100% raw and loving it!

[Aleesha Sattva]

I am so pleased. I just realized, in this moment that I'm 100% raw and have been for over a month now. I love it when a realization hits you... and you know in that moment "hey, I don't think about cooked food anymore... I only think about what live food I'll be eating next" - that's such a great achievement and one I didn't realize would come so easily to me.

I think the reasons I feel this way is I took the time and energy (and money) to equip my kitchen. I rearranged it so I could easily prepare my meals... without having to move 'cooking stuff' out of the way. I gave myself an entire counter, for my champion, my spices, my brita for water... my kumbacha. It's my prep area and no one creates cooked food on that counter (as it's out of the way of the stove anyway).

I also searched for recipes. I purchased a program (macgourmet) to keep the recipes in, so I could find them easily. I listened to what people were saying about different recipes and noted the ones to try first. (not-tuna pate', onion bread, flax crackers, falafels, chili, and of course some raw desserts!!!)

I bought a case of organic bananas and peeled and froze them in ziploc bags so I would have smoothie stuff available at all times. I stocked my kitchen with as many different fruits as I could find and made sure I always have spinach in the fridge.

I bought a variety of raw nuts... to make different things or to snack on.

And I was gentle with myself. If I found myself chewing something cooked I didn't get down on myself... I simply told myself that I would focus on my choices better. Simple really.

And here I am, over a month 100% raw and about 3 months on the road to raw altogether... and I'm happy to say, it's not only yummy but it's easy to eat raw 100%.

I so agree with Alissa (for me that is) I need to do it all the way, in order to release the cravings (which are gone by the way) for cooked foods/cooked choc etc.

All in all... I'm very happy to be living in my light, lean, healthy body!

[Frugal Raw]

What a wonderful and gentle milestone for you!! The transition just happily crept up on you:D Big congratulatory hugs to you:)

Brightest Blessings!

[Aleesha Sattva]

Thanks Mattye. I prefer the things in life which just gently make their way into your day to day routine... like they've always been there http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x87/recyclinggoddess/attachment.php-2.gif

[aliciamatheson]

I love your testimony for so many reasons, but mostly you can see the steps you it took for you to get there and most importantly you recognize your achievement.

There's a quote from a famous yogi "Practice and all will come" and I think you personify that to me this evening! Alicia

[Veganforlife]

That is wonderful! It only gets better from this point on!!!

[Aleesha Sattva]

I love your testimony for so many reasons, but mostly you can see the steps you it took for you to get there and most importantly you recognize your achievement.

There's a quote from a famous yogi "Practice and all will come" and I think you personify that to me this evening! Alicia

thank you.

[spicyfull]

You RAWk...........

[Hannah]

Oh recycling goddess - thank you SO much for sharing your experience - its really inspiring and chock full of great tips! I too am new on this 100% portion of the journey and have found it gently worked its way into my life, and now its just great. Congratulations on your achievement, I look forward to hearing even more! Rawk On!

[Aleesha Sattva]

thanks all!!!!

[oceanee]

Such a wonderful positive account of your experience and so helpful to read. I look forward to being well on my way as you.I stocked my kitchen well, have all the "tools" and am feeling better about raw uncooking , which is a blast I might add. I especially like the "be gentle" part in your writing. Good kind real words.Thanks and good for you, you must feel awesome !
Oceanee

[Aleesha Sattva]

i do i do i do!!!

[oceanee]

i do i do i do!!!

Yippie ya hoo for YOU !!!

[Radiantly Raw]

What a great gentle transition! Good for you!! I'm with you on the 100%, I've been so pleased that the cravings aren't there, what a relief! So glad you're happy!! And these are great tips too!!

[KatK]

Thank you for the tips!

[RawSweetie]

congratulations on such an important milestone! you inspire me to believe I'll be there one day, too. :)

[Aleesha Sattva]

well i'm past the one month mark... since it's feb now not december... but i'm still doing the same stuff. keeping my kitchen filled with raw foods, organizing it for ease for me and slowly working the cooked items into their own little corner far away from my section LOL

i'm taking over!!! LOL i even have everyone drinking green smoothies now! eventually they'll eat a raw veggies (hey i can dream can't i?) giggling...

[lily]

Wonderful, recycling goddess! You're an inspiration.

[commoncents]

and thank you for your story!!!

I have come to the conclusion this weekend that 100% is the only way to go for me. After being two weeks Raw, on Saturday I had some cooked foods at a brunch and afterward became tired and lethargic, barely able to keep my eyes open. I missed that light feeling that I had been experiencing the pas two weeks.

So, yesterday, I started my life 100% and I'm happy to be back at it.

Your words were very encouraging for me!!!!

[Aleesha Sattva]

i'm so happy to hear this!

oh and you know what i've done? i've gone to my favourite restaurant and said, "guys, i'm raw now... so what can you do to make food for me?" so i had a wonderful raw stir fry (with no fry) on a bed of romaine with olive oil and balsamic vinegar! they gave me every veggie they have in the kitchen! it was freakin' huge and *burp* i ate the entire thing! :D

sometimes we just have to ask for what we want/need. after all, if we don't ask, they don't have the opportunity to say yes!

[commoncents]

When I went to the brunch, I sad that they had a fruit plate on the menu and I should have gotten that, but my eatting cooked foods, I got to see how bad they made me feel and feel confident that I'll be able to stay Raw from here on out.

[Vivid Lily]

RawGoodess=Aleesha. I loved what you said about making an area in the kitchen just for your raw food prep. That's a great idea that I'm going to do in my kitchen. Thanks. Suzy

[Aleesha Sattva]

suzy,

i've actually taken over more of the kitchen LOL. i've moved all the cooked food items to the bottom cupboards... and out of the kitchen entirely. this way... i don't have to leave the kitchen to prepare a healthy meal...

hopefully one day... my entire family will choose to be raw *(hey i can dream can't i???)* and we won't have ANY cooked items in the house!

i love what victoria buetenko did when she went raw. she even took a hammer to the microwave! took all her brand new pots and pans and put them on the sidewalk in front of the house... and threw out ALL the food that wasn't raw.

now THAT's making things happen eh?

LOL but i wouldn't do that in my family... unless they all chose to come on board!

[lore-ah]

My family would kill themselves if I did that, but I am sneaking more and more raw things on their plates.

[Aleesha Sattva]

i figure... we can shine the light on ourselves... and others WILL see.

[jacsam]

Congrats.....loved reading about your success.

[Aleesha Sattva]

i love sharing it. it's so nice hearing people say i look thinner... i love putting on clothes and finding them too big.

i just loooove this process. even though my release has slowed down... i am feeling so great... i'm cool being patient waiting for the 'goal weight' to arrive.

[islesgirl]

Would you mind telling me how long it took you to release 65 lbs. (a marvelous accomplishment :D ) as I am more than a little discouraged today with the cravings I've been battling for a few weeks now. Thanks for your help.

Sue.

[Aleesha Sattva]

I released almost all of that weight in 3 months! I've released little 'weight' since then but am still releasing inches!

I ate like crazzzy. Never said no to anything raw I wanted... no limitations at all. Since then, I've added a lot of green smoothies to my daily diet... one or two daily... and still do juice feasts occassionally and eat less nuts and seeds and avocados... but still use olive oil and coconut oil on an almost daily basis.

I still don't limit myself... If I'm hungry... I eat (something raw)... although now I'm working out at the gym 4-6 times a week. I wasn't doing much those first few months... I started yoga once a week and walked my dogs daily but that's it.

If you have any more questions... fire away!

Here's my article, in my magazine about this process it'll fill in the blank for ya

http://www.timelessspirit.com/JAN08/walk.shtml

[islesgirl]

Thanks Aleesha, I especially liked what you said about eating like crazy. I have read a lot about RAW food and its benefits but I had forgotten that it can rid us of cravings. I must read Alissa's book again too. I am so disgusted with myself for getting off track. How many times will I fail before I get a grip?!:( I have to get over my "fear" of food and yet the ironic, insane thing is that I will binge on stuff that isn't food at all!? Why do I do that? and then when it comes to eating everything raw, fear overeating it? It doesn't make any sense. I just have to continue to glean experience and encouragement here on this forum, I guess. Thanks again for sharing and for doing so, so quickly.:)

Sue.

[Aleesha Sattva]

Sue,

There is no failure... there are simply lessons. We learn more by falling on our face that we do by walking upright!

:D
Aleesha