I’ve bounced between 100% raw and high raw since 2011 but, it’s been high fat. I couldn’t get rid of my love affair with fat and the last few cooked foods. Vegan since 1997. I FINALLY started the fully raw, low fat, 811 journey 3 months ago. The decision was wrought with all sorts of road blocks in my head. It was a difficult jump but I wanted to do 811 for the past several years. I was already eating a version of it with high fruit, big salads, but with baked potatoes and beans. I have been learning about the raw Garden of Eden diet since 2011 and started publicly teaching it 4-1/2 years ago. I wanted to rid of cooked foods and fat but couldn’t quite get there. I’m so grateful to now say I’m finally there. What made me finally jump in was when Doug asked me, what is preventing you from making that 811 commitment? Before I could answer, he then asked me to make just a 30-day commitment. After an hour or two of gruelling agony over his question and how I would answer, and thinking of all the reasons it would be difficult, or not possible, all my road blocks, all the reasons it would be too hard, social constraints, the side-eyed of others, how much I loved my fat, salt, cooked beans and potatoes, my extensive world travel as a guest speaker, not always in charge of my own meals during travel, logistics of living with a cooked vegan eater, and wondering how to reply to Doug, my thoughts went to a few of my own clients and patients, and all their same excuses for not going plant based, that I just made a courageous decision to commit for 30 days. I didn’t want to be mind-trapped like a few of my patients though their food was clearly killing them in slow misery. I could see they were trapped in their own mind with a lack of courage, purpose, their why, and goals. I had to just jump into a decision and forget my roadblocks and just do it, if not for me, for them. If I expect them to make difficult decisions and changes, then I had to be that example that difficult changes are possible. I just needed to get over my roadblocks that were in my head, which now I see weighed heavier than reality.

What does one do when your mechanic goes way over the estimated time and it’s past lunch time? Answer: Go to the nearby grocery store, buy your loot, come back, and eat it in the waiting room lounge while reading your favourite book. Next step: chuckle while watching the eyebrows go up in excited amazement, the smiles enlarge, and reply to fun comments! One employee was very funny. He came into the lounge where there was a basket of free “goodies” that contained candy bars, granola bars, potato chips, cookies, etc. He grabbed his candy bar, looks at my lunch on his way out of the lounge then says, “for some reason I’m suddenly feeling guilty about eating this candy bar.” Then he chuckles, opens the wrapper, walks out, and proceeds to enjoy his candy bar. 😆 Very funny moment.

I just saw an Instagram post from Dr Graham talking about greens consumption recommendation. He was repeating, he was not recommending an only fruit diet and talking about 1% to 3% greens necessity per day / a pound of leafy green for an active men and a little less for a women. However, I remember reading in the 811 book, 2 to 6% per day of celery and leafy greens. Is it an update Dr Graham? Or am I missing something? Does any one know? Is it a minimum or the range ? Is more than 1 to 3% unnecessary? Thank you for reading!

How serious should we take food intolerances from blood tests once we are on 801010? Is there a general recommendation of never eating those foods, or eating them after a certain time, or get re-tested after a certain time, or don’t pay attention to them and eat away? I have a list of intolerances which includes bananas, carob, Brazil nuts, almonds, macadamias, oats, green grapes, dairy, wheat, gluten, and peanuts. I really miss not having bananas and carob. I’ve forever given up oats, dairy, wheat, and gluten long ago, but it sure would be nice to have the other items again. How accurate are those food intolerance tests and how serious should we take them? Is there good science behind this test?

I'm happy to say my GI challenge seems to be loving psyllium husk powder. Now I'd like to learn more about sleep. I have never slept through the night and being on raw food I wake and go back to sleep several times through the night. It's anywhere from 2 times a night to every 2 hours. Sometimes I go right back to sleep but at times I'm just not sleepy and I sit and read until I think I can sleep again. Sometimes it's an hour and sometimes it can be half the night. Can others share what their sleep is like since going raw? Let me know age. I am 70 years young. I used to sleep like a rock but going raw has changed everything! Not in a bad way. I still have loads of energy during the day too.