My Story
HOW I FOUND MYSELF ON THE RAW ROAD
by SEQUOIA CHENEY
I find myself sitting here thinking about how grateful I am to be where I am right at this moment. I feel grounded, strong, healthy, vibrant and full of energy. I have to thank creator for making me choose health.
That has not always been the case. I was starting to believe that my days of being cute and attractive were over. I convinced myself that I had to accept being over weight, tired and old. That was what the rest of my life would look like. I was a grandmother and old people just don’t feel that good.
I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes about five years ago.
I think I was in shock and really didn’t understand how serious diabetes could be for the rest of my life. I did not even know what it really meant to be diabetic. I went through the diabetes education programs that my medical doctor recommended. I took my medication. I started to follow the dietary recommendations and realized that following these guidelines was not the answer. I was fooling my body and myself thinking I could eat just like everyone else, with a lot of packaged, preserved foods with lots of artificial sweeteners. This was not helping me cure my diabetes and or get to the core problem in my body. I decided to do my own research and started my own healing journey through diet and exercise and a spiritual practice. It has taken me five years of hard work, perseverance, and commitment, and many tears to heal myself.
As I said I started with the recommendations from the Diabetes Association of America. I also knew that loosing weight would also help tremendously with my blood sugar. I knew weight loss was essential. So I looked into and tried every single diet out there, the biggest looser, weight watchers, high protein, low fat, counting calories, carbs and fats. AM PM Fat loss program and I even went to a medical doctor for weight loss, gave me pills, shots and B12. None of those programs worked for me until I decided to carefully watch what I ate, exercised 3/4 times a week and checked my blood sugar before and after every meal to see how each food reacted in my body. Finally after many years I reached a good eating program that I was able to stop taking all my medication. I was eating very simply. Lots of Vegetables, Salad, 3 to 4 oz protein. The only grains I ate were Millet and Quinoa. Some beans, Good Fat olive oil, avocado, nuts. Special Bread from Julian Bakery “Mana Bread”. I did really well on this diet,I had lost a bunch of weight but I hit a plateau and I just was not losing even though I was eating perfectly and exercising. I just wanted to die, and I did shed a lot of tears. I couldn’t understand why my body was not responding. My husband Jack looked fabulous, was thin and doing exactly what I was even in larger amounts. Again I thought, well Sequoia you are just going to have to accept your body just the way it is…………. But I knew in my heart there was a way for me!
Well, Creator had a plan for me. I just love how he works in such mysterious ways. Before I knew it I was enrolled in a Raw Foods Chef program at the renowned “Living Light Culinary Institute” in Fort Bragg, California. A month prior I never imagined I would be a Chef, let alone a Raw Foods Chef. Although I have always loved to cook. I love to eat good food. I can not stick with anything if it does not taste good. Well, lo and behold I went to Ft. Bragg leaving my life behind to start this journey! Oh my god, it has been an answer to my prayers. My blood sugar is completely normal, and still without any medications.
I have learned to make the most wonderfully raw food. I never thought I would be eating lasagna, pizza,pasta,enchiladas, pies, cakes, soups, salads, quiche and so much more.
I still can not believe what I am eating. I can literally feel the energy of the food. You feel healthy and full of energy. You will not be as tired because your body won’t have to use all your energy to digest the food you eat.
When we think of raw foods as I said before. We think of carrots, celery. The actual meaning of Raw means in its natural state. So the food we are putting into our bodies when raw means they are still alive, filled with enzymes and nutrients. This food supports every aspect of our physical body.
Sometimes it is really scary to make changes to ones habits I know!. So if you have a feeling that eating this way would be good for you. Good for your physical health, mental health and spiritual health. Start off in baby steps.
If you just do a few simple things like:
- Have a smoothie in the morning
- Have a green drink
- Have a green salad before each meal
Just by doing those simple things you will be eating 50% RAW. I am so passionate about “Wonderfully Raw” foods that I can not wait to share what I have learned with you.
I am now a graduate of the “Living Light Culinary Institute Gourmet Chef/Teachers Program” and Jack is a certified teacher of ” The Science of Raw Foods” we will be offering a series of talks and un-cooking classes at Three Trees Retreat in Watsonville, CA.
We invite all of you to join us at Three Trees and get inspired and excited about all the healing possibilities that are here for you. You can change your health. You can create an environment in your body that dis-ease can not grow. You will be vibrant, healthy, and full of energy.
If you believe there is an answer there for you. We believe it too! So this is our new website. WONDERFULLY RAW at Three Trees. We will have articles on nutrition, raw food recipes, announcements of events and classes.
Please join us on this journey. It will be so much fun and so tasty too!