ug...I'm back again...need your support, thoughts, etcetera...

[raw-siobhan]

Well hi everyone. I have come back with my head hung low in shame. My heart belongs to raw...and everything else about me screams for fast food. This is so hard for me. It shouldnt be hard to go raw and stay raw, but I am so addicted to the comfort of the crap I am used to eating that I give in every single time. I am at a loss. I guess I need some love and support and a gentle or not so gentle nudge in the right direction. Can you help me? :(

[rawstrawberry]

Surround yourself with raw foods, stop using food as comfort, build a buddy system with another raw foodie.

When you feel like you need comfort call your buddy, or read a book, or go for a walk, it takes 30 days to break a habit and start a new one.

Write down how crap food makes you feel, read it everytime you are about to crack and drink a green smoothie!

You can do this, love yourself enought to keep trying.

RS

[Hannah]

Hey there, Beating yourself up gets you no where - just no where ... Its like Alissa says, you have to stay focused on the positive. Right now it may be as simple as the fact that you are aware of what you need to do to feel better. That is the first step to making progress. Maybe you need more time to transition, everyone is different, but certainly no one became raw by focusing on their foibles ... just keep going. Think about the health you will gain, the feeling of radiance and vitality (maybe you have difficulty sensing what it will actually be like - just do your best to try and imagine how you will feel). Just focus on what you are gaining (health, radiance, and so much more) rather that what you are losing (your standard comfort foods). As you work at it over time the cooked foods you crave will hold less power for you. With a positive mental attitude, you can stay on track, most important is how you feel emotionally AND physically, so refrain from beating yourself up and just keep moving toward your goal.

[raw-siobhan]

Thank you for your kind thoughts. It is frustrating and a slow process for me, slower than I want it to be. My cravings have me by the neck and my self-discipline hasnt been exercised to the degree that I know I need to exercise it. The good, truly worthwhile things dont come easy right? I have to work at it. I know what is good for my body. I know what is right for my body. I need to keep putting my all into it and quit giving up periodically. thank you for your support. It is much appreciated.

[lore-ah]

I really like something Alissa says in her book, but of course I won't word it as well as she does. If you're focusing on what you don't want, it'll be harder to resist. Instead of trying to tell yourself you don't want a burger, tell yourself you WANT some fruit, a salad or a smoothie. It really does work.

[charika]

Hi raw-siobhan,
I just sent you an email because I posted a similar thread just yesterday :)

[justinesmith]

It's true! It's called the law of attraction. If you put out that you don't want something...guess what you get more of??? The things you don't want. You can do it raw-siobhan (LOVE that name, by the way) and you know us rawbies here will help anyway we can! :D

[Stina]

Yeah, I've ping-ponged back and forth a lot and it's hard. It's enough to drive a fragile system bi-polar: the calm waters of raw eating to the cascades of junk food.

Things I do to get myself back on track

- stock up on raw food and raw treats, for me that is a lot of mangoes and avocados with which I make mousse out of .

- meditate and pray

- journal and don't let myself beat myself up in my journal, rather explore and dream

- hang out here on this forum for support

- privately e-mail someone on the board with a lot of time being wholly raw. That's what I call it rather than strictly raw. room for vanilla extract and miso and the like

- flood my body with greens via green lemonade and green smoothies

- get away from annoying people and spend time in nature

- I keep reading book after book on the raw lifestyle. Since I can't afford to buy a library of them, the local public library sends away for them for me.


- I count my blessings and give myself credit for whatever raw food I did manage to eat that day.

- make a collage of raw goals and post it on the fridge.



So, feel free to privately e-mail me anytime for extra buddy support. I'm a good listener.

but, you know what, congratulations for


not giving up!

[MorningRuby]

"There is a law in psychology that if you form a picture in your mind of what you would like to be, and you keep and hold that picture there long enough, you will soon become exactly as you have been thinking."

I have struggled many, many times with a circle of guilt because I knew I wanted to follow this lifestyle, but I wasn't making any changes. Best thing that works for me is to keep it in mind what I want to do at all times, and read this site every day if possible for motivation. It has gotten to where I will think about the fact that if I don't follow through, I will just feel worse about myself later.. "hmm, would I rather have a cheeseburger and feel sick physically and mad at myself later...or would I rather eat raw again this meal and feel good that I followed through". Nothing is worth feeling down about yourself. :)

[Spiral Leana]

After reading this thread, I really like the Hang out in Nature suggestion!!

this is such a simple and beautiful way to attune yourself to truth and let go of all of the pent up emotion.

Also, stay away from negative people!! toxic input=toxic actions

don't let what you eat change your attitude...life is beautiful....even if you eat some cr*p

good luck, eat well and stay happy

[youraw]

Just coming back here is a great start! I just recently started raw and the one thing that helps me the most is keeping a blog and being honest about everything I eat. I also am trying to think ahead and be prepared for any situations that might come up where I might get into trouble.

Good luck! I know you can do it!:D

[raw-siobhan]

Thank you all so much for your love and support and emails! My internet has been down for the last 24 hours or so and I just logged on to find emails and many posts and it is heart warming and so helpful to me. Thank you all! :)

[elfinbaby]

Drive thrus are my addiction. I can pass up a gourmet meal, go out with friends, even go on vacation to a fancy schmancy resort in Mexico but I can't pass up the friggin' drive thru. I fall off the wagon - I fall so far it's embarrassing. Then I cleanse and climb back on. Just yesterday was my first time to have that "I'm just going to do it this once" conversation with myself and NOT do it. Just YESTERDAY! And I've been trying this for a year!

I'm not saying it has to take that long or I've totally overcome my addiction but I do feel good that I finally won one battle.

I totally can't be trusted if I'm driving with the kids or at the grocery store (candy bars, etc. are an issue as well). My talk usually goes "Today sucked so I'll" fill in the blank with a drive thru, candy bar. Or "I'm stressed. I deserve" etc. I've read all the good pep talks and ideas on the threads and my bottom line is it's an inner demon. I definitely appreciate and acknowledge the "team spirit" but it's hard - I feel ya.

Right now, I'm staying on my cleanse until my house is in order, the kitchen is in order, meals are laid out, food is in place, my emotional/mental center is where it should be and THEN I'll give it yet another go. I can do this. I've done it before for 3 months solid. I want it to happen so I'm going to keep at it.

This may be kind of cracked advice but I start re-researching raw and veganism. Usually end up with a book like Mad Cowboy. That helps me recommit:D

April

[mulch]

It took me almost a month to cut down my fast food/cookie addiction. I gradually cut out all of the toxic food. This transitioned to a vegan diet. Then I transitioned eating raw all day. I have messed up my diet for years and this summer I said enough is enough. It took the WHOLE summer to become raw. However, I am very pleased with my decision. ADDICTION is horrible. My husband just reminds me to not even think of the alternative.
I find myself like an alcoholic, I can't have any trigger foods ever. That is what is nice about raw for me. I never have to eat a cookie or cheese pizza again. Raw food is good but not addicting like junk food was, my satiety centers remain intact.
Warm wishes

[lore-ah]

This thread is good for me to read today. It's been a total struggle. I had some things I wish I didn't over the weekend, and again last night. Today I have a head ache, I'm tired and I feel like I can't fill up on raw foods and want to dive head first into a pizza. I know it's because I let my guard down the other day and now I'm paying for it

[Morn]

The good news is you haven't given up and you keep coming back! If at first you don't succeed try try again! We are here for you. Stay connected with likeminded people and surround yourself with people who will support you moving forward. I find that keeping my focus on the goal is important so I would come here often (daily) and also accountability is key. Is there someone in real life (that you see often) you could ask for help so that you can be accountable to them? If not, joining the raw 30 day challenges have helped me. Just a few ideas. Hang in there kiddo. We are all in this together.:)

[mulch]

loreah
keep at it
your signature was one of my motivations
i was also 195 and i kept telling myself wouldn't 184 be
a nice weight to be at and low and behold i am catching up to you 186.6:D .
i know it is hard
even if it is one meal at a time
CHANGE IT

[raw-siobhan]

Wow, that is amazing - you guys are going through the same thing as me. The stupid drive-thru with fast food. Its so stupid because it is convenient, etcetera, etcetera and now it has gotten to the point where the food itself grosses me out, but I still do it. I dont get it, but I have a plan...Tomorrow I am moving to a new house - actually my first home and it is truly exciting. Because I have such an addiction to all "convenience" foods other than what nature provides I have decided that my new home will not be contaminated with the foods of my past. I really cant even keep my kids' food around either because while I might not actually enjoy their foods it will actually remind me of the stuff that I do like. I am working on replacing the comfort that fast food provides with some other comforting things for me such as (and this will sound nuts) I have a favorite pillow case that I like to hold that reminds me of my childhood...it is very comforting. Honestly, I cant think of a darn thing besides that, but food cant be the comfort - not even raw foods. I can take just about anything too far and I dont want to over eat at all. You know?

It is comforting to hear that there are some out there that have the same addictions I do, although I hate that you guys have to deal with it.

I am truly open to more suggestions as well, everyone. This is such a productive thread for me!

[raw-siobhan]

The good news is you haven't given up and you keep coming back! If at first you don't succeed try try again! We are here for you. Stay connected with likeminded people and surround yourself with people who will support you moving forward. I find that keeping my focus on the goal is important so I would come here often (daily) and also accountability is key. Is there someone in real life (that you see often) you could ask for help so that you can be accountable to them? If not, joining the raw 30 day challenges have helped me. Just a few ideas. Hang in there kiddo. We are all in this together.:)

Actually, I use your web page as motivation. I dont have anyone that can be a real motivating person that will hold me accountable right now, but I can recall when you were new to this website and you had goals and desires and you reached them. Seeing your photo journal on your web page is nothing short of amazing and I continue to remind myself that you stuck it out and persisted and I need to do the same thing. It is SO inspiring.:p

[Morn]

Actually, I use your web page as motivation. I dont have anyone that can be a real motivating person that will hold me accountable right now, but I can recall when you were new to this website and you had goals and desires and you reached them. Seeing your photo journal on your web page is nothing short of amazing and I continue to remind myself that you stuck it out and persisted and I need to do the same thing. It is SO inspiring.:p

And you will! Remember we need to get those family photos done! :D

[raw-siobhan]

I was hoping you wouldnt remember that!!!

[lore-ah]

loreah
keep at it
your signature was one of my motivations
i was also 195 and i kept telling myself wouldn't 184 be
a nice weight to be at and low and behold i am catching up to you 186.6:D .
i know it is hard
even if it is one meal at a time
CHANGE IT

Wow really? I love it! Right now I'm stuck at 184 so you'll probably catch up pretty quickly!

[mulch]

For all of the strugglers out there
there is an opportunity in 3 more days
to make that commitment
OCTOBER CHALLENGE
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rawnpawgirl]

Yes, amen to that!!! I am soooooo excited to start the October Challenge!! I can't explain it but I feel so resolved about it this time. I feel READY.

Hey, Raw-Sioban (sp)---

You should look me up when you get to Colorado. I live here in Littleton and would love to have someone here for friendship and accountability! Email me if you are interested!

[andra]

Well, I am very new here and am actually just beginning.....but I totally understand your struggles with food addiction and I just wanted to offer some support.

In AA, they say alcohol is 'cunning, baffling, and powerful'. Well, so is junk food! What helps me with cravings for junk includes exercise, yoga, taking baths with epsom salts (which helps detox), watching a movie on tv, listening to my favorite songs which are upbeat. Calling somebody or coming to this site to check in should be helpful.

Good luck. andra

[styersky]

When I am tempted, I am reminded of my motivation. Why am I doing this food thing anyway.

My motivation is to be able to care for my family as long as THEY live. I am committed to live longer than my husband and taking care of him. Nothing is more important than that. Today I discovered that I still have Cocoa in the cupboard and the next day we have garbage pick up at our house the Cocoa will be one of those things that gets trashed.

After I outlive my husband and care for him, chocolate can be reconsidered at that time.