Real Raw Thoughts & Questions

[ShelShel]

On most days I eat more than 70% raw. I love it. I feel better for it. Then why do I still consume bits (here and there) of cooked? After being 100% for so long, why did I revert back? Any ideas? I still haven't figured out why. I'm aware of what is best. I prefer what is best, but yet I am unwilling to make that commitment to go all out again. Why? It's frustrating to me. Not in an I'm going nuts way, but rather a confused way.

Why do we as human beings not do the best for ourselves? Why do we allow our bodies to rule our minds instead of the other way around? I understand not all of us do this, but for those who do, why do you do it? For the overcomers, how do you do it???

Thanks!

[juliebove]

Hard to say why you do it. Maybe because it's there? Some people will just eat whatever is around even though they know it's not good for them. Or are you going out and buying stuff? If so, I don't know what the answer is.

[Care4raw]

Good questions!

I think much of it is 'conditioning' and thats really hard to overcome!Even Alissa spent years in the process of becoming raw.

Finding out why we do things that we know are not good for ourselves may be just the 'ticket' and rewarding in itself. If we can just be gentle and loving along the self discovery path and believe that we slowly do inch towards what we need, even if it looks like two steps backwards sometimes.

Good luck and keep the questions coming.

[zig_zag]

Perhaps man discovered fire for a reason? Perhaps that small percentage of food is what your body needs, desires, craves- for a legitimate reason? Personally I am under the belief that our bodies need atleast a TEENY bit of warmth here and there. Just as nature is, man is created of FOUR elements... one of which is fire. In ayurvedic medicine- an ancient Indian medicine reknowned for curing millions of 'diseases' and ailments holistically-, they actually encourage a predominantly cooked diet, stating that the man not only needs warmth, but that there is a certain love that goes into cooking. Anyway, I love raw food and raw foodism, and I think it's wonderful and totally admirable that some can thrive blissfully on being 100% raw, but I think to each his own, and in many cases, many feel more comfortable at being slightly below 100%. Perhaps this is not a bad thing, and our bodies are actually gravitating toward what IS right for us at the time... not the opposite...? Ever think of that?:p It's worth a thought I suppose... Don't beat yourself up about it! Namaste :D

[theresaann]

in my experience of doing raw on and off for 17 years (way more off than on), I feel like it really takes something on a spiritual level to be all raw long term because it's a very high vibration way of being. what ultimately determines our vibration is our consciousness. It takes something to raise our consciousness and vibration. Only now do I feel ready to REALLY commit to raw. It really takes something! I've been doing intense personal growth work for the last 5 years straight-letting go of the past, etc, and am finally feeling ready to be 100% long term. in the past I would always go back to cooked ultimately for emotionaly reasons, not physical. It's a path of committment, that's for sure.

[zig_zag]

^^^ Good post. Well said:)

[Aleesha Sattva]

Perhaps man discovered fire for a reason? ........

Personally I am under the belief that our bodies need atleast a TEENY bit of warmth here and there. Just as nature is, man is created of FOUR elements... one of which is fire.

ah yes, but that's what cayenne is great for! bringing on the heat!

[Aleesha Sattva]

On most days I eat more than 70% raw. I love it. I feel better for it. Then why do I still consume bits (here and there) of cooked? After being 100% for so long, why did I revert back? Any ideas? I still haven't figured out why. I'm aware of what is best. I prefer what is best, but yet I am unwilling to make that commitment to go all out again. Why? It's frustrating to me. Not in an I'm going nuts way, but rather a confused way.

Why do we as human beings not do the best for ourselves? Why do we allow our bodies to rule our minds instead of the other way around? I understand not all of us do this, but for those who do, why do you do it? For the overcomers, how do you do it???

Thanks!

i don't think it has to do with what is best for us. there are MANY people in this world who know something or someone is better for us (or adversely not good for us) and yet, we still make bad/wrong/incorrect choices. (or correct/better/good choices)

cause that's what we, as humans do. we make choices. good or bad.

eating raw is a choice. it's not for everyone. all i know... is it IS right for me. it's right for my body. it's right for my life.

only you can make the choice for you.

[zig_zag]

ah yes, but that's what cayenne is great for! bringing on the heat!
Hahaha... I knew that was coming:p Personally I can't stand cayenne:/ The only spice I've ever liked.... and LOVE, actually... is cinammon. Thank you nature for cinnamon!!!!!!!

[ShelShel]

I agree that we make choices. Good, bad or grey. :rolleyes:
This morning, I drank down my smoothie even though I didn't care for the cucumber in it. I was trying something new and thought, cucumber...good for the skin...not my fav veggie, perhaps if I disguise it in a yummy smoothie. No good. Could still taste it. BUT I still drank it. I knew it was good for me and it wasn't horrible or anything...so, I made that choice.

I think that is it. I wish I could make that choice each and every time I eat. Raw...good for me...wise.

Wisdom is such a beautiful gift, I just pray for more of it. ;)

[faith4u]

Shelshel,

Why not just relax and let it be for right now. Give yourself permission to be a tad but under 100%. Maybe you are putting too much pressure on yourself. Do you know what I mean?

So many of the raw gurus like Alissa say in their books that it took them 10 years or more to stay all raw. That has always helped me see that it is a process.

Where were you 5 years ago in your eating habits? 10 years ago? Just imagine where you will be in 5 or 10 more years if you keep plugging away.

Good Luck.

[velocycling]

"Why do we allow our bodies to rule our minds"

I think it is the other way around. Your body is tellling you do not eat certain things b/c they will make you feel ill and yet your mind over rule it. Why do you think your body feels better eating raw, if it was not being over ruled in the first place by your mind.

To me it is the same thing that happpens every Dec 31 - Jan 1 each year. A person body tells them "Please do not pour unlimited amouts of alcohol down me." But, that person's mind says oh come on this is going to be such a fun time. They pay for it big time on the 1st. Just think with your body and not your mind. The body is into it for the long haul, the mind just wants instant gratification.

[missvitreous]

Wow. I second the thinking with your body comment. It does so much for us. As to why people do these things, I believe that your heart, mind, body and soul have to be focused on eating raw food. (Not saying you have to be obessive, just have a reason that satisfies all these categories). If there's one area that's not focused, then it will affect your ability. Karen Knowler recently wrote something like that. Not saying I've overcome all cravings...but understanding that principle has helped me to understand why it can be hard for some people and easier for others. I think having a compelling vision of your future with raw beyond just the physical health benefits helps.

[cayenne]

May be your raw foods make you too alkaline, and now you need a little cooked stuff to provide some acid?

May be, I really don't know, may be you are not getting enough exercise (which can also balance all the alkalinity from fruits and vegetables)? Experiment with more exercise?

[ShelShel]

Honestly, I'm not upset at all about what I'm eating these days. :o I may have seemed that in my original post, but it's just the opposite. I seem so comfortable with it, that I question where the drive to be 100% went. I seemed driven before. (Almost as if there were raw police. :p) And now, it's just...not.
So, my original question was really, is there something that drives you to eat 100% raw? Is it the need to lose, to get healthier, to I'm not sure...but what drives you personally?

I love raw foods. I really, really do. I just posted a pic of my breakfast to my blog this morning. I wonder why with this love I don't keep it 100%. That's all. Kind of a crazy post, I suppose.

But this morning, I spent some time contemplating the comment that it takes all of them working together body, soul, mind, spirit....unison of our internal wills. That our body does want something...our minds tend to let us off the hook or cave to a lesser choice. Hummm. That was definite food for thought.
I woke up with a refreshed spirit. A heart that wants to persue this journey with just a bit more ambition. To see what I can achieve if I try just a bit harder and stop relaxing my will to healthier.

Thank you all. This was a good post for me. It gave me lots to think of and a chance to rethink what I've been eating as of late. I do eat so much better than 5 or 10 years ago. I'm so much thinner and healthier. How do I want to enter my 40's, 50's and beyond? Vibrantly! I know the path, I just need to walk down it with a bit more gusto! Thank you everyone for your input it was great!

And on another note...I haven't exercised all winter.:eek: I hadn't even thought of that. I love all hot spices and use them regularly! LOL And if I did need something warm to balance me...the need for that ended months and months ago. LOL:D

I think I'm back to 100%, but I'm unsure what clicked...it just did as I woke this morning. God bless ya'll! Raw (((HUGS)))

[Raene]

It's as Victoria Boutenko says...it's an addiction. Just think...if we all smoked cigarettes from when we were forming in the womb until now, how could we think of stopping? It's an addiction based on something we've done our whole lives. It's a huge and difficult thing to overcome.

[RawHeaven]

It's a path of committment, that's for sure.

I believe this is what it's all about myself...being committed to one's personal, spiritual, emotional and physical growth and health. Once you are fully committed to yourself, everything else falls easily into place. You no longer sabotage your efforts or place blame on some outside source, person, culture or the way human beings are for example. You begin to completely own you're responsible for changing yourself and no one nor any external condition is to blame for any experience you may greet along your path. This means different things to different people...you just have to find your own pulse and fire within yourself. Sometimes this fire has to burn into your conscious awareness that it's all about you and your choices, as you create challenging self/life lessons and learn from them. Eventually you get hit on the head enough times and you no longer do the same sabotaging things over and over again, but rather you begin to use your creative energy to actually create what you want in your life and what you want to experience in your life.

20 years ago if you presented me with raw food information I wouldn't have been able to receive it with complete understanding, even though I was a vegetarian. A junk food vegetarian I might add. I would've maybe dibble dabbled in it, but I assure you I more than likely did not have the self-knowledge and awareness to follow through with it at that time in my life. I would've crashed and burned.

I'm continually amazed at how far I've come and where I am today. With many areas of my life which has brought much peace and joy. I think because I'm grounded in other areas of my life, it helps me hold steady at 100% with no desire whatsoever to eat cooked food anymore. Did I used to sneak veggie burgers and fries when I first started this journey last year? You betcha. But right now...I no longer have the desire because I ramped up my commitment to me. I say this with much humility so that anyone can know they can reach this place of clarity and certainty within themselves if they so desire. It's a beautiful place to be, hard to describe...you will know when you get there and I'm sure you will.