This is very hard

[DolphinDreams]

HI I have caved recently by eating food thats very bad such as KFC since then I have found it hard to get back on track. What happened was that I didnt take enough fruit with me when I went out and I got hungry and the temptation took over. Does any one have any points on how to avoid ruining their healthy lifestyle?

[Psychalone]

HI I have caved recently by eating food thats very bad such as KFC since then I have found it hard to get back on track. What happened was that I didnt take enough fruit with me when I went out and I got hungry and the temptation took over. Does any one have any points on how to avoid ruining their healthy lifestyle?

Well first off, don't expect to get it right the first time, or many times after that. This is a learning process and nobody ever learned anything from being perfect. WHen you do "fall of the wagon" be aware of everything going through your head. Ask yourself "why am I doing this? Why am I eating this? WHat am I getting out of it?", etc etc.

As for actual points for success, again first I recommend practicing awareness, being aware of hpow everything makes you feel, not just food, but everything, music, exercise, TV, everything. You'll begin to notice that everything effects us on a subtle (and sumtimes no so subtle) way and that by understanding how things effect us we can better control how we feel and respond to situations. FOr example I notice that music effects my mindset in a powerful way, and that by listening to certain things while avoiding other certain things I can influence my mindset positivly. Also with exercise, the less I exercise the more I crave food, cooked food in particular. It's almost like I have too much energy on the raw diet and if I don't use it I'll crave ways of using it, whether they be constuctive like exercise or destructive like cooked food.

ANother pointer is to set yourself limts. Meat, dairy and wheat are some of the hardest substances to kick because they contain opiods which are chemicals which imitate opium. So when you do eat cooked food set yourself some "limits". KNow when you're about to eat cooked fod but retain some form of control. Say "ok i'm going to have cooked food but I has to be vegetarian" or "It has to be vegan" or "no meat no dairy no wheat". ALways maintain a limit, or some form of posture/control of yourself. You may actually want to start just say 50-80% raw but keep it vegetarian, then once you're used to that try going vegan, then once you've adapted try going to a higher percentage of raw. Remember getting off cooked/processed food including meat and dairy is like getting off a drug. It takes time, it takes many failures, it takes dedication, Sometimes doing too much at once is too much of a shock to the body, you may want to slow down a bit, but always make sure you're moving forward and are consistant, thats key.

As for getting back on track...give it some time, let your willpower recover, but start making some smaller moves while you're recovering. Like I said, avoiding meat is a good start. Personally EVen when I "fall" I will never eat meat, EVER, cooked vegetarian is the LOWEST i'll go. If I ever "lose it" I usually keep it vegan or have raw milk or something. So try for now just kicking some lower things like meat wheat and dairy while you recover and then give raw another shot, and next time you go to cooked food, make sure its at least vegetarian or vegan or set some kind of boundries so you retain a sense of control.

As for motivating factors to get back on raw foods, Exercise helps me like nothing else in that regard. I'll go for a walk and listen to some inspiring music ( listen to "lead the way" by sweatshop union, GREAT song) and sometimes that alone will do it, or sometimes I"ll get to urge to start jogging/running, or sometimes I"ll just get pissed off and go at a punching bag. ONe of the main reasons for lack of motivation is due to the sedation we all daily undergo and due to lack of oxygenation. Cooked food lowers consciousness, it help numb our awareness of painful situations or sensations. Things like sugar and fried foods give us "highs" the stimulating flavors give us an "up" then of course we experience a low (oddly enough, I haven't noticed the same thing with fruit). SO we continuously sedate ourselves because expressing emotions are taboo now (rolls eyes). I"ve found that fasting (elimiating sedation) or bursts of emotion help "wake me up" and break me out of that "sleep state" where i'm more or less a "passive observer" and puts me back behind the wheel. Same with exercise, except even moreso, it's really a godsend.

Anyway best of luck to you, remember slow and steady wins the race. Getting the body off drugs is tough, takes time and effort. Start slow, make sure you retain some control when you fail, vegetarian, ovo-vegetarian, vegan, no sugar, wheat, meat or dairy, ect. You'll adjust eventually, but allow yourself some time for it.
-Peace

[DolphinDreams]

wow thats like everything that I needed to hear. Its kind of like everything I have been thinking but just has not been confirmed by someone else. Now that it has I know Im on the right track. Thanks sooo much xo

[Raw Angel Mom]

You got good advice here, but here are some tips to prevent for you to be stuck somewhere and being hungry.

Carry always some snack in your bag. Traile mix, dry fruits, avocado, whatever snack you have. Eat before you go anywhere.

You will be ok, forgive yourself and keep moving on, you will get to that place of freedom and not wanted to be part of cook food.

[Christy]

I started raw in March and I craved KFC too! It was horrible, especially because I very rarely ate it when I wasn't raw. That's why I know much of it is in my mind. I avoided driving anywhere near where I could smell the food (or chemicals they use to make the food smell better to intise us lol). I've cheated a little here and there but got right back on track. Don't be too hard on yourself or beat yourself up. Just move forward and express gratitude for what you have done that's right. You are already ahead of most people who live a lifestyle with SAD. It also helped me to focus ahead at the benefits I will have by sticking to my new raw food life. I've already released weight and my joint pain in hips and knees are gone. :excited:

[sidrah]

Depending on how many teachers call in sick, what drama is going on with the kids that day, and what extra stuff is going on that keeps me from getting a free 15 minutes.....I keep dried fruit at my desk, try to always leave the house with a few bananas, tangerines even if I don't have time to pack "lunch"

If nothing else I try to grab something at the grocery store by just running in and grabbing some fruit or vegetables. It's really tough sometimes since I kinda suck at planning ahead so I kill time by going to the store, but I guess it's better than a)starving and being cranky or b) getting something horrible.

Maybe someplace like subway could have been a good option. A big salad with oil and vinegar might not have every single thing organic or even 100% raw depending on the dressing, but it give you an "I'm out with no food and hungry" option

[november]

Gah I know what you mean. Wheat especially is insidious. Like I am dying for a sprouted grain Ezekiel bagel right now but I know my stomach will not be happy if I do. And seriously there is no rational reason I would eat one because I always feel terrible after, but my brain somehow tricks itself into thinking that it might be different this time. It's like, "but it's organic and sprouted and healthy" ... but it's still wheat, which I'm allergic to!

However that is nothing compared to when you end up binging on actual junk food. I had a really unfortunate encounter with some milk chocolate Easter eggs last week. And once I cheat a little bit I'm like what the hell, might as well eat the whole bag... it's terrible. I never used to be like that, I was actually really self-disciplined but I feel like now I have the impulse control of a three-year-old, at least when it comes to food.

But just remember, whatever you ate will be out of your body in a couple days max, so there's no limit to the number of times you can start over if you end up making a bad choice. That's what comforts me anyway, haha. I do find that venting about it in writing helps. Like I still want the bagel, but probably not badly enough to actually rip open the package and eat it.

For the time being I've allowed myself the option of overeating in terms of calories AS LONG as it's raw. Like if I feel the need to eat 2 avocados and a bunch of trail mix to get over a specific cooked food craving, I'll do it. It's not ideal in the long run, but if it helps me stick to high raw and avoid allergy foods, I can deal with gaining a few pounds. I often find that in the midst of a craving it's very difficult to distract myself with ANYTHING but food, so it might as well be healthy food that's rebuilding my system rather than something that will fuel the cycle of craving. So maybe make or buy some raw desserts that can be transported somewhat easily and be sure to bring them to work so you have something a bit more decadent than fruit to satisfy and random cravings that pop up during a stressful work day?

[Mothergoose]

I am going to start a food diary to put down everything I eat and when so I can more accurately troubleshoot my weaknesses and food addictions. I am having difficulty sticking to raw diet due to high stress at this time. I am the world's biggest worry wart so it is really hard for me.

When I am at work and during the work week, M-F I am better because my days are more structured. However,on the weekend with such unpredictable circumstances things hit me hard and I lose control.

My suggestion to beat the feat of not being able to stick to the raw diet completely is to track your progress from week to week. Keep up the good work....every effort is good.:eat

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

Carry always some snack in your bag. Traile mix, dry fruits, avocado, whatever snack you have. Eat before you go anywhere.

You will be ok, forgive yourself and keep moving on, you will get to that place of freedom and not wanted to be part of cook food.
Raw Angel Mum knows.

[devil's angel]

i always make a liter of green smoothie before i go anywhere . it takes less then five mins to make , keeps me full and warm . my only suggestion is to try to pee before you leave . it is liquid . i make my smoothie with

a lg handful of spinach
a lg handful of spring mix lettuce
one to two carrots
one tomatoe
two tablespoons of olive oil .
crushed red pepper ( the warming affect ) just start with a little . can make it very spicy
celtic sea salt
about a cup of water

i love this recipe , it makes my days so much easier to go places .

sw - 156 lbs
cw - 153 lbs
gw - 125 lbs