Where to start? ?

[KissyKate]

I am convinced that eating raw is what I need to do. And I am motivated to do it.


Now I just need to figure out how to get started.:confused:

Do you gradually incorporate more raw or eliminate non-raw, processed foods all together (cold turkey)?

I am a major food and alcohol addict, so I fear that if I don't just full-blown dive in, that I will get a taste for my temptation and fall off the raw wagon.

I do however fear that going full-blown raw will be too difficult for me to keep up with and leave me feeling too deprived, and that in the long run I would not succeed at going all raw.

Any help, experience or advice is greatly appreciated!

[Veganforlife]

First - welcome
Second - purchase Alissa's book and DVD
Third - green smoothies until you've read said book and watched said DVD
Fourth - I went into it 100%. Not everyone chooses that...I felt it was better for my body.
Fifth - listen to RAWKIN RADIO - all the podcasts that Alissa and Revvell have out there. http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=24

That should get you started...

[StarFire]

First - welcome
Second - purchase Alissa's book and DVD
Third - green smoothies until you've read said book and watched said DVD
Fourth - I went into it 100%. Not everyone chooses that...I felt it was better for my body.
Fifth - listen to RAWKIN RADIO - all the podcasts that Alissa and Revvell have out there. http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=24

That should get you started...

VeganforLife - said it all... Alissa's book and DVD will help guide you successfully into transitioning to the raw lifestyle, whether you want to transition slowly -- or jump in with both feet! She even has a 30 day guide in her book (right down to the grocery list) and for people like me that had no clue what to do or how to do it... the book and the dvd were the most valuable tools I had to help me!

RAWK ON!! Blessings on your journey!

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/sun.gif

[Bampot]

I agree with veganforlife - get Alissa's book and dvd, and any other books on raw that catch your fancy. Read alot, look through this forum for ideas for recipes - it's a great resource and one that I would be completely stuck without. Ask lots of questions, there's people who've been there and done it, got the t-shirt and they're bound to be able to offer some tips (I'm still a newbie so I'm not speaking about myself here!)

I'd say starting out, plan to start over a weekend or next time you've got a few quiet days. Get some recipe ideas before hand, buy in lots of fresh produce and just play around. Keep it simple if you want - smoothies (green or otherwise) are delicious and simple to make, salads of course are easy - you can be as adventurous or simple with it as you want.

Just say you'll have a couple of days of all raw and see how you get on. Then after that you may have an idea of if you are able / want to carry on 100% or if you need to break yourself in a bit more gently. For me I'm not 100% yet as I'm still figuring things out and need to get a bit more equipment - things like crackers are my stumbling block and I don't have a dehydrator yet, but apart from that I'm getting there.

Do what feels right for you, don't be scared - see it as an adventure! and please don't beat yourself up if you find you still need some non- raw food to begin with - it's a big change, and a journey. Enjoy! :)

[Revvell]

There's no such thing as "falling off the raw wagon". You'll most likely eat raw for awhile, take care of the monkey minds lil fears and eat/drink whatever, then wander back to raw again, then the monkey mind will jump in with it's fears and temptations, eat/drink whatever... then back to raw until you can finally calm the little chatterer and enjoy eating raw! Simple!

The best place to start is as Vegan For Life says. I would start with the first RawkinRadio show here: http://rawcast.rawkinradio.com/monthly/2007/03.aspx. LOTS of good information on that one.

Most all, just play with your food and enjoy the process.

Revvell

[Nurse in the Raw]

If you have addictions you think you will struggle with, you might want to juice fast first for a few days.

[KissyKate]

Do you think I can go ahead and dive right in with the info that I do have, I don't have Alyssa's book yet, and won't be able to buy it till payday, on Wed.

In the meantime, I'm thinking I can just eliminate the crap from my diet and eat more veggs and fruits? Until I at least read the book and get on the 30 day plan??

Or would it be best to collect all my data, have all my ducks in a row, be fully prepared, stocked up, ect. before I dive into this?

Thanks for any thoughts and words of wisdom, to this very overwhelmed yet excited newbie!!

[rawzeit]

Eating raw is really simple. You don't even need all the fancy equipment. Eat fruits and salads; don't eat anything from a bottle, can, carton, jar, or other kind of package. Tadaa... :)

[littlemarie]

Eating raw is really simple. You don't even need all the fancy equipment. Eat fruits and salads; don't eat anything from a bottle, can, carton, jar, or other kind of package. Tadaa... :)

Thank You!

[Shoney]

was both the easiest and hardest route for me. Easy because there was a clear line drawn, but hard because of the detox and mental jump it took. And when I slipped up, I figured it was over and I might as well fall all the way off the wagon.

Transitioning has taken thus far several months, months which have included not even being vegan for awhile. It has taken me a long time to not beat myself up for mistakes, but with this kind of a major life change, transitioning slowly has also shown me that I can do it, and helped me see errors in my thinking that messed me up when I went 100% right off the bat.

If I had gone into this initially thinking of it as an adventure that would require I change how I think about not just food, but myself, it would have been a lot easier.

Sometimes it takes a bit of experimenting to find what works best. Good luck!

[aililiu]

i jumped in 100%. i had to. i was so addicted to food, and nothing else had ever broken that. im sooooo glad i just did it, instead of transitioning. i still get cooked food cravings sometimes but i dont dwell on it because i made this cement decision that nothing cooked would pass my lips. it means you dont really have to think about it, its such a clean, clear easy rule.

also if you dont go 100%, your cooked food cravings will always be there. if you go 100%... they WILL go away :) im not there yet but i know it will happen :)

good luck :) youll love it