I know how exciting it is when you first go raw. You see all these wonderful bodily and mental improvements that you never experienced on any other diet.

You truly feel like you have discovered the “Fountain of Youth” and you just want to bombard everyone you know with all the raw food and fitness information you’ve got.

Please, don’t do it!

There is an easier, gentler, and much more *effective* way…

Don’t Force It

Let’s face it. Even though the popularity of the raw food movement is growing, most people still think eating a raw food diet is for wackos.

And no matter how supportive or encouraging your family and friends are, they probably feel the same way. Don’t be surprised if they view the whole raw food movement as a food fad and fully expect you to come running back to “normal” cooked fare in no time.

And this makes perfect sense! Just think back to your cooked food days: how would you have reacted to someone (even a close relative) trying to convince you to eat nothing but fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds? AND nothing is cooked?!?

Just some crazy new trend, right?

And how about the nerve of this loved one telling YOU how to live YOUR life as if they could possibly know what’s best for YOU!

The audacity!

Bottom line, you can’t force people to change their mindset and you certainly can’t force people to change their eating habits. If you try, you will fail. Not only will you fail, you will risk losing valuable relationships in the process.

Flaunt It!

The best thing you can do to convince others to go raw is to lead by example. Simply live your life and people will be drawn to your successes.

When people start noticing how healthy and vibrant you obviously look and feel, everyone will want to know your secret. All of a sudden, people who were never interested in your diet or exercise regimen (or perhaps even shunned/poked fun at what you’re doing) will be dying to know your secret.

No one can resist the raw glow!

Most importantly, they will be coming to YOU for advice, instead of you bombarding them. It will completely be their idea and their CHOICE.

Proof is in the (Raw) Pudding

When I first went raw, the rest of my family ate standard cooked food. My Mom has always been an excellent cook, but health wasn’t really high up on the agenda.

The concern was more for taste, not nutrition.

So what did I do to try and convince them to go raw? Nothing. I didn’t bombard them with raw food “propaganda.” I didn’t preach to them about the “evils” of cooked food.  I didn’t even instruct them to read 80/10/10 or The China Study.

I just ate lots of fruit, exercised, spent time outdoors, got adequate sleep and answered any health-related questions they had for me.

Well, it’s been two years and things have really changed. My Mom eats mostly vegan and rarely ever cooks meat anymore. The family has gone from having meat pretty much every single night to once or twice a week.

There is much more of a focus on plant foods and much less on meat, cheese, dairy, salt, butter, etc.

While two years may sound like a long time to you, just think back to how long it took you to come to grips with raw foodism. Personally, I became interested in health and fitness back in early 2005, but it was not until late 2007 that I went raw.

And remember, I’m from the land of BBQ ribs, fried chicken, and pulled pork sandwiches. The fact that my family regularly eats meatless (sometimes completely vegan) meals and LOVES them is just too cool to me.

And now I get to accept full responsibility and praise for all their health improvements, of course.

2011 Update

Today, my Mom is completely vegan and my Dad eats vegan the vast majority of the time.

As a result, my Mom no longer suffers from arthritis, my Dad is off all medications, and I couldn’t be happier nor more proud of them both.

Go raw and be fit,
Swayze

P.S. Lack of community and on-going support keeping you from staying raw? You certainly aren’t alone.

That’s why I created…

“The Rawkin’ Raw Club”

Providing the Education, Motivation, & Support You Need to Go Raw, Get, Fit, & Live Naturally

To learn more and join today, click on the link below:

==> www.RawkinRawClub.com

Hi Swayze,

I know that I’m going to face a very difficult time explaining to my family that I won’t have turkey or meat this chirstmas. I haven’t told my family that I have been on a pescatarian diet for two weeks now. My mum and sister are extremely protective of me, so living away from home has allowed me to keep this from them until now.

How do you think I can deal with this situation?

The follow excerpt is from my special report Dealing With Diet Dissenters: How to Handle Unsupportive, Argumentative, and Downright Rude People of a Raw Food Diet:

~~~~~~

Don’t Allow Yourself to Be Cornered

I want to be clear that I am not advocating completely holding your tongue every time the topic of diet comes up or someone asks you a raw related question.

You should always be polite and respect the wishes and perspectives of those around you in a particular social setting.

In other words, know your audience.

For instance, it may be perfectly acceptable to explain the intricate workings of the human digestive tract at a raw food potluck or lecture.

On the other hand, a family BBQ is probably not the best place to discuss the value of raw fruit or the ethics of veganism.

However, being polite does not mean that you must be passive. You do not have to participate in a discussion that you are uncomfortable with or take verbal abuse from anyone.

And you certainly do not have to partake in the consumption of cooked food or even pretend that you are a die-hard carnivore to  be “polite” and try to please others.

You can still be courteous and be true to who you are and your dietary ideals.

In fact, the best thing you can do is to show confidence in your diet.

You can apply this confidence to almost any badgering at a social situation. For instance, say you are at a Christmas party and your Aunt Tilly starts demanding to know how you can possibly be healthy on such a restrictive diet, where you get your protein, why you are so skinny, etc.

Instead of arguing with her or slinking away into a corner, show some confidence. Here’s a confidence-brimming, but non-argumentative response:

I appreciate your concern and your questions, Aunt Tilly, but the topic of  raw foods and health is pretty broad and in-depth. I don’t really feel that this is the right time or place to answer your questions.

Not that I have all of the answers, anyway! All I know is that I feel very good on a raw food diet and not-so-good on a cooked diet.  I’m anxious to stick with raw foods and see where they take me.

Okay, so that’s a little rigid, but you get the idea.

A comment like this shows that you are completely comfortable with your decision to go raw and that there is no need to worry. It also shows that you are not claiming to know everything and that you are not judging others for their own dietary choices.

Which is what it all comes down to, really. Too often people are just trying to validate their own dietary choices by attacking yours.

Similar to how a so-called heterosexual will berate gay men because he is ashamed of his own homosexual tendencies.

This is why it is so important to establish your “comfortableness” with going raw from the get-go. It is much more difficult to berate someone who is unabashedly confident and will not take the abuse.

Don’t allow yourself to be cornered!

~~~~~~

In your case, Michal, I think the best thing you can do is be non-confrontational. In fact, don’t say anything at all about your new meat-free diet.

If someone asks why you aren’t touching the turkey, simply tell them that it’s a little experiment you’re trying. Or say that you’ve found you personally feel better when you limit meat in your diet.

If they press you in a negative way, just be firm in your stance that this is a personal decision. Don’t start talking about diet and nutrition or “the love of the animals”. This will just start an argument.

If someone is actually interested in what you’re doing, recommend a website or a book for him/her to look into or tell him/her that you would be happy to talk about it after dinner.

Hope that helps!

Go raw and be fit,
Swayze

P.S. My special report Dealing With Diet Dissenters is only available to people who purchased either my recipe e-book Low Fat, Fruit Filled, High Fun Raw Recipes or my cravings-crushing program How to Conquer Your Cooked Food Cravings.

Simply send your testimonial for either one—a sincere testimonial, of course!—to swayze@fitonraw.com and I’ll send you a copy of the free report.

First, if I think I can’t stay raw, then I won’t.

If I put myself in such a negative mindset from the get-go, there’s no way I’ll be able to do the things I need to do to succeed.

I’ll just be setting myself up for failure.

Second, there’s only one reason that I can’t stay raw on Thanksgiving: I’m tempted by all the cooked food dishes!

The turkey, the stuffing, the mashed potatoes and gravy, the apple crisp, the cream puffs…

Why am I tempted by these foods? Because I don’t enjoy the raw food dishes I’m eating.

Think about it. If I had raw food recipes that were delicious and completely satiating, would I at all be tempted by my old cooked food favorites?

Of course not!

That’s why this Thanksgiving, I know I’ll have no problem staying raw. Why? Because I love my raw foods!

In fact, I’m downright EXCITED about tomorrow’s meal. My marvelous Mother will be preparing something special just for me. It’s actually one of my absolute favorite raw recipes.

I call ‘em *Wicked “Rice” Wraps* because they’re wickedly delicious, hearty, and satisfying!

But that’s not the best part.

Just like with all the recipes I make and recommend, these wraps are healthy, simple, easy-to-make, and contain everyday ingredients that you can find right in any grocery store!

Wondering how you can make these *Wicked “Rice” Wraps* for your own family this Thanksgiving?

Well, if you’re currently a member of my Rawkin’ Raw Club, just log in using your username and password, click on “Recipe of the Week”, and enjoy!

Yep, you read it right: Recipe of the WEEK. As a Rawkin’ Raw member, you’ll gain access to a brand new delicious, healthy, and seasonal raw recipe every single week!

Not a member? No problem! Just click on the link below, choose your plan, and join us in the members-only area:

==> www.RawkinRawClub.com

Go raw and be fit,
Swayze

P.S. Next week’s recipe may be even more delicious: “Persimmon Date Parfait”. I love it for breakfast, but it’s also perfect as a show-stopping Holiday dessert!

To learn more about the “Raw Recipe of the Week” and everything else offered as part of your Rawkin’ Raw membership, click the link below:

==> www.RawkinRawClub.com

P.P.S. HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Rather than write a new post on the subject (because I’m lazy), I figured I’d point you to a few relavent goodies I wrote last winter:

#1: How to Survive a Winter Gone Raw

#2: How to Stay Warm on Raw Foods

And since this time of year is all about food, food, and more food…

#3: How to Stay Raw While Preparing a Cooked Food Feast

And here’s a fun one to put some Christmas cheer back in that chilly willy raw heart of yours.

I know, I know. Christmas is over. But the way I see it, it’s never too late for a little Holiday merriment!

#4: Santa Claus is a Low Fat Raw Vegan?!

Any Tips?

Got any tips for staying raw and warm during the winter? I’d love to hear ‘em!

Leave a comment below or email me at swayze@fitonraw.com

Go raw, be fit, and stay warm,

Swayze

You know what that means, don’t you? It means that tomorrow is the release of my brand new e-book How to Conquer Your Cooked Food Cravings Once and for All!

But first, the Q & A:

Question #7

I find social situations difficult, as most of my friends do not know I have started eating a raw diet. How do I avoid giving in to the pressure to eat cooked food around friends? People seem to get offended if I don’t eat their cooking!

Answer

There are two different issues I would like to address here:

1. Handling cravings for cooked food and
2. Handling public pressure to eat cooked foods

Let’s start with the first one:

*Handling Cravings for Cooked Food*

This may seem like a tricky one, but there are two steps you can take to eradicate your cravings and make staying raw in social situations super easy.

First, eat fruit beforehand. If you are completely satisfied, you won’t have any problem saying no to even the most tempting treats.

Second, bring raw snacks with you.

And no, I don’t mean fatty, salty, dehydrated “raw” foods like kale chips and flax crackers. I mean healthy fresh fruit that is easy to carry, like grapes, bananas and dates.

If you have the urge to indulge in cooked food, simply eat some of your healthy raw snacks!

*Handling Public Pressure to Eat Cooked Food*

If your family, friends, etc. are pressuring you to eat cooked food, the best thing you can do is calmly explain that you prefer not to.

Don’t get upset, don’t get defensive, and certainly don’t argue.

Simply explain as briefly as possible that you prefer eating raw because it makes you feel better. Then move on to another topic.

If you present your diet as a non-issue, then others around you will treat it as such.

Go raw and be fit,

Swayze

P.S. Still have more cravings questions? Be sure to check out my brand new e-book How to Conquer Your Cooked Food Cravings Once and for All when it launches tomorrow morning. There’s an entire chapter dedicated to answering over 25 of your common cravings questions!

P.P.S. And don’t forget about the super sweet special I’m offering to celebrate the launch. I can only offer it to the first 15 people who purchase so keep your eyes and ears open!

P.P.P.S. You can find questions 1-6 at the links below:

http://tinyurl.com/2ejptsw

http://tinyurl.com/2eoyc9f

http://tinyurl.com/248tszk

http://tinyurl.com/245ugz2

http://tinyurl.com/23v7v9q

http://tinyurl.com/27xbw4l