Just Ordered

[Deni]

Hi Everyone, I just ordered the book and dvd and I can't wait to get started. I am in desperate need of a complete overhaul. The thought of going raw kinda scares me but I'm certianly going to give it a shot. I have nothing to loose and everything to gain! Looking forward to taking my journey with you!
Hugs,
Deni ;)

[Revvell]

.... and welcome. What about going raw scares you? Maybe some here can assist in allaying your fears.

Injoy ~

Revvell

[sweetgoddess]

Deni, a warm welcome to you! I know change can be scary, true. But I am positive if you give this a go your fears will be quickly alleviated, because some of the results are quick, and some of the results are beyond expectation. As you, said, you have nothing to lose.

And this forum is a great place to explore your fears. I wish you all the best as you explore raw living.

Warmly~

[Deni]

.... and welcome. What about going raw scares you? Maybe some here can assist in allaying your fears.

Injoy ~

Revvell

Everything about going raw scares me! I am a meat eater so heading right into raw will be a huge, huge step. I'm also addicted to sugar and carbs. I did stop drinking Pepsi on Christmas Eve 2004 so I have at least been a little over 3 months off that aweful stuff! :) I really feel like hell all the time. I weigh about 70 pounds more than I should and have just kept going up on my weight. My blood pressure is borderline and I know in my gut, that I have to make a life style change now or I will be miserable and sick forever. I'm only 45 but I feel 20 years older! I have been going to the gym 3 -4 days a week and it isn't making much differance in my weight although I feel my heart getting stronger...that is a plus. So you see, as much as going raw scares me I know that I have to give it a shot. I owe that to my body, my mind and my family. So here's a question. What is the best way to appraoch raw? Is it to gradually go raw or jump in 100% ? What about food cravings? Oh how I hate food cravings!! LOL Help!!!! ;)

[DotfromOz]

I'm 55 and wasn't able to get my weight down with watching diet carefully and exercising. My doctor has been saying I need to think about blood pressure meds, but I'm eager to see what raw eating does for my blood pressure. Haven't checked it since going 100% but I'd bet there's a difference as I don't have the weird full-head feeling I used to have when I'd get stressed that I bet was elevated bp.

I would REALLY encourage you to go 100% and stay with it for a 30-Day Challenge. Really, REALLY encourage you to do that!

I worked up to it with 70-80% raw for a little over a month, gradually adding another 100% day here and there as I went along. That worked to motivate me to want to feel even better by going 100%, but Alissa's right that it doesn't work for most people as any cooked food just keeps that cooked food addiction going and makes it too easy to fall back into old familiar eating patterns. I felt I had NO choice as I absolutely had to feel better and to get my weight down, so I've been very highly motivated to succeed. Plus, as my body got more used to feeling great on raw food, I began to get sick from the cooked meal I ate once a day, to the point that I just didn't want any cooked food anymore. So, I've had a built-in motivator in that sense.

The weight is just dropping off me. I've gone from a size 10 two weeks ago (and that was a snug size 10) to a size 8 last week and this week a 6 is getting baggy already!

Which is not to say that everyone will have my kind of luck, but I am just as totally dedicated to staying 100% as I could possibly be. I have the energy level I had at around age 10 after years of coming home from work so exhausted I just could not keep my house from getting horribly cluttered. I'm tackling it in stages and am making tremendous progress clearing it out and cleaning things up already!

So, give going 100% right away some serious consideration. I bet you won't be sorry.

[Revvell]

What Dot said. I don't have as many obvious challenges as many here because I've been vegetarian for over 18 years yet, even with that, having a weak constitution, health has been a challenge.

Since going raw, hot flashes have basically disappeared (only when I ate soy did they get worse ~ I know, I know ~ yet soy did NOT help me!). I have other things going on which I am looking to improve on ~ memory, eyes, gums/teeth (not related to raw/cooked yet "hoping" I can keep the teeth I have).

The one major thing I notice is, I can get up at 3-4 a.m. and stay up until 10 whereas previously I had to nap. I still do that on occasion yet not as often.

I would recommend you look at some of the pics/journals here. That would motivate you and please, if you don't have it, get Alissa's book and vid. Read it! It's VERY informative....and trust me on this ~ IF you do the food program correctly and 100% you will feel the most abundant and nourished you've ever felt.

Injoy ~

Revvell

[Deni]

Thanks everyone for your warm welcome and great advice!! What a friendly group of people you all are. I can't wait for my book and dvd to get here so I can get started! :p ;)

Big Hugs,
Deni

[Raw Jewelrylady]

Hi Deni, Welcome to a great forum. I am new to 100% RAW, & was about 50 % for a few weeks until I got my supplies. The DVD & book are AWESOME. I really think the DVD helps to see how to do it !!!! :) :) Alissa makes it sooo easy.

I am 44, have tried everything to lose weight & I also have some health problems. I was feeling that fear, so I was having all those "craving" foods before I went 100 % . Today is day 5, all Raw & I can tell you the difference is unbeleivable. My energy is through the roof. I have fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue & was napping 2-3 hours per day, sleeping 9-10 hours night.

I also want you to know that for the first time I am doing better as the days go on, instead of worse, like all the other diets. My "cravings" are leaving. I really cannot believe how much easier this is than anything. I am not looking at this as a "diet" but a new way of life.

I think the "fear" comes because this is so different. I just make sure that I have all my favorite foods around (guacamole/hummus/flax crackers/smoothies/nuts). I can honestly say that I haven't had those cravings, as I don't want to spoil how well I feel.

OK, so I'm new, but I just wanted you to know that this does work.Good luck. Keep coming to the board for support & ideas. Keeping connected w/other does help. These people are the greatest. :p :p :p Good luck..
Lana Q.

[angelandarose]

Hi Deni,

OH I hear your fears. I was a HUGE meat eater, I am/was a Hunter so meat was my life, it was my justification for hunting. I have been Raw for over a month now and started the 30 day Raw Challenge April first. So I've been raw 5 weeks now (1week of that 100% raw). I have lost 15lbs. I feel better that I've felt in months/years!

My advice is read and read and read everything you can on this site. This is the most awesome place. I to am awaiting on Alissa's book and DVD's but what got me started on this journey was a book called Eating for Beauty. I've been having a lot of luck with the search engine in my questioning about product or advice and such.

Right now I've not gotten fancy with any recipes, I just grab a peice of fruit or hand full of nuts when I get the muchies. I do make big salads and such. But the way I've done this is just very easy and simple. I'm hoping to get a dehydrator soon so I can add some variety. And I can't wait to get Alissa's book I hear there are lots of good recipes in it. :D

Keep talking, asking questions and HAVE FUN!

Love,
Angie