Alissa, re: your post on NFL

[Arianna]

you helped me so much. I have been bingeing so horribly for a couple of months now, I think as part of grieving for a very close person that died. Anyway, I have let my inner child take over and let my feelings of being deprived take over. I know I'm not deprived, I know that I"m hurting myself but I haven't wanted to take responsibility or have thoughts of much of anything lately. Your post was a kick in the seat for me. I am printing myself a 30 day chart to post on my fridge and I am committing myself to start my 30 day 100% raw tomorrow. I had been raw for months but a few months ago let it all go.

I know some gave you flak over your post but it helped me more than you will ever know.

Arianna

[Alissa]

Arianna, welcome! Im so glad it meant a lot to you! (its the same one i posted here titled consider the source, for those of you wondering)
congratulations on deciding to do the challenge and making a commitment!
Tough love for your inner child, she will thank you for it soon! :D

ya, gotta put on your armor when you venture on to rawfoodsupport. I don’t go there much but someone wanted me to post what i wrote here.
looks like people are coming to my defense over there though, ha! Wow, tough crew. (i love all you guys here if i haven’t said that lately, lol!)

Ok, well, best of luck and there’s a lot of love and support here for ya! I know you’ll do it because you decided and made the commitment to yourself, how great!
Imagine how amazing your going to feel in 30 days! Wow! Cant wait to hear about it!

Best,
Alissa

[love6kids]

I venture onto the other forum once in a while, and get scared off. :o
Alissa, I wanted to post a response in your thread over there, but for some reason, it wouldn't let me log in to do it, so will post my response here.

I love living raw. It gives me a confidence in myself that I would never have found before this. I started raw because I felt like I was dying. 48 years old, and so completely utterly exhausted and brain dead. I have a wonderful husband and 6 beautiful children who need me to be a healthy role model. If I felt this bad at 48 how would I feel at 58...68...78...etc?
Eating raw came to me as an inspiration. I can attribute it to no other source. I gave myself a week to get some other life "stuff" out of the way, read all I could, and jumped in with both feet. Some other time, I will share the details thus far in my journey of 3 months! ;) But I KNOW this is the path of my life and my future. I know this is how I am meant to care for my body and my spirit. I love what I learn every day.

Okay, on to the topic. There are so many ways to live the raw lifestyle. That's one of the things I love about it...the freedom. When I first started, I ate pretty much a mono diet. After 3 months, I ordered your book and dvd. I have had so much fun reading, watching, and trying out the recipes. I know I could have lived the rest of my life never eating a "gourmet raw" meal, just staying close to fresh fruits and vegetables. Lucky for me, my cravings for SAD foods disappeared early on. :) However learning how to create yummy, beautiful raw recipes is opening up a way to have tons of FUN with this lifestyle. I want to have fun and variety in my life. I also love that I can make treats for my family and friends that will vitalize them, rather than the cooked treats I used to think I had to make. Thanks so much for helping to make that possible!
I guess what I am trying to say is that while there are people living the raw food diet that are "purists" for lack of a better word, and that is fine for them, for me and I'm sure many others, I love your book and the lessons there.
I look at people around me who desperately need to get cooked food out of their bodies. Like I was, they are slowly (or quickly) dying. If they thought all they could ever eat for the rest of their life is fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds, they would NEVER consider it. It's so extreme for about 99% of the population to wrap their minds around. BUT with your book, and the easy simple way you teach, it becomes "palatable" and achievable.
I support your message 100% of "don't knock it until you've tried it." Let's be honest in our assessment of our progress. If we are having issues with our raw journey, let's figure out why, rather than just to blame the "raw."

I am reading back through my post, and I know I wandered a bit. I hope what I am really trying to say comes through, and doesn't just confuse.

There will always be those who become defensive and even angry, but that doesn't change the truth of what you teach. That's their issue, and it really has nothing to do with you. Alissa, keep up the good work. It is incredibly vital.

:) Alicia

[deedub]

Wow I just read the entire thread over there and It just reminded me of how grateful I am that this site is here it is informative supprotive and loving IMO. I actually found that site before I found this one but I never logged on. This site helps me stay raw no ifs ands or buts about that. I appreciate it so much that this site is here and I further appreciate it when you Alissa take the time to post and especially appreciate your weighing in on the calorie issue. I am still waiting for my book to arrive and I look forward to your words. Thank you for providing this space. It IMO speaks volumes about your intent and your heart.
Namaste

[podol]

Alyssa,
My name is Michael and just joined your forum. I did read your postings on rawfoodsupport. I agree with you. I am following raw food lifestyle (I do not consider just a diet, but rather lifestyle, where food is just a part) for the last 2 years. For me it has been a renaissance of health. A fountain of youth. I have lost 40 pounds in a hurry and never gained back. I have body that people in the 20th should envy. I am 57 year young, 5’-11” and 145 pounds. I swim 4-5 times per week 3000 meters (3300 yards) non-stop in 65 minutes. I do yoga stretches every day.
I was kicked-out from the NFL forum for criticizing David Wolfe plagiarizing Arshavir Ter-Hovanesian book and Stephan Arlin (he changed his name to Thor?! – oy wey ,-))) for becoming fat like a regular SAD porker. Truth hurts. I read forums for the information purposes and sometimes state my opinion. And God forbid my opinion is not the one that owner-administrator has. Rawplus is indeed a hellhole. The woman who runs this shithole eats sausages in her salads and justifies that is her “plus”?! Well, Big Mac eaters are also raw (lettuce and tomato) and rest is plus. She was furious when I criticize her that as a “leader” of the raw forum she is a hypocrite and poison herself. Forum is lame and very little value. Most of the people are looking for support doing the “wrong” things. They do not understand that we all non-existent virtual personalities. I do not give rats ass about what they do, but be honest and if you get caught, have courage to admit mistake. No big deal. I am not a saint myself. Last Friday I ate few Oreo cookies finish up bag and accused my 17-year-old son, when his 11-year-old brother could not find any cookies. Guilty of eating crap and lying to child ,-))). I was caught anyway ,-)))).
Raw food lifestyle is not an extreme “movement” It is only right and natural choice for humans. I strongly recommend reading Geoff Bond’d book on Natural Eating. I am not agreeing with everything he writes (canola oil, cooked meats, etc.) However, he anthropologist and has an anthropological approach to human diet. In any case, if you are analytical person after reading this book you will naturally transform to raw foodism or reinforce your believes.
That is all for now.
Michael

P.S. And you do look great. Not as good as I am, but great ,-)))))) ;)

[Alissa]

Im so glad you all are loving this board! me too!

love6kids- i love what you wrote. very inspiring and i appreciate hearing your words, beautiful!

Deedub-im so glad you feel this board will help you stay raw. Please let me know what you think of the book!

podol - although i appreciate your statements behind your words this board is the way it is because it is different from some of the others. If that makes sense.... in other words if you could refrain from the harsh profanity then we can just focus on why we are all here, to give love and support and find community and connect through the raw food diet, that is what this boards mission is about. Lets not start to bash, attack or judge others for what they choose or put people down for who they are. This board is a positive place for uplifting and motivating people, giving and getting advise and connecting with others who are on the same wavelengths. It never does us any good to put others down. Lets keep the spirit of what this board is about and move on in the direction it was going per the post above and on the other threads on this board.

Thanks so much,
Alissa