Top 10 Characteristics That Lead to Raw Food Success
Monday, March 16th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
I’ve been wanting to expand on what I wrote about in a past newsletter in January (you can view it here if you’d like). That is: the top 10 characteristics I’ve found that lead to raw food success. In this case, raw food success means “reaching your goal raw food percentage as easily and effortlessly as possible and then staying there in a fun, healthy, sustainable way.” So in no particular order, here it goes:
- Know how to explain the diet to others. It’s so important to be able to communicate your dietary preferences confidently and enthusiastically. I used to say “I’m just trying something new out–it’s nothing permanent” and although this was a blatant lie, it would at least get most people off of my back :) As time went by I would start to say “this is what my body likes to run on best” and today I say “this is who I am and I love how I eat. I love this food and how it makes me feel!” You might want to practice a few rehearsed lines before you go breaking out your own salad or green smoothie at a restaurant :) Remember to really feel happy about it or people will catch onto your vibration and latch onto that. Also, try to express yourself and your beliefs well without sounding embarrassed of your diet or judgmental of others. See this awesome post from Heidi and Justin for more tips on this.
- Take baby steps. If you try to go 100% raw overnight from a SAD diet, you could fall hard. Try going vegan first. Or go vegetarian, then cut out dairy, then cut out the artificial stuff, then add in more and more and more raw foods until you reach your goal. When you are eating at your goal percentage for a couple weeks and feel ready to take it up a notch with another raw meal a day or adding in some new superfoods, go for it! I experienced success going vegan first for five months, then doing a month-long raw food detox program, then staying raw. I think this worked well because I was arming myself with information I could never forget (about toxins, meat, dairy, etc) at first, and then immersing myself with raw foods and detox tools with a health-conscious community. By the time that month was done, I had armed myself with the information, practice, community, and enthusiasm needed to carry me the rest of the way!
- Be flexible So you mess up one day eating some cooked foods or too much raw food…So what?! Just pick yourself back up and try not to dwell on it. And please don’t tell your mind you can never eat certain things again because that’s simply not true–the truth is you could if you wanted to but you choose not too because you’re eating much yummier things now that make you feel more energetic, light, and happy :) And if you do decide to eat something you don’t usually eat anymore, please be sure to eat it HAPPILY and guilt-free. This is so important! I decided to indulge in a couple baked yams last winter and loved each and every one of them. I know they did my body good even though they had been cooked because I truly felt amazing while enjoying them ;)
- Don’t view yourself as weird (unless you want to, that is). The truth is most people are on some sort of diet (diet being some sort of healthy way of eating that is a step or two better than how they usually eat). If not, they wish they could stick with their diet. Most people want to eat healthier and feel better and look better. Raw fooders are no different. All humans have foods they like and foods they don’t like. There’s no reason for everyone to separate ourselves from each other because of what’s on our plate. We are all one.
- Openly share and acknowledge with others your positive stories and testimonials since going raw. Not only does it ingrain in your mind how far you’ve come and how powerful this way of eating is, but you inspire others which in turn will come back to you when you need it most. Facts tell, stories sell. This is what I know from the work that I do. If you want share the benefits of raw food with your friends and family, don’t bore them with all the details on temperatures, enzymes, or karma; tell them about your personal experience physically, mentally, and emotionally. You can share stories of others too like Angela Stokes, Philip McClusky, or whoever else inspires you in the raw food community!
- Get involved in raw food communities and websites out there. Here’s a great post on how to find and get involved in raw food lifestyle-supporting communities around you. Benefits are: more like-minded friends, fun healthy events to go to during the weekends, free learning, inspiration, yummy food (at potlucks), and feeling like you are a normal human being with normal food preferences-lol!
- Know how to have FUN with the food. Check out your local raw food restaurants and treat yourself now and then. Buy or borrow some recipe books and experiment with a few new dishes each week. Swap books and recipes with friends. Try new superfoods out and see how you feel. Make sure you’re constantly having fun and loving what you’re eating. Take pictures of your creations, start a blog, keep a journal of your favorite new foods and dishes so you can look back on these early days ;)
- Practice balance in your approach to the raw food diet and fitness in general. It shouldn’t be all or nothing one day to the next because this isn’t very sustainable and will make you crazy. Try to most things in moderation. That is– raw food desserts in moderation, detoxing and fasts in moderation, wine and alcohol in moderation, etc. Just like any other person on this planet, we need to be kind and gentle to ourselves and our bodies!
- Get your greens in (superfoods count here as well). Greens cut cravings and calories as well as boost nutrition, detoxification, clarity, strength, and beauty. Get those leafy greens in through juices, green smoothies, and salads and experiment with some green superfoods such as spirulina, chlorella, blue-green algae, marine phytoplankton, and/or Revitaphi to find which work best for you and to take your health to the next level.
- Don’t stop learning! With all of the fantastic information out there, never stop learning about new health and wellness discoveries (this well never stop, I believe). A saying I know of and share with others on my team is “your income follows your personal growth.” I believe the same goes for health. Your health and happiness follows your personal growth. If you’re not growing, it’s almost as if you’re shrinking in relation to the rest of the universe. So pick a few websites, blogs, books, and/or forums and use them. You will never get bored of this diet or lifestyle EVER if you continue to take bits and pieces from leading health experts out there and apply them to yourself in fun, healthy, sustainable ways! Work on yourself than you do anything else and you will become unusually successful! Here’s a great blog compiling posts from numberous other blogs (called a blog carnival) I just found today: Nathalie’s Raw Food Transition Carnival #1: General Feel Good Raw Food Edition.
Question of the day: What do you think? Did I leave any out that you would consider in the top 10?
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