Got the Book and CD Yesterday

[Douglas]

:) Well I watched the first Cd last night and really was glad I got that too. I Ate raw yesterday all day long. It seems like I was Hungry all day long too. I was eating so much. Atleast if felt that way. So far today I just had a couple pears and one banana so far. I just got up a couple hours ago. I get hungry later in the day and late at night. Does anyone know if frozon fruit is Raw uncooked? I think it is. Oh I did real good too. I did not use any salt on anything. I want to get use to the natural taste of things without using salt. It was ok too. How about pepper is that ok? I like it more then salt even. I made alot of Carrot Cabbage raisen Salad, I had to grind that up real find to eat it raw. In 1987 I had a stomach Staple and there is only a hole between the small pouch and the main stomach about the size of a pencil. It it is not soft enough or small enough it will get stuck and that makes me feel sick when that happends and the only way to get better is to get it out of there. Toss your cookies if you know what I mean. So I have to be real careful of what I eat. It makes this Diet or program that much harder. But I am going to do my best at it. Fruit works well for me. I handle that just fine most of the time. I will pull out my Vita Mixer It does the job when it comes to making things I can eat blended up fine enough to make it by the pouch and into the main stomach ok. Is Dried Fruit not cooked to hot? I think it is ok. Costco has lots of that or I can make my own for sure. I lost 12 1/2 lbs the last 3 weeks and hope to keep doing this. I am 439 now and I want to get down to 200 lbs
I had gained 50 lbs after I stopped smoking almost 2 years now. It was the last Promise I could give my mom. I told her I would Quit on her birthday Dec 1st 2003 and if she could make it one more year with her Cancer then we could go for the next year. Well I did it and so did she for one year and a month. She died on the 13th month. I was very sad about that but She was after me for 40 years to Quit smoking, and Atlast I could give her the one thing she always wanted. Oh gee that got me all choked up and I had to Cry for a couple of Mins. We were so close. I was always trying to get her off of Meat and milk and bad things that she ate. But she just kept at it. She Ate veggies and fruit alot, but She also ate to many things that can give you Cancer and sure enough it happend. Well All my life I had some kind of thing I was hooked too, and I got rid of them all one thing at a time. Diet pills, Drinking, and smoking. Now it is time to finish the very last thing and get Healthy and lose this extra 239 lbs At one time I was 550 lbs A couple more pounds then and I would have been stuck in the house I was in. I was one inch from not being able to get out the door. Well Guys and Girls I hope I can Get some buddies on here to help me on my path to get to my Goal weight of 200 lbs. It may take awhile but I have to do this for me and My wife. I know she will be happy to get back the man she Married at 200 lbs. This Nov 28th we will be married for 30 years too. I sure would like to lose this weight so I can be with her for atleast 30 more. So Thank you all for reading my Story and I will work on making it happen with your help. Thanks you all so much too. :) :D :) bye for now Douglas in Southern Calif

[Sicilian Girl]

Douglas,
Welcome! You have come to the right place for support and answers. The people on this board are amazing!

[LNdolls]

Welcome, Douglas.
I am carrying a bunch of extra weight, too. I am on day 25 of 100% raw - after a 40 day Master Cleanse. I began eating everythign and feelign constantly hungry, too. And I notice that in the last couple days I am not devouring everything in my path - I am naturally making smaller batches and not eating the whole thing. I have half a batch of raw walnut fudge in the fridge - just sitting there.
This food will nourish you in the very best way. I think I can trust Alissa's message - just do the raw and let it heal and change you.
I hope we can encourage each other on this journey. I find that green smoothies really satisfy - and might be excellent for your digestion.
Best,
LN

[kmik]

Hi Douglas!

Thanks for your encouragement on my 200 lb post :D I responded there, but figured I would here too... Like SG said, you are in the right place. Unfortunately it's hard to absorb all the info at once, but you're headed in the right direction.

I'll see if I can't answer a few quick questions...

frozen, if it's frozen fresh, is raw. I use frozen blueberries all the time. Try to get organic whenever possible... frozen, fresh or dried.

Dried things I'd be leary of. Unless it's specifically labeled as raw, it's probably dried at too high a heat. That's where a dehydrator comes in handy, so you can dry your own things at 105 degrees.

You can't possibly eat too much if you're eating 100% raw. Eat whatever you want and your scale will still go down. (Mine did :))

That's very touching that you quit smoking for your mother. My guess is that she would be VERY proud of what you're doing now.

And as for spouses, mine said to me this morning "that belly is getting small." :) I know he appreciates seeing the woman he married re-emerge. And I feel like he deserves it for sticking with me through the bad times.

All the people on this board are SO caring and supportive. We're cheering you on, and we can't wait to see your 200 lb picture! I have a feeling it'll be sooner than you expect ;)

Best of luck to you!

[sweetgoddess]

Douglas, hello and welcome. Thank you for opening up to us. We will support and befriend you here all we can. I can tell you, I have lost 60 pounds on raw, and it has entirely changed my life. This way of nourishing and healing can do so very much for you.

You asked if dried storebought fruit is raw- it is not. It has preservatives. The exception is if it is sun-dried ( example sundried raisins ) and some dates which are dehydrated.

You asked if frozen fruit is raw. Yes! Most of it is. Be sure to read the bag before you buy to check for ingredients. Some have additives or sugar. Most fortunately, do not. Yeah! I love frozen strawberries, bananas and spinach blended nito a think, creamy icy smoothie in the morning. It makes all my cells tingly.

I am sorry to hear about the pain your mothers passing has brought you. She must be a beautiful Soul to warrant such love.

I am ignorant in this department, but am curious. Is there any way to undo a stomach stapling?

Well, let us know how we can help. I wish you tremendous healing on your raw food journey.

Hugs
Carmel

[Jamie]

Hi Douglas, Welcome to the board~~ You've come to the right place!

So sorry to hear about your mom. I think it is great that you are going to try and keep your promise to her and quit smoking,,, and that you are taking a positive direction in losing weight and getting healthy.

Allisa's book is a great place for you to start. So much great info, encouraging testamonies, and yummy recipes.

Have you set up a journal?? I look forward to reading about your weight loss and gained health :)

Keep up the good work at raw!!

Jamie :)

[Douglas]

Well today felt so much better. I was not so hungry for some reason. I had two pairs, and one banana this afternoon when I woke up. Then later in the day I had a nice bowl of tomatoes and avacodo, with some apple cider vinagar on it too. Now that kept me full for along time. I had black berrys after that and I just had a carrot and raison salad which was very good. I think that should do it for today. I always have lots of water. I sure would like to see some pounds melt off of me for sure. I do feel pretty good. I like the light feeling I am getting. A good sign for sure. I sure was happy to see some replys on here today. It felt so nice to have some of you reaching out for me. It will help keep me going too. well I think I will read some more of that big big book wow it is so big. But I just love to read each and every page. So off to the book and bye till tomorrow afternoon Douglas..... :o

[rawpriestess]

Dear Douglas

WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME
It is so very nice to have you here.

I think most of your questions have been answered by other posts, so I'll just say, hopeing to see lots of posts by you, and please read people's journals, they are so inspiring, sometimes, I get on this board, and read for hours. and it always helps me walk that raw path a littl easier.

so glad to have you aboard. :o)

[RawTruth]

Hi Douglas,

You might want to consider doing as many smoothies and blended soups as possible. This should not be a problem making it through your stomach opening. I had a dear friend who had her stomach stapled and I am very familiar with the limitations that you have with it. I would advise that you should not try to limit your food intake; the stomach stapling restricts you enough as it is -- just try to blend as much as possible so your stomach doesn't have to do so much work -- and doesn't rebel from being overloaded.

Because of this situation, I would not advise you to follow Alissa's 30 day plan as you won't possibly be able to eat those recipes as is. Instead, again, I suggest you taking those things you're eating separately -- say your pears and bananas and tossing them into the blender and drinking them. Then, when you're hungry again later, do the same thing. You don't want to eat too little right now. Even though you want to lose weight, with the shock of your body going to all raw, you should keep trying to eat more than what you've mentioned in these posts.

I wish you only the best of luck. I know that I've done more than respond to your questions, but, because of my experience with my friend, I feel that I know a bit of what you're going through -- and I also know about the first months of raw and how you needn't restrict the amount you eat. So ... I hope you aren't offended by me offering advice on things you didn't ask for. If so, please accept my apology.

[druid]

best of luck!

I have tried raw many times. I get hungry or go out with friends and find myself eating cooked and having beers.

My Dr has challenged me to lose weight and Im very self concious. Also my belt buckle was digging into my "gut" yesterday.

You make me want to get back onto the raw wagon. Fall down 9 times, get up 10!

this can be done.

[calee]

Welcome Douglas! I just want to say that your post was fabulous and I enjoyed reading every word of it. I'm so sorry about your mom.

You've already inspired druid to want to give it another go with raw. That is so awesome.

Good luck and let us know how you're doing!

[ReneeSC]

That's My Boy!! ( jumps up and down !)

You made it! I knew you could. I knew you'd enjoy what Alissa has to show you - and RawTruth echoed what I initially told you - DO grind up your food, smoothie, make shakes out of it.. etc. Only those things you KNOW from your own body experience would I "eat".

Beware, though, your body _will_ go through many different challenges and changes as it gets fed REAL food over an extended period of time. That's normal. One day something won't bother you, the next day it might - one day you'll hate the taste of something, the next day you'll love it. It's a wild ride, but its fun!'

I'm sorry to hear of your mother's pain and her loss to you. I'm glad, though, that you allow yourself to feel the pain of her loss so that it's not bottled up inside of you screaming in other directions. She'd be _very_ proud of you, again, ya know!?

Stapling Reversals: Once you become healthier ( say in a year or so ) could your type of stapling be reversed? ( I know some can and some can't - depends on many factors ).

We're going through this with you day by day so there's no need to feel like you're the only one. You MIGHT be the only one "near" you, but we're only a few keystrokes away!

[Douglas]

:D :) :o Well this morning I woke up with a Mild headache and kinda light headed. So I went in right away and had two pears and a banana. That took out the light headed feeling. Very Strange feeling for sure. Oh I know all about blending things up. Sometimes that is the only way I can eat some things. I am not afended by any coments that anyone makes I am all ears and ready to listen to any idea one might have. I really would like this to work for me too. It is very hard for me to do this but I look at so many posts and pictures that just blow me out of my chair to see how in a short time there are so many changes in you all. Sliming down so nice and looking so much younger I just love to see that. I have one really good thing going is that I can Type well. Been doing it for years on many chat boards. I really Like to talk to women as you all listen so well. It is really a rare thing for a man to talk to another man about something like this. I know I have friends that I try to get off all that junk food and meat and milk and so many things that I have seen friends dye on me. One guy 10 years ago laughed at me and after he had a heart attack he came to my house for help. He knew he had to change his eating and fast. I have been a veggie person since 1987. With all the tv adds with the pizza and junk foods it is hard for people to even think of this kind of way to eat. We were tought to eat wrong in the Schools with the four food groups. Guess who made all them Posters too. That was back in 1955 too. Well if you guessed the meat and dairy concil your right. They got all the teachers to teach us the wrong way to eat, and we did. Before that it was the 12 food groups all the way back to 1935. Well when McDonolds came out we all went there and started to eat a really bad fast food diet. Plus Soda was just one corner of a store, But now it takes up two Isles. Then you have your chips and sugar cerals. Oh and yes cookies. How easy is it to eat a buch of them with a big glass of milk. I never had a problem shopping and not buying any of that stuff but if it was in the house I wanted some. When I was 550 lbs My Doctor told me I was going to dye if I did not do something and Quick. Well that got my attention and fast too. So I was talked into the Stomach staple. If I only knew what I know now I would have never done that. So If you have any friends that are thinking of that just send them my way. I will talk them out of it for sure. After that when I healed enough to go out again I went to the health food store and bought every book on health I could find. Plus I have all the good gagits too. The Vita Mixer the wheat grass juicer and other juicers the works. Well I love the Vita mixer for sure it has really helped me when I need something to get blended up, It does the job so well. Oh this one is funny I was on a fourum and made a veggie topic and got attacked by a bunch of Atkins Diet people they would not even let me make a post without interfearing. Well I ended up getting banned from that board they just would not budge. I felt so bad that that many people thought that there way was the only way. I remember the news trying to cover up the way Dr Atkins really died. He did not just fall off that latter he had a heart attack and then fell off. I have been trying to talk people out of that one for years but they just don't listen. Not until it is to late. Anyway I want to thank you all for taking me in like this I love to talk to people that know the right path to follow. Into todays world there are not many places you can talk about this without people thinking your a nut. But it is changing more and more one by one People are starting to listen. So when someone askes you how you lost your weight let them have it with both barrols. Them more of us and them more the manufactors will make raw stuff to buy for us. Anyway I could go on and on so I better get off of hear. See how a couple of pears and a banana can make one feel pretty darn good anyway thank you all so much Douglas In Calif........ :)

[kmik]

Hey Douglas!

We all enjoy reading your posts, but this is perfect "journal" material! :)

At the top of this (and every page) there's a button that says "Post your Photos" and right below it it says "Click here for instructions..." If you don't have a picture of yourself that you want to use, you can pretty much use anything as a place marker so that you can start your journal. If you need help, just let us know where you get stuck.

[sweetgoddess]

Douglas, you are doing wonderfully! Way to go. I am sending you a big hug. :)

[TimmyC]

Quote:'So when someone askes you how you lost your weight let them have it with both barrols. Them more of us and them more the manufactors will make raw stuff to buy for us."

Douglas,

I love your outlook on life. Very positive. I love this comment of yours as well. One reason I like it is that someone else passed this good healthy eating lifestyle on to me, and I certainly don't push it, but when people ask, I do let down the flood gates :).

Two, you're right the more the merrier, and if enough people started eating raw, some large manufacturers may notice the niche market.

Anyway, you've got great posts, and I wish you well as I've said before.

Tim

[Douglas]

Ok how do it put a 2nd picture for my 30 day raw challange? Oh and how do it put a picture up on here like all of you do when you reply to my posts and others? Let me know and thanks :) I am new on here but I catch on quick. I will be a pro in notime at all. Can you drink Herble tea on this program with no caffine in it? I also read something about Cashews are roasted to get there toxin shells off Does that mean there not raw? I heard many places do that and still list them as raw. Oh and how do it the link if for my Journal of the 30 day challange? Or the 2nd picture one? Well I think that is it for the quetions for this time. I had a nice day Oh is is getting pretty good too. I had a 2nd trip to the bathroom today. Now that is new. Most of the time it has been once a day or 2 days but never 2 times in one day. How about that. I read that you are spose to go about an hour after you eat. I wonder if that is going to happen. Has it happend to you all? I sure am glad that I was a veggie and fruit eater already. It would be so much harder to come off meat and and other things. I love this food already now I just have to have it raw.
But that is ok with me. I will figure out ways to have plenty of things. I have always been a good cook so now I will just learn how do it Raw. It will be a new challange for me and I know my wife will like it too. She eats mostly raw now. So we will see. I know once I lose a bunch she will want to go all the way too. Gee I can't wait to go shopping this week to get some good stuff to eat. Oh my wife works for the police dept in Santa Monica and on Wed and sometimes on sat. She works where the farmers market is down there and she can buy organic produce there what ever is in season. She brings home some great stuff too. I will get some parsley for juice too. I really like that with some tomatoes and maybe a hot pepper in it to spice it up a bit. Much better then wheat grass juice for sure. It has a wonderful flavor in it too.
spinach is very good too. Well I will be back in the afternoon so bye for now and keep them comments coming Douglas in Calif........ :)

[sweetgoddess]

Good morning Douglas. I am loving your enthusiastic energy!
To answer your questions:

To put a picture up like we have, called an avatar, click on the button up top of the page with the picture of the bell peppers called User CP. (stands for User Control Panel) Once that opens, you will see a list of options on the left hand side of the page. Click Edit Avatar. Make sure the use custom avatar radio button is selected. Click the Browse button and select a picture from your hard drive. Click save changes. If your picture is too big and you dont know how to resize it, email it to me at sweetgoddess333@yahoo.com and I will resize it for you.

To add a second picture to your journal area, just click the big Post Your Photos button at the top center of this page and then select a pic from your hard drive, title it Please Leave Comments and select upload/submit.

To add a link to your posts so people can click on it to get to your journal, once again click on the user cp button and on the left hand side select Edit Signature. Enter the wording you want people to click on. Like go to my journal, as an example. Then highlight that text and then click on the button that has the picture of the Earth, This will pop up a box for you where you enter the url you want that text to lead to. This is easiest when you have a second window open and can just cut and paste the url of your journal etc. Once done, click on Save Signature.

Let me know if you have more questions!

Warmly~
Carmel

[RawTruth]

Can you drink Herble tea on this program with no caffine in it?Some people who eat raw and living foods choose to have herbal tea occasionally. Some use boiling water and some use hot water (using the finger test -- if your finger can remain in the liquid without burning -- means it's within "acceptable" raw level. Some use purchased tea which has been processed; others grow their own herbs and use them so they know they're raw. It's really up to you, Douglas, and how you want to approach it. I found at herbal teas helpful at first in coming off a coffee habit, but now I rarely drink them.

I also read something about Cashews are roasted to get there toxin shells off Does that mean there not raw? I heard many places do that and still list them as raw. Rhio's book has what I consider to be the best explanation of this (I think I transcribed that in another thread here at a long ago time, but it'd be heard to search for and find). Basically, you're right about the shells having to be subjected to heat to remove them. I know for sure that David Wolfe/Nature's First Law used to be adamant about cashews never being raw. But, now he's selling some that he says are absolutely raw. I have bought those and used them, but I do not -- absolutely not -- buy the ones labelled "raw" in health food stores or Whole foods or in bulk as I've been told these are definitely heat-treated.

I had a 2nd trip to the bathroom today. Now that is new. Most of the time it has been once a day or 2 days but never 2 times in one day. How about that. I read that you are spose to go about an hour after you eat. I wonder if that is going to happen. Has it happend to you all? :D :D :D I'm laughing because my closest raw friend and I have an ungoing joke that you can't get two raw fooders together for more than 5 minutes before the subject of bowel movements comes up -- and this has proven true so many times that we just start laughing when it happens. Here's what's up with that: so called "normal" bowel habits as described by doctors and nutritionists are based on a meat-eating, often SAD diet. So, what they say is "normal" isn't normal at all!! When you're eating raw and living foods, your bowels will move frequently. Sometimes this will happen after each meal. Especially at the beginning, your body is cleansing itself of the years of toxins that are built up and you may find yourself in the bathroom more than out of it. Be prepared, too, for looser stools that you're used to and, even, diahrea-like BMs. This is normal and to be expected when the body is cleansing itelf -- it doesn't mean you're sick; in fact, it means you're getting well. But .... I've gone far beyond just answering our question! Yes! it has definitely happened to anyone who is all raw.

She works where the farmers market is down there and she can buy organic produce there what ever is in season. She brings home some great stuff too. You are the luckiest man ever. The Santa Monica farmers market is the finest in Southern California. I "make do" with the ones in Long Beach and Cerritos, and they're definitely decent, but if you have access to the one in Santa Monica, you have the widest variety of organic and of unusual fruits and vegetables than anyone else. If your wife asks the organic grower for whatever they have that's particularly yummy, she will surprise you with things you may have never had before -- in their optimum state: fresh, ripe, raw, and organic (the holy four requirements!). What a phenomenal situation you're in -- so many people on this forum live where the organic selection is paltry at best and very expensive. Enjoy!!

[Douglas]

Well now am looking at Guided mode and Enhanced Mode on the top and Guided mode is checked. What does Enhanced mode and what does that do? Lets see if the picture I put in will work on this too. I think I did that right. I hope so anyway. Well I was just thinking I have been doing fruits for Breakfast most of the time the last 5 years Now. I always figured it gave my system a time to rest and digest something simple in the morning after a good nights sleep. I was just thinking of you all on this Raw program Are you Using Toothpase that has Fluoride in it? It is a by product of Aluminium and really bad for anyone. Some Citys even put it in your water. Something to check on for sure. There is a brand called Tom's in Maine that has some without it in there. Or walmart has it if your close to one of them. IN 2000 I read the book Natures first law and then I read a fasting book From the Bragg Site and went on a 5 day water fast. I felt so good Until that 5th day. Wow I was Detoxing real bad. I had a pain in my side that just hurt so bad. I went off the fast just eating bananas I lost 20lbs in 5 days I really would have gone much longer If I did not get that pain. I had it for 2 year Then I heard about Oregano Oil I took some of that every day and on day 3 a pain that was hurthing so bad just went away. It is also good if you have toe nails that have Fungis under them. There are people on ebay that sell it too. It is good to have when Toxins start coming up. To think I had pain for two years and when to the doctor and all I got was pain pills Yikes!!! I had a problem with my legs feet and ancles swelling up and it hurt so bad and guess what I got from the doctor. Yup your right more pain pills. Then one day I was looking on the internet and found a book called your bodies Many Cries for water. I bought the book and read it in one day. I could not put that one down 5 years of pain and lots of pills. I started drinking a gallon and a half a day and poof all that swelling and pain just went away and I lost 37 lbs too. Now how about that wooooooo. So Next time I went to the Doctor I showed him my legs and told him about what I did and Gave him a copy of the book. So next time he saw that he could just tell the person they just need to start drinking more water and it will just go away. You know when you get into health you find out so much and you go from one thing to another and I think the final stage of real health is when you get to HERE RAW FOOD EATING. It just kinda Sucks you in alittle at a time. Just think of how the Internet has changed your life in such a good way to have Places like this to go to and learn what you need to and make new friends to help you on your journey. Thank you one and all May we all know each other for many years to come Doug in Calif..... :) :D ;)