Chewing Gum

[NYbutterfly]

Hello,

I just joined these mesage boards last night, mostly to seek support as I transform eight years of bullimia and anorexia into a healthy raw food lifestyle. I have tried on and off to go raw, only to turn to bingeing and abusing laxatives. I find that I did this because when eating only raw foods, I was scared and missed my old comfort foods... mostly "diet" food... low carb this, low fat high protein that.

For the past two weeks I have been transitioning to go raw... basically, eating a raw diet until the evening, juicing a lot, eating more veggies and fruit. I'm doing great, and today is my first day of going all raw.

I started my day with a heaping bowl of fresh exotic fruits and was quite satisfied. However, I have already chewed 4 pieces of gum in less than 3 hours! What's going on here? Obviously, gum is FAR from raw and can interfere with natural digestion. I can't stop, though! My fear is that if I don't chew gum, I'll binge.

Does anyone have some advice on how to kick this habit and NOT compensate for the chewing gum by chewing food non stop?

Thank you so much!

[Revvell]

It would be better to chew raw food non-stop. Your fear is the problem, not the gum.

Personally, I'd say allow yourself to do what it needs to do for now. This is something Alissa and I speak about on one of our programs... don't force yourself to give up an addiction. Keep going raw and the addiction will end of it's own accord.

Suggestion: Write down 10 things you're afraid of about being raw. Then, write down 10 things you appreciate.

R.

[NYbutterfly]

That is a wonderful point you make. I suppose I am not concerned about the gums affects on my digestion as much as I fear being without it.

I will make a list of things I fear and appreciate about going raw. Great idea! It may take some time... I'll just spit this gum out and get to it :)

Thanks again...

[Revvell]

You're welcome. I'd love to hear how this works for you. :)

R.


That is a wonderful point you make. I suppose I am not concerned about the gums affects on my digestion as much as I fear being without it.

I will make a list of things I fear and appreciate about going raw. Great idea! It may take some time... I'll just spit this gum out and get to it :)

Thanks again...

[rawlee]

I also was a chronic gum chewer but I think it's because I had misdirected, nervous energy. If I wasn't chewing gum, I would be chewing at my nails or cuticles. If I wasn't doing that, I'd be tapping my feet or cracking my knuckles...you get the picture. All these habits have largely disappeared since being raw. I don't know why but maybe it's because I have so much more energy and I'm directing it to big projects!!

[Chickadee]

And if you're going to chew gum, do your body a favor and make sure it doesn't have aspartame or splenda (sucralose) in it. They're highly toxic.

A gum with xylitol would be the least detrimental. Something like Spry (http://www.sprygum.com/) would be your safest choice.

[dreamrawalwz]

Can you stop and really tune in and think about what you're feeling. If you're chewing up to prevent binging, ask yourself why you want to binge? What void are you trying to fill or what are you trying to numb or release. It sounds like such a simple task, but it's VERY difficult. Even if you ask yourself this and figure out the emotion and still end up binging, it's still a huge step! It's a process. If you binge on raw, that's OK! Your body is probably also looking for the nutrients it hasn't received in a while.

Oh, I used to chew packs of gum a day. I was clearly addicted. I figured out I was allergic to corn and realized the foods I'm allergic to I am addicted to.

[misslinda]

It would be better to chew raw food non-stop. Your fear is the problem, not the gum.

Personally, I'd say allow yourself to do what it needs to do for now. This is something Alissa and I speak about on one of our programs... don't force yourself to give up an addiction. Keep going raw and the addiction will end of it's own accord.

R.


Well said Revvell. If you never get to the bottom of why you fear, you will find yourself in circles.

As a 18 year sufferer of anorexia/bulimic tendencies, I can tell you and assure you that RAW journey takes you to the areas of your self you never imagined. Healing~happens at perfect timing.


The best to you,
ml;)

[Regen]

My biology teacher said that chewing gum stimulated digestive juices that made our stomachs expect food and therefore made us hungry. Any thoughts?

[misslinda]

My biology teacher said that chewing gum stimulated digestive juices that made our stomachs expect food and therefore made us hungry. Any thoughts?

Absolutely Regen, yes, anytime we put anything in our mouths or sense, it stimulates the digestive process begining with the salivary glands.

I'd imagine that by her chewing constantly, it creates even a more desire to chew on top of her underlying emotional/thought issues.

Great point!
;)

[magglepie]

My biology teacher said that chewing gum stimulated digestive juices that made our stomachs expect food and therefore made us hungry. Any thoughts?

Hmmm, I've never heard that before, but would be interested to learn more about if that is true or not...

[Revvell]

My biology teacher said that chewing gum stimulated digestive juices that made our stomachs expect food and therefore made us hungry. Any thoughts?

Absolutely. Chewing is the first stage of digestion which is why much of the food people eat doesn't get thoroughly digested. They skip the first, fundamental, basic stage.

R.

[Liserpiece]

Like yourself, I turned to RAW to help with an ed. It has been quite a journey! For those times I wanted to binge, and that would be all the time! :o I chewed on a cinnamon stick. It has a nice flavor and gave my mouth something to do. It also was a reminder that I was CHOOSING NOT to binge. For me at least, chewing gum is mindless and the cinnamon stick was more... mindful. It has been a challenge, but it has been 4 weeks now of just eating, something I have not been able to do in 10 years. There is a wonderful thread going about ed's and people going raw, check it out under "binging/purging". Awesome advice, thoughtful and caring people!
Take care of yourself and keep us posted!

[NYbutterfly]

This is all such wonderful advice and I thank you for it! I will certainly keep you posted. I am just so grateful on finding support. In the past when I tried to go raw, I would binge. Now I have had two straight days with NO desires to do so, and I truly believe that it is because I know I have a safe, reliable support network through these message boards.

For me, gum chewing "erases" the flavor of whatever food I just ate. Though I am physically recovered from the effect of my eating disorder, it is still a mental challenge to NOT feel guilty when I eat. To alleviate the guilt, I chew gum to erase the memory of my meal. It is sad, since live foods are so abundant in flavor. It is something I have addressed, and I do believe that in its own time, my mind will heal and the voices of this eating disorder will fade away.

All my gratitude!

[dustandbreath]

I have never had to deal with ana/bulimia, but I have several around me who have. Just wanted to congratulate you on coming back to raw, NYbutterfly, and all the rest of you for your advice.

Is the gum thing also calorie related for you? Either way, you have made a great decision. Each day is a new opportunity, and the fine people on this board will never cease to give you tons of encouragement. All the best!