Hello everyone, I have just joined your forum.  Over the passed few days I have been reading some of your messages and gaining some insite into raw eating as a way of life.  I have chosen to head down this path as I feel the more intune I am to my body the more I will be able to develop spiritually. 

I am getting a little flustered and I suppose wanting it to happen over night.  Today is the third day I have started my journey and of course I have already come across many hurdles in terms of food temptations.  It is very hard when I am eating one way and having to cook another for my family.  ( I have 3 children, (5 years old, 3 and 1 aswell as a husband).

At present I am overwhelmed with all the information I am reading.  All I want is a simple way of eating.  Not interested in deydrating foods or making lasagnes (at the moment that is) I would like some guidance as to what I should eat a day.

This morning I tried the GS you guys rave about and I can see why.  I left a little for my husband to try tonight.  GS will definitely be a must on the menu averyday.  It has certainly kept me regular today!!! 

I have noticed that I too am wanting to eat more nuts, just a few mind you (4/5) and lots of fruit.  I was always of the mind set that fruit would make you put on weight, and you seem to eat a lot of fruit when you eat raw.  From what I have read most of you drink a GS eat fruit and then a salad at night.  I know you have to adopt what works for you, but isn't it better to eat more salads? I also seam to want to grave through the day, not big great meals. (not that I am accustomed to that)

I am very active in that I try to run / cardio 5 times a week and strength train 2/3 times a week so I need to keep my energy levels up (as well as run a house and a business).

I hope to speak to you all soon.

Luv
xxx

welcom shikira -awesome name..

make sure you eat plenty,don't worry bout do's and don't at the moment,just get all the raw in that you want,then it all balances out later,once you make it through transitioning..eat as many raw (buy unshelled)pref soaked nuts and seeds as you want,but bear in mind if you eat high fruit avoid high fat,cos you will be seriously on the loo alot,not pleasant,like Drider i am low fat super high fruit and greens,but for me this is 3 years raw vegan,and H has been eating this way for a while too..so ease your way into things,to be the ultimate raw athlete i find that low fat high fruits works best,but you must give your body time to adjust here..

luck,and keep us posted..

Lovely to have you here....welcome.

There are a few of us that are 100% raw, workout, and also have to prepare meals for the familiy. Being raw is a journey and a wonderful one at that.....i personally have found it to be one of the easiest things i have ever done, so therefor cannot relate to cravings for cooked, so cannot help in that department.

Just go with the flow....throw the whole carb/protein thing out the window and enjoy the small amounts of raw fats and the great things that they do for you. Enjoy the sweetness and the energy gained from eating lots of fruit. Never heard of anyone getting fat on fruit! You will learn quite quickly what works for you and what doesn't, namely eating to many nuts, seeds and dried fruit....but i think it is something you have to do, some are fine with this type of food, others find it way to much but they are great transitioning foods and it will be up to you how long you last with them. I was able to eat them and still managed to drop a couple of kg's, which i didn't need to do....but they have come back on and I don't have a problem with that. I also do 5 x cardio per week and 3 x resistance training and have a family of 3 kids and hubby...so i understand your workload!!!! (They are about 50% raw, they all have GS for breaky plus wheatgrass shot (sometimes), and raw granola, fruit and nutmilk i make them. Plus raw crackers during the day)

Spiritually you are definatly on the right path...raw is a wonderful way of life..enjoy!

Just stick with the forum and all of the wonderful support available here and you will do very well...good luck, you sound motivated so you will do very well. I won't be long and you will be telling us how great you feel!

Cheers
Karen

Shikira if it's spiritual growth that you want,and mind expansion and confidence and strength like never before (mental/emotional/spiritual/physical),raw vegan living is where it's at,you are definitely on the right journey now for all this to evolve,luck...

simple raw meals are best,also invest in some raw books,and cds and tapes,will keep you on the fast track to raw vegan spiritual'mental'physical success,...

Shikira,12 steps to raw is available here in the raw pleasure shop,by Victoria boutenko...another goodie is green for life by same author,enjoy!

Hi Shikira,

I'm new too and am about to have my third baby. Hubby doesn't eat all raw but does adore salads of any kind and likes juices so I have some leeway with him not being a cooked steak and veg man. You do feel like the odd one out tho, don't you sometimes...? But, dh hasn't said one single thing to me except to maybe add more grains in the salads lol. He does like cooked meat every night which I find hard because I don't want to feed my kids that.

I just plonk down a plate of juicy fruit and salad in front of my girls and let them at it. Temptation is everywhere because I think at first it is inside of you, gnawing at your mind. I'm slowly starting to KNOW what is good and what is bad.

Goodluck and look forward to hearing more from you 

The real trick is to guage what amount of change people are ready for and then give them exactly that much... before seing how you can find an even more delicious way of tempting them just that bit further!

Just remember that the more they feel they're being pushed, the more they'll push back...

Sounds like you're taking a great approach with starting out simple and working on yourself first. Just remember to be gentle with yourself at all times. We've seen quite a few people come at raw by trying to figure out "the perfect" diet as step 1, and then rigidly force themselves to stick to it 100.00000% from the first day. The only problem with this is that When you start you don't have any experience with your body on raw to know what "the perfect diet" is for you and your "perfect diet" changes over time and other factors anyway.

Overall though raw is so super simple it's silly. Keep it as natural as possible wherever you can. Find ways to balance it out where you can't. Loads of greens. Listen widely to a range of diverse opinions with an open and flexible mind. Learn to feel how different foods affect you. Have fun and remember enjoying yourself has as much of an impact on your health as the food.

Oh and last but not least... WELCOME! Happy you're here.