Don't want to quit but.....

[JMD]

Hi,

I am struggling and needed to be humble and ask for help. I have been 90% raw for about 9 months and totally 100% squeeky clean for about 7 days. The only thing that kept me from 100% are some steamed veggies. My dilema is that I find I like to feel satisfied with my meals. The steamed veggies seemed to fill me up. I have IBS, chronic fatigue (in remission for 5 yrs:)) and I am a food addict who --for today--must weigh and measure food. I find that I cannot handle nuts, sweet foods, salt, and even flax crackers without getting gas, constipation dizzy etc.... I cannot have almost half the recipes listed . I have food combined for 8 yrs with success but things seem to be getting worse not better

Everyone seems to be able to digest and eat beautiful food and eat all they want without gaining weight etc... For me I just want to feel satisfied with my meal and non obsessive/compulsive. If there is ANYONE out there who is somewhat similar to me please let me know. I just am so unsure what I should be eating and how much. I know I have heard/read to just eat what my body says.....but under stress I am not hearing clearly and hope someone can help me make a daily menu that i can work with and STAY raw and free from obsession. Thanks for listening and being judgement free. I guess I just want to chat with someone who is in a similar situation:)

[theresaann]

check out "Green for Life", Victoria Boutenko's new book, at rawfamily.com

she talks about how greens are the missing factor to heal illness, digestive difficulties, etc. Revolutionary information-her best book yet. Researched very well with testamonials from a 30 day study with SAD participants-even eating SAD they got great results JUST from daily green smoothies!

[Arky]

JMD, don't be hard on yourself - 90% raw is a great achievement in itself and while consuming 10% of your diet as steamed vegetables may not completely concur with the general consensus of this board (and neither will my stating the following to you, here), theoretical ideals adside, it is a perfectly acceptable thing for one to do and, it may be argued, is quite logical - certain vegetable nutrients, regardless of whether raw-foodists care to admit it, may be more easily accessible by the body under certain circumstances where tough cellulose cell walls have been broken apart by steaming. That is not to say they are not accessible in their raw state - just that they may be more easily-accessible after steaming. And, of course, certain other nutrients may be more potent or intact in the raw state than in the steamed state.

I do not state the above as an argument against 100% raw - one may attain adequate nutrients from a 100% raw diet, too. I simply state that above as one (of many possible) sane outlooks on diet, and because it is important for you to eat as healthily as possible, both physically and psychologically. If you find eating 90% raw + 10% steamed veg both keeps you sane (i.e. not unhealthily obsessing about being 100% raw, on account of finding it a struggle to maintain that percentage raw) and gives you what you, personally, need to maintain the remaining 90% raw rather than crashing back to SAD all the time, then I believe it is healthy for you and be damned with suffering in counter-productive denial of this if you find it true for you.

Some people attain, and maintain, 100% raw and that's great for them and great for the ethos of this board.

If you can maintain 90% raw, and, moreover, believe in the health-supporting benefits of high-raw, then I say you have much to gain from, and to offer, this board.

If my above opinions make me unpopular, then so be it, but I hope anyone reading them and feeling opposing views will not be reactionary but instead take the time to note the spirit in which my opinions are intended, and that I have worded them deliberately carefully. I am categorically not 'talking-down' the 100% raw approach to diet- I am simply acknowledging that there are both psychological and emotional elements to diet that exist and render varying percentages-raw practical for various people. None of us are gods and neither is 100% raw closer to Godliness than 90%! :) Denial of this is, I believe, counter-productive.

I wish you all the best JMD - I hope you will find a level at which you are comfortable and stable - physically, emotionally and psychologically. That's as much as any mortal can reasonably ask for, with a clear conscience. I think it is a testament to your common sense and intelligence that you are honestly and candidly addressing the psychological issues attached to food which, of course, vary from one individual to another.


J.

[JMD]

Arky--you are so kind thanks for YOUR honesty and courage. I guess it is easier for me to share with someone who eats cleanly but also not whenever/and heavier foods. -I wish I could too believe me but it is not in my nature for today. I want to be healthy in every possible way and clear my connection to my Higher Power/Source. I am just grieving a bit not being able to eat tasty fruit nut combos ~ spices ~corn etc....

Thanks for not making me feel so different.

Ps I do smoothies and green drinks often too....

[Arky]

Yeah, smoothies and green drinks are great - they really allow you to release, and consume, a huge number of nutrients without having to laboriously chew through mounds of vegetables! Of course, they're also hugely alkalizing, as a bonus.

Hold onto your common sense and honesty with yourself and you'll do just fine. An inquiring mind is a healthy mind, IMHO.


J.

[Rawkinlocs]

JMD, there is no reason for you to quit just because you're not 100% raw. What you eat now, 90% raw and some lightly steamed veggies is very healthy, esp. in comparison to most people's diets!

Yes, we would LOVE to see everyone here and abroad at 100% raw, but we know that's unrealistic as not everyone is or will be! But we are here to support you in your rawness, whatever percentage that may be. And if 100% is a goal of yours that you would LIKE to obtain, then we will try and do what we can to help you get there!

You know your own body, you have to do what works for you. Hopefully one day, after a while, you will be able to tolerate more raw foods in various combinations but even if you don't, you may have to eat more simply and hopefully in THAT, you can find satisfaction.

I guess it would be sort of a dilemna...does steaming veggies denature and make the food void of nutrients the same as other methods of cooking? And if so, is it best to just consume those few items you find better steamed or is it best to just avoid those hard-to-digest-completely-raw veggies?

The treats and things could perhaps be for a once in a while "treat" for you and not something you indulge in all the time (?) In fact, I honestly don't think that too many of us here eat the combinations and things ALL the time. Maybe some more than others, but for the most part from what I've read, most of us do a lot of smoothies, whole fruit and salads and the other stuff comes in to play here and there when we want or need something like that.

So, as Arky said, don't beat yourself up...rejoice in where you are right now and continue in that and later, your body may just speak to you and tell you that it's time to give up the steamed veggies and go for the gusto! You may find later that your body has become able to tolerate foods it cannot now.

Hang in there and keep pressing forward!

P.S. Keep in mind also, that the first week to few weeks of being 100% raw, being bloated and gassy is common amongst many until your body gets used to it. I and many others here have experienced that, but it did pass.

I don't really know much about IBS, but I know that before raw, I had some SERIOUS digestive/bowel issues...they have greatly improved! So, that is something you can probably look forward to. Try not to claim any sickness or illness as a fate you have to deal with the rest of your life! Your body can heal itself of just about anything! :)

[JMD]

Thanks for the responses...I wrote this this morning when I was in a funk. Let me clarify I would NOT go back to a SAD diet. I have not eaten flour and sugar, grain, dairy, anything processed etc.... for years and do not plan to for my own purposes. I am thinking of adding back in some cooked /steamed veggies like green beans etc.. I eat very plainly and just feel frustrated and my body cannot handle/process more. So, I guess I was venting and in a pity party for ONE:) All in all , I eat tons of non- sweet fruit and juice my veggies daily....but just miss some sort of comfort food-in my salads-the mush i got with steamed veggies. I do want to stay RAW for 30 days to see what it is like and if i feel/digest better. Thanks everyone....

[rawpriestess]

You may have already tried this, but it certainly helped me.

Instead of steaming, (and that is certainly fine, if it works for you) try dehydrating, if you dehydrate a veggie with some oil on it, instead of it getting dry, it gets wilted, sometimes so much, it is like cooked, it really helps make the veggies more palatable when you want something cooked.

I do this often, when I don't want something crispy or hard. Like broccoli or carrots or cauliflower.

I love them, I eat them all the time, fresh, but sometimes, I would just like to stick a fork in and have it look and taste like that old sad one, dripping in butter and salt, and all warm and cozy in my bowl.

so, I marinate in some olive oil and a little fresh ground sea salt, maybe a few herbs tossed in the mix, and dehydrate.

sometimes, I make macademian nut cream (my personal choice as a butter substitute) and add it either during dehydration, or after, and allow it to look like a pat of butter on the top of my warmed broccoli, it really does the trick for me. Looks and tastes like my sad favorite.

But, is technically still raw, and mmmmmmm so good for you.

It has really helped me as the temp drops, and I want to cuddle up with a good book, and roaring fire, a warm cup of tea and some warming veggies.

I hope this helps.

However, with all of that said, you are doing great, and if you want to eat some steamed veggies, although I totally agree with eating 100% raw, 100% off the time, I say, "GO FOR IT."

But please know, that that tiny bit, MAY be the culpret causing you to not be able to eat the nuts and fruity treats that you want.

Any amount of cooked may be the challenge.

Like Alissa says, try the 30 day challenge, THEN make up your mind about 100% raw and living foods. But try the challenge FIRST.

[Rawkinlocs]

Great post RP! I started to mention the marinating/dehydrating of those cellulous-dense veggies, but just kinda digressed.

JMD, I'm glad you are willing to try the 30-day challenge first! As RP said, after that, then you can decide where you want to be in this!

[Rawtwists]

RP, what a great post! So many great ideas on this board. The variety of raw food to eat is just overwhelming. I'm learning so much. Thanks to everybody.

[MoniDew]

Hang in there, you're doing great!!

Are you sure that you have enough friendly flora in your GI tract? Could really help with the bloating/digestion.

[Sharon in Colorado]

JMD I think it is awesome that you were able to stick to a 90% raw diet. That is very hard to do for many folks. When I went high raw, it turned into low-raw in no time flat.

I was wondering about mono-mealing. Do you think that would work for you, or would it pose more of a challenge?

[JMD]

THANKS!!for all your responses. It was great to read this in the morning just before a hectic work day:).

RP--I love the dehydrating idea. I use only flax and hemp oils and no salt at all--too sensitive for me at this time--but a great idea. My hubby is getting me a dehydrator for Christmas.....I will try it. May I ask, how much oil and which veggies have you tried this with???

I do only fruit throughout the morning. I feel good with that. Sometimes around 2 I may have an ounce of soaked almonds before the gym.

My lunch and dinner stump me. I normally eat 12 oz. raw veggies--ususally baby spinach, zuchinni, cukes, and shredded carrots with a couple tablspoons flax or hemp oil. I was adding a 1/2 avocado but it was too heavy I think??? I used to add the steamed veggies here but ?? nothing now and i feel blah without them. I have tried dulse, sun dried tomatoes, olives etc...All were too taxing on my systems. Maybe I just have to accept simplicity for now??

For a snack, I juice kale, lemon , celery and a green apple--about 16oz. around 6pm.

I am open to suggestions b/c I want to keep up the 100%. Thanks for your wisdom!! esp about good bacteria supplementation. My naturopath did find out I am very very low thyroid if that means anything????? I am supplementing now with a b12.