Feeling So Guilty For Cheating

[akh78749]

I have cheated in the worst way over the last couple of days. It's so bad that I won't even mention what I have eaten. I have been about 95% raw for almost 2 months. But this week I have been very bad. I feel terrible for it. I cheated several times. Today was the worst.

I think I have been cheating because I have become frustrated. I stopped losing weight and I started getting bored with the food. I seem to eat the same thing everyday. Also, I love "cooking" raw food, but I hate doing it right now because I live with my boyfriend (temporarily) and I hate his tiny, gross kitchen. I can't stand being in it. I know when I get my own place, I will be preparing tons more recipes. I am moving out next month.

I think I also became frustrated because I have been so tired all the time. I had so much energy when I first started raw and now I just feel sick all the time. I feel depressed and have very little motivation to do anything. Also, I am isolating myself from friends and doing things because I am afraid of being tempted. So I am getting really bored from staying at home.

How do I stop feeling so guilty for cheating and get back on track again? I am really mad at myself right now.

[Rawkinlocs]

Hi akh,

The first thing to do is realize that a LOT of us go through or have gone through the same thing. We may have "cheated" for different reasons than you, but we've done it nonetheless. Now having said that, maybe take a moment to reflect on the POSITIVE things you gained/experienced from eating raw as opposed to the negative ones (i.e. the halting of your weight loss and the boredom with food) and see which one outweighs the other and which are most important to you.

Also, find out if eating raw is what makes the most sense to you and if that's what's truly in your heart to do...if it IS, then just keep going...even if/when you slip, try not to dwell on it and feel guilty (that's one of the worst things you can do) and just move on. After you have that slip-up, go and eat a piece of fruit or have a smoothie or eat a salad...do something to tell yourself that, "Hey, I might have just eaten _____, but I'm NOT giving up on what I KNOW in my heart is right!"

It took some of the most prominent raw fooders who have been 100% raw for years now YEARS to get there where they no longer slip or have cravings for cooked food. So, don't beat up on yourself, just embrace each step of your journey towards better health and keep going! Realize that you are probably eating better now than you used to before you heard of a "raw diet" and just approach it one day or one meal at a time. You'll get back to where you were or want to be...it's just a temporary bump in the road type of thing and most of us have dealt with it in one way or another...TRUST me! LOL!

I also recommend reading Nora's article on emotional eating: www.rawschool.com/emotionaleaters.htm

...especially the section where she talks about reasons people go back to eating cooked, one of them being boredom with food because we tend to still view food as entertainment rather than sustainance. That's a BIG one for me and her article really stuck with me and is helping me deal with some of my own eating issues.

[akh78749]

Thanks Rawkinlocs. That does help. I tend to be very hard on myself at times. I know in my heart that raw food is definitely for me. From now on, it's raw. I'll try not to slip up, but if I do, I will try not to beat myself up about it. I know this is a learning process and I am going to make some mistakes along the way. I will try to focus more on the positive things that happened when I went raw.

I did read the emotional eating article a few days ago. It's a great one. It's easy to get wrapped up in the emotional aspect of eating when you are surrounded by people who are eating for emotional reasons all the time. Restaurants are especially difficult for me right now. I know I need to make sure I don't go to restaurants hungry. Especially if I am not sure that they have anything raw. I made that mistake a few times already.

Thanks for your advice. :)