Unpopular cravings...

[Veggie73]

Hello folks,

I am now on my 4th day 100% raw!! and I am suffering from strong cravings for roasted chicken!! I know this sounds unpopular, even for me, I have been vegetarian (ok 99% vegetarian!) for 5 years already... but I have suffered this cravings some other times too, being vegetarian but non-raw.

Could this be a lack of proteins or something like that?? It is becoming too frecuent this kind of chicken-attraction :confused:

I am trying to eat lots of nuts, and also avocado, and raw bread...
but I am starting to think that my body is not completely vegetarian. For me, this is not easy to admit... I dreamed about a vegetarian world but I am not sure if my body accepts this...

Sincerely, now I desire to go out of the office, go to the supermarket and buy one of those roasted chickens... but I have done it some times and afterwards I felt a bit bad, unhappy and tried to wash the dishes as soon as possible... sure some of you understand these feelings ;)
Does some of you have the same contradictions inside??

Thanks for your kind support, this forum is really great!

Love,

Veggie73

[JMD]

Hi,

I have not craved the same food but I know I crave mushy steamed brussell sprouts--gross huh:) I know that the more I let cravings pass the better I feel. I also know that grocery store roasted chickens have MSG and sugars etc..on them and that freaks me out enough. Are you craving the warm food or salt??

How about wait until you feel stronger to make an all or nothing decision?? Stay raw JUST FOR TODAY and let the detox/cravings pass. I hear the first 3 weeks is the hardest???

Blessings,
JMD

[Ariannah]

I had the same problem when I first became a vegetarian, and I craved chicken. My experience has been that with raw, these cravings do subside and eventually they go away. I find the smell of meat bbq-ing (my neighbours and friends bbq on their patios) very unappetizing, now.

On raw, one of the things my body tried to hold onto was former cravings. When one is addicted to something, until one forces their body to be rid of it entirely, the body will try to trick the brain into believing it needs more. This was my experience. But I white-knuckled it for a while, and just ate more and more delicious raw things, and now I don't even crave the vegan junk I used to eat.

Give your body time. And posting here is a good tip! This is a great community filled with people ready to help and offer their opinion, experience, advice, etc.
Ariannah

[Sharon in Colorado]

I have noticed a few of my meat loving friends who have attemped raw or even vegetarian to think that their body is crying out for protein when they crave meat.

The truth is that protein is present in all vegetation and very concentrated in greens. Cooked protein isn't useable by the body. Alissa has explained about the body requiring amino acid chains to make its own protein, present in the raw diet.

Perhaps if you convince yourself that it's just a craving, not a need for a nutrient, you won't give in to it.

[levamssg]

Yep Veggie73, understand completely. I've been 100% raw for over a year and sometimes that roasted chicken thing still kicks in.

I don't know what triggers it ... but roasted chicken and turkey are two things that come up again and again for me. No pattern, just completely random. Of course, going to the store and smelling them can be the worst!! I really don't know if it is really chicken I want, but the spices/oil on the skin, or what. No matter - it is a very real Want -- but most definitely not a Need. (One time I wanted pizza, which is truly wierd because I've never liked pizza, ever).

Just hang in there -- when the 'wanting' hits, eat a raw food that you really love -- lots of it, and move on. It is easy for me to write that, but I know it isn't always that easy to do -- but you CAN do it. (try not to let yourself get too hungry and tired at the same time). The more you think about it (that chicken), the harder it is ... so put your thoughts somewhere else.

Good luck!!!

[Gosia]

having cravings like this is not uncommon, even for those who have been vegetarian for many years. For example, when your body is cleansing and toxins are entering your blood, you might experience cravings for foods that you have not eaten for years. This should not be read as the sign that your body needs these foods, but rather, as the sign that your body finally deals with the burden that eating these foods brought in. I heard that, in such case, it is good to fast in order to facilitate the cleansing process (but I have not done that myself).

Our mind plays an important role here. In particular, a lot of cravings begin in our mind. Our body does not want or need the cooked foods, and the best proof of that is the fact that we feel awful after having eaten them. It is our mind that wants to play the game, and is resistant to learning. It's OK. I think of my mind as of a small, stubborn child, who needs some time to learn good habits. It will eventually learn, and in the mean time, it is important to understand that what the mind wants, is not necessarily what's the best for our body.

Eventually, raw foodists do experience cravings for healthy foods, like fruit or simple meals. I have experienced this too.

Many beginner raw foodists find that it is very helpful to eat more concentrated, gourmet meals, in order to fight cooked foods cravings. This initial phase may last months, even years, before the desire for simpler way of eating is born. In the meantime, why not enjoy the journey? Eat what you love!

All the best,
Gosia.

PS Did you try a lettuce wrap trick? Take a leaf of lettuce, put in some avocado, cut up tomates, perhaps some onion and whatever else you like. It is a quick and satisfying meal. Your cravings could go away in a matter of seconds! Also, for me, the most satisfying quick meal is fruit (you know, I am a fruit maniac).

[Que]

I've also been a vegetarian for years and have been raw for a few weeks now and I'm suddenly craving things that I haven't craved in years. Fast food, burgers and steaks have all recently seemed really appealing lately, but I just figured my body was ridding those from my body. Kind of like photographic memories or something. I figured once the cravings go, they'll be gone for good. Hang in there. I just keep eating more and more raw when they come and they seem to pass.

[deedub]

so unpopular. I went from SAD and I mean really sad SAD to raw and have been raw for almost 6months now. I have cravings or thoughts of eating meat alot. I have realized that usually I am hungry in general. So I eat somthing raw and the craving subsides. But lately it comes back like the very next day or even later that day. So I just eat again. As most folks know I have quit many things and for me each time I would crave whatever it was I was quiting. The key is always to do whatever it takes not to give in. A good one for me has always been, I can have it tomorrow; because it never comes. If you catch my drift. Also as many have said here if we eat something we did not want to, just forget about it and continue on the chosen path. Eventually what has happened for me is I'll be having a craving and all of a sudden I'll realize its been so long since my last one, which sorta diminishes the current one. Best wishes to you.

[Veggie73]

Hi folks,

thank you very much for your kind support and help. It is great to have a group of people that understands you and try to give their own ideas and experiences. Thanks!

By the way, for me it is difficult to find "hot" food ("yang" food if you prefer) to heat by body and also to feed my heart, and the memories that we have from the childhood, mum, etc. For example, this weekend, I spent lot of time trying to eat the things that I ate in my childhood, I needed that "heart-feeding-food"...

I know from books that once you have improved your raw food, you stop using the cooked-food to rescue you from emotional needs. But till then... it is very difficult for me.

A second thing that I wanted to mention is this:

I read the other day that human beings became "superior" (well, we should analyse the point of view for "superior" anyway...) to other animals thanks to the discovering of FIRE, and raw food was not good for everybody. That made me doubt and I miss the hot food so much that I don't know...

And by the way, maybe because my first diet was made at my 8 years old, I strongly feel a deep repel for any kind of restriction... and when I do some diet for some days... I just have to wait till all my work goes down with a against-restriction attack... maybe I should not think about food any more and just let me be!!! And I say that with a smile :) I am starting to think that my problem is not the food but it is an expression of my relation to other things in life... and maybe I am focusing my efforts in a wrong direction, while the food is only the appearance of something deeper... otherwise I can not explain how I have been able to lose 20 pounds and gain them again and again. Effort, and back again, effort, and back again... during 24 years with bigger or smaller intensity...

Thanks, it is great to express yourself with internet folks from all around!! :)

Love,

Veggie73

[TimmyC]

I agree with Gosia. I believe cravings are not only a possible physical stimulus, but also mental as well. If you think about it, traditional SAD food for most creates very emotional issues regardless if we admit it or not.

SAD food is tied to hollidays and special occasions, sporting events, vacations, and just everyday life for most. Many of these experiences with SAD food can serve as the catalyst for an emotional attachment issue rising when eating raw. Additionally SAD food is a lot of times tied to what we eat when we get depressed for some reason (everyone gets depressed at some point, not necessarily depression the disease), but many people eat their "problems" away.

When you go 100% raw, I believe that the emotional issues with food surface, and have to be dealt with, as opposed to keeping them undercover.

When cravings come up for me I try and figure out what emotional issue might be causing this craving. Yes it could be physical...for me right now it's mostly emotional though. When I am true to myself exploring this I usually find a good reason as to why it's coming up, then and only then do I have the power to overcome the craving.

Additionally with raw food I'm sure emotional attachments can be caused as well, but I sure think it helps to deal with SAD food issues head on first so that the longer you're raw, the easier it is to deal with these issues. And maybe the emotional attachment to all food will go away eventually with the knowledge that you gain every day from eating raw.

Just my 2 cents...

Tim


This should not be read as the sign that your body needs these foods, but rather, as the sign that your body finally deals with the burden that eating these foods brought in.

[MoniDew]

Hello folks,

I am now on my 4th day 100% raw!! and I am suffering from strong cravings for roasted chicken!!


You are detoxing it! When those things come up, out of the blue like that, it's usually that your body is now cleaning that substance out. Ride it out, you'll be amazed, but if you let your body clean it out now, you'll never crave it again once it's gone. By the way, celebrate this as the victory it truly is! (Wait until you get to bread - ugh! That one was truly torture for me! I am addicted to/allergic to bread. Nightmare! But glad it's gone!)

[Beanie]

How long did it take to not to want bread? And what were your symptoms that you had? I'm addicted/allergic to bread. When I eat it, I can't breathe, yet I still want it.

[Ariannah]

When I was a cooked eater going off bread, I used rice (not "rice bread", just rice), and it took a couple of weeks for the bread cravings to completely disappear. I mean, GONE... then it wasn't long before I started to not want rice anymore.

[Sharon in Colorado]

The only way I've been able to stop bread cravings is to just stop eating cooked grains altogether.

You really can't taper off or cut down for a true addiction (like a smoker, crack addict, alcoholic, etc.).

[MoniDew]

I agree with Sharon, you gotta just stop!

I recognise detox now for what it is. When a VERY SPECIFIC food item comes up in my consciousness, over and over, with a very strong desire, sometimes even the smell of it will come up to me (in my mind) then I KNOW my body is cleaning that item out.

Usually, I have to white knuckle it for about 3 weeks...and this can get EXTREMELY difficult, but once I let that stuff get cleaned out, it never comes back...unless I'm totally stupid and eat it again - which I am, sometimes! :rolleyes:


My symptoms are a bit different: I crave bread, but I bloat, gain weight, "catch a cold," etc. when I eat it. That stuff is truly nasty in my body. It's very hard NOT to eat it in our culture. We are such a grain based society. Especially the way I grew up! Raised Italian, lots of bread and pasta. (and cheese, another biggie for me. That's easier than the bread, tho'.) :p

[Ariannah]

I actually agree with sharon, too. At the time I went off bread, I wasn't trying to go off all grains, I was just trying to be gluten-free. The reason I eventually did cut out the rice too was because I finally came out of denial and admitted the rice was causing problems too.

But yes, cutting it all out cold cucumber is best.