Raw Food

Okay, so I totally forgot that I had a blogger.

I deleted all my old posts (I felt the need to start fresh.)

I am not sure if anyone is going to read this, but I thought since my life is changing radically that I might as well keep track of it in blog form.

Let's see...

MY VEGAN VENTURE

Three months ago I became a vegan. (A vegan does not eat any meat or anything derived from an animal.) I did this for many reasons, including animal rights AND health. I simply thought that I was only half-supporting the cause of animal rights by being a vegetarian. Also, I didn't see the need to drink milk or eat eggs. Humans simply don't need these things. (Not to mention, they are quite fatty!) My veganism started as a 30 day trial, but after researching it extensively, I could not go back. So here I am, still a vegan!

MY RAW FOOD JOURNEY so far

When I first became a vegan, someone told me about the raw food diet. A raw food diet, for those of you who don't know, is exactly what it sounds like. A raw foodist only eats raw foods. A raw foodists does not eat anything cooked or processed. This is for many reasons, but mostly because of the enzymes of the food. Apparently, when a food is cooked over 116 degrees, the enzymes in the food are destroyed, which in turn kills the nutrition of the food. Raw foodists refer to cook food as "dead food." So basically, when we eat raw foods, we get FULL nutrition from the food. It totally makes sense to me. Not to mention, being raw simply cuts out SO much unhealthy food. The more I learn about it the more I get grossed out by processed foods.

I went raw for a few days when I first became a vegan, but I was not educated enough about it and I was not getting an adequate amount of calories or nutrition. I always felt weak, tired, and hungry. Now that I am educated, I realize that I was simply going through the "detox" phase. I quit eating a raw food diet, but continued to eat about 75% raw for a while. Then I totally fell off and didn't pay attention to the percentage.

KNOWLEDGE IS KEY

I have been reading a book called Eat to Live. It is a fantastic book and it has really made me aware of what I am eating. I am about a third way through, and already extremely aware of food. Because of what the book talks about, my interest in raw foods has returned, and this time it is intense.

I have seriously researched for days-on-end. I have been to DOZENS of raw food sites, joined a few raw food communities, talked to other raw foodists, went to bookstores and read books about it, went to Whole Body and read books about it, watched videos online, and even listened to podcasts. I am so ready for this lifestyle!

I have been 100% raw for one week. I will be completely honest. For the first few days, I was craving foods like crazy. I felt sluggish and I simply was not motivated. Americans are truly addicted to cooked and processed foods! You don't really realize it until you go raw. But those few days went by fast, and they were simply my detox days -- the day my body was getting used to raw foods and getting rid of the processed and cooked stuff.

Now, I can't lie, I have never felt this good in my life. It has only been about 7 days but I can already feel the difference. I lost 3 pounds of uneeded fat/weight. I feel light, THIN, happy, ENERGETIC, and strong! I have an ongoing "natural high" and I can't stop laughing and smiling at everything... for days on end! The good vibes and positive energy is flowing like crazy, including in my food! I feel so good; it is indescribible! LIFE IS AMAZING!

If you wonder what I eat, leave comments and I might post my menu for a day or two sometime.

Well, that's all I have to say. KEEP SMILING, everyone!