A Non-*Newbie* who needs to start over....

[Raw Jewelrylady]

Hi-I need to start over on my Raw journey & I need to do it NOW !!!

I lurk-sometimes post daily, but I have let myself get away from Raw & I am so mad at me. :mad:

I start each day Raw-& then around 4PM -yuck-well I know I need to eat more frequently.

I decided to finally post-ask for help-advice, etc. :confused:

I have no excuses. I take responsibility for what I eat & I need to make the changes now.

Am I the only one who is going through this yo-yo syndrome???

Off to work but I'll check for any replies tonight. Thanks in advance for all input.

Lana

[JinxieKat]

Lana,
I went through the yoyo bit after being completely raw for about three months. What worked for me is simply fiureing out my food issues. Ok.. now I know that sounds alot easier than it really is! I always equated food with happiness. Food always accompanied the 'good times' in my life, holidays, celebrations, etc. So when I was upset I'd run to my favorite foods to try and recapture the happy feelings. Of course it never worked and I felt miserable after, but I still kept trying. When I was finally able to accept that Food is not happiness then it has been fairly easy. I've had a couple of rough days here and there but I'd just talk myself through it, keep saying that it isn't worth it and if I really still want it I can have it tomorrow (Thanks Rawpriestess for the idea!).

I hope that can help you some, do know you are not alone!

Jinx

[hollymac]

I understand the after noon issues with food. I work 3-11 & I am very busy in the evenings. When I first started this, I was taking salads to work, but I eat stnading up at my medication cart when I get a chance to take a bite. It's been hard to actually eat a salad. I need something that's quick & easy to grab. Of course fruit would be great, but I'm trying to limit how much fruit I eat until I'm 100% because I'm diabetic & want to control my blood sugars. However, I want to be 100% - that's my goal. I want to feel better, have more energy, & be healthy. I've been combling through all the sites & books I have to find easy recipes of things I can eat quickly. It looks like a lettuce sandwhich may be an easy thing to do. I just wanted to let you know I understand your frustration.

[HollyGolightly_86]

I'm with you, lanasq... actually, I might even remember you..

I've had my ups and downs lately too.. Three times, no four times have I now tried to become 100 % raw. The first time, I got the most awful headache I've ever had (I've started drinking coffee, which is not good at all) and "had" to have some caffeine, the second time I just thought "what the heck" and ate ice cream (my job for the summer is selling ice cream, and of course we can eat almost as much ice cream as we want to) and now on Thursday I was doing very well, until I went to the cinema with my boyfriend, and thought "Why should I deny myself of all the lovely food there is?".. and had coffee etc. etc....
Today I was going to really go for it., and did well, until, just a while ago, I ate some Karelian pies, chips and finished it off with bread&cheese. Hmph :mad: I'm really pissed at myself. I have had issues with food almost.. five or six years and I hope raw would kinda cure me. (Former bulimic... actually, yesterday I binged and purged.. which I haven't done in.. many months.. :( )

What is really withholding me from submitting myself to raw for good is, I think, the fact that I'm not really sure.. kind of.. do I really want to.. in the end of the day.
The whole day I've been pondering, whether I can succesfully continue eating only raw foods in the Autumn as well as now in the summer. Now we've got all these delicious berries and lovely fruits which are really tempting and moderately cheap.. but in the winter everything gets much more expensive.
I feel like I don't even know who I am.. I know this is a bit weird reply to your message.. But.. All the time I'm trying to figure out, what kind of a person am I, what do I consider valuable; my health, me being thin/fat, my hair, skin, me being comfortable, things I'd like to have..
I don't know where this is guiding me.. but .. tomorrow I'm gonna start trying again. I will be raw. I don't care how much time it will take. I know at least one thing, and it is that raw will do me nothing but good. All it takes is a little time and devotion.
I shouldn't think what other people think. If I don't want to get pissed every weekend, then I don't. If I don't want to drink coffee anymore, then I don't. I don't want to poison my body any longer..

Oh dear... that came out long!.. Sorry.. :o

[rawpriestess]

Hi lanasq,

my friend, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!
I've done the off/on/off/on raw thing so many times, I can't even count any more,

and I just keep on keepin' on,

so when you are ready, (and that time may be NOW)

go to the store, buy a bunch of raw fruits and veggies that you love, take them home and eat them, repeat as often as necessary.

it really is that simple.

Now, do you have Alissa's book? and DVD?

they really help me, when ever I am thinking of eating cooked food, I just pop in her DVD, and it's like having her there at my home talking to me.

I love that DVD, and I see all that great raw food and I want to eat it, so I finally bought a small TV with a DVD player in it, for our kitchen, JUST so I could watch her DVD and make raw food.

it has helped me so much stay on raw.

so Alissa and I sometimes live in my ktichen, chatting and making and eating raw food, just like any friend would.

I strongly suggest you try it.

also, since you've done this before, you know how easy going raw can be, and what your triggers are for not eating raw, so be in close watch for those things.

please let us know how you are doing.

and a little bit raw is better than no raw
a lot of raw is better than a little bit
all raw is better than a lot bit

100% raw is the way to eat, and we KNOW YOU CAN DO IT.



YOU RAWK!!!!!!!

[Raw Jewelrylady]

Thanks Jinxie-I know that food is an issue-& I agree that this is what is going on with me caving to SAD. I also was Raw all winter-that's the hard part for me to accept -this *yo-yoing* now.


I am under a bunch of work-stress-& I need Raw to cope with it-because not only do I feel better physically-but I get extreme mental clarity on Raw.

I am planning my food for today-prepping & just starting over.

Nothing is worth breaking my Raw lifestyle-I truly believe that. Thanks for the advice & support,

Lana

[Raw Jewelrylady]

WOW-I'm overwhelmed at the support !!! :)

Thanks Hollymac, HollyGolightly_86 & RawPriestess, You all RAWK !!!

I have a smoothie in my hand-I'm packing my lunch & I'm starting over now.

RP-Not only do I have Alissa's book & DVD-but I have some of your FAB Raw books & many others. I will watch the DVD again-& I'm off to the store tonight for more goodies.

Just finally admitting that I'm in trouble is a load off my mind & I don't feel so alone.

Thanks..I will keep you all posted...

Lana

[Raw Jewelrylady]

WOW-I'm overwhelmed at the support !!! :)

Thanks Hollymac, HollyGolightly_86 & RawPriestess, You all RAWK !!!

I have a smoothie in my hand-I'm packing my lunch & I'm starting over now.

RP-Not only do I have Alissa's book & DVD-but I have some of your FAB Raw books & many others. I will watch the DVD again-& I'm off to the store tonight for more goodies.

Just finally admitting this problem is a load off my mind & I don't feel so alone.

Thanks..I will keep you all posted...

Lana

[macybare]

hey hollygolightly,
I have the same things going through my head as you...maybe we can help each other out. i've been getting some help with my ed's and have recently tried to go back to raw. I keep trying b/c I know its the best way!

[HollyGolightly_86]

hey hollygolightly,
I have the same things going through my head as you...maybe we can help each other out. i've been getting some help with my ed's and have recently tried to go back to raw. I keep trying b/c I know its the best way!
macybare,
really? It's so nice to know someone is going trough similar things as I am.. I'm so full right now.. .:( But, today I will not purge. Always after I've eaten SAD food I realise how light eating raw makes me feel..

It'd be nice to chat with you!

[honeybee joy]

Originally Posted By lanasq
I am so mad at me.

I have no excuses. I take responsibility for what I eat & I need to make the changes now.

Am I the only one who is going through this yo-yo syndrome???



Why are you mad at yourself?
No one is perfect. The awesome thing is that you are back.

It is great that you are taking responsibility for your actions, because if you don't you can never find the reason that you fell off in the first place.

I yo-yo all the time. Do I like it? No, but I realise that raw is not just about what I eat, it is about how I feel, what do I believe about myself, What are my stress levels like, am I making time for myself to do the things that bring me joy, am I loving myself. Raw food is about loving myself, not hate, it is one of the many steps it takes to love myself.


Forget about the failures, they are normal!

Get in there and make a awesome rawvioli, or a yummy date nut torte. Go do something fun tonight, enjoy the moment, and make sure you create love in your life.

[Coriander74]

Welcome back :D

[lissomllama]

I found a while back that the easiest way to get back to raw is to Just Do It. There is no miracle thing that will wonderously make you able to stay raw any easier. You have to just finally be fed up with going back and forth and choose to simply not fail. You must realize that cooked food is only a fleeting taste and the toxins stay with you much longer, therefore, it isn't worth the taste. You already know this, you just have to do it. And you can. My advice is to keep reading all the time about raw, get your hands on every piece of literature you can find. Pacify your visual mind with tons of inspirational raw photos, buy DVD's and raw food uncook books etc. Commit yourself to it fully. Designate a special, pretty candle as your "Raw vegan Food commitment candle" and lighting it whenever you feel yourself about to slip will really help. This is a little more aggressive, but telling people you know about what you're doing will help to hold you accountable. That way, you would feel more of a responsibility to staying raw. People slip up all the time and we all struggle. You can do this.

[adrienne]

Hi Lana!
I've missed your posts and replies!
Glad to see you are back and good for you for asking for help.
I love lissomllama's idea about lighting a raw vegan committment candle!
I am going to light one tomorrow for you!
Looking forward to hearing more about your journey...travel lightly esp. on yourself.
Best to you,
Adrienne

[Raw Jewelrylady]

Thanks everyone for all the great ideas & support.

Yesterday was OK-today will be all Raw.

I know what the problem is-I'm allowing a VERY stressful situation to get the best of me. I am NOW making a new choice-to control how I handle this stress by staying & focusing on Raw. Its' the only way.

honeybee joy- I hear you loud & clear about taking time for me. Thanks for the input. :)

Coriander74- Thanks for the smiley welcome back ... :D

lissomllama- I LOVE the commitment candle idea. I have surrounded myself with Raw books/dvds-etc. thanks for the great ideas. ;)

adrienne-How touching-to light a commitment candle for me. I have tears in my eyes just reading that post. BTW- I never really left-I just have been super busy with my shop & working 7 days a week. I now know that staying Raw is really more important to me than anything !!!! Yeah-I'm back. :cool:

You will all be hearing more from me as I get on with my Raw journey.

Love all the support. this is the greatest group.

Thanks...

Lana