It is hard to believe that it's been 2yrs and 4 months since I started my journey.Transitioning to raw/living foods has truly been a lifestyle change for me. One of the most important things that I can suggest to anyone considering making lifestyle changesis to be willing to ask for the help and support that you need and want from your loved ones, friends and colleagues. I have a very extensive network and I honor each person for their love and support. They are family!

 

Michaelah is a jewel. She was nice enough to take a picture of me and David Wolf at a raw food seminar in . I looked up and there she was. It was as if she came from out of no where. The pictures are something to behold. Hiram, and Michaelah, I am steadily working on my book. My goal is to help curve and eliminate illness, loss productivity, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc in all segments of our population. I am willing to share my story and very interested in sharing the experieces, concerns and observations of others in my book. In other words, my intention is for my book to be down to earth, real, humorous and easy to read. I plan to answer each and every question that has been posed to me about my experience. It is extremely important for me to get across the point that what we choose to put in our mouths can have a major impact on our overall health. It's all about our choices. Garbage in, garbage out. Just as we learned certain habits, we can choose to replace those habits with better habits. My book is about love, appreciation and the beauty that comes through in everything that we do as we let go of old habits that no longer serve our highest good.

 

Sometimes I look back and wonder how a person from mainstream, conservative corporate america came to be in this place.I will tell you it was my over arching desire for health and wellness. I did not want to wait until I started experiencing health problems to take control of my life. Having an accident tends to give you a major wake up call.You have what I call "think time".You can really get in touch with reality and it is not always pretty. That's what happened to me.I was hit upside the head with a two by four (metaphorically speaking).

 

Fresh Fruits, Vegetables, Nuts, Seeds and Sprouts (organic when possible) have introduced me to a whole new community, life and way of being. Thank you Erica Albanese, School of Rawk, Yvonne Bryant Johnson, Pat Donald, My Leadership Atlanta family, Rev.Jackie Dillion-Atlanta Unity, Creative Health Institute, The Raw Vegan Network -Vicki and Ed, Nomi Shannon, Alissa Cohen, Victoria Boutenko, David Wolfe, Soul Vegetarian Restaurant, Kaiser Permanente, Albert University, Dr's Barry and Nan Seedman,Rainbow Natural Foods, Whole Foods, Dekalb International Farmers Market, Hallelujah Acres, The Ekaya Institute of Living Food Education, My family at the Harvard Mind Body Medical Institute, Hebert Benson, MD, Peg Baim, MS, NP, Elaine Eyerman, Healing Touch International, CAMA,Robin Bienfait, AT&T, Doris & Bert Thompson, Dekalb Board of Health, Dekalb Medical Center Heart Wellness Center, Morehouse School of Medicine, Living and Raw Foods, EatRaw.com, Nature's First Law, the National Guild of Hypnotist's and of course my Higher Power. The list just goes on and on. This is a blanket thank you for all of those very special individuals who are not listed.You know who you are.Hat's off to my husband, children, grand children and my beautiful sisters, brothers, cousins, Aunts & uncles, nieces, nephews and wonderful In-laws. They have been with me every step of the way.They have never wavered in their love and support of me. Nor did they think that I was out of my mind when I got rid of my microwave oven, started giving away or getting rid of "things" and giving up foods that use to mean a lot to me.

 

The kitchen sink became a place to wash my fruits and vegetables. We even put in a new water filtering system that covers the entire house. Pictures have played a major part in capturing my journey.The camera goes where I go. I have two 3 inch binders of pictures that Julius (my friend, husband and business parter)have taken of me.Some of them were taken in the wee hours of the night and morning. I treasure my pictorial journal because it tells my story better than any words can. I feel great, full of energy and very much alive. Eighty plus pounds have melted away. It's really not about the weight, it is about health and wellnessThink that way and nature takes over. I never have to think of dieting in the old sense.When I use the word diet now, I am talking about a lifestyle.This is an inside out job and I am happy that I chose to sign on for the long term...My commitment to ME! I take it one step and one day at a time. Please share your experiences and stories. Feel free to ask questions. It will be interesting to read the comments from others. Please invite others to share their thoughts.I will have pictures up soon and a tremendous amount of content. This is my longest post.  The others will be much shorter. Be sure to visit my other web sites http://www.hypnotherapy.aahlearningandconsulting.com and http://www.aahlearningandconsulting.com. Let's all do what we can to improve our own health and that of our families, friends, colleagues and community.

 

I can't stress enough the importance of planning ahead when you will be out or attending special events with friends, family, colleagues and business associates. It is important to keep a healthy snack with you at all times.This will keep down any temptation to reach for foods other than fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and sprouts.I always carry my condiments with me in a nice insulated bagMy friend (Rosie) made me one to carry to black tie and evening events. In my tote, I have a little zip lock bag of walnuts, or almonds and sometimes cashews.I also include raisins. To be on the safe side, I have two little shakers filled with cayenne pepper, and celtic sea salt. I fill a separate bottle with extra virgin cold pressed olive oil.This way, I never have to worry about asking for extra virgin olive oil and finding out that the mixture is 80/20. For good measure, I include a lime and avocado for my salad. I only eat mixed field green salads, arugula, and spinach. You may want to call ahead prior to deciding on a restaurant. The restaurants that we frequent are very accomodating and are happy to prepare me a special salad with the greens that I mentioned with red or yellow bell peppers, red onions, tomatoes, mushrooms,etcI explain that I have special dietary requirements and would like a salad with the fresh uncooked vegetables. I am always amazed at the beautiful plate that comes out.I let the server know that I have my own condiments.If the restaurant has avocados, I ask that they add it.If not, I use the one that I brought with me. I also ask for limes on the side.Either way, I am totally prepared. I make it a point to be a good customer and I praise the server for the beautiful and tasty salad.After all, we did it together. I also tip generously.

 

 The same premise applies when going to an evening event, cook out, or dinner I really don't depend on anyone to prepare a special meal for me.  I always let my host or hostess know of my dietary requirements and offer to bring my own. That way, no one ends up being disappointed, angry or embarassed. Thank goodness for the little tote bag. There have been times where I had to fend for myself after being told that my request or needs would be no problem.I recently attended an evening event catered by Legendary Events and to my delight they prepared the most beautiful meal for me. It included a rainbow of raw vegetables and melons and berries. It was the most beautiful and tasty meal that I have ever had. It's always nice to hear the warm comments that people make as they admire my plate.The comments are always " your meal looks delicious and healthy...that is what I should be eating". I smile and thank them for their comments as I continue to enjoy my meal. The key is to ask for what you need. Be willing to take care of yourself and plan ahead so that you never have to worry about being hungry. I now make it a habit to eat until I am satisfied rather than full. As a result, I feel and look so much better.

 

Belinda