see new updates lol.

Hey, as long as you feel good then that's all that matters! A little off topic and I don't want this to take over the thread, but those that are cooked see "too skinny" as something different. I could go on, but i don't want to overtake your inspiring thread!

[Guppy]

Well, I didn't think you could look any better than you do in your before picture, but that after picture is really amazing!!

So, the acne started when you went off the Pill right? And now you say it has cleared up after about a year and how long raw? For me, one of the Pill's main benefits is the clear skin. (Well, that and not getting pregnant ;) ).I worry what will happen to my face when I go off of them. Good to hear it doesn't have to be bad.

emily

[Nini]

You shine! You look gorgeous.


Doesn't being raw rock???

[lissomllama]

Yay! You're beautiful! Isn't it wonderful to be off the stupid birth control. It is so much better to chart your cycles naturally. I went through the same thing. I quit birth control a while before going raw so it was a little easier but it was still hell. the detox was terrible. I have been off the horrible pill for about 10 months now and I feel better than ever! Congrats!

[luckitri]

NO these pictures are not good at all. How can you improve upon perfection? ha ha Oh well - if you feel good that is what counts.

[honeybee joy]

You look great, and sounds like you feel great as well! High Five!

[JennaBoBenna]

Gorgeous!!!

[rawfigure]

another vote for beautiful ! :D

[AliCat]

WOW! Your super pretty. Glad you are feeling SO good. Your my inspiration now :)

[vgloveforlife]

You look beautiful in both pics!

[mud]

^ Word ^

But your body is more healthy on the inside now! You have +'s on both sides.

[berrymarymac]

wow...you look AMAZING!!! ^_^

[spicyfull]

You're Beautiful..................

[eatyourbroccoli]

Well, I didn't think you could look any better than you do in your before picture, but that after picture is really amazing!!

So, the acne started when you went off the Pill right? And now you say it has cleared up after about a year and how long raw? For me, one of the Pill's main benefits is the clear skin. (Well, that and not getting pregnant ;) ).I worry what will happen to my face when I go off of them. Good to hear it doesn't have to be bad.

emily
i had the most perfect skin ever while i was on Yasmin (not when i was on Ortho tricyclene though)...and then a month after i went off it, BOOM it was like i was 13 again :(

BUT my mom went off the pill and had no trouble with acne like i did. so everyone is definitely different.

and ive been high raw (80+%) for a smidge over a year with quite a few intervals of 100%, and vegan for going on 3 months, and then 100% and completely organic too (which i think has really helped) for almost 3 weeks (it would have been almost 5 weeks but i slipped up one night right before moving into my apartment on the road). its a lot easier to be 100% now that i have my own apartment and im not traveling or living in a dorm anymore. i dont even think about sad food anymore. and i plan on going to a raw restaurant up here in guelph tomorrow :D

i have far too much energy for 1030 pm..ive been up since 6 :confused:

[rawpriestess]

YOU LOOK MAAAAAHVELOUS DAHLING!!!

[eatyourbroccoli]

You look great, and sounds like you feel great as well! High Five!
ill take this opportunity to let you know something ive been meaning to tell you for awhile..

you look so great!!! ive seen the progression through your avatars and GOSH!! keep it up girl :)

[eatyourbroccoli]

and ps

thankyou everyone for all being so supportive

i know im all weird and giddy..but ive had this incredible comfort with myself and a ton of energy ever since my crazy 2 hour crying bit last weekend

life is just grand now :D

have a great weekend guys

[chi-iris-73]

If you are happy,that is what really counts...

You look beautiful,you radiate like the sun.....

can you say it like that?,don't forget...I'm dutch.... :D

[light&happy]

wow, you llo so gorgeous that it rubbed off on your boyfriend, too! lol
;) Melissa

[Veganforlife]

You are a beautiful woman!

[sunflowery]

You have the glow!!

[sungoddess]

You really look so awesome! I am having a really hard day today, and this just gave me a lot of inspiration. I have been raw for 39 days, and my skin has just been horrible. I am a musical theater major at NYU and I have spent the whole morning in dance classes staring at myself in a mirror! I am really having a hard time keeping positive (though I know it is essential). How bad was your skin? I am upset to have to go through a whole year, but it is worth it. I can't live with this forever!!!!! AHH.

But really, you are such an inspriration!

[greenfeline]

Your skin looks clear, dewy and healthy!

[eatyourbroccoli]

You really look so awesome! I am having a really hard day today, and this just gave me a lot of inspiration. I have been raw for 39 days, and my skin has just been horrible. I am a musical theater major at NYU and I have spent the whole morning in dance classes staring at myself in a mirror! I am really having a hard time keeping positive (though I know it is essential). How bad was your skin? I am upset to have to go through a whole year, but it is worth it. I can't live with this forever!!!!! AHH.

But really, you are such an inspriration!
oh hunny..i know EXACTLY how you feel!!

yes, it took me a whole year, BUT here are some things that have REALLY helped also:

vegan vitamin D supplements, whole food magnesium supplement, whole food multivitamin supplement

ALSO a pure MSM (methyl-sulfonyl-methane i think?) supplement. THIS has helped me the most

and applying RAW honey to your face and allowing it to sit for 15ish minutes before bed everynight

and applying shea butter for overnight

and washing with ONLY Dr. Bronners liquid soap

and not using ANY over the counter acne treatments whatsoever. this only aggravated it..always.

that routine + raw (raw is a definite..if i do that routine without raw, i break out. if i do raw without that routine, i break out.) has worked for me.

good luck :) :)

[Lay-Lay]

looking good! So happy for you!

[Goldsplinter]

Dr. Bronners liquid soap

Theres a liquid one? I have the bar one, and i love how it feels. Like creamy or something.

[Linda1970]

Congratulations!!!

You look very pretty in both pictures, but the 'after' looks very radiant. :)

I'm also struggling w/acne. It has improved from moderate to mild after being high raw for a few months. Can you tell me which brand of shea butter you use? I'm very interested in trying it.

[Crazy Healer Lady]

Wow you look amazing!! getting off that crap is one of the best things I ever did!! ;)

Good luck and congrats!!

[soonercourt]

You are a great inspiration for a newbie! You look great! Thanks for sharing your story.

:)soonercourt

[StudentforLife]

Good for you!

I've been meaning to start talking about trying to get off birth control on here and I'm so glad you brought it up.

I've been on ortho tri since I was fifteen due to irregular periods,(and of course it now acts as birth control). I remember there was a time a long time ago when I went off of it for some reason and got horrible horrible acne. After that I was so scared to go off of it again.

Of course now I'm desperate to ditch it but I have no idea how to start. I guess I start by just stopping but that's so scary. I'm especially worried about my irregular "lady issues" coming back whenever it wants to.

Could you just let me know if you did anything special?

By the way, your man-friend is a stud,(I can still say that. I still have a whole week until I get married). ;)

[misslinda]

VvVaaaaaaa VA VA vooooooooooooooooooooooom!

How did I miss this one. Eatyourbroccoli, you look more than gorgeous. You have a natural glowy,seen,shine and illuminating quality---in addition to your natural beautiful features! WOW! * speechless * CONGRATS :)

[lil fairy z girl]

you look simply beautiful
best wishes
sal

~*~*~*~*

[pookafey]

I can really see the difference- you were beautiful before- but now you have this gorgeous glow! I have been thinking about getting off of my pills too and you are definitley an inspiration.

[Coriander74]

You're an incredibly beautiful woman, and you are just glowing in the after photo :) How exciting, I'm SO happy for you :)

[eatyourbroccoli]

epicurian shea butter company with lilac and gardenia is the brand of shea butter i use. its been absolutely fantastic so far. i bought it at whole foods i think.

as far as how i got off my birth control..i just stopped taking it. its taken almost a year for me to become regular again..i went 7 months without a period at all, and then id get it maybe every other month, and then i got it like 3 times in one month..and now im more or less regular (so far..we'll see how that changes now that im on day 25 of 100% as opposed to just high raw).

i instantly FELT better after stopping. it was causing me a lot of anemia issues (it can inhibit the absorption of iron apparently..) and was giving me pretty intense vertigo. i had been on it 6 or so years, and it took about 4 months before i started truly detoxing i think, and then took me a good 7-8 months to detox completely and i may have a bit more to go, but my skin look the best it has since january when i first started detoxing.

all in all..im so happy i went off it. another huge benefit was that my hips/thighs/butt have slimmed down so much from just going off it. raw, of course, has helped a ton too, but i lost a good 7 lbs just from ditchin the pill alone.

good luck :)

[star_fruit]

Your beautiful in both pics. Your skin in the second pic is so smooth and glowing.

[moonstone523]

Raw or not, you look better without makeup.

Natural and Raw is the way to go.

Keep it up!

[PixieLed]

You look so awesome! I can see a difference, but mostly in the happiness that seems to be coming from you in the second picture.

It's weird but it seems we're going through similar things. I stopped taking birth control at the same time I went 100% raw and now I'm still dealing with tons of acne. The whole summer my face looked so horrible and it's only now starting to calm down. I'm just curious if your period started back up regularly when you stopped the pill?

Also, when reading this thread I noticed you said you were going to a raw food restaurant in Guelph... I'm in Waterloo currently and I've been to the raw food restaurant in Guelph, it's really great!! The enchiladas and pizza there are amazing! And the cheese cake was really tasty too! I really like the atmosphere and the fact that it's all organic. Where are you living currently, maybe we could set up some sort of a raw potluck/dinner thing some time. (Waterloo is about 40 minutes away from Guelph.) Let me know!

Congrats again! I'm so happy for you and it's great to have a positive role model (and not dispair with the acne)!

[learningrawways]

I thought the before picture was the after picture Eatyourbroccoli. How beautiful you are. And you just glow! You must have been eating raw while that picture was taken. The second picture, I can see your acne has improved to the point that it's not there lol. Good for you!!! It must feel great and I'm so glad for you. And I think your boyfriend is a cutie too lol you two make a really cute couple.

[moonstar]

Brocolli --

Great pics -- you look great!

Sorry if this sounds so forward -- but that is one HOT man in that pic with you! You go, girl!

[raven]

your "before" picture could be an "after" because you looked stunning to start with. i see that your skin looks luminous in the second pic but there's not a drastic difference in those two pics. i'm happy that raw has worked so well for you.

suzy