The REAL transition to raw, starting now!

I have been off the wagon for a while now. Truthfully, I was never really fully on, with my previous raw intake averaging around 60%. I don't see myself ever adding a label, as in "I am a ..." simply because if there is a day that I would like to eat something that is cooked I will probably do so without feeling as though I have betrayed myself or some ideal. I believe that balance is crucial in this life, as is humility.

With that being said, I am ready to really give this a whirl (started yesterday, 7/6/09). I have taken my before photos, stocked my fridge, set my mind and my intention. I have decided to go for at least 95% raw on a daily basis, with my only real exceptions being herbal teas and coffee. Yes, coffee. I know, trust me, I know the facts about coffee, it's acidity, and the dangers of a high intake of the alkaloid caffeine. I have eliminated it in the past, when I felt it was necessary, and trust that I will once again feel that way. I think it is important, though, to feel good about what you put in your body, AND what you don't, and I know myself well enough to realize how I react when I feel I am somehow depriving myself.

I must get an accurate reading of my current weight (I don't own a scale), but I would guess that I am about 145 pounds, which is pretty evenly distributed over my 5'2.5" frame, though admittedly a little bottom-heavy. For the most part, I am wearing a size 6 or 8, but not ALL my clothes are fitting, and many are too tight for comfort. With that said, my body shape, muscle tone, and the way I am carrying the weight is disappointing.

I have struggled with acne since I was in my mid-twenties; it is, in fact, what brought my awareness to nutrition, herbology, and why I have switched gears and am in school for Complementary Alternative Medicine. I have seen slight improvements over the last year and a half with the elimination of red meat, dairy, processed sugar, white flour, and most yeast products, and the addition of EFA's/healthy oils and probiotics. I know that my system is acidic, and suspect that I am prone to candidiasis.

After my initial defection from the fast food nation, individually wrapped cheese product slices and chip aisle, my energy and awareness, and overall sense of well-being improved tremendously, and I have grown emotionally and spiritually in amazing ways since that shift.

This should not be a huge shock to my system, as I was eating mainly a vegan + fish diet before this latest plunge off the deep end

So, my intentions for this shift to raw food are:

- to lose 20+ pounds,
- to have radiant, healthy skin that is free of acne,
- to continue to feel more clear, light, and energetic than ever before,
- to feel a greater connection to the life force of the food that sustains me,
- to feel a greater appreciation for the food that I eat, the people and factors that came together to make it available, and the True Source that provided it, and
- to become more in tune with my body and it's needs, and ultimately eat intuitively based on what I require.

I have a decent understanding of holistic nutrition and plenty of resources to learn more. I also have a small number of raw vegan recipes that have become favorites, and have bookmarked a few great websites for this purpose. I have a great Omega 8003 Juicer (juices wheatgrass, very low rpm for extra juice extraction, and also great for making nut butters, etc.), plenty of supplies for growing more organic wheatgrass, a great herb garden out back, and a super 3 horsepower Blendtec blender for making the ultimate smoothies.

I do not have a dehydrator, and think I will keep it that way for now, but am definitely open to any suggestions on alternate methods using regular ovens or toaster ovens as long as they are energy-efficient.

My plan is to start simple with smoothies, juices, and mongo-salads, with some nuts, seeds, and raw pates/spreads for the most part, so as to not overwhelm myself time- and planning-wise.

I am VERY open for suggestions and advice in this transition, and look forward the the support of this great community. Most of all, I am excited for this journey, and am so grateful to live in a time and place where I have the option, knowledge and resources to pursue this level of consciousness.

Here we go!