Plausible...

This weekend I attended my annual ladies retreat with my church in a beautiful resort town in the mountains. During an icebreaker, we played a game where one of the questions was to state a favorite word and why. When it came to me, I said... "Plausible". It is a fun word, a positive word, a word that implies hope, belief and encouragement. I enjoy saying that instead of 'maybe' to my girls. As a family we also enjoy the "Mythbusters" ... we had an opportunity to hear them speak live a couple months ago. I guess I am about to become my own mythbuster, even if the myth is nothing but a question in my mind. It's a question of great value to me and my quality of life... so ... is changing my diet to improve my health PLAUSIBLE? I am determined to find out.

I am currently 36 years old. I have never been overweight, I have never smoked, I exercise regularly, I eat 'healthy' according to the 'standard American diet'...(also referred to as SAD), yet I currently have 2 autoimmune diseases,high blood pressure and frequent insomnia. I also have recently begun to have panic attacks. I tried to do everything right according to what I knew, yet I am currently dangerously unhealthy. I am too young to be this old!

A friend, upon hearing about my recent diagnosis with Hashimotos sent me several links and testimonials about raw eating. She said it had transformed her life. That started my curiosity. I had heard of it before, but never really paid attention to it. However upon researching and reading some books these past few weeks, it really made sense. The testimonials out there are amazing and inspiring. However, as much as I am a dreamer, I am also a realist to a point.

I brought my book "The Raw Food Detox Diet" by Natalia Rose to my Dr appointment last Monday. That was not a good day medically for me. AT ALL. My blood pressure was still skyrocketing so my BP meds increased, she also confirmed the diagnosis of Hashimotos and increased my thyroid meds. She also offered me an anti-depressant because she said that I had a panic disorder and that's why I have had panic attacks, insomnia, and anxiety. She suggested I try them short term to break the pattern. She knows I despise the medications I currently take and do not want any more and did not argue with me when I said 'no thank you'. Anyway... we discussed the book and raw eating and nutrition. She enthusiastically endorsed my desire to try this out. She told me there are confirmed studies that show better nutrition changes health. She also told me about the DASH diet... but that is possibly for another time. I told her of my plans to try this 'experiment' and she gave me her full approval and encouragement after asking me several questions.

Just a few days ago I received my book and DVDs, "Living on Live Food". I have only had a chance to watch the first few chapters of the 1st DVD (there are 2) so far, but it is amazing and VERY informative and inspiring. The book is HUGE and FULL of information and delicious looking and EASY recipes. I think I have the informative tools to be off to a good start. I have spent many days eating mostly raw or 100% raw as I try to get my bearings and prepare for this experiment. I can tell you that I am really looking forward to it because the difference even sporadically was night and day. Of course, after this weekend's retreat where I had my 'last hurrah' for at least a month of eating the SAD way...I am pretty much back to square one as I wasn't prepared to eat raw up there, and instead gave myself licence to enjoy (junk)food and fellowship with my friends. Honestly, I don't think I am going to miss much when I am officially on my experiment. Any satisfaction I got from indulging in the yuck was very short lived in comparison to the many days I had been mostly to 100% raw before going! My friends will be my friends whether I have that slice of pizza or pile of Doritos or not... maybe next year I will bring some treats for them to enjoy... the raw way!

I plan to document all the raw details of my food intake, physical and emotional reactions, weight and measurement changes, medications, realizations, blood pressure and anything relevant to this experiment. I hang on with hope, and anticipation to find out, if changing my lifestyle to living and live food will improve my health... if it is indeed...PLAUSIBLE.