Never Got What I Get Now!!!

[ShelShel]

You know, when I went raw over 2 years ago, I never got it when people would say things like...cooked food is addictive. Or all raw or nothing. Like I always tried for 100% and maintained for good long periods of time and like most I have an adverse reaction to cooked when I do have it...but no addiction to speak of...until now! :eek: Holy cow. I made some homemade bread yesterday...some rolls...which by SAD standards are really healthy. Kefir/olive oil/unbleached flour. Holy cow...I had one of these little rolls and I was driven...nuts...all day long...wanting another. I ended up having one with every meal and feeling completely awful by bed time. Because then it was like a rush to find all the sugar in the house. :confused: What the heck!?!

Then I realized...this must be what people are talking about...addiction. Once in my system...ouch...I wanted sugar and couldn't get it fast enough. I know fruits are sugar, but they don't do that to me. I have a few fruits and all I want is a green...veggie..you know something different from the sweet. Maybe an avo...with cooked bread products...all I want is more cooked bread products.

I woke this morning with a new appreciation for my raw diet and my personal necessity to get back to a strict 100% version of it. No more cooked salad dressings...no more blue cheese with celery...or little splurges here and there. 100% raw...all the way. The faster I can get rid of these cravings the happier I will be.

I love raw foods. There is freedom from addiction...freedom from excess weight...freedom from hunger and having to weight/measure everything that goes in your mouth...Freedom! Thank you God for this new knowledge and the ability to have choices.

[Eva]

I bet you feel bloated! :eek: Lesson learned. Good for you for realizing that and moving forward. :)

[tanishamarshall]

Amen... It is so so addicting.

[Green_Woman]

This happened to me a few weeks back when I took a friend out for her birthday and they put cheese on my salad (after a request NOT TO) and then later that night the friend and her husband asked me to toast with them and I ate a bit of bread with the champagne.

Champagne I can certainly live without.

But - and this was strangest of all - the bread GRABBED ME... even when I was eating SAD, I NEVER enjoyed bread... but for some reason, one bite and suddenly I was hungering for more. I ate probably three huge fistfuls before I finally backed away from the trough!!!!



Igggghhh.....

[raweater]

Sugar and grains are in fact more addictive than cocaine, it has been shown in studies (rats are more willing to work for sugar than for cocaine, and when given the choice, will choose sugar over cocaine even after being addicted to cocaine), and at least when cooked, are about as damaging as smoking if not more, they are very powerful cancer and heart disease promoters.

Here's an article on the subject with a quote from it:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/08/06/is-sugar-more-addictive-than-cocaine.aspx

"An astonishing 94 percent of rats who were allowed to choose mutually-exclusively between sugar water and cocaine, chose sugar. Even rats who were addicted to cocaine quickly switched their preference to sugar, once it was offered as a choice. The rats were also more willing to work for sugar than for cocaine."

[moonstar]

...I have tried to explain again and again to people -- the processed crap is so addictive!

I am so happy to say that --- although I have only lost two punds -- my body feels so much better these past two weeks. Bread, etc. -- it's the sugar in it that is like crack!

[shashibala]

I can't imagine how i lived all those years as a food addict! I was such a slave to grains and cheese. Now I'm free!!!! It's a raw miracle!
I know exactly what you mean!

[michiganrawfood]

So true!! If I have even a little bit of anything cooked I am like an addict!! It really throws me off course.

[cherries]

Honestly what you described sounds exactly like a scene out of a binge eating disorder diagnosis. Glad you were able to conquer it and get back on track. I'd say be careful, though, as you may have, over the past two years, developed a bit of an obsessive mindset. It is not the cooked food that is physically addictive, it's a psychological craving, and yes, those can be pretty intense.

What does that mean, the cooked food is not physically addictive? Do you mean that it is the type of food that is addictive, i.e. we eat kale and it is not addictive raw or cooked, but wheat might be addictive raw or cooked.

[Anastazia]

Wow, Shel Shel, thanks so much for posting this, & everyone, for your responses...

...as a Christian, I've always rejected the concept of cooked foods being 'addictive'...we have free will over what we put into our mouths, right?
(The Bible calls over-eating gluttony, not addiction...like the world calls it alcoholism, the Bible calls it being a drunkard...free will...) but I was thinking of addiction like the world explains it, as a 'mental illness' or 'mental health problem'...)

But I've had moments just like that, even as my WILL was saying, "No! Stop! You don't want that Junk!!!" (not just with sugar, but with bread, too, though I NEVER was a bread eater before!) & this post makes it clear to me now that it's what it does to our BRAINS that affects our will...

...& thanks to the little mousies for helping prove it!
~Anastazia~

[Stina]

Wow, Shel Shel, thanks so much for posting this, & everyone, for your responses...

...as a Christian, I've always rejected the concept of cooked foods being 'addictive'...we have free will over what we put into our mouths, right?
(The Bible calls over-eating gluttony, not addiction...like the world calls it alcoholism, the Bible calls it being a drunkard...free will...) but I was thinking of addiction like the world explains it, as a 'mental illness' or 'mental health problem'...)

But I've had moments just like that, even as my WILL was saying, "No! Stop! You don't want that Junk!!!" (not just with sugar, but with bread, too, though I NEVER was a bread eater before!) & this post makes it clear to me now that it's what it does to our BRAINS that affects our will...

...& thanks to the little mousies for helping prove it!
~Anastazia~

Recognizing addiction is by no means unbiblical. People can suffer from the disease of addiction and take responsibility for it, hence the free will. Research alcoholism. You'll find facts like the biochemistry make-up of the alcoholics' brain responds incredibly differently than a non-alcoholic. Try googling the PDQ chemical build-up in the brain. Also, a baby with alcoholics in their heritage adopted into a family with no alcoholism is significantly more likely to still end up being alcoholic. That's not free will. As a woman of God, I'm able to judge less and help others more understanding this. That's what my walk of faith is about.

[lioness]

To add to what you said Anastazia. It does affect our brains which affects our will. The mind and the will are basically the same so what affects our minds affects our wills. So yes it is addictive because when we go through whatever it is that affects our minds we go to that addiction to sooth it because it's a habit that has been formed. That's why we have to change our mindset. Nobody has ever overcome an addiction by just willing it to stop it starts in the mind and the changing of your mind which will change your will then start to change your habits. It all ties into each other everything is affected by everything else nothing is seperate. Addiction affects us mind, body, spirit and soul. So what's in your mind affects your body as well and your spirit and soul. There's no escaping that.

[beckx]

i guess bread has 17 or 18 addictive substances in it. people don't get it; food literally has chemicals in it that have a SERIOUS effect on your brain. even raw foods, some more than others (like cooked)... we get so sensitive to the processed stuff though and it makes it all the more clear.

[Anastazia]

To add to what you said Anastazia. It does affect our brains which affects our will. The mind and the will are basically the same so what affects our minds affects our wills. So yes it is addictive because when we go through whatever it is that affects our minds we go to that addiction to sooth it because it's a habit that has been formed. That's why we have to change our mindset. Nobody has ever overcome an addiction by just willing it to stop it starts in the mind and the changing of your mind which will change your will then start to change your habits. It all ties into each other everything is affected by everything else nothing is seperate. Addiction affects us mind, body, spirit and soul. So what's in your mind affects your body as well and your spirit and soul. There's no escaping that.

I've experienced for myself, (& seen many others!) being INSTANTLY set free when their lives were given to God! (So yes, changing the mind/will...)
I drank LOTS, have alchoholism in family, craved it, never once drank socially, drank frequently, & didn't go a day in YEARS without smoking pot, as well as doing other things...& it was ALL gone in a MOMENT of deciding to give my life to Jesus...

I've seen others instantly, totally set free of extreme alcoholism, as well...including my Dad...(who didn't become a Christian, just decided to stop!)
I've also see that those who believe the 'once an alchoholic always an alcoholic' struggle for YEARS, sometimes never staying free...

I guess the will definately has to be fully engaged...but I know I never would've been free without God's deliverance from it's grip on me!
Whatever He did in my body (soul & spirit!) was instant, complete & supernatural!...but I had to CHOOSE to let go, of course...still, He's the one that gave me the desire to be free, I never thought I'd stop!
(Pictured myself a little old lady rollin' joints in my rocking chair! I started when I left home at 12, & the last few years, never went a day without it, aside from during my pregnancy...)

Yup, it's definately ALL connected!

Thanks for your comments~

~Anastazia~

[Anastazia]

Recognizing addiction is by no means unbiblical. People can suffer from the disease of addiction and take responsibility for it, hence the free will. Research alcoholism. You'll find facts like the biochemistry make-up of the alcoholics' brain responds incredibly differently than a non-alcoholic. Try googling the PDQ chemical build-up in the brain. Also, a baby with alcoholics in their heritage adopted into a family with no alcoholism is significantly more likely to still end up being alcoholic. That's not free will. As a woman of God, I'm able to judge less and help others more understanding this. That's what my walk of faith is about.

I guess I didn't explain what I mean very well, & I'm likely too tired to now, as well! Lol!
I totally recognize that it affects brain chemistry...but God still does give EVERYONE free will...And, more importantly, I believe He can (& DOES!) heal brain chemistry, & restore ANYONE'S life that asks!

...even with the compulsion to drink (or overeat, or eat junk) we still have the power to get HELP, to choose NOT to, to avoid the things that make us get gripped in the clutches of it again...
...I think it's actually harder with food...we have to eat to live, but we don't have to drink alcohol to survive...

...& please know, I'm not trying to be judgemental...I do understand this, from my own as well as my Dad's experiences, but I still believe that free will never leaves, even in the throes of addiction...

...look at the process of rehab...some go, & WANT to be free...& ARE...
others go because of others, or to avoid jail, or whatever, but really don't want to stop...& they don't...an act of the will....

I know it's not that simple...but right now, I've gotta go eat & get in a HOT bath, starvin' & aching, sorry, that's all I can write tonight!
~Anastazia~

[Cabosun]

What a great topic! I have strayed a couple of times now and believe me.........It is not worth the consequences to me anymore:eek: I can only describe it as pure agony and torture on my body and soul. It was a very hard lesson I had to learn though.

[RawSinger]

It is not the cooked food that is physically addictive, it's a psychological craving, and yes, those can be pretty intense.

I agree with part of your statement; cooked food addiction and cravings have a large psychological component. But I don't believe that they are purely psychological. You cannot separate the biological from the psychological, especially when it involves putting something into your body. There is a biological component to cooked food addiction. What you eat affects your biology.

[RawSinger]

What a great topic! I have strayed a couple of times now and believe me.........It is not worth the consequences to me anymore:eek: I can only describe it as pure agony and torture on my body and soul. It was a very hard lesson I had to learn though.

Agreed, whole-heartedly.

[EZ rider]

For 10 1/2 months I was 100% all fresh raw. During that time I had 3 slips that I was able to conquer easily and get right back on track. In June I slipped again and this time it was like opening a door and finding a gale force wind on the other side pushing to get in. I have been unable to close the door to cooked food since then and eat some cooked food every day now. I am trying to slowly get the door closed on the cooked food but it just keeps pushing. I have found this thread most helpful and I will persevere in my efforts to close that door.

[chilove]

Very interesting thread! Thanks for sharing,

Blessings,

Audrey

[iamacranberry]

I agree with part of your statement; cooked food addiction and cravings have a large psychological component. But I don't believe that they are purely psychological. You cannot separate the biological from the psychological, especially when it involves putting something into your body. There is a biological component to cooked food addiction. What you eat affects your biology.

I won't disagree that certain components in SOME cooked foods MAY be addictive, but cooked food as a whole is not physically addictive. There is no common biological component to all cooked food, so there's just one reason why making a claim that all of it is addictive is a bit absurd.

And yes, you can separate the psychological component from biological components. That's why we have controlled, double-blind studies.

[Bodhi]

I get it too, now. I hadn't eaten any candy for a long time, then, two weeks ago I had a couple of bite sized snickers. Well that set off my binge. I've been having snickers almost every day since. I'm breaking this binge tonight!!!

[Bananna]

Oh Shelshel where did you go?

I have this problem bad too, such resolve and somehow I just keep dropping the golden ball.

I used to have this same problem with vegetarianism, and veganism...and way back when even smoking and drinking. What helped me every time was that eventually I would find a living example to emulate. I would find a vegan at some social event and watch how they had a good time and enjoyed life and the differences didn't bother them. I would watch ex-smokers doing the same.

Once I saw that it could be done, it was easy...point is, we are beating this new path, being leaders, and maybe we are just used to being followers.

I personally think that's where the temptation comes from. The fact that the whole family is eating rolls and you 'can't'.

It's a mindset all the way.

[Riiiya]

Here's an article on the subject with a quote from it:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/08/06/is-sugar-more-addictive-than-cocaine.aspx

"An astonishing 94 percent of rats who were allowed to choose mutually-exclusively between sugar water and cocaine, chose sugar. Even rats who were addicted to cocaine quickly switched their preference to sugar, once it was offered as a choice. The rats were also more willing to work for sugar than for cocaine."

THANKS FOR THE LINK! i'll add it to my website article list :)

P.S. I don't know if it's something about the cooked food ITSELF that's addicting...... but man.. one meal and....... THAT'S IT..... i tried some mashed potatoes on Christmas and COULD NOT GET BACK TO RAW TILL APRIL!!!

[iamacranberry]

1. The article does NOT prove that sugar is more addictive than cocaine. There are other possible reasons that the rats preferred it, including:
-That the rats got more instant pleasure from the sugar than from the cocaine
-That the rats' natural instincts caused them to eat the sugar, which would provide them energy, rather than the cocaine, which would not provide nutrition.
-I'm sure there are others; these were just from the top of my head.
2. Sugar is not a component in all cooked foods. In fact, it's quite easy to avoid all refined sugar and still eat cooked food.

[Juicyfruit]

Here is scientific proof:

Like Cigarettes, Like Food

In Short :

Cigarette smoke contains physically addictive beta-carbolines, and so does prepared food. And extra addictive substances are added to cigarettes, as well as to food products too ; when you quit smoking, the loss of addictive substances from cigarettes is compensated by consuming more prepared food, making you gain weight. Cigarette smoke contains mutagenic heterocyclic amines, and so does prepared food.

Cigarettes can be lethal, but prepared food is even more lethal, because it is absorbed in greater quantities.

Cigarette companies have to pay billions of dollars. How about the food manufacturers ?

In Detail :

Adding addictive substances

Milk protein

Did you ever wonder why so many food products contain milk protein ?

Food-manufacturers producing formula milk, know what milk protein contains. They know cow's milk protein includes opioid peptides (1). (see 13/zombie)

They also know that ,compared to mother’s milk, the bioavailibility of various minerals and metals in cow's milk is much lower. That's why they put so much more pro-oxidative metals in formula milk, hoping that the right amount of metals is absorbed.

And they know protein quality of formula milk is 35% worse than protein quality of mother's milk. That's why formula milk has to contain more useless protein, but that extra protein requires more vitamin B2, B6 and folic acid levels. Therefore supplementary B6 and folic acid is advised.

And they also know formula milk does not contain the right growth factors, and there's nothing they can do about that. That's why they don't mention it on the label.

So ,what would you think that they did ,knowing that milk contains addictive opioid peptides ?

They were pre-calculating their profits of course;

If you can make everybody drink formula milk in their first, very vulnerable, years of their lives, they will be hooked on food products containing cow's milk-opioid peptides for the rest of their lives. Can you see the huge market they saw ?

And they continuously did ,and they still do, try to make women in the poorest countries give their babies formula milk.

And do you know who own those factories producing formula milk ?

Yes, .......large food-manufacturers.


They don't care that people in those poor countries have little money to buy formula milk ; they are creating a new market for all their other products. Profits guaranteed.

Wheat protein

And why do you think wheat is the most used grain in food products ?

Because wheat contains powerful opioid peptides (2), sometimes 100 times more powerful than morphine. (3) Even some meat products contain wheat-protein. To enhance taste ?

Of course adding both milk- and wheat protein works even better, guaranteeing higher sales.

Heated / Hydrolyzed protein

By heating wheat- and milk proteins, these become even more resistant against decomposing enzymes. Such (chemically) slightly-altered opioid peptides can be extremely hard to decompose, due to their unnatural composition, or by directly inhibiting decomposing-enzymes activity. (4)

Heating protein also originates beta-carbolines, and many of these beta-carbolines also inhibit enzymes decomposing opioid peptides. (5)

Beta-carbolines also are addictive, directly (6) or indirectly. (7)

Food manufacturers know all this of course. Years ago, a Nestlé spokesman declared that ''food manufacturers could use this information to sell more food''. (8)

Taste-enhancers for example are concentrated dehydrated proteins, containing lots of beta-carbolines. They therefore don't 'enhance taste’, but influence neurotransmitter-receptors. (9)

What does it take to create some very effective 'taste-enhancers' ?

Mix some protein (preferably wheat- or milk-protein) with sugars, and heat this thoroughly. And that's exactly what successful manufacturers do. And that's why the best sold candy is made by the same manufacturers, also producing best-sold rice and best-sold cat and dog food.

Mutagenic heterocyclic amines

Prepared food contains lots of different co-mutagenic and mutagenic heterocyclic amines, and so does cigarette smoke.

For example ;

Cigarette smoke contains Prepared foods also contain

beta-carboline (10) beta-carboline (11)

Trp-P-1 (12) Trp-P-1 (13)

Trp-P-2 (14) Trp-P-2 (15)

4-aminobiphenyl (16) 4-aminobiphenyl (17)

MeIQx (12) MeIQx (18)

Glu-P-1. (19) Glu-P-1 (20)



Mutagenic heterocyclic amine concentration in prepared food can be much higher than in cigarette smoke. 100 grams (3.5 oz.) of prepared meat for example contain as much AalphaC as smoke of 812 cigarettes. And 100 grams of prepared meat contain as much of even-more-mutagenic MeAalphaC as the smoke of 1,050 cigarettes !!! (21)

Lethal

Considering the fact that we can eat food we need most, and considering the fact that we don't have to do hard physical labor, and considering the fact that we in general are protected against contagious diseases, and considering the fact that we have access to specialized healthcare, we all should die at the age of 120, when the heart simply stops beating.

And if you don't, and you don't smoke, it very likely is because of the foods you have been eating.

Sources
Abstracts of most sources can be found at the National Library of Medicine
(1) Teschemacher ,H. et al, Milk protein-derived opioid receptor ligands. Biopolymers. 1997 / 43 (2) / 99-117. ,Teschemacher, H. et al, Chemical characterization and opiod activity of an exorphin isolated from in vivo digests of casein. FEBS Lett. 1986 / 196 (2) / 223-227. , Chang, K.-J. et al, Isolation of a specific mu-opiate receptor peptide, morphiceptin, from an enzymatic digest of milk proteins. J. Biol. Chem. 1985 / 260 (17) / pag. 9706-9712.
(2) Fukudome, S. et al, Gluten exorphin C : a novel opioid peptide derived from wheat gluten. FEBS Lett. 1993 / 316 (1) / 17-19.
(3) Max ,B., This and that : an artefactual alkaloid and its peptide analogs. Trends Pharmacol. Sci. 1992 / 13 (9) / 341-345.
(4) Dutta, A.S., Small Peptides, Chemistry, Biology and Clinical Studies, Amsterdam 1993 / 550-556, 560.
(5) Coletti-Previero, M.A. et al, beta-Carboline and diazepam effect on the degradation of enkephalin by the human blood aminopeptidase. Biosci. Rep. 1983 / 3 (1) / 87-92.
(6) Loscher, W. et al, Withdrawal precipation by benzodiazepine receptor antagonists in dogs chronically treated with diazepam or the novel anxiolytic and anticonvulsant beta-carboline abecarnil. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch. Pharmacol. 1992 / 345 (4) / 452-460. , Little, H.J. et al, The benzodiazepines : anxiolytic and withdrawal effects. Neuropeptides 1991 / 19 / suppl. 11-14. , Eisenberg, R.M. et al, Effects of beta-carboline-ethyl ester on plasma corticosterone -- a parallel with antagonist-precipated diazepam withdrawal. Life Sci. 1989 / 44 (20) / 1457-1466.
(7) De Boer, S.F. et al, Common mechanisms underlying the proconflict effects of corticotropin, a benzodiazepine inverse agonist and electric foot shock. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 1992 / 262 (1) / 335-342. , Maiewski, S.F. et al, Evidence that a benzodiazepine receptor mechanism regulates the secretion of pituitary beta-endorphin in rats. Endocrinology 1985 / 117 (2) / 474-480.

[Raw Angel Mom]

I totally hear you. I didn't think that what is consider healthy could be addictive. Me it was the brown rice, can you believe this? Then i found myself making more exception. So much that i had to re-commit to raw food because it was getting out of control . After re-commiting, it helps me to stick to 100% and eventually the cravings have healed. This isn't comfortable at all to have these cravings and i realised that it was like coffee for me, if i make one exception i will have to go through this process of healing this craving. This isn't worth it at all. So, yes myself too, this is 100% raw no exception. In truth, we eat the same food as cook but preparred different. So much healthier, not addictive, and we benifit from the enzymes.

Congratulations for sticking to raw food!

[Rrose]

Down with sugar!!

[Morn]

I love raw foods. There is freedom from addiction...freedom from excess weight...freedom from hunger and having to weight/measure everything that goes in your mouth...Freedom! Thank you God for this new knowledge and the ability to have choices.

I thank God as well! It is cool God allowed you to have this revelation!:D

[Bananna]

Wow Juicy fruit...that's quite a text! I like how you referenced it and everything :)
I don't have time to go through the references with a fine tooth comb, which I actually could access I believe...But it seems that you're speaking of mainly dairy and wheat opiods....I guess my point is, that doesn't necessarily constitute all cooked food, correct?

....or am I misreading things.

I just searched beta-carbolines, the only chemical you named not in dairy and wheat, and it is found in cigarette smoke and marijuana smoke and also charred foods. Also, some plants naturally have it, there are many different types and it does have an addictive quality as it affects serotonin levels in the brain. ....but, it specifies charred food. http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/toxicagents/betacarbolines/bcarb.html

I'm not meaninig to argue, I just think aside from grains and dairy, charred food and blatently obvious stimulants like MSG, that clean cooked foods like say regular say steamed veggies, or a slow-cooked soup are not necessarily chemically addictive....which would then make it a mindset problem. Those clean cooked foods might be a gateway drug though...just opening the door to have a slice of buttered bread on the side....yaddayadda.

I just Have to attempt to poke holes in things that are Proven or seen as black or white (even when I'm on the same side apparently, lol). It's a compulsion....sorry!

[ShelShel]

Thank you for all the replies ya'll! ;)
Ok...I've been away again. I was doing great and then my birthday hit. I tried to plan for it and everything, but it didn't work. I ate a huge steak...potatoes, yadayadayada.
I haven't had one day raw since. :( :( :( I could just cry. I've gained soooooooo much of my weight back. I just went to try and find something to wear at the store for the fifth day in a row and nothing fits. The size that does is like death to my spirit and I refuse to purchase anything that big again. Not when I was wearing a size 3! I'm shocked at how quickly the weight came back on.
I just barked at my lovely hubby on the phone as his cell went out of range. I'm just horrible right now. Aghhh!
Ok...venting over. I HAVE TO GET BACK TO RAW....I just have to. I've been walking, swimming...only eating home cooked meals and raw fruits and veggies...and the weight is coming back like I'm shoveling in ho-ho's or something! I'm just horrified.
To answer the question...that is where I have been. This dark...lost...steadily getting fat again place that is driving me to distraction.
So, tomorrow...I do what I've done so many times...I start back to raw again in the hopes that it sticks like it has never stuck before and that people leave me alone to succeed at it. It's the constant movies (with popcorn and candy), dinners out, and special events that keep causing me to slide back into cooked. Once there it's like a dark tunnel with no end in sight.
I've already been here too long again...so...like I said tomorrow I start my journey back to me again. Please keep me in your prayers. Thanks.

[roseyonnex]

Hey ShelShel,

Thanks for you post about bread. I agree, that refined flour has a definite pull!

I have been raw for two weeks, about 100%, and I cannot
believe the change. I have struggled all my 37 years with weight, cravings, binge eating, etc. And, in two weeks I have elminated all of that by eating raw.

It is AMAZING, and I almost can't believe it is happening.

And, as an added side benefit, my feet don't swell up anymore and my knees don't ache. yay!

I can't wait to see what the next year brings.

[Bananna]

iamacranberry - ;) right back at ya....while away I thought of something else...I'm no expert at dehydrating as I've only done it a few times in the oven with the door open, but I have seen some pics of dehydrated food and correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't some of it browned...when it's dehydrated for a long time, as in charred but to a much less degree? .....not that I really care if all it does is make me addicted to raw things anyway....

ShelShel,
I have been doing the same thing as you for an entire year now. Part of it was that I had prove to myself that the benefits of eating raw were not just the benefits of Not eating sick foods. So in the last year, I have been on and off raw pretty much the entire time. I have also watched you start over quite a few times, love reading your blog...then it's gone and so are you....I Know where you are, cuz I'm at the same craptastic party myself, lol...

So I am doing what I have dubbed the 'slingshot method'. Which is how I quit smoking. You pick a day somewhere in the near future, not too close not too far, something you think is realistic. For me it's August first. Then you become raw In Your Head only up untill that date. You Think like a raw vegan all the time, you try new recipes, you think of all the reasons to change and never go back untill you're doing it in your sleep. You stock up on ingredients and tools you will need for the big day. But you Don't Try and be raw At All till that day comes.

What you are doing is called cognitive dissonance in psychology circles. It's where you're mind and actions are SO out of line with each other that one has to cave because you just can't stand to be so out of sync. That's why you see people justifing their jobs all the time, or changing their Views to explain their Behavior.

Anyways, what I am going to do is the same but in reverse. Right now I am creating a vast difference between what I believe I am and what I physically am doing.... But instead of solving this cognitive dissonance by changing what I think to align with what I am doing, on August first I will change what I am doing to reflect what I believe.

I call this the slingshot method, which has nothing to do with psychology that I have found so far, because by the time August 1st comes around the dissonance will be so pent up I will shoot like a rocket into raw.

This is how I quit smoking. I suffered NO cravings. NEVER missed it. NEVER felt a loss or grief or depression or anything. Because I was already a non-smoker in my head for about two weeks. I taught it to my sister and it worked for her too. Several months later we both started again and then were able to quit again using the exact same strategy. Except this time we never went back.

Anyways, this is what I am doing because I am tired of spinning my wheels. In the meantime I am going to also try not to treat the next week like a SAD party like it's July 31st deal....

Just a thought....'The Slingshot Method' totally kicks ass. ....oh, am I allowed to say ass? Ooops, said it again ;)

[ShelShel]

Bananna!!! Hello again! :D
Thank you, thank you for your words. I think your sling shot method sounds great!

First thing I did tonight: Apologized to my hubby for my bad attitude. :p
Second: Let him and my children know...this is it, I'm raw, I've dieted my whole life and this is the only thing that works for me. My children grumbled, my hubby nodded and understood. Everyone is on board with the knowledge that they have to stop trying to help me cheat. Eating cooked food is not a treat for me...it's sabotage.
I know, that I know, that I know it only takes two weeks and all my cravings for cooked will go away. Within two months I'll have lost all this extra weight and my mood swings will be at a minimum again. (To say nothing of a normal period again...I know...too much info...but it's true.)
Third thing I did: Went to the grocery store with my hubby. Purchased an avocado, boston lettuce, two yellow apples, one pineapple and some broccoli. I will add some peaches and tomatoes from our farmer's market in the morning.
I'm thrilled to be trying again. I was happier than I can remember being at the thought of going raw again. So...here we are again.
Forth addition...I'll start up my blog again...agh...how embarrassing. I get so frustrated when I take a side road on this journey, instead of the straight path and find myself lost along the way. The first thing I do is sign out of the forum and delete my blog. Crazy...
Day One begins tomorrow morning raw buddies...anyone joining me? (((HUGS)))

[Bananna]

Shelshel - I'm glad you're restarting with new resolve, and it sounds like you've taken care of atleast some of your previous pitfalls with the family sabotage thing. I wouldn't worry about being grumpy with your family, it happens to all of us sometimes....I'm sure the rest of your family isn't in perfect moods all the time. Good to apologize too though, it's amazing how much of a difference that can make.

I won't be joining you today...I am just not ready. August 1st for me. I want to set up a blog and do a few pre-start entries, buy some ingredients that have to be shipped and think, think, think about how I AM an all raw vegan.

iamacranberry - I see. ;)

[cara4art]

Oh, yes indeed some cooked foods are addictive. Just try stopping at one slice of good bread, even home-made. I know for myself if I allow bread and other flour products in there, it sets off wanting a bunch more cooked stuff. I read somewhere that wheat in particular, and it is so ubiquitous in the American diet, is not only hybridized to have a much higher level of gluten in it(hence more people are having digestive woes and gluten-sensitivities than formerly) but actually has opoids in it that set off the addictive behavior. but for various people different foods can be triggers for cravings.

[Aleesha Sattva]

for me, it's not so much addictive as it is painful (http://aleeshasrawlife.blogspot.com/2008/07/effects-of-eating-cooked-foods-on-my.html)! my liver cries out in pain (by swelling up and causing extreme pressure on my ribs) whenever i eat anything cooked.

so raw is it for me. i'm so pleased to see everyone being so honest in this thread... cause let's face it... nothing in life is simple all the time and being around people who sugar-coat their experiences doesn't assist the rest of us to heal. we need reality to understand we are not alone and we can do this!!!

so... let's get 'er done!