This is NOT a post about nudity!
One of my favorite blogging friends is Earthmother, who blogs at In the Raw. I asked her to tell us about her journey so far and how eating raw has changed her life. I just love success stories!
I was rollerblading in the park and noticed a woman jogging toward me on the same path.
“What a beautiful figure,” I thought to myself. I used to have that same body – perfectly proportioned, 36-24-36; shapely, well-defined calves and thighs; flat tummy; muscular arms – and yet, when I did, I felt like a cow. Thought I was the size of a house. How’d I get such a distorted view of myself?
Certainly, the media had something to do with it. Much of what I grew up seeing in the magazines and on the television influenced my perception. Born 20 years too late. If only I had grown up in the 1940s and 50s, when Ava Gardner, Jane Russell and Sophia Loren graced the covers and silver screen. Instead, I looked to Twiggy, Susan Dey and Karen Carpenter. And sadly, they all suffered from disordered eating and body dysmorphic issues.
Of course Mother, the perpetual dieter, played a role too. When I was 12, she decided it was time I be inducted into her tribe and enrolled me in Weight Watchers. Yes, twelve years old, when my body was rapidly changing with a new onslaught of hormones as I began menstruating. I was very physically active, a competitive swimmer, and absolutely believe my body would have come into balance and found its natural weight had it been allowed to do so. But, Mother knows best, and Weight Watchers it was.
And so began my own foray into the world of dieting. Pick a diet, any diet, and betcha I’ve been on it: Slim Fast, Atkins, Protein Power Plan, Diet Center, Weight Watchers, Blood Type, Fat Flush, Herbalife, Zone, Richard Simmons, Apple Cider Vinegar, Scarsdale, Metabolism Booster, Somersizing, 6-week Body Make Over. That’s just the short list.
With every diet, my eating became more disordered and my body’s physiology became even more imbalanced. Until one day, I had dieted my way up to 312 pounds. Morbidly obese, I suffered from fire-breathing dragon heartburn, chronic fatigue, migraine headaches, lymphedema, adult acne, joint pain and a host of other debilitating symptoms. Feeling sick and tired of feeling sick and tired, I decided to end my dieting career and instead focus on changing my relationship with food and regaining my health and vitality.
I traded in my scale for a juicer and entered the world of raw, living foods. I replaced prepared and processed foods with fresh fruits, vegetables, sprouts, nuts and seeds. A funny thing happened: by infusing my body with live enzymes, I began to feel more alive.
I’m not here to tout the raw food diet or convert anyone to this lifestyle. I say lifestyle because it’s a reflection of my beliefs and values, and how I choose to live. What I put in my mouth is only the half of it. Look, I was an overweight vegetarian for years and I know plenty of unhealthy vegans with sallow complexions and dark, under-eye circles. This journey has had nothing to do with dieting or losing weight. In truth, the only weight I really needed to lose was located right between my ears.
My journey of the last 12 months has been about unlearning all I had been taught, told, fed. It’s been about detoxifying my body, mind and emotions. It’s been about balance — seeking balance, and allowing my body to come into balance. That’s what healing is all about, really.
Okay, so all those symptoms I mentioned? Gone. My energy level is through the roof. I sleep like a baby at night. My skin is smooth, clear and radiant. I have a mental clarity today that I have never experienced in my life. I don’t quite know how to describe it, but it feels like I have broken a long-term drug addiction. It almost feels like I was walking around before under the constant influence of alcohol, and then suddenly becoming alcohol-free. The thing is, I had already been sober for 18 years.
Oh yeah, I’ve also shed 115 pounds without counting a point, calorie, carb or fat gram. But more importantly, I’ve succeeded at changing my relationship with food, and in doing so, have found my freedom.
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Earthmother. I learn a lot from you!
You should visit her blog for some really healthy recipes and amazing food porn – all raw! And you can follow Earthmother on twitter @rawliving.
And if you’re wondering why I’ve been slacking off a bit this week with regards to posting, I’ll tell you tomorrow!
Click on image for info.
Thanks for a great post Earthmother. I’m always amazed and relieved when I read stories about the beginnings of dieting that reflect my own, as well as sit here and ask out loud “What in the hell were our mothers thinking???!!!!!”
Congratulations on your wonderful life
Berni´s last blog ..Progress, it’s all in the outfit.
Great post – I think this is one of the things that causes us so much trouble with weight (the unfortunate examples we have). Congrats on your successes!
South Beach Steve´s last blog ..Great Day and a Garden Update
That’s really how I feel. But I feel like I need a pregnant women eating raw living foods support group. I think with my emotions being so haywire, that I just make it out to be something too hard to handle right now. So, I haven’t been eating as well lately. But not eating horribly, just not enjoying my food I guess. Any recommendations?
Tricia´s last blog ..My Bump (my bump, my bump, my bump)
@Tricia: Do you know Kristen Suzanne? She’s a pregnant raw foodie…
Awesome post. I have known people who have gone this route, but none so successfully. I don’t think going raw is for me, but certainly the idea of incorporating more raw and whole food into my diet is! Thanks for the reminder and the great post!
Diane, fit to the finish´s last blog ..Walking Into The Wind
Great success story – thanks for sharing. Love to hear how others have reached their goals.
Amy H.´s last blog ..Perception
Great Post, E.M.! You are such an inspiration! I am so happy to have become friends with you! Rock on!
Lauren´s last blog ..Heart Shaped Tomato
Wonderful story, thank you for that. I know I have a lot going against me considering the stuff my grandmother told me about how if I was overweight I wouldn’t be loved. My dad judging everything I ate. Being teased at school. Lots of bad choices. But today is a new day =)
Robin´s last blog ..Things I Learned On Day Three
Yeah, I “know” her…meaning I’ve never met her but she is the only one I know who is pregnant and eating that way. So hopefully I can get a lot out of that.
Tricia´s last blog ..My Bump (my bump, my bump, my bump)
Great post Hanlie & Earthmother!
I love your story! LOVE it. It’s so inspiring and it’s not the same ole message about weight loss….BALANCE
I think I’ll go read it again!
much love to you both!!!
Cindy´s last blog ..CHEEEEEEEEEEESE & sand
Great post… I went raw for a few days and it totally changed how I think about food. I still love raw food and try to eat about 80% raw when I can. I’m really interested in hearing from people who do the raw thing, why they do it and how they stick with it. Your story is an inspiration. Really interesting about the sleep improvements. My sleep has been rubbish for a while now and I tend to neglect the role diet has in proper sleep. I think it’s time to look at that a bit more closely (my diet, and this cup of coffee I just finished – eek!).
Monica Shaw´s last blog ..Dining Al Fresco
Thank you for sharing! My heart broke to pieces when I read about your early years of dieting–that is so heart-wrenching and no child should go through that. I am very glad that you discovered a new lifestyle and figured out what food really is for.
Good stuff, both of you ladies!
Elena´s last blog ..How to Make a 6-Course Meal in less than an Hour
WOW! That a great story. The first part I can totally relate to with all the magazines, diets, and mother who is a perpetual dieter. I think I am going to start working on eating more raw foods!
She-Fit´s last blog ..Have an Egg-cellent Day!
Love the story. It’s all about lifestyle and being good to ourselves. Am glad you figured out what works for you!
Sagan´s last blog ..Product Review: Glee Gum
I’ve known earthmother for several months now, and she is a delightful figure. I love her approach to raw foods, that it’s about relationship with foods, not diet. As she wrote in the last line, it’s about FREEDOM. I find her blog to be quite philosophical and spiritual.
Thank you earthmother and Hanlie for delivering this post.
Akemi – Yes to Me´s last blog ..Starseeds: Angelic Realm
Great story! Congrats on your success Earth Mother.
Hanlie, thanks for having such a great guest…and my fishies do love to be fed.
Kimberley´s last blog ..Blog Contests
Many thanks to all of you for your lovely comments! Stop by In The Raw sometime.
For mom-to-be Tricia: let me hook you up with some sites that can offer you information & inspiration…
Julie at ohmyblog! had a raw pregnancy which she chronicled in depth if you go through the archives. Her daughter is now 16 months old. You can email her at rawjulie@gmail.com
Kati of The Raw Food Family has had 3 raw pregnancies.
Aleesha Stephenson is raw and pregnant right now. Read all about it.
Check out Raw Mom too. There’s a whole posse of raw mommies over there.
These should get you started. I’d also encourage you to join RawFu and let the community know that you’re pregnant and in need of support from other Mom’s who’ve been there/done that.
earthmother´s last blog ..Finding My Balance
Great post! Trying to eat more and more raw fruits and veggies every day!
Kat´s last blog ..Trip Report
Wow… what an amazing story… thank you for sharing!
Rebeca´s last blog ..Thankful Thursday: My Body
What agreat sucess story and of course an equally great post. I am also trying this lifestyle and with a lot of success. I too feel more energy, my sleep is better and I don’t have this Blah feeling anymore.
Many could learn a lot from your example and I hope they do. Thanks so much for sharing this.
Rob´s last blog ..My “Clean” Meals for today 7/30/2009
Earth Mother, congratulations to you for finding such balance in your life!
Thank you, Hanlie and Earth Mother, for sharing this. Best wishes to you both!
Sheri (Green & Crunchy)´s last blog ..Making Raw Dehydrator Cookies From Leftover Nut Pulp
I love you EarthMother. I love your story. Hanlie, thanks for sharing your blog space with such an inspirational woman.
pixywinks´s last blog ..The New Arrival
Outstanding and inspiring as always Earth Mother! I love your journey so much because it is such a clear case to show others out there of what is possible.
My favorite part was when you said “I had to unlearn…” how so true. I never stated it that way, but I have been doing my own unlearning for the past 3 years. Geez, how much I wish I had not been taught.
But here we all are on our own wonderful journeys of health and wellness – it is a pleasure to know you both so much Hanlie and Earth Mother!
Evita´s last blog ..Foods That Seem Healthy, But Aren’t – Part 1