Doubts, Questions, Concerns

[Dararaw36]

Am I doing too much too soon? Should I try to wait for Alissa's book? I feel like I'm missing important pieces to a large puzzle. I saw a picture of one of your smoothies yesterday and it didn't look anything like the smoothie I made yesterday. Should I just slow down and take things a bit slower? Or just go into this full steam ahead and make mistakes as I go and not worry about them? I know I'm making mistakes. I have to be. You don't just start something new like this with just guidance from a few websites and do things perfectly. Any advice from you all would be mighty helpful right now.

[katchmoleen]

Well, I went 100% raw overnight without any books or anything. Yes you make mistakes, but really, how hard can it be to eat raw fruits and veggies? Go for it! I do not regret it, but then that is how my personality is. All or nothing.

[Dararaw36]

I just see so many posts on here of people with all of these issues and I started wondering if it was better or worse to make a mistake or take some time and study up on what I'm trying to do. I guess this is what I was scared of in the first place. Hadn't actually realized my fear. Just knew I was scared for some reason. Scared of making a mistake. Or making a mistake and confessing it to others. Or making a mistake and just giving up and walking away. Hmmmmm That got my hands shaking. I guess I have a bit to think about.

I'm not giving up though, don't think that. :)

[Dararaw36]

Well, I went 100% raw overnight without any books or anything.
I guess I was concerned about getting enough vitamins, minerals, nutrients etc... You know, a balanced diet.

Wait a minute....

Actually, that's sort of a lie. I've fasted before and I know what a body can handle. I was being ignorant. My apologies.

[katchmoleen]

You will get more vitamins and minerals from eating more raw than you did before, so no worries there. I think your fears are real and need to be dealt with, but no book is going to tell you anything that you need to wait for......awkward sentence, sorry. The point is, just start eating raw, and eat lots of raw, and have fun eating raw, and learn as you go.

[Dararaw36]

I guess I just need a bit of a pep talk. I think it's silly that I'm fearful of something like this. I'm not even sure why exactly. And to tell you the truth, I'm extremely embarrassed that I am. I thought it was just a passing little phase, but it's a real fear. Who would've thunk it.

Well, at least I'm realizing it. I feel so ashamed though. Perhaps this is why no diet has ever worked.

Okay, enough with that. I've got to get passed it and do what I need to do. Thanks for your thoughts and words katchmoleen. :)

[sozei]

My advice would be ..... relax.:p

....don't make it so stressful. Just eat raw food ...it's that simple!

And for your Green Smoothies...how are you making them? Here is what I do:

Put 1 cup water in blender
3-5 cups greens ( kale, spinach, collards etc.)
Blend until no lumps

add 4 tablespoons hemp protein powder
1 tablespoon ground flax seed
3-5 FROZEN banana's

Blend until smooth


I really like the consistency when the banana's are frozen...it's turns out like a milkshake

I hope that helps

[Dararaw36]

Relax, that's what my anxiety pills are supposed to be for. lol I'll try to relax, but that's not something my body does naturally due to how I was raised by my parents. I will try your suggestion on the smoothie. Thanks!!!

[Revvell]

Like KM said, you're overthinking. Eating raw food is not supposed to be difficult. When I started about 14 years ago there was hardly any books and certainly no forums. We made stuff, we ate stuff.

Just as in any food program, the more variety, the more variety of nutrients.

I'd be more concerned about anxiety pills and what they were doing to my liver than I would about eating raw food.

[Dararaw36]

I am concerned about the anxiety pills. They just took me off of two of them and I have two more to go. :D I must be getting better. My OCD must be getting under control. I know that my PTSD is much better. No more jumping and cold sweats so that's really nice. I think my son was worried and glad I went to get checked out. I don't want to go off the medication before I see some changes from eating better though. I don't think that would be good. However, I am hoping that by November, when I go to get my physical, that I can be taken off of most of my medications, that is, if I can stick to this program. Fingers crossed.

[Revvell]

Congratulations on coming this far! Yayyyy you!!!! :)



I am concerned about the anxiety pills. They just took me off of two of them and I have two more to go. :D I must be getting better. My OCD must be getting under control. I know that my PTSD is much better. No more jumping and cold sweats so that's really nice. I think my son was worried and glad I went to get checked out. I don't want to go off the medication before I see some changes from eating better though. I don't think that would be good. However, I am hoping that by November, when I go to get my physical, that I can be taken off of most of my medications, that is, if I can stick to this program. Fingers crossed.

[Dararaw36]

Congratulations on coming this far! Yayyyy you!!!! :)

Thanks Revvell!!! That really means a lot. :)

[cara4art]

Aside from all the other good input here - there's never been a BETTER time to go raw. Just do it! Back way back when, there weren't any discussion boards like this, or other internet resources, or the myriad of wonderful raw recipe books either. Just jump in - it's NOT that hard! Don't be one of these people who exhaustively and in detail "studies the raw food diet" for 10-15 years, but doesn't make a SINGLE itty-bitty move towards going raw, because they want to "know more". At a certain point, you have to make some changes.
Come here every day if you need to, and post what you're eating and how you're feeling about it, and people will give you input and suggestions too. But you can't go wrong if you start doing green smoothies for at least one of your meals to start with. Then you can add in a second all raw meal, if you're starting from an entirely cooked diet, and so forth. Some people do indeed jump to 100% straight from a terrible diet, but often those are ones who have scary health situations and they don't have time to transition, or they're just really enthusiastic from the get-go and they do it. However you transition is up to you, but the more raw you get in as soon as possible the better. Try all different things, as Alissa so wisely says, and eventually you will come to your best balance as you get more tuned-in to your body, as to how much fruit, nuts, etc. to have in your daily diet. Everybody is different!
Like someone else here, I'd be more worried about what those anti-anxiety pills are doing to your liver too. Maybe they served a purpose for awhile, but it's time to move on if you can, IMO.

[trinity082482]

It takes time to tweak a recipe, many of mine have not turned out to look anything like other's recipes and I used the same ingredients and measurements. Do what works for you. If you like the way it tastes, then eat it! .. You already know what's going in it is healthy. Enjoy being raw. I used to worry that I wouldn't know how to make anything but it came quite easily. I would give your self at least 60 days to learn the basics.

[Veganforlife]

Like KM said, you're overthinking. Eating raw food is not supposed to be difficult. When I started about 14 years ago there was hardly any books and certainly no forums. We made stuff, we ate stuff.

Just as in any food program, the more variety, the more variety of nutrients.

I'd be more concerned about anxiety pills and what they were doing to my liver than I would about eating raw food.

Uh-huh! What SHE said...DEFINITELY!

Were you scared of cooking before you learned? Were you scared to pop your first anxiety pill?

What fruits DO you like to eat? Do you like salads? Think of what you like that does not require cooking. Grab it and eat it!

You are creating the "need" (or so you think "the need") for those pills. When you eat Raw, you are creating a safe, serene, healing environment for your mind, body, and soul...

[FrannieGreen]

Hi Dara!
I am new to raw also. I had my doubts and concerns too. I read and read and read as much as I could. I took notes, made lists of foods that contained (proteins, calcium, iron, fats, etc) just to be sure I would be well rounded. I try to mix and match foods, to eat some new combinations each day. I experiment alot. Indulge in wonderful green smoothies, saving for a Vitamix and maybe dehydrator. Collecting recipes.
And last but definately not least...this forum is full of help and support and encouragement.
Today is day 25 100% raw. I was only going to try this for 2 weeks...now I am hooked.
I feel so good.
My best to you Dara,
Frannie
p.s. cara4art has hit the nail on the head.

[Dararaw36]

Uh-huh! What SHE said...DEFINITELY!

Were you scared of cooking before you learned? Were you scared to pop your first anxiety pill?
Actually, yes I was scared to take my first anxiety pill. And my psychiatrist told me that many people with severe anxiety are scared of what they put inside of or on them, especially medications. You really have to know how I was raised to know if I'm telling you the truth about being scared of cooking. That's a whole other story, but it will be some of the background of where my anxiety came from in the first place. Let's say, my upbringing wasn't stress-free and that things were a bit tense.

I do understand you about creating the need for the meds. However, I'm not just going to go off of them right this minute as I know that some of them can cause seizures, strokes and other issues if I do. But I will try to just dive into being raw. I've screwed up today, but I did a fantastic job yesterday. I'm not giving up for today just because I made a mistake, I'm just going to take it from here. Today is payday and shopping after work will be something that I can look forward to.

Thanks Cara, I was thinking about using the next 6 days as a transition period. I might simply call it a transition period and make oct 1 as my real start date, but I know I'm really just throwing days around and I don't need to have a definitive start date. I'm just making a bunch of fuss about a day and I really need to just shut my head up about it. :rolleyes:

Trinity, thanks for your advice about recipes. I will try to remember it when my book comes and I make something and it doesn't turn out the way I think it should. :)

[Dararaw36]

Thank you Frannie!!! I saw you post earlier that you had made it 25 days. I'm so glad you said you were concerned and that you did all that research. I'm glad I'm not the only one who's nervous. I'm definitely going to go for it, but yeah, I'm scared too.

What's your favorite smoothie recipe Frannie? What's your favorite dinner? Just curious.


Hi Dara!
I am new to raw also. I had my doubts and concerns too. I read and read and read as much as I could. I took notes, made lists of foods that contained (proteins, calcium, iron, fats, etc) just to be sure I would be well rounded. I try to mix and match foods, to eat some new combinations each day. I experiment alot. Indulge in wonderful green smoothies, saving for a Vitamix and maybe dehydrator. Collecting recipes.
And last but definately not least...this forum is full of help and support and encouragement.
Today is day 25 100% raw. I was only going to try this for 2 weeks...now I am hooked.
I feel so good.
My best to you Dara,
Frannie
p.s. cara4art has hit the nail on the head.

[FrannieGreen]

My favorite smoothie:
Kale, 1 whole orange, 1 apple, 1 beet, 2 carrots and 1 tbles black strap molasses.

Favorite dinner.
Marinated mushrooms, red pepper, zucini (cut like lasagna noodles), red onion (just a bit), the marinade is made with olive oil, lime juice...sometimes I add cilantro or parsely.
Sometimes fresh garlic. Fresh thyme. Sprinkle with Dulce and nutrional yeast.
You can mix and match this with any veggies you like. Sometimes I add spinach.
I let it marinate overnight. So good. And satisfying.
The first week of raw....I ate a huge bowl....now that I am into almost 4 weeks.
I am satisfied with only 1/3 of what I had before. It is funny, but my body seems to
say stop eating. And I have energy and very alert.
When I was on SAD I could not imagine eating such small portions and being satisfied.
Plus I eat when I am hungry.
I find it very interesting to have stumbled into raw and truly loving it.
Frannie

[FrannieGreen]

p.s. Dara....
drop me a note anytime. We can go through this together.
The buddy system.
Frannie

[zina]

Frannie

I am just entering week 2 and am amzaed also how I can eat smaller portions and feel so satisfied.....I think the first week because of previous "diet" noise in my head I felt that I had to eat lots to make sure I wouldnt feel deprived......I feel that listening or interpreting how your body feels is so important......on SAD I always felt so foggy and perhaps the signals our body sent to us were at that time also foggy.....

Dara......dont worry about amounts or correct sizings or amount or type of nutrients.....You will just end up being confused and having the feelings you are having.....from the beginning I think it is important to just get in the habit of eating fresh raw food as time goes on we will end up tweaking what we eat...getting more healthy as we progress and adjusting as necessary.....

[FrannieGreen]

You are right zina....interpreting what your body tells you. I have to say I was not a believer....but dang...it's true. I am finding that my body tells me when to eat something sweet or savory or salty etc. What amounts also.
You will think this is funny....but I made a list of foods that are high in
protein, calcium, iron, fiber, etc....I wanted to be sure I was getting what I needed.
But you know...it is not working that way....because everything you eat on a raw lifestyle menu is good for you....you can't but help get what you need.
Vitamin B12 would be my only concern right now. I am investigating to make sure
I am getting what I need in the way of B12.

[FrannieGreen]

zina...by the way,
Congrats on your 2 weeks.

[margoss]

I was a little overwhelmed at first but then I relaxed & just ate what I felt like, it's easier now..4 months later. The embarrassment may be from worried about others opinion. They are not in your body, it's your decision to try to help yourself.

[Dararaw36]

I was a little overwhelmed at first but then I relaxed & just ate what I felt like, it's easier now..4 months later. The embarrassment may be from worried about others opinion. They are not in your body, it's your decision to try to help yourself.
I think you might be right about the embarrassment. Sometimes I get all mixed up in my head. Not knowing exactly if what I'm feeling is coming from one place or another. I start trying to justify everything and get sidetracked with that and get thrown off from what I'm actually trying to accomplish, which is trying to heal myself and eat better and lose weight. I can't let my mind get so easily distracted.

It's nice to know that others have been overwhelmed before. Makes me not feel like such a geek. :o Thanks!


p.s. Dara....
drop me a note anytime. We can go through this together.
The buddy system.
Frannie
Sure thing and thanks for sharing your dinner and smoothie faves!!

And Congratulations Zina!!!