Newbie

[galenajen]

Hello everyone!

My name is Jen. I am 37 and live a few hours from Chicago. I am a mother of two teens, and a step mom of two little ones. I am a cancer survivor of two years. I had 52 radiation treatments, 2 radiation implants, and 14 rounds of chemo therepy for cervical cancer. I have had many problems with my colon, intestines, and urinary tract since treatment. I truely believe diet is the most important part of health. I like many others have been swept into the fast, easy, cheap way of eating. I want to make raw eating a way of life, I know all of the benifits I just do not know where to start. I have problems with making menus out, where to shop, how to incorporate this life style into my family ect....

I love healthy foods, so I do not think eating the food will be an issue, but I do have concerns about finding some of the ingredients and keeping them fresh. I live in a smaller community, are most of these foods easy to find? How often should I grocery shop, and how do I properly store foods? I just ordered Alissas book so I am sure many of these questions are answered. I am just wondering were to start. I am also wondering for those married folks how did you get your other half to jump on board? My fiance is a meat and potatoes kind of guy, and he thinks I am crazy! He LOVES red meat, I want us to be a healthy family but I do not know how to convince him. I am also wondering if this way of eating is more expensive, and is there ways of keeping costs down? I do grow veggies in the spring/summer but this is not possible in the winter.

Thanks everyone and I look forward to meeting you all!

[Revvell]

I live in a smaller community, are most of these foods easy to find?

Go to the produce section of any market. There they are! :)


.. how did you get your other half to jump on board?

I didn't. He's grown and old enough to make his own decisions.



I want us to be a healthy family but I do not know how to convince him.

Trust in the process. Let him see the difference in you and that may inspire him.

[rawrawks]

Hmmmm expensive to me is seeing a doctor and polluting my body with medicines, or even fearing sickness. Feeling sick, having no energy, no motivation etc etc..those are expensive.

Food is not expensive to me, it is my priority with my money.

Winter...I have food growing indoors...sprouts and plants in dirt as well.
There are lots of threads here on economizing..Check em out!

[galenajen]

Thank you so much. You are right health care is so expensive, I am a nurse and see it everyday. This economy has hurt, and just looking for ways to save, and still be healthy : )

[DRiz]

Hi Jen - I am a newbie too, having just started raw a little over 2 weeks ago. I'm still feeling overwhelmed, but I spend as much time as I can on this site reading the threads and everyone's suggestions. It has helped so much.

I also have Alissa's book and DVDs, although my second DVD didn't play and I'm not able to watch the part about sprouting. However, the book is awesome and you will learn so much just from reading what she has to say. The recipes are pretty easy to follow and I've enjoyed every single thing I've made so far.

It can be simple or complicated, but the best way is to just jump in and do it. That's what I did and I feel great now.

I'm a cancer survivor too having gone through chemo and radiation treatments for non-Hodgkins lymphoma several years ago. While I am considered essentially cured and am very healthy at this time, it took a long time to recover from that treatment. You're deciding to choose such a healthy lifestyle is certainly going to help you in that process and you have plenty of very knowledgable raw foodists right here who will be glad to assist.

Donna

[galenajen]

Hello Donna,

It is so nice to meet you , especially being a fellow cancer survivor! Hopefully we can compare notes. I am lookinf forward to seeing how changing me diet will improve my lab values and healing. Have you ever seen crazy sexy cancer? I had a chance to meet Kris Carr and it was amazing. She lives by the raw food diet and is VERY inspitational.

[spicyfull]

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