MAJOR withdrawal symptoms HELP!!!

[bearlove]

Hey every one, been raw for nearly 3 weeks 100%, and am starting to have really awefull withdrawal symptons

To the point where I think im going insane :D anyway Im writing this as i have a serious serious craving for stachy white bread with lots of butter , so I went to my kitchen and took the bread out put it in the toaster , and then took it out again and told my self in my best convicing motivational voice "COMON YOU CAN DO THIS " slowly backed away from the bread and had a date instead

I also kinda find myself justifying eating something , (havent eaten anything non raw yet ) but i find im having to justify why I wanna eat cooked food

Please please tell me it gets better , ie the cravings go away

I think im doing well , but living in a house with a few students , chopping down on cooked disgusting pizza is really getting me down,

I also find im getting alot angrier at the slightest thing (detox maybe )

ANY ADVICE WOULD BE GLADLY APPRECIATED AND ANY TIPS WOULD BE WELCOME

BLESSED BE MY LOVLIES

XXXX

[Care4raw]

IT really gets sooo much better. I promise!Hang in there. You will feel so good. As soon as your mind gets quiet you may even notice how good you really do feel now.

By the way I too am around non raw foodists, I even cook some really good meals for them daily,lol.It gets really easy, just wait and see.

One thing is you may want to notice that the cravings come and go, and just watch your 'mind' do its thing without judging it. Just hang in there with compassion and watch it ebb and flow with all sorts of crazy thoughts.

keep posting, that will help too, lots of friends here.

Be well,
Sharon

[carro163]

I too have been eating raw for about 3 weeks. I have been very raw during the week and have allowed myself a little break here and there on the weekends. I have heard it ok to allow your self the things you really crave once in awhile..especially in the begining. I want to be 100% and am about 90% of the time. The funny thing is, that when I eat what I think I am craving, it hasnt been as good to me and it doesnt feel worth it.

Have you been losing weight in the 3 weeks?

[Aleesha Sattva]

it sure isn't worth it... and as time goes by you'll find that cooked food less and less appealing as it begins to taste like cardboard!

my hubby took me out for dinner a week ago monday on a date. i decided to eat something cooked off the menu. i couldn't eat it. it tasted so... blah.

so i ate the baked potato and do you know it took me a full week to have a bowel movement!!! yucko.

i've been raw since august 07 by the way... and remember, take it on meal at a time... and be kind to yourself IF you do eat something cooked don't beat yourself up, just move on - cause guilt is not an emotion which is healing and healthy. :::hugs:::

[healinglisa]

Depending on whether you want raw to be a long-term choice, if you keep persisting, the intensity of the cravings WILL diminish. At this stage, three weeks into it, your body is probably getting started on some serious deep-cellular cleansing -which then translates into some serious cravings as residues from your past diet now enter into your bloodstream for removal! Try not to get caught up in the pull of your mind to succumb to these moments which may well seem totally overwhelming- its a gooooood sign because it means your body is really getting to work with intense internal cleaning, and you could also see it as an oppurtunity to begin breaking the emotional ties with certain foods. It feels crap, i know, but its all good!

Lisa

[greenday]

Be patient with yourself. It's hard to "unlearn" from a whole life of experience in another direction, i.e. cooked foods. The cravings will fade as your body gets used to the amazing nourishment you are giving it, and even when the physical part fades it may take time to convince the mind. As was already said before on this thread, if you do eat them those foods can begin lacking in the taste you remember. I found this an odd experience at first! I am by no means perfect, but I am learning on my journey that it's getting easier with time and persistence. Best of luck!

[Vivafree2]

I am new to 100 % raw (55 days) - i had my moments and previous experience and noticed that it is slow process - i had similar things after 20 days - i am glad i keep my journal. The cravings are going away but for a while you might struggle. It is more than hunger, detox I realized that I have to stand up to "self terminator". I am very good this time to not give in to temptations but if i have my teeth in pizza the devil inside will take two more bites before i can do something about it. And the speed i am eating astonishes me even more! I have strong will great motivation and i kid noone but it happens so be aware of your act, observe it and return to the raw as soon as possible. Be firm with yourself!

[maui_butterfly]

great advice here. it DOES get easier! (we've all felt a little bit crazy sometimes too, don't worry. i once had an entire conversation with a bean burrito...)

here's some tips that have worked for me. i carry around a gigantic asian pear in my purse, and if i get tempted to eat any cooked food, i have to eat the pear FIRST and then check in. i've never eaten the pear and wanted the cooked food...

OR i say to myself: "if i still want it tomorrow, i can have it." this helps the little rebellious kid in me relax... "hahahaha i'll show her! i WILL eat it tomorrow"... but i never have wanted it the next day. cravings have a short window, usually 15 minutes to 4 hours. if you can distract yourself for that long you can usually overcome.

good luck! :)

[StarFire]

I think we have all gone thru this so don't dispair!!! First -- drink lots and lots of water... water is always good!

second... do you have a dehydrator? If not I've heard you can actually use your oven on it's lowest setting and prop the door open slightly.

I'm NOT a bread eater - never have been. But when I went raw -- :eek: of all the darndest things to start craving!!! it was weird.... but - I WANTED BREAD.

so -- I made some raw onion bread (which doesn't really taste like onions at all)... but if you really don't like onions - there are several other recipes floating around RFT that are wonderful!

it really hit the spot!
I also made some eggless egg salad and had me a fabulous sandwhich ... it was yummi'licious! :D Now I'm loooving raw bread - cucumber and tomato sandwhiches, raw cheese sandwhiches, avo sandwhiches... looove it!

so when those cravings hit - you can always take an adventure and try a raw recipe that will tickle you its soooo good!

cravings will decrease over time. It's like greenday said -- we are unlearning a lot of programing... so be patient with yourself and know that you are giving yourself the greatest gift you could ever give...

vibrant life... and living a life of LOVE ... (LIVE ORGANIC VEGAN EXPERIENCE!)

rawk on rawbie.... YOU'RE DOIN GREAT! http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/happy115.gif

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/tha857f08c.gif

[Imani]

I crave white bread. I donot even eat white bread normally. so i just fight it and eventually it wil go away. M husband bought two dozens of crissants. I havenot touched them.
Imani