Dealing with cravings

[VeryBerry]

Just want to get some ideas on how everyone here deals with cravings.

When I first went raw I did not get any cravings at all for about a month.
Now my usual craving for sweets are slowly coming back. The trouble is that I can not eat any dried fruits because they trigger tooth sensitivity. I find that eating lots of fruits helps, but I have a health condition that is aggrivated by fruits, so I really have to watch there. I have no immediate ill effect when I eat chocolate chip cookies. Strange! My goal is to prevent cravings alltogether or deal with them in a healthy constructive way.

Here are my ideas so far:

Eat lots of greens as green juices or smoothies.
They help prevent cravings for sweets by supplying all the essential minerals.
Eating other high mineral foods like seaweed may also be helpful.

Eat a lot of fruits or at least some fruits.

Drinking lots of water.

Exercise. I am thinking it might be helpful to exersise when you get a craving.

Keep busy, keep your mind occupied with something other then the craving.

Self talk. This sometimes works for me, I just tell myself "My body does not need this" this food is full of...sugar, preservative or whatever other junk.
This technique is especially helpful when the food makes you feel bad right after you eat it, it works like negative reinfircement.

Any other ideas? I am especially interested in the type of "self talk" you guys use.

[Sharon in Colorado]

Try some nice banana smoothies. Use lots of bananas, a little water, some vanilla, some cacao or carob and ice, it's like an ice-cream shake!

[DavidZaneMason]

Hmmm...just a thought:

-On a moment to moment basis, what truly sustains us is a firm intention. A firm commitment, desire and motivation.

Example: In the end, going to work just because I need a paycheck is not sustaining. I have to feel some other 'over-reaching' motivation for being there or going. Another example: it's almost impossible to keep up an exercise program without some over-arching goal. Signing up for a 5K race 3 months in the future almost guarantees you'll be motivated to practice for the next 3 months. See what I mean?

-Practically: When you experience a craving....allow the thought / feeling / craving. Just ask yourself what you TRULY want. Without some firm idea of what you really WANT to eat / do, you'll eventually give in to cravings. It's not enough to resist the bad...you have to DO what YOU think is the highest good! Ha! ha! You can't back your way in to heaven......ha! ha!....so to speak.

-Just my opinion.

-David Z. Mason

[VeryBerry]

I love the banana smoothies! I make it sometimes too.
Its also goes well with soaked flax seed.

Like I said, I can't always do fruits.
And I really feel sick when I miscobine foods. :(

[VeryBerry]

David,

Thanks for the advice.

"Without some firm idea of what you really WANT to eat / do, you'll eventually give in to cravings. It's not enough to resist the bad...you have to DO what YOU think is the highest good!"
It makes a lot of sence!

I find that when I really and truly belive that avoiding certain foods is the best thing to do I don't have any trouble doing it.
I think my main problem right now is my inability to tolerate a lots of foods that are healthy, so I am left with a very limited selection.

[bittersweet]

What health problems do you have that are worsened by fruits?

And isn't soaked flax plus bananas poor food combining?

[quotidianlight]

What health problems do you have that are worsened by fruits?

And isn't soaked flax plus bananas poor food combining?

Not everyone does food combining.

[Gosia]

My hints:

After very many cooked relapses that I went through, I was finally able to realize that cravings are inevitable result of having eaten cooked foods in the first place. The only way to break the cycle is to stay all-raw for at least a couple of weeks, after which it's getting easier.

Also, I discovered that added salt triggers cravings. Eating simply and eating lots of sweet fruit keeps me satisfied.

But, the main contribution to my cycle of relapses was my own mind. I had created a cycle by adopting the attitude that I "can't have cooked", which only made me want it more. Once I allowed myself freedom to choose what I want to choose, raw became a a spontaneous and effortless choice.

Gosia

[VeryBerry]

Bittersweet,

I only food combine some of the time when I know that the combo will cause me trouble. I seem to be ok with Banana & Flax.

Interstitial cystitis (chronic bludder inflamation) is aggrivated by fruits or anything acidic. (embessassing to explain every time). I can have some fruits, and some are better then others, but I really have to watch it and not overdo it, as I learned (again) when I got carried away a few days ago.

[bittersweet]

Not everyone does food combining.


She said that she feels sick when she miscombines foods.

[VeryBerry]

Greens really do work!
Today I had juice of 1 head of lettuce.
Salad.
Then a dip made of lettuce pulp, avocado & sun dried tomatoes.

The cravings are gone now. It seems so stange to me. The past few days I could not stop thinking about sweets!

[trinity082482]

im having this problem right now. out of the blue.. why!! lol I thought I had gotten rid of the munchies. So now im eating my 3rd biscotti today. Oye. Im going to get fat :mad: