Need Support and Advice

[holistica]

I've been having a lot of trouble maintaining a raw diet. I do fine for days, sometimes even weeks, and then for some reason I get tired, grumpy, stressed out, scared, lonely, or whatever else and I go back to pizza and cake.

I went from 135 pounds to 185 pounds in the past year. I'm scared of getting back up to my pre-raw weight of 225. I feel so down and desperate.

Can anyone help?

[BlackKat]

Detox is the most challenging... if you can stick it out past the grumpy, scared and lonely period, MUCH greener grass is on the other side. You have to keep in mind what you are doing is best for you.

Your body and mind will thank you in the future.

I understand, easier said than done.. but, you can do this. You have a lot of support and smart people on this forum to help you along. Do not give up and understand that everyone makes a mistake now and then. So tomorrow is another day.

[BlackKat]

I also wanted to add, you need to go at your own pace. You may feel crappy for a longer time than some. People detox at different rates. Some days, some months or even years but the end product is phenomonal. :p

Do you what your BODY needs, and give it what it wants. You may have to fight with your mind a bit at this point and say "be quiet, I won't listen to you this today. I'm doing this for my body, my future, etc".

[holistica]

Thank you. I will keep all that in mind. It's just so hard (as I'm sure you know) in moments of weakness. I work in a beautiful all natural deli and if the emotional turmoil doesn't get to me, the fresh baked vegetarian eggplant lasagna does. *sigh* One can only look at something so delectable and pray instead of giving in so many times a day... Or so it feels.

[modernmonkey]

Hey Holistica. If smells and visions of non raw food in the deli become alluring then it is time to eat raw! You are not being weak, you are hungry!. The more you resist, the more hungry you become, the more tempting it is. You are starving yourself and your persuasive body will make you take that roast beef etc... because it's hungry and determined. But remember you are also determined to get healthy and YOU know what's best. Raw! So when those 'cravings start, even as small as just a quick thought, eat something raw, preferably 500-600 calories, the size of a meal. Your 'craving' will go because it's really hunger and you have satisfied it and it will last 3-4 hours. If you are happy it's easier to do the best thing for yourself because you like yourself. If you are sad and tempted it is easier to eat poor choices because the momentary pleasure of that food in the mouth could bring happiness but it is fake happiness and too brief. Choosing wisely, losing weight and being content is what really makes you happy. Good luck.

[sport]

It would be best if you could stay 100% raw but if you can not then set yourself targets.
Today stay raw until 4 PM. Tomorrow 6 PM. Work up to an entire day and then to 2 days.
The important thing is to write it down and constantly set the intervals to be longer than the previous one.
You can make it. You just need to get it right in your head.
Decide that it is a battle and the enemy is cooked food and it is trying to drag you down a dark alley and you are fighting against it because you know that at the end of the alley you will experience pain and suffering but at the top of the alley you can see the light shining and every step you get closer to the light takes you further from the pain.
Fight the fight and win. You are stronger than the food.

[Shels]

I would recommend eliminating one thing at a time, so you don't feel as much like you're missing out. That way you can form a habit, which will become a part of your lifestyle, instead of frequently denying yourself things that you want.
If you can stick it out long enough, those things probably won't even appeal to you any more. Just do what feels right for your body! Good luck.

[blizzardfrisbee]

This is a great forum for support. I just started raw in August. It has been a fun and interesting journey. I have tried some of the cooked food here and there and have found that my taste buds have changed and don't even like it. I love the raw much better. Allow yourself some leeway--I say to myself --ok today when I go out I'll have cooked food but find it doesn't interest me. I'm sure this doesn't work for everyone but for me it does. I allow myself that liberty to eat the cook but find my body isn't interested in that at all. I've started to listen ot my body and as you go along you will too. It is fun!! Just don't beat yourself up. Remind yourself how you feel when eating raw!!!! I like what Sport said about saying today I'll stay raw until 4 pm and so on!! Great advice!!! You can do it and we are here to support you!!!!!