my aunt is going raw for at least 14 days!!!! also need help!

[oai]

hi everyone! i'm so excited! my aunt is suffering from severe allergy symptoms and is going to try out raw! she might go to a dermatologist beforehand to see the results of the creams she's given first, but i have the feeling they'll only treat the symptoms. she's also hypothyroid. so i want to prep for her upcoming raw journey!

it's very important she gains some amazing results in 14 days for her to continue for a month. i really want her to do a month, but i think i was really pushing the envelope w/ the 14 days already.

food is fine. she'll only eat what i stock her fridge with. i need help with body hygiene products like soap, shampoo/conditioner, deodorant, etc? can anyone recommend any products? i personally use oil, baking soda, sometimes nothing at all but maybe water, etc..., but my aunt will want the products. i would really appreciate recommendation for those products as well as info. on where to get them. :o

also, coffee may be a big issue with my aunt. is there anything that mimics the feel and taste of coffee to the body?

and again, she will really need to see big results in 14 days. so any advice guys? i've been raw since '03 & made it a lifestyle choice, but i know my aunt won't continue with it unless she sees drastic results.

when this is a success with my aunt, my mom will see it and may also want to go raw! so i'm excited to help my aunt with this. :D

[Veganforlife]

You could print out my testimony and show her - regardling the hypothyroidism.

Realistically? 14 days? It may not happen, but then again it may. I think it's goofy when folks only give themselves x-number of days (months) to see results. They didn't get ill or over-weight or unhealthy in oh say? 14 days! She's got to give it more time, I think.

As far a mimicing coffee? I don't know. Not being a coffee drinker, I really don't know. Eating 100% raw has made me have more energy than when I was 20. I've eliminated over 60 pounds in 2.5 years.

I didn't give myself a deadline. I'm in to this for the duration of my life. I want to live...

[HolyGuacamole]

ARGH, I had this whole reply written out and then my little cat came and pranced all over my laptop and it went byebye.

ANYWAY, I think she will see results in 2 weeks if she really sticks with it. I think her energy levels will markedly increase, at the very least. Will her thyroid be healed and her allergies magically disappear in 2 weeks time? I think that's asking quite a lot.
Hopefully, in 2 weeks time, she will see that she feels at least a little better, and that raw is not weird or extreme or out there or too hard to do. Hopefully, in 2 weeks time, she will learn that it's easy and yummy and that there is reason to continue with it.

As for weaning off of coffee, check out Teechino:
http://www.teeccino.com/quitting.aspx

I would just go to Whole Foods or where ever and get her some Aubrey Organics stuff for her body care or even Burt's Bees (even though it's been taken over by Clorox - BOOOOOO it's still not bad stuff). Or Nature's Gate. Whatever. I use coconut oil, baking soda and apple cider vinegar for most of my body care, too, but most health food store body care stuff is pretty benign.

Here's the thing, though... If she's going to be weaning off of coffee during this 2 weeks, she's NOT going to feel better - she's going to spend a lot of the time feeling like someone weaning off of coffee, KWIM?
Tell her to give it a month - 2 weeks to kick coffee while on raw and 2 weeks to feel what raw really feels like, afterwards. ;)

Good luck!

[oai]

i so understand what you said veganforlife! i also didn't give myself a timeline on this and just knew it was the best thing for me! c'mon... eating natural live foods vs. eating dead foods? it was an obvious choice. :D

i actually told my mom the same thing last night... that my aunt didn't just get sick over night. it took years of harming the body for it to finally succumb to the point my aunt is currently in. the doctor told her to take benadryl, and if the allergies don't go away, go see a dermatologist. every time she takes benadryl, she sleeps and seems so weak! to me, she looks like a walking zombie!

my uncle has high blood pressure, and my cousin drinks red bull in he morning and takes nyquil or a sleeping pill at night to go to bed. i don't know, but it all seems abnormal to me!

i want to do the best for her in 14 days. since i'm aware she'll want to see drastic results (and i think she's realistic enough to know there's no way she can cure her skin allergies, hypothyroidism, etc... in 14 days), i'm going to throw in 2 36hr. water fasts during the 2 weeks. i can make her do that, i think. :p

[oai]

Here's the thing, though... If she's going to be weaning off of coffee during this 2 weeks, she's NOT going to feel better - she's going to spend a lot of the time feeling like someone weaning off of coffee, KWIM?
Tell her to give it a month - 2 weeks to kick coffee while on raw and 2 weeks to feel what raw really feels like, afterwards. ;)

Good luck!

HolyGuac! thanks so much! yep. i told my mom that my aunt will be feeling weak during those 2 weeks... maybe like someone on drug withdrawal, hehe. :cool: i'm aiming to get her on raw for the 2 weeks, and i hope that she'll feel some significant improvement on how she felt before the 2 weeks and after. so if this doesn't work out for her, i hope she'll at least add more raw foods to her meals.

i have heard of aubrey's. i'm glad whole foods carries the line. i was thinking about getting dr. bronner's soap at vitamin shoppe (seems cheaper there) but need advice for shampoo/conditioner, deodorant and toothpaste as well. i'd love to get all this at one store & hopefully not too costly. :o

[annavon]

If you are not starting on the 14 days right away, start getting her off of the coffee right away by mixing regular coffee with teechino and gradually reduce the coffee and increase the teechino. Caffeine withdrawal can be pretty unpleasant especially since you detox from the coffee as well. If you can get off slowly it can help. Cold turkey, the symptoms can last 2 -3 days depending on how much coffee she drinks. I quite cold turkey a couple of times and had a really nasty headache and wanted to sleep all day on the second day.

[rawstrength]

Cacao drinks can help with the desire for the taste of coffee. But she'll still have to go through caffeine withdrawal. Also, if your Aunt really wants to see big results, she should get a colonic after that second 36 hour water fast.
I wish your aunt all the best!

[goobygirl]

I like Jason for body products and you can use Dr. Bronner's for everything too, including brushing your teeth. Dr. Bronner's is a good all around product you can use for the body and the home.

[Lady Green Jeans]

I second Jason--love the toothpaste Powersmile. Worth every penny.

Coffee sub--tough one, but I have enjoyed making mock mochas. About a cup and a half to 2 cups of water, 6-8 brazil nuts, a T or so of cocoa nibs, a squeeze of agave, shake of cinnamon, macha, a banana (frozen or nicely ripe room temp). Place all in Vitamix and blend well. I often leave in until warmish like a warm mocha. Maybe not for everyone, but I really enjoy.

[spicyfull]

I am RAWouting for her, she can do it. RAW......RAW........RAW.

[HolyGuacamole]

Oh, yeah, Oai - Jason makes good stuff, too, and very reasonably priced. Aubrey is a bit higher. ;)

[pixelkatt]

i want to do the best for her in 14 days. since i'm aware she'll want to see drastic results (and i think she's realistic enough to know there's no way she can cure her skin allergies, hypothyroidism, etc... in 14 days), i'm going to throw in 2 36hr. water fasts during the 2 weeks. i can make her do that, i think. :p

Okay, I'm sure I'm going to be the unpopular one here but I wanted to give my opinion. So far I've read that she's going raw for 14 days, giving up coffee, doing a water fast and have even heard someone mention a colonic. Are you trying to scare your poor aunt, lol? I'm only speaking from the point of view of someone who is new to this. I don't know your aunt but the fact that she is only giving this 14 days kind of says that she's not in the same mindset as you and she might need to do this gradually and not all at once.

If I were you I would help her go raw for 14 days and give her the tools to cut out the coffee if she wants to but tell her that it's not the end of the world if she has a cup of coffee to get her through (she can cut the coffee later if she needs to). I would forget the water fast all together and the colonic I wouldn't even think about.. (I know you didn't mention the colonic, someone else did but I had to throw it in here because it's just seemed a little much for a 14 day trial ..almost funny imo).

I know you want her to feel the best that she can but I think (and I could be wrong.. it happens sometimes :D) that trying to get her to do all this at once might scare her and potentially make her quit before she gets anywhere.

I am right there with you that she should give this longer than 14 days. I just did a 30 day challenge and it changed my life, so I hope you can get her to extend her trial period. Anyway, that's just my two cents. :) I wish your aunt lots of luck.. I wish I could get someone in my family to try this with me..

[rawmiss]

I agree with pixelkatt, that it might be too much at once, let her decide what she wants to do and take it one day at a time, life long habits take years to break.

But, if your aunt wants to fast, why not try an apple juice fast for three days - or as long as she can stand it (I've only done it for one day when I do it, I'm not good at fasting). All it is is unfiltered, unsweetened apple juice that's been diluted (I dilute by half if it's storebought apple juice or if I do fresh juice, I juice a few apples and dilute by as mutch water as I need to drink for the day) and it is great for cleansing the kidneys, apple juice softens the stones so that they can pass through the ducts and some people strain their pee with a goldfish net so that they can see them (I never saw any, but I only fasted for one day). I've also heard that you don't get hungry on an apple juice fast.

[Asian Pear]

Maybe give her 14 days to wean off all addictions: coffee, tea, chocolate, non-prescription pills, alcohol or whatever else, then once she's free of them do a 14 day true cleansing fruit & veggie diet without the use of any stimulants, seasonings or the like.

I like Dr. Bronner's liquid castile soap, it's very pure and it smells good too.

[MiahTay]

If it was MY aunt I think I would:

1. Suggest they take a week and eliminate REFINED SUGAR and COFFEE/TEA and plan on taking advil (or the such) to cope with the headache that usually lasts for up to 3 days. FYI, some people detox HARD from coffee ... I just get a headache and my mom ends up vomiting and in bed with a crippling headache.

2. Switch personal hygiene products to "normal" products that you can buy at the store but for sensitive skin since this seems to be one of her issues. As long as you're at it, switch laundry detergent and fabric softner to no perfumes/dyes. You can get all these at a "regular" store. I do believe there is too much at once. She can always choose to go more natural if she decides to embrace this way of life.

3. After her week of detoxing from sugar and coffee/tea. THEN start her 14 days of raw foods, and make it REALLY FUN (obviously this isn't hard). I would introduce her to green smoothies from the start.

So, that's my 2 cents. Best of luck.

Blessings,
Heather

[RawHeaven]

This is wonderful for your aunt!

Why the 14 day timeline though - why the added pressure?

You can't put a timeline on raw.

Like many others, I'm still experiencing new benefits 17 months into this.

Just go with the flow.

I hope she does experience great results in this window though - so she'll stick with it. :D

[oai]

thanks for the suggestions everyone! i really don't want her to be on a timeline, but that's all she'll give to eating more fresh fruits & veggies. don't worry, guys! i didn't even mention the water fasting or colonics to her yet. XD

and right now, it seems we don't even have 14 days! i'm not sure if she drank coffee yesterday (probably did), but she did go without rice. she was experiencing some horrid stomach cramp (per her description). so coffee & rice is still in the picture.

i'm just glad that the seed of information has been planted. that at least, she knows there are some people who don't accept that it's the norm to be itchy, hypothyroid, lethargic, etc... and be on different prescriptions for all of them. she had told me that she wanted her thyroid taken out and that 2 doctors had told her there was no cure... that she would have to be on medication the rest of her life. i know it's her choice. it does hurt to see a loved one be on several different meds. that quells the pain via putting her to sleep, making her lethargic, etc..., when i know there's a better way. :(

see. the thing is i'm not sure that she won't eliminate the foods & products that harm her, b/c she doesn't think they do any harm & taking meds. is the norm, when you get older OR b/c it's hard to break habits (that's understandable). i'm not a really good example. she attributes my vitality to my being young.

ok. sorry. i had to get that out. i feel better now. :) as for coffee, i'm going to give her the info. from the teeccino site.

rice? hmm... any suggestions, guys? my aunt ate nothing but rice & soy sauce for 2 weeks... thinking it would make her feel better. :confused:

she is consuming more raw fruits, & she is eating a lot of it. i think right now she's worrying that she eats so much of it that she won't be able to afford it and then go back to all rice & soy sauce. :eek:

i am transitioning her off chemical products. she says she doesn't use deodorant. so that's good. i already suggested borax for washing clothing. not sure what else?

i'm thinking about making a list of alternative products she could get, scouring for info. about those who cured their hypothyroidism & just providing her with the info.

[RawHeaven]

Oai, I understand exactly what you expressed about your aunt and her beliefs. The positive is she's going to give it a whirl. Remember though, it's really hard to explain Raw and the benefits to anyone. It's something you really have to experience firsthand. Hopefully, she will receive a benefit that will spark more interest and open more awareness for her. She may begin to understand that there's more to it than just the food. Maybe hold that belief in your mind's eye for her - you may be surprised that she may eventually see it too. Wishing you both the best!

[RawHeaven]

A great raw transition drink for coffee drinkers:

Masala Chai - hempseed milk, raw cacao powder, ginger root, dates

recipe VVV

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=45724

[annavon]

rice? hmm... any suggestions, guys? my aunt ate nothing but rice & soy sauce for 2 weeks... thinking it would make her feel better. :confused:


With respect to the rice, perhaps you could make a raw rice out of cauliflower, parsnips or jicama. There are tons of recipes for "rice" out there. I have used a jicama "rice" to make nori wraps.

[jacsam]

Reading Alissa's book and watching her DVD one night with you would help her know why she is doing this....what to expect and may really encourage her beyond the two week period. I hope it goes well for her!

[HolyGuacamole]

So how'd it go?

[oai]

not so good. :o she had rashes all over and was itchy. also, she had a choking sensation and tummy cramps. so she opted for thyroid meds & eucerin. :(

but it's ok. she knows about the raw food diet. should she want an alternative later on, she'll have the info. thanks everyone. :)

[HolyGuacamole]

Bummer.
Not everyone is ready for raw, I reckon.
Good on you for trying. :)