All or Nothing? Or Planned Cheats?

[Pailani]

Do you suppose there are two opposite mindsets? On the one hand, making a clean break of it and making a total commitment with no exceptions to serve as loopholes that open the door to excess, and on the other hand, making a plan to have a certain amount of cheats at specified times so that it never feels like you'll never have a certain food ever again, and there's a door left open just enough that a slip doesn't feel like a total no-holds-barred failure?

I feel like, if I told myself I could never have real sushi again, I couldn't stick with raw eating. In the back of my mind, I know that I'm going to have sushi. I don't know when, but I'm leaving that possibilty open and, so far, it's preventing me from cheating. When I think of sushi, I tell myself that I'll be able to have it later, so I can wait, and the craving goes away. Someday it won't go away and I'll have it (after my 90 Days), but that's okay because I've already told myself that I'm allowed to do that, so it won't even feel like a slip.

Am I setting myself up by leaving the door open a crack like that? I've read of incidents where one slip started a process of going back to cooked foods and was a big mistake.

[Elizabeth]

Hi Pailani,

It may just be me, but I think that *for me,* the planned cheats seem like they will work to keep me on Raw..but, in fact, they lead me away from Raw. But...if you are not allowing any planned cheats until after 90 days--that might be a very different thing than allowing them earlier on. If you do 90 days of no-cheating Raw, then you will have changed your taste-buds and lifestyle so much--that maybe you will not need the *crutch* of the future promise of cooked food to keep you going.

I have tried so many different ways..and I always wish that I had never tried to have a limited cheat.....they always turn into something bigger than what I originally intended..and I always wish that I had stayed 100% Raw.

Just think of it this way...without the first bite of cooked, you keep the door to cooked closed.. I like the way that Jinjee talks about it..as having a Raw shield about you...and as soon as you eat cooked, the shield is breached, and anything can come in. You can create the shield at any moment, by just beginning to eat Raw again....and each day that passes with no cooked strengthens the shield.

But..as I said, that may not be the case for everyone...but I tend to agree with the 100% 'ers...that eating even small amounts of cooked keeps the taste for it alive..and keeps you in more danger of going off Raw altogether.

I hope that helps.....

[DotfromOz]

While cleaning out the truly awful stuff in my freezer recently, I found a Cherry Mash bar that I'd forgotten I'd stashed in there. (For those who don't know, Cherry Mash are usually only sold in the center of the U.S. as they're a regional atrocity. It's a Southern-sickeningly-sweet sort of thing, a refined sugar-laden nougat center colored a disgusting bright pink by maraschino cherry bits and syrup that's surrounded by gucky milk chocolate mixed with chopped peanuts. Terribly healthy in other words with emphasis on the "terrible.")

Anyway, I'm keeping it in my freezer door shelf as a "potential cheat" motivation to stay 100%, knowing that it would be complete systemic catastrophe if I were to eat it after only about 6 weeks of mostly raw, much less use it as an actual cheat after being 100%.

For me, it's the most graphic reminder I can imagine of how devastatingly horrid not-healthy food is and a powerful motivator to keep on keeping on.

Maybe something similar, although perhaps not the actual food lying around, would work to remove the desire even to think about cheating for you.

[Autumn]

I recently wrote in my journal about an exchange I had with a friend. She kept asking, "You're never going to have *name of food* again?" I finally replied with, "I don't know. I only know I'm not going to have it *today*." I've repeated this to myself in a few moments of cravings during the last 2 weeks, when I started my challenge. If I keep saying it each day, soon the "todays" will add up to weeks and months.

I have already tried a diet soda after 2 weeks raw and found it disgusting, after being addicted to them for 20 years. I expect as I continue to stay raw, that my tastebuds for things I *think* I am craving will diminish or disappear all together. :D

[Pailani]

<<She kept asking, "You're never going to have *name of food* again?" I finally replied with, "I don't know. I only know I'm not going to have it *today*."

Yes, I think that's it! Maybe not saying 'never again' is just a way of doing it one day at a time.

[Elizabeth]

That is a good way of looking at it....thanks:)

[VeganVixen]

I understand all of your points ,however I feel everything should be kept in perspective sushi is pretty healthy (to me true sushi with rice cant be replicated) and If I said I was never going to have it ever again then I would be depriving myself-for what ??? a percentage???? life is too short to define yourself by a number and if you REALLY want it (I mean REALLY ,the real deal not a mock) then have some and make sure you continue eating raw -just my opinion -and like I said keep it in perspective -sushi wont kill you ,a bit of rice wont kill you -but that pink gunk just might :p ........

[Sharon in Colorado]

I think there are two different kinds of people who can do raw:

A) Those who can only do it all or nothing

B) And those who can do raw 99% of the time and have sushi every now and then.

The ones who can go out and have sushi (or whatever else) can go right back to raw, no problems.

The first group might be able to do sushi once or twice, but after the 3rd or 4th time, they start sliding, or tasting 'other' things that they really shouldn't be eating and sooner or later are eating more cooked than raw.

If you are able to be raw all of the time, and can handle going out to have your sushi every few months, you definately have control over your eating habits. I fall into that 'A' group that isn't able to have much leway in the way of going right back to a raw diet.

It is especially hard because I live with a cooked family, so that trigger foods are around me on a daily basis. Maybe it is easier for those who don't have access to it in their homes, so after they go out for a cooked meal, they don't have as much of a challenge staying on the raw path.

If you are new to raw, you will soon discover which group you fall into. I've been doing this for 3 years off and on and know that I'm in the A group.

[Amethyst_Rain]

i've thought about this myself...i'm not really sure what to decide though...all or nothing would be great if it wasn't such torture at times...some people can just do it though...on the other hand...having little cheats always invites in temptation...i think it just depends on what kind of person you are...

[VeganVixen]

I think there are two different kinds of people who can do raw:

A) Those who can only do it all or nothing

B) And those who can do raw 99% of the time and have sushi every now and then.

The ones who can go out and have sushi (or whatever else) can go right back to raw, no problems.

The first group might be able to do sushi once or twice, but after the 3rd or 4th time, they start sliding, or tasting 'other' things that they really shouldn't be eating and sooner or later are eating more cooked than raw.

If you are able to be raw all of the time, and can handle going out to have your sushi every few months, you definately have control over your eating habits. I fall into that 'A' group that isn't able to have much leway in the way of going right back to a raw diet.

It is especially hard because I live with a cooked family, so that trigger foods are around me on a daily basis. Maybe it is easier for those who don't have access to it in their homes, so after they go out for a cooked meal, they don't have as much of a challenge staying on the raw path.

If you are new to raw, you will soon discover which group you fall into. I've been doing this for 3 years off and on and know that I'm in the A group.



I think thats right -for me portion control is the big deal -I could eat plain tofu and probably not care for a while (I wouldnt like it but I could do it)-its just I would binge on it ,exept for when Im in school,going out w/freinds ect , I naturally eat VERY little then.... now I am in a sleepy town and will soon be going to college -so its not a perminant problem -but when Im bored (like now)WATCH OUT!!!!

I think that some people break,like me -were only human ,especially around winter..

So instead of being super strict and caving when the WORST foods are around,its better (for me) to go ahead and make hot miso broth or steamed veggies to fill the need for that -exept of course when it invites less forgiving cooked foods in -which isnt my case ,so its seems like a personal thing

[rawpriestess]

Well, I can relate to both issues.

4 years ago when I went 100% raw, I tossed out everything in my home, and ate exactly 100% raw, no cashews, no nama shoyu, no nothing that could even be mistaken for slightly cooked, maybe heated, possibly not raw.

I lasted exactly 3 weeks, then cracked, because I had to be perfect, I just couldn't do it again, until 4 years later.

When I went raw this time, I ate only raw, but I accepted that if I ate an occasional greek olive, at a party it might not be raw, and if that happened, I would be okay with it.

I might eat at a potluck, and eat some miso, which isn't raw, but is living, and I would be okay with it, I might eat some cashews which are heated, I would eat honey, and it isn't vegan, but I was going to eat everything the very best that I could, and IF I ate something that was questionable, I would be okay with it, and notice how I was feeling, and then go from there.

This has worked for over 75 days now, so this works for me. I do not eat non-raw foods every day or every week, but if I do want something which I did after 2 months of raw, I ate it, it made me feel terrible, now I won't eat it again, but as I said in a different post.

I am a raw foodist who occasionally may eat something cooked, not a cooked food eater, who is trying to eat raw food.

My goal is to be 100% for the rest of my life, but If I am human, I accept that I may get something cooked or heated, or even take a bite of something cooked, it will be a choice that I amke at the time.

[Rawmommie]

"but, in fact, they lead me away from Raw."

This is me. I have no control over my food addiction. I have one little bit of cooked and all of the sudden I have *slipped* and I might as well eat everything else I've craved before going back to 100% raw. I wish I could do the 99%, but I just can't.

I think we are all different though and respond to food differently. For me, I have to find something outside of food to fill my life or I will spend all my energy living in what I can or cannot have. When I am 100%, I don't crave and I move away from the food addiction and into living my life fully. :)

[Sharon in Colorado]

4 years ago when I went 100% raw, I tossed out everything in my home, and ate exactly 100% raw, no cashews, no nama shoyu, no nothing that could even be mistaken for slightly cooked, maybe heated, possibly not raw.

I lasted exactly 3 weeks, then cracked, because I had to be perfect, I just couldn't do it again, until 4 years later.



RP you bring up a really good point here. I am like you with the questionably raw things here and there. I find it is easier to stay raw this way, however if I get a little too relaxed with those 'condiments' sometimes I go south.

I would like to know what Alissa thinks of this if she's reading. Alissa, I know you say in order for most of us to stay raw we need to do it 100%, but the Bragg's, nama shoyu, cashews, miso, dried nuts, various oils, etc. aren't truly fresh products.

That is one reason why I say I'm all raw instead of 100%. I picture a 100% raw fooder as someone eating fresh fruits, veggies, nuts & seeds, and no recipes or dehydrated foods.

[vegangelist]

Sharon,

I agree. I think the most accurate is to say "raw" versus "living". I mean, dehydrated stuff, dried fruits, etc may be technically raw, but not living in the same sense as sprouts or a fresh apple.

Personally, I would rather eat a few things that are not technically raw, such as cashews, nama (not excessive tho, and i don't use braggs), etc and eat more fresh stuff versus dehydrated stuff. i do dehydrate some, but i try not to get overloaded with that type of uncooking as i still think that that is not ideal, as jinjee talifero says, it is best for transitional food.

And, about this topic in general i agree with what others have said in that some people really must do 100% in order to stick with it and for others the "contraints" of 100% make it harder to stick to raw than say being 95% raw (gives em a little breathing room). I just think that it is oppressive to those in the 95% category to hear others saying that you MUST be 100% or it just won't work (not that i read anyone saying that in this thread, but i have come across that mindset and i find it counterproductive).

kristi