This interview is with on December 22nd, 2007 with Ginger. She is a mother who is very informative about raw food. She has helped me with deciding whether to go all raw while breastfeeding. Thank you!

Tell us a little bit about yourself (3-5 sentences).
I am a stay at home mom and I unschool my daughter who will be 5 on Christmas in a few days! I am one of those spiritual but not religious people, into astrology, numerology, meditating, LOA and all that super neat new age stuff! I have a raw website that I have big plans for in the not so distant future, I am very exited! I’m just itching to share what is in store but you won’t be getting a word out of me till it’s ready.

Are you male or female?
Female

What is your age?
I think 29?

How long have you been eating RAW?
Since the summer of 2002. I go all raw off and on.

How did you learn about RAW?
I was 5 months pregnant with my daughter in the summer of 02. Drove by a place here in Las Vegas called The Raw Truth cafe and juice bar. Decided to check it out and as soon as Bob (owner) told me what it was all about it was like a big light came on in my head and I realized I had finally figured out what was wrong with the world. It just instantly clicked for me the moment I heard it. Like common sense. I was struck by the fact that I had never stopped to think about it on my own all my life. It’s strange how something so obvious could be so effectively hidden right in front of us.

What does eating RAW mean to you?
Lifeforce. Capable of producing and sustaining life. Just can’t do that eating dead and altered stuff.

Why did you choose to eat RAW and why do you continue to do so?
It just makes sense. Eating cooked food is totally absurd and very extreme if you stop to think about it. Just because something is common does not mean it’s normal. Like that saying.. If 10,000 men do a stupid thing, it is still a stupid thing.

How did you transition from SAD to RAW?
I didn’t. The day I learned of raw I went totally fully raw on the spot. Stayed that way until a month later when my life was totally unstable and I had to move 4 times in only a few months. I was pregnant and working a full shift plus taking on extra hours when I could. Life was quite challenging between being so busy and ending a relationship and moving so much and I ended up falling back into eating standard food. Shortly after my daughter was born I went vegetarian and I was vegan before she was 3 months old because my eating dairy was causing her problems. I decided to go raw again when I could and have been all raw off and on since. Hope to stay raw eventually.

Are you a vegetarian or vegan? Why? How does that effect your RAW lifestyle?
Vegan now although on two occasions now I let some things creep back in for awhile. I grew up eating standard foods but mostly junk food and fast food. A home cooked meal in my house was usually just as processed and almost as bad. I always liked salad though. With croutons and bleu cheese and ham or shrimp.. yeah I was never into health until I was pregnant! Never crossed my mind until then. Weird huh? Why am I vegan? Pick a reason! There is no valid reason not to be. Mostly health reasons though for me.

What benefits have you personally noticed from eating RAW?
The cloud lifts, everything heals, and the world is a better place. I have never had another abscessed tooth since changing my diet, and I used to get them constantly like every few months. My period is the complete opposite of what it used to be, it’s now hardly even noticeable, it’s very light, lasts only 3 days tops and no cramping no emotional stuff no nothing. The only way I know when I’m about to get it is that my body wants to fast the day before and the first day I have it. I totally lose my appetite. I lost all my pregnancy weight in 3 months raw eating whatever and whenever I wanted so long as it was raw. Later gained it all back and for some reason I now have to watch my fat intake even when I’m all raw but that’s another story. I never get sick anymore AT ALL. I could go on & on about all the benefits I notice, I notice with my child and my mother (she healed her cancer) but let me just mention one last thing! I had a neat thing happen, totally unexpected. My tooth that I had chipped when I was a kid GREW BACK! My self my family and my friends were floored. Didn’t know it was even possible, it just happened when I was eating all raw for about 6 months. I gave up using toothpaste because turns out it is harmful to teeth. I started using toothsoap instead or just water and a natural bristle toothbrush.

What is your favorite RAW food or recipe?
Soooo many! I love food! It is always changing so I’m going to say salad because I could eat a different salad every day and be perfectly happy the rest of my life.

What advice do you have for others looking into eating RAW?
Try it. Really. Just try it and if something isn’t working your body will tell you so you can adjust things to make it work for you. Raw works for everyone, it is just not true that not everybody can eat raw. Some people just don’t want to eat raw and that is fine, but it’s not because they can’t- it’s that they choose not to. You may have to get creative depending on your diseases or allergies etc but it can be done and you will benefit. It is the way we are all designed to live.

Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about eating RAW?
There is a saying that totally fits here.. You don’t have to change your life to eat raw, but eating raw will definitely change your life!

Do you have a blog or website you would like to share?
My main site: http://therawpath.com/

Read more interviews.

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This interview is with SmilingRawDancer on December 20th, 2007. I know her from rawfoodtalk. She was kind enough to be my first interview! Thanks!

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m a college student in California. Pre-raw I craved all foods, all the time. Despite the fact that to others I was a "healthy eater," I was overloading on Splenda, low-carb candy, powdered milk, fat-free egg replacers and non-nutritious items. I rarely ate vegetables except iceberg lettuce, and was well on my way to being an obese health food eater. As I became raw, I learned more and more about vegetables, preparation, how to cut various items, and realized how little real food I ate pre-raw. Now people in the grocery store talk to me ALL THE TIME, and ask me questions about the huge amounts of bananas and Thai coconuts I buy.

Are you male or female?
Female

What is your age?
19

How long have you been eating RAW?
Since early summer, 2006.

How did you learn about RAW?
I happened across it while desperate to find some truth about health. It was God’s gift to me.

What does eating RAW to you mean?
It means everything. It means eating REAL food, avoiding illness, being a good example to others, and saving animals and the environment.

Why did you choose to eat RAW and why do you continue to do so?
It just made sense, and the food is SO yummy…I don’t think I could stop if I wanted to!

How did you transition from SAD to RAW?
Cold turkey. I just made the decision, went out and bought some romaine, mushrooms, tomatoes, apples, bananas, ACV and walnuts…the rest is history.

Are you a vegetarian or vegan? Why? How does that effect your RAW lifestyle?
I’m a Vegan, I found that Alissa’s method made the MOST sense. There are just so many nasties involved in raw dairy. Cows milk is meant for cow babies. It doesn’t affect my raw lifestyle, really, except that I don’t eat dairy or anything that comes from an animal.

What benefits have you personally noticed from eating RAW?
Initially I lost about 20 pounds, but since then I’ve had the stamina to run, bike…live my life. I don’t get sick often, I don’t take antacids or Ibprofrin, I no longer have severe toe infections, and my eyesight has gotten a bit better too.

What is your favorite RAW food or recipe?
I LOVE young coconuts, so anything involving those. Raw desserts are just awesome.

What advice do you have for others looking into eating RAW?
Just do it. It’s not hard. Just shop at the produce department, buy frozen fruit, and begin researching…don’t view it as an ALL OR NOTHING situation. Sometimes you have to ease into something as you acquire more knowledge about it.

Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about eating RAW?
It really is easy. People like to make things complicated, but picking up an apple, or making banana ice cream is simple, and inexpensive. And you DON’T have to eat organic to be raw, do what you can.

Do you have a blog or website you would like to share?
I have a raw twitter, www.twitter.com/missraw

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• Setting Goals

Weight

Current weight (at last weigh in) 235 lbs.
First goal weight is under 200, so 199 lbs.
My second goal weight is 150 lbs.
My desired weight is around 135 lbs.
My desired size is an 8 or under.

Inches

My goals for inches are a little harder, b/c I just don’t know what they will be, however I am still going to make up a goal.
Inches goal: to lose 10 inches at a time. Each time I lose 10 inches it is a time to celebrate!

Exercise

This is a biggie right now. If I don’t move my big butt it will always be BIG! Isn’t that my goal, to be healthy and in shape? Yeah, I’ve got a shape right now, but it’s not the one I want! Walking has not been working b/c of weather and well 3 kids. Going to a gym won’t work right now, b/c we have 1 car that my husband needs for work (that’s right, I’m a SAHM with 3 kids and NO car!).

I have been saying that I want to learn yoga for 10 years now (not kidding). Obviously I didn’t write it down as a goal! Well, now I am.

Other goals: (it’s good to write them in present tense like you are already doing/accomplished the goal)

I am stretching regularly.
I am eating a Raw Vegan diet.
I am an organized homemaker and mother.
I am a role model to those around me in all aspects in life, including, but not limited to health!

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My journey has brought me to this point. I love food. There’s no way around it. I freaking love to eat! I started changing what I was eating after learning about the ingredients put into our "food" (if you can call it that). Then I learned about homogenization and pasteurization of our dairy (check out more about switching to raw dairy), which led me to raw milk and cheeses. Next, I learned about how animals really are treated and although I’ve read and heard people saying that, your really have no idea until you want to. So, I became vegetarian. I have to always be hard core and intense, so I chose to be vegan. I haven’t felt like my body is becoming as healthy as I like, so I’ve ventured into the raw food world. It’s amazing and fun!

So, if you are rolling your eyes and saying "I couldn’t/wouldn’t ever do that", then just watch me transform and get inspired or jealous or whatever it takes for you to start making changes in your life! Oh, and by the way you wouldn’t believe the yummy stuff you can eat, things you may never eat if you don’t indulge yourself in raw foods!

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