How many here are the only raw person you know in off-line life?

[cara4art]

For me, I am, except for one man my husband and I see around sometimes, and I love chatting with him! I'm the raw one in our household of two(me and hubby), and certainly, the only the one I know among the people I know, except for my dear friend who lives 3000 miles away whom I've encouraged to go predominantly raw and she's doing very well with it too. Other than that, no one is in the slightest bit interested! But then, I don't socialize much at all, so it doesn't come up too much. As far as my husband, there's no way he'd go raw, as he likes his REFINED starches(he's not a fan of whole grain stuff that much except for the morning granola) and meat, thank you very much, and no way is he quitting those. He's also not a fan of dips and spreads either, so I just make enough of those for me to eat. He thinks I'm sometimes excessively disciplined, but I have NEVER told him what to eat - I'm just going by my example. He does enjoy a lot of fruit though, and side salads if I make them, or in a burrito. I do tell him everytime he grooves on the fruit - "see you're a fruitarian, only you don't know it yet!"
So I'm a solitary practitioner of raw, and grateful to have the boards here! Even though I live in SF, due to my introverted nature, I have a hard time joining up with groups, even though I know there's a raw community here! At public affairs where there's been a raw food booth, I've gravitated to it like a moth to a flame, because often the people are so positive and vibrant, unlike the people I end up socializing with on the rare occasions that I do.
Thanks for hearing me out here!

[petaltothemetal]

I had two raw aquaintances when I lived in Virginia but don't know a soul in Oregon. My family is also resistant. It doesn't help that I am raw but not skinny! :D

I've been hoping to join a raw food potluck or buying club here. I am socially awkward, so it's been fun chatting online, where no one gets to see the odd faces I make that I'm famous for! :rolleyes: I feel like I'm making friends here, even though I'll probably never meet any of you.

[Aleesha Sattva]

I have many people who say that they are going raw... but they haven't gone 100% at this time.

So it's just me... what I'd love to find is someone of like-mindedness in my area who is fasting long term... that would truly be a gift. ;)

[RawSweetie]

I don't know anyone here who is raw, but the word from my local health food store is that there is a raw family around somewhere...which is great, except I'm single and no kids! But it would be nice to see them, at least, so I know they really exist! :p

I live in a very lobster-oriented place. :rolleyes:

[EZ rider]

It was a nice day today so I rode my bike over to the store today to get a watermelon and as I was locking my bike onto the bike rack I heard a guy saying to the hot dog stand cook "It sure is lucky you are here everyday otherwise I would never get a decent meal". Unfortunately there are plenty of people like that where I live and no raw food eater except me that I know of. Sometimes when I am in the store someone will stop me and ask what I am going to do with all that produce or they will ask me if I have a horse or something to feed those carrots to. Oh well, I know there are other raw food eaters out there -- somewhere.

[Raine]

Have you tried sites like www.Meetup.com?

I know for the Dallas area there are at least 2 raw meetup groups and a number of vegetarian ones.


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[Aleesha Sattva]

I created one... we have two members and neither of them live close to me LOL

[ShelShel]

None. Just little ole me! :p

[SuzyQ]

Just me. However, I will say my wonderful husband is super supportive and will try anything I make. He isn't crazy about raw soup, but other than that, he eats anything I put in front of him.

[rayofsunshine]

Just me too.

I was at my local Barnes and Noble and they must of had over 10 raw food books in their cookbook section. There were much less about 6 months ago. I think that is very encouraging: the raw food movement is spreading.

[orangeflame]

I am the only one I know of. Funny, since I am in VERY close proximity to NYC. I live with my mother and two sisters, all of whom respect me for my lifestyle and are relatively supportive (though they tease me, in good fun, mercilessly). While my fam is cool about my going raw, it gets tough sometimes to have three people in my face eating cooked stuff 24/7. I'm sure some of you can relate.

Then there is my boyfriend. I can't tell you how amazingly receptive and enthusiastic he is!! When I met him a year ago, he was an aspiring-to-be-health-conscious SADer with an open mind...he has since gone 90% vegan and LOVES my raw foods. I have a feeling he is going to transition to raw one of these days. He already has the perfect taste buds, as he chews on plain raw kale and collards like they are candy. I'm kinda Jealous.

He was actually the one who KEPT me on raw a few weeks ago when I wrote in here pulling my hair out of my head that I was sick of all the same raw food. He helped me uncook a bunch of new recipes and, though we are both strapped for cash, he insisted on taking me out for a raw meal, and found a fabulous $10 lunch special at a famous raw restaurant in NYC called Quintessence. I don't know how I got so lucky as to have him.

My mother, who is beating the crap out of cancer as we speak, would like to go raw with me, but she gets chemo every week and afterwards, for days there are verryy few things she can get down (white rice, saltines, some fruit SOMETIMES). She hates my raw savory stuff but LOVES my desserts. Go figure. I keep urging her to get off chemo and go on the Gerson Therapy, but she is already in the course of treatment.

So, I may be the only one right now..but leading by example seems to be changing the goals and eating patterns of those around me. Maybe before we all know it, this world will be a raw-er place :)

[orangeflame]

Good point rayofsunshine.

Back in April when I made the plunge to raw, I went to my library to take out whatever raw books I could...I was ASTOUNDED at how many were already on reserve or checked out!!!

[Ilse W.]

SuzyQ, try to heat up your soup gently by putting it in a bowl and setting it in a pot with hot water. I do that with my savory juices on my juice fast. Lets me pretend I'm eating "real" soup.

I didn't know anybody who ate raw food, until I went to a new chiropractor in town who just happens to also be an author of a weight-loss-through-raw-food book. She gives free lectures at our community center and other places. She advocates eating 10 fruits for breakfast, 10 veggies in a salad for lunch, and again for dinner. She is thin as a rail. Right now she has 2 separate meetings in her office for people who started on her diet, and both are full every week (20 persons per meeting). I guess it's slowly catching on. She often has a cardiologist at her lectures who approached her a couple of years ago, because he wanted to do more for his patients. I live in a community that is always on the 10 best places to retire list, so full of old people. Some of them are on so many medications, they probably don't remember what it is like to feel normal. Oh, I guess now I'm rambling. Sorry.

[Riiiya]

i found the ONLY RAW-INTERESTED PERSON I KNOW on meetup.com :) She's older and with a family- with kids.. i'm 21 and definitely can't relate to that lol but it's SO great! we exchanged books, talked for an hour first time we met- she went ot Cousen's rejuvenation center last year and told me all about it.. she shared some produce from her garden with me and Alissa's DVD :D it's amazing to have SOMEONE around who's into raw (she's not 100% now though).. other than that, i feel totally alone :( that is why i LOVE this forum :D

well, my boyfriend is very receptive too..he's nowhere around 100% raw but he loves most of the food i make! And my family got really into it and trying to stay at a high raw percentage but they're allllll the way in UKraine uuh

[carolg]

If there isn't a meet up in your area, then consider starting one. The meetup groups are great as option. Here in CO have been leading the raw group for years. Not per se a meetup, but think of it as one where we can gather. We have fabulous friendships that come forth too. It's so exciting to meet with the raw friends and tonight's a rawluck. Weather is changing so hoping again to go from outside to inside rawlucks. Finding places to host is always challenge, but worth the effort. Food is great there too.

If ever feeling lonely, you're not with us here.

Emma, what's chiro name? Website? Has own book? Wow, impressive to find someone that understands how to eat and live better for all who choose to change.

carolg

[Ilse W.]

Carolg - Her name is Leslie Van Romer and her book is called "Getting Into Your Pants". I guess she started me on the road to raw, but I read and I research things on my own and do my own thing. She is a great resource for the community, though.

[fruitandveggies]

Just me and my hubby!

[Eva]

My mom is raw -- but that's because she has seen such drastic changes in me and wanted them too! Gracious, I wish everyone knew about raw!

When I was living in MA, I went to www.meetup.com and started my own raw food meetup. Through that I met about maybe 15-20 people.

I also went to Alissa's raw food certification program and met some really wonderful raw folks there.

Here in Budapest, I went to a raw potluck last month and will go to another this weekend. I met about 12 people interested in raw but only one other person who was already raw.

LOL -- BUT my Hungarian family here and the friends I've made and hang out with are not raw. One of them (not raw) is coming with me to the potluck this weekend, though! :)

www.meetup.com is a GREAT resource for either getting the word out about potlucks and finding out about them. For those of you who are shy but sincerely wish you knew other people, get out of your shell! You can do it!

P.S. Great to hear about the chiropractor. And f&v: isn't it nice to say your hubby's raw!? Please keep us updated on his healing!

[srsarri]

I am the only one 100% Right now!, Im also the only one at a healthy weight! :o) However!!!!!!, I was able to get my sister interested! She does not work right now (Just started college), but My mother is going to help her financially when she needs it in order to keep fresh fruits and veggies in the house!, The awesome deserts I have made got her! hahahaha

her Birthday is Sept 12th, She asked for Alissa's Book! I want mine back!, Just not something that can be shared! lol

[Raene]

Wow, I guess I'm very lucky. I know of five others in my town and am pretty close friends with three of them. One has been raw for 13 years, one 3 years, one maybe 8 years, and the others are fairly new. :)

[OneBite@aTime]

I'm in Missouri...small little town of 7000, and an hour away from a hfs...and I don't even know of a vegan, let alone RAW foodist....one of the many reasons I love RFT!

[raven]

I live in NY and there's a ton of raw support. I belong to meetups in Brooklyn and Queens and there's always something going on in Manhattan. I feel very fortunate. Years ago, there was little raw support.

Suzy

[Moretta]

I'm the only one in my household. All of my friends are all SAD eaters.

I would love to meet some raw foodlists. I guess I will have to start searching. I live in Toronto, Ontario, so if anyone on this board is from the same area and would love to share some ideas or have a rawluck or something PM me.

[RawKnitster]

Don't personally know anyone raw.

[cara4art]

Wow! And here I was thinking I was the only one who had this situation, esp. living in a big city where I know there are other raw people too. But I am very introverted by nature and have basically stayed away from any kind of group stuff my whole life(off-line that is, on-line I'm in a ton of groups!), so it's not that easy for me to "just get out of my shell", as Eva here put it. And I don't see my introversion as a "problem" that has to be overcome, either - it serves me well as an artist and highly-sensitive person, and most of all it allows me to tune into the Unseen planes(another whole story in itself!)
Every day is a challenge for me, since I'm the only raw person I know pretty much, as I still have to prepare food for my non-raw husband, and once in a blue moon socialize with people who could not be LESS interested in raw! Even my husband comments that I am the only health-conscious person he knows, and for sure, he never knew any health-conscious women before me! For years, even before transitioning to raw, my diet was pretty healthy and I still wouldn't say anything about my eating habits as even that was beyond the pale for most of the people I know(which isn't many at this point in time, for a variety of reasons).

[shashibala]

I hear tell that there is one raw foodie in my town who is also on this forum, but so far I am flying solo. My 22 year old daughter is very supportive and is mostly raw. I love to make raw delights at home for myself and my daughter, but I am a very simple eater and I'm not too confident in my food skills, so I don't tend to go out bearing raw foods for sad eaters. I often feel isolated in my little food world, happy as it may be. This is why I was so happy to be at the Simply Raw Fest this past weekend! I felt so energized by just being around others who are on the same path! I am so thankful for this forum and the internet! You people out there in web land keep me inspired!:)

[GingerSpice13]

Nope, don't personally know anyone where I am at now. But.. I will be keeping an ear out for them. There are two health food stores in town and I will ask if I can post there. Really need some support here.

[LotsaRaw]

5 'high raw' friends, but not down here in VA. I am confused how meetup works - I have checked the site...and don't get it...another thing I have to join? Looking forward to meeting someone from this board in the next few weeks!

[michigan roman]

here in suburban detroit i really dont know anybody that eats healthy even in s.a.d. terms , let alone being vegan or raw . its cookies / cake / donuts / pizza / burgers / pop / chips / candy bars / ice cream / hot dogs / etc / blah / barf :p / blah .

here its taking a vitamin pill - drinking orange juice instead of pop - eating oatmeal instead of eggs/bacon breakfast - and drinking bottled water is a massive health kick :p

its very sad , im 50 and watching all my friends fatten / bloat up til their hearts fill with lard and their faces puff up . and they breath heavy if they walk up hill 50 feet .

AND I BLAME IT ALL ON TV COMMERCIALS BRAINWASHING THEM TO EAT ALL THIS JUNK !!!!!!!!!!! I WANT A DAMN VOICE ON THAT TV AND I WANT THE MORALLESS SCUM THAT RUN IT AND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY OUTTA HERE :mad: HOW MUCH DAMN LONGER DOES IT TAKE FOR THESE TWITS IN POWER TO ALTER THE OBVIOUSLY WRONG EATING HABITS OF THIS NATION

[oai]

I am the only one that I personally know. There is a raw food meetup in my area. So perhaps I will get to know more. :D

There's also veganforlife, but I have no idea where in MD she is, & I mostly know her online. =p

[adelai]

Well Michigan I'm in Ann Arbor which isn't so far away =) I don't know anyone personally either, although there is a meet-up here, I, like others, am not that into getting together with a bunch of strangers.

Actually it's been really frustrating for me lately because my boyfriend is the opposite of supportive, he gets really upset that I "obsess" over food and is constantly cooking SAD meals and making me feel guilty if I don't eat them =( Ironically he also is constantly telling me how great I look now and how he feels like he needs to get in shape because I'm so skinny now, etc... How he doesn't see the connection between diet and physical appearance I have no idea.

Unfortunately my friends and family are also unsupportive, because they now think I'm "too skinny", which may be true, but I've read a lot of other posts here on people that lost a ton of weight at first and then built it back up in a healthy way, I just started strength training last week so hopefully that will happen for me too. But anyway basically I'm surrounded by people trying to force SAD food down my throat and it's really hard to find a balance...

Sorry for the long post, I needed to do a little venting to people that understand =)

[debilana]

I know raw people that I have met from going to raw businesses, and they have been a great support as far as chit chat about raw.

My husband and daughter are not raw, but they keep working on being vegan, which makes me much happier anyway. They are both extremaly supportive and it looks like Thanksgiving this year will have all raw appitizers and desserts- unless my husband gives in to some crap at the store the day before:eek:

When I first went raw- and even still now, more than ever- I needed my treats, and I love to be in the kitchen making sweets- so finding our local bulk raw store was a blessing. the owners there are very kind and always have a hug - and Tom is a walking superfoods resource:D

[MelissaO]

I am pretty much it. Glad I found this forum - lots of great raw folk here :)