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Lizzy-Bee
01-14-2012, 05:36 PM
I was 100 percent raw for almost 4 years straight, then moved to Hawaii with my husband, who was also raw. Ironically, it became increasingly difficult to remain raw out there because of the high food costs and our circumstances at the time. Within 4 or 5 months we were back to eating cooked food, and it's been that way ever since, going on 3 years now... We are still gluten-free vegans, but we eat a lot of rice, beans, breads, cereals, etc, and I desperately want to go back to raw!

We are planning to go raw again this year, starting next week. We are purging our kitchen of all cooking appliances, pots, pans and cooked/processed foods. But I am still a bit worried... When I went raw before, I had a specific health issue that was the whole reason I went raw in the first place... I was on antidepressants and I wanted to be off them, but every time I tried, I slipped back into a depression. Then I read Alyssa's Living on Live Foods book, and there was one little line in there that mentioned that the raw food diet had been known to treat depression, and I was totally sold. I went completely raw, that day. I gave up cooked foods cold turkey and never went back. I weaned myself off of my antidepressants within 3 weeks, and I never experienced any depression! It was a miracle! I stayed raw for 3 + years.

And now I want to go back to being raw.... My trouble is that, as of right now I don't have a huge reason to do it like I did before. My health is good, my energy level is good, I'm a healthy weight and I haven't been sick in over 6 years... I know that I felt more vibrant and happy on a raw food diet than I do now, and I know of its health benefits. I wish that were enough to make me go die hard raw again, as easily and spontaneously as I did before! Human motivation is a peculiar thing, isn't it?

I was wondering if you could share some of your own stories and motivations for being raw. I need to be reminded of how amazing it is and how essential eating that way is for living the vibrant life I want to live! Thank you for your support!

Raw Angel Mom
01-14-2012, 06:13 PM
Start with Green Smoothie. I took me 2 years to get back to raw food. Cook food is so comforting. Stick with fruits/vegetables.

Hugs, take the plunge again, you will be fine. Cook food age you, raw food make you gain tone of years.

This is really up to you.

Saria
01-14-2012, 06:36 PM
If you could do it before, you can do it again :) just remember how rewarding it is to feel great when you eat raw and the only reason you stopped was because of finances, not because it wasn't satisfying

Revvell
01-14-2012, 07:58 PM
I'm confused on what the "scared" part is. What scares you?

michigan roman
01-14-2012, 08:17 PM
its become obvious that a 100% cooked diet is unhealthy , why then should any percentage cooked be good ?

Lizzy-Bee
01-14-2012, 10:17 PM
Revvell, I guess I'm just scared that it will be harder to transition this time, and easier to give up...

climbing
01-14-2012, 11:21 PM
Well I'm not 100% raw, more like 80-90% (with long periods of 100% when I do juice feasting or other cleanses), so I don't know if that counts but for me, being high raw and grain free alone has changed so much. I haven't been sick since! 2-3 times I felt a cold coming on and I just went to bed early and it was gone the next day.

Prior to raw/grain/gluten free, I would get a cold and it would turn into bronchitis and even pnumonia once... I'd be sick for months every time with never ending coughs... I'm so different now.

If I were you I'd shoot for high raw first... slowly make the transition verses leaping right into 100% if you're worried about it. There's no reason to put such intense pressure on yourself as to throw out all your pots and pans and feel scared, I think you're making too big a thing about it. Just remember, the more raw the better, and work on coming up with new yummy raw meals that you'll love. :)

Revvell
01-14-2012, 11:25 PM
Revvell, I guess I'm just scared that it will be harder to transition this time, and easier to give up...

Ahhhh, well, it may be yet just make up some yummy stuffs, maybe twice a week ~ about 3 entrees, some sides and some desserts so you'll always have it available. After awhile, go simpler.... AND, a smoozie a day too!

RawDad
01-15-2012, 02:26 AM
My motivation for remaining raw is enzymes, my life force. Dr. Edward Howell's book Enzyme Nutrition (http://www.amazon.com/Enzyme-Nutrition-Dr-Edward-Howell/dp/0895292211/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326615589&sr=8-1) is very inspirational and very cheap and quick to read.

What made me make the switch to raw was a video presentation from Victoria Boutenko, 12 Steps to Raw Foods (http://www.amazon.com/Steps-Raw-Foods-Victoria-Boutenko/dp/B000UXT148/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1326615790&sr=1-1). Here is a link to the book (http://www.amazon.com/12-Steps-Raw-Foods-Dependency/dp/1556436513/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326615754&sr=1-1). I watched it twice and shared it with my girlfriend and we made the switch about a week later.

My inspiration to and the power to remain comes from the constant study of nutrition I'm engaged in to try to provide the best information and food for my family, friends, and the human race.

EscapeArtist
01-15-2012, 04:17 AM
I like what climbing said about starting with high-raw. If you don't feel a burrrning intense passion and commitment that tells you there is no other way except to go 100% right now, then you are setting yourself up for extremist thinking, not being able to appreciate the changes as much, and digging into the yo-yo that can go on for years.

At least that's my experience. I'm kind of in your same situation, I don't feel the intense commitment all the time (there are some short periods though) and that is scary, yet I have been trying to go straight back to 100% for the last year almost every day. So from this experience I can say that it is probably best if you take it slow. I find that going raw a second time is a lot scarier than going raw the first time because now we have expectations. So for this reason I think it's especially important to transition on the second time going raw... But of course I could be way wrong and maybe going 100% is what you need. Listen to your heart. Always remember to love yourself for every choice you make and that you make every one of your choices to love yourself and you will be in the right direction. That's what it's about in the end anyways, moving in the right direction

MysticTree
01-15-2012, 05:06 AM
I think it's always easiest the first time but that it is just a case of relearning how to think and relate to food generally