New and inexperienced - Raw Food Chat

Smiley24_7 · 06-17-2006

Hello my name is Joy and I just started the raw food experience about six months ago and never felt better.
I was first introduced to the raw food experience when my church fasted on living juices (home juiced) for a few weeks. Being only fourteen, I was a little wary of not eating for three weeks, but ti worked out for the best. I was completely detoxified by the end of this period and didnt want to lose all that energy and vitality I felt during the fast (especially didnt want to gain back the extra weight I had lost), so after the fast I made a transition to fruits for a few weeks. Eventually I added a handful of raw nuts to my diet. I love the whole feeling and no longer desire those foods that I used to never be able to resist.
Though, being young and a raw foodist is very difficult. When my friends invite to spend the night or go out to eat it is espeically difficult to explain myself to them without them thinking Im completely insane or fanatical. I try to explain I no longer have the desire to eat those things, but they couldnt understand why. So I joined this board to help me through thsese little abostacles and hope to get some awesome ideas.
Joy

azee · 06-18-2006

welcome. love your profile and your favorite quote! if you are still a teen, wow, are you on the right track. if not, well, sometimes it takes muturation to learn our lessons and it's sad to reflect on the mistakes we've made and on where we could be today if only...

it's great that you see the peer pressure as an obstacle in your course rather than something you should consider to "give into" and just think how many people you are inspiring (even tho they don't know it yet) by living your truth.

the very best "benefit" by far to me is not having those cravings.
and better, when you do slip or fall off the wagon and have something cooked that you had before, it just is NOT THE SAME and has lost all of its potency and fulfillment thanks to your body telling you that going raw is where it's at

RAWK ON

00rawr00 · 06-19-2006

hi there! welcome to the site, it's a really good one, everyone is really nice and supportive! i can totally relate to the problem with the friends. this is such a huge deal for me, it's really difficult to sit at dinner while they chow down on all you can eat baby back ribs whilst i nibble on iceberg lettuce (woohoo score one for the veggies they have iceberg lettuce with stale carrots chopped into it on the menu! ) plus its hard not to judge them when they so quickly judge me. anyyyways congrautalations on feeling great, there's nothing like it! all i can say for the friends thing is if you find a way to politely go about the subject without causing huge scandals PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!! i find it difficult to explain to my friends that eating four apples in a row and savouring every last delicious bite is my idea of a great breakfast, and not ham and eggs : ) keep up the raw-ness!!!

Smiley24_7 · 06-19-2006

OH man I LOVE apples..... especially with this raw almond paste my aunt taught me to make.... its SO good. Trying to expalin why those apples are so appealing to me then they're overly-cooked barbeque chicken (yesterday) was difficult becasue they dont understand how good you can feel. In they're eharts there still addicted to this food ya know and they've never been without it. Well when people say "That cant be healthy" I jsut smile and say "Well how come I dont have pimples and you do and that wasnt the case a year ago" and they get all smug. Its hard to avoid confrontational issues, but I try to be kind. What do you guys do?

The Vej · 06-20-2006

I try to just be really funny and then bust out the technicalities that confuse then change the subject. I don't know I just don't have that big of a problem anymore since people know I'm "crazy".

00rawr00 · 06-20-2006

mm yah, i got labelled as the crazy vegan who disagrees with society... and i hate to admit that i don't mind all that much. i have several ways of dealing with the situations though: say i'm not hungry, i can only do that once in a while and not at dinner parties and stuff beause it doesnt work (ex: ' oh what are you going to order mandy?" "actually i'm not hungry at the moment" " then why did you come to the restaurant *weird look*") OR try to rationally explain my diet (this only works with REALLY open people, sometimes you can even get a good reaction and the person is like 'omg i never even though of that...i think you're right!!!' clearly thats the best thing ever!!) OR just be completely passive (ex: "you can't possibly be getting the proper nutrients YOU MUST BE DYING!!!!" "yes, you must be right... ill look into that") OR like vej said the technicalities (ex: "BUT WHAT ABOUT THE PROTEIN?!!!!!" (the word protein is like a battle cry to me now) "oh i get it from fruits/veggies/nuts and seeds" "THEY DONT HAVE PROTEIN IN THEM!!! WHAT ABOUT THE ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS THAT ARE ONLY ONLY ONLY AVAILABLE IN FISH!!!" "actually fruits and veggies have very adaquate amounts of protein in them and its much more easily assimilated and doesnt leech calcium out of my body, as for the aminos...well bananas do have all the essential ones, most in more abundance than in eggs

" then you list all the essential amino acids and their quantity for eggs and bananas and i have not yet lost the argument!!

wow long post - sorry bout that!
ps sometimes it is best to just go with the 'crazy' thing

Smiley24_7 · 06-20-2006

Thanks! I needed that advice.