FEEDBACK FROM A FEW OF MY CLIENTS
I hired Aleesha to coach my boyfriend and I through the beginning of our raw food journey. Aleesha doesn't live anywhere near us, but I trusted her expertise so much that I asked her to do phone coaching. She has always been readily available through e-mails, phone calls, blog comments… I could probably send a smoke signal and still get a reply! She really knows her stuff and completely personalizes everything she teaches you; she doesn't just tell you what "everyone else" likes, she helps you find things that YOU will like. She is friendly, outgoing, and very passionate about what she does, and all of that really shines through in her coaching sessions. I truthfully feel that Aleesha is the absolute best person I could have picked to teach us about the raw lifestyle.
Thanks, Aleesha!"
Haylee
Distant Raw Food Client 2009
Working with Aleesha is hands down one of the best investments I've made in my health. I know I would not have undergone the mental, emotional and physical transformation I did without her support. I came into this process thinking I would lose weight and be healthier - I had no idea the impact it would have on my way of thinking about food. I have truly shifted my thinking and gotten rid of ideas about food that no longer serve me. Aleesha was there for me literally every day with encouragement, feedback and experience from her own journey. She held a space of compassion and guided me in making choices that were both practical and healthful. There was never any pressure to be a certain percentage raw and even though I ultimately decided 100% raw is not right for me in this moment, I've made incredible progress in the way of being healthier and healing my relationship with food.
Desiree
Distant Raw Food Client 2009
Aleesha, I will, in the future hire your services again when I am ready to fast. You are well worth $100 and more.
A few things I wanted you to know:
- I now know I have gluten intolerance or Celiac disease. I would have never figured this out had it not been for reading your story and deciding I wanted to go raw.
- All of my GI complaints are gone. No indigestion, no food getting stuck in my esophagus, no diarrhea, no distended abdomen and rumbling stomach.
- I feel 100% better physically and mentally than I have in the last 4 years.
- I lost a total of 6 pounds but my inches really rearranged. I no longer get on the scale everyday.
- I did try some Jellybelly's but they do not appeal to me any longer!
- My youngest are twins - 21 years old. I found if I cut up fruit and vegetables and have them around and available they do eat them. Trying to teach them to eat better.
- I am hoping to go off my blood pressure medication, insulin resistance meds and possibly thyroid meds. I have them all cut in half right now. I will also let you know what my next triglyerides levels are. They were sky high at 400 my last test. I am positive they are down now. I believe my gluten problem really had my absorption messed up and I did not need so much of all this medication.
Thank you so much.
Judy
Distant Raw Food Client 2009
I chose Aleesha as my distant Raw Food Coach for twelve weeks (2 sessions of 6 weeks each). What a fabulous decision! Her knowledge of raw foods, understanding of the challenges of such a huge life change, and positive attitude were a perfect combination. She was willing to help out in anyway that she could, and whether it was by e-mail, phone, or forum postings her warmth and passion to assist was evident. It was a great help to be given information and guidance, yet be able to create my own path with raw foods, and if you simply need to talk to someone, who doesn't think you're crazy for turning to raw foods, she'll be there for that too! I can't even imagine how much fun it would be to work with her in person!!!
Thanks Aleesha!
Leah
Distant Raw Food Client 2009
For anyone who can use some assistance in attaining a healthier, long-term diet, I strongly encourage you to contact Aleesha. She is the perfect mentor - incredibly knowledgeable and available as much or as little as you need her.
I consider Aleesha to be more of a life coach rather than a simple raw food guru. She goes far beyond assisting in meal/recipe planning (which she certainly does flawlessly) and focuses on guiding you through the process of reaching your goals. She has a no 'guilt police' which on the surface seems a bit hard to grasp but when you really think about it, everything we experience good and bad is a learning experience. As Aleesha wisely pointed out, focusing our energy on poor food choices we make does not help us reach our goals. Her easygoing personality makes her incredibly approachable and she has the benefit of her personal success story, which is truly inspirational. The only thing I find slightly unsettling are Aleesha's low prices. For less than two hundred dollars, you have the opportunity to talk with her on two separate occasions and unlimited email access for 6 weeks. Other folks charge more for a single appointment. However, I have a sneaking suspicion she is not in it for the money and purposely keeps her prices low to make her message available to folks from all walks of life.
Again, I give Aleesha my highest endorsement and strongly encourage anyone who needs some guidance to hire Aleesha as his or her personal guide to a better life! I did and couldn't be happier!
Carla
Distant Raw Food Client in 2009, 2010 and 2011
Having Aleesha walk me through my juice fast was the best!!
Initially we talked for a couple hours about the "hows" and "whys" regarding a proper juice fast/feast. It really opened up my eyes to things I hadn't thought about in the past. She was virtually with me every step of the way! I had access to unlimited emails - answered in a very timely fashion. She also offered additional phone conversations when needed… which came into play on Day 3… I was ready to stuff my face after a stressful day at work… she phoned me and we talked. I felt calm and strong after our conversation. I continued my fast for another 7 days - for a total of a 10 day Juice fast!! That is the longest I have ever gone.
After my fast was coming to completion - we had another phone conversation in which she made a guideline of how to properly break my fast. It worked flawlessly!
I know with the knowledge Aleesha has given me that I will continue to fast throughout my journey and if I need help she will be there to assist me. I am very grateful to her. :)
Heather M
Oshkosh, WI
USA
Distant Fasting and Raw Food Client 2010
"I had been looking for a raw food coach for four months when I came across Aleesha at the 'Raw Food Talk' website. I read many of her posts and articles. I immediately felt drawn to her energy and spirit. I ordered a six week session and was amazed at the connection we had. It was like connecting to your favourite teacher: no judgement or sermons, just warmth and encouragement. Aleesha's limitless thirst for knowledge, which is freely shared, and open heart, makes her an ideal coach and mentor. I ordered a second session and will be ordering a third. Aleesha always provides timely answers and suggestions that fit exactly into my lifestyle - no hurdle is beyond her repertoire. I highly recommend Aleesha, your body will thank you."
Virginia S.
Distant Fasting and Raw Food Client 2010
"I tried to eat raw foods on my own. I tried to fast. I couldn't seem to stick with it. Then I found Aleesha and hired her for 12 weeks.
With her support and suggestions I found a way to incorporate raw into my daily diet in an easy and very tasty way. Now I'm high raw, slimmer and healthier. If you want to make a change and can't seem to do it alone, hire Aleesha. I'm so glad I did."
Carol
Distant Raw Food Client 2011
"Fasting is more fun when you have a good support system. Aleesha is that for me and more. She's got so much experience that anything I experienced she had knowledge of. I loved that!
If you are looking to fast, you don't have to do it alone. Hire Aleesha!"
Kim
Distant Fasting Client 2011
"I was very sick and needed to find a way to regain my health without taking medications to mask the symptoms. A friend told me about Aleesha and so I hired her for six weeks. When that set was over I hired her for another six weeks. I know I'll be hiring her again. She has so much knowledge and is so supporting. Thank you Aleesha."
Petra
Distant Raw Food Client 2011
There is something to be said for living with your raw food coach. While I still eat cooked food, my intake of raw foods and my overall level of healthy eating has increased dramatically. In the 5 months we've lived together, I have shed 15 pounds and have gone from a large 36-inch waist (with serous thoughts of buying 38-sized pants) to a 34-inch waist - and the waist continues to come off in a slow, even, healthy rate. Green smoothies have become a standard breakfast item and delicious salads have become much more common as a part of dinner, sometimes even being the main course. I look better, feel better, and all without dieting or eating food without taste or body. She knows her stuff when it comes to getting a primarily meat eater (formerly me) to becoming much more of a vegetarian (currently me). I can't recommend her advice enough.
Parzival Sattva
In-house Raw Food Client 2011
I was interviewed by Matthew Burrows, a writer for the Georgia Straight [newspaper in Vancouver, BC. Canada]. Enjoy!
For foodies, uncooked is the right raw deal
Advocates say ditching animal fats and processed foods makes them feel better and lose weight.
By Matthew Burrows, October 21, 2010
Diet coach Aleesha Stephenson (now Aleesha Sattva) lost 168 pounds switching to raw foods.
Healthy Living
Aleesha Stephenson jokes that she used to be the only "raw foodie" in Agassiz, a place that's known better for lying somewhere between Hope and Mission than for its food activism.
Her raw vegan diet is a bit of a local anomaly, but the 47-year-old raw-food and fasting coach tells the Georgia Straight in a phone interview that she is always willing to help, at a minimal cost, those who are curious about the health benefits of such a regime.
Stephenson says her story began in 2007, when she weighed 300 pounds and decided she had to do something.
"I was so sick," she says. "Getting off the couch to go to the bathroom was too much of an effort for me. A friend suggested that I [juice] fast for 10 days and that maybe that would help. And I felt fabulous. Then I went back to eating and felt like crap."
It was at this point, she says, that the epiphany came: stick with raw food and ditch the Standard American Diet (SAD) for good.
"It is interesting how many people eat raw foods and then they eat a Standard American Diet meal [high in processed foods and animal fats; low in plant-based foods and fibre] and they get really depressed afterwards," Stephenson said. "SAD food makes you sad."
Raw food is beneficial, she explains, because its living enzymes are intact, not having been exposed to high cooking temperatures. Hence, the raw food retains its full nutritional potency, and "your food digests itself". She says your body can then use the energy saved from digestion to heal itself. Stephenson's current weight of 132 pounds is a physical manifestation of her success.
"Juice fasting, such as I do, is very empowering," Stephenson adds. "Making it through Thanksgiving dinner this yearcooking for my family all day long, and serving the food and sitting at the table with themI was water fasting. So I sat with my glass of water and watched them all eat."
Mere mortals who are not there yet may go through "mourning" when they leave SAD comforts, but Stephenson insists that raw-food based repasts can replicate and even better SAD meals.
"We make cookies, we make cakes, we make everything," she says. "We have yummy food. We do. Where else can you eat [avocado-cacao] cheesecake for breakfast and still lose weight?"
Folks in Agassiz who thought her a bit odd now take notice, she says.
"First they said I was crazy, then they started asking questions like, 'Aleesha, what can I do?' "
Effervescent 62-year-old yoga instructor Clive Langton told the Straight that he credits both his yoga practice and raw-food diet for his good health. Langton is a director with the Raw Food Society of B.C. The group's website, contains a raft of information and advice on what to do to get involved with the raw-food movement.
Langton estimates that the amount of people in Metro Vancouverand Agassizcurrently eating raw food numbers "in the thousands" and is increasing.
"I want to qualify that statement," Langton says. "If you look at our [Raw B.C.] mission statement, it's not about people swearing an oath, doomed to die if they ever have a morsel of cooked food in their mouth. It's moving in the direction of eating more fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts. There are a lot of people realizing that they want to eat more simple on the food chain, more healthily."
This is partly why Stephenson is now a coach, as she wants others to benefit from her own discipline and willpower. The message must be resonating, as she says she has clients all across North America, and even as far away as Morocco. Langton, for his part, says that Raw B.C. is upgrading its website and is hearing from other raw-food groups worldwide that are inspired by what it is doing to get society on a raw footing.
"When you go to a restaurant, you get a pile of rice or you get noodles or you get potatoes or french fries, and it's all just filler," Langton says, by way of a parting shot at SAD. "You don't want to be eating that if you had a choice, really, because it's not nutrition. It's sludge that's just going to fill up those cells and make your body feel more tired and exhausted and craving more food because you're not getting fed, really."
Langton then adds, diplomatically: "I don't want to put you off your lunch."
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*Aleesha Sattva was formerly Aleesha Stephenson*
