First Time Here

[Helen Of Tennessee]

I've hear nothing but good things about Alissa's website, her book and just recently her board.

I'm still reading through the different threads, but did want to introduce myself; and hopefully become active on the board. I'm on many raw food boards and am always learning all the time.

I am high raw, but the past year have fallen back on the percentage of raw which shows in my health (joint pain, headaches, some weight gain). It's a struggle, but I'm aiming for 100% raw. When my family all eating S.A.D., there are just so many temptations in the house and of course I can't force them to eat raw, so cleaning out the bad foods just won't work. Surprisingly, my family have seen the benefits when they have increased their raw. So they support me totally and they are making some progress in this area.

You can read my whole testimony and see my before and after pics at:

http://www.shazzie.com/raw/transformation/helen.shtml

<>< Helen of Tennessese

[Helen Of Tennessee]

I guess I didn't do my post right. I thought my picture would come up on the left of my post.

Guess I better do some more checking on how to do this.

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[NWgal]

Helen welcome!
I rember you! I wrote to you and thanked you for your inspiration!
Kristi is a moderator one this board and she teaches Ta kwando (sp) :( .. sorry I havent a clue how to spell that I cant rember what martal art you practice. So glad your here Its a great group!

[thunderdancer]

Helen hi!!

Wherever I go I find you :) Remember Freedomyou/Renewed Health? I was Laura on there. I love how it's like being part of a special group where people are all closer than 'normal' and pop up all over the place, I 'm not into labels like raw fooder or rawism etc. but I am def' into the community spirit :)

It's good to see you :D WELCOME :D

And with regards to the piccie - you need to go into "user CP" on the top bar and go and sort out your 'avator' rather than attach the pic - then it's sorted. Here's the link to Alissa's tips on it:

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=265

[Rawkinlocs]

Hi Helen!

I recognize you from one of the boards (can't remember the name) that I sometimes inactively "lurk" on! :D

Just wanted to say welcome and that this IS a great little community of folks here...one of the best I've been a part of since starting to eat raw. I think you'll fit right in here very well, receive lots of support and great advice and I'm sure you'll even be able to help many of us newbies to raw!

[Curtis]

Welcome Helen,
Glad to have you aboard, some really nice and helpful people here. :)

[Analeah]

Welcome Helen of Tenessee :) Glad to have you here and I look forward to reading your posts!

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Thank you Analeah, Curtis, Rawkinlocs, ThunderDance & NWGal for welcoming me. Boy are you all quick at responding. This is nice.

NWGal - I'm so glad I inspired you. Now I'm looking for inspiration. I'm still doing pretty good, just not progressing like I would like. I get real excited when I read success stories. I have seen some of Kristi's posts. Maybe we'll cross paths and will be able to share some "karate" stories. A number of ladies in our karate school do eat high raw and are doing great!

ThanderDance - Thanks for the tip on how to get my picture on my posts! I enjoyed being on Freedom You. It's a shame that it's gone, but there are sooooo many more raw food boards out there and we all seem to find each other again.

I'm going to continue to read through the posts here and reap all the information I can and use it to better my journey to all raw.

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[ConsciousCuisine]

Greetings, Helen! I am not on any other "Raw Boards" but have visited "Raw Guru" once. Where are all these other boards y'all are talking about? Which ones do *you* like?

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Hi Conscious Cuisine,

There are so many boards. I'll list some with my favorites being toward the top of the list:

Of course this board may become one of my favorites :)

Dr. Doug Graham (http://www.vegsource.com/talk/raw/index.html)

Raw Journey (http://pub39.ezboard.com/brawjourney)

Living & Raw Foods (http://www.rawfoodsupport.com/)

Raw Food Babies (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rawfoodbabies)

Dying to get well Shelly (http://www.dyingtogetwell.com/)

Paul Nison General (http://www.therawworld.com/bboard/ubbthreads.php)

Paul Nison Christian (http://www.rawchristians.org/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi)
There are others, just not so active.

<>< Helen of Tennessee

P.S. - Hope I did this right so you can just click on the links.

[kirk]

Hi Helen,

Welcome to the board! Just wanted to let you know that FreedomYou is back up. Here is the link. http://freedom-you.com/BB/

You will love Alissa's board. The response time is very fast and there are a lot of very mature and caring people here.

kirk

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Thanks Kirk :)

I saved Freedom You BB to my favorites. Don't know when I'll get there as I'm so overwhelmed with the other boards. Thanks for the welcome.

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[Fragola]

Hi Helen!!
Nice to see you here!
I am glad to say that I have your success story (and also Alissa's one!) translated in Italian in my website www.eco-centric.it and I am happy to say that that pages have been read quite a lot by the Italians!
Ciao!
Sara

[mwjeepster]

Your story is very telling - you have obviously reaped the benefits of being raw. I love how Alissa talks about the difference between 95% raw and 100% raw - basically it's night and day. To paraphrase page 110 - the 5% that you are still eating cooked will keep you in the cycle of craving more cooked food (which I believe). I personally have lost all cravings of every kind. I am no longer "starving" the way I used to. Now I sometimes get hungry - so I'll grab a piece of fruit. But I think the answer to this problem is "just do it" more than anything else. I refuse to handle junk food in my house. If my dh or dd want junk they can get it themselves. If my dh insists on cooking something that will tempt me, I get out of the house or if I can't do that I get out of the kitchen! I do whatever I have to do stay 100%... of course, I am very heavy and I am sick and tired of being that way - I have already lost some weight and my energy is increasing every day.

I encourage you to go 100% starting right now. I honestly believe the transformation I am looking for will not be attained by doing anything less than 100% - and I want it all - the weight loss, the glowing health, the joy I know I am missing out on and the energy level I can only envy in others. For me it's 100% or nothing.

Best wishes, Helen!

Love to all,
Melissa

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Hi Sara,

I'm happy to hear that many people are reading your website, along with the testimonies. I haven't been to your site in a while. I'll have to pop back over there and check it out again :)

Hi Melissa,

I'm looking for that day when I can go 100% raw. I know it will come. It took me 1 1/2 years to wean off of meat and I haven't touched any in over 2+ years. Whenever I try to go 100% I fall off and get discouraged, so I'm working on making permenant changes in different areas. My goal right now is to wean off of grains. I've gone 14 days without grains, then slipped. I'm having more days of no grains then with grains, so I can see progress in this. I have conquered many areas already, but grains have been the big one for me. Probably once I conquer grains, I probably could go all raw after that.

I'm so happy that doing 100% is working for you and that you can resist the "junk" food that your family members bring in. I can resist most, but when they bring in pasta - aaaahhh. But one day the pasta will look just like meat to me - Yucky!!!!

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[Analeah]

That's an amazing story Helen, thanks for posting the link so we can all read it! I can totally relate to what you said about grains. That used to be my biggest weakness (pasta, bread etc). I haven't had any cravings for anything like that though in quite awhile. I have taken to eating a lot of raw grains, perhaps more than I should but it definately keeps me from wanting any bread or other cooked grain. I found raw soaked and sprouted spelt and wheat berries are incredibly tasty in dehydrated bread or even just plain by themselves and now I actually prefer this way over any kind of cooked grain food. I think going 100% is definately important and does make a big difference but you have to do it at your own pace. I am not eating as healthy as I could be (too many nuts and olive oil and whatnot) but I know that as I am transitioning it's important to eat whatever it is I crave in order to not eat cooked food. Thanks again for your post and let us know if there is anything we can do to encourage or support you!

[Kristi]

Hi Helen!

I just got home from taekwondo. Welcome! I remember you from Living and Raw awhile ago when I first tried to stay raw. It didn't work but with more information and more help from friends, I'm back at it.

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Hi Sensei Kristi,

Someone above mentioned that you taught Taekwondo. I teach Wado Ryu. Also have a brown belt in American Eagle Kung-Fu which is a mixture of Taekwondo & Kung Fu.

Thanks for the welcome; and I agree with you, the more people I come in contact with (via bulletin boards, e-mail, & in person), the more raw I become. It's a struggle at times, but I can see over a period of time it IS getting better.

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Hi Analeah,

Thanks for posting your experience with grains. This does seem to be a tough area, but not impossible.

I'll continue reading and continue to get inspired. Thanks everyone.

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[AJ Bodine]

Hi Helen, it's good to see you over here too. I'm planning on trying to split my time a little more between raw journey and here. Seems like two great places to be!

AJ

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Hi AJ,

Yes, this board does seem to be a positive board. Also very active. I think we'll gather more information, inspiration and support from over here too.

I hope RedRose posts soon.

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[Kristi]

Thanks Helen! It is very cool you teach Wado Ryu & have a brown belt in American Eagle Kung-Fu. I just purchases a pair of sais and my friend and I are teaching those to ourselves since our style doesn't use them. I've really gotten into the weapons training....it's become my niche. I'm not the most flexible although I haven't given up. I started only about 3 years ago and I've totally embraced it. I wish I would have found it years ago......like when I was younger. I started at age 37! who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks. I'm 41 and feel great.........well actually I'm a little sore today....overdid it yesterday. We started new fitness classes and I took them all! Not the smartest thing but really fun!!!!!

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Hi Kristi,

That's what I like about the Martial Arts, you can be any age and be able to participate in it. Good for you for getting into at your age. I was in my 20's when I studied American Eagle Kung-Fu, but didn't start Wado Ryu until I was 41. I'm 50 (soon 51). I have studied weapons for about 5 years now and compete with them. Our style doesn't have weapons, but we found an Ishhin-Ryu instructor to come to our school and teach us. I love the weapons over the open-hand katas.

I have found that when I eat high raw, I have none to very little joint problems. But when my raw food intake decreases, my fibromyalgia comes back. After my two classes last night, my knees and elbow were really hurting. My DH made a roast with potatoes and carrots Sunday. He made a ton of potatoes, which I ate (I won't touch meat). I've read that night-shade foods, cooked or raw, affect the joints and boy do they!!!!! So I'm trying to get my raw foods back up. It is so important to me not to hurt when trying to perform for demostrations or competitions.

I've studied Wado-Ryu for 10 years, I am a Nidan, (minus the 2 years that I was bed-ridden), American Eagle Kung-Fu for 4 years and weapons for 5 years, I am a Nidan here too. I either participate or teach in 5-7 classes a week.

I just believe that Diet, Exercise, Rest, Sun, Pure Water, Spiritual Well Being, and Fresh Air are so important to our well being. Currently of these areas, my Diet is my weakest point, hence the reason I'm on the Raw Food Boards to get inspired, supported and maybe kicked in the rear a few times, when needed, to get my act together.

The more I eat raw, the younger I feel and the younger I look and act. I know what the Fountain of Youth is - a Raw Diet (with the other 6 areas mention above).

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[Kristi]

Helen -

That's exactly what has appealed to me.......any age and ability and you can find something in the martial arts. I teach or take 5-7 days a week also. I sometimes do mornings then come back in the evenings. I compete in forms (katas), sparring and weapons......my competition weapon right now is chucks! Love em! I never thought I'd ever be able to do them well enough to test with them let alone compete. Last year I was Indiana State Champ in weapons for my age division (the old broad division, we call it!) What is a Nidan? 2 years bed ridden- oh my! with the fibromyalgia? I was bed ridden for several months and can't imagine longer. I feel like I've only recently (since TKD) got over it. Depression was the main result of my illness that left me bedridden.

What are night-shade foods? I have had terrible trouble with my hips and I drop my knee during certain kicks to compensate for the pain which makes my kicks lousy.

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Hi Kristi,

Nidan is 2nd degree black belt.

Night Shades foods are:

Potatoes
Tomatoes
Green Peppers
Eggplant

Avoid these and it should help with the joint pain.

My 2 years bed-ridden was the most horrible time of my life (if you want to call it a life). Not only was my Fibromyalgia so bad that I couldn't walk, take a cap off a water bottle, or lay to sleep, it was the 3 year long headache that did me in to the point that I planned my suicide. And the fatigue. Unreal! One day I thought if I could just get outside and do something I would feel better. One day I did go outside. I had 12 onion grass plants that needed to be cut back. It took about an hour for me to get my supplies, go out and cut down 1/2 of one plant (each plant was about a foot in diameter) and put everything back away and crawl back into the house. I lived in my recliner and bed for 2 years. You can read my whole store with pictures at:

Helen's testimony with photos (http://www.shazzie.com/raw/transformation/helen.shtml)

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[lil]

Hi Helen!

Nice to see you here! I'm so behind on posts - been very busy the last few days.

Looking forward to your posts.

Hey! I'm a sprout! I'm a sprout!

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Hi Lil,

Thanks for the welcome and congratulations on being a Sprout. Looks like you are very active on the boards here, so will look forward to running across your posts :)

<>< Helen of Tennessee