Hi Everyone!

[Kauliflower Kim]

Greeting!
My name is Kim and I'm so pleased to join this inspiring forum! You all have done such amazing work - I'm so impressed! You can feel the happiness and see the clear admiration of each other. What an uplifting place to be.
I went raw, following Carol Alt's, plan in 2008. I did it for 6 weeks and reaped every benefit that was promised. I went back to a SAD diet mostly b/c I felt like an outcast in social settings...I have gone back and forth since then and my weight is unstable and very high for me. I am 5 '10" and weight 185 - size 14. I feel bloated, tired and moody and my face is filled with acne. :(
I'd like to get back on the program after watching the movie Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. I know I have a struggle ahead of me - I'm a junk food junkie (favorite thing is regular Pepsi) and I don't like salads very much. I know I am addicted to sugar and carbs. I do like gourmet raw food and became quite the chef (specialty was raw chocolate ganache pie). YUM!
I plan to ease in and do the Matt Amsden super smoothie in the morning, raw almonds for a snack, sushi for lunch (not raw but a stepping stone) and a green drink, made via Vitamix instead of a juicer so I feel more full. Salad in a blender is doable. Also at night I plan to steam an artichoke and use earth balance spread - NO BUTTER (again to ease in).
I plan to get a blood test too - I have issues with high cholestoral and borderline high blood sugar.
Wish me luck. I will keep you all posted.
Keep up the great work!
KK

[Nad]

Hi Kim! Sorry to hear you fell off the RAW wagon, but it's good to see you're trying to get back on track. I used to be similarly addicted to carbs and sugars (mainly starchy carbs) but my nutritionist recommended I cut both out of my diet if I wanted to see significant weight loss + health benefits. I did, and to be honest it was tough at first but as my body detoxed I found myself no longer craving all the things I used to before. Eventually I found I wasn't having as much cooked foods and that's when I found RAW. Now when I crave sugar I find myself reaching for some frozen bananas or blueberries - the good natural stuff! Just take things one step at a time and listen to your body - I'm sure you'll do great. Good luck!

Ps. Just a note about feeling like an outcast in social situations - people will make their comments there's no two ways about it. You just have to remember your body is the only thing that will last you the rest of your life. If you don't take care of it, who will?