I started out about 85% raw with the Hallelujah Diet in the year 2000. With juicing twice a day and eating a huge supper salad every day I noticed lots of good improvements, but still struggled with compulsive overeating. I lost extra weight only to gain it back.

A pregnancy in 2002 gave me the excuse to eat and I got huge. The summer after Peter was born (March 25, 2003) I was up to a size 20. I started praying desperate prayers and I mean crying out to God. Oh God help me!

Some people can be fat and happy, but not this mama! Obesity and a wobbly double chin did not become me. Besides excess weight to the tune of 75 pounds, I counted up 50 signs of malnutrition and ill health. It seems like once I turned 40 my body started falling apart.

I struggled with depression, hypoglycemia, intestinal problems, dry skin, arthritis, and a low immune system. I constantly got sick and my teeth started decaying at a rapid rate. I was afraid of getting cancer and heart disease. I went to bed early, slept in and took naps, but I was still tired all the time. I had pain in my knees, headaches, a back ache and a tooth ache. I got sick and tired of being sick and tired and FED UP WITH BEING FAT.

I read a raw recipe book that had one line that grabbed my attention: "COOKED FOOD TRIGGERS OVEREATING AND FOOD ADDICTION." It was an exciting revelation to me to learn that my constant hunger was simply the cells of my body crying out to be nourished and that cooked food was dead and my body desperately needed living raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and greens with live enzymes, vitamins, minerals, nutrients and chlorophyll.

July 2003 I began an amazing 100% raw year. I went from a size 20 to a size 10 and after detoxing I felt absolutely high on health. WOW!

In 2004 I started to add cooked food back into my diet. I live on the far northern edge of WA state and we have long cold winters here. I first added herb tea, soup, brown rice, steamed vegetables and potatoes. If I started to gain weight I'd go back to all raw, but I didn't have the conviction that all raw was the best for me.

I've struggled a lot with overeating and have gained weight until I'm back to a size 14. I tried the Prism Diet (combined with raw vegetarian) and went to Overeater's Anonymous, but kept on with trying to eat high raw. (I also had another devastating miscarriage last fall.)

I think it has been especially challenging as I have to cook for my family and I don't have a raw buddy or raw friends for support and understanding. Sometimes I feel like I'm from another planet. I raw planet, or island--doesn't that sound good? A raw island. Finally I've come to realize, as Victoria of raw family.com describes in 12 Steps to Raw Food an overeater can't leave a window open to cooked food, even 1% cooked food, or it is a slippery slope. It is true. I start out with steamed vegetables and soon I'm sampling my own casseroles, dipping into my son's mashed potatoes, eating too much and gaining weight.

I'm back to 100% raw. April 15, 2007 I turned a new leaf. I guess I had to go around the mountain again. Alas. However, my convictions are firmer. I just had to learn it for myself or learn the hard way. Now I am in agreement with Victoria--with any kind of cooked food addiction, 100% raw is the only way to go.

It is again AMAZING to me how I do not overeat raw. I don't even need that much food to feel satisfied or experience "satiety." Maybe I'll write about that tomorrow. My raw blog can be my raw buddy for now.