Can we try something here that might help those who struggle?

[IamLoved]

Hi,

I just was wondering if we might be able to do something here. I am a person who struggles with food addictions. I have fallen off the wagon and I am now back on and staying true to raw, but in the beginning it is a struggle. I know that a lot of other people struggle with cooked food addictions as well. I have a simple request:

When you fall off the wagon and succomb to cooked food, could you please not tell us everything that you ate? It is sufficient to say, I ate a lot of cooked foods, I feel really bad, I stuffed myself, I ate horribly, nonraw ect. I know that this forum is a place that offers support to those who are trying to stay raw and I hope that I am not offending anyone. It is just that when I read about all those yummy cooked foods that I struggle against eating it makes it harder for me to stay raw.

I hope this comes across the way I intend.
Thanks for listening and for any feedback.

[Stina]

Yes, I agree. I sensitive to triggers too. Alissa's advice about slips on the subject is sound, but I find my food addictions run so deep, I'm resorting to three days of juice fasting right now to get my taste buds back on track and to break the stranglehold of cooked food addiction.

[trinity082482]

Today is my 1st day being 100% raw since I fell off the 100% wagon 4 weeks ago. I was supposed to be raw yesterday but.. ta da I messed up again lol. I ate lots of sweets.

I have no will power and I am trying hard to eat better. I want to feel better, look better, be better for my family. Being raw is a life style for me but I hadn't been able to stay 100% raw for very long. 9 days to be exact.

I am like you. I struggle trying to keep away from foods I shouldn't eat and it's hard. It's nice to hear it doesn't come naturally easy to everyone either, because I don't feel alone. :p

[luckitri]

I struggle horribly embarassingly so. But I don't mind what people post here and I would vote against putting that restriction on posters. Some of us have never really been on a forum before and are not even very familiar with internet and there are already enough rules. I have wonderful smelling SAD food around me every day at both work and home. I just have to be strong. Sometimes it helps me to know myself better and what my triggers are and how to be stronger by reading someone who has put words to my struggle.

Replacing my SAD cravings with voluptuous rich enticing raw foods is my responsibility. Retraining my mind to enjoy the RAW reward and to enjoy and crave RAW foods is my responsibility.

Sometimes when I read what people go through to satisfy a SAD craving with a RAW recipe that tastes the same - I just think - OH - for all that work just go get the item! I need to retrain myself and be willing to put the effort in. I am glad to know that I am not alone in my long transition.

[misslinda]

* chuckles *

but then what about those folks who feel [better] specifying what they ate?

In my opinion, the struggle is something one has to deal with...I mean everyday we are going to be exposed and confronted with food-vertisements. More importantly, it's how we deal with it when it is there, metioned or floating in our minds--that we can truly grow in the process.

Perhaps starting a new thread about "dealing with cravings etc" would be a great support.


:)

[Rawkinlocs]

I can see both sides of it...But to MissLinda - I say that, yes, we are faced with food-vertisements in all forms...but isn't THIS place (RFT) supposed to be one of the few places where we can come and be fREE from it?

Isn't just as easy to say, "I had some cooked food today" rather than going down the whole list and mentioning every intricate detail of how it was sauteed, fricaceed and diced to perfection? (I'm being sarcastic here) but you know what I mean.

But then again, under the right circumstances such as, "I had a major craving for pizza and then I went and made some marinara sauce and dipped flax crackers into it and it resolved my cravings!" would definitely be a plus as maybe that may help someone else going through the same craving.

But I think Missionary' is referring to more of the, "I'm so bummed today. I intended to be all raw but then I ended up having _________, ___________, ____________, AND _____________..." I think perhaps the list of the "what-I-ate" may be better suited for one's journal if it's really meant to help the individual...(?) We can simply know that someone ate "cooked" without all the details to offer support - at least IMHO.

I don't know...just my personal thoughts on the matter.

Most times it doesn't bother me, personally, to see the foods listed...but one time someone said something about biscuits and gravy and I almost jumped through the screen 'cause my triggers went off for it! :o

[dreamrawalwz]

I can see both sides of it...But to MissLinda - I say that, yes, we are faced with food-vertisements in all forms...but isn't THIS place (RFT) supposed to be one of the few places where we can come and be fREE from it?

Isn't just as easy to say, "I had some cooked food today" rather than going down the whole list and mentioning every intricate detail of how it was sauteed, fricaceed and diced to perfection? (I'm being sarcastic here) but you know what I mean.

But then again, under the right circumstances such as, "I had a major craving for pizza and then I went and made some marinara sauce and dipped flax crackers into it and it resolved my cravings!" would definitely be a plus as maybe that may help someone else going through the same craving.

But I think Missionary' is referring to more of the, "I'm so bummed today. I intended to be all raw but then I ended up having _________, ___________, ____________, AND _____________..." I think perhaps the list of the "what-I-ate" may be better suited for one's journal if it's really meant to help the individual...(?) We can simply know that someone ate "cooked" without all the details to offer support - at least IMHO.

I don't know...just my personal thoughts on the matter.

Most times it doesn't bother me, personally, to see the foods listed...but one time someone said something about biscuits and gravy and I almost jumped through the screen 'cause my triggers went off for it! :o

but isn't being "free" go for the other direction as well? I mean, where else can many come from the social pressures and talk about our downfalls and striving to be raw? Ok, that sounded better and made more sense in my head. Some don't have any support other than online here in RFT so can't we be allowed to "vent" about our slipups and struggles? :p

[mongomango]

Perhaps if a warning was put in the title to alert people that cooked food was being discussed?

[Rawkinlocs]

Dream,

I think you are missing the point here. It's not about NOT being able to vent about our pitfalls, etc...that is pretty evident daily in posts and threads where people come here to find support for having gone off raw, etc.

What the OP is saying is does one necessarily have to go all into the "gory" details of the exact foods they ate? Is it really necessary (outside of say, a journal) to say, "I fell off raw in a big way. Let's see, I had buffalo wings, fries, chocolate cake, tacos, cheeseburger, etc., etc." or can one just say, "I fell off raw in a big way and had some major cooked junk food - I'm finding it hard to get back on raw and need you guys support."

It's kinda like Alissa has said many times, that what you focus on, you create.

Please re-read my post and you'll see that I am clearly NOT saying that one cannot or should not be able to come here and express what they are going through with social pressures, etc. and that maybe even it's not a thing about not mentioning the foods...but I CAN see the point the OP was trying to make. If this is a place where we come for support of eating raw and we know that the tempations of cooked food are all around us, can't there be one place where we those who may be a little "weaker" (for lack of better term) than others don't have to be subjected to, as MissLinda so wittingly coined it, "food-vertisements? I mean, isn't that, in part, what the journals are for? Or, even if not totally omit the details, at the very least perhaps we could put a warning. Something similar to what we tend to do when it's a "feminine topic" or a gross, TMI topic...something like:

"Warning: read at your own risk - cooked food descriptions ahead" or something like that. I'm just, again, trying to see it from both sides and come up with some kind of compromise that can work for everyone.

But either way, I honestly don't see it becoming a major issue. I mean, it was an honest request (and probably even moreso, a rant) by Missionary' and it's a "hot topic" NOW...but in a few days or so, this thread will have dropped down the list by other threads being created or bumped up and it'll just kinda be a distant memory.

So, let's not make a big issue out of it unless of course Alissa decides to make it an actual rule of the board...THEN I'll get my armor on and be ready to do battle when folks begin to fight me on enforcing it! ;) :p

[Revvell]

.... fries???? chocolate cake?????


:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

[Loni]

Hi,

I just was wondering if we might be able to do something here. I am a person who struggles with food addictions. I have fallen off the wagon and I am now back on and staying true to raw, but in the beginning it is a struggle. I know that a lot of other people struggle with cooked food addictions as well. I have a simple request:

When you fall off the wagon and succomb to cooked food, could you please not tell us everything that you ate? It is sufficient to say, I ate a lot of cooked foods, I feel really bad, I stuffed myself, I ate horribly, nonraw ect. I know that this forum is a place that offers support to those who are trying to stay raw and I hope that I am not offending anyone. It is just that when I read about all those yummy cooked foods that I struggle against eating it makes it harder for me to stay raw.

I hope this comes across the way I intend.
Thanks for listening and for any feedback.

I'm new here and relatively new to eating exclusively raw foods. But in my opinion, the temptation of cooked food will forever be a presence in our lives. It's tough to resist, but we have to be tougher than the temptation.

For me, it has helped when I refrain from saying things like "I have no will power" or "this is too hard". Instead, I concentrate in positive affirmations. I especially like the one in Rawkin's signature.

But anyway, limiting what others post about may not be the answer.

Think of how proud of yourself you will feel when you are able to read about cooked food and not even flinch.

Best of luck!

[Conscious Midwife]

"TRANSITIONARY MOMENTS" and "UNMENTIONABLES" is the verbage that keeps it cool for my post. I'm a great cook and an improving uncook and don't even want to reread the details of my own slips. The foodvertisement is way powerful, thought preceeeds substances and presentation wether verbalized or visualized enhances my ability to enjoy a meal in any state, cooked or RAW.

Just my take on things :)

[Ariannah]

For me, it has helped when I refrain from saying things like "I have no will power" or "this is too hard". Instead, I concentrate in positive affirmations. I especially like the one in Rawkin's signature.


Indeed.
We need to focus on what we want, not on what we don't want. If I say, "I choose raw food", and focus on the choice, we have already gone down a path towards building up what we need.

Revvell's latest talk on Abundance on her Revvellations podcasts, really helps put it into perspective. I highly recommend it. My husband and I are going to listen to it again together, because it's something important we all need to hear, and apply it to our raw food goals.

[Princess Elaine]

Thank you Missionarymama for your thoughtful post...I, too, feel the same way and I really appreciate Rawkinlocs for understanding it, too, and as she quoted Alissa 'on what we focus on, we create'.

I've wanted to post a grievance and didn't have the strength to...until now...I know we have opinions on foods...some we love...some we describe as horrid...we hate the taste yet when I read someone thinks something tastes like vomit I'm am really offended. I've had that said about one of my favorite foods and it's really put a damper on how I even think of it now. If someone said they hated my favorite food, it tasted horrible, pretty much any description but vomit...so, can I stop someone from using that word. No. I just wanna vent that I find it so offensive and would hope we could use language that wouldn't stop others from liking a food.

Thank you for listening. I really don't expect a 'rule' to follow that you can't express yourself...and I know those who use that word didn't wake up thinking, 'oh, how can I wreck someones way of eating that'....it's just a learned way of talking.

Elaine

[dreamrawalwz]

Rawkinlocs - i didn't mean to make it sound like a big deal. I too can see it from both sides. When I was saying "we" I meant all of us as a whole, not specifically including me. I was just wondering from this point of view. I guess for me it reminds me of another online community i'm in that focus on eating disorder recovery; no food, numbers, ect. (i know no one is saying no numbers here...). See what i'm kind of getting at? I also see that those having binge issues or other food additions can't read it without craving it, but in real life you can't hide from every restaurant you pass, or the packages in the grocery store.

I guess the question is: should the person just learn to 'get over it.' and 'deal with it' (I HATE those phrases) or should this be sensored in a way and have this be a safe site? This probably sounds rude in a way, that's the problem with online...you can't hear anyone's tone. I really don't care what happens, but i was just trying to express the other side. I'm going to add that i have b een tempted to eat certain foods after reading them, but then i thought of the reprocussions they had. I don't know where i'm goingwith this ahah. My words NEVER match what's in my head :(

Anyway, it's not a big deal to me, just trying to express things.

[Sharon in Colorado]

I've not read through this all but this thought came into my head:

When I post that I ate "just one flour tortilla" and it eventually led down a road of a lot of bad cooked, althought vegetarian stuff, I am hoping that it gives the reader a picture and a clue that eating something cooked (as simple as a flour tortilla) can really kick up cravings and cooked food addiction. So maybe they will think twice about it if they see and crave a flour tortilla, or something like that. Also sometimes there is a difference between that and a corn tortilla or corn chip because it doesn't seem to have the same addictive qualities that kick up after eating a wheat product.

Plus sometimes when I read in a post or journal that someone had some "cooked stuff" I really want to know what it was. I mean, was it a full on dinner, or a bag of chips, how bad was it really?

[Sharon in Colorado]

...but one time someone said something about biscuits and gravy and I almost jumped through the screen 'cause my triggers went off for it! :o

ROFLMPO!!! :p

[IamLoved]

Hi all,

I appreciate all of your opinions on this matter.

Thank you Rawk for understanding where I was coming from. What you said is true, there are so many bombardements out there it is nice to have this board as a safe haven of sorts.

Sharon, no you saying I ate a tortilla and it sent me down the path of cooked food would not trigger me to go and eat a tortilla to follow you down the path. I think that what you are trying to accomplish there is to show how one little thing can throw off all your good intentions. That would not bother me at all. It is a good teaching devise to show people how easy it is to stray when we are not diligent. I know that for me I can not have just one bite. One bite turns into a binge.

What I am saying is that when one bite turns into a binge it is more helpful (for me) if people would leave it at that and say gee I had a bad binge as opposed to wow, I binged on blah, blah blah blah blah blah blah like Rawkinlocks said. That's all.

Again I hope I have not offended anyone and I didn't intend for this to become a hot topic, just voicing a concern, thats all. As Alissa says in her book, don't even entertain the thought, don't even think about it, so why write about it and make everyone else read about it and then start thinkning about it too? Just my thought.

MissLinda interesting thoery about peolple feeling better when they "confess" what they ate.

[misslinda]

Missionary, I hope that with the varying opnions here, you do not feel lonely! I'd imagine you probably assume we all have had our moments of cooked "bliss" :D

Would you mind if I ask you since this is such a personal request,

what will happen to you if these posters continue to illustrate their cooked slipped foods?

I'll be real honest in asking......b/c the food/body relationship is so intimate........

do you think maybe there is a level of subconcious need to avoid cooked ?? Thus by "avoiding" it is making you vulnerable rather than defeative? The fear of losing control and eating cooked?


Perhaps we can all benefit from the way we response/deal with it versus how we are triggered?

:)

[luckitri]

I have benefitted from people sharing what their trigger food was. First I know that I am not the only one. Second I know if I have also been craving that food I can evaluate myself and possibly prevent a slip.

OK read no further if you don't want to know the food!







+_)(*&^%$!@#$%^&*()_+_)(*&^%$#@!@#$%^&*()_++_)(*&!@#$%^&* I was really craving egg salad and I saw that others on here had the same problem and had gone to great length and skill to try to duplicate the flavor and texture raw.

My response to their sharing was to consider the nutrition in an egg that I might be missing and how can I replace those nutrients with raw foods also containing the same nutrients and see if that will alleviate my craving.

[Raw Jewelrylady]

I've read some of these posts & what I do if I start reading something that sets me off either in a negative *craving* direction is to just simply leave that post & go on to something new.

I esp like to head to the photos thread where I can drool over all the great Raw Food Delicasies! :) I like to leave the negative & run towards the positive.

I have to say that maybe the SAD food *confessional* should be left to journals...as we are here to support going & staying Raw...

Just My *Humble* opinion.

Lana

[GreenPrince]

Never heard about seat-belts? ;)

Well, I know there are different, entangled factors involved in staying raw.
A lot of factors.

This is only one simple idea to avoid some of the pitfalls.

I will warmly suggest:

1. Emergency kit to prevent you from falling
One of the main mechanism in tempting is hunger.
Outside your home you always bring this kit with you in your: pocket, handbag, despatch-case, backpack, car, boat.
The kit is a small polythene bag with a mix of dried fruit, raisins, sunflower seeds, nuts or what you prefer.

2. First-aid kit to stop further bleading and help you to heal.
Something you start eating after the fall. Your favorite raw food.

Something tasteful, gourmet conner, which can get you back on the wagon.
This kit is a plastic bag in the freezer, possible a whole mealtime with entree, main course and dessert.
Something prepared in your blender, juicer or dehydrator and then freezed.

Make some fun of it.:)
Why not a label First-aid kit on the plastic bag in the freezer!

[misslinda]

Never heard about seat-belts? ;)

Well, I know there are different, entangled factors involved in staying raw.
A lot of factors.

This is only one simple idea to avoid some of the pitfalls.

I will warmly suggest:

1. Emergency kit to prevent you from falling
One of the main mechanism in tempting is hunger.
Outside your home you always bring this kit with you in your: pocket, handbag, despatch-case, backpack, car, boat.
The kit is a small polythene bag with a mix of dried fruit, raisins, sunflower seeds, nuts or what you prefer.

2. First-aid kit to stop further bleading and help you to heal.
Something you start eating after the fall. Your favorite raw food.

Something tasteful, gourmet conner, which can get you back on the wagon.
This kit is a plastic bag in the freezer, possible a whole mealtime with entree, main course and dessert.
Something prepared in your blender, juicer or dehydrator and then freezed.

Make some fun of it.:)
Why not a label First-aid kit on the plastic bag in the freezer!

you are too funny Green prince!!!! Ingenious too.........there should be a Emergency Safety Raw Kit in every household :) :p

[GreenPrince]

Thanks, misslinda. :)

[IamLoved]

MissLinda,

In answer to your questions.

No I do not feel lonely, we are all entitled to our opinions, I just thought I would throw that out.

I am most assuredly not avoiding cooked food. I have a meat and potatoes husband and five children who all eat SAD. While I try to incorporate as much raw food as I can for them I am still in charge of preparing their lunches and dinner which is a SAD meal with salad sometimes too.(Breakfast is almost always simple fruit unless my hubby is home and then I will make something, usually just on Saturdays) My husband is not at all interested in eating raw vegan food. Last night he sat onthe couch next to me eating one of my favorite foods. So no I am not avioding cooked food. I am surrounded by it and if anything I was just stating that it would be nice if this was a cooked free zone.

What will happen to me if people keep posting thier cooked food choices. Nothing. I will still be raw, it is just harder to have to not only be surrounded by it here, but then to come to this board and read about it too. That's all.

[Rawkinlocs]

MissLinda,

In answer to your questions.

No I do not feel lonely, we are all entitled to our opinions, I just thought I would throw that out.

I am most assuredly not avoiding cooked food. I have a meat and potatoes husband and five children who all eat SAD. While I try to incorporate as much raw food as I can for them I am still in charge of preparing their lunches and dinner which is a SAD meal with salad sometimes too.(Breakfast is almost always simple fruit unless my hubby is home and then I will make something, usually just on Saturdays) My husband is not at all interested in eating raw vegan food. Last night he sat onthe couch next to me eating one of my favorite foods. So no I am not avioding cooked food. I am surrounded by it and if anything I was just stating that it would be nice if this was a cooked free zone.

What will happen to me if people keep posting thier cooked food choices. Nothing. I will still be raw, it is just harder to have to not only be surrounded by it here, but then to come to this board and read about it too. That's all.

Totally feelin' ya on that...totally! It's almost kinda the same thing with how Alissa want's this forum to be a "scare-free" zone...I mean, there is a TON of anti-raw stuff out there on the 'net, in books, other raw forums, coming out of the mouths of doctors, coming out of the mouths of friends and family members - she doesn't want that negativity here so it CAN be a sort of "safe haven" for us (though some don't seem to appreciate that, I most certainly do) and I don't blame her one bit...if folks want to find that sort of stuff, they can and certainly will find it..a google search can open up a whole WORLD of it!

So, same with cooked food speak...it's ALLLLLLL around us and it would be nice to have one tiny, itty bitty little space where we can come and just not have to think about it or be reminded of it, if only for a few short moments out of a long day.

But, c'est la vie! I digress...

[misslinda]

Missionary, WOW, you have strength :)

For some reason the type words don't trigger me BUT

I could be locked up and tied down in a room with no window and laptop but still my imagination triggers me :p the sound of paper crinkling, I associate with chips. My cotton balls remind me of whip cream and sometimes I look at my lipstick as if it were something edible. :D

[VibinOnLife!]

I can see both sides as well. I do not believe in censoring people, but I also believe in using things for their intended purpose. I see this forum's purpose to assist, inspire, and guide people in the direction of a true raw lifestyle. It is hard to do that when posts vary from "raw pasta recipe" to "I had blah blah blah from Wendy's". And if we're truly trying to leave all of that behind, why not do that?

Just as we have an area for people who want to discuss health, inspiration, etc. why not have a forum specifically for the people who really feel the need to discuss exactly what they ate? That way they get to verbally detox and the raw ones who feel strong and "immune" can peep in and give some advice to those struggling with cooked. Some people really do need to voice everything, so it would be nice if they had a place too.

This way I don't do a entire day of juice fasting only to log on and get a beautiful....eh hem...I mean horrible mental picture of some toxic cooked meal. :p

[IamLoved]

Vibinon - I think your on to something here. That sounds like a pretty good idea to me.

Rawkinlocks - Thanks for understanding.

MissLinda - Thank you for your kind words. I don't feel particularly strong, however I am stubborn when I set my mind to something I want. I love raw and how I feel when I am raw. I want to be raw, so I must resist the cooked food I am surounded by. For me it is all or nothing. It is a daily choice, and I am doing good and loving it!

[shiva777]

The best way to get rid of wanting SAD foods is to make incredible living foods! If you're eating the same things every day I'd suggest mixing it up. Get some amazing tropical fruits. Find some new recipes. Get RAW CACAO!! I make chocolate almond milk smoothies, fudge and more with this yummy superfood. If you you really feel the need to eat cooked food keep it to simple whole foods (e.g. brown rice), but really I have found the trick to be eating raw foods that are so good that they blow away any SAD food you can think of.

Also it will help if you can retrain your mind to not think in terms of 'delicous smelling' cooked foods...whenever you think of how good something smells, change that thought to how poisonous it smells!!

~shiva
Circle of Healers: http://circleofhealers.com