How to Start?

[beccabugaboo]

Hello, I am 17 years old. I have struggled with my weight for my whole life. I have been through the hospital for 1 1/2 strait for anorexia. I saw the information about the raw food diet on a show. I started to look into it. The benefits were appealing to me. Feeling healthier, losing weight, better digestion, more energy. Anyway, I was wondering how to start on the raw food diet. It has been 4 years since I have been out of the hospital, and I have gained weight rapidly. I am not even a vegetarian? So how does someone who only eats junk, sweets, fats start on the raw food diet. I heard something about detox somewhere?
Thank you
-Becca

[JennaBoBenna]

Hi Becca!
So glad you're into the Raw Food Diet! If you look around the forum there are sooo many posts about everything you mentioned :) Just click around to your heart's desire and I'm sure you'll find all the info you need. This forum is really wonderful!

[fiddler]

How to start? Follow these steps.
1. Decide to do it (you already have)
2. Eat raw organic fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.
3. Walk or some other form of exercise
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3.

That's all there is to it.

Detox will happen and you'll have to fight through the detox but once you do you should be alot healthier and happier.

There are other things you can do to learn:
- Buy Alissa's book and dvd
- Read other books as well. Plenty of info on this site and others.

Good luck on your journey.

[kmik]

Becca,

You're a very brave young lady. Congratulations on deciding now that you're going to make healthy changes in your life!

I agree with Fiddler, buy Alissa's book (www.alissacohen.com). I was struggling with raw until I read that, and it made it SO easy for me!

But of course you don't want to wait till you get the book. One quick and easy way to start increasing your raw intake is with smoothies. Every morning I have a fruit smoothie (whatever fruit I have, usually an apple, a banana, an orange, some strawberries and some blueberries). Mix some fruit up in your blender with some water and ice. If you want, you can add things like coconut oil and hemp protein powder (I found that adding these two things curbs any bad cravings all day for me.)

If you get adventerous, try a green smoothie. We can't have too many greens! Mix some fruit with kale, or a dark variety of lettuce, or spinach. Again, add water and ice... in the beginning you might want to sweeten it a little with some raw agave nectar. This may sound gross, but really, you don't taste the greens!

You'll have to get used to a whole new way of thinking. You can NOT eat too much if you're 100% raw. Raw food is so enjoyable, so there's no reason to hold back. Your body will still heal and regulate itself, even if you think you're eating a lot.

Best of luck to you, and always remember this board is here for your support!