ashbrown
05-09-2012, 07:36 PM
Before:
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t150/NeciReed/raw/BEFORE.jpg
After:
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t150/NeciReed/raw/AFTER.jpg
After, with smile ;D
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t150/NeciReed/raw/fb.jpg
(SORRY these photos are so huge. you wouldn't believe how long it took me to even get them up and how many attempts I made to scale them down!)
ok, the before photo is SO horrible and embarrassing that I *really* don't want to put it up. I'm only posting in hopes that it will inspire others. the before shot was taken after I had a long sickness that prevented me from exercising, went on a new form of birth control and had overall poor eating habits. I felt out of control, depressed and hopeless. It is my wish that these photos and my story will show you that change IS possible and can happen more quickly than you may think!
these photos were taken 2.5 months apart. I was not 100% raw the entire time- I admit I took a day off here and there. I'd go a few weeks 100% raw and then every so often have a "cooked" day or two. I started to walk on average about 2 miles five or six days a week. For three weeks I had a free gym trial membership and I would do Zumba or ride the bikes there.
While raw I definitely noticed a HUGE difference in my energy levels. I suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome and also chronic upper back/ neck pain and there was definitely a large reduction of tiredness and pain. I also suffer from cystic acne and about 2 weeks in it had totally stopped. I definitely had that raw glow going on as well! My skin tone was even and less red.
I also noticed a huge change in my mood. I felt happier and more relaxed. Sometimes I get severe anxiety or panic attacks, neither of which occurred while raw. I felt a deeper sense of peace and more spiritually connected.
My average daily eating habits were an apple for breakfast, a salad and green smoothie for lunch (spread about 2 or 3 hours apart) and for dinner something like raw pasta (zucchini noodles and my own raw marinara sauce), raw homemade sushi (vegan of course!), lettuce wraps/ burritos, or another salad. I became quite adventurous in the kitchen and really had so much fun experimenting with new recipes. I tried new foods and opened myself up to the experience.
I still want to continue to work on my body (weight loss/ toning up wise). if you ask me how much weight I lost the answer is: I DON'T KNOW! I used to weigh myself multiple times a day and obsess over it. I told myself when I started this journey that I'd stop caring about the numbers and focus on being HEALTHY! I am more than a number. Eventually I'm sure I'll step back on the scale, but only when I'm ready (still have more work to do physically/ emotionally before that happens).
I definitely plan on eating a high raw diet for LIFE. I don't know if 100% raw is feasible for me at this time in my life, but I can honestly say that the more raw foods I eat the BETTER I feel. For now I am trying to be as raw as possible but also being patient and kind with myself. If I have a bit of cooked food here and there I am not going to drive myself crazy about it. This is a lifestyle change and I'm taking it one new day at a time and enjoying the journey. =)
Please don't hesitate to ask any questions should you have any! I'll do my best to respond.
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t150/NeciReed/raw/BEFORE.jpg
After:
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t150/NeciReed/raw/AFTER.jpg
After, with smile ;D
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t150/NeciReed/raw/fb.jpg
(SORRY these photos are so huge. you wouldn't believe how long it took me to even get them up and how many attempts I made to scale them down!)
ok, the before photo is SO horrible and embarrassing that I *really* don't want to put it up. I'm only posting in hopes that it will inspire others. the before shot was taken after I had a long sickness that prevented me from exercising, went on a new form of birth control and had overall poor eating habits. I felt out of control, depressed and hopeless. It is my wish that these photos and my story will show you that change IS possible and can happen more quickly than you may think!
these photos were taken 2.5 months apart. I was not 100% raw the entire time- I admit I took a day off here and there. I'd go a few weeks 100% raw and then every so often have a "cooked" day or two. I started to walk on average about 2 miles five or six days a week. For three weeks I had a free gym trial membership and I would do Zumba or ride the bikes there.
While raw I definitely noticed a HUGE difference in my energy levels. I suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome and also chronic upper back/ neck pain and there was definitely a large reduction of tiredness and pain. I also suffer from cystic acne and about 2 weeks in it had totally stopped. I definitely had that raw glow going on as well! My skin tone was even and less red.
I also noticed a huge change in my mood. I felt happier and more relaxed. Sometimes I get severe anxiety or panic attacks, neither of which occurred while raw. I felt a deeper sense of peace and more spiritually connected.
My average daily eating habits were an apple for breakfast, a salad and green smoothie for lunch (spread about 2 or 3 hours apart) and for dinner something like raw pasta (zucchini noodles and my own raw marinara sauce), raw homemade sushi (vegan of course!), lettuce wraps/ burritos, or another salad. I became quite adventurous in the kitchen and really had so much fun experimenting with new recipes. I tried new foods and opened myself up to the experience.
I still want to continue to work on my body (weight loss/ toning up wise). if you ask me how much weight I lost the answer is: I DON'T KNOW! I used to weigh myself multiple times a day and obsess over it. I told myself when I started this journey that I'd stop caring about the numbers and focus on being HEALTHY! I am more than a number. Eventually I'm sure I'll step back on the scale, but only when I'm ready (still have more work to do physically/ emotionally before that happens).
I definitely plan on eating a high raw diet for LIFE. I don't know if 100% raw is feasible for me at this time in my life, but I can honestly say that the more raw foods I eat the BETTER I feel. For now I am trying to be as raw as possible but also being patient and kind with myself. If I have a bit of cooked food here and there I am not going to drive myself crazy about it. This is a lifestyle change and I'm taking it one new day at a time and enjoying the journey. =)
Please don't hesitate to ask any questions should you have any! I'll do my best to respond.