the best way to go raw?

[LadyAngora]

ok, so my family is gearing up to do this as a lifestyle eating plan, but what's the best way?

1.) jump in with both feet and try to go 100% raw from day one
2.) get your feet wet and try to get to 100% raw over a few weeks/months

please offer your insights and recommendations! :) keep in mind that i have two sons, age 2 years and 3 months, if it makes any difference.

[Conscious Midwife]

Just jump in it and do it. I've seen my best health and overall "good feeling" results on the continuous days that I am 100% RAW.

Yo yoing back and forth with transitionary meals makes it harder for me.
Just my solicited opinion

[Lay-Lay]

For me jumping in 100% is the way to go!

Some people can jump in 100% and stay raw from then on.

I take 100% raw spells and then not so 100% raw spells.

I have been doing raw foods nearly 4 years now. In that time I have been 100% raw nearly a year and the rest of the time I was 70% -99% (some days lower). Alissa has been 100% raw now for years, but she took 6-7 years 100% raw then not, then 100% raw, then not, then 100%. That is just the process for some, including myself. I now have thought and thought about it. I DO NOT CHEAT, I DO NOT FALL OFF THE WAGON. It is just a transition and within the process each and everyday I become healthier and grow stronger. RAW is NOT a DIET, it IS MY lifestyle!

Do it YOUR way, not mine or his, or hers!

[Forever Young]

It's a process folks, my opinion and yes I have my own, go slow and work your way towards 100% raw, you have a better chance of staying with it then, otherwise you will yo yo back and forth. Forever young :cool:

[Sharon in Colorado]

I clicked 100% but this is easier from a vegetarian/vegan diet. I think most flesh eaters should drop the flesh and dairy for a little while (a few weeks, a month or so, until they are comfortable with that), and then dive in 100%.

[Veganforlife]

I clicked 100% but this is easier from a vegetarian/vegan diet. I think most flesh eaters should drop the flesh and dairy for a little while (a few weeks, a month or so, until they are comfortable with that), and then dive in 100%.

Oh, I agree, but I also agree with Alissa - that your body will be trying to detox all the altered/processed/cooked foods you keep putting into it.

I feel that we were designed to eat raw. We were not designed to eat processed foods.

I know my body has responded extremely well for doing it 100%. I will NEVER go back to cooked, DEAD foods.

[lil fairy z girl]

i also went for 100% jump in. it may seem drastic but it is easier in the long run i think to just do it than to transition. however i tend to be an all or nothing person.

best wishes
sal

[rawpriestess]

I said 100%, I still have friends who are TRYING to go 100% raw, after years and years, there is no TRY, there is do or do not,


either do it or don't, it's up to you.

but I know for me, I can ONLY be committed, I can't just be involved, I am too passionate about my life and my health to be simply involved in maybe someday deciding to so something to heal.

it's like smoking, you are either a smoker or not, you aren't trying to quit, you aren't trying to quit heroin, you aren't trying to do anything, you are either doing it, or you are not.

now, with all of that said, I do believe that if you decide that you wish to eat 100% raw, and the ONLY thing that is holding you back, is wanting to drink a cup of coffee or having popcorn at the movies, then I say do what works for you.

I say, be a rebel, don't follow anyone else's dream, follow your own dream, listen to the experts, as they were just as confused as you in the beginning too, but they may have some advice, however, it is THEIR advice that worked for them, it may not work for you.

ONLY YOU can decide what works for you, so try it either or both ways, and do what works for you, and keep doing it, even if you mess up once or twice or a gazillion times like me,. keep on keepin' on, never give up, because you are worth it, your health is in YOUR hands, trust me, noone else will die for you, so ONLY YOU can take your health seriously.

YOU , no one else, JUST YOU>

[Morn]

I think the key thing that I pulled out from your note is you and your family will be doing this. I don't know your background but my family came from a very SAD diet and it would be terribly hard to convert everyone right outside the gate. So I jumped in at 100% and my family is still SAD but I am influencing them for the positive by having lots of fruit in the house and slowly introducing them to new recipes. However, You may need to start and get your bearings and after you are successful the rest may follow. But don't get discouraged if they don't. Good Luck to you!

[StudentforLife]

You know, I put 100% but I'm not 100% sure about that. :o

I first dabbled with raw in May. I had just read about it and wanted to start it right away. I jumped in 100% without really knowing anything so I eventually went back to cooked. Then in the fall I gradually worked my way up to high raw and I was a lot more educated about it too. Then I went away for my wedding/ honeymoon for two weeks leading me to eat very SAD again. I knew that when I returned I would be starting my 30 day challenge, and I couldn't wait. Since then I've been 100% (with one little slip up) for over three weeks. I think jumping in 100% is great when you are prepared to.

[elian]

I agree with RP and Morn. Especially when you have family envolved, it is hard. As long as you are leading by example, do the best you can. Your older child will probably do fine. The younger has no choice ;-) Good luck and do what your body feels is right.

[alex]

I believe a lot has to do with the type of person you are. It's like trying to quit smoking - some people have to go cold turkey while others ease their way out. The end result is the same - a healthier person.

If one has a serious diagnosed medical condition it is probably best to go 100% immediately.


alex

[Sharon in Colorado]

If the whole family is doing it, maybe 100% right off the bat is better. This way nobody's 'cheating' behind others' backs.

Also this is the way the Boutenko family did it. www.rawfamily.com

[RawTruth]

either do it or don't, it's up to you.Well said, Yoda~ (Actually, I think he said: Do or don't do; no such thing as "try", but don't quote me ... quoting him. Aargh!)

I say 100%.

My experience working with people has been the same as Alissa's - those that go 100% immediately have ended up being more likely to remain raw. That said, I know some people who did transition more slowly, but none with families.

By the way, if you don't know about it, try looking at the 7 Day Raw Journey at Storm & Jinjee's -- 7 days of menus and shopping lists -- downloadable for $10 and it includes one for kids. Their success with their 4 raw children lends credence to their plan! It might work for you. They also have a forum for support.

www.thegardendiet.com

How exciting that you're going to be doing this together!

[maryonherway]

For me it was easier to jump in with both feet. If I'd tried to ease into it, and still had SAD food within easy reach, I would have taken the SAD over the fruits and veggies every time (like I've done my whole life). When I quit smoking after 33 yrs (6 years ago yesterday!) I had to do it cold turkey. I'd tried many times to cut back, smoke only on the weekends, smoke only when I had coffee, etc. It just doesn't work for me - it's too easy to find reasons to smoke and eat crap. And just like when I quit smoking, becoming a raw vegan was not as hard as I thought it would be, although it still surprises me that I've made such a turn-around. I think alot of it has to do with your mindset - how serious you are about doing it and how ready you feel physically and emotionally. Again, like an addict, I guess I'd hit bottom with my eating and health, therefore raw worked fairly easily for me.

[Raw Magwene]

I agree with RP and Yoda! Do or do not do, there is no try!

That being said, raw is such a personal journey for each of us (even though we have so much in common!).

For myself, raw has become a state of mind--when I went off for 3 1/2 months, it was so hard, I was so angry and hating myself for not being able to eat raw or even vegetarian. I even let all this bitterness inside me poison my relationship with my beautiful, wonderful boyfriend. Thank the stars that he's such a patient, loving guy!

Being raw for me means finally being at peace with my body and with food. 100% Raw for me just completely takes all the SAD poison off the table. It's no longer an option if I am thinking of myself as "raw", so I don't have to worry about "resisting the temptation."

I suppose it could be harder with a whole family, but maybe it would actually be easier to have such a beautiful support system; sounds like it's not just your idea, but that everyone is working toward the goal.

[fiddler]

Do your best, one day at a time.

Cheers,
Fiddler

[Raw Magwene]

Well said, fiddler.

I might also add that it was kind of too much for me to learn a brand new way of not cooking and stay raw all at once. I started playing around with different recipes just cause I was curious for 3 months before I went all raw. That way you've got a game plan when a craving hits or you're really busy or life just gets crazy.

You and your family will find your own path, and it will be the right path.

[fiddler]

Hey, welcome LadyAngora! I just saw that you're from Kentucky (me too)!!!!


Go Big Blue :-)
Gil

[LadyAngora]

heya, i just want to say thanks to everyone who's replied so far!

i do have the support of my husband, who is actually excited to be eating better... my 2 year old is another story!

i'm kind of a push-over when it comes to that, because honestly, i hate listening to him whine! i don't have cookies or other junk food in the house, but at my mom's there is. when he goes there, he opens up her pantry and points to stuff: 'chips!, ravioli!, cookie!' he sees them all and asks for them. if we say no, he gets really whiney...

i know i should just put my foot down and tell him no, but my mother and i have very different ideas about what's healthy, so it's harder to stick to my guns at her house, and he knows it.

i guess i just have to stop going over there over eating times... and just make it a policy not to eat at all down there. if he sees it, he wants it. so if my mom wants to eat some chips, he'll beg until he gets one too. (i can't believe i'm describing my own child! i used to read other parents' comments like this and roll my eyes! what goes around, comes around, i imagine!)

anyway, i'm not sure we can go 100% immediately, but i'm still leaning in that direction. we're mostly vegan by this point, so it's just removing cooked food, but that seems to be the hardest of all to let go of!

thanks for all your replies, and i'm curious to see what else people say!

oh, and thanks for the welcomes! fiddler, kentucky is beautiful, but not very healthy, is it?! lol!

[eatyourbroccoli]

id get my two youngins on 100% ASAP. poor little bodies having to handle cooked/processed :( ... for yourself and family, id try 100%, but realize sometimes it can be hard and 75% and transition is better than nothing!

good luck to all of you :)

[Sharon in Colorado]

LadyA, next time you bring your son to your mother's house, pack something REALLY good, like some lucious fruit or fruit leathers, or some raw bars (maybe lara bars) something he would love. Then tell your mom that he can eat anything you brought along for him.

Also about the whiney stuff, you gotta just take control with that. Let him know it's unacceptable and your last word stays. It'll take a little work but trust me you don't want to lose the upper hand with a 2 year old!

[paradise]

I voted for get your feet wet first.

I think you should go 100% only after a period of practicing the recipes. I have gone raw by jumping in and it was a bad experience, there are so many recipes out there, it is hard to find the beginner ones or know what will work for you. I also didn't have a raw beginners book (like Alissa's) if I did that might have made a difference.

I know David Mason says he transitioned over a year's time!

[Angelic Light]

I would go all vegan first, then maybe 50% raw/50% cooked vegan. Then up the raw until you are high raw. Then decide if you want to go 100%... take it in steps so that your body gets used to the changes...

[blueberryice]

In the beginning, I knew it was 'Best', but that didnt mean the 'Easiest'.

I was saying goodbye to all these foods, but my mind started to reprogram. I noticed they werent "foods" at all. It was just filler that clogged up my entire system.

On the 100% approach, it did get Easier... FASTER! Not being on the 100% walk, it was going to take forever with a lot of possible see-sawing in between.

[blaqberry]

I voted "100% raw from day one"

If it were my (ultimate) goal to be 100%, I'd just jump in completely...don't think I'd ever get there if I didn't any other way.

...speaking from experience :rolleyes:

[VeryBerry]

I transitioned to raw over a period of 2 years or so. I decided to go 100% 3 weeks ago. I basically had to give up bread, which was the hardest thing for me. Because I took my time transitioning, there are no disterbing detox symptoms and I feel at lot better overall.

I tried to go 100% raw before, but could not do it for more then a few days. I am guessing that my body was not ready. I belive that it is best to be gentle and progress at your own pace.

Once you will start incorporating more raw foods into your diet you will notice that you feel better after eating raw foods rather then cooked, so the desire for cooked foods will gradually and naturally go away.
This is how it happned for me. Get yourself and your family to fall in love with raw food first, and you will do it because you want to, not just because it is healthy.

Best of luck.