new to raw food talk and looking for some support! :)

[mayerama]

hey guys! so my name's maya and i'm 18 years old. i although i am new to this website, i am not new to the concept of raw. i was eating almost entirely raw last winter and this past spring and was feeling absolutely great! but come summer, my eating habits were all over the place, and i was not remaining consistently raw. since early june, i have been phasing in an out of eating raw. this fall, i just started college, and although there are a lot of vegetarian and vegan options, there aren't a lot of good options when trying to stay raw, so it has been hard to get back into eating raw. i am really hoping to go back to being 100% raw because i just feel so much better and so much more free than when i eat addicting SAD food.

i am also hoping to lose between 15-20 pounds because i am not exactly happy with the weight i am at now. i have always had issues with my body and self-esteem, and i am hoping that if i can stay raw for an extended amount of time and make this more of a lifestyle than a "diet", i can overcome some of these issues.

for the past week, i have been really trying to remain raw while at college. since the dining hall here doesn't have an excellent array of fruits and vegetables, i have stocked up on apples, carrots, bananas, and other raw snacks. for meals, i try to eat a big plate of salad with as many veggies as possible and with some seeds on top.

my biggest issue is the social side of eating here. i slipped up this weekend because all of my friends were going out to eat at a diner. i didn't want to be left alone at the dorm so i agreed to go, which ended in me eating pancakes and some of my friend's french fries :rolleyes: which i feel really guilty about!!!

i'm sorry to be soo long winded, but i really want to make raw work for me this time! i had such great results the last time i was able to remain raw, and i was wondering if any of you had similar issues/experiences, and if so, if you had any advice for staying raw in this environment! thanks!

[spicyfull]

I wish you everything you need to Stay RAW..........Welcome to MY World.

[Shine]

Hi there! As I am starting Alissa's 30 Day Challenge tomorrow, I re-read her book last night so some things are fresh in my mind....

If you can get the book - you absolutley should!!

She said about eating out to read the whole menu and start asking the server questions - if you look you'll find things that probably start raw, just ask to have them served that way. (She has a lot more info to and some specifics....so worth it)

As far as the caf.....look around. Mine had a great salad bar but in the deli area there were dirrerent veggies offered. you might be able to make some little things youself - like humus (I had a mini processor in school) and bring it with you at meal times for veggies or wraps.

Is there a local HFS in the area? Go ask people there if they know of some raw fooders or put up a notice for a pot luck on campus....

When in doubt, talk it up - you might be able to get some friends on board with you the more you talk about raw and share positive info. The more people, the better the chances of staying raw in your environment and mayve even making some changes on campus.

Wishing you the best!

[freshlight]

Hey Maya, lovely to meet you :) Don't worry, nearly all of us went through some probs at the beginning. Remember that if you want to make it work, you CAN. Have fun and enjoy the benefits of raw

[Nikkan18]

Hi and welcome to the raw world. I am 20 so i know whats its like about the whole college thing, if i go to a place with friends i usually order just a salad with all uncooked things, and if there is anyway that you can have any fresh made dressing (i say olive oil salt and lemon juice) i know it seems like a lot and may b a bit humiliating becasue everyone would look at you weird but with this way you wont regret anything you eat :). my friends know how i eat now becasue i told them and now they dont look at mea all weird:) dont wrry too much just look up recipes that you can make easily make and can enjoy. trust me i did and it worked for me and it was even better when ppl always commented on how i changed let that be ur motivation!

[katchmoleen]

Hi, there, my 18yo daughter is also raw. If she wants to stay raw in college, I plan to buy her a good blender/food processor combo, and the 4 tray Excalibur dehydrator. That way she can make some tasty raw snacks to supplement the endless salads available to her at the cafeteria. She has time to think about it as she won't go till next fall. She managed to stay raw this fall all through volleyball season and the travelling she did with the team, but she had me to fix stuff for her! :D That won't be the case in college. I admire anyone who can stay raw on college dorm food! :eek:

[Nikkan18]

hey yea i also agree with you
I was thinking that you may invest in a dehydrator 2 make some recipes i bought mine for 105 bucks(free shipping on ebay) and it is very good its 4 trays, i have an ice cream maker 2 tho not necessary but its def for those days i crave icecreaammm!

[mayerama]

thank you all so much for the advice! the suggestions are really helpful!

Luckily, there is a hfs about 10 minutes from my campus, so i have been able to get some things there. At the moment, i don't have money to invest in a blender/ food processor, or a dehydrator, and i tried to convince my mom to let me bring the vitamix we have at home, but she was obviously set against me taking it from her! :p the holidays are coming up, so maybe i will ask for some appliances then??

katchmoleen, that's great that your daughter is raw! what do her friends think of it? my friends were skeptical of the fact that i was vegetarian, let alone being raw!

nikkan, it's good to hear from someone in a similar situation! thank you for the advice when it comes to eating out! i will be sure to do this in the future!

thank you for the encouragement freshlight! i really want to be raw, and i know that i can do this if i really set my mind to it! i really do appreciate everyone's input! thanks!:)

[Veganforlife]

Oh yeah! You can so do this! And how cool to start out so young! You will definitely notice how much easier your school work will become. For real! Ask for Alissa's book and DVDs first...you will really learn so much from them!
Have fun!

[valerieD12474]

Hey I have never gone raw before Im really new to the concept. I started college this semester healthy then over the past few months the weight started creaping up. Its because of the college food. In our cafateria there is little to no raw foods. There are vegan cooked choices like steamed veggies but none raw and the salads all have chicken or tuna. its so hard but im trying my best to do raw. but every few nights i slip up and eat one of those damn chicken salads! Good luck I hope we both can make it through college life and commit to raw!

[bananarama]

Definitely talk with friends about it, but be careful not to be pushy. That's the best way to get people opposed to the diet. I know this from personal experience.

[Nihil Scimus]

Hey, just wanted to say you're not alone. It's hard enough to go to a raw diet with plenty of time to make your own food... I'm 22, and this time last year I went on a totally raw diet to help a health problem. Go figure, it worked-- but now I'm back to a 50:50 or so thing. I've decided that thanksgiving is my cutoff for going back.

My problem is that I work full-time with an hour commute and go to school full-time with a 45 min commute. Since I started this schedule I have no more time to make yummy raw crackers, salad dressings, or whatever else looks good. But I have to pay my bills, and I want my degree... so I'll make it somehow :)

I know how to stay on raw foods; it's just hard. In the end it's all up to you; anytime you eat you are CHOOSING what you eat, no excuses. It all comes down to staying in control of your food choices. I can eat for free at the cafeteria of the hospital I work at; but I had to make the choice to only bring my own food to avoid eating the over processed junk that surrounded me. I don't even eat in the cafeteria with my coworkers anymore because it was to hard for me not to eat the food... I usually go with quick, easy stuff: soaked nuts and seeds, a giant salad, a bag of munchable veggies, and a piece of fruit can keep me going a long way. I also avoid eating out with friends... If I do go out with them, I eat beforehand. Yeah they think it's a little strange... but they all know me and like me as I am. See if you have a local juice bar you can invite them to!

Just as a word of encouragement, if you do make it 100% raw I've found that it is nearly impossible to keep on any extra pounds.

Anybody have any easy, high-protein, raw suggestions? My job is physically demanding, and I crave protein like crazy when I get home. I try to be careful with consuming complete proteins, but that's going to be hard without brown rice.

[VeGenesis]

Hey Maya, it is not about your age or college... believe me at over 50 and going raw can be just as hard... maybe worse with friends you have had for a couple decades!

Here is two tips...

1) I told my friends I was changing my lifestyle to eat raw fruits and veggies only and I asked them for their help in this because it was for my health. Real friends will not only help you - they will try to prevent you from slipping up - even the meat eaters!

2) At first you could not find me without a tomato or two in my pocket! I choose a tomato because, frankly, how often do you see someone pull out a tomato and chomp into it? It made a statement!

Meat eaters may chomp an apple or pare. "Dieters" will chomp a carrot... but when is the last time you saw someone chomp a tomato?

Well the day came when a half dozen of my friends invited me to a place where there was no raw food and guess what? They all reached in their pocket and pulled out... A Tomato! I had a plate of tomatoes thanks to my meat eating friends (who by the way, think I am kinda crazy!).

On a different time we all met at the beach for a beach party. I went to the rest room and when I got back my friends were all sitting on one picknik table with their legs crossed. Just as I arrived, they all reached in their pocket, pulled out a tomato and chomped into it. We all laughed so hard when, like them, I reached in my pocket, took out a tomato and chomped into it! Great fun and great laughs! These are ALL meat eaters! Friends love you because you are you Maya!

By the way one of my friends told me he had never bitten into a tomato before than day and he really liked it. At other times he was also known to have a tomato in his pocket because he liked it!

My wife has some research on her website that smart people usually choose a plant based diet Maya - so that would include you!

[Revvell]

My job is physically demanding, and I crave protein like crazy when I get home.

How do you know it's protein you're craving? Have you tried green smoothies? Correctly made and enough of 'em, they'll supply you with all the nutrients you'll need.

[Nihil Scimus]

How do you know it's protein you're craving? Have you tried green smoothies? Correctly made and enough of 'em, they'll supply you with all the nutrients you'll need.

I have tried green smoothies, but usually in the morning through the afternoon. I may try them later in the day to see if it helps, I know they do have some amount of veggie protein. Thanks for the idea!

I know it's protein because I listen to my body; after work I crave nuts, seeds, nut butters, chicken, fish, edamame, cheese, yogurt, ect. Almost any other time i have a food craving it's for chocolate or sweets. :D Also the hurting muscles mean they need raw materials to rebuild, right?

[Revvell]

I know it's protein because I listen to my body; after work I crave nuts, seeds, nut butters, chicken, fish, edamame, cheese, yogurt, ect. Almost any other time i have a food craving it's for chocolate or sweets. :D Also the hurting muscles mean they need raw materials to rebuild, right?

That's no proof of needing protein. You could be needing any number of other nutrients those foods contain. People just get so hung up on "The Protein Myth" as it's called they can't see beyond it to the other nutrients our bodies may be calling for. Nuts, seeds, nut butters, chicken fish, cheese, all contain fat. Edamame? *shrugs* who knows? Yet, as I said, they ALL contain other nutrients than amino acids.

Also, cravings often happen for other reasons ~ the foods we want often are what we're use to; their could be habits or emotional eating patterns behind cravings as well. We want what we know. If you're receiving the nutrients your body needs during the day, it wont be "craving" these foods unless there are other reasons for the cravings.

[Nihil Scimus]

That's no proof of needing protein. You could be needing any number of other nutrients those foods contain. People just get so hung up on "The Protein Myth" as it's called they can't see beyond it to the other nutrients our bodies may be calling for. Nuts, seeds, nut butters, chicken fish, cheese, all contain fat. Edamame? *shrugs* who knows? Yet, as I said, they ALL contain other nutrients than amino acids.

Also, cravings often happen for other reasons ~ the foods we want often are what we're use to; their could be habits or emotional eating patterns behind cravings as well. We want what we know. If you're receiving the nutrients your body needs during the day, it wont be "craving" these foods unless there are other reasons for the cravings.

Fair enough, although I do find it interesting that all the foods I crave at this point in the day have one thing in common... They are my current main sources of protein. Chicken has very little fat, and chicken is what I really want the most; but I try to strictly limit (or eliminate) meat consumption so I turn to vegetarian and plant-based, albeit fat-loaded, protein sources. Also, I didn't start having these cravings until I started this job. And it just seems to reason that after walking 7-10 miles a day pulling around loaded carts, taking the stairs 6-8 times round trip, and working a 12hr shift my body *might* need some raw materials as I still haven't hit an equilibrium point. I'm pretty small, but I've gained some serious muscles in the past 6 months!

I do, however, think you're on to something suggesting that I switch to mass greens. I've been consuming maybe 1-3 ounces/day, but that's not always consistent. I'll give it a try and I bet it helps me make the switch!!! Gracias;)

[Nihil Scimus]

Just remember that everyone's body and dietary needs are unique. Different foods do different things to different people, and we have different nutritional needs based on different lifestyles and genes. Trust me, I'm not an Adkin's diet proponent; but I do know what amino acids do and realize they do play an important role in the body.

Equally important in my own search for... healthyness... has been the slow implementation of a low-to moderate-glycemic index diet. This leads to higher consumption of fats, but fats can be healthy! Especially if you need quick energy! Come to find out, more than a moderate to small amount of raw fruits can adversely effect me; and I think that phasing out a lot of them is what got me off the habit of making green drinks. Flavoring with lemon or vinegar only is alright, even good--just not the first thing I think of to make to eat.

Green smoothies all the way? :D

[Revvell]

Just remember that everyone's body and dietary needs are unique. Different foods do different things to different people, and we have different nutritional needs based on different lifestyles and genes. Trust me, I'm not an Adkin's diet proponent; but I do know what amino acids do and realize they do play an important role in the body.

Nobody is saying differently yet, you seem to be fighting to continue eating meat. Understand this ~ dead animal carcasses have to be broken down into the amino acids to make them available for your body which is why so many are tired after eating meat. Plant amino acids are immediately available.


And it just seems to reason that after walking 7-10 miles a day pulling around loaded carts, taking the stairs 6-8 times round trip, and working a 12hr shift my body *might* need some raw materials as I still haven't hit an equilibrium point.

That's what you're (programmed) mind is telling you but go to YouTube and check out Zenkahuna and his group. All high raw vegans.

There will always be a time of transition if one goes from an animal based or SAD diet to a plant-based one. Is what it is.

[VeGenesis]

I know it's protein because I listen to my body; after work I crave nuts, seeds, nut butters, chicken, fish, edamame, cheese, yogurt, ect. Almost any other time i have a food craving it's for chocolate or sweets. :D Also the hurting muscles mean they need raw materials to rebuild, right?

Wow Nihil - you reminded me of how I used to crave all those things too. That was really part of my journey that I hated so much. For me the solution was eating more greens. Really a LOT of greens and more than one kind a day. I figured out that the DARK green leafy veggies had protein, Vit A and Omega-3 fat builders and minerals - the building blocks found in Dark Green Leafy Veggies. I remember well how my muscles felt, and how my doctor told me I needed to eat some meat for the protein and fats.

I read some post on this site that you should eat a pound of greens a day for the average American guy, I figured I was eating between 50-100grams only! So I added more and more... I reached a level of 500grams a day - half a kilo! What an amazing difference that made. I see why so many talk about GREEN smoothies. You will hear a lot of people talk about how they could live on green smoothies! Half a kilo of greens in smoothies is a bunch for sure - I put 250grams in two different smoothies during the day. But within a week I felt so much stronger, muscle pain vanished and my cravings were just at a level I could say was a memory of eating SAD.

What really convinced me was the next time I saw my doctor. He took one look at me from across the room and said, "Wow Lan, you look great. I'm glad you are eating some meat again." When I told him I was still no meat and no cooked food, he said, "Whatever you are doing, keep it up because it is working!"

I started getting so much stronger that my wife bought me a weight lifting machine (gym) for our spare bedroom and eating 1/2 kilo greens a day has allowed me to double my lifting strength!

[Nihil Scimus]

Nobody is saying differently yet, you seem to be fighting to continue eating meat.


What's funny is that meat is not something I have had issue controlling myself with. I always used to tell my friends that I'm not a vegan, I just eat like one. Sorry if I came off as defensive; I just felt like I came under attack for looking for a good amino acid source... I realize now this confusion may have been due to my own careless vocabulary in referring to the building blocks of protein as protein. Silly me! The whole point is that I KNOW that my norms are not cutting it... I'm looking for something better (like kale!).

Thanks for the tips VeGenesis!