I need to stop the cycle of sugar binging - any ideas

[squidly]

I have been on this raw path for a year now and I just 'can't' (which I realise fofr some reason is because I chose not to) get to where I want to be - that is all raw or at least 80% with no junk food. I am great at having fruit till lunch, salad for lunch and then every day all I think about is chocoalte until I go and buy it - and binge EVERY day.. I then have a good dinner all or mostly raw but then binge at night on chips, chocolate anything.

I want to stop myself especially as I am trying to fall pregnant with my second. I am tired of the struggle and wish I was one of hte lucky ones who does not think about foor 24 / 7.

Just eat raw you say and so do I. I promise myself no more - the last supper as I read in one thread and I really mean it at the time but tomorrow then repeats today.

PLEASE HELP ME STOP THIS CYCLE of sugar binging -I know much of the theory behind positive thinking, visualisastion etc - I know about the seaseme milk but I feel this is psychological as sometimes I don't even want the food yet still binge on it and constantly think about it............. so why can't (or won't) I JUST DO IT!

Any ideas

[Indi]

squidly,
I am new to raw, so am not speaking with huge experience, just want to share what happened to me.

I had problems with cravings until I stopped all cooked food.
After about four or five difficult days, the cravings went and have not returned.

That was 30 days ago today!
It feels like I have been set free!
It has worked for me that all I can say
Hope this helps :)

[dreamrawalwz]

I agree. Some can go 90-95% raw and some cooked with no problems, but others can't even have one bite of cooked or it all goes out the window. I know I'm the latter one. Try an experiment and go 100% for a week and see waht happens, or try the 30 day challenge! :)

[Conscious Midwife]

I've been where you are. I'm trying to manage my cravings with prayer and fasting. Best wishes to you on your journey

[rawfigure]

See my post in the Hypoglycemia Post today.

Sugar binging is usually due to fluctuating Sugar levels called REACTIVE hypoglycemia.

[fiddler]

According to some of the raw food leaders, if you're craving sugar, then perhaps eating more sweet fruit can eliminate your cravings. Also, spices such as garlic and onions, etc can trigger desires for sweets so you might try to avoid those as well.

Aside from the above, cravings can also be emotionally triggered. It seems alot of people eat to suppress emotions (i.e. depression, loneliness, stress, happiness, frustration, anger, etc...).

Exercise can be a good deterrent. If you find yourself craving chocolate, try running or some other intense aerobic workout and see how you feel afterwards...

[RawMagnolia]

Squidly... those shoes that you wear... I think I have the same pair :rolleyes:

I'm also very new to raw... although I've known about it since I was in highschool. I completely understand and know *very* well the frustration you are going thru. I put a post on yesterday asking for help/advice with this very same problem. And luckily I had a responce from a very giving and sincere person who has offered to be my raw buddy. So we will be emailing each other to talk about raw... our struggles, and our successes and to find out about each other a bit more. I think that this will help me a *lot*. As I'm the type of person who does better with feedback... and someone to talk to who understands. Not sure if you'd be interested, but if you'd like we can email each other in the same respect. Kinda be responsible to each other. Like as in, *I* will choose *not* to partake of junk food today if you do so as well. I don't know... kinda like AA for junk food aholics.

Besides that, I have the same problem... like I wrote in my post below... I can have a thought like "hmmm... some cheese/bread/meat (those types of non-raw foods) would be nice right now", and choose not to partake, and the thought goes away. But when it comes to junk foods... chocolate... chips etc. the thought will *not* go away. I just keep thinking about it, and craving it, and thinking about it, and craving it, and... well you get the idea. So then I just go to the store, buy it, eat it, and then it's never enough (I eat way past yummy to yucky) but at least the thought goes away for a few hours. So I *really* do understand. As it is right now... I have some junk food in my desk drawers at work. *not* the brightest idea... but I always seem to buy extra *knowing* that I will need/want it. And as I result I keeping *thinking* about it in my desk.

I really thought that if I'd eat mostly raw that I would be getting the nutrition that I'd need, and I would stop craving the junk... but it hasn't happened yet.... however I am really new to this as well. Perhaps I'll have to try Indy's approach... but I just don't feel ready yet.

What I have decided recently is that there are certain foods that I find very calming/peacefull. For me those are, cantelopes and cucumbers. So I went out and bought several cucumbers (and will buy cantelopes when the price comes down to reasonable again). And I plan on eating a lot of them for right now... while my intuition is telling me that they are what I need. Also, on the weekend I had a juice of celery and apples, on the advice of Miss Linda (even if she meant to have them blended, not juiced), and for a few moments I felt completely satisfied, and happy. So I think I'll try juicing some more celery and apples, and perhaps some green leafies as well. I'm trying my best to listen to my body, and give it what it wants, and not force it into things it doesn't seem to want right now. At first when I started upping my raw I was nuts for oranges and pineapple... and now I don't really even want to think about them. So I'm going to lay off them for awhile once they are gone.

I'm just sharing my thoughts about how I'm going to try to deal with these cravings... but if do end up wanting to be raw email buddies then who knows... perhaps we can work our way up to a habbit, of *not* partaking of the junk foods.

Peace and good thoughts to you!
Sandra

[greenfeline]

What about making some raw chocolate goodies! They are better than the processed, milk-laden "traditional" store chocolate. There are recipes in alissa's book for several delicious ones and on this board too. Trust me I love chocolate! I have made chocolate pudding, fudge, ice cream, all delicious and nourishing.

[ljannise]

cleanse, cleanse, cleanse

If you do a cleanse it will be so much easier to mentally say No to all those things. (esp for the cheese aholics)

Learn about sugar & glucose & be nicer to your body when you're coming down in the evenings.

[mommamia]

A couple things that really help me are already listed, but I wanted to reiterate:

Make yourself some raw treats. The coconut haystacks do it for me! It used to be lara bars (now I make my own)

Going more than 80% raw would help. Not easy, but it helps a lot. After those first couple days it gets better.

I can not stress enough that green juice! Drink tons adn you will experience less cravings.

I am amazed at how some foods are ingrained in my way of life. I never realized it before. I go shopping: I have to stop at Starbucks. I may not desire it, I may not even be hungry/thirsty but I HAVE to do it. I am compelled. I go grocery shopping and I get a certain 'treat' every time I shop there. Habit habit, habit. Which, to me, is basically comfort, comfort and reward! So maybe think about that a bit and try to pinpoint why you are craving.

I wish you well! You can do it, really!!

[misslinda]

I have been on this raw path for a year now and I just 'can't' (which I realise fofr some reason is because I chose not to) get to where I want to be - that is all raw or at least 80% with no junk food. I am great at having fruit till lunch, salad for lunch and then every day all I think about is chocoalte until I go and buy it - and binge EVERY day.. I then have a good dinner all or mostly raw but then binge at night on chips, chocolate anything.



PLEASE HELP ME STOP THIS CYCLE of sugar binging -I know much of the theory behind positive thinking, visualisastion etc - I know about the seaseme milk but I feel this is psychological as sometimes I don't even want the food yet still binge on it and constantly think about it............. so why can't (or won't) I JUST DO IT!

Any ideas



I bolded the statment you made that struck me....can you expand on this? What lead you to raw? Do you have a history of dieting? Do you nervous energy thru out the day? Fidget or shake you knee when sitting?

:)

[wyjoz]

I was reading this today. I remember Victoria stating that if you're hungry all the time you're missing something. If you have cravings a lot:? It's hard to say without going into more details as to what you're missing. There is a fine line of balancing nutrients, minerals, enzymes, etc.

" IF A SINGLE NUTRIENT IS MISSING AND ONE PROCESS SLOWS DOWN OR SHUTS DOWN, THEN ALL FOLLOWING PROCESSES EITHER DEGRADE, MUTATE OR NEVER OCCUR" For example, you can eat great food and if your digestion is impaired then all your great food may never get digested and many of all nutrients be lost, resulting in constant hunger, over eating, rapid weight gain and inability to loose weight. David Favor radicalhealth.com

then in an interview Gabriel Causens explains how all the minerals need other minerals to work properly. read his interview here; http://fashiontribes.typepad.com/main/2005/06/untitled_podcas_5.html

THIS IS JUST A PART ON MINERALS;

according to Cousens, nutrients are energy – particles of light, of which most of us are severely deficient. “The more minerals we have – and there’s up to 92 minerals – the more frequencies of light, frequencies of probability, frequencies of consciousness we have that kind of open us up to receive the divine.” In receiving the divine, we express our true nature, or inner beauty. “There’s an alchemical transformation from what we call a gross body and mind into a subtle body and mind that literally radiates the light of who we always have been, explains Cousens. “Literally, your body becomes so tuned in with the cosmos that it radiates the light of the cosmos. That’s the real beauty, because it’s the inner beauty. The inner beauty is really what people go for. When a man’s interested in a woman, he sees her as a rainbow radiance of the divine; he’s seeing that, and he may convert it to a sexual thing in his mind, but truly, it’s the radiance she gives off. That’s the light that’s really so attractive to people.”
MINERAL DEFICIENCIES
One of the primary ways to express this radiance is by bringing light into our diets by having sufficent amounts of minerals. ”Minerals are frequencies of Light, frequencies of information, and frequencies of creation for the material world in the universe in which we live.” Not only is the earth – and our bodies – comprised of minerals, but they “activate all the catalysts for enzymatic reactions in the body.” They also activate all the viatimes, organs and cellular structures. “Minerals are the builders of the system.”

By eating highly mineralized food, we are able to build up our stores of minerals and enzymes; a lack of enzymes is one of the primary ways to not only compromise your immune system, but to age – quickly – as well. To absorb minerals, they need to be tiny or what scientists refer to as “angstrom” sized. Plants break minerals into angstrom-sized minerals, giving you yet another good reason to eat your five-a-day. “High minerals that really contribute to all our tissues being fully activated, and there’s a certain – literally – radiance that comes from a person that is highly mineralized. That’s where you get the beauty.”

THE MINERALS HIT LIST:
The right minerals contribute not only to your looks, but to an overall sense of well being and vitality. By eating a wide variety of raw veggies, fruit, and plenty of leafy greens, you can get most of the minerals you need. An interesting characteristic of minerals is that many of them are only activated by other vitamins and minerals – they work in concert in “synergistic patterns” – so rather than individual components, it’s best to think of them as interdependent parts of an overall eco-system.

Dr. Gabriel Cousens’s Essential Beauty Minerals Shortlist:

PHOSPHORUS: for mind and mental radiance. When you think, you burn up phosphorus, so stock up! It is activated by calcium & silicon. Sources: Lecithin, bee pollin, nuts. Note: people who drink a lot of carbonate sodas can get an excess, causing excessive excitability and lack of concentration and willpower.
SULPHUR: excellent for skin & all the connective tissues; connects body & soul
MANGANESE: opens up the heart energy; elasticity, ligaments and muscles. Deficiencies have been linked to Down’s Syndrome, and associated with nastiness and sadistic personality traits – and is remedied by also increasing silicon, chlorine, sodium, potassium, iron, and magnesium.
SODIUM: helps maintain flexibility and being limber. Deficiencies are associated with poor intellectual ability; waking up betwee 1-5 am, and frequent violent dreams involving mayhem, distruction, snakes, floods, disasters and deaths. Best source: Real Salt or Himalayan salt
CHLORINE: the body’s cleanser, especially the liver and lymph. Vegan diets “wash” it out of the system, so to replenish, try Celtic sea salt, Himalayan salt or RealSalt. Note: this is not the type of chlorine added to the water, which is linked to skin disorders like acne and eczema, and possible bladder & colon cancer, as well as heart disease. One study even found that green and black tea reacted to chlorinated tap water to form carcingenic compounds. Also, the skin can absorb 6-100 times more chlorine than by drinking it, so if your shower water is contains chlorine, install a low-cost chlorine shower filter.
SILICA: a natural, complex form of silicon, it keeps tissues elastic, ligaments strong, and skin tone radiant. Works with iodine and sodium to regulate how calcium is used – as long as the ratio of silicon to calcium remains high, it results in looking youthful. A good source: Nature’s First Law bamboo sap. Also good – flax seeds and nuts.
SULPHUR: important for the skin, hair & nails. Considered by some to be the “foundation mineral of all beauty.” Is activated by vitamin C. A great source: MSM (You’re My Everything from SimplyDivineBotanicals.com is great).
IRON: works with oxygen to create vitality; keeps the immune system strong. According to David Wolfe, almost 60% of meat eaters are iron-deficient. Because vitamin C dramatically enhances iron absorption, vegetarians tend to be less iron deficient than carnivores. The best source: chlorophyll from a raw green juice (some mad science about juice – as opposed to solid food – being held in the duodenum long enough for the iron to be absorbed.)
OXYGEN: which is very important for radiance, strengthens everything, and is anti-aging. Deficiencies are associated with cancer. Do deep breathing exercises – as in yoga asana practice. Also, eating high iron foods such as watery fruits and veggies, and liquid chlorophyll (those live green juices again!).
FLUORINE: good for the bones; when it combines with calcium, it creates calcium fluoride, a “longevity compound.” Found primarily in raw fruits & veggies. However, the minute it’s exposed to heat, it becomes unstable & is destroyed. Note: Fluorine is not the same as the sodium fluoride – a poisonous by-produce of aluminium production – that is misguidedly added to public drinking water to “protect teeth” but actually kills more people from cancer than any other chemical. No acceptable double-blind studies have ever linked it to healthy teeth; in fact, it was first used by the Nazis in the camps to sterilize, control and harm the prisoners. It is a primary ingredient in both Prozac and sarin nerve gas.


Also Mandatory for Primo Health:

CALCIUM: for good teeth and healthy bone metabolism. Note: combine with foods high in sodium & chlorine. Diary products & table salt can actually lead to calcium loss in the body – yes, milk & yogurt do the opposite of what’s advertised. Instead, opt for leafy greens, seeds, nuts, sesame seeds and dulse.
CARBON: creates cell growth
HYDROGEN: as the hydrating mineral, it carries nutrients into the cells. Good sources: juicy fruits and veggies like berries, cherries, watermelon, tomatoes, cabbage & raw veggie juice.
IODINE: controls calcium and cell metabolism & prevents goiters. Helps prevent cataracts by keeping the calcium from being “pulled out.” In addition to fresh fruits and veggies, dulse is a great source.
MAGNESIUM: keeps you relaxed & is nature’s laxative. Combined with calcium, it is anti-aging and creates healthy bones, teeth & tissues: with vitamin B6, it helps combat menstrual problems.
NITROGEN: exists in a delicate balance with oxygen, and combines additionally with hydrogen & carbon to create strong vital organs. Excesses – usually resulting from meat-eating – can lead to absent-mindedness and lethargy. Deficiencies can create fatigue to the point of laziness & lack of sexual energy. Nuts, spirulina and algae are great sources.
POTASSIUM: Creates well-being. Works with sodium to enable the body to utilize hydrogen and oxygen. Avoid common table salt as it throws off the balance of potassium & sodium. Bitter greens and watercress contain tons of it.
ZINC: healthy skin & rebuilding of collagen; works with vitamin A and sulfur to create strong hair. Also associated with sexual vitality and development, as well as the immune system. Possibly the most important anti-oxidant & impacts over 300 enzymes & enzymatic reactions. Good sources: seeds, coconut, and some nuts.
COBALT: Part of the B12 complex.
COPPER: protects against parasite infections. Found in leafy greens and almonds.
GERMANIUM: increases oxygen intake in the body and helps it detox. Found in leafy green veggies.
SELENIUM: Works with Vitamin E to improve immunity and protect against heart disease & cancer. Deficiencies associated with Parkinson’s disease, high blood pressure, infertility and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Most of the soil has long been depleted of selenium, so the best sources are bee pollen from Nebraska and South Dakota, Himalayan Salt, some vegetables, and angstrom-sized supplements.
MOLYBDENUM: activates Vitamin C in foods; fights cancer & promotes healthy cell function. As it’s not available in most foods, the best source is a angstrom-sized supplement.
VANADIUM: regulates blood sugar & helps fight Type II diabetes.
BORON: Enables the body to assimilate calcium & magnesium, making it vital for strong bones, and facilitates the functioning of vitamin D. May help prevent prostate cancer. Found in nuts, avocados, non-citrus fruits (apples, pears, plums, grapes).
CHROMIUM: works with vanadium to regulate blood sugar & combat Type II diabetes.
VITAMIN B12: Important for vegans, whose diet creates “analogs” which block and nullify the vitamin when it’s ingested from vegan sources like the blue-green algaes. Cousens recommends a living B12 supplement (they have one extracted from yeast, available at http://www.treeoflife.nu/).

[beelzebubble]

craving chocolate can be a sign of magnesium deficiency. try eating more magnesium rich foods and see if that helps.

there is also this...night eating syndrome. take a look at this page and see if you fit that profile.

http://www.anred.com/nes.html

[Rawmommie]

Lots of good ideas here. FUDGE BALLS!! DATE NUT TORTE!!! RAW CHEESECAKE! I'm going to second the motion to make some raw treats and eat til your hearts content at night when those cravings hit. Do you have Alissa's book or any raw cookbooks?

Once you make it about a week and avoid SAD, things usually get much better in the cravings department. Eat some yummy raw stuff until they go away! :)

[JinxieKat]

Squidly,
I'd like to recomend a book to you that helped me out quite a bit when it came to the emotional side of eating. You have to be prepared to be very honest with yourself, as it is the only way it will work. The book is very loving, but also very blunt, it will get you on the right track if your strugling with emotional eating like I did and still do from time to time. It is so much better now! The book is called 'Body Clutter' and you can find it on www.flylady.net. It is a very thought provoking discourse on the journey two woman made to get rid of their 'body clutter'. It promotes healthy eating, but I don't remember it being tailored to any one type of eating at all. It focuses on the emotional causes of overeating.
I too would like to invite you to be email buddies! (Thanks Sandra, you made my day! :D) My email is in my profile so just drop me a line. If you want more info about that book just ask me there as well. I'll be happy to give you a rough outline so you can see if it is good for you.

Jinx

[solar powered]

studies have shown that people's sugar naturally drops off in the afternoon, leading everyone to all manner of naughty cravings from coffee to sugar. I struggle with this too. But usually i can drink a glass of juice and then Im ok.

[squidly]

WOW - thank you so much for the responses - they are ALL helpful.

Habit- think that is one problem as when I am at wotk (3 days a week) I always go buy sugar at the same time of the day - I have decided to bring no money to work so as I can not buy it. I will have my bank card so as I can visit the organic shop twice a week for fresh produce - have been making macaroons with fresh cocount which I love so will bring them for my afternoon sweet fix as well as the jaffa fudge balls I have made

sweets - I do make many raw sweets and love them yet if someone has sugar around I eat it, or like was said above I seem to have some rituals - if I go to the movies I 'have' to have popcorn and ice cream and if with a girlfriend we go for cake afterwards - well no more! Time to break the old habits and make new ones so I am going to be conscious of these. Ironicaclly I KNOW i feel better when I eat good sweets and not processed crap - habits again and the memory that I think it tastes great when really I just feel fat and bloated afterwards

chose not to - I say this because although I want to be raw obviously a part of me is making excuses not to be raw - always an excuse - it is a birthday so I can have ckae, I am stressed, I deserve to rewarded etc - the list goes on. I need to be rid of my excuses and CHOSE to change

Learning about it- I know alot about the impacts of sugar on the body especially considering i have no spleen or gallbladder (due to blood disorder - haemalitic anemia), tonsils and have had kidney failure (due to infection). I KNOW so much yet I still continue to abuse my body. Ironically I am a part time fitness instructor and everyone thinks I am fit and healthy because I hide my binging which only adds to the shame. They all tease me about being vegan but that never even bothers me - I just hate being incongruent with my beliefs and my actions regarding sugar and binging

My actions are not congruent with where I want to be but just hearing your responses and writing this is helping me so THANK YOU. I think much of it may be emotional issues from childhood which have lead to habits - food is my reward so I first need to make it raw as my reward and then deal with the issue that I even chose to have food as a reward.

COLOR=Magenta]THANK YOU SO MUCH for all your replies - it really means alot to me that you care enough to respond and help me[/COLOR]

[greeninlosangeles]

Try sesame seeds or sesame seed milk, they have some stuff in them, that stops sugar cravings.
I have them too, so I avoid having raisins at home, and try to limit my sweet fruit intake(I am all raw for 4 months and still crave too many sweets, but just raw sweets).

[rawpriestess]

so why can't (or won't) I JUST DO IT!


This is a question only YOU can answer, and I think you have a lot of really great advice.

so, for what purpose are you pushing away your complete and total health?

AND, why would you think birthday cake a treat?

It seems to me that your thinking is along the lines of this is a diet, and you are either "ON" or "OFF" your diet, and you are either being "good" or "cheating", my words, not yours.

But this is how it looks when you say things like reward and cake.

when I used to go on diets, It was like someone outside of me was putting me on a diet, (much like my mom did when I was in third grage) so I rebeled, and I could find dozens of reasons NOT to eat the right food and to justify eating the wrong food.

Well, now I am choosing to eat whatever I want whenever I want, I just happen to choose to eat raw and living food.

NOT, because I am on a diet, or someone told me I HAD to do this, but because I feel better when I eat this way, and I know how I will feel if I do eat that birthday cake (not raw).

I will feel terrible, I will be up all night, with indegestion, I will have a headache, I will have intense wheat and dairy and sugar cravings for at least two weeks, and I will probably be angry at myself, which in turn will give me another excuse to eat foods that will push down my feelings, instead of allowing me to feel my feelings.

so, since you asked, these are my thoughts.

Good luck and we are all here to help you.

[squidly]

thanks everyone - I am gong to print all this off along with the last supper thread and read, reread etc to get it all in my head.

Raw Priestess - thank you for making me think!!

I will let oyu know how I am going.

[min]

Hi everyone!

The struggle with sugar is hard, but it really is a drug. I have been sugar free for 81 one days today. :D A good way to deal with it is to pretend you're in drug rehab... because that's what it really is when you give up sugar. Strange but true, i found it harder to give up sugar than cocaine. Prolly cos coke is so damn expensive.

hugs! (hold the kisses :cool: )

[divaitalia]

Sugar is a drug and it is so hard to let it go. I will tell myself that I will eat nothing but good stuff all day and then go to work to do a catering, and WHAM!!!!!!Those cookies are callin my name baby!

I am really thinkin here that going 100% raw might help me out. I know that when I don't eat anything bad and all good, the cravings just disappear. We all have to figure out why we do what we do.

Btw Min, Berlin is one of my favorite cities. Was living there when the wall came down. WOW! What an experience to live through.

RawPriestess, you are so awesome. You always know what to say. I will say this again and again, I Aspire To Be You some day!!!!!!

Have sweet dreams and goodnight,
Divaitalia ;)

[Cinnamon]

I can certainly relate to the cravings as I am sure everyone here can! With chocolate being a very powerful one for me too.

Lots of Alissa's fudge balls that I make up and keep in the freezer, Date-Nut Torte that I also freeze so I can have a piece when those cravings hit, and the knowledge of how awful I will feel if I cave in to those cravings and eat something that I know will make me ill. Rawpriestess posted just the most perfect response, I will be re-reading that one too!

The other thing mentioned that has helped me tons with cravings is green juices, I haven't been into making them very often because I don't like the clean up involved! But now that I've been drinking 12 to 16 oz. each day I am pleasantly surprised at how much less my cravings have been! Just another idea, and there sure were lots of good ones in this thread.

[min]

Hi everyone,

I read Rawpriestesses' bit in the thread and i think it's really food for thought! I particularly relate to the "mom putting me on diet" part!

Nourishing ourselves is so much about acceptance of who we are and praise of the "God within us". And if you have ever had the experience of childhood dieting like i have, then you probably grew up with intentional, or in most cases unintentional, lack of acceptance.

It's important to weave one's way back to the instinct of self-love and self- nourishment that is intrinsic.

One aspect of dieting is that you fixate on "reward foods" like high sugar, fat or refined carbohydrates. The reason being the "diet foods" become symbols of non-acceptance and anti-selflove.

I think if one re-programs one's image of oneself and realises that if you love yourself, you will be good to yourself, then that's the way to do it! The cravings are possibly not for sweet things, but for the sweetness of yourself to yourself.

so sweeten up and lick yourself all over!

hugs

[squidly]

Min - you hit something there for me which I have heard many times before but for some reason it sunk in this time - I 'reward' myself with sugar yet really I am abusing myself. As a child I was rewarded with sugar but we were not allowed to have it in the house so I always snuck out and binged on it before returning home - I need to address some issue from my childhood but mostly I need to love and accept myself as I am and realise the sugar is abuse not a reward.

Also the fact that you have been 'clean' for 81 days has inspired me and I have always know it is like a drug for me - so yes thinking i am in drug rehab is a good analogy. I have been clean 2 days now - this is the start of a new me.

Another big thing I have realised is that no excuse is real enough - birthday, easter etc - so what - I don't have to eat the chocolate etc - as they saying goes there are never any good reasons for failure - only excuses. No more excuses for me.

THANK YOU!!! - to all of you - each and everyone of you have really helped me. Sorry I have not PMed any one - life is often hectic but please now that ALL of your responses have really helped me.

I am going to the movies tonight where I have ALWAYS binged (past tense) on sugar BUT NOT tonight - this is a new start. I have a bag of organic grapes, raw dipping chocolate and fudge balls to chose from instead - I CAN AND I WILL do this.

[Crystl-jade]

I eat alot of fruit for my sweet cravings. The chhocolate brownies are wonderfully delicious and filling.

Dates, figs, prunes are also great for the sweet tooth.

Usually I add Stevia to my sweet recipies to make them even sweeter.

Crysti-jade

[min]

Hi Squidly!

I read your post and thought of my days going to the movies and really pigging out on sweets because it was nice and dark and everyone was concentrating on the movie!

It's really a struggle every day, so take one day at a time! I don't know the recipes in Alissa's book but fortunately, there are many organic shops where i live and they stock really yummy fruitballs that are so sweet they make your eyeballs do flips. It's only crushed fruit and cinnamon and coconut, but it's mega-supa-doopa-sweet. Consequently, you only eat one of them and that's enough. They're also 1 euro each, so you consider the price factor and only buy one.

I'm not 100% raw, but 75%, so i've developed a muffin recipe with w.w. spelt flour and dates to have for special occasions, i.e. birthdays. You basically mush the dates with water, add the flour and baking powder/soda and bake them.

Also if i feel bingy i eat cashews and dates. Also not possible to eat much of, and i feel less bingy by the day because of the acceptance thing i spoke of. It's also fun to pack the cashews inside the dates and play with your food a bit before eating it - my personal occupational therapy to stimulate childlike feelings (ha ha). :p

keep us posted of your progress!

[theresaann]

pray.

seriously, pray.

Whenever I have been totally stuck in my life, when I have prayed SINCERELY, being WILLING to be healed, to the Holy Spirit (or Holy Moley-whatever floats your boat) that prayer is always answered.

The key is BEING WILLING to be healed. It's amazing how many of us human types actually prefer to hang onto our ego's b.s., not being really willing to be healed, or delivered, from it's sob story....

I think what this kind of praying does is allows our hearts to open to our HIGHER will, which is whole, complete, perfect and lacking nothing-and therefore not needing any addictions to fill it's lacking self..you see.....

anyway, sure works for me....

[min]

Hi everyone,

Just some more thoughts on the sugar issue: How society beats us up for being overweight or addicted to substances that make us chemically dependant!

There always seems to be a sense of people not "wanting to change" or of "not being strong enough" when dealing with issues as mentioned above.

Sugar and refined substances are addictive and make us fat, not to mention causing us a whole variety of disorders. I think if this fact is accepted and we stop thinking that we only have ourselves to blame, we can seek help and be free from the vicious cycle.

Nobody tells an anorexic to "just be strong and eat something". They get plenty of sympathy and support. So too should sugar addicts not be told to just have the willpower to change. I use this analogy because a large population has weight problems because of addiction, not because of greed or lack of strength. Sugar addiction also causes a broad range of emotional disorders - personal experience.

So don't beat yourself up about this disorder, just remove the addictive substances permanently and fix the psychological/emotional trauma with practical support.

hugs :cool:

[squidly]

Hi all, just an update.

I went 4 whole days without sugar (that is great for me) and then today ate cheesecake because I am pissed off about things with my husband (yes emotional eating) BUT after eating a HUGE piece I just threw the rest out as I realised this was abuse to myself. I have told myself to deal with the issues so the sugar is gone, I am back on track and tonight I will talk to my husband about what is bothering me. As he is what I would call an angry man I know he will fire up and yell etc but the feeling of calm I have had over the past 4 days is going to get me through this - I will say my piece (nicely of course) and he can react how he wants - I do not have to buy into it.

Thanks ALL!! Will stay in touch with how I am going

[misslinda]

- I will say my piece (nicely of course) and he can react how he wants - I do not have to buy into it.

Thanks ALL!! Will stay in touch with how I am going


Squidly, great to hear about your update and that you had an empowering experience :) sorry couldn't resist--freudian slip? (referencing the bold)

I'm sorry your hubby is the angry yelling type.......if you ever need to vent or need support, we're here --as long as you are safe ;)

[min]

Squidly,

Just curious about how the talk with your husband went!

[squidly]

Hi Min

all good with my husband but not with me. Boy have I fallen off after 11 days all raw and now 10 days of eating cooked, sugar and binging. I feel down. lonely, disconnect and just like i have no purpose. I so want my food obsessions to be over - I am so tired!!!!! It is getting cold here downunder (Australia) and although I feel good on raw the smell and warmth of hot food calls me.

I have realised that my sugar binging is not 'craving' but I think more emotional though I am not sure about what and which comes first - chicken or the egg. What I mean is am I eating because I feel down or feel down because I started eating sugar - but if the latter then why did I start in the first place.

Sorry - having a bad day/s and need to pull myself out. Hate feeling so lonely and disconnected - thank goodness for my almost 3 year old as she brings a smile to my face - I want the happy me back of many many years ago!!! This cycle of depression, disconnectedness and no meaning feels as if it has lasted forever. I know raw helps me yet I continue to stray

[cornvalley]

Squidly... all I want to add to all the helpful posts here is that.... not all cooked food is created equal. There are 'gradations' of useability, meaning, a conservatively baked yam does not have the same properties as that cheescake you chose to eat.

Having a realistic fallback plan, when one's momentarily unattained dietary idealism leads to a previously bad food habit, is something everyone should have in their 'bag of tricks' (so to speak).
This does not violate the direction one wants to go in. It's just a 'tool' to help keep you there.

[shakti17]

hi squidly,

i definately feel for you - i have been there! cornvalley is right about the not created equal... it sounds like you want to deal with your sugar addiction, why don't you count days on sugar and not worry so much about other things? just do not have refined sugar no matter what!!!

a sweet treat i like at the end of the day is a plump medjool date with nut butter - yum! it totally satisfies my sweet and fat tooth! that is what you want when you eat cheesecake - sweet and fat. there are many raw recipes that fit this combo.

so start now.... no sugar! you can do it!

shakti

ps sometimes we forget that it is a path and not all or nothing. i tend to be "all or nothing" too, but now i feel so much better, as i have been mostly raw for a while....(what i mean is - a few bites of cooked does not erase the fact that i ate raw all day!) when you have the "slips," it is hard - but you still have all that delicious and nutricious raw foods in your body from the 12 days... and all the days you ate raw.

[squidly]

cornvalley / shatki17 -

thank you for your kind words. I totally agree that all foods are not equal and I need to rid the mentality that just because I have some cooked foods does not mean I should then collapse completely and eat junk so................raw is my aim but just for now my true goal is no sugar and high raw. No processed sugar even if it means I need some warm sweet potato / baked pumpkin or bowl of warm soup at night. One thing at a time hey because high raw I can do I have proven that even when binging - I just need to eliminate the sugar completely and focus on that at present.

This IS Day one of my sugar free life and counting!!!!

This is my journey to all raw and I need to remember it is a journey and to enjoy it even if not at my raw destination yet!!

Thanks again

[faith4u]

Squidly,

I am so sorry for you. I feel so bad for you and can just hear your pain and frustration.

I have also noticed as others have said that if I am not 100% my cravings are still there.

On the same hand, if I eat enough sweet fruit I don't have sugar cravings.

I did best on all raw that was mainly fruit and greens and little bits of fat added. Eating that way is the only way that I am able to conquer any food addictions be it sugar or potatoes ore whatever.

The good thing is that you are coming out in the open and asking for help. That shows that you ARE ready to make a change.

Rely on us for your motivation. I know that you CAN do it. Just imagine that sugary thing with worms all over it. :p :p (Sorry that is from something I got from Tony Robbins years ago and I can't ever forget it-visualization is a powerful thing)

Also maybe you need to rehearse what you will say to someone who offers you something sweet. Role play with someone you trust or just in front of a mirror but it works better with someone. Let them come up with all different ways to tempt you and give them your NO answer in different. That way you will be prepared and know how to react next time you are in that situation with a friend or loved one.

I also agree with everyone else that you should always have some raw treats on hand...fudge, ice cream sandwhiches, truffles, or make a rich carob milkshake or smoothie. Or before you start to eat the sugar reach for some sweet fruit. Eat as much as you can/want and then see if you really want some sugar.

Good luck.

[Gosia]

I am being late, I was away (you know day here is night at your place).

I find the advice below relevant (and very helpful indeed):

"The Four Major Warning Signs of Eating Insufficient Quantities of Fresh Fruit
by Dr. Doug Graham

1. If you ever crave sweets at the end of any meal, you have undereaten of sufficient sweetness from fresh fruit at the beginning of that meal.
2. If you ever desire heavy foods (avocado, nuts, seeds, etc.) at the end of a meal, you have undereaten of sufficient sweetness from fresh fruit at the beginning of that meal.
3 If at any time of day you wish to consume refined sugars such as candy, alcohol, chocolate, cakes, or dried fruit, you have undereaten of sufficient sweetness from fresh fruit at the preceding meal.
4. If at any time you are willing to even consider starchy foods (bread, rice, potatoes, corn, pasta, etc) as a source of sustenance, you have undereaten of sufficient sweetness from fresh fruit at the preceding meal.

The solution, in all four instances, is to eat fresh fruit.

Learn from your experiences. Eat sufficiently of fresh fruit and all food cravings will cease. OF course, continue to eat all the fresh tender greens that you care for, as well."



All the best,
Gosia.


PS I do find that if I have enough fruit then I do not crave cooked foods.

[D'vorah]

I'm so grateful for this thread, I have printed it out also. This is so much my struggle too.

The night eating syndrome fits me, most of my empty calories happen between supper and bedtime, and it's every night, in spite of my greatest efforts to commit to otherwise. I don't typically have the sleep disturbances described, but lately do as a result of greatly increased stress (marriage problems, daughter leaving for college, son leaving for Iraq, Dad in Florida going blind, but still driving and I'm trying to manage that from Alaska).

Again, I'm so greatful for this thread, thank you for starting it and for all who jave joined in with ideas. If anyone wants a buddy, let me know. I'm sure it would help me too.

Blessings,

Deborah

[RawMagnolia]

Squidly... this is completely my struggle as well. I "want" and "desire" to eat healthier, and "be" healthier, but then I always stray. This second time I was 100% raw I was raw for 13 days, and then I just started to exhibit some detox, and had trouble figuring out what I wanted to eat "raw only" when all I wanted was non-raw foods. And now it's been over a week of almost no raw at all. My skin isn't as soft, I'm feeling fat, I'm irritable, etc. I defninitely have that "all or nothing" mentality and it's the darndest thing to stop thinking in those terms.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm here with you. And I too am trying to get back to square one again.

[cornvalley]

Ah yes..... the struggle.

Just observe the struggle, be outside of the struggle, you don't have to BE the struggle.

Meditation exercises can help this mental and spiritual aspect of life.

It get's easier with time.

[min]

Hi Everyone, especially Squidly,

I haven't been viewing the message board for a few weeks. I am sorry to hear that things are not/were not so hot for you, Squidly.

I haven't been around because i did a 360 degree turn for the worst in the past month! I went back on cocaine, back on weed, back on sugar, back to being a complete asshole and an idiot. Was fun while it lasted though.

I'm afraid of being healthy and stable-minded. i don't know... I guess i won't have anything to grumble about if i'm fully functional. It's strange but true. it's an old habit being a mess. And what will replace that bundle of wreckage if it's all fixed up?

My boyfriend also gets really "intimidated" by my healthy self. So i suppose i have to make him feel comfortable again. He says he doesn't know what to expect when things are in transition. Whatever...

Anyway... that was the last month or so... Yesterday i had the last of the weed and got really bored with my uppers and downers and psychosis between drug consumption behaviour. So i sat the dude (Boyfriend) down and told him i'm going to be healthy because it's a more permanent, fun high than drugs and binging. I like myself better when i'm healthy, and if he doesn't like the way things are gonna be, then he'll just have to be left behind. He likes the power of being healthier than me. He likes the victim that i become when i'm not fully aware/awake.

Well, i'm just going to have to leave him behind if it doesn't work out. The same way i'm leaving my druggy-bingy-self-destructivey persona behind today.

Besides, i picked up about 10 kgs in the past month. A sure sign that my body is really not dealing with the abuse. Not to mention my nose being numb a lot of the time, and my lungs being weazy. I feel crappy. I don't like it. It's boring and restrictive.

Huggles!

min

[PhoeniX]

I was a total chocoholic before I went raw and the only times that I could stop were when I was eating good/balanced food throughout the day, which I could never keep up for long periods of time.

I went directly to 100% raw with lots of fruit and nuts and found that by day 3 I was totally off chocolate, with no desire for it whatsoever. I still have the chocolate in my cupboard from then and feel no desire to eat it. When I feel snacky I tend to eat some fruit or some nuts whereas before I would have automatically gone for chocolate. If your goal is to be 80-100% raw you may find it easier to be 100% than just 80%.

However you decide, enjoy it!
J

[squidly]

Min - great to hear from you but also very sorry you have such a rough month. How GREAT though that you have recognised where it is you want to be and had the strength to make that choice. People around us don't like change as it often forces them to change or maybe question themselves but this is your life and you need to do what is right for you! If your boyfriend gets left behind then leave him there and surge on ahead to a better place and a happier life - you go girl!!!! Love to hear all about it.

My Update - As for me I got the flu, was still binging on sugar, was miserable, sad, lonely, cranky, getting headaches and then I said ENOUGH!!! Since then I have:

1. Started a montly newsletter for my clients at the gym where I teach part time called Aisha (meaning Alive) which will cover all aspects of nautral living.

2. Undertaken a 3 day fast and now on raw food again (and oh sh*t has detox been bad - the headaches have been almost unbearable)

3. Started the wheels in motion to run a 12 week challenge at the gym I work aimed at inspring people to "Love Life". It will include a one day seminar about goal setting, exercise, nutrition, raw health, right mind set, relaxation as well as weekly challenges coving activities for body, mind and soul and prizes and monthly get togethers at fun locations. My long term plan if this is a hit is to set up my own part time business and target my local schools to teach them about a natural way of living in an unnatural world.

4. Looked into studying a natural hygiene course

So life now feels fullfilling and like I am on track. Some days I am overwhelmed by the ideas I have and I think it is all too much and won't work but then I ask myself what kind of role model I want to be for my daughter and I know I can and will do this. Being raw will make it happen along with persistence and faith. I already have 2 jobs (environmental officer and Body Balance Instructor) plus trying to have a second child but I reckon that one day they are all just going to blend into a great dream that I know will work.

Sorry about the long message but I wanted you to all know that I am on track thanks to your support and things are looking bright!!

Big hug to you all!!

[min]

Hi Everyone!

Great stuff Squidly! I'm happy to report a similar new zest for life since i went back on track!

I'm studying Natural Health and Nutrition part-time myself, and have really jumped into my course work in the last 3 days.

I'm going through detox symptoms, though not fasting. I had a headache on Wednesday, and HORRIBLE, REALLY GROSS nightmares. I'm drinking St.John's Wort tea to stay relaxed. I'll fast when the time comes though, and maybe by that time you'll be ready for another fast and we can do one together. :D

So 100% raw (except for the tea, I guess) and feeling better already!
I've also lost 2 kilos in two days :eek: I guess the sugar really bloated me hey.

Anyway. That's good, you're good, I'm good. Everybody else good too??

Everybody feelin' good say HOOOOOO!!! :cool:

I do body balance at the gym. it's really cool... better than yoga... the yoga chick is a bit of a stricty-criticisy person and she burns this really headachy incense during the class ( :confused: cough-gag-weaze :confused: ), so i don't enjoy it much and go to body balance instead. It's a more smiley group also, and the instructor is cool.

Did it take long to do an instructors' course?

[squidly]

Great to hear from you min and to hear you are feeling good.

I started off as a Fitness Instructor which here in Australia depends on what course you do as to how long it takes. I had been an instructor for about 5 years before then training in PUMP (weights), 3 years later in RPM (cycling) and then a year later in Body Balance. For each one you do a 3 day course and then you have to pass video certification within 6 months and your head gym instructor is supposed to crtique you every 3-6 months but that rarely happens. I love Body Balance but have given up teaching PUMP - got sick of it after 4 years. I fill in for RPM only - life is too busy with other stuff.

Love to talk to you at any time - nehme@aapt.net.au

[min]

Hi everyone,

On the topic of sugar... has anyone read Sugar Blues by William Duffy? It's a really readable book! It shows you how and why refined sugar has come to be accepted as a normal substance that is put in most supermarket products. It's very enlightening.

Squid, thanks for the email addy! :)

happy sunday, everyone!

[madmel]

I have read it and I think it's a great book - really enlightening!

wishing you all a happy sunday
madmel

[Lucinda]

Get lots of super foods into your diet- algae, green powders, maca, cocao, goji berries, hemp seeds etc. Also Green organic juices. I really think that you need more minerals. I would avoid hybridized foods like bananas.

[lissomllama]

I had this problem for a long time. It's been a year since I first went raw and I failed a couple times at first because some part of me refused to curb the emotional need for "comfort foods" and I was having trouble dealing with all the naysayers and the fact that junk was so readily available. I've discovered that the only solution is pure determination. I need to learn to "just say no" to junk until I get to the point where I'm so used to raw that nothing else is even thinkable. The reason why cooked and processed foods are so addictive is because there are all sorts of chemicals in them that make us feel good and we get hooked and want more. I forget where the study can be found but I once read that scientists have tested people eating cooked foods and compared them to those they tested who were on addictive drugs and all of their brains were alike. They were all in this addictive stupor. Now mind you, just because scientists test something that doesn't mean it's true, but this makes sense to me because I've experienced it and seen tons of people I know experiencing the same thing. You just need to find a way to get over that hump and force yourself raw. It will get easier.