Finding the raw food community has been a spiritual experience. It has brought new life to my body, mind, and spirit. When you are sick you pray for a miracle or just give up and die. I was not about to give up.After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 1985; and also pregnant the same year. I decided to control my diet with lots of green salads. I had read somewhere that green salads were brain food. At the time I knew nothing about enzymes and raw food. A healthy baby was my goal.When my son was born healthy I went right back to my fried and greasy foods (SAD- Standard American Diet). I was a good cook and I loved to display my culinary skills; I was my own best customer. After all, there is always a reason to fry chicken. Coupled with an array of starches (sweet potatoes, macaroni & cheese, peas & rice) and very few vegetables, my blood sugar levels and weight soared out of control. Poor food combinations were the problem. Proteins and starches clog your system; they do not digest well together. The digestive system has to work longer and harder to break food down and pass it through the system.

Don’t ask me how but one day I awoke unable to breathe. There I was in the intensive care unit of the hospital; asthma was the culprit. The situation was serious; the medicines did not work well together. The prednisone worked against the insulin. This went on for 3 weeks. I was released from the hospital with bags of medicine. My body was so depleted that I could hardly get out of bed. I knew I needed a way back.

Throughout the years I had read a lot and had taken herb classes. While buying some fried fish in a Brooklyn market I saw ginseng. After all ginseng is supposed to give energy, and can be beneficial for diabetes and asthma. It worked for me; in a few weeks I was back to work feeling stronger but not my best. However, my weight was climbing. I made the usual attempts to lose weight. I tried it all, Bahamian diet, hypnotism, you name it. Still no real nutrition.

My family and friends were concerned about my weight. A good friend recommended a fasting group. Dr. Valentine explained how a 30-day juice fast with fresh carrot juice and fruit juices would drastically improve my health. He was right. I lost 30 lbs. and my need for medication. Detoxification was the process; the elimination of toxins through diet and colon cleansing. The repair of the body with live juices (freshly squeezed) and herbs was the healing remedy. Shortly after the fast I learned about food combining. I had never felt better.

One problem – I did not make this my way of life. Back to the old foods and to disease. This time I tipped the scales at 310. I needed help. I began water aerobics religiously. This was good, but I needed more. I secretly knew the hazards of diabetes; my grandmother had both of her legs amputated. Now after several years of being a diabetic my body was deteriorating, I was feeling the side effects of numbness in my fingers and toes, plus blurred vision. It was really getting scary. I knew I was in trouble.

I had heard of several naturopathic doctors in New York, but I was not sure if they could help me. So I prayed for a miracle. A few months later a friend told me about an herb doctor who was coming to Petersburg. I went to see him and started my journey back to health. The idea of eating an all raw foods diet was new to me. I made the transition, however, with the help of a lifelong friend who had studied with Viktoras Kulvinskas (the grandfather of the raw food movement). The doctor put me on raw foods for 30 days. Avocados were my passion, coconuts were my bread. I became energized and I felt 10 years younger. How could this happen? Food in its natural state; raw fruits, nuts, and vegetables have live enzymes. Enzymes replenish the cells. The live foods bring about an accelerated reaction in the digestion of foods. Since the body is no longer struggling to digest dead foods; the enzymes are able to work to regenerate the body.

As with any new program, there were ups and downs. I read more and learned more. I then became familiar with the raw food community. Todd Ewen and David Shore taught me to prepare the foods. Todd gave me my first raw food preparation class where I learned to prepare foods that are delicious and all raw. I can still taste my first raw tomato soup and raw bread. I then started on a quest for more information. I have driven and flown almost everywhere to gain more raw knowledge. I received a Raw Food Chef Certification from The Raw Family of Oregon. This family gave me so much and took me to a whole new level. I am a state certified nurse, but I did not want to push medicine, so I took classes to become a certified Nutritional Counselor, as I wanted to spread the word about raw food and natural methods of healing. Currently I am studying to become a Naturopathic Doctor.

After taking insulin twice a day for several years, I no longer suffer from diabetes and do not take any insulin or pills. Now I’m free from medication and vibrantly alive on raw.

Lynda is a Certified Nutritional Consultant in Petersburg, VA and offers 2-Day Workshops and Raw Food Preparation Classes.

You can reach Lynda at NAMASKA7@aol.com and at www.aliveandraw.com.

Raw is hard for me right now.  I fell off the wagon, yet again on a trip home the weekend after the 4th of July holiday.  Oh, Dairy Queen…you are a vile temptress.  Luckily, there are not easily accessible DQ locations in DC (I think the closest one is in Bowie Town Center).  Between DQ and Sonic (Sonic Blast with Reese’s cups…*drool*) my ice cream habit was in full effects.

*sigh*

Back on the wagon.  I’ve added wheat germ to my morning smoothies and I make sure I have a “ready to do battle” bag with me all day.  Carrots, grapes, etc.  Oh no, the munchies won’t get me.

Today’s challenge:  Going to happy hour on U Street.  What place that serves bar food has anything raw I can eat?  Um…I’m thinking none.  On top of that, I’ve had a rough week and I could really, really use a drink.  I’m going to pass and hope that the caring words of the dear friend I’m meeting at happy hour will suffice.

Blessings

I ate:
My morning green smootie (see other days) with Kale added
1/2 cup of raw walnuts
Large Lunch salad (see other days) with red onions this time
Large apple
cup of walnuts, 1/2 cup of banana chips, and a bowl of grapes for dinner

Weight: 182

I think the green smoothies really help me not to have cravings.  I didn’t have any greens in my morning smoothie on Thursday and I got hungry faster…about an hour earlier than usual.  I’m experiencing hunger around 12:15 and I usually go to lunch between 12:30 and 1:00.  I went to the mall after work and wasn’t really tempted by anything.  I ate my after lunch/mid day snack (apple) at the mall.  I also experienced no diarrhea yesterday (2 regular movements).

Today I’m going out to dinner with a friend to celebrate his b-day.  I’m about to check the reservation and make a decision on what I’m going to eat.  I woke up this morning weighing 181…so straying off the path is not what I’m trying to do.  A sista is so happy about the way my raw journey is going and I’ve been at least 90-100% raw the

Weight today: 184.5

What I ate today (so far):

Green smoothie with 2 bananas about a cup of frozen mango and a cup of frozen blue berries.
1 large apple
1/2 cup of raw walnuts
Salad with romaine, sunflower seeds, olives, olive oil, carrots, and mushrooms

I took a photo yesterday after working out (walking on the treadmill for an hour) in the morning in my sports bra and capri pants.  Ugh…it was hard…because right now I wouldn’t want to show that to the whole world.  I plan to take another photo at the end of the month and maybe…just maybe…posting it here.  Lord!  I know.  It’s good motivation.  Who cares about the before pic if the after is wonderful, right?  But, really…I love myself now.  That’s why I’m making this change in my life.  So I can show myself love in being healthy and happy.  Being free from dieting, free from bad self esteem in a world that tells you to love your fat self then tells you via commericals, media, etc how bad you look in comparison to the “ideal” images they present to you.  No wonder the diet industry is huge.

Challenges for the day:

I have only had 2-3 strong cravings/thoughts about sugar and sweets.  I read something great that Raw Food Coach Angela Stokes (she was just on CNN last week and got some much traffic her site crashed) wrote that helped me gain perspective.  She wrote that food in cans and boxes isn’t really food to her anymore.  I decided that was a good way to look at it.  The food is full of dye, preservatives, etc.  It’s like “food-product” compared to apples, oranges, etc. 

Also, I was a little sore in my right hip today.  That caused some concern because I had some inflammation in my hip from exercising without arch supports (I didn’t know I needed them till I went to the doctor).  What can help that condition you ask?  Weight loss.  Another reason I’m making this change.

So, that’s all for today.  Maybe I’ll post again tonight.  Here’s to great beginnings.

• Bananas
• Carrot Sticks
• Apples
• Green Smoothie

I’ll admit I wasn’t all that hungry.  After work yesterday I noticed that unlike most of the time, I wasn’t hungry for junk and I felt the same way today.  I’m glad that I haven’t had any intense craving yet, but I’m sure that battle will come and go.  LOL  I’m in it for the long haul though.  I went to a friend’s house for a lil get together last night.  It was my first social gathering since deciding to go Raw again.  There were offers of pork chops, jambalaya and alcohol.  Even though the host is a hell of a good bartender…I said not to all of the offers of food and “liquid courage”.    I was very very proud of myself.

I also got the DVD and CD I ordered from Dr. Llaila O. Afrika about Weight Loss and Obesity that I ordered.   I love his Afrikan Holistic Health book.  I’m looking forward to hearing his advice on health and wellness through eating.  He has a very, very radically Afrocentric message.  I’ll let you know what I think.

Let your food be your medicine and let your medicine be your food.

I truly believe this and that is why I’m going raw…again.  The last time I went raw was for 2 months in 2006.  I have to say that in the last 10 years that was the best I’ve felt and the best I’ve looked.  I lost weight, felt great, my skin cleared, and aches and pains went away.  I want that again.  So, this month, April 2008, I’ve decided to go raw again (4/2/08 to be exact.

I’ve been doing pretty good.  I’ve been raw all day at work since Wed, only eating cooked food in the evening.  Today will be the first day I attempt to do NO cooked food all day.  Some people need more of a transition…I’m a cold turkey kinda chick.  I just know what about myself.

Today I’ve had…2 bananas and a fruit shake with raw honey, strawberries and mango (frozen).  I’m equipted with my bag of goodies (an apple and a huge bag of baby carrots).  Thank God there is a huge salad bar with lots of raw goodies just down the street from my job.  I can be hard being raw in the city.  I live in DC and I don’t drive, so this blog will also discuss how you can live in the city, carless and still go raw.  Where there is a will, there’s a way.

I will post my before and after pics for the month on 4/30.  This will help me be accountable to the process.  Nothing like posting your “fat” pics online for the world to see. LOL!  In the end, I want to be able to see my progress visually.  It’s more motivating.

Goals:
Weight Loss – not having to struggle and think about what I eat all the time
Wellness
Loving Myself through Treating ME better
Clarity of Mind
Clear skin (excuma)

Take the journey with me.