Hello all, newbie here from Minneapolis, MN.

[annielauri]

Just thought I would introduce myself. My name is Laurie and I am on the road to healthier eating habits. I quit smoking November 3rd, 2006. I gained almost 60 lbs because I was constantly rewarding myself with food for doing such a great job at not smoking. Started Weight Watchers online last Sept. and have lost about 30 lbs. Then I kind of quit losing. Just would lose 4 lbs and gain it right back with a binge. I have been trying to eat healthier, more organics and then I read a raw food book. VERY interesting! I bought myself a juicer about 2 weeks ago and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE green lemonade.

I have been reading on here for about a week and have done a few things, started oil pulling (not really seeing much from that?) and have been using coconut oil for the last few days on my face - amazing there!!! I have rosacea and for the first few days was just using it for a moisturizer. I immediately noticed an evening out of my skin tone, which is great because I don't know how to put on foundation. Now tonight, I washed with it for the first time and I SWEAR my pores immediately got smaller!

The other thing I have been trying since last weekend, is hydrangea pills for a ganglion cyst on my wrist. I am not sure it is getting any smaller, but it hasn't hurt for about 4 days.

Thank you for all the good advice I have been reading on here!!!

[StarFire]

Aloha and Welcome to RFT!!! Great introduction annielauri!! and a story so many of us can relate to... lose a pound -- go out an celebrate! that used to be my favorite thing to do!!

Hey -- congratulations on quitting smoking - no small feat and that is AWESOME!! well done and you totally RAWK!

NOW -- oil pulling... are you doing it for at least 15 to 20 minutes? The oil should be white when you spit it out... even coconut oil - which looks white when it's in its solid form... once it warms up in your mouth - it will turn clear... when it's pulling out the toxins it will turn white... You may not feel different - but ... in time you will notice a difference in the softness of your skin and your teeth will start looking whiter!

and omg.. I just started washing my face with coconut oil too!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!! I AM SOOOOO GLAD RawHeaven posted that thread!!! I saw an immediate difference too!! right there with ya girrrl!! RAWk on!!

it's wonderful that yu have joined us!!! Head on over to the blogging section and start a blog of your journey!! It's always good to keep a journal... then you can review it and see how far you've come.

Do you have Alissa Book and DVD??? If you don't have them yet... those are two EXCELLENT TOOLS to help you along on this path... without them - I would never have survived or been able to transition successfully to a RAW VEGAN LIFEstyle... Alissa makes everything so DO'able... easy and fun! So many of my questions were answered reading her book... the testimonies are so encouraging and inspirational... and the recipes... OMG... SOOOOO DELICIOUS!!!

RAWk on.... blessings on your journey and I'm so glad you have joined us!!

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

[tiffanybiffanypiffany]

HEY

i'm also from the Minneapolis MN area!

:)

[spicyfull]

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

[Frugal Raw]

Welcome!! I wish you the best of rawesome health!

[shashibala]

Welcome!!!!!!!:)

[islesgirl]

Welcome annielauri! I enjoyed your intro very much. And I am thankful for your mentioning several things which StarFire responded to. E.g. the coconut oil is supposed to turn white after "swishing" it for about 20 mins. You see, I couldn't understand what I was doing wrong as I thought it should turn "yellow" and it was turning "white" just as it should. Yay! And silly nut that I am, I too, would celebrate a loss of weight, among other things, with a binge! How nuts is that? But we will try again and succeed at this, won't we! Yes, we sure will:D Congrats on quitting smoking - that is a marvelous accomplishment! I too noticed an almost immediate change in my pores from eating raw food only. My face changed within just a couple of days. Please tell me how you make your green lemonade? Thanks and all the best and look forward to seeing your around here.:)
Sue.

[jacsam]

Sounds like your having great success and HUGE congrats on quitting smoking, that is great. Personally I have never smoked but my Dad who is 69 smoked only until he was around 25-26 and he says to this day it is the hardest thing he's ever done and still has to leave the room sometimes when someone is smoking and cannot allow himself to even touch a cigarette....sooo, I say CONGRATULATIONS, raw will be a snap compared to that.

[annielauri]

Thank you all for your warm welcomes!

I hope I remember all the questions. I was doing the oil pulling for 15 - 25 mins. Yes, it turns white. I have used sesame and coconut oil. Not to brag, but I have really nice white teeth to begin with. I am 46 and only have had one cavity in my life. One other filling from brushing the enamel off a tooth.

Green lemonade - 3 leaves of kale, 1 head of romaine, 2 fuji apples, 1 organic lemon, and a slice of ginger. I just made my first green smoothie, and that is pretty good too! I wasn't sure my old 25 yr old (or older?) blender could handle the greens, but it did just fine!

Oh, and I still need to get to the bookstore and get Alissa's book.

[jacsam]

Oh, there's the green lemonade recipe...I was just about to ask for it. By the way, I don't think you can get Alissa's book at a bookstore, you'll need to order it off her website. DON'T forget the DVD....it really is SOOO good and worth every penny. It will give you several recipes to make right away and a good jump start while you read her book.