How many times "cheating" before fully raw?

[veggievamp]

Maybe this should be a poll?

Just frustrated how many times I commit to be 100% raw then in day or two or three I eat cooked, and not just good cooked, but something junky. I love it at time then after I feel crummy, mentally speaking, not always physically. Trying not to beat myself up over it, heard many times how long it took Alissa, but curious, how long it took others to go 100% raw?

[EZ rider]

I am on day 74 of all raw and I know it can be tough sometimes but for me it got easier after about three weeks. I started on August 1st as part of the RAWgust challenge and everything started off good. About the middle of August I had the only slip I have had. I had one Ezekiel 4:9 sprouted grain tortillas wrap stuffed full of raw veggies. On the wrap I spread avocado, then I placed tomato slices, cuke slices, sliced mushrooms and finally a handful of alfalfa sprouts. The only thing not raw was the wrap. It did the trick and I was OK after that. Its been a learning process about the foods and how to make it work but one thing keeps me on the all raw lifestyle and its this:

"NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD AS RAW FEELS"

.

[EZ rider]

PS, A lot of getting this to work for me was just to learn to relax and "be". When I feel an urge for something cooked (its been like waves that are diminishing in size and frequency) I have learned to just relax and give myself a quiet minute and it passes. Its like a mediation state that isn't so formal. I find something to tune into like some low volume instrumental new age music that allows me to just "be" for a minute and that feeling of being relaxed does it for me. This raw lifestyle keeps working better everyday. Live in the moment, one moment at a time.

[veggievamp]

I don't often get the urge for cooked, it more just easier to get take out or drive thru when tired or just lazy or don't feel like trying yet another recipe I might not like. It like a chicken and egg thing it seems, I want raw to give me energy to stay raw but hard to stay raw without the energy for all the preparing and clean up especially in my small kitchen with small fridge and having to do so much shopping for fresh stuff.

[EZ rider]

I've been lucky in that I have always liked fresh foods so when I went all raw I just started eating what I liked and eliminated the cooked. I don't make many recipes. I like the foods simple, fast, and easy. I am easily satisfied with an apple or a GS. Theres very little of my time spent in preparation, or clean up. The simpler I make this the better I like it. Everybody has to find their own happy trail. :)

[Shell]

It seems like I have a pattern......little over a month raw, then BAM, something throws me off, go deviant for about a week, then commit back to raw for about another month and a bit......etc. I'm still trying....but I have a feeling that since eating cooked food is never as good as I think it will be, next time I get the urge, I'll just remember that, and hopefully I can control myself! It will happen, of that I'm sure.....I'll never stop trying.

[mulch]

everytime i fall or jump off of the wagon, i realize that the food really doesn't taste that good. my problem with falling off is that it isn't one thing. it leads to 4-5 days of sampling cooked stuff. not a binge by any means (raw has helped me tremendously with that old problem).

i am going to try to set shorter goals for myself that i can attain.

i understand your frustrations about meal planning.
i have the same frustrations but there is compromise with every lifestyle. some days it is easy to have a couple of smoothies, salads and fruit. other days, the thought of another salad gets me irritated.

my goal is to make 3-4 raw recipes a week so that i always have something on hand besides salads and smoothies.

sorry, i don't have many solutions but don't think you are the only person finding their way

[dalimeindacoconut]

Here is what works for me and might help you. I'm always on the run. There is a rawgirl at work who influenced this one: get those half sized baggies, check out laughinggiraffe, portion out whatever raw delicious healthy munchie they have and/or nuts...anything...put it in the glove compartment of your car (I did this with my other diets, but it was SAD stuff, now it's raw stuff), also keep an avocado w/ a plastic knife/spoon, and a little salt in your car. I also keep a little munchie bag in my computer carry-all as it is always next to me. Next, like (rawgirl at work) I'm getting one of those carrying containers (with the strap) and will keep that stashed in the trunk of my car so I have it with me wherever I go. If you need to, stop at a drive-thru parking lot and get your little stash out. Also, apples seem to be saving me lately.

Want me to cure you of your drive-thru dilemma: eat a huge drive-thru meal, give your hubby a bj, you'll choke, you'll barf, it's disgusting, but hilarious and you'll never look at drive-thru the same again! Would that be considered a SAD bj job?

[cherries]

Some people can go raw overnight and some people need time to adjust. I set a goal of gradually going raw over the course of a year. Well, I didn't make that goal, I fell off the wagon over the winter for a few months and I still eat some cooked now, but over that year I struggled with my grain addiction and won. I used to eat pasta every day on my vegan diet and it was always what brought me back to cooked, but I gradually changed it from pasta to, popcorn with pasta sauce and then stopped eating the popcorn, and I weaned myself off pasta.

Another way to make raw seem great is to fast for a short time every week, then eating raw seems like cheating!

[lori ann]

Hey there,

I feel ya, I am in the same place. I am always going to keep trying. I think dalimeindacoconut has good ideas. We always have to keep things ready to go in this fast paced and fast food world. So good luck :)

[Eva]

I've been back and forth a number of times, but I keep coming back. This time it's been a little over three weeks (although I'm not sure what day because I'm not counting this time). I tell you what, though! It's no perfect journey, but I feel sooooo much better raw than, well, not raw! I have learned new stuff, learned my lessons the hard way each time.

I sort of laugh when I look at the old days of my blog, where I started again and again.

But they are new starts really, just little stumbling blocks. I guess that I've really just been striving to eat raw (and to just be well!) since February.

Don't be so frustrated! Just do the best you can and realize that it's part of the journey. I've read on here that it took Alissa about 10 years before even she was steadily really, completely 100% raw.

[jah]

Veggievamp

Don't be dismayed. It took me seven years to completely and competently become a raw-foodist. I am in my second month of 100% raw and my only vices are unsoaked nuts (my new potato chips).

I felt guilty alot because I knew what was better for me. I just couldn't/wouldn't commit. Then all of a sudden, one day, it just clicked and I don't even have cravings anymore.

Life's transforming you through a journey of self-discovery and it's tedious but take your time you're learning alot about yourself along the way.

And no matter what you hear this is really about psychological healing more than it is about physical. Our emotions have a extraordinary hold on our decisions and actions. The answers maybe in what you've been thinking about. Reach in

Take Care

Jah

[Joe]

Hello all;

I've been eating raw, natural foods for only about 2 months, but not 100%.
If anyone is looking for easy, take-a-long, raw foods, please try this site:
www.Wholefood4Health.info

They have many combinations of easy to eat, snacks and 13-day plans to
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I love the stuff, especially the Phi Plus!!
If you want a sample call me with your address at: 888-215-8769


If you go to: www.wholefood4health.info don't forget to watch the
short video; "The Whole Truth"

[raw_intuition]

Man, am I having the same problem!! I started all gung-ho and then when the weather started getting a little cool, I had the urge for warm soups and stews and hot tea and that was it! I've been off track now for almost two weeks and I've been feeling the call to go back to raw, so I'm going back tomorrow. I just hate falling off. I do feel like I'm failing to give myself the healthiest and the best. This just confirms to me that I am a cooked food addict and I have to treat cooked food like someone in rehab would need treat their drug of choice. It's not easy though, since I'll be the only raw foodie in the house, but I gotta keep trying until it finally clicks for me and it becomes second nature. Good luck to you! And know that you've got friends in this struggle to eat as nature intended!!

[PomegranatePip]

I "cheat" pretty much every day! I tried going 100%, but lost too much weight too quickly. I'm waiting until I can get a decent blender (so I can make proper green smoothies!) before I try again. In the meantime, I'm probably about 75% raw. The cooked stuff makes me feel awful, but it's the only way I can "fill up" at the moment.

Bring on the blender! :D

I don't really view it as "cheating", though. I don't have a lot of cravings, and I don't go for junk when I end up eating cooked. I just view going raw as an ongoing process.

[Hannah]

IMHO, with this diet, or really with any lifestyle change you make you can't compare yourself to others because each of us has a different history - different bodily needs, a different story, a different situation. I believe, that when the time is right for the individual that is when the cheating and the break-downs for a cooked treat will stop.

For me I am 5 years from the time I found out about raw food to now ... I have tried and "failed" many times, but always held onto the intention that someday I will be raw - I even put it out to the universe when I first discovered raw that I wanted to be raw for 2 years before having children. I am 2 weeks raw 100% without cheating - this has never happened in all my attempts ... I just know from deep within that this time it will stick, I have done a lot of work to clean house - emotionally, physically, spiritually and I just know ... and I also know that my initial "failures" with this way of eating helped to prepare me for being raw now ... I am ready and I am doing it ... I am inspired by everyone who is on this path and working their way to raw - its an incredible discipline and also such a success just to be aware that we want to eat this way - the journey and discovery is half the fun! Please be gentle with yourself and just do the best you can, then you can have no regrets.

[mrpickles]

If you are out with people it is probably fine to just eat a little bit of cooked food... it isn't going to make a huge difference and will be mentally healthy instead of sticking to a specific dogma. Don't feel bad if you eat cooked... you are already way ahead of the rest of the population. If however you are by yourself it should be pretty easy to just not have those foods around in the first place.

[Riiiya]

the only time i do have cooked food is when with others. our international student club goes on trips to chicago and everyone eats at a restaurant. i usually get a nice salad and a soup (otherwise i start getting unwanted attention). meatless soups are "ok" with me even though i know they're not raw. at least i know i didn't "cheat" on purpose but due to social sicrumstances :D

[mrpickles]

the only time i do have cooked food is when with others. our international student club goes on trips to chicago and everyone eats at a restaurant. i usually get a nice salad and a soup (otherwise i start getting unwanted attention). meatless soups are "ok" with me even though i know they're not raw. at least i know i didn't "cheat" on purpose but due to social sicrumstances :D

I live in Chicago and know what you mean... soooo much different food here it is hard sometimes.

There are however quite a few places here that cater to raw vegan (maybe you can bring them along)

[Elle_Murphy]

never stop striving to be raw though. Really, if you keep going, it gets better.

I noticed that your body seems to rid itself of all these toxins as you go. You dont have to be 100% to have SOME progress. it gets easier.

[Riiiya]

I live in Chicago and know what you mean... soooo much different food here it is hard sometimes.

There are however quite a few places here that cater to raw vegan (maybe you can bring them along)

ahhh i still want to go to Karen's! i've been there and tried their food (but didn't eat at the restaurant).. I plan to go there with a couple of friends... but not like i went yesterday with 28 people! :o the meat-eaters won't understand!

[EZ rider]

I think its necessary for a person to figure out WHY they want to eat raw and then to decide if they want it badly enough to commit to making it happen.

[veggievamp]

I think its necessary for a person to figure out WHY they want to eat raw and then to decide if they want it badly enough to commit to making it happen.

Yes you said it well. I am actually doing more research on 100% raw and if it really is the best and only way to eat for me. I just may not be 100% convinced on the 100% raw to stick it out. :o

[EZ rider]

I just may not be 100% convinced on the 100% raw to stick it out.Figuring out if you want it enough and if you are able to make the commitment Can save you a lot of frustration. If your intentions are clear and you can get over the top making a commitment move the change to a raw diet is much easier and happens very fast. If that is not the case then the change can drag out for a long, long, long time.

[EZ rider]

PS, if you can get over the top on a commitment move then it is surprisingly easy to go raw and happens fast gaining momentum with each moment that passes.

[veggievamp]

PS, if you can get over the top on a commitment move then it is surprisingly easy to go raw and happens fast gaining momentum with each moment that passes.

I appreciate your comments. I would get into the whys of why I am waffling but moderator may kick me to the curb and not good if I DO go 100% raw and not just "high raw" as I think of myself right now, least MOST of the time :rolleyes: and want to stay on the board.

[Shell]

I think its necessary for a person to figure out WHY they want to eat raw and then to decide if they want it badly enough to commit to making it happen.

You hit the nail on the head....I'm finding this is my struggle as of late. It's obviously not an easy lifestyle (socially speaking) to jump into just because you want to lose weight, and this has been my typical pattern with "diets". You have to really WANT it. Researching helps A LOT.....I've learned soooo much about the benefits of raw vs. cooked, the ill effects certain cooked/processed foods have on you, and I think this is what is going to help me make the 100% commitment (yet again!:o ).

[EZ rider]

the 100% commitmentThe 100% commitment is a good start. Tony Robbins (a famous motivational speaker) says to never leave the moment of a decision without taking action. The commitment move (action) I took that put me over the top was to go into the kitchen and throw my cooked and processed food into a large garbage bag and drive the bag to a dumpster and give it a toss. Everyone is different so the way I changed from cooked to raw and why I decided to make that change may be different from your thoughts and methods and you will have to figure out whats best for you.

[River Mom]

The 100% commitment is a good start. Tony Robbins (a famous motivational speaker) says to never leave the moment of a decision without taking action. The commitment move (action) I took that put me over the top was to go into the kitchen and throw my cooked and processed food into a large garbage bag and drive the bag to a dumpster and give it a toss. Everyone is different so the way I changed from cooked to raw and why I decided to make that change may be different from your thoughts and methods and you will have to figure out whats best for you.

Well that is good for any area of your life. Well said.
RM