Greetings

[Ruziska]

Hello! I am extremely new to raw foods. As in I'm just learning about raw foods. I am 48 and have Lupus. I'm on meds for my lupus, which, after 4 months, don't seem to be having any effect.
My diet is horrible. I was raised on processed foods. I try to cook healthy for my family, my husband and daughter are extremely health conscious but unfortunately, although I cook healthy for them, I'm a junk food junkie but desperately want to quit. I won't give up meat, that isn't an option as I love a good steak but buy organically grown as much as possible. I'm not much of a vegetable eater but intend to change that. I saw pictures of myself recently taken was was sickened by them. I'm much heavier than I should be and can't stand the way I look. Again, I have very health conscious husband and daughter and truthfully, I feel like a side show freak around them. They are very supportive of me, are not unkind or cruel, but I am embarrassed for myself and want to change that. I've been slim. I've been healthy. Well, I'll never lose the lupus but I can lose the weight and I can live a healthier life and that what I'm here for- to learn about a healthier eating lifestyle.

[sport]

Welcome.
May I say one thing. Loving a good steak is no reason to make excuses for not giving up meat. There are many things that I loved (thinking scones and potato salad) but I gave them up and I had no disease to cure.
If I had lupus and was told that giving up eating completely would cure it then that is what I would do.
I think that you do not want this badly enough. You have got to change how you are thinking. You have got to realise that feeling great makes up for the loss of all the steaks in the world.
They say "the lord helps those who help themselves". The raw food lifestyle is in the same boat as that.
Sorry if I am being negative but that is what I am thinking about your post.

[MysticTree]

I won't give up meat, that isn't an option as I love a good steak but buy organically grown as much as possible.

I'd like to wish you well on your journey but the above statement suggests to me that this isn't the forum for you. We are a raw VEGAN forum and we support those looking to follow a raw vegan lifestyle.

[sport]

I think that you should stay with us and we will try to help and maybe we will influence you a little bit and this time next year you will happily announce that you are raw vegan and healthy.

[November Blue]

I won't give up meat, that isn't an option as I love a good steak but buy organically grown as much as possible.

I wanted to touch on that statement as well. I'm new here too and let me just say that I love a good steak as much as anyone else (or at least used to) but there comes a time in our lives when we have to say enough is enough. This might be your time. That doesn't mean you can never EVER have a steak again, but I have a feeling that once you give eating raw vegan a good honest chance, you'll find that you have no cravings for steak. It's a process, to be sure, but you've stumbled across this way of life for a reason. If I had an illness like Lupus, I would do almost anything to try to heal myself.

Break the cycle.

I've always eaten a fair amount of vegetables (volume wise) but not a great variety. I've always considered myself pretty picky. What I'm finding is that vegetables that I wouldn't eat cooked, I'm really enjoying raw. I'll also suggest that you make yourself smoothies. I started with just fruit smoothies with green powder in them (Amazing Grass Green SuperFood) - and I love them. I've also started putting spinach in my smoothies and it's surprisingly delicious.

I think you should stick around and give this a shot. What have you got to lose?

[Aleesha Sattva]

As Admin of this board I'd like you to know that we fully support your raw-self. This is not the place, however, to share any cooked or non-vegan choices you may make during your day.

So please... stay, enjoy, learn... get to know our amazing members and find support. YOU and your health are worth it!!!

in light,
Aleesha
Admin