New to this lifestyle? Read On..
I wanted to write a small simple... well, nothing is simple anymore, paragraph on being new to the lifestyle (Raw, 8/11, etc.) I've received several emails from people that are downright scared to eat, or partake in this "lifestyle" due to the scrutiny in 99% of the threads here on GITMR (raw vs. 8/11 vs. fruitarian vs. vega vs. pesciterian, etc. etc. etc.)
These boards can get a little scary sometimes, no doubt, so If you are new to this lifestyle fear not.
Eating right is not as hard or complex as it's made out to be. If you stick to fruits, nuts, seeds and veggies, and balance them out in moderation you'll be just fine and well on your way to better health, I assure you. Weighing your portions, comparing carbs vs. fats, etc. is not necessary, unless you choose to do this on your own and it's a goal you've set for yourself for reasons unknown to me. Eating does not need to be this complicated, nor is it by any means. If you’ve weaned yourself of the S.A.D diet the award is already in your hand and my hat goes off to you.
I’ve been eating RAW for over 7+ years now, in the beginning I was clueless. I stuck to fruits, nuts, seeds and veggies and did my best to properly food combine when eating.. that was it. After roughly 7 months I began to experience a whole new relationship with my body. I no longer “planned” eating. My body knew what it wanted, what it needed and when it needed it, I just followed along and gave it what it asked for. To this day I eat this way, it works for me. Eating to me is nothing more than a fuel to sustain life while I do my best to enjoy it. The byproduct of better health, for me, is living a life disease free which in turn allows me to see and experience much more than I would lugging around a walker and a catheter.
So before you get scared away and run for the closest Burger King, know that eating right is not complex. You don’t need to read a book, or follow some minute by minute technique to achieve positive results. With proper health you will have the energy, stamina and drive to live life to its fullest.
Good luck.
-Burke Bryant
These boards can get a little scary sometimes, no doubt, so If you are new to this lifestyle fear not.
Eating right is not as hard or complex as it's made out to be. If you stick to fruits, nuts, seeds and veggies, and balance them out in moderation you'll be just fine and well on your way to better health, I assure you. Weighing your portions, comparing carbs vs. fats, etc. is not necessary, unless you choose to do this on your own and it's a goal you've set for yourself for reasons unknown to me. Eating does not need to be this complicated, nor is it by any means. If you’ve weaned yourself of the S.A.D diet the award is already in your hand and my hat goes off to you.
I’ve been eating RAW for over 7+ years now, in the beginning I was clueless. I stuck to fruits, nuts, seeds and veggies and did my best to properly food combine when eating.. that was it. After roughly 7 months I began to experience a whole new relationship with my body. I no longer “planned” eating. My body knew what it wanted, what it needed and when it needed it, I just followed along and gave it what it asked for. To this day I eat this way, it works for me. Eating to me is nothing more than a fuel to sustain life while I do my best to enjoy it. The byproduct of better health, for me, is living a life disease free which in turn allows me to see and experience much more than I would lugging around a walker and a catheter.
So before you get scared away and run for the closest Burger King, know that eating right is not complex. You don’t need to read a book, or follow some minute by minute technique to achieve positive results. With proper health you will have the energy, stamina and drive to live life to its fullest.
Good luck.
-Burke Bryant
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Natalia Clarke on -
Yes, that's what I experienced. Cravings for coffee disappeared in a very short time (a month) with just having green smoothies, mono meals or fruit and veg/salads. I crave green smoothies now instead. To me it is truly miraculous and I have no idea how this happened and why. I suspect once you get your balance right, your cravings will go too. Try and experiment and see what works. Cravings for things not good for us are a sign of something missing somewhere, apparently, which sort of makes sense.
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Permalink Reply by YogaBrudder on -
Hi Carol,
That can be a tough one. It took me, oh, thirty-odd years of trying. I've been off it for over a year. When I discovered a very powerful personal healing force and felt invincible, I doubled my habit and every day strolled down the street after my practice to sit in the cafe with a book i loved, have a 12-ouncer with half & half & honey, spent an hour or so. Hated when that last drop came around.
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Permalink Reply by kayce mick on -
Well put. I love how you say: "living a life disease free which in turn allows me to see and experience much more than I would lugging around a walker and a catheter." is what you desire. I agree completely. And it is really annoying when people live such an unhealthy lifestyle and eat whatever they want but then complain they are so sick.
Marilyn
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Permalink Reply by Eric S on -
I've spent the last couple of weeks avoiding internet boards and such thinking about what it means to me to eat healthy. I know that I feel the best if I eat 100% raw, but there are downsides to eating raw for me - namely the fact that I have to force myself to eat to maintain my already perilously low weight and the fact that it's difficult socializing with people and eating 100% raw.
Over the last few weeks I've eaten a lot more cooked food than I would have liked, mostly because I've been hanging out with people and going to lots of great vegan restaurants and I want to try the food and not just have a salad or whatever raw option they have.
This has turned out to be enormously helpful for me because I was really able to focus on what my body likes and doesn't like. What it really doesn't like is anything cooked or made with any sort of heated oil and white flour. Unfortunately most food in a restaurant, even if its vegan and organic, is made with large amounts of cooked oils and salt and other things that do not agree with my body. It's very easy for me to tell when something doesn't agree with me. I feel nauseous, slow, drained, tired, clogged up inside, and my body tries to get the food out as quickly as possible.
For me the most important thing is not following a specific diet or sticking to anything 100%. The most important thing is listening to my body. The staples of my diet are fruits, raw vegetables, vegetable juice, and quinoa (which I do cook.) If I am eating out I will eat cooked food, but I make sure I avoid anything fried in large amounts of oil or that has large amounts of salt added to it. (Which basically is 98% of everything on a menu, even at a vegan restaurant.)
As I noticed that everywhere I go has signs for "gluten free" food I have to comment that I have no problem with gluten. Seitan is pure gluten and it is one of my favorite foods. From my limited knowledge of this, unless you have celiac disease or an allergy to gluten there is no need to avoid it. And I'd rather eat a whole food than something processed to remove the gluten, which as far as I know poses no danger or health consequences to me.
I am very much turned off by people who think and say that eating one way or another is the best way and that anyone who doesn't commit to eat that way 100% is not trying hard enough. Variety is the spice of life and I am not going to turn down trying something new because I am eating 8/1/1, or fruitarian, or superfoods, or whatever.
My advice to anyone is listen to your body. It knows best, better than anyone else can tell you, no matter how many books they write or how good their pitch is no one is ever going to be able to give you advice better than what your body can tell you. Don't be afraid to experiment with different ways of eating, figure out what works for you and what doesn't. Take the things that work for you, toss the things that don't work for you, and just make your own decisions.
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Permalink Reply by telefunken on -
well said Eric.
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Permalink Reply by tracie renshaw on -
excellant information great read for me a person who is far from 100% raw yet, however I;m loving the learning I love the fact I make much better choices than ever now. After attending Vipassana meditation courses, I now know more than ever how specifics foods interact with my body. Observing my bodies reactions, NOT analysing my body helped me so very much .. Thanks for sharing your knowledge, theres personal power to be had from this site. Knowledge is power, however cheezy that was sorry. I'm happy I was approved to join this site. Its great reading
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Permalink Reply by Burke Bryant on -
Thanks Tracie ;) Hey, I'd love also to hear more about Vipassana when you have the time. You can post to my page .
Respectfully,
Burke
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Permalink Reply by Natalia Clarke on
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Totally agree and that's what I decided I am going to do!!! Thank you for your post, you read my thoughts on the subject, almost like me talking about :O)
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Permalink Reply by Crys on -
I just made a video about this, actually. I think it's easy to get intimidated, thinking you have to prepare foods in a sophisticated style meant to interpret previously-loved cooked meals. Not so. If you can eat fruit you'll be okay. If you can make a salad, you'll be okay. I think it's good to start off simply and then just grow into things.
This is my second go at raw and so far it's been effortless; I haven't put any pressure on myself in any way. All I'm doing is eating the raw foods I love, and so far so good!
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Permalink Reply by Burke Bryant on
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Crys I'd love to view the video... where can we call find it?
-B
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Permalink Reply by Natalia Clarke on
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I think you are right in saying that we shouldn't put pressure on ourselves and it will all work out without us thinking about it. The body will tell us what it wants!
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Permalink Reply by Manon on -
This is a relief to read - I have been to alot of online Raw food type places and they are very much wanting to convert me to going 100% raw. At the moment at least, it is not going to work with my lifestyle. One day, when I can grow all my own things and have my own place... THEN maybe I could be more raw!
I do feel overwhelmed at how 'complicated' it seems to go raw - I really don't see why it should be, but would love some tips on how to start. Like maybe swapping two of my 3 meals a day with raw things instead of cooked etc....?
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