To keep all of you inspired while we are away, we’ve asked some
remarkable individuals to share their raw food stories with you. Enjoy!

Hello all, I would like to thank Wendi and Jim for inviting me to tell the story of my raw food journey. Our paths are so different in this journey and yet our destination seems to be the same – wellness, vitality, and longevity. I think it is so interesting to hear about the different journeys we have individually and I am honored to share mine with all the wonderful readers of this blog. My name is Tina and I thought I would first tell you a few brief things about me. So, here we go…

I am an accomplished life-lover and mommy – yes, a five year old gives one such a great perspective on life! I still do not know what I want to be when I grow up – any guidance is always appreciated in this area of my life. I love to entertain, have fun, visit the islands (I am convinced I had a previous life there!) and be silly as much as possible. I truly believe life is all about passion – in everything. I love to strength train – it makes me feel strong and empowered. I love the living foods lifestyle.

So, how did I get to this place of living/raw foods? Let’s start with some background:

I grew up eating the extremely Standard American Diet (SAD) lifestyle – fast foods (you name it, I ate it), Hamburger Helper, cube steak (what is that?), fried chicken, junk foods, candy (I was the bubble gum queen), lots and lots of sugar, and well, you get the picture. Now, don’t get me wrong, I was pretty active and would have been considered overall normal and healthy to those around me with regard to my eating habits and my energy level. How deceitful eating SAD can be!

As an adult, many of those same SAD habits continued but with added “luxuries” such as filet mignon, fancy cocktails, and gigantic chicken salads. I did learn that I was gluten-intolerant so I had to remove a lot of the SAD items I adored like wheat pasta, breads and cereals. Again, to those around me I was considered to be active, even health conscious since I enjoyed working out, eating salads (not the kind I eat now, mind you), had discipline with no gluten products, and was active. But, my idea of a great dinner was a 2-inch thick filet, a baked potato with butter, and peppers sautéed in lots of olive oil– at least 2-3 times a week! Yes, I would often incorporate a salad, but they were still a SAD salad with cheese and processed dressings on top. And rum drinks? Forget it…I adored coconut rum and diet cola. Enough said.

Then, in March 2007, I heard the word that we all seem to fear so much – cancer. “I’m sorry, Tina. You have breast cancer.” What?! Me? There is no way! The words were numbing. Something was screaming in my ears and yet the room was quite calm. Thus began my transformation.

After many late nights cramming my brain with research, statistics, methods, and beliefs I immediately went organic. Within a month of my surgery, I went vegetarian. By mid-summer, I went vegan. I did not do chemo or radiation and chose not to take the 5 year medication recommended (why would I take a drug that has a side-effect of cancer?). I found Hippocrates words, “Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food” inspiring and made it my credo. I knew I was on the right path to wellness – not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, and spirituality.

Then in September 2007, another significant and measurable turning point occurred as I watched Kris Carr’s TLC documentary, Crazy, Sexy Cancer, and then met Kris at her very first book signing a few days later. I watched her glowing, smiling, sincere-self gush life and vibrancy. She is an inspiration to living life to its fullest and I immediately connected. I asked what one book would she recommend and, although she had many favorites, she said Natalia Rose’s book, The Raw Food Detox Diet. I bought it right then and there. That very night I came to another fork in the path of wellness and nutrition – raw, living food. I embarked on the raw food path and I continue to explore the riches provided by this journey, and what a ride it has been!

So here I am…my life has changed dramatically since my breast cancer diagnosis in March 2007 – for the better! I am now an active raw foodist, I belong to several forums and meetup groups, I use my VitaMix daily, I finally purchased my own Excalibur dehydrator, and I adore raw food cookbooks! I exercise regularly and continue to move to a greener lifestyle day by day. I feel so alive! I love to inspire others, so in addition to my personal blog about my cancer journey at tinainthepink.blogspot.com, I am launching a new site, Positively In The Raw soon at www.positivelyintheraw.com, that will include lots of wellness, raw, and lifestyle tidbits, along with links to resources and blogs like this! Just like Wendi and Jim, I find such joy and have such passion for sharing my experience and inspiring others to continue to seek wellness and all the wonderful things life has to offer. I look forward to walking alongside you on the path of wellness.

To learn more about, and connect with, Tina Pruitt Campbell, check out:

• Her story featured in the Fall 2007 issue of “Breast Cancer Wellness” magazine
• Her blog “Tina In the Pink”
• Her new site (coming soon at www.positivelyintheraw.com)
• She’s an Ambassador on the Crazy Sexy Life Forum at my.crazysexylife.com
• She’s on Twitter!
• She’s on Give It To Me Raw
• She’s also listed under her name on Facebook.

Additionally, Tina is currently pursuing her Raw Professional / Raw Food Coach credentials.

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