DOING RAW RIGHT??? This deserves a whole new thread of its own.

[Colorawdo girl]

I responded to a thread this morning about eating at night. The post below led me to a whole new thread here. This is something that needs to be brought out in a big way.
Here is the info!!!!!!!


Alas...it has happened!!!! Someone hit the nail square on the head for the raw life!!!!! Thank you springtime!!!

Quote:
Raw is something completely different. I feel that entering the raw world is to try and un-teach yourself everything you've been taught about food and eating. That some things are bad, some are good and so on.
I am too switching to a raw diet myself, i am on my second week of as raw as possible (spices...) and i am experiencing this un-teching myself.

What i am trying to say is, that perhaps it is not such a good idea for you to start implying more rules and more control (quitting this, doing that instead et.c), but to let yourself go and loose control.

I believe that if we just remove all the anxiety and corrective behaviour around foods and eating, and just do what we feel like, after a while we will merge into new patterns, formed by the way we are, not the way we intellectually think we should be.


If everyone wanting to eat raw food got this concept....this board would almost dissappear, or at least most of the threads as they are now.
[/B
Why?
Because:

We want to do it "right".
We want to do it like we are supposed to.
What to eat
When to eat
How to eat it
How to make it like others do
Fighting what not to eat
Dealings with what others think and say
And the big one -the beatings for eating sad/cooked food

If folks got one thing. To [B]get out of their heads and into their bodies and go with it. Have a desire to eat raw, look at it and think like a raw foodie, yet go with the whole way it goes.


If you were "in the flow" of raw versus attempting to control it all, it would be peaceful like a river.
There are quiet times when all goes smoothly and nicely, and there are rough waters too, where you might hit bumps and twists and turns. You are STILL and ALWAYS on your way, and it is living a life you want.
The greatest way to peace I have found is saying to myself...."There is nothing wrong here."
Being willing to give up that there is something wrong here is very profound and the most peaceful way of raw life. It is way beyond the half empty half full concept yet a similar thought.

In other words, it is what it is. I accept it exactly as it is and exactly as it is not. Be in the flow.

oh and thanks springtime..needed to bring your comments into the light here!!! Great thinking!!!

[ShantiLove]

Words of wisdom :D Thankyou for bringing it to the light.

For me it is a work in progress but not totaly there yet. Well I was when I first turned raw but the controle issue and fear of not doing it right creped in there again. A big unlearning to do :D
Stay in the flow that is where we need to be, so true.

[juliew]

springtime: can I quote what you wrote in my book?

[ruffsongraw]

hmmmm....
i would only disagree in that for many, eating what they WANT while being in some level of addiction to cooked foods, might lend itself to NOT eating right b/c until cravings go away it has to be an intellectual endeavor/conscious deliberate choice until we are coasting along and its automatic to choose raw and healthy.

if one goes by the ONLY RAW rule, then i agree with eating what you want out of the raw chioces we have. if i just went with my DESIRES i would be eating grilled salmon and fried rice with veggies every day... once i no longer crave those things, then i can stop over-thinking everything. ultimatley it will be easy. but not after just 4 months for me.... not trying to be negative, but to stay super hi raw, if not 100%, requires thought and planning for me to avoid any happy little excursions into cooked treats. there is a diff between my MIND craving a thing and my BODY craving a thing. i cant trust those cravings this early---IMO. if this works for others---great. more power to 'em! for me, it has to be disciplined for now. OR maybe i misunderstood what was intended. : /

jen

[Jehote]

LOL I eat 5-6 times a day! So at 2:00 or 3:00a.m. I'm starving so I get up and eat a Larabar or a banana. I'm still losing weight. I EAT when I'm hungry! I reccomend the frequent small meals or smoothies to anyone who wants to eat and lose weight. I'm down a lot of weight due to this and I eat all day!
J

[EZ rider]

What i am trying to say is, that perhaps it is not such a good idea for you to start implying more rules and more control (quitting this, doing that instead et.c), but to let yourself go and loose control
I would add that everyone is different and to do raw right for you is to learn to listen to your body.

[RawHeaven]

If folks got one thing. To get out of their heads and into their bodies and go with it. Have a desire to eat raw, look at it and think like a raw foodie, yet go with the whole way it goes.




Amen. Get into the body. Literally and figuratively.

Thank you for the sage words Colorawdo Girl and Springtime.

Colorawdo Girl the boards probably would dissappear, but remember Experience is knowing. The learning and growth is oftentimes in the experience, whatever that may be. Through the hills and valleys of this raw journey, I have grown tremendously and acquired greater understanding and wisdom where my body, health and life are concerned. Without the support, reading about other's celebration and trials, knowing that I'm not alone in my experience (without judging it) and simply being in my experience has helped me be where I am today. I do not think I would have the awareness (in the body) had I not experienced the doubts, the self judgement, the SAD falling off the wagon self-criticism moments etc. Simply because I had never experienced them before. Having experienced certain situations on this path created more empathy and compassion in my being ~~ it connected and connects me on a deeper level to all beings. All experience is relevant in my opinion and it's okay to be wherever you happen to be, it all leads to growth and greater awareness. :) Much peace.

[Colorawdo girl]

Right on rawheaven.....was a figure of speech for sure.The forum is so valuable to help ones on their journey through raw.
Eeeeekazoids if this site was gone...hahaha.

This whole thing is so eye opening. It is SO OK WHEREVER YOU HAPPEN TO BE!!! What its all about. Love it!!!

[lucky lemons]

Exactly. When I went raw the first time I went 100% over night, and stayed more or less raw for a month, but ultimately it wasn't sustainable for my body because I wasn't ready to completely let go of cooked food (even though I really liked raw food).

Now, almost a year later I am listening to my body instead of trying to give it orders about what to eat. I am transitioning into raw food (currently at about 65-70%) and its working out much better for me. I hope to one day be at 100% but now I'm letting my body lead me instead of trying to lead it.

Everyone's different. Some people need to go 100% right away in order to stick with it, others like myself need to transition. Its a journey, not a race, that sort of thing.

[Susan123]

LOL I eat 5-6 times a day! So at 2:00 or 3:00a.m. I'm starving so I get up and eat a Larabar or a banana. I'm still losing weight. I EAT when I'm hungry! I reccomend the frequent small meals or smoothies to anyone who wants to eat and lose weight. I'm down a lot of weight due to this and I eat all day!
J

I'm glad you said this- I feel like I am SO hungry all the time and I'm eating (almost) all day long!! I've lost 5 pounds in the past week (since going raw) and I'm eating and eating!!

[EZ rider]

Everyone's different. Some people need to go 100% right away in order to stick with it, others like myself need to transition. Its a journey, not a race, that sort of thing.
I think in the long run we all transition. I went all raw, all at once and I stayed that way for 10 1/2 months and then I "slipped" and it was after that that I transitioned. I stayed raw and learned what I needed to learn to make this raw journey more like a dance in that its fun, enjoyable, and I can feel the "rhythm". Learning to follow and not to lead was for me the transition.

[Colorawdo girl]

Learning to follow and not to lead was for me the transition.

I love what you said. Even the appearance of "mistakes" are the beauty of raw.

Life is so much easier for me when I ride the wind and not grip the handlebars.

[RawHeaven]

I'm glad you said this- I feel like I am SO hungry all the time and I'm eating (almost) all day long!! I've lost 5 pounds in the past week (since going raw) and I'm eating and eating!!

I used to eat a ton of raw foods myself at all hours. I've heard it said by raw foodists who've been at this for a long time it's because we were starving for nutrients with our previous dietary choices. When you begin eating raw sometimes you just are filling up the reserves tank so to speak. In the spirit of this thread, you are most definately listening to your body. Eventually it will balance out. I loved that period of time though because I love to eat! :D

[Springtime]

Jeez, Colorawdo, I'm flattered! Had no idea i'd made such an impact...:D


springtime: can I quote what you wrote in my book?

Are you serious, juile? If you are, sure you can, pm me if you want my real name for the credits :D:p

I just have to tell you about my favourite childhood memory. So, i was 11 and watching Star Wars for the first time with my mom, and you know there's this episode when Luke meets Yoda for the first time on this huge swamp-planet? well Yoda's gonna learn Luke everything he needs to know to be a jedi, and one of the things he has to learn is how to fly.
So we're watching Luke trying to fly, mom and I, and in the middle of the popcorn and juice she says "I think it's totally possible to fly. You just have to un-learn what we've been taguht about not being able to".

And, maybe that's a little cheezy, but i like it. It's inspirational.
Because that's what life's like: we're taught all these wierd things about limits, wrongs, disicipline and order. And then one day we realise all of that are just making us feel terrible: tense, sad, SAD (haha), lonley and awkward. That's when the un-learning starts, and it's one heck of a ride, but you just have to roll with the punches.

Making sense? "No gods, no masters" for me that says it all.
Listen to this song, it will help set your soul free, i promise:
The lovliest song in the world (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjQXMZe2ouk)

Peace

[Jehote]

<----- loves Star Wars! :) maybe missed the point but loves Star Wars!!

[juliew]

Are you serious, juile? If you are, sure you can, pm me if you want my real name for the credits :D:p




Yep, I'm serious! I'll message you.

[Colorawdo girl]

[QUOTE]
And, maybe that's a little cheezy, but i like it. It's inspirational.
Because that's what life's like: we're taught all these wierd things about limits, wrongs, disicipline and order. And then one day we realise all of that are just making us feel terrible: tense, sad, SAD (haha), lonley and awkward. That's when the un-learning starts, and it's one heck of a ride, but you just have to roll with the punches.
[QUOTE]

You are very welcome..who knew it would make you famous wooohoooo.

Above comment: most folks have no idea how much they were taught that totally limits their life. Unlearning, relearning all over again, a new way to live and be.
I heard it put this way. Some did an experiment. They put fleas in a container with a cover on it. Over and over the fleas would jump up to the cover to try to escape. Over time, the cover was removed yet the fleas only jumped as high as they were jumping before.
Limits on our potential in every area of life?

This may apply here to thread(or not) but its one fave quote:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

[TaupeRawMan]

I think this is a great thread and wanted to bump it for others to enjoy...

[hilarya_m]

Ugh, amen. I am so sick of my husband telling me I eat too much sugar or fruit or whatever because I chow down on dates, raisins, mangos, and raw choco. And I am still losing weight! Granted, I should ALSO eat more greens and sprouts and I am working on it.

[katchmoleen]

What a great thread. Eating raw has been so liberating for me because for the last 38 years I have struggled with poor body image (see my blog post: Loving Who You See in the Mirror) and the subsequent food anxiety that goes with it. Always worrrying about weight gain, never really enjoying my food.
I LOVE that now I can eat what I want as long as it is raw. Now that the "no no" is removed, I find it easy to listen to my appetite and not overeat or abuse food. I feel like a normal person. It is WONDERFUL! :D

[Shine]

I really needed this thread today. The posts and quotes and info have spoken to all parts of me that needed to hear. I am inspired, filled with joy, and excited about this journey I am on and ALL I am learning because I am on it! :)

[rawrawks]

I am still not doing raw "right" and I am doing great and loving every minute of my raw life!!!

[Etherwind]

I like this thread, it is inspiring. Going raw for me has been difficult, because it's so radically different from what I had been conditioned to. I'm used to individually wrapped dehydrated meals and copious amounts of sugar. I need to do some paradigm shattering.

[Seedy]

When I ate SAD I weighed 300 pounds. I fought my weight down to 140 on a McDougall/Ornish style low fat diet, but was constantly hungry and felt deprived. On a raw diet I can maintain my weight and eat whatever I want, and as much as I want. I don't follow any specific raw 'guru', but eat a moderate amount of fat and tons of fruit, sprouts and greens. I eat what makes me feel healthy and alive. Some days I'm 100% raw, some days I may only be 90% - its all good.
Seedy

[rawrawks]

You said it...Its all good!

[TaupeRawMan]

I need this reminder periodically and wanted to share....

[rawrawks]

Woweeee and I love that my writings of former times as "Colorawdo girl "are still around! Made my day. I shall ready and apply (again and again).

Thankx for bumping it up heeyah!

[rawrawks]

ooooooooops edit above...I shall READ and apply