Kinda new...12 days @ 100% Raw

[RAWorship]

I've been lurking/posting around Raw Food Talk under a different name for a little over a year now. I've never gone 100% raw but on December 28th both myself an my DH took the plunge. So, here I am, a new commitment and a new name.

I am a wife, mother of two daughters (9 & 17), musician and full-time secretary. DH is a husband, father, seminary student and associate pastor at our church where I am also the worship leader/musical director. We are very busy people so if we can do this ANYONE CAN! We hope to be role models for a healthy lifestyle to everyone we know.

DH and I became vegetarians in June 2006, vegans soon thereafter and began taking an interest in raw food a little over a year ago. Over the last year+, we've completed a couple different "journeys" at 75-80% raw. I ordered Alissa's Book/DVD in the fall and we decided to give 100% a shot. Our kitchen as changed in the last 18 months to include a new set of knives, high speed blender, saladacco, and several raw food cookbooks. This Christmas we received a Champion 2000+ Juicer and our Excaliber 9-tray dehydrator is scheduled for delivery TODAY!!! We ARE going to make this happen!

I will turn 50 this year and I want to be healthy in my "golden years". I have 80 lbs. of excess fat lurking around my limbs and organs and it MUST GO! I have high blood pressure, plantar facsiitis and sleep apnea that are all caused by my obesity and they must depart as well. My DH is 11 years my junior and is starting to show signs of entering that glorious time in life we call "middle age". His middle isn't aging as well as the rest of him if you know what I mean. I have lost 12 lbs. in 12 days.

I already know that everyone here at Raw Food Talk is helpful and supportive and I am looking forward to visiting often to receive inspiration and hopefully, someday, BE inspiration!

[MZ B]

What a story. Sounds like you are equipped and ready to go.

[shashibala]

Congratulations for coming out of the shadows! It's pretty sunny here as you know!! You are lucky that you husband is also ready for this wonderful change!!
Enjoy your journey:) :)

[ShelShel]

Welcome, welcome! Enjoy your new kitchen gadgets and dehydrator and let us know about any raw goodies you happen to stumble onto and enjoy! :p

[spicyfull]

I wish you everything you need to Stay RAW......Welcome to MY World.

[RAWorship]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!

[Bethanie]

God Bless you,
I'm 58 years young and my hubby is 47 years young.
Isn't it great that we are finally headed the right way.
I look around at people my age and younger and it hurts me to see the sicknesses that they are suffering with.
I thank God for knowledge and a willingness to do it His way.
I have to laugh because just a couple of weeks ago i was feeling like i had the flu and couldn't stop coughing and feelng really bad, didn't want to get up to do much of anything.
After it was over i noticed that when i would swallow i would'nt feel my sides of my throat, i mean it was so open and usually i could feel the glands on the side of my neck.
I was scared not knowing what had happened and i cried to my husband that i couldn't feel anything when i swallowed but after awhile it came to me that what i had been feeling in my throat for all those years was mucus:) now it's clear and my tonsils are not swollen anymore:)
It's funny how we think we are healthy because we've lived so long with health problems it becomes normal to feel the way we use to feel.
I've heard people say "well you're getting older so you should expect that to happen" or "oh that's normal for your age".
I'm so happy to see and feel and live in my new body:D :D
Bethanie

[StarFire]

Wow!!! You are so ready for this!!! You've got the tools, the amazing recipes.... and this forum.... rawk on girl!!! blessings on your journey!

and.... CONGRATS on the weight loss too!!! http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/SUPER_HIGH_FIve.gif


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

[lily]

How great to have a new name and a fresh start! welcome, welcome, welcome, you and your hubby...

[jacsam]

I was wondering who RAWorship was....thanks for introducing yourself. You said your a musician, what do you play? Just asking because I've played the piano for years and actually teach piano lessons and play the organ for our church. Music has been a really enjoyable part of my life. I love teaching lessons and playing for the congregation and just for relaxation and enjoyment. Oh, you said that you have several raw food books.....do you have rawfood/real world.....and if you do....try the blondie version of macaroons when you get your dehydrator. WELCOME....Judith:)

[RAWorship]

You guys are GREAT! I can feel your warmth through the computer!

jacsam: I play the guitar and sing. I got my first guitar when I was 12 and am self taught. I have been singing since I was a child and have sung back-up vocals for many bands both live and in the studio. Being the worship leader for my church is my first real stint at singing lead in a band and playing my instrument. It's a great experience and I'm loving every minute of it. And, yes, I do own Raw Food/Real World! I will try the macaroons this weekend; thanks for the tip!

shashibala: Yes, I've read many posts here written by people who do not have the support of their significant other. I see their struggles and I am so grateful that my DH is onboard with this lifestyle. He is struggling right now with cravings for chips, crackers and bread so I need to get that dehydrator fired up this weekend!

[RAWorship]

Made the blondie macaroons yesterday. OMG, they are amazing! Thanks for the tip! :p

[Anastazia]

Welcome! It's nice to have you here! Sounds like you're doing great, full steam ahead!

I have a question for you, how has your church responded to your Raw lifestyle & all the changes? Has it been well received? Do you bring Raw food to potlucks, etc? Are any of those you fellowship with interested in learning more about it? Do you know about & share the link to Back to The garden because it's Christian?

Enjoy the daily changes & healing that comes! Can't wait to follow your stories!

~Anastazia~

[RAWorship]

Only a few people really know about our journey to the raw lifestyle. Since we haven't ever gone 100% before, we really haven't shown any visible, external changes for anyone to comment about. However, our new 100% commitment is sure to help me shed the 80 lbs that plague my body and help my DH lose that extra 15-20 lbs that he's toting around. THAT, they will notice.

We so want to be examples of "good stewards" of our bodies and we hope, through that, people will ask us about our lifestyle. I would love to get to the point where enough people are interested that I can begin teaching classes in my home.

On the other hand, our families think we're crazy. Their whole world revolves around food and they get very upset that we don't eat "their way" anymore. They complain that they don't know what to fix or where to go when we eat together because they don't know what we are eating now. I think that having us eat good food while they eat junk just makes them feel so guilty that they would rather just not have us around. I can't think of a meal that doesn't include a negative or questionable comment about our chosen lifestyle. I just keep quiet and hope that our example will spark a flame in someone to take this road to better health.

I've never heard of the "Back to the Garden" website but when I try to type it in or even Google it, I come up empty. Any suggestions?

[Radiantly Raw]

Only a few people really know about our journey to the raw lifestyle. Since we haven't ever gone 100% before, we really haven't shown any visible, external changes for anyone to comment about. However, our new 100% commitment is sure to help me shed the 80 lbs that plague my body and help my DH lose that extra 15-20 lbs that he's toting around. THAT, they will notice.

We so want to be examples of "good stewards" of our bodies and we hope, through that, people will ask us about our lifestyle. I would love to get to the point where enough people are interested that I can begin teaching classes in my home.

On the other hand, our families think we're crazy. Their whole world revolves around food and they get very upset that we don't eat "their way" anymore. They complain that they don't know what to fix or where to go when we eat together because they don't know what we are eating now. I think that having us eat good food while they eat junk just makes them feel so guilty that they would rather just not have us around. I can't think of a meal that doesn't include a negative or questionable comment about our chosen lifestyle. I just keep quiet and hope that our example will spark a flame in someone to take this road to better health.

I've never heard of the "Back to the Garden" website but when I try to type it in or even Google it, I come up empty. Any suggestions?

Great post, and nice to meet you! Your family sounds similar to mine. Mine is not extreme, but they seem to take it personally. However, they're also proud of us. It's like they go back and forth. They can't decide if they think we're crazy or brilliant. LOL! They all say they could never do it themselves though. And so much revolves around food. I was that way too until raw. Now it freaks me out how much food is the center of everything!

Our results & our health have sparked a few friends to ask us what we're doing and then they came back for more information! Several have made big steps toward healthy eating! It will happen!

[RAWorship]

Hey, I was checking out your blog and "before/after" photos just the other day! You and you husband look amazing! So healthy and full of vitality. You are one of many inspirations I have found here on RFT. Keep in touch.

[Radiantly Raw]

Oh thank you! I sure hope all is going well for you! I'm one of many cheering you on!!;) Best wishes on this journey!!:D