Hi, New and from Arizona

[BethMarie]

Hello!
I am from Mesa Arizona, and I have been trying the raw diet using Allisa's book for almost three weeks now. Unfortunatley, I don't see the great results you all seem to have, but I do feel a little better. One thing I am worried about is whether this will help me to lose weight - as well as some premature wrinkles that I think I may have due to harsh prescriptions and cleansers when I was younger and had an acne problem.
Does anyone here see great results, if you have premature wrinkles? I am a nonsmoker and have obsessed about sunscreen so it is pretty depressing. But the main reason for my diet is to feel better, and to be healthier. I can never seem to manage an ideal weight.

Beth :)
PS, any recommendations on stores or even restaraunts in the Phoenix area would be hugely appreciated.

[luckitri]

Dunno any restaurants. I am in west valley. Sprouts and Henry's are good local chains for organic produce. I hear Henry's has more organic but they shut down the one close to me. I have a Food City near me where I go to get my raw dog meat but they also have wonderful ethnic options. I can get the same cactus as the HFS. Plus they have other things that I don't even know what they are but I did get to learn about raw green garbanzo beans from there. I heard that the Food City is owned by Bashas so maybe they have one out by you. I go to an Asian store here in west valley to get things like young coconut.

Welcome!

Premature wrinkles. I have seen 18 year olds out here with crows feet if they spent any length of time outside.

Read up on the detox part. Lots of people don't feel so good right away.

[spicyfull]

This is a LifeStyle Change and I think you should follow Alissa's Book and don't dwell on the weight. At whatever weight you are, it took more than three weeks to attain it.

What I am saying in when focus is only on weight, we lose all the GOOD Stuff. Your Body will need time to RENEW itself. Let you feel its ALIVE, then things will began to change and you will see results.

So lets be Patience and Good things will come to you.

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

[Biff]

BethMarie - Welcome to raw. :)

I also live in the Phoenix area - there are plenty of good stores near Mesa that you can buy organic produce from. Whole foods and Sunflower Market are two that I go to often. All of the Henry's stores have closed in the Phoenix area, unfortunately.

You say that you have been doing this for three weeks but not seeing great results. What results are you looking for? (Mainly weight loss?) The weight will definitely come off depending upon your commitment to eating healthy. Do you exercise? Three weeks is not a long time if you think you will lose a bunch of weight.

Also, a lot of newbies to raw eat too many nuts and avocados, so if you are trying to lose weight and are doing this - you might not lose the weight as fast as you would like. go to www.rawfoodbootcamp.com for more info on this.

Have you added green leaves to your diet? Are you making Green Smoothies? If not, many people recommend the book "Green for Life" by Victoria Boutenko. It is excellent and give you all the motivation you need to include greens in your diet everyday.

There is a montly raw potluck in Mesa - right off of the US 60 and Dobson. Also, Mandala Tea Room in downtown Scottsdale has a 100% raw and organic night once a month.

Regarding your wrinkles - have you done any research on sunscreen? Not the best stuff for your skin. I have met plenty of raw/high raw women in their 40s and 50s that look incredibly youthful and glowing skin and they don't use sunscreen. If fact, they try to get 10-20 min of sun on their skin every day! Healthy looking skin doesn't happen overnight.

Hope any of this helps!

[BethMarie]

Hi! Thanks for all the answers.
I don't feel bad from detox -- that is one of my concerns. I feel nothing, and I have been sticking to the diet, with these recipes it is far easier than last time I went raw on just salads and veggies.
Sprouts and Whole Foods have very limited organic selection, but I think I may resort to online. Lee Lees I hear may have something good, at Warner and Dobson, so I may also try them. Even Target Supercenter has about as much organic selection :) I miss organic pineapple but can't find any -- and if I get anything "non organic," then that could be causing more problems with this diet not showing results.
I do exercise, I belong to the Y and have been running a mile there. I ran Pat's Run last weekend, but got a terrible time because my lungs were burning me. Anyway, I will keep at it and hope I am not jinxed. I don't have a ton of weight to lose, but I am not seeing the results I saw on the last raw diet I went on.

[BethMarie]

These are the things that make me depressed: (they get great results, I must be doing something bad --)

Lynn, a 34 year old mother of two, lost 23 pounds. Lynn had severe skin problems and horrible hot flashes along with constant neck pain. That all vanished within weeks after going on Alissa's raw and Living food diet.

[Biff]

BethMarie,

You mentioned that "Sprouts and Whole Foods have very limited organic selection" - I agree that Sprouts has a limited selection, but the Whole Foods on Baseline and Rural in Tempe has a *huge* organic section!

Which Whole Foods are you talking about? (so that way I know not to go to that location)

[BethMarie]

That is the Whole Foods I go to, and it seems most of their fruits and veggies are conventional these days. They do have organic apples, lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli, etc., though, so I am not saying they have none. But some of the stuff I need for Allisa's recipes, like organic lemons or peppers or even strawberries, they don't often have. I thought I saw red bell peppers there that were organic, but went back and now can only find conventional, and they're the worst. But maybe they are just having down times when I am there. I just need to find out their stocking days and go then.. Sunflower used to have a lot of stuff, like organic pineapple, but now they have hardly any organics. So I don't mean to diss Whole Foods -- they do have more raw nuts:) And I always go there religiously to get vitamins and stuff there, sometimes something for my kitty. I guess I just want everything sitting right in front of me.. But I need to order a few things:)

** And Biff -- thanks for your tips! I live near the US 60 and Dobson so may try that, at least when I have something to offer. I haven't been eating avocados, but have used nuts and seeds in some recipes, so may stick more closely to the veggies for a while and just make Allisa's recipes to mix things up.

Thanks everyone, for taking out time to help me out! I hope I can get your healthy glow one day!

[luckitri]

About that burning lung thing. I have noticed that also. I will take a walk on lunch and I know that I have to get in the building because there is something in the air burning my lungs and nostrils even. There is not often a corresponding odor to let me know what it is. I have had it happen at different times of day and night. I cannot figure it out. Do either of you know what it could be?

[BethMarie]

Luckitri --

I don't know, it may be allergies. Everyone I know, including my cat, has been suffering some terrible allergies. I think it's all these midwestern or whatever people who are trying to change our desert, and all these developers bringing fake lakes and plants that don't belong here. It does come and go.. I hope you feel better;)

[luckitri]

Thanks. No this is something un-natural I am sure. Maybe it is the air inversions that we get with the trapped pollutants - mostly car exhaust? Maybe I am just getting sensitive to it in a new way but I am not sure that could be it because sometimes I will notice it in the middle of the night when there is not alot of traffic. Since I have moved alot - it has been in every neighborhood. When I first noticed it we thought there was a chop shop nearby and that maybe it was some sort of evaporated solvent in the air - but since we have moved so much that explanation does no longer fit. Hmmmm. . .

[jocelynAZ]

Hello BethMarie ~ WELCOME to RFT and congrats on your decision towards a naturally healthy lifestyle. I haven't read all the posts, so forgive me if this is redundant. I too am from AZ, but in Casa Grande. It's always nice to see fellow Arizonans here! :)

I would not worry about your "slow" progress. Everyone is different because everyone has different factors to consider that would affect the speed of their progress ~ genetic makeup, environment, stress levels, etc. I would be a bit more patient though. Your body will heal and cleanse itself in due time and you will see the results. Continue with raw and be sure to make it simple for you!


As far as places to shop in the Phx metro area, there are great site I recently found that gives some great resources... www.rawinaz.com (http://www.rawinaz.com)

I typically go to Whole Foods and Trader Joe's to shop. Trader Joe's has increased their organic selection. Between the two, I get what I need. Occassionally, I shop at the Vitamin Shoppe to buy shampoo and also coconut oil. Their raw coconut oil is $5 cheaper than Whole Foods for the same brand and size. I also go to Safeway or Fry's at times if I can't make it into town to go to WFM or TJ's (both are about 30-40 min. drive). They have a decent organic section now.

I also do group orders with friends to shop in bulk for cheaper. We buy almonds, agave, and raw honey together and the prices are cheaper. I also buy dates from The Date People in CA. I typically buy 15# of their halawi dates for a great price. Although they have so many other types of dates you can buy for great prices too! www.datepeople.net (http://www.datepeople.net)

You may want to try Organically Grown For You in Phoenix to shop for organic produce. They also deliver or have location drop-offs! Tell the owner, Mary, I say "hello" if you speak with her! :) www.og4you.com (http://www.og4you.com)

Hope this helps!! Have a great weekend! You will do just fine. Stay focused and get daily support to stay on this journey.

Blessings,
Jocelyn

[StarFire]

Aloha!! :D As you can tell - this site is awesome isn't it? Everyone is so helpful and supportive. I just wanted to say welcome and many blessings on your journey!

[RawVegan4Health]

Welcome! Being fairly new to this myself I don't have many answers, but this is the place to be to get some answers. There's so much to learn here I can't even formulate questions, I'm just soaking it all up like a sponge. I think sponges may be my spirit animal or something.

[Veganforlife]

Give it time to work.
Commit to a 100% 30-day challenge and then see.
Do not compare yourself to others. EVERYONE is different.
Raw IS healing. I am living proof of it. It has cured my migraines that I have had for 53 years and my dead (diagnosed 6 years ago) thyroid is now alive and well.
Read, read, read, read, read, read all you can about raw food and it's benefits.
Do not give up. That is the WORST thing you can do. Your body is finally being fueled well and if you give up, you might as well jump off a cliff!!!
Keep positive. I was at my wit's end and after I read and read and read I KNEW this was going to work for me.
Dry skin brushing for wrinkles. It DOES work.
Keep yourself hydrated with water and green smoothies.