Considering raw

[jesirose]

Hello everyone. I joined to get some advice on switching to a raw diet.

I first heard about it by reading an article that says it can help with Fibromyalgia, which I have suffered from for the past 5 years. I am 22 years old.

I found this diet plan: http://www.theskinnyonraw.com/articles.html and am considering trying it out. However, I don't like tomatoes and it contains a lot of tomatoes. I am not a fan of avocado either. Maybe it is because I have eaten a lot of junk over my lifetime, but I just don't like them. Can I substitute something for tomato? I have a very picky palate.

I am concerned about how difficult it would be to switch because I constantly crave things like chips, salty foods, dairy (which sucks because it gives me gas most of the time) and chocolate. I eat a bit of meat, usually chicken or ground beef. I absolutely love pasta.

I am married, and my husband generally eats whatever I eat. If I cook he likes it, but he claims he's happy with the frozen meals or pasta, etc.

For a while I ate a salad every day for lunch and I noticed I felt better. But it's been difficult because I don't enjoy preparing things, so even cutting up lettuce is a chore. Right now I mostly eat canned meals or frozen meals. I know I need a change. I'm not healthy, I'm overweight, and I'm in pain. Could a raw diet really help me?


Thanks for any advice!

[EZ rider]

Could a raw diet really help me?
For me going raw has been like getting a new lease on life. The improvements are so many I would have to start a list and keep putting the benefits I have experienced down for many days as I thought about them and when I finished the list it would be very long and would probably be incomplete because there are so many. I feel as if I have backed the clock down through the years and am experiencing what it feels like to feel good again. Thats the upside but there's a downside for me me too. Unfortunately I have learned the hard way that I have to stay 100% all fresh raw or I stray off my journey's path and go right off a cliff eating more and more cooked until I realize I am losing the benefits of the raw food lifestyle and then its a white knuckle effort to get back. See my post on another thread about this: http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=44008 . I want to keep enjoying the benefits of the raw food lifestyle and that means not straying off the path. We are all different and will have different experiences. I hope your experiences are all good ones. :)

[Zaphirah]

for some people it's easy to go raw, for others it can be a real challenge. I fall into the 2nd category-BUT

I have never felt better in my life. I feel 20 years younger (and I'm only 34! LOL!)

If you were my sis-I'd say got for it! What do you have to lose-except the pain of fibromyalgia. don't get "old" before your time, ya know?

It really is an AWESOME lifestyle. It impacts every area of your life and brings peace, and serenity and freedom from aliments.

I wish you the best of health in whatever you decide. :)

[saxmaam]

Lesseee .... You don't like tomatos, avocados, or spending time in the kitchen.

I'm pretty new to raw. For me it means spending a fair amount of time in the kitchen, but some people seem to eat very simply (mono-meals, plain fruits & veg) and so avoid it.

Maybe a gradual approach would help. For example, just eat raw things until 9 am every day until you get used to that. You could try a bunch of different raw breakfasts. Then move the time to 11 and try out different raw snacks. Etcetera ... Alissa's recommendation is to dive in at 100% raw. But that's a huge change when you're used to eating frozen dinners. Better 20% than 0%.

If you could experiment with a different attitude that could help also. What I mean is, spend some weeks where you tell yourself that food-prep is fun. Maybe it will become true. Remind yourself that if you don't feel well, nothing much is fun or even pleasant.

Well ... those are some thoughts. Please write back and tell us what you do.

Susan

[Eva]

You could be like my mom. She HATES (and I mean HATES) cooking. But she was surprised to discover she loves "uncooking"! There are some REALLY easy recipes out there. You sometimes just throw some stuff in a blender or food processor and call it a meal. ;)

I don't have experience with fibromyalgia, but I know that the woman who sponsors this board cured that from going raw. :)

Good luck!

[rayofsunshine]

Go for it. You may stumble a few times, but I have found I gain more strength and favorite foods each time.

You may want to by Alissa's book. "Living on Live Food" and Victoria Boutenko's "Green for Life" are very inspirational if you're thinking about going raw for health reasons. They both have a lot of testimonials from people like you and me. Alissa's has a lot of recipes and Victoria's has many green smoothie recipes that seem to help many on this board with cooked food cravings.

If you love chocolate, there are so many great tasting recipes that use raw cocoa powder. Just do a search on this site to get started. Bellieve me, there is no reason to feel deprived in that area.

Good luck!

[Moretta]

Good luck on your rawness journey.

[jesirose]

Thanks everyone! I thought the forum would email me replies, glad I checked back! :)


Lesseee .... You don't like tomatos, avocados, or spending time in the kitchen.

I'm pretty new to raw. For me it means spending a fair amount of time in the kitchen, but some people seem to eat very simply (mono-meals, plain fruits & veg) and so avoid it.

Maybe a gradual approach would help. For example, just eat raw things until 9 am every day until you get used to that. You could try a bunch of different raw breakfasts. Then move the time to 11 and try out different raw snacks. Etcetera ... Alissa's recommendation is to dive in at 100% raw. But that's a huge change when you're used to eating frozen dinners. Better 20% than 0%.

If you could experiment with a different attitude that could help also. What I mean is, spend some weeks where you tell yourself that food-prep is fun. Maybe it will become true. Remind yourself that if you don't feel well, nothing much is fun or even pleasant.

Well ... those are some thoughts. Please write back and tell us what you do.

Susan

Good post! I appreciate the advice, I like the idea to start with breakfast. I have enjoyed cooking sometimes but it is very frustrating to me - maybe if I just try to enjoy it and I will like "uncooking" better.


I will check out the books, thanks!

[annavon]

Welcome. I just want to relate that as a person with a number of health issues before I went raw, I have really experienced significant healing being raw. Try setting some mini-goals for yourself if this seems difficult for you. A raw meal, a raw day and then a raw week. That worked for me. Strive for 100%, but don't beat yourself up if you can do only 85% or even 50%. Remember some is better than nothing and from your post, definately better than you have been eating.

Also, try to find a raw pot luck in your area. It can be helpful to meet other raw foodists and try the various dishes.

[spicyfull]

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

[RaDixon]

Could a raw diet really help me?

I believe eating a diet consisting of mostly or all raw food will benefit anyone and everyone! But the best way to really know this is of course to try it for yourself! These boards are a great place to read inspirational stories and testimonials, but when you see and feel the changes your own body will go through that is what will really solidify that you are doing something good for yourself. I guarantee that if you try raw for even 2 weeks you'll notice a difference! Heck, even a few days could start to ease some of the pain you are experiencing. As for not liking certain foods, I am the same way, but the good thing is that raw recipes are really simple, and very easily manipulated to your own palate. Soon you'll find that you are even creating your own yummy recipes! I would also recommend Alissa's book for great recipe ideas, and also this forum and the internet, for simple meals that you can start with. I wish you happiness and health!!:)

[jacsam]

Girl....do yourself a favor and get Alissa's DVD's and book...watch the DVD's and you'll see how easy eating raw can be and how quick (if preparing food is a chore to you, at least make it quick). Then read her book and you can decide for yourself....if anything you'll learn how food affects your body and be more mindful of the food choices you make. Good Luck!

[Aleesha Sattva]

when i first went raw i would prepare most of my staples on monday every week. some pate's - anything which needed to be dehydrated and then over the week i would just simply eat what was already prepared. it really helped me spend very little time preparing.

that may assist you. there are so many recipes here... and mattye's (http://frugalrawnews.blogspot.com/) book has some great very inexpensive recipes in it. check it out!

[StarFire]

Aloha and Welcome to RFT!! I was just recently diagnosed with Fibro ... shocked the heck right out of me! Over 30 years ago - I went to a dr who promptly told me that I was 'wacko'... and was just looking for drugs. I was so humiliated by the way I was treated that I just figured I was ... well... 'wacko'. and learned to simply deal with the pain, and all the other symptoms.

fast forward to now... and I recently was involved in an auto accident - so I've been under Dr.'s care for that -- when the dr began testing me for all these other things .. the conclusion and diagnosis being that I've had Fibro all these years. He asked me if I wanted a prescription -- which I declined... I figured if I've been dealing with this for over 30 years without drugs.. I can continue to do so...

PLUS... I have noticed VAST improvement when I am 100% raw. The higher percentage I am 100% RAW... over a long period of time... the less pain I experience... and the other symptoms also lessen greatly.

I have begun to see a direct correlation between cooked SAD foods and the amount of pain I suffer. MORE RAW = LESS PAIN.... I've been raw since April 1, 2007..... for my first 5 months I was 100% RAW and loving life... then I got sassy cuz I was feeling so good -- and began to incorporate a few 'old favorites... and ... lo and behold the pain returned... so I've been off and on 100% the last few months ... but never dropping below say... 90% raw... but i can STILL tell the difference. and it's HUGE....

Now -- I'm back to 100%.... and I can feel my body healing and getting stronger again... this time... when I'm feeling sassy.... I'll remember it's not worth it!

RAWk on... welcome and I'm so glad you have joined us...

blessings on your journey...

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

[RawHeaven]

Welcome Jesirose. I echo everyone else's sentiments. I'll simply add I was the opposite when I started out as I used to love to prepare food pre raw. I transferred that over to preparing raw gourmet meals. Now I'm happy and satisfied eating a fairly mono diet with fresh raw produce. I usually just eat it whole or juice. I think you naturally go through certain transitions the longer you're raw. You can definately start out keeping it simple as well with minimal food prep. I would just suggest making sure you have a variety of foods you're eating -- eating the colors of the rainbow is what I tend to do. Greens, reds, yellows, oranges, blues etc.

All the best to you,
Crystal