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livenraw
12-27-2006, 11:24 AM
For the past 14 months, I have struggled on and off with raw. I was doing so good, reached my optimum health and along the way, something happened. I cannot even tell you what happened. But I didn't just slip. I fell. I fell far. And I fell on a ton of bricks and stone. At the beginning of this past year, I was so committed to being raw with my food. But life happened and got the best of me and I left my committment somewhere in the shadows of the forest. But I keep on going back and forth - at one time, I was 85% raw. The next time, I was 50%. The next time, I was 90%. Then I was 25%. But something happened to convince me to push my level and renew my committment to raw.

About a month ago, while having my ds and his girlfriend over for dinner, he happened to take a picture of the dh and me. When I saw that picture, I gawked at what I saw! A chubby face, swollen eys, older looking skin, a blotchy face (I blame my makeup for this but still....) And then I compared that picture to the picture that was taken of my dh and I sixteen months prior when he officiated a wedding and I had been 100% raw with my food and had been drinking herbal teas for 28 days so that probably made me 90% raw. I looked healthy, happy, young, vibrant, had a good stature and had the body I had never dreamed of having! In all my years on this earth, I had NEVER had that body! And I had so much confidence, too! My family couldn't believe the difference in me. My mom didn't know what to say when she saw that picture. All she could say was 'wow' at my transformation.

I've struggled over 14 months now because I want to get back to that point and then I get depressed about it. So it seems like I say 'okay. I'll start tomorrow.' But tomorrow never comes. Coffee has come and gone in my life during that time, too. I love the smell of coffee but realize now that I don't have to drink it just because I love the smell of it. I enjoy the smell of grlled onions but that doesn't mean I have to eat them. I enjoy going out to breakfast on the weekends but I can enjoy a fruit salad there. It's not about the food anyway but about the interaction with the family. That's more important than what they put on the table.

And after that long of struggling, my dh and I were discussing this the other night, and I told him that I wanted to go back to being the vibrant, young person I was in that photo sixteen months ago. That's my goal picture now. That's how I want to go back to looking. And I told him that I had planned to start at the beginning of the year. He told me not to wait but to start now. That way, I'll be 3 weeks ahead of schedule. And I am already ahead of schedule with him buying me the necessary foods and being very supportive of me.

Tomorrow has finally come!

Sharon in Colorado
12-27-2006, 11:43 AM
That is incredible.

Can you post the photos here!? You'll inspire everyone!

tvillemom
12-27-2006, 11:51 AM
{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}} to you livenraw! I have been there! At this time last year, I was 100%, with the goal of staying raw for 1 year. Well, I made it to January 28th, 100%, then I began to slip! I felt sooo good then (before the slip). I asked myself soooo many times, "why did I do 'this' to myself?" Not staying raw has really hurt me. My ups and downs sound JUST LIKE YOURS!!
I hope you will join me (if you haven't already) in the New year challenge! I started over 100% on Dec. 1st. I have had a couple of slips this month...but all in all, I'd say 100%. Come with me, I'll be there to help you, we can help each other. :D
Wendi

IamLoved
12-27-2006, 01:38 PM
I know exactly how you feel. I lost 58 pounds on raw food, and was looking and feeling incredible. Then, like you, I fell hard and have been struggling to get myself back up. I gained back all of my weight and then some. I am so upset about it, but I have a choice. I can continue to be upset and eat cooked foods to comfort me, or I can go all raw, all the way and end the viscious cycle. I am tired of being fat, I'm tired of having no clothes that fit me and two full boxes of clothes that are too small, I'm tired of feeling ugly, of being in pain, of being ashamed of how I look. I am taking control of my life right here and right now. It starts today. Raw works, I know it works, and I love how I feel when I am raw.

You can do it, you are not alone!!

BGVDiva
12-27-2006, 02:33 PM
From what I understand as I read this board, your experience is not unlike that of many people on the raw food journey...it's just that...a journey.

I, too, am struggling and preparing to make another commitment in the next few days. I'm not really focusing on it being a "New Year's Resolution", it's just that I've gotten off track and I need to get back on track and that takes planning and preparation. When the planning and prep are done, I'm back on track, whether that's 12/28/06, 1/1/07 or whenever. It's the setbacks that open my eyes. Sometimes it highlights my attachment to a certain food or sometimes it highlights that I'm eating for a specific reason other than hunger. Whatever the reason for the setback, if you use it to learn and move on, it's all good.

You (and I) can do this! :D

Ariannah
12-27-2006, 04:29 PM
Livenraw and MissionaryMama

I can so much relate!
On Jan 6 2006, my DH and I got married. I had been 100% raw for about 7 or 8 months, and for the first time in my entire adulthood, I was wearing size 14 jeans and getting smaller. I had energy and life, and felt better than I can ever remember feeling.

I had the same struggles you described for getting "back on" ... until Dec 11 when something in me just snapped and it was like I couldn't desire cooked if I tried.

Raw is where I want to be, always. It's like coming home.

xeta
12-27-2006, 06:15 PM
I need to get back on Track too! You are so right about eating out! It's not about the FOOD! Well, it shouldn't be, but marketing and television stop us at evry turn. Every commercial is a pizza slice rising out of a bed of melting cheese.

The only way I see my Father is over lunch and his choices and tastes often put me in tempation's way.

I love him and, It's not about the Food.

Best wishes to you!

Xeta :)

Nenyath
12-28-2006, 03:30 AM
Go strong Livenraw! You can do this! Thank you for the inspiration!

Fly forever free..