I Can't Believe I Slipped!

[RAWisme]

I've been 100% raw for 8 months and this weekend I ate SAD. I'm so disappointed in myself. I have cystic ovaries but don't get them often. The last time I had one was about two years ago. Well, I'm going through it now and my cravings were just unbearable! I currently live with my sister so there's SAD food everywhere and my daughter is Vegan and partially raw (transition). I ate my daughters rice and my sisters bread, chips, and cake. Anything I could find that was salty and sweet.

I feel like such a failure. I know nobody is perfect and setbacks happen, but I guess I feel I'm setting the example for my daughter as well as my family. I'm still having such strong cravings...ugh! I always get them when I get a cyst like this. Ever since I've been raw I haven't menstrated, so I don't know what has caused this cyst to occur.

Anyway, thank you for letting me vent!

[ShelShel]

Ok, raw forum...let's give her some great raw ideas to help her through the cravings!

First, I've been told that green smoothies get rid of cravings. This doesn't work for me. :o So, I substitute raw yummies to get me through. Here are some ideas!

I personally love dried fruits, mixed with nuts and then I sea salt them. Sweet and Salty!

I also love adding raw gingerbread to raw ice cream and add just a drizzle of agave. It's sort of like a caramel, cookie dough ice cream. :p Yum!

Also, I think having a raw bread or cookie on hand would be great.

Alissa has Almond Butter Balls on page 510 of her book.
Rawvolution has truffles on page 166 of that book.
Ani's book has donut holes on page 228.

I hope that you don't let this drag you off the wagon, but just look at it as a bump in your road. Get back to raw as fast as you can and do what it takes to stay there! Raw (((HUGS)))

[lore-ah]

I've had about a month long slip. It's not been good. I feel awful and look awful.

The good news is I know from experience that even a few raw days turns things around unbelievably quickly!

[jacsam]

Are you kidding me, your were 100% for eight months, that is incredible....now you know you can do and you know how to do it...so you hit a speed bump, drive over it....I know your going to be fine. Don't let a little bump overshadow your 8 month victory. Jump back into the race!!! Judith :)

[momma-rawma]

You are NOT a failure. This from someone who had a little too much chocolate chip cookie cake yesterday and felt like I had a hangover this morning.:(

Shake it off and move on. You can change it--but you will notice a difference in your body.

I just kept doing green drinks and taking extra veg yesterday. And this morning, the cookie cake is in the trash and starting a fresh am I.

I am only partial, but I keep my dinners SAD but HEALTHY! (so lean chicken/fish and veg).

It was definitely those cookies. BLEK! And the frosting was terrible. But I must not be cured of the taste of a ccc---b/c I enjoyed it too much...until this morning.:mad:

[momma-rawma]

And if money is no object and you are looking for a quick fix---you can get some yummy treats overnighted from Glaser Organic Farms. Their desserts are to live for and they are totally raw. YUM!

[Carlsbad]

I ditto the above--you are NOT a failure! You slipped, let it go. Focus on getting through the next week eating raw (I find that I have cravings for about a week after a slip, then they vanish). Make yourself some raw treats that mimic the SAD tastes you are craving and gorge on healthy raw stuff to get you through this patch. You can do it! You have your whole life to live raw; one slip won't derail you!

[MZ B]

You fell down and now you have gotten back up. We are human, you have been raw for 8 months, which is incredible. Be encouraged.:D

[Zaphirah]

You've received a lot of good advice. I just wanted to add that even STORM TELIFERO admits that he fights cook cravings on an almost daily basis.:eek: He's been raw for 30+ years!!! Don't be such a perfectionist. Bask in your Abundant Victories, rather than your small mistakes:D

[Bethanie]

During the holiday i completely fell off and then my husband discovered SubWays Veggie footlongs.
Yes, they are delicious and yes we ate a few of them but all the time i was craving totally raw dishes.
I just blended a sweet potato with dates and almond butter and some star anise powder together and had warmed my bowl and it was warm and tasty.
I feel full and happy, i'm learning that if you eat it enjoy it and go on.
I desire to be all raw and will work toward it but i won't beat myself up if i slip:)
We are planning another trip and i usually slip when i'm away from home but each time i try to do better.
B.

[subbacultcha]

100% for 8 months is a massive achievement. You should be proud of yourself for that rather than slipping up. Just try to forgive yourself and move on.

[DavidZaneMason]

I hear you. You WILL succeed! The REAL stuggle is always to match up what our intentions are....with what we are doing....with what we achieve - you know? There is no such thing as slipping and falling....or failing. There is only not meeting the goals that YOU have set in your mind. Set smaller goals...and feel successful. You'll find its a habit - and a good one.

-When you do what you are truly motivated and prepared to do on a daily basis.....self-recrimination will cease. Even the sprinters still do what the beginner does: put one foot in front of the other. Their strides aren't significantly greater - they just do it more often! :)

-David Z. Mason

[GoingtoRAW]

Ok, raw forum...let's give her some great raw ideas to help her through the cravings!

First, I've been told that green smoothies get rid of cravings. This doesn't work for me. :o So, I substitute raw yummies to get me through. Here are some ideas!

I personally love dried fruits, mixed with nuts and then I sea salt them. Sweet and Salty!

I also love adding raw gingerbread to raw ice cream and add just a drizzle of agave. It's sort of like a caramel, cookie dough ice cream. :p Yum!

Also, I think having a raw bread or cookie on hand would be great.

Alissa has Almond Butter Balls on page 510 of her book.
Rawvolution has truffles on page 166 of that book.
Ani's book has donut holes on page 228.

I hope that you don't let this drag you off the wagon, but just look at it as a bump in your road. Get back to raw as fast as you can and do what it takes to stay there! Raw (((HUGS)))

Shelshel, your posts are making me hungry today! I wish you could come to my house and "uncook" for me!:p

[RAWisme]

Thank you so much everyone for your kind words and inspiration. As David Z. says, "there are no raw food police". My "slip" doesn't define me...I just need to keep moving forward.

You all made me feel so much better! :D

[oceanee]

Wow- I want to make it to 8 months. just a little twist in the road and it's all a learning process isn't it. Good for you for reaching out here as support and listening rawbies truly aids us all on the raw journey. Let it go and have a GS;) !
Oceanee

[RawHeaven]

RAWisme, 8 months raw? Wow, you kick raw butt and I'm sure you will continue to do so. Enough said. :D

I've eaten cooked also a few times and got back on trawk ;) with the next meal. In a way, it validated how wonderful it is being raw. I immediately felt better eating living food and felt like crap after eating the cooked. It has helped me remain true to myself ever since. Sometimes these detours wake us up just a little bit more.

Peace,

Crystal

[chilove]

Don't be too tough on yourself. The only thing to think about now is loving yourself and nurturing yourself and getting right back on track. Remember, YOU ARE A RAW FOODIST NO MATTER WHAT!!!

You can do it!!!

Blessings,

Audrey
www.rawhealing.com

[maui_butterfly]

I've been 100% raw for 8 months and this weekend I ate SAD. I'm so disappointed in myself. I have cystic ovaries but don't get them often. The last time I had one was about two years ago. Well, I'm going through it now and my cravings were just unbearable! I currently live with my sister so there's SAD food everywhere and my daughter is Vegan and partially raw (transition). I ate my daughters rice and my sisters bread, chips, and cake. Anything I could find that was salty and sweet.

I feel like such a failure. I know nobody is perfect and setbacks happen, but I guess I feel I'm setting the example for my daughter as well as my family. I'm still having such strong cravings...ugh! I always get them when I get a cyst like this. Ever since I've been raw I haven't menstrated, so I don't know what has caused this cyst to occur.

Anyway, thank you for letting me vent!

I've been there! One of the cool things about the raw food path is that it really asks us to take a hard look at ourselves, and our old patterns that may not be working for us. And that includes our thought patterns. Maybe those most of all.

It's not reality that hurts us, it's our stressful thoughts about reality. And stress and pain and self-doubt all lead to the same place -- self-sabotage! When we question those thoughts, we find out that they aren't necessarily true, and then they lose our power over us.

The reality is you ate some cooked food this weekend.

The thought "I am a failure" is very stressful. Can you find five examples of how you are not a failure? (And after you find 5, can you find 5 more?)

"I have to set the example for my daughter and my family." That sounds pretty stressful to me. Can you know for sure that this is true? Can you know what is best for your daughter's path, for your family's path? Maybe they are supposed to find their own internal motivation and stop relying on yours. Or it might be that you not being "perfect" is really what they need to see. The point is you can't know if its true or not, and if it is causing you stress, it is okay to drop it!

Good luck to you! No one here thinks you're a failure, and no one here would put on you that you have to set an example for anyone but YOU. It's okay to be gentle with yourself. Not only is it okay, but you will actually get farther with that strategy than the old "beat yourself up" one. I really believe that.

[rawgirl1]

I understand how you feel, i am also new to the rawfood movement and i have in the past fell off the wagon but remember this is a process, though not an easy one, especially if you were'nt raised raw because of the toxins in your system from years of eating the sad diet, the cravings will be there until they are totally gone, that's why it's important to not give up and stay raw as possible. The benefits are well worth it. I recommend definitely alissa's book, it's full of simple easy prepare recipes for the beginner and wonderful testimonials as well, she speaks from experience and she's good. There are many recipes, some for raw cakes, pies, crackers, etc. that will get you through this transition, i recommend getting a dehydrator if you don't already have one, for preparing these dishes. Take a day and prepare several so that when you go to family and friends house who don't eat as you, you will have these convenient foods at your finger tips to eat, when those cravings come, YOU GO GIRL! Surround yourself with other raw foodists, whether in person or online and the online community is large, you can do your searches online and join other communities who have a wealth of information that you can sort through to help you. Stay strong!

[Raspberry4]

Don't feel like a failure. You had one slip up. In 8 months of raw you must have been tempted and did not give in. Focus on how strong you are. We are only human and make mistakes - but as long as you learned it is not really a mistake but rather a very short detour on your path. Move forward and feel good that you made it 8 months - there are alot of us out there that have not made it that long. Be proud of your progress! :)

[tanishamarshall]

I would definitely say don't be to hard on yourself, 8 months is a great accomplishment, some people can't even get past a week. I believe that what is most important is what you do after the slip and hopefully that was eating raw again. Congrats on 8 months raw, I bet you feel great.

[Riiiya]

i've been 100% for 5 months........ then on christmas dinner i decided to be "NICE" (GRR) and eat some mashed potatoes.......and since then i've been falling lower and lower. i didn't even like the potatoes and felt DEAD and HORRIBLE the next day......and yet something made me crave SAD since then... i'm trying to get back on track, i'm doing better- but i crave things like crazy and i am SO hungry late at night......

so i can relate- it makes me feel a little better to know that others are experiencing the same difficulties.....BUT WE CAN DO IT!!!!!!

[Cinammon]

Hey.

Absolutely agree with everyone: and you haven't 'slipped!' It's all part of life! I've just been thinking about this - I had a much bigger 'slip' than you, and went back to meat (long story) and now I think it was just part of the journey!

It's such a huge transition, from cooked to raw, and it'll bring up all sorts of subconscious fears and issues. 'Slipping' is possibly us testing the rightness of raw(!), seeing that it works, and going on, having taken a further step towards commitment.

Also wondered: if you feel you're setting the example for your daughter and family, that's a lot of pressure? Maybe don't feel you have to set an example?

Examples of good healthy raw lifestyle are more frequent now to serve as feedback (aha). Don't mean to sound rude: just to say that it's human nature: if we feel we can't/mustn't have something, we'll want it all the more. (Sorry to state the obvious.)

So 'slips' are probably just a way of reinforcing rightness of/commitment to/ raw lifestyle? You don't do it because there's nothing else, or because you're scared of trying the alternative: you do it because you've done the alternative and it's proved it doesn't work for you? And sometimes we have to do that more than once to really 'get' it at the depths ..

Sometimes, too, going with your cravings is actually the right thing to do(!) Otherwise, to quote/paraphrase Wilde, 'the soul sickens for what it has denied itself'.

About the ovarian cyst: could it maybe be related to an emotional issue for you? There's a lot of info out now about the ways in which the body responds to the emotions.

Maybe, too, it's just that your body was responding to an old pattern of nourishment comfort, triggered by all the SAD stuff around? and that, for whatever personal reason, you needed that comfort at that time?

Anyway: all best wishes for your future journey! whether 100% raw or not.

Love

Cinnamon x