New, Weight loss and cravings

[nise1953]

HI Everyone,

My name is Denise and I have been totally raw for 8 days now. I am loving the energy I am having. Today, I was craving something warm and gooey like mac and cheese and that caught me off guard. I did not cave. Since I am new at this I have tried not to be too hard on myself about what I eat, just that I stay raw. Do you have an thoughts for cravings when I want the above? I have been eating avacado, greenies, salads, fruits in the morning.


I am 54, I walk 3 - 4 miles a day very fast ( 10 min mile) I am adding in strength training next week 3 times a week. I snore terribly and stop breathing. I have no insurance so I am working up the money to have a sleep study so that I can get help. I know this kind of snoring causes stress and belly weight. But in the mean time the I am losing weight and inches but not around my waist where I want to lose it the most. Does anyone have any advice for me about what to eat or not eat to whittle down my waist?

[Weazelchef]

there is a mac and cheese recipe on www.goneraw.com i believe

[nise1953]

Thanks Weazelchef! That site is great and I am going to try that recipe tomorrow!

[dhallartist]

Thanks to those who emailed me and encouraged me. I brave the scale again and found I had lost 12 pounds total. I knew I had been losing inches, not around my waist though. I am not going to measure there for another two weeks.

I ate cooked pasta last night and I will think 3 times before I do that again. I truly thought it would not make much of a difference in how I felt. But halfway through it did. I felt icky and about an hour later, I noticed that I was irratated over nothing, edgy. I have not felt that way since beginning eating like this. Back in the saddle today. Feeling great! Thanks for this community. Denise

[BGVDiva]

Do whatever you can to get that sleep study and get treatment for your possible sleep apnea.

I had no idea I had sleep apnea and suffered from extreme fatigue and depression for several years because of it. It wasn't until I was going through a pre-surgery interview to have my chronically infected tonsils removed (at the age of 47!) that my ENT had a suspicion that I suffered from sleep apnea. She asked what meds I was taking and, when she heard that I was on anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication, she asked me if I snored. I couldn't imagine why she would ask me such a strange question. When I answered, "...like a freight train!", she told me that depression is one of the most common presenting symptoms in cases of sleep apnea. I was finally diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and began treatment using a CPAP machine. The change it made in my life has been unbelievable. I am no longer on anti-depressants, however, the years of damage done by not getting restful, restorative, healing sleep has taken a toll on my body. I am on this raw journey in an effort to fully restore my body to health.

Again, keep your focus on getting your sleep study and possible subsequent treatment. If you do have sleep apnea, treatment will change your life!

[jacsam]

I've heard and found for myself that drinking a green smoothie every day helps with cravings.:p

[discodancer]

I totally get what you mean about feeling awful after eating cooked food. What a huge difference!

As for gooey food, do you like almond butter? Even just eating a spoonful of that out of the jar is satisfying sometimes, let alone if you put it on celery or a dehydrated cracker or whatever. Medjool dates are great, although since they are sweet, that may not be the kind of taste you are craving. When I feel that way, I need something NOW to eat.

Anyway, good luck with it. I find it is not so much when I have cravings that I eat cooked food, it is more when the food is right there in front of me. I eat out with my significant other pretty often. Usually I order a wonderful salad, but sometimes.... I know--why wasn't there a raw bar in my purse?? I try to remember that at all times, but sometimes I have eaten one and forgotten to replace it. It really does help a lot of have something right there to eat.

Thanks for all the ideas, everyone--they're great.