For starters, I have been struggling with my weight for a few years now. 30+ years on a SAD left me eventually about 40 pounds overweight, and I’m only 5’ 2”. :(

At the urging of my terminally ill mother to lose weight before she died, and with the advise of a cardiologist, I started Atkins in August of 2003.
I lost 35 pounds within 3.5 months doing the induction (first) phase. It was miraculous! I was back in a size 8!!! I felt fantastic, healthy, and energized!

Thanksgiving of that year (03) was the first time I’d had starchy carbs in 3.5 months and I treaded lightly. Only hours later, at about 2 o’clock in the morning, my mom finally passed. I had been caring for her and, though it was expected and she and I were very open about her impending death, and the process was truly a spiritual experience for me, the emptiness at home and loss of that daily purpose left me filling the void with food… mostly fast food because I didn’t feel like cooking anymore.
So, here I am, at my largest ever!

I started eating raw last week after reuniting with a very special friend who inspired me and I felt the detox drag for a few days – I have to be careful in the future because I’m almost always slightly anemic – but I am definitely committed to the process of going raw. Everything about it just feels right. I had never before felt such an authentic sense of peace and harmony with the world.