I feel like I can't do it

[kidkid]

I don't usually feel so negatively about things, but I just don't feel like I can keep up with a raw lifestyle. It's weird, I've been trying for over a year now to just stay raw for 1 or 2 days in a row...and I can't! I'm lucky if one day a week is raw.

It's bread and sugary foods that really get me. and dairy. I don't know if i'm doing something wrong or what. It doesn't matter how determined I am, it just falls apart at some point in the day. And I'm just getting tired of it. I know people say don't sweat the small stuff, but i'm just getting so sick of caring and caring and trying and trying and getting no results because i can't stick with it.
I don't know what i think I'll accomplish by posting this, i guess i'm just venting...again.

[rawrawks]

It is ok. This is normal for raw eating. To have these ups and downs.
Get clear on what you committed to, what you want, where you want to go with your life. Raw is the way to greatness, or you can choose the other road.

Other road? Numbed out on cooked, feeling sick and sad and having all kinds of challenges.

It is worth it to keep going more and more raw. Most of us have had these challenges. Its ok. Just keep eating one raw food after another.

Maybe take the big leap and go all raw overnight. Hmmmm you never know.

You CAN do it. You CAN!!! We are here for you.

[Veganforlife]

Hey! We've all slipped up. It's okay. Really. Is there anyway you can get all the SAD/CRAP foods out of your house? I know that is a big plus to ONLY surround yourself with Raw and living foods...
Also, green smoothies help tremendously with cravings...

[margoss]

thanks..I'm struggling this week. I've also eating mainly raw foods the past 2 days until I'm stuffed..feel miserable.

[snoops]

The breads and dairy are my worst enemies too. I truly believe it is an addiction. If you can keep off them for a week or so I think you can beat it if you look at it as an addiction. You can't just have some.

And if that feels harsh - you know it IS an addiction!!

[livin]

Sugars/Carbs can be addictive. Perhaps you need a simple detox/fast to help get beyond the sugar/carb cravings so you can have more success with raw.
Some people successfully leap straight into 100% raw; others have to do it gradually. Some have strong opinions about how it should be done, but don't be too hard on yourself. If you can start 100% raw tomorrow, good. Otherwise, try a gradual plan like 100% raw for only the 1st half of day or 50% raw at each meal and eventually increase as you start to desire more and more raw. Starting the day with a large green smoothie might help you stay away from SAD cravings. Best Wishes on your journey. You can do it!

[miabella]

hi there- this is what I do if i find that i sliped up and the cravings for nonfoods start to take over and it works for me.

i committ myself to drink at least 1-2 litres of green smoothie during the day no mater what else i eat i don't sweat it because i know this works

within 1 week all cravings disappear and i find that each meal and snack naturally craved become raw

this really is amazing

my sister also used this method to transition to raw successfully within two weeks with all cigaretting and coffee addictions gone aswell. she has also used this method successfully on the rare occasion that found herself slipping up.

you could try this and just committ to doing this for how ever long it takes to transition

if you want the transition to go quicker aswell as drinking the green smoothie just explore the internet- there are heaps of free raw recipe inspiration out there and try to make something everyday to get you interested and focus- everytime you prepare a meal or snack make it raw!

[Raw Angel Mom]

Don't fight it, don't resist it and just be. What about picking a couple of food that you will give yourself permission to have. I promise you the first thing you are going to realize, you aren't going to want them anymore.

Our mind is very powerful and we need to train it to be comfortable with raw food.

Add green smoothie if you haven't done it, it heals addiction. Guilt should never been use neither telling ourselves stories to justify our choice. They both give power to our addiction. Instead, knows this isn't ideal or good for you but you still choose to eat it, then this is ok.

Honor and respect where you are, and allow yourself to feel at peace. You said you have been trying for a year. I say wow to you, for not giving up and keep trying. This is a major accomplishment. Always focus on your success and don't worry about the rest.

When you feel a peace and ready. Have a plan and do the 30 days 100% raw commitment. Learned from your past, what made you go back to cook food? Don't be afraid to eat raw food with good fat, just eat and feel satisfy. If it was a stressful time, have a plan to do something else during that time, go for a walk, five deep breath, have a shower or whatever feels good to you.

You truly can do that and don't worry but be grateful. Do you know that many won't even consider to try that? You are, and this is absolutely fantastic.

Congratulation and keep up the great work!

p.s Don't compare yourself to anyone but yourself. Meaning, just notice every bit of progress and good thing that you do for you. Making room for the good stuff is great and deserve its full attention and gratitude.

[rawrawks]

Oh yes...when I first went raw, for one year I had green smoothies every morning..well until noon or so. These took away all cravings.

[ReneeH]

I'm with RAWAngelMom...don't compare yourself to others. You are a unique individual whose struggles are different from anyone else.

Hey, it even took Alissa a few years before she was 100% RAW... Read or re-read Alissa's story in her book! It's inspiring to know that she is now 100% RAW, but it didn't happen overnight for her. It's not happening overnight for me!!! I did the 30 day Challenge TWICE before I got it right!!!! We are all imperfect. Yea, some go RAW and stay RAW from the moment they hear if it, but for others it's a PROCESS.

Personally, it's been a wonderful learning experience for me. RAW shows us what we're made of...what we need to work on individually! For some, it's will-power. For others it's patience.

Ultimately, what matters is that you reach your goal of 100% RAW. Stay the course and you will succeed...FOR YOU...!

[freshlight]

It's all about trying: keep trying. If you didn't manage something yet then it gives you a good reason to keep trying it, doesn't it? I'm SURE you can do it if you really want to. Just relax, be kind to yourself and give it another try ( if you want to, that is :)).

Take care!!

[freshlight]

oh, wow: Raw Angel Mum said t all. Thank you!

[ssandee]

I've been raw only about 4 months, so not an expert here but the only thing that has worked for me is to take baby steps, commit one day at a time.
If I thought I'd never, ever be able to eat that crusty authentic oil-dipping bread or indulge in that creamy salad topping feta or blue cheese ever again, even the thought of it would be so discouraging and overwhelming I'd be done before I ever got started. But: I can do it, if only just for today. pooh~sometimes it's a commitment one meal at a time and even one hour at a time, like when walking down a grocery store isle. I can do anything just for today, one day at a time. That's what is getting me through those tough times, and now the benefits of raw are showing in my life making those daily/hourly commitments
so much easier. Baby steps...it's helping to work for me.

ssandee :)

[MiahTay]

I've been raw only about 4 months, so not an expert here but the only thing that has worked for me is to take baby steps, commit one day at a time.
If I thought I'd never, ever be able to eat that crusty authentic oil-dipping bread or indulge in that creamy salad topping feta or blue cheese ever again, even the thought of it would be so discouraging and overwhelming I'd be done before I ever got started. But: I can do it, if only just for today. pooh~sometimes it's a commitment one meal at a time and even one hour at a time, like when walking down a grocery store isle. I can do anything just for today, one day at a time. That's what is getting me through those tough times, and now the benefits of raw are showing in my life making those daily/hourly commitments
so much easier. Baby steps...it's helping to work for me.

ssandee :)

Thanks for this reminder. It is what I needed to hear today.

Blessings,
Heather

[annavon]

I don't usually feel so negatively about things, but I just don't feel like I can keep up with a raw lifestyle. It's weird, I've been trying for over a year now to just stay raw for 1 or 2 days in a row...and I can't! I'm lucky if one day a week is raw.

It's bread and sugary foods that really get me. and dairy. I don't know if i'm doing something wrong or what. It doesn't matter how determined I am, it just falls apart at some point in the day. And I'm just getting tired of it. I know people say don't sweat the small stuff, but i'm just getting so sick of caring and caring and trying and trying and getting no results because i can't stick with it.
I don't know what i think I'll accomplish by posting this, i guess i'm just venting...again.

Breads and sugary foods will set you up on an endless circle of cravings. Dairy also contains a sugar called lactose that seems to contribute to cravings. This could be for a number of real physical reasons. Sugars cause imbalances with insulin. Also, if you have an overgrowth of candida, you may crave sugars (although there are differing opinions on this). For me, cutting out bread really helped. It took a couple of days of fighting the cravings to get past it. I also reduced my sugar intake from fruit by eating low sugar fruits like berries. I then gradually added back other fruit.

It helps to not keep the tempting items in your home/work.

[Aleesha Sattva]

I don't usually feel so negatively about things, but I just don't feel like I can keep up with a raw lifestyle. It's weird, I've been trying for over a year now to just stay raw for 1 or 2 days in a row...and I can't! I'm lucky if one day a week is raw.

It's bread and sugary foods that really get me. and dairy. I don't know if i'm doing something wrong or what. It doesn't matter how determined I am, it just falls apart at some point in the day. And I'm just getting tired of it. I know people say don't sweat the small stuff, but i'm just getting so sick of caring and caring and trying and trying and getting no results because i can't stick with it.
I don't know what i think I'll accomplish by posting this, i guess i'm just venting...again.

kidkid, if you haven't been raw for more than a day or two then you haven't felt the benefits of the raw food lifestyle. this is definitely one of the things you WANT to feel... if you feel the benefits it helps you to keep motivated.

now... here's what you may not want to hear but it's what i think you need to hear.

there comes a time when you have to put on your big girl panties (sorry but this is just something i say IRL) and step up your game. *giggling* okay come on, laugh with me...

you have to just do it. just do it. tell yourself there ARE no exceptions for today. none. nada. not allowed. plan out your meals... have lots of raw foods available to you and do it. cause you can do it... i know you can. think of the things you've achieved in your life that you never thought you could... you can do this as well!

so come on *hands over a pair of panties* get dressed and let's do this together (((hugs)))

----of course the other option is to go back to being a SAD eater and just try to be healthy within that diet... cause that is another option for ya! whatever you resonate with, whatever your body resonates with...

[kidkid]

hahaha "big girl panties"! that's hilarious!

ok, ok you're right Aleesha! I'll suck it up and JUST DO IT! Thank you!

Speaking of big girl panties, I had a realization today: I am a big girl. I mean, I'm an adult, I'm wide, I'm energetic -- and I'm not letting myself eat like a big girl! I'm trying to eat like i'm small! It's one of my weird eating hangups that I wasn't aware of: I still feel weird about eating big portions and eating often. The hundreds of times I've tried to stay raw, I was still limiting the amount I ate, at least in my mind. And I would get so frustrated that I would end up binging on bread and pizza. Even when I reached for a piece of fruit, I would hear this voice go, "you just had a piece of fruit, don't you think you've had enough?"

well, that's stupid. I'm not doing THAT anymore.

So in the spirit of that discovery I ate however much I damn pleased today. And I was happy! and full! and entirely satisfied! I don't care if I'm eating a million calories or sloshing around from so much green smoothie, I LOVE TO EAT.

this is what i had today. It was awesome.

.a flat of Raspberries and hempmilk (all mashed up into a sweet pink gooey mess)
.GS with kale, lettuce, an orange and two nectarines
.jicama and mango salad
.chard with cucumber and onion
.sugar snap peas
.a little bit of raw chocolate with coconut and almonds
.a young Thai coconut
.mulberry and almond granola with hempmilk
.grapes

basically, i got excited about raw again today, instead of just feeling obligated to do it.


thanks for all the support you guys!

[pbuttercwup]

perhaps this will not be the popular advice but each person has to decide for themselves what is right for them. Perhaps the expectation of 100% is too much pressure . Maybe you are creating a mindset where because you cant have it you want more of it. Maybe aim for breakfast and lunch as raw and allowing some cooked food for dinner. After you conquer that, then try letting raw take over your dinner too. Perhaps you will manage 100% and maybe you wont...and that is okay, adding any amount of raw to your diet is already so beneficial. Putting pressure on yourself will make this journey very unenjoyable and in that case you will not stick to it. I cook for my family and though I am raw all morning and afternoon I will sometimes eat a little of my cooked dinner for my family. I of course have a large selection of salads and other uncooked veg on the table for my whole family to eat. You can only do what you can do...life is stressful enough and making your food intake stressful is not worth it...allow for a bit of cooked and maybe the struggle wont be such a struggle...

[Conscious Midwife]

Keep on keeping on
Keep Hope Alive
Yes we can
Do the right thang
Nothing to it but to do it
I think I can, I think I can

I've got a dozen more cliches and slogans but the one I like best is nothing beats a failure but I try. Been posting and trying for 3.5 years not always trying real hard but not giving up either. Hang in there if you can conceive of it then you can achieve it.

Repeat the following 3x

If it's to be it's up to me!!!

Now go let RAW do what it do and experience the magic and the BLISSS of it all!

[Conscious Midwife]

Keep on keeping on
Keep Hope Alive
Yes we can
Do the right thang
Nothing to it but to do it
I think I can, I think I can

I've got a dozen more cliches and slogans but the one I like best is nothing beats a failure but I try. Been posting and trying for 3.5 years not always trying real hard but not giving up either. Hang in there if you can conceive of it then you can achieve it.

Repeat the following 3x

If it's to be it's up to me!!!

Now go let RAW do what it do and experience the magic and the BLISSS of it all!
Now go let RAW do what it do and experience the magic and the BLISSS of it all !!!