And so it begins....

After about a month of researching and then gorging myself in holiday sweets I have decided to finally start a raw food diet. Most people I have talked to about this, aside from a couple friends, all think I'm 100% off my rocker, but honestly it is all worth a try. I want to be healthy, energized and take care of myself for a change. I don't eat terribly bad, but some things like refined sugars, processed foods and bad fats just aren't necessary. I know a lot of people think, why be so drastic? The truth is I feel like it has to be in order for me to stick with it. I can't do junk food Saturdays, or say, well I guess once a day I eat a meal that isn't raw or whole. It just won't work for my personality.
Now, why RAW? It is known that a lot of nutrients/vitamins are actually lost when some foods are cooked. Vitamin B1 is easily destroyed when food is prepared and cooked because it's sensitive to heat and the oxygen in air. But essentially I am going back to basics here and eating whole unprocessed foods. I just want to try something new, and really have no reason not to.
I am overweight, (have been all my life) and am getting absolutely sick and tired of it all. I recently had my appendix out and almost immediately after I started thinking about changing my diet. My digestive system has been absolutely horrible for almost the past year. I would eat one thing and then get sick, the next day eat something else and get even more sick. I think my diseased appendix might have had something to do with this, but overall it wouldn't hurt to improve the foods that go through my body. I know raw and whole food will make me feel like a completely different person and I am most definitely ready for that. I know this past semester my concentration was almost nil, and my energy was shit. I ate SO bad (sugars, high processed and refined foods, not a whole lot of veggies, fruits or nuts) and I think it might have triggered the appendicitis.
So here goes nothing! I think the biggest challenge will be the shopping on a budget. I am a full time student and funds are low. I know this summer will be much easier because of the amazing farmers markets we have here, and I cant wait for those! I bought a blender and am about to go do my first raw food shopping, so wish me luck :) I think I am going to make a giant fun salad tonight. I will be keeping this blog updated with photos, recipes, links, thoughts, opinions, and rants. Here is a link to the website of the first person I discovered in my quest for raw food/whole food goodness.
Take care all, ciao ciao
http://www.rawreform.com/index.php