I could use a little support here guys :(

[lore-ah]

I know we have a lot of these threads, so I apologize in advance. Even if no one reads it, I feel good just purging this.

I have fallen off the wagon hard. I started out doing so great. My weight was coming off, my blood pressure went flying down to normal, my skin looked fantastic and everyone noticed the difference.

Now for the past two months I haven't been taking care of myself and I don't know why. I never have had depression in my life; panic attacks were my thing. Now I'm pretty sure I'm depressed. The weight of my stress physically hurts and I cry at least 3 times a day. I'm a mess!

Some of this was triggered when I started raw. I knew I had a lot of garbage to clean out. Instead of wading through it I went back to my favorite self-medication: food.

Anyway that's a lot of words that I just had to get out. Thank you if you read this far

[goodbeets]

No problem, babe. Remember, it took Alissa herself 10 years of playing with raw food to go completely raw. We are all living on the planet with you and all the folks eating cooked food. It can be tough, it can be easy just make sure you are eating delicious food that you love and that you love yourself (even just a little bit). I have depression and anxiety which raw food has helped tremendously. Still, I have some sh*^ty darned days and am considering medication. But not instead of raw foods. Wait, this is about you , not me!!

Just give yourself credit for the good stuff. check out some of the other pages here like daily appreciatons or creating abundance. They can help you feel really good on an uggy day. Best to you.

[lore-ah]

I have depression and anxiety which raw food has helped tremendously. Still, I have some sh*^ty darned days and am considering medication. But not instead of raw foods. Wait, this is about you , not me!!



It can be about you, too! If other people feel like I do I'd love to know and have a chance to support each other.

Everyone is so good about being positive around here and usually that's a great movitator for me. Lately I've been so negative which is not me at all. I'm going back to baby steps. Writing in my journal about things I'm grateful for, getting back on my blog and taking it one meal at a time

[Eva]

It really is tough to go through the emotions... I don't envy you now! Once the emotions start coming up, it's hard to stuff them back down. It sounds like you might have been trying to stuff them when you stopped taking care of yourself.

I don't know what works best for you... but for me, I was having such a tough time sticking to raw for a little while. Then something clicked, and I realized that I had been feeling like I didn't deserve to really feel good or something crazy like that. And that was a turning point... decided that I DO deserve to be clear and free of the emotions and battles with food.

Are you drinking green smoothies and getting out of the house for some fresh air and exercise?? EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT RAW, just on your way back to raw, those two things can help to get you over the hump. And there are so many good recipes, make some fun ones. Just be gentle with yourself. You're growing and learning more about yourself. :eek: :)

[starborne]

I realized that I had been feeling like I didn't deserve to really feel good or something crazy like that. And that was a turning point... decided that I DO deserve to be clear and free of the emotions and battles with food.

Are you drinking green smoothies and getting out of the house for some fresh air and exercise?? EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT RAW, just on your way back to raw, those two things can help to get you over the hump. And there are so many good recipes, make some fun ones. Just be gentle with yourself. You're growing and learning more about yourself. :eek: :)

Good wisdom and insight. Nothing is more important than you feeeeeel good. I still like Bill Murray's character in "What About Bob" ... 'baby steps' .:p

[lore-ah]

I even stopped green smoothies as of a couple weeks ago. That was always the one thing I would fall back on "as long as I can get ONE smoothie in, I still have my toe in the water"

I'm using stress as an excuse here which is silly. Eveyone has a lot of stress in their lives! I was going to do a smoothie this morning but just plain pineapple sounded so much better.

Exercise is a whole other thing I'm trying not to beat myself up over. I love lifting weights. I get in there and lift with the big boys and feel great. I haven't been doing that, either. I know I'm depressed and I'm trying so hard to shake it. I really don't want to go on any meds. I beat my panic attacks on my own and I know I can do this, too

[lore-ah]

I also should add thank you so much guys!! This is exactly what I needed. I feel better already

[starborne]

When I feel overwhelmed, I really do take baby steps. I don't expect myself to go from :mad: to :D in one quantum leap. First I choose a thought which makes me feel just a little bit better (yay, you've already admitted to feeling a bit better).

So the fact that pineapple is appealing to you -- go for it!

If I get way off track on something that I KNOW will help me but I've been resistent to, whether it's paperwork, cleaning, or exercise) I set a timer for 10 minutes. That's right -- 10 minutes. Then I go do something else I want for 15- 30 min. And come back and do it again. Before I know it, I *want* to do the project for more than 10 minutes.

If lifting weights sounds good, but you're not ready for it, take a 10 minute walk. Maybe you'll feel like it later. Perhaps tomorrow. Or perhaps tomorrow you won't and you'll take two 10 minute walks. You get the drift.

Make peace with where you are, stretching a little more each day. If you slip ... just do it again. I know it's an old analogy, but you know how many times an airplane pilot has to adjust their course before reaching their chosen destination -- LOTS.

[RawSweetie]

As others have said, be gentle with yourself and celebrate each and every positive thing you *are* doing for yourself. :) I get a bit uptight at times with things like The 30 Day Challenge and thinking "Oh, I have to do THAT or I'm failing." No no no!!! This is a life-long journey and it's ok to exhale. I also find that I will take what looks like a step backward before I take 2 or 3 steps forward. I can trust the process. We all can.

[Eva]

RawSweetie: Those are such lovely words. It's so true... I guess we do all take the steps back before the steps forward at times. And it's okay, just part of the process!

[Mialsse]

((((hugs)))) I'm sorry you're going through some tough stuff right now. Emotional pains are so hard to deal with sometimes, especially when our way of "dealing" is through food. It's so unhealthy, and such a vicious cycle. It can be a hard habit to kick. Just take it one day, or one MEAL rather, at a time. You will find your way back. Start rereading over old journals/blogs, or start up a whole new one. Reread a favorite book (not just raw, but any book that makes you feel good). Set small goals for yourself (drink atleast one green smoothie a day, lift weights atleast 3 times a week, etc. things that you KNOW you love), and really push yourself hard to achieve them - even if you're not really "feeling it". Soon you'll find the happy passion for it again!

Be good to yourself, you deserve nothing less!!!

[Madeleine.Blythe]

Things are tough sometimes.
You wrote that entry, so you know you have some courage and hope inside of you, and that you're not ready to give up. That alone is a great starting point, and be proud of yourself for taking that step.
There are lots of people out there who would just quit---You aren't one of them!

Take things one day at a time, and realize that everything will get better.
Just breathe, and think rationally, go about whatever you're facing with a strong, positive attitude... it might be hard, but I'm sure feeling the way you are now, is a lot harder. Feeling better about yourself by taking some positive steps (you know what you have to do) , far outweigh the consequences of letting this sadness get to you.

You can do anything, you know you can. You know deep down what changes you have to make to be happy.

Just do them. Everyone here is 110% behind you.

[Shell]

Okay lady.....this song came to mind when I read your post, so I'm going to post the lyrics, because even though it was from "Santa Claus is Coming to Town".....yes, yes, I know.....the words are really motivational! Who knew!

Put One Foot IN Front Of The Other

Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking cross the floor
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking out the door

You never will get where you’re going
If you never get up on your feet
Come on, there’s a good tail wind blowing
A fast walking man is hard to beat

Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking cross the floor
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking out the door

If you want to change your direction
If your time of life is at hand
Well don’t be the rule be the exception
A good way to start is to stand

Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking cross the floor
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking out the door

If I want to change the reflection
I see in the mirror each morn
You mean that it's just my election
To vote for a chance to be reborn

You can do this. Even if you take 2 steps forward, and 1 step back, you're still moving forward. Don't beat yourself up, or feel like you've failed. Everyone has their challenges, and I'm sure even the most devout raw vegans have their moments of weakness (maybe they don't act on them, but I'm sure they have the occasional thought!). Just know that we're all here for you. Emotional eating is a very tough habit to break, and if you can find a way to figure out what's making it so easy to push feelings down with food, you'll have won half the battle. Easier said than done, I know. I'm not sure what to say as far as the emotional part goes.......you've gotten some pretty super advice from the responses so far.....but I just wanted to show you that you're not alone (although, I'm sure you already knew that!), and if you ever need anything, you have plenty of hands to help you up!

[lore-ah]

You guys brought tears to my eyes. I knew I came to the right place! What beautiful souls we have on this site

It's been pointed out to me more than once that I'm way too harsh on myself. I'm working on that.

I like the one meal at a time thing. That's what I've been doing today. It's noon so I conquered the morning, right!

[RawWedding]

Well done ! Im going to take it one meal at a time, that way we accomplish big goals :)

Angie.xxxxx

[lore-ah]

Hi everyone!

Made it raw all day and I'm feeling proud of myself if that's ok to say. It's been a rough go of it; I'm so grateful for you guys.

[Mialsse]

It's ABSOLUTELY ok to say!! Be Proud!! Good for you! The first steps are always the hardest, and now you've got that under your belt. Hold that smile on your face, and just keep moving forward. :D