Acceptance from family/friends?

[Springtime]

Hi

I'm all new here, and I'm not raw (yet). Trying, though. But I have a small issue.

The thing is, that when I was younger, I suffered from eating disorders. I was very thin, very unhappy and miserable. Well, I got better, but my family is still very concerned (bless them) and were rather suspicious when I went vegan two years ago, even though I've proved I'm not back in eating trauma anymore, loving the food and what good it givs me.

But still I worry about what they'll think if I went raw. I kind of mentioned raw foods to my sis, and ahe started talking about cults and how I'd die from not getting enought food (I dance several hours a day in school). So if I'd decide to go 100% raw, I'm worried my family would be very upset with me, thinking it's the disease coming back again.
Somehow I am too, I think I might get caught in it again if I lost a kilo or two, just going down in a spiral.

I'm really worried, because I feel very strongly for the raw diet, it's like I've found what I've always been looking for. I think it would do me sooooo good, improving my dancing and all with a detoxed body. And stillI worry that the eating disorder might just pop up, that I'm not in control, and that my wish to go raw might just be the disorder playing tricks on my mind.

I would love your oppinions on this, becaus I find it really hard to figure out what to do.
Thanks for listening (reading)

love
/rebs

[shine72]

If this is something you are going to do, I would just advice you to make sure that you are using your food for you. Since you dance alot, you are going to want to make sure you get the most bang for your buck when it comes to what you are eating. You are going to need to eat for strength and endurance. If you go to the threads that talk about raw and exercise, someone there could probably help you do that.

Don't know if that helps you or not, but I hope it does.

Sunshine :D

[DavidZaneMason]

Opinion:

Don't get fixated on the words 'raw'. Just incorporate a few more fruits and vegetables into your life every day until you are at the percentage of fresh, raw plant foods that you wish. This should not worry anybody. Especially if you are living with family....don't even MENTION the word raw. Just say: "I'm trying to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. That's all. Don't be defensive or answer any nasty questions. It's not helpful.

-Also: Don't expect others to understand....or even acknowledge the reasonable-ness of it. They probably won't.

-Also: Addressing one's eating disorders before radically altering ones diet (through counseling, group therapy, and professional care) is probably a good idea.

-Just my opinions.

-David Z. Mason

[Springtime]

David: thanks for the input, that does definitly sound like the easiest way to deal with it. Wonder why I haven't thought about that before :p

Shine: I'll go through the forums, looking, and also look for good raw litterature. I found alissas book online, but it was out of stock, so I'll wait a while

thanks
/reb

[aubrey]

I agree with David. I never explained this diet to my family as "raw and living". I did say I wanted more fresh fruits and veggies, and as time goes on, they see all this "weird" stuff in the kitchen (like sprouts and sea vegetables) and they make fun. I think if I would have said raw and living they really wouldn't have understood. The thing is, David is right. I don't think they will understand. I don't make fun of them for eating alfredo sauce and chocolate cupcakes, potato chips, and french fries...but they make fun of my health food. Be the bigger person. I'm about ready to lash out at them for being so disrespectful to me...maybe that's when it is time to try and move out. Maybe this is a great way to find out who your true friends are, and who really loves and supports you. When you change your lifestyle to this, I have found that you shed a lot of what no longer serves you in your life. This might also mean people. If they truly care about you, they will come to terms with what you are doing, and support you. Anyone who thinks eating mroe fresh fruits and veggies is a bad move is insane...stop and think about what kind of society we actually live in when people think that eating more fresh fruits and vegetables could be a health hazard!

There is a quote from Alissa's book from Mark Twain that says something to the effect of "If you catch yourself in the majority, maybe its time to pause and reconsider"...

[Frog]

Opinion:

Don't get fixated on the words 'raw'. Just incorporate a few more fruits and vegetables into your life every day until you are at the percentage of fresh, raw plant foods that you wish. This should not worry anybody. Especially if you are living with family....don't even MENTION the word raw. Just say: "I'm trying to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. That's all.

DZM is right!! We're always being told by the govt etc to eat more fruit and veg and when we do - ITS DANGEROUS!!!!

If you incorporate more, slowly, it needn't be an issue.

[Frecs]

I think David has some good advise. It sounds like you have made some major strives in overcoming the eating disorder. Congrats! It also sounds like you understand how easy it is for us to return to that mode of thinking -- you are wise to be vilgilant. Any chance of having a session with your counselor to just self-check about it?

You will want this lifestyle to be about helping you maintain a strong, balletic musculiture rather than about losing weight so you should be eating quite a bit -- not the little bits that most dancers eat! That should encourage your family that you aren't returning to the old ways.