Help

[raw?]

I am 30, fat and in Florida.

[Sharon in Colorado]

Hi - Just try it one day at a time. Or one meal if that's easier. Start with breakfast, something very filling, like a giant smoothie or a whole cantaloupe.

Maybe plan your meals for the week if that'll help. If you absolutely can't do it cold carrot, then take a whole month, gradually replacing each meal more and more until you can.

Also sometimes it has to be the right time. Look at your calendar. Make sure you don't have anything going on that will tempt you for at least a week. You need 3-5 days to get a good foundation on it, and it'll get easier, trust me.

Can you find a support group in your area? Or how about a support partner - ask for one here, surely someone else is looking for one as well.

[maraw]

Welcome raw?. You are in the right place for support and encouragement.

When I first went raw, I didn't have Alissa's book and I made it really simple - carrots sticks and guacamole, salads, fruit smoothies, etc. Then her book came and made it all much easier. Are you going for the more gourmet stuff, or the basic recipes? If I may suggest a couple of my favorites: pesto pasta (pg 417), zucchini spaghetti w/marinara (pg 395), mock salmon pate (pg 380), raw veggie stir fry (pg 430), blueberry pie (pg 484) - I preferred this to the blueberry cheesecake), date nut torte - of course (pg 483), the banana ice cream (pg 516), and my personal favorite, the raw ravioli (pg 397). Plus there are many raw recipes on this site and others. Just do a search for "raw food recipes" and there will be many sites with wonderful, simple recipes to try. The key really is to keep it simple. Eat plenty, and have fun with it. There are no rules to break - just go find fresh ripe ingredients and get to playing in the kitchen. Most of the time I am full before the meal even begins because I snack while I am doing all the preparation!

Anyway, glad you are here. I hope some of this helps.

Best wishes,
Anna

[Rawadventures]

Where in Florida do you live?

[maraw]

I can see by your posts you are stuggling with this. OK, take a deep breath and repeat after me: "It's just food, nothing more than that, and I will take control and not let it run my life." There. Wouldn't it be nice if it were that simple? But seriously, what I mentioned in your other post is true - just keep it simple. Focus on the fruits and veggies you like and work around them. You might find after a little time that your taste buds begin to turn more toward the flavors of raw fresh foods. For example, if someone is use to eating a lot of salt, and then suddenly they realized that is not a good thing and they begin to remove it from their diet - everything is going to taste bland and saltless. If you have been eating anything like I use to eat, it is going to take a little time to retrain your taste buds to healthier foods. Trust me, it will happen.

To give you an example, I have always loved hummus (the cooked variety that is). I could literally live on the stuff. It was one of the first things I made when I went raw - sprouted, live hummus - yuk! It was just awful. I was so disappointed. But I kept trying and didn't give up until I got it right.

And if it makes you feel any better, I'm 39, fatter than I want to be, and in Texas :) But to encourage you, I have been, for several years, trying every diet I could locate and pay for, to lose my extra weight (about 50 pounds). Since May, I have lost 31 pounds and I feel better than ever. My cholesterol has dropped and my energy level soared!

Keep trying, and remember, keep it simple.