Hey, WoW a raw paleo board.. Wells Im Amanda, and Im not new really to raw, or low carb. I have a some what long history in my quest for health as Im sure most of you do, and I've also seen quite a few names here, on other boards. I really got into watching what I eat in my senior year of high school, but than it was all about weight loss as I went from a very heavy 9th grader to a svelte senior. However I did it eating very very low fat, and working out 2 hours sometimes more a day... later I discovered lifting weights, Golds Gym and figure athletes and my perception changed completely, however the crazy dieting and mentality that pursued turned me into a bulimic by the end of Senior year.. I did change over to a somewhat better "bodybuilders" diet (more calories, and more fat) of course female style, but I put on muscle and lost fat and looked much better than the cardio bunny days..
Than two years later I was very much let down by a decision I made, that didn't turn out to be what I thought it to be (aka joining the military) and I was discharged soon after... Looking back Im so glad they couldn't break me, I've always been a rebel and a free thinker, plus I never agreed with the governments decisions and I've seen what just 4 years in the military can do, with my best friends coming back now... However, I think this realization hit me hard, I put on 30 lbs in a year and was depressed and secluded.. bouncing around for that following year, I couldn't decide what to do with my life, I was living between my grandmothers in LA (santa monica) and my best friend in San Fran, never holding a job for more than 3 months, Life was kinda fun, still bulimic tho, depressed for sure, and completely scattered ( I was 20 by now).
A half a year later I tried raw foods, for a month, I was stoked! It almost eliminated my bingeing (at least somewhat) but it was raw vegan, and I was always hungry or just had that nawing feeling, I lost a shit ton of my muscle, I was losing weight but it had to be mostly muscle- not my thing, and my friends declared I was turning yellow... so I quit, seconds later researching as I do, I found Atkins/ Protein Power etc. or better yet VLC...I did this on and off fora while now but my bingeing continued so I kind of stayed the same or went up and down... however Im now 22, and have a lot of shit years ago I couldn't seem to do, a job for almost a year, doing well in school with plans to transfer and my own place plus I manage my grandmothers finances and am able to keep her in a assisted living home... Im still depressed a lot though and I guess its because I feel lonely, and my friends have all moved on and away...but I need to stay positive...
So I researched more stayed on VLC, because its the best thing that worked, and even now I do it, but I haven't cured my bulimia or my addictions - sugar (its why I binge?), drinking sometimes, smoking a bit... it sucks, I knew about the primal diet, I even meet a cool girl off myspace, I don't think she's on here, but her story is amazing and she's way awesome and inspiring... I bought Anajonus's books, in fact I live in the center of raw foodism in a sense, we have 3-4 restaurants (raw vegan) but found out about a special "raw" co-op right here in Venice although its not listed etc because they fear the FDA coming in and shutting them down, so you have to have a membership...
OK! sorry for blahhhing, I'm really here to make friends, get some advice or support, hopefully be able to give some! and maybe change my life...
