Stay-at-home ADD Dad: The RAW Version

[Waldo]

Hey folks, I've been stalking the forum for a bit and thought I would introduce myself. I've been raw since August and since that time (and without trying to be too dramatic) I have made drastic changes in my life! Physical, mental, spiritual... YEP, it's more than I expected, that's for sure. And as odd at is might sound, it started because of an ADD medication.

So let me explain LOL, and I apologize in advance if this is too long. For years I had been anti-medicine, despite having lowering most of my other standards with extremely poor eating habits, low physical activity, and way to much alcohol (beer to be specific). I had actually reached a point where I was having at least 6 beers a night before I went to bed. I have always had a hard to sleeping, so the beer definitely "helped" with that. But pertaining to the ADD medicine, I never wanted to take anything for it although I knew I had a very intense and beyond classic case of it. Well my life had come to a very low point as a husband, dad, and self-esteem. I weighed more than I ever had, around 203 and this was mostly around my middle. I hated how I looked. Without out going too long, I can sum it up with: major depression. And I have always had an "on-the-bright-side" kind of outlook. SO, I finally agreed to taking something for my ADD. It is called Vyvanse. Within 2 days of taking it, my entire outlook changed. My brain functioned in a way it had never worked. I could organize and plan inside my head, carry out tasks... I could go on. But simply put, my wife began to call it my "super hero" pill. I know that these meds are given out like candy now to just about anyone. But this med specifically worked for my exact brain-type/issue. When it kicks in, my brain crackles to life. A telescope becoming crisply focused. I got more things done around my house in 2 weeks than I had the entire 4 years we have lived here. But now there was another problem.

My blood pressure had already gotten to high levels, but with this med it was extremely high. And later in the day as it started to wear off, my bp would spike even more, and my arms hands would feel fluttery. My wife is a nurse, and I would have her check it several times through-out the day. It would reach levels like 150-160ish over 100ish. I could literally Feel that my blood pressure was high, a feeling I did not like. So did I give up a med that was drastically changing my life, or just risk the higher blood pressure issue. I decided I would risk it. But I realized I had to make huge changes in my life in order to keep my BP down so I could continue the med. I'd never had such incentive.

As fate would have it, my wife suggested that we both take a cleanse class that her physician's clinic hosts a couple times a year. I jumped on it because I had done cleanses long long ago and always felt they helped me reboot. This was a 5 week course and gradually lead up to 7-day juice cleanse at the end. First week we gave up all grains, meat and dairy. I also gave up alcohol and caffeine. Starting the 2nd week I decided to just go completely raw and have been raw since. It has been quite a learning process and I still feel like a grade-school kid coming back from summer vacation. I am learning a lot on the forum. But the results I have had so far have been nothing short of amazing.

The biggest obvious difference is that I've lost 40 pounds, virtually all of which was from the waist on up. My blood pressure norm now is about 110ish over 70-80 (before the vyvanse evening-spike). My depression is COMPLETELY gone. I hardly recognize myself on several levels. It's almost funny but I keep asking myself "Who AM I now?" My marriage has never been better - my wife LOVES the new me. My patience with my children has drastically improved and increasing day by day. So now, and to conclude my last Cliff-notes section of my introduction (HEHE Sorry!) I am left with another dilemma. I want to get off my Vyvanse ADD med.

But how could I abandoned the miracle drug that probably saved my marriage and much much more? Well, since being raw I am gradually feeling less and less of the sharp clarity "high" I felt from the vyvanse(which kicks in about 30-60 minutes after taking it) and more of a constant clarity(which I feel in the mornings before taking the med). It's almost like there is a battle between the two now. Plus the evening arm/hand blood-pressure thing is still happening and it's more of a Crash now, leaving me with very low energy. I kind of just want to see if my diet alone can achieve similar (or better) results. I KNOW the vyvanse works for me, but I don't know if this new way of eating/living works(without the vyvanse). My wife does NOT want me to get off it. She says she will not go back to the old way. I don't blame her, I don't want to either! But besides my back pain (unrelated long-term issue), I believe it's the vyvanse that is stopping me from reaching the next "level" of health. It's powerful stuff.

A quick summary of my diet. It changes a bit each week as I learn more and figure out what works best for me. My body seems able to intelligently tell me what it needs instead of the old way: "Gimme a 6 pack and a cheeseburger!" lol. I do use some organic dried spices which I'm sure some are not raw. I also use nutritional yeast on occasion, and make dehydrated crackers about once a week. I use stevia as well. But other than that I would say I am raw with everything else. I lean a bit more towards the Gabriel Cousens side of things in terms of a bit lower sugar, a bit more fat. I keep tweaking it. At first I was having a lot more fruit but it seems to make me a bit buzzy/jittery. I lowered the fruit(about 2 pieces a day now), increased coconut oil, flax seed, chia, hemp seeds, and have large amounts of greens,vegies and sprouts. 1 or 2 green juices a day (just got a greenstar juicer for $75 on craigslist, WOOWOO!). I make 1 "gourmet" meal each week which my whole family eats and it's pretty fun to create different meals like this. I quickly realized not to get carried away with them. I seem to feel better when I just keep it simple, but it's also a great way for my kids to adapt to my sudden change.

So thanks for listening! If you are just starting out on this journey I hope this has encouraged you to keep going. I've learned that it comes down to your individual needs and that these needs change. There are dozens of genius rawfood scientists/teachers/gurus out there that COMPLETELY contradict each other so it can get really confusing! If you are a veteran of this lifestyle, you are my heroes and I hope to learn a lot from you!

Waldo

[Dagelinckx]

Hi Waldo,

I have been reading your long post and as many of people here are trying to recover from any kind of disease and medication and most of them are doing very well.

Myself is trying to cure diabetes type 1 that is the one they say "that this is not possible to cure" but now I already have lowered by intake with 95% and I'm sure I can get of the medication, I know there are people they can do it so why not you and me.

I have lots of energy and feel great since I be raw, why you just not give it a try and stop the medication if it does not work out you always can go back if you not try you will never know.

As you said before you never liked to take medication because you know it will not be good for you in the long run if you can do without it it will be better I wish you all the luck and let me know what you have planned to take take care

[Waldo]

Thanks for your reply Dagelinckx, I was beginning to wonder if anyone ever would, lol! Yes the length is pretty long though.

So as an update I actually DID stop taking the Vyvanse almost 2 weeks ago. I had had enough of the tingly hands and high blood pressure in the evenings. And guess what? I am fine. I actually stopped cold-turkey which I know is something you aren't supposed to do. I had read horror stories of people coming off of it so I was a bit nervous. But I also knew that my body was in the perfect state to quickly detox and I only had 1 day of "wiggity-ness" (felt some mood swings and spacey.)

I started to take Ginkgo Biloba, as well as one of Dr. Christopher's brain supplements. I no longer get that super focus that Vyvanse gave me however. But the evening buzzy-blood pressure stuff went away too.

Regarding Type 1 diabetes, I wonder if you have seen the documentary Gabriel Cousens did on diabetes? I think it's called Simply Raw. Great movie. There is always hope!

[streetsurfer]

Hi Waldo and welcome! Very glad you're here and sharing you're story. Your testimony is sure to help others.Ron

[GoodCat]

Welcome Waldo...

Maybe as you continue your journey, you will get that "super focus" again but naturally!!

Cathy

[Saria]

Hi Waldo. I am glad to hear you are doing good off the medicine, that's how powerful raw is! I had swollen lymph nodes that the doctors said were not cancerous, yet didn't know what was wrong with me. I started with a water/tea fast and have been raw 2 weeks and the swelling is already gone and I can finally smell again!

How does your family deal with you eating raw? Do they still eat SAD? What is a typical dinner at your house like? I live with a roommate but contol my own meals so I'm just curious what it's like to eat raw around other people.