Hello

[lucky lemons]

I have been lurking on the board for about a month, trying to educate myself before starting the raw food diet. Now the bf and I have been on raw food for over three weeks, and I feel great! I am so happy I decided to do this, and am motivated now to continue with raw food. My goal is to lose about 60 lbs., cure my anxiety and depression (a major factor for me in starting this diet) as well as some skin problems and assorted aches and pains. I am only 30 but have struggled with most of these issues since I hit puberty. I have already lost a few pounds (I don't like to use a scale, just dress sizes and the way I feel) and feel much more in tune with my body than I have in a long time.

As far as other peoples reactions to the diet, my close friends and family have been supportive, if not a little skeptical (which is healthy, I was once a skeptic of raw food myself) but one person I don't know all that well started asking me about it and trying to defend cooked food, for some reason this diet seems to put some SAD people on the defensive, like you have to sell them on raw. So it makes me reticent to talk to people about it, because I don't want to be confrontational. If anyone else has had issues like this or some tips on how to overcome these situations in a calm, face saving way, I'd like to hear about it. Thanks!

LL

[Aleesha Sattva]

i talk about raw foods to anyone who will listen LOL - i share about the amazing health benefits and honestly when people see me, they ask about what i'm doing! (i've released over 100 pounds in 10 months)...

i just let them know that the more raw LIVE food they take in the better it is for their body. then i say "if you crumple up a piece of lettuce and set it on the counter what happens?"

"it begins to compost itself! so raw food digests it'self pretty much... whereas SAD food makes you groggy and lethargic - which one do you think is better for ya?"

:D hope that helps!

[lucky lemons]

for the suggestion! And congratulations on your dramatic weight loss, that's awesome!

:)

[Frugal Raw]

OMG!!! I LOVE your screen name!!!! (One of the race horses from the movie, "Popeye," right?) Anyway, Welcome!! I wish you the best of rawesome health!

[shashibala]

Welcome!!!! I'm happy to hear you are already feeling the effects of raw foods!
As for sharing the raw food thing with others, there are some people who fear change and some people who love to argue. I don't use much breath for them. I usually say " a raw food lifestyle isn't for everyone, but it's working great for me!"
For people who are genuinely interested in me or their own health, I will share all that I can! I am amazed that more people won't even give it a try. I have vastly improved my health and lost 45 pounds in 6 months.
I've learned that most people who want to have better health or lose weight, want to have it all without making any real changes. I just hope I might be planting a seed that will grow sometime in the future!
Enjoy your raw journey!!!!!

[spicyfull]

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

[jacsam]

I think the best thing you could do to explain this to people with questions is get Alissa's book and DVD. She explains every question you could be asked in a very down to earth, reasonable way.....it will not only help anwer other peoples questions but your own questions too.

[oceanee]

Lucky Lemons ~ I just love your name ! Sounds like you are already feeling so good from the initial rawness . I tend to not talk too much about myself and raw as I am in my first year. One of my goals is to get to the point that people notice and then it's the example and then when they ask they'll be looking at living proof ! I have a bit of weight to loose as well and I can tell you that whenever I fall prey to cooked vegan or SAD I become depressed within a few days. I still fight the demons and remain with my health in the forefront. It's hard sometimes not to totally want to say "what are you people thinking eating burnt flesh:eek: or cow puss:eek: (aptly named by someone on this thread:cool: )...
Read all you can, do what you need to do for you as far as talking about with others. This journey is about you and your health.So, if you need to avoid talking about what you are doing go for it but if you need to explain, keep it simple, don't stress and change the topic if you are feeling the need.
Best of everything!
Oceanee

[lucky lemons]

For the nice welcome and the great advice. I tend not to talk too much about the raw food diet yet as I am in the early stages of it, and still learning and trying to stay on track. However, it's hard not to bring up the topic when food is so central to social interaction! Plus, it makes you feel so great it's hard not to talk about it. But I'll figure it out. I'm just happy to be able to have found a place to discuss raw food with people who have been doing it for awhile. This board is an invaluable resource!

Frugal Raw - Yes, my screen name is a reference to Popeye! That's awesome that you caught that! I love that movie. :cool:

Jacsam - I have the book and have been using it faithfully, but not the DVD. I think I will eventually order it too:)