Long term raw fooders, tell us your story

[VeryBerry]

I was really inspired by Nora Lenz's story at www.rawschool.com.
Are there any long tem raw fooders (2 years plus) on this boards?
Please share your story with us.

The benefits you got form the raw food diet
Your transition period and how you deal with cravings, if you gey any
What do you eat on a typical day
How do you handle family & social situations

Look forward to hearing your stories
Nicole.

[rawpriestess]

well, I'm not a long term raw fooder, only been raw about 7 months, but I've been on/off/on/off for 5 years, does that count?


the biggest thing I've noticed is that the longer you eat 100% raw foods the easier it is, and I've gone on/off/on/off alot. so............

I'd say stay 100% raw as long as you can as it really makes it easier to just keep doing it, and also just do it for today, don't think that you HAVE to eat 100% raw food for the rest of your life, don't make a big deal out of it, just eat raw today, or this meal, and then don't worry about it, just do it.

I know that sounds pretty simple, but it's the best advice I have.
*************
The benefits you got form the raw food diet

Too numerous to mention, but I'll try,

well, so far, 85 pounds released
no insomnia
no PMS
no incontinance
no frequent urination or pain
no diarehha(sp?) no constipation
no flatulance
no belching
no ear aches
no headaches
no sinus stuffiness or pain
no ear itching
no pain
no joint pain
no thinning hair
no runny nose
no runny eyes
no itchy skin
no hot flashes
no mood swings
no aches and pains
no dry skin
no stinky breath
no body odor

and that is all I can think of right off the top of my head
****************
Your transition period and how you deal with cravings, if you gey any
I was a vegetarian for about 7 years before I heard about raw, I struggled with eating 100% raw for about 5 years, before I just did it.
cravings are only there for me when I actually get a bit of cooked food somehow inadvertantly, like when I was at a potluck, and I ate a salad, and it had some feta cheese in the dressing, or when someone at a pot luck had put wheat wrappers around a spring roll, but it was inside a veggie wrapper, UGH!!
****************
What do you eat on a typical day

I usually eat

breakfast:
orange juice
fresh fruit
and/or herbal tea, warm

lunch:
usually nothing, sometimes, orange juice or fruit

dinner:
usually fresh fruit or
rawviolis or
pizza
or salad
something heavier, but small portions

that's about it.
**************
How do you handle family & social situations

Well, I go out often, and I just order a fruit plate or a salad and lemon slices, usually if you go to really nice restaurants, they can make you what ever you like and will have a house vinegarette dressing to live for, or at least lots of fruits and veggies to choose from.

My family is my son, and he knows I'm raw, so that is that, if I go to his house, I bring my own food and share with him and his family, they love my food, I usually take a couple cases of fresh fruits for them all to enjoy, and some almond milk and dates and make my granddaughters almond milkshakes they love those, oh, and I take tons of fruit leather, they love those too. LOL

if I go to a friend's house for dinner, I always take something that I can share and eat, like a big fruit plate or salad,

when I travel to fairs and such, I take a cooler with me, and I usually stop at the local store, or farmer's market and buy a fresh fruit plate this works great, and feeds me for a long time, I don't eat alot on the road now that I'm raw.

when I was SAD, I couldn't get enough food, UGH!!, I would stop all the time for snacks, sandwiches, drinks, ice cream, candy bars, anything to keep up my sugar levels, LOL

[VeryBerry]

Thank so much RP,

I have been high raw for a while vegetarian since I was a teenager (now 28) & feel pretty healthy. I still have a few minor health problems, digetive problem, PMS occasionally. I am looking to take my health to the next level. I do not want to lose any weight, don't want to gain any either.

[DavidZaneMason]

Hmmm...

I've been all raw over 5 years. Benefits are balanced weight.....better sleep....little to no muscle fatigue....high energy. Healthier teeth.....thicker hair (on my head! Ha! ha!). Many other benefits.....oh...and better skin.

-I dealt with cravings by staying full of healthier foods that I like. And by transitioning slowly. I ate cooked snacks....but smaller and smaller conscious measures of them. I slowly switched out the crappy foods I craved....for healthier alternatives which didn't taste half bad (like soy burgers for hamburgers......or baked sweet potato instead of french fries! Ha! ha!)

-Now I eat:

1) Fresh OJ in the morning
2) Apples, pears, grapes or some other breakfast.
3) 5 small avocadoes for lunch
4) Fruit snack
5) Papaya or Pineapple for dinner.

-I handle family and social situations by eating before I go out, and by bringing a snack bag if I want to eat where I end up. Often I will just order a glass of water, and let my friends, family and loved ones know that I am there to spend quality time with THEM. I can spend quality time with food on my own time! Ha! ha!

-David Mason

[Rawkinlocs]

Hmmm...

I've been all raw over 5 years. Benefits are balanced weight.....better sleep....little to no muscle fatigue....high energy. Healthier teeth.....thicker hair (on my head! Ha! ha!). Many other benefits.....oh...and better skin.

-I dealt with cravings by staying full of healthier foods that I like. And by transitioning slowly. I ate cooked snacks....but smaller and smaller conscious measures of them. I slowly switched out the crappy foods I craved....for healthier alternatives which didn't taste half bad (like soy burgers for hamburgers......or baked sweet potato instead of french fries! Ha! ha!)

-Now I eat:

1) Fresh OJ in the morning
2) Apples, pears, grapes or some other breakfast.
3) 5 small avocadoes for lunch
4) Fruit snack
5) Papaya or Pineapple for dinner.

-I handle family and social situations by eating before I go out, and by bringing a snack bag if I want to eat where I end up. Often I will just order a glass of water, and let my friends, family and loved ones know that I am there to spend quality time with THEM. I can spend quality time with food on my own time! Ha! ha!

-David Mason

David,

I just wanted to say that you are always such an inspiration to me...always so positive and encouraging...never judgemental or pushy.

It's so nice to see how you transitioned into all raw and to see that you've now been all raw for 5 years! Wow!

[VeryBerry]

Hi David,

What motivated you to go raw?
Do you a have a website?
What do you do for a living?

Nicole.

[DeadNutrition]

I am probably one of the healthiest human beings on Earth. My mother raised me on a 100% raw diet, so I have not had to detox at all.

Breakfast:

4 Gooseberries
400 Goji berries
20 Mulberries
10 Blackberries
10 Blueberries
10 Strawberries
5 bananas

Lunch:

20 Walnuts
20 Hazelnuts
40 Pine Nuts
5 bananas

Dinner:

4 Apples
1 Chard leaf
15 Spinach leaves (daddy ones)
other various vegetables
5 bananas

I also eat other raw things but I do not think this site would like to mention it.

[lane]

DeadNutrition,
If you have time, and would like to- will you e-mail me info. on the other things you eat...I have been reading some work by Weston Price and am curious...
Thanks,
cc
cciula@hotmail.com

[DavidZaneMason]

-Thank you Rawkinlocs! You and the folks on the board are all so supportive! Easy to look good when you get the kind of support I do! LOL.

VeryBerry:

1) I was motivated by excessive weight and several health problems (IBS, High-blood pressure). Age 27 is too young to go on meds! Plus...my niece was about two....and I was noticing that I was getting winded carrying and playing with her. THAT had to stop. So I started doing research. I knew a good thing (raw food) when I saw it....and made a 'done-deal' commitment to transition (while giving myself a generous time frame).

2) Funny you should ask! I should have my website up in November. I'll have a great forum....and nightly moderated chat.....and a running chronical of the farm going up here in Central Florida! ETA: March 30th, 2007!

3) I'm working hard at a wonderful career as a Workforce Professional. We oversee the employment centers in 3 counties here in Florida. I'm like a para-legal for helping job-seekers and businesses to prosper and utilize federal funds (it's all at no-cost). If you check out www.heartland-workforce.org it will have more information! P.S. I'm the guy in the top middle picture! :)

-David Mason

[lodestar]

DZM...you are such a handsome guy...a good listener...wise beyond your years.

You make raw seem very doable. Thanks.

[Conscious Midwife]

I am probably one of the healthiest human beings on Earth. My mother raised me on a 100% raw diet, so I have not had to detox at all.

I also eat other raw things but I do not think this site would like to mention it.

I thought your theories of hydrofructolysis were based upon personal experience while going thru detox?!?!?!?!

[sungoddess]

I second the thank you to DZM for being so inspirational!

I also love your bulletpoints.... bulletpoints ALWAYS make me want to read things more :)

thanks!

(sorry I have no long term Raw story, VerryBerry, hopefully someday I will!)

[Conscious Midwife]

DZM...you are such a handsome guy...a good listener...wise beyond your years.

You make raw seem very doable. Thanks.

Yeh quiet the "looker"


Whooo Hooo

[swingbolder]

I second the thank you to DZM for being so inspirational!

Ditto.

Not that I'm stalking you or anything DMZ, but I used to really enjoy your posts over on rawfoodsupport.com, and was glad when you started posting here as well. :)

[DeadNutrition]

I thought your theories of hydrofructolysis were based upon personal experience while going thru detox?!?!?!?!

No, I said that consuming large amounts of fruit (depending on the type of fruit consumed) will aid in the detoxification, but not that I have actually detoxified myself. My theory on hydrofructolysis is this: the more fruit you eat, the better hydrated you are, and the healthier your blood sugar levels will be. I'd like to make it clear that I basically "invented" the word hydrofructolysis and it cannot be found in any books, internet sites, or anywhere else for that matter. I sometimes make up words that I think deserve coinage.