Constant cravings

[lucky lemons]

I have been eating about 80-100% raw for about six weeks now, and my body loves the food. However, I find that raw food only satisfies my appetite for a little while (only 20-30 minutes) and then I start to get that empty, hungry feeling again. I find myself eating a lot of the time just to stave off the hunger, and craving cooked food because it makes me feel "full." I know from reading Alissa's book that we should listen to our bodies, but I'm concerned that I am over eating, or that my body is not adjusting to the less filling food. Any thoughts or ideas on this?

[cara4art]

Were you eating a very heavy SAD-type of diet before switching over to raw? This can make a really big difference, because your system is more accustomed to the fuller feeling from those heavier foods. Also, are you including some heavier raw foods like dehydrator breads and crackers, pates, and spreads along with your fruits and veggies? This alone can really help - this is why they are excellent transition foods. Many people eat more of these in the beginning for this reason, and later might eat them just sometimes. Again listening to your body is important as everyone else says. Especially in the beginning few weeks it's important to have some filling foods. Eventually, your needs will shift to a lighter mode anyway. Back in February, when I started, I was eating more, but after a detox-type of respiratory illness in mid-May, I seemed to gravitate to less food, period. Still in process myself, as some days I'm all raw, and others some non-raw foods get in there. Give it time, and keep rolling. 6 weeks isn't that long - you're just getting your toes in the water - even a few months like me, isn't that long either if you want to know the truth.
Anyhow, hats off to you for getting onto raw - best of luck and there are extremely supportive people here.

[brownies]

I am very familiar with these feelings and only recently has it begun letting up. What works for me is to always have snacks with me. Make some raw food bars to take with you while you are out and about. Snack between meals 2/3 times if need be. Just make sure that you have the foods on hand to eat as soon as you start to feel that pang. For me I have slowly started feeling full longer and have been needing less and less snacks throughout the day as often.

Keep at it, your body needs a while to adjust.

[lucky lemons]

Yeah, I was (am?) pretty addicted to breads, pastas, and soy foods before I went raw, which is one reason I am overweight. I have been a vegetarian (almost vegan) for 5 years but still managed to eat plenty of junk food.

Thank you both for the validation, support and ideas, it's good to know this feeling will eventually pass! :(

[shashibala]

This will pass!! I was a food addict when I started. I lived to eat! I was vegetarian, but like you, I ate plenty of heavy, addictive foods. Now, after 7 months, I have a completely different relationship with food. It's amazing!
It took a few months, though. Just keep going , keep it raw, and keep yourself satisfied with raw foods and you will adjust over time. Best wishes!!!

[petaltothemetal]

Do you bring your own food with you whenever you leave the house? If you're like me and think it would be a shame to waste something you made, you can retrain your body on the food you bring and eventually your body won't be hungry so often. I have a really big lunchbox I take with me to work and even if I'm just going to run an errand I always have food and drink just in case. (Struggling with blood sugar and thyroid issues and feel better if I can eat immediately when I crash.) This morning I put in my lunchbox:
Carrot juice
four dehydrated crackers and one banana rollup in one zip lock baggie
4 little (dehydrated slightly) nut cheeze roll ups with zucchini in a tupperware-type container along with cucumber slices
carrots and hummus in another container
four dehydrated crackers in another zip lock
one lime
and a water bottle that I can refill at the fountain.
Sounds like a lot for one person and sometimes I take food back home with me again. But it keeps the cravings at bay, especially when I'm bored (Bad habbit, eating when bored.) It's been deathly slow at work (which is how I was able to find this group in the first place). So having delicious healthy food with me really helps.

I, too, love bread and used to be a ferociously talented baker - it was a source of pride and identity. But I had serious blood sugar swings with bread, even made with alternative flours. And I learned that sometimes hunger is really just a reaction to not having what you're used to. You know, if you have bread and coffee every morning for breakfast, your body's going to bug you for bread and coffee until either you give in or it adjusts.

Hope this helps

[Veganforlife]

Green smoothies are craving eliminators!

[MiahTay]

Something that was a new concept for me when I first discovered raw foods is that just because our stomach is empty doesn't necessarily mean we are hungry. We are a culture that is used to feeling full all of the time because we typically consume food that takes a long time to digest so we would commonly, say, eat lunch ... sandwich, fruit, chips ... and this food would take hours to digest and move on from our stomach and likely still be there when we eat a snack a couple hours later, and so on. We would be putting all this food in our stomachs on top of each other creating that full feeling we are all accustomed to and nourishing our bodies very little. However with raw foods, they pass faster from our stomach but give our bodies nourishment for the same amount of time but with an empty stomach. Now, we do need to make sure we are eating enough quantity but I find that if I have a large (24-32oz) green smoothie for lunch it moves on from my stomach quickly but I am not hungry again for hours. Finding true hunger is a new thing for most of us :) Enjoy the journey.

Blessings,
Heather

[lizzyrose]

heck... I still "graze" all day long. For me I think part of it is psychological... but I figure if I'm grazing on raw food, no harm, no foul.

[Aleesha Sattva]

Green smoothies are craving eliminators!

Darn, you beat me to it. :P YES ADD MORE GREEN SMOOTHIES TO YOUR DAILY INTAKE! Green smoothies are a great way to not only fill you up (especially if you add some nice soaked chia (http://www.rawveganbooks.com/product_info.php?ref=199&products_id=1001333&affiliate_banner_id=1) seeds to them - sooo good for you) but also a wonderful way to increase your daily intake of greens! Remember to add a little citrus to your smoothie (a few slices of orange for example) if you want to increase the amount of iron your body takes in from the greens!


Something that was a new concept for me when I first discovered raw foods is that just because our stomach is empty doesn't necessarily mean we are hungry.

Again... beaten to the punch (mmmm punch... I love punch!) *giggling*

We are conditioned that we eat, we feel full for hours and then we eat again. Wanna know why you feel full for hours? Because your body is overwhelmed with the digestive process. SAD foods take a long time to digest. Your body spends so much time trying to break them down and get 'something' outta them... that you think "hey this is great I still feel full" when in fact you should be saying "oh no, what I did do to my body... it STILL hasn't digested lunch!"

Raw fruit and veggies do no cause you to gain weight so if you need to eat more... then eat more! Period. As your body adjusts to being raw... it will realize it doesn't need that full feeling, instead you will begin to hear it's other little signals (I need more greens today please or I could use more iron... how about a watermelon!)


I have been eating about 80-100% raw for about six weeks now.

Yeah, I was (am?) pretty addicted to breads, pastas, and soy foods before I went raw, which is one reason I am overweight. I have been a vegetarian (almost vegan) for 5 years but still managed to eat plenty of junk food.(

Okay so the 20% you are eating... I'm guessing is breads, pastas and soy foods? Ditch them. Get rid of all the addictive foods in your diet and replace them with green smoothies. Every time you are really hungry,... make one. You'll be amazed at the rapid weight release along with how satisfied you feel! I've released over 130 pounds in 10 months... no big secret... just raw foods! (and lots of green smoothies)

[lucky lemons]

OK, green smoothies with citrus, as well as substantial raw foods. I do take snacks with me when I leave the house, that definately helps. Great advice everyone, this board is awesome! I have started juicing in the morning lately too, and that seems to make a big difference with how I feel.

Also: My body is changing. I feel so blissful now after having a good raw day, and I can hardly drink any alcohol or even a little cooked food with out having a hangover the next day. My depression and anxiety have decreased. This is a sign that raw food is the right path for me! :D