Lean Back

A few weeks ago, I watched a video on one of my favorite YouTube channels, Fit on Raw. In the video, she was giving some very sound reasons why she isn't really following the Raw till 4 diet anymore. I commented on the video, specifically one of her reasons, and multiple times a week I get notices letting me know people agree with what I said. Since that happens so rarely, I thought I would talk about it more! Swayze ( Fit on Raw) was saying that one of the reasons she stopped following Raw till 4 was an unhealthy obsession with being thin. I simply agreed in my comment, but given the amount of people who seem to agree, I thought I would go a little more in on the topic here. I have been somewhat interested in the Raw lifestyle, and I've flirted with the idea, but it just seems like too much, in lots of ways. I stumbled across the Raw till 4 lifestyle last spring,  in one of those strange YouTube vortexes that happen. I was looking to make some changes, and for sure drop a few ponds along the way. I watched a couple of videos from Freelee the banana girl, who is so passionate about the lifestyle, it seemed meant to be. The weather was warming up, and after such a long cold winter, eating all that fruit was awesome! And, if you've ever watched her videos, she really recommends packing in the carbs! She eats a lot, is what I'm trying to say. I tried my best to follow it, but I realized a few problems. One, it was hard to afford, and two, I couldn't "smash in the carbs" as much as was recommended. I modified it slightly to better meet my needs, and continued to be an avid follower. After a good four or five months, I was nowhere as lean as I would have thought, and I really started to feel bad. It was stressing me out, and some of the videos directed at people who weren't getting lean were downright mean. I was losing interest real fast. I spent too many years of my life hating everything about the way I looked, including my body, and as a result have many emotional and some physical scars. In fact, feeling bad about myself, and abusing myself were what started my whole journey towards health and healing to begin with! Once the temps started cooling down, I ditched Raw till 4, and I have unsubscribed to most Raw till 4 advocates. It's a shame, because I do think all of us need to consume more raw food, and obviously obesity is an ongoing health issue, or epidemic as some would say. I just feel that vegan or not, no one will stick to any kind of plan, or lifestyle that is making them feel bad. Most people look to make changes that are positive, and make them feel groovy. And it's just one more way that vegans look super judgmental, and very exclusive. As a vegan, I feel excluded from certain vegan lifestyles. I don't like that, and I don't like people making other people feel bad for their weight. We are all on a journey. Maybe being super lean, or thin isn't for all of us. There are different body types, and shapes, thank gourd. Think of how boring life would be if we all looked, and thought alike. Food is nourishment, end of story. I believe it nourishes our body, and our soul. I personally don't feel nourished drinking a freezing ass smoothie on a day that is almost below zero. If it means I'm not going to be supper ripped, or lean, so be it.
I've said it before, and I'll keep saying it. Being vegan, or plant based is at the end of the day very simple. It's us humans who have to take everything and make it as complicated, and difficult as possible. It's super easy to get all the nutrients you need and not eat animal products. The possibilities are endless Raw, paleo, high carb, junk food, all organic, all super food all the time, or any kind of combination. Some do it for the animals, some the environment, some for vanity or trends sake. I love it all, I just don't want the true message of veganism to get lost in all of the body shaming.