Raw Journey Made Easy-er [Archive]

Colorawdo girl

03-02-2009, 02:19 PM

Hi...I just wanted to share my experience when I went raw(in one area). I was thinking how alot of folks come on and say how they are sad they are not 100 percent raw today.Or ONLY 80 or 75.

I came here to say,my raw entry level(haha) and quite a long time after that,would have been so much easier if I had not heard anything about percentages. A bit after I went raw,I actually laughed when I went to a raw potluck and people stood up to give their testimonies to raw. Each one announced in kind,about what percent raw they were. I was silly that night(from loving the living foods) and just felt giggly. I didnt offend anyone,it wasnt obvious.And it wasnt about them. I was laughing at myself for buying into such a silly notion(for me).

Thats when I turned a corner for sure. From then on I set myself as doing the best I could and how I wanted my raw to be . Before that,there were beet-ings.I mean beatings...of myself.After that,I relaxed into raw and did so very well on high raw with little cooked food at all.

Heres a little example to help you see..Suppose you entered a race today. A long one. And you hadnt really exercised,maybe toyed with it a bit. You had no running shoes or comfy clothes. You didnt have proper nutrition before this all came up. And you really had no close friends or family(furthermore they might think you are crazy) that had experience that you could ask questions. Plus just in the little bit of exercise you have begun,you hurt all over and are plugged(all over).

So now,the bell rings and you hit the ground running. Some people watching are yelling 100 percent! Give it your all, at you and you believe it. You think,well I must not be giving it my all. So you start getting discouraged. Why BECAUSE THIS IS YOUR 100 PERCENT. You are doing the best you can with all you have to work with and handle and learn and purchase and create and learn to love and have discipline with etc etc etc. Congratulations!!!!

So,you ARE doing the best you can. We are all cheering for you. Get back up if you fall or stumble,press on,keep going. In this challenge,if you eat living foods and do "better than" you did and better than the s.a.d. diet,everyone in this race wins the good health award. There are no awards for high raw or percents,only rewards for eating the best living foods you can eat.

It is YOUR journey,your challenge,your mileage. We are just here to cheer for you and not jeer you. Please go easy on yourself on the percentage expectation and you will relax so much and fall into your niche in loving raw too!!!!

rawstrength

03-02-2009, 02:23 PM

Wow, thank you so much for posting this. :D .

Colorawdo girl

03-02-2009, 02:44 PM

You are so welcome.Having that hanging there,over my head as it were,I would say was the biggest detriment to my success going raw.
What IS raw success? It is exactly what you make it.Feeling great!

ShantiLove

03-02-2009, 02:56 PM

Thankyou Artgirly :D you are so right. I have come to the same conclution. I do the bedst I can and I dont have hight expectations anymore. Just great health and happiness :D And im Looooooving it :D

So,you ARE doing the best you can.We are all cheering for you.Get back up if you fall or stumble,press on,keep going.In this challenge,if you eat living foods and do "better than" you did and better than the s.a.d. diet,everyone in this race wins the good health award.There are no awards for high raw or percents,only rewards for eating the best living foods you can eat.
It is YOUR journey,your challenge,your milege.We are just here to cheer for you and not jeer you. Please go easy on yourself on the percentage expectation and you will relax so much and fall into your niche in loving raw too!!!!

divinity

03-02-2009, 03:11 PM

WOW!!!!

Thank you sooo much for sharing this. I heart you! Your words and sentiments are so on point and they are so affirming and encouraging. Doing my daily best for my best IS success.

Thanks again! :D

Colorawdo girl

03-02-2009, 03:46 PM

Bravos to you for SEEING, really getting what a success we all are..exactly where we are at with raw,wherever that may be!!!! When you get that,the rest is a piece of kake(raw carrot with cashew orange icing).

HolyGuacamole

03-02-2009, 05:34 PM

Brilliant post. <333

pixie_333

03-02-2009, 05:56 PM

mblessed

03-02-2009, 06:00 PM

artgirly,

I LOVED your sharing (~~~hugs to you~~~).

My experience is similar to yours. It is taking me time to figure out substitutes for some of my favorite foods. But, little by little I am getting there. And as I figure out raw replacements that I love, I am able to incorporate more and more raw foods into my daily diet. So, yes, as you said this is my 100%!

I am learning so much and enjoying this journey I am on! :) This board has been a tremendous support. Thank you Alissa for making this possible and to everyone here for their ongoing support!

Blessings and peace,

Marcia

cara4art

03-02-2009, 06:36 PM

Wonderful and insightful post! So many times, we can get hung up on percentages, or whether a teaspoon of this or that condiment or spice is truly raw, when we should be just going with our process of going raw and focusing on centering our meals around truly fresh basic foods like fruits, veggies, seeds/nuts, maybe some sprouted things. Wherever you are today, and how you are feeling, is what counts. Getting in touch with the belief of ourselves as radiantly healthy people who eat the freshest food on the planet really helps too - then you'll just naturally gravitate towards more and more healthy raw food and the percentages as such just take care of themselves without fussing over them it seems. Being willing to try new combos helps too, especially in the beginning, to replace some cooked treats. Eventually, as time goes by, things shake down and one finds one's own comfort level with raw, IMO. Then maybe at another time, one kicks it up a notch, tweaking something one way or the other! At least I have found this to be so in my experience so far.

Colorawdo girl

03-02-2009, 06:53 PM

Glad to add to your process..And happy to help.
Someone once said to me,as I struggled around this percent concept,that my eating,my food should not be a struggle for me.
I didnt really know how to apply that as I was making myself so very wrong for not "doing it right".You know,alot of us want to "do it right".
Truth is,there is no wrong way.The way is simply YOUR OWN way to go and stay raw to whatever degree that is for you.
Wonder who made up the rules? Well for my eating,I do,I choose what to put in my mouth,in my body,and no one can set that out for me what that looks like.
And it is so ok if others do look for and announce their percentage.I just notice and remember my time spent there.
So,now,I love eating raw and enjoy every minute of it.No pressure to do this or that,just freedom to make my choices and even though it took awhile, it feels very very good(and yummy).

cz213

03-02-2009, 06:53 PM

Awesome.:D

janetc

03-02-2009, 07:17 PM

nice post artgirly!

i just wish to whom it applies to would stop being dishonest on their percentages. like some saying they're 100% raw in some posts yet admit drinking cooked tea and eating cooked condiments and whatever else cooked in other posts... yet find it okay to lie to everyone including themselves. it really loses my respect and can't trust.

I think that, like vegan, nobody can say they are 100% raw. I really believe that. I think that it would be almost impossible to be 100% vegan and 100% raw in THIS world, with various foodsources. But that's just my opinion. Even if it was possible, what difference does it make? It seems to me that there are a whole lot of very healthy people running around that is 85% raw, 80%, 90%, blah blah blah... They still have that raw glow. if you feel good and you're healthy, why sweat the small %s SO much?

I don't feel guilty when I use salad dressing or a little bit of something that is cooked. I think the big overall changes, like eating raw salads and fruits and veggies, are what I am shooting for. I came from a junk-eating family and I am eating healthier now because I am incorporating raw into my lifestyle.

I can't remember who it was, but she posted that she doesn't sweat the small stuff like salad dressing or condiments when she is in someone's home or at a restaurant. It really stuck with me and I thank her for that.

I used to read forums where the level of your coolness/hipness was measured by your % of raw, vegan, whatever. Like you said, AG, just do the best you can - that is all anyone can do.

eachpeachpearplum

03-02-2009, 07:32 PM

Excellent and SOOOO well said. A great and vital point! :D

brightlite

03-02-2009, 07:39 PM

Wow thank you very posting that.

sak12344

03-02-2009, 07:57 PM

What a great post.

For the past three weeks, I've swapped my normal toast and protein shake breakfast for a 20 oz. green smoothie. My lunch used to be string cheese sticks or a trip to a fast food place for a burger, but has now become a couple of oranges or a banana or an apple, or a salad at a restaurant. My previous after work snack was chips, ice cream, or more toast... which has now become another green smoothie. And my suppers used to include things like pizza, ice cream, chicken, salmon, or KFC... supers now consist of things like broccoli, baked potato, avocado, and meat 2x/week such as salmon or skinless chicken.

Am I 100% raw, heck no.... are my eating habits more nutritious/healthy now than a month ago, heck yes. Can I feel a physical effect from the more healthy nutrition... ? OMG, yes.

rawpromises

03-02-2009, 08:25 PM

I love your post Artgirly. Raw sucess is exactly what you make of it. Just like you said. Words to live by.

pixie_333

03-02-2009, 10:19 PM

I think that, like vegan, nobody can say they are 100% raw. I really believe that. I think that it would be almost impossible to be 100% vegan and 100% raw in THIS world, with various foodsources. But that's just my opinion. Even if it was possible, what difference does it make? It seems to me that there are a whole lot of very healthy people running around that is 85% raw, 80%, 90%, blah blah blah... They still have that raw glow. if you feel good and you're healthy, why sweat the small %s SO much?

I don't feel guilty when I use salad dressing or a little bit of something that is cooked. I think the big overall changes, like eating raw salads and fruits and veggies, are what I am shooting for. I came from a junk-eating family and I am eating healthier now because I am incorporating raw into my lifestyle.

I can't remember who it was, but she posted that she doesn't sweat the small stuff like salad dressing or condiments when she is in someone's home or at a restaurant. It really stuck with me and I thank her for that.

I used to read forums where the level of your coolness/hipness was measured by your % of raw, vegan, whatever. Like you said, AG, just do the best you can - that is all anyone can do.

sure you can.. anybody can be 100% raw. it's very simple to be. it's like your ABC's and 1,2,3's. it's just when you start to go all fancy adding certain products is when it's questionable.

i'm not degrading anyone... i'm simply saying there are many people who say they are 100% raw and in the same sentance or different post say they also eat cooked foods. and i've read from some saying they don't care they are lieing.
it's in plain black in white lieing. and i mean how hard is that to understand? and what do they feel they have to prove?
i certainly have never not once or even a fraction considered raw vegan to do for a fad. i'm not articificial. i'm a real being and my own person.

people who slip on an occassion or unknowninly eat something cooked is not what i'm addressing... it's when people claim they are 100% raw but actualy are knowningly always including cooked foods and are deliberatly lieing to others.

me... i am interested in meeting people who are 100% raw vegan. if you told me that you are and led me on to believe that but then came out well i still eat cooked...wtf did you lie to me? is it insecurity?

gs4life

03-03-2009, 02:55 AM

excellent post! thanks so much for sharing your thoughts :)

greenfeline

03-03-2009, 11:35 AM

Artgirly I agree! It is easy to get obsessed with %'s. Now I just say "mostly raw" and that is the truth!:)

Colorawdo girl

03-03-2009, 12:29 PM

Hooray Greenfeline....I say that too.It makes sense,its true and real.Oh I like to say I eat mostly living foods too!

LotsaRaw

03-03-2009, 12:34 PM

Amen to the previous posts! Most of my food intake IS RAW, but I do not sweat the small stuff - and there are non-raw things I CHOOSE to indulge in (but the list is shrinking)

I am....Lotsaraw!! (in the da-da-dahhhh - superhero announcement tone!) :D

Embrace the increase in healthiness!

Colorawdo girl

03-03-2009, 02:09 PM

Luv lotsaraw too..

boocake

03-03-2009, 02:25 PM

thanks for the great post; it came at a time when i really needed to read something like this. i tend to beat myself up if/when i slip up, and feel bad about myself b/c i think of that as not giving my 100%. i was able to re-evaluate why i'm eating raw after reading your post, and appreciate it under a whole new light. thanks!

Colorawdo girl

03-03-2009, 02:50 PM

awwwww and I learn from all of you.Be raw be vibrant ,be raw,but dont be-rate.....just made that up..hahaha Good for you!!!

islesgirl

03-03-2009, 04:09 PM

This is a wonderful discussion you've started artgirly. I've fallen prey to this idea too that somehow I had to do it perfectly. How crazy is that?! And for what? Or who? I see that many here agree with what you've said. Thank you so much for helping ones like me, who are a bit insecure within themselves, to be comforted in the knowledge that we are doing our level best to take good care of our health - each in our own way and at our own pace - with whatever works for us! How great to have so much loving support here.

love ya......

'and later I'll do my best to get back to you tonight after our meeting. Loved hearing from you today.

Sue.:D

glamazon

03-03-2009, 06:58 PM

Yeah riiiite ON! Great post artgirly. Maybe someone will be more encouraged by it.

Everyone is here doing the best they can. Why get caught up or compare numbers and/or percentages?!! I am relatively new to RAW and quite honestly there's soooo much info that is contradictory it gets very frustrating and overwhelming. I almost didn't try RAW because I was so confused, didn't have all the kitchen equipment, didn't know if the raw nuts and seeds I had were truly raw...list goes on...hey I'm doing the best I can do at this point. It's a daily journey and I'm really trying to listen to MY body and find whats right for me. We are all unique and we all struggle at different points in our journey. Kudos to all of you trying to make this raw transition and extra kudos to you that aren't 100% YET but you keep on striving for better health. I would love to be 100%---will I?? Can't know for sure. I'm watching my path now, no time to look 3 miles down the road and trip over a pebble right in front of me that's just silly.

Best wishes to you all.

Colorawdo girl

03-05-2009, 04:43 PM

You are all so very welcome.I will be posting another piece to this soon.
Setting ourselves free from the slavery to an idea of "cheating" and "slipping up" and not being "100 percent today" is the best feeling in the world.Stay posted sweets.
Oh I now posted part two.Also a thread about addictions. Its not about saying to eat cooked food..eeeeek.

RawHeaven

03-05-2009, 05:41 PM

Right on Artgirly.

Be where you ARE.

RawHeaven

03-05-2009, 05:44 PM

By the way right with you on the slipping and don't view sharing experiences on this level as "slavery". I posted my info to demonstrate the SAME sentiments in a different way. ;) It's all the same information, just a different perspective. To echo what you so lovingly and brilliantly shared, it's all about where you are. ALL EXPERIENCE is relevant. I was experiencing extreme physical conditions that brought me to the raw food lifestyle, 100% was easy for me and it was a high goal from the get go. Healing, cleansing and massive cellular regeneration is where I was at (ha) and where I still reside. Not so much having to do with percentages either, just so happens I decided that being fully raw was the answer (for me). However, not everyone is going to start out of the gate in this same state of mind & frame of reference. We all must walk in our own shoes and do it the way that feels "well" to us. I agree wholeheartedly -- release the limitations. For some 100% is the ticket and for others...gradual progression to where ever this journey takes them. It's all Good.

Much Peace.

Crystal

SmartyPants

03-05-2009, 05:56 PM

I think one of the reasons this post is important is that when I first started on my raw journey, if I slipped up I would get so demoralized that I would go on a SAD binge for weeks before coming back to raw. Now if I slip up, I try to be mindful of what caused it but I do not have to be so obsessive about it that I can't get right back into it.

*RayRay*

03-06-2009, 09:30 AM

nice post artgirly!

i just wish to whom it applies to would stop being dishonest on their percentages. like some saying they're 100% raw in some posts yet admit drinking cooked tea and eating cooked condiments and whatever else cooked in other posts... yet find it okay to lie to everyone including themselves. it really loses my respect and can't trust.

i mean really... lieing to people we don't get the accurate information on progess and personaly it's my biggest pet peeve being lied to, but i'd like to know who truely is 100% raw and takes it seriously to the fullest extent.

people up to 99.9% raw are fabulous too, but honestly is a great virtue.

Tea should not be considered a 'cooked food' IMO!!! Tea is a great healing remedy that has been used for thousands of years!!! It bugs me when people say that if you drink tea, you are not being 100% raw.....Tea is a drink....not a food....so if I drink warm water with lemon does that mean I am not 100% raw....! (that's just an example.....I am actually not 100% hehe) I don't think someone is being dishonest if they say they are 100% but somewhere else say they drink tea....maybe they just have a different definition of whether some things counts against their 'raw percentage' or not! but speaking of being 100% raw......What's so great about being perfect anyways!!? I don't think perfection is all that perfect....again....just my opinion:D

glamazon

03-07-2009, 07:58 AM

Exactly the point of artgirly's thread...don't get caught up in the numbers game. Do YOUR best and if that is 100% then whoooped dee dooo for you. Some people will never be 100% but they ARE still raw foodist!! it's a lifestyle not a math project :p

Enjoy your weekend!!

Jessican

03-07-2009, 08:54 AM

I needed this today, thanks Artgirly. I'm only on day 4 of a raw lifestyle, and as I search for information and recipes, I keep getting hit with things like "well I can't make *that* recipe because I can't afford to buy the REALLY raw almonds" "or *that* recipe, because I probably won't be able to afford a vitamix for another year" I feel like I'm going to be stuck eating salads with cucumbers, carrots, and green peppers for the rest of my life. Of course that brings into question dressings.... I'm still using up the rest of my organic salad dressing. We're just not in a financial position to throw out everything in my house and start over.

The important thing for me when I started this journey was to have an overall better feeling of health and to hopefully loose weight, but, just feeling healthier was my primary goal. It's easy to get discouraged when you start reading how you have to buy the REALLY raw stuff, that cost 5x as much as the "raw" stuff I can find locally. The $130 dehydrator, the $400 blender, you feel like you can't succeed even if you wanted to. It's a life journey, and I'm far from the person I was in my 20s who lived on Burger King drive-through and carry out pizza and subs for years. :o I'm not going to beat myself up over using a tablespoon of organic salad dressing. Thanks you.

Colorawdo girl

03-07-2009, 08:48 PM

You got it! You are doing great exactly as you are.

rawlight

03-07-2009, 09:21 PM

I posted about this on my blog on the 4th. :D http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/blog.php?b=13850 We must be on the same wave length!!

I think it is so important to take this journey at our own individual pace. We can learn from each other and support each other and this site is great for that. But so many think that one bite of cooked and they are a failure and have to start all over again....Nooo, love yourself and be who you are!!

Colorawdo girl

03-07-2009, 09:32 PM

wow we sure are.Funny you talked about athletics too as a comparison.I love it.We dont expect babies to run when they are born....hahaha.Too cool.thanks

rain_or_shine

03-07-2009, 10:15 PM

you're so right, artgirly. thank you for bringing this up.

i often wonder who started that whole percentage thing.

pixie_333

03-07-2009, 11:17 PM

Tea should not be considered a 'cooked food' IMO!!! Tea is a great healing remedy that has been used for thousands of years!!! It bugs me when people say that if you drink tea, you are not being 100% raw.....Tea is a drink....not a food....so if I drink warm water with lemon does that mean I am not 100% raw....! (that's just an example.....I am actually not 100% hehe) I don't think someone is being dishonest if they say they are 100% but somewhere else say they drink tea....maybe they just have a different definition of whether some things counts against their 'raw percentage' or not! but speaking of being 100% raw......What's so great about being perfect anyways!!? I don't think perfection is all that perfect....again....just my opinion:D

hey.. most people find cooked foods healthy.

many people don't find apple juice food yet most raw foodist consider it a meal.

bottom line is cooked is cooked. tea if is used from boiling water cooks the herbs.
i don't get it how some of you are unable to see this..what the difference is, but it's not my problem. ask david wolfe what he thinks about it. pick up natures first law.. in that book i think it's talked about.

all nutrients and healing ablities in teas can be found in raw foods. so everyone tossing out the excuse why to drink it.. it's just because you want to drink it and for some i see are deceiving themselves to believe it's raw.

really.. i don't care what anyone does... but perhaps some need to hear from experts if they consider hot tea raw.

being 100% raw never makes anyone perfect. i've never said that nor have i ever felt it.
but really... i've partcipated on several raw forums in past and it's only ths forum that i've seen people consider themselves 100% raw while at same time admit to eating cooked condiments and some drink tea.
maybe i'm old school.
i'm not degrading the forum.. i like this forum and met some beautiful people to which all happen to not be 100%.. i really don't care. but dishonesty is rubbish at times.

peace out and enjoy your tea :)

HolyGuacamole

03-08-2009, 04:26 AM

glamazon

03-12-2009, 05:52 PM

really.. i don't care what anyone does... but perhaps some need to hear from experts if they consider hot tea raw.

i've partcipated on several raw forums in past and it's only this forum that i've seen people consider themselves 100% raw while at same time admit to eating cooked condiments and some drink tea.

Pixie ahhh helloOOO YEAH ya DO care, as you keep pointing it out. No one even mentioned the temp of the water that was used for the iniquitous tea...warm water WILL steep it, just takes longer. Honestly why would what someone else does or doesn't do bother you? Are they trying to get you to drink tea with them :confused: I'm not understanding the issue.

We need to support one another and share knowledge. Quite honestly I don't think there are many experts on raw as I feel its still a psuedo-science. No offense to any self-proclaimed EXPERTS.

Anyway, like I already stated, do YOUR best, listen to YOUR body and eat majority, if not ALL, raw!!

pixie_333

03-13-2009, 12:19 AM

Pixie ahhh helloOOO YEAH ya DO care, as you keep pointing it out. No one even mentioned the temp of the water that was used for the iniquitous tea...warm water WILL steep it, just takes longer. Honestly why would what someone else does or doesn't do bother you? Are they trying to get you to drink tea with them :confused: I'm not understanding the issue.

We need to support one another and share knowledge. Quite honestly I don't think there are many experts on raw as I feel its still a psuedo-science. No offense to any self-proclaimed EXPERTS.

Anyway, like I already stated, do YOUR best, listen to YOUR body and eat majority, if not ALL, raw!!

glamazon.. i know myself much better than you do. you only know a small fraction about me in whatever posts of mine you've read.

i am responding to posts that were addressed to me. i'm not rude to avoid people.

re-read my posts?? because you obviously didn't get it. i shall repeat myself...no... i don't care if people drink tea! it's a peeve of mine when people say they are 100% raw yet admit drinking tea and some cooked foods.
throughout the forum many people have said they drink HOT tea... of some of those say they are 100% raw and feel it ok to be dishonest.

it was in another thread this was discussed... then all of a sudden artgirly starts this thread and i made a comment expressing how i feel and i feel goes absolutely hand in hand with this thread.
it's ok to say you aren't 100% raw...what's the insecurity issues of others lieing?

as i've said throughout the whole forum.. i am not 100% raw. it's not like i am trying to convert and brainwash people... in fact i'm drinking a cup of hot coffee right now. but at least i'm honest.

glamazon

03-13-2009, 11:22 AM

Oh luv I never said I knew you. I'm saying I don't get the whole RAW FOOD POLICE thing that's going on. Seriously, who caaaaares about other's lying about what they consume?!! They know the truth and it's not for anyone to judge anyone. this forum is to help one another I thought.

I'm not 100% and I'm sick of trying to figure out my percentage becoz it's ridiculous when you really sit back and think about it. I like this thread that Artgirly posted becoz it addressed THAT--the percentage issue. Pixie you are the one addressing the dreaded tea LIES...so if there was another post about THAT then might be beneficial for you to post your comments there becoz I don't think I'm alone in my confusion about your obsession with the tea factor. I'm thinking it's an entirely different issue you are having--but that's my opinion.

I'm not judging you nor do I wish to be judged. I can get that from my everyday contacts that don't get or have a clue about the "RAW" lifestyle. You get it...so let others get to where they are going...whether it's 100% or not.

Can we move on now?

wiste

03-13-2009, 07:12 PM

hey.. most people find cooked foods healthy.

many people don't find apple juice food yet most raw foodist consider it a meal.

There are calories in apple juice. If you are using tea leaves and water there are no calories. Tea having no calories would seem to indicate it is not food.

The discussion of percentage can be quite confusing.
How is the percentage calculated? Is it the percentage of calories consumed?
Distilled water is boiled but water is by most standards not food.

Maybe it is best to "go easy" with respect to percentages.

TXRAWKS

03-16-2009, 03:37 PM

Thanks for the posting. The way I figure it is whatever % I am today is that much better than I was when I was on a SAD diet so I keep on chugging. I feel 100% better so that is what matters.

blaque

03-16-2009, 03:59 PM

This post came just when I needed it. I've been going along just fine for the last few weeks. Today, my co-workers and I went to lunch and just like that I caved right in.
But I started my day raw and I will end the day raw. I was feeling very guilty until I read this post and replies.
I won't beat myself up anymore, I'll just get back at it with my next meal.
Besides, I feel like I have a brick in my belly. I don't like the way I feel right now.

Otis

03-16-2009, 04:05 PM

Want to add my thanks to Artgirly as well because I've been struggling, not enjoying, this raw food diet for over a year now mainly because every entree that I've made has ended up in the garbage. My taste buds refuses to accept chicken that doesn't taste like chicken, or noodles or meat, etc. So I exist on green and fruit smoothies, salads, raw cereal and most all of the desserts and it seems to be working for me. If I were to put a percentage to it, I would say I was 65%, but from this point on, I'm going to relax a bit and enjoy the foods I do like.