TheNewLucilleBall
04-27-2010, 12:50 AM
I decided to go raw after reading a book about how to end your addiction to raw food. I never planned on going raw so quickly, although it was already my epitome of a healthful diet. I gave up gluten at the end of last November, another feat I never thought I would achieve, and have been going through constant detox since. The decision to go raw came to me immediately after finishing the book, walking downstairs to the kitchen only to find my roommate pulling a fresh chocolate dutch-baby from the oven, proceeding to ask me if I wanted just a small slice or a whole quarter. Needless to say I was stumped. It was a moment when I realized that a very small decision such as eating even a bite of this dutch baby would determine my ability to go raw for, probably, a very long time. If I was excited now, what would it take to say yes to raw food later? I quickly came to the conclusion that there is NO CONVENIENT TIME to give up ANY lifestyle choice you're used to, let alone cooked food!
So, I told him I'd have a smell :p
"A smell?!" he reacted. Yep.
Since then I have built a select group of friends to tell that I am raw, so when I am having a craving I can let out the urge by saying it instead of keeping it ALL inside. I have chosen not to tell most of my coworkers (I work at a Jewish deli) because I'm certain, after having given up gluten and witnessed their reaction to just THAT, that they would not approve of the decision, and harass me for it. I've managed to get through 24 days of them asking me if I wanted various food items, and every time I've told them no, without giving them a reason to pick a bone, and believe me, it's been tough. I even had to get through the food vocabulary section in Spanish class...at least most of what we learned were las frutas y las verduras!
I've had a relatively smooth near-month with a few rough patches. My biggest challenge so far is having a good idea of how much of the various ingredients I should keep around on average, and constantly keeping a stock of sprouted and dehydrated nuts and seeds so they're ready on-hand. Another difficulty is finding dinner-like recipes that are satisfying, relatively easy, don't require extravagant ingredients, and don't take 2 days to make.
I'm happy I've made it this far, as I thought I might never do. Honestly, I'm scared s***less that if I eat cooked food again I'll get sick and not have the willpower to ever go back to raw food. I suppose any positive life-choice is a constant uphill decision, but ALWAYS worth it ;)
So, I told him I'd have a smell :p
"A smell?!" he reacted. Yep.
Since then I have built a select group of friends to tell that I am raw, so when I am having a craving I can let out the urge by saying it instead of keeping it ALL inside. I have chosen not to tell most of my coworkers (I work at a Jewish deli) because I'm certain, after having given up gluten and witnessed their reaction to just THAT, that they would not approve of the decision, and harass me for it. I've managed to get through 24 days of them asking me if I wanted various food items, and every time I've told them no, without giving them a reason to pick a bone, and believe me, it's been tough. I even had to get through the food vocabulary section in Spanish class...at least most of what we learned were las frutas y las verduras!
I've had a relatively smooth near-month with a few rough patches. My biggest challenge so far is having a good idea of how much of the various ingredients I should keep around on average, and constantly keeping a stock of sprouted and dehydrated nuts and seeds so they're ready on-hand. Another difficulty is finding dinner-like recipes that are satisfying, relatively easy, don't require extravagant ingredients, and don't take 2 days to make.
I'm happy I've made it this far, as I thought I might never do. Honestly, I'm scared s***less that if I eat cooked food again I'll get sick and not have the willpower to ever go back to raw food. I suppose any positive life-choice is a constant uphill decision, but ALWAYS worth it ;)