Haven't Started and Already Discouraged

[RighteousYogini]

Hi Everyone!
I was so excited to get started on the transition to raw, but am feeling really discouraged. I hope someone here can boost my spirits with some positive response. Basically, I've heard that people with chronic headaches and stiff joints, and back pain have benefitted tremendously from a Raw Vegan diet. I have all of these things. Right now Im nearly going broke paying for my chiropractor . . . and all of these freaking "toys" (at $200-800 a pop) she says I need to help my back. I've always felt compelled to go raw, since Im a vegetarian of about 18 yeras and ready to take the next step. It just makes sense. Eat living foods, get live energy! But when I look at the stuff I need to buy, its SO EXPENSIVE. I left the grocery store with next to nothing and it cost over $100. Can someone who makes a modest living DO THIS? I live in a cold climate, so I can just yank fruit of the tree in my backyard. Does it still make sense? Im seeking some reassurance and motivation.

Thank you!!!!:o

[Aleesha Sattva]

welcome! and... raw food doesn't have to cost you a lot of money. you can eat simply. i'm not sure what you bought with your $100... but in my life... that would have been a whole lotta food!!!

i buy many items by the case from my local market. they order it in for me at a discount. that way, i save money.

all the best on your journey! grab a copy of alissa's first book (http://www.alissacohen.com/store/alissas-books-and-dvds/) and let her inspire you. it's a great book!!!

[RighteousYogini]

Thanks for your response, Aleesha. Right now the only thing that grows locally here is SNOW. With $100, I bought hemp seed oil ($30 alone) organic fruits and vegetables and nuts, Braggs raw vinegar. It easily added up. I have Alissa's book already. some of the recipes made me sick actually because they were so rich!! (cashew sauce is VERY pricey to make as well).

[Revvell]

What doesn't make sense is spending money on chiropractors when you can do everything yourself. (I worked with 5 of them over the course of 10 years or so ... one was thrilled that after seeing one guy for 5 years, his vertebrae moved a half inch. :rolleyes: With the right movements, he could have done that in a few weeks. Ridiculous!)

If you look through the posts using the search here, you'll see how others have been able to afford what they've wanted (wanting and needing are not the same thing. You don't NEED any equipment to eat raw other than a good knife and cutting board.)

What you may need to help your back (since you've not been here to see me, can't say for sure) are some good movements... you say "yogini"... so, yoga perhaps? There are so many kinds, pretty sure something should help. Also, heated baths with epsom salts and essential oils; blanket rolls, etc.

Stiff joints? Very often not enough greens and/or movement. Are you taking supplements? Like calcium? That'll cause joint stiffness.

Headaches ... very often from drinking or eating anything with aspartame; and/or digestive issues. If the latter, might try enzymes along with probiotics and enemas or a series of (try 3) colonics.

The money you STOP paying a chiro and their "toys"... you can circulate on what you REALLY need.

~ Revvell ~ (http://www.bodaciousliving.com/)

[RighteousYogini]

Revvel. Thank you SO Much! This is the kinda of response I am need of. Intuitively I feel that this can be the answer for me. But Im just so desperate to try anything. This chiropractor has helped me alot in 3 weeks . . . but now she wants me to start buying all of this frigin stuff... I already spent $500 on a chair!! And it's $100 just to see her. I teach yoga for a living and am discouraged that it feels like you have to be rich to be healthy and feel good. Im presently taking (at her suggestions) fish oil pills and high-quality Glucosamine. Those alone are another $80 a month. I take energy pills and energy drinks because Im so lethargic during the day, and my digestion is AWEFUL. I never go to the washroom. so you sound DEAD ON with your suggestions. I just did a 3-day workshop on Backbends and twists and I feel PHENOMENAL! some movements aggravate, but this workshop was a real eye opener. Even the chiro did'nt have to make the adjustments to my back that she normally. So the next thing she wants me to buy is a frigin $800 wobble chair!!! what the hell!! And of course she has a big long reason why this is going to bring nutrients to my spine and hyrdate it, stop the discs from deteriorating etc etc. Im just so tired of the pain, when someone offers a solution, I jump for it. I started drinkign tonnes of water and cutting out caffeien and I think that's the BEST advice shes given me so far. Im thinking about investing in a good long winter coat and committing to a daily walk, as that seems to help. Any other suggestions you can offer I would be so greatful to hear from you: barrhavenyoga@gmail.com
I'd save $400 plus a month if I didn't have to go to the chiro anymore.

[Namaste13]

Do you practice yoga? I see in your name Yogini? I'm a yoga teacher specializing in back problems. Stick with the raw plan and get yourself into more restorative back yoga classes. Believe me that is why I became a yoga teacher was due to my back injuries! The raw plan is just a gift! I would move away from chiro and move towards acupuncture as well! Keep us posted.

[RighteousYogini]

Revvel. Thank you SO Much! This is the kinda of response I am need of. Intuitively I feel that this can be the answer for me. But Im just so desperate to try anything. This chiropractor has helped me alot in 3 weeks . . . but now she wants me to start buying all of this frigin stuff... I already spent $500 on a chair!! And it's $100 just to see her. I teach yoga for a living and am discouraged that it feels like you have to be rich to be healthy and feel good. Im presently taking (at her suggestions) fish oil pills and high-quality Glucosamine. Those alone are another $80 a month. I take energy pills and energy drinks because Im so lethargic during the day, and my digestion is AWEFUL. I never go to the washroom. so you sound DEAD ON with your suggestions. I just did a 3-day workshop on Backbends and twists and I feel PHENOMENAL! some movements aggravate, but this workshop was a real eye opener. Even the chiro did'nt have to make the adjustments to my back that she normally. So the next thing she wants me to buy is a frigin $800 wobble chair!!! what the hell!! And of course she has a big long reason why this is going to bring nutrients to my spine and hyrdate it, stop the discs from deteriorating etc etc. Im just so tired of the pain, when someone offers a solution, I jump for it. I started drinkign tonnes of water and cutting out caffeien and I think that's the BEST advice shes given me so far. Im thinking about investing in a good long winter coat and committing to a daily walk, as that seems to help. Any other suggestions you can offer I would be so greatful to hear from you: barrhavenyoga@gmail.com
I'd save $400 plus a month if I didn't have to go to the chiro anymore.

[RighteousYogini]

thanks Namaste!!!!!! Can you tell me a bit about your own experiences??? I was just saying I practiced a full weekend workshop of twists and backbends and I've never felt better. I'd rather put $200 toward a good winter coat and get outside for a brisk walk (Revvel mentioned movement...I totally need some more of that). ihave a daily yoga practice but I found that with really finding my edge in backbends and twists, I haven't felt this great in a LONG time. It isn't just small maintenance for me, I have to really challenge myself in my practice, i think. And in between, restorative. Absolutely. That's a challenge for me. Can you tell me what changes you experienced in back pain going raw? She tells me no amount of stretching etc is going to fix the fact that these vertebrae are out of line.... but she really lost my trust when she started introducing the $800 gadgets

[Revvell]

I'm going to respond here because 1) it may help others and 2) you're not paying me for private consultation.

So first of all you DON'T have to go to a chiropractor! Let me say this again ~ you DON'T have to go to a chiropractor!

Instead of a "wobble chair" ~ whatever that is, get you one of those BIG fitness balls! Sit on that! I think they come with instructions of what movement you can do on them yet, you can sit at your desk on them also... and go to YouTube and look for vids. The ball is what? $25? Vids are FREE saving you $775 plus tax, yes?

The reason chiros are now selling stuff like that is, insurance doesn't pay them like they used to... at least here in Ca. At one time, insurance would pay for massage and various other things. Now, they have a limit on how much they'll pay for each patient therefore, chiros have to sell other things to maintain their practices.

You definitely don't have to be rich to be healthy. Often the rich are not healthy. There's an old story back in Ireland where the rich would have their servants make them potatoes. Of course, they had to have them peeled. The servants would take the peels home because they had very little money to buy fresh food.

The rich became sick with all kinds of diseases and the poor remained healthy because they ate the part of the potato that contained the most nutrients.

Did you have the headaches before giving up the coffee? If not, that may be the cause and they shall pass.

Yes, winter coat, walking, yoga, stretching... all good!

Enjoy!

[Revvell]

She tells me no amount of stretching etc is going to fix the fact that these vertebrae are out of line....

Consider this ~ how do vertebrae get out of line? Often, tight muscles. You say you've never felt this great in a long time until after doing yoga. What's that tell you?

[RighteousYogini]

thanks Revvel! Well, Ive felt great before but the pain always comes back long-term and I can't quite sustain a 3-hr yoga practice and no work at my desk every day-though I wish! Our chiros get zero governmental subsidy .... so what you say makes sense. She's telling me the deterioration is so bad...no stretching will help etc. Of COURSE I asked her about the fitness ball. She said "No, not the same, because the "pivot point" is the size of your butt and it has to be small enough to actually target the spine. SO later Im thinking, well fine Ill sit on a frigin golf ball then. i dont get it!".......... Thanks again for your suggestions. I know all about caffeine headaches. No, I get them all the time regardless if Im detoxing from caffeine or not.

[Revvell]

thanks Revvel! Well, Ive felt great before but the pain always comes back long-term and I can't quite sustain a 3-hr yoga practice and no work at my desk every day-though I wish!

Final suggestions ~ 3 hour yoga? who suggested that? How about 10 minutes every hour or so?

O.k., now you're giving mixed communication here. You felt great "but the pain always comes back long-term".... what in heck does that mean? "long term"???

Look back at my other suggestions as well. Warm/hot baths... digestive enzymes... colonics... etc.

Your chiro is going to tell you what she needs to tell you so she can make a living. If you've got $800 for a chair ... I'd suggest you circulate half of it on a Vita-Mix and the rest of produce and make you some smoozies.

[Namaste13]

I'm not eating raw due to my back issues. I dealt with my back issues with yoga. I can go over my whole treatment plan via yoga if you want. Send me a private message and I'll email you. I would stay away from all that other 'stuff' and that is just what it is..'stuff'. You can heal your own body back through movement and food! plain and simple. Namaste!

[RighteousYogini]

I definitely dont have $800 for a chair or a blender. Hence the quandry. I like the rich versus poor story you told. I stretch for a living, stretch at my desk, stretch for work, and stretch for a personal practice. So that's not the problem for sure. Sometimes I feel great after yoga. Sometimes it aggravates things. I often feel great after an intense 3-hour yoga practice.... but despite all of the above, I have episodes of muscle spasm that make me wonder if I can get off the floor during my class. so, in the long run, the underlying problem is still there (according to the doc, no space between the discs, which again according to the doc, will not be resovled through stretching). Im hoping to find a solution that will eliminate debilitating back spasms. I did see your other suggestions and will ltake them. Have to admit, the idea of a tube up my butt scares the crap out of me (no pun intended). Not sure im ready for that and have never done it before.

[RighteousYogini]

thank you thank you thank you! emailing you now.

[Aleesha Sattva]

Thanks for your response, Aleesha. Right now the only thing that grows locally here is SNOW. With $100, I bought hemp seed oil ($30 alone) organic fruits and vegetables and nuts, Braggs raw vinegar. It easily added up. I have Alissa's book already. some of the recipes made me sick actually because they were so rich!! (cashew sauce is VERY pricey to make as well).

well it's not like you are going to need hemp seed oil in the near future... or the braggs. you have to remember when you are starting any new food... there is cost. so this is no different but you can easily do without all the bells and whistles and just eat a lovely salad with fresh raw live food on it... keep it simple!

[Revvell]

well it's not like you are going to need hemp seed oil in the near future...

... or at all. About 15 years since beginning raw and I've never bought it.

[RighteousYogini]

wow. Okay...I just bought it for dressing on my salad and someone telling me if Im very dry (hair skin etc) that some good hemp oil might be nice.

[Revvell]

Well, it may help your joint pain. What I've found for dryness is water, water, water. About 16 oz., first thing in the morning and 2-3 times that during the rest of the day. I add fruit juice and acv to keep it interesting.

[RighteousYogini]

Heres another funny. She told me I should be taking this super high dosage of Glucosamine but by this brand that is super high quality - the rest is garbage- and of course she's (and other chiros) are the only ones who sell this really high-quality stuff. normal people can't buy it because its too potent. It was $60 for a months worth. Well, guess what? I just googled it on line, same brand, same high-tech company......... $24.

[Shona]

One way to save money in the grocery store is to eat seasonally. I am in Canada and root vegetables and cabbage are super cheap right now. So are apples, bananas, pears, and citrus fruits. So that's what I eat and I look for recipes that use these items. This afternoon I bought a huge cabbage for 1.79. I'll be eating that thing for the next couple of weeks! Root vegetables are great for snacks and they are divine grated and used to bulk up green salads and coleslaws. I eat a very simple diet and my favourite meal is to make veggie-based salads and slaws and serve them on top of a green salad. Cabbage makes a filling wrap with a bit of nut pate or nut cheeze and greens, slaw, or sprouts. Sprouts and sunflower greens can be grown at home very cheaply and easily and are a fabulous living food supplement to raw meals. You can blend sprouts into smoothies too. :)

[Raw Angel Mom]

I didn't read all the responses but i noticed that you have quite of bit of good information.

Yoga or any stretching exercise, seem great. You may want also to consider to go with the emotions as well. Heal your body by Louise hay "Stiff join"-represent changes in direction in life and the ease of these movements: Affirmation-I easily flow with change. My life is Divinely guided and I am always going in the best direction

This is free to make this affirmation and it is truly help. There are more about back pain etc.... They probably has that book in your local library.

As for the cost of raw food, you will without question saved on medical bill. Doing simple push up/ set up is absolutely amazing for your body and this is free also.

You can do your own sprout for pennies, you can visit this board with the sprouting section. You will get good information.

Your health is worth all the pennies. I truly believe in the power of food but i know without a doubt that how we feel inside will make the whole difference with the outcome. Find a way to stay in balance and to have a solid ground inside that is peaceful no matter how other people or situation may have made you feel. You are worthy, acknowledge this truth.

There are so many simple things that you can do that doesn't cost anything, all you need to do is say YES and watch all the synchronicity that will support you.

If you do gourmet raw food, yes this is costly but the more you do raw food, the more your body will be appealed with simple choice down the road. For me, i can feel satisfy with a simple sweet red pepper.

Buying hemp seeds was a great investment, it is loaded of omega 3/6/9 and has valuable nutrients.

Believe in you and don't let anything intimidate you, you will be wonderful

Congratulations on your raw journey!

[RighteousYogini]

you are definitely a "raw angel mom"!!! thank you for your inspiration!! I have said yes. Im ready to go!

[Aleesha Sattva]

i use hemp oil a lot. i add it to my juices... and when i'm eating i often pour a little on dehydrated crackers. it has a lovely flavour.

but it does last 3 months...

[RighteousYogini]

Yep I figured it would be worth it. Just a little discouraged after forking out so much money to the chiro and then off to the grocery store... but its good. Im excited.

[babeak]

Here is a recommendation I got from a chiro. Go to Pilates. I started and I have not been back to chiro in a long time and only for doing stupid things. Believe it or not, I can actually do a lot of adjustments myself now. Amazing....just by breathing. Yoga is also good to get length.

I should amend that to say go to a pilates class at a studio....not at a gym where they don't know squat about it. If you can find a studio that has rolfers then even better. In fact, you should also check out rolfing. Rolfing and pilates go hand in hand to keep you out of a chiro's office. Best wishes

[RawHealthyBeauty]

I agree with the recomendation for Pilate's. I've heard alot of good things about Pilate's on how it really helps out the back, even Hulk Hogan on his reality show a few years back couldn't believe he was taking Pilate's, now he can't believe how it helped his back. After this, he has a very open mind about Pilate's now. :)

[janicejourney]

I did a search online for that "wobble chair" and it goes for $100 for a portable one. I wouldn't buy right from her if she marks up so much...


Portable Therapeutic (Wobble) Chair
Patented with s specially designed seat
Provides 360 degrees of rotation, 40 degrees of side-to-side flexion and 35 degrees of front-to-back flexion
Universal-type joint facilitates all possible combinations of exercise motion needed for lumbar disc mobility, rehydration, nutrition delivery and waste elimination
Available in black only
Weighs approximately 5 lbs.
30%
Details
SKU WST-VTL115493

Market price: $156.14
Our price: $109.19

[wendysmiling]

I'm on a tight budget ans I don't care for the rich recipes except on occassion. My main foods are salad, banana/cherry or blueberry & spinach green smoothies, red pepper soup, mushroom burgers, blackberry cobbler

bananas $2
frozen sweet cherries $3
frozen blueberries $3
Organic baby spinach $3
sun dried tomatoes $2
red bell pepper $ 1.50
raw cashew butter $6
potobella mushroom caps $3
romaine lettuce $1.50
tomatoes: $1
blackberries $3
walnuts $5
pecans $3
agave $3
dates $4

$44

I can snack on a bag of baby carrots all day for $1 or a couple apples.

Organic is always best, but it's still healthier to eat non-organic raw vs processed SAD food in my opinion. We do what we can. It's a process. Please try not to be discouraged.