Hello Beautiful!

It looks like you're new to The Community. If you'd like to get involved, click one of these buttons!

In this Discussion

inspiration is beginning to lower

Hi.

I started my third shot at a raw lifestyle on Oct. 26th, 2008.

I've lost 20 pounds since then. But, for some reason, today.............. I'm losing inspiration. I think it was an innocent question from a friend while we were eating out at a Thai Restaurant. She asked, "How are you going to stick to that raw lifestyle for your whole life?". She's a sweet, sweet friend and she was probably just looking at the raw lifestyle through her own viewpoint. But, it got me thinking. Is it realistic? I feel great. NEVER FELT BETTER. But, there's a nagging feeling that I won't be able to keep this up. That's why I LOVE, LOVE this web site. ITtkeeps me motivated, interested, and inspired. I'm a newbie. Any words of wisdom to re-inspire me?

Comments

  • SuasoriaSuasoria Raw Newbie

    Well, I've noticed that when people consider the environmental, spiritual, and animal welfare benefits in addition to personal health they are much less likely to backslide.

    If someone is only doing it for themselves and their body, and they live in a somewhat ego-driven headspace, they can be tempted pretty easily because the same mindset that wants self-improvement also wants self-gratification. This doesn't apply to raw foods specifically, but I don't find it difficult to stay vegan generally because I can look at the ranch dressing or cheese tray and understand the suffering that went into it.

    So that's what I'd say is my inspiration/motivation/interest - trying to live as compassionately as possible, causing as little suffering as possible and consuming as few resources as possible. But either way, it's about externalizing the issue somewhat and seeing how much good one is capable of doing through the simple, radical act of eating!

  • thanx for the replies.

    they are so well thought-out.

    both the words compassion and lovebows are sticking with me.

    thanx again :)

  • kminty3kminty3 Raw Newbie

    i agree it's seems like a difficult lifestyle.. I've been eating a lot of cooked vegan food.. but I have my raw things that I love and will probably eat forever. My goal is to keep finding raw things that I love so that I just gravitate to those more and it doesn't feel restrictive! good luck

  • CarnapCarnap Raw Newbie

    I have the same problem. I love raw, but meal planning is my downfall in times of stress. I cannot, cannot just eat salad and avocado and nuts all the time. I don't know other simple ways to get loads of calories (not 80 10 10, please, I do not want all that sugar).

    All my breads suck in the dehydrator, they are gross!

    Where will I get the calories my high metabolism needs??

  • What are your meals like?

    When I tried raw a few months back, it was really hard. I had to soak this and that, blend this and that...

    My mom once told me "Are you going to live like that difficult for the rest of your life?"

    Not to mention it was really expensive, especially the nuts.

    This made me really depressed and she was so annoying that I quite...

    And than I was like...a healthy life shouldn't be this hard...

    I found the book called 80/10/10 diet.

    Most of our meals should be fruits, and at least 1 lb of greens. That's all.

    You don't need those expensive nuts, oils, flavors, spices, cacao, dried fruits that are very bad for your teeth, and those supplement things like maca and spirulina??...or grow sprouts.

    Even those cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, kale, etc. are really hard on your digestive system, so you don't have to worry about getting those in...(unless you want too)

    Different lettuce, soft greens and celeries are the best. As long as you have a lb of greens your okay and rest should be just made of fruits.

    I highly recommend this book. It makes you motivated and it is a simpler approach to raw life...I think it is more ideal and reasonable. It makes more sense to me. Even has sample menu for 811 lifestyle for each season to give you an idea of what it is like. Extremely simple. That is how our meals should be, simple and tasty. And what is more tastier than organic fruits??

    According to the author, the typical raw style consumes more fat than the American standard diet. This in the long run is bad for your health. It makes sense because most of what I consider our raw main dish was made with some kind of nuts or seeds.

    I am just giving you options. :)

    If you tried it great! If not, try making it simpler. The more complicated it is, the harder it is on your digestive system. :)

    Hope I helped even though I am a few days late.

  • erinerin Raw Superstar

    Hey Universally Grateful,

    I have had the same problems. I think, oh man this is the best way ever to eat and I feel great. Then I think about times in my life when it is going to be really hard to be raw like when I go over to my boyfriend's parents' house for christmas dinner etc. But the thing that keeps me raw is not restricting myself too much and keeping a few of my favorite prepared things on hand at all times. I have some nut pat

  • I was asked the same thing 20 years ago when I first lost weight by food combining and cutting out all refined foods. Well, sure it was an effort in the begining. But 20 years later, its so easy for me to have no refined foods in the house. Easy as pie to food combine in restaurants.

    So I figure its the same for this raw. I may not be 100% raw, but it should be pretty easy for me to keep mainly raw, and even easier as I gain experience and it becomes habit.

    and frankly, I feel like CRAP now when I eat too much cooked that I an always anxious to get back on high raw.

  • beanybeeganbeanybeegan Raw Newbie

    Choices 4 health

    Now 5+ years high raw beegan. Before that, 9 months cooked vegan, and 9 years cooked vegetarian, I ate goat yogurt.

    During the cooked vegan and vegetarian and sometimes SAD years, I acquired high blood pressure, R.A., bleeding problems and other poor physical conditions. When I look at my hands, try to go up the stairs or do exercises like I did 15 years ago and I see crooked distorted fingers, and a body that says no. Then I say, I will eat raw beegan the rest of my life because, this has stopped the progression of R.A., lowered my blood pressure so I will not die of a stroke, plus, the bleeding and other health problems are none existent.

    It is easy when a person is young and healthy to eat not so healthy, but I have an assignment for you who are having difficulty staying raw. Look up ALL the age related health problems, then think of you having one or more of those conditions. How would you cope? What would you do? .... Then, realize you do not have to be sick.

    Think they can only happen to old people? Or it cant happen to you? I know of two women. They are both very dear to my heart. Both are in there middle 40,s. One is vegetarian. Two years ago one said she had cancer. Last year (SAD) the other who has RA, said she had colitis. 6 years ago both were told about raw vegan. Sadly, both chose wrong....... What is your choice?

  • sarawsaraw Raw Newbie

    Beeny!

    I try to be raw for my health. I'm only 28, and I've dealt with some nasty illnesses already. I've seen what eating raw has, and can do for my health.

    Just great advice. Yes, think about the possible health issues as you age. Yuck. I feel that if I am struggling at 28, what will I be like at 35 on an all cooked diet? I don't think I could handle that.

    I"m no where near eating 100% raw all the time. Tonight I put a slice of cheese on a raw cracker. AH!!! I told myself it was better than eating the cheese on the bread. haha. Oh well. keep trying.

  • sv3sv3 Raw Newbie

    "How are you going to stick to that raw lifestyle for your whole life?"

    For someone like myself who is relatively new to this whole thing, I have found this question pop up in my own mind from time to time. But it's like a lot of things - if you try to think that far ahead it can feel very daunting.

    I am just taking things slowly and know in my heart that this is the right path. At the moment, I am not 100% and if I'm honestly with myself, I know I may never reach that, but as it feels right to eat lots of fresh, raw food, that is what I'm doing.

    If I start to worry I may not be able to 'keep up' this way of life, I start thinking about eating cooked food for breakfast/lunch/dinner and it makes me feel queasy. I now also feel a slow rising panic at the thought of not getting my big daily salads and smoothies - and for this reason, I know I'll be ok in the long run.

  • beanybeeganbeanybeegan Raw Newbie

    saraw,,,,,,,Would you like help with that cow cheese? Cheese has pus and blood in it. The same with cow's milk. Nice thought isn't it?! mmmmmmmmm cow pus and blood.

    If you don't have a strong blender and dehydrator to make raw cheese. Then get vegan cheese.

  • WinonaWinona Raw Newbie

    Keep in mind that it does get easier. Your tastes change, your addictions change. Recently I broke up with my boyfriend of 5 years, and through all of that emotional trauma, did i seek out cooked food? NOPE! I sought the comfort of my delicious raw food, the simple soups, the trusty ole salad and dressing, the nourishing zucchini pasta, the tooty fruity blended smoothie! Your perspective can change if you let it - let this be a path of joy and excitement to try a new raw dish and another, and pretty soon you'll join those of us who laugh at standard american diet's cake and ice cream - chemical animal processed nastiness! And run to our kitchen to create food that rivals the most decadent gourmet food in the world. RAWK it honey!

  • carrie6292carrie6292 Raw Newbie

    One other thing is that you need to seriously ask yourself why your adapting to this lifestyle. I have a ton of reasons but one of my main reasons is that Cancer runs in my family. I know that by eating this way, i am limiting my chances of having cancer. I'd like to say i'm preventing myself, but you just never know. I have a ton of food allergies and that's what led me to this. But, i have so many different reasons for it now. I'm healthier, i'm feeling great, i'm rarely ever tired, i love eating this way.... I'm doing this for me... Keep looking for recipes on this site and keep experimenting. Everyone's tastes are different, so not every recipe will be for you. I don't like raw soups. I've tried a bunch of them and just don't like them. I'm going to be trying more... but at this time, they're not my thing. I've found about 10 recipes that are my all time favorites - raw or cooked. So, i just keep making those and i'm soooooooooooo happy when i eat them :) They taste great and they're great for me. Having food that i look forward to eating are what keeps me going. And, most are easy dishes that don't take a lot of time or energy to make. I hope this helps a little :)

  • chriscarltonchriscarlton Raw Newbie

    It's not hard. It's not even challenging. Why tell yourself these things? Take it really slow and it will stick! I took 3-4 years to transition. Write me anytime for support!

    Lovebows, Chris

Sign In or Register to comment.