I was thinking today..

[debilana]

about how since I went raw, my struggles to stay raw have been few. I still fight with the cheese issue, which I know is not discussed here, and I dont neeed it to be, I shall conquer this in its time=)...but everything else has been a breeze. I even still cook for my work and at home. I am not a very strong person with food and it made no sense- then it dawned on me, even tho I did seem to go raw overnight, I had been tranistioning for months, before I even knew about raw. I did all these things early last year to clear out allergens, and started eating lots of raw nuts and a huge salad every day, after reading the book Ultrametabloism ( agreat starting place, IMHO, if you cant go raw yet), and then i was eating fruit in the morning, and then I ran into raw...I didnt have to do to much more!

Maybe because I transitioned without knowing it, it was easier. Maybe the knowledge of tranistioning is a roadblock. I have no idea how anyone could avoid it once you know the path already- I just kept stumbling into things that worked better then what i did the month before, and then there I was.

However, I have struggled with food addictions my whole adult life, and my heart and support go out to anyone struggling to stay on the raw path. I think just eating that salad every day and a GS or smoothie or juice in the am is a great way to stay stable, while you are struggling. Dont be hard on yourself. It takes a long time to kick old demons.

Old tactic of mine to stay away from unhealthy snacks- chocolate pieces in my raw nut/fruit trail mix=) I dont need to do this anymore- I do not even eat trail mix much now- but it kept me off the evil stuff all year, til I went raw=)

[Stina]

Oh, but we do talk about cheese here- in terms of how typically unhealthy it is. It's been my worst addiction, despite knowing how unhealthy it is for me. I'll go for extended periods of time without dairy, then slip and consume some, and not only get a bloated tummy and acne, but mental fog! I'm figuring out the allure is partly fat combined with sugar, so I'm duplicated that in other ways with raw, like avocado pudding. Also, I think it's some kind of psychological mommy hang-up, but I'm actively working on a healthier relationship with my mother. Abstract, I know, but I think a lot of people will get it. Anyway, congrats for not giving up and standing up to your addiction and building healthier habits :)

[debilana]

I figure its a texture thing, plus cheese was always one of my fave things to shop for , along with wine and chocolate...happy I get the chocolate, and a glass of wine if I really want it, although I rarely do, now.

I do know that eating some raw cheese is surely better than eating a bowl of pasta, so in terms of baby steps and better choices- and considering that I have not strayed from being raw for almost 4 months- I dont let it bother me. In time, I will let it go=)

[RawSweetie]

There is footage online about the dairy industry that might be helpful to view, if your goal is to let go of dairy. I was a vegetarian for years and years before I "got it" that the dairy industry is even more cruel than the meat and poultry industries. Once I saw reality, my taste for dairy products left me...just a thought. There are some great dvd's out, too, like Earthlings and Peaceable Kingdom.

I know how tough a dairy addiction is and this really helped me kick it.

[debilana]

AYe, raw sweetie, very true- I am an advocate for humane farming and did make sure when I do fall by the wayside, it's raw organic- so definatly I have the thing under control=) I think its something that I will let go in time, as my body decides I do not need that crutch anymore. Its not everyday and I don't binge anymore. I have come so far, so fast, after so long of abusing myself, that I cannot possibly be hard on myself . That was my point- its not about perfection, its about doing better than you were. As I tell my daughter- better choices! As you make more and more of them, the bad habits will become something of the past. This is the transition, and I hate to see anyone feel bad because they use an ingredient not approved for raw food use, when its keeping them from eating KFC=)

The factory farming stuff has been a key hot point for me for years, I even devoted a bit of my Myspacepage to it.

I still have some bad skin issues and I definatly feel releasing the occasional dairy might help with that- even raw organic is still mucus-y forming dairy=)

[Carlsbad]

I ate raw cheese for a while in my third month of being raw, but I began to notice that it really brought me down, emotionally. On the days I would eat raw cheese, I would not be as happy as the days when I didn't. Plus, it completely stalled my weightloss, and it would give me a bad taste in my mouth in the morning.

Ultimately, the decision is yours, of course, but you may want to take some time to see if the cheese has any effect on you. It took me a while to determine what the culprit was.

[debilana]

I think its mostly bothering my skin, although once i gave into my old ways and ate a pound (!!!!!!!!!) in 2 days- OMG I was SO cranky.

Things have moved so quickly for me the past 8 months that I think soon it will be a past issue- already I have gone from raw, to organic, to sheep n goat. soon it will be bah bye:D