How long will it take to just be raw??

[Allisonheck]

I just thought i would ask a few questions to those vets out there. How long did it take to just be raw as opposed to always worrying about food about which craving was coming next??? Also, if anyone weight trains and exercises, did they still build muscle eating raw??

[DebB]

Once I decided to do this, I pretty much went raw overnight and kept on truckin'. *Ü*

[RawKnitster]

I'm not a vet, but at close to 2 years raw, I'm starting to feel like one. I suppose it is different for everybody. If I remember correctly, I experienced the most cravings in the first 6 months, then it settled down, but would pop up unexpectedly now and then. I still have an occasional thought of eating something cooked, but the thoughts are so weak, they are harmless.

This is what worked for me:

Plan ahead. Don't wait until you are hungry.

Don't wait too long between meals. Have a snack 3 hours after a meal, sooner if the meal was all fruit.

Always have something to fall back on. Mine was dried figs and cashews, or dates and almonds. For the first year I NEVER left the house without a bag of dried fruit/nuts and a bottle of water in my purse. Either was able to fill me up and stop cravings.

Try new things. Explore more stores for fruits and vegetables you have not had before.

Finally, when going to parties I always take something to share that I can eat. And most importantly, I always have a special treat waiting for me at home. Knowing I can eat something rawlicious when I get home is the saving grace. Funny but, after successfully avoiding eating SAD food at parties, it is always afterwards on the ride home that I get the urge to stop and get (something unmentionable). It is the old habit of rewarding myself with food that is the strongest bond I still have to break.

Determination is useful, and you have that going for you. :)

[Revvell]

How long did it take to just be raw as opposed to always worrying about food about which craving was coming next???

Immediately. Ummm, I never worried about which craving was coming next. What's the point? I mean, I'm actually laughing out loud at this one. Worry about which craving was coming next? I guess I started so long ago I never even considered one would come up.

RawKnitster said it best.



Also, if anyone weight trains and exercises, did they still build muscle eating raw??Absolutely! AND without the added bulk!

[Allisonheck]

Ok, i guess even dieting the SAD way, i always have tried to bring food with me everywhere i go! Thanks for such support and inspiration! I also wanted to ask everyone if they have experienced gas pain through going raw? I have tried soaking my nuts before eating them, and i had sprouted lentils for lunch, do the beans and lentils cause gas pains?? I had not had them until today, which is the first day eating legumes??? I
I wish i could just BE raw, i dont feel nearly as many cravings as dieting and if i have craved cooked food, it passed quickly. I guess i just wanted to see where people were, if it did eventually become second nature??

[Green_Woman]

Two recommendations:


Read Alissa Cohen's book LIVING ON LIVE FOOD.

Relax, eat RAW, and LIVE.

[Raw.N.It.Out]

Storm Taliferos site:www.thegardendiet.com, <<<avid Bodybuilder
Tim VanOrden’s site: www.runningraw.com
www.veganbodybuilding.com

[Allisonheck]

Two recommendations:


Read Alissa Cohen's book LIVING ON LIVE FOOD.

Relax, eat RAW, and LIVE.


1. Got it!
2. Giving it all i have.....

[Green_Woman]

2. Giving it all i have.....

Givin' it all you have implies struggle. It's only a struggle if you want it to be and if you somehow subconsciously thrive on internal chaos. (I used to!!! And boy, nothing in life was working.... not Raw, not College, not Relationships, NOTHING...)

Release your grip on "struggling".... it's much more pleasant and just plain FUN to be alive when you do!

Allow me to elaborate briefly, then I will retreat into the shadows of exam preparations from whence I came.... I live a double life, you see. Raw Vegan gadabout by day, Opera Singer by night. ;)

Relax... raw is natural for your Body. There will be so many who will argue this, trying to convince you (as they are convinced to their detriment) that raw and living foods will somehow harm you. Ignore them, or just smile and wave as you pass them by. ;) And there will be many in the Raw Foods family who will try to project their own fears and insecurities about life/their diet on you, as well. The "smile and wave" approach works pretty well there, too. ;)

Eat RAW... surround yourself with vibrant beautiful LIVING foods and give into the temptation to eat THEM whensoever it strikes. Eat LOTS of food, eat OFTEN, and ENJOY what you eat! If you don't enjoy something, don't eat it. This is part of how you transition successfully.

Live... life encompasses much more than just your diet. For starters, get off your chair/couch/desk and MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!!! Exercise is NOT a dirty word... it's a life-infused action of self-preservation and motivation. Your Body relies on YOU to get up and move her!!! So do it. :D I don't enjoy sweaty, smelly gyms, so I do Yoga at home every evening. This is a new development! I avoided exercise like the plague until recently.... now, my life is richly enhanced by daily MOVEMENT.

Surround yourself with life-enriching People, Books, Ideas, Music, Activities, Foods, Animals, Sunlight, etc.... what goes in must come out - that applies for your Body, your Mind, your Spirit and everything in-between!

REMEMBER: what you THINK is what you ARE.

It really IS that simple... but don't let that frighten you, because your THOUGHTS are in YOUR HANDS.... change them to reflect who you desire to become/be and what you want to experience/have/give in your Life, and you will attract to you those things, experiences, people, and "things" that create your new Life.

It works. I'm living it. I'm far from alone. This is not "hippy dippy nonsense". This is solid wisdom.


Blessings,

Greenie
aka The Diva

[Tenuho]

not exactly a 'vet'........i dont really like complicated meals so i never make any recipes like raw pizzas or burgers, noodles etc......i just eat simple things as they come, that being said, i drink tea, use regular salad dressing and regular honey, never bother with truly raw nuts or dates and sometimes ill have a chocolate bar.....still ive kept that up for pretty long but you could ask is it truly raw? maybe not lol........

[Allisonheck]

Givin' it all you have implies struggle. It's only a struggle if you want it to be and if you somehow subconsciously thrive on internal chaos. (I used to!!! And boy, nothing in life was working.... not Raw, not College, not Relationships, NOTHING...)

Release your grip on "struggling".... it's much more pleasant and just plain FUN to be alive when you do!

Allow me to elaborate briefly, then I will retreat into the shadows of exam preparations from whence I came.... I live a double life, you see. Raw Vegan gadabout by day, Opera Singer by night. ;)

Relax... raw is natural for your Body. There will be so many who will argue this, trying to convince you (as they are convinced to their detriment) that raw and living foods will somehow harm you. Ignore them, or just smile and wave as you pass them by. ;) And there will be many in the Raw Foods family who will try to project their own fears and insecurities about life/their diet on you, as well. The "smile and wave" approach works pretty well there, too. ;)

Eat RAW... surround yourself with vibrant beautiful LIVING foods and give into the temptation to eat THEM whensoever it strikes. Eat LOTS of food, eat OFTEN, and ENJOY what you eat! If you don't enjoy something, don't eat it. This is part of how you transition successfully.

Live... life encompasses much more than just your diet. For starters, get off your chair/couch/desk and MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!!! Exercise is NOT a dirty word... it's a life-infused action of self-preservation and motivation. Your Body relies on YOU to get up and move her!!! So do it. :D I don't enjoy sweaty, smelly gyms, so I do Yoga at home every evening. This is a new development! I avoided exercise like the plague until recently.... now, my life is richly enhanced by daily MOVEMENT.

Surround yourself with life-enriching People, Books, Ideas, Music, Activities, Foods, Animals, Sunlight, etc.... what goes in must come out - that applies for your Body, your Mind, your Spirit and everything in-between!

REMEMBER: what you THINK is what you ARE.

It really IS that simple... but don't let that frighten you, because your THOUGHTS are in YOUR HANDS.... change them to reflect who you desire to become/be and what you want to experience/have/give in your Life, and you will attract to you those things, experiences, people, and "things" that create your new Life.

It works. I'm living it. I'm far from alone. This is not "hippy dippy nonsense". This is solid wisdom.


Blessings,

Greenie
aka The Diva


Thank you. I will move forward and l really love what i am doing, so just thank you!

[Revvell]

What she says. :)


Givin' it all you have implies struggle. It's only a struggle if you want it to be and if you somehow subconsciously thrive on internal chaos. (I used to!!! And boy, nothing in life was working.... not Raw, not College, not Relationships, NOTHING...)

Release your grip on "struggling".... it's much more pleasant and just plain FUN to be alive when you do!
Greenie
aka The Diva

[mstrish]

wow, great replies that I can use in my own journey.

[Raw Angel Mom]

Make sure you aren't gluten intolerant. Some raw food has gluten

For gas, look into eating your fruit on an empty stomach first and then try to see which food works for you. I cannot do too much nut and i have to be precaustious with them but this is only me. I found some nut are ok.

I cannot mix honey with banana, it gives me gas. So just try to see how your are doing. Since you are starting, you will go through detox etc... This is all normal. Drink a lot of water and eat fiber (food rich in fiber).

Eat as much as you are hungry when you start raw food and let go the attachment of loosing weight for now. Don't worry, you will lose the excess of weight but, it is more important to feel happy in this diet at first. Your mind is the one that will make you go back to your old ways, so please follow Alissa's Phylosopy about freedom.

Congratulations with your raw journey!