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PeachyMama
12-20-2006, 06:04 AM
Hi everyone, I've been hanging around here for a while reading. This forum is so wonderfully supportive!

I'm 44 years old, and have two children. This past summer, I broke my ankle, and the difficulty of my recovery was a huge wake up call. I had let myself get horribly out of shape, had gained a ridiculous amount of weight, and was exhausted and cranky. It killed me to think how hard this all was on my children.

I've been raw for a week now, and I'm doing this going straight from SAD. I know in my head that this is the way to eat for me, I feel fantastic, have more energy already, and the mental clarity I'm already feeling is something I thought was lost forever to fibromyalgia fog!

I'll probably never bee 100% - I can't imagine ever not using tamari, or giving up my hot cup of tea. My plan is to approach this in a balanced way so that it can truly become a healthy lifestyle for me.

I'm used to doing without ... I was diagnosed with celiac disease 8 years ago. I am telling myself that, just as gluten could kill me, so could eating the way I used to. I'm hoping that concentrating on health rather than weight will be the key to long-term success for me. Can you tell that I've tried a bunch of different things before :o ?

Last night, I had a wonderful raw revelation! I had a craving for cooked meat (sorry to the vegans here!) and made myself a green smoothie instead. I was amazed when the craving was gone!!!! Any other time in my life that I have craved something, eating something else would not satisfy it. As a classic overeater, I have had the experience of not being able to stop eating something I was enjoying, even though I was uncomfortably full. I have had some yummy things this past week, and have amazed myself by enjoying them, and being able to know when I was full, stop, and feeling satisfied without being stuffed. This is all new territory for me, and the hope of finally overcoming my addiction to food has me feeling especially grateful for stumbling across this site.

Sorry for the novel! I promise I'm not always so long-winded :o

luckitri
12-20-2006, 09:13 PM
Welcome PeachyMama! I think that many of us have wondered if we don't have some degree of the celiac! I have noticed that wheat products give me many problems and I never would have known had I not tried raw! (and then had some slips) I also learned here that many times when I think I am hungry I am actually thirsty. Hope you enjoy raw!

PeachyMama
12-21-2006, 06:13 AM
Thanks for the welcome, luckitri! I think celiac is really underdiagnosed in this country. I'm Italian, and I know that they regularly test for it over there, and that it is pretty common. No worries about that on raw, though ... 'cept for some of the killer looking recipes in Alissa's book that use wheatberries!

BTW, I did want to clarify ... my hot tea is decaf herbal tea. I guess I'm a purist when it comes to defining things as 100%. I have been 100% - except for the tamari and the herbal tea. I see that lots of people still use things like that and enjoy great success eating raw. I hope the same holds true for me!

Nenyath
12-21-2006, 06:21 AM
Way to go PeachyMama! Welcome to the boards, I really hope you will enjoy it here! Don't worry too much about 100% or not, just be at peace with yourself..

Fly forever free..

RawPassion
12-21-2006, 08:23 AM
Welcome Peachy and best wishes on your journey :)

RowanC
12-21-2006, 09:02 AM
I have an intolerance for wheat, and I purchase spelt and use spelt in the wheat recipes? Although I think you may find that sprouted wheat will not hurt you like regular wheat does, you may try to get hold of some spelt berries.

I have a whole bagful here and these type of things are easy to find in Portland.

I should start a business supplying raw people!

PeachyMama
12-21-2006, 09:26 AM
Rowan, Thanks! I'd have to look into this a bit more, since any gluten at all will cause damage. I was told that celiac is an autoimmune reaction to gluten that destroys intestinal villi. I'd be really interested in finding someone else with celiac disease who has gone raw, and hearing about their experiences.

Funnily enough, when I was diagnosed, I was not eating wheat ... I had changed to spelt. So I'm pretty sure that has gluten as well.

spicyfull
12-22-2006, 12:38 PM
I wish you everything you need to Stay RAW.......Welcome to MY World........

mysticalend
12-27-2006, 06:35 AM
Quinoa is a also an excellent grain that is gluten free. It can be sprouted within a day or so.

Ian

PeachyMama
12-27-2006, 04:48 PM
Thank you for the warm welcome, everyone!

Mystical, I never could get used to the taste of quinoa. I've come to see, in the past few days, that I really prefer to eat light most of the time, so I'm probably not going to be looking into many of the sprouted grain recipes.

What I think might be a good idea, though ... because I know things can change at a moments notice, and it's good to be prepared ... is finding a source of raw buckwheat to have on hand in case I do want something more substantial at some point.

Right now, all I know is that eating heavier things begets eating more heavier things. Since I'm perfectly satisfied with lighter fare, it seems like avoiding the heavier things will be my game plan for the time being.

rawpriestess
01-05-2007, 01:27 AM
welcome to the board