30 day "reward"

[pixelkatt]

Okay, so I planned to "reward" myself after 30 days of eating a raw vegan diet by going to red lobster for the all you can eat shrimp. It's a tradition for dh and I so I was really looking forward to this.. I know this is a raw vegan board, so I apologize if this offends anyone.

I am new to raw (and vegan too) so this was my first try at eating raw and almost instantly I knew that this is a path that I need to be on for the rest of my life. So why oh why did I think I needed to "treat" myself, lol.. While eating out I noticed that the food wasn't as good as my expectations. I ordered shrimp pasta and I could literally taste the flour.. yuck. This has been one of my favorite things to eat for a long time too.. :confused:

So the next day I had a craving for pizza and of course, I caved and ordered a veggie pizza. The first thing I noticed was that the tomatoes tasted funny. My raw meals that I have been uncooking have been so so so much better and the pizza was almost tasteless if that makes sense. Yet I felt the need to eat 4 slices so I wouldn't waste it! What is wrong with me! I am just now feeling back to normal.

So has anyone ever experienced this? When (or if) you eat cooked do you notice that you are disappointed with the quality or taste and that it doesn't come close to the flavor in your raw meals?

I guess it's safe to say that I am back on my raw vegan diet and am wondering why the heck I even went off it.. I told dh that we would eat out again after 30 days but I'm starting to rethink this. I'll still go out but I will probably be getting a nice salad, lol.

[RawHeaven]

I guess it's safe to say that I am back on my raw vegan diet and am wondering why the heck I even went off it.. I told dh that we would eat out again after 30 days but I'm starting to rethink this. I'll still go out but I will probably be getting a nice salad, lol.

lol. oh my, pixelkatt. you're asking yourself why the heck did you go off raw? because you rewarded yourself with lobster after completing an amazing feat for yourself and your body. it's like preparing for your wedding day and then burning your wedding dress on the day of the ceremony. no judgement at all, but maybe reward yourself by going to a raw restaurant or ordering from one that delivers around the country next time. order Alissa's ice cream!

it's a lifestyle, not a diet.

best wishes and i'm just kidding with you. keep it raw!

[pixelkatt]

What a great idea!! :) I have been wanting to try her ice cream. I didn't think of using that as a reward.. Yay! That's exactly what I am going to do! It's much better AND healthier.

I agree with you that eating raw is a lifestyle, even though I still have to remind myself sometimes. It's so difficult to get out of that diet mindset even though I really don't feel like I'm dieting.. in fact it's the opposite.

I watch the biggest loser on TV and they were advertising the biggest loser scales and I turned to my husband and said "I don't need those anymore!" I am realizing that all that weighing and measuring is just so extremely silly. Why would I ever want to go back to a diet, which is what I would be doing if I stopped eating raw. So far I have lost 9 pounds and I don't feel like I have denied myself a thing. It's amazing! :D

[sport]

I went raw when I went away for a week long course and all I wanted when I got home was tea and toast.
My husband made me toast and I was so disappointed with it. I had not intended to jump in at 100% but that was what I did that day.

[rayofsunshine]

I know the treat cycle all to well. I find my old SAD food favorites do not taste as good, almost like fake chemical concoctions. I also find that when I have gone off raw and "treated" myself to SAD food, it does not put a dent in my appetite. I can have a full sad meal and feel like I could still eat an entire meal again, right after I have finished.

Anyway... I am breaking my old cycle and...

... rewarding myself with Alissa's ice creams and cheeses. I ordered it this morning and should have it by Halloween, were candy and pizza is the usual tradition in my house. I am also making Alissa's pizza for that night so I am all set to stay on my new raw cycle.

[pixelkatt]

I went raw when I went away for a week long course and all I wanted when I got home was tea and toast.
My husband made me toast and I was so disappointed with it. I had not intended to jump in at 100% but that was what I did that day.

Yes, I just expected everything to taste the same.. I guess that's a good thing that it doesn't, lol.. just means it's that much easier to stay raw.


I know the treat cycle all to well. I find my old SAD food favorites do not taste as good, almost like fake chemical concoctions. I also find that when I have gone off raw and "treated" myself to SAD food, it does not put a dent in my appetite. I can have a full sad meal and feel like I could still eat an entire meal again, right after I have finished.


That's exactly how the tomatoes tasted on my pizza. Which doesn't make sense because they were just tomatoes.. you would think they would taste like a normal tomato which I eat every day, lol..



... rewarding myself with Alissa's ice creams and cheeses. I ordered it this morning and should have it by Halloween, were candy and pizza is the usual tradition in my house. I am also making Alissa's pizza for that night so I am all set to stay on my new raw cycle.

Oh yum! I haven't tried her pizza yet. In fact, I still need to order her book. I should have spent the money we spent eating out on that right? :rolleyes:Hopefully in a week or so I will be able to place that order. I really want the DVD with it though so I've been holding out. :)

[Andre]

there are times when i've went to visit my parents and ate cooked food. i might eat white pasta and tomato paste, a pb sandwich, or mr.noodles, and usually i feel weighed down, or i get really really thirsty from all the protein.

also, after eating cooked i just can't stop myself. i'll have 4 pb sandwiches in a row. so i find it's just not worth it for me. stuffing my face until i'm almost exploding, then feeling nausous after.

so eating cooked isn't a reward at all for me.

[saxmaam]

So has anyone ever experienced this? When (or if) you eat cooked do you notice that you are disappointed with the quality or taste and that it doesn't come close to the flavor in your raw meals?

Yes, exactly. Some of my deviations from raw have tasted awfully good, but the junk foods especially have failed to live up to expectations.

[pixelkatt]

there are times when i've went to visit my parents and ate cooked food. i might eat white pasta and tomato paste, a pb sandwich, or mr.noodles, and usually i feel weighed down, or i get really really thirsty from all the protein.

also, after eating cooked i just can't stop myself. i'll have 4 pb sandwiches in a row. so i find it's just not worth it for me. stuffing my face until i'm almost exploding, then feeling nausous after.

so eating cooked isn't a reward at all for me.

Now I don't feel so weird eating 4 slices of pizza. I didn't even do that when eating a SAD diet so it seemed strange that I would eat that much.. and the whole time I was thinking this isn't even that good, lol..

[jacsam]

Sounds like your destined not to be on the raw diet but to live the raw lifestyle.

I love to go out to eat also but usually call ahead and find out all the raw things they use in the restraunt and then I know exactly how to order my salad when I get there. Last time I even had black berries on my salad and it was great.

[pixelkatt]

Sounds like your destined not to be on the raw diet but to live the raw lifestyle.


I sure hope so.. :) It's funny because I love avocados and nuts and seeds and always tried to limit them because they were fattening. Not anymore!! I wish I had done this years ago.


I love to go out to eat also but usually call ahead and find out all the raw things they use in the restraunt and then I know exactly how to order my salad when I get there. Last time I even had black berries on my salad and it was great.

Oh yum! I hope I'll find restaurants around here that will have stuff like that.. Luckily my husband has been trying to be healthier too (doesn't want to go so far as eating all raw yet but still) so he has been supportive and wants to start eating better himself, which means less eating out.

[Carlsbad]

I think we've all been there! It takes a lot longer for your mind to catch on with raw than it does for your body. You'll still get those cravings, but they do shrink over time--the longer you stay raw, the tinier those cravings get. And yes, the flavors are never as good as you remember, because raw reawakens your tastebuds. So all of a sudden you can taste the chemicals and stuff in cooked food.

Also, remember that the stuff in junk food is addictive; once you eat something cooked, you will want to eat more cooked food (hence the pizza). Instead, pile on the green smoothies and lots of greens greens greens! Overeat raw foods the day after you eat cooked food, or your hunger and cravings will win.

Raw can be a roller coaster as you try to release the cooked food cravings. It takes time, so be patient with yourself. It does get a lot easier as time goes by. Just make sure you're eating a lot of greens--they will help defeat those cravings!

[Rawnna]

I had thought about rewarding myself the same way too, but then I realized that it would be pointless and make me feel gross and puffy and re-awaken cravings I'd gotten rid of. SO my new plan is to reward myself with something special (not food related) at the end of each of my challenges. At the end of this 30 day challenge, I've decided to reward myself with getting a remote car-started installed for the freezing winter months. I told myself I cannot get it unless I completely follow through with this challenge and succeed. So it has been helping me stay motivated, and I can't wait to enjoy my reward!!

Good luck!

Anna

[pixelkatt]

Also, remember that the stuff in junk food is addictive; once you eat something cooked, you will want to eat more cooked food (hence the pizza). Instead, pile on the green smoothies and lots of greens greens greens! Overeat raw foods the day after you eat cooked food, or your hunger and cravings will win.

That's good to know.. next time (and I'm sure there will be one, lol) I will make sure to do that.


At the end of this 30 day challenge, I've decided to reward myself with getting a remote car-started installed for the freezing winter months. I told myself I cannot get it unless I completely follow through with this challenge and succeed. So it has been helping me stay motivated, and I can't wait to enjoy my reward!!

That sounds like a great reward! :) I know I can think of lots of things to reward myself with.. better dehydrator, better blender, better knives, the list goes on and on.. maybe I should keep up the 30 day challenges just for the rewards :D ..not sure if dh will go for that though. He just told me we need new tires. I DON'T want that to be a reward, lol..