Hello from Oklahoma!

[mtab]

Hi there,
Just wanted to take a moment before I head off to bed to comment on how much I'm enjoying reading everyone's comments. It just looks like a great support group here.

I myself have been on a real health oddyssey over the last five years......physical, mental and spiritual. I'm happy to say that I'm finally feeling that I'm beginning to see some light at the end of this tunnel. The light was really always there, but I just had to be willing to truly open my heart and eyes and see it. I'll share more later.

Anyway, I was interested to read the threads on late night or evening cravings. This has been my weakest time. This is when I tend to binge. I have even come to realize, which is not easy to admit, that at the age of 48 I'm having to come to terms with struggling with an eating disorder. I've been in recovery in A.A. but I'm starting to realize that I've utilized food for most of my life to comfort myself, much like a drug. Now that I'm older I'm just simply no longer able to eat the way I used to and boy is that a BUMMER!

My body though has been trying to tell me for awhile that I could no longer continue to poison it with unhealthy foods. And strangely enough I probably ate healthier than allot of people I knew. However, now, since studying about raw foods I realize that raw is certainly a whole lot healthier.

Hey also,......and I recognize I could be considered a rebel for bringing this up but, does anyone find that by focusing on raw foods allot.......that it ever seems to aggravate a pre-occupation with food..........and thus can somewhat "play into" or aggravate the whole pre-occupation with food as is so prevalant with an eating disorder. I do sometimes wonder if I'm not aggravating my eating disorder with worrying so much about every morsel having to be raw. I just end up feeling so enormously guilty when I don't eat raw. Can anyone relate to this? I want to truly be as healthy as I possibly can............but I am finding that struggling with cravings for cooked foods and trying to be raw in a very cooked food world is quite challenging for me. Again, I wish I could say it was easier, but I am just trying to be honest and keep on trucking. Any support is always appreciated. Thanks so much,

Mary :rolleyes:

[tracyinfo]

mtab, eating disorders have been discussed on this forum, plenty. Up above, you will find an icon of a banana. Click on the banana, and type in eating disorders. You will find many threads. Some are anorexia/bulimia and others are stress eating disorders.

Hope you find what you are looking for in the search area.

Blessings.

[swingbolder]

>>I'm starting to realize that I've utilized food for most of my life to comfort myself, much like a drug. Now that I'm older I'm just simply no longer able to eat the way I used to and boy is that a BUMMER! <<

I know the feeling! But look at it as an opportunity to embrace greater health. "When one door is closed another is opened" (from a Bob Marley song)

I think most people use food other than to just nourish themselves. It's hard not to when you're born with tastebuds to enjoy it. Problem is when the pleasure/numbing supercedes the nourishing. Then we're just creating more problems for ourselves.

About the eating disorder thing: I've never been addicted to anything or had an eating disorder, but I agree that the microscopic attention you have to pay to this diet in the beginning could morph into something unhealthy if you have eating issues to begin with.

But the way I see it, if you were starting law school you would spend six hours a day or so in class, then another six at least studying. And no one would say you had an obsessive preocuppation with the law and shake their heads at you. You would simply be putting lots of time and energy and focus into learning something new. It's the same thing with eating raw. We're putting lots of energy and time and focus learning something new, esp. after DECADES of doing it differently. So it's only natural. But being aware of and working through unhealthy patterns/addictions is crucial I would guess, so that being raw doesn't turn into an unhealthy thing in the long run.

[mtab]

Thank you Tracy and Swingbolder,
Your comments were very helpful. I will follow the threads some more Tracy. I also really liked what you "S" had to say about if I were going to law school. That is so true when we are learning something new that is considered "sanctionable" by our culture. I have spent an enormous amount of time reading about raw foods over the last 10months. I think my husband is beginning to glaze over at times when I talk about it......ah well, atleast he's getting a healthier wife.

Hey, another thing........I have to say I have tried a number of the raw recipes from several books......but to be quite frank.....most of them have not been overwhelming successes. Do you feel like the recipes in Alissa's book usually taste really great? It's been a little daunting to spend a fair amount of money on a new recipe and have it turn out disappointing. Anyway, just wondering........could use some really fool-proof recipes about now. Perhaps especially a great raw cracker or bread to go with salads. Also are there any yummy dessert recipes..........my husband is also interested in finding a good dessert recipe. I will also check out the "chat" section on raw recipes here too for new ideas.

Thanks a bunch,
Mary

[tracyinfo]

Hey, another thing........I have to say I have tried a number of the raw recipes from several books......but to be quite frank.....most of them have not been overwhelming successes. Do you feel like the recipes in Alissa's book usually taste really great? It's been a little daunting to spend a fair amount of money on a new recipe and have it turn out disappointing. Anyway, just wondering........could use some really fool-proof recipes about now. Perhaps especially a great raw cracker or bread to go with salads. Also are there any yummy dessert recipes..........my husband is also interested in finding a good dessert recipe. I will also check out the "chat" section on raw recipes here too for new ideas.

Thanks a bunch,
Mary


Mary try the recipe link below:
http://rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2665&highlight=chili

Lots of people really like it.

--Tracy

[mtab]

Thanks for the Chili recipe idea Tracy. I followed the link and printed it out. I hope to try it this week. I just love it when someone finds a recipe that they think is spectacular.....usually means it's a pretty good chance it's going to be a success. Yahoo! :)
Mary

[lovilla]

mtab, i also suffer from later night/evening cravings. i think that it is wise of you to treat this as an addiction. personally i think thats exactly what it is. what i do for these cravings is to make sure ive eaten enough in the day. i also try to eat raw comfort foods if i have to. for me these are avacadoes, bananas, raw olives, and nuts. to me these foods are satisfying mostly cuz i crave fat. i also feel very guilty about going off my rawness. maybe we need to speak to professional phycologists, or just each other lol.