Hi, I’m Jacob and I’ve been vegan for 15+ years. I went through a profound transformation while eating a raw vegan diet back in 2009.
My story about my Raw Vegan journey has been a very long time coming. I have finally taken the time to write it all down to share with you and others. I hope it’s helpful and makes a big impact to inspire people from all walks of life.
A lot of people struggle with weight, health and wellness…I know, because I was one of them.
Before My Journey
First, let’s take a look at where I was before my journey.
For about a year leading up to my transformation in 2009 there were some events that unfolded, before I even learned about raw vegan foods.
It was a difficult time in my life after going through a failed long term relationship and I was also facing health issues. I found myself going on a downward spiral leading to depression and poor health.
I had poor habits by eating junk food, fast food, and basically consumed a Standard American Diet (SAD).
I knew I had to make some changes, and I knew it would be good for me to focus on myself and my health.
Learning About The Raw Vegan Diet
I remember watching someone on YouTube mention about raw foods and how it made them feel amazing. I thought to myself…trying raw foods could maybe help me feel better.
In a very short period of time I did some research about the raw vegan diet and a week later I went on it. I transitioned into it almost overnight, as they say, “Cold Turkey”.
At my lowest point I was depressed and I wasn’t eating much food, maybe a few hundred calories a day, so I was able to channel that energy into a diet. After doing so my spirit began coming up.
How I Felt Eating Raw Vegan Foods
Shortly after I started to eat healthy, I felt amazing! I believe anyone can turn things around and feel the amazing benefits from raw vegan foods as I did.
The raw vegan diet transformed me and gave me a new life with quality, health, happiness and joy.
Research Before Trying A Raw Vegan Diet
Please note, all advice and information I share through Raw Vegan Advice, social media and other platforms I’m on is for informational purposes only. Please consult with your health care professional before trying anything I share.
I encourage others to do their own research as everyone is different, and the same methods that work for me may not work for you or others.
Believe me, I’ve discovered some things about myself along this journey that I never thought would impact me. For example, green Spirulina gives me a slight headache, I have a mild tongue reaction from fig skin that makes it uncomfortable for me to eat…and I love eating figs!
I cannot stress enough, do your own research and consult with your health care professional. It’s important!
The Raw Vegan Diet Is A Lifestyle
Other influencers online have made a lifestyle out this diet and have continued to live this way for many years.
I lived on a raw vegan diet and lifestyle for about two and a half years, and today I’ve been vegan since my journey began many years ago.
My Raw Vegan Story & Journey
Here is my raw vegan story…
On June 20th, 2009 I went on a raw vegan diet. But, before I went on the raw vegan diet, not only did I eat a poor diet I also occasionally smoked cigarettes and drank alcohol. I felt my health go into a decline. When I went raw vegan, I quit all of those habits too.
I went from a Standard American Diet straight into a vegan diet, but it was a step further because it was a raw vegan diet I ventured into.
At that time in my life I went through a bad breakup and was lost prior to my journey. Coming from a “rock bottom” type of situation it felt easy for me to change up my diet. Oddly enough, depression helped me to make the transition.
Here are some photos of me in March of 2009 when I was at my heaviest weight.
On June 20th 2009, day one of my journey I was 244lbs. I didn’t know much about raw vegan at the time, I had watched a YouTube video and all I knew was you eat fresh fruits, nuts, seeds, and vegetables and nothing is cooked.
Easy, right?
Well, it’s easy at the beginning until you get bored with fruits, vegetables, smoothies and salads.
I started off eating a lot of salad with 3 or 4 vegetables per salad meal, coarsely chopped and no dressing at all. I didn’t really know what I was doing I just knew it was healthy for me.
Within a few weeks I had already noticed some results from the diet, even my family and friends noticed a difference. My face and my legs began thinning, and my senses were improving for sight, smell and hearing. The changes were exciting and I wanted to keep up with the diet to see more results.
Lucky for me I was having fun reading blogs and watching more YouTube videos. I followed all the popular raw vegan foodies and influencers at that time such as, Dan McDonald the Life Regenerator, Angela Stokes & Matt Monarch from Raw Food World, Marcus Rothkranz, David Wolfe, and more.
I was learning new ways to make raw vegan foods fun and desirable to eat. My salads were becoming more creative with herbs and spices. I was making things like banana cacao smoothies and getting creative with nut butters. Kombucha was on an up rise and I even experimented with making my own kombucha.
Weigh In – 40lbs In 45 Days!
45 days in and I lost 40lbs, weighing in at 204lbs.
I had always enjoyed the outdoors but with this new weight I was becoming more adventurous and went on a few camping trips to try out my new body. I had loads of energy for hiking and I could do more activities.
Me at Yosemite, California…
Luckily, I tracked some weight-ins with dates. It was August 24th and 65 days in I was down 50lbs. In 117 days eating raw vegan I was down 75lbs. In 121 days, my weight went down 77lbs!
My Total Weight Loss
Generally, I would say to others that I lost about 80 lbs. in 4 months on a raw vegan diet. It changed the whole course of my life and was one of the best things I have ever done for myself!
Here’s a picture of me at my lowest weight, 167lbs.
A before and after photo with a total loss of about 80 lbs. in 4 months.
I lived in the suburbs of Los Angeles and the raw vegan community during that time was popular and growing. It was a really good area to live in to start on this journey, since much of the produce was local, available year around, and abundant.
Raw food restaurants were popping up everywhere. I attended several different raw vegan events. At one time I even volunteered at Longevity Now, a health and wellness event where I met David Wolfe.
The Longevity Now Event
Here’s a fun side story about Longevity Now…instead of paying to attend the event, which I couldn’t afford at the time, I was accepted as a volunteer to help with the event setup and was an assistant during the event.
Then, I found a nearby campground and tent camped for the weekend of the event. This option was a fraction of the cost rather than staying at the hotel where the it was held. This allowed me to afford experiencing this big and wonderful health and wellness event.
I met a lot of interesting people, industry leaders, other volunteers and attendees who were seeking a healthy lifestyle. It was a really great and fun experience!
This is me at Longevity Now with David Wolfe.
I learned a lot during this experience and throughout the years I’ve learned a lot about the raw vegan diet and lifestyle.
Raw Vegan Is A Mindset
My way of thinking about food began to change. When I was asked about how I could eat this way or live this lifestyle I had a response and a saying that went like this, “It’s more about what you don’t eat vs what you do eat”.
Instead of thinking about all the junky foods I used to eat, I replaced my thoughts about junk food with thoughts about new exciting foods I was learning about, whether it was a new super food or a new raw vegan recipe to try out.
I felt like I had more options for making meals on a raw vegan diet than on a Standard American Diet, as weird as that may sound.
There are a lot of options on a Standard American Diet with meats, cheeses and processed foods but, with raw vegan foods you really can get creative with it.
Imagine the plethora of fruits, tropical fruits, nuts and seeds, leafy greens, vegetables, and “superfoods” to choose from for making meals. I hope to share more of this creativity here on Raw Vegan Advice.
This is me at LA Raw Bazaar.
I once met Markus Rothkranz at La Raw Bazaar, and saw Dan McDonald there, too.
Embrace The Raw Vegan Diet
How did I discover the raw vegan diet and come to embrace it?
Since growing up on a Standard American Diet I didn’t learn about dieting until early 2000’s. At that time my mother went vegan for health purposes. I didn’t even know what vegan was, but I decided to go on a diet to support her decision.
I was about 200lbs and it was my first try at dieting. I didn’t go vegan though, all I did was I cut carbs and upped my meat intake. Similar to the Keto diet before Keto was even a thing!
After a few months I remember losing about 15lbs and I had stuck with the diet for about 3 months. I think it was easy for me at that time in my life because I was younger and I had a good metabolism for it, so the weight just melted off.
Almost a decade later I saw how well a vegan diet worked out for my mother and realized there was some potential there. The health benefits from it were apparent.
In the back of my mind I knew it was something I could benefit from, but I never tried the vegan diet until 2009. Everyone’s journey is different, mine certainly was!
My Spirit Felt Bliss & Enlightenment
After several months of being raw vegan I felt a sense of bliss and I wished everyone could feel what I felt. It was enlightenment. It was peace. It was abundance. And, it was love, plus more.
All 5 of my senses were elevated. My taste buds were improving and when I swam in the oceans of Southern California and in the rivers up in the mountains I could feel my body temperature regulate better than before.
Even my attitude improved. I became more giving and I shared my food with others. I would carry raw cacao beans with me everywhere I went and I would educate others about the benefits I felt from eating them. I’d share and give away my cacao beans so that others could experience the same benefits I felt.
Overall, I felt more spiritually alive being on a raw vegan diet.
During this time in my life it was colorful, blissful and after losing all of the weight I wanted to lose, I felt a sense of enlightenment and gratitude from eating raw vegan. My mind was clearer and I felt like I could take on the world.
Active & Adventurous
I began trying new activities and went on new adventures. I tried surfing by taking a lesson, I tried rock climbing, sailing, I went on road trips, camping trips, and overall, I traveled more.
I wanted to grow as a person and discover more about myself and what kind of potential I had in me.
In just only a few short months things started to come together in my life and I felt as if I was given a second chance in my youth. I felt like my energy and stamina was back to my teenager years again, and I was nearly 30 years old!
It was very exciting to feel younger again and I was amazed at how quickly my health turned around!
My Life Changed Forever
About one year later I met someone new through our interest in raw vegan foods; a new love interest in my life. She was also on a raw vegan diet, and she was on this diet and lifestyle longer than me when we met.
My career also started to come together and I continued to grow my skills and talents and I’ve done well with my work.
I believe eating raw vegan has dramatically helped me with having more focus, to have a clearer mind, and has helped me in all aspects of my life.
I don’t plan on going back to non-vegan, ever!
Throughout the years my diet has evolved as a vegan but I did learn a lot from the raw vegan diet experience.
If you find the raw vegan diet and lifestyle interesting, I encourage anyone to try it. Think of it as a lifestyle rather than a diet, I believe many can benefit from it.
Thank You For Reading My Story
I hope it was helpful for me to share my story with you. I would also like to provide some fun recipes of meals that I enjoy consuming.
Follow me, as I will be sharing more of my knowledge and diet experience through Raw Vegan Advice.
Thank you for reading!
~Jacob
Read next, “Step 1: How to Eat Raw Vegan“