My Decision - Raw Food Chat

ladypeace82 · 08-08-2007

Hello!

Yesterday I was surfing the web for information about lapband and gastric bypass for a family member. I'm still not sure how I came across this but I did. I found a random raw food website and read about people's life changing stories.

I've been feeling very tired, sluggish, aggrivated, and just over all blah lately.
I've been wanting to do something healthy but with school and work I can not work out. I could eat healthy but it isnt' enough for me.
After I found the unnamed website i went to the book store and picked up Carol alt Eating in the Raw.
I read it all last night.
I'm not getting into this as a vegitarian, i'm getting into this as a normal american eating everything under the sun that is bad.
So I know this will be difficult.
So far, I'm concerned about the cost of such raw items, the cost of the vitamix, the prep time for things.
And if I can take these raw items to work. I've read so far that it seems you h ave to eat these things right away?
or i guess get a vaccum sealer.
Pretty much I'm going into this blind.
but I'm still excited. in fact, I wish I could start today. I had fruit for breakfast. Came to work and realized all I have here is frozen dinners/lunches. I don't even want to eat that.
I'm sorry this is long. I write and talk alot when I get excited about something this great.

Soooooo, ya, that is my long intro.

elizabethh · 08-08-2007

if i may throw in my two cents
unless you are absolutely sure of your willpower, i would suggest you not go into this 100% right away, but eliminate things step by step.
please follow the following link (its on this site) and read all about his notes on transitioning and raw newbies, it makes a lot of sense and would help you a lot.
http://www.rawfoodchat.com/forums/ra...rview-133.html

aalso, the very first bit of advice i give raw and cooked foodies alike, GREEN SMOOTHIES! sounds weird, tastes great, looks green, and carries innumerable health benefits. basically its a big handful of dark leafy (preferrably organic) greens, two fruits, and some water in a blender. invest in the inexpensive book "green for life" by victoria boutenko, and "12 steps to raw foods" also by her. believe me, on this path, knowledge is your strongest tool, so read as MUCH about this as you can. this will not only help you be more confident in this choice, but help you calm the worries of concerned relatives or friends.
for work, i'd suggest you do the same thing i do for school: pack a BIG interesting salad with all kinds of sprouts veggies and even berries, with some EVOO or a quick raw dressing in a container, and eat it at lunch. and let this calm your mind: if all you have time for is a few fruits, a quick salad, or a green smoothie, keep in mind these are actually the HEALTHIEST choices (simpler is better) and gourmet food eating should be reserved for occasions, certainly not everyday.

anyway, good luck! if you need any advice, msg me. (im no veteran, raw for like 4 months now, but have spent a very good chunk of this time researching and experimenting).

ladypeace82 · 08-09-2007

thank you so very much. I have a convention for school tonight through saturday. So I'll be stopping by the whole foods market saturday evening. I did find a link to some very short simple things I could make. To slowly introduce myself to it. I'm really excited. Most people would think about things like this for a while but my best decisions have always been with out thinking about them. They always last for a very long time.
I already felt guilty for what I had to eat yesterday b/c I don't have much of anything raw. Probably nothing if we want to be specific about it.
I'll be all over this site for a while.

Kristen's Raw · 08-10-2007

Welcome! You're about to experience a new lease on life. We've all been there. Keep us posted on how you do

Cheers!

rawlizzy · 08-11-2007

hello and welcome!

I to am transitioning and have researched and read a great deal. Elizabethh gave you GREAT advice. In addition to what she said, I would also recommend the book "Raw Food Made Easy" by Jennifer Cornbleet. She offers very simplistic and tasty recipes that only require a blender and food processor. I do not own a Vita Mix. I use the blender I already have and do not have any problems. I did purchase a dehydrator and I do dry fruits. My husband loves them and they make an easy snack to take along.

One thing, I do take my lunch to work and have not had problems with spoilage or anything. The foods can last.

Good luck to you. Be sure to read about the detox process because it did hit me and I didn't really understand what was going on.

ladypeace82 · 08-13-2007

when it hit you, did you get something at the local drug store for it? or go to the dr.? I won't be able to go to a dr. I've heard that you have to do that often and I know it would get way too expensive for me

greenbunny · 08-27-2007

Ladypeace, you don't need to detox at all if you go slow. Detoxing is when all the bad things you have been eating and storing in your body start to release and make you feel bad. This only happens if you do too much too fast. If you just eat fruit in the mornings and cut out one bad food that you normally eat for a month and then incorporate one other raw food and eliminate another bad food the next month and keep on doing this every month, eventually you will be on raw foods without having to do any detoxing and it will all be a feel good, happy experience that becomes a new healthy habit.

Greenbunny