I want nothing more!

[rawcupcake]

I was introduced to raw about 3-4 years, took a trip to Boston for Alissa's certification, was mostly raw for a while, taught classes, and even worked as a nutritionist for a while.

I took a completely new career direction and became a police officer about a year ago. Eating mostly raw helped me get through the police academy. However, now that I am out working on the streets, my eating habits have taken a turn for the worse! My squad is always going out to eat while working, always getting together for drinks and food after work... hot chocolate on cold nights... and uuuhhhhg.

I really want nothing more than to return to my old ways. Even if not 100% raw, I don't want to be addicted to food anymore. When there is junk food nearby, I eat it. I have no control at the moment. It is driving me bonkers and adding fat to my tummy/hips/thighs!!!

Any advice on getting back into it?

[RawKnitster]

I would like to suggest going completely raw for a few days and see how you feel. I'm guessing that after a few days you will feel good enough that you will want to stay raw for a few more, and so on. Before you know it, you will have completed the 30 day challenge. :D It is soooo much easier to get over the urge to eat addictive SAD food once you have physically gotten it out of your blood.

Be sure to keep a bag of your favorite nuts and dried fruit with you on the job. A few handfuls always helped me avoid temptation. Knowing you have something special, ready, and raw waiting for you at home would be another way to avoid temptation.

Would you have to be prepared to deal with a lot of ribbing if you drank lemon water or herbal tea instead of drinks and hot chocolate?

Best of raw luck, cupcake. btw: May I ask, are you male or female?

[Rawcstacy]

Welcome cupcake,
your name sounds sweet, I hope you won't arrest me for saying this (I think we still have 1st amendment rights otherwise the AMA would've shut this forum down ages ago, but I digresshttp://smileyjungle.com/smilies/lostit10.gif (http://smileyjungle.com)), however you might consider another career change. Another angle of looking at this is that the world sorely needs more "raw cops":). If raw cop = good cop, I'm all for it.
I'd like to see you take a green smoothie to work everyday in a thermos, how this all translates on a personal level depends on your ability to withstand badgering from your squad or getting harangued by your supervisors for your personal choices.

[rawcupcake]

RawKnitster: I am female! :D Lately I've been doing more herbal teas rather than coffee/hot chocolate and that's not a problem. i actually really really like peppermint tea. Mmmmmh

Rawcstacy: Career change... NOT going to happen. This is the best job ever. I worked way too hard to get in and now that I am, am absolutely loving it. The perspective on police is so very skewed. I am doing the job for the safety of our community and to help people. I am not a macho tough person at all. If you met me you probably would never think I'm a cop. Haha. Then again, I am tough if I need to be but know when to bring out that side of me. I just wish the public perspective on police was a little more positive. Darn corrupt cops ruining it for the rest of us.
You are so right about the squad badgering. They will make fun of you ANY chance they get, however I need to stick to my principles and just do it. I usually drink my big green smoothie before work and bring salad and lots of fruit to work with me. My partner is pretty cool and doesn't comment especially since he has his own little quirks too. Haha. It's just a matter of me snapping back into it and stopping this addiction.
My body is so meant to eat raw food. Sometimes falling off the wagon is a good thing as it makes you realize that you really need to get back on. Now all I need to do is hop back on.....

[Rawcstacy]

I am not a macho tough person at all. If you met me you probably would never think I'm a cop.

With a name like a cupcake, I'm sure you're real SWEET.http://smileyjungle.com/smilies/love42.gif (http://smileyjungle.com)


My body is so meant to eat raw food.

"EveryBody" is so meant to eat raw food, even if the brains which they are attached to remain unaware of the "evidence". Case closed.:D


Sometimes falling off the wagon is a good thing as it makes you realize that you really need to get back on. Now all I need to do is hop back on.....

Let's be clear about one thing: There is NO WAGON involved here. Walking on your path is a more apt metaphor. Even if you've stopped eating raw (which is still not recommended), you're still following your path. I've never seen any wagon since eating raw foods. The term actually makes me cringe.:(. Oh, and did I mention that there's no wagon??

If you ever need a healing raw vacation when your annual holidays come up, you really should come out this way. ;)

[rawcupcake]

So true. Looks like I need to change my mindset too, eh!

I drive an actual 'paddy'wagon at work so maybe I should change that metaphor! Hahaha. I have slightly 'veered' off the path but am still paralleling it... I like that one more. :D

I would LOVE to travel to Thailand. That has always been my dream trip. BUT we are doing an all-inclusive trip to St Lucia next week. I'm sure they will have an abundance of fresh fruits and veggies there!

[ReneeH]

Hi RawCupcake!

My best friend is also a police officer and so she tells me of the challenges she faces...similar to yours.

She takes dehydrated meals with her and that helps her when she's on the streets. Some examples are: Macaroons, Eggplant Bacon, Candied Seeds, Nuts, dehydrated Fruit, Flax Crackers, Rawritos, etc... You can find most of these recipes on this site, just use the "Search" feature above. The flax cracker recipes are in Alissa's Book.

Just be as RAW as YOU can be and don't beat yourself up. Eating RAW is a Choice, not a religion. It's all about the individual food choices we make that helps us to stay RAW. I agree with Rawcstacy...there is no "wagon"...this is a journey. Not everyone walks at the same speed.

As a Living on Live Food Instructor also, I can tell you that my RAW Business HELPS me to stay RAW!!! I also work as a Flight Attendant but, even when I'm on the plane, I'm ALWAYS talking about how much I LOVE RAW!!!! It is a protection for me! I can't be telling others about RAW and eat airplane food at the same time! ;) It just doesn't work!!! So, try that! See if that works for you! You may even find that doing your RAW Business part-time keeps you focused on it!

Remember all that Alissa taught you! That's VALUABLE information there!!! You did it once, you CAN do it again!!!

Hugs,
Nee'

[Rawcstacy]

I would LOVE to travel to Thailand. That has always been my dream trip. BUT we are doing an all-inclusive trip to St Lucia next week.

Is it your family or are you going as group of officers as a "field trip"? In any case, you can still come next year!:D


I'm sure they will have an abundance of fresh fruits and veggies there!

It still isn't the same as spending time with a raw living coach.;)

[rawviveyourself]

I also work as a Flight Attendant but, even when I'm on the plane, I'm ALWAYS talking about how much I LOVE RAW!!!!

Renee - I would probably pass out with delight if I ever encountered a raw flight attendant!!! :)

Rawcupcake: (love your name!!) - I wonder - are you the raw food police that people on this board always refer to?:)

I took Alissa's training in 2007. I wonder if we were in class together? I think it is fabulous that you have become a cop - congratulations! There are so many areas of our society that need help and inspiration, and the best way for that to happen is from great examples of co-workers on the inside of these professions.

These days, there are so many ways to transport foods and keep them from going bad. Is it out of the question to put a small cooler in your paddy wagon and keep it stocked with fruit, veg, salads, and green smoothies for your shift? Or in the more packaged areas - there are the nuts and flax crackers and nut butters? Sure, your co-workers will make fun of you, but I doubt the fast food workers are going to give a cop a hard time for bringing her own salad in to eat with her fellow officers.:) (btw - I had someone once tell me I couldn't bring my gs in to the restaurant with my friends. I told them when they started serving gs on the menu, I'd stop bringing my own....that was the end of it...the more common situation is the waitress asks about it and I give her a small cup to taste it!)

I fully believe in the pendulum effect - where we swing back and forth until we settle in our wonderful raw place. It's a beautiful journey, meant to be enjoyed as we grow and learn about ourselves, our health, and our choices.

Your post has given me hope that when I start teaching my raw classes I can actually pitch them to the local police force- and if even one cop is interested, I'll be happy to share the raw word!

[Rawcstacy]

Renee - I would probably pass out with delight if I ever encountered a raw flight attendant!!! :)

I'd be on cloud 9. http://smileyjungle.com/smilies/smiling7.gif (http://smileyjungle.com)


I wonder - are you the raw food police that people on this board always refer to?:)

Oh no! We're busted!! .http://smileyjungle.com/smilies/laughing21.gif (http://smileyjungle.com)


Is it out of the question to put a small cooler in your paddy wagon and keep it stocked with fruit, veg, salads, and green smoothies for your shift?

What if everyone ate raw and we didn't need paddy wagons anymore?, just a dream I thought to share.

[lodestar]

commit ... jump in with both feet! so much easier than straddling the fence. believe me i know.

[rawcupcake]

Renee! I used to be a flight attendant too! :D Before being a police officer.. lol
Thanks for the tips... It's actually easier being raw as a cop than flight attendant so I commend you!

Rawvive... I was at the training in March 2007! Is there another raw cop here??

[spicyfull]

I wish you everything you need to Stay RAW.............Welcome to MY World.