Meet Lynda Roy

[Penni]

I was eating about 30% of calories from raw foods before I started the Raw Balance Initiative. I was eating a starch based cooked vegan diet for the past two years. Now it is about 90%, with the other 10% cooked or junk food eating is teaching me that my body prefers raw.

I've noticed that my digestion has improved greatly and my sensitivity to how food makes me feel has increased, which is now my guide to going deeper and trying new flavors. I am now crazy for Kale!

Overall health is better in the last 11 weeks. My body feels better inside and I am beginning to want to exercise. Physically I have become leaner, more energetic. I bought some nice belts because I finally get to tuck in my shirts after the 8 lb weight loss. My skin is looking healthier, so I wear a thinner coat of foundation.

Detox was more emotional than physical for me. I had to learn new coping skills when I didn't have my heavy comfort foods to turn to. Leadership video's helped with that. Susan's blog posts, friendship, and book studies taught me about a positive attitude and has helped me see life and others in a new fresh light! Priceless! My mental clarity has improved and I have a strong desire to cleanse and declutter my home, schedule, and thoughts.

I really found the Raw Balance recipes helpful, and will continue to use them. I depended on Dara's youtube videos, particularly the quick things to make from common ingredients that I can eat on the run. Romaine or kale boats with avocado and red onions plus any other sliced veggies are a favorite meal of mine now. The concept of mono meals, salads, or green juice as the  meal has been revolutionary to me.

I loved having a leadership team of video presentations! It took the pressure off of one person to meet all of our needs, and added layers of perspective and information. I felt like I was part of a group of  friends. I will continue to go back and get inspiration from all the videos while we have access to them through the end of March. They were intimate and valuable!

The support of the leadership videos and the online community worked together and were very helpful to me! An example of how the Raw Balance online community actually filled in for leadership was the mention of Flylady to help with decluttering our homes. That was fun!

I would love to see more programs continue at RFR! Raw Balance has been life-changing for me and I would love for the support to continue! I want to surround myself with like minded friends to enjoy life with. The positive people that embrace this lifestyle seem to radiate with love and energy.  I want to be part of that!

Just a little more about my story....

My journey from a SAD diet to High Raw was a 10 year process of discovery.  Dr. McDougall and Dr. Dean Ornish taught me that a low-fat vegan diet could prevent and reverse many diseases. My friend Maggie was diagnosed with cancer, so I set out to find the cure through reading hundreds of books on the subject, which taught me that the body has the ability to destroy cancer cells when working optimally. "The China Study" book gave me proof that a whole food, plant based, low-fat diet helped prevent diseases such as cancer.  Charlotte Gerson from the movie The Gerson Miracle shared evidence that a raw plant food diet, including lots of juicing and detoxing through coffee enema's can help the body overcome cancer.  The movie's Simply Raw, Food Inc., Food Matters, Forks Over Knives, and Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead all helped open my eyes to the power that our food choices have to transform our lives.

I then became a Food For Life Nutrition and Cooking Instructor for The Cancer project of PCRM, The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.  I am compelled to get the word out to people that there are food choices that can give them a healthier, happier, and perhaps longer life.

I saw Dara's interview with Joe Cross on his Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead website and she mentioned RFR, so I checked into it. I discovered a gold mine of information and support at RFR!  I saw the information on the upcoming Raw Balance Initiative and jumped right in! 

I am currently the only Raw Foodist I know of in my community, so the support of the hundreds of members on this journey with me has been wonderful!  I found my people!

My family and friends think that all I want to talk about is the benefits of raw foods and the new recipes I am enjoying, so I have to find Balance there. I see the ill health and obesity of people around me and wish I could inspire people to give raw food a try, without pressuring them.  I am often asked to pray for certain food related health issues, so I pray silently that they open their minds and hearts to the benefits of raw foods, to stop hurting themselves and give their bodies tools to heal.

I am planning to put together some Raw Food's preparation classes to teach at our town health food store, and shoot some youtube raw food prep demos, so that I have an avenue to share my excitement with those who are interested.

Thank you to Penni, Dara, Susan, Michelle K., Paul, Russell, Raw Brahs, Seth, and Debi, for being a wonderful Raw Balance Leadership Team!  You have made a powerful and positive impact in my life, and those I will pay it forward to. Bless you all!  You are loved and appreciated!

[Juliana Beasley]

Wonderful story. You are an inspiration as I begin my journey in to the land of Raw! Amazing how good clean raw food can open your mind and change not only your physical being, but also your spiritual, emotional and lifestyle choices. Wowwww!!!

[Vanessa Machelle Helm]

Hello, Lynda!!

First of all, Shoud you be giving God the praise because without him, you can do absolutely nothing! In fact, Parise the Father, the King, and the precious Holy Ghost for helping you change your life. He blessed you! Do you know that? ! I get more and more inspired by every story of dramatic life changes and weight loss every day! As a soon-to-be fitness trainer graduating from college, I am extremely proud of you! You made thatt commitment for God, your family, yourself, and your friends. Your family, friends, and peers are just as proud of you as I am. The bible says in Philippians 4:13; "I can do all things through Christ Jesus which strengthens me." He strengthened you after declaring that scripture in so many actions. Actions speak louder than words.  By the way, I would like to meet you! I'm Vanessa Helm! I got to make all the friends I can! To all those like you who made the commitment to get healthy: Way to go! Congratulations! You should be proud of yourself right now! May God continue to bless you! Just shout Halleluyah!

[Michelle K]

you are so beautiful!

[Kathleen Ruhl]

Lynda, you are such an inspiration. Thank you for sharing and for joining us here. We are so happy to have you with us.