Stuck in a Rut.

[Green_Woman]

I haven't had a 100% Raw day in weeks...

I don't want to gush out the details but life is REALLY hectic right now and there is alot of negative energy surrounding me, coming from all sides... nothing is stable and I feel like I have nothing to hold onto right now.

I'm eating like a maniac.

It used to be that if I were stressed, I wouldn't eat anything... raw or cooked. I'd just starve myself (unwittingly) because I was too stressed to digest anything.

Now, it seems I've swung to the opposite of the pendulum.

I've been eating sushi (the fish and rice kind, yep) and TONS of corn chips with my guacamole/salsa... I've been eating pinto beans 3-4 times a week, and I've also had some pretty nasty dinners (tasted great, but left me bloated, slight weight-gain, headachey, etc.) over the last few months.

I'm bewildered.

When I first went onto Raw last year (April 1, 2009), it was so easy for me. And life was CRAZY then, too!

It seems life is even crazier (primarily, college is very difficult and it's hard to keep income going in this economy, which is affecting my relationship VERY negatively and my health is going downhill again) now - and I'm just at a loss how to deal with it all.

AND - stay high raw, where my body is happiest and my spirit is calmest.


Getting back there... feels impossible to do on my own.

I need help.


I really need help.

[spicyfull]

What about trying the 30 Day Challenge? Above take it one day at a time. Before you take a bite........ask yourself, do I really want to do this? I wish you everything you need to Stay RAW.

[ShantiLove]

I just want to say i totaly understand you as im in the same situation at the moment. Well have been for a couple of monthe now.
Funny I have the same about appetite. I use to not eat when I was stressed out or upset, but after being high raw for over a year now I just eat and eat. Im hungry allllllll the time. I havent gained any weight from it thoug which is a real bumer LOL
I dont haven any answer as I myself is trying hardly to get into the fantastisk hight raw lifestyle again. Im really looking forvard to the spring really kicking in and all the great fresh new produce is comming (and the sun ;)) I think that will make it more easy to get into living raw again. I really miss it.

I hope you will get some great answers that can help you on your way :D All my best wishes to you :D

[klomasius]

Firstly, let me express my sadness at what you are going through, I really feel for you and wish intensely that things will change for the better.

Is there any way you can take time out for yourself? Just be somewhere quiet and do a few breathing exercises, or yoga poses or listen to a meditation podcast? Anything that calms you down and enables you to think straight?

Because thinking straight and regaining a sense of calm are the first steps back onto the pathway of health (both for eating and for thinking).

Secondly, turn your thoughts to the fact that your side of the planet will soon be bathed in the warm light of spring, and with this warmth returns all the delicious seasonal fruits that can tempt and tantalise you. I do this sometimes to remind me of how lucky I am: take a beautiful piece of fruit, turn it over in your hands and note it's colour, texture and wonder. Then eat it slowly and enjoy and savour the flavours.

No matter how bad things get, it's a tunnel you are travelling through that will eventually come out into the light again, hopefully making you a better, stronger person for the experience.

This is a bit random, but I just stumbled onto a really good speech by JK Rowling (of Harry Potter fame) to a bunch Harvard graduates that for some reason I'm thinking you might like.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/toolbar/#topic=Literature&url=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.news.harvard.edu%252Fga zette%252F2008%252F06.05%252F99-rowlingspeech.html

Take care, and try to put any troubles into perspective, whatever they are.

You are worth every effort you make to help yourself, and more!

[commoncents]

I was in this same place after I got let go of my job in November/08. I ate everything under the sun and most of it was not Raw. I was depressed, angry and totally lost. I had lost over 55 lbs. going Raw in 2008 and put all of that and some back on.

I did a 13 day fast and got back to RAW and I feel great again! I don't know if fasting is an option for you, even a short three day fast will do wonders. It always brings me back to center and what is really important in my life.

I'm so sorry that you are experiencing this. I have to always remind myself when I am going through difficult periods is that God Is In This Moment.

Take care. Be Blessed.

[Green_Woman]

Beautiful encouragement, thank you all...


Fasting has crossed my mind.

I'm worried since I am working so much right now (80+ hrs./week at this point) that I really need the strength from food... but from GOOD food.

My big barriers are TIME, MONEY and ENERGY.

I don't have time to prepare foods in the morning due to a roommate situation (I am helping a blind friend and she lives in my room with me, and I get up 2 hrs. earlier each day now... little sleep deprived, yes.) and I can't last until 8pm, when I get home from my work day to eat.

So I've been eating stuff on the go - and it's BAD.

I have to change this. I WANT to change this. I don't know how.

I'm so overwhelmed.

[Amberly]

I understand!! I am in a similar situation as we have many guests at our cabin and there is always bad food around. Also I am programmed to eat cooked when I am at the cabin anyway. I'll have to figure out how to deprogram that. Anyway, I feel miserable. I hope we can both, and everyone else struggling, get back on track and enjoy the fresh abundance the summer will bring.

[freshlight]

First of all, be kind to yourself! You are helping your friend which is beautiful.
Start with small fun steps: a mangoe here, an orange there. You could also try to make it a rule to eat at least one bite of raw before eating cooked......then, by increasing the amount of raw the cooked will slowly disappear from your life.

Find some self-encouraging affirmations and repeat them as often as you can untill they sink in......then you can find some new ones for the next level, and so on.
Trust in the process. All the best, Eva

[Zanjabil]

Maybe sticking with fruit in the first half of your day would make it easier. That way you could just peel or wash and go. You are going to have to eat quite a bit of fruit to get your calories in but it could work. Then the evenings (dinner) would be the only time you would have to worry about food preparation. I'm sure this is just a trial for you on your raw path, it will soon get better. Just take it one day at a time.

[rawbabymama]

Beautiful encouragement, thank you all...


Fasting has crossed my mind.

I'm worried since I am working so much right now (80+ hrs./week at this point) that I really need the strength from food... but from GOOD food.

My big barriers are TIME, MONEY and ENERGY.

I don't have time to prepare foods in the morning due to a roommate situation (I am helping a blind friend and she lives in my room with me, and I get up 2 hrs. earlier each day now... little sleep deprived, yes.) and I can't last until 8pm, when I get home from my work day to eat.

So I've been eating stuff on the go - and it's BAD.

I have to change this. I WANT to change this. I don't know how.

I'm so overwhelmed.

I understand exactly how you feel. I have struggled with trying to be raw for years because of those same barriers. Time is a bit easier...try to eat simply. Get a big container with a lid, throw your salad ingredients in there with dressing & shake it up. Eat lots of easy fruit...berries, grapes, bananas. Smoothies are fast, not sure what kind of equipment you have. If you can, take one day a week & make some raw munchies to last for 7-10 days.

The suggestions from the others for coping with stress were really wonderful. Also, just try to remember that you might not be able to change anything else right now, but you can change what you eat, which will help you to feel better and focus on dealing with your life.

You can do this!

Good luck!

Michele

[Jewels]

Hi greenwoman, it sounds like stress and emotional discomfort over your sitation is causing you to do what you don't really want to do, that is, eat what you don't think is the best for you. When you get the chance, take a vacation and get some perspective on things. I hope you find peace.

[Green_Woman]

You all are lovely... thank you!

I am reading Dr. Cousen's book RAINBOW GREEN LIVE-FOOD CUISINE and getting some ideas for low-glycemic recipes I can begin to introduce into my weekly intake.

I have never before struggled to stay raw since March 2008. However, these are different times I'm living in, and I live in a highly toxic environment here in the City, whereas before I was living in the country and felt very free.

I will find my way back, and meantime, not punish myself for straying. More guilt is the last thing I need to allow myself to indulge in right now!!!

[Sammijane]

allow yourself to take the time you need. I always fall off the wagon when things are just too hectic for me to concentrate on it anymore. You have to have it completely mastered for it to be 2nd nature and that can take years and years. just enjoy whatever you eat and know that this is a phase. To help with money- I'm not sure if this would be right for you but you should check out this website www.thesuperfoodexperience.com. You basically get paid for promoting superfoods, so if thats something you think you could do then maybe give it a shot. It has helped me out a lot financially in these hard times. my email is rawsammi@gmail.com if you want to talk more. I've been raw for over 2 years but fall off too- and it takes some time to get back on. don't worry, it'll figure itself out!! eat what you need to- heavier foods cause a release of tryptophan in your brain, and that might be something you need right now to control stress. If you do go raw again, make sure you don't neglect more concentrated foods (like UNsoaked nuts and seeds) as part of a healthy well-rounded diet.

[Green_Woman]

Oh, I'm going to go raw again... and soon. My body craves it, my spirit craves it, my heart desires it... I'm by no means HAPPY without my wonderful living foods and green smoothies and fresh salsas and crispy crackers and salty seaweed and chewy mango slices... and all the wonderful things I love on RAW.

I'm going to attempt to eat rice and beans right now in addition to as many raw foods as I can fit into my day. I'm not a huge fan of either rice or beans because they cause headaches for me... but I believe I can satisfy my craving for "heavier foods" right now in a vegan-friendly fashion if I do, and I can get away from the fish and popcorn and other random not-even-close-to-raw foods. :)

I want so much to be in a better place, but right now I feel like I'm trying to run a race, without legs!!!

[ViolinCyndee]

Yeah I have been wavering alot too! Grrrrrrr! I am just going to focus on one day at a time and try not to beat myself up if I eat something 'bad'. :(

I know that I will be doing another MC at the end of May.. It helps get me re-focused. But I am going to try to focus on staying high-raw until the fast. Hope I can do better than I have been doing lately..

[Myca]

Beautiful encouragement, thank you all...


Fasting has crossed my mind.

I'm worried since I am working so much right now (80+ hrs./week at this point) that I really need the strength from food... but from GOOD food.

My big barriers are TIME, MONEY and ENERGY.



I'm so overwhelmed.

The biggest red flag is working 80 hours a week. You will break your body down real fast no matter what kind of diet you are on. Is there any way you can slow that part down?
The only other thing I can think of is to simplify the food you are eating. Carry around your favorite fruit and salad (buy chopped Romaine or something like that) in a insulated bag. I spend very little time working with food. I work 36hrs/week and I put in another 10-20 hrs per week in volunteer work. Plus kids, hubby house. Simplify what you can. Hopefully that killer schedule will let up soon.

[kaybee]

hey green woman--

ive been stuck in a rut too...vicious cycles of either being somewhere and eating some cooked and then it snowballs, or just not being able to get what i need raw to sustain me (nuts etc too expensive and poor quality here), so i eat cooked and then it all becomes a vicious cycle, and then i crave the junk. so yeah, i definitely know.

instead of the rice and beans--rice makes me feel icky too, as does quinoa, and just about any other grain. some of the compromises i have made this winter, due to the cold dampness, living in a freezing caravan, and the lack of availability of variety of fresh stuff over the winter is using cooked amaranth grain. ok, its not raw, but its better than bingeing on junk. i have found raw sprouted grains to not digest well for me, and im still trying to sort out ways to "fill the gap" when im still feeling hungry, given that i cant get things like dates and dried fruit, or nuts really either here, and that variety of other things is fairly limited. ive tried making stuff in the dehydrator but almost all of it ends up going to the dog or the compost as it just doesnt turn out well. anyway amaranth is the only grain that my tummy seems to do ok with. what i do is mix cooked amaranth with a TON of finely chopped raw veggies--finely grated carrot, broccoli, red onion, garlic, ginger, add lemon juice, salt, and some olive oil, and at least i feel like im getting somethign partly raw. ive also done some lentil soups and steamed red cabbage and potatoes (which i try to put a bunch of fresh chopped herbs and garlic in to get some raw in) as like i say, i cant seem to "fill the gap" with the current resources available and these thigns dont make me feel sick, whereas most cooked does. sometimes i do the lentil soup with a heated "broth" of miso and herbs, and then toss in sprouted lentils and raw chopped veggies and grated carrot. then i at least feel like im getting SOME raw as opposed to eating just cooked. not perfect, but better than it could be :)

so i dont know how to get you out of the rut as im stuck in one myself (tired of same foods, cant get new recipes to work, craving carby/bready stuff, cant get some of the raw stuff that i would like, that im used to having sustain me), but thought i would offer these suggestions as at least they are a more-raw alternative to the rice and beans :)