the switch to raw- which is easiest?

[kittie313]

Which do you feel is the best transition to raw, cold turkey 100% at once or a slow incorporation? I don't mind being stomped by a hard detox, but I need the way to do this that will cement best for me as a lone raw girl in my family (although our 4 girls may join in with me on the raw living, but I know dh is NOT going to even consider a raw diet over his steaks and pork chops)

[Veganforlife]

Me personally? 100% right off the git go. It's easier on your body, on your mind, you heal faster. All around it's better I feel. You're not being tempted by the addictive characteristics of SAD/CRAP foods. I mean I immediately felt better having jumped in 100%.

Others say to transition, but like I said above. I feel that is hard on your body and mind.

course then again, I'm a gal that goes at things 100%! :D

[Revvell]

As long as you half-step you'll have an excuse to eat things you may not necessarily want to. "I'm not 100% so, I can have that"....

Ultimately, you need to decide which is easier for YOU! Nobody here can answer that question... just what worked/is working for them.

[kittie313]

That's my lean at this point. I'm staring at a bowl of chili that is leftover from last night (its my lunch) and I'm comparing it mentally to a giant bowl of salad and a plate of raw veggie and fruit with a dip (like almond butter maybe) and I can see myself staring at this problem with transition where I'll say "oh I'll do raw my next snack/meal instead" and then not get to a single raw food. Nope, not for me likely.

I went cold turkey off cigs, and am doing cold turkey off soda now. I guess I'm a cold turkey kind of gal. It will definitely be interesting to see how the diet works with a husband who refuses to do raw (I know, I'll just make a small portion of cooked meat dish then provide a lot of raw yummy stuff so he has both in his diet, at least he'll get some benefits I guess)

[Moretta]

Me personally? 100% right off the git go. It's easier on your body, on your mind, you heal faster. All around it's better I feel. You're not being tempted by the addictive characteristics of SAD/CRAP foods. I mean I immediately felt better having jumped in 100%.

Others say to transition, but like I said above. I feel that is hard on your body and mind.

course then again, I'm a gal that goes at things 100%!

Ditto. That is what I did.

[Asian Pear]

Like the above, to each their own and it's not a one-size-fits-all. You may try different ways on your journey as well, if you find yourself going back and forth between raw and cooked.

If you are already a vegan, going 100% raw right off the bat may be the best, easiest and most fool-proof way.

If you are a vegetarian, you could choose dropping dairy, eggs and soy products for a little while before going 100%.

If you are on the SAD diet, you might want to try dropping meat, and then dairy & eggs, and then go 100%.

This way you know that certain foods, like dairy or meat are absolutely off limits, if that makes it easier for you to transition. Once you feel comfortable being off those foods you can make the switch to 100%.

Another way is having raw breakfast for a week, then the next week adding lunch, and then dinner.

50%, 60%, 70% raw that really doesn't work in my book, there's no way of really telling a percentage - you are either all raw or not, everybody eats some raw, there are people who eat a high raw diet but do not call themselves raw foodists, they just eat an extremely healthy diet.

Just some different ideas of transitioning.

[magglepie]

It all depends on what feels right for you. I can say jump in 100% because I think that is what is best, but that may not work for you. Just listen to your body and take it one day at a time :)

[J A]

Only you can tell. I went 100% raw on one day but it was no big switch since I already was eating like 50-70 % fruits and didn't really love cooked foods, only ate them because everyone else did. Just stopped eating them and filled the remaining 30-50 % with even more fruits... (and a few greens & veggies, too).

However, if what I'm going through is detox (and I think it is), it's the absolutely worst time of my life ever, period. They tell me detox usually isn't this severe and I sure hope they're right. I guess I could be eating better (somewhat monotonous right now) but this whole detox business has made me unable to eat much. Getting slowly better now.

I would recommend adding lots of green smoothies (read Victoria Boutenko's Green for Life) and feeling your way from there on. If you're having trouble keeping cooked foods at the percentage you want, go 100% raw.

[EZ rider]

I went all raw all at once but I don't think that is as important as two other factors.
#1) perseverance
#2) learning as you go.
You need both of these factors in order to make the raw lifestyle a life long habit. As I said in my first sentence I went all raw all at once and I did well with it for 10 1/2 months and then I "slipped" - big time. I had to stop and learn some lessons before continuing on my all raw journey. If I had transitioned I think I would have learned my lessons early on. However, I can really identify with what Revvell said
As long as you half-step you'll have an excuse to eat things you may not necessarily want to. "I'm not 100% so, I can have that".... I find that I can rationalize my way into a bite of food that may be more a craving for junk then a desire for healthy food and the resulting wellness that the raw food lifestyle has delivered for me.
When I mentioned #2, I am thinking about the learning necessary when a "slip" occurs. As I said I have "slipped" and had to fight my way back and I found that what helped me was the learning I got from stopping and examining the "slip". How, when, where did it occur ? what was I thinking about ? what was I focused on ? How did I distract myself, and most importantly How or what could I have done to move on past the "slip" without it occurring and remain on my raw journey ?
#1 perseverance is necessary if a "slip" occurs so that you don't become a raw food drop out. Whether you transition or go 100% I wish you good luck and have a healthy and fun journey. :)

[Raw Angel Mom]

If you are a compulsive eater, definetely 100% raw. If you are just starting, you can keep doing research, buy some DVD to learn how to preparre raw food. Gradually incorporate raw food in your daily life and make room for green smoothies. Once you are ready, pick a date and make a comitement.

I personnaly don't do well with cook food and raw food together. Some poeple can but i find for me this is much easier and more comfortable to be 100% raw.

I was a vegetarian eating organic food already before i went raw food. It depends of your health condition, what kind of food you are eating right now? If you are already a vegetarian and eat healthy, then as soon as you figure out how to preparre raw food, i would say pick a date soon for 100%

I absulotely loved Alissa Cohen DVD's very well done and give great confidence to be able to do the raw food thing.

[Bananna]

I agree with EZ rider on the two other factors being more important.

It's funny, I don't think of myself as a cold turkey person, but maybe I am....I quit smoking cold turkey, but I also had to do that several times over several years before it was finally over. I quit meat instantly as well. I didn't become vegan instantly though, but I again did it in a series of cold turkey steps...first I axed milk, then soft cheeses like sour cream, cottage cheese, then honey and eggs, then doritos (lol), and lastly chocolate and cheese.

So I recommend going cold turkey, but if it feels like you are being traumatized by it, then break it down. Just keep trying and keep learning what works for you.

I think it's largely a personality thing....if you look at how you handle other life changes, it will likely turn out to be a similar pattern.

[Green_Woman]

The more you insist that your DH will "NEVER GO ON RAW", the more you are creating that as your reality. :)

Don't pressure him or guilt him about raw foods, or you will likely find that he becomes seriously antagonistic to YOUR chosen lifestyle.

The best thing you can do if he's already against it, is just quietly do your raw thing, and as your body gets that raw glow, and your systems comes into balance, and all the wonderful benefits begin to show up, you may even someday find your hubby asking you "So... what exactly is that raw food stuff, again?"

[LotsaRaw]

While I am not totally raw, I can tell you that the more raw food you eat, your desire for cooked food will wane. I basically have a pretty short list of non-raw foods that only present themselves occasionally anyway. Other than that, it's all RAW!! "Eating raw" is a great excuse to politely pass on yucky pot luck stuff people bring in to work! :p

[Raene]

100% overnight...I'm an all-or-nothing sort of gal, so that's just what works best for me.

[rubyhair]

I tried transitioning slowly and then i gave up. Then I went 100% completely and now I've been raw for a year. It was a million times easier to do it 100% for me. So there's no room for temptation.

[rawstrength]

I went 100% raw, cold turkey, and that really worked for me. However, on my raw journey I had a few "slips" when I ate a cooked meal. And afterwards I felt really gross and went immediately back to eating raw foods. But, I was already a really healthy vegan eater before I went raw. So a slip for me would be something like a bowl of plain steamed veggies with a little cooked brown rice.

I worry that if I went raw from a SAD diet, and then had a slip up, then I would feel even more horrible than slipping by eating some steamed veggies and rice. For example, if you were 100% raw for a few months and then ate at McDonald's . . . that wouldn't be good. Raw really makes you sensitive to all the toxins in cooked food, medicines, etc.

So one approach that I recommend to you would be to quit really really bad SAD foods cold turkey. Say, quit refined sugar cold turkey for a month (or as long as it takes for it to feel comfortable and natural). Then ditch hydrogenated oils, then ditch refined flour, then ditch meat, then dairy, etc. That way, if you slip after going raw, you cheat by eating relatively healthy foods and not subject yourself to the stress of trying to digest something that you physically cannot. Establish a foundation of healthy eating, then go raw.

Of course, the gradual approach I described above might not work for you. Everyone is different.

Another way of going raw that I have seen people have tremendous success with is to gradually add in more raw foods, until you are 100% raw. No one wants to have foods taken away from us, that is just our basic psychology.

[AutumnBreezColordLeavz]

Wow, what great words you have been given...

True, it is possible if you allow bits of cooked here and there, you will allow more and more, and will likely go off raw and give up trying. Don't talk yourself out before you get going. Self defeating thoughts are not your friend.

It is best to do 100%. When you get discouraged go google images on raw before and after pics- the glow of others will help keep you motivated.
Imagine yourself as if you have been raw for a long time. See your glowing self in a
new wardrobe, thanks to the true dedication you made, and of course thanks to those LIVE enzymes.

[goobygirl]

I like the idea that I've heard of that is adding green smoothies every day for breakfast. You can do this for at least two months as a basic transition, taking the time to learn about raw, trying raw recipes, getting a raw education. I took time, took time to read books, websites, experiment with different foods I thought I'd like (like crackers, smoothies, pates). Then I got on a 30 day raw program (different site) and dove into it. But I didn't feel overwhelmed because I had a comfort with the level of my skills and my ability to feed myself raw.

I keep learning every day, and I didn't have to be perfect in my knowledge, but I personally felt more comfortable easing into it, first by staying raw until dinner, then playing with different raw food I could make at night to satisfy me.

If you can go cold turkey, and you are not vegetarian or vegan, I'd say you can expect more detox symptoms. I personally find that heroic! It took me 7 years of vegetarian to finally come to raw and I still had some headaches the first week.

As far as hubby, don't worry about him. First thing you need to tell him is that you love him and you do not want to change him. Once he has your acceptance, he won't feel pressured. He may become naturallly curious and want to try things. Don't make a big deal of it, just let him try what he wants, and not feel pressure to continue.

You can only change yourself. Those who are ready to change will see your example.

[rawstrength]

^^^ goobygirl, those are such wise words of advice about her husband :) .

[snoops]

Another way of going raw that I have seen people have tremendous success with is to gradually add in more raw foods, until you are 100% raw. No one wants to have foods taken away from us, that is just our basic psychology.

I think you are very wise rawstrength. This is what I am doing, although quite unconsciously until I read your post. I started with a fruit smoothie in the morning. About a year later I added a green smoothie in the afternoon. I am now working on finding substitutes for the things I really like (on word -rawritos!!) I never took anything away because I know that I have an addictive personality in regards to food and would feel deprived. But since I have been adding the raw foods, I have also been eating so much less of the SAD foods.

I went all raw for 3 days last week - a first for me. On the weekend I was quite bad and really felt like crap( I was away and eating out). I actually looked forward to getting home and eating the right way again. I have changed my eating so much over the past year just by adding raw foods and not worrying about what else I ate. I am close to trying the 30 day challenge. Maybe January! I couldn't have done it at the start.

[oai]

for raw, i went cold turkey many times. :p

although from experience, i think transitioning may have been better for me. i'll do transitioning with something else. ;) raw replaces so many of the foods we are used to. steve pavlina has a great post that addresses your question. i forget what it's called.

raw food, for some people, is just too much of heavy weight for people to lift (which will require transitioning) and for some people, it's not, which they can go cold turkey. going raw requires a high degree of responsibility over one's body. no excuses.

i know when i got my family off of sodas, the beverage was the only thing i had to replace. so we all went cold turkey off of sodas & juices(the junk juice kind) easily. years later, most of my family just prefers water. they could have soda or not. before they HAD to have soda or some kind of other beverage like it for every meal. we barely ever drank water!

everyone is different. do what's best for yourself. what weight are you strong enough to lift? ;)