[Klara]

WonderlandAlli,

You're doing fantastic!!!!!!

Kitty,

I'm thrilled that you posted. I'm not that comfortable when it's just me responding to things, but guess I just love giving my opinion - I believe that's yang (someone older and experienced help me here) whereas being more quiet would be yin. And it makes sense (judging by how I eat)

yes, it's a lifelong PRACTICE, thank goodness, because it takes some people (ME!!!) that long to get it. For myself, it's also a spiral, slowly adding more and more mb foods, but still holding on (tho slightly less and less) to older habits, like eating something if it's in front of me (even tho it's so way not macro), or eating at night (a big no no, but I can't seem to let it go) - so part of me thinks, oh well, I don't see any differences as I'm not doing it right, and besides I didn't have any serious issues before anyway (was mostly vegetarian before) - but when I think about it, I can't hardly remember when was the last time I'd had a cold or even a headache or any other pains (I do always worry that when I say these things I'm inviting exactly that into my life, that maybe by saying those things I'm veering towards being arrogant - but I hope not).

And yes it was overwhelming at the beginning. I was most fortunate in that my beginning was by taking cooking classes - I wasn't really interested in the macro part, just looking for new recipes - but I got hooked, by the food, by the philosophy, by the healing stories - it was a series, I think of 10 classes, and each week she'd surprize us with some new taste sensations, but also with more info on foods not to be eaten on mb - and stuff I loved - and each time it was more of a shock - some I accepted, some took me longer - and now (after 12 + years of practising) I've gotten to a place where I can let go of feeling guilty (heavy guilt) and just say, ok, that wasn't the best thing to eat, let's go on - and let go of comparing myself to others - each person's journey has to be individual - there are some things that are recommended for everyone, but again each person in their own way - things such as having a good teacher (either for cooking, consultation, or both), having support (either again as a teacher, a group, or even just one good buddy, also for many who are isolated, the net is heaven sent for finding friends far away)(also the health food store is sometimes a good source for finding other people), and having good sources to keep on learning from. (books, videos, mb conferences, camps, cruises)

Jessica Porter is very human in her book (along with tremendously funny) so you can see how things can be difficult (ok, overwhelming), frustrating, downright absurd, yet she goes on and it's encouraging to see there is no straight road to success. I know it feels good when we see others are going through what we're going through, but the bottom line nobody else's experience will be exactly like yours.

If I had the ideal situation, highest on my list would be to live in a mb environment (like the study houses they had back in the early days) and learn by being an apprentice to a teacher. If I couldn't have that, then in whatever living situation I had (if I were alone, or in charge of the kitchen and others were supportive) have absolutely LOADS of mb foods on hand, especially at the beginning to have things that are the easiest yet the healthiest - shitake mushrooms, soba and udon, ready condiments (take a thrilling ride through the store on this site, lots of great stuff), and my favorite, all the different mochis - I'd get everything I could that's available dried (chestnuts, tofu, fruits, lotus seeds, etc) so I could just throw them in my food - I'd get great variety - but most important I'd have a HUGE refrigerator so nothing would get buggy and I wouldn't get frustrated finding food spoiling. I'd have constant supply of nori to munch on as I deliberate what to cook.

But if I weren't that ideal (with money and space) I'd get foods I LOVE and wouldn't save them (as I often do, and then find them buggy) and be better with my food planning, so I'd buy exactly what I need (are you organized??)

Well, those are my idealistic dreams. Now to reality, just enjoy whatever it is you're doing, know it's all a learning process, and as long as you don't give up, but just keep going, you can only get better and better at it!!!!!

Klara