Being a newbie to the idea of changing to raw foods, I have a lot to learn. At the moment time is not on my side, i.e. I am obese (BMI 40+) and have diabetes type 2. I have been on a 'diabetic eating plan since Feb' and my blood sugar is down to almost to pre-diabetes level but not low enough. I have read about many of the raw foods retreats in America and foreign countries but so far the only one that seems to have the resident actually doing raw roods 24/7 with some kind of exercise is the one in Arizona. All the others do a lot of 'teaching/classes' so the resident sits a lot, maybe some exercise but I don't find the emphasis being on the need to actually eat raw foods prepared by a chef. I've heard the saying that it takes 21 days to break a habit (?) so I like the idea of start with eating raw food, properly prepared by experienced chef. Some retreats the residents prepare their own meals. I don't cook, just like trying to learn to play an instrument, cooking just is not my thing. So I am willing to pay the extra to start eating raw foods at the beginning knowing it will take time to learn to accommodate to the food. I am committed to make the change and accept the idea and don't need to be persuaded. Just need to start eating and attending some classes is ok but I will not be preparing my own foods most of the time. I live in Houston, Texas and there are a few sources here but only teaching. I prefer to stay in the states but Costa Rico has a few that are interesting but still a lot of class room time. I have watched the video about the 6 people who went to Arizona and reversed their diabetes in 30 days and that is what I want to do and I am committed to do so. Just not sure the one in Arizona is the right one but seems it is the only one that offers a 30 day program of eating properly prepared raw foods. Open to comments and suggestions.

I wouldn't have the time or money to attend a retreat so I haven't looked into any, but since you're open to suggestions, have you looked into any local raw vegan groups on meetup.com? Houston is big enough, I'm sure you have to have some raw vegan groups nearby! If I wasn't so scared of meeting new people, I think that kind of thing could be fun and helpful to have local support/like minded people. It may be something to look into as you transition in addition to a retreat to get you started Best of luck on your journey!

As a note, I grew up in Arizona. I never heard of any raw food retreats! (or anything else favorable to vegetarian/vegan lifestyles for that matter) Is it held in or around Sedona (or possibly Jerome...)?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/07/2015 03:03AM by Kiwibird.

The one in Arizona is located in Patagonia, about 42 miles south of Tucson and 20 miles from the border with Mexico. It is the Tree of Life, [treeoflifecenterus.com].

I am sure there are groups in Houston and this is a good idea and I will see if I can find them. To get a good head start in changing to raw foods, for me, I need to get away from my environment for the last 34 years. I haven't had a real get away vacation that I can remember so it has been a while. Also being at home, it is too tempting to grab something sweet when I am struggling to make the break from foods that don't help my diabetes and weight condition. At the Tree of Life there is no coke machine, no fast food places, no all night service stations where you can buy a coke or candy bar. I am prepared to do this and as I re-read the stories of people who have been to the Tree of Life recently, I feel more encouraged to consider going there. It is expensive but if I don't reverse my diabetes and lose weight, my time on this earth will be significantly shortened.

Thanks for your reply and suggestions.

[www.optimumhealth.org]

Optimum Health Institute of Austin

265 Cedar Lane
Cedar Creek, TX 78612

Call to make a reservation

(800) 993-4325
(512) 303-4817

Book:
There is a cure for diabetes by Gabriel COusens

no1texan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Being a newbie to the idea of changing to raw
> foods, I have a lot to learn. At the moment time
> is not on my side, i.e. I am obese (BMI 40+) and
> have diabetes type 2. I have been on a 'diabetic
> eating plan since Feb' and my blood sugar is down
> to almost to pre-diabetes level but not low
> enough. I have read about many of the raw foods
> retreats in America and foreign countries but so
> far the only one that seems to have the resident
> actually doing raw roods 24/7 with some kind of
> exercise is the one in Arizona. All the others do
> a lot of 'teaching/classes' so the resident sits a
> lot, maybe some exercise but I don't find the
> emphasis being on the need to actually eat raw
> foods prepared by a chef. I've heard the saying
> that it takes 21 days to break a habit (?) so I
> like the idea of start with eating raw food,
> properly prepared by experienced chef. Some
> retreats the residents prepare their own meals. I
> don't cook, just like trying to learn to play an
> instrument, cooking just is not my thing. So I am
> willing to pay the extra to start eating raw foods
> at the beginning knowing it will take time to
> learn to accommodate to the food. I am committed
> to make the change and accept the idea and don't
> need to be persuaded. Just need to start eating
> and attending some classes is ok but I will not be
> preparing my own foods most of the time. I live in
> Houston, Texas and there are a few sources here
> but only teaching. I prefer to stay in the states
> but Costa Rico has a few that are interesting but
> still a lot of class room time. I have watched the
> video about the 6 people who went to Arizona and
> reversed their diabetes in 30 days and that is
> what I want to do and I am committed to do so.
> Just not sure the one in Arizona is the right one
> but seems it is the only one that offers a 30 day
> program of eating properly prepared raw foods.
> Open to comments and suggestions.

Tavis Bradley will work with you and prepare your food right in your home if you interested in that sort of thing. I don't know how much he charges for that service. His Conductivity Diet is the only raw vegan one I've tried that works for me to keep my blood sugar optimal. His diet is very easy to prepare and his recipes are delicious. He also does Skype consultations. I don't know if he is still holding retreats at his home in Sedona, AZ at the moment but that would be another option if you feel the need to get away.

A few years ago I went on the Dr. Cousins' diabetic cure raw vegan diet. I adhered to it strictly by the book at home. After a few months trial I was disappointed to find that it wasn't enough for me. I was lucky that Tavis just happened to come out in public on the raw vegan scene (from his more behind the scenes practice) at that point and I was able to learn from him from his private website.

Good luck, No1Texan, whatever way you choose to go.

no1texan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The one in Arizona is located in Patagonia, about
> 42 miles south of Tucson and 20 miles from the
> border with Mexico. It is the Tree of Life,
> [treeoflifecenterus.com].
>
> I am sure there are groups in Houston and this is
> a good idea and I will see if I can find them. To
> get a good head start in changing to raw foods,
> for me, I need to get away from my environment for
> the last 34 years. I haven't had a real get away
> vacation that I can remember so it has been a
> while. Also being at home, it is too tempting to
> grab something sweet when I am struggling to make
> the break from foods that don't help my diabetes
> and weight condition. At the Tree of Life there is
> no coke machine, no fast food places, no all night
> service stations where you can buy a coke or candy
> bar. I am prepared to do this and as I re-read the
> stories of people who have been to the Tree of
> Life recently, I feel more encouraged to consider
> going there. It is expensive but if I don't
> reverse my diabetes and lose weight, my time on
> this earth will be significantly shortened.
>
> Thanks for your reply and suggestions.


Ah, that is way down south in the state. I grew up way up in the northern part of the state and the only things possibly health related I ever heard of happened in Sedona.

I think if you have the time and means to do so, a retreat would be a great way to jump into the raw lifestyle. It is definitely a MAJOR change and you do go through a detox. Having the ability to take a break from the "junk food world" and be immersed in raw foods would be so, so helpful.

Conductivity Diet = weird oil extracted diet that no scientist has studied because of is unhealthy appearance.

Panchito Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Conductivity Diet = weird oil extracted diet that
> no scientist has studied because of is unhealthy
> appearance.

Just to remind, and for new people, the Conductivity diet not only brought my out of range lipid panel and FBS tests within normal ranges (which 11 months on HCLF screwed up) but also brought some other asterisked stuff on my lab work, that went out of range on that diet, back to normal. I've been on the Conductivity Diet for 2 years now and have no reason to stop. It's very easy and satiating.

While personally I have an even higher raw fats intake (and way less exercise) than Tavis recommends I'm doing pretty well on it. Having no more joint pains is great. I used to go up and down stairs slowly and now I can run up and down them like I did when I was young. No more migraine headaches. No more gall bladder attacks even though my fat intake is 65%. Even though I was diagnosed with emphysema 5 or 6 years ago and advised to use medication for that (advise I didn't take) my lungs feel fine now and my M.D. says they sound clear as a bell.

SueZ Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------


> Just to remind, and for new people, the
> Conductivity diet not only brought my out of range
> lipid panel and FBS tests within normal ranges
> (which 11 months on HCLF screwed up)

I have studied many many people who have claimed to do a hclf diet.
many many of those people made various mistakes contributing to their inability to thrive. the mistake here is in saying "I did hclf" as if it is impossible to do anything wrong. just like saying "vegan didn't work for me" - we are all well aware of the many ways that "vegans" can eat wrong "vegan" foods and not thrive and resort to meat eating.

Feel free to actually post ALL the foods that you eat before recommending that someone go pay Tavis to consult. That person may be able to make a more informed decision. it would appear that the diet is neither whole food nor raw, full of stimulants and irritants, and Tavis is certainly not using "stone ground" oils.


but also
> brought some other asterisked stuff on my lab
> work, that went out of range on that diet, back to
> normal. I've been on the Conductivity Diet for 2
> years now and have no reason to stop. It's very
> easy and satiating.
>

"Conductivity" has no meaning with respect to diet and health.

Unless you or Tavis would like to actually put forth NON pseudoscience to support the use of the word.

>Having no more joint pains is great
>I used to go up and down stairs slowly and now I can run up and down them like I did when I was young.
>No more gall bladder attacks even though my fat intake is 65%

Now I understand your situation, the conductivity diet is an improvement over where you were before.

End of debate, it works in this situation.

Sometimes we object to situations without understanding the context.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/07/2015 04:55PM by RawPracticalist.

no1texan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Being a newbie to the idea of changing to raw
> foods, I have a lot to learn. At the moment time
> is not on my side, i.e. I am obese (BMI 40+) and
> have diabetes type 2. I have been on a 'diabetic
> eating plan since Feb' and my blood sugar is down
> to almost to pre-diabetes level but not low
> enough. I have read about many of the raw foods
> retreats in America and foreign countries but so
> far the only one that seems to have the resident
> actually doing raw roods 24/7 with some kind of
> exercise is the one in Arizona. All the others do
> a lot of 'teaching/classes' so the resident sits a
> lot, maybe some exercise but I don't find the
> emphasis being on the need to actually eat raw
> foods prepared by a chef. I've heard the saying
> that it takes 21 days to break a habit (?) so I
> like the idea of start with eating raw food,
> properly prepared by experienced chef. Some
> retreats the residents prepare their own meals. I
> don't cook, just like trying to learn to play an
> instrument, cooking just is not my thing. So I am
> willing to pay the extra to start eating raw foods
> at the beginning knowing it will take time to
> learn to accommodate to the food. I am committed
> to make the change and accept the idea and don't
> need to be persuaded. Just need to start eating
> and attending some classes is ok but I will not be
> preparing my own foods most of the time. I live in
> Houston, Texas and there are a few sources here
> but only teaching. I prefer to stay in the states
> but Costa Rico has a few that are interesting but
> still a lot of class room time. I have watched the
> video about the 6 people who went to Arizona and
> reversed their diabetes in 30 days and that is
> what I want to do and I am committed to do so.
> Just not sure the one in Arizona is the right one
> but seems it is the only one that offers a 30 day
> program of eating properly prepared raw foods.
> Open to comments and suggestions.

What are you going to do when you return home from the retreat?

Why would it be any different?

Why do you think that raw foods need to "prepared"?

What about developing habits on your own, at home that will be real and enduring?

Reaching for candy bars is much less likely when eating sufficient fruit.

i am not necessarily suggesting you follow the below videos but you may find something of value in there.

[www.vegsource.com]

[www.vegsource.com]

overcame diabetes

[www.youtube.com]

Conductivity is just the name of the diet I'm on to me. I don't concern myself with Tavis' or my M.D.'s or other healer's religions. Those are none of my business. I'm also not concerned why the Conductivity Diet works so well for me just that it did, and continues to, work for me.

High carb diets, both cooked starch based and raw fruit based did not work for me. The high fruit raw vegan version worked against me and I was in need of repair from that. My blood sugar is stable now, I am never hungry, have no cravings, and have not gained weigh.