Can't go back to being ignorant....

[ljcoolj]

Wow, what a journey this is. All the ups and downs. I started my raw journey in June of '05. I remained 80-90% raw thru out that summer. I had some personal problems in the fall of '05 and just let everything go. Ate horribly, ya know, typical American cuisine. I tried not to even think about everything that I had learned about nutrition and health, it made it easier to embrace the cheeseburgers and french fries. It made it easier to 'fit in' to our obese society. Being different, being raw can be so hard...almost as if a spotlight gets turned on you at every meal. I had hated that. It was just easier to eat like everyone else. I still lurked on this website, even posting at times...all the while knowing that you were all doing the right thing for your bodies while I wasn't. I've admired all of you soooooooo much. So, here I am a year later, 25 lbs heavier and, just last week, got my first ever high cholesterol reading. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!! I know what needs to be done and I know how to do it. Heck, I have a library of books on raw and vegan eating. I know so much that there is absolutely no excuse to be in the shape I'm in. Its almost easier to accept being overweight/unhealthy if you can say 'oh well, I didn't KNOW any different'. Well I do know differently. Maybe this is one of those defining moments for me and my raw journey. That moment when you finally realize that you can't go back to being ignorant. When you KNOW exactly what your body needs and wants. I've tried going back to being ignorant (wow, have I tried) and you just can't do it. Once you know/learn something..you can't un-learn it or un-know it. Does that make sense? So this is my big realization and, as of yesterday, I went straight back to raw. I'm going to shoot for 100% but I'm going to let that happen as it happens. I'm not going to beat myself up for NOT being 100% like I use to. Maybe thats why I never stuck with it. I'm going to love myself 100% though, at all times. I'm going to take care of me as if I was a thoroughbred race horse...which, by the way, I'm worth much more. I'm also not doing it for weight loss this time, I'm going to do it for my health, for my kids, for my husband, for my future grandchildren and my future great grandchildren. (I want to be around then too!) I KNOW that health and weight go hand in hand, so if I regain my health...I will have to be at a healthy weight. I'm going to seek out support every chance I get, on this message board and also locally. I'm going to find the people that I need. I'm not going to get frustrated with people who don't understand what I'm doing. Instead, I'll say a prayer for them that they might some day be un-ignorant. I will help anyone I can who wants to learn more about superior health and nutrition. I will be the example. Ok, so first I gotta get there, huh? I guess this is my mission statement. (feel like Jerry McGuire) Feels good to write this down. Thanks to all of you for being role models and motivators, for always being right here reminding me of exactly what I need to do. You'll be hearing from me a lot more, I need to stay connected to all of you. I'll keep you posted too, I have no idea how much I really weigh right now...don't really want to know, but I'm guessing I weigh around 195. I'm going to be going by how my jeans fit instead of weighing myself though...don't want to get wrapped up in that number. Thanks again everyone!!!

[my_sunshine]

What a great, honest post! Thank you for sharing! I wish you all the best! This is hard, because it is so different from society, but in a way, that just makes us more interesting people right ;)

What about setting short term goals for yourself- be it one day, one week or one month? For me, I'm doing 2 weeks- it feels more doable than one month b/c it is shorter, but I do plan on going longer, it's just a mindset for me. Knowing I can change my mind in two weeks makes it easier to stick to it then thinking I'm doing this forever.

[Morn]

LJCoolJ

YOU GO GIRL! WE ARE BEHIND YOU! WELCOME BACK!

[SedonaSun]

Welcome back!

And you're not alone. Much of what you wrote, I could have written about myself.

[Nenyath]

Thank YOU ljcoolj for such an inspiration! And you are right, there is no turning back once you KNOW.. :o I too try once in a while to let it slip, but I just can't let go a 100% of raw and I simply do not want to! But it really sounds like you have the right approach to make this happen for you and it will! :p Be happy!

Fly forever free..

[Sunshine9]

Hey LJ! I was just thinking about you the other day. I am so glad to see you back :)

[ljcoolj]

Hey LJ! I was just thinking about you the other day. I am so glad to see you back :)


Thanks!! Its good to 'see' you too!!! You're stuck with me now....

[Missrawdiva]

I hear ya! I went raw a year ago for a few weeks, but then after seeing my grandmother die and she was overweight, and now my mother is over weight.. and I started gaining weight even after spending an hour a day at the gym, I too decided enough was enough. I agree with you about not weighing yourself. I have been raw now for about a month, and I dont weigh myself, I just go on how my clothes look, and how people are complimenting me now on my complexion and weight! I feel if I would weigh myself I would get discouraged and quit. Keep up the good work, and if you ever need a pal feel free to email me! Have a blessed day!

[ljcoolj]

I hear ya! I went raw a year ago for a few weeks, but then after seeing my grandmother die and she was overweight, and now my mother is over weight.. and I started gaining weight even after spending an hour a day at the gym, I too decided enough was enough. I agree with you about not weighing yourself. I have been raw now for about a month, and I dont weigh myself, I just go on how my clothes look, and how people are complimenting me now on my complexion and weight! I feel if I would weigh myself I would get discouraged and quit. Keep up the good work, and if you ever need a pal feel free to email me! Have a blessed day!


Thanks Missraw! I couldn't agree with you more, I think getting on that scale just sets you up for failure. I'm the type that if a week goes by and I don't lose, then I think 'well, this isn't working'. Its taken me a long time to realize that health is so much more than that number on the scale. I MIGHT weigh myself the first time someone asks me if I'm losing weight. We'll see... The one thing I have going for me is that I don't look like what I weigh. My sister didn't believe me a few months ago and made me get on the scale in front of her. People guess me about 20 lbs lighter, which is all fine and dandy but the bottom line is - I'm overweight. Anyway, I'm here if you need me too!!!!

[Faithfullyfit]

LJCoolJ,

Welcome back.....you and I both lapsed for awhile and both seem to have come to our senses at the same time. I started a new challenge for myself this month- No. it has none gone perfectly but, each day is easier and better. I am not going to beat myself up anymore- just take it one day at a time and pay attention to how I FEEL .....not what the numbers are on my scale ;) I am so glad that you are back too!


Have a GREAT day!
Faithfully FIT

[ljcoolj]

LJCoolJ,

Welcome back.....you and I both lapsed for awhile and both seem to have come to our senses at the same time. I started a new challenge for myself this month- No. it has none gone perfectly but, each day is easier and better. I am not going to beat myself up anymore- just take it one day at a time and pay attention to how I FEEL .....not what the numbers are on my scale ;) I am so glad that you are back too!


Have a GREAT day!
Faithfully FIT

HA HA HA!! I saw you posting in another thread and went 'there she is!'. Like I said, I've still been lurking. I was thinking about you the other day. You're right...ONE DAY AT A TIME!! Email me anytime!!