I have been incorporating a large amount of raw food into my diet for four years now. These top five pictures are ones of me on a SAD (standard American diet). I was 23 in these pictures and they were actually some modeling shots done by my roommates boyfriend at the time. I first began doing raw by adding lots of vegetable juices to my diet and still eating meat and dairy just making sure everything was organic. Slowly I began getting rid of the meat and the dairy in my diet and have been vegan for three years now. The changes I have seen in myself you ask? I lost around fifteen pounds ( I ate fairly healthy before for as far as the standard american diet goes). My skin became clearer, my hair began growing (it used to stay around the length of my shoulders and never grew past that length!). I am much more in tune with my self and my body than before. A weird thing is that my shoe size went from an 8 1/2 wide to size 7 or 7 1/2! I feel, look and act younger now than in my teens and in my 20's. I quit a job I didn't find fulfilling and for a year now have been doing something that feels rewarding challenging and creative (teaching yoga). I am doing acro yoga now which is something I never would have pictured myself being able to do even a year ago!! I have gotten back in touch with my creativity which is a great source of joy for me and really feeds my spirit (I love theatre, dance, music, culinary art, actually I rediscovered a love for anything artistic and creative!). So, overall I have seen many positive changes in my life that I know are connected with eating raw organic fruits and veggies. The two pictures below are me after incorporating large amounts of raw foods into my diet. By the way, this is my 24th day eating 100% raw. Have a great evening!
BeaUtiFUL!
ReplyDeleteSo inspiring. Thank you for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful transformation April. I think you look happier and more alive in the last two photos. I notice a big difference in myself after 9 months of 100% Raw so it's definitely working.
ReplyDeleteI feel you on the too many nuts thing. I ate WAY too many today! Oh well, tomorrow's a new day. I think my eating more has something to do with my cycle and my body craving more fat during that time. I guess I should journal and see if there's a pattern. Hmmmm......
Good job! I hope you can move out soon and be on your way to the life you're dreaming of!
Nicole
great before and afters. you looks good before but it is even more obvious in your story of how you changed your life that you were discontent. good for you for reaching farther.
ReplyDeleteWow! you look great. I really enjoyed reading this post. I love your honesty as well. I understand what you mean about creating your own reality, doing what you want to do and also still feeling stuff. It is so great that you are able to see how far you've come. It's important for me to not worry and to really realize that I AM. As in... everything that I wanted a year ago I have no. SO I AM the future I Wanted.... and if I continue in this path I will always be living a dream I had. So in that sense it is still important for me to continue creating dreams and preparing them so that they are ready when I decide to walk in them. Therefore... don't worry your pretty little head. I am confident that we will both be fine. Congratulations and keep doing what makes you feel ALIVE!!
ReplyDeleteFor instance... the gluten free non-raw cereal i just ate is not the healthiest thing in the world, but I feel happy and satisfied = )
ciao..
I love reading posts like this and I'm so glad you are enjoying your raw experience. Can't wait to see how it continues. :-)
ReplyDeleteSo inspiring! You're beautiful before and after, but can definitely see the difference. I feel more clarity after eating raw for a while and things seem to start falling into place. Best wishes!
ReplyDeleteThanks to all of you for your encouraging words :-). I haven't really posted lots of before and after photos and just found these on a cd recently and decided to share them. Again I appreciate all of you!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing story! It's great to see how good you are feeling with eating raw, it's inspiring. You are a really beautyfull woman!
ReplyDeleteYou look lovely. Most important of all you've found happiness! I'm so glad for you. =)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your success. You must be feeling great to do what you love--that within itself is a gift. Good luck with 100% raw. I had gone 80/20 and even 90/10 sometimes, but never been 100% raw [yet], so congrats on your 30 day challange!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I always appreciate hearing from everyone and your all so encouraging!
ReplyDeleteVery cool post and transformation, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWow, you seem happier and more confident :)
ReplyDeleteLou
xx
Thanks, I am happier and more confident than I used to be for sure :-). I am grateful for this.
ReplyDeleteYou look great!! Keep it up with the 100% raw...very impressive! =)
ReplyDeleteThis is an inspiring post, thank you!
ReplyDeleteAshley and Val, thanks for the awesome feedback and comments. Have a great day!!
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your blog. You are a huge inspiration to me. I love eating raw but sometimes find it hard and frustrating and confusing, and I am continually going back to the SAD (though not as bad as I was in the past). All your recipes are amazing, and I enjoyed seeing your before and after pictures. You make everything seem so easy! I also decided to do a 30 day challenge...tomorrow is day 1! Please continue to blog for a very, very long time!!
ReplyDeleteHi! Great story!! I'm so happy I was guided to your blog... Everything that I have read sounds so much like where I'm heading with my life (your new years resolutions). I just thought it was ironic that your in Atlanta because I'm in Roswell. I've been hoping to meet new raw and like-minded friends. Would love to know if you are part of a raw community around here. I think support is so important on this journey and food is so social. Anyways, I'm excited to follow your blog and if you're interested in meeting new friends let me know. I'm a sahm with two little ones:). Just going 100% raw recently but I've been working upwards it for years. Stephaniedlorenz@yahoo.com. Good luck to you on your magical journey!!
ReplyDeleteI am so inspired by your story. I currently eat very healthy and try to do organic (Dekalb farmers market is my friend), but recently saw the documentary "Forks over Knives" and it really made me think. Sometimes, I feel like becoming completely vegan is impossible...but I continue to be drawn to the concept.
ReplyDeleteRight now, I am pretty much vegetarian and the only dairy I intake is egg whites and cottage cheese with the occasional indulgence. Plus, I am not sure if I am ready to take the next step...
Also, I noticed you're an acro yoga teacher. I have always wanted to try acro! I am an active yogi who is taking the teacher training in fall at Peachtree Yoga Center. It would be great to take an acro class...let me know where you teach!
Anyways, thank you so much for the inspiration and i would love to get your insight on how you overcame some of the biggest challenges on changing into this lifestyle.
best,
katie
Katie,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment! I really want to see the movie Forks over Knives but haven't gotten to see it yet! I am glad some movies like this are coming to the public. I did not become vegan over night. It was a gradual process. Once I decided I wanted to go raw/vegan it took me about a year to stop eating dairy and meat products. I would go for a while without them but then I would give into temptation again. You have to be easy on yourself as you are changing your entire way of eating. Be gentle and loving towards yourself during the process and don't punish yourself if you backslide.
I don't actually teach acro yoga. However, there are some places you can take it in Atlanta. There is a teacher, Todd Delaune and he teaches. He has a facebook page on acro yoga in Atlanta. I like your blog by the way!
Hi, April. I was wondering, because I've been thinking of incorporating cooked vegan back into my diet, were you eating 100% or some cooked food when you took that last picture with the 3 other women? Much thanks for sharing your journey.
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