Back to raw....again...

[nfracer]

I wanted to start a thread for "veterans" who may have stepped away for awhile back to the S.A.D. world and are now ready to re-commit to raw again....

I am first in line to tell my story!

I was 100% raw for about 3 years from August '05-fall '08....and then....
temptation....peer pressure...laziness and boredom with "raw food".....cut corners,,,,craved cooked,,,,ate cooked....felt horrible-ate raw---cycle repeats....
and here I am!

What's your story?
I am ready to go 100 % again!!!!

I have gained 20 pounds and feeling yucky.....I started 100% on October 18th...the first 2 days were yucky...and now the fog is lifting and I can see things are looking up!!!!

I would love to hear your story and how you have found your way back to raw!!!;)

[nfracer]

I neglected to mention that I (while raw) was more vibrant and energetic! I am a full time special education teacher, mother of 5, and marathon runner/endurance athlete....I was in my prime on raw but succumbed to the negative talk and "peer pressure" to believe "raw food wasn't enough"...so I gradually went back to adding "MORE PROTEIN" thinking it would help my performance.....the main problem was I got I guess I would say "lazy" by eating the same things over and over and not varying my raw diet....so I DO think I developed deficiencies-but probably the coffee or sandwich deficiency wasn't true right? :) I would say for the last year I have see-sawed back and forth between raw and cooked....the pendulum never went one way for long and I think my body just gave up and started feeling it. I have been lethargic now for months blaming it on everything but my diet. I WAS running 50-70 miles a week easily and whipping off long runs every week end. Now, I am dragging myself through my workouts and my day....although today is day 4 back to raw and I am on the upswing.....I am commited to this until "the new year" and hopefully by then I will be "back on track" and making informed decisions about my health...

I would like someone to post that has been able to maintain a raw lifestyle at 100% for over 3 years....How are you able to keep the momentum? any backsliding? I think it will help me to know I am not the only one to come crawling back to raw with my tail down after thinking "I was fine" without it....
;)Have a blessed day all!

[EZ rider]

I have slipped too. I have been raw since Aug 1, 07 and have had two major slips from all raw to high raw. All raw isn't 100% for me as I supplement vitamins B12 and D. At the moment of slip my thoughts have been the same each time - boredom. I felt like I wanted something else. The interesting thing is that I have found that there isn't something else that works for me and its whats puts me back on the all raw path each time. I have learned to watch out for same o same o in my raw diet as thats when I feel like I hit a wall and want something else but the something else (cooked food) just dosn't measure up. Both times that I have slipped I moved back into cooked foods at a increasing rate until I realize that I just don't want the cooked food and start moving back to raw until I am back on track again. Both times this moving out and moving back has taken about 6 weeks. The weird part of this is that during the 6 weeks I have felt like I'm caught between a rock and a hard place because I don't want cooked but I want more variety in my raw diet. I'm very pleased that raw wins hands down each time and that the way I feel on raw as opposed to the way I feel on cooked is such a positive contrast. I know I will always be raw but I need to watch out for too much same o same o.

[Aleesha Sattva]

I know you aren't asking for my opinion cause I haven't gone from raw but for me... when I feel the same o same o... I fast. I find that doing even a short fast restarts my interest in a simple tomato or mango.

Not saying this would work for everyone but I know ez is a faster as well... so perhaps it'll work for him?

[EZ rider]

Not saying this would work for everyone but I know ez is a faster as well... so perhaps it'll work for him?
Thanks Aleesha, I'll try that if I hit the same...o same...o wall again. :)

[Blazin'Jane]

Welcome back, nfracer. You'll feel better in no time, and love your running, your whole life, actually, more! :)

[nfracer]

So nice to see familiar faces from the "olden days" and new ones as well. I am feeling better already....and I bet after myscheduled colonic next week I'll be rip roaring and really back on track!
Thanks for the fasting idea---I can mono eat say apples to re-focus but fasting is really hard for me with the busy active lifestyle I lead...I have done it, but now is not a good time with the marathon 24 days away....For now I am just re-reading Alissa's book for RE-inspiration and getting back to the basics. Actually I am enjoying everything so far----mmmmm, the onion bread.....way better than the cooked version that sticks to your ribs, and every other internal body part!

I am getting lots of energy back which is perfect timing for the training I need to bump up...My staff at school thinks "OH NO! SHE HAS MOOOOORE ENERGY?" Look out!
:)
p.s. I hope everyone keeps writing in their daily progress and struggles so we can all (OK, ME) keep focused!
Have a blessed day!

[RawHeaven]

Nfracer congratulations on where you are. Where you are is exactly where you're supposed to be. :)

I'm here too and I'm grateful. :D

I was 100% raw yesterday and so far today as well.

That's the plan I've adopted.

One day at a time.

One blessed raw day at a time.

Much peace!

[SuziS]

I am trying to get back on track as well. The last 6 months have been rough for me. My biggest thing is my food budget. I really need to surround myself with raw snacks to keep me from cheating. It is hard because I have 2 boys that are growing and eating constantly. Most of the grocery budget goes to them. I eat my salads and fruit, which I love, but sometimes want snacks later and I end up eating something non raw just to fill up. I really need to come up with some snacks that I can make that don't cost much. Like flax crackers and stuff like that!
I think it is neat though that my body always wants to come back to raw because it make me feel so good!

[nfracer]

Today is day 6 at 100% and I am doing great! I am training for the San Antonio Marathon and was able to whip off 20 miles on my treadmill today! Yes-20! I am feeling better every day and cannot think of any changes other than RAW RAW RAW!!! Thanks for the support everyone!

How are YOU doing?

Anyone familiar with the San Antonio, TX area? That's where the marathon is and I am hoping to find all the raw essentials while there!!!

[nfracer]

I am trying to get back on track as well. The last 6 months have been rough for me. My biggest thing is my food budget. I really need to surround myself with raw snacks to keep me from cheating. It is hard because I have 2 boys that are growing and eating constantly. Most of the grocery budget goes to them. I eat my salads and fruit, which I love, but sometimes want snacks later and I end up eating something non raw just to fill up. I really need to come up with some snacks that I can make that don't cost much. Like flax crackers and stuff like that!
I think it is neat though that my body always wants to come back to raw because it make me feel so good!

Do you juice? Because I learned to be very "frugal" that way using pulp for flax crackers, etc...also, buying overripe bananas when they are marked down I peel and freeze for (cheap) banana ice cream....and there are lots of other frugal ways to save $$$$ I have 5 kids myself so I know EXACTLY what you mean about temptation and cost.....Good luck!

[SuziS]

I haven't been juicing lately. I actually prefers smoothies because it is quicker and easier. I know there are some threads here about eating raw without spending a fortune so I am going to go try to dig those up! Thanks!
Good luck on your marathon. I ran a couple marathons about 10 years ago! I love running!

[nfracer]

O.K. with a week of 100% under my belt I feel like I am back on track again! I have been Miss chef in the kitchen whipping up so many raw treats and dishes to eat, store even freeze...I feel I can "relax" about it now and "just be raw"....I probably overate a bit too much on the heavy stuff this past weekend but I think I NEEEEEDED to do that to "sell myself" on it again---now I feel I can eat raw instinctively like I did "once upon a time".....like today-I actually have no desire to eat----and when I do I think simple is best. I had samples of EVERYTHING this week end from what I made and feel full still!!! The funny thing is it's not that "sick" cooked overstuffed yucky feeling like ya just got run over by a freight train (you know what I mean!)...I just feel "full"....that's all....

Hope you have a great day!:D