Desperate in NJ!

[sahmomof8]

I have been slipping and sliding with the raw diet for a while now. Currently, my health is so poor, and I'm so exhausted, I don't even have the energy to make the foods I need to do this diet! I know I'll start to recover once I get started, but I'm all alone in this (my husband does NOT want to do it with me), and I don't know anyone else locally who can walk me through this. I need some one on one, someone to talk to, someone who can relate to what I'm going through. Is there anyone out there?

[blue_sky]

I'm in jersey too!! Where are you located?? I've only been raw for a couple of months but I will try to help!!

Congrats on your decision to explore this wonderful lifestyle. :D

[just_jo]

Hi hi!!!

Please, please, can I jump in too??

Altho, I am no where near NJ, I am in desperate need of accountability.

I have been on and off raw for a few years now. And by far it is absolutely the best for me.
You see I am a recovering bulemic and raw is the only way I have found that I do not slip back into that tendancy.

Oh why did I go off in the first place???

I am determined to get back on and stay. I cannot live this roller coaster anymore.

Please can we stick together. I am very anxious about starting this journey (again) alone.

jo

[DotfromOz]

I can relate to this. After a little over a month of mostly raw, I'm about to start the challenge. It will be a challenge in more than one sense as my husband won't do it. He must take a medicine that causes diarrhea if he eats very many vegetables and fruits, so he's not the least interested in trying raw beyond a bit of fresh fruit occasionally and some raw veggies or a salad with dinner.

So, you're neither of you, Sahmom or Just Jo, alone at all.

Sahmom, have you considered a phone consultation with Alissa if you can afford it? Sounds like a chance to express your worries and concerns to her and get a raw pep-talk from her might do a lot toward empowering you to go 100%. Something to consider, anyway...

[Revvell]

way I have found to do this is ~

find some really easy recipes. Bookmark them. Write down a list of ingredients from each recipe that you need, the book and page # beside it. Do that for each recipe and book. Then, add up whatever you need ~ 3 lemons from this recipe, 2 from that, etc. Put that on a separate sheet, go shopping.

Also, find out what, if anything has to be soaked. Most nuts/seeds do. Be sure to get that done before getting too excited.

Find out which you are going to dehydrate so they can all do that at once. Right now I have coconut caramel cookies and flaxseed crackers going. If I wish, I can add cored and sliced apples, bananas and/or tomatoes so I'll have some yummy treats to take with me.

Make sure on your trip you get some fresh spring greens and that a good dressing or two are on the first shopping list (if you don't already have the ingredients).

Also, lots of raw fresh fruit and either kale or chard. We make fresh green smoothies EVERY day with organice OJ, bananas and (maybe an additional fruit of berries) either a few kale or chard leaves.

One thing I have to make sure I have on hand and that is crunchy stuff ~ and no, veggies don't usually suffice so, I keep lots of flax crackers around. Can always put some mashed up avocado or almond butter topped with raisins on them as a simple, fast, munchy inhibitor.

Look for simple recipes, keep them on hand because when one is hungry, (personally) I can look in the refrigerator and on the counters and no matter how much fruit and veggies I have on hand, I'm wondering what's to eat?

Hope that helps!

Injoy and eternal-harmony ~

Revvell

[sahmomof8]

I am not sure how to use this forum to reply to each one of you individually, so please for give me! Blue Sky, I'm in West Orange, which is north of you. Jo--you can e-mail me offlist if you like. Maybe I can help you and you can help me! My main concern is my weight--I am about 75 lbs. overweight. I have very high cholesterol. And I have NO energy whatsoever--I'm always exhausted. I don't know if I can afford a phone consult with Alyssa, although I'm considering it. And I really appreciate the suggestions about shopping, etc.! I have to go back and read through the posts again, but I wanted to say a quick thank you to everyone! Marilyn

[DotfromOz]

Sahmom--It might help you to get more energy if you try something like what I've been doing. I've had 2 out of my 3 daily meals entirely raw for almost a full month. That wasn't a big deal as I could make a smoothie for breakfast or cut up a bunch of fruit. Then, I made sure to plan a salad or some other veggies for my lunchbag for work. I've been eating a regular cooked dinner with meat of some kind, although healthier foods with nothing out of a box or can, during that time.

I noticed a HUGE difference in my energy level within a few days of doing this. After about a week, co-workers started asking me what I was doing differently as I was dashing around the store like a whole new person. Just that much eating raw gave me so much additional energy I could hardly believe it!

Despite all the encouragement here to go 100%, you truly don't have to feel overwhelmed if you just can't do that to start with. Even if you can only manage to add more raw foods to your regular meals or eat just one meal a day raw, I bet it will make a difference, if only to give you more confidence that you ARE doing something positive toward better health.

[BigTime]

I agree, eating 2 raw meals a day can help ease you into things. That's what I did for about a month, and now I'm in my first week of 100%. I tried jumping right in before only to quit shortly afterwards. I'm also another NJ native checking in ;)

[sahmomof8]

I am actually trying to eat two raw meals right now, and one cooked vegan or vegetarian. That's my current goal. For breakfast, I had a large fruit smoothie with OJ, frozen bananas, and frozen strawberries, with a little flaxseed thrown in for fiber. For lunch, I had some squash soup with sprouted wheat bread. That's it so far today. Dinner will probably be lots of salad, with maybe some veggies and dip or some cold raw soup like gazpacho. I'm working on this!

[DotfromOz]

Awwwriiiggght! That sounds like a program, Sahmom!

Sounds like you are really determined to do this. I have confidence that you can and will succeed, if only in little bits at a time.

Let's hear it for Sahmom!!!! She ROCKS!!!!!