sad food thoughts- help!

[debilana]

what is everyone's strat for dealing with cooked food thoughts that will not go away?

A few things- yes, I focus on my health, that helps a bit. I have been raw 6 months and have hit a bit of a flat grade- I keep wanting cookies, etc, and raw treats just aint cutting it.

Today I embarked on green smoothies, the sun is shining and finally I can go get some fresh air without freezing, which might help- its just the old food addictions are raising thier ugly heads, and sometimes I just want to go binge until I get sick to make them go away!

Luckily, I am not craving meat- it seems to be centered on cookies/crackers/bread atm.

also, has anyone else hit a point like this after a bit?going raw was easy- its now the struggle has begun!

[Raspberry4]

I feel your frustration. First off, congrats on being raw for 6 months. Pat yourself on the back. I can't really offer advice, as I still have cravings on and off - I never really seem to lose them. Very frustrating! Are you making dense treats for yourself like with nuts, dates, raw cocoa? Those help me alot (I like to keep the nuts chunky and mix in agave - that helps with sweet cravings along with needed something to crunch). Anyway...good luck to you. I hope you get a better answer than mine...:rolleyes:

[debilana]

TY raspberry=)

Yes I am a former chef so playing with raw food has been fun- I make lots oc choc treats,dates, etc- I just feel burned out on everything lately.

Maybe I just need a huge dose of spring with a flat of local strawberries...

[chilove]

Ok, here are some of my best tips!! :-)

1. Stay full!!! Don't get ever too hungry. Especially in the beginning of your raw journey!

2. Don't ever get too tired or too stressed!! Being tired and stressed makes it VERY difficult to maintain your positive, healthy new lifestyle.

3. Whatever you do, don't indulge this cooked food fantasies!!! As soon as a craving pops into your head, immediatley STOP it and start thinking about something else!! The longer you think about that food and start imaging how good it will taste, smell, feel in your mouth, feel in your tummy, make you feel afterward, etc... the harder it will be to not give into it!!!

All that indulgent fantasizing will get your digestive juices flowing in your mouth and in your stomach and that alone will make it EXTREMELY hard to not give in. PLUS when we fantasize about our old favorite cooked comfort foods we are just strengthening the neural networks in our brain that associate that food with comfort and happiness and enjoyment when we really need to be working hard on making new, positive mental associations with raw comfort foods!! -)


4. Find at least five (preferably ten) raw recipes or foods that you REALLY, REALLY, REALLY LOVE and crave and immediately fix or eat one of those when you are having a bad craving. ALWAYS have the ingredients on hand for these recipes!!! THIS STEP IS CRUCIAL!!

5. ALWAYS HAVE MORE FOOD WITH YOU ON ANY EATING OR SOCIAL OCCASION THAN YOU THINK YOU COULD EVERY POSSIBLY, HUMANLY NEED! :-) THIS IS ALSO CRUCIAL!! You must stay satisfied!

6. Going raw is about beautiful bounty and abundance!!! Not denial!!! It is very important to make this connection now!


I hope these help!!!

YOU CAN DO THIS!!!! :-)

Blessings,

Audrey
www.rawhealing.com

[Veganforlife]

Two words: GREEN SMOOTHIES!!!

[thirtyone]

Wow, that's a great list of tips, Audrey! Thanks for sharing them. I agree that a big part of success is making sure we're eating enough raw food to feel satisfied. If I slip, it's almost always because I'm super hungry and the first thing in reach is a SAD food. I'm trying to carry a bunch of fruit with me at all times so I have something easy to eat when I get a craving. And then, maybe, like Pavlov's dog, I'll be trained to crave the fruits instead of the junk! I hope!

[Carlsbad]

Wow Audrey! Those tips are amazing. I've definitely relied on most of them in the past, but I'd never thought about having several favorite raw recipes and always keeping the ingredients on hand. That is genius!! I don't really have that many favorite recipes, so it looks like I need to get my butt in the kitchen.

As for dealing with bread/cracker cravings, I find that the onion bread really knocks those cravings out. As for cookies, I've never had a craving for anything sweet since going raw because I eat so much fruit. But maybe the date nut torte would help? I know it's much yummier than any SAD dessert.

We're pulling for you!!

[Care4raw]

I was 100% six months raw and had my first temptation then!I was wondering too, why then? Was it a new layer of emotional and physical detox? i wanted comfort foods. For me that's pasta noodles, and the kelp noodles or zucchini noodles were just not cutting it.

I am more or less still 100% and iI think for me its making more recipes. Sort of the oppicite of what most people say, they get more basic. I think i need to make recipes, sit down and celebrate my raw meals . rather than throw willy nilly into the FP.Bit of thought, bit of time.

Let us know what works for you.

[jacsam]

Thanks Chilove....your tips were a great reminder....I also checked out your website and enjoyed it.

[Care4raw]

Ok, here are some of my best tips!! :-)

1. Stay full!!! Don't get ever too hungry. Especially in the beginning of your raw journey!

2. Don't ever get too tired or too stressed!! Being tired and stressed makes it VERY difficult to maintain your positive, healthy new lifestyle.

3. Whatever you do, don't indulge this cooked food fantasies!!! As soon as a craving pops into your head, immediatley STOP it and start thinking about something else!! The longer you think about that food and start imaging how good it will taste, smell, feel in your mouth, feel in your tummy, make you feel afterward, etc... the harder it will be to not give into it!!!

All that indulgent fantasizing will get your digestive juices flowing in your mouth and in your stomach and that alone will make it EXTREMELY hard to not give in. PLUS when we fantasize about our old favorite cooked comfort foods we are just strengthening the neural networks in our brain that associate that food with comfort and happiness and enjoyment when we really need to be working hard on making new, positive mental associations with raw comfort foods!! -)


4. Find at least five (preferably ten) raw recipes or foods that you REALLY, REALLY, REALLY LOVE and crave and immediately fix or eat one of those when you are having a bad craving. ALWAYS have the ingredients on hand for these recipes!!! THIS STEP IS CRUCIAL!!

5. ALWAYS HAVE MORE FOOD WITH YOU ON ANY EATING OR SOCIAL OCCASION THAN YOU THINK YOU COULD EVERY POSSIBLY, HUMANLY NEED! :-) THIS IS ALSO CRUCIAL!! You must stay satisfied!

6. Going raw is about beautiful bounty and abundance!!! Not denial!!! It is very important to make this connection now!


I hope these help!!!

YOU CAN DO THIS!!!! :-)

Blessings,

Audrey
www.rawhealing.com

SUCH GREAT tips Audrey!!

[debilana]

thank you so much guys=)

i have a compulsion to always be eating that I am fighting as well..I was eating trail mix but felt I was over eating it...now I see that if it keeps me from eating that sad stuff, for now its ok=)

*eats more mulberries=)

I just started gs in the am today , and got in a good walk in the sun- lets hope I am back on easy street with all yalls great suggestions!

I love this place:D