Here we have success stories of people have taken up a raw food diet. If you would like to have your story here too then fill out this questionaire. If you would like to have before and after pictures posted too please feel free to email them to success@rawdietandhealth.com along with your name and we will put them together here.

Chris Carlton

Before.............. and After Raw

		Weight 363 to 196 lbs 26 to 14 Stone Blood Pressure 184/50 to 120/80 Cholesterol 324 to 97 US 8.4 to 2.5 UK
US Diet 2000 (Age 34)	Raw Vibrancy 2007

2001 Standard American Diet	2006 Raw Abundance

To learn more about Chris visit www.Purelyraw.com

Audrey
Audrey W now aged 37 was a size 22 (UK) 20 (USA) before becoming raw. She began eating more raw foods about three years ago. She had had a weight problem her whole life but gradually, over 18months Audrey became a size 6 (UK) 4 (USA).

Transition
She began by eating around 70% raw and has now been completely raw for about 18 months. In common with most raw fooders, once past the transitional phase, she eats
“….very simply. I eat a fruit based, low fat diet.” She uses food combining and found that, “working on the emotional eating was a huge part of my success.” She also managed to, “quit smoking and quit all caffeine”

Pre-Raw Diet and Health Problems and failed weight loss attempts
Audrey describes herself pre-raw as “a major compulsive over eater and junk food addict”.
In common with many people on a standard UK or USA diet, Audrey had an array of health. She was plagued with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, anxiety, chronic cystitis and hormonal problems.

Audrey says, “I tried a bunch of different diets, mostly calorie restriction, results would last a few months only.”

Current Health
All her health problems have vanished and she now has much more energy she is also free from depression and anxiety, no longer has panic attacks and feels much more calm and centred. She states that she has, “…. more patience, much more optimism and enthusiasm for life,” and that she “feels much more spiritually oriented”.

To summarise Audrey says, “I love raw!!! Eating raw has literally transformed my life! “

Tanya A                                            

Weight pre raw: 13st 1lb (184 lbs)  jean size  18 (USA 16)                     
Weight and Dress size now:  10st 7lbs (150 lbs)  jean size  12-14 (USA 11/12)

Tanya lost this weight in around 4 months. She is not particularly concerned about losing weight but about being as fit as possible, “My goal is to be physically fit at whatever number of pounds my body requires.”

She had previously been overweight, since the birth of her son 8 years previously.  During that time she has had, “….acne that I couldn’t get rid of, a kidney stone…no energy, IBS/digestive problems, addiction to sugar/chocolate.” and was, “eating chocolate every day… I still crave sweets, but I fill that craving with a piece of fruit instead of non-stop chocolate eating.” She had tried herbal remedies, "I don’t remember which ones, but they were supposed to curb appetite or aid in weight loss.  They didn’t do much since I was still gorging myself on chocolate.”

Tanya began eating 95-100% raw foods when she was 27, and started to lose weight straight away, “I lost a lot in the beginning (4-5 lbs a week), but then I started eating more cooked foods.  My thought was that I could “afford to treat myself.”  The weight didn’t come off as rapidly, so I started trying to get back as close to 100% raw as possible.  Since becoming raw she has had, “ No more chocolate cravings (big victory!).  I find that I don’t eat as much in general, but I don’t really think about it.  I am more able to listen to my body and only eat when my body is hungry for nutrients.  No more mindless eating (except when I eat cooked foods again).

Previous Attempts at Weight Loss
“I have tried every diet that I could find (Atkins, low calorie, low fat, grapefruit, just exercise, giving up chocolate, several supplements that were supposed to curb appetite, and many more of my own attempts to get weight under control).  Usually I would lose a few pounds but wouldn’t be able to stick to the diet.  Then the weight would come back. 

What Helped Most?
“ Going 100% in the beginning was key, I don’t think the cravings would have gone if I would have still let myself have chocolate every once in a while.  Even now, the more cooked food I eat, the more I crave, then the more I eat.  It’s a vicious cycle, staying 100% raw is really the key (although it is really hard to achieve in this world)”

Improved Health?
“My IBS is almost completely gone (if I can stay 100%, I know I wouldn’t have any symptoms), I haven’t had another kidney stone, and my face has cleared up tremendously. Mentally/ Emotionally – I think I am happier, but I attribute it to the excess energy I have.… I started exercising, not because I thought I needed to or anything, but because I just felt like running.”

“I say that I had IBS.  The truth is, I had a bunch of problems with digestion.  I made many trips to the doctor.  After several guesses of what he thought might help (none of them helping of course), I gave up.  I read on the internet that my symptoms were called IBS, so that is how I refer to it.  The doctors just guess, but raw foods actually helped my body cure itself.  Oh how I wish I would have come across this information many years ago.”

Shirley (author of health website: Shirley’s Wellness Café)
Shirley overcame a lifetime of ill health and lost 4st 2lbs (60 lbs) in 3 months, effortlessly.

I can't remember a time in my life, prior to 1982, when I wasn't struggling with failing health. I was overweight, 13st 2lbs (185 lbs), suffered from chronic fatigue and my health was steadily going down the drain. For years I had been a "junkie"--addicted to prescription and over the counter drugs. I used oral and topical corticosteroids for 9 years to suppress my eczema/psoriasis. I remained on antibiotics for months at a time for recurring throat and breast infections. I used nasal decongestions for chronic sinus congestion, and various drugs for chronic backaches and other health problems. Unfortunately, instead of generating a cure, the medications merely temporarily suppressed my symptoms, weakened my immune system, and in the long run made me sicker. The combination of a bad diet and the side effects of the drugs affected my moods and I was constantly angry and struggling with depression.”

In 1982 my doctor told me that I had to have a mastectomy because my body was no longer responding to medication. But I had had enough of orthodox medicine; I knew I had to change direction to improve my overall health and vitality.
I visited a naturopathic doctor (who was also a homeopath) who … pointed out that I had to radically change my diet if there was any hope for improving my miserable health.
I totally eliminated from my diet the starchy stuff like grains, rice, pasta, and breads as well as meat and dairy products. This radical change of diet was very hard because I was so addicted to these foods and I was always hungry. In time I learned to prepare delicious and nutritious meals made entirely of raw foods and I never felt deprived or hungry and I began homeopathic treatment.
The results of the diet change and homeopathic treatment were dramatic. In 6 weeks, the lumps in my breast were completely gone. In 12 weeks I had lost 60 pounds effortlessly (and never had to struggle again to keep my weight down) and my energy level and stamina improved dramatically. I was able to function better overall. I became calmer, centered and focused, and generally I felt happier. Over the years, my health and resistance to disease continued to improve and in time I also experienced a complete recovery from my life-long chronic eczema and from the devastating side effects of the steroids immune suppressive effects. I was amazed that even my debilitating back pains responded to the homeopathic treatment and the change of diet.