Did I start too fast?

[DreamingD]

Hello,
Last week I decided to go 100% raw and stop eating meat. I did well for the first week and now I am craving chicken, I tried to make the nutloaf and that didnt turn out as expected. So I ate 2 pieces of chicken, I felt bad but couldnt help it. So now I am thinking that I started off too hard, and now im going to fail. So I think I am going to try to make lunch my only cooked meal of the day, with fruits and veggies the rest of the day.
Please tell me what I should do, and what about the chicken cravings?!

Any help please!!
Thanks,
Dara

[Sharon in Colorado]

The cravings were detox, and in a way, your body is telling you it wants more because it has depended on meat all your life. Now all of a sudden you stopped eating it, so it feels like you are missing a nutrient, when it is actually a dependancy.

You can either try doing it 100% again or do a gradual change. Many people who go all raw come from vegetarian or vegan and the transition is a bit easier, but whatever works for you.

[Purl]

My goal was to ease into raw. It can be very overwhleming and difficult to stick to, since it is such a major shift in consciouness around food. I like waht Sharon said...the dependency rather than a real LACK of something. That really puts it in perspective for me.

I *was* goign to ease into it, but I am in such pain (migraine) due to detox that I am just going to suck it up and go 100% as of this morning, rather than prolong my healing. Just my exp and opinion.

[DreamingD]

I tried to be a vegan for 3 months and then I binged on meat and ended my good eating habits. But since going somewhat raw ive stopped drinking soda and eating all types of candy. I think im going to start having cooked lunches for a few weeks until I can give it up completly. I dont want to eat meat, but in my famliy that's all there is! So im tempted and I give in, then I feel like crap.


Thanks
Dara

[Rawzula]

Same thing with me. I am eating 50% cooked and 50% raw....because there isn't anything else for me to eat. I tried being vegetarian for one month...and I ended up gorging myself on chicken and began to use table sugar again:eek:.

I haven't eaten any meat for over a week. I won't miss it. Not all all:D.

[DavidZaneMason]

Opinion:

-Start by analyzing what level of raw food you are VERY comfortable with right NOW...with no struggle at all...then set some VERY small goals with time-frames.....and stretch from there. THAT is your path. No muss - no fuss. LOL.

-David Z. Mason

[Larue]

David, I like your posts...you are so sane....Sane Zane!

[Purl]

very sage advice, Mr. Zane.

[luckitri]

I admire those who jump in and can do 100% first time but I have learned that they are the exception - so I do not feel so bad about my slips. Lately I have been raw all day and then I try to sit down in the evening and have something that my SAD family will eat together. . . even if I can only tolerate a very little of it or only a part of it.

In my case I am also trying to keep detox under control so I can keep going to work every day so I am just trying to be mostly raw.

A friend of mine is traveling around the state getting to know alternative people and is learning that even the ones whose websites say that they eat raw are eating cooked. A wellknown vegetarian who is now in his 60's is now raising and eating his own fowl.

So I still believe in raw healing and I still have a goal of being 100% eventually but I am going to keep my eyes and ears open as to the how of it. There have been some longtimers to this board that I notice have not been posting. (To me even a couple of years at 100% is a long time.) I am wondering if they are OK and hoping that they are still 100%.

I do believe that throughout most of human history - most people were relatively poor and did not eat the amounts of animal products that people in the U.S. think is normal. I am well aware of the new immigrants to this country from my parents and grandparents generations who switched to the SAD diet as proof of their integration and new-found prosperity and forsook their traditional foods that included many varieties of produce.

[salsababy]

I totally understand. I so badly wanted to go 100% raw, thinking I could mustard it. Well, I can't. :( There are a variety of reasons and I am still learning. I have a thousand questions. I rely on a produce delivery service (and when it's icy, I have no food!). My raw foods don't turn out. I am confused about grains. Ekkk...like I said a variety of reasons. I've been slipping and that's why I haven't been journaling- just been reading.

One of the things I have sort of observed is that a lot of people who make that 100% jump were vegetarian or vegan. I didn't eat a lot of meat the last few years but I did with dairy. That "jump" is really harder that I thought. For me, personally, I am allowing myself some "healthy" vegan food (like sprouted bread etc). in small quanities. But I am aiming to keep the bulk of my meals fruits and vegies. Then I will experiement wtih raw dishes to see what sorts of things I like. I feel I get sooo frustrated when I fail and I turn to SAD food, but in a way that I never woudl normally. I eat the foods I never would have before I was raw (like meat etc).

I heard Paul Nisson speak this past week and he enouraged everyone to do the best they can for where they are at. Focus on that and then make transitions forward. :) You'll get there!

[FirstGarden]

Dara, getting past flesh foods is easier than it first appears. But, going into all-raw gradually is key for those who really struggle. I myself have been a vegetarian on & off for years. Now I'm transitioning from Vegan to Raw.

Also, it would help you to read up on the atrocities of what is in meat today. Unless you buy free range, organic chickens and such, these horrors are going into your body. A little healthy shock therapy here might help. I soapboxed about that on another thread:

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25307

Don't be too hard on yourself. Enjoy the journey.
Don't allow what you condemn, and don't condemn what you allow.

[glcoop60]

For me, I hope to reach a time in my life that being 100% raw is second nature.
Every day is a challenge to stay raw. Some days are better than others.

I agree with David. You seem to know that for now you may need to start a little slower. THAT’S O.K.

There is no right or wrong way to do this. You do what you can for yourself and strive to reach the next goal.

You are here and you started. That’s the first step. It may sound corny, but slow and steady wins the race.

You have a lot of help here. We understand.

Just remember, the only way you can fail is if you give up. Don't look at slips as failures, they are opportunities for success.

Coop :cool:

[DreamingD]

Thanks everyone for the encouraging responses!
I havent had anymore meat cravings and now I know what to do when that happens. I also trying to cut back on my dairy intake. When I was a vegan for a few months I stopped eating eggs, and when I decided to have one again they made me sick, so im kinda hoping I feel the same way for the rest of the dairy. I had some cooked mac and cheese....EWWW!!!! I was like this is nasty, then great I wont eat that again!! So slowly but surely I will be 100% or at least 99%!!
I have my daughter looking up to me and I dont want her eating junk food. She is already likes all kinds of foods so im trying to get her used to the good ones early, giving her smoothies and yummy fruits. She loves bananas!!

Thanks all,
Dara