Not the right time to go raw?

[Cinammon]

Hi all

I love the idea of going vegan raw, love the idea of a healthy, slimmer, glowing me, love most of your posts here(!)

But it's the emotional component of it all that gets me. I don't think this is the right time for me to go raw. I'm living in a shared flat, it takes most of my energy to deal with that, and with the course I'm doing, and with some past problems. Add the emotional, and practical, deal of going raw into that mix, and I think I'd crack up altogether(!!)

It's such a huge commitment, and while I'm sure you do get a lot back from it, I'm just not in a position right now to go through all the detox and the emotional feelings of deprivation from losing cooked foods, etc.

I read somewhere here that it wasn't recommended you go raw when in emotional trouble.

What do you all think?

Love

Cinammon x

[maui_butterfly]

what would you do if you didn't have any fear?

you talk about raw foods and you say words like "love" "healthy" "slimmer" "glowing me". those are good words, and those reflect how you feel about the idea of the raw foods path...

then you start imagining what it would be like for you in your present life to implement this wonderful thing for yourself, and the doubts start creeping in. "its not practical" "it will be really difficult" "i don't have enough energy" "i should address all these other problems first" "i'm too busy with school" "its a huge committment" "detox will be painful" "i will feel deprived" you are telling yourself a story about how it will be, and the truth is you don't really know it will be any of these things.

why not dive in without any story of how it will be, and find out for yourself?

i can tell you from personal experience, you CAN get there from here. and if you just START and see where it takes you, i guarantee you will have more energy, and not less, to deal with some of the other things going on in your life that you would like to change, too.

again, ask yourself "what would i do if i didn't have any fear?" and then do that thing.

[RawHeaven]

Honestly I think incorporating a raw food diet would help you manage the emotional stuff. It creates an even deposition and raises your serotonin levels. I'm also sharing space in a house with a SAD, heavy processed food/microwave person who microwaves every meal she eats. I do not say a word to her about her diet, but believe me I get lectured all of the time about my food choices, LOL. I can relate and share with you that eating raw foods changes your life in more ways than one, especially your interactions with others. You just become more calm, clear, centered and you don't sweat the small stuff as much.

[jacsam]

If your REALLY wanting to know about raw and if your ready for the committment.....you need to invest in Alissa's book and DVD, then you can see what your committing too and make an educated decission about if the time is right for you. Even though this forum is great.....you really can't get the most out of this forum without reading her book. Happy reading, Judith:)

[Ginger]

You get out of it what you put into it. It dosn't have to be a huge commitment, it's not about deprivation and it's not as difficult as it sounds. Try coming up with reasons why instead of why not to try it, and remember that you don't have to be all or nothing. If you just start buying more fruit and making it your mission to eat a salad each day you will see how easy it is and how good it feels. Let all those thoughts of how hard and depriving it is and how detox will be, let it all go and just eat an apple. Try something new for the fun of it. If you try to go raw on willpower alone you won't make it very long. I choose to eat raw because it tastes better and keeps my energy high. If I ate something other then raw I would feel my energy drop and I would get a heavy dull sad feeling and if i keep on eating that way I would get sick. I am into feeling good, that is why I eat raw. Emotional trouble would be greatly helped by being raw. I don't think I could experience emotional trouble AT ALL eating raw. I feel too good all the time! I see things differently. If you don't tell others you are eating only raw etc, they will see you eating more fruits & vegetables and salads and they will think you are eating healthy. Everybody knows fruits & vegetables are healthy. It's when people make sudden drastic overnight complete changes that people get concerned. Just wake up one morning and announce to your roomates that you feel like eating more fresh fruits & veggies because they are supposed to be so good for you and you want to see if you will notice a difference. Ask them if they want to join you. :D

[ShelShel]

I'm naturally an emotional roller coaster. :p It's so not good, but raw really really really helps with that. My children were the first to support my raw for just that reason.

If you are stressed...treating your body good and being healthier with your intake can only help you manage all that.

And think simple raw. Things that require no fuss. Berries and cashews for breakfast...or a smoothie. Salad, banana and apple for lunch. Mixed veggies with a spinach avocado dip...and dates packed with walnuts for dessert.

Easy...100% without any special equipment. Healthy... a little of everything there. :D Think Raw and go for it!

[RawSweetie]

I can speak to this....

I decided to go raw to *support* me through one of THE most difficult and painful times of my life personally. I intuitively knew that transitioning to raw would inject my life with a super-positive energy that I had been without and that I desperately needed. I was a sinking ship a few months ago...

I'm a big believer in starting right where you are and taking things one day at a time. For me, the learning, researching, experimenting with recipes, shopping for produce has all been so affirming during this time. And at I guess about 75%-ish raw, I have gained a level of calm, hope, clear-mindedness that I REALLY need to have in order to deal with my life circumstances at the moment, and to transition out of THEM as I transition out of my old way of eating, which was cooked vegan, but still chock-full of crapola.

My situation, without going into TMI is that I am leaving a long-term relationship, looking for housing and work in my field in another state, dealing with the tensions of continuing to live with my ex until end of April, an ex who is very invested in some negative stuff, coping with a shaky cash flow, some health issues that need medical attention. So.....for me right now, raw is the sun in an overcast sky. To be corny for a sec! :p

Be positive. It sounds like it's calling you....go ahead and answer--and just do what feels doable right now. The rest will work itself out.

[EZ rider]

It's such a huge commitmentA lot of people transition to the raw food lifestyle by doing it in small steps. Some people go raw a little at a time staying within their comfort zone and challenging themselves to eat healthier one bite at a time. Everybody is different and you just need to find the right way for you.

[Cinammon]

Many thanks to everyone for replying. MUCH appreciated. I've taken/will continue to take on board everything you've said.

In a way, I feel stuck in a holding pattern on the whole raw food/vegan issue; waiting for liftoff...and your words are now part of the push towards it.

While what you all said helped and made a LOT of sense, it's the fact that you bothered to write at all that mattered. If you know what I mean ...

Lots love

Cinammon x

RawSweetie, good luck with your situation. Hope it all works out for you, and works out soon. x

[SuBu]

Well, Cinnamon, I guess your tag line said it all:
"The amazing thing about Love isn't just how powerful it is - it's how gentle."
I have to say that I have found so much love and compassion on RFT that it just makes me come back time and again. Isn't it great that no one blasted you for your feelings but each one gave thoughtful, helpful, kindhearted tips to help you along? I just love this place. You guys are the greatest!

[RawSweetie]

Thank you, Cinammon~~~~

It is getting better and I'm feeling lighter each day and I'm so grateful.

HUGS to you! *we need a hug smilie*!

xo

[Froggy]

the emotional part is definitely the toughest, and i'm not a heavy person. i've had to let go of the alcohol and the relationship issue before i could do this. at 44 now i've been around and trying for a long time, so i know it doesn't happen until it's time. it probably doesn't have anything to do with anyone's specific problems, it just depends on your individual path.


It's such a huge commitment, and while I'm sure you do get a lot back from it, I'm just not in a position right now to go through all the detox and the emotional feelings of deprivation from losing cooked foods, etc.

certainly looks huge, doesn't it?;) it's just what i eat though, it's awfully easy to stick nothing but raw food in my mouth, nobody is making me eat any differently. amazing how we (i) can say for years, that this is not an easy task. certainly looks easy, fresh fruit is awfully tasty, nothing else tastes as good to me.


I read somewhere here that it wasn't recommended you go raw when in emotional trouble.

What do you all think?

Love

Cinammon x

when am i not living life? i mean, when am i not in emotional trouble? i'd put a laughter smilie hear if i saw one.

[raweater]

You mentioned energy, eating 3 cooked meals a day takes as much energy to digest and detoxify (as the body correctly identifies as the poison it is) as doing 8 hours of intense physical exercise. By eating raw, this energy becomes available to you, as most raw foods are self-digesting. So by going raw you'd have much more energy.

You also don't have to, and shouldn't, go raw cold turkey, try incorporating more and more raw foods gradually, try adding a raw salad before your meals, then more raw foods in your main meal, etc.

I went raw cold turkey and as a result got gallstones, luckily I was at that point aware conventional treatments are inhumane fraud and crimes against humanity, so I knew they'd try and take my gallbladder out to make $5000-10000. I found that half a cup each of olive oil and lemon juice before bed (and staying on your right side in a small ball for 30 minutes before sleeping) causes the stones to be flushed the next day, and indeed they were, so eve if you get gallstones, ahalf cup of olive oil and lemon juice will have them out overnight (you should repeat this several times as not all stones come out the first time). This flush should be done once a year for gallbladder maintenance anyway, it's not hard or expensive and can prevent severe problems, gallstones can also cause a wide array of symptoms like allergies, high cholesterol, etc.

[Lavendula]

Not that you are giving medical advice, but on gallbladder health, an ultrasound or other scan is in order first. Not everyone's gall bladder health or gallstones are the same, or treatable with lemon juice/olive oil, or other natural methods. Gallstones are serious business. You cannot flush large stones w/o serious risk of bursting a bile duct, and further risk of death. Many people have very high pain/discomfort levels. The sheer determination ( and pride ) to handle things without medical technology can cost a life.
I won't go into my own family history, my own experience with lemon juice/ olive oil, or the cause of most gallstones being from years of a fatty diet.
I'm just asking you to please be careful when suggesting self/ help on a potentially acute life threatening problem.

[Bananna]

Just curious, are you vegetarian or vegan at this point? If not, those might also be some good stepping stones....or not, I don't know, that's the route I had to go, but I also dive in for times too....
Right now I am doing a low fat vegan thing with a really strong raw slant. (I would hazard to guess around 75%) It's the best I'm up for right now and I am really happy I've come this far!

[Cinammon]

Hey

Rasiaca - I was vegetarian for over ten years, vegan for about three months, vegetarian again, then raw food vegan for five months, then vegetarian again. Also committed to animal rights.

And just before Christmas I felt so awful I returned to meat for the first time in over a decade. Which was quite traumatic.

Then, about a month ago, I found this forum, tried to go raw again, couldn't do it. So my diet's still in a mess(!)

I take on board all later comments about just doing it, but really - when you look at all the difficulties people have with the emotional detox, I can't help feeling that it would be better to go raw when I'm a) in a supportive relationship, instead of being single and dealing with that, b) when I'm in a place of my own that feels safe and like home, instead of dealing with a student flat, c) when I'm not constantly dealing with different work placements.

I feel that maybe there is a certain level of emotional comfort/stability you need to have before going raw - or that I need to have. Food's always been my comfort thing and my mood stabiliser. I feel I'd just fall over right now without it(!!!)

RawSweetie - hugs back to you too. Glad you're feeling lighter. You go, girl! xx

Froggy - I agree, probably everyone does it when the time's right for them. But there are different degrees of 'living life', and different levels of 'emotional trouble'. Sometimes a step is just a step; sometimes it's a step off a cliff(!)

SuBu - I wouldn't have expected anyone anywhere to 'blast' me for expressing my feelings - why on Earth would they, unless my feelings were posed as a threat to them?? Everyone has the right to express their own feelings honestly (and politely) without getting hostility back. I don't feel that's amazing or confined to this forum - I just feel it's part of being mature and decent. What I felt might happen here is that nobody would respond at all(!) But I agree - there is a lovely light feeling to this forum in general. Which is one major reason I turned back to the raw diet idea in the first place ...!

Finally - thanks to everyone for responding. I know this is really a forum for those already convinced of the raw food way, and already practising it. The only thing I can say is: I AM convinced of the raw food way; I'm just finding it soooo emotionally hard to do.

God bless.

Cinammon x

[RawSweetie]

I'd say you are setting yourself up to succeed if and when you decide to try raw again because you are honoring yourself, pacing yourself. You are being your own guru. :)

Go you, guru!! :p

Besides, we ain't goin' anywhere...

xx
RS

[Cinammon]

Thanks, RS. MUCH appreciated!

Lots love

Cinammon xxx

[EZ rider]

I find I don't have much luck when I force the issue. For me I have to be ready. Its just got to be the right thing to do at the right time for me and then changes happen almost effortlessly.

[iamacranberry]

Hi all

I love the idea of going vegan raw, love the idea of a healthy, slimmer, glowing me, love most of your posts here(!)

But it's the emotional component of it all that gets me. I don't think this is the right time for me to go raw. I'm living in a shared flat, it takes most of my energy to deal with that, and with the course I'm doing, and with some past problems. Add the emotional, and practical, deal of going raw into that mix, and I think I'd crack up altogether(!!)

It's such a huge commitment, and while I'm sure you do get a lot back from it, I'm just not in a position right now to go through all the detox and the emotional feelings of deprivation from losing cooked foods, etc.

I read somewhere here that it wasn't recommended you go raw when in emotional trouble.

What do you all think?

Love

Cinammon x

Then don't go raw just yet. Just seek to add more raw foods into your diet. Because killing yourself over going raw when it's too hard may actually add stress to your life, which isn't a healthy thing either. Do what you can do, and add more when you're ready.

[Cinammon]

Thanks, guys.

Hopefully going raw'll happen naturally and gradually over the next few weeks, and I won't expect to go anywhere near 100%.

Amazing how easy it is to feel guilty and like, 'I'm killing myself and I SHOULD go raw, all these amazing benefits are out there and I'M NOT DOING IT', etc etc. I feel some of the pressure's off now, thanks to y'all, and I'll start again gently, and go gently - and that feels great!

It'll probably be easier when the weather warms up ...????!

Be interesting to write a psychological survey on the many ways we are connected to food...!

God bless,

Love

Cinammon xx

[SuBu]

Sorry Cinnamon, if my former post offended you in any way. At that time I was thinking how nice it was that no one made you feel any less for not "just doing it". Everyone seemed to be so compassionate as to your feelings. I had to be in the right frame of mind to go raw, and found the same was true when I started the Master Cleanse. Otherwise, the stress is overwhelming. I hope that you reach that comfortable place when it will not be emotionally hard for you. I feel that you have a practical viewpoint and know yourself. When you are ready, I'm sure it will come easily for you and you will feel in control and successful. Hoping the best for you.

[Cinammon]

Cheers SuBu! God bless.

Not sure about the practical viewpoint bit - if you mean about this issue in particular, it's only because I did it the 'wrong' way first, and am only now - with help from folks here - getting it back on track.

In general, noooo. And as for knowing myself - been thinking lately how interesting it is that we know ourselves so little. We can trundle along with our own philosophies (or I can) and then something like this hits and you realise that there's so much more to you than the ideas you've been espousing(!) And that in itself can take the pressure off. We're icebergs!!! (Hope that doesn't sound trite...)

Am definitely going back raw. THANK YOU SO MUCH to the folks who responded to this thread, with wisdom and laid-back acceptance.

Wishing you all every happiness.

Lots Love

Cinammon x

[sport]

I like the saying
"it is never the wrong time to do the right thing".