2 questions

[dreamrawalwz]

1. I'm still going back and forth about the water situation. Which is best? I keep hearing both sides of arguments. Your body can't absorb the minerals in spring water, but then that distilled is "cooked" and then becomes acidic. Then there is "drinking" water, whatever that is! Any idea!?

2. How to get through cravings? Not to substitute, but I guess tips and distractions or something? Support I guess is all I'm looking for. It's difficult to fight the cravings and when I'm THIS addicted I get panic attacks when the cravings are so intense.

[Theogirl]

When I get cravings, I try to figure out what my body is really asking for. Fat? Protein? Water? And try to supply it.
Other than that, I remind myself a) that if I give in to a tiny craving, I'll be making it harder for myself later and b) I'm going to be feeling and looking so much better soon and it's going to be SO worth it compared to a momentary taste of something that may or may not satisfy.

[mountaintop]

Remind yourself that whatever you are "craving" will never taste as good as you think it will.

[Raene]

I'm having a super difficult time with cravings today, too.
What really sounds great is a tempeh reuben from the HFS where I work. But I know that would really not feel nice in a few hours...so that reminder, along with asking myself what I'm really craving (something salty) helps. I'm thinking I'll buy a jar of raw pickles instead and that would satisfy my craving.
Just a few ideas; I'm not sure it's even going to work for me but I'm trying :)

[Eveleaf]

You could go for a walk, have a good cry, watch TV, call a friend, sing a favourite song while dancing around your room, pray, read a book, take a nap, meditate, paint your nails, write a poem.

Next time a craving hits you, try the technique I learned from Katrina Rainoshek (I'm paraphrasing). Envision your future self, and make her everything you want to be. As confident, healthy, beautiful, successful, vibrant, energetic, amazing as you wish to be. Say, a year from now. Five years. Whatever works for you. Sit a moment and get a really clear image of that girl, until you can reach out and practically touch her. Now imagine there is no time separating the two of you, that you can communicate with her, and she with you, right now. Talk with her about your struggle. You could say, "I don't know what to do, the craving is so intense and I don't know if I can get through it." Then listen closely, she will tell you what to do, because she has already done it. She might say, "I remember this day, and I got through it. The craving was really bad, and then I put on some music and took a bath and it passed." There is a thread of time, marked by choices, that connects you and her, and this is one of those choices. By following your internal voice it will lead you to her, and help you achieve your vision.

[Eva]

wow, Eveleaf, that's a cool thing to do!

[Raene]

I agree, that sounds wonderful. I'll definitely try that.

[Eveleaf]

Yes, it made a huge impression on me, too. Right now I'm juice feasting (day 12) and this technique has gotten me through a few rough moments of self doubt. I'm hoping to make it a habit for a lot of my difficult struggles. :)

[Seren]

Wow great idea eveleaf!

Dream: I really wouldn't worry about the water. To me, water is water! As long a it isn't full of chemicals!

Good luck xxx

[Riiiya]

sorry i haven't read other responses..but about water- i'm confused myself. i had one of those water test strips the other day and tested aquafina (or dasani) and it was TOTALLY ACIDIC! i'm trying to get alkaline here and it turns out i drink acidic water uuh

[Liserpiece]

Dream,
I was going to write something, but what I was going to say sounds kinda weak along side what Evaleaf wrote! That is a REALLY great idea! Maybe we should all try that, those of us still struggling with cravings, and check back in! Thanks Eve!

BTW, Dream, it's so good to have you back! :D

[DavidZaneMason]

I hear you. It sounds frustrating.

Water: In my opinion, water purified by reverse osmosis should be fine.

Cravings: Don't think in extremes (all or nothing). Set YOUR small goals and keep them. If you fail...YOU are not a failure...you just need to set more realistic goals...and that CAN be a sobering process....especially for anyone that thinks that they HAVE to do something BIG to make up for previous behaviors...you know?

-David Z. Mason

[avanderland]

I love your tip, Eveleaf! It reminded me of something that I read in eat pray love, but you put it so clearly, in such an easy way to understand, that I can envision myself using it on a daily basis. Both for when I need to get through a rough spot and when I'm worried I'm not doing enough or I'm dropping the ball -- listening to what my future self says about this moment and its significance.

Just love it!

[dreamrawalwz]

Thank you for all your replies. Today was completely 100% raw and 100% organic. I fought the cravings and feel proud kind of now that I did.

Some detox already: headache, nauseas, and I STINK! lol. nice to know huh?

[EZ rider]

1. I'm still going back and forth about the water situation. Which is best? I keep hearing both sides of arguments. Your body can't absorb the minerals in spring water, but then that distilled is "cooked" and then becomes acidic. Then there is "drinking" water, whatever that is! Any idea!?IMO, water that has had the impurities removed and is just H2O and nothing else is not "acidic" its just clean water.

[maui_butterfly]

first off, i wanted to say that i LOVED eveleaf's post... here are the strategies that work for me around cravings:

(1) take it one day at a time. this is classic 12-step addiction advice. you only need to eat raw today. give yourself a pep talk in the mirror in the morning when you're brushing your teeth. "who knows what tomorrow may bring, i don't even care, i may throw myself a donut party, but by god TODAY i will eat all raw". if you are dying for some chips, bread, pizza, whatever, promise yourself you can have it tomorrow if you still want it.

when i did this, i could almost hear that little rebellious kid in me saying "i'll show her, i'm going to have a bean burrito for BREAKFAST tomorrow! she thinks she's so smart, and that i'll forget. but a deal is a deal." but you know what? i never wanted whatever-it-was the next day. it was only in the heat of the moment, if i could separate myself from it in that moment, i was fine.

(2) if you ate something you'd rather you hadn't FORGET IT IMMEDIATELY and eat a bite of raw food. don't spend one second focused on the past, do not beat yourself up one whit, do not get frustrated. just take a bite of raw food and become a rawfoodist again and start over right there. don't fall into the "tomorrow trap" where you tell yourself you will start over fresh tomorrow. that leads to binging. start over ON THE SPOT. also, never go to bed without the last bite you take being raw. that way you go to sleep a raw foodist, and you wake up a raw foodist. put a piece of raw food in your mouth the very first thing in the morning.

(3) have raw food on your person at all times. i carry an asian pear in my purse. if i have a craving, and the "you can have it tomorrow" trick is not cutting it, i say "you can have it if you still want it after you eat this asian pear." asian pears are big! they take 5-10 minutes to eat! again, giving yourself that space to separate, breathe, and consider all of your options will help!

(4) make yourself accountable somewhere, like on the 30-day challenge board. log in every day and record all the raw food you ate. ignore the cooked food you ate (if any), just forget it. what we focus on will increase. congratulate yourself on all the fresh raw fruits and vegetables you ate today, pat yourself on the back for that REGARDLESS of the rest.

good luck. there's no doubt in my mind that you can do this. i support you all the way!

[Seren]

great post maui!! xxx