Paradise Health In My Fifties
I didn’t know it was possible to feel this good.
I woke up not long ago thinking, “This is the craziest thing: I’m in my 50s and I feel sensational.” I knew it was what Arnold Ehret 100 years ago called “Paradise Health,” physically and emotionally.
I’ve been on a pretty good path for a long time. I spent the first thirty years of my life bingeing and dieting. I was always gaining or losing weight, and conversely losing and gaining a very flimsy self-esteem. I finally got so tired of that un-merry merry-go-round that I gave up the fight and was open to recovery from the inside out. I chronicle that experience, and how others can do it, too, in my book The Love-Powered Diet: Eating for Freedom, Health, and Joy.
Once I wasn’t eating for a fix anymore, I was able to move toward a plant-based diet, ending up at profound, committed veganism. Even though I did it, as Gandhi once said, “for the health of the chickens,” it was a pretty decent diet for my health, too. It was easy to stay thin and avoid the heart disease and diabetes that plague both sides of my family of origin.
But about a year-and-a-half ago, something started urging me to go raw. Not 100%. Not slavishly or fanatically (as a compulsive overeater with a daily reprieve, I don’t do well with fads and tangents). But my soul or my cells or something deep inside me pressed me to take this turn. I experimented with it for several months and enjoyed it. Then a late spring cold snap sent me back to the comfort of hot soup and creamy chai tea with soy milk. But later, the urge to return to raw came again, even more gently this time. I woke up one morning and didn’t want cooked food. And I didn’t the next day either. And it’s gone on like that for quite some time.
I’m still not 100% and I’m not signing any pledges. I like being able to have steamed veggies and brown rice with my daughter at her favorite Chinese place and, yes, there will be hot soup in my life this winter. But for days at a time I’m all raw, and on the days that I have something cooked, it’s just that, something, one thing—a baked potato, a Chinese entree—and for a week or two or longer, I’m all raw again.
The first thing I noticed after making the switch was how happy I felt. My default for contentment had gone up a few notches. People used to say, “How are you?” and I’d say, “Okay,” and that was accurate. I was perfectly okay. Now I’m more apt to say “Fabulous!” and mean that. The fog has lifted. Happiness came even before energy and strength and clarity, but those have come, too.
I eat juices and fruits and salads and raw “bread” and raw treats and smoothies and lots and lots (and lots) of greens: green juices, green salads, green smoothies, marinated greens. I don’t worry about fat. I use nuts and seeds in recipes and occasionally for eating; I have avocado three or four times a week; and I usually use salad dressing that has some olive or hemp oil in it. I know I’m not getting too much, because I feel balanced and nourished and never have that stuffed, too-much-fat feeling. Besides, after going raw, ten pounds left me that I never intended to lose. If some of it comes back, that’s okay.
I also don’t worry about sugar. I eat fresh fruit, and put bananas in smoothies, and make desserts with dates and a touch here and there of maple syrup or agave. I know I’m not getting too much of that either. Only one time, when I made grape-and-celery juice but the ratio was too much grape to too little celery, did I get the telltale sugar headache. Now I know. It’s all good.
Someone told me when I was first recovering from binge-eating: “You can’t do this with fear.” I feel the same way about raw.
Strangers comment on my skin, my “glow.” And people who want what I have are showing up, as clients in my holistic life and health coaching practice, and as friends. I have no desire to convert anybody, but when someone wants information, I’m thrilled to share it. I mean, why keep anybody out of paradise?
Victoria Moran is a holistic life and health coach with a practice in New York City and by phone around the world. She is a motivational speaker and the Oprah-featured author of ten books including the international bestseller Creating a Charmed Life, its new sequel Living a Charmed Life, weight loss classics Fit from Within and The Love-Powered Diet, and the popular daybook, Younger by the Day.
- Posted by Guest Blogger on October 8, 2009 at 8:27 am
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Tagged as: nutrition, Plant-based Diet, Raw Food, Spirituality, vegan
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what a fantastic article. I really enjoyed reading this!
What a perfect example of how our approach to food should be…. tuning in and listening to what your body needs! As we evolve along our journey, our food (energy) intake changes naturally without the struggle.
Thanks for this post! This week I decided to start eating more raw foods, this reminds me of all the right reasons why I made that choice!
Beautifully written. Full of peace. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for the post. It so beautifully chronicles what life has turned out to be for so many of us and just the mindset that we have while enjoy the garden of eden in our kitchen,garden and tummy. Life is good and nothing on earth beats knowing and feeling like you are doing the best thing for you body. Sleeping all night and waking with the sun raring to go. We are blessed. You wrote a wonderful blog. Callie
What a beautiful article. Just what I needed to read on day one of my 92 day juice feast.
thank you victoria! what a wonderful, inspiring post! i am jumping out (ok maybe actually using my keyboard) to buy some of your books!!
Amen sister, AMEN! you are on the same path I am on.. but I am mostly always raw.. still I do taste the vegan treats I make for the fam.. but mostly raw 99 percent and at 50 I feel freaking awesome!
Midlife does not have to be a crisis ladies!
love to all
deb
Victoria, you’re a rock star. I love your writing, your haircut, your zest for life and health, AND your lipstick color.
Thank you for this post! I am mostly vegan and experimenting with raw foods now. I too don’t like rules but want to feel great. I’m inspired
What a breath of fresh air….you are truly inspiring!
Well, yes, you look fantastic! (a little isabella rosselini with that adorable hairstyle) I’m loving your not “over-thinking, signing a raw pledge” approach. I plan to be high raw while not withdrawing from society (because hey, socialzing is healthy too.) Seeing you look fantastic at age 50 like you do, gives me so much more courage to go through with this lifestyle. You radiate!