So many different angles...

My first motivation for becoming a raw vegan, about a year and a half ago, was to lose weight. I had read many success stories of people who had lost tremendous amounts of weight very quickly by eating raw vegan food. They all seemed to have different approaches to raw food, but nevertheless, all still credited their weight loss to a raw diet. On my first try, I was able to eat 100% raw vegan for about 8 weeks. I barely lost any weight, BUT I was no longer depressed after over 3 years of suffering. However, I think that the lack of substantial weight loss discouraged me somewhat. I began to eat some cooked veggies, which led to eating cooked starchy items, which I now know trigger my all-out food addiction. Fortunately I still managed to remain predominately vegan. My weight loss stopped and within a few weeks I was gaining weight due to uncontrollable overeating, a problem I have always struggled with, but which becomes controllable through eating raw food. I felt extremely defeated, but I knew deeply within myself that my level of health was much better when I ate raw vegan. If I could only stick with it long term I knew I could heal my body and reach my ideal weight.

I have been struggling to maintain a 100% raw lifestyle ever since. It has been a year and a half since I first learned about raw veganism, and even with the off and on approach that I have had, my health is much better. Here is the thing- I am only down 20 lbs. from my highest weight. I had lost a total of 40 lbs. by following a low-fat raw vegan diet for about 2 months faithfully, but when my resolve waned, around Christmas last year, I fell off the wagon. And while my weight loss was quick on the low-fat raw diet, I felt much more emotionally unbalanced and spaced out. I also had massive cravings. I know that with about 150 lbs. to lose and a history of ingesting some horribly toxic substances, my journey is bound to be intense and quite probably long. I so much admire people who can manage to put themselves on very stringent eating plans such as very low fat raw, or green smoothies only, and manage to stick with it long term. Unfortunately, I don't seem to be one of them, at least right now.

So I guess the big question is -what am I gonna do about all this? Well, taking into consideration all the things I have learned about myself along this raw or semi- raw path so far, I think there are a few things I know for sure.
#1- All cooked food is addictive to me. As soon as I eat it I want more, immediately. I MUST refrain from eating it in order to avoid backsliding as I have done so many times before.
#2- I do lose weight fastest when I eat low-fat raw. However, I must be very careful with this approach as I detox really heavily and sometimes find it difficult to cope with my emotions.
#3- It is vitally important to have a raw-friendly support system. This means other raw fooders. I must not look to non-raw people for support mainly because they have no idea what I am going through.
#4- It helps me when I have an outlet for releasing my feelings. Blogging seems to be great for this.
#5- It is great for me to have some sort of routine/system to keep me on track and help me until this whole lifestyle becomes second nature.
#6- Green Juice is very important for me to consume.
#7- My body likes green smoothies.
#8- I would love regular exercise to become my reality. Yoga especially.

So that is my plan and I am manifesting it into my reality.
Raw food is my path. No matter what.
This is what I feel as my truth.
Peace.