Where to Start??

[Jeremy]

Hi

I have been learning about raw food and the lifestyle for the last couple of months and am very excited about the possibilities. What I would like to know is where to start as it all seems quite overwhelming to begin with?? Should I start off slowly and cut out things as I go, or are there other ways to do it. It might be wise to add that I have recently become alcohol free after years of abuse and am looking at ways to create a healthier lifestyle for myself. Any tips on how and where to start would be much appreciated

Thanks
Jeremy

[spicyfull]

Congratulations, you are learning to do Great things for your Body. Reading Old Threads by using the "SEARCH" at the Top of this page and ordering Alissa's Book, Living on Live Food, will give you a head start.

You can eliminate Foods as you stated or you can just dive in. Anyway you do it you will be making wonderful changes in Your Live.

I wish you everything you need to Stay RAW....Welcome to MY World.....

[luckitri]

I would recommend purchasing Alissa's book and DVD as it makes it all so much easier and less intimidating. I know that as I started researching raw on the internet I got sites that had equipment I had never heard of and exotic ingredients that might take weeks to acquire - I was overwhelmed. Personally I still don't do recipes although I would like to eventually.

Just keeping plenty of raw food around and washing it and drying the greens so they don't rot in their bags is plenty of work for me. Mostly I just mono-eat which means I grab the bag of greens and start munching. I grab a pear and eat it. I rely much on bananas and avocados to fill up. I do make salads in the evening. I do make lemon juice and sometimes other juices and the last few days I actually blended strawberries with my lemon juice. So all this "I" talk is just to give you an idea of how easy it can be. From reading this site I have learned that alot of the long-timers do this mono-eating also.

I really like the mono-eating because as a newish person it helps me understand my reactions to foods or the pesticides or the growing techniques, since they can all cause problems for some of us.

[Ariannah]

Hi

I have been learning about raw food and the lifestyle for the last couple of months and am very excited about the possibilities. What I would like to know is where to start as it all seems quite overwhelming to begin with?? Should I start off slowly and cut out things as I go, or are there other ways to do it. It might be wise to add that I have recently become alcohol free after years of abuse and am looking at ways to create a healthier lifestyle for myself. Any tips on how and where to start would be much appreciated

Thanks
Jeremy
Start off with increasing foods you already like raw, and meanwhile look for recipes of things you might like. I recommend Alissa's book and DVD. Welcome to raw!

Don't look at it as "what to cut out", but look at it as "what foods to increase" - for me that creates a mindset that works better. It helps me have something to look forward to, like, "This morning I'd like to have a nice, ripe cantaloupe!" rather than "I will cut out Froot Loops now." Thinking positively helps with moving forward.

[Banshee]

Hi and welcome!

All are very good suggestions that were given....
For me, the way I started, was drinking green smoothies. Victoria Boutenko's Green for Life is a good resource for this. It was an easy way to help me transition to raw. I was getting my greens, and soon after I incorporated more raw whole foods.

I love Alissa's book, but haven't tried many of the recipes because right now nuts seem to heavy to me....whenever I eat them or incorporate them into recipes I just feel heavy--but I figure in due time.

Don't get overwhelmed, start at your own speed. You don't have to go 100% raw overnight if that seems like too much of a challenge. Any changes you make at the beginning will be better than no changes :p

Good luck!

[Revvell]

Alissa and I will be speaking on this very topic in our show today. It'll be listed here and on Alissa's site as soon as as it's recorded and edited... maybe later today.

Revvell

[Universal]

Hi

I have been learning about raw food and the lifestyle for the last couple of months and am very excited about the possibilities. What I would like to know is where to start as it all seems quite overwhelming to begin with?? Should I start off slowly and cut out things as I go, or are there other ways to do it. It might be wise to add that I have recently become alcohol free after years of abuse and am looking at ways to create a healthier lifestyle for myself. Any tips on how and where to start would be much appreciated

Thanks
Jeremy

First of all, Congratulations!
You've definitely come to the right place to get any advice and support of this wonderful way of living (not just eating, but LIVING!) There are nothing but wonderful people here with great minds that will enlighten you on anything or on any questions that you may have on how to get started.
Me, personally I've been raw for over 2 years now and if it weren't for this messageboard, I probably would have never got started successfully.
Be patient with yourself, dont be too hard on yourself and always look to remain positive!

PEACE!
Universal

[Maria]

Check out this thread. Victoria Boutenko's book 12 Steps To Raw Foods is great as a supplement to Alissa's book! Education is power! :)

http://rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=21426&highlight=victoria+boutenko+12+steps

Maria

[Shoney]

welcome! I tried the transitioning approach, and for me it just did not work. I tried it because the first couple times I attempted to be 100% raw, I tripped up. After getting Alissa's book I understand that those first attempts I simply did not have enough information, so I second those who have advised you to get the book.

Felt kinda silly after attempting the 100% approach, and thought if I could transition it would be easier. It wasn't - for me it was a lot harder. So I followed the advice in Alissa's book, totally stocked up and spend a couple hours in the kitchen creating some raw recipes, and now the food is just there whether I want an apple or something more elaborate.

Experimenting is important to find out what works for you, so go for it!

[luckitri]

APOLOGY. I just re-read the sticky about what can be posted on the food discussion thread and I am not supposed to be promoting mono-eating. It has worked for me because I am health challenged and to do more is just too much for me on most days. I also like it because some of us do not wish to spend all of our off work time making stuff. . . . or do not have all the equipment right away. Alissa's book and DVD address all this and show you how making raw recipes can be quick and easy. (I have not been able to get it yet and nothing in this life is quick and easy for me LOL!) So please accept my apology.

[Lay-Lay]

Alissa's book is totally the place to start. I didn't start there and I think it would have made all the difference in the beginning of my journey. Alissa's book helps everything to be so less complicated and easy. You can't go wrong.

[Jeremy]

Thankyou for all your messages of support and advice. I think the next step is to get Alissa's book by the looks of things and then get onto a 30 day challenge as soon as possible. The book that most stands out for me at the moment is Sunfood Diet Success System by David Wolfe. Have any of you read this and if so what do you think?

Thanks again

[luckitri]

I have read people here that have tried other raw guru's advice but the moderators will point out that the heading under the title states "A raw food community based on Alissa Cohen's Living on Live Food Book + DVDs". So we don't go there too often. My belief is that you are known by your fruits and Alissa has created this wonderful forum for us to learn about the raw way and all the other raw guru's sell sell sell. Some of us simply cannot afford it. Also some of them antagonize me with tantalizing e-mails only for me to find that if I want the answer I must buy buy buy. So the fact that she has presented us with this opportunity to learn and support each other has purchased my loyalty to her and her products and books. I have looked at the others' information and to me, Alissa is the most credible also. If, for example, I choose to try enzymes, I am going to buy Alissa's because I trust that the most investigation has gone into her product.