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kimbalaya
08-14-2008, 10:05 PM
Hello,

My name is Kimberly and I have been a vegetarian for most of my life. I'm one of those junk-food vegetarians though, and my weight and health reflect it, unfortunately.

I've been on a dozen diets or so in the past 20 years, including Jenny Craig, South Beach, PRISM, the Cabbage Soup diet and probably more. My most recent was the PRISM diet, during which I lost about 80 pounds in a 10 month period and was feeling pretty good. However, about a year ago, I lost my momentum, motivation and whatever else was keeping me going, and have gained nearly all of the 80 pounds back. Talk about a yo-yo, and a discouraging one at that.

Currently, I would like to lose about 115 pounds, and get to a healthy life while doing it. I joined Curves and have been going faithfully, 3 to 4 times per week, for 3 1/2 months now, with no weight loss because I'm not taking care of my diet at the same time. I have lost a little in inches, but not much.

I've been thinking more and more about going raw but have held back because I'm nervous. Can I keep up with it? Will it take a lot of time to prepare, when I'm already swamped with work (medical billing at home), 2 children (3 and 5 years), a dozen or more responsibilities at church, planning to homeschool in the next year or two, keeping my house (pretty unsuccessfully right now) and more? I have no doubt I'll like the foods - I love fruits and veggies already. Can a raw diet be followed without adding a lot of supplements? I'm fine with adding good oils (flax, avocado, olive, etc) but not so sure about the powdered barley, protein or other supplements I've heard about. Will it be easy to plan meals? Can I stick to it? What do I feed my family?

As you can see, I have a lot of questions, and I probably have more that I haven't thought of while quickly typing this up before I chicken out...

Hope to get to know some of you, and find my nerve to go for it, soon!

Kimberly

Bananna
08-14-2008, 10:26 PM
Hey there! Welcome! This is a great board....

You could try doing this just to get your feet wet, untill you're in a place in your life to give it more focus for awhile. I too am super busy, and am finding a lot of success with this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3ryGHor_fo

I recommend learning how to make smoothies, they are delish, easy, soulfood, and great on the go. And salads will make you feel great, I use avocados a lot in them, which keep well in the fridge, you can add spice, salt, curry, apples, whatever to adapt to your cravings.

Good luck! It's very worth the effort. My mom owns a Curves by the way :)

kimbalaya
08-14-2008, 10:30 PM
Thanks for the link :) I'll go watch it in a bit.

Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention that I love my Vitamix! :) My hubby makes awesome smoothies, and the kids and I love them! I'd like to learn what other things to put in them for even better nutrition.

spicyfull
08-14-2008, 11:52 PM
I wish you everything you need to Stay RAW...........Welcome to My World.

rawnhealthy
08-15-2008, 12:41 AM
Good luck to you! Follow your own speed and you will be AOK:D

kimbalaya
08-15-2008, 03:21 AM
Thanks for the welcome :)

Frugal Raw
08-15-2008, 07:42 AM
Welcome!! I wish you the best of rawesome health!!

Veganforlife
08-15-2008, 07:50 AM
Hey, you've already transitioned a lot by being Vegetarian. You will do fine.

DRINK GREEN SMOOTHIES!!! (even though you - drink MORE - add cinnamon - or cacao - really, really good!!!)

Get Alissa's book and DVDs

Get Victoria Boutenko's book, "Green for Life"

Search this forum. Tons of info...!

islesgirl
08-15-2008, 09:22 AM
Hi kimbalaya. You already have so much going for you. You are so steadfast regarding getting your exercise! You love fruits and veggies! You have the best kitchen tool ever - a vitamix! And you have this forum. This is a great place for recipes, encouragement and experience. Try not to worry so much - just get your feet wet a bit at a time and you will get to love this. It is life changing. I also find that reading the blogs helps me so much. :)

jacsam
08-15-2008, 01:11 PM
Watch Alissa's DVD and read her book and you'll see all your worries melt away. She'll show you how easy and simple you can make it. After going through both of those you'll know just what to do and you'll only need to start building experience. Good Luck!!

Pilgrim
08-15-2008, 02:12 PM
Welcome! I love your name, Kimbalaya! This transition does take time at first as you learn how to make things that you like to eat, but I think it will be well worth it. You'll have more energy and you'll feel better about yourself as you watch the weight slide off. A good idea is to start a blog. You get lots of support that way. Good luck!

kimbalaya
08-15-2008, 02:23 PM
I've been looking through all kinds of recipes, here and other online sources, and have seen some really delicious looking things, but I'm a bit intimadated by all the time required for dehydrating in some of the recipes. I'm not even sure my dehydrator is the right kind to do some of it! I have the Nesco American Harvest Food Dehydrator (http://www.nesco.com/products/?category=300&subcat=100&id=42), with a couple of the fruit leather trays and a mesh type plastic tray also. I only have 4 of the stacking trays. I don't think it has a temperature setting on it.

Pilgrim - thanks, about my name, LOL! A former co-worker used to call me kimbalaya all the time, just being silly, and that became my screen name because I thought it was pretty unique. I've only had a couple of times when I wasn't able to use it to sign up for a website, so pretty much you can bet if you see a kimbalaya on a forum somewhere, it's me!

Lelê
08-15-2008, 02:49 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3ryGHor_fo


I never saw this before... She is wonderful! I'm SO impressed! I have heard about her (on the "raw vegan" lists around the web), but I never imagined how cool she was....

StarFire
08-15-2008, 06:48 PM
Aloha and Welcome to RFT!!! I'm so glad you've jumped in and joined us! It's a wonderful way to release excess weight, along with allowing your true self to emerge....
Alissa's book - LIVING ON LIVE FOODS is a wonderful way to start when you are first going raw... alissa makes it so easy and do'able even with the busiest lifestyles.... And the recipes are amazing.... you'll love the variety and the adventure of trying all these wonderful and different dishes!

if you are needing direction -- seriously -- Getting the LIVING ON LIVE FOODS book and DVD are the best investments you will ever make!!

RAWk on and enjoy the ride!!

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