How did you know?

[Firicia]

Hello everyone, I am wondering when you knew that "today" was the right day to start eating raw for you. What was your turning point, your story?

I am just sitting here thinking that tomorow's the day, even though I don't get Alissa's book for another 4 days after that. Because I am thinking it's the day I am a little worried becuz I don't really know many recipies yet, nore have I read the book. But my body is saying to try, to be brave and let go of the "comfort" of cooked and walk out of my comfort zone.

When was this day for you? Was the road ahaid really hard? What was your first few months of eating raw like? Any advice to new commers that you wish you had known when you first started?

So anyways just thought I'd ask those questions so that people could share thier story, thier sucsesses and bumps in the road, or anything they want about them and thier story about raw food.

Thanks, and have fun!

P.S. What don't you miss about cooked foods?

[rawpriestess]

Hi, I've gon 100% raw several different ways and several different times, each with a wonderful result

I usually just woke up and knew it was the day, once I was very sick, so couldn't eat much, didn't want much so decided why not just do fresh fruits today? perfect way to start eating raw.

another time, my son wanted to eat raw

another time, I made a plan, tossed out all my packaged foods, condiments, spices etc, and went raw

another time, well, you get the picture, it usually comes to you, when it is right, don't force it, but don't second guess it either.

Eating 100% raw and living foods is natural for us, it should be fun and exciting. YES!!!

RAW RAW RAW- the ONLY way to eat.

[Veganforlife]

Hey there! I knew when I was at my wit's end. That was over 7 months ago. I've had migraines my entire life. I am now 53. I would come home from Sunday School and Church, crying and go to bed with a horrid migraine. I missed a lot of my children's life due to migraines. I've missed work due to migraines. I've been a Vegetarian for 26 years and Vegan for 2. I was tired of being sick and tired. 6 years ago my thyroid was diagnosed as dead. Not functioning. My HSF lady turned me onto Alissa's web site. I book marked it, really not paying much attention to it. My son, Mom and I were having dinner and he asked me if I had ever heard of Raw Vegans. Nope, I hadn't. He said there was an article in the City Paper. I read the article online and then went back to Alissa's web site. I read and read and read some more. Something was clicking. Something was making sense. These recipes, well, I was drooling over them. I ordered her book AND DVD and stayed up all night reading and watching and started the very next day. Of course I didn't have anything sprouted or ready for this change, but I did get proactive. I cleaned out my cabinets and freezer. I bought fresh, whole fruits (more then I had ever bought). I started sprouting (crudely in jars with pantyhose for the lid :eek: ) but I was starting. Well, I have not had one migraine. The first few weeks I expected to wake up with one, or have one creep up on me, but nope, not one. Plus my thyroid meds have been cut in half. I am now hypERthyroid where before I was hypOthyroid. My doc is now reading my thyroid meds. I figure he will take me off them soon and that will be cured too. I jumped onto this forum and haven't stopped jumping! I sleep well. I am clearer in my thinking, I am alive. Oh yeah. I've dropped over 35 pounds too. That's secondary compared to my health. Not being in pain every day. If there was a week that went by that I didn't have a migraine? That was a good week. Even the migraine meds out there did not work.
This does. This is healing.
Alissa is an Angel that has been sent to me.
The very next day I felt better. And I have not stopped feeling good every day since. I have oodles of energy. I feel better now then I did at 23!
My transition was not hard having been Vegetarian and then Vegan. But all my "cravings" are met. My chocolate, my crunchy, my creamy, etc. These are foods that are alive.
My advise to you? Do a 30-day challenge at least. And I guarantee that you will not want to go back to SAD. Provided you follow it without cheating. I have not "cheated" once because I know I will feel like crap if I do.
Good luck!

[adrienne]

I have known many times that this was 'the day' to go raw.
And off I went on my journey.
And my journey went ALL over the place, very often very far form raw.
But I am back at it and realize that each time I get more 'raw,' clean another layer out, become happier, learn more about myself and get more excited about being a raw vegan!
Best to you on your way and know that whenever, whatever your day is - that is the day.

p.s. i don't miss the bloating i have after eating cooked food and i don't miss how my skin gets red and blotchy and my face gets puffy

[Missrawdiva]

I knew todaywas the day when I tried on my wedding dress and didn't like what I saw. At that point I would have been embarrased to wear the dress and I didn't want my picture to be taken. I knew the defination of insanity " doing the same thing and expecting different results" I knew in Davids Bridal store looking in the mirror at the person I'd become that I HAD to do something different to get different results! Fast forward that day in September to now... I have went down from a size 12 to a size 6 and luv'n every minute of it! Nothing can take the place of people saying " you look good" for the first time in YEARS! I like who I see now. I love what I have become. I love to motivate others to do the same!! LIVIN RAW IS GREAT!!!!

[Nimmanu]

When I saw my baby suffering from my choice to eat unhealthy foods. When your breastmilk passes on toxins and makes your infant suffer, it's really easy to find that added impetus to change.

[Nectarine]

I was prompted to switch to 100% raw as a result of my meditating and listening for God's input on what I was supposed to do next after having finished college. I guess you could have called me 'mid to high raw' prior to switching to 100% raw, as, in addition to raw fruit and veges, I ate porridge for breakfast, organic rye bread for lunch, and brown rice or organic wholewheat/durum wheat pasta for dinner. I miss porridge with honey the most I guess, for its warming, creamy sweetness. A nice big bowl of nori-flake sprinkled brown rice always put a smile on my face too, and was a perfect medium if I wanted to get creative and chop stuff up to add to the mix. But as I delve deeper into raw cuisine, and once I am able to afford a blender, food-processor, and juicer, I will miss those aforementioned cooked foods less and less.

[Morn]

To be quite honest with you, I was in a place of desparation. I was overweight, tired, unhappy, and addicted to food. I allowed my addiction to food to rule me. I had no self control. I used to live to eat instead of eating to live. My weight has been an issue for a very long time and I grew to believe I would just be overweight for the rest of my life because I didn't have time to deal with the situation. I had to take care of everyone else but wasn't taking care of myself. I had no energy and felt terrrible. I cried out to God in a prayer of desparation to be delivered from my food addiction. I wanted to be in control but I wasn't and was enslaved to food and couldn't get free. So for me, it all started with a prayer. I wanted to change my life but felt powerless to do so. Thinking that I could never stick to any other diet so how could this work. Before I ate everything and anything. I denied myself of very little. After the prayer, I heard a pastor speak on the radio about enzymes and how important raw food was for you. I did more research on the internet and found this site. I was amazed at the pictures of the people I saw and the testimonials. I showed my husband and he said well when are you going to start. The rest was history. That was 4 months and 1 week ago. In 4 months time I have lost 43 pounds and feel so much better. For the first time in my life I have self control and do not overeat. I have energy and feel better. I am still not where I want to be but I know I am on the right path. I didn't have Alyssa's book when I started but ordered it a week after I started.

I would suggest buying her book as it has some very practical suggestions and information that is pertainent to this way of eating. It also lists some basic staples you should have on hand to start off (which I didn't have at first). I would also look through recipes and see what appeals to you and then start buying ingredients as you go. My cupboard is transformed from just 6 months ago. My family is still SAD eaters so I do have to buy both types of food, but I have definately taken over major realestate in the pantry and fridge and am influencing everyone to eat healthier. I was seriously addicted to diet pepsi as it was my main drink of the day. I used to drink between 5-6 a day and drank very little of anything else. I gave that up along with coffee and haven't looked back. All I can say is commit for 30 days and don't give yourself an out - just do it and see how you feel. When you see how this way of eating positively affects you it will be easier.

If you want to visit my journal you can read more. I suggest you read people's journals; You will learn so much about this way of eating and what you need to know. Also read, read and read on different topics on this site and you will get educated.

It is important if you are married to get support from your spouse as they can be a help or a hinderance. I had my husband's buyin for me to do this and it really makes a difference.

Only you will know when it is right to start, but it is my belief you should set a day and stick to it! Make sure you go shopping before you start so you have a good variety on hand so you can be successful. Variety is key in the beginning so get lots of fresh fruits and vegtables you enjoy! Also if you are excited about this don't put it off too long. This lifestyle is a process and a journey. Don't be afraid to start somewhere and grow! Best wishes to you!

[Ariannah]

This is my 2nd time going 100%. The first time, I just had a feeling, and being someone with strong instincts for internal validation, I went with it.

When I went off last year, and ate cooked - it never felt right. Then one day in early December(2006), I just felt this unstoppable urge to eat fruit and nothing but fruit. Nothing (cooked) in the house had the slightest appeal to me at all. I've not had a single bite of cooked food since.

Every morning I wake up with choices before me. Raw now seems to be not just "a choice" but it's as natural as getting out of bed.

[DavidZaneMason]

I guess the seed first germinated fully about 2000 when I went to chase my then 1 year old niece....and got terribly winded after running only a few yards. (I 5' 8" and WAS 205...now 150).

-David Z. Mason

[2inlovewithraw]

We are just starting out with RAW today, Monday, January 29, 2007. My wife said on Saturday (we received the book/DVD on Friday) that we should start on the 1st. I'm like, "Why wait?" So she spent Saturday & Sunday reading the book. Also on Sunday we cleaned out the cabinets, pantry, and refrigerator, then packed away the microwave, bread-maker, and toaster. Then we went shopping and restocked with RAW food. :) We didn't know that the food processor I've had ~10 years was nowhere big enough (think it's a 3-cupper), so we had to break down and get one last night as well.

Today we are RAW, and totally excited about it. We tried the Salmon pate' last night and loved it (that's when we found out about the food processor). And I've had the banana-n-papaya malt (more a malt than anything else I can think to call it). That was so incredibly easy to make!

For me, it just resonates in my spirit that this is right, and I think that is saying something considering I grew up on a farm eating meat-n-taters.

Mr. 2

[RawInTheCity]

Hi, this is my first time evr going raw. A few weeks ago I happened to see Alissa on a television show in the middle of the night and what she was saying just made complete sense to me. I ordered the book and DVD that night, right when the show ended. I jumped on this web site and started reading posts to get an idea what people were eating. It was not hard for me to find fruits and veggies and come up with ideas about what to eat. I have to say, my favorite part of the day is in the morning when I have my smoothie.It is delicious and satisfying. The book and DVD arrived and I watched the DVD in two days. Lots of good stuff and clarification. I highly suggest getting these two companions.

I think the motiviating factor for me to do this was that what I was doing previosuly with my diet and my emotional, spiritual and physical well being was not working. It simply was not working. I think it starts with what we put in our bodies. I try and take it a day at a time. I don't think to far in advance or overwhelm myself with " I'll never have _____ again!" I just don;t do it. When that "day" arrives, I'll make the decsion to do the right thing for me and my health. I just keep it really simple and stay in the moment.

Today is a little over two weeks and I feel so full of energy! I love making choices and putting healthy RAW living foods in my body!

D- :)

[Amberly]

After 6 months of trying to get back on the wagon...(I'd been eating mosly raw, but daily cooked vegetable soup, cabbage, potatoes, occassional vegie burgers)...finally one day my veggie soup just didn't taste good. My willpower wasn't enough. I think if you keep trying , even if it's for months, one day it will just happen. That's the way it was for me. :)

[PammieTaj]

I've tried very high raw 'diets', and felt really good on them, but I finally had to admit to myself that those were missing the mark. That what I really am dealing with is food addiction. I still have to deal with issues of overeating (it doesn't matter what you eat, overeating is not healthy) but I'm not overeating in a way that will make me sick.

I think quitting coffee was the hardest. I had a headache for days. Oddly enough yesterday was my first full raw day and I could not go to sleep! I had worked until 11 last night (retail books) and I'm 44 yrs old and I was not at all tired! Holy guacamole!

blessings and peace, Pam

[Nimmanu]

I thought I would add here, that while these were not the specific things that led me to RAW, they were things that told me something HAD to change, PERIOD:

I got gestational diabetes, and was unable to control it with diet/exercise, even though I thought I was one of the healthiest eaters I know.

I also had a dream telling me to "do no harm," which I assumed meant to become vegetarian.


However, it has taken some time to get myself "worked around" to where I could accept the concept of raw food. But once I was ready to actually make the change, there just seemed to be no question- this is it.

[Apasaraw]

I don't miss burning myself on the hot oven! I did this alot...klutz.

I came to raw in a gradual manner due to allergies, food eliminations and such...but I am very happy it found me regardless of the bad stuff that had to happen first.

[Svadhyaya]

I'm still working on it.

I have been unable to remain 100% raw for more than a few days at a time, but I find that remaining high raw is getting easier and easier for me. Hopefully one day I'll find the "right" time and motivation to go all the way.
Until then, I know I'm doing a great job feeding my body in a healthy and wonderful way. (Even when I do eat cooked, it is lightly cooked and vegan.)

[trinity082482]

I went raw for my health. I needed to loose weight and get rid of a breast lump and my arthritis. I did get rid of my lump and my arthritis pains aren't there but the weight went up. I'm happy over all. :)