My husband has a question- HELP!!!!

[FEELIN'GOOD]

Okay everybody- my husband is on a high horse right now about- in his words, "If this was so great of a diet, why is it so unheard of?" He is saying that if you could guarantee someone that they can live longer, happier and healthier by eating this way, why arn't more people involved in making it public? He says there are a hell of a lot more people out there that are way more involved in a healthier life than I was until now and they aren't doing it- so why is it superior? Is it opinion or is it fact? He is so stubborn, so it will take a lot to make a sale here... HELP before I go insane. He won't listen to me. :mad:

[Rawkinlocs]

Short answer: Because most people in this world are thinking along the same lines as he!

No, but seriously, if would really stop and think about it...he should think about what this "diet" involves and think about current human nature. This "diet" is asking people who have spent YEEEEEARS eating a certain way to give up that way of eating; to give up a (false) sense of pleasure and fullness to the belly; to simply put, give up things one loves.

How many people who KNOW the ill effects of cigarettes will actually try to quit smoking? How many people who know the ill effects of alcohol or drug abuse actually quit or try to quit? How many people who know the ill effects of fried foods or junk foods will give them up? How many kids who have been told over and over how much candy will rot their teeth will actually give up eating sweets?

So...how many people who someday stumble upon the reasonings that eating fresh, raw foods...living foods is better and more nutrious than cooked foods will want to give up their steak, their potatoes, their mac and cheese, their fried chicken, their pizza, their donuts...? Not too many. No matter how much they might need to loose weight, no matter how sick they might be, no matter what...the majority of folks would rather die happily eating or drinking or smoking as they please than to do what would be in the best interest of their health.

Not only that, but how can anyone actually BELIEVE in this "diet" when the mainstream would preach against it? They teach us that we NEED meat and dairy to be healthy. They say we NEED to cook certain foods to get the maximum nutrition. If everyone were to begin going back to eating this way, how many people would need the doctors or the prescriptions or how many farmers who raise cattle and pigs, etc. for the sole purpose of them being sold to the slaughterhouse would be out of business?

Tell him to think about it...think about what makes this world go around and what would happen if this were "common knowledge"...hopefully he'll see the answer and if not...you just keep being an shining example to him because sometimes, MOST times actions speak volumes more than words.

[tglasco4]

Hi Feeling Good,

First off, I hope you are doing well on your journey! About your husband, I have learned about life in general that argument or debate or logic doesnt win people to our point of view. Even if there was a raw foodist on all the magazines, even if it was as popular or as media-blitzed as aktins, would your husband really do it then? I don't think so. There are many reasons why this raw lifestyle would not be popular. For one, money is made in things like diet fads (billions of dollars), drugs (billions of dollars) and research into disease (billions of dollars), if everyone were to adopt a raw (75% or more) lifestyle, all of these things would not be necessary. The meat and dairy industry would collapse and people like shazzie, alissa and others would be as rich as Oprah. (LOL). So it behooves those powers to use as much media as possible to push all of the above things. The raw diet is about personal changes to lifestyle. Its simple. Exercise (no shortcuts), eat mostly raw (no shortcuts), drink plenty of water (no shortcuts), get fresh air, sunshine , proper rest and have faith. There are no shortcuts or quickie fixes. There are no promises to eat all the junk you want and be in perfect health and look great. Its real, its true and it takes work. For all of these reasons, society in general would reject it. But again, even all of this information would not persuade your husband if he really didn't want any change in his life or lifestyle. A good living example from you will do more than all of that!

Peace.

Todd

[Rawism]

I actually don't think this "diet" is unheard of. I think it is just not as popular as the rest.

Since I have been raw, I've noticed TV commericals advertising/mentioning the raw food lifestyle (it's a yellow book commericial) and just yesterday my sister told me that there is a girl on one of the reality shows that is a raw foodist (Rebel Billionaire).

There are no guarantees that one would really live longer on this lifestyle, but I would think one would want to try to live the healthiest lifestyle they could. If your husband takes a moment to think and research what he is putting into his body, he can't possibly come back with the conclusion that he is doing his body any justice.

Knowledge is power and we have to seek this information on our own. We can't rely on the media, as Todd mentioned, to fuel our thinking, spending, and health choices.

But I personally, would stop trying to convince your husband. There are some people who just won't understand until they SEE the difference. So it's your duty to be a living testimony. ;)

[Curtis]

FEELIN'GOOD, good morning. :)
First off take a step back and relax, people only change when they are ready to change.:) Second if you have anyway to pick up a copy of National Geographic August issue. Front cover story "Why are Americans so fat?"
This article among many others over 6 months ago started my journey toward asking questions concerning the way we eat in this country. Third it is a very established fact that vegetarians and vegans live longer than folks who eat meat and dairy, and they live the years they have healthier. And lastly if he is willing have him look up www.notmilk.com and www.madcowboy.com
And lastly again, have him come visit me and I will take him to work with me at Wal-Mart where I see overweight people everyday loading their carts with meat, dairy and prepackaged products.:( These folks are not in good health so there is no way "our way of eating" in this country is correct.
Also pray for him and he will eventually get understanding.
Genesis 1:29 is still true today but we have gotten far away from it.

[qetta]

What everyone else has said is so right. Especially the part about being a walking example of the raw food lifestyle. It just makes sense to me to follow the plan of people who are thin and healthy and have such a vitality for life. Ask him if he'd rather look and end up like Dr. Atkins (who was kind of a cranky dude as well) - or Alissa! :D

[Curtis]

I forgot to mention when I went to hear Howard Lyman(Mad Cowboy), he was asked this question about a spouse who would not hear any of this. His reply was take him to the hospital and show him the ward where the folks with heart disease and strokes are. This may be hard but Howard said of the 10 guys he used to play poker with on his cattle farm 3 or 4 have died and the rest have heart disease, have had a stroke, or diabetes. Howard had been plagued with none of these. All these guys eat the standard american diet.

[FEELIN'GOOD]

Thanks guys for putting your hearts and souls into the answer to my husbands question... Don't get me wrong, he does believe this is a healthy life style- he just thinks it is too extreme. He believes that diseases and longevity are hereditary and that if it's in the cards already- then it's in the cards... I tried to tell him about the people who have healed their diseases and have prevented diseases from occuring with this diet and I have showed him data to prove it- His favorite word popped out, 'BALANCE'- You need balance...blah, blah. I will just have to prove to him what this life style has to offer, and what a true 'balanced diet' should be! I wish he would be willing to do this with me for just a week and see for himself what a wonderful difference it makes. What really turned him off was the first 2 days I went RAW, I had a ton of energy, but then day 3, I got so tired (I didn't even hear my alarm!) and started with the DETOX symptoms. To him, it was a red flag and he blabbed that I wasn't getting everything I needed with what I was eating... that's when the debates started. He didn't think it was appropriate for me to be tired and achy, when in his mind all I needed was a big steak to make it all better- but I will show him, WE will show him!

I can't thank you guys enough for your help! You all are an inspiration to me and at my Thanksgiving gala Thursday, I am going to mention my friends here at rawfoodtalk as one of the things I am most thankful for this year-

I'm also printing out this thread for my personal 'reference' book- if my husband doesn't want to listen to words of reason, I can always throw it at him!

[SwishTN]

I think that what people say about being an example of vibrant health will make the loudest statement....
Sometimes, people don't really want you to convince them. They just want to validate why they believe the way that they do.... and really, just want to convince you... Make sense? ? They don't want to learn, basically, until they are really ready.
So, like someone else said, relax, and try (although it is extremely difficult) not to let it get to you.....

Easier said than done, I know : )....

Blessings!!
Lauri

[vegbaby]

I just want to agree with Platinum here. I've been working right in the middle of the veg movement since 1999 and closely following all developments. I remember reading an article about raw foods back then toward the beginning, and the publicity has only snowballed since then. I write a column for VegNews magazine called VegBeet, so each month I have to scour the web for news reports on veg life, and I always try to include something about the raw movement. I'm totally amazed at the number of raw food restaurants (and vegan restaurants that also sell raw food) that are popping up, especially in the last year. It's amazing! There are celebrities, like Rainbeau Mars and Woody Harrelson, too, who are really promoting raw. It's just a matter of what you read and where you "hang out." :)

[monkeyboy]

Hi Everyone,

I found out about raw in Gourmet Magazine of all places. It's a style of uncooking. Just like French or Italian cooking. We just use organic, straight from the Earth ingredients.


I'll say it again. Raw is a lifestyle, not a diet. This isn't some fade. It's a
choice we've made. To some it's drastic, to me it's a part of who I am. What can I say.........I love fruits and veggies!


Peace,

M.B.

[smasty]

Great answers!!

[FEELIN'GOOD]

Thanks again guys for all the added support!

M.B.- sorry I used the word 'diet'- I agree with you that this is a lifestyle, I just used the generic word meaning 'what you eat' as apposed to a 'weight loss plan' form of the word... I usually don't do that because most people automatically think of the opposite meaning... but I was so mad when I wrote this post I was typing out of frustration, and that probably is how my hubby approached the question to me at the time :( Just wanted to clear that one up :)

[Wrecked Spark]

Hi Feelin' Good,

Sometimes it can be so frustrating when you've experienced such a tremendous change for the better in your own life, only to have someone crush the very experience with a determined alternative view. It has taken me quite a while to work through that feeling and I realize that we are all where we are intended to be. This is a lifestyle choice, and it isn't something that comes to light when you sit down at the table... it's a constant reminder every time you see a commercial, drive by a billboard, have a social interaction and on and on ad infinitum ;) It's a constant reminder to me at the moment (until it comes second nature and I don't have to give it any thought I suppose).

My DH is very, very health concious which is wonderful and has agreed to do a thirty day challenge with me. His concerns are the protein requirements of course, since so much of our mainstream "education" seems to push the issue. We are very active (he more than I actually) so we're always dealing with energy concerns... keeping up, or having enough left over after living the busy lifestyle that we do. (It wouldn't occur to us to remove a couple of things from our over-packed schedule of course!! :p ) He's open-minded, which is excellent, so seeing the changes in me have been a great persuasive arguement. Fortunately, we don't buy junk food so I can't say we ever ate in a traditionally SAD way; our obstacles come when we're with friends and loved ones... they um... don't have the same views. :rolleyes:

My point here is that I agree with the points above; I think the only course of action that makes any sense with the least amount of resistence is to follow your course. You will (as you have before) experience detoxification symptoms but when you receive the criticism for it, perhaps explain to him what you're experiencing and then let it go? This is something you want for yourself right now; this is an experience you want, and you appreciate his concern but you're going to go ahead anyway. Then keep on truckin'... because we all know what pleasures await when the fog begins to lift, so to speak...

This is the only way I can share my knowledge with friends and loved ones also ~ by simply living this life the best way that I can and teach by example. I don't fight defences, I don't put someone in a position of having to feel judged, and I don't preach. I just live it, and it teaches on my behalf. Such a beautiful thing. :D

Best regards,
Wrecked Spark

[corky]

[This is the only way I can share my knowledge with friends and loved ones also ~ by simply living this life the best way that I can and teach by example. I don't fight defences, I don't put someone in a position of having to feel judged, and I don't preach. I just live it, and it teaches on my behalf. Such a beautiful thing. :D

Best regards,
Wrecked Spark[/QUOTE]
I love what you said here and it is so true!!

[FEELIN'GOOD]

Very well said Wrecked Spark! I agree- my example will be my ammo! Look out 2005- a new me is on the way!