Managing Doubts

[katy.j]

Hey all,

Day 26 for me and it's the longest I've ever been raw. I've been facing some tough food cravings the last week and lately I've been feeling ANGRY. :mad:

I miss my old life and wish I could just go back to eating "normal", which for me was vegetarian and mostly vegan though I did have a weakness for cheese.

Anyway, I know the past few times I've tried eating raw for a couple weeks, this is the point I have always come to and in the past it has led me back to cooked food. And once I go cooked I have a really hard time getting back to eating raw. Cause "just this once" starts happening more and more frequently.

So anyway, I really, really want to stay raw this time but how do you manage the doubts that are like a little devil on my shoulder. Any long-time raw fooders felt this way and can testify to it being worth it? I just need some reassurance that it's worth it cause frankly I really wasn't feeling that bad on cooked food. Don't get me wrong, I feel better eating raw and think it's the healthiest way to eat. But is it better enough to give up a life of not having to constantly think about what I'm going to eat? And to give up things I really enjoy? I know I'm looking for a "yes" here but I'm just feeling like I need some reassurance right now . :o

[SevenKindsOfCookie]

But is it better enough to give up a life of not having to constantly think about what I'm going to eat?

Stressing out about such things is never healthy. I personally would never set the goal to be 100% raw because it would cause me too much stress. I allow myself to eat healthy cooked food, but the thing is that I rarely do. I have some quinoa or steamed veggies every now and then, but that's it.
My transition period was also fairly long which gave me time to let go of my favorite foods of the past in a peaceful way.

Perhaps you need to take a different approach to the whole thing and figure out what works for you.

[JennaHoneyBear]

when I get a craving like that, I just imagine a memory of me eating that food and that's enough to satisfy me. If I were to actually eat that food, I would be in a world of pain, not worth it!

you've been at it for 26 days, that's long enough to have developed the habit of raw food. Just stick to what works. treat yourself to some raw treats often to keep your interest up. as for the cooked food, that is just NAO (not an option) :) that's how I live

[Revvell]

This is the best thread lately ~

http://rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=59441

[katy.j]

Yeah, from past experience I'm feeling like it's not an option either. And I wish I craved things like steamed quinoa but I have no problem giving up healthy cooked food. It's the unhealthy food that torments me :)

[Patch]

Get hold of " The China Study" by T Colin Campbell you'll never crave cheese again. It will also inforce how right eating raw is.
Hang in there, it will pass

[Green_Woman]

Read Alissa's book... and oh yeah, this:


This is the best thread lately ~

http://rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=59441

[katy.j]

Get hold of " The China Study" by T Colin Campbell you'll never crave cheese again. It will also inforce how right eating raw is.
Hang in there, it will pass

Cool. Will track it down. Cheese is really the toughest thing for me.


Read Alissa's book... and oh yeah, this:

Yeah, read it a few weeks ago but maybe it's time for a re-read.

Also going to read Spiritual Nutrition by Gabriel Cousens per another suggestion.

[CathyA.]

Interesting that you posted this today. I too have been feeling a bit angry. Might be time for another juice fast for me. Love how centered and peaceful I feel while fasting.

[lodestar]

i have been on that slippery slope before.

you may need to eat junk.

but, you'll be back.

the trick for me right now is how much clearer i feel in my head. amazing.

[meow]

Katy, it is soooo worth it to stay raw and reap the rewards of your hard work. If you gave it up now and went back to your old ways of eating, those 26 days would all be for nothing. The health and vitality you are building each day would be lost. And the knowledge and power you are gaining would go unused.

It is always hard living in a way that goes against the norm. I often feel like I'm a salmon swimming upstream, and more than once I've briefly wished I was "normal" and could just be a like everyone else, following the crowd without a thought. But what is the point of living that way? If you believe in raw foodism, LIVE IT! Focus on all the wonderful things it is bringing to your life. Focus on the healthy, happy years you will get to enjoy and the gorgeous foods you will discover! Don't think about the stuff you can no longer eat, because really, it is a choice you are making. Every day for the past 26 days you could have eaten whatever you wanted. But you chose to to right by your body and eat raw foods. It is true that you are losing out on some things- namely, poor health, heart disease, excess body fat, cancers etc! And you are gaining so much! So keep making the choices that make you feel alive and healthy. It does get easier. Remember why you started, and think of where you'd like to be :)

[katy.j]

Thanks all for the responses. I've been trying the mental permission to eat cooked foods and it surprisingly does help. This morning I was craving a coffee and I told myself (in sort of a patronizing and soothing voice - I respond well to this) I could have one if I wanted (not really meaning it cause I'm still on the 30 day challenge) but did I really want it? Did I want the coffee after taste and the caffeine addiction? And did I want the cooked cravings that I know from past experience come with coffee? And the little craver in me shrugged, "I guess not."

I really do feel so much better- it's amazing what the raw diet does to anxiety - I just don't have any more and I'm usually a stress case about half the time so this is so welcome.

So no, I don't want to give up on the 26 days. I just needed to whinge a bit.

One thing that's helping is that I'm starting to find some foods I really like. Made some mock tuna salad this mornign and that is so delicious. Also some chia seed pudding and I finally perfected onion bread so things are looking up!

[VeganMainstream]

Don't focus on the negative. Think: I am so blessed to have some an amazing variety of fruits and vegetables to eat!! :)

[Jenifae]

Don't focus on the negative. Think: I am so blessed to have some an amazing variety of fruits and vegetables to eat!! :)

I Love love love this. I'm writing it down, NOW! On the Fridge!

Thank You! :p

[CathyA.]

Affermations are a wonderfull help. Glad to hear that you are sounding more up-beat. You can do this.