calling all compulsive eaters...

[rawstar]

can any of you who are compulsive eaters help???

What do you do to actually feel FULL on raw...

It doesn't seem to matter how much I eat, I never feel satisfied. I have tried eating lots of fruit in one sitting - just makes me sleepy and irritable - and eating lots of fat in my meals, which also makes me lethargic and gives me sugar cravings.

I can have a great big plate of food which is certainly enough calories, and I can feel pressure in my stomach, but I never feel full or satisfied and all I do all day is think about food and what I can eat next.

I don't think this is entirely a raw issue as it also happened when I was eating cooked vegan, but it is worse now I am trying to go raw.

This is starting to get me down big time. There is only so long I can go feeling unsatisfied and thinking about food before a big SAD junk food binge sneaks up on me. These are now happening virtually every day, we are talking about maybe 5-6000 calories of junk and obviously it is making me very unhappy and I am putting on weight fast from the healthy weight that I was at.

I'm sure some of you have compulsive eating issues - what are your strategies for feeling satisfied and retraining your body to eat a healthy amount?

[Colorawdo girl]

rawstar,this is what I have seen,even on raw,people can gorge and gorge on food and say to themselves"well at least I stayed raw".

This isnt about rawfood it seems so much as it is about,as you say,compulsive eating. Whenever I eat and do not need to,am not hungry etc.,I ask myself....what in your life is not full? What am I trying to fill up. Read,if you can my new thread on Addictions. There I see where I am chasing something that can never fill me and it is not what I want for my life,yet I go again and again.

Inner work.I can do all I can for eating living food,yet if I am not balanced in my emotions and mental state(which,raw brings that to you as well) then I am not healthy and dont feel good anyway.

I am sure others will have alot to support you with on this topic.
Love yourself enough to stop the filling and the beating on yourself.You are worth more than you can imagine!!! luv.

[*RayRay*]

Try Tonya Kay's No-will power approach for transitioning to raw. She is great!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3ryGHor_fo

[Aleesha Sattva]

it takes time to feel full and satisfied on raw for some people. be gentle with yourself. i agree, perhaps a slower transition for a few weeks will work better for you?

[Thick]

I understand exactly what you are saying.

First, try snowdrop's corn chowder. http://www.rawfreedomcommunity.info/forum/showthread.php?t=2824
It is outrageously filling--probably from the psyliium flakes.

Now, if you are still eating sad chemicas scientifically designed to make you eat more then you will still feel this way. Stop eating chemicals for 2 days--it gets easier. It's like quitting smoking or drugs--its not your fault that you are having these cravings-- but it will be very hard for the first couple of days.

after the first couple of days you may feel invincable and powerful over those chemicals and feel like you can just have a bite or ______--dont do it. It's just like drugs..because they are drugs.

Find something else to do during your eating time--or just sleep.

Make big green smoothies. Make huge salads with excellent raw salad dressing.

Pay attention to what you want when you start looking for something to eat. Is it creamy, crunchy, spicy, salty? Satisfy it with raw or at least no chemicals. Are you sleepy? Angry? Misunderstood? Overwhelmed?

Make sure you are eating good fats and drinking a lot of water.

It has taken me so long but I've finally figured out that "One is too many and a thousand is never enough".

[Apple^^]

Have you ever taken the Candida spit test?
coz I too, was just like you even on raw
and then somebody on this forum mentioned I might have candida issues ( you have no idea how much I'm still thankful to that person!) and I'm on my way to recovery

your symptoms sound very similar: sleepy and sluggish after lots of fruits and craving sweets after fats and always hungry and never satisfied
I suggest you cut out all nuts and seeds for a while and reduce others fats and see if there's a difference
Also, GSE helps with the stomach, even if it's not candida it's a great help

Hope this helps :)

[D'vorah]

I've never considered myself a compulsive eater, but I have the same issue of never feeling satiated or full and wind up thinking about food, thinking, thinking and then blowing it. I make it about three days and then I'm fighting with myself over going to McDonald's for breakfast biscuits.

Did you grow up SAD? I grew up not only SAD, but Southern SAD, where not even the vegetables are vegetarian! I feel satiated only when I'm eating SAD. Cooked vegan and raw always leave me feeling lacking, cheated, deprived and wanting, no matter what I eat or how much I eat.

Now, maybe that's a crossed wire. The "light" feeling that others here relish and talk so positively about doesn't feel good to me. Maybe "light" is what our normal is supposed to be, but when we grew up never feeling it, we believed that full, satiated and heavy was normal. Take that "normal" away and we feel deprivation even when well-nourished.

Anyone want to comment on these thoughts?

Deborah

[D'vorah]

Rawstar, is there a particular time of day that's worse for you? I can make it through breakfast and lunch with no problem, I sail through most of the day, but somewhere in the late afternoon is when I crave and cave most often.

Deborah

[RawHeaven]

Now, maybe that's a crossed wire. The "light" feeling that others here relish and talk so positively about doesn't feel good to me. Maybe "light" is what our normal is supposed to be, but when we grew up never feeling it, we believed that full, satiated and heavy was normal. Take that "normal" away and we feel deprivation even when well-nourished.

Anyone want to comment on these thoughts?

Deborah

I think many Americans, no matter what their diet before becoming Raw it was the norm to feel almost sick after eating. As long as you cleaned your plate, ate until you felt full or even sometimes to the point of pain, even experiencing constipation, diarrhea, acne, bloating were all thought to be normal. Are still thought to be normal digestive symptoms of eating for some! Factor in the emotional eating programming which is very connected to love, rewards, social conditioning, socializing, you name it in our culture. You are not alone. I think millions are impacted by this and why it makes it even more challenging for some to make life changes when their heart is 100% into this. It's the programming that can kick your butt sometimes, especially if you're unconscious to it.

I do not have a definitive answer to your question. But can share it took years for me to transcend all of the programming even before I became raw. This is not a plug for fasting, but fasting sincerely helped me get in touch with my relationship to food and how I ingest it, how my body feels during the digestion process and becoming super aware of just how small my stomach really is. To put this in practical terms, if you ball your fist up, that is approximately how big your stomach is! So when I go out with my friends or happen to see the "average" plate of food that is consumed by many, my eyes become wide. It's a shock to my system now to even conceive of abusing my stomach and digestive system like that. Abuse is a strong word, but it is the one that came to mind and so I'm writing it down. And believe me, I am not judging, I used to be one who was scarfing down a great deal of food to the point of feeling ill.

This is about so much more than food, this is about getting in touch with your relationship with your beautiful body. When you love it, all of the programming, all of the beliefs in addition to the toxins fly out of the cells quite literally. I am not saying this is the ultimate answer of course, but simply that I've learned to really appreciate exactly what I was doing to my body pre-raw and how I treat it today. When you view this transition as a true, loving partnership and new beginning with your body, not unlike other relationships in your life....everything shifts. And I mean everything.

Deborah, I have learned much from you reading your thoughts and experiences over the past couple of years. I remember you giving me similar advice....I think you already know this information lady. So I offer it up as a sweet reminder to you and everyone. :)

Blessings to you!

[RawHeaven]

Rawstar, is there a particular time of day that's worse for you? I can make it through breakfast and lunch with no problem, I sail through most of the day, but somewhere in the late afternoon is when I crave and cave most often.

Deborah

Increase your fruit intake. You know the green smoothie song too.

Are you getting your raw fats in earlier in the day?

If you journal, you can determine which cravings are emotional and which cravings are physical. And go from there....


You all can do this! If I can do it, so can you!

Sending many healing rays of light into this thread.

[rawlight]

I'm sure some of you have compulsive eating issues - what are your strategies for feeling satisfied and retraining your body to eat a healthy amount?

You probably know, for compulsive eaters, it's never about the food. We eat for emotional reasons and therein lies the challenge. For me, until I realized that not everyone stuffed themselves from the moment they got home from work, until they went to bed :rolleyes: I was unaware I even had a problem. If you asked me what hunger was, I wouldn't have been able to tell you. I mean really, what did hunger have to do with eating? :confused: LOL

Healing for me began when I started becoming aware of the differences between mouth hunger, stomach hunger and emotional hunger. I highly recommend any books by Geneen Roth, whose comprehension of these feelings around food hit me like she was reading my mind. Until I understood I was eating to fill something other than physical hunger, I still continued to eat when I wasn't hungry. So, becoming conscious of how my emotional life was being satisfied by over eating was the beginning and the key that started unlocking the doors to a more sane way of dealing with food.

It might be that going 100% raw is not right for you at this moment, as it sounds like you are still using food other than to nourish your body. On the other hand, if you can get a handle on the emotional reasons you over eat and are able to deal with them honestly, maybe you can stay 100%.

I have taken the raw life slowly after many attempts to be 100%. I am not ashamed to admit, the emotional pain of giving up certain foods was just too overwhelming and would set me back from being in a healthier place with raw food. And I got fed up with the disappointment, bordering on hate for myself every time I failed at 100% and then binged on anything edible in sight-lol But, I am going on about three years of steady progress at raw and many days now I am 100%. When I eat a little cooked here and there, I do not see it as a disappointment or that I am weak or not as good as someone who can maintain 100%. I just acknowledge that this is where I am....no biggie knowing I will continue to progress.

It's very important NOT to beat yourself up for any reason. It will just make matters worse. Remember, we all come to the raw lifestyle in our own way, with different experiences, baggage and hurts and scars. Try to love yourself through your binges, because remember, this is your method of coping with whatever you are dealing with emotionally. This is how you've comforted yourself in the past and you are not likely to be 'cured' in a day. Just recognize that and let it go. If you can let the negative feelings about it go, you are less likely to binge as much and as long.

[tanishamarshall]

Hi rawstar, could you send me your email I'd like to talk with you. I believe you can contact me via this board or send me an email here: tanisha [@] kandisign [dot] com

It is regarding what you are going through.

[appifanie]

Try Tonya Kay's No-will power approach for transitioning to raw. She is great!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3ryGHor_fo

she is! thanks!

[RaeVynn]

I always thought I was a compulsive overeater.
I even went to O.A. meetings! (12-step program)
The incredible munchies would just overtake me... to the tune of my highest weight of 272 lbs.
After two months of being 90%+ raw, I think I was just malnourished! No wonder I was always hungry, my body was STARVING for nutrients!
I am amazed at how little it takes to truly satisfy me now! And, I mean, I do not get the munchies!!

Yes, I had some serious emotional starvation in my past. I had a very dysfunctional upbringing, and my first marriage was abusive. However, I think the emotional needs merely lowered my resistance to my body's actual cries for nourishment.

I'm still recovering from my past, but I think that eating is not now, nor ever has been, the issue. With my body fed, I can now focus on my real emotional needs.

My advice: Eat. Lots of fresh, water-filled foods, lots of raw seeds, lots of avocados. Make yourself a raw treat (or three!), and just relax. When your body finally gets all the nourishment it NEEDS, you will find the gnawing hunger just evaporating. :p

[rawstar]

wow thanks everyone, sincerely many thanks for all the thoughts and suggestions.

I made a decision two days ago that I will stop bingeing and also stop eating junk food, but then for the past two days I have binged more than ever. It's like my body fighting to keep the habit.

I think it will help me to go more slowly with raw, although I 'm pretty sure the issue is not so much the raw food, because I genuinely prefer to eat lovely healthy food than junk, but with the emotional side. I noticed I never crave "normal" SAD, like the more wholesome dishes, say baked sweet potato or rye bread or whatever, it is ONLY the absolute junk that I crave and binge on. But I think I will let myself eat tofu and cooked whole grains and cooked sprouted bread because I enjoy these foods and at the stage where I am now, I believe these are positively amazing choices compared to bingeing on junk.

Yes, I definitely have candida and it has been pretty bad the past couple of years. But I don't know how to get rid of it, I'm all out of ideas. I bought Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine and yes, that makes sense, but to be honest the thought of having to give up my fruit only felt like more restrictions and made me binge so bad. And also, if I eat meals with a lot of fat and no sugar I don't feel satisfied and I kind of feel dirty on the inside, if that makes sense. Like, I went to a raw food restaurant and ate a beautiful mix of salads (lots of oil/nuts) and a raw spinach quiche (lots of fat, I could taste it), but I didn't feel full so I got a small piece of raw chocolate for dessert. STILL didn't feel full, so on the way home also ate (hangs head in shame), whole packet of dehydrated crackers, huge piece of raw chocolate and piece of raw chocolate pie - things that cost me a huge amount of money to take away but I had planned they would provide me with "treats" for the week. And I still didn't feel satisfied - sick, yes, satisfied no. So fats don't seem to satiate me, I feel like I could eat fats for ever. At that point I wished I'd gotten a smoothie with a salad because it seems I can't get full on dehydrated/gourmet stuff and need the water content.

I tried 80/10/10 for a bit, but to be honest I couldn't take all the fruit. My body screamed for something heavy and savoury and then I ended up bingeing. And mentally, I didn't feel 100% comfortable with eating all that sugar.

I guess I will try to cut down on fats and use GSE, thanks for that tip.

Deborah, hi...I could identify with a lot of what you said. Yes, generally I am quite able to be raw until mid afternoon and that bam the cravings start and start bad and no matter what I eat they don't go.

Anyways, can't keep writing for ever :eek: In my mind, I know the junk absolutely has to go and has to go now because I am an addicted slave to it. I've tried saying "eat whatever you want" to get rid of the deprived mindset, but I can't control it. I'm cool for now with wholefood vegan, raw or not, as a starting point. Vegan is easy and comfortable for me.

*Deep breath*

thank you!

[rawstar]

Have you ever taken the Candida spit test?
coz I too, was just like you even on raw
and then somebody on this forum mentioned I might have candida issues ( you have no idea how much I'm still thankful to that person!) and I'm on my way to recovery

your symptoms sound very similar: sleepy and sluggish after lots of fruits and craving sweets after fats and always hungry and never satisfied
I suggest you cut out all nuts and seeds for a while and reduce others fats and see if there's a difference
Also, GSE helps with the stomach, even if it's not candida it's a great help

Hope this helps :)

Apple - thanks for this...can I ask you what kind of eating plan you are using to get rid of the candida? What would a day's menu look like?

[Apple^^]

Different people have different candida symptoms but the more I read your story the more similarity I feel so I genuinely feel you. I know what you are going through and wish I could be of help. I knew I had overeating issues but I never thought it was emotional or compulsive eating. I would LOVE to be support buddies or something.

I went through a lot and I would like to share my journey if you like.

Right now I'm on day 13 of a water fast I'm hanging on.
During my candida 'battle' I had one meal a day in the evening (eating caused me to crave and I couldn't function properly so I only ate after coming back from school) This was possible because it was after a month of juice fasting. It was always Veggie wraps with garlic, onions, pepper, kimchi, sauerkraut, miso, nori and sea vegetables with rotation of greens. I tried to end it there but I always ended up having fruit for dessert. Looking back I think my meal was too 'strong' thus the cravings for fruit.

I thougth I had strong self will but even on 100% raw I never was able to keep off fruits either. So don't beat yourself over it. I was also frustrated because I couldn't keep off the cravings. I think the key is not to fight it (I cannot win) but instead improving the diet so that the cravings become less. Find which foods are triggering for you and avoid it, one by one. I suggest you go easy on yourself at first. I find I tolerate fruits better in green smoothies, although it gives me bloating. Tell yourself you can overeat but restrict it to raw. Believe me, the difference is huge. But I suggest you stay away from all nuts. Coconut oil helped wonders in replacing fat (but when I first took it I suffered from nausea etc which I imagine was die off reactions) It's a gradual process which takes a lot of patience.

Don't hesitate to email me if you have any questions. :)
you can use the one on this forum or chocolattee@hanmail.net

God Bless,
Hana Kim

[rawlight]

wow thanks everyone, sincerely many thanks for all the thoughts and suggestions. I'm cool for now with wholefood vegan, raw or not, as a starting point. Vegan is easy and comfortable for me.

*Deep breath*

thank you!
I think you've stepped it up in the learning about yourself part of this issue and that is always a good thing! Good for you and I wish you very well.

[Colorawdo girl]

Now, maybe that's a crossed wire. The "light" feeling that others here relish and talk so positively about doesn't feel good to me. Maybe "light" is what our normal is supposed to be, but when we grew up never feeling it, we believed that full, satiated and heavy was normal. Take that "normal" away and we feel deprivation even when well-nourished.


we are accustomed to overeating and what that feels like. We are not accustomed to undereating and feeling light and airy. Yet that is where,when we reach it, our bodies are no longer weighed down and can heal rapidly.

At this point in my raw life, I love light and airy and clean feeling for me.ahhhhh I jump for joy!

[glamazon]

Well, first off let me say, I haven't felt a REAL hunger pain since 1978 ;) I'm constantly shoving something in my mouth!! Initially, I think I put extra weight on to protect myself...I felt the bigger I was, the more no one would or could hurt me. My weight has been my excuse for not doing alot of things [I would have probably enjoyed] and it has been up and down the majority of my life.

I don't think I really know what that "comfortable and airy" condition feels like. I go from empty [Ha! like that has ever been a reality] to stuffed. I too was raised with the family that constantly said "There are starving kids in other countries" lecture at every meal. I understand the whole ingrained thing but at some point, we gotta take responsibility for OUR choices. Granted, I know there are tons of things working against us like the food manufacturer's ingredients that cause us to crave more and over eat and the PHYSICAL things also work against us as well i.e. candidia overgrowth, lowered seratonin levels, mineral inbalances, over-stretched stomaches etc...BUT we have the ability to say NO!!! The food will not jump into our mouth. I know it seems to actually call me, but I tell it to shut the heck up!! Sadly like ME, it has selective hearing too!! :mad:

All OE have specific trigger food/s they can't eat--period. I can say well maybe just once...Ahhh NO not even one! The only way to stop this vicious cycle is to identify the trigger, and delete it from my path. Does that mean forever?? Quite possibly YES. Triggers are just that-a TRIGGER!! They cause a rampage of overeating. There are soooo many other foods to enjoy and nourish the body so why would I want to consume something that I know is going to send me spiraling into the proverbial bottomless pit?!! I have to be accountable and take responsibility for my choices. I have to realize that my emotions are NOT physical. Food is to nourish our physical being not to feed our emotions or stuff them down for that matter. When you really GET that...you will take control of your world.

The real key to stopping me from over-eating is to realize I am a part of something more than myself. I am not the body I currently reside in BUT I do have to take care of it while I'm here. Cramming food down it is not going to change my past---it's done and over with. I can only move forward from here. So I focus on today...maybe that very minute and make it thru THAT one moment. Don't look so far ahead...be in THIS moment. Know that you are a beautiful being made from love, no matter what else you may FEEL.

My cravings come at night when I'm not as busy with the daily routine. When I'm not engaged in other activities, my pace slows and I think my mind and emotions settle down and ultimately start clicking on old habits. Find something new that sparks your interest, it will help retrain the pattern to immediately eat. I'm learning Spanish :D you gotta find something that makes you intrigued and just do it!! Dammmn those Nike commercials!! Changing ain't easy...there is no quick fix. Be patient with yourself and IF you slip, lovingly pick yourself up and start again.

You have chosen to go RAW which is a great step toward healing your LIFE. You are more than the foods you crave or overindulge in. You can change the negatives and replace it with positives. Drink more green smoothies, drink more water, breath deeply, and move daily!! Maybe try a cleanse...every cell in your body has memory and excess adipose tissues store toxic and negative junk. Remember change requires 21 consecutive days of doing a new thing but it's a day by day process. Gotta crawl before you can walk, and walk before you can run!!

I hope this has sparked your inner light to SHINE. Accept that you are beautiful and don't be afraid to grow and GLOW!!