So Lost... Could Raw be the Answer? (long)

[ellelit]

:DSo, I am this morning 333.5 pounds, just 2 pounds shy of my all-time highest weight. I am addicted to food, am a compulsive overeater and and emotional binger (who sometimes purges because I've eaten too much).

Currently I eat really well (though not raw) for all of my meals until 4pm. My pattern of eating for the last 10 years or so (in which time i gained nearly 100 pounds) has found me eating fast food almost daily, or binging on pizza, chips, chocolate etc.

I have done a few days of raw before but always stopped because of what people would say... "You love food, how can you live without pork chops, or fried chicken, or bread, or pasta... and so on"... i felt pretty good being raw for a couple days but the cravings were just so intense.

I really don't know if it is in my personality to be able to do something in "moderation" which is why raw sounds so appealing. there is no way i can live with having 1 cookie, or a little 4oz chunk of steak and steamed potatoes. if it is there i was to gorge myself, so moseration in regards to the SAD is not realistic for me.

however, if the only options available to me are raw yummy fruits, veggies, seeds and nuts then it should be simple to follow, right? I know that i have to work on the psychological reasons for why I eat ( I fear it is mostly lonliness), but If i can get a handle on food then it will make my life so much better.

I currently walk to work every morning, and i have found since i got over the 310 pound mark or so, my body is just not cooperative. I want to be active, I want to walk 5-10k (like I used to a year ago) but my body is in such bad shape mow it cannot physically do it. It's scary that's i've destroyed my body so much and when I look in the mirror i hardly recognize my own face.

So I am looking for some advice, some support and simply some friendly raw foodies who understand what a challenge this will be but will help me on my journey. I am starting to transition to raw over the next week, and will try for mostly/all raw for the first of June. Thanks!

[Springtime]

Welcome to RFT, elle :)!

I strongly suggest you to stick around here, keep reading the success stories, recipes et.c. and gather inspiration. You have found the most wonderful place of support and knowledge!

Get Alissas book and read up on the addiction we have to cooked foods. Since you describe yourself as addicted to food, i think it might be of great value to learn more about how cooked foods are so very addicting and how we can end that addiction once and for all. Also, it is very good to have loads of info on what you are about to embark on (the most wonderful path to health!), bc it can be tough in the beginning, even though it's sooooooooooo worth it.

I myself am quite new, on my fourth week of all raw foods, i feel great and don't see why i should have cooked foods again ever.

Just eat more raw, that's the best advice i can give. Green smoothies are a great way to add more greens, and they're delish.. You're doing great, never forget that, even though the road migh be bumpy sometimes.

Peace

[Moretta]

Welcome and good luck on your RAWNESS journey.

Best of health to you.

[klomasius]

Welcome ellelit!

I'm just leaning over my keyboard to give you what must be a much needed hug! :D

I've been hanging round here for years and your story sounds so familiar, it could be the story of so many people on this board, but only the start of the story. I read the rest and the resulting transformations and it's simply amazing.

So don't think you are alone, or too weak to go through with raw, or that you have 'destroyed' you body (you haven't, hopefully you'll learn of it's amazing healing capacity very soon), you are not, and you haven't.

Don't listen to what people say, they won't have experienced the amazing effects of raw, we have, and we will help you along in whatever capacity we can.

I'm sure that many will chime in and tell of their massive weigh loss and how they achieved it. They may even tell you of the crippling mindset they experienced in the darkest days of their weight gain, and the absolute freedom and mind boggling health raw returned to them.

Have you seen the before and afters on this forum? Inspirational, I highly recommend flicking through the photos in the section.

I just wanted to drop in, say hello and send some happiness your way. :)

Good on you!

[klomasius]

ha, see lookit that!

In the time I took to type that reply you've already got several welcoming replies!

[Colorawdo girl]

Elle,welcome, you are loved, you are enough and you are not alone. We are here!!!

In my experience with raw...green smoothies are where its at.


Having a green smoothie,
with 60 percent leafy greens of your choice(spinach is very mild n tasty)

with 40 percent fruits.
one whole blender per day,
every day....
......will set you on the path to RAW FREEDOM!!!!

After that smoothie (lasted me til 1 oclock in aft.)then you have whatever else raw you want. I always stopped after 6 or so to let my body take care of all the food before sleep.

Best to you..we are here for you....this could very well be the best choice you have made in your life.....stay with it, it will rawk your world!!! Love to you and hugs.
This took away all the cravings for me and ba lanced me out very quickly.

[JCB44]

Welcome to the site. please hang around this site I be that rawness rubs off on us. There are many great folks here who have been or are wearing your shoes. Many of the people here are great inspiration to me. This is a good community to be accepted, loved, and helped. Just hang in there, I know that raw is the way to go.

[EZ rider]

ellelit -- I was quite heavy when I found raw and now less then 2 years later I'm slim. I didn't think that was possible but now I know that it is. I eat as much fresh fruit & veggies as I want and I don't count calories. If you are having trouble getting past the first 30 days try setting some easy to accomplish short term goals and build a record of small successes. Cumulatively a bunch of small victories can = a lot of gain. Good luck.

[RawSweetie]

Ellelit, good for you for reaching out to us! You are among friends here, FOR SURE.

Stay close to the forum and you will have a fine start to building your support network (something I'm still working on in my "away from RFT" life)

Don't do what I've done--faded away when I was struggling with raw. :p
That would be *precisely* the time to connect more!

Best wishes and don't give up!

[jgunn]

congrats on finding a great place to be and for acknowleding your strengths and weaknesses.

I suggest telling nobody (friends, coworkers, extended family) what you are doing, people have this bad habit of sabotaging you even if they dont mean too.

put your green smoothhies in a reusable coffee cup so people cant question what you are drinking , or start saving up mcdonalds cups and reusing those lol

concentrate on adding lots of good things as you push the bad things out. dont stop moving , keep on walking , everyday it will get easier and soon you will start to see that person you are looking for in the mirror again!

you should also read about angela stokes , i think you will find some of the psycological things you mention you have alot in common

and journal, take pics, talk to us when youre down, let us celebrate with you when you are up !

good luck with your journey ! :)

[snoops]

Hi ellelit. You are welcome to join a group of us in the over 50 section. We are doing a weight loss challenge support kind of thing. Doesn't matter if you aren't over 50:D We think raw is the way to do it.

[juliew]

: I am addicted to food, am a compulsive overeater and and emotional binger (who sometimes purges because I've eaten too much).

I really don't know if it is in my personality to be able to do something in "moderation" which is why raw sounds so appealing. there is no way i can live with having 1 cookie, or a little 4oz chunk of steak and steamed potatoes. if it is there i was to gorge myself, so moseration in regards to the SAD is not realistic for me.

Welcome. Please know you are so not alone. I have a very addictive personality and can't do things in moderation either! People always say strive for balance, but that is so hard, isn't it!? I also binge emotionally at night on raw nuts or banana chocolate shakes! I think it's important to know that you have support. You can email me to chat whenever, and good luck on your healing journey!

[curlygirl82]

Hi Elle,

Just wanted to welcome you and encourage you. I've been raw for about 8 months, and I've never been happier. I think that it can work wonders, and I'm sure that it will help you, too! I definitely think that it helps dissolve many addictions, especially surrounding food. I also think that the reason that many of us binge eat is because there's so little nutritional value in our food - all that changes when you start giving yourself the best, nutrient dense, raw fruits and veggies! :) I have loved food my whole life, so I understand your concern when you hear your friends say, "oh, but you couldn't possibly give up...." -- I was recently reminded by a friend that he's seen my cry tears of joy when eating foie gras. Um... yeah. Anyway, I enjoy my food so much more now than EVER before. It sounds strange, but it's really true. Give it a try, be gentle on yourself, and keep that commitment to doing what's best for yourself. You'll find so much information, support, and wisdom on this forum, too! It was a lifesaver for me in the beginning.

You can do it!!:D

[islesgirl]

Hi Elle and a big welcome to you. You'll "find" yourself here I'm sure. What "Colorawdo" said about using lots of green smoothies is right on. They are so filling, nourishing and they squash cravings. I'm convinced that is because we are no longer starving ourselves with nutrient deficient foods. I blogged about the unusual changes I went through last summer regarding cravings.

That's when I started eating raw - grew my own greens for the first time in 27 years and felt wonderful and lost around 17 lbs. My skin was amazing and my energy level soared. I was happy - even when things around me weren't always so great. And I lost all my cravings. However, somehow I ended up back eating sad food (Standard American Diet) and so now I'm beginning Raw food again and hopefully forever. Try this and use this forum daily for encouragement. We're all here for one another as we are so amazed at the huge changes eating raw living food can bring to us and others like you.:D

Sending you lots of warm encouragement....
Sue.

Sue.

[Shoney]

Hi Elle! First of all, let me tell you how brave I think you are for opening yourself up like that to a community of strangers. I have been raw on and off for over 2 years, but I keep coming back because, like you, I am an emotional eater and moderation on SAD is not possible. Plus, I'm sick of being tired, overweight and stuffing myself to the point of pain without ever feeling satisfied. After just a very short time on raw, these feelings go away and are replaced by joy.

I think some people can go 100% raw immediately and stay with it. I believe that is the best way to go. It is not what I have done because facing the emotional issues associated with food have been overwhelming and I didn't know how to cope.

I have recently recommitted to raw (unfortunately, several of my previous posts say the same thing, but I will NOT let that deter me), just finished cleaning out my fridge. As I cleaned, I also found myself praying. God gave us food, good food. Food that we can enjoy, that will nurture and heal and cleanse us, food that is meant for our good and not bondage. As I cleaned the physical junk out of the fridge, I also asked God to help me find my way to permanently being raw, to blessing my children with this way of health. I believe raw is the way, and I don't question that even when I slip up.

There is a weight loss thread that you may find helpful. And there is a tremendous amount of collective experience on this site that I pray you will find applicable in your search for health. If you don't have Alissa's book, I urge you to consider getting it. Her nonjudgmental cheerleading approach, combined with testimonials and fabulous recipes are a gently determined way to start the raw path.

Writing for me is therapeutic, maybe it is for you, too; in which case I would suggest starting a blog. That way you can look back and see how far you've come!

Good luck and blessings on your journey!

Love and hugs,

Shoney

[Wordracr]

I'd recommend Coconut oil; it's really helped me! At first, I used to have 1T with every meal. I have cut back now to about 1T a day, but I think that this had helped me diminish cravings for sweets and fats simultaneously. (caution: You will have bathroom issues for the first few days, but that's it)

Get organic virgin coconut oil - try a 12-16oz size and if you like it, then buy a gallon in bulk :)

[Tsurugi_Oni]

Transitioning from super SAD diet to completely raw probably isn't the best option. Change needs to happen in a gradual way.

The biggest step in eating a healthy lifestyle is eating consciously. Don't go out to fast food places more than once a week. Try to plan out your meals ahead of time and buy ingredients only 1-2x a week. That way dietary choices aren't up in the air and don't change based on temporary whims.

I always carry around a bag of almonds, walnuts, and a couple fruit wherever I go. You can catch me munching on foods 24/7, but I always make sure that it's healthy food. Instead of a fast food meal ($5+) you can make a super healthy meal with just a little planning. For less money you can have a steamed short grain rice, steamed broccoli, filet mignon dinner (20c rice, 30c broccoli, $3 for 1/2lb of filet mignon, if you buy the loin). Set the pot of rice to steam first, then start cooking the meat, and pop a glass of broccoli + water in the microwave for a bit. 15 minute meal, VERY healthy and lean, and on the cheap.

Go check around for little mom and pop shops, they always have the best deals. I found a fishmonger who sells me wild salmon and halibut for $3/lb, and whole Maine crabs for a $1 a pop (including roe). That's a KILLER deal, as cheap as leanest cuts of beef and packed with healthy omega-3's.

If you crave sugar (I do have a sweettooth) go nibble on some fruit. And try to eat only when you're hungry, instead of when you mentally crave something. True hunger makes any food you get taste 100x better, and will give you appreciation for foods with humble preparations. After a long day of fishing there's nothing like taking a bite into the day's fresh catch. Eat when hungry, it tunes you into a reality of existence much different than pure pleasure eating.

Just remember, you are what you think. You have to ponder on exactly Who You Want To Be. Think of every detail, the lifestyle, breakfast/lunch/dinner, plan out walks to the store, make room to consciously create your life. Then simply BE. Keep your mind on this frequency and you will have to become what you think. There will be new emotions on the path, new feelings and experiences, but these are just aspects of walking on the path to Who You Want To Be.

[sozei]

^
$3 for 1/2lb of filet mignon, if you buy the loin
"then start cooking the meat" :eek:




http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/sozei72/cow.png

[gypwytch]

Hi There, I just joined this place yesterday and am somewhat in the same boat as you. I weighed myself this morning and have gone back up to 260lbs(my all time highest was 320+lbs about 25 years ago in my late teens). I need to make some big lifestyle changes and get my health back in order, too many problems are cropping up, some are hereditary and some are due to past injuries that are jumping up and biting me in the butt(so to speak) and just my life at this point. I've flirted with veganism off and on for several years, and I can tell you that when I've been vegan, even when it's only been for a few days, there has been a big difference in how I feel, physicaly and mentally. I'm going at it again, and this time I'm trying mostly raw, sofar it's been easier that I thought and I think I'll be able to stick to it.

Stick around, I'm going to, and maybe we can both learn a thing or two from everyone here.

[gypwytch]

Hi, me again. I just noticed that you are on Vancouver Island, the library system has several books on "Raw Food", check them out, I just put a request in today for one on Raw food smoothies, I'll have to wait a bit though, I'm #4 in line for it.

[Susan123]

^
$3 for 1/2lb of filet mignon, if you buy the loin
"then start cooking the meat" :eek:




http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/sozei72/cow.png

You can say that again!! I didn't think recommending meat consumption would happen on this board. :cool:

[mstrish]

Welcome. I would get Alissa's book and CD. The CD helped with showing me how it was dona and it was simple and easy. The food cravings take about a week and can even go a month or two to completely resolve....everyone is different. For me I have subtel cravings and I'm at the 2 month mark...it is getting better. Hang in there it will get better.

[lamazemama]

Sending hugs and encouragement.

[Colorawdo girl]

I was thinking of you today.....

[Shoney]

Have been rereading Alissa's book, and she recommends going one hundred percent raw for at least two reasons: continuing to eat cooked food feeds the cravings/addictions, and going slowly means we'll be struggling with detox longer because our body can't clean itself out thoroughly if we're continuing to ingest what is making us sick.

Again, for you and everyone else, please get Alissa's book! Her approach to raw is so simple and beautiful and sensible. I dont' know what I would do without it. She touches on enzymes and food combining too, but with the reminders that raw is supposed to be fun because it's the way we are meant to eat!!

Thinking of you today, hope you have a beautifully blessed day and meet your challenges with grace!

[ellelit]

Thanks for all of the encouragement. I agree with not telling anyone i am doing this. i told one of my roomates and proceeded to get a 20 minute lecture on how i'm not ready for such a big change etc. sheesh!

last night was a bad night for me eating wise... i ate and ate and ate and felt like i could not stop. i got sick and promised myself this morning that i am going to eat as well as i can during this transition, eliminating meat as soon as possible and making sure that i make my heath my #1 priority.

today my mom and i are going on a 3 day mini holiday, and where normally this would consist of finding things to do in between monsterous meals, this time i am going to try not to make the food the focus of the vacation. i will eat as many veggies as i can and the healthiest options on the menu...

today we are going golfing and for a walk later this afternoon. the more i think about what i want my life to consist of, the more i realize what a blessing raw will be. if i can release 100+ pounds by this time next summer, then all of the activities that i want to do this summer (surfing, kayaking, hiking, sailing, fishing etc) will be attainable. I don't want my size and my body to limit how i live my life, and i dont want the first thought of every day to be one of self-loathing.

thanks!

[jgunn]

yes thats what I mean, as much as i dont advocate lying , avoiding talking about something as personal as your diet is 100% your business. Dont give away your POWER to negative people, they think they are helping you with their concern but its not the kind of support you need.

Good on you setting your goals , kyaking and such. THe more you visualize your wants and needs the more they will manifest for you. Surround yourself with positive people, seek out those that are on the same page as you.

When eating out or on holidays try to find out where you are going ahead of time and call the place when you make reservations and explain to them your dietary needs. dont feel like you are putting them out, because you are paying THEM , you should get exactly what you pay for. any good chef will enjoy the challenge of creating something special for you thats away from the standard menu. If you have too , lie and tell them you have allergies, sensativities etc. I guarantee you will find them more than willing to bend over backwards for you.

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e86/drowbabe/huggg.gif

[helen2207]

:DSo, I am this morning 333.5 pounds, just 2 pounds shy of my all-time highest weight. I am addicted to food, am a compulsive overeater and and emotional binger (who sometimes purges because I've eaten too much).

Currently I eat really well (though not raw) for all of my meals until 4pm. My pattern of eating for the last 10 years or so (in which time i gained nearly 100 pounds) has found me eating fast food almost daily, or binging on pizza, chips, chocolate etc.

I have done a few days of raw before but always stopped because of what people would say... "You love food, how can you live without pork chops, or fried chicken, or bread, or pasta... and so on"... i felt pretty good being raw for a couple days but the cravings were just so intense.

I really don't know if it is in my personality to be able to do something in "moderation" which is why raw sounds so appealing. there is no way i can live with having 1 cookie, or a little 4oz chunk of steak and steamed potatoes. if it is there i was to gorge myself, so moseration in regards to the SAD is not realistic for me.

however, if the only options available to me are raw yummy fruits, veggies, seeds and nuts then it should be simple to follow, right? I know that i have to work on the psychological reasons for why I eat ( I fear it is mostly lonliness), but If i can get a handle on food then it will make my life so much better.

I currently walk to work every morning, and i have found since i got over the 310 pound mark or so, my body is just not cooperative. I want to be active, I want to walk 5-10k (like I used to a year ago) but my body is in such bad shape mow it cannot physically do it. It's scary that's i've destroyed my body so much and when I look in the mirror i hardly recognize my own face.

So I am looking for some advice, some support and simply some friendly raw foodies who understand what a challenge this will be but will help me on my journey. I am starting to transition to raw over the next week, and will try for mostly/all raw for the first of June. Thanks!

Your story is not new, you can loose weight if you really want to, listen to your own mind within yourself and think hard, ask yourself the question do you want to be happy and healthy or sad and unfit, you already know the answer that's why you are posting on here, give yourself time this is something you have to do yourself and know your strength of how your will cope, for me I usually work within my mind and ask myself many questions when I get an answer only then I take my first step.

i hope this help


helen

[Tsurugi_Oni]

My bad guys, I'm an OMNI who eats a lot of raw as well as cooked. I know my body pretty well and I do what works.

I just don't advocate following a RAW diet without the knowledge backed behind it. Historically humans had never eaten beans, grains, wheat raw because they have specific anti-herbivorious chemicals that make then inedible while raw.

Just tossing out the "Eat everything Raw!" philosophy can be dangerous. It's important to know our evolutionary raw diet along with a modern one. Historically humans have been opportunistic feeders, and have adapted as such. And they never ate wheat, beans, or rice, cuz those are poisonous while raw (except for birds).

Moderation is definately a good route when going from one extreme to another. You have to get your body time to adjust its intestinal flora, taste buds, mucous levels, adjust to running on carbs or fat, etc.

It's also easy to get omega-3 defficient while being a RAW vegan (don't even talk about flax seed and omega 3 ALH). I did raw for a couple months, and within that time I"ve been the unhealthiest I"ve ever been in my life. Flu, 7 month chronic sinus infection, intestinal candida, internal bleeding, low mood, terribly inconsistent quality stools, and constantly shifting internal energies that lead to instability. After eating healthy fats, fish oil, and wheatgrass (the shit) I've felt better than I have in a long time. So you gotta do what your body tells you, but do it in moderation. Don't shock your body/psyche.

I can't preach the benefits of fish oil and wheatgrass enough. I chew a handful of wheatgrass everyday 2x a day, for about 30 minutes. It gives you a natural high, something like having the mental clarity/acuity of taking an amphetamine, while having a superior calming effect like sleep. Just take a handful, bend it in half and wrap it with a rubberband, and take a couple of em in a bag. Don't leave home without em.

[bsqmurphy]

I can totally relate to your story! I started my RAW journey at 330 lbs. I have had lots of challenges & setbacks, flips between RAW & SAD, and restarts over & over. That's all normal in the process.

I also understand & personally experience the complications of transitioning into a RAW lifestyle while healing physically & emotionally; dealing with physiological addiction to cooked foods and emotional addiction to compulsive overeating.

There are three resources that have made ALL the difference for me.

1. Get Alissa's book & DVD. She makes RAW simple & easy! This is how I finally found a way to make RAW accessible & doable in the midst of my crazy busy life.

2. Get Angela Stokes' book "Raw Emotion". This has been essential for me in my emotional healing. It has helped me understand & embrace what's going on with me in the process rather than freak out about it & lapse into old destructive habits. This is an intense emotional transformation (along with the physical) and I would not have been able to do it without this book.

3. Keep coming back here. The support & love & tips & tools are second to none.

I hope this helps.
Bri.

[qfmother]

I haven't read the rest of the replies, but for me - I can't handle moderation, so that's why I started eating all raw. It gives me so many less decisions to make about eating throughout the course of the day! When I see something cooked to eat, I don't even have to wonder about it, because I've already made that decision. Of course I still feel down about it sometimes, but overcoming my food addiction is too important to me - I can't give up now.

I had to jump in 100% rather than take "baby steps" because I knew that I couldn't handle the temptations. I used to start so many days on the right track, and by 3 PM or so I had blown it and ruined the whole day by eating bad throughout the evening. Baby steps really work for many people, but for me - a serious food addict - I had to take drastic action to get myself started. I don't know if I will ever go back to eating any cooked foods, but right now I am nearly always extremely happy with my current diet, and of course I LOVE LOVE LOVE the way it makes me feel and the 52 pounds I've lost so far!

Also - this forum and talking to real live people who are eating raw helps so much. I come here nearly every day for the encouragement that I am not alone - I am not the only one who eats this way.

[jgunn]

Tsurugi_Oni a couple of months (8 weeks) is hardly giving the diet even a fair shake. I dont think advocating using non vegan things suchas fish and meat here is really in the spirit of the board. It sounds like you went through alot of detox too quickly for your situation.

Just because it didnt work for you doesnt mean its a failure there are hundreds of people its working for without supplementing, being omni , cooked or eating fish.

If you are seriously so against this diet as you claim your a cooked food omni eater and you think the raw food diet is dangerous, i have to question why exactly you are here

most of the successful raw people i know are not even eating raw beans, grains, or wheat, so im not sure why you think that has anything to do with it .. if thats what you were trying to eat perhaps that is why you failed.

perhaps you should look inwards into why you failed instead of pointing the finger at the food

you say you did raw for a couple of months, than go onto saying you suffered with sinus infection for 7 months (what were you doing for those other 5 months?).. fruits and veggies dont give you sinus infections... nor do they cause you intestinal bleeding , sure we all have mood swings when transitioning and i will give you the inconsistent stools , but you if you were having such severe emotional problems i highly doubt , raw foods were to blame .. but its easy to point the finger at that.

and wheat, beans and rice are not poisionous while raw, prove to me a scientific paper that backs up that statement please because its just not true . they may be hard to digest but they are not poisonous.

I honestly find some of your statements to be quite fearmongering. i think you failed at raw foods .. got slapped for it and ran back to a place you were comfortable .. and honestly thats ok. but for me a raw vegan i find you statements to be non supportive and honestly offensive.

[Tsurugi_Oni]

Since when did I say I was against eaten a RAW diet? I never said that I was against the diet, I'm just all for not narrowing yourself to a limited view.

I never said I ate raw grains, beans, or rice.... I'm just putting the information out there, because I KNOW there have been "RAW" foodists who have done that. It would make me sad to see a newfound rawfoodist become sick just because they thought it was okay to eat this stuff raw.

Most cereal plants and many type of root plants evolved to prevent predation by herbivores. Because wheat (grass seeds) are calorie dense source of food, they are naturally highly sought after by animals. To prevent the seeds from being eaten the plants put some of it's energy to make anti-nutrients (usually protein inhibitors) so that it's offspring aren't eaten. Birds can eat the stuff fine, but most mammals can't raw.

I don't blame raw food for any of my ailments, and I know it wasn't detox. I've eaten healthy my whole life, and done many detoxes and many proper fasts (for martial arts or religious purposes). It wasn't "emotional problems", but constantly shifting physical condition. Many times my throat back sinuses would be so messed up that I couldn't even speak naturally, and it would be stressful. Or whenever I would get really energetic I would also get TERRIBLE headcracking sinus pressure. I know my body very well, and I know the difference between detox and worsening symptoms.

Don't forget, there are Eskimos who eat nearly only meat and are perfectly healthy. I have no "cooked food addiction", and I personally try to eat everything I can raw.

You can think whatever you want, and think whatever negativity you want about me. There's a proper time and place for everything in life, and you gotta really listen to your body when making dramatic changes. I've heard of many people "detoxing" till they're nearly on their deathbed, and I know of plenty of people who quickly saw the light at the end of the tunnel. I advocate the philosophy of doing what works, raw or not. Not doing something just because it's not "RAW", although it betters you, makes no sense. If raw puts you in a land of magical bliss, then I couldn't be happier for you.

[jgunn]

your words were that you are an omni and that you dont advocate a raw diet.

I dont feel any negativity towards you, except that you are promoting fish oils and meat and that is completely contrary to what this site is all about in my opinion.

have you read Alissa's book?

I agree with you that grains, rice and beans, not the optimal foods to ingest, but still dont understand your reasoning for bringing up them up in the context of the nature of this site. nobody here is pushing grains, rice and beans. Almost all foods have some sort of inhibitors or toxins from apples to zuchini , the point is eating anything in moderation .. anything eaten in mass quantities over long periods of time has the potential to be toxic including water!

I never said that you said raw foods were to blame, but your statement :

"I did raw for a couple months, and within that time I"ve been the unhealthiest I"ve ever been in my life"

would lead people to beleive that is exactly what you are saying. What i am saying is that you havent given the diet a fair shake , 2 months is hardly enough time to analayze what a living diet is doing for you or not doing for you. I went into the history and read your initial post here when your first logged on to this site and all the ailments you mention which included being treated with antibiotics, pills and sprays nowhere doyou say you were doing raw foods at the time. So somewhere between your intial statement and the statement above you are either contradicting yourself or are making a false statement. can you not see how someone reading the above sentence might be feared away from trying raw foods?

I am sorry you are experiencing , bleeding intestines and severre chronic sinus problems but i really have to say that i doubt you have "been eating healthy your whole life" as you say, to your credit its not your fault as the world has been blindsided by false information

Eskimos are healthy by whos standards? the world health organization? i hate to break this to you but big brother has been lying to us for over a century and the sooner we get our collective ostritch heads out of the sand regarding statements lik Eskimos are healthy cuz they eat blubber (by the way most eskimos havent eaten traditional diet in half a century or more). Wrapping your head around scientific data that has been produced by special interest groups will only confuse you.. Please remember yourself who is behind all these studies, they are also the ones telling you drugs good, food bad and are doing everthing in their powers to take away the ability of ourselves to eat raw and natural foods.

does raw foods make me feel like in magical bliss? no sorry but neither does wheatgrass make me feel like im alternately on amphetamines and sleeping pills. glorifying a food by comparing it to drugs is a painful path to tread on.


I agree with your statements about moderation and shocking the system. I also encourage you to read Alissa books and do more research, and give the raw food diet a fair shake someday. You started your post with the statement "my bad im an Omni" if you feel this way why are you omni ? and why are you advocating fish oils and meat on a raw vegan website that quite clearly states in the rules these things are not up for discussion? (youve read the board rules right?) http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=33779

irregardless of whatever path you are on and what you beleive i hope you find the answers to your questions and the end of your suffering

[D'vorah]

Early in this thread, Green Smoothies were brought up. For me, they make it possible. I can live on Green Smoothies all day long. I struggle at night (4 PM to bedtime), due to emotional eating and related issues.

I highly recommend Victoria Boutenko's book, Green for Life, in addition to Alissa's literature.

Deborah

[Susan123]

Don't forget, there are Eskimos who eat nearly only meat and are perfectly healthy. I have no "cooked food addiction", and I personally try to eat everything I can raw.



I lived in Alaska while stationed in the Air Force and the natives there are FAR from "perfectly healthy". They are almost all obese with a very large abdominal girth.

[Tsurugi_Oni]

Yah, i never mentioned the raw foods on my first post cuz I didn't wanna make the post any longer than it is. I've done raw food for more than 6 weeks before, that was just my latest bought. I did raw food for about 5 months at Ohio State.

Anwyays, I'm not going to argue about my past history or anything else. I know superbly healthy carnivores and herbivores, and junkfood eaters.

And wheatgrass... Man, maybe you don't get those effects, but I do. I'm just giving my honest testimony of my experience with fresh wheatgrass.

Anyways, to the OP, I know that if you set your mind on the goal you will get it no problem. One of the biggest things that helps me for accomplishing stuff is visualising, or writing it down on a piece of paper. I guess it's like when some of you chicks dream up your dream wedding. Except dream up the grandest version of yourself that you could possibly imagine, and make your life a ritual to make that happen.

You got souls from all around the world that are only here to give you support and guidance.

[EZ rider]

Go check around for little mom and pop shops, they always have the best deals. I found a fishmonger who sells me wild salmon and halibut for $3/lb, and whole Maine crabs for a $1 a pop (including roe). That's a KILLER deal, as cheap as leanest cuts of beef and packed with healthy omega-3's.

I prefer eating a vegan diet.

[Tsurugi_Oni]

Don't forget my post was targeted towards the OP, who is transitioning from a super SAD diet to a less SAD, to more vegetarian to RAW vegan. If she wants to cold turkey it then power to her, but I'm just laying out options if she wants to do a gradual change. I never press my views on Raw Foodists, or go make "convert or die" posts. It just seemed appropriate considering the situation.

Maybe some of you guys could give a sample day's meals and why you picked those foods (nutrionally or otherwise). I'd love to hear some good sample ideas on the cheap (No more $$$$ for piano tutoring since school ended)

[D'vorah]

Tsurugi Oni, you've turned this from a thread offereing help to a debate and you're offering advice that is not in harmony with this board and it's principles.

I live in Alaska and I know for a fact that our Native people here are far from healthy as a group.

Deborah

[jgunn]

Tsurugi_Oni to be honest i understand what you are trying to say./do., im just saying that your Omni advice (ie: you cant claim loud enough the benefits of fish oil) isnt in the spirit of this board. If we are looking for Omni advice we wouldnt be here we would be on an OMNI board :D i hope you understand where i am coming from now. I am not trying to be mean, just asking that you respect some of us are quite disturbed about discussing nonvegan foodstuffs

I have never seen anyone here make a post of "convert or die", perhaps once youve stuck around here for awhile you will find that most of the people here are not very dogmatic at all about raw foods and they are VERY supportive.

to answer your question:

Breakfast, usually mono for ease of digestion and usually high carb sweet fruits, why? to give me energy to start my day, the last thing i want my body to do in the morning is start working hard to dignest wacky combos of things.
breakfast usually is: strawberries, oranges, papaya, cantaloup or other melons, kiwi fruit, pineapple, grapefruits, mango's , grapes ... any of these in mono any given day.
Lunch: usually more greens and some fats
lunch is usually: salads, sweetcorn, alfalfa sprouts or any other sprouts, avocados , lettuce, blueberries, figs, dates, pears , plums , apricots, celery, watermelon, artichokes, cauliflower, brocolii, apples, tomatoes, sunflower seeds, anyother seeds , hemp , pumpkin etc., nuts (pick any), peas, cherries, bananas,
Dinner: same as lunch except I omit seeds, nuts and high carb fruits, i prefer to digest my fats during the day as they seem to take the longest and i dont want to eat fats at night(dinner) as i am not usually doing much after dinner

i will snack all day on green smoothies which i pretty much having going with me all day :)

i would suggest learning some stuff about vegan food combining , so you can eat the above with little or no discomfort to your digestion :)

[Tsurugi_Oni]

Wow... in my last 2 posts I didn't debate any facts, but tried to leave posts with a positive note........my first post was simply my life experiences, and all of a sudden you guys come out and start attacking my personal character and lifestyle. I know this is a Raw Vegan forum. I just offered help on how to go from burgers to lean steaks and deep fried fries to boiled potatoes. You can't just jump from eating no fiber to 50 grams a day, neither can you jump from burning fat for fuel to burning carbs.

The fish oil thing btw. It's just that SAD diets are EXTREMELY defficient in omega-6's (because of grain fed beef), while typical Raw Vegan fair keeps the omega ratios pretty close to what they had been throughout our evolutionary history. Fish oil can boost your omega-3's to help get you to that point where you are not sooo imbalanced anymore. It's not necessary, it's just one of the many paths that SAD'ers can take.

It's all working towards the same goal, we're just in different segments of the same path. There's a time and place for everything, and it's important to honor where you are in life.

Check all my other posts and you will see that I offer nothing but a positive outlook on the motif of this board.


It's pretty jgunn, cuz that's pretty much how my body works too.

[jgunn]

in none of my posts have i attacked your personal character or lifestyle, please go back and re-read what i wrote, if you feel i have attacked you i am sorry that wasnt my intention :)

some people HAVE jumped from a sick sad to 100% and been very successful , so you cant say that it cant be done, just because it didnt work that way for me (I transitioned from 2002 to 2007 before finally going 100%) or it hasnt worked that way for you doesnt mean it cant work for anyone else :)

im not offended because i understand you are trying to help :) please stick around and continue to learn, i agree we are all in different places , with different issues , but lets keep it vegan and on topic !

[Tsurugi_Oni]

Mann I feel bad cuz if the OP reads her thread she might think she's reading the one post.. lol.

One thing that I wouldn't recommend is eating too much fiber when starting a new diet. If your body isn't used to it it can really give you a ton of indigestion, and in my case that one simple thing snowballed into more serious complications.

[LilacLavender]

Drink lots of water if you're going to up your fiber intake...that should help with the bloating and indigestion.

[les]

Since when did I say I was against eaten a RAW diet? I never said that I was against the diet, I'm just all for not narrowing yourself to a limited view.

I never said I ate raw grains, beans, or rice.... I'm just putting the information out there, because I KNOW there have been "RAW" foodists who have done that. It would make me sad to see a newfound rawfoodist become sick just because they thought it was okay to eat this stuff raw.

Most cereal plants and many type of root plants evolved to prevent predation by herbivores. Because wheat (grass seeds) are calorie dense source of food, they are naturally highly sought after by animals. To prevent the seeds from being eaten the plants put some of it's energy to make anti-nutrients (usually protein inhibitors) so that it's offspring aren't eaten. Birds can eat the stuff fine, but most mammals can't raw.

I don't blame raw food for any of my ailments, and I know it wasn't detox. I've eaten healthy my whole life, and done many detoxes and many proper fasts (for martial arts or religious purposes). It wasn't "emotional problems", but constantly shifting physical condition. Many times my throat back sinuses would be so messed up that I couldn't even speak naturally, and it would be stressful. Or whenever I would get really energetic I would also get TERRIBLE headcracking sinus pressure. I know my body very well, and I know the difference between detox and worsening symptoms.

Don't forget, there are Eskimos who eat nearly only meat and are perfectly healthy. I have no "cooked food addiction", and I personally try to eat everything I can raw.

You can think whatever you want, and think whatever negativity you want about me. There's a proper time and place for everything in life, and you gotta really listen to your body when making dramatic changes. I've heard of many people "detoxing" till they're nearly on their deathbed, and I know of plenty of people who quickly saw the light at the end of the tunnel. I advocate the philosophy of doing what works, raw or not. Not doing something just because it's not "RAW", although it betters you, makes no sense. If raw puts you in a land of magical bliss, then I couldn't be happier for you.

So, why are you on this board????? I have no idea who you are, and your pontification of what is right is completely personal, irrevelevant and incongruent with the purpose of this forum.
Like you, I do not need to sugar coat things.