It's Cold up in Canada!

[rawfoodromance]

Hello everyone!!
I, along with everyone else posting...am NEW! :D
My name is Melissa Raimondi, and I am a soon to be 31 year old (that was odd to type out...I really feel 22) artist/photographer in Canada.
I discovered the raw food movement about 3 years ago, and went full on 100% raw back then and I lasted about 40 days. Not because I felt bad, but I had a trip to Italy planned, and we were staying with my husband's family. They cannot wrap their minds around vegetarianism...let alone the fact that you don't cook your food! Even though I told them I had celiac (which I don't, I just didn't want to eat pasta every meal), they still served me boatloads of pasta! So the short of it was that I had to wean myself off raw food so I could go comfortably without freaking the family out!
When I got back however, it was near impossible to do raw food full on again. I have been struggling for the last 3 years to maintain a 100% raw diet. Most days, I was 60%, some days 20%. I really fell off the wagon, gained some weight and was addicted again to cooked foods.
This November however I had enough. I went fully 100% raw cold turkey (no pun intended). So far so good! I found this forum cuz I had a question about low blood pressure that I am having (that is in another thread).
I have lost 5 lbs since going raw, and my husband did too!!! He is 100% Italian and loves his cheese, sausages and pasta...but he is doing it with me because we always talk about how vibrant I was, and how lean I was LOL.
So yeah!
I'm here now to hang out and chatsies with everyone!
BLESSINGS!!!
xoxox
Melissa

[Moretta]

*Waving* hello to a fellow Canadian. Which part are of Canada are you from?

My husband is too full flesh Italian and he loves all of the stuff you have mentioned in your post. We will be going to Italy next year to spend time with his family and I hopefully will be sticking to my rawness journey while I'm there.

Welcome and good luck on your RAWNESS journey.

[rawfoodromance]

OOO I heart other Canadians!
I am in Edmonton, Alberta! you??
Yeah it is really difficult depending on the family in Italy. We have a house being built in Calabria, so next time we go, we can stay in OUR place, and I can buy and make raw food myself and take it to family dinners. I think they feel offended when I say I can't eat that way. I am not a raw vegan - just a raw foodist, I personally believe that certain raw meats are ok if they are organic and loved. His family makes raw fermented prosciutto and other cured meats... and man.. it's good!! Also, there is a woman in the town that makes raw ricotta cheese (cuz the town is like, all of 300 people, and the government doesn't seem to care)!! So it is totally possible to eat raw and still enjoy some of that amazing Italian culture!
It is definitely easier when you are in charge of the food purchasing! Last time we stayed with family, and they made everything, all cooked...strange, I thought that mediterranians ate so well, but I guess just not his family HAH!
Anyways,
Have a BLAST on your trip!!! A piece of my soul is there, and I am never complete unless I go back :)
xoxox

[Aleesha Sattva]

Hey there Canadian!!! I'm in beautiful supernatural BC!!!

:D:D:D

[rawfoodromance]

Hey BCer!! I love BC!! I'm next door in Alberta...not the best place, but it's still in Canada!
xoxoox
Thanks for the hello!!
Blessings,
Melissa

[Aleesha Sattva]

nothing wrong with alberta... i grew up there. i do love bc more though. it's soooooo green here.

[spicyfull]

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