How High Raw are You?

[pinkrosebud]

Hello Everyone!!!!
It has been a long time since I posted due to an insane summer and crazy graduate school demands. Anyway through the course of school I managed to gain about 15 lbs. and go on and off of raw. I have been dabbling with raw for over a year, and have found for my current lifestyle and preferances 100% raw is not appropriate right now. I would like to know how high raw you all are, and how you balance your raw with your cooked. Any comments are greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Pinkrosebud.

[RawPaw]

I've cheated quite a bit over the past few months, even eating meat, but I'm resolved to do less of that.

I do allow myself the occasional coffee or tea just so I can study when I'm at a coffee shop, and if I have to, I'll fudge for social occasions—'cos I tend to be a hermit if I don't.

But for me, fruits and vegetables. No prep work. I just stick a bunch of kale and spinach in a bowl, along with a variety of fruits. Usually takes me a long while to finish my meals, but I'm a bachelor.

[TaupeRawMan]

Hi PRB - I am assuming you are wanting to hear from only those that are NOT 100%, correct? I personally am 100% raw.

[kaleidoscopeeyes]

I'm as raw as I can be...I know there's controversy over whether or not nuts or specialty raw products are raw, but right now I can't afford to worry about that. So I'd say my intent is to be 100%, but in actuality I'm more like 95 to 98%.

[RawPaw]

Hi PRB - I am assuming you are wanting to hear from only those that are NOT 100%, correct? I personally am 100% raw.

What's your routine like? Always cool to study the faithful.

[RawKnitster]

I've spent 40 years trying to balance my weight on a standard american diet. I had to lose the same pounds over and over, year after year. That's why I'm 100% raw (again). And this time, I'm staying raw.

[raven]

I understand your situation. Right now, I'm following 100% but I swing back and forth. If I have cooked foods, I prefer to include them at the end of the day. I'd get too sleepy if I ate cooked meals during the day and from a digestive point of view you want to eat the longest digesting foods last. I feel heavy and sluggish from cooked foods. A warm soup or lightly steamed veggies would be ok.

Suzy

[EZ rider]

Unfortunately I can't get switch hitting to work for me. I'm either all raw and OK or if I eat any cooked food I experience cravings that are hard to resist. I would like to eat some cooked food now and then but for me its like an alcoholic trying to have just a sip - wham, down I go. I have learned that for me its all raw and every things fine or its struggling with cravings and packing on the pounds. I envy the people who can switch hit any time they want. Every time I try to switch hit I strike out and have to start over. :(
Here's a link to another thread where I posted some more of my thoughts about this: http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=44015

[Zaphirah]

I tried to be high raw-I really really did. I tried to have just brown rice in the morning and the rest of the day raw. But then I had lots of rice left over so I was eating rice for breakfast and lunch and then raw for dinner. Then I "forgot" to buy enough raw, or it just no longer appealed to me in the way that cooked vegan did....then it was cooked vegetarian...then I ate a HOT DOG!!!!! I went 100% the very next day. I blamed it on my busy chaotic life, and each day I would promise myself to do better then next and it never worked. I gained 7 lbs in 2 months. I am back 100% and I love it because there is no "balancing act" or keeping track of raw to make sure I meet my "high raw standards."

Maybe you are one of the few that can go back and forth, but I just wanted to share my exp.

[Eva]

I have thought a few times that I could be high raw, but it backfired. Once I felt really, really fantastic and had been in total control of my life and health... it was so hard to go back to feeling bloated and emotional (even to a very small degree!).

Maybe one day, I will be strong and healthy and able to and interested in balancing high raw with some cooked brown rice or whatever, but for now I am not able to do this with success.

[Bethanie]

I am managing to stay around 98-100% raw.
The only time i dip into cooked is when i prepare brown rice for my hubby and i'm so tired i eat a couple of spoonfulls with loads of fresh veggies.
That's not very often and i'm trying to stop doing that:)
B.

[pinkrosebud]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. Wow! You all seem to be way higher raw then me. I am trying to be high raw all day, with one or two non-raw meals a week, and a few non raw ingredients thrown into some raw recipes for texture or taste. I would love to hear from as many people as possible, those of you who are 100% as well as those of you who are not. I am curious to those who stay 100% all the time how you do it? I was 100% for 3 months last year and it was not overly difficult except for social occasions which were gruelling, esp. with my partner's family (I don't ever want to have to go there again), and then the holidays hit... Another concern of mine is the fact that a major part of my identity is that of a delightful cook. I love food all food (I can elimante meat save for the occassional wild salmon caught and prepared by my chef extordinare father, and limit cheeses to a few times a year) but I feel life is too short to give up those long lazy evenings on the peer sipping wine and enjoying fresh artisan bread and olives (can get raw olives) etc. I don't know, I am confused right now and just trying to get to a healthier, non-conflicted place. Again thankyou for all your thoughts.
Pinkrosebud.

[ShelShel]

I had started and deleted my personal blog so many times I can't count, for just this reason. Then I started it again this Monday with the notion that even if I'm not 100% (which is always my personal goal) I will keep journalling. This is my journey. Like you I feel life is meant to be enjoyed...including those rare indulgences. So, I try to find balance & moderation with what I eat. Knowing what's best for me...and allowing for the fact that I was given taste buds and the sense of smell for a reason. To enjoy my food!


My personal philosophy:
1} 100% raw is the best we can offer our bodies.
2} Relationship is the best we can offer our hearts. (AKA...God, friends, loved ones...etc...)
3} Knowledge: the best we can offer our minds.

To be a whole person, all three of these must be functioning. Well, sometimes PART ONE crosses paths with PART TWO and these relationships are shared over food. Or PART THREE happens at a convention, dinner, or otherwise. If I am to only stick with PART ONE...not all of my being is being met. Therefore, knowing PART ONE is best, I try to stay closely to that, without limiting the other parts.

I continue to learn, grow, love and live. I pray that for all of you in your individual walks today! (((HUGS)))

[ViolinCyndee]

Well I would say I am about 80-85% raw. I am fine with staying 100% when I am in a routine--like at home, Mon--Fri.

The times I cave are usually on the weekends. I feel as though I am a 'screw-up' if I do eat cooked, but then just submit anyway, when at restaurants. (like an alcoholic!)

So. for me.. social situations/restaurants the only time I have a problem.

[Random]

ShelShel, that's a lovely post. Thank you.

[annavon]

I would say that I average about 85% raw. I am 100% most of the time, with occaision cooked food. I really went off raw when I was travelling. I flew to my destination and couldn't take too much with me. Some of the situations did not lend itself to providing my own food, but I tried to stay vegan, other times I simply made the choice to not be raw because I wanted to try some local specialties.

I am pretty new to raw (although I dabbled in it in the past). The way I look at it, is that when I became a vegetarian it didn't happen over night, I started with one vegetarian meal per week and then I expanded it to a vegetarian day. Before I new it, I wasn't eating meat any more. I greadually gave up dairy as well. So I figure that is how things are going raw. I started a couple of year ago having an occaisional raw meal. Then I experimented with eating raw for an entire day. So, in July I decided to see if I could eat raw for an entire week. Now, my next step is to try the 30 day challange in September. I don't think it will be too hard because I KNOW I feel great when I eat 100% :D

The big thing that I now do, is that if I go off raw either due to temptation, or a conscious decision, I don't beat myself up or quit (like I did in the past). I just go right back to being raw.

[rayofsunshine]

I have only been 100% raw for the last 3 days. I've commited to 100% raw to clear up my IBS and Gerd.

Have tried for months to do a high raw diet, but my first bite of cooked food is still very addictive for me and that is all I want to eat the rest of the day. If I have a weekend of cooked food, I have a hard time getting back on track.

Someone on this thread asked if you would loose weight on raw. I lost about 15 pounds by being about 75% raw with green smoothies every morning. This was over about 5 months. I'd stop loosing when I had a long SAD period (sometimes even gained weight back), but when I got back to eating more raw the pounds would drop again.

I have always been a big eater and known as a great baker with family and friends. It is like giving up a part of myself not to be baking favorites for others, so I understand the association of your being a great cook. I figured I'll have to get others hooked on some new raw desserts, although they are are always asking for certain cooked items. I made a raw strawberry and cashew cream parfait that my kids loved.

You'll soon be dazzling others with wonderful uncooked foods!!

[Moretta]

I'm 100% and loving it. Last night my mom was eating a nice juicy steak and it smelt so good, but I resisted the temptation because I know how healthy raw is for me. So no more cooked foods for me.

[raven]

I see that so many have the same experience of finding cooked food addictive. I feel so much more balanced on raw.

Suzy

[saxmaam]

For me:

July 98% or more - did raw challenge but used selected non-raw condiments in small amounts.
August 90% or more - did some restaurant eating when I had guests. Some days I ate cooked proteins.
September - I'll do the raw challenge and aim for near-100% again.

Susan

[Nadine]

I would say I am about 80% raw, looking to go to about 90-100% before the end of the year. I think that if I could find a few quick recipes, that's pleasing to my palate and can replace some of my addictions (chocolate), I would go 100% right now. But with my work schedule and without the necessary equipment to produce some of the recipes I have seen in most of the raw food books, fruits and veggies are it for me right now.

I am only 1 1/2 month into my raw food journey.

[Emma-Liza]

saxmaam, I'll be glad to see you on the challenge thread again! :)

[RawHeaven]

Hi Pinkrosebud, I consider high raw to mean I'm eating a lot of greens, fruits and no seeds or nuts. When I eat nuts or seeds I binge and so lately I've actually been eliminating them completely until I get a handle on that. I make the exception with hemp seeds which I sprinkle on salads and add to smoothies. I do not like how I feel after I eat raw nuts and this is also why I enjoy being "high raw" which is not the same to me as 100% raw.

For example, the past 3 days I've been drinking a lot of green & fruit juices...cucumber, tomato, spinach, kale, etc. I'm mono-juicing and I feel absolutely wonderful. I'm bursting with energy or maybe it's all of the reserve energy that normally is used to digest some of the fats I used to eat. I ate a lara bar yesterday afternoon and my energy dropped the next day - it was sort of an experiment. I really could tell the difference. Now I know it is time for me to graduate to eating a low-fat raw diet. This doesn't work for everyone and in no way am I implying it does. But for the sake of answering your question, just thought I'd share my own take on it and why I stay 100% raw and I'm leaning towards high raw. I just feel too great to go back to cooked and I do not desire cooked food at all. Haven't eaten it since November 2007 when I had some microwaved popcorn that made me very ill.

My routine is to juice lately because it's been in the three digits and hot. When the temps are cooler my body will probably want something else. It sounds like you have a routine. What worked for me to get to this point was to be diligent with my raw/nutrition research, but at the same time listen closely to my body and what it seemed to want in terms of fuel. I believe any percentage of eating raw foods is wonderful, but I'm biased in saying that 100% or high raw truly rocks and it's where you really begin to see & experience the health and other extraordinary benefits. I also tend to see this as a lifestyle rather than a way of eating. It's like breathing to me now. :)

Good luck to you.

[saxmaam]

saxmaam, I'll be glad to see you on the challenge thread again! :)

Thanks Emma-Liza. I miss y'all!

[MOTH]

I am 100% and I have been for almost 8 months.

My routine is basically fruit, fruit and more fruit; 7 bananas for one meal; 5 apples for a meal, etc. Some days I don't eat much and then another day I will desire more, so I make sure to satisfy myself. Feeling satisfied and full in your belly is incredibly important. I also prepare and eat simple salads with no more then 3-4 ingredients, though I don't eat them everyday; only when I'm craving something savory. I find that taking pleasure in eating simply is what works for me and keeps me at 100%, which is where I need to be.

[srsarri]

I am so close to 100%, Yet, I feel like I am so far away from it. The only thing that I eat that is not raw, is the occasional half a serving of brown rice and some salad dressings when out. I don't think I can completely give up the 2. I also refuse to stress over it!

Im doing better then ever! However, my goal, is 100%, Always. I think im doing good, I have been eating this way for 5 months, and im craving free! (except for rice, which is a prob!, i need to stop eating it! , do I want to? No idea! and im ok with that!)

[Vaclare79]

I feel like in order for some people to completely be raw 100% without using condiments/dressings and craving foods that are cooked/SAD is to quit eating it cold turkey (which works for some) and go at raw 100% for a while then you'll see a difference where you don't want any SAD/cooked foods. I noticed when I ate before I left for the mall, watching people eat pizza (my favorite & chinese and ANY sad foods basically!) that I just walked by and it did smell good, I just wasn't interested in it as a food item and I haven't been raw very long, just 100% raw. :)

[Vaclare79]

Hi Pinkrosebud, I consider high raw to mean I'm eating a lot of greens, fruits and no seeds or nuts. When I eat nuts or seeds I binge and so lately I've actually been eliminating them completely until I get a handle on that. I make the exception with hemp seeds which I sprinkle on salads and add to smoothies. I do not like how I feel after I eat raw nuts and this is also why I enjoy being "high raw" which is not the same to me as 100% raw.

For example, the past 3 days I've been drinking a lot of green & fruit juices...cucumber, tomato, spinach, kale, etc. I'm mono-juicing and I feel absolutely wonderful. I'm bursting with energy or maybe it's all of the reserve energy that normally is used to digest some of the fats I used to eat. I ate a lara bar yesterday afternoon and my energy dropped the next day - it was sort of an experiment. I really could tell the difference. Now I know it is time for me to graduate to eating a low-fat raw diet. This doesn't work for everyone and in no way am I implying it does. But for the sake of answering your question, just thought I'd share my own take on it and why I stay 100% raw and I'm leaning towards high raw. I just feel too great to go back to cooked and I do not desire cooked food at all. Haven't eaten it since November 2007 when I had some microwaved popcorn that made me very ill.

My routine is to juice lately because it's been in the three digits and hot. When the temps are cooler my body will probably want something else. It sounds like you have a routine. What worked for me to get to this point was to be diligent with my raw/nutrition research, but at the same time listen closely to my body and what it seemed to want in terms of fuel. I believe any percentage of eating raw foods is wonderful, but I'm biased in saying that 100% or high raw truly rocks and it's where you really begin to see & experience the health and other extraordinary benefits. I also tend to see this as a lifestyle rather than a way of eating. It's like breathing to me now. :)

Good luck to you.



How long have you been raw ? You say that high raw is different from 100% raw? The nut/seeds make you crave cooked/sad foods? That's interesting... I've noticed the past couple days that I've been really tired. I don't know if it's the sunflower seeds I've been eating though, but I'm going to experiment with that.

[Zaphirah]

okay-wait a minute, wait a minute. I consider myself 100% BUT I do use miso and nutritional yeast and hot tea in the winter-BUT I STILL CONSIDER MYSELF 100%. I do not COOK any foods, nor do I eat prepackaged foods, etc. If I need some yeast or I use a bottled vegan vinaigrette I am still 100%. If I eat raw nuts or seeds, but I can't confirm that they are absolutely 100% raw, I STILL CONSIDER MYSELF 100% raw.

Does that make sense? I don't get hung up on smidgens of percentages. I do the very best I can with what is available.

clear as mud, eh?

[Eva]

okay-wait a minute, wait a minute. I consider myself 100% BUT I do use miso and nutritional yeast and hot tea in the winter-BUT I STILL CONSIDER MYSELF 100%. I do not COOK any foods, nor do I eat prepackaged foods, etc. If I need some yeast or I use a bottled vegan vinaigrette I am still 100%. If I eat raw nuts or seeds, but I can't confirm that they are absolutely 100% raw, I STILL CONSIDER MYSELF 100% raw.

Does that make sense? I don't get hung up on smidgens of percentages. I do the very best I can with what is available.

clear as mud, eh?

Hmmm, makes sense. I'm so tired of labeling myself, though. Sometimes I want to scream at the rooftops how great it is to be raw. And sometimes I just want to be like everyone else, but healthy -- avoiding labels or strange conversations or the "why can't you have this?" "well I CAN have anything but CHOOSE not to" banter.

I don't want to get hung up on these things. But I don't want to get strung up by the not really raw food thing makes me feel not really stellar.

Just my own personal rant. Carry on good people.

[Zaphirah]

I'm wit ya Eva. That's why I don't stress about seasonings or condiments, or a T of miso in a bottle of HM dressing.

I caught grief from my FIL cuz I used frozen peas in my "stir fresh" when I found that my fresh peas had gone moldy over 2 days. He like the recipe, but kept reminding me, with every bite, that I wasn't really eating RAW food. (there was like 1c of peas in 12c of salad and I added the peas because I was bringing it to a (SAD) potluck and felt they really needed to be there for aesthetics.)

[RawHeaven]

How long have you been raw ? You say that high raw is different from 100% raw? The nut/seeds make you crave cooked/sad foods? That's interesting... I've noticed the past couple days that I've been really tired. I don't know if it's the sunflower seeds I've been eating though, but I'm going to experiment with that.


I've been raw for a little over a year. 100% since January 1st.


My definition of high raw is eating low fat Raw. I'm also 100% Raw. This is not everyone's definition and it's always up for interpretation...just works for me to focus on it this way. :)


No, no, no nuts don't make me crave sad/cooked. Thanks for asking the question as perhaps I implied that by including it in my little blurb. :o I don't crave vegan/vegetarian cooked which was my diet pre-raw vegan. I only mentioned the nuts & seeds as it seems that I binge on them and so I've eliminated them for now. My routine consists of eating 80-90% greens, 10-20% fruit and for fat I use coconut oil and avocado. I'm drinking lots of green smoothies and green/fruit juices right now. I don't use any condiments or anything like that, practice food combining and haven't made a gourmet meal in quite awhile. To me this feels like "high raw".

I believe experimenting with a variety of raw foods and seeing how you feel and how well your body digests them is a good idea and perhaps one of many ways to reach your raw lifestyle goals. I wish you well with your plan. :)

[Imani]

It has been a long time for myself in posting. I am pushing the envelope everyday to be higher and higher. I freaked out about how could I socialize with out eating socially. I put it out in the universe that I want 100 percent raw and now when I come over to social events. I bring my own of course but people are preparing nice raw meals for me to participate in. Today I visited the farm of a friend I had gaspazcho, and banana sandwhiches, I love them. I had barrels of peaches and cucumbers and plenty for me to feast off of, plus cake. Lovely day
I put my entention out and I got a return of support
Imani

[Vaclare79]

I'm 100% for 49 days. I want a piece of home made pizza that my daughter made. :eek:

Awww. I want pizza too :(

[Vaclare79]

I've been raw for a little over a year. 100% since January 1st.


My definition of high raw is eating low fat Raw. I'm also 100% Raw. This is not everyone's definition and it's always up for interpretation...just works for me to focus on it this way. :)


No, no, no nuts don't make me crave sad/cooked. Thanks for asking the question as perhaps I implied that by including it in my little blurb. :o I don't crave vegan/vegetarian cooked which was my diet pre-raw vegan. I only mentioned the nuts & seeds as it seems that I binge on them and so I've eliminated them for now. My routine consists of eating 80-90% greens, 10-20% fruit and for fat I use coconut oil and avocado. I'm drinking lots of green smoothies and green/fruit juices right now. I don't use any condiments or anything like that, practice food combining and haven't made a gourmet meal in quite awhile. To me this feels like "high raw".

I believe experimenting with a variety of raw foods and seeing how you feel and how well your body digests them is a good idea and perhaps one of many ways to reach your raw lifestyle goals. I wish you well with your plan. :)

Yeah, I'm doing an experiment for sure.. Trying to see what makes me feel good or not. It's definitely going to be trial and error for sure since I haven't eaten a lot of fresh veg/fruits in a LONG time.

[MOTH]

Awww. I want pizza too :(

Raw pizza! :)

[TaupeRawMan]

What's your routine like? Always cool to study the faithful.


Hi Raw Paw -

in the morning I will have either straight fruit (like a canteloupe or two) or a green smoothie (peaches with purslane, nectarines with collards, etc).

Around noon, another smoothie or some home-made sauerkraut or maybe a salad.

Dinner is a large salad, or pate with lettuce leaves, or zucchini pasta, or whatever needs to be eaten in the garden...:)

[tammay]

Great thead and it's nice to see that I'm not the only one who wasn't able to go 100% raw the first time around :D.

I've been 75-90% raw for about 3 weeks but I'm starting the September Raw Challenge and have armed myself with enough substitute foods for the ones I wasn't eating raw so that I am truely as 100% as I can make my diet. I've never tried 100% for more than a day or two, so I'm hoping that this will inspire me to keep at it. I feel like something is missing from my diet. I'm also noticing that even when I am 90% raw, the small amount of non-raw food (mostly grains) is causing me to overeat which already tells me something isn't right here.

Tam

[auxocromo]

just started out again so i'm at about 90% most days. if i eat cooked foods, its something vegan and small portions - soup, veggie patties, granola bars, cereal, soy milk, beans. i'm trying to do at least one 100% raw day per week. i've started my third week and have been able to keep up so far.

[Riiiya]

hello!
i haven't read all the posts so i hope i don't repeat anything...

I started raw last August- right before my last semester at college... it was tough times + i started working at the campus cafeteria lol.. and yet i've been 100% raw..until the holidays- that's when one single cooked meal with dairy caused me to go downhill for about 3 months..

I'm 100% (well perhaps it's more like (98% since cashews are not raw, neither are some olives, etc etc) now and LOVING IT. I gained weight while being half raw and lost my drive for physical exercise... got really disorganized and confused in my mind... uh

Now i work and am getting ready for grad school- and plan to be 100%. There's just no other way- it's all about intention and personal goals.. my goal is to have vibrant health, clarity of mind and an open heart- food for me has a very strong link to these things.. I have to do what is best for me, I have to be an example for others.. Raw is my passion now, it opened my mind to so many seemingly unrelated things.

[ShelShel]

Riiiya,
I loved what you just wrote. I'm back to 100% for two days now...on my third today. I'm always very high raw, but like you...I gained weight back doing both. It's amazing to me how quickly 100% changes things in my body. From how soundly I sleep, my skin and how my clothing and rings loosen up.

I'm more at peace with myself and the world around me and that's just changing that last few percentages to 100%. It makes a big difference. But as I have written before, if you want it too. If you aren't happy eating 100%, it becomes a diet instead of a lifestyle and journey.

I've hit that place where I am just thrilled eating raw again...and so, I find joy and not restraint in eating this way. ;) Thanks for sharing.