Hi from Florida! (new to....everything!)

[Lelê]

Hi, guys! My name is Alexandra. I'm originally from Brazil, but I live in Florida for over a decade.

Yesterday was my first "raw" day. I found out about raw food by myself, after looking for some other info on the internet.

My 4.5 yo son is Asperger's and after taking him to a holistic dentist, I came back with a lot of info. His dentist gave me lots of info relating health/behavior/brain functions and diet, and after reading it all, I went online to search a bit more and stumbled on the "raw/live food" community.

I'm also concerned about my health in general. I have good lab results, but I'm a bit depressed, have severe ADD, PCOS and I'm obese. I'm definitely an emotional eater too, kwim? Until yesterday, I was a SAD eater and nowhere near being a vegan, but I'm one of those guilt carnivores, who dreams of being vegetarian (or vegan) but have no will power to do it so.

Reading and watching videos, I saw that some things made A LOT of sense (to me), so I decided to give it a try ( I plan on getting Alissa's book soon). I was going to, initially, give myself 2 weeks of raw. But I saw the challenges, so I may embrace the whole 30 days... I'm scared and excited at the same time!

Also(!), I decided to try to quit smoking together with this challenge... I figured that if I was interested in detoxing and optimum health, smoking would be a little....couter-productive, to say the least...:p That is the hardest part. Yesterday (my first raw day), I had 1 cigarette. Today, I'll try to have none. *somebody hold me!*

I'm about to buy a dehydrator (specially for my son, who should avoid too much wheat), and my DH (who's a SAD/junk food/ carnivore) said that if I indeed decide to eat (at least partially) raw, he would give me one of those "super" blenders as a gift. *yay*

But let's start slowly... Sorry for the humongous novel.:o

Hope to see you all around!

Alexandra (aka Lelê) :)

[smoothiegirl]

Welcome!!! Do what's best for your body. Jump right in or take it slow. I didn't pressure myself by trying for 30 days-I took it one day at a time and it just worked out. Stick w/it and you'll get optimum health results.:)

[Veganforlife]

Welcome! Yep, I agree. Got at YOUR pace. Try green smoothies - I bet your son will love 'em as well as you!!!

[Eva]

Hey Lelê! Welcome on board!!! My husband is from Brazil and has been in the States for a little more than a decade too! What a coincidence. :) Where are you from in Brazil?

And what area are you in FL? Do you have good farmers markets where you are? There are a good amount of raw restaurants. I've been to one of them and loved it...

Ha! Sorry so many questions all at once. I hope you find what you're looking for here -- it is a very helpful group of people here, you'll find...

[Lelê]

Thank you so much for the nice reception, guys! To be honest, I think that I'll eventually be 80% raw in the end of the day (like the expression, not the actual day... :D ). But knowing my "addiction" to food, I know it's an all or nothing in the very beginning, kwim? Also, the temptations (read: DH) are all around, so I have to be a bit tougher on myself or I'm gone in 2 seconds. *shakes head*...

Veganforlife ~ I'm starting with the smoothies! My son is *very* picky, but he's drinking it when I add (for him, mine is simpler) carob powder, home-made almond milk and agave nectar to my base smoothie (strawberries, banana, spinach and/or kale, flax meal and soaked chia). I say that is the "Banana Split Super Hero Mylk Shake!" hehehe... ;)

Eva ~ Hi! What a coincidence! I'm from Rio and right now I live in North Miami Bch. I was checking online and I did find some Farmer's markets around, but I'm still trying to fit dates w/ availability, which is hard in my case since I don't drive (don't even ask... silly, I know).

So far I'm partially organic. I got my basic seeds at WF (not cheap, I know, but comparing with the $25 for meat, I'm still on the clear, I guess... :D), I get my greens and fruits at Costco and I get banana wherever I am...hehehe..

Thanks again guys! I like it here... :)

[Eva]

Very cool re: Rio-- my husband's from Sao Paulo. We'll be there in January/February for about a month, and we are planning for me to go to Rio for the first time!!! :D And it's not so silly that you don't drive. I'm sure you have your reasons. Walking instead of driving = fresh air, exercise, sunshine. :)

Anyways -- I thought of a recipe (my husband's) to share if you have not already tried it. You can make the traditional avocado smoothie with almond milk instead of "regular" milk -- and add bananas to it. So good!!

[Lelê]

Ohmygoodness... I forgot all about eating sweet avocado! I've been here for so long I started to eat only the "salty" ways... AND I have bana, avocado AND almond milk at home! I'm so making this later today!! Thanks, Eva!

Also, my best friend lives in SP. I speak to him daily through MSN. We are planning in moving back to Brazil as soon as B. finishes pre-K. Both his class and his teacher (who is, by coincidence, brazilian!) are wonderful and making a world of difference, kwim?

And, btw, your blog is pretty AWESOME. ;)

[Frugal Raw]

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

[spicyfull]

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

[Eva]

Thank you! And I hope you tried it. I actually really, really miss drinking those! I am eating only local fruits/veggies for now, and I will have to wait until I'm in Brazil to have that. We have an avocado and a mango tree at our house there. I cannot wait! :)

[Dimond]

Welcome Alexandra (aka Lelê)! I'm in Fort Lauderdale. :)

[jacsam]

Definately get your feet wet by reading Alissa's book and before you read her book watch her DVD because it will really get you excited.

[Lelê]

Thanks for the warm (just warm,so it's still raw.. ;) ) welcome guys!

Eva ~ When we go back to Brazil at once, I'm thinking of living on my mom's beach house (a small, simple gated community) and plant a few vegetables in there... So far she only has acerola, which is great, but she has space for at least a few more nice things... :)

Jacsam ~ Thanks for the tip about the DVD! I think I'll get it! That's the only way I can see DH paying attention to what I've been saying about raw... *shakes head*.