Need advice on my raw food journey

[qfmother]

Hello - I am learning so much from this forum, and hope that I can get a few ideas to help me continue in my quest to become more healthy.

I have always struggled with my weight and been addicted to certain types of foods (sugar & carbs mostly). I have 6 children, ages 11,9,7,5,2 and 9 mos. After each child I have worked to lose weight and have had varying degrees of success each time. I have eaten 100% raw 2 times in the past for 2 months straight, and both times lost 30 pounds. After one of these times, I went on to eat high raw and lost a total of 50 pounds. But then I have always gone back to cooked food and gained it back and more.

I started eating raw again on January 6, 2009 weighing 250 pounds. I have just passed the 2-month milestone and I have again lost 30 pounds! This time I have made a couple of exceptions to my 100% raw rule, I have eaten Ezekiel bread a few times, and also Veganaise. I am very pleased that I've made it past the 2-month time frame, and I'm looking forward to another great month. I need to post some before and "in progress" pictures here soon. It's been really nice to be able to wear some of my smaller clothes again.

Even though my family has been eating much healthier (although not all raw) with me during the last 2 months, we have all been sick with various viruses almost the entire time! I didn't expect to get sick myself, but I got sick twice with cold/flu/fever. This has been very discouraging to me, because I have never gotten sick often. I was wondering if some sort of a cleanse would be helpful in boosting my immune system? I also wonder if I would benefit from a colon cleanse in general because of my past bad habits and large amount of weight to lose.

The other thing I have to keep in mind is this: I have been either pregnant or breastfeeding constantly for the last 12+ years now, but my 9 month old has just weaned herself (to my dismay) a few days ago. So for the moment, I am not pregnant or breastfeeding, but the fact that we don't use birth control means that I could become pregnant again at any time. So I was thinking that any cleanse that I do should be done during the 1st half of my cycle. Or should I just continue with the raw food diet and assume that my body is cleansing itself at a more gentle pace?

I appreciate anyone's thoughts about my situation.

Blessings,
Brenda

[PammieTaj]

I'm kind of in the same boat that you are in. I have always been overweight and have issues with baked goods (they know me by name). I think it's important because of the history (lifelong - my first torturous diet was when I was nine!) I have with food to not feel deprived. It's one thing to approach raw food from the perspective of eating as well as we can and another altogether from the perspective of just knocking out entire categories of food so we can have a socially acceptable appearance. So think about that as you are changing your lifestyle. What is important about it to you?

As for birth control, do you want more children? Have you thought about at least employing the rhythm method? I'm not sure why this is an issue you brought up. I will say however that having kids back to back with all it involves will exhaust anyone and their immune system. I've only got two children and they are both grown humans now, but I'm still exhausted. (c: I'll also say that no one spreads disease like a kid! (c: I used to say hands off faces, especially Mommy's to my own (particularly when they were snotty).

Your body will probably throughout the weight loss process. Fat harbors a lot of toxins. In some respects it may be there to protect our internal organs from toxicity. So detox issues can come up throughout the process of losing weight (and cravings - suddenly the seventh layer on my thighs might remember raisinettes and there you go!).

Important to remember - move your body. Be as kind to yourself as you would be to a small child or your very best friend. You deserve as much as well.

blessings and peace, Pammie

[qfmother]

Thank you Pammie, I appreciate your kind response. The reason I brought up the birth control issue is because I need to keep it in mind when I choose to do anything to my body such as a cleanse. My husband and I have thought through our choices very carefully, the bottom line is that God tells us that children are unqualified blessings and we are choosing to let Him be in charge.

I have wondered if my recent 2 illnesses were detoxing symptoms, but I just don't know because they acted like a virus in myself and the rest of the family. But maybe it at least gives me the reason why I was more susceptible to them even though I was eating raw.

Thanks again,
Brenda

[spicyfull]

Alissa's, Living on Live Food is a MUSt........