Netflix made me vegan.

Okay, not really. I would never call myself vegan out of respect for those who actually are. I still like meat and butter, milk, cheese, eggs and a myriad of other things that come from animals. I just choose not to eat them. For now…

During my three-month hibernation from the world, I signed up for a Netflix streaming free trial and proceeded to binge on food documentaries. Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, Food Matters, Hungry for Change, Forks Over Knives, Vegucated, Food Fight, Killer At Large, The Beautiful Truth, The Gerson Miracle… I watched them all and more and suddenly became a raw vegan. All I wanted to do was watch a cute little French film called Populaire. Funny how one seemingly innoxious decision can lead to life-altering aftereffects.

Nine weeks later, I am standing in a kitchen full of fresh fruit wearing pants three sizes smaller than when I first logged on to Netflix. That is right – PANTS!

I am kind of loving them right now. Especially skinny jeans. Primarily because it is the first time I have ever been able to wear them. My thighs and child-bearing hips, that have yet to bear a child, were not made for pants. Dresses are my go-to comfort clothing. But lately, it has been so gall darn cold out that I have been bundled up in pants. And enjoying it.

I have also been enjoying the foods of the raw vegan lifestyle. Raw vegans sustain themselves by eating fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds – not cooked. The theory behind this is that plants’ enzymes are destroyed when heated above 118° F and more nutrients are available to us in raw foods. I have read and watched a whole host of materials both for and against the diet. Unhappy with my current state of being, I decided to stay open minded and give it a try.

I am not going to sit here and tell you that a raw vegan lifestyle is the magic cure-all, but the results for me have been pretty impressive. I started out by drinking green smoothies for breakfast on November 26, 2013. I made no other changes to my lifestyle and within three weeks I dropped 10 pounds. It was just the motivation I needed to go all in. On December 17, 2013 I gave up junk food, soda, caffeine, meat, butter, milk, cheese, eggs, bread, pasta, cooking… all of it. Cold turkey. I went through a hellacious detox, but stuck with it. I managed to get through the detox and the holidays while remaining raw. I emerged in 2014 another 6 pounds lighter and feeling amazing.

The new year brought with it no caffeine cravings and all-day energy despite not having any. My caffeine headaches disappeared along with the cravings, too. All of my headaches, aches and pains went away. I used to get crazy headaches that made me nauseous and sensitive to light. My head hurt so much that it was hard to see. I have not had one of those – or any – since going through detox. Pretty cool, huh? Even more inspiring is that my menstrual woes have fallen by the wayside.

Before, having my period felt like someone grabbed ahold of my uterus, squeezed with all their might and twisted their arm while trying to rip it out. Leaving me sniveling in a fetal position, heavily drugged on Aleve, barely able to function. I welcomed menopause.

My first cycle after embarking on the raw vegan diet was surprisingly pain free. So much so, that I did not take a single pill. Not one! I used to take 4 immediately upon onset and two every four hours after that. Back in my ibuprofen days, it was 4 pills every two hours. Holy overload!

I thought for sure this must be some freak fluke. There was no way that the food I was eating caused this horrific pain and subsequently erased it. Could it?

I anxiously awaited the next month’s cycle and was met with the same results. So minimal cramping, more like a barely noticeable dull ache, that I required no meds. AMAZING!!!

For 19 years I have suffered with debilitating cramps the first day of my period. After 1 week of eating raw vegan they were gone. I do not know whether to be elated or pissed. For years, I have repeatedly asked doctors for help with no answers given. Their solution was to just keep taking more meds. Meds that did not work by the way. Ugh.

I am quite curious what the cause and cure has been. Whatever I have to give up will be worth it not to go through that hell again.

The pain-free periods alone are almost enough incentive for me to stay raw vegan. The increased energy, creativity, mental focus, softer skin, weight loss and delicious food are not making the decision any harder either.

I have lost a total of 22 pounds thus far and dropped 3 sizes. My clothes fit again, I have regained some self-confidence and have an improved outlook. I originally set out to try eating raw vegan for 30 days. I found it surprisingly easy and that my body is pretty happy doing so. So I have decided to continue on for another 30. I will be sharing some recipes here on the blog. I assure you, even if you are not into eating this way, you will enjoy these recipes. They are a great way to incorporate more fruits and veggies into your diet and they are friggin’ delicious! If you are curious about going raw, feel free to shoot me an email or leave a comment and I will do the best I can to answer your questions.

Cheers!