SAD cravings after about 1 year raw

[Linda1970]

Hi Everyone,

I started raw about a year ago to clear my acne, after trying many other methods. Amazingly, I saw quite steady improvements, although very little, each month. I should be and I am content with the progress, although I'm not 100% clear(95% though :D ) I was very lucky in that I never had SAD cravings ever since I started raw. I hardly ever thought about SAD food, even some of my favorites. Actually, I'm not too sure if it's that I had no SAD cravings OR my desire/goal to clear acne was so great that I was too focused on raw & healing. Well, in the last one week, I let myself eat cooked brown rice 3X because my skin was looking so good, almost 100% clear. I didn't crave the brown rice; I just wanted to introduce my body to some brown rice after not eating it for almost a year. Yesterday, for the first time, I had very strong cravings for bad cooked food and succumbed to store-bought stir-fried broccoli.

Do you think it was the steamed brown rice that caused the SAD cravings? I wouldn't analyze this so much if it had no negative effect on me. However, I noticed that I couldn't stop eating the stir-fried broccoli even though I knew it wasn't healthy and I was soooo full. It just tasted so good. I felt so out of control and I really didn't like that.

Also, do you know what is the best thing I should do after eating SAD to avoid negative effects such as increased acne? Juice fast?

Thanks in advance for your feedback. :)

P.S. Thanks to Alissa, the Moderators and many of the members of this forum. Without you guys, I would still be battling with cystic acne.

[shine72]

I would think that it probably is the fact that you ate the rice that started the cravings. Since I do believe cooked food is an addiction, I think it's just like if an alcoholic had been sober for a year and then tried to take just one drink. That person (and you) would then have awakened a sleeping monster (the addiction). That's why I don't even bother when someone says, "Oh, one bite won't make you any less raw!"

I know for me, it would cause a downward spiral that I have no desire to travel on.

Just my thoughts. Don't know what to tell you about the acne though. I would just start again with raw and let your body do what it needs to do.

Sunshine :D

[rawOrchid]

Hi Linda,

I am new to this forum but I've been raw for over 3 months now and one of the reasons I am following this lifestyle is also to get to the root source of my acne.

I have had a few cravings for old favorites (- for me, its the pumpkin spice scones at Starbucks!) but I have never really felt the urge to eat them.. What works with me if acknowlege that you are having strong cravings, think about how it would make you feel if you actually went along with it, and let it pass. I think if you are in that mindset, you can overcome a craving for the worst thing ever ! The trick is to have a replacement!

And you know what!? If you do give in, its OK! Just accept it and don't feel bad. So, you slipped! No biggie! Just get back into your raw food ways!

I would do lots and lots of green smoothies (with dino kale, or spinach or any greens that you like) to flush out your system! That way, you will feel great, have loads of energy, and your body will be back on track PRONTO!

Good luck!

[Gosia]

Hi Linda,

I recently had a raw vegan salad with some salted olives in it. To my surprise, dang, I started craving salted cooked foods. I find salt doing this every time. My kids observed that too.

On the other hand, having plenty of ripe sweet fruit keeps the cravings away.

By the way, I noticed on another thread about skin issues, some conclusions about the fruit being the cause of breakouts. I eat high fruit and the only time I have breakouts is if I eat too many nuts. Fruit is excellent for the skin. Also, vigorous exercise does wonders.


Gosia

[theresaann]

the cooked craving thing is so sneaky!

after I was raw about a week with absolutely NO cooked cravings at all (a miracle for me) I had a energy drink supplement that I bought for my roomate, and after I started drinking it I noticed that it had whey protein in it. I was like, oh s**t!, but drank the rest, thinking, that little bit shouldn't matter.

a few hours later I was feeling CRAZED with unexplainable cooked cravings, literally out of nowhere. I was at a loss because I had been sailing so effortlessly without them. Then the whey thing came to mind. That was a good lesson learned-even a tiny bit can trigger cravings, I guess....:(

[Linda1970]

I would think that it probably is the fact that you ate the rice that started the cravings. Since I do believe cooked food is an addiction, I think it's just like if an alcoholic had been sober for a year and then tried to take just one drink. That person (and you) would then have awakened a sleeping monster (the addiction). That's why I don't even bother when someone says, "Oh, one bite won't make you any less raw!"

I know for me, it would cause a downward spiral that I have no desire to travel on.

Just my thoughts. Don't know what to tell you about the acne though. I would just start again with raw and let your body do what it needs to do.

Sunshine :D


Thanks Sunshine, for your thoughts. I truly appreciate it. You are probably right that it's the cooked food addiction. I have to be more careful in the future.

[Linda1970]

Hi Linda,

I am new to this forum but I've been raw for over 3 months now and one of the reasons I am following this lifestyle is also to get to the root source of my acne.

I have had a few cravings for old favorites (- for me, its the pumpkin spice scones at Starbucks!) but I have never really felt the urge to eat them.. What works with me if acknowlege that you are having strong cravings, think about how it would make you feel if you actually went along with it, and let it pass. I think if you are in that mindset, you can overcome a craving for the worst thing ever ! The trick is to have a replacement!

And you know what!? If you do give in, its OK! Just accept it and don't feel bad. So, you slipped! No biggie! Just get back into your raw food ways!

I would do lots and lots of green smoothies (with dino kale, or spinach or any greens that you like) to flush out your system! That way, you will feel great, have loads of energy, and your body will be back on track PRONTO!

Good luck!

Hi Raworchid,

Thanks for your tips and support. Gee, your support really warms my heart. :p

[Linda1970]

Hi Linda,

I recently had a raw vegan salad with some salted olives in it. To my surprise, dang, I started craving salted cooked foods. I find salt doing this every time. My kids observed that too.

On the other hand, having plenty of ripe sweet fruit keeps the cravings away.

By the way, I noticed on another thread about skin issues, some conclusions about the fruit being the cause of breakouts. I eat high fruit and the only time I have breakouts is if I eat too many nuts. Fruit is excellent for the skin. Also, vigorous exercise does wonders.


Gosia

Hi Gosia,

Thanks for sharing your experience. You know what? Right before I read your response, I remembered that I had A LOT of salt yesterday morning in my raw ice cream. I must admit that the salt made my ice cream taste like caramel; just incredibly delicious. However, prior to this, I have been consuming very little salt for many months because I was on a high fruit diet. So, I might have the same reaction to salt as you, which is SAD cravings. :eek:

[Linda1970]

the cooked craving thing is so sneaky!

after I was raw about a week with absolutely NO cooked cravings at all (a miracle for me) I had a energy drink supplement that I bought for my roomate, and after I started drinking it I noticed that it had whey protein in it. I was like, oh s**t!, but drank the rest, thinking, that little bit shouldn't matter.

a few hours later I was feeling CRAZED with unexplainable cooked cravings, literally out of nowhere. I was at a loss because I had been sailing so effortlessly without them. Then the whey thing came to mind. That was a good lesson learned-even a tiny bit can trigger cravings, I guess....:(

Hi Theresaann,

Thanks so much for sharing your experience. It gives me more to think about. :)