I'm going to do it damn it!!!

[PasRenee]

Finally. Today is the last day of my unhealthiness. I'm sick of the false starts. I'm sick of dieting in an unhealthy way. I'm sick of fasting all day then messing up with McDonalds and then forcing myself to throw it up in the toilet.

I want to be healthy, I want clear glowing skin. I don't know where to start... I don't have much money at the moment.... But I'm going to try.

[kellibelli]

Think of it this way, you deserve the best, dont you? Your loved ones deserve to have you around for a long time because you are a worthy and unique person. Start with that and just know that you are doing yourself a big favor by changing your eating habits. Thin isnt the goal...loving yourself for who you are and learning to love and respect yourself is the goal. This is a wonderful first step on that road.

[PasRenee]

I really need to learn to accept me for who and how I am. I am a long way from that. Hopefully raw will give me a new perspective.

[kellibelli]

I know, me too...its a long process and I am no where near my personal goal, but I will tell you that the people on this forum will do everything to help you get informed and will support you on your journey.

[luckitri]

Yes, I look at the beautiful people around me - the candy faced women who never get zits, the long lean beautiful women who have to special shop for their long slinky bodies, even the really fat ones around me seem to know exactly where and how to buy clothes to where they make fat look really good! I have me to work with and I enjoy the beauty around me and I know that it is just not me. I don't have the disposable income to buy the clothes to wear twice and then toss and I don't have the figure to put them on either but I think that with RAW I will find my own way to look good in a raw way. I hope that my face skin stops sagging after a while on raw and hope alot of other good things too for my body - just to feel good in my body after these many years of sickness should be good enough for me!

[Bingka]

When you have a Bic Mac Attack - post here and vent. We will all be here to help. Support is free for the asking.

Stay focused - You can do this!!!!

Ken

[spicyfull]

Sounds like you don't want to be hungry another day. When you fast all day and have McD, that is because you are HUNGRY. You can eat all day on this LifeStyle and never be hungry.

I can't address throwing it up because I look at it another way. I am sure someone else can address that. But I do believe RAW can address ANY problem you have.

I do know that you have enough MONEY because fast food can be expensive. I say forget Organic if it is not in your budget. Concentrate on RAW. There are some food that it doesn't matter if it is not Organic. Oranges, Bananas etc.

I always recommend SPROUTS if you want to be RAW on a ShoeString. Do you have Alissa Book? I would order that FIRST. You need some MATERIAL to GRAB on to. And that Book will get your MOTOR runnin.

Then I would get on a 30 day Challenge and talk daily with others on it. There is always a new Challenge starting each month and if not, Start a Thread and Start one yourself, there is always someone up to doing one.

I wish you everything you need to Stay RAW.....Welcome to MY World..........

[lissomllama]

First of all, try to be more positive. Even at your worst, you're still doing and thinking better than most people ever will in this day and age. Give yourself some credit.

Secondly, this one of the best steps in the raw process: The "That's-it,-it's
-time-to-commit-and-just-DO-it!" step. You have finally realized that cooked has NOTHING to offer you but disease. You know it won't make you feel good and you know that raw is what you want. Embrace it. It doesn't have to be difficult. Just choose to enjoy it and CHOOSE to just DO it.

Since I had this realization, I haven't had one SINGLE slip up at all. That was over four months ago.

Carpe Diem, baby! :)

[carousel]

luckitri, i'm just wondering, what are candy faced women? i'm trying to imagine it ;)

[Veganforlife]

You've taken the first step - realizing it!
Good for you.
Raw will take you to heights you've never been to before.

[Blissed]

one step at a time, and sometimes it's baby step, though you'll get there if you keep up the intent - where the mind focuses, so goes the body and the rest of you ... keep reading about raw, keep talking to people about raw via this site, in person, or whatever works for you, keep thinking about raw, and you'll find that it blends into your life easily. I travel a great deal for work, and also did a 60 day juice fast this past Spring - with my intent/commitment to do it, it became like the hero's journey where the universe provided what I needed as I went along, and back on raw food now, even when go to smaller towns in the south, I still am finding organic raw in the grocery stores where I can make what I need. So, keep up the intent - it will happen!

[PasRenee]

I feel awful. I've messed up already. I don't think there is hope for me. This morning I had water. I started a new job and at lunch time, I didn't know what to eat. I ended up going to the drugstore and buying a bag of craisins (cranberry raisins) that had a little sugar in them.

I thought that was an improvement but on the way home from work I stopped at In and Out and had a cheeseburger, fries, diet coke. AWFUL!!

The worst part is... I came home and threw it up.

(can't believe I'm being so honest)

I feel awful. Really need encouragement.

[spicyfull]

Honesty is a Good Thing. This is the perfect place to be. I think you should start a NEW Thread about being belemic. There are people here who have been where you are now. And can help lead you out of the place you are in. Try placing it in the Health section. I am sure you will find the help you need.

You hang in there, that's all I can tell you because I have no clue what you are going through. But I do know, talking is GOOD. So keep posting. Sometimes Post get placed in the wrong area.

Tomorrow is another day................

[Guppy]

What happened today is over. Put it behind you and spend some time thinking about how you would like tomorrow to go.

Making huge dietary changes in one fell swoop does not sound like it is going to work for you. I suggest you break it into smaller steps that you can manage. For instance, your first goal for tomorrow could be, "no fast food and no throwing up". This is just my example. You should decide what YOU want your goals to be - just be reasonable in setting goals that you CAN achieve.

I think the others already said this, but by not eating more during the day, you are just setting yourself up for a binge in the evening. Is there any way you can eat more than just water and cran-raisins? Can you put a few bananas, apples and oranges in your bag? Those are quick easy and can be eaten on the run. If you do stop at fast food, how about getting a salad?

You can do this. Start small and work your way up.

EAT!
regards,
emily

[Mango]

I'm so sorry you are having a hard time. I suggest that you make sure you don't leave your house unless you have raw food with you. Keep some nuts, Lara bars, or fruit with you at all times. You can eat as much as you want. I started 100% raw on Monday, have been eating like a PIG and have lost 4 lbs already. Just keep eating the good stuff. You can do it.

[kellibelli]

Please dont get down on yourself. No one is perfect. You know, I have stopped and started, given up, come back again, and here I am. In fact, the funny thing is that under my little avatar of my cat...her name is "Smash" by the way...it says that I am a "root"...HA! What a laugh! I am a seedling if there ever was one! I am just trying harder now to overcome my weaknesses than before. In the beginning when I first started getting into the RAW eating I messed up a few times and gave up completely. I figured I couldnt do it and there was no use in trying, but I was wrong. I came back and I am just trying harder now, exploring more recipes, asking everyone for help and encouragement like you are...eventually it will stick. Dont feel bad for not reaching your goals immediately - feel bad if you dont keep trying. Just keep on keepin' on. ;)

[greeninloanageles1]

Get as much support as you can get(this board is one of them). You can not do this at will power alone. We are social animals and we need support. Go to potluks, listen to cds, watch dvds, read books-counteract cooked culture around you.
And meditate or keep repeating affirming frazes - my favorite is "I am craving raw foods". Just repeat it many times a day - I do it when I work out or walk.
And if you fall off do not beat yourself up-nobody is looking for guilty here. Learn from experience, get up and go. try different ways of support and ways to make you stay. Somewhere I read that saying, that you don't loose untill you stop trying.
Make sure you always have raw food with you, and a lot of it!
It is not easy to shake cooked food addiction when we live right in the middle of addicted people. It is the same as if former alcoholic would try to stay sober in the middle of active alcoholics. But it is possible - just look how many people are here doing that!

[Sharon in Colorado]

The next time you have a really hard craving just stop at the grocery store and pick up a bunch of bananas. It is probably cheaper than fast food and after 3 of them you won't want anything else for a while, promise.

And, the trick is, eating something BEFORE you get hungry, that way you won't do something you regret.

I'm not perfect either, but I always keep going, so don't give up.

[greeninloanageles1]

Oh, yes, and read the book by Laurel Mellin - The Pathway. She has the whole program going on, but even just a book can help you.

[KindnessToAllCreatures]

PasRenee, you are much too hard on yourself. Everyone has had setbacks at some point in our lives. (Often at many points in our lives! LOL)

Try to look at them as "learning experiences" rather than "messing up". What can you do differently next time to have a more favorable result?

You're not a complete and utter failure. Far from it. You're a fallible human being, just like the rest of us. I think it's important to practice self-acceptance regardless of our short-comings. If we can learn to accept ourselves despite our imperfections, we are much more able to learn and grow than if we beat ourselves up everytime we think we could have handled a situation differently.

It might be helpful if you try to plan ahead a bit, making sure to have raw food on hand. I've been trying to clean most of the produce shortly after grocery shopping in order that I have food readily available on the go. I also find it helpful to have some sort of dehydrated bread or crackers on hand as a filler.

Raw Food Talk is rich with information, advice, and loving support. I hope that you love and accept yourself as much as others on the board love and accept you, just the way you are.

With Love.

[Nenyath]

PasRenee,

The moment you say the words; "there are no hope" well, then there are no hope! As someone has already mentioned, don't be so hard on yourself! I've been on and off raw since February, from 50- to 99% raw. One thing to remember, there is always hope, always! I have complete faith in that you can do this!

Fly forever free and have faith in yourself!