New RAWbie here!

[corpsebride]

Hi there everyone!

I've been reading threads on this forum for awhile now, maybe a year or two, but today I decided to actually join the forum since I have a few questions I couldn't find answers to in the forum archives:)

Today is my 32nd day on Green Smoothie 'diet'. I don't like the word 'diet', I prefer to call it 'program' or 'detox'. It makes me feel kind of happier since diets are so depressing to me :/

I feel great, I lost around 15 pounds and there are milions of other benefits I'm getting from my smoothie plan, I'm sure you guys already know all about that stuff!
I've also been through some detox symptoms such as mild headaches, skin rash (ugh that was ugly), wooziness.. etc. But most of those weren't that bad, except the rash.. The rash was nasty, but I survived

Okay so, my plan is to do green smoothies for at least 2 more months, and I decided I will go raw after it. I was really excited about the idea, I even searched what dehydrator I will buy, made a list of books to read, and stuff like that.

But yesterday I was thinking about that decision a bit more, and I came to the conclusion that I'm not really sure that that's the best way to go for me.
Of course, it is the healthiest thing and it's fun and exciting (the recipes and all that), but I realized that I'm 19 years old and I want to enjoy and have all the fun that goes with that age.. Parties (and yes, alcohol usually goes with our parties), friends gatherings (which include foods like popcorn and some other snacks..) etc etc.
I referred only to 'fun' things that include eating and drinking, because after all, that is my biggest concern about this raw plan.

I was thinking to go 85% raw instead of 100%. I will still drink at least one green smoothie a day, make raw food recipes, eat a lot of vegetables, fruits and nuts.. but I will also eat some cooked foods such as: sushi, grilled fish, rice now and then, maybe some other 'light' pasta, small cup of popcorn when I go see a movie, and reasonable amounts of alcohol maybe once or twice a month..
I've never been a fan of coffee, fizzy drinks and sodas in general, so I always drink only water

And of course I'm not going to eat all those things in one day haha, but the idea is to eat one of those things maybe two or three times a week.


So what do you raw profesionals think about this?
Feel free to say anything, I am very eager to hear your opinions, after all that is the reason I decided to post this on this forum:)


Cheers!

[Revvell]

First of all, if you're currently doing smoozies only, you're already 100% raw. I suggest you do whatever you feel to do. You know how you feel now and, once you go into what you're talking about, you'll get a really good understanding of what happens when you do what you're intending.

I gave up drinking when I was 30 and all other drugs waaay before that. (was never much of a drinker anyway)... would still go out and party yet, people don't really know or care what you're drinking as long as you have a glass in your hand or on the table.

One thing I've learned over that last however many years is, it's easier for "friends" to bring you down than it is to bring them up yet, I'm very sure you'll find/have friends who are into what you're doing health-wise if you share with them.

I say go, enjoy yourself, and, when you're ready, you'll know what to do and when it's time to do it as you seem to have a really good head on your shoulders.

My suggestion ~ 90% good-to-great; 10% of whatever.... now, how you'll measure that? I dunno! lol

Have fun!

[Living Food]

But yesterday I was thinking about that decision a bit more, and I came to the conclusion that I'm not really sure that that's the best way to go for me.
Of course, it is the healthiest thing and it's fun and exciting (the recipes and all that), but I realized that I'm 19 years old and I want to enjoy and have all the fun that goes with that age.. Parties (and yes, alcohol usually goes with our parties), friends gatherings (which include foods like popcorn and some other snacks..) etc etc.
I referred only to 'fun' things that include eating and drinking, because after all, that is my biggest concern about this raw plan.

I was thinking to go 85% raw instead of 100%. I will still drink at least one green smoothie a day, make raw food recipes, eat a lot of vegetables, fruits and nuts.. but I will also eat some cooked foods such as: sushi, grilled fish, rice now and then, maybe some other 'light' pasta, small cup of popcorn when I go see a movie, and reasonable amounts of alcohol maybe once or twice a month..

My advice? Go 100% raw whenever you're not at a party, the movies, etc and only eat cooked foods when you're with friends. Maybe you'll even notice how crappy cooked foods make you feel and cut down on them by yourself.

You could bring gourmet raw food and snacks to friends gatherings and they wouldn't even have to know it was raw if you didn't want them to. It is possible for you to be social with your friends and still be 100% raw, but you have to decide for yourself how dedicated you are to your health.

If you do decide to have some alcohol, popcorn, and other cooked foods, you should have some wheatgrass (or other cereal grass) juice daily to balance it out - wheatgrass is one of the most nutritious and detoxifying foods there is. Try growing your own. Other good ones are sunflower greens, alfalfa sprouts, and pea shoots.

[corpsebride]

@Revvell:

Thank you very much for such a fast reply Revvell!

I agree with you on that, I too noticed people are okay with you dinking whatever as long as you are 'drinking' and not mentioning you're not drinking alcohol for whatever reasons.. And sadly, I have to admit a lot of people can be really unsupportive when it comes to 'drastic' decisions as this one is. I learned that several years ago when I decided to become a vegetarian, and even on those times when I would go on some kind of detox for a week or two. It's really hard to be around people like that, but as I said, I got use to it a long ago, so I don't really pay much attention to other peoples negative attitudes:)
Not to be unfair, I do have one friend who is into all those things, she just doesn't have much willpower to actually do any of it haha

Yes, I will see how it goes, maybe I change my mind and decide to continue with 100% raw plan after smoozies, as you called them
And congrats to you for giving up alcohol and drugs so young!

[corpsebride]

My advice? Go 100% raw whenever you're not at a party, the movies, etc and only eat cooked foods when you're with friends. Maybe you'll even notice how crappy cooked foods make you feel and cut down on them by yourself.

You could bring gourmet raw food and snacks to friends gatherings and they wouldn't even have to know it was raw if you didn't want them to. It is possible for you to be social with your friends and still be 100% raw, but you have to decide for yourself how dedicated you are to your health.

If you do decide to have some alcohol, popcorn, and other cooked foods, you should have some wheatgrass (or other cereal grass) juice daily to balance it out - wheatgrass is one of the most nutritious and detoxifying foods there is. Try growing your own. Other good ones are sunflower greens, alfalfa sprouts, and pea shoots.

I was actually thinking about that, eating 100% raw, and eating cooked foods only when I'm with friends, I just hope I would have control over my choices.. For example, one day I decide I want to eat a piece of chocolate with this kind of thinking: 'oh I will eat that piece of chocolate, why not, after all I did eat rice yesterday, so what's the difference..'
So I'm afraid of getting back to that vicious circle again.

I probably should have mentioned in my first post that I 'suffer' from binge eating disorder.. The one like bulimia, only without throwing up, but with the same feeling of being disgusted and ashamed about myself..

So aside from it being healthy and fun, I want to do raw diet because I have control over myself only when I'm rigorous about my way of eating.

On the other hand, when I'm too strict with myself, I tend to backslide
It's very hard for me to maintain the balance with that thing, but I'm really satisfied with raw eating.. I just wish I didn't have that disorder, everything would be so much easier! ugh

I think we have wheatgrass here at my place, I will google all of it, thank you for your advice :)
And alfalfa sprouts are awesome! haha

[Traceyraw]

Wow 3months only smoothies. 100% raw will be no problem for you. Congrats on all of your health benefits. We are glad to have you this is a great place to learn.

[Traceyraw]

I was a binger but when your body is getting the nutrients you don't crave other foods as much. If you want to binge or feel the urge. Just grab raw healthy snacks. Greens definitely help me balance myself out. I feel better when I have them and crave bad foods less. Listen to your body. You will learn tricks as you go.

[corpsebride]

Wow 3months only smoothies. 100% raw will be no problem for you. Congrats on all of your health benefits. We are glad to have you this is a great place to learn.

I was a binger but when your body is getting the nutrients you don't crave other foods as much. If you want to binge or feel the urge. Just grab raw healthy snacks. Greens definitely help me balance myself out. I feel better when I have them and crave bad foods less. Listen to your body. You will learn tricks as you go.

Thank you Traceyraw, I hope it won't be a problem. Green smoothies really do help with my binging case, I totally agree with you! Thank you very much:)

You said that right, I will learn as I go. That's why it's important to take one step at a time, day by day

Thank you for your opinion and advice!

[Traceyraw]

Don't forget there is raw chocolate. You can buy cookies and cakes or make them yourself if you want. I would find a local raw resturaunt and splurge on desert there. You might be able to buy them online but I like to get it from a local source whenever possible.

I am not sure where you live but there is a thread about raw resturaunts. You can also find raw food meet ups and pot lucks. I found raw foodist at my sons daycare now we have mommy play dates but we bring the kids along.

Simple Raw Recipe.

Soak a few dates blend into a thick paste. Add raw chocolate powder and agave nector if you want more sweetness. Roll them in Seasame seeds and enjoy. Alissa's book has great desert recipes and also on the recipe thread. Enjoy love your food.

[corpsebride]

Hahahaha 'mommy play dates', that's awesome!

Raw chocolate, amazing!
I will have to research all that stuff I use to be addicted to (chocolate, chips..) in a raw form! The other day I found out there is a thing called Kale Chips (haha I really am a newbie), and now I have tons of recipes how to do it. I must say it even looks yummier than regular potato chips!
But I will explore all those things in the last week or two of my 'Green Smoothie Enterprise', I'm afraid I won't be able to too keep up the plan if I search for raw foods and recipes, they all look so delicious!

[Traceyraw]

I agree. There is a great fasting thread and support section. Green smoothie fasters are welcome there. Enjoy your smoothie. My favorite right now is spinach/water/ and fresh orange juice. yummy.

[corpsebride]

I will check it out, thanks for the info! And I like that smoothie too!
I always change what I put in my smoothies, but one smoothie looks basically like this: half a lemon juice, same with orange, an apple, handful of spinach, few lettuce leaves, half of frozen banana and here and there I put a teaspoon of olive oil.