Tracy’s Raw Food Journal

At age 45 I am still striving to gain mastery over my body. “They” say if you don’t have your health, you have nothing. And from my own experience, I believe them. I have spent most of my life, thus far, seeking to lose weight and get fit. I have been on practically every diet ever heard of…with minimal to no success. Primarily because, I have determined, “I have a problem with commitment!” LOL! The most success I ever had on a diet was going low-carb on the Atkins plan. At age 20 I _did_ lose weight. About 30 pounds over a 3 month period of time.

When I started the diet I weighted 153 lbs. I am 5′9″ tall. After being on the Atkins plan I got down to an astonishing 122 lbs.! My measurements were 36-24-34. I was model weight and height. But the amazing thing is I still wanted to lose more weight from my theighs. I wasn’t satisfied. And the sad part is, I was pale, pale, pale. I had frequent dizzy spells, especially when I stood up, and horrendous headaches. I was eating primarily meat, fish, poultry, cheese, eggs, cottage cheese, sour cream… with some green salad or broccoli on the side. And lots of butter and real cream in my coffee. Along with that, to curb my sweet tooth (since you can’t have fruit on Atkins) I drank lots of diet soda and ate artifically sweetened diet jello topped with artifically sweetened heavy whipped cream. And I was to believe this would make me healthy???

Needless to say, my sense of reason didn’t buy it. I went off that diet…and promptly gained the weight back. But the fact that Dr. Atkins himself died of a heart attack (hmmmmm….go figure!), and my father had a double heart attack (firmly placing me in the YES column on those health questionaires that ask if you have a history of heart disease in your family) several years later, and I am pretty convinced that this type of lifestyle just doesn’t make sense!

Twenty some years later, I am still struggling to beat the clock and gain the optimum health and fitness I so desire and KNOW I can achieve…with the proper plan.

Enter Raw Foods -

I actually did go vegetarian for a month once and found I didn’t really miss meat that much. I still allowed myself animal BI-products, like milk, cheese, cream and eggs. However, my husband at the time didn’t support my efforts and I wasn’t really seeing the results I had hoped for, anyhow, so I went off of that program, too. After all, I wasn’t doing it for “moral” reasons…just for the fitness benefits.

That was several years ago.

Recently I was on MySpace…just browsing…and quite by accident I came upon a website that caught my attention. The Raw Food Network I began reading with interest how many people have lost weight and significantly improved their health by adopting a Raw Foods Lifestyle. I was intrigued. I continued to surf, one site and then another. I found an AMAZING online community of raw foodists! There were sites with astonishing before and after pictures and accompanying personal transformation stories. There were videos of gourmet raw food preparation, there were support groups and forums where I could interact with tons of people who are already pursuing this lifestyle and who are there to support one another…with advice, zillions of yummy recipes, and more personal success stories!

I was hooked! I jumped in with both feet and went 100% raw for 5 weeks solid! I lost 15 pounds, felt GREAT and noticed that the athletes foot problem I have had for years cleared right up! The liver spots on my hands began to fade and my skin and eyes became clearer.

But my hubby and other family members are not following this lifestyle…so, I began sipping a little wine…then one day, I don’t remember what it was, but I think I gave in and ate a slice of pizza. And that was it! I backslid! That was about a month ago. I have still been eating primarily raw…but I am also allowing myself to consume the occassional pizza, beer, coke, etc. And I rationalize that eating salmon and steamed broccoli is fine if I am eating mostly raw the rest of the time.

But, here’s the catch – the athletes foot has returned, I gained the weight back, and I feel pudgy and lethargic.

Raw Foods just makes sense to me. I felt great and I got results. So, I am jumping back on the 100% raw program again and will be posting photos here to document my progress and to hold myself accountable to my decision to follow a path to optimum health and fitness.

I will also post what I eat daily, along with recipes…in case you want to join in the fun!

Please do write to me and share your thoughts and words of support! I would love to hear from you! – tracy@tracyjprez.com