AHA- this is where I've read about water only washing before...

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=50999

Great tips and good inspiration...can take between 6-8 weeks it seems.

raw sensation-Oh I'm so sad you're not getting total support for your endeavor. You're doing so well! The results will definetly be worth it!

durianrider- i hear some cold is good! I am sure the Cambodians have it right! I think you could get a job on a very selective, special bus service haha. The raw bus, au naturale.

Washed my hair tonight with water, was a tad itchy afterwards but now it is fine.

This is such a beautiful thread...was feeling a bit mopey because cravings/detox is beginning to kick in...this thread lifted me. This is what living life is about, I think when you've been low you know there is more to life and this thread epitomises what life should be. Shall come back and read it in full when I have time. Much love xox

Oh it was originally meant to represent Stampyelephant- from the simpsons when Bart gets an elephant, but most people assume it is stumpy, so I let people go with whatever they feel it is. It is all quite amusing.

Haha, ta. Reading the thread- you seem to have similar issues as me re: not hair washing, so I am definetly watching your progression as an indicator and wishing you the best of luck!!! Seriously, takes some willpower and it's awesome you don't have major itchiness.

How many weeks have you been going for now?!

I think I will try washing with water tonight or tomorrow

Had to do a bit of digging to ressurect this again. BTW, Thankyou for the salt information everyone- even though the thankyou is nine months later. Yikes.

So I'm starting to look after myself again, I haven't been- I haven't been eating well as a cooked vegan due to stress, medical problems, uni...lots going on. I've been offered conventional substitutions which has put me back to exploring the natural pathway. I'm seeing a naturopath, planning on trying acupuncture...going to hook up with a psychologist...going back to loading my body with nutritionally dense food and going to lay in the sun/exercise. It's just hard to keep it up...or even go back to everything because of my feeling state...but I really need to do it, I'm at the point I know I have to because otherwise I'm going to degrade my body and internally crumble.

Got up today and ate raw food only, god I've forgotten how good you feel on the initial first day (before cravings set in) of raw plant food only. Soothing...and what a high. I'm not sure how I'll stick to this since I'm still essay writing for uni, but if there's setbacks then that's okay...I wasn't planning on starting until after assesment but there's no reason to hold back.

I'm going to try and find the energy to load myself with greens, I'm craving them...I'm also taking alot of supps at the moment because I've been lacking the maintenance skills, so I will continue on them while I feed my body naturally and resume it to full potential. Naturopath is good, fine with a vegan diet...gets everything I say...wonder how the raw talk will go though, might put it off for a bit to see how this all unfolds. Cease venting.

Thanks May!

Mm. My naturopath told me what it was, it started with s but I can't remember the name. She didn't say for sure that I had it, just not to rule it out. She knows how much I love my fruit and veg.

I will def try to keep a diary once my exams are finished, only problem is the rash is permanent and doesn't change, it only flares up when I moisturise with oils.

I will try to track down some coconut oil!

I'm gonna try to get in on this. I haven't washed my hair for nearly a week I believe so I'm all set.

I get itchy, oily hair too because I use shampoo and conditioner that are basically made from just natural oils, I wash it less frequently and don't straighten it anymore. I chopped most of my hair off in April to get rid of the bleach that had grown out so it is very soft/natural right now.

Tried to do a conditioner wash only once, but I lasted around two weeks because it was always itchy. Now that I'm on holidays I'm willing to try a water wash...I have heard these kind of things work differently depending on if you have 'hard' water or something...whatever that is.

Going to love wearing a hat for the next six weeks haha. Hope I don't crack.

Since I went vegan nearly three years ago and increased my fruit/veg intake..I have had a rash on my cheeks. I wash my face in water and sometimes a cleanser made from natural oils. I used to put rosehip oil on as a moisturiser but I had a reaction to it. Recently I bought a moisturiser full of natural oils, natural butters and Vit E. Well, when I put that on my cheeks BURNED and turned really red.

My naturopath thinks I might have a mild allergy to fruit & veg (oh no!!) which may be causing the rash, it could also be stress and the like since I'm dealing with medical problems.

BTW, don't wear makeup either. Anyone know what else I can try ? My skin is dry and needs something!

WOW. Congratulations, stay strong (which you certainly are) and good luck!

I tried to do a water fast with lemon and a teaspoon of maple syrup...lasted four days before I thought I was going to die (my heart started racing and I was really worried).

I think because we are so cautious in society and so regulated by rules that it can be hard to not give in to the other part of your mind that wants to step outside the box.

Really interesting to read how you are going with this, would love to do something like it. Keep it up but look after yourself! Love to know how you feel once you stop water fasting also...probably a new person

Yeah TV is a business and it has a ideology to enforce. This is my budding 'media & comm' analytical/cynicism showing. It wasn't even a balanced report to begin with, only one raw vegan to represent no animals products in the diet? They should also have a cooked vegan in there!

And of course the old 'one person shown with low B12 is a true testament to all vegans- raw or not'. Pfft.

Hello everyone,

I've got winter break at uni coming up so yet again I am going to try a raw food diet. I've just learnt that I shouldn't ignore Zinc and Magnesium and are aware that I am currently not getting enough naturally. So before I start my raw journey again, can anyone tell me how to get the recommended dosage of Zinc and Magnesium via raw foods, and what raw foods are good for this?

Thanks!

random 5am note- HOLY CRAP I LOVE THE EBOOK.

I feel like I've had a big kick in the backside.

I will make a green smoothie tomorrow, I will not be an insomniac, I will get out in the sunshine and love my  privileged and blessed life. I will treat my body the way it deserves, with utmost respect and hope to extend this to all areas in life.

I know there is a post around here somewhere about the e-book, so feel free to move or delete this post if it should not be here.

I just had to make a quick post to say WOW!!!! at the e-book. I was finally able to access it and I just want to say thankyou to everyone who put in the effort to make this and make it available to people like myself. Not only do the recipes look easy and fantastic, but I was blown away by the intimacy of the book and the board members stories. This last part really inspired me like nothing before and made me realise that people around here really know what they are talking about. I felt a connection with the fact that many people have had health issues and this has been their path to a normal life. And everyone looks so young and gorgeous RAW. (Jocelyn has the bluest eyes I have ever seen).

Talk about a motivation wake up call!!

Anyway, again, just thanks. Seriously.

Thanks for the tip Freedom B, but I just got it to work on another computer. Yay, off to marvel now

You always make me feel reassured Neet, and looking at your lovely glowing skin that is radiating RAW goodness, in your user picture, reminds me why I am excited about RAW.

I did have quite alot of celery yesterday, what a coinicidence. I know you have to be careful about the salt used, I have been using natural sea salt or something of the sort (never table salt) but I did read on a raw website that you have to use a specific kind as you have kindly pointed out

Hope you are well and all is good. Thanks for the concern.

Ohhh thankyou Neet and Sheryl....but unfortunately I cannot access the e-book. I get a 'encryption' 'decryption' problem when I attempt to install it after downloading. *sobs* It looks FANTASTIC too. I think I had tried to dload it in the past but also had a problem. Hmm.