Overboard on Raw

[solongng00dnite]

Does anybody ever go overboard on eating raw food? Not all the time but sometimes I just dont have control and I keep eating until I dont feel good. Its stupid and it sucks but I suppose doing that with raw food is better than SAD. It is totally lame though because I get the same stomach aches where I just want to crawl into a ball and go to sleep. Ugh! If I am not the only one, how do you get past this type of situation?

[SmilingRawDancer]

I do that too, but I know the cause of it - and it's stress. 100% of the time. Stress, anxiety...during winter break etc. I don't have that problem.
I guess the only thing I do is TRY and remember to go to a quiet place, close my eyes and breathe and talk myself through the situation, maybe even cry. ANY release to tide me over untill I can really deal with whatever I'm feeling. It's hard to do though.
Good luck <3

[agumble]

I noticed myself doing that, so I tried to keep track of when it was happening, and it seems to be occurring whenever I'm anxious. Certain foods seem to trigger it as well. I haven't found a sure-fire away of stopping myself from binging yet, so I'm looking forward to reading others' posts on this!

[Eva]

Herbal hot tea helps... so does keeping a pitcher of really tasty water on hand and drinking regularly (with slice cucumbers and lemon wedges mmmmm)... but definitely the herbal hot tea. I find that also for myself stress or anxiety are at the root of the munchies... So I try to get centered in and focused on relaxing and breathing and enjoying the tea for a few minutes.

It's sure not fool proof... but it does help me immensely. :)

[oceanee]

Eating raw does not fully stop the triggers if you are an emotional eater. I am, and my times are stress and being tired. Being raw has helped though the emotional detoxing which is another story.
I try and refer to my written list or mental list and go to a quiet place in my mind if I can. It is hard but it is also about facing the whys....and we are all so different.
I guess first address the when then the why and then find what works to get around it?
Am I making any sense? It is a journey for me to be free from cooked food addiction and the emotional triggers that I practiced for too many years using food to "self medicate".
I am going to start yoga....
Good luck,
Oceanee

[Zaphirah]

yeah-it's stress for me too. I used to eat SAD to "feel" better. Now with raw I do the same thing-so I'm STILL looking for comfort in food, ykwim? I don't do it as often or as severe, but I do still do it. I do it when I am anxious about something-like the next week or so. I am home with all 4 of my dc 24/7. They are great kids but 2 (possibly 3) have autism so meeting their needs and keeping them calm is extremely difficult. I'm all anxious about what might happen. I think lots of us do that. we fret about what MIGHT be and try to problem solve invisible problems in our head-as IF we had that much control over the universe! LOL!

I wish I had a quiet space to go to, but that ain't gonna happen for another 15 years or so...so I need to work on Plan B. Not sure of what it is. Somehow I feel that Spring '08 will hold the answers. :confused: :)

[SmilingRawDancer]

Zaphirah - not even time in the bathroom? ANY time works for me. Not even long - just long enough to talk to myself and consciously decide whether or not my worries need to manifest themselves as a binge.

[Zaphirah]

nope. ESPECIALLY in the bathroom....I bet Shine can give me an AMEN to this, right, Shine? BWAHAHAHA!

[Free Energy]

Hi solongng00dnite,

It seems like you are not the only one here experiencing this and I know there are a lot more. I notice that when I am nervous I tend to eat a lot more. I have remedied this by eating ONLY when I am hungry, which may only be twice a day. When I do eat, I only put on my plate or in my bowl one serving (one meal), and then I leave the house when I am done eating: I go for a walk for 10 minutes, drive to a friend's house or just move on to something else with lots of yummy antioxidant tea in hand. The whole purpose of eating raw for me is not to eat more than I need to because I know how sick I will feel if I do. Sometimes I need to "medicate" with food because it does make me feel good and I CHOOSE to do it before hand so I don't feel guilty after. I say it out loud "I choose to eat this whole bowl of kale chips, plate of cookies or cheesy spread with all of my flax crackers". I feel better when I state that I am in control, instead of just doing it unconsiously and then feeling so guilty about it or blaming some mysterious entity inside of me that "made me do it". Try different things and know that YOU are in control of what you put in that hole underneath your nose. You are one step ahead knowing what your weaknesses are and they have already made you stronger.

In love and light,
Chrissy

[solongng00dnite]

thank you all for your responses and tips.

[Eva]

Hi solongng00dnite,

It seems like you are not the only one here experiencing this and I know there are a lot more. I notice that when I am nervous I tend to eat a lot more. I have remedied this by eating ONLY when I am hungry, which may only be twice a day. When I do eat, I only put on my plate or in my bowl one serving (one meal), and then I leave the house when I am done eating: I go for a walk for 10 minutes, drive to a friend's house or just move on to something else with lots of yummy antioxidant tea in hand. The whole purpose of eating raw for me is not to eat more than I need to because I know how sick I will feel if I do. Sometimes I need to "medicate" with food because it does make me feel good and I CHOOSE to do it before hand so I don't feel guilty after. I say it out loud "I choose to eat this whole bowl of kale chips, plate of cookies or cheesy spread with all of my flax crackers". I feel better when I state that I am in control, instead of just doing it unconsiously and then feeling so guilty about it or blaming some mysterious entity inside of me that "made me do it". Try different things and know that YOU are in control of what you put in that hole underneath your nose. You are one step ahead knowing what your weaknesses are and they have already made you stronger.

In love and light,
Chrissy

What a good attitude and way to be!

[garydeb44]

Hi, I used to pig out on SAD foods, and now I pig out on raw foods. Still trying to find a way to get this under control. Sometimes it's really hard and sometimes it gets a little easier for awhile. It is always at night that I have this problem. Probably cause the babysitting kids are gone and I feel I can finally sit down and eat and then I just can't stop. I am especially having a problem right now with this. I am feeling out of control and finding it difficult to get back in control even though I am 100% raw. You are not alone, that's for sure.

Debbie

[zig_zag]

you are definately not alone, but there isnt a magic answer. the trick is finding the balance between DISCIPLINE (cannot emphasize this one enough), and stabalizing your blood sugar levels to begin with. There are certain trigger foods and addicting foods that some people just need to avoid. Surprisingly, avoiding them makes it alot easier for some then to just allow them in moderation. Overall, it requires discipline.

[Aleesha Sattva]

*holds up hand - slowly backs out of the room*

[RollinRaw]

hiding behind you and running for the door...........

[Rawmommie]

Zaphirah, I can give you a hell yeah to that! :p

I stress eat. I homeschool my 3 children and my husband is an over the road truck driver and is gone weeks at a time. I NEVER get time to myself and somehow over the years this has translated to *stuff your face when you get any time to yourself and this will help you relax* :rolleyes:

I tend to binge on certain foods...nuts more than anything. I really avoid them now, unless it's a special occassion. I like your outlook on consciously overeating and CHOOSING it. This is a toughy for me b/c although I've been raw for so long, I'm still overweight. I have a super slow metabolism and don't burn my food well, but I also know it is b/c I eat too much sometimes. Until I'm willing to give it up and eat much much less, I'm happy to at least be putting healthy raw food in my body!

[janem]

I can relate too! I overeat and it hurts - mentally and physically. The worst is that even though it is "just salad" the amount will cause my stomach to bloat and digestion to come to a screeching halt. I have "overcome" this by.....1. Telling myself I am NOT on a diet. 2....Reading other raw authors books who recommend juicing during the day and eating a meal at night. The 2 have worked wonders and the weight is finally moving off!! HTH!

[EZ rider]

Does anybody ever go overboard on eating raw food ?I eat simply throughout the day eating small meals and I separate them with a slight return of hunger signal before switching to a different food to eat. The way I do the pause between meals may work for you to not eat so much that it causes discomfort. Between meals I do some easy exercising. I'm not trying to exercise to get a sweat but rather to divert my attention. I have found good forms of non-taxing exercise that take my mind off food so that I can await the hunger signal are walking in a scenic place or rebounding or stretching. Its like a meditation in motion. I have found that I can do this mild exercise several times a day so that I can clear my stomach of a food and then have a different food for the next meal. I don't know if this technique will work for you but it might be worth a try. Hope this helps.

[RawHeaven]

I tend to overeat when I'm bored or experiencing a break up with someone. When in love, I don't eat as much. This is getting better. When I'm bored now, I find something else to do, pick up a book, call a friend or go for a walk.

I find that watching my blood sugar really curtails overeating. Even if I eat a raw citrus fruit first thing in the morning, it spikes my blood sugar all day long and I find I'm hungrier than usual. I tend to avoid any type of sweet food first thing in the morning - it's my trigger food. I tend to stick to vegetables and green juices/smoothies during the day and have meals and some fruit in the late afternoon. Sometimes I'll treat myself to a gourmet raw meal, but that seems to also create hunger later in the evening.

It's a process and I'm back to my regular schedule again. I think...:rolleyes:

[zig_zag]

rawheaven, i have similar blood sugar problems. what do you typically eat for breakfrast, or what is your first meal?
I tend to overeat when I'm bored or experiencing a break up with someone. When in love, I don't eat as much. This is getting better. When I'm bored now, I find something else to do, pick up a book, call a friend or go for a walk.

I find that watching my blood sugar really curtails overeating. Even if I eat a raw citrus fruit first thing in the morning, it spikes my blood sugar all day long and I find I'm hungrier than usual. I tend to avoid any type of sweet food first thing in the morning - it's my trigger food. I tend to stick to vegetables and green juices/smoothies during the day and have meals and some fruit in the late afternoon. Sometimes I'll treat myself to a gourmet raw meal, but that seems to also create hunger later in the evening.

It's a process and I'm back to my regular schedule again. I think...:rolleyes: