Trying something new!

[jetaimetoujours]

Hi everyone! My name is Jo and I'm 28 years old from Wisconsin.

I've been a long time sufferer of OCD, Generalized Anxiety / Panic Disorder, Trichotillomania, and I've had a sliding hiatal hernia that has caused really bad reflux for the last 6 years (since I had my daughter). I have been having nausea pretty much every single day and at random throughout the day now for the last 5 years or so. I have random aches and pains and it's ridiculous because I'm only 28. I shouldn't have so many issues. Not to mention seeming to suffer from undiagnosed IBS and other bowel issues.

One of my friends has been talking about the raw food diet now for months and months and I've watched the testimonials and read the articles and stuff that she's posted and finally I decided to give it a shot. I'd been going through some MASSIVE depression and I was ready to kill myself because of all the stress in my life and I figured it was time for a change.

I have always felt GREAT after eating salads / veggies / fruits. They don't cause any kind of reflux or issue for me. So I figured well, if that stuff doesn't make me sick the way eating a big juicy burger and basket of fries does then why not?!

I used to keep track of my nutrition on MyPlate on Livestrong's website - and the bad stuff was always way off the charts. I tried to adjust my diet but I had high cholesterol, high sodium intake, high fats, high sugars, it was just really bad.

I started to eat about 90-95% raw foods on Monday night (12/26/11) - the only stuff I intake that isn't "raw" are my nuts and seeds (cause they're all roasted / salted /etc) and 2% cow milk (about a cup a day) and I'm allowing myself some organic crackers too.

I've started tracking my nutrition again and after the last couple days my diet is INCREDIBLE! The improvements are wonderful! All of my intake is right where it ought to be! (As long as I don't over-indulge in the cashews!!!) AND!! I don't feel severely depressed anymore! My raw diet has given me something else to focus on and strive for and it's making me feel happy and excited! :)

I've started detoxing and that's kinda miserable but for the most part I'm feeling great! Yesterday after getting out of my 8 hour work day, I went to 3 different grocery / health food stores, and Wal*mart and normally that would make me feel SO worn out and sluggish but when i got home and unloaded all of my food I was SO energized that I felt like I could run a couple miles! I made a strawberry, banana, raspberry and blueberry smoothie with my new food processor and got my food ready for today :)

I'm going to try really hard to struggle through the detox period - the worst part of it was the bowel issues this morning but I think I pretty well cleaned out at least half of my colon LOL. I think this could be a diet that really works for me! I've only had a little bit of nausea in the last 4 days - nothing anywhere near what I've been suffering through for the last 5 years and it hasn't been keeping me up at night / forcing me to sleep sitting up! I'm feeling a lot more energized in the morning / throughout the day too! (but I'm ready to pass out at 7-8pm being that I'm up by 5am most days!)

I'm excited about this lifestyle and I don't know if I will ever be 100% raw, but so far it's working pretty dang good. I've lost almost 3 pounds and I'm hyped up to get fit for my wedding in August 2012

[breathless]

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! I know by looking at all the raw food before and after testimonials that going and staying raw will give you a wonderful glow. I am trying to go raw myself, not only so that I may look better, but also for the amazing raw energy everyone's always talking about.

[Traceyraw]

Congratulations... Don't think of it as suffering think of it as healing. That is your bodies way of healing itself.

My target has raw nuts and organic veggies Im not sure if walmart does??
After you detox the energy is boundless.
Enjoy your new energy.

[Aleesha Sattva]

Why not make raw almond mylk instead of adding dairy to your regime? It's sooooo bad for you.

Welcome to your new Self!

[jetaimetoujours]

Thanks everyone!

I'm probably going to drop dairy at some point but i don't wanna go too hard too fast. I bought some raw mild cheddar to try out - so that'll at least help. And my intake of dairy is VERY VERY little compared to how it was.

Baby steps :) I can't afford to be out of work sick with horrendous detox so I gotta take it easy. (If I miss any more days I will lose my job. I was out a LOT earlier this year due to illnesses between me and my daughter)

Luckily I wasn't doing TOO many bad things on my diet prior to trying this. I don't smoke (quit August of 2009), I don't drink (quit about 2 years ago), I don't do drugs (it was just weed, which I've done a handful of times in the last 5 years), and I don't drink caffeine (had to give that up a year or so ago due to fibroidcystic breast condition). I actually rarely ever have any kind of soda. I primarily drink water :)