new and confused!

[Janell314]

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Hello,

My name is Janell and I am 23 years old.

I just seen the Tyra Banks diet war show, and I am extremely curious about the raw diet. I have heard of it before, and tried to do some research but ultimately ...stayed confused LOL I was hoping that this discussion group could help fill me in.

I have been very sick for about 11 years now. I have had a horrible history of weight gain, and now i am morbidly obese. I have been going to the doctors for all of my problems and received no help. I have tried *almost* every diet program out there, including a liquid fast recommended by my dr of about 700-800 calories per day. No weight loss. I have so many ongoing health problems it would take too long to list here...I just got diagnosed with an underactive thyroid about two weeks ago and started medication. I just dont feel good and so far the medicine isnt helping.

I usually eat once a day, because i stay with an upset stomach and my current living situation is very stressful. I grew up in a family that doesnt take care of itself, and doesnt want to take the time to learn how to. Everyone is pretty much sick all the time.

I have no problem changing my diet to whatever, if it is very strict , that is fine..as long as the ingredients are somewhat cheap and easy to get to. For me this is a problem. I live in an extremely rural area, all we have is a wal mart. I live about an hour and 30 minutes away from a health food store, and it is very small also.

I really dont know where to start with this program, and currently I am living with my folks with no job (because of my health) so I am not allowed to purchase much at all. When I am given money to go grocery shopping, my parents want it to be as cheap as possible, and healthy foods just arent cheap enough.

I really want to learn more about the raw food diet, and hopefully find some recipes that i can try that would not be too expensive, time consuming or difficult for me. Right now i really do not have my patience with myself ..i just simply cant do much at all.

does anyone have any advice on a reasonable way i can get started? what the diet includes? how to even do the diet! what items would i need to purchase? and what are the best recipes ?

I really only have one shot to prove to my parents that this is an excellent eating plan and would improve everyone's health in my family, especially me. I live in the deep south, where everything consists of a TON of meat, and to make matters worse..it is usually fried...even when salads are offered..they are not healthy salads. I do not enjoy the food, it makes me feel bad. But by the time i eat (for example it is 6 pm my time, and i havent eaten anything today ) i am so hungry that i dont care, and resolve to feeling bad later. If i can show my parents that this diet is reasonable and my goals achievable on the diet, they will allow me money to purchase more products with cooking, or even books to help me understand better.

if anyone could help i would really appreciate it! thanks!

[Sharon in Colorado]

Welcome Janell,

You are totally in the right place. This is where you are meant to be.

First it would be a great idea to invest in Alissa's book and DVD. It will teach you so much about the raw food diet.

While you are awaiting your book, cruise around this site to get an idea of what people eat.

There are many ways to eat raw...the simplest and most effective is of course fresh fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds...you can get into all kinds of recipes as well, but the sicker you are and the faster you want to detox, eat the most water rich foods, like fruits, lettuces, cucumbers, etc.

There have been many people with thyroid problems who healed themselves by using raw foods. And there are tons of people who have lost an enormous amount of weight on raw. The beauty of raw is that it helps your body to regulate all of it's functions naturally, without pills, potions or powders.

Try googling "raw foods and X" to find many sites and information on your particular health challenges. They are all over the web.

P.S. I quickly skimmed through your post and missed the part about your lack of funds and parent's scrutiny. The best thing you can do is simple - fruits, vegetables nuts and seeds. Start on that, and then you can try recipes, because there are a lot of recipes that can really break your pocket book. Organic is good if you can find it. There is one other person on here I remember from Alabama named Autumn, you may want to try to do a search on her and see if her e-mail is available, who knows you may live close.

[klomasius]

Hi Janell,

firstly, congratulations on being so proactive in finding information about getting healthier!

I can understand that it must be quite hard, given your current health situation, lack of financial freedom and the lack of variety in stores where you live. Add to that your family's current diet and skepticism, you've done SO WELL!

Eating raw can be a bit daunting at first, but my experience is that it gets way easier as time goes by.

And you don't have to have fancy food or fancy equipment to start with. I started with the fresh fruit and vegetables I had available at my local supermarket, and a very questionable blender someone had given to me for free.

With that I made sauces (remember Alissa's easy tomato sauce from the Tyra show? that can be made in a blender), soups, smoothies and milkshakes and even ice creams.

Just start with the fresh fruit and veg available and you can make simple blended sauces etc. using as extra flavours things like fresh and dried herbs and spices, sea salt, ground pepper etc.

If you use the search button up top (the banana) to search for recipes, you'll find and amazing amount of recipes here! And there are even picture threads to show you how beautiful and delicious looking raw foods can be.

There are many books about the raw diet, and if you can spare the money for one, I'd suggest Alissa's Living on Live Food, (check it out on Amazon) which has a lot of information designed to help people with the basics and general questions.

Otherwise, if you need to convince your parents first that this really IS going to help you, not with just the weight loss, but also the many health problems you have, stick around and chec out this forum, which i've found to be one of the most helpful with regard to food preparation and general questions.

I have also compliled quite a collection of raw recipes from the net and friends that I'd be willing to email you. I also have many of my own you are most welcome to. Just let me know and I will send them to you.

YOU CAN DO IT!

I have had an amazing transformation on raw, mainly to do with energy, levels, some weight loss (I'm of average weight), mental alertness and reduced need for sleep. Along with other things such as my now fantastically smooth skin!

But this is NOTHING compared to the transformations of some people on this forum, who have gone from chronic illness to leading healthy vibrant lives and having long term illnesses disappear.

Pleas don't get discouraged, you CAN make huge changes, you just need the support. And there are many online forums includig this one in which you can get this support, often from people in similar situations.

GOOD LUCK!

:) :)

[FirstGarden]

Ditto Sharon!
Ditto klomasius!
Janell, welcome! You'll want to go back a ways and read the many threads on this website. So much of it touches the things you mentioned. Read as much as you can. Reading everyone's posts helps me tremendously... to stay motivated, and lots of folks here are a wealth of knowledge!

What you look at, you move towards. :-)

Fortunately, there is an ocean of info available to help you along.

You said you're in a rural area. By chance are there any farms?

All the best to you, and welcome to a new lifestyle full of hope & happiness.

BTW, I would especially encourage you to read testimonies of others who have gone before you, fought similar battles, and won! It can be incredibly inspiring. You will be surprised to learn how much the raw lifestyle can address and heal diseases - from within! You will feel immensely better. Your doctors will shake their heads with amazement.

Hey, most of us aren't rolling in the dough. I'm not, anyway. But what is health worth?

If you feel you can't afford the investment of quality foods, ask yourself, "Can I afford NOT to?"

And remember, for every sack of typical groceries that's killin' people (steaks, chicken, pork, cheese, eggs, cereals, etc, ad infinitum ad nauseum)... for the cost of *each* sack of that stuff, you can walk away with *several* bags of produce!

Raw nuts/seeds & such cost more, but you're still coming out way ahead of the average grocery bill. Plus, with the denser nutrient value, we tend not to eat as much because the body isn't malnourished and sending out "feed me" signals. :-)

[rawwannabe]

There is a lot of information right on this site (thankfully). While I too recommend Alissa's book & DVD, I understand that for someone for whom cash is tight, it's a bit of an investment. I recommend saving for the book, and just skimming the various threads for info.

Good luck!

[BrianC]

Can you be more specific about your diet and stomach problems?

While many try to lose weight by decreasing food intake, it is more important to have an active metabolism, and that means eating all day long. Have a large breakfast, eat lunch, dinner, and several intermediate meals during the day.

That being said, if your family gives you too much of a problem with the raw diet (it can be hard), try to avoid fast food and most packaged foods. Particular ingredients to watch for are: hydrogenated oils, any and all preservatives, artificial flavors, natural flavors, artificial colors, and above all, anything that sounds like you wouldn't include it in a homemade recipe. These items are used solely for financial gain, and contribute greatly to the health crisis in this country, despite the attention the medical community gives to other factors.

By switching to 90% organic food and avoiding unnatural ingredients, I went from 192 pounds to 172 pounds since September. I am a 6'0" male.

I also recommend you download iTunes and listen to Raw Vegan Radio and Holistic Health with Rayna G. These can be found under the Alternative health section of Podcasts. There is tons of free info on the web, save your money for now.

Above all, stick with it. Your health problems are probably at least 90% dietary in cause. Think about this when you decide what to eat. Good luck, stay in touch.

[JEN]

Hi Jannell
Youve gotten great advice so far!! I totally understand about living in a rural area. I find very little organic here and my local healthfood store is very small but somehow I manage. Just start with the level of raw that is right for you and try to avoid packaged and processed food. Bananas are cheap and very filling just make sure they are ripe. If you freeze them they make great smoothies. Add in some baby spinach and water and you have a green smoothie. Apples are reasonable and filling as well. I too suggest getting Alissa's book as it makes getting started much easier. It would be great if you could do the 30 day challenge and journal what youre eating and watch your progress. Its great for motivation and showing your family how youre doing. It can be a little overwhelming at first but just keep reading in this forum and it will get easier. Use the banana up top of the screen to search for info and answers to questions. I also suggest a few minutes of quiet time just closing your eyes and relaxing whenever you get stressed out. Try not to think about anything at all and just breathe and relax. Stress is a major factor in bad health. Good luck and enjoy the journey!!

[trinity082482]

Welcome Janell! Feel free to check out my journal and follow along with me. I miss up sometimes but I am learning!

[Janell314]

hello everyone...

thank you for all of your great advice...i am actually going to talk to my dad about buying the pook..my sales pitch : even if this diet doesnt work, at least we will have great recipes to include more vegetables and fruits in our diets...i think it will work on him :) he has a really bad sick stomach too...so if it works on me...they will want to join in.

I am going to try to look at the banana for recipes lol,
we really dont have farms around here...dad said it use to be big in the south...but really all i see anymore is cotton..i am an hour and a half from mobile.

klomasius, how do i give you my email address for the recipes? do i just post it on here? or ...

i am sorry. with my new health problems on top of the old, like i said i have no patience for myself. I mainly sit around and play with my animals because i cant handle any stress ..especially learning something new. Brian i did get an ipod for xmas, i jsut now put songs on it..and that took me 4 hrs! i almost threw the thing out lol (again, no patience with new stuff) i live a really stressful life with really stressful people, i havent been able to let my body heal or have any time to just "calm down" ...my brother who was paralyzed 4 years ago, is coming back home in two weeks..and im going to be alone taking care of him..and i am scared. which is another reason i need to get healthy asap...at this point i cant take care of myself...hwo can i take care of my older brother???? my parents have moved to NC, we are probably going to join them in a few months. What are podcasts? LOL

I really dont know what to say as far as more detail with my diet and stomach problems...most drs get annoyed and dont understand and tell me to just lose weight....I usually eat sandwiches...and use to cereal and milk, but i think im h aving reactions to milk..so is my father..so ive stayed away....i love avocados and fruit...no problem there..or walnuts..i am very selected on vegetables..and i dont know about eating them raw...i seen somewhere that on the raw diet you are allowed to eat things cooked at a 116 degree temperature? is that true? also dehydrating foods ?

i usually eat once a day, usually late ....by the time i eat now..i just freak out and have to have something..i am fine all day..a little shaky because i am taking medicine to make me more sensitive to insulin. ..i am insulin resistant and dr's say that is making me crave cookies and brownies lol..which i NEVER did in the past...i dont drink sodas...i drink decaf tea (it does have some sugar in it though---i am in the SOUTH lol) and lots of water...i love water...and some fruit juice every now and then...i had pancreatitis in 2005 ..and i just stay sick to my stomach..i feel like im going to throw up in the middle of the day if i eat..and i always feel like im going to throw up at night..i dont sleep..i stay in stage 1 and 2 sleep...i was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea...i dont really have a breathing obtrusion that bad (they think its just my thyroid) but for some reason i still stay in stage 1 or 2 sleep..so i am tired all the time..i forget things..and i get confused a lot...i stay dizzy and weak minded all day long..and this is really stressing me out....i graduated 2 in my high school class....when i was 18..now im 23 im struggling in school..i cant remember simple things..im just not as sharp as i use to be...also something that is really stressing me out is the amount of pain i am in every single minute of every single day. When i was 15 to lose the weight i ran 3 miles a day and then had 2 hrs of basketball practice...i did this before and after basketball season...completely destroyed my knees because all of my weight is 'central' in my stomach and back ...hardly none on the legs or arms. i also damaged my neck somehow..and i have had chronic non-stop neck pain ..and it is getting worse..last night i wanted to go to the hospital and tell them to put me out of my misery..i usually cant sleep because the pain is so bad...i have been to physical therapy ...nothing helps...i am hoping that a diet full of nutrients will help my joints ..and ultimately loose most of the weight so everything will feel better...

i really appreciate the support from the group i have recieved so far....:)

[Janell314]

thank you! i really appreciate that!

where do you get raw honey? the pu dding looks delicious! p.s what is raw honey? LOL

[klomasius]

Hi Janell,

just click on the member's list up top and search for me (under k).

[DavidZaneMason]

Opinion:

-All you can do is maximize your health regime. You have no control over anything else. Identifying the fruits and vegetables that you LOVE and incorporating higher percentages of them into your diet for a LIFETIME will certainly improve your health (in my opinion). As a new person, my advice is usually to never even MENTION the word 'raw' or 'diet' with friends and family at first. If a loved one is truly curious, then say you are working on 'getting more fruits and vegetables into your diet' - which is true.....and forestalls a lot of the inquiry and/or criticism that you might otherwise get. Let success and happiness speak for itself.

-You'll get lots of great support and wisdom from the great folks on this board (including myself) - so share your experiences and have a joyful time of it.

-It sounds like you are making some very intelligent choices!

-David Z. Mason

[nightingale]

Hi there, this is my very first post!

I also saw the show today (yesterday) on the Tyra show - which I rarely watch, but did today because the topic sounded so interesting. After hearing about how wonderful the going raw diet sounded, and how GREAT Alissa is, all I wanted to do was research, research RESEARCH!! That's how I found this site!!

I do not particularly need to lose a lot of weight, although 15 to 20 pounds would be a HUGE plus, but the medically beneficial differences are what really stood out for me.

I've suffered with migraine headaches more most of my adult life, and have tried every known medication that their is. I am currently taking 2 very strong preventative meds every day, but I have nothing that I can take when I actually get a migraine, as I have tried them ALL and they only work for a few times then no longer work for me. I also have an underactive thyroid but have been treated very well with medication for that.

My other HUGE reason for wanting to try this is for my skin. I have always have very good skin, until about 3 years ago, I developed a very strange rash on the lower part of my left leg. I have been to several Dr's and Dermatologists about it, perscribed about 6 kinds of meds for it, and nothing is making this go away. It's very painful and itchy, not to mention that it looks terribly and I can't wear shorts or skirts because of it.

Anyway I am blathering but I am going to get Alissa's book, and I get wait to get this show on the road!!!!!!

[FirstGarden]

Janell, it would be wise to look into fasting as an option - not necessarily water fasting, but juice fasting, with a doctor's consent due to your medical complications. There is an extraordinarily rich case history of people being healed from all sorts of maladies due to fasting. Nature, when left alone, has a marvelous way of healing itself, putting things back right, restoring chemical balances and bringing about wonderful rejuvenation. An enormous amount of energy goes into digestion. That's one good reason to avoid mixing concentrates like the milk & cereal you mentioned. (Combining a concentrate with a high-water-content food is far more efficient).

Many diseases are reversible if they haven't progressed too far. And some diseases turn out to be something else altogether - not what was originally diagnosed. Better to look toward natural therapy for answers to health and nutrition. In recent history, modern science has discovered what nutritionists have been saying for centuries. For instance, that brocolli contains cancer-inhibiting agents. As Hypocrites said, "Thy food shall be thy medicine." :-)

[Amberly]

Hi Janell!!! Would you mind e-mailing me? I tried to pm you, but it wouldn't let me. :(

I am so glad you found the sight!!!

amberlya_2000@yahoo.com

[janicejourney]

Hi Janell:

What really stood out for me was that you only eat one time per day. This is most likely a large part of your weight gaining problem. When you begin to eat raw you will want to eat several times per day to boost your metabolism back up to normal. No doubt it is in starvation mode and when you have that one meal it grabs every single thing it can from your food a stores it against starvation. I doubt the "fasting" solution is a good one for you until you are more healthy and metabolism is normal again. Please do a search on "green smoothies." If you don't love veggies you can get your greens through blending them up with tastey fruits and that way you will be getting those in your body for high nutrients. Good luck and read, read, read these posts. You will learn a lot :)

[JGex]

Janell, it would be wise to look into fasting as an option - not necessarily water fasting, but juice fasting, with a doctor's consent due to your medical complications. There is an extraordinarily rich case history of people being healed from all sorts of maladies due to fasting. Nature, when left alone, has a marvelous way of healing itself, putting things back right, restoring chemical balances and bringing about wonderful rejuvenation. An enormous amount of energy goes into digestion. That's one good reason to avoid mixing concentrates like the milk & cereal you mentioned. (Combining a concentrate with a high-water-content food is far more efficient).

Many diseases are reversible if they haven't progressed too far. And some diseases turn out to be something else altogether - not what was originally diagnosed. Better to look toward natural therapy for answers to health and nutrition. In recent history, modern science has discovered what nutritionists have been saying for centuries. For instance, that brocolli contains cancer-inhibiting agents. As Hypocrites said, "Thy food shall be thy medicine." :-)

Fasting is not a great idea for a diabetic who is isulin resistant.

[JGex]

Hi Janell:

What really stood out for me was that you only eat one time per day. This is most likely a large part of your weight gaining problem. When you begin to eat raw you will want to eat several times per day to boost your metabolism back up to normal. No doubt it is in starvation mode and when you have that one meal it grabs every single thing it can from your food a stores it against starvation. I doubt the "fasting" solution is a good one for you until you are more healthy and metabolism is normal again. Please do a search on "green smoothies." If you don't love veggies you can get your greens through blending them up with tastey fruits and that way you will be getting those in your body for high nutrients. Good luck and read, read, read these posts. You will learn a lot :)


I thought the same thing, Janice.

Janell, South or no South dump the sugar from your diet. Also all dairy and all processed flour products. Anything fried needs to go, too. Fats like butter, and most oils need to go. Eat 3 times a day even if 2 of the meals are just fruit. If there is any way to do so, exercise is really important. If you eat at a salad bar, stay far away from the macaroni and potato salads. Don't bathe your salads in dressing. I watched a guy put 6 scoops off ranch on one a couple of weeks ago and almost gagged!!

Most of this stuff is common sense, but Google raw foods like Sharon suggested and READ, READ, READ. Educate yourself on your particular health issues and read up on what has worked for others.

I am from the New Orleans/South Mississippi area, so I am very familiar with the dietary odds you are facing. There isn't a vegetable grown that I can't show you how to deep fry. It takes a little while, but you can absolutely adjust to unsweet tea. I haven't had a sweet tea in over 10 yrs.

I'm also woefully familiar with the rural healthcare system in the South - or the lack thereof. Don't expect a lot from your rural Dr., I've met very few I'd let do more than take my temp.

Main thing is to set your mind to it. You CAN make a change in your life!!!

Cheers,
Judy

[portiz]

Actually, before I learned of RAW, I was reading how companies here in the US have us "programmed" to buy low-fat, low-calorie, fat-free, diet, etc...it was extremely difficult for me to not walk into a store and find "regular" anything.
I started out by doing three things:
1. I stopped buying anything that said fat-free, low-cal, low-fat, or diet..
2. I stopped using anything that is artificially sweetened and used regular sugar.
3. I substituted kosher or sea salt for regular table salt.

If you are used to drinking a diet coke...at least go with the regular coke becuase it is not artificially sweetened.
When I was able to do these, I went on to the next step...added more vegetables...drank more water...then I learned about RAW...
and here I am.

[FirstGarden]

Fasting is not a great idea for a diabetic who is isulin resistant.

Actually, there are many in the muslim faith who have this condition and fast during Ramadan, but under medical supervision. (I myself am not muslim). However, it was premature for me to recommend Janell consider fasting of any kind, at this point of time. And for that, I apologize.

[JGex]

Actually, there are many in the muslim faith who have this condition and fast during Ramadan, but under medical supervision. (I myself am not muslim). However, it was premature for me to recommend Janell consider fasting of any kind, at this point of time. And for that, I apologize.

No need to apologize, FG. I totally agree that under a doctor's supervision a fast might be something for Janell to look at down the road. If Janell is alone taking care of a paralyzed brother, it might not be the best timing.

I'm working with my diabetic mother on changing her diet. There are a LOT of variables.

[vgloveforlife]

Welcome Janell,

If you can't afford Alissa's book just keep coming to this site and search the banana at the top. There is tons of free info here including recipies.

Raw foods can get expensive but they don't have to be. Buy whole foods, they seem to be cheaper. For example instead of flax oil buy flax seeds etc.

Do you have a farmers market in the area? It would be worth it to check and see because food can be so cheap there. Also there might be a discount grocery store in the area that you don't know about. There is one near me but it's in a real discreet spot-a lot of people don't even know about it. I can get cheap organic fruits, veggies and bulk foods there.

You will lose weight on this diet/lifestyle so keep with it, you won't regret it!

[Janell314]

wow, I cant believe how nice everyone is ...i really wasnt expecting more than one response :) *tear tear*

i am really excited about the research....i want to really understand what im doing before i completely start...but i still plan on trying some recipes and of course adding tons of veggies and fruit to my horrible diet.

I am also a little concerned because originally i was told by financial aid at my school that i wouldnt be allowed to attend school this semester, but my dad is talking to a gentleman at the school and trying to get me back in the program. This would mean that i would be driving an hour and half 3 times a week to mobile...it would be difficult for me to say the least, especially with my brother to take care...and my health problems making learning/school hard on me..like i said before. But at least i would be able to get some products at the health food stores there...

I know everyone here is full of wonderful advice ....i plan on taking a cooler with me and filling it up with veggies and fruit ....but i am confused :(
how many times should i eat a day? how often? I am use to the one meal a day thing, and it is quite a large meal because im usually starving....so if i sit down and eat at a time im not use to ..its like my body is in this weird mode that i cant shut off and it wants more food. also, my dr told me to always eat a small portion of protien with whatever i eat. So does this mean i should have a handful of nuts with each meal?

also, i am really interested in the fasting. I am not technically a 'diabetic' ..the dr told me i was on my way to becoming one and so i had to start taking metformin for my insulin resistance...but it wasnt yet bad enough to be considered a diabetic. my dad is a diabetic though, so i do my best to stay away from sugar. I dont drink diet cokes, i think the artificial sugar is disgusting..it always gives me a headache.

[RowanC]

I eat all day long...

[FirstGarden]

wow, I cant believe how nice everyone is ...i really wasnt expecting more than one response :) *tear tear*

Janell, this just happens to be an exceptional website with lots of big hearts in it. There are a few other vegan/raw sites out there. Trust me, I've looked. This is the best one by far.

:-{) - a smile with a mustache

[RawNut]

Actually, there are many in the muslim faith who have this condition and fast during Ramadan, but under medical supervision. (I myself am not muslim). However, it was premature for me to recommend Janell consider fasting of any kind, at this point of time. And for that, I apologize.

The Muslim fast is only from dawn to dusk each day. Just thought I'd throw that in there. :)

Good luck Jannell, you have found some pretty spectacular people!

Craig

[klomasius]

Janell,

there are various schools of though on how often/how much you should eat throughout the day. But it's definitely more than once.

Smaller meals throughout the day mean that your body has a chance to a) recover from sleep b) properly utilise the nutrients in the food c) have the energy to deal with the day.

The meal breakfast is just that, breaking a fast. Many studies have shown a balanced meal in the morning helps with attention span, concentration levels and the ability to intake/learn what is being taught.

Perhaps the difficulty you have concentrating at school has something to do with the fact that you aren't eating anything in the morning? You may need to get your body into the swing of multiple meals a day after having just one for so long.

I'd suggest a quick snack of fruit in the morning, citrus is supposedly very good to get yoyur digestion going, and perhaps some bananas, an apple etc.

The cooler in the car thing is a great idea, smart thinking! That way you can snack whenever you get the time to. Don't be afraid to eat 'too much' fruit or veg. At this stage, the quality of the food rather than the quantitiy is what is probably best to concentrate on, so heaps of fruit is better than heaps of meat or fried foods.

You're getting there!

[RowanC]

I'm sorry, but I have to respectfully disagree with a person who is just starting this regime going on a fast. It's going to be difficult enough just to change your eating habits to raw fruits and vegetables....

Give your body, mind, and spirit a chance to adjust to THAT huge change.. and then once you've seen the benefits, (and unfortunately felt the cleansing) THEN you can start doing cleansing fasts, etc.

Don't try to do too much at once or you'll be so sick from detoxing that you'll give up.....

That's my advice and I'm stickin' to it! :p

[JGex]

wow, I cant believe how nice everyone is ...i really wasnt expecting more than one response :) *tear tear*

i am really excited about the research....i want to really understand what im doing before i completely start...but i still plan on trying some recipes and of course adding tons of veggies and fruit to my horrible diet.

Learn as you go, girl! And don't be intimidated by the vast amount of info... it DOES all make sense after awhile.


I am also a little concerned because originally i was told by financial aid at my school that i wouldnt be allowed to attend school this semester, but my dad is talking to a gentleman at the school and trying to get me back in the program. This would mean that i would be driving an hour and half 3 times a week to mobile...it would be difficult for me to say the least, especially with my brother to take care...and my health problems making learning/school hard on me..like i said before. But at least i would be able to get some products at the health food stores there...

I know where Grove Hill is... and I was wondering if there was any way for you to get into Mobile occasionally. I really hope that works out for you!!


I know everyone here is full of wonderful advice ....i plan on taking a cooler with me and filling it up with veggies and fruit

Fabulous!!!


....but i am confused :(
how many times should i eat a day? how often? I am use to the one meal a day thing, and it is quite a large meal because im usually starving....so if i sit down and eat at a time im not use to ..its like my body is in this weird mode that i cant shut off and it wants more food. also, my dr told me to always eat a small portion of protien with whatever i eat. So does this mean i should have a handful of nuts with each meal?

If you're eating all raw food, you can eat just about all day and still benefit your health & lose weight.


also, i am really interested in the fasting. I am not technically a 'diabetic' ..the dr told me i was on my way to becoming one and so i had to start taking metformin for my insulin resistance...but it wasnt yet bad enough to be considered a diabetic. my dad is a diabetic though, so i do my best to stay away from sugar. I dont drink diet cokes, i think the artificial sugar is disgusting..it always gives me a headache.

My turn to apologize. I assumed (we know what that means!) you were diabetic from your post. If you are pre-diabetic then this is a great time to take control of your health! I am here in part to prevent following in my mother & grandfather's diabetic footsteps.

Good on ya for the no sugar.... that is a HUGE step. How about baked goods? Do you eat a lot of processed bread?

Keep thinking positive thoughts, Janell. You can do this. ;)

[Janell314]

yeah, i guess i do eat a lot of bread...i usually eat sandwiches..that is what is most simple for me. But i have really cut back a lot, other than sandwiches ..i dont eat rolls or cornbread (as you know from living in the south, is a MUST with every dinner) i stay away from that. Probably once a week or maybe every two weeks i have some pasta. really i think my biggest problem is eating once a day, and having no idea what i need to eat. I am going to talk to my dad in the morning, and if he gives the ok i will be going to mobile to see if maybe the school's library has some books or just read a little in the health food stores. I Dont know what to start out buying...besides fruit and vegetables. I know i will be okay during the day with the fruit and vegetables, but at night at the end of the day, i am so use to having that one large big comforting meal, even though it makes me really sick. thats what im use to and i dont know how to get rid of that..i have been doing that since my mom had her car accident when i was about 5 ....at that time my nutrition kinda went to my sister and brother...and they were starving themselves to lose weight. i am really honest when i say i dont know how to take care of myself. I tried, and every thing i did just blew up in my face and caused more health problems. I am so scared to try something new...but i at least have the confidence that regardless, a diet with more fruit and vegetables is good for me. I had one dr who made me go on this extreme version of the no carb thing (back before it was popular) ...i wasnt allowed to have fruit....he told me if i had one piece of fruit, i would have to start the diet over...i ended up having a nightmare that i cheated..was it with a big bowl of ice cream or pizza? no it was with kiwi and strawberries!!!! i did that program for 8 weeks, it was so much meat i got sick...and i had extreme lower back pain....i felt horrible..so i stopped. That was a long time ago, and the only other "real" diet i have tried since then was the liquid diet...and it wasnt that hard for me because again, i go all day without eating ...so the pain was felt at night.

I know i said i wanted to lose weight, and that is a must eventually, but right now..i just want to feel better...even a little relief from pain would be great.

ARe there any side effects to the diet at first? i heard a lot of people saying "detox" ?

[Janell314]

oh i also forgot to mention that i do have a very nice juicer...so i could easily juice something up in the morning and put it in my cooler for the next day at school.....i am just having a difficult time finding recipes right now

but thanks again to everyone, for the great advice and help :)

[JEN]

Hey Jannell
Thats great that you have a juicer!! I love my fresh juices. Do you have any other kitchen equipment such as a food processor or blender?? Until you get a good raw food book or do some more research you might just start by eliminating packaged and processed foods. Since you eat sandwiches you might start with some sprouted ezekial breads from the healthfood store (not raw but much better than regular breads) Try making veggie sandwiches of marinated mushrooms, avocado, tomato, onion and sprouts. Salads are another great option. Use romaine lettuce, kale, baby spinach, grated carrots, tomatoes, avocado, cucumbers or anything you might like. There are some great salad dressing recipes in this forum. If you have a food processor you can experiment with a lot more recipes and there are some that you can make using no equipment. You said that you usually only eat one meal but its really large. Have you tried eating more smaller meals to see if that would help you to eat less at your one large meal?? Please feel free to email me if like. Im not too far away from Mobile over in Biloxi MS. Good Luck and let me know if I can help.

[finallyfree]

Janell,

I am fairly new and not 100% raw yet, but am working towards being 100% raw. I don't post here very often (because I am new and do not feel I have much to contribute), but your posts compelled me to speak up. It is a wonderful way of life, but can be quite expensive if you let it.

I applaud you on trying to find something that works for you and NOT giving up for anything or anyone. I love the determined, fighter attitude - that is really what is going to help you succeed. While it sounds like there are many other things going on for you I just want to say this: When you change one aspect of your life -everything else seems to change (or at least the way we are affected by things change). I have found myself, that I have tried to change many areas of my life, but the biggest area holding me back is my food - I feel crappy because of what I eat, and when a person feels bad, it is hard to change or accomplish things in other areas of your life.

I wholeheartedly concur with what some of the others are saying here – eat when you are hungry, eat as much as you need to, eat what you love (that is raw of course). I suspect that much of your limited eating is in part due to wanting to lose weight and in part due to the way you feel after you eat. Rest assured that eating lots of nutritious food like raw food will make you feel so much better and whether you gain or lose initially, in the long run you will lose weight (weight loss is a side-effect of getting healthy).

That said, what I want to do for you is give you some real basic things you can eat that might help you to get through the first week.

Before I get to the "nitty-gritty" I just want to say that you may not be able at the moment to afford "organic" produce (I myself cannot), but I live on the principle of "better than" - in other words, eating non-organic produce is still MUCH better than eating processed foods like chips and pizza.

There is only one “machine” that I suggest you really try to get your hands on, whether you buy it second-hand or borrow one – a good blender (doesn’t have to be expensive to be good)…please let us know if you already have one.

Groceries:

Less Expensive
Any fruit you like (one for sure is lots of ripe bananas - cut or break these into thirds and freeze them in baggies.
Any veggies (especially leafy greens)
One or two packages of cheese cloth (usually found in the cleaning supply section)

At this point, because of your budget and if you are not allergic and you like them, I suggest the one "food" item you splurge on is a large bag of raw almonds (which they may sell at Wal-Mart),

First, keep in mind that any and all the foods above you can eat as is if you desire - just peel and eat (or just wash and eat).

A note about sweeteners: some of the recipe ideas below are nicer with some sweetener – but most of the sweeteners on the market are bad news (refined white sugar, artificial sweeteners…) and the nice raw ones are quite pricey…so my suggestion is…HONEY. While the honey you buy in the store is not raw, you will only be using a small amount most of the time and this will help you to get through on a tight budget as its one of the more inexpensive sweeteners.

With the above ingredients however you can also make:

Green Smoothies:

Take a few leaves of greens (lettuce, kale, spinach...) and mix in a blender (if you have one) with some water (or juice from your juicer), then mix in any kind of fruit you want until it is sweet enough for you to enjoy...to make this cold - add frozen bananas or ice. Conversely, if you do not have a blender, you can juice the greens and then just mash the ripe fruit in bowl and mix it all together (you can juice the fruits too, but I find for myself that juice just makes me more hungry and right now you want to feel satisfied and full!!!)

Almond milk:

Soak 1 cup almonds in a bowl for 1 hour, then blend in a blender with 2-3 cups water (this depends on how thick you want it – start with two, taste and add more if necessary). Then using the cheesecloth or a small strainer, strain out the pulp (you can keep the pulp in, but by straining it, you have a nice, smooth milk – remember this lifestyle is about loving and enjoying food). Don’t worry about “wasting” the almond pulp, just put it into a freezer bag (double wrapped if possible) and put in the freezer…at some point, after reading through some of the recipes on this site, you will find a use for this. Once your milk is strained, add a pinch of salt and sweeten to taste with honey (use less if you are putting it in a smoothie or on fruit granola and more if you are drinking it straight).

Apple “granola”:

Use a basic cheese grater and grate your apples (or chop them small if you prefer), then add a handful of almonds (break these up by putting them into a baggie wrapped in a tea towel and hit with a meat mallet or a hammer)…and any other fruit you want. Make a big batch and this can last you for the week (you could pour almond milk over this if you like)

Other smoothies (only limited to your imagination):

-frozen bananas, almond milk, flavorings (like vanilla if you have it), an orange.
- Apple juice (from your juicer), an orange, a banana and ¼ of an avocado
- Grapefruit, vanilla and an orange

Cut up veggies (carrots, celery, cauliflower, broccoli etc…), with the following dip:

- blend an avocado or two with some lemon juice, salt, garlic powder, cayenne (if you like it) – and if you like guacamole, blend in some tomato.

These are just a few small ideas…I am sure others will be able to provide you with some more “specific” ideas…

All the best to you…you CAN do this!!! :)

Finallyfree

[portiz]

WOW. even I got some use out of the last post--there are some things in there that answered a couple of questions i had but never bothered to ask (liek what to do with the almond "mush" after i make almond milk).
The funny thing about all this is it comes naturally to you once you start doing this: get up earlier to juice or make a smoothie, eat a salad with every meal (even if you still eat regular SAD), snack throughout the day (i love guacamole and sprouts in romaine lettuce!).
And your body starts craving this stuff!!

[janicejourney]

One more answer for you that wasn't talked about yet. You asked about protein and should you eat nuts with every meal. No need to worry at all about protein. You will get enough. Nuts, seeds , fruits , and veggies have more than enough protein. What you will want to do though is focus on getting plenty of greens though. Please do a search about protein on this site and you will see that your doctor's warnings do not apply with a raw food diet.

[Janell314]

oh those sound great, I do have a food processor, and my blender is in storage but my dad could get it for me when he comes home! we go to biloxi all the time :) well my parents do.....ezekial breads..i have had those before..but they arent raw? and what are sprouts?

[Janell314]

finallyfree

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! that will help me so much! i do have a blender, i just have to wait for my dad to get it out of storage for me.....but i can always borrow my sister's ...(my mom's broke ...not my fault *blush*) i am really excited...i love bananas..and avocados...though i have to be careful because avocados are really full of fat right? i have some almonds, not many..they really dont sell them in large bags here....i love wal nuts too ..those are okay?

Can you please or someone please tell me...what is raw honey? how do i find it..how do i know if it is raw? and why is ezekial bread not raw?

thank you again! i really appreciate the time it took to make your post, especially since you do not post often!

I was really sad today, because i am not going to be able to finish school afterall. Just two more semesters and i could have finally graduated..i was already behind because o fmy brother's accident...but the school said i was not a good investment because of my health problems...and so i couldnt get loan money...my dad could pay for it..but i wouldnt let him....the school is terrible and i dont like it...now i am going to have to start mostly over if not all the way over in NC when my parents sell the house...which is okay i am hopeful...maybe this will be a new start for me...and it will give me more time to really invest in t his program...

one more question..(i will try not to annoy everyone so much with all my questions in the future lol ) how long does it take to go 100% raw..and do you still see benefits if you never can fully go 100% raw?

[JGex]

oh those sound great, I do have a food processor, and my blender is in storage but my dad could get it for me when he comes home! we go to biloxi all the time :) well my parents do.....ezekial breads..i have had those before..but they arent raw? and what are sprouts?

Heh, Biloxi is part of my old stompin' grounds.....

Ezekial breads are not raw, but they are def a better alternative than any other type bread. Anything with processed enriched flour should be avoided.

Sprouts are seeds soaked and kept damp until they grow into tiny plant starts... most often used on salads, but you can un-cook with them lots of ways.



:D

[finallyfree]

Please don't think you are annoying anyone...this post is here for the reason of helping you to "get raw" and everyone here is more than willing to help you out (nice to know we are appreciated for this though).

As for raw honey - it is non-heated or non-pastuerized honey - BUT, it can be rather expensive - so if you are on a tight budget, its okay to go with regular honey for now...you can always make the switch later.

As for how long it takes to go 100% raw - well, I have a confession to make - even though I may have a lot of knowledge about this lifestyle...I am barely raw at all right now - but am working my way towards this. I have researched this lifestyle and been lurking in the "raw food" cyber community for a couple of years now - but the application of it is hard for me. I'm on my way though.

The point to that last paragraph is that EVERYONE! is on different journey and while some are able to go 100% raw right from the get go, for others, due to a multitude of circumstances, both internal and external can only do the level that works for them. Ideal is 100% right off the bat, but right now you have SO many things to focus on in your life and several circumstances that make this difficult - remember to relax!!!

This lifestyle is supposed to be about joy and fun and health - including mental and emotional health - just do what you can do with the circumstances you currently have and 100% may come to you sooner than you realize. No matter what "level" you get too, a person always feels better when they add MORE raw food to their diet.

Hang in there - you sound like one tough cookie - we all know you will do great!

Finallyfree

[klomasius]

Hi Janell,

no such thing as too many questions!

'Aren't avocados full of fat?'

Yes, they are high in fat, HOWEVER, it is raw fat and also mono-unsaturated (good fat). You don't need to worry about the fat content in raw foods, at least not initially, some people do later (I don't, it's very freeing). In fact, some raw fats, such as coconut have been linked with promoting weight loss.

My advice, don't worry at all about the fats in raw foods, just eat as much of a variety as possible. The raw lifestyle is so healthy you won't need to worry.

'How long does it take to be 100% raw?'

This really depends on each person, some go raw 100% right away and never look back. Most seem to 'fail' on their first attempt, but this most often means they go from 100% raw to 'high raw' (75% plus raw or thereabouts), which is usually a big improvement on their previous diet.

I am happy to be high raw, I will probably never go 100% (not permanently, I go for long stints as 100%) I think everyone is different.

I personally believe I get much of the fantastic side effects of a raw diet on high raw, some may tell you otherwise. But I have cleared up acne, my skin has become smoother, I have flattened my tummy, need less sleep, have heaps more energy, my depression is managed, I am happier, my hair is healthier, my digestion heaps improved, etc. on a high raw diet. So for me, the effects don't go away when I eat some cooked food now and then.

But I'd suggest aim for 100% and don't be disheartened if you ever fall off the bandwagon, just get back on again! :)

'What is raw honey?'

Raw honey has not been heat treated in any way. It is the pure honey straight from the hive, just low temp filtered (or you can buy it in the comb).

It's available in many healthfood shops, and it's usually labelled as 'raw'. Someone in your region may be able to direct you to a place that sells it.

I don't eat honey, I'm vegan, but it's definitely a personal choice. You can also use soaked blended dates for a sweetener.

'Why are Ezekial breads not raw?'

They are baked so that the outside goes brown. I hear that the company says the inside does not reach temps the wouldn't be considered raw. Ezekial bread is a good transitional food if you really crave breads etc. Far healthier than other, processed breads.

I think that was all the questions! :)

I'm so sorry to hear about your school not letting you go back. Don't get too down, look to the future and starting your education again after you have done wonders with your health!

Chin up kiddo! You are so on the right track, and people are here to help!

:D :D

[klomasius]

He he, while I was slowly tapping away I see Finallyfree beat me to the punch!

Curses!

[TamarainOR]

Hi Janell

I am Type 2 diabetic and was recently advised I am borderline diabetic/non-diabetic after 9 months of working hard on my diet. I'm not on the raw food diet, but I have incorporated many aspects of it and it has paid off. All my stats were out of the normal range (blood sugar, triglycerides, liver enzymes, cholesterol) initially, but within a few months they all returned to normal.

My doctor told me to stick with 3 meals a day because I am trying to lose weight and people who are overweight tend to experience "portion distortion" and have trouble staying at or below their total calorie intake recommendation. I imagine on a raw food diet eating throughout the day is probably not going to be an issue due to the low calories of fruit/veggies, so you are probably safe eating more frequently throughout the day. If you are diabetic, I would eat the whole fruit and juice the veggies. Juicing the fruits might not be the best for you. Bananas are low glycemic IF they are not too ripe. Once they start to ripen, they become high glycemic so be careful of that.

Just to share what worked for me...

For Breakfast - Whey Healthier Protein Mix (www.mercola.com) with 1/2 banana and 8 oz of unsweetened chocolate almond beverage .

For lunch - Spinach or salad mix with lots of veggies. Equal parts extra virgin olive oil with balsamic vinegar with salt/pepper and basil. Sometimes I ate chicken or salmon with my lunch.

For dinner - Same salad as above with chicken or salmon plus a small sweet potato.

For snacking - fresh ground almond butter (mmmm) and Kavli thin crisp crackers.

For the first 3 or 4 months, I didn't eat much else and I think that helped to get me back to normal.

Now, I am thinking about raw, but I know I'll have to transition very slowly. I'll probably start with 2 or 3 days a week and build up.

[TamarainOR]

Oh, I just saw the post above. I eat Ezekial breads. They are the best solution if you want bread that is healthy. The cinnamon raisin toast is great for diabetics. I also buy the wraps and the pita pockets. They always spoil before I can finish a pack though. :-)

The other thing...sweetners...my Naturopath advised that there are only 3 sweetners anyone should be eating. Stevia (made from a plant...comes in liquid or powdered forms), Xylitol (made from wood), and Agave syrup (from a cactus). I buy flavored liquid stevia and it's tasty in my almond beverage when I need something that tastes dessert-ish. Agave is good for tea instead of honey. I'm not a big fan of xylitol, but I do use it from time to time.

[lauralee]

Janell-
You've been given so much great information. When I first began eating more raw foods, I was really excited and wanted to learn everything too.
For me, the best thing has been to keep things simple. I never feel guilty eating anything raw now and what a freeing feeling that is! Just eat as much raw as you can. If you eat cooked food sometimes, it's ok. Personally I think that it can be a way to make you realize that eating raw is best.
Anyways, we're all glad you're on here and feel free to keep us updated on how you're doing. I see that it's great to share the successes and also get support if confusion comes.