Stressed but hanging in there :(

[tammay]

Hi all,
I've been doing raw (80-90%) for a few weeks and so far I'm loving it but I'm coming up against a very hard time right now. I'm a grad student and just found out yesterday that I have an 8 day orientation starting tomorrow and that takes me right into the start of the new school year. So the days I thought I'd have to prepare for the orientation and ease back into school (after having had a month and a half of hectic moving and dealing with my sweet but nerotic parents :D) just aren't there. I'm both excited and depressed but certainly stressed and the fact that I didn't have time to get myself together like I thought I would adds even more stress (I'm the type that can handle things easily as long as I'm prepared for them ahead of time). Typically I'm a stress eater and what happened last night was a typical pattern with me for years. The stress makes me put my health and my eating last and I want to just have something quick and I want junk food so I go out and buy junk and end up binging.

However, this morning I came back to my senses and went shopping and bought only the good stuff (lots of fruits and veggies and some nuts and dried fruit) and I'm going to stick with my raw diet today. I know that not doing so is just going to make me feel sluggish and agitated and I don't need that right now.

I'm also going to try and remain as much raw as possible during this next week and a half. I have orientation every day starting tomorrow and typically they provide a very unhealthy (and unraw) lunch and plenty of junk food in between (I guess to keep us interested :D) I usually just give in to eating badly but I'm going to take with me some portable raw food (carrot and celery sticks, raw nuts, dried fruit) and munch on those and take a salad only if I can. I might even be able to escape back home for lunch since I live only a few blocks from the university.

At any rate, I'm going to try and not let the stress and the depression get to me and take it out on my eating...

Tam

[KombuchaCHIC]

It can be hard during stressful times, but it always seems that when I eat bad, it just makes me feel more stressed and worse. Keep hanging in there, the stress will pass. Eating healthy will probably help you to feel better about it! Your portable veggie idea is great! :)

Good luck,
Heather

[tammay]

Heather, thank you so much for the support. I did make it through yesterday without giving into cravings and luckily my department has not provided lunch as I thought they would so I'm able to stay raw during these stressful days. I think it's definately helping me stay focused!
Tam

[JEN]

Ok, this is what Im doing.....I have just returned to my job after having a year off due to hurricane katrina.....it has been a very long stressful year.....since I have been raw (going on 5 mos) I handle stress much better. I take my lunch with me everyday and although my work does have a salad bar, I prefer my organic food. First, I always have a dessert so I dont feel tempted when everyone else enjoys their sad cakes and pies. RP's brownies are the easiet and last a wk for me. I pack salads, or flax cracker, avocado, and tomato, or mock toona and tomato, or pasta marinara, or stuffed mushrooms.... really you can take a lot of things if you have an insulated lunch pack and ice cooler thing you put in the freezer overnight. I also take almonds and raisons for snacks, or grapes, bananas, etc. So far I havent had any problems staying raw, and my work offers a huge spread of food everyday. All the girls I work with say I have a huge willpower, I say no I have the gift of raw! I feel great! They all think Im crazy.....if they only new what they are missing.