Things one needs to do before going raw, making a list. Non-food related.

[fuggles]

Please add your own.

This is a few of the non-food things I did.


Got blackout curtains, -for better sleep.

No longer use commercial shampoo and conditioner.

No longer use commercial washing up powder.

Removal of metal fillings.

Household cleaning products, all gone.

Hand cleaner, all commercial ones removed.

Chlorine Filter on Shower head.

Please add some more, I want to make a big list of them. There are definitely more that i havent thought of.

[Mitja]

Removal of silverware, tupperware, china, dishwasher... :D

[Rawkinlocs]

You don't have to do these things prior to going raw. Most times, once a person makes the decision to eat raw foods, as time goes on they make other lifestyle changes. But I just don't want members (mainly new ones) to feel they have to or need to do these things before they can go raw...that's not true. The only thing one "needs" to do before going raw is to make the decision and do it. All else (changing what products you use, etc.) will fall into place eventually if that is the person's desire to do so. Many raw fooders eat raw but still choose to color their hair or drink alcoholic beverages or use plastic or... So, it's moreso a personal choice than what one needs/has to do.

Some folks learn about plastics or metal fillings or eating all organic, etc. before ever having even heard of eating raw so it would be reverse for them...they'd be already doing all the other stuff and then eventually would say, "Hey, if I'm doing all of this, I should be eating healthier too!" But again, some raw fooders make the dietary change first and foremost and then later on down the line, decide to make other changes in other areas of their lives.

[Dakini]

I don't know about removing your fillings, but I'd definitely recommend cleaning out your fridge and making the placement of blenders, ect more user friendly! And set up a good place to put all your fresh produce!

[apower2me408]

Thanks Rawkinlocs. I definately dont see myself getting rid of my silverware or cleaning products. How else do I get the mold off my shower without bleach? I know its not good for the environment or my own lungs, but I dont know any other way. And I like to eat my fruit salad with a fork!

[sport]

Get a dry skin brush.
Get a rebounder.

[Revvell]

Jeeez. That sounds like too much work and reasons to procrastinate to me. By the time you finish the list you could have been raw for about 2 years ~ or more.

All I did was get a VM, an fp and a "d"... didn't have ANY of those thing previously. Then, started eating raw.

Everything else I've done has been ongoing over the last 8 or 9 years. Why make it more difficult than it can be? Just start eating raw!


Revvell

[Eva]

fuggles!! You really don't have to do all of that. If you're looking for something to do first before going all raw, start drinking green smoothies! (To start, that's a blended mix of 40% green leafy veggies and 60% of usually sweet fruit like pineapples or bananas along with some water and maybe ice if you like it).

Then go raw once you're used to having those every day.

THEN do all of that other stuff.

I have found that I have made plenty of other changes after going raw, but they have mostly been gradual as it made sense. Sometimes too much change can be overwhelming! Take it step by step! Don't let the amount of steps you would need to take prevent you from making the first step forward!!

And good luck! It's really a great journey to be on. I have had so much benefit from this change in the way I eat. I think it's truly a miracle!

[justinesmith]

Listen to Ms. Eva, she is right on every count! :D

[apower2me408]

The only thing I did to go raw was buy the food. I aready had a magic bullet blender. I do have another person in the house, so I cant get rid of his stuff.

[discodancer]

Okay, I give up. What is an fp???? I assume a VM is a Vitamix, and a "d" must be a dehydrator. Am I the only one who doesn't have a dehydrator?! It just seems like a lot of trouble to use one, and I really like the simplicity and ease of how I have been eating.

But I might be open to convincing if others say a dehydrator is really necessary for eating raw over time. What kind of dehydrator is the best, anyway, without spending a zillion dollars?

By the way, I did recently switch all my shampoo, cleaning products, etc, to healthy ones. I agree; those changes will come over time. Or that has been my experience.

Thanks, everyone--I love reading your comments.

[slickerk]

I think an "fp" would be a food processor.
I make soap and my sister makes me shampoo and conditioner...so, I am good there. I use 1 cleaning product for everything, it is awesome stuff, safe for the environment and my children have even bathed in it.
I can't really see myself getting rid of my silverware, what do I eat my salad with then?

[Freshie]

If you can't afford organic, spray your fruits and veg with vinegar then hydrogen peroxide and then rinse. (Could reverse order with vinegar and hydrogen peroxide) I hear it's the best way to get pesticides off!

[justinesmith]

Okay, I give up. What is an fp????


"fp" is food processor. :D

[Revvell]

Okay, I give up. What is an fp???? I assume a VM is a Vitamix, and a "d" must be a dehydrator. Am I the only one who doesn't have a dehydrator?! It just seems like a lot of trouble to use one, and I really like the simplicity and ease of how I have been eating.


Yes, fp is food processor and no, you're not the only one who doesn't have one. Storm and Jinjee have 5 children and they don't have one. Many others on this board don't as well. IF you want one, might as well go for the best ~ Excalibur 9-tray and there are many reasons why that one as opposed to others. All that is explained in probably a "zillion" threads on this board.

I like having one because I can make crackers, cookies, breads and more and can heat up various things I do make. Haven't used mine in quite some time until recently and am enjoying it again.

Revvell

[domestic goddess]

Some of the dehydrator recipes are fabulous, but...for me the time involved in prepping them is a turn off. I have 3 little ones and just don't have that kind of time. Quick and easy works for me. I mostly live on green smoothies so for me I'd say all you need is a good blender!

[ShelShel]

Honestly, if you really want to go raw...you don't need any of these things...or to change anything. You just chose foods that are raw and eat. It's when you want to have more options that these items (blender,food processor, and dehydrator) come into play.

I didn't have anyones book...or know about blending this to get a smoothie or dehydrating that to make a veggie burger...I just new if it was from the produce section...I liked it, that was what I could eat as long as I ate it as is! That's it. Very simple. I think we tend to make more elaborate things to consume out of variety...instead of need.

If you want to go raw...go to the grocery store and buy: bananas, apples, pear, nectarines, mangos...lettuce all kinds, carrots, mushrooms...celery and broccoli...cauliflower...herbs...and just eat. :D Simple No!??!?! Yes!

Nothing has to change in your life except what you put in your mouth...don't cook it! :p Eat Raw!

[Vivafree2]

BELIEVE - that the raw is going to help with health poroblems.

READ a book or two, go to forums and see some RAW celebrities on you tube, live or TV - this helped me to get my own point of view - not someone's else.

BLENDER - buy or borrow.

FIND SUPPORT Group - i didn't and i failed many times, forum is good but few raw friends would be better. I still didn't find raw events i can attend and meet raw crowd, but i think it is essential!

[shakti17]

I agree with the "just do it" philosophy.... i m returning to raw after about a year eating some cooked foods while pregnant (truthfully, an excuse!). Here's what I'll do to begin again:

1. Make a decision to eat exclusively raw foods.
2. Eat raw!
3. Shop for the living foods I am craving - romaine, oranges, olives, apples and for easy prep raw foods for my son.
4. I like the green smoothie idea
5. Get rid of the cooked foods in my kitchen:)
6. Prepare for my raw classes
7. Find a raw buddy (anybody want a raw buddy? Especially if you live in NYC)

Best to Everyone!;)

[GoingtoRAW]

I didn't do anything special either. I went to an information session at a raw food store/restaurant, sampled some of the food, bought a few of their raw meals and went to the store to buy fruits, veggies and nuts. That was it! Then gradually I started to get appliances. I bought an inexpensive blender which I just recently upgraded to a high powered blender. I already had a juicer. I bought a food processor and a food dehydrator over a year and a half ago and I must say I haven't used either because the more I ate raw the less I really needed/wanted the processed raw foods. This is so simple - you really don't have to make major changes just to change the way you eat. Go buy some raw, fresh foods and start eating! Any other changes will come about when you're ready!!!:D

[suebwaters]

I began on my better health path by making the change to buy and eat organic foods which lead me to looking into better alternative for cleaning products and beauty products. The chemical cleaning products are all gone and I've replaced them with a steam mop and hand held steamer to clean all over the house and it also freshen and clean my furniture and curtain. It works great and most importantly....no chemicals. Beauty products are the same, they are all natural/organic....shampoo's, soaps, styling products (hair spray), makeup and lotions. But these were changes I made over time and before going raw. These changes help me to gradually look into better ways of preparing foods that were more healthy which led me to raw foods. As stated earlier in all the comments, these are changes that may come after or before making the change to go raw but are not nessary before you make the commitment to become a raw fooder.

I am in the middle of my fourth week of being 100% raw and I feel GREAT! So far I have lossed a total of twenty pounds! Great comments guys!!! Your comments was one of the reasons I decided to purchase Alissa's Book and become a raw fooder. Thanks!

suebwaters

[andra]

I am a big believer in keeping it simple. If you want to go raw, all you need to do is buy raw foods and stock your fridge/kitchen with what you will need.

I would suggest taking any dry goods that you have but will no longer need i.e. dried rice, pastas, canned foods etc. to your local food bank, as most food banks are running low this time of year.

Also, browsing raw food sites (i.e. here) and looking at raw food books will provide inspiration and ideas for the future.....but really, you can start now and be as prepared as you need to be.

Good luck!

andra

[StarFire]

I agree with rawkinlocs.... the only thing I would put on a list - if I had a list... is... http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/author.gif

GET ALISSA'S BOOK AND DVD... and yes :eek: ...I'm serious... :D


best investment EVER....

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

[RawHeaven]

Then gradually I started to get appliances. I bought an inexpensive blender which I just recently upgraded to a high powered blender. I already had a juicer. I bought a food processor and a food dehydrator over a year and a half ago and I must say I haven't used either because the more I ate raw the less I really needed/wanted the processed raw foods.

This is exactly why I'm hesitant to buy a dehydrator and food processor. The more raw I become the more simple I am with my food choices. I used to really need the mock crackers and breads. Now I do not care for them at all. I remember when I first became raw -- some friends and I went to SF's Cafe Gratitude. I lost my mind! I mentally made a note of all of the recipes I was going to make and I bought the owner's prep book as soon as it came out. Ha! I have made exactly one (1) recipe from that book, LOL.

To the original poster, now I just eat simple meals and green smoothies. That's all I want and my body is happy too.

All I need is my inexpensive blender. (A vitamix is my reward to myself for completing a full year 100% - when I can reach this milestone I can go shopping). :p

Raw doesn't have to be this huge transformative thing, you can make it as simple or as complex as you want it to be. I am finding that I'm also becoming more green in other areas of my life - using non-aluminum deodorant, switching to non-toxic cleaning and bathing products etc. It's a gradual process and there are still some things I'd like to do - like get rid of those mercury fillings in my mouth. It's on my list too. :)

Good luck.

[jacsam]

Actually going raw would be the first thing to do. Don't let your list stop you from starting. Good Luck!!!

[Rawzula]

Consuming green smoothies is the simplest thing one can do.

[magglepie]

Jeeez. That sounds like too much work and reasons to procrastinate to me. By the time you finish the list you could have been raw for about 2 years ~ or more.

All I did was get a VM, an fp and a "d"... didn't have ANY of those thing previously. Then, started eating raw.

Everything else I've done has been ongoing over the last 8 or 9 years. Why make it more difficult than it can be? Just start eating raw!


Revvell


I'm with you revvell. Thanks for saying it!

[GoingtoRAW]

I'm with you revvell. Thanks for saying it!


Ditto - just do it!

[fuggles]

Well, its not like a person is actively doing anything.

Not using deodrant, you dont actually have to do anything.

[Revvell]

So, you're saying people "should" stop using deodorant before going raw? Uh huh!

C'mon Fuggles, that was only ONE thing on your loooooong list BEFORE going raw.

Just eat raw! The rest will happen naturally.

Revvell

[mamabird1953]

A good blender at least. I think Alyssas book and DVD will make it definately easier. I finnaly decided to get them and waiting anxiously for the mail. I stopped dying my hair after many years and its a beautiful gray and white. I love it. Maybe quit coffee? Thats a hard one for me. I can be perfect on raw but for the coffee.

[Stina]

A good blender at least. I think Alyssas book and DVD will make it definately easier. I finnaly decided to get them and waiting anxiously for the mail. I stopped dying my hair after many years and its a beautiful gray and white. I love it. Maybe quit coffee? Thats a hard one for me. I can be perfect on raw but for the coffee.

Hey MamaBird- if you love your beautiful silver hair, you'd better steer clear of wheat grass juice. It'll jumpstart the natural color to grow back in! :D

[mamabird1953]

Well now...I'm just gonna have to try an experiment with wheatgrass juice then!

[Stina]

Well now...I'm just gonna have to try an experiment with wheatgrass juice then!

Apparently it takes about eight ounces a day. Some man on this board said he did it and the color grew back in his beard long before his head!

[discodancer]

I was wondering if anyone else had had a hair color change. I don't have anything to do with wheat grass, but since being mostly raw, my hair is darker. It has always been very dark, and it does still have some gray,but the none-gray part looks closer to black than dark brown now. I thought I was imagining it, but several others have commented on it without any prompting from me. Weird! And I don't even want it to get darker--I like my silvery hair!

[sfdreams]

You really don't NEED anything to start...but Alissa's book laid it out step-by-step, with even a 4 wk shopping list! And the testimonials are AWESOME! Yes, you can just eat from the produce section, but when I began, I didn't know about green smoothies (Thanks, Lucy!!:D ) and the thoughts of just eating salads, and carrots and celery didn't turn me on much. Now, it turns out that I LOVE salads now (amazing how your taste buds change, eh?), but I didn't then. Brought back too many bad memories of dieting as a CHILD (yes, you heard right!)

I didn't have any special equipment when I started--but I did have my parents' old 25+year old food processor, and a 20yr old Oster blender. (With the sturdy glass jar.) Oh, and a magic bullet I had bought off TV a couple of years ago.

I've since purchased a 9-tray Excalibur dehydrator (from Alissa--I found her to be the same price or lower than any I found on the internet, and my trust factor was WAY higher!) I still don't have a Vitamix. Haven't worn out my ancient fp or blender either--though I may need to purchase new gaskets for the blender soon. (The 20yr old one is not holding liquid as well anymore.)

Bottom line--it doesn't have to be expensive or hard! And once you begin, you will find yourself requiring less and less food. Tonight, all I had was water and an avocado, but my tummy is a little upset from all the raw onion I had earlier, me thinks, or I am coming down with a virus. But I often eat very minimally now--I just eat until I am full! (Simple, huh?)

And if you are the type that really need lists, Alissa has that in her book! ;)

Good luck on your journey to health!!

[fuggles]

Well okay.

[Stina]

Well okay.

Are you glad ya asked?!:D :rolleyes:

[Lindazkewl]

I think an "fp" would be a food processor.
I make soap and my sister makes me shampoo and conditioner...so, I am good there. I use 1 cleaning product for everything, it is awesome stuff, safe for the environment and my children have even bathed in it.
I can't really see myself getting rid of my silverware, what do I eat my salad with then?

Hi. What is the one product that you use? Please, thanks :)

[fuggles]

Well, I wouldnt go back to my old soap, which dried my skin out, as the natural alternative which I use, being MSM soap, is much better and feels a lot nicer .

So its things like that I am referring to.

[FinallyRaw]

As far as a list gos............I didn't start with a list. When I first came across Alissa's raw site (several years ago) it was in the afternoon, I was so motivated that I decided I was going to start immediately as of the next morning and take it from there.

On my way home from work I picked up a bunch of bananas, a cuke, a tomato and a small red onion. I had no idea how to do it or what else I could eat differently the next day but it didn't matter. Tools didn't matter. I cut up the cuke, tomato and onion for lunch the next day and it was my start.

I headed to work the next day armed with my bananas and small salad and did some more searches online to learn more of this raw diet I hear of. hehehehehehe

From there it was history.

Now my problem is that I don't seem to have that same motivation trying to go raw again. I know it's what I need to and I know how fantastic I felt on it so why am I having such a hard time committing to it?

So I guess I'm saying "tools" don't matter as much as just doing it and figuring it out as you go. Every day you'll learn something new to make or a new technique and then you'll add tools to your arssenal as you go.

Don't make it too difficult or it will be. And as already mentioned, Alissa's book gives you great info as how to get started and tool necesities.

:D

[fuggles]

So you agree with mercury fillings ?? Fine.

[FinallyRaw]

Huh? Mercury fillings? :confused:

[Stina]

So you agree with mercury fillings ?? Fine.

No, but I don't have the money to get them replaced so I use cilantro extensively in juicing and I eat a lot of seaweed to hopefully detox mercury out of my body. By the way, did you ever hear of fine as an acronym for "f*#ked-up, insecure, neurotic and emotional?"

[Revvell]

So you agree with mercury fillings ?? Fine.

So, what are you saying? People should have amalgam fillings removed BEFORE going raw???

Well, lemme see. I started raw about 8-10 years ago. I just got the fillings out of my teeth. So! I should have waited and completed your list including getting fillings out BEFORE going raw? Doesn't sound quite right to me.

p.s. Stina, behave yourself! :D (or don't) LMSSSBO!!!!

[Authenticme]

I've had most of my amalgam fillings removed and replaced with a composite designed for me. I will say there is a detox process that goes along with getting the mecury removed. It seems that doing both raw and mercury removal would be a good step. But I certainly dont feel one has to do that before they go raw.

If that were the case then I would have ignored this path like 15 yrs ago when I first learned of raw foods. And that would have been a shame because I wouldn't know to go back to it when now my health was being adversely affected by eating a heavy diet of cooked foods.

[fuggles]

No, but I don't have the money to get them replaced so I use cilantro extensively in juicing and I eat a lot of seaweed to hopefully detox mercury out of my body. By the way, did you ever hear of fine as an acronym for "f*#ked-up, insecure, neurotic and emotional?"

What ?

Anyway.

Well, I know about raw foods and I know about things like mercury fillings etc and deodrant which has aluminium in it etc.

Maybe a person can eat raw then get the fillings removed, stop using toxic products etc. after they go raw/

[Authenticme]

or maybe they just go raw..end of story. At another point in their lives perhaps they will make a different choices. Or maybe not. That's the great thing about choice. You choose.

The measure of health one wishes to experience is up to the individual. And people have to make their own choices. Nice we live in a country where we can debate about such things as food,removal of amalgams,etc. In other parts of the world, you get what you get...period.

I'm not sure why Stina's comment wasn't lassoed by the moderaters. That was a bit unnessecary, if you ask me. A little too "FINE" for my taste. But perhaps, I read it wrong in both the literal and figurative sense.

[fuggles]

yes

Acronym Definition
FINE European Federation of Nurse Educators (formerly Federation of International Nurse Educators)
FINE Feeling Inadequate, Needing Encouragement
FINE Feeling Insecure, Neurotic and Emotional
FINE Feelings Inside Not Expressed
FINE Fickle Insecure Neurotic and Emotional
FINE Fine Is Not EMACS (70's vintage text editor for computer mainframes directly preceding contemporary Microsoft Word and WordPerfect)
FINE Fixed Installation NAIAD Equipment
FINE Foggy Insecure Neurotic Emotional
FINE Fouled Up, Insecure, Neurotic and Emotional (Aerosmith; polite form)
FINE Freaked Out Insecure Neurotic and Emotional (Italian Job movie)
FINE Frustrated Insecure Neurotic Emotional

[Revvell]

Maybe a person can eat raw then get the fillings removed, stop using toxic products etc. after they go raw/

Of course they can. No "maybe" about it.

[Shell]

Of course they can. No "maybe" about it.

Amen, Revvell!

I wasn't going to comment....but I couldn't read anymore without putting my two cents in.

I'm one of those people who use deodorant....yes, the kind with aluminum! I use commercial shampoo, conditioner, body wash, etc. (albeit, they're vegan and biodegradable). I don't have fillings, but if I did, and they were mercury, and it was too expensive to change them, I wouldn't. The thing is, I don't know if I'll ever change certain things in my life that may be deemed "taboo" in certain circles. Or, maybe I will, who knows? Of coarse, I want to be the best human I can be. But am I going to put off being raw because I'm not 100%, unequivocally, "all natural" in every other way? Heck no! Does that put into question my dedication to raw, and mean that I can't fully reap the benefits? HECK NO!! And I'm glad I have that option....like Authenticme said....we CHOOSE.

If one wants to make their lives as pure as possible, and feels they need to make certain steps in order to do that, by all means, more power to them....but to make others feel bad about their choices? Well, that's unacceptable, in my books.

This isn't meant to be an attack on anyone....I just wanted to say my piece...now I can breathe.

[momma-rawma]

I think with raw...and with ANY lifestyle change...one must make things doable for oneself.

In life--if you wait until you can do something 100%....you may just never try.

Best to try a little bit and strive for 100% than to wait until you can do it 100% and never start.

I have no shame that I am not 100% raw....yet. However, I do find--as I travel on the road to better health, that I have facilitated a healthy transition that is causing me to transform without even thinking about it.

I am technically 66%....but with as much food as I scarf during the day--I am probably closer to 80 or 90%.

If you wait to be healthy until every aspect in your life can be the epitome of 100% healthy...that day will never come.

One who strives to be perfect...will die trying but never become...perfect.

That is my perception of your list.

[momma-rawma]

Hi. What is the one product that you use? Please, thanks :)

I wonder if it is vinegar. You can use it exclusively--though I use borax and peroxide as well.

My cleaning ladies on the other hand.:eek: