Need help, starting from scratch, again...

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Permalink Reply by Ryan Betker on November 20, 2010 at 2:26pm

Write down the reasons that you want to success on this lifestyle. That sounds like a really good idea to me.
Also, keep yourself surrounded by material that supports this way of living. Get less tv/movies/radio in you and more LFRV videos, audio, and books.

Also, I know that I would get a headache if low on water, but maybe that's not a rule for everyone in every case.

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Permalink Reply by gail karabell on November 21, 2010 at 1:29am

Thanks Ryan, I know you get so much advise/suggestions it's hard to figure out. I'm going to try to follow Dr. D. Graham's 80-10-10 book, how can I go wrong with this LOL.

Just need lots of support & what a great site this is, just joined.

See you around :)

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Permalink Reply by Gil on November 21, 2010 at 2:46am

Zoe, I'm also trying to "stick" to 80-10-10. I've been trying for 5 years. I'm attempting to model Robby Barbaro (www.robbybarbaro.org). That is, I'm blogging every single thing I eat into my iPhone application. I then post it to an internet blog (rawfiddler.blogspot.com) when I have time so that I can see my progress/failures. Seeing our daily food/exercise logs is crucial to monitoring and adjusting our behavior. Also, I'd recommend punching your numbers into CronOMeter or some other application that crunches calories and the Carb/Protein/Fat ratio. This way, you see your caloric intake. And if you get cravings, you can track down the food intake to help understand the reason behind the cravings.

I've gotten tips galore over the many years I've been trying this program. The bottom line is that you really have to identify why you want this lifestyle and commit to it. That being said:
#1 tip: eat enough calories from sweet fruit.
#2 tip: do something every day to remind yourself why you're becoming a low-fat raw vegan: such as watching youtube videos from Harley, Doug Graham, and others or reading books, listening to audio recordings etc.
#3 tip: Increase exercise

Finally, its best to come to peace with the idea that we don't have to be perfect for a lifetime. We just have to choose the next highest quality meal. If you do fall off the wagon, you're not starting from scratch. If you log your progress in a blog (as I mentioned above), then you can view any slips too. Over the course of a few months or years, slipping a handful of times is NOT FAILING. For example, someone that ate an entire 80-10-10 diet with only a few vegan meals is eating extremely healthy. Heck, for that matter a healthy vegan diet is better than most folks. This mindset takes unnecessary pressure away, imho.

Wishing you well on your 80-10-10 journey.

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Permalink Reply by Bill Kraftsow on December 6, 2010 at 4:22pm

Gail, what do you think is causing the migraines? Skipped meals? Going too long without food? Eating nutrient-poor foods? Those were my first thoughts/questions when I read your post. I'm thinking maybe you're too concerned about calories or not eating enough fruit (and veggies). Also, sleep is important. Maybe you're slacking on getting enough sleep (8+ hours). Dr. Graham thinks Americans get way too little sleep and I suspect that he is right.

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Permalink Reply by Bill Kraftsow on December 6, 2010 at 4:27pm

There's some good tips here in the replies to your question/plea. I would just say "enjoy the dates, but don't go too overboard with them, as fruit is much more ideal due to the water content....or so I've been lead to believe." I eat dates sparingly, but almost daily. I sometimes get bored with apples, but I'll drizzle some Tahini on them (sparingly) and that makes them a bit more "exotic." I hope that Tahini is considered raw. If not, its still not junk food and its hard to have "perfection."

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Permalink Reply by Bill Kraftsow on December 6, 2010 at 4:30pm

Smoothies rock too! I make Green Smoothies and also frozen banana smoothies or other frozen fruits. Trader Joe's is great for frozen fruit, and you have one near you, Gail. I sometimes blend with almond milk, although Harley and Freelee would probably say to use plain water or at least make your own almond milk. I admit to cutting corners on that item (by buying Blue Diamond or Silk unsweetened almond milk). I'm not encouraging you to cut corners like me, but its still better than the Standard American Diet (SAD)! :)

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