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What is a Raw Foodist?
A person whose diet consists of at least 75% raw/living food.
What does a Raw Foodist eat?
Fruits, vegetables, seeds/nuts, sprouts, grains, as long as they are uncooked and unprocessed. Each Raw Foodist must make up their own mind about what percentage Raw they feel suits them;
therefore, some Raw foodists may not choose to eat grains, may choose to soak their seeds/nuts, may choose to avoid olives, olive oil, and Bragg's Amino Acids. Others may not. Each Raw Foodist
must decide what they will put into their body.
What percentage Raw are you?
I consider myself a 75% Raw Foodist. There are certain things that are currently in my diet that constitute cooked or processed. Although my food intake changes day to day, I allow cooked
or processed fruits, vegetables, nuts and other variations into my body, on a minimal basis. For example, I might have roasted cashews on my salad if I go out to a restaurant to eat. I use a
commercially-bought dressing on my salads at home. I'll make a Vegan vegetable soup by boiling Vegan bouillon cubes and adding fresh and frozen veggies; and other similar
examples of a 25% "cooked" diet.
*** Update 4/13/07 --- I'm currently not 75% raw...I'm struggling to get back to healthy vegan first, then will work back to raw...I believe in it wholeheartedly, just got off track this past year
Why don't you just go 100% Raw?
I might one day, who knows. For now, I want to focus on making Raw foodism, in general, a lifetime commitment. For myself, going 75% raw and allowing myself 25% cooked, means that I will be
able to maintain this commitment to my health for the rest of my life. I feel good at 75% raw, 25% cooked. It might not always be that way, and so I will respond accordingly. What works for me,
might not for you; and vice versa. The most important lesson I've learned, is that this is my journey, and you are on yours. (My view on Raw changes daily as I learn more and more about the
lifestyle AND about me. Some days I believe 95% is what I need and others I believe 75% is best. Sometimes I need to revel in my moment of weakness, recognize it and forgive myself. This is a
process, and I will never be a "perfect" Raw foodist --- whatever that is.)
Did you go Raw because of a health condition or what?
More like the prevention of one. I weighed 310 pounds when I started; if that's not a health condition waiting to happen, I don't know what is. Actually, I did have a few health issues
that the Raw lifestyle has helped to work through. Acid reflux, knee pain, and anxiety are all health issues that I used to take medication for. I can happily say that Raw foodism is
changing all of that for me. Click here to see what changes I've made and what changes I've seen as a result of Raw Foodism.
How do you stay motivated and committed to living a Raw lifestyle?
- Posting my raw-in-progress pictures on the website (I wanna LOOK as good as I feel, and I want others to see the difference Raw can make in your appearance)
- Journaling, obviously based on this website, is another way I stay committed. It's a great way to track my progress, recognize my strengths and work through my challenges.
- And then, to be perfectly honest, I give myself an "out." I say, "Hey if I wanna cheat, I can cheat." I never say I can never have cooked again - for me it's most healthy
to let this be a choice rather than a punishment, sacrifice or loss. It's tough living in a world of "you can't" and "you shouldn't" do this or that. If I want it that badly,
then I might need to "binge" and recommit. The main way I usually "save myself," is by saying, "If I still want that piece of pizza tomorrow, I'll go have it." I
basically just keep saying, "I can do it for another day." Then the next day comes, and I say, "I can do it for another day." By the time the next day comes, the intense
desire to cheat is gone. And now it's just become my way of life and a way of living I choose to live. (I learned in 12 step recovery, "I can do, for 24 hours, what I can't fathom doing for
the rest of my life." Before you know it the rest of your life is here and you're doing it.)
How do you meet and connect with other Raw foodists - online or in person?
- Reading and posting on Raw food message boards/forums - I spend a great deal of time on both of those message boards, meeting people, connecting, learning and sharing (you can join
too at www.rawfood.com and www.rawfoodsupport.com and www.rawfoodchat.com)
- Going to Raw potlucks and other raw food events --- share recipes, enjoy a raw gourmet meal, build local connections (you can use http://rawfood.meetup.com
or www.rawbuddy.com to do the same in your area)
- Joining your local natural/health food store - I've met many people shopping at our local natural foods store, many who are raw or are interested in going
raw
When did "From SAD to RAW" begin?
I began the Raw lifestyle on January 1, 2004. The website was born on February 28, 2004.
What does SAD mean in From SAD to RAW?
As an obese person, SAD resonates very strongly with me, not only as the acronym for Standard American Diet, but for sadness, or depression. Depression can cause obesity. Obesity can cause depression.
So, to answer your question, From SAD to RAW is about my journey from sadness AND the Standard American Diet to happiness, health and the Raw lifestyle.
I see that you have other Raw foodists' raw journals or raw-in-progress pictures on your site, I'd like to share my Raw Journey too. Please let me know how to go about getting my own raw journal or raw-in-progress picture
page.
At this time I'm not accepting any additional online journalers, due to 1.) wanting to keep this a small, personal section of From SAD to RAW, and 2.) the amount
of time it takes to manage and update the journal entries. (I also don't want the journals to take away from being able to express my own journey or being able to provide other
resources on the site.) However, If you are interested in having your own Raw-in-Progress picture page on From SAD to RAW, please click here.
How old are you?
I'll be 32 on May 30, 2006 - yep, I'm a Gemini. AND a redhead, which means there are always 4 people talking to you when you're talking to me. Ha!
Do you have a life outside of Raw?
Of course!!! Click here to see my personal site, which is all about me, my pets, my home, my hobbies, my life.
Do you maintain this website all by yourself?
Yep, all by myself...although I get help from each person who emails me with questions (just like this), comments, books, websites and recipes to add to my site
How much traffic does the From SAD to RAW website get?
Website traffic can be measured in several ways. So here are the top 2 things I look at when determining how interested people are in this site. These numbers are updated as of March 27, 2006.
- 153,000 unique visitors
- 6,400,000 hits
Who pays for this website and all of the information you provide?
I do, and I could use your help! If you would like to donate $1, $5, $50, $100, you can use paypal to do so by using the button below.
Thanks!
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