I have tried every diet known to mankind. I've lost weight and gained it all back plus more each time. I'm currently 4 lbs shy of my highest weight ever. I have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and PCOS. Cancer runs in my family along with heart disease. I am desperate for a change. I did a lifestyle change a couple of months ago that seemed to agree with me. I cut out all processed foods for about two weeks. I felt wonderful for that period of time (after the detox) and lost about 12 lbs. I then went on a cruise, and blew the entire diet. I haven't had the motivation to start again.
I've been reading about doing a Raw diet for some time now. I'm just about to get up the courage to try it. I'm scared, honestly. I feel like this is my last chance to feel good again. I'm scared of my addictions to sugar and processed foods. I often eat out of boredom and/or emotions instead of actually eating because I'm hungry.
I live in Southwest Virginia, and I don't know if any of you are familiar with the area, but there are not any Whole Food stores around here. There is a Shouting Sprout about an hour from my home, but after going there I walked out empty handed because of the astronomical prices. I have a brown thumb it seems, so growing a garden doesn't seem to be in the cards for me either.
I guess I need some direction here. How did you start your raw lifestyle? How long did your detox take?
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Welcome treehousestories!
There's a book called "the Raw Detox Diet" by Natalia Rose that you might be interested in.
http://amzn.com/0060834374
There is a quiz in it that helps you to determine what level you are at now in your diet and then it gives you menu plans to help you transition into raw foods. So there are still some cooked whole foods that you will be able to eat as you transition.
The most important thing is what you DON'T eat, just cutting out processed foods and sugars will help you feel great. I found that those foods were trigger foods for me and once I cut them out and didn't have them in the house i rarely wanted to binge. The freeing thing about raw foods is that you can eat anything that's raw (within reason) without feeling any guilt. You will actually feel there is an abundance of food to chose from.
the most difficult part of a raw food diet for emotional eaters like us, is not having the foods to quiet our emotions and stress. after a couple of weeks those voices become really strong and it can be really emotional. you just need to be prepared to ride it out and know that it will end and you will feel great after you come through it.
There's another book called "Raw Emotions" by Angela Stokes that addresses those feelings. http://store.rawreform.com/product_info.php?products_id=1001468
For me I transitioned by doing a 7 day water fast, followed by a 7 day juice fast, then I began eating high raw. I think for me it helped to kind of clean the slate, and start fresh with raw foods.
Good Luck! Let us know how its going.
Treehousestories, I can understand where you are. Three years ago when I was your age I was in a very similar situation. I was about 255 pounds and getting too big for my clothes once again. I thankfully didn't have the health problems, but I knew that they were just around the corner. Now I'm 30 and over 100 pounds lighter. I have never felt better.
Everyone here has given you excellent advice. My main thing was to add good things to my life, food and activities. The bad things will naturally fall away. Also our mind respond to positive better than negative thoughts. I started by swimming. I'd forgotten how much I loved the water. Once I realized how good that made me feel, other things started falling into place. My diet got better and I added more positive activities. I've not been into raw food all this time. It has been part of my transformation.
Remember, find some happiness.
Good luck with everything.
Unfortunately I need to use a pool. There isn't anywhere near where I live to swim in open water. Just start by getting in the water; either swimming or walking. Doesn't raw food help with arthritis? I hope everything goes well for you.
Treehousestories, how are you doing? Have you started adding raw food into your daily routine?