Using obstacles as excuses

[Sharon in Colorado]

Usually we're our own worst enemy. We keep ourselves from moving forward based on obstacles in our heads rather than real obstacles (like really being trapped in a house with nothing but canned food, for instance).

Here are some common excuses we use to keep from starting or staying on a raw & live food diet.

See if you can come up with some positives to counterract these excuses so you can carry on the road to good health:

"I have a function (wedding, visitor, party, get-together)"


"I don't want to hurt my (husband's, wife's, friend's, grandmother's, in-law's) feelings"



"I have to cook all this food for my family"


"There's nothing to eat"


"My life is way too crazy right now"


"I'm going away on a trip"


"Nothing looks good to me (to eat)"


"It's that time of the month"


"I'm having a rough day"


"This is too extreme"


"This costs too much"

[flutterfly]

That is so true Sharon. I think that I have used almost every one at different times.

[twinyoga]

Thanks for posting this. I've had all of those excuses run through my head. For most of them...I tell myself that this is my body, this is what works for me and if I'm happy everyone is happy.

[brookegoeden]

I am so guilty of all of these..shame on me :(

[spockafina]

these 'obstacles in my head' are exactly what's holding me back... I just never quite thought about it until reading this post.

Thanks! Now I can really try to work on this

[Rawadventures]

OUCH.. stepped on my toes! I too have used those... even some recently! YIKES. Thanks for the reminder that we cause many of our own obstacles!

Great point! Thanks!

Teri H.

[Sharon in Colorado]

Hey People! So what about coming up with some positives to counteract those obstacles? For instance:

Obstacle: "I'm having a rough day"

Positive: Can you imagine it any better after eating something cooked? You will probably feel worse, run down, lethargic, more moody, etc. Eat something light and full of enzymes to lighten up your day!

See what you can come up with for the other obstacles, then place it somewhere (on your fridge, for instance) so that you will see it all the time.

[Rawkinlocs]

"I have a function (wedding, visitor, party, get-together)"

- But this celebration IS about the people, not the food. I can always eat before I go or take a few things with me and if everyone's having a good time, they won't even be focused on what I'm eating or not eating!


"I don't want to hurt my (husband's, wife's, friend's, grandmother's, in-law's) feelings"

- But if they love me, they should understand that I'm doing something to make MY quality of life better. Besides, when teasing me or giving me a hard time about my "diet", they sure won't be worried about hurting MY feelings!


"I have to cook all this food for my family"

- But I DO want them to be healthy and how can I ever expect THEM to come around if I keep eating what they're eating. I MUST lead by example if I'm ever to win them over to a healthier way of life! It has to start with someone, might as well start with me.

"There's nothing to eat"

- I mean, well, there may not be all the necessary ingredients for fancy recipes, but hey! I have an apple and a couple of oranges and while it may not satisfy my cravings, it's food and it's a meal so let me go ahead and eat this!


"My life is way too crazy right now"

- and eating this cooked food is NOT going to make it any less crazy but might make ME crazier! Raw foods makes me have more mental clarity to better deal with what's going on in my life.

"I'm going away on a trip"

- But that's really no excuse because I'll be able to pack some things and most areas have stores that sell fruit and veggies and most restaurants offer salads.

"Nothing looks good to me (to eat)"

- but I realize that nothing looks or tastes as good as raw foods make me FEEL! Maybe this is an indication that I really don't need to eat at all and should fast today. I'll just have water for now. - wanted to add to this one that usually this is an indication of boredom and looking to food to entertain that boredom. Probably time to go lay down and sleep (if it's night time) or get busy doing something else to take my mind off of the boredom...get outta the house or something!


"It's that time of the month"

- and I KNOW how out of hand I can get with my cravings and how ugly that could turn, so I'd better not even go there. I can always whip up fudge balls to counter that chocolate monster!


"I'm having a rough day"

- and again, eating cooked food while it may sedate my feelings, will only make me feel worse. Raw foods are more calming and I NEED calm after my rough day!

"This is too extreme"

- (as Alissa said) and eating the inside of a cow isn't?!? Eating foods that I KNOW have absolutely no nutrional value (like these blasted potato chips) just for pleasure isn't extreme? How can I think eating natural foods is extreme especially when eating it makes me feel so darned good? Yes, this is extreme-ly the right thing to do!

"This costs too much"

- But look at how much I'm saving on doctor's bills, paying medical insurance out of my check, OTC drugs and pain relievers, skin care products for my former acne problem, sanitary products since my menses is now lighter and doesn't last as long, deodorant since I'm cleaner now and don't have B.O., and as my body gets cleaner and cleaner, I won't spend as much because I'll be satisfied eating more simply and basic fruits and veggies cost NOTHING compared to buying all that processed food!

Wow, thanks Sharon, that was therapeutic!

[sweetgoddess]

CLAPS! CHEERS!

Now there is something to print out and put on the fridge door!
Thanks Rawkinlocs....... :p

[Rawkinlocs]

**said in my very best Elvis-impressionist voice***

"Thankyaverymuuch"

:p

Now lemme go correct all those typos! :o

[Sharon in Colorado]

Just wanted to bump this up, especially with all the challenges going on right now, I know people can use this particularly in the beginning of their journeys.

I re-introduced this at our last support meeting. It just so happened that one of the girls was going to a wedding and several of the obstacles helped her immensly.

See if you can come up with some good answers to some of these road-blocks and then you can use them when the time comes.

A specific one I see a lot is:

"I don't want to hurt my (husband's, wife's, friend's, grandmother's, in-law's) feelings"

1) It is okay to be honest
2) If you had a real allergy or disease, their feelings wouldn't be hurt
3) How bad would you feel if you partook of the food after eating a clean diet for some time?


Here's another:


"I'm having a rough day"

I've used this excuse a lot in anger when my day was especially long and irritating!

1) Imagine how much worse that day would be with your body having to assimilate the bad food choice
2) Try to get away from a trigger area (kitchen, breakroom) and go for a walk, take a bath, play with kids or pets, etc.
3) Drink a big glass of water first, and then eat your favorite raw food, like an apple with almond butter, before things REALLY get out of control.

Hope some of those helped, along with Rawkinlocs previously posted great answers. See if you can come up with more!

[sachis2112]

"Nothing looks good to me (to eat)"

- but I realize that nothing looks or tastes as good as raw foods make me FEEL! Maybe this is an indication that I really don't need to eat at all and should fast today. I'll just have water for now. - wanted to add to this one that usually this is an indication of boredom and looking to food to entertain that boredom. Probably time to go lay down and sleep (if it's night time) or get busy doing something else to take my mind off of the boredom...get outta the house or something!


Cherie, you Rawk! This is TOTALLY my problem!!!! Thank you for pointing out the obvious.

[Jo-anne]

Rawkinlocs that was FANTASTIC!!!!

and Sharon, you hit the nail on the head with that one, it sounds like me most of the time, but like sweetgoddess said, I will definitely be printing this one off and sticking it to my fridge door lol

[Pailani]

"My life is way too crazy right now"

- and eating this cooked food is NOT going to make it any less crazy but might make ME crazier! Raw foods makes me have more mental clarity to better deal with what's going on in my life.

So true! The only thing worse than having a tough, crazy week, is being lethargic and having acne, hives and feeling blah on top of everything else from indulging in SAD food.

Some of the times I want an excuse are the times I need a clean diet more than ever just so I can think straight and have energy to deal with life.

This is definitely worth printing and taping up somewhere!