living - Forum - The Frugivore Diet

Raising your kids in a raw vegan community in Costa Rica

2020-08-14T21:36:51.000Z

Hello Folks, since Corona Virus many people around the world have understood the need to move to the tropics and start growing their own food, you can say it's a survival idea. Many want to do it but the task seems way too enormous, and it is if you are on your own!! That's why i decided to spread the word about us, a forming raw vegan tribe on a beautiful land in the jungle with already growing fruit forest, and our amazing vegan neighborhood. We are called Purafruta and located on the Carribean side of Costa Rica, 15 mins drive from the beach, and 20 mins from the nearby town, Puerto Viejo, the larger community of Talamanca, populated mostly by foreigners, in total of 4 close-by surf-towns along the beach, sums up to 10,000 amazing like-minded people that benefits from constant energy/resources/skills exchange.

Our Purafruta tribe welcomes people that want to take advantage of this amazing local community, but to live in our own raw vegan eco-village, where we work together maintaining and further expanding the fruit forest on our 15 hectares land, raise our kids together using educational techniques that we all agree on and apply. We also share tools, community gardens, and much more. If you end up finding out you are more of an individualistic type, we also have a friend on our road that sells land for cheap, in the heart of a Vegan road! So together with them we make a very interesting neighborhood.

If you want to know more click here and read through our values, our structure, pictures and more... See if it's somthing for you...
Webspage - http://PuraFruta.org
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PuraFruta6

The borders just opened up so we are expecting 10 new families, so if you want to come this will be the best time ever for investing since that within the next few months the lots we have to "sell" are the cheapest and have the best locations on the land, so get ready!

Let's get ready for the coming era, things are changing fast, so please share this message around this is a crucial time, people need to know that there is an option like us, and others that we can refer too in Ecuador.

Thank you!!

-The Purafruta Tribe-

Vegan and Raw Vegan Eco-village(s) “Total Union”

2019-06-12T15:17:31.000Z

Hi!

I hope you are as excited for this as I am.

I am in Massachusetts, and representing myself and the idea of a few people to band together to create a community in Westminster, MA, or another area of Eastern Massachusetts.

The goal is about 30 to 50 people or families, each having a private 2.5-4 acres each, all the same amount. The remainder will be a common area, common woods, etc. It’s so exciting. I don’t know about you but it’s a dream come true.

So far, the consensus is these parameters to make life easier for all of us to support each other in how we want to move forward.

- No animals inside walls or fences

- Vegan, Raw Vegan

- No power tools used for building, or outdoor work

- No air conditioners, no gas or propane or other fossil fuels.

It may be that the best use is sections of wifi-free houses, or common area wifi, phone use, so that people do not need cell phones or devices.

While it’s a desire to use less freezers, wifi, and cell phones, it’s not necessarily where one is at right now.

It’s this goal that we are moving in this direction, towards being in a safe space, total union with other life, developing a gentler and non-busy life.

All buildings will be built by hand by anyone who wants to participate. That way anyone who wants to can learn to build a house, and some lucky one gets the house whether they design it, or not... and then one is freed up can help others build one. No rent.. This is in contrast to what people often do, which is work all week, paying for a contractor to build their house, to rush through a more toxic building of the house. When people try to buy a paradise alone, it is more expensive and more lonely later. This way, the builder needs little money and finds him/herself amongst friends who also want this freedom and together they can actually make the dream a reality.

There are a lot of people who want this, right? Like really!

Don’t be shy! I really want people to feel like they can let this be what they’ve been wanting. It’s really not a attempt of a few individuals it’s just this dream that includes a lot of people even if we don’t know eachother, yet. You know if it’s yours. Come in some way, please! We want you. We want friends. We’re all on earth and we might as well come together on earth.

Maybe you want to start another community? How bout it. More the merrier. There is a movement in Russia calling itself the Kin-villages. Some people get together, raise enough money to purchase some land. Then they divide it into 2.5 acre sections, each one for a family. There is independence for the residents in this model, and the goal is to develop a space of love for the family that can last for ages and satsify everyone.

This is the video describing this happening in russia <https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bmaNy76ic94>;

philippines durian all year, home for rent $75/week, wifi included

2016-12-22T08:41:33.000Z

Come enjoy tropical lifestyle on samal island. Very Near the durian capital of the world, Davao city.

Durian is available 24/7, 365 days a year!, delicious varieties: cob, duyaya, puyat, arancilo, native, d101, d24, monthong, etc..

This home is wonderful and comfortable,

And naturally made.

Several other fruitarian or durian lovers live in this area.

Located on hilltop' 10 min walk to fruits and whites and beach.

Longer stay discounts.

Please message me here and email, durianbliss@gmail.com.

Regards, darrick:-)

I've been living around philippines about 7 years

you can see the place here and book your stay......

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/11364345?preview

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New here and glad to be

2016-04-06T15:11:13.000Z

Hey all!,

I'm new here! I wasn't exactly sure where to start so I figured I'd post here. Psyched I joined up and consider myself a student and teacher of life. My goal is to gain as much knowledge from you all and share mine in return. I first found out about "30 Bananas A Day" from a friend who suggested I check out Durianrider's YouTube channel. I was about a week into my bicycle tour riding racked from New York to California which took me 75 days(you can watch the video here). I was on the path to mastery and needed inspiration which Durian provided. Not only has he changed my perspective on eating but my life. After my trip in 2014 I've been doing the "Raw Till 4" lifestyle and my cycling and overall life has improved.

While I still have many things to work on, I'd like to gain more of a knowledge base around food and what it does for my body and how it can improve my cycling. I have a website which you can check out at Manual Pedal and YouTube channel. I've been biking all my life. My dad said one I picked up my bike I never put it down and he's right, I never will put it down until it's my time. I started in BMX which then led me to track and road cycling. I now do road cycling exclusively and bike touring and bikepacking when time permits.

I can often go off in tangents so to leave on a lite note... I'm really psyched to be apart of this community and looking forward to learning and sharing.

Best Regards,

Dwayne _/\_

Living in a raw community project in Costa Rica

2015-07-09T01:27:06.000Z

Available Positions on our rawfood permaculture project

RAWTREAT is a family as well as a community project in Costa Rica, based upon permaculture-forestgardening. Other fundamental aspects of our lives include a raw-vegan diet, off-the-grid life, self-sufficiency, spirituality (Deep-ecology oriented)....and we are now offering an exciting range of possibillities on our Farms.

The positions available at our permaculture foodforests are manifold. Be it as farm manager, Intern or worker Coordinator, Tour guide, Workshop/course instructor, or just committing to take care of some daily chores on our farm(s).
Would you LOVE to be part of a permaculture project that is at the same time an educational center, retreat and rawfood community? Are you trained and skilled in permaculture and/or forest-gardening? Or - are you an inspired leader - a teacher - and good at working with interns, workers and groups? Do you want to take the responsibility for taking care of our exotic/rare plant nursery? Or how about being committed in the greenhouse, making biochar, or bio-ferments? You may as well have your own ideas and business to contribute to the project with.....Then this might be a once-in-a-life opportunity!
We are also a natural healing and an educational center. So if you have ideas and/or experience in related fields, you may want to contribute your talent to our cause.
At Rawland-, we currently already have some Interns, that are figuring out, if they want to join the project and become community members.
So who feels a calling to this chance should also have interest to live in community and participate in their activities.
If you are a raw family, you may find our other farm very interesting as we have many kids living there already waiting for friends!
We are only interested in bringing in people who are in support of and enthusiastic about raw, vegan, organic food, natural healing and living, and are healthy themselves.

WORKEXCHANGE
This is not a paid job but a symbiotic partnership. All food, lodging, and basic necessities will be part of the exchange... as well as the opportunity to learn and grow with us, help co-create community, and be part of something that is making a positive impact for many lives and for our planet!

If you become our farm manager, we could provide you more then just the homegrown food and cozy housing, but in addition part of income generated by hosting guest and taking care of them. For instance you could give tours on our farms through the wilderness areas or orchads. You may as well have other kinds of ideas to make use the project as a platform of self sufficency. Another opportunity would be to build your very own house on the community land.

Some prerequisits we ask for:
- Mimimum Age of 18
- Able and Willing to wake up early (5 or 6 am) and start participating by 7am
- Positive attitude
- Self Starter
- Enthusiastic Worker
- Healthy (Body, Mind, Heart, and Soul)
- Education and experience in related topics (permaculture, organic gardening, organic farming, rawfood, sustainable living, leadership, etc)
- Desire to live in community with others
- Open, realistic and clear minded
- Honest and responsible
- Cooperative
- Sober - free of addictions to substances and pathological behavior (marihuana, alcohol, tobacco, pharma drugs, street drugs, cooked food, sex, computer, etc.)
- Realistic and clear of mind
- Able to commit a minimum of 9 months - yet we prefer to have someone who wants to work and live with us for the long term...
- Able to commit a minimum of 3 months - yet we looking for someone someone who desires to become a permanent member of our little community
We are now accepting inquiries, resumes, and letters of interest. We will be interviewing people over the next few weeks.
We do ask that you provide references - personal and professional, as well as a detailed account of education, experience, skills, talents, etc.
We are now acceptintig letters. Please add your motivation, skills, talents, previous experiences and refrences. When we feel a connection to you we would like get to know you better in a direct conversation, personal or over the internet.

http://rawtreat.weebly.com

http://www.facebook.com/RawTreatCostaRica

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Hawaii Houseshare

2015-07-03T21:09:33.000Z

Hey all you fruit lovers out there, do you live in or want to live in Hawaii? I'm on the Big Island and looking to find or to create a healthy, happy, vegan/raw vegan, high fruit based home!

I'm finding some pretty amazing houses and now I'm hoping to find some pretty amazing vegans to share it with!

The best place for living on a raw food diet

2015-06-18T16:33:08.000Z

Hi guys!

I am a fully raw guy for many years living in Czech Republic(European Union). I work as IT specialist. In the nearest future I would like to move to the country with a warmer climate and bigger amount of fruits, because here in Prague we have a long winter and not so many tropical fruits. So now I am thinking about where to go. I have discovered this article http://www.fredericpatenaude.com/blog/?p=1917 with the TOP of best places for rawfoodists with some great places, for example USA - California, Miami, Florida, Hawai or Australia, but all these places are blocked for the foreigners and I cant see the way how to legally obtain working visa in these countries. In the Thailand there are no possibilities to work for the foreigners, but everything is cheap and this is a really fruitarian paradise. So there are so many fruitarian countries but all of them have its own limitations of living/working for foreigners. I am writing this post to find the same people like me who is searching for the new living and working opportunities in sunny countries without cold winter and lack of fruits. Could you please inspire me and show any possibilities? I will be happy for any messages from anyone. Feel free to contact me. Thank you for your attention.

With love and respect for all beings,

Dimitrij.

Fruity WWOOFing in Florida?

2015-02-15T17:17:06.000Z

I'm officially looking for fruity paradise!!!! So excited! Not quite as easy as I thought though.

I was hoping it would be really easy to find a place with a huge abundance of fruit. On the WWOOF website, I found only one place in South Florida that seems easy to get integrated with and has a decent level of variety of fruit trees.

Does anybody know of any places I might want to check out? I might settle permanently in the area, so entry-level jobs at cool places would be nice too. Any advice at all would be appreciated. Thanks a lot guys!

Are We In?

2014-03-07T05:04:07.000Z

Seeking discussion on the interaction between the modern human experience and eternal nature/wilderness. If I reveal any of my own opinion or perspective in this first post, it is only accidentally; because I have questions, not answers.

We use this language:

What would people eat if they were 'In Nature?'
How much water do humans drink 'In Nature?'
Exercise, socialization, sex, recreation... 'If they were In Nature?'
How much do people get sick In Nature?
etc.

Questions to consider:

Are we not actually In Nature right now?
Exactly at what point is a human being no longer In Nature? Historically, practically?
Should we adapt to modern circumstances or is there an imperative to return?
What intrinsic value is there to any given method of living as In Nature?
Is everything unnatural bad? In relation to human behavior and knowledge specifically? If not, then why is distance from a Natural state often cited as a poor quality?
Conventionally grown fruits, toothpaste, cars, computers eg. have all been deemed unnatural by various parties. Shall we rid of them? If not, what value is there in still trying to understand how to be Natural? What is the nature of the balance to be struck?

What location within this planet has the most optimal food?

2014-01-02T21:18:42.000Z

It is time to pack some bags. I have been overcoming some neurological issues for nearly a full year now. I have been gluten, meat and dairy free for 6+ months. I have been eating strictly 100% RAW, LIVING, ORGANIC foods for 120+ days. I plan to eat this way for the rest of my life :]

I am looking to move to an area that has tons of CHEAP organic fruits that are grown and harvested properly! What places come to mind when I request of you to provide me with a suitable living environment in which matches those standards?

Living with omnivorous roommates?

2013-11-11T01:19:03.000Z

ALOHA!

So one thing has been on my mind quite a bit for the past few weeks, and as I get cleaner and cleaner in my food choices, the nastier and more unbearable it's becoming living with pals who eat meat! I don't know if this has a correlation to their diet (almost certain it does), but my GOD is it difficult to stand! I live with one guy and one girl, both my age, and we're great friends. Moving out is absolutely out of the question for me. Anyway, we usually come home from work at the same time and are hungry, so we end up eating dinner at the same time. I'll have my bananas or steamed starches, and they'll have their pan-fried chicken, sausage, kettle chips dipped in cream cheese, etc, and it's *so* unappetizing to be around. I know this ties into my last discussion about my sense of smell being WAY strong now, but I can literally smell my guy roomie's body IN the fibers of the carpet, as it's where he sleeps. I'm so turned off by the smell of eggs and animal foods now, especially when they have thousand island dressing poured on them. Cheese literally smells like pus now. I don't even know what pus smells like, but it's the only word I can use to describe how melted mozzarella smells. *gag*

Also, my girl roomie is an "Herbalife fitness coach"... :\ It gets awkward when she has her free beach exercise events because, as a friend, I feel as though I would love to support her, but the events are done in the name of Herbalife, and I would never, ever, in all my life, support that company.

ANYWAY, have any of you had to deal with roommates who had completely different lifestyles from yours? They are grumpy faaaar more than I am, they use perfumes and deodorant sprays, they eat smelly foods, and I don't know how to deal! I want to be my happy peppy silly passionate self all the time but I need to tone it down when I'm around them if they're in a funk. Blah!

Like There's No Tomorrow

2013-06-11T01:33:16.000Z

My Vegan journey has taken me out of some very dark places in my life and replaced them with so many bright new and fun experiences, but I gave me a dreading thought about how I wasted 18 years of my life throwing my body, weight, and self-esteem down the drain. So I revamped myself to claim all my goals, dreams, and desires. As of last year I finally made it on a snowboard team, pushed my self to go upside down off trampolines and kickers, I got arrested (for the animals yo'), entered an actual snowboard contest (lost but had too much fun to care), and so many other things. So what has the adage of "live like there's no tomorrow" done for your life?

"Don't flush your life away kid, step away from the bowl" -My Coach

Like There's No Tomorrow

2013-06-11T01:33:15.000Z

(2 video recipes) Raw transitional Cashew Lucuma Cheesecake recipe and home-made easy Hemp "Milk"

2013-01-14T07:21:31.000Z

These are a couple of my first videos I started making. I show on the first one a sneak peak of how I made my delicious Lucuma Cheesecake. I'm in love with it. However, It is cashew based so this would be good as a transitional recipe.

For the full recipe you can find it at my blog :)

http://alevergara22.blogspot.com/2012/12/andean-treasure-raw-lucuma-cheesecake.html

My other one I'd like to share with you guys is how to make a fresh raw HOME-MADE Hemp "Milk" recipe as a dairy replacement or transitional drink. I then proceed to use Cacao and Maca added to the drink but you may ignore that part if those items are not your thing :)

I was not able to upload my videos under the video section because they were too large apparently. Hope this is okay !

Ben Blue Introducing Himself

2012-12-08T22:21:23.000Z

Hi Everybody. I am happy to be part of this community. I have been eating fully raw since mid-August (2012), and vegan since feb/march. I started a blog to help me stay on track with changing my eating habits.

I've been eating high carb. I think right now I'm at about 50% carbs. I want to be more in the 60-65% range. I eat mostly low-glycemic complex carbs (salads, vegetables) as opposed to more simple sugar carbs (like mangos, bananas, etc.). I do like little antioxidant-packed berries (like blackberry, blueberry, dark cherry), but I eat them in moderation. I really love green juices (mostly cucumber, celery and dark leafy green such as kale, spinach and herbs) and living foods (sprouts and unpasteurized fermented foods mostly) so so so so much. They are my total favorite. :D

Looking forward to communicating and learning with and from all of you! :D :D

Great to be here!

Love and Bliss,

Ben Blue

80/10/10 style house hold! Does yours look like this?! Inspiration!

2012-11-25T12:05:05.000Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgAVmS6YYf4 <-- Check it out guys, VEGAN STYLE HOUSE! ULTIMATE FRUITY PARADISE!!! :D . Pretty quick vid, went to visit my friends the other day and was totally inspired! Hope to share that and let us know if your house looks like this one! Peace n Love, Adam
With friends
Uros Miketic, Žiga Ostaševski, Živa Ostaševski, Chris Lodge!

Having a very difficult time transitioning

2012-10-27T19:19:13.000Z

Hello everyone.

I am having a very, very difficult time transitioning onto the raw food lifestyle. I have been doing fairly well the past week though some nights I decide to eat something that does not do well with my body. I am experiencing the benefits of the foods and loving them. I crave fruit, though those times I crave something other than living food I give in to not be so hard on myself. When I do give in sometimes I forgive myself and easily transition onto raw again though sometimes I do not and that just makes following what I truly want to do harder. And I absolutely hate the headaches and sluggish feeling I feel after eating the foods I give in to. Does anyone have any advice for me? I could really use it. I want to do this more than absolutely anything. I want to acquire the energy and ease within my body so I am more able to do what I am truly inspired to. Falling behind is just annoying me and frustrating me being that I actually do not want to give in. I feel I have all the willpower I need, I am just missing something. One moment I will be all for the raw and next I will think it is more than okay to give in and that I won't get upset.

EDIT:

I think I have figured it out. It has nothing to do with food, but with the change I will have to experience while consuming what I know is right for me. Deep down I know that this will bring change and that is why I am resisting. I am scared. I am scared to break the cycle. Has anyone known this feeling before? This situation?

So yes, if you have any advice, I would love more than anything to here it. Thank you. :)

VEGAN WARRIOR.

2012-08-31T00:10:14.000Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WG4x_pCxjo

Please let me know what you think. I made a YT channel for educating people on veganisam and 80/10/10, (cause I know my stuff and thought I should). But I just brought out a demo vid of my strength and skills to help push this message another way!
Help me spread the message, with a little help from my fellow Vegans this could be big for the younger generations :) <3

[Question for Durianrider] Unlimited Calories, but burning less Calories???

2012-06-17T05:41:38.000Z

Very important question I always had. I am sorry if it was already answered somewhere on this forum.

Hypothetically, let’s say I burned a total of 2500 calories in one day. According to you Durianrider who says to eat unlimited calories, let’s say I ate 4000 calories a day, wouldn’t that mean I have eaten an extra 1500 calories, so wouldn’t that add on more weight? Wouldn’t I have eaten too much?

I would appreciate a video comment please. Thank you so much.

Michael Lanfield

bookings@michaellanfield.com

-------------

The Journey to Compassionate Living will bring forth the answers to some of the world’s biggest problems facing our planet today. If you want to understand the true meaning of life and why we have so many of the problems we do, such as environmental devastations, famine, pollution, wars, health and economic issues, and how to solve these problems than this book is for you.

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/michaellanfield

where is the best place to live HCRV??

2012-06-04T02:14:00.000Z

My boyfriend and I want to move out of Upstate NY. Our original plan was to move down to Wilmington, NC. This was before we decided to become HCRV and live a more active life. Now we want a place where it will be affordable to live this way. where we will have a lot of options to chose from food that we can eat. Where we currently live it is very hard to get enough fruit because our town and surrounding towns do not have very much to chose from. where in the US is it the most affordable place for a young couple (23 and 25) to live HCRV and be active (running, swimming, surfing, hiking etc) I am having a very hard time finding a place that will be suitable for us, any suggestions?

No Meat and Potates

2012-05-26T08:19:36.000Z

I've been trying to say "Light two candles w/ one flame" instead of "Kill two birds w/ one stone", ever since my family pointed it out.

But then, I came across a situation where I wanted to say "Meat and potatoes".

Does anybody know a more vegan friendly alternative saying for "Meat and potatoes"?

Any insights are truly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Enzymes - the ones in 'living' food vs the ones our body makes

2012-05-07T09:20:59.000Z

In most of the reading I have done on raw food one the ideas that is prominent is that of the presence of enzymes in the food and the destruction of those enzymes by raising the temperature (cooking) and hence that food no longer being 'living'.

This semester I have been studying Cell Biology which includes the study of enzymes, proteins, carbohydrates etc. Last week we had to do a prac on the effect of temperature and pH on the function of diastase, a plant version of amylase (salivary enzyme which begins the breakdown of carbohydrates in the mouth).

When the enzyme diastase was heated to 70degrees celcius there was total denaturing/destruction of the enzyme and it was no longer able to break down any starch. At 0 degrees the action was inhibited but not stopped.

When the test conditions were too acidic or too basic the enzyme also stopped working or slowed down considerably.

So, I am left with a question. Is the main issue with cooking food destroying the enzymes in the food itself or is it the problem that putting hot food into our mouths directly denatures the enzymes in the saliva secreted into our mouth meaning that food reaches out stomach without the initial digestion of carbohydrates? Could it be that eating cooked food that has been cooled to room temperature is less harmful to our body than eating cooked hot food?

Also I have learnt that proteins and enzymes are really specific. So if food is cooked and the proteins in the food are denatured (changed shape) by the heat then how much does this affect the bodies enzymes ability to recognise them and do their job breaking them down?

Any thoughts? Anyone done any serious study on all of this?

Are Vegans Pro-Life or Pro- Choice?

2011-12-15T05:10:37.000Z

My sister (who is not a vegan) and I were having a discussion the other day and she said, "Do you know what I hate most about vegans? They are so high and mighty about saving animals but they are ALL pro-choice, which is so hypocritical." I told her I didn't think that was true. (Actually I know that for a fact, because I am pro-life.) But I want to find out in the lfrv community, so I am starting a poll.

IF YOU WANT TO DEBATE THIS, PLEASE START ANOTHER THREAD! I just want a judgement free zone, for people to post either PRO-LIFE, PRO-CHOICE, or UNDECIDED so I can get a count going. I know its not an accurate polling process but I am just curious since there are so many vegans on this site.

I am aware that many people on this site may be pro-life because they are more into natural living than other vegans who may just do it for animals and don't care as much about their health, but still, I want to get an idea.

If you don't feel comfortable posting your answer, then don't worry about it!

Again, I don't want to start a debate so please keep this post strictly informational, and we can debate it on some other thread!

Please post either

PRO LIFE

PRO CHOICE

UNDECIDED

and if you feel like sharing your GENDER that would be great!

* One more note (added later) I am not talking necessarily talking about legislation, as many people don't think the government should be involved in those decisions, so maybe I chose the wrong words... I mean from the moral standpoint of whether you believe it is right or wrong.

Thanks a lot!!

War is RAW spelled backwards!

2011-09-11T04:02:53.000Z

War is Raw Spelled Backward

Evil is Live spelled backward

Devil Is Lived spelled backward

America if rearranged spells I AM Race!

Just some interesting pieces of information to think about in a moment of thinking time.

Most people are living backwards in their lives.

During this time of mass information from every angle it is always important to look at the basics and get a clear understanding of why things are the way they are in the world around us, and the world within us.

Diet alone does not change the world. As we all know there are many factors to living a good life and for anyone to say they are superior then another is in itself a deficiency of one of the factors of living a good life.

It is so important to have compassion and understanding for oneself and for others everywhere.

Hmmm I am gonna go hunt me some naners! :P

P.S. sense of humor can go a long way too!

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Been lerking...time to be official!

2011-07-28T11:20:13.000Z

Hello 30BaD's!!

So I have been lerking for a couple weeks and I decided it was time to officially introduce myself and finally start participating! I'm gonna try to not make this a million years long and here it goes....

My name is Brenda, I'm 26 years old, married to my high school sweetheart for 7 years now (he's been in the US Navy for 9 years), our daughter will be one year old in less than a month (WHAT?!?!), we are currently living overseas in Japan, I am a runner and am currently training for my second half marathon in October (first was September 2007), I'm working towards an associate's degree online, and my ultimate career goal is to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)!

Breastfeeding and natural childbirth are my passions! I want to educate and assist other mothers with both! I gave birth to my daughter completely naturally after 75 hours of labor and I am extremely proud of myself for that accomplishment! I want every mother to feel that! I struggled a lot with breastfeeding, but never gave up and that is what drove my passion for it and made me want to become an IBCLC! I am still breastfeeding my daughter and plan to continue until SHE wants to stop (I'm guessing at least 3 years)!

I have been on and off vegan/vegetarian since 2005, but came across the Raw Food Movement in 2008 and fell in love! I completed a 30 days raw food challenge and posted it all on YouTube, but I have since deleted those videos. For various reasons/excuses, I again went back and forth with vegan/vegetarianism and a S.A.D. I eventually and recently went through what I am calling a "food identity crisis," and was eating complete crap! I believe that was my "rock bottom" and I decided to face the truth and deal with my issues. For the first time in 10 years, I finally stopped denying that I struggle with serious eating issues. I binge on food and would either throw it back up, excessively exercise, fast/restrict later, or a combination of all of them. Once I was willing to admit it, I was determined to recover from my addictions!

It all started when tried to think of the last time I felt really good about myself and my health. I realized that time was when I was eating raw! I never felt 100% with all the nuts and fats, so when I discovered the low fat raw vegan lifestyle, I had no doubt that it was what I needed to do! On June 30th I started eating a LFRV diet and did 3 weeks of it. I felt so great! However, I started eating too many avocados and I believe it was part of what sparked the binge that followed. I couldn't believe how crappy I felt after my binge and I was ready to recommit, but knew it wasn't going to be easy. I decided it was time to start making YouTube videos again to help keep me accountable and that I needed to really commit to another 30 day challenge! So that is where I am today! I am finishing out day 4 of my challenge and am documenting everyday on my YouTube channel! Watch me if you would like as I show my life as a new mom, in a foreign country, trying out the LFRV lifestyle!

http://www.youtube.com/user/luvuhunny?feature=mhee

I'm happy to be here at 30BaD and I hope I can get a lot of encouragement and help! I also hope I can help and encourage others somehow! :D

(Pictures: First is the most recent picture I have of my daughter and me, second is the most recent picture of my beautiful baby girl, and last is a pretty recent picture of my happy little family!)

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June 24-27 LFRV/yoga Michigan retreat!

2011-06-17T20:48:10.000Z

I'm realllllly sorry this is being posted so last minute!!!

Ellen Livingston (a friend of Doug Graham who'll be leading yoga at Woodstock Fruit Fest, longtime low-fat raw vegan, yoga teacher and great lady) is hosting a retreat in Michigan this month - June 24-27. I'm hoping to make it myself as a kitchen helper. She asked me to spread the word.

I think it's very affordable for all you get.

The closest airport is Bishop International Airport in Flint, Michigan. From there someone can pick you up if you arrive like before noon June 24. If you don't want to pay for the Bed & Breakfast bedroom, you can camp for free.

Here's the info:

http://retreats.livingyoganow.com/index.html

And here is an MP3 of Ellen talking about the retreat that she asked me to share with y'all :)

http://www.livingyoganow.com/pdf/Newsletter_May_18.pdf

~Joce

Forks Over Knives

2011-04-30T22:52:44.000Z

I just saw this posted by Vegsource. Has anyone seen this documentary yet? If so, what do you think of it?

http://www.vegsource.com/news/2011/04/forks-over-knives-on-dr-oz-video.html

Inspirational! - What its really about

2011-04-21T21:03:05.000Z

I know we all are pursuing 811, that's why we're here. But there's an overacrching purpose to pursuing 811 and that is to be healthy. To take control of our own health, our own lives, stop existing and start really living.

I don't know what this guy in the video is doing, re: diet. But that'snot the point of this video. The point is to take real steps towards what we want out of life. So let's stop thinking about what we don't want and remember to think about what we do want, and go for it!

Brunei?

2011-02-08T17:16:34.000Z

Does anyone have experiences from Brunei?

Its known for being a "dictatorship" but maybe not quite so known for its free healthcare for all citizens, peaceful and safe envirement according to western people moving there, nice local people , minding its business as a country and mainly focusing on relationships with neighbour states, law against alcohol (a plus in my books) although tourists may bring in a certain amount of it. Also, it seems only their companys pay tax but not the citizens which is a rare combination with free healthcare as far as i know.

They also seem to have some nice fruit including some durian kinds and they have skateboard parks ;)

Im wondering if anyone visited there or lived there and what your impressions were of fruit and life in general.

And did you need permissions to enter and how hard was it to get?

Do you do "art of clean living"?

2010-12-28T03:45:54.000Z

Heyo!

I found this nifty little site (here) about the "art of clean living". I enjoyed reading it. I learned a number of things you can do to be healthier and live cleaner, for example...

- Get truly clean drinking and shower water.
- Get rid of toxic household products in your home.

- Live without drugs and surgery.
- Read one book every week.

- Balance exercise and rest.

- Be easily amused and impossible to offend.

It's great info for newbies and veterans. Step #1 is eating LFRV, so I wouldn't be surprised if the author was a member here.

P.S. I'm NOT advertising this site, there's no ads or anything for sale. Just thought you guys might like it-- cuz I did. Here's the link again: Six Steps To Better Health

Thoughts anyone?