[MarthaT]

5 years ago I picked up a book about eating raw, the name of the book has escaped me, but I remember thinking to myself that I would love to be able to eat like that. Not because of health, beauty or to lose weight, even though I need to lose about 65 pounds... but the simplicity of eating raw. I HATE cooking, it is SOOO time consuming. Making a mess...cleaning it up. I have better things to do with my time! Many times after cooking I'm unable to eat because the food just doesn't appeal to me. I was raised eating foods from a garden, but I took on the fast paced lifestyle and never had time for a garden. The fast food lifestyle was how I ate for many years. I have been moving toward the raw lifestyle for a long time, but just never realized it. First reading Adelle Davis- moving to herbs for healing and never using drugs, eliminating the "whites", and sodas and adding in more salads without bottled dressing, then adding things like spirulina, tahini, almond butter etc. Just simple things really, but I could never say to myself that I was going to go Raw, until now. I don't really worry about what my friends or family will say - they already think I am strange, because I "DO HERBS". I read labels and tell people that milk is NOT good for them. So to go raw wouldn't even phase the people in my life. The real reason I want to go raw is for the simplicity of it. I won't be one of those who spend a lot of time making raw tacos, or raw spaghetti, not that I never will make those things its just that I want eating to be a simple pleasure. And I want my grand kids to eat better, so I have to be the leader and just do it!
I don't really have any health issues other than the weight issue. I gained 50 pounds when I quit smoking. I haven't missed a day of work due to illness in at least 8 years. I'm not saying I haven't been sick however, I have had a head cold, sinus problems and one time a toothache, but I usually get over these types of problems in 24 hours or less. The tooth problem was due to losing a filling and not getting it replaced. I'm thinking that I should just go for it - cold turkey - just eat raw, but reading lots of raw books some suggest going slower. Hopefully I will be able to make my transition a little faster with help from this forum.