Hi!

[AubreyG]

Hi, friends!

My name is Aubrey and I am new to being a raw foodist. I had no idea what this was all about until just a couple weeks ago; I have been plagued with chronic illness and I am young! Too young for Fibromyalgia Syndrome, Migraines, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and even possibly MS to be taking their toll on my body. I used to spend $200 a month on about 14 different prescription drugs, as I was told there was nothing anyone could do but make me more comfortable...no cure.

I began doing my research, and stumbled across a TON of articles linking chronic illness and diseases to environmental toxicity, mostly through foods, water, and beauty products, just ot begin. I'm sure you are all aware! Well, I kept digging, and looking for holistic "cures" or at least something natural to help, because I felt horrible all the time, in spite of all the medication...and then I found out I had a huge cyst on my ovary, and they want to do surgery.

I got desperate for natural answers, and found this site. When I read up on what miracles raw foods can do, such as ridding Alissa Cohen of Fibromyalgia, and others of even cancer, I was sold. No food is worth becoming diseased over.

I switched all my beauty care products to organic and all natural chemical free, as well as my cleaners. And I switched to an entirely raw, organic diet. This book has changed my life. It has been two weeks, and I have have so much energy; I can't remember having such energy since I was a child. The fatigue is gone. The pain is gone. Its all gone, and I have NEVER felt so great. I don't want bad food because I know what it will do to me, and I never want to feel like that again. This, after only 2 weeks. I can't imagine feeling better, but know that I probably will in 2 months! Oh...and I stopped taking all my prescription medication and take nothing anymore. My yoga practice has even gotten better...and my career (I'm in law school studying to be an environmental attorney) has taken on an even greater, truer meaning, and that makes me feel more sincere, and confident in what I am fighting for!

Thanks soooooo much for this diet, this book, and awakening me to the the fact that there is more to health and healing than medicine...I feel like the person that I knew I was always meant to be. I've posted a link to this site on an MS support group board that I belong to, and I hope that others will awaken to this possiblity...this alternative...and cure themselves, too.

Aubrey

[shari]

Yea for Aubrey!! I'll be interested in watching your progress away from the pain & frusteration you've been experiencing. Are you doing the 30 Day Challenge? I think you'll find lots of encouragement and information here--- welcome!

[RawTruth]

Congratulations and welcome!! You've had such tremendous results. Isn't it a great way to live?

[AubreyG]

Thank you so much, you two. I'm going to figure out how to start a journal at some point today. I am going to my rheumatologist to strut my raw self today, so I hope he finds it inspiring enough to tell his other patients about!

I have decided that even though I have been at least 75% raw for the past two weeks, that I am going to do the 30 day challenege, and go 100% starting on Friday (I just bought my first dehydrator, and I get paid tomorrow and am heading straight to Whole Foods Market!).

How did both of you fall into Raw Foods?


Aubrey

[shari]

Hey again Aubrey;
I learned about eating raw from my daughter, she's on this site 2........you can look up her journal under 30 Day Challenge and click on "r'-- She's 'raeannasun'. She told me about Raw Food Talk and helped set me up on this awesome place. I had dabbled in nutrition (junk food always seemed to get the best of me) and wanted to have a healthier life and be at my ideal weight, which I hadn't been since my last baby was born--- almost 20 years!!! aaahhhhh!!! So, it seemed like all the pieces fit together at the right time to explore the idea of eating fresh, whole foods. I've lost a little over 10 lbs. in less than 2 weeks and I'm feeling pretty good, I think I've had some detox days of lethargy, but my body feels satisfied- and I even gave up coffee, which was a BIG one for me, I've tried drinking some a couple of times at work, but it doesn't taste good and I know I shouldn't, so I dump it out.
I know you'll find lots of interesting and motivational stories on here of people who are being successful (and the struggles) so I wish you the best. If you can, go to the different thread topics, there is ample amounts of information here to help you stay the course.
Peace to you;
Shari

[raeannasun]

Aubrey, that's so awesome!!! That's my mom Shari and we both have set up journals on the 30 day challenge. My mom is doing so good!!! I slipped yesterday but I'm on the right track again today!!! I am so encouraged by your statement that you are not even tempted by bad food because you know what it does to your body. I'm trying to get to that place. The more I learn and read the more I see how far I still need to go.

Good luck on your 100%!!!!

[AubreyG]

Thanks so much you two!

When I see someone eating something bad, I have to stop myself from telling them, "Please dooooon't eat that!" I don't want to be one of those hardcore annoying people who always has to tell others what to do. If people ask, I fill them in, but it kills me to see fast food anymore. I've never been overweight, but I get an instant visual of a cute little cow, and then a horrible visual of the fat just dripping off of the burger and literally get to feeling ill; I don't think 100% will be a problem for me because I am feeling so much better now, and the last thing I want to do is to go back to feeling like hell...been there, done that!

Congrats on sticking to it! Chocolate is the only thing I really find myself missing a lot, but I made some of those mock fudge brownies, and they are super fantastic. I'm acquiring my newly found raw and living sweet tooth!

Best of luck to you both, and I'm so happy to meet other on the path to health! Yea for you!

Aubrey

[RawTruth]

When I see someone eating something bad, I have to stop myself from telling them, "Please dooooon't eat that!"

Isn't that the truth. I especially feel so bad for the little kids being fed the SAD. Seeing a toddler tripping along with a soft drink cup and a straw sucking the sugar water like it's good for him is just heartbreaking.

Chocolate is the only thing I really find myself missing a lot, but I made some of those mock fudge brownies, and they are super fantastic. I'm acquiring my newly found raw and living sweet tooth!

It's amazing the way our taste buds adapt -- I can't wait for my one year raw anniversary (only 8 months to go!) and then 5 years .... on. I can't imagine how I'll be eating then. I know from long-time raw foodists that any twinges and cravings will be gone.

[AubreyG]

RawTruth:

Hi! Yeah, I have heard that the cravings do go away, and that cravings for sweets have their roots in a deep seeded dependence on complex sugar, that horrible processed foods addiction cycle. I can't wait to shove past it. Like you, I just try to think of processed food as VERY disgusting as to what it does to my body and life in general, and I try to remember that it isn't really food; its edible, but has no nutritional value, and that it does nothing to nurture the body...if I take a second to meditate on that truth, I can usually push the craving to the wayside with no problem! I think right now, dates are my biggest indulgence...and not the worst indulgence to have, either!

Have a great day!
Aubrey

[RawTruth]

Your strategy of substituting a raw food for the SAD food is a great one, too. I've gone on a few date-eating jags myself. They're a staple in my cupboard. You quickly learn what to keep around, don't you?