Raw Questions...

[Jalapenopope]

Well I read Alissa's essential foods etc and went shopping and somehow it was 161 dollars.....but me in the organic vegetable section was sort of like placeing somewhere very rural in the middle of New York.....I was lost confused and people were moving along quick....
I did notice though I was the only fat person. Which says something about people that eat these foods but also was embarrasing to me for some reason. I kept thinking these folks were looking at me and saying yeah right.
Oh I had questions. What do we drink allday? Water...Second Question I bought Frozen fruit because it wa sin organic section and was an organic frozen product is that ok? Finally my whole life I've counted fat grams...how can I have nuts, olive oil...I bet i have to really limit those things....
Thank you for reading this and I am thrilled to have made it to 449 pm on this....I actually have to applaud the minutes....

JP

[sweetgoddess]

Jean Paul, people are looking at you and thinking "YEAH FOR HIM."
Most people research and implement right nutrition because they had an issue they wanted resolved. Most people aware of organic and shopping in that section know its benefits and understand. Believe that.

water, juices, herbal teas, smoothies, you can make raw lemonade and ice tea...for drinks.

Frozen fruit isnt the absolute top choice, but personally I think its grand. I use it. Its a great step and yummy in my tummy. :p

As far as fats and nuts etc....dont fear them. There may come a point down the road you will want to limit them a bit, and how you are feeling will let you know when youve reached that point-but personally I wouldnt start out like that. Give yourself all the freedom you can while implementing so many wonderful changes. That includes chucking counting out the window if you want.
All I say here is just my one little perspective, and I know nothing! ha! ;)

I am so glad to see you posting and quizzing...go for it !
Bless you.

[VeganVixen]

s.g. is right ,they are thinking wow hes changing his lifestyle :)

You know what ,after my gallbladde removal I gained 20 ls on my already thin frame ,and weighing 140 made me feel the exact same way -constantly judged and looked down upon...........we all feel that way -It helps to think positive ,like tell yourself wow these strawberries will make me feel great! ,get what looks good ,and go for the colors! like:


I would try to get different colors of fuits and veggies in also

like red (strawberries,tomatos,razberries,watermelon,apples ect...);

PURPLE (VERY GOOD FOR YOU) from blueberries,dark grapes,blackberries,beets/ juice, cabbage

green - apples,leafy greens,cucumbers,green grapes ,melons

orange-oranges,carrots,cantalope,nectarines,peaches,mango s,yams and sweet potatoes

yellow/white - squash ,bananas,cauliflower,jicama, turnips,corn,rutabegas (this group isnt as important as the ones above)


hope this helps!

[asil]

Hey there,

I know what you mean about feeling out of place. I weighed well over 200 pounds when I started yoga. I felt like an immense freak in yoga pants. I'm still working on weight loss, but I never feel out of place anymore (well, rarely, anyway) because I'm so proud of how how far I've come, after a lifetime of being a lazy-a$$ exercise-phobe :D . And when I see an overweight person walk into a yoga class, I think: you rock!

So I say to you: You rock!!!!!

[VeganVixen]

Hey there,

I know what you mean about feeling out of place. I weighed well over 200 pounds when I started yoga. I felt like an immense freak in yoga pants. I'm still working on weight loss, but I never feel out of place anymore (well, rarely, anyway) because I'm so proud of how how far I've come, after a lifetime of being a lazy-a$$ exercise-phobe :D . And when I see an overweight person walk into a yoga class, I think: you rock!

So I say to you: You rock!!!!!


great mantra but one correction: Rawk :p ;) :D

[Jalapenopope]

Thank you for the prompt posts....it is hard my first raw night..I'm so use to my poor lifestyle and ending the night with tv and well you know plenty of comfort...I have lots of Raw food and I am going to be good.....
I appreciate the support...did I mention this is a tough night?

[asil]

Hey, just one more thing. I know you've probably heard this before but if you're having a rough night, best not to deprive yourself. eat heartily, enjoy, no guilt. Raw stuff is good for you!

[asil]

great mantra but one correction: Rawk :p ;) :D

Hee hee, you crack me up VV. But you'll just have to bear with me. I'm an English teacher and I just can't bring myself to use cute spellings. ;)

[RawTruth]

Oh, you're so great, John Paul! Yes, it can be difficult at first ... and occasionally after that, too, to be honest. What may be most difficult for you is giving up the concepts of counting calories, counting fat grams, balancing the (supposedly-essential) food groups, getting the right amount of protein, etc., ad nauseum. You do not have to think about, much less worry about, these things now. What freedom!! Alissa addresses this in her book really well.

What worked for me was doing her 4 week menu plan. The parts that worked the best were having dessert around all the time and having too much food in the house!! For at least the first month, like she says, you just eat plenty of food! But, you probably know this already from reading her book.

Have you considered changing your night time routine? For example, since eating comfort foods is paired in your mind with sitting and watching TV, what can work is substituting the TV watching with a different activity -- perhaps reading or taking a walk or talking on the phone or walking your dog (do you have one? ;) ). That way, you're not fighting the temptation all night long. You can trick yourself by mixing up your usual routines ... hey, as long as you're doing something as "radical" as changing to all raw, you might as well change some of the other things, too.

And ... when you're having a tough night (or day!), reading and posting on here can help a lot. I know that, at the beginning, I got so much inspiration from reading people's daily journals. I just didn't feel so alone that way. And, so many people are just so honest and open in their journals about how they're struggling -- it's kinda like a support group.

Best of luck as you begin this exciting new life, John Paul. Expect big changes!

[VeganVixen]

ooh ,also what has helped me is trading eating/watching tv for hydration(water,tea,lemonade)/deep breath and tv - and I go outside and eat on our porch ~maybe that would help you ,along with the wonderful suggestion of turning off the tv for a productive cause!

[RawTruth]

Yeah, right, Ms. Oprah Fan!!!

[VeganVixen]

Oh (hee hee) I feel like I know her!

[RawTruth]

... and why are you up at this hour, little vampirette? (Or is the question why I'm still up at almost 3 a.m.?) Yikes!

John Paul -- please forgive us for our little sidetrack on your thread. I'll end it now, and, if VeganVampire ... oops, I mean Vixen wants to continue this, she can send me a separate email!!!

Back to you, John Paul. Hopefully, you're sound asleep and dreaming of being buried under a delicious organic green salad with chunks of avocado and a delicious dressing!

[Jalapenopope]

12 replies...a personal email with many suggestions and as I sit here drinking a lemonade (which my lord is incredible 5 organic apples and half a lemon..I hate cleaning the juicer though after) I think day 2 is going to be better.

I will try substituting TV it will be easier soon because I have a class starting this week...As I embark on all of these changes...I decided to go to Grad School maybe I'll get out of the phone company..been there 8 years.

I made it last night with the help of this board....and I know Alissa has this 4 week plan in her book..but I have to admit I'm using her freedom approach and doing her recipes I find most interesting or....eating salads which I'm liking.....

I am going to check out this store today..and this Raw Truth member is an angel for sending me it...So I'm going to shower ..shave..church (Gonna Ask the big guy for some help can't hurt) and organic shopping...

DAY 2.....

[RawTruth]

Grad school sounds exciting, JP. What will you be studying? That should definitely keep you busy ... especially if you'll be working full time at the same time.

What a great opportunity to plan and organize your food. I take a cool pak and/or bags of things with me when I'm going to be gone from the house for almost any time at all. I want to be prepared should I get hungry ... or get tempted by restaurants and drive-throughs ... or will be around people who are eating cooked. I always take more than I think I'm going to eat. A few times when I've been away from home without food longer than I'd planned, I still got tempted by all that old stuff. So, I always grab something even if it's only a couple of bananas.

Keep looking up, JP. If you slip, just acknowledge it (DON'T beat yourself up about it), and move on. No reason to slide all the way down that slippery slope. It's just a slip. Not important enough to get upset about. Keep being kind to yourself.

Were you able to get to church and/or the market today?

[Wendy]

I don't think people in the organic section are judging you. I don't think things like that, and if someone is, well, that's their problem!

Also, don't worry about the fat in the nuts and oils. Look at this way, you counted all those things before and gained weight, doesn't that mean that it didn't work??

Do it this way then judge for yourself.

[Jalapenopope]

I'm having my first ever smoothie by the way, in my blender/smoothie machine. It isn't quite as sweet as I would like however it sure is filling and pretty. This diet is causing me to find my feminine side because everything is gorgeous, especially the people.
You all meant alot to me yesterday. Raw, I will be attending Point Park College here in Pittsburgh and studying for my MA Mass Communications/Journalism. My class tommorrow night is Writing the Nonfiction book. I plan on journaling alot about it.
I am packing a cooler full of raw food......great board suggestion for me, heading to work, and realizing that today is day one, but day 3 of much more healthy food, life, and friendship.
I cut the grass yesterday and got a heck of a sweat in, which was good too.....I get my utilities included if I care for grass and snow!!! Not bad huh!

JP

[RawTruth]

I'm having my first ever smoothie by the way, in my blender/smoothie machine.
Wow - your first smoothie! I'm jealous -- it'd be great to experience that again for the first time. What an adventure you've started on. Maybe, in later months, you'll even try a green smoothie.


It isn't quite as sweet as I would like
I think your taste buds will adapt. Soon, you'll really start detecting the natural sweetness in fruit. It may take a while, but don't be impatient; just remember how long your senses have been bombarded with the hypersweetness of those refined sweeteners that are added to Cokes, candies, pastries, and even ketchup and microwave meals ... to all processed foods, really. That's why they're so addicting (no accident, I think). Once you've been eating naturally for a while, though, you won't believe the tastes you'll experience.


My class tommorrow night is Writing the Nonfiction book.
That sounds like a great class. I was in the communication field before I returned to school to get my teaching credential. Hey, maybe you'll end up writing a book about your raw journey!!


I care for grass and snow!!!
Not at the same time, I hope! :eek:

How did it go with your cooler of food? Sometimes I power my way through every single thing I pack. But, the great thing about this is ... no guilt!

[Jalapenopope]

That cooler idea was great....and it is empty....lol
I even liked my sprout salad for lunch....
As for dinner I'm going to think about that while I have a smoothie. I don't know if you recall me complaining about cleaning the juicer but cleaning the smoothie blender is easy!

I want to thank everyone that is chipping in with me and helping out. It means alot. I had thrown in the towel. someone made a weight remark to me today...you know how friends think it doesn't hurt you if they say something...And I thought to myself...well like you all say let go of the negative.

This 9 hours until crackers are made or whatever it is...well that is frustrating but I'm going to watch the process on the dvd....

[RawTruth]

I know what you mean about being frustrated with the dehydrating time. That was a stumbling block for me at first. Trust me, after a while you'll just automatically calculate the soaking, sprouting, and dehydrating time into your food prep. It is really a foreign concept at first to think a day or two ahead when making food. Last week, I made granola, Pizza Bread from Alissa's book and also some Sunny Patties from Elyse Markowitz's book (the patties aren't so great, but I added different spices and am eating them anyway), so that was a day and a night to soak and sprout, then another night to dehydrate. But ... it's worth it to have those things on hand now. Sounds like you have plenty of things in the fridge anyway to munch on while you wait for crackers. Oh, wow. Crackers. Crackers with guacamole. Crackers for avo/tomato/lettuce sandwiches. Crackers to scoop salsa up with. Dang. Now I'm gonna have to make up some crackers, too.

Yeah, a blender type appliance is way easier to clean than a juicer. Hopefully, you don't have a GreenStar or Champion type; those are evil things to clean -- so many parts to take apart.

As far as remarks about weight -- I don't know what your personality is, but I try to defuse things with humor. Like, I'd respond (with a shocked look on my face) -- What? I'm heavy? Why didn't anyone tell me? Yeah, it could be a teensy sarcastic (depending on your tone of voice), but it could definitely get the point across that you're well aware of your body (hello! you are living in it! duh -- how insulting that anyone would think it wouldn't bother you!). Of course, your style might be more like just looking them straight in the eyes and calmly saying That hurts my feelings. Ha! Bet they won't be saying anything after that!

[VeganVixen]

hee hee ,good ones r.t.! I was made fun of in high school for being strange (ha ,I am so proud that those shallow kids thought I was the strange one) anyways ,I used to say "Christa 's not in right now -please leave youre opinions AFTER the tone" -If it didnt change theyre evil ways ,it DID scare them -lol!