What's your reason?

[Kristi]

What was the major reason that you decided to go raw?
A specific health reason?
Weight?
Environmental?
Spiritual?

I thought this would show people new to raw or contemplating raw, the many wonderful benefits.

I'll go first. I had many health issues and searched and searched for answers. (See http://www.alissacohen.com/process_kristi.html) The health issues led to weight gain which seemed to be a primary focus for me until I realized the true "cause" of the weight gain. I kept saying I felt chemically altered. Well, that was true because of all the chemicals I had put into my body. They did save my life. No one could tell me how to recover from the life saving. About 2 years later is when we got a computer and the web really was first going strong. I researched and research and found raw foods. Now, I didn't delve into it from the beginning but it was always there in the back of my mind. I slowly evolved to the raw foods, very slowly. The weight loss stories always intrigued me but it was truly the many ailments that disappeared and how eating living foods returned them to really living life!

I'm there and improving every day. This is the first year EVER that I have had zero allergy symptoms. Late summer is the worst.....ragweed, corn pollen (remember, I'm in Indiana farm country) and a variety of other things. I'm even allergic to cow dander. Heck of a place for me to live!!!! I'm reducing my antidepressants slowly. I don't need headache meds, constipation meds, sinus or allergy meds. I will need a thyroid med (just revealed and probably the cause of all the depression-10 years misdiagnosed...don't get me started.) I'd much rather take one tiny thyroid pill and eat right than take several antidepressants, antianxiety, anti-allergies, yadda yadda, yadda.

How about you?

[smasty]

Hi Kristi!

My story: I'm a compulsive overeater. A real binge eater (but not bulimic). Sugar would send me into a tailspin so fast that would last for weeks. I have literally sen myself gain 15 pounds in 4 days from binge eating. 20 years of doing this every year wreaked havoc on my body and my relationships. I started this year on a spiritual quest to conquer this problem. I found Overeaters Anonymous, which helped immensely. I went deeper still on the spiritual perspective when I found "Fasting to Freedom." I decided to start w/ an extended juice fast...loading up on huge amounts of junk food the day before. My fast was incredible! I totally loved it. I did 3 weeks of juices only, and felt like I was walking on clouds. Right around that time I was introduced to the concept of raw. Never in my life would I have considered it, but for some reason my mind was open. Everything just seemed to converge at the right time: spiritual healing, the fast, the introduction to raw. I went 100% raw and never looked back. I've effortlessly lost almost 30 pounds. I never have cravings for junk food. I have ZERO allergies too!! Unbelievable!! Really....I am usually in bed with hay fever this time of year. Now, I realize that with my history, I can't afford to mess around. As I say, I'm ONE bad decision away from being the miserable person I used to be. So I just don't allow flexibility in my eating plan. I can't, I can't afford to lose control. I love my life right now! Food used to torture me, food caused constant anxiety in my life. I'm free from all of that now. I never want to go back.

[Rawkinlocs]

Well, we (husband and I) started researching alternative health when he got sick with thyroid disease (hyperthyroidism- overactive thyroid gland). He did end up getting the radiation dye pill treatment which was supposed to have killed his thyroid, resulting in him having to take meds the rest of his life as he would have had the reverse...hyPOthyroidism (underactive thyroid gland) as his mother has.

Well, he took the pill and right before, prayed and asked God to make the pill not KILL the gland, but to simply balance things out. Do you know that's precisely happened?!?

So, we got into learning about colon health, parasites, etc. Diet was also being mentioned, but we weren't ready for that yet. We figured, why not eat what we want and just cleanse it out via colon cleansing herbs and/or colonics!

Glad we learned better as time progressed. I was on a hair-related forum and they also discuss other life issues. They started talking about raw foods and doing a raw food challenge where you eat only raw foods during the week and allow cooked (preferrably healthy) foods on the weekends.

That idea intrigued me. They'd post various raw foods sites and I'd quietly go and check them out. The more I read, the more intrigued I became! I wanted to learn more about this.

Well, I began sharing with my husband and we started making gradual changes. Still not all the way there, but we both have a goal to become 100% raw fooders. I'm a bit closer than he, but he's doing exceptionally well! Still has a "chip-tooth"...chips seem to be his biggest weakness. I'm winning that battle, but grains in the form of cereal seems to be my biggest weakness. In fact, there really isn't anything that I sit and crave but it's just when I see my family members eat things or smell the aroma of certain foods, I then desire them. If I could walk around holding my breath, I'd be fine!

This is one of the reasons I'm here, to take the 30-day challenge (although today, after 2 days of being 100%, I slipped up) so I can kick-start my LIFESTYLE of raw eating.

I also wanted to briefly add that changing our diets and eliminating dairy and meats and having our children eat more raw foods...my youngest daughter (5) no longer has the itchy, scaly patches of eczema on her skin! After all the creams, ointments, oils, herbs, prescriptions, etc...all we had to do was change her diet. Raw is definitely the way to go!!

[Sadii]

My reason is chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and cancer (diagnosed & treated only by a naturopath). I started feeling that if I didn't start to get really well this year, that I wouldn't be here much longer.

One of the chiropractors at work had me do a cleanse and juice fast. When I started back to cooked food, it made me really feel ill. In all fairness, he did tell me to start back to it slowly, but it seems to me that if it was truly healthy, you wouldn't need to do that. After that one cooked meal, I became 100% raw, and that day I ordered Alissa's book, because someone on living-foods recommended it.

I'm still detoxing a lot, (ninth week), and it makes me tired, but I have more energy than I had before, though I use most of the new energy in shopping and cooking. If anyone has ideas to speed the detox and get it over with, I'd like to hear it! I am doing enzymes for candida and digestion. I guess I could eat a lot of mono meals, and I guess I should a lot of the time, but I know that if I tried to do it constantly, I would get bored and maybe go off my wonderful new lifestyle.

I'm hoping to get well enough to have the energy to do things I love, lose weight, and give my eighteen year old daughter (who has not seen the light yet), a better start in life. Also, I'd like to spread the word to others. I see a lot of people at work that need to do this in a bad way.

Thanks to all of you, for being here!
Kathy :)

[marigold]

i had m.e at the time i started reading about raw..it made such sence to m e and i quite simply wanted good health..it promised me the energy i didnt have..at the time i was still stuck in food addictions..a life long battle with food..it was only a bit but enough that i wasnt choosing supportive food. i transitioned to all raw in a few months..with my parner..i did feel great..more energy slept better and no headaches and we both lost weight..i was all raw for a year but the prob was i never grew to like the food much..so now i am eating some basic cooked food and feeling better emotionaly and i suspect i have more energy yet again.but i sitll aim to eat at 90% raw..and really believe in it alot

[Sadii]

Marigold-

Did you have any good cookbooks like Alissa's? I think that makes all the difference in the world about liking the food.

Sadii

[marigold]

oh yeah i had lots of recipe books and yes it did help - thing was i spent so much time trawling through them trying to find something i might like..ate too many recipes i felt..now i put a bit of steamed veg in a green salad and i eat much simply...i have just got alissa's book and i have to say it has inspired me to raw again and i have been making a lot of stuff in there...

[kirk]

The major reason that I desided to go raw: In 1997 I came face to face with my own mortality during an industrial accident where I lost my left arm, right leg, and left knee. I was in the machine for 25 minutes with a femural artery that had been crushed and my arm amputated. I should have bled out but didn't.
After getting out of the hospital I knew I needed to pay special attention to my health so I began to do research on the internet for the perfect diet. Previous nursing experience had taught me not to trust in american medicine or the american diet. I found books by ann wigmore and norman walker that peaked my interest so I bought every book written by them that was available.
Now, at the age of 54 and 30 pounds heavier I am ready to dive into the raw diet (this week in fact).

[smasty]

Wow Kirk. My mouth has been hanging open for 5 minutes after reading your post. First of all, I'm so glad you made it. Second--I'm glad you're here on our board and willing to share your experience. You sound so positive---you can be a real light on this board for people trying to overcome adversity and struggles.

Sue

[kirk]

Thanks Smasty for the kind words. I've posted on quiet a few raw forums but have never felt like I fit in. Not so with this board. Right away you all have made me feel welcome. Thanks so very much for that.
Let me share a little humor with you about my accident. When the ambulance arrived and the paramedics came running up, they saw that they were going to have to crow-bar my body out of the machine-I called out to them "Hey, can you help me out? I'm a little stuck."In the meantime the police had arrived and overheard what I said,(they thought I was high on drugs). When I arrived at the hospital they asked me what happened and I told them that I had a job that cost me an arm and a leg. When the nurses brought me food that needed to be cut up, I would say,"Could ya help me out? I'm a little short handed." The doctors all tried to make me see a shrink because they couldn't understand why I wasn't going through post-trumatic depression. I told them that I didn't need someone to tell me to think happy thoughts.
The glass has always been half full for me. Life is very precious and worth the living. I look forward to meeting other raw fooders here as they are few and far between where I live. Thanks again...kirk

[Kristi]

Wow Kirk! That is an amazing attitude for during and right after the accident. What an inspiration you are! I wish more people had that attitude ! My situation is similar but on a much less extreme way. I have no hair. I've worn a wig since 4 years old. I've always tried to have a positive attitude regarding it......I figure the other options just will make me miserable and still won't get me any hair. I say things like "I never have a bad hair day....unless I can't find it." "I'll never go gray!" "if I ride in the convertible I'll just put my hair in the glove box." I've never let it keep me from doing anything!

I admire your strength and attitude! Way to go Kirk!

[kirk]

Kristi you made me smile :) . I like your attitude to.

[Sadii]

Thanks for sharing that, you two. My daughter and I both suffer from CFS, and I've always tried to teach her to think that way. I feel good that we're all sharing, and like we're forming good friendships.

Thanks!
Kathy

[Kristi]

What's CFS? I'm sure I know it but don't recognize it as the acronym.

[kirk]

Kristi,
I think CFS is Chronic Fatigue Syndrom..........Kirk

[Sadii]

Thanks, Kirk. That's right. CFS is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I think it should more properly be called the "Your body is rotting from the inside out and you need enzymes syndrome", but I guess that would gross people out. You think?

Kathy

[kirk]

Hi Sadii,

Are you familiar with Norman W. Walker? One of the books he wrote is Fresh Vegetable and Fruit Juices. I was just thumbing through it and found this:

Fatigue:
An indication that the cells of the body are not getting sufficient live atoms in the food to furnish the constant flow of energy needed. Fatigue is one of the precursors of disease. The cumulative effect is the destruction of tissue cells and the consequent accumulation of waste in the body; if not removed, this will be scavenged by germs and bacteria. Rest, sleep, cleansing of the colon, and plenty of juices have been found to be the best method to overcome fatigue.

Here are the three juice recipes for fatigue that he recommends:

1. Carrot 16 oz.
2. Carrot 10 oz., Spinach 6 oz. Mixed
3. Carrot 10 oz., Beet 3 oz., Cucumber 3 oz. Mixed

[Sadii]

Kirk:

Thank you so much! I have heard of Norman Walker, but have not consistently juiced. I do have an old Champion. I guess they last forever. Do you suppose that those juices would be okay for a person with yeast problems?

That description soundsl like me.I knew eriously wrong, and that my body was literally dying, but my family told me I was a hypochondriac or that I had problems with depression. That's the only thing that ever depressed me! I never give up, fortunately. I will try those - if they cause yeast problems in sensitive folks, I'll probably be able to tell.

As for resting - well on weekends, I do. During the week, my part-time job gets sort of full-time intense, lately, and it's an hour away. Probably not what the doctor ordered, and next month I'm going to try an investing experiment. I may live to regret it, but maybe not. If it works, I'm going to give notice at work. I love working with and for people, but I'd like to be gone from home less. Also, I'm trying to get my daughter started on this diet, too, so that her CFS will improve and I can get her through college.

A question for you: Do you have a Vitamixer? If you do, you may have the best of both worlds. Instead of having to dehydrate things like lasagna, you could just vitamix it until warm, like you do with the soups in Alissa's book. e-mail me or post here if you need suggestions.

Kathy(Sadii) :)

[Kristi]

I love my vitamix! I choked when I heard the price but then after blowing up 2 mixers for over $150 I thought it sounded like a good deal. My friend has had hers for years. My husband about strangled me when he found out the price. I took it on vacation and it saved my life. We rent an island in the St. Lawrence Seaway~~no were not filthy rich, although I'm working on that :p because about 20 people stay on it. It saved me during vacation. He didn't want me to take it on vacation but I said, "too bad" and convinced him when I said we could use it as a boat motor if ours failed :rolleyes: . I got to take it. The family made fun of me until I started making smoothies for everyone! Get's 'em everytime!!!

[smasty]

Hi guys! Great awesome posts here! I'm going to learn a ton from the people here, this is so cool!

I love juicing, but I've gotten away from it in the last few weeks. I'm going to do a lot more juicing soon. I've been so busy I've been reaching for convenience foods...nuts, dried fruit, raweos. I forgot that juice IS the ultimate convenience food, and so much healthier!

I took my juicer on vacation! Just like you with your Vitamix Kristi...I wouldn't leave home without it, and thank goodness! It saved me, too.

[Kristi]

I need to do more juicing. For some reason it just seems harder than other things although when I do it, it isn't any harder. You guys gave me all this wonderful ideas for greens and I haven't gotten around to trying even one! Busy week, kids are in school now and yesterday I just vegged out!

My doctors always suggested CFS but seemed to rule it out. I hope this helps you both!

[kirk]

Hi Sadii,

I do know that the carrots we get now-a-days are very sweet. They are all hybridized or genetically altered. You may want to look into growing your own. If you do decide to do that, here is a place to get heirloom (non-hybrid) seeds.

http://www.rareseeds.com/catlisting.php?dbswitch=&cat=11

Good luck with your investment. I got burned in the stock market. Lost 400 thousand and decided it wasn’t for me.

The greatest testimony for your daughter to witness would be how raw foods transforms your health!

No, I don’t have a vitamixer but I have the next best thing to it, a K-Tec Blender. For the past 7 years I’ve been slowly transforming my kitchen to support a raw foods lifestyle. I have 2 juicers, a wheat grass juicer, several sizes of food processors, an Excalibur dehydrator, equipment for growing wheat grass, buckwheat, sunflower greens, and sprouts, and a spiral slicer.

Oh, and before I forget, here is another site that I found that may be of interest to you. It isn’t as personal and comfortable as Alissa’s site but it has tons of information on it.

http://www.curezone.com/forums/default.asp

Kirk

[NWgal]

Hello all..

This is my first post. Thought this was a good place to start. :)
My reason.. F.M/C.F.S. I am ready emotionaly to do this.
I happend to find this site and was so happy! I ordered the book and DVD today and hope to start this the second week of sept.

[thunderdancer]

Hi Nwgal!

Congratulations :D

I just wanted to share with you - i've started taking some systemic enzymes you see, and when I 1st researched into them it said how they are really good for F.M/C.F.S - the enzymes basically eat up the fibroid stuff (sorry, not very scientific I know lol), i'm not taking them for this but seeing as that's thier main function I thought I should let you know, in case you were interested.

Love

[Kristi]

Welcome NWgal!

You will not be disappointed with the book or CD. You will hear and read about many people eliminating FM/CFS. Please feel free to ask any of us for help, ideas, etc. That's why we are all here!!

[NWgal]

Thanks so much for that info! After reading your post I looked further into the enzyms and just placed my order :).

[NWgal]

Hello and thanks you Kristi!

Your post are most uplifting! I'm so glad to of found this place!

[Gosia]

I simply hated the way I looked and felt!
I thought I will try this freaky diet (I always like trying new freaky things) and after two weeks I was amazed with the transformation. So, I stayed.

[smasty]

Gosia....how true!!! THIS FREAKY DIET! and hear I am counting down my 2nd 100 days now, hoping (expecting) to never go off.

I'm glad you're here, I enjoy your posts!

[Gosia]

I am glad I am here too. I just couldn't resist the challenge! :))

Regards,
Gosia.

[monkeyboy]

Hi Everyone,

Yes, I too started raw because I wanted to feel better. I wasn't ill , but I knew I had more energy inside me. I basically concluded that what you eat affects the way you feel. Not rocket science, but it still took some thought.

Once I started to see some articles in the mainstream press that got me thinking. I have a culinary background so trying new types of cuisine is an adventure. This is an adventure I really enjoy. I don't see myself falling off the wagon. It's my lifestyle now, not just a diet. I hate that word diet.


Peace My Super Freaks,
M.B.

[thunderdancer]

NWgal - great about the enzymes, I woke up with a stomachache in the night and took some and it worked!! Let us know how it goes for you? Did you read the stuff about activation dose?

Sue - I keep meaning to say..

CONGRATULATIONS ON 200 DAYS!!!!!!!!! :D:D:D

MB - love the way you write super freaky super freak! I'm definitely monkey girl on account of all the bananas I eat normally ;) hey and I climb trees too!
Don't stop monkeying.

Love

[Rawkinlocs]

I am doing this as a preventative. I've been fortunate enough to not suffer any major illnesses and I don't have weight issues.

But I watched my husband suffer with sickness...I watch my family members and close friends end up with everything from diabetes to high blood pressure to cancer and more. Being a black woman and having been raised on the BAD (Black American Diet) of "soul food" and lots of fried food... once I got wind of this way of eating to lessen my chances of getting such illnesses, I had to investigate more and try it out for myself and for my children.

They're not all raw (I'm not either YET but mostly) but I educate them all the time and share what I learn with them. I could force it on them, but I'd rather allow them to make (some) choices for themselves, but get the reinforcement so when they get older and start feeling the effects of their eating habits then they'll think back to what Mom told them and they'll make the right decision (hopefully).

But yeah, I know there ARE some bodily issues that could be better with me, but I don't/didn't have any real health or weight challenges. Maybe that's in part why I am so in and out with this. But I definitely don't want to play with fate and end up with something for my being laxed in my eating habits!

I really want to buckle down and live this lifestyle to the fullest so I can be an example and a testimony to those around me and hopefully help them to realize it's what they need to get well and stay healthy.

[mwjeepster]

Hi all, I'm doing this because I WANT WHAT YOU HAVE!!!! :p I am SO jealous! Ok, I'm a confirmed compulsive overeater addicted to sugar and caffeine. I have tried EVERYTHING as many of you have... I have no energy, I never really "feel good" and my food is out of control. Did I mention I'm 215lbs? :eek: - I go between this and 220. I have visited lots of web sites and the pictures are unbelievable - if you can do it, I can do it. Only one problem - I'm afraid to give up caffeine - I posted this in another thread - I've had a severe migraine from trying it in the past and I am petrified of getting another one... any advice would be deeply appreciated.

With the exception of the coffee, I am eatting 100% raw. I don't think I have seen such amazing transformations in others as I have with this way of eating... I too did low carb and could NEVER get any real success (I also no longer have a gall bladder due to my food abuse).

So many thanks to all of you for your wonderful examples - I pray that I too will be an inspiration to others with my new found body and new levels of energy.

love to all,
Melissa
(mwjeepster)

[Sadii]

Hey Kirk,

Thanks for the sites and advice. I didn't see until today because my daughter and I went on a three day juice fast (green). We were pretty tired until the third day, so I didn't even go near the computer, which is a pretty strange thing for me, I'm usually glued to it. I think I've seen curezone, but not really gotten into it very far, yet. I'll have to go and look around.

For now, I'm just cutting out all fruits, grains, and honey, but I thought a fast would jump start the anti-candida phase of the raw diet. Too bad I couldn't go longer than three days, hee, hee. Willpower is great until those yeastie beasties get really hungry, but I bet a few corked, at least.

This next spring, if I can find a job close to home, I will have a large garden in my regular size yard. The dogs don't need that much grass, right? (I have three, two pound puppies, and a rescued rottweiler.) :D

Love to all,
Kathy

[kirk]

Hey Sadii,

Your welcome. When I found the curezone site I was amazed at the amount of info that can be found there. I have another site that you may want to look at that may just help with the candida problem. As I understand it, candida takes over when the internal conditions are out of balance. I haven't tried the product they offer yet because they require that a person be on a raw diet for a while before taking it. It is called Oxypowder and they claim that it thouroughly cleans you out from the small intestine down. I plan on doing it shortly along with a good probiotic to get a good overgrowth of beneficial bacteria. Here is the website:

http://www.oxypowder.com/

:) I could plant a water garden in the holes that my two rottweilers and my mastiff have dug in my yard.

Kirk

[Sadii]

Hey Kirk;

Aah, dogs. Mine brought in a dead bird for me today. Wasn't that a lovely thing to find?! You gotta love 'em though, right? My daughter and I do, anyway.

You have to check out colon-blow's website! (Sorry, can't remember the exact address, but it's easy to find.) I tried it, and actually, I think Oxy powder sounds like a better product, but I still really like the other website. Read the testimonials - they're great.

Again, thanks for the info. Really, thanks to all of you. I don't always have the time to do the research that I'd like, with working an hour away from home, and having limited energy. Anytime any of you discuss low energy or candida, I learn something, or I'm reminded that I'm not doing something that I should be.

Enjoy your warm Texas weather! We seem to be headed for an early high desert winter. Sometimes it's still in the nineties this time of year, but right now it's only in the sixties. Yuck! Shouldn't complain, though. Could live on the coast of FL and be evaced, like A., right?

Kathy

[kirk]

Hi Sadii,

Speaking of dogs, my wife has a Loisianna Hog dog, her name is Meg but we call her Nutmeg because she's insane. I have to fight with her every night just to get in bed.

Thanks for the website, I'll look into it. I am convinced that a healthy colon will go a long way toward allieviating many ailments.

I'm not looking forward to the S.E. Texas winter. It's a very damp cold. Tried to get my wife to move to Hawaii with me but she wouldn't hear of it.

kirk

[Dane]

To be free of the addiction to cooked foods so i can heal myself and achieve optimal health!

Dane

[sararaw]

Because im sick and tired of being sick and tired and i know there has to be a better way to feel.
sararaw

[Rawism]

I wanted to cure, not control, my eczema. I started searching the internet and came across Alissa Cohen's website.
I was intrigued by the concept. Never had I heard of this, but there was people claiming to have lost weight and cured their eczema just by eating a raw food lifestyle.
This was a no brainer to me. I immediately purchased books on the subject (I love books!!) and within a month I was 100% raw.
My family has been my biggest support. They understand my battle with eczema. But my friends think I have fell of my rocker. I actually thought the reaction would be reverse.
Nonetheless, I have cured my eczema and lost 17lbs within my first month alone. They can't deny facts. Apparently, I am doing something right....

[Jay]

You are PlatinumDST!

Welcome to this board!!
You'll love it here, no question about that!

Joke (my name, in case you haven't read it on another post)

[Rawmommie]

My journey(s) have always started b/c of my weight. I'm tall, so I hold it well, but I've been overweight my whole life. I did Atkins for 3 years with some success, but the last year and a half my CFS and fibromyalgia started getting worse, my face kept getting worse and worse and I couldn't lose anymore weight. It was creeping up and I found myself at 210. I stopped doing Atkins and just tried to *live life joyfully and eat well* but I couldn't figure out what *well* was!

I saw in another forum someone mention RAW and I started looking around. Within a day or so I found Shazzie's journal. I started reading it and the next day went raw. I read her whole journal (4 years) over the next few days and searched the web for everything I could find.

I immediately felt better. It was so easy, felt so right, and I noticed that my reasoning had changed for wanted to eat right. It wasn't just about the weight anymore. I wanted to FEEL good. I wanted to be joyful with my family and love every moment of my life. RAW gives me that.

I'm only 12 days raw, and have been 95% the whole time (can't seem to find a replacement for ranch dressing!) :rolleyes:

I have lost 11 pounds and I'm excited, but it's not everything to me anymore. I feel like I have found something that's going to make me live my life to the fullest and be the healthiest person I can be. The weight will follow as I get healthier. :)

Karen

[tglasco4]

My top 5 reasons for the journey then would be:

1) Closer spiritual connection to God
2) Power over appetite
3) More energy
4) Higher level of fitness
5) Have a really tight looking body


Great thread! or should I say ANOTHER great thread!

Peace.

[glad_2beme]

My 1st reason was to find the real me again, to get out of this pain I experience (emotionally and physically)....it has many benefits along the way also. I am beginning a journey in expanding my education to holistic healing, what an awesome journey that has been laid out....the benefits are to be pain free, weight loss, a new career (my husband and I owned a computer/website company), friends (you guys), I know I am on the right track!!! Thank you all for the wonderful inspiration you provide here. I am thankful to be a part of this family.

[kinsamanee]

My father was in and out of hospitals for as long as I can remember. An amazing man, but an emotional eater, and I followed in his footsteps. He developed diabetes when I was a teenager. We constantly got into fights as I would find his hiding spots for snacks and sweets and throw the all away. Triple bypass surgery, bypass surgery, heart attack, stroke, coma, insulin, anger, pain, tears, numbing myself with food. There were all things I was all too familiar with by the time I was a teenager. On my moms side, breast cancer, among other cancers run like water. She is from the Philippines and Im convinced it is the pollution and toxins and i suppose the diet as well that is a part of life there. She is a very mentally, spiritually and physically healthy person...minus one breast and uterus. In my perspective, I think my Dad basically abused his body to death. He went in the hospital at age 70 and died there two months later. His colon was so weak it continued to break, and every time the doctors tried to suture a spot..the spot next to it would break. There were no options, he body was in too poor of a condition for surgery. Shortly after that, I became a personal trainer. I had finally learned the things that could have saved him. So with every client I tried to teach, that the options are yours.....to treat your body well...or to have surgery and bleak future which will hurt not only yourself...but the people who love you the most, and that pain is immeasurable. Its a simple preventative medicine.
BUT....I got burnt out. Yes, it is about the physical at times, but that is not why I went into the business, and that is why most people came to me. I burnt myself out. Also, I became too active for my own liking. My life turned into a cycle of working out hard, racing bikes, marathons..etc...and then eating hard and sleeping hard. Everything was intense..there was no balance. I decided to follow my dream of living in Japan.
Now here, I have turned 30 and dont work out nearly as much as I once did, but was eating the same. For me..eating was always stuffing myself, ive never known how to do otherwise. And ive learned without that intense athletic lifestyle, yes, the weight piles on. But I want balance. So now, I can go a day without working out. Through raw food, Im learning how to live and enjoy not having that stuffed feeling. Im learning how to let my mind relax as well. Im more open to things, to people...experiences. For me, raw food is a part of a whole lifestyle change. Balance. Happiness. Appreciating the details of life. Being in tune with my body. In tune with the energy and people around me. Being aware and in the moment, instead of numbing my emotions.
I went raw for about 3 months before the summer and felt great. Slipped and am starting again. It is an emotional experience again. Somehow letting go of the cooked food...I become so in touch with what I am truly feeling. And sometimes there is pain and sadness...that I have to acknowledge...instead of numbing.
So, now for me, it has been 4 days. And yes, I feel great!! like a portal has opened up in my world!
I hope this doesnt sound to strange or preachy...but its what I really feel and I think this forum is great...and a great place to express these things. So good luck...and congrats to all of you who have seen this new opportunity in life!!!

[vegbaby]

For me it was a combination of health, weight and out-of-control-with-food issues, as some of you stated above. I enumerated all my ailments in some detail in a recent entry to my 30-day challenge diary plus inlcuded the improvements I've noticed, which have been many!

One thing I didn't include in that list was my thyroid condition. Like Rawkinlocs husband, I suffered from hyperthyroid, and being 16 years old and having no say-so about my healthcare, went through radiation therapy to "burn it out." That was in the 80's. About 10 years later I discovered I was hyPOthyroid as a result and went on Synthroid and had been on the exact same dosage for 9 years. After 3 months raw, I was able to cut it in half! Amazing.

As I've gone through all these changes, it has become a spiritual journal for me, a search to find out what God wants for me in my life as far as health and physical well-being. It's been an eye-opening and beautiful experience!

[VeganWannaBe]

Where do I begin?
As for many others, I am definitely an emotional eater & an obsessive overeater at that ... or should I say "was" ...I also gain weight extremely fast.
I've posted before that up until about 5 or 6 years ago, I was 100% vegan and following the principles laid out in the "Fit For Life" book by Harvery & Marilyn Diamond. During this time I gave birth to my 4th child and w/o effort went back to my pre-pregnancy weight of 108. Things were great for me then ... I had tons of energy, was never sick, & had a charisma for life that I'd never had before!
I want that back!!! I have let myself go to the tune of a 45 - 50 pound weight gain, constant migraines, and laziness beyond belief. All of this stemming from "supposed" concern for my well-being, from people (my mother & uncle & a very close friend) who thought I was looking too "green & gaunt" and "protein deficient"... I should have known better than to take what they said to heart b/c none of them are less than 70 pounds overweight! My hubby, bless his heart, has stood by me through the emotional roller coaster that I have been on since "taking their words to heart" and experimenting with various "fad" diets of their recommending .. everything from Atkins to Weight Watchers. All of which focused on "protein, protein, protein" ...
I have simply had enough & I want to reclaim my birthright of health & well-being! I will do whatever it takes to get back to where I was 6 long years ago. The choices I have made (everything from diet pills, laxatives, & protein powders) have only made matters worse. Though I must say, those aforementioned family members are much more accepting of me now. It's all so wrong. Now they aren't pushing the protein issue, but trying to give me advice on how to lose weight.
I believe that getting back to the basics is the only way to take back my health once & for all ... I have to do this! I have a wonderful husband & four beautiful children that I want to see grow & flourish with me along side them! I don't want to be the one on the sidelines anymore.
Each raw day, I feel stronger in my own convictions & less tormented mentally by "others" opinions, etc. I'm on the quest to reclaim my health no matter who or what!
The basics: weight loss, renewed vitality, energy, mental clarity, closer to God, & an overall wellness of being :)

[Curtis]

Glad you joined us here VeganWannaBe!
We are here for you to encourage you along the way. :)

[VeganWannaBe]

Thank you Curtis (again :))
So far, you all have more than exceeded my expectations! It's obvious to me how sincere the members of this forum truely are.
Much love ~

[dstar]

My mom had a hysterectomy this year and I saw the pain that she was going through, including the horrendous doses of radiation that she had to endure. I felt that there had to be a different natural way to help matters. I was also an emotional eater and tended to focus on sweets in my daily meal plan and I was afraid that I would have to deal with diabetes because of my sweet tooth. Well, all of this soul searching and research led to raw food sites and I was thrilled to see people's results!!! I was slipping in and out of the raw food diet and a big part of that was like Rawkinlocs said....I have never had a problem with my weight even though my eating habits were junk driven so that is why I feel that it is easier for me to slip. But I have been on 100% raw foods for four days now and I am on my way. My mom has decided to stop her radiation therapy prematurely, she only had one more week left and I completely support her. The only problem is that she has to take a blood thinner because she has thrombosis of the portal vein so eating anything with Vitamin K in it is bad for her, plus the radiation has caused havoc on her digestive system and anything with a lot of fiber just passes right through her and makes her stomach upset. So I am not exactly sure what to tell her to do. I know that if we take baby steps, time will be able to provide us with answers. All in all, we have a heathier mindset when it comes to food and we realize that what we eat has a big influence over the way our body and mind functions.
I was also on a proton pump inhibitor and I wanted to wean myself off of that because I don't want to have to take anything for my digestion for the rest of my life. I have started eating raw and am taking enzymes and acidophilus to help me along!
All the best,
dstar

[Dharma Bum]

In in the late 80's, I followed the eating program from the book, "Fit for Life", by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond. Today, I dusted it off for a more recent read. Would love to hear of your (and anyone else's) experiences from putting the practices of the Diamond's book in to their everyday lives. Thanks in advance, -- D -- Abilene, TX

PS: I found this site today while doing a Google search on this book and the authors. Veganwannabe 's post popped up!

[CAdreamer]

My husbands cancer prompted us to go raw last Spring...and we love it !

[runrunrunner]

my inner guidance told me so.

i'm completely new at the raw thing, but i have a wonderful feeling about it.

i've been getting a lot of signs lately to take care of myself more...and i figured it was time to pay attention. in the back of my mind i always thought about my health and feared getting sick, but never did anything about it. lately, my inner guidance has been screaming rather than whispering - and i needed that. i needed to change my eating choices and i'm glad i'm starting to do that!

here's to a healthy and happy future!

[lissomllama]

I have gone raw because I want to stay young as long as possible. I want a young mind, young body and young spirit forever if possible. I want to be as healthy as possible and partake of nature gently the way we were meant to and help the planet by giving back as well and I want to spread joy by feeling so good all the time on raw. I want to always stay slim and have soft porcelain skin and long supple hair and I don't want any toxins or degenerative diseases anywhere near me. I want to just be able to eat happily and never have to count calories or fat grams or look at ingredients or feel guilty that what I'm eating is bad in some way. I've had too many eating disorders in my life so far and I don't want that in my life anymore. This is also a preventative measure. I don't want to go raw because I've got a disease, I want to be raw so I never get the disease in the first place.It's all about purity, beauty and love with me.

[dreamrawalwz]

I have gone raw to help recover from my anorexia and bulimia mainly. I have also wanted the many health benefits that it creates. Raw will protect my health as well as keep me looking young (though i'm 19 and still look 12-14 depending on who you ask). Food allergies are avoidable since I'm not eating those cooked foods. I have more energy and my skin/hair/nails are so much stronger and better. I feel more confident and my severe depression is dissappearing. I see food now as nutrition, not something bad.

[learningrawways]

I have gone raw because I want to stay young as long as possible. I want a young mind, young body and young spirit forever if possible. I want to be as healthy as possible and partake of nature gently the way we were meant to and help the planet by giving back as well and I want to spread joy by feeling so good all the time on raw. I want to always stay slim and have soft porcelain skin and long supple hair and I don't want any toxins or degenerative diseases anywhere near me. I want to just be able to eat happily and never have to count calories or fat grams or look at ingredients or feel guilty that what I'm eating is bad in some way.

:) :D :p

Love what you posted Lissomllama, I feel the same way. I am soon to be 53 and still feel like I'm in my 20s. I don't want an aging old body though I know we have to get older. And I don't want my brain to age either, I want to be sharp until I die. But what brought me to raw--my heart attack. My left anterior desending artery was fully clogged. After my heart attack, I read Kevin Trudeau's book Natural Cures and that started it all off lol. I was curious about the acid/alkaline states he mentioned in his book and started researching online. I found 2 books in a bookstore at the same time--Robert & Shelly Young's book ''The pH Miracle'' & Brigitte Mars ''RawSome!''. I started looking up links from the books and eventually found this forum. This is one of the greatest forums, I started reading here and started to actually see that I could do this. I am not 100 % raw but I sure do eat a lot of raw, most days it's at supper time where I feel like I need something more filling and also that's when my craving for sugar gets to me. And even though I'm not totally raw, I have now lost about 10 lbs. I used to get what I think are sinus headaches though my sister keeps telling me they are migraine--but I think they're sinus. I'd get them every 3 or 4 weeks and if I was real stressed out every 2 weeks. I went 2 months without one and then when I did get one it was mild. Also, something I'm curious about--would eating raw get rid of floaters?

[learningrawways]

Oops Lissomllama, I copied and pasted your words and thought it would look like others I've seen, it looks like I wrote those words. Sorry!

[moonstone523]

I heard my friend Misty*Mountain talk about raw foods on another forum we are on and my vegan boyfriend talk about his dabble at this life style. And, well, as I've been a solid vegetarian for about 1.5 years, I thought why not try out raw. I just want to feel great... Or better than I already do!

I figured why not start here in Thailand where I have the most amazing fruits and veggies in the world. I can pick leaves you would never imagine eating in my yard. Of course, it is going to be hard to turn down Thais for rice. They will think I have gone absolutely nuts. I haven't actually told them what I am doing. They think I am on a "diet," and sometimes I have to tell white lies just because language barriers are hard and they just don't understand some of my thinking. Atleast there are pleny of thai vegans, so that wasn't weird.

I guess its an added benefit to lose weight. *If* I lost 10-15 lbs I would be happy. But I'm happy now, so that would be an extra suprise to this whole journey!

Peace and light! :cool:

[veggie]

I started RAW due to food allergies, digestive problems, chronic fatigue, bone loss, and other problems associated with being underweight. I initially heard of the RAW food diet after much research and being directed to the Hallelujah Diet. The health minister that I got in touch with on the HDiet had a son with food allergies also, who was healed through RAW. So, I gave it a shot!
I feel 100 times better!