Fear of 100%

[bellabella]

So, I have been wondering about "transitioning" and doing this gradually or not 100%. I have dramatically increased my raw food intake but haven't gone 100% for various reasons/excuses. Then I began to read further into Alissa's book, and I see now that the BEST way, is 100%. To feel the results, to see the difference, 100% is the way to go, without question. So now I feel motivated and inspired to commit to this for 30 days as of tomorrow. But my problem is this: I have sort of postponed going 100% because I feel that it is so complex, with the sprouting etc, that I am not actually RAW if I havent' sprouted my nuts, etc. Is this true? Can I still consider myself 100% if I eat a handful of just plain nuts? And then I hear that peanuts cannot be raw at all. Are they okay in the shell? I feel like even with my best efforts, so many things aren't raw, I'm bound to slip up and not even know, and I'm scared this will sabotage all of my efforts.
On a side note, I'm a yoga instructor. Does anyone have any experience with raw weight loss and flexibility??
Thanks

[DavidZaneMason]

Opinion:

-Eating raw CAN be as simple as.....a PROCESS of just eating an increasing amount of fresh fruits and vegetables over the course of your lifetime....and never looking back. It's about making fundamental changes in lifestyle and emotional outlook/maturity/responsibility.....to be sure.

-Remember that there are no raw food police. The right process/step is the one that is one small step right in front of where you are now.

-You'll make the right decisions.

-David Z. Mason

[Revvell]

If nuts are raw before sprouting then they are raw and you are eating raw. There is no need to sprout EVER! I NEVER sprout although I'll soak almonds over night.

I live on fresh fruit, fresh veggies, greens, nuts (often unsoaked) and sunflower seeds (unsoaked, unsprouted). IF they are raw, they are raw.

The reason for sprouting some things is to release some prohibitors or something. Who cares? Whatever you are eating raw is better than what you were eating cooked, I'll bet.

Suggestion: find the simplest, easiest recipes you can in Alissa's book; another book; on this forum, another forum.. and... enjoy playing with your food.

My motto ~ KISS

Revvellicious

[kmik]

I found it was easier for me to go 100% than it was to try to transition.

As far as nuts... don't go nuts ;) I've understood that raw peanuts are not healthy, so they have to be roasted... howevery most cashews are heated to shell them. Do you avoid both? Just pick where you want to draw the line, and it often changes. And if you think you're eating something raw, and then later find out you were wrong, as DZ said, the raw police are not going to come and get you. You do the best you can with the knowledge you have.

I hardly sprout anything. It supposedly is better, because the enzyme inhibitors can use up your enzymes in trying to break them down... but my theory is it's still better than using up your enzymes to break down SAD food.

Don't be afraid... try it for a month. But if that sounds too overwhelming, start with a week. It's not pass/fail, its a journey... a very healthy one.

[bellabella]

Thanks for the opinions. Other than the nuts, I guess i wouldn't have even thought to consider that soy sauce wasn't raw, or that the chickpeas I had eaten weren't raw....these things, to me, are slips that are perhaps "forgiveable" on the 30-day challenge and a necessary part of the learning process. I can't always eat food that is organic either, because it's really expensive here...and I hope that doesn't discount all of my efforts otherwise

[kmik]

Every step you take is a step forward... even if it feels like it's backwards, it's still helping you learn, so you're still going forward.

[Nurse in the Raw]

I think people are confused with sprouting and soaking. Soaking nuts allows the enzyme inhibitors to be broken as much so as sprouting does. If you want to eat nuts, soak them overnight, air dry them and then put them in your freezer until you are ready to use them.

If you like the crunchy effect of nuts dehydrate them after soaking.

If you want to eat them raw without soaking or dehydrating, then take a vegetarian enzyme so you can benefit fully from their nutrition.

Easy, peasy, lemon squeezy.

[LaTisha07]

Whats a vegetarian enzyme? Sounds interesting, lol

[bellabella]

Thanks guys! That helps so much!

[Tinacampy]

Hi Bellabella,

I'm a yoga teacher too and the only difference in my practice on raw or SAD was that I felt better in general on raw. My flexibility was the same - depended more on my practice than on my food intake.

That being said, on raw (I generally eat between 75 and 100% raw with slips back to about 10% from time to time) my energy was better, I slept better, I weighed a bit less - all of these worked together to make yoga better for me.

Like the others have said - don't get too caught up in the idea of 100%. If you believe you're eating 100% raw (and that includes cashews, lara bars, etc), then IMO you are. Period. :) Just take it one bite at a time, no guilt, no hesitation. Don't look back. It's a journey. I figure even attempting a high raw diet means I'm a whole lot healthier than I ever was on SAD.

Good luck and Namaste!