Get Prepared: Mindset

Our minds get us into trouble, but they can also get us out of trouble!

The mind is a powerful thing. Putting time into organizing your life and getting prepared means you'll be sure to succeed. Preparation is nine-tenths of success :)

Focus on one thing: Food (not exercise)

Exercise is a beautiful thing and we should all be doing lots of it!

That being said, do not start a new exercise routine at the same time as going raw.

Donʼt try to bite off more than you can chew. Continue doing whatever exercise routines you normally do (even if that means almost no exercise for the time being).

Focus on eating healthily first. As you become more comfortable with raw foods and you get into the rhythm of it, then you can start exercising more. For now, stay focused on changing your eating habits!

Make a personal commitment - Your personal motivator

Are you ready to make a permanent change to the way that you think and feel about your own body and the fuel that you feed it with? Do you want to become a “naturally thin” person? Do you want more energy and a lighter approach to life? Do you want to stop feeding your addictions to edible food that has no nutritional value?

Are you strong enough to take on this challenge and to give up a lot of the deeply ingrained habits that youʼve developed over many years?

Look inside. Do you want this? If yes, you need to hold that feeling or idea. Bottle it up for when you're going to need it.    

Visual motivators and accountability

Visual reminders of goals and successes are crucial. Pick up a wall calendar or even a giant poster board and hang it in your kitchen, washroom or office.

Mark out squares for each day with a thick felt marker. Enjoy making large ticks for every successful day as you progress through your raw journey. Get excited about your "streak" - the number of days in a row that you've eaten healthfully. Try to link those tickmarks together for as long as possible!

In addition, keeping a food journal can be fun and effective. Food journals can be online, on your computer or simply in a paper notebook or on a few sheets of looseleaf paper. Keeping a food journal is more likely to keep you on track. It doesn't have to be complex; once a day jot down what you've eaten in general terms.

Get support from your family

Our families are part of us. In this context, the word “family” refers to those who live in your home or with whom you eat your meals. For most of you, that might mean your spouse and children. For others it may mean parents, roommates or colleagues.

The easiest and most ideal way to go raw is for the whole family to go raw and to be gung-ho about it. Unfortunately, this is generally not the case! Unless your family shares a similarly high level of excitement about raw foods, I recommend going raw by yourself for the first month, even if you intend to bring your family to raw at some point. Some positive side-effects are that your family gets to taste your successes and they can observe you and get adjusted slowly.

When talking to your family about going raw, remember that we are all inherently self-interested. If you're getting resistance from loved ones, explain what the benefits will be not only to yourself, but to them. For example, your children would love it if you had more energy to play with them and to be a more engaged, energetic, happier parent. You could play with them more, spend time at the beach and become more involved in their life.

Likewise, every spouse wants their partner to be more fit, feel more attractive, happier and more energetic. Explain to your spouse that going raw can improve your sex life! Even better, I am sure that by Day 30 you will be feeling better about your own body and you can show your spouse just how sexy you feel.

Be mindful that some spouses (or parents) may be intimidated or feel apprehensive that youʼre changing your lifestyle and are trying to change. They may wonder, “Whatʼs wrong with the way we do things now? Arenʼt you happy with how we live and what we eat?” Our lives are heavily based around food, and if you change the way you eat it can be divisive. To be clear, your spouse may worry that you will lose weight and leave him or her. Be mindful to pay attention to your spouseʼs reaction and react accordingly.

Explain why you want to do this and explain why itʼs important to you. Again, go back to your personal motivator and remind them that it's not about food, it's about the way the food makes you feel. Remember what we learned above. It's about more than just food - focus on what the results are going to mean to you (and to them!) A happier spouse or parent equates to a happier family. Reassure your spouse that you enjoy your life together and a healthier you will just make your life together that much better.