I’ve been totally raw for a little over a week! What’s that, you say? Well, I’ve been trying out this controversial new, I hesitate to use the word “diet” because I don’t need to lose any weight, so erm, way of eating. I’ve been battling endlessly with my skin my entire adult life since college started, and I thought it was time to start investigating things from the inside out. After a lot of thought, it only makes sense to me that what we put in our bodies directly affects every aspect of our health. How can it not? So, before I try any more medicines or manmade drugs, I am on a real big kick about natural health. I want to put healthy things into my system to get healthy things out of it. And I just feel in my gut that this is a good start, and that there is something real here.

The whole 80/10/10 thing basically means that you eat in a way that 80% of your calories come from carbs, 10% from protein, and the other 10% from fat. Even better is if you do it naturally, through raw, uncooked fruits and vegetables (few nuts and other traditional vegan fatty fare). Apparently most people get about 40% or something from fat which is no good. That’s not to say that it isn’t totally yummy, though. Having too much fat constantly clogging up your system messes up the body’s ability to absorb sugars. Eating like this gives you tons of healthy energy in the from of simple sugars from fruit (these aren’t the “bad” sugars) and lowering the fat lets your body get the energy from this fuel immediately and frees it up to work on other things, like healing old broken stuff, which it usually doesn’t have time or energy for. The downside is that you have to eat A LOT of fruit and vegetables to get in the calories you need each day.

So to sum things up, it’s rough. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons thus far…

PROS

1. Weight loss. Which I don’t need (want to debunk any “oh no! she’s totally anorexic now!” thoughts). But, especially if you are overweight, you’ll start noticing the fat falling out of your system alarmingly quickly. No salt means no water retention, so the water from fruit goes through you very quickly (trust me!) and you lose a lot fast at first. Less fat overall also starts making an impact. Working out is encouraged to make the most of your new wiry physique. I’m now 116. But I don’t look any different.

2. It feels really healthy to eat this naturally. I’m not going to bore you with any holier than thou “I’m so wholesome and healthy and smart” self-absorbed shit like that. Come on, when you roll outta the supermarket with a lot of produce one day, don’t you feel a little awesome? You know you do.

3. After the initial “detox” period, you are supposed to start feeling a lot of energy and desire to be active (exercise, be outside, etc.). And of course this ties into being a lot healthier overall, with better skin, hair, etc.

4. No more processed foods, weird hormones from dairy, etc. I seriously think some of that was messing with my system.

5. Your body is freed up to absorb things it usually couldn’t. Apparently eating meat causes your body to lose calcium as calcium is required to digest meat. Eating like this actually increases calcium absorption, so even though it seems like you are getting less, your body is making much more use of the amount it gets (raw foods and veggies actually have decent amounts of calcium and protein in them).

6. Duh, fruit is really tasty. I love tomatoes and berries.

7. I feel totally proactive for once.

CONS

1. It’s way hard! No joke, this isn’t all that fun right now. It’s also confusing going shopping and making grocery lists because there are so many things to take into account. It also takes a lot of focus to make sure you don’t slack off on eating what you need each day…a typical menu for me right now is something like half a watermelon for breakfast, 6 bananas for lunch, more fruit for dinner, and a huge 6oz. salad for dinner. I’m operating on about a 2000 calorie diet. Plus our food processor is tiny, oh and I actually broke it last night so it’s even worse now. And half of the counter space is taken up by mounds of fruit.

2. I miss my old food! You wouldn’t believe how many times a day I want to eat one pretzel…just one! Oh, how I love salt. Sun-dried tomatoes are serving as a good substitute. Ronnie is at Taco Bell right now. At least we’re still sneaking sushi in once a week.

3. It’s expensive. Went grocery shopping thinking I was gonna breeze outta there with a really new, low cost of living. WRONG. Went from about $50-60 for my half of the groceries to $120 for just ME!? Produce is cheaper, but you’re buying tons.

4. It is kind of a drain on social-ness. So much for looking forward to Friday Night: Papa John’s night. No more Outback. And I have yet to be in a social gathering taking this into account. Let’s face it: hearty food is really an American pastime. It’s the stuff holidays and southern livin’ are made of.

5. Blatant overuse of the phrase “sweet juicy fruits” all the time in the book and in the general 811 community.

6. A bug crawled across my plate of mangos and raspberries last night and I freaked out.

So I know you guys out there are like, “Wait, how are you not going to lose your teeth? Don’t you need more [insert vitamins and minerals here]? Are you sure this is healthy? Who says the author isn’t crazy?” I’ve read the book and been following several blogs of people who have been doing this for years and are happier with their lives than they ever have been, healthier as well. So, I take certain things the author says with a grain of salt (we do indeed intend to introduce some fish into the diet, and I still take my ground flaxseed supplement) and am keeping an eye on myself, but I anticipate good things as well. Ideally it will be a lifelong decision, but I’m not sure that is in the cards right now. A month is the goal right now though, and then I’ll review my initial thoughts. I just like the idea of cleansing at the moment.

And I also love the idea of eating raw garlic every night. Watch out world…here I come! *stink cloud, but a healthy stink cloud*

Tags: 80/10/10, 811, diet, raw, raw vegan