3 weeks raw from OK.

[Blu]

Today is my 3 week mark 100% raw. I went cold turkey & I am so happy I decided to do this for my health!

I moved to Oklahoma from the Los Angeles Beach Cities 4 years ago & have found it so hard to eat really healthy here (besides the locally grown fresh produce). I am even planning my own natural garden & small orchard now.

I'm sorry I didn't find this board sooner, but so glad I'm here now! :p

[ArtGirlTX]

Welcome neighbor! How are you feeling at 3 weeks?

[TA]

Hi Blu, welcome! What part of Oklahoma are you in? That's a tough place to be raw, congratulations on such a great beginning! I lived in Yukon for 15 years til 1990 then came back out to southern Cal. I miss the wonderful people but not the weather, lol.

Wish you the best!

[Blu]

Thanks for the welcome both of you!

I am feeling great... I have a lot more energy, I feel happier, my skin is looking great & soft & I have lost weight. I grew up eating a lot of fruit (having fruit trees in so cal helped) & vegetables (my mom always had a huge garden & we had blackberry vines & a strawberry patch), so this isn't very foreign to me.

The thing is, about 9 years ago I started to workout heavily & was looking to compete in fitness competitions, I started eating the bodybuilder way, lots of protein, hardly any carbs, lots of cottage cheese, oatmeal.. and then when I moved to oklahoma, that kind of stopped & i started to eat junk.

A few weeks before I went raw, I was eating very clean SAD. So the transition hasn't been bad. I was very surprised by my lack of appetite. Feeling satisfied with small quantities & calories.

I have been achey, worn out feeling, irratable but calm at the same time. I also have had a semi sore throat the past few days & I have some extra "coating" on my tongue a lot of the day. I am finding it hard to eat more than 1300 cal. a day, so I know that a lot of that is ketosis/fat burning as well (which I'm embracing).


I have supplemented my routine with veg. enzyme capsules & 2 "shots" of a detoxifying aloe gel/juice drink I got at the local health food store.

I am in Edmond, and am going to the local farmers market sat. to see what is there. If I don't find much, I will be ordering from a place in arizona that delivers organic produce to your door weekly. I am also trying to get my Mom to start another huge garden that I will help out with. I am really looking forward to doing that.

I am mostly eating green smoothies, cantaloupe, berries, avocados & salads. I made an amazing pudding with banana, cocao nibs & coconut the other day. I am surprised I'm not eating more nuts, but I just don't have a craving for them at all.

[Blu]

Oh my lastest detox symptom...

Itching skin... I hear that this happens when toxins are leaving through the skin in various places.

I also learned the hard way that pineapple/mango in the same 24 hour period makes my chin break out in rashes/sores... unless that was part of my detox too.

But I love this, the experimenting, the feeling of finally, This is the way we all should be eating... I've read that people say, "I read about it, and the light went on." Well thats what happened to me. I read about it one night, the next.. I went 100%. I'm not going to turn back... the thing is, I don't really consider myself a vegan, I mean, I am now, but it's strange for me since I liked to eat meat, cheese, etc.. but I know this is the way I will be eating now. It just feels so right & tastes sooooo good! I ate a whole container of blueberries (only) yesterday for lunch. It was so decadant!

I now tell people when they ask, that I just stopped eating things that I have to cook. :D

[Boysenberry]

I love that, "that I just stopped eating things I have to cook" what a great reply!

[Blu]

Thanks! It's helped a few times...

some alt. responses...

I stopped eating things that have to be cooked.

I stopped eating things that require cooking first.

It goes over well with people who are on a SAD diet & think you are dieting, especially those that wouldn't respond well to me saying that eating cooked food is poison to my body (and theirs). It kind of makes it sound like I have a problem, not them... but in the long run, my health, youthful appearance & vitality will rub off (hopefully)!

[butterfly]

Hi Blu!

Welcome! I also like your response to those questioning the raw way of eating. I think I might borrow that line from you, if you don't mind. :D I also went raw cold turkey in one day. It's the best thing I've ever done for myself. I'm surprised I haven't had dreams of grilled cheese sandwiches (my used-to-be-favorite). Thankfully my green smoothies, delicious fruit and veggies have become a my new favorite. Take care,

[Blu]

Thanks Butterfly!

Of course you can use that line, I'm sure I'm not the first :p

I was trying to find a way to downplay it so it wouldn't be a huge topic of converstaion with a lot of the older generations that I know. I havn't had to use it too much, but I know once I start doing more social things again, I will have to.

I have been wondering when I would start craving stuff.. I think about food now, but havn't been tempted to stray yet. *crossing fingers

[MoniDew]

I moved to Oklahoma from the Los Angeles Beach Cities 4 years ago & have found it so hard to eat really healthy here (besides the locally grown fresh produce).

HI!! I, too live in Oklahoma, in Tulsa. What part of OK are you? I also moved here from Los Angeles (San Fernando Valley growing up, then La Habra for 4 years, after I got married,) 21 years ago. What you say is true about it being very difficult to eat truly healthy here. Local produce is good, but not organic. A smattering of organic offerings beginning to appear in WalMart grocery here. Other than that, you'd have to go to a healthfood store. Those are few and far between.

Send me a personal message through the site, if you'd like to be raw Okie pals.

[Blu]

Hey MoniDew! I grew up in SFV as well. Sherman Oaks, then lived in Manhattan Beach/El Segundo area for a few years before moving here.

I am in Edmond, just north of OKC.

I have found some organic produce in the local super target nearby. I havn't gone totally organic yet, I searched for farmers markets but it doesn't seem that any are all year. There is one near the airport in OKC that is year round, but I wonder if there is even food there and not just crafts in the winter.

I'll be sending you a pm : )

[sweetgoddess]

A warm welcome to the forum, and congrats on giving youself such an incredible gift. Yeah for you!!

[Blu]

Thanks much sweetgoddess!

[TimmyC]

Welcome Blu. I'm your neighbor to the north east. I'm from Missouri. I know what you mean about the food products in the midwest. It's hard to find quality out here, which seems to me to be crazy as this is serious farm land. Oh well I believe it has to do with the way local people are raised here (big time meat and potatoes here). Congrats on the 3 weeks!! Keep up the great work.


Tim

[Blu]

Hey Timmy, Thanks for the welcome.

I think the problem is all the places to eat, not the grocery stores.

In los angeles I could get really good food via take out, fast food even. Here, there just isn't a big enough market for it.

The 8 sq. mile area I grew up in had 3x's the amount of people in it than this whole state has.

I just didn't get with the program and prepare the food like I should have. Now its pretty simple, still takes longer than ordering and bringing it home though :)

[Aasyah]

Blu,

Good going keep it up. :D I am now 3 days 100% raw, have a ways to go :) .

[TimmyC]

Yah Blu....I know what you mean. I'm out in the LA area right now, and the demand for raw is incredible. I just went to Al Lac's last night....not sure if you ever heard of it, but it was simply amazing. I sure do wish they had something like that here in St. Louis. :).

Tim



Hey Timmy, Thanks for the welcome.

I think the problem is all the places to eat, not the grocery stores.

In los angeles I could get really good food via take out, fast food even. Here, there just isn't a big enough market for it.

The 8 sq. mile area I grew up in had 3x's the amount of people in it than this whole state has.

I just didn't get with the program and prepare the food like I should have. Now its pretty simple, still takes longer than ordering and bringing it home though :)

[Juicyfruit]

Hi Blu! I am from Oklahoma also. I live in Moore, but I work in N. OKC right by Edmond. This is my first post as well, just found the site! Just give me a shout if you ever want to chat!

[Blu]

Welcome to RawFoodTalk JuicyFruit!

I love it, we have 3 here from Ok so far that I know of.

How long have you been raw?

[Juicyfruit]

Hi there! I have known about RAW for almost three years and have been at least 70% most of the time. I have been 100% for the last three days. I am still working on getting past the food addiction. I can tell you this, raw is definatley where I want to be. I feel like a different person when I eat cooked. I have been very senstive to chemicals and additives since my mid twenties. I am in my mid thirties now.

I read one of your previous posts about how hard it is to be raw here. I totally agree! Where do you get most of your produce from? I go to Akins off of Memorial and sometimes I go to the bigger store on 63rd on my way home from work. There is a store called Heath Food Store on my side of town and it has a better selection of some products and prices, but Akins has better produce. Where do you shop at?

I got excited the other day when I found this site, because it seems to be very active and that is hard to find in a raw forum!

[Blu]

I also go to both of the Akins. I do get most of my produce from Sams Club right now. Pom's, bananas, avo's, tomatos, blueberries, romaine & spinach.

I use a veggie wash I got from Akins for all the produce before I eat it.

I looked online for farmers markets & it seems there is one year round near the state fairgrounds. I have a feeling though that it may consist mostly of crafts than food.

I am definitely about ready to start having organic produced delivered to me weekly. I am pricing it right now.

Also, my parents live north of me about 20 miles away. They own property a block away from them that is being unused now (used to be where they kept horses) & then quite a few acres about 10 miles from them. I am trying to convince my mom that we should start up a big garden in one of the locations. She has always gardened & is finding no luck growing tomatos in her yard lately. So, she is kind of into it. She also wants to start some fruit trees. So I am pretty excited.

When we lived in Los Angeles, we were so lucky. We had 2 grapefruit trees, 2 tangelo trees, 1 orange tree, a pecan tree (great pecans), a lemon & a tangerine tree that hung over our fence plus strawberries & blackberry bushes. I want to get something like that back.

Actually my mom has a pecan tree now & gives me fresh pecans all the time. So lucky!

I bet you can find some great produce locally. you know, corner stands. I see pecan stands all over the place.

[Juicyfruit]

I just bought a house and it has two pecan trees in the back. My parents have pear, apple, cherry and peach trees. The fruit isn't always that great though and the bugs get most of it. Unfortuneately, my dad will get the seven dust out after them as well, telling me after my speech, you know the one about pesticides, that I can wash it off!

I have been to some of the farmers markets around here. I went to the OSU market on meridian and tenth st. It had some organic produce. Mainly salad stuff. It was really fun looking at all the vendors produce.

Right now I am enjoying the orange season. Oranges were so bad the last few months.

Let me know if you find a reasonable priced organic distibutor! I would love to check that out! I didn't even know it was available. I would also like to know where to purchase in bulk. Do you have any knowledge about that?

[Blu]

oh you are lucky you have pecans! Yummy.

I get bulk stuff at sams club. I"ll pm you the link to the site I'm looking at for delivering organic produce.

[Blu]

After exploring a few links from this thread
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8717

Check this link (http://www.localharvest.org/search.jsp?scale=&lat=&lon=&ty=0&nm=&co=1&zip=&st=38&but.x=15&but.y=4&but=s)

I found a few csa's in OK, a lot of great farms & a dairy that produces & sells raw dairy products.
http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M8763

Just thought some of you in OK might be interested.

[Sivana]

By seeing your thread, I just realized that I am THREE WEEKS RAW today. Thanks for posting. I think I'll celebrate my own success. It definitely is three weeks of feeling great!

[cpinokc]

Hi, Blu and JuicyFruit! I'm also from OK. Midwest City, to be exact, so I'm very close to both of you! :D

[mypinkbow]

If you Oklahoma peoples decide to have a raw potluck I am just here in Wichita KS and would love to be included as I think there is no one else in Kansas that is RAW............

[VibraTechJulie]

Great to see more and more Okies on the board. I'm south of most of you in Pauls Valley. There's a great organic co-op in Wayne, OK. (Closest to JuicyFruit in Moore). Anyway, I agree an Okie Raw Potluck would be great! Let me know!
Raw Blessings,
Julie

[Blu]

I have been seriously considering setting up potlucks in Guthrie, Ok.
It is right off 1-35 and highways 77 and 33 and I have access to a building with a kitchen & a dining hall. Not sure if this is too far for some of you. Let me know what you all think.

[Svadhyaya]

Hey Blu - in your avatar you look a alot like Audrey Raines, Jack's girlfriend in the TV show "24." Very pretty and elegant!

That has nothing to do with anything - I'm just a 24 fiend.

Good luck on your raw journey!

[Blu]

Thank you Svadhyaya! I haven't seen the show yet, but I appreciate the compliment : )

[VibraTechJulie]

Guthrie is a 1 1/2 hour drive for me so it would have to be on weekend day that I'm in town.

It's about a 2 hour drive from Wichita, KS.

Thanks Blu for trying to arrange something. On Tuesday nights in Norman there is a vegan potluck. Not much raw but if we all invaded - it could be!! ;)

Raw Blessings,
Julie

[Blu]

I think I found that vegan potluck in Norman listed online somewhere. I'm tempted to start going down to Denton for potlucks just to meet others. I'm going to get a feel for the area here to see if there are any into raw.

It may end up being a long term goal, but I will start a raw potluck (and hopefully cafe/deli) in the future in this area. :p

[VibraTechJulie]

Denton has a good amount of raw foodists. Cynthia Beavers is from there. Here's her site. (http://www.rawheaven.com) My only problem with the potlucks in Denton is they are on Friday nights:
Denton Raw Food Potlucks
second Friday of every month, 5:30-7:00 pm.
RSVP required.
Rudra Center for Enlightened Awareness
609 N. Locust St.
Call Asha at 940-384-7946 to RSVP and for more info.

Raw Blessings,
Julie

[Blu]

Yes, I'm sure the timing will have to be thought out especially if its one raw potluck for a whole state :)

[rawpriestess]

welcome, and

CONGRATULTIONS!!!

YEAH!!!

[myssi]

Welcome! I am now in Minnesota (for 3 years), but I grew up in Oklahoma--lived there for 17 years. There are many, many things I DON'T miss about living there (like tornadoes), but I sure would sure like some of that sunshine!

I wasn't raw while there, but I know the road-side stands were great in the summer--the rest of the year, I'm not sure what a rawbie is to do. I know Albertson's in Norman is where I first noticed organic stuff popping up around 5 years ago or so--maybe it's expanded now???

As far as the road-side stands go I have 3 words for you. . .black diamond watermelons. . .mmmmmm! Oh, just thought of one more thing--Stratford peaches. . .OK, I'm hungry now :D

WELCOME! WELCOME!

Myssi

[gatorgrrl]

hey Blu,

congrats on your 3 week mark. I am on day 5 100% but I plan on eating a cooked meal at dinner tonight with a salad. My family being originally from Florida are big on seafood, so we are having a seafood meal tonight at my parents. I have decided for myself on the raw and living journey that I am no longer going to be concerned with percents, but rather how can I make every meal the healthest. Monday through Friday I plan to keep to a ALL raw diet and on the weekends I may sneak in 1 or 2 cooked items along with my raw. I am just going to make sure my cooked items are the smallest portion of my diet rather then in the past having it me the most or even 50/50

[myssi]

VibraTechJulie. . .I don't know how I missed it. . .I just noticed you're from Pauls Valley!!! :eek:

I went to high school in Wynnewood and my hubby is from Pauls Valley--he lived there his whole life until 2002! WOW!!!