You would think I would LEARN...

[veggiemom2]

Everytime I eat cooked food (particularly food containing dairy or meat) I get really ill almost immediately. I have lived for years with terrible IBS episodes, various pains in my stomach and chest or just the constant feeling of quesiness (sp) after I eat. Well one would like that I would give these foods up. Especially since going raw, I no longer get these symptoms. I was doing so well for about 3 weeks... then stress and financial struggles caused my to fall back into old (bad) habits. Now I am paying dearly with IBS problems that have me running (literally) to the restroom constantly. Took me forever just to write this, cause my stomach would girgle then I would have to stop and use the restroom. Now my whole day is ruined cause I will feel horrible (physically) for the rest of the day. Why can't I just break the cycle? Why can't I stick to eating only raw? My hubby is really supportive and really encourages me to stay with this. Sometime I sneak food behind his back cause the craving are so strong. He gets frustrated when I cheat because I am following this diet for hopefully lifesaving reasons (I have several illness one of which has the possibility of being cancerous). So I absolutely need to stick to this and I know from the benefits that I receive (no IBS, pains, etc) that raw is best for me. It is just soooooo hard to not eat the chips, pizza, bread, etc. Any suggestion on how to win the battle of the will (cravings) I would love to hear them.

Thanks for reading this

veggiemom2

[golfngardennut]

I too have experienced the same problem for years - although I did not know about RAW food then, I would still notice when I ate things they would make feel awful. I still ate them. I felt really stupid, but I did it anyway. Sooo... I finally took the plunge, and my IBS has practically disappeared. It is soooo worth it. The more raw I eat, the more I want to stay on this diet. I wish you luck, it isn't easy, but you CAN do it.

One thing that helps me sometimes is remembering we are not Pavlov's dog - we have the ability to make a choice...

[askcassyfirst]

VeggeMom2:

I emphasize with you. I had many health problems (including IBS & PCOS) before learning about nutrition, and eventually the raw diet. Sometimes I think it feels like you are climbing a mountain, but you are amoung good company here. You are especially lucky that you have a supportive family.

Here is something that worked for me, and Alissa stresses it in her book too: Clear out your cuboards and fridge of all your tempations. I would say also, do not allow yourself to go shopping when you are hungry. Prepare plenty of foods to take along with you when you are out, or busy so you will not be drawn back to any of your old standards. It is a hard process, but once you make it habit, it will become second nature. I really appreciate how Alissa describes this in her book. I think it is something we can all benefit from reviewing daily.

I have been doing raw since '03, and I still get cravings at times. I would encourage you to journal, and watch and listen for your triggers. Becoming aware of them will help you fight temptation.

You can do this!

Cassy.:)

[Olive]

There are some excellent threads on emotional and stress eating on the board--do a search and you'll come up with some great stuff! Breaking unwanted habits is HARD work, especially when it's something as complex as food issues. First and foremost, have compassion for yourself. Think how far you've already come in your thinking, feelings and actions! You can totally do this with time and patience!

[Allison]

Maybe to be really supportive, your husband and family could do this with you. Then you wouldn't have to have the bad food in your house.

[Alice]

Veggiemom, I know where your coming from because I have been wanting and eating cooked food now for 3 or 4 days. I do ok during the day. My problem is in the evenings during supper. But, I'm not going to give up, I will become completely raw. I know just since I started on raw Jan 11th I had so many changes in my body and feel so good that I can't walk completely away from raw. I've failed a few times but so what, I"ll eventually get it right. You will to, just don't get down on yourself. Failure is not a bad thing, what's bad is never trying at all. We just pick ourselves back up and start again. I'll be praying for you and your success. God Bless :)

[Sweet lips]

Veggie Mom 2,

I feel you and I agree with everyone's suggestion. I have just experienced surgery for cancer and this was my second time, so I can also feel you there. I agree with everyone's suggestion and understand how difficult it can be to deal with those things that we have become used too, cooked food, television, spending - they all fall together and require change.

It was difficult to give up cooked food even when I knew my health was failing, so I had to resort to some things to make me change mentally, one mantra, I created in my mind was : This is not my last meal on earth if I don't eat it , but if I do, it could contribute to a shorter time on earth, and the second things was my husband and my children. Whose gonna be their Mommy if I am not well? and who is going to love my husband as I do, and love me back as I need it - if I am not well? Those were hard questions for me because my family is my life and we deserve to celebrate it everyday! It is such a wonderful thing to share our lives with others.

Although my youngest child is 17, I still want to see him grow into the man that I believe God has created, and share his joy, triumphs and I didn't want to be one of his sorrows. How we live now, determines how our children live later.

Please do not feel guilty or regret your chices, as that is not my intention, I realize that it is difficult and we need transitional tools starting from wherever anyone is with their diet to moving towards a balanced and healthy raw and living foods diet and lifestyle. As people, who have been eating dead, denatured foods for many generations to eating a vibrant living foods diet in just a short period of time- it's challenging. We need all the assistance we can get.

So, I can not stress enough how much this board has helped me, nor can I forget or negate my faith is God that I choose to serve. There is so much support here. I have a friend that is on this journey, whom I talk to diligently for support, and my faith. By no means, am I perfect, :( girl, sometimes, I just want to chomp into something that I know will cause me problems (last week it was chicken, and only by the grace of God and me being unable to leave my home did I not succumb). Did I ever give in, yeah :o , I have, did I feel bad, yeah, I did - blood sugar went up, but I had to learn as you will, not to feel guility, but just to start all over, so now, I am raw, and no, all my problems are not solved, but one part of my life is better, and the rest will catch up.

I know there is someone out there who is willing to buddy up with you, and help you - I have faith that someone will provide that gentleness locally for you, that can assist you through this process. As for finances, I can't began to preceive what yours are, but if you can try to keep it simple for a while, you never know where your blessings will come from - keep your faith, and keep calling for help! :)

[askcassyfirst]

Sweetlips, that was a beautiful perspective. I really appreciate it. I think someimes we all need to such a testament.

Cassy.:)

[Sharon in Colorado]

I know how hard it is to overcome temptations and giving in, especially when you are living with and preparing food for a cooked family.

Here are some things you might want to try:

~ Read the journals here at this site

~ Read some of the inspiring transformations or Shazzie's year 2000 journal on www.shazzie.com.

~ Read "Raw Family" by Victoria Boutenko (or re-read it)

~ Find other transformations or before and afters to read online by search.

~ Ask your family for a 1 week, 2 week or 1 month agreement. I did this and had everyone sign it. We all agreed, no sweets or junk food for a proposed period of time. I made it all official-like and hung it up on the fridge. It's good for the whole family health-wise. Noone is immune from impending diseases who eats the SAD. This will help get you over the hump, and if they want to, they can go back to their old habits and hopefully you'll be strong enough to move on.

~ Make all of Allissa's recipes for the first week - she has a menu located in her book with shopping lists for every week. If you don't have the book, look in the recipe section here for some new recipes or try the www.fromsawtoraw.com site - there are hundreds of free recipes you can print out.

[rawmom]

Sharon:

Did you mean www.fromsadtoraw.com? Was that the site you were referring to? That site does have tons of great looking recipes.

Rawmom

[Sharon in Colorado]

doh! Thanks rawmom. I will correct.

[deb]

Sharon, you sound so much like me. I have to read and read and read and Shazzie's 2000 always gets my motor running. AND... Terry and I wrote up a contract and signed it. :) (We're doing this for a month at a time).

Veggiemom2, another thing that helps me is to have one or two, what I call my backup-plan-foods. One is a smoothie. I can be craving the worst junk there is and a smoothie will kill it instantly. It's not what my taste buds are craving or even the texture buds but once it's down, it does the trick. Another is some kind of nut candy. Whirl the nuts to a powder and add agave nectar, lemon juice, etc.

Hope this helps!