Attention: long-time raw fooders!

[RawSinger]

I mean those who have been 100% raw for perhaps 4 months or more: when did you guys stop having really intense cravings for cooked food?

[debilana]

LOL I didn't have any cravings until I hit 6 moths. I think I am going through a testing period or something. I keep craving cheese and chips=(

What is awesome tho is that even when I do give in to a craving, I not how crappy I feel after, and am SO happy to turn around and eat right. It does not set off a chain reaction of craving/eating crap anymore. yay!

[Aleesha Sattva]

hahahaha long term = 4 months... sorry but we are soooo new to this.

long term is 2+ years IMO. :P

[RawSinger]

Lol, okay, four months isn't a long time but it's a lot longer than I've been able to stay entirely raw :(

[Aleesha Sattva]

i hear ya... but honestly i think you'll get the best answers for those long termers... as they've been through so much more (and come out the other side)... :D

***hugs***

[Zaphirah]

FWIW-Storm Talifero's been raw for 25-30 years and he STILL gets cravings for cooked food on an almost daily basis. The real test is not to get rid of cravings, but what you do with that craving-give in or find another way to combat (exercise, new raw recipe, etc.)

[DavidZaneMason]

My experience is that I've been all-raw for about 8 years...with mostly fruit in the past couple. I didn't so much 'stop having cravings' so much as I INCREASED the clarity of what my goals were.....and was motivated to know that eating healthy was a NECESSARY tool to get me there.

Example/Metaphor: If I absolutely focus on lifting weights....and only work on one muscle group...the others will atrophy. In exercise....you work everything a little bit - I know. But my point is: If you work YOUR goals.....and work eating healthy....with passion and joy......the things which are not conducive to your health will just wither and atrophy. No need to 'fight' evil....just pursue the good.....and evil will come along for the ride.

-David Z. Mason

[Raspberry4]

David - I like that - work at eating healthy with passion and joy (not as a form of denial and punishment)...that gives me a great new insight and a positive way to continue this lifestyle even when faced with challenges of SAD cravings/people around me. Thanks for the thought!

Zaphirah - good idea - we will have cravings probably that is a given - but it is what we choose to do with it. Nice!

[Rawmommie]

I agree. I don't know that cravings ever totally go away, but they change. It's not a *desperate* craving feeling the longer you are raw. It's a passing thought kind of thing. As you see your health improve your resolve becomes stronger and you may get a craving, but know what you get and CHOOSE to follow a better path! :)

[MrGreenJeans]

Hi RawSinger,
First of all, one has to have a very strong base of knowledge. For instance, what happens to food that is cooked. How does that affect my body.

Another thing one should know is how to interpret cravings. If you crave a baked chicken, maybe your body is telling you that you need some fat like oils or nuts or coconut butter or avacado?
If your body is telling you that you need a pizza, next time find a dead cat that has been dead about a week and put that on your pizza. That should cure your craving :) (Children, do not try this at home, or any time for that matter!)

[missystems]

[QUOTE=MrGreenJeans;413966]Hi RawSinger,
If your body is telling you that you need a pizza, next time find a dead cat that has been dead about a week and put that on your pizza. That should cure your craving :) QUOTE]

Halarious!!

[gritsnla]

Mr. G. - I actually laughed out loud on that one. But it does make you think.
Loving all these positive comments and how to implement them in my life.
Thanks!!

[Aleesha Sattva]

what a great thread... nice to hear it's everyone who has the cravings... i like the way you shared this everyone... i'm inspired!!!

[Eveleaf]

Never happened. I've been raw two years and I still experience very strong cravings. They come and they go, and what's more, they change. What works to overcome them one day does not work so well the next time, so I have to keep adjusting my strategy.

Le shrug. It's the nature of the adventure.

[iamacranberry]

FWIW-Storm Talifero's been raw for 25-30 years and he STILL gets cravings for cooked food on an almost daily basis. The real test is not to get rid of cravings, but what you do with that craving-give in or find another way to combat (exercise, new raw recipe, etc.)

I was just about to reply and post exactly that, but in regards to Jinjee. And I second the notion that the cravings don't exactly go away. What's most important is your focus. That way if you are tempted to eat something unhealthy, you'll already be thinking up alternatives.

[Linda1970]

I've been raw for 2 years. I didn't have any cravings until 2-3 months ago. I believe mine is completely psychological. I started eating raw because of acne. So, my entire focus on eating was to get rid of acne. Once the acne was completely gone, which was a few months ago, I allowed myself to eat & enjoy cooked once/twice a week. So, I started eating cooked curry and became addicted to eat. I'm not happy about this addiction.

[Carlsbad]

I don't consider myself a long timer, but I'll weigh in anyway. :p I stopped having physical cravings after about 6 or 7 months. What's harder for me are the emotional cravings. But the longer I stay raw, the less powerful those become. It's a matter of changing your habits, I think, and learning how to soothe yourself without those heavy SAD comfort foods. Also, the more green smoothies I eat, the fewer cravings episodes I go through. Storm and Jinjee don't do green smoothies, and I think that must make things harder.

And one last point. I went from eating meat three times a day to eating it zero times ever, and I have not missed or craved it once. It doesn't even look like food to me anymore. Now I'm just waiting for that phenomenon to happen with cheese. :rolleyes: I think I'm getting there though. I will often think I want cheese, but if I really think about how it tastes and what it will do to my body, the desire vanishes.

Most of all, I think you need to focus on the amazing things you get to eat on raw. Cravings happen, and slip ups happen, and as long as you are learning from them each time and refocusing on the joy and vibrance you feel on raw, I believe you'll get to where you want to be.

[RawSinger]

If you work YOUR goals.....and work eating healthy....with passion and joy......the things which are not conducive to your health will just wither and atrophy. No need to 'fight' evil....just pursue the good.....and evil will come along for the ride.

-David Z. Mason


Thank you David, I like this a lot. Thank you ALL for your honest, experienced answers!! This thread rawks :D :D