crazy problems sticking with raw - advice?

[rawr]

First off, I really enjoy this board and appreciate Allisa and everyone who participates to make this a great place for support...

I've been up and down over the last few months and having trouble eating even low raw, which is frustrating because I really do like how I feel on raw foods.

So I thought I'd list a few of my problems and see if anyone else has "been there" and gotten beyond some of my blocks:

1. I really don't like most fruit and veggies (yeah, I know!) And the ones that I do like, I tend to eat too often and then can't even look at them for weeks. (hello bananas!)

2. I dislike feeling hungry and having to eat often, which has been my experience on raw. I prefer to eat 2 or 3 times a day with no snacking.

3. I don't want to think about food all of the time...which I do on rawfoods.


Is there any hope for me sticking with raw? All advice is appreciated.

thanks in advance...

[MysticTree]

Hi,

It's only two months since you started to try raw. That's a short time for someone who doesn't like fruit and veg.

What is it you don't like about the fruits and veggies you don't like? Maybe by treating them differently you could learn to like them.

Eating often is how our ancestors ate. Gathering and eating as they went through the day. It's a natural way to eat; maybe you just need more time to adapt.

Would it help to chew your food more thoroughly leading your stomach to think it's full and satisfied?

Only think about raw when you are actually eating. Make up a box you can dip into through the day so that you don't have to think about anything more than actually satisfying your hunger.

There is always hope ... unless you turn your back on it.

Georgina

[luckitri]

Hi rawr!

I agree about the part of not liking to think about what I am eating so much. I know that I have much to learn but sometimes it feels like too much self-preoccupation in an unhealthy manner. I have seen others who have an unhealthy self-preoccupation with what they ingest and I do not wish to become like this. I just want to get well.

I am just hoping that I will learn to make nut mylks, raw saeurkraut, rejuvelac and coconut kefir and then can relax and just do it for awhile. It is ALOT to learn.

[rawzeit]

When you learn something new, you have to invest a lot of time into the learning process before you're getting anywhere. Same thing with raw foods. It's only natural that while you're learning about raw foods, you're thinking a lot about food.

I'm still new at this too and yes, it does take a lot of time to get it all sorted out, but I think the investment is worthwhile. Also, the more experience I get, the easier it becomes. It's already taking me less time to prepare my food than before (mainly because I'm simplifying).

You're also still getting used to the taste of fruits and vegetables. Try to find some transitioning foods that make it easier for you to stick to raw. :)

[EZ rider]

Not liking fruits and veggies dosn't leave much for a raw foodist to eat. If you don't like them as they come out of the garden maybe you can experiment with juicing, blending, dehydrating, or freezing (ice cream) to see it you can find a way to prepare them that you like. Good luck, I hope you find a way around this.

PS, you have made me feel very lucky because I fell into this like a fish finding water. I have always liked fruits and veggies as my favorite foods and when I found all these great recipes and ideas here and in Alissa's book I stepped into 100% raw with not only no problems but with little effort. I am now on my 68th day and I find myself in complete harmony with the raw food lifestyle. Also I like to graze and I don't usually think about food until my body sends me a hunger signal. Thank you for helping me to appreciate my situation and I really do hope you find a way to make this work.

[LivingRawGirl]

I KNOW that is not what you want to hear, but just like all "habits" it takes time to develop. Your taste will gradually change and you will learn to appreciate and even love raw fruits and veggies as your body gets rid of all traces of the old "stuff". Alissa has a section in her book on the importance of eating often to maintain metabolism, if you don't have the book, I can attest is a life changer! I agree with rawzeit, it is normal while learning to think of it all the time. I've been diligent about this since Feb. 2006 and now it is just second nature. Good luck, and keep coming here for encouragement!

[crystalmoon]

Hi there, I was wondering if you have a spiraliser or some other tool to cut up the veggies in different ways...I find it really does change how they taste & am so not into a raw carrot straight from the fridge but love it as 'pasta' salad. It also helps me to leave my food until it reaches room temperature, Im still not used to really cold food all the time.
With fruit I have found that mashing it, blending it & combining them has helped me transition to really wanting to just pick up a piece of fruit & bite in.

I am new to raw too & not beating myself up about being a certain % raw...i just started with adding one raw element to each meal & it has gradually become rare for me to have a cooked element in a meal. I just started with adding a side salad at lunch & dinner then having a fruit smootie or pudding for breakfast. The process has taken most of this year as I have come from a full on meat eating background, first going veggie, then vegan now mostly raw. I am only just feeling ready for a raw 30 day challenge in November.

I have had two weeks in a row of all raw & loved how I have felt but was unable to sustain it at that time. I am using how I felt as an incentive to continue on this journey...my body knows what that felt like & has remembered & I trust she will take me there again if I let her.
Huge cyber hug to you {{{HUG}}} in time I am sure all will be well

[shine72]

First off, I really enjoy this board and appreciate Allisa and everyone who participates to make this a great place for support...

I've been up and down over the last few months and having trouble eating even low raw, which is frustrating because I really do like how I feel on raw foods.

So I thought I'd list a few of my problems and see if anyone else has "been there" and gotten beyond some of my blocks:

1. I really don't like most fruit and veggies (yeah, I know!) And the ones that I do like, I tend to eat too often and then can't even look at them for weeks. (hello bananas!)

2. I dislike feeling hungry and having to eat often, which has been my experience on raw. I prefer to eat 2 or 3 times a day with no snacking.

3. I don't want to think about food all of the time...which I do on rawfoods.


Is there any hope for me sticking with raw? All advice is appreciated.

thanks in advance...

For fruits and veggies, make sure you're mixing it up and trying new ones even that either you haven't tried before, or it's been a long time since you tried (I use to hate mushrooms and like them okay now, and wasn't a huge fan of avocados, and now they're one of my favorites).

The rest of it sounds more like you may need to change your mindset or your way of thinking, rather than the raw food program. Sometimes changing our way of thinking can dramatically change the way we look at things. Instead of I don't want to think, or I don't want, try thinking more about the things you do enjoy and love about raw and the rest of your life. A good place to start that would be in the Appreciations thread which is in the Personal Growth section of the forum. HTH!:D

[Lee_123]

Last week I was feeling kind of bored with the foods I was eating. I wandered into an Asian grocery store and found that they had a different mix of fruits and vegetables than I was used to. And they had a lot of stuff that I usually don't buy because it is so incredibly expensive in mainstream stores. I bought some fruits and vegetables that I usually don't buy. That was fun.

Try an Asian or other grocery store or maybe a farmers market or farm stand if there are any near you.

Also, peruse uncookbooks or web sites with recipes. Sometimes when I get bored with what I am eating or find myself craving cooked foods that helps. Actually, I have identified one of the main reasons for my cravings for cooked foods: taste. I sometimes miss certain tastes and so need to incorporate the spices and flavors that I miss (hot peppers, curry, etc.)

I hope this helps.

Lee

[DavidZaneMason]

It's a bad analogy....heh..heh.....but most people regard their vehicles as absolutely necessary.....and they grow to love them. If you regarded fresh fruits and vegetables as an absolute, unquestioned necessity to reach your dreams.....you would FIND the ones that you like.........find YOUR COMFORTABLE LEVEL.....and stretch from there.

-David Z. Mason

[lafsalot]

Find recipes you enjoy eating - ie seeds, nut pates, fruits, desserts, smoothies, raw dehydrated crackers, cookies, and marinade. Somewhere in the list, you will dind dishes that you enjoy eating and can make a large part of your diet. Also try, as the others have already suggested, as many different veggies and fruits as you can find - you'll probably find some that you have overlooked in the past that you will enjoy. Once you are well into your raw journey, your taste buds will change and your body will let you know that they desire the vital nutrition from whole foods and you'll start to enjoy them even more. ~ Cathy

[CaliRaw]

Do you eat nuts? Do you make recipes? Have a dehydrator? Perhaps you can try making things that are mock SAD, such as tuna? You could have a tuna 'sandwich' on the rawvolution famous onion bread. It's very filling for me. Or perhaps walnut taco meat on the onion bread, for a tostada? These are both very filling for me.

Which fruits and veggies do you like? Do you experiment and try others?

[Rubyred]

So I thought I'd list a few of my problems and see if anyone else has "been there" and gotten beyond some of my blocks:

1. I really don't like most fruit and veggies (yeah, I know!) And the ones that I do like, I tend to eat too often and then can't even look at them for weeks. (hello bananas!)

2. I dislike feeling hungry and having to eat often, which has been my experience on raw. I prefer to eat 2 or 3 times a day with no snacking.

3. I don't want to think about food all of the time...which I do on rawfoods.

Is there any hope for me sticking with raw? All advice is appreciated.

thanks in advance...

Do you eat nuts? Do you make recipes? Have a dehydrator? Perhaps you can try making things that are mock SAD, such as tuna? You could have a tuna 'sandwich' on the rawvolution famous onion bread. It's very filling for me. Or perhaps walnut taco meat on the onion bread, for a tostada? These are both very filling for me.

Which fruits and veggies do you like? Do you experiment and try others?

As CaliRaw asked:

What kind of raw foods are you eating? Just plain veggies, nuts and fruits? I have several raw recipe books and find I never get bored, even though I tend to make the same things I really like, and are easy to make. For instance, I love this sun-dried tomato & walnut spread, and will spread it on a onion bread or flax cracker I made. I don't need to eat of lot of this because it is so rich. Then maybe I'll have a salad. Also, I have a green smoothie in the morning and drink the other half later in the day, everyday. The result is I get a lot of different nutrients and I just don't feel hungry or crave foods the way I used too. And yes, I've lost weight since I started eating this way.

[rawr]

Thanks everyone for your responses - lots to think about and try...


MysticTree - maybe I do need to give it more time. It has been 2 months since I've tried to get back on track from my first time trying raw over the summer.

As for not liking fruits and veggies - I guess I should explain that I don't hate them, I just can't find any enthusiasm to eat them, you know? And then to add in that uncomfortable self-preocupation as luckitri mentioned...something doesn't feel right. And that's why I wondered if a rawfood diet is sustainable for someone like me.

rawzeit - thanks for your idea about going with more tranistion foods...I think I might be trying to do mono-meals for simplicity a bit to soon at this stage.

EZ rider - thanks for your input, and I really want to have that same feeling falling into what works for me - and I wonder if maybe rawfoods isn't for me because I'm not naturally drawn to it. I think it is awesome that you've found what works for you :)

LivingRawGirl - I had to laugh at your comment because you are right, I don't want to hear that it just takes time - I want a magic wand! I want it now! Thanks for your words.

crystalmoon - you said, "I am using how I felt as an incentive to continue on this journey...my body knows what that felt like & has remembered & I trust she will take me there again if I let her." I LOVE THIS! thank you!

shine72 - I get what you are saying about mindset. I phrased my blocks as negatives because they keep me from feeling how I want to feel around food. It is difficult for me to feel abundant and satisfied if I'm always food-seeking, preocupied about eating, and not really "into" whatever I do eat. That's what makes me wonder if a rawfoodsdiet is for me.

Lee_123 - thanks for your advice. I will have to start trying some of your ideas in trying new things. But it can be scary - I often feel embarassed to ask for help.

DavidZaneMason - hey, that's a great point...I will have to remember that, thanks!

lafsalot, CaliRaw, Rubyred - I haven't been trying many recipes at all, and haven't tried anything that is mock SAD - maybe I should :) And also, I will try the green smoothie again - the first one I made was way too strong from kale and I haven't tried one since!

[MangoMyst]

Hi,

I think it's great that you think about food all of the time on raw...I think about food, too, but since I have been raw (and it hasn't been that long at all), I'm finding my thoughts shifting to what kind of raw foods I can eat as opposed to cooked...I'm thinking more about what I'm putting into my body and I'm trying alot of different things....As long as it's raw, I know it's good for me..

I haven't tried raw versions of my cooked favorites yet, but I will soon...Some of the recipes that I have found looke really good...

You can do it, but it'll take time. Just like you have to change your mindset when you make major changes in oyur life, this is no different...It's not going to happen over night, but if you just take small steps, you'll eventually get there and be all the healthier from your journey! That's what I'm lookin' for!

Take your time, try new things, think good things & enjoy each day given to you...Also, let me know if you come across a good recipe for a green smoothie and a raw recipe for a good raw cup of coffee :)