In a way I feel as though I was always meant to live raw. It has been a slow but steady transition, and I am just now seeing the end of the tunnel, the answer I've been looking for: a raw lifestyle.
It all began in January of 2010 with a New Years Resolution. Who actually keeps those, right? Well I was determined. I was done with looking in the mirror and not liking what I saw back. If you had seen me (or maybe you knew me then) you never would have said I was obese, probably not even overweight, because I had 160 lbs distributed very evenly over my 5'6" frame and had mastered the art of covering, masking, and hiding. I didn't know how much I weighed or even what my final goal was; I only knew that I didn't like the way I looked or felt and I was determined to make a change.
Of course, everyone says that, especially post-holiday season, but I was serious. I knew that I had to compartmentalize this goal into specific, smaller parts, or else I would become so overwhelmed I would probably give up two weeks in (been there, done that). So I began with my diet. I started making grocery lists, adding more produce, lessening the tv dinners etc. I also stopped using my tip money from hair school soley for take-out (a terrible habit I had attained over the past six months of school, only adding to my weight gain/bad body image). I decided instead to put all of my tip money towards buying a new pair of shears (costing $350). And so it began. Just from brown-bagging my lunch and eating more mindfully at home, I was feeling much more confident in just one months time. I was ready for the next step: working out.
I am lucky enough to have a small gym facility available to me 24/7 at my apartment complex. Of course, I was busting my way through school, working there from 8:30-10pm, and working out was the last thing I wanted to do when I got home. The only other option was to claim mornings as my own, and so it began. Dot became a morning person! It was not easy, but it has pushed me past my limits and has trained me to be more alert, focused, and fit!
February thru April I worked out for an hour each day, 5x/week mixing it up with cardio and strength, always reading articles about new moves and tricks. By April, clothes were feeling much looser and I was beaming! I graduated that month, freeing up my mornings again, but I surprised myself when I still opted to utilize that time for my workouts. I had become adjusted and didn't want to change my schedule. I was still feeling weighed down at this point (I hit many plateaus throughout the entire process) and decided that I wanted to cut out meat from my diet. I called myself vegetarian as a blanket statement, although I couldn't quite give up sushi. About six months later, the pounds were still peeling off of me and I felt great! I started incorporating chicken and fish into my diet a little more, although I never touched red meat.
By August of 2010 I had lost a solid 20 lbs and rewarded myself with a gym pass! That really helped up my workouts, as I had access to more machines, weights, and classes and it was just the thing to help me gain more confidence. Finally, a place filled wall to wall with mirrors, and I liked what I saw! Of course I still wanted to improve, but I felt great about my progress.
It was late that August that Agi, a local raw foodist and small business owner, came and gave free samples at the gym of her raw food. She had flaxseed crackers with red bell pepper and cashew dips, green smoothies, fresh lemonade, and more! I joined her email list, and was looking forward to her coming again in one week for more free samples! I remember dashing from work to go straight to the gym, only to have barely missed her a week later. I was so disappointed because I didn't have a chance to really talk with her the first time, and wanted to hear what she had to say about her diet choices. That experience resonated with me. A few weeks later I went to her store to talk to her, but she wasn't there. I bought some of her very pricey raw crackers, indulged, and never went back. I drove by her store nearly every day, but with spotty hours and my crazy schedule, it just never worked out. I moved on with my regimen, but Agi's store was always in the back of my head.
The fall season brought more schooling for me; I was enrolled for the Aesthetics program at the same place I went for hair school. I was nervous about the new schedule, mainly because I was a night student and everyone around me (all girls) would get the worst cravings from 5-10pm and of course we were located in the middle of a plethera of fast food joints. I was determined to not fall prey to the daily temptations of, "we're going to Cafe Rio, wanna join us?" No No No. I was religious about bringing my own food, for which I was put on the spot for every single night, "So, what's in your salad tonight?" was a question I heard at least 3 times every day. Most people at school commended my efforts saying, "wow, you are so good at bringing your own food." or "that smells delicious!" or "how much would you charge if I asked you to bring me food some nights?" Eventually they all learned to never offer me junk food. The answer was always no. It was uncomfortable at times when they would be eating ice cream, and I was crunching on my carrot sticks. I didn't have a problem with it, but I recieved many-a-guilty glare over the next few months.
Over the following year, I slowly adapted my workouts as well as my diet, targeting specific things I wanted to improve (more lunges for my butt, more water for my skin, more vegetables in every meal). I learned a great deal about working out from Michael, who has always been a great example to me of how much hard work pays off. I've read too many books and articles to list. Slowly as I gathered more and more information, I was gradually finding what worked and what didn't work.
I made it through the long hard winter and felt fabulous. January brought my engagement to Michael, and that in turn helped me reassess my goals and pumped me up to continue working hard and eating right. By this time I was hardly ever eating out, maybe occassionally on the weekends, but I had cooking for one down to a science. People at work were starting to notice, asking about my "guns" and how tight my apron was fitting. I had a picture taken in the fall of 2009 on display at the salon, and clients started asking, "Is that you?! It doesn't even look like you!" That was when I knew I had really changed. Slowly, as the new spring season came, I started to notice how many fruits and vegetables I really do eat. Banana pre-workout, chopped up veggies in an omlet, apple and peanut butter mid-day, celery and hummus later on, salad for dinner, I was eating like a champ! Then, another plateau hit. I was clueless as to how to get past this one. That was when my very very generous father sent me his Vitamix. It was only about a year old, and he was wanting to get the newest model, so he sent me his old one. What a miracle it has been for me! It is the ONLY thing you need to be the healthiest person you know. I could go on forever about the wonders of this machine, but I won't. You can do the research yourself on www.vitamix.com. Having a Vitamix opened a whole new chapter for me, as I was able to pulverize, chop, liquify, or blend any combination of fresh ingredients I wanted! I went through just about every soup and smoothie in the recipe book and was yearning for more more more! I wanted more information! I wanted more recipes! I wanted to unlock the potential of this machine! That opened the door to the raw food lifestyle. I was already shopping at a local farmers market; little did I know that all of the information I needed was right there! The people I was surrounded by, the fresh food I was being sold, the books on the bookshelf, they all preached of this "new" way of living. I felt so revitalized just from the month of having the blender and mixing my own meals, but I wanted to unlock the rest of the story behind this lifestyle. That is what I am currently doing. That is what I am blogging about. That is my passion, and so far, I can honestly say, it has changed my life. I feel incredible living raw. It has been a very slow transition; had you asked me even 2 months ago what raw meant, I probably couldn't have told you. The total weight loss/confidence ratio for me has skyrocketed. I love myself and I love my body. I take care of my body because it is my honor and my responsibility. The weight loss has taken a long time, so sorry, there really is no quick fix; but the personal challenges and rewards are more than worth it.
