An observation

[Werevegan]

While at the mall today, I couldn't help but notice that 99% of the people in the food court were out of shape, overweight, or plain obese.

Me included.

I watch as people order a bacon cheeseburger, a large order of fries, and a diet coke?

Heaping plates of Chinese food loaded with MSG.

Soft tacos, shells fried in oil, with enough grease to seep through the paper they're wrapped in.

But sit down and eat a plate of fruit and watch people stare at you. :eek:

Actual comments I've received:
"Are you on a diet?"
"Is that all you're going to eat?"
"Are you feeling okay?"
"What, you don't want a "
"Are you a vegetarian or something?"

But nobody seems to notice the connection between whats on their plate and how they look, how they feel, what they're doing to themselves. :confused:

Yes, I'm aware I was once in that place, too.. I am not 100% raw yet so I can definitely sympathize. Yet everyone thinks its normal to be overweight and unhealthy? :confused: Most of the time we're not even aware of how much [i]unnecessary weight we're carrying around, or how unhealthy we are, either.

But when you have a moment of clarity like this, it makes it so much easier to focus on eating raw and living well. It sometimes make me think I'm in some kind of twilight zone where up is down, back is front and front is back, everything is the opposite of what it should be. Its like we're in the Matrix and everyone needs to take the red pill or something.

Has anyone else experienced a moment of clarity like this?

[sweetgoddess]

Yes. I remember last year, when I lived in Washington, my neighbour came over after having a hysterectomy and was talking about all her ailments. At the same time, my mother was on kidney dialysis, my grandmother was in the hospital, my best friend was dealing with severe depression, her husband was about to have surgery for severe shoulder pain, my other grandmother was put into a home for dementia, my other best friend and her husband had just had sinus surgery after years of sinus infections and antibiotic use and their children were always sick...plus she was on anti-depressants, and also my father who had never had an outer health problem in his life died so unexpectedly of a heart attack at 61 that year and my father-in-law dies of one three weeks later in his late 40's.

All this together and it hit me so so so hard. How normal we think it is to just live with all these ailments and pain, feeling like we are powerless and its just a part of life. Just take these pills. Have this surgery.

I hope I can wake up many people during the next part of my lifetime.
Red pill or blue?

Blessings Werevegan, I am glad you are awake! :)

[Jamie]

I have had this moment too many times!!

I feel so sorry for people. They are blinded. SAD diet is a lie that we have all been fed. People just DON'T know that what they eat affects their health.. I never did!!!!!

The thing we have to keep in mind is that we are have been there and still struggle to not go there! We need to be careful not to judge people but inform them in a loving way. And the best way is for others to see us change shape/form/energy levels/out look on life. Our testimony is so important for others to see.

I know someone who has been raw for 2 years now. Before she was a complete SAD eater, WAYYYY over weight. Now she is raw and looks great. BUT, she is judgemental of others in their food choices and the sad thing is that most people I know don't want to talk to her when it comes to raw because they feel judged. She seems to forget how she once was.

So let's take advantage when someone asks us why we are eating the way we do, but let's be careful not to think harshly of SAD eaters.......

Blessings,
Jamie :)

[GlimR]

My Mother is 85. Four years ago she came to visit and I had just finished reading Sugar Blues and was convicted to give up all forms of processed sugar, white flour, etc... At the time she was not doing well, was on a heart med., several for fibrymyalgia, AND on Vioxx...she read the book while she was here and then bought several more. After she went home she threw out all the junk. She has always used a pretty "healthy" SAD diet if that is possible.......not a lot of junk. She did so well she was able to go off all her meds, lost about 12 lbs, all she needed to and is feeling great.
Recently she's been reading a lot about raw food and is incorporating much more raw produce into her diet. I was taling to her today and she said when she goes to a new dr. and they ask her what meds she's on and she says none, they ALWAYS look surprised!! Because the norm for most americans her age is many prescription drugs. It is amazing to me and wonderfful that she has taken such a proactive role in her health.

[Jamie]

GlimR,
That is so wonderful to hear!!!! It is hearing things like this that are such an inspiration to me. Good for your mom listening and good for you sharing with her. Just imagine how she would be today if she had kept eating SAD!

I often feel so guilty because my family (extended and immediate) knows the health benefits from seeing me,, but I"m so on and off that it is not a good testimony to them. I really suffer guilt with my children. I don't want them to see me as weak and not able to stay away from temptation.

[JustMe]

I was taling to her today and she said when she goes to a new dr. and they ask her what meds she's on and she says none, they ALWAYS look surprised!! Because the norm for most americans her age is many prescription drugs.


I am a medical transcriptionist and that is the cold hard truth! I can tell you that about 99.99% of reports that I type for elderly patients they are on as many as 20 different types of meds. It is truly sad. Lots of them are in nursing homes, etc. I am so glad that i have found raw, even though i am not 100%. and God bless alissa for this site because one day i will be able to be 100% and this site has always provided inspiration in one way, shape or form.

I type reports for a hospital and most inpatient reports are people ages 40 and older. and these people have a lot of the SAME illnesses. These are some examples of common ailments in their past medical history: Coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, heart attacks, strokes, asthma, COPD, cholecystecomies, appendectomies, hysterectomies, coronary bypasses, GI bleeds, colon polyps, hemorrhoids, cancer...the list could go on.

[Dawn39]

I'm not 100% but throughout the day I stay as raw as possible. My Mom says this is not healthy, I already feel the changes, I have acne due to detox. They see that as bad. :rolleyes:
My husband is behind me, my kids try to help .
I have a long way to go to correct the crap I've put into my body.
Thanks to groups like this and people like Alissa, and this cyber clan we'll get through this. :D

I honestly think the forbidden fruit was the sugar cane! :p

[Maverick]

It's funny, I have been looking around at people when I am out lately, and you are right about your observations. It's a wake up call for sure.

On a personal note, I am the youngest in my family, and I always said that I would never be like my older brothers (weight wise). Well once I hit my late 20's, the weight started to come on and continued until now. I always use to think most see how fat they are, but I am not so sure now. Well I know I didn't see myself as that over weight in the mirror, but pictures did tell the truth.

Bottom line is, that it is easy to put on, and hard to take off. I just lost 30lbs., and I need to lose more, but an interesting thing is people want to know how I did it. I counted calories, and kept a journal of everything that I ate. Pretty easy really, but my observation has been that everyone who asked wanted a magic bullet, when I told them how easy it was etc., and how I did it, they quickly look discouraged and dropped the topic. :confused:

[cattzeye]

Yes, whenever I go to the "regular" grocery store I am amazed and shocked at the things that people are taking from the shelves and putting in their carts. There are so many "food" products nowadays that the big companies are pushing with their advertising. Back when I was a kid, there were definitely fewer processed foods to choose from. They were there, for sure, but the amount and content of the junk that is available today is astounding. It makes my hair stand on end to even think of putting any of that stuff in my mouth, much less swallowing it!

And everywhere you go, everywhere you look, this processed stuff is being thrown in your face. Luckily, I don't have even the slightest desire to ingest it, so I'm not tempted. But I feel really bad for people who don't know there is anything better, especially children who are being taught that food is manufactured in factories and comes in a box. And just think of all the money that's wasted on such products. There are families out there that are barely holding on financially, and they just don't know that there is a better, cheaper, healthier way of eating.

Wow, I kind of went on the rampage there! But I get so fired up when I think of how so many people just go along with what everyone else is doing, without questioning it, or trying something different. I guess I just feel so wonderful eating the way I do, it breaks my heart that so many others don't feel this way, and have health consequences as a result of their eating.

Christine

[RawTruth]

. . . my observation has been that everyone who asked wanted a magic bullet . . . There is a magic bullet = raw & living foods. No counting calories, fats, carbs, measuring, weighing, no restrictions. Just eat all raw. So very easy!

Sorry! I just couldn't resist :p