losing my appetite...

[VeggieGirl]

Guys and gals...I need a little support here to see if what I'm experiencing is 'normal' or if I am doing something incorrectly! Please help me to see something I'm not seeing by myself.

I've been raw for about 10 days now (btw - hubby 'relapsed!' Thanksgiving took him down ;) poor guy) and I'm struggling. Not with cravings for cooked food, but I'm losing my appetite for the things I love most - veggies, nuts, and fruit! I was ornery all day today because I was feeling so hungry - with plenty of raw food in my fridge that I do not feel like eating at all. I've tried a lot of different recipes but nothing tastes very good to me after the first round. My 'leftovers' from thanksgiving are still uneaten in the fridge. I feel like I am getting my butt kicked! And I want to CRY because I so want to stay raw, but now I don't feel like eating anything at all, which then makes me feel ultra-deprived. This is what is going on in my head right now: "This is too hard, too expensive, and not very satisfying." I'm getting my A#% kicked! What's going on??? :confused: Help...

~A sad little VeggieGirl

[Rawkinlocs]

VeggieGirl,

Sorry to hear about your struggle. Now you KNOW I'm no expert, but if it were me, I'd take advantage of a loss of appetite to fast. Fasting is one of the most difficult (yet necessary) things for people to do due to wanting to eat...to chew...to nosh.

This could be a signal from your body that you need to just fast...fast on juice, fast on water, whatever...just go with it for a few days or so and see how you feel then.

Are you wanting to eat cooked things at all or are you just wanting to eat but not finding you have a taste for anything?

But fasting would be my non-expert suggestion!

[VeggieGirl]

Yeah, mostly just wanting to eat but finding that nothing tastes good. (I did have a KILLER 4-course raw dinner though at a local restaurant - the owner is going to send me some of his recipes) - but nothing I prepare seems to really satisfy.

Yeah - maybe a fast would be a good idea....I'll have to think about that.

Anyone else? Thoughts?

[flutterfly]

I think that Rawinlocs is right. Your body is telling you to rest it. This is the time for it to heal from damage done in the past. Take advantage of it.

[Olive]

Hi VeggieGirl,

I know the feeling! Personally, I think it's psychological. When you make a big change in your diet, even if it's a positive one, your brain freaks out. Food is linked to safety, security, and comfort and making changes can make those things feel threatened. During my past month 100% raw, every week I'd have a day or two where any raw food was repulsive and then I'd be okay again. I guess I felt kind of restless. I agree that fasting is a good approach! I can't wait to fast . . . I believe I'm getting a juicer for Christmas, so I'll probably do a long juice fast right after the holidays. My understanding is that fasting also affects your tastebuds and makes the transition to raw foods easier. Keep us updated!

[Melissa]

VeggieGirl,
I tend to agree with Olive...There might be a strong psychological piece to your experience. During my first raw month, I've had several days where I'd stare at the produce in the fridge and just close the door feeling...the best way to explain it is to say I felt a deep loss. I felt that absolutely nothing was there for me...but of course there was a lot there for me to eat, so the feeling went beyond physical need into the ways we are dependent upon food as a source of solace, nurturance, self-care, reward. Raw foods usually don't have those kinds of associations for most of us (as in, "I had a fight with my girlfriend, gotta binge on some pineapple! Gotta drive to the all-night market for some carrots!") When you choose to eat raw, I think there's a "honeymoon period" of a week or two and then it hits you that your old food "crutches" are gone and you feel peevish w/out knowing why. For me, these waves of disinterest in raw foods is kind of like a little kid, stomping her foot and saying "If I can't have my old goodies I'm not going to play at all. I'm NOT eating, so there!" Because the truth is that all that beautiful produce is food, plain and simple. It's enjoyable and lovely but it's not playing games with you, you are not in a co-dependent relationship (usually!) with that apple, that squash doesn't make it all better, that walnut doesn't make you sophisticated or witty or funnier or remind you of grandma. I hope the replies you're getting help you past this point.

If this psychological perspective rings true for you, then my best advice would be not to fast at this moment, but to go completely in the other direction and make some raw "comfort food" for yourself. I love a few dates (softened in warm water first) then stuffed with a pecan --instant pecan pie --with a big cup of tea in my favorite mug. Or also I've made corn chips, cut into triangles like "the real thing" and eaten with some guacamole and salsa. Eat it all, don't share, lick your fingers, watch t.v. while you eat if you want, yum. Also carob fudge balls rolled in coconut. And in a more savory mood, rich garlicky pesto spread abundantly on celery. We can't ask ourselves to give up cooked food AND the entire concept of comfort food at the same time. In order to stay raw, in the beginning, I think we need comfort food more than ever.

Hope some of this (or someone else's post) helps. Good night!

[Curtis]

A fast would not be a bad idea, if water sounds to hard do a juice fast. lol I can relate to what Melissa said about staring inside my fridge. Fruits, nuts, seeds, vegetables are what we need for good health but years of eating cooked, processed food has changed our taste buds. I have heard some others say within the first year of raw their taste buds changed from liking cooked food to raw food but it takes time. Want you are going thru is normal, don't worry about it, either fast or eat a few things that interest you at any given moment. :)

[FEELIN'GOOD]

I so agree with Olive-

My trouble is that I eat for comfort too. I had to find some of those comfort foods in RAW to get by. And you have a to have a few, because after eating avacado, onion, and tomato sandwiches on flax crackers for 3 days, they seem to lose their greatness! So now, I have things like Alissa's onion/ranch dip to go with veggies- AWESOME! Nori Sandwiches- just wrap lettuce in with some other veggies, and volia! Alissa's burger recipe is also a favorite of mine. I don't even bother to make the buns anymore... I just wrap the burger in a lettuce leaf and throw some tomatoes and onion in there... YUMMY!

Don't beat yourself up... you may be craving something warm too... try some warm tea. If it is salt you may need, try some OJ with jalapeno juice in it (smasty's secret!)

I think we've thrown our hands up in the air at some point, but you have to retrain your mind that this is something you want and go over in your mind about why you want it--- I find comfort in that too :)

Keep positive!

[Rawkinlocs]

Heeeyyy...I wanted to suggest raw comfort foods too *kicks foot in spoiled-brat-manner*

No, but seriously, I did want to suggest that but didn't because VeggieGirl mentioned things she makes/made not being satisfying.

But I also have my raw comfort foods: torte, dates stuffed with (soaked) brazil nuts and my biggest comfort food of them currently, bananas and almond butter! As previously mentioned, if fasting isn't something you feel led to do at the moment, then try finding some raw comfort foods.

Great posts all of you...way to support! *thumbsup*

[ksabe98]

I totally understand what you are going through. I went through this a couple of times now. I think it lasted for about 2 weeks the first time and then after that I was fine and again about 4 weeks ago for about 2 days. I thought that if I had one more salad or vegetable anything I was going to throw up. I was worried also that this was going to be a terrible struggle forever. I did not fast as I didn't feel that I needed to fast I knew that it had to be emotional. I am an emotional eater by nature anyway and what my mind was telling me was go to mcdonalds and get what you really want. And my heart was telling my mind no way. It was hard but I got threw it. I think that the comfort raw foods suggested are really important. Also I found that if I am hungry but don't know what it is I want I go to the market and browse through the produce isle until I find what it is that my body wants. I did this about 3 weeks ago. For example I never really liked pears all my life. This day I didn't know what it was so I went to the store and I roamed for about 30 minutes then all of the sudden I walked past this bin of pears that were all beat up and looking so pathetic but I smelled them and I wanted those pears so bad. I found one that was not too beat up and took it home and feasted like never before. So amazing. I should have bought them all as it was heaven. Weird. Well hang in there it will pass.

[Rawkinlocs]

For example I never really liked pears all my life. This day I didn't know what it was so I went to the store and I roamed for about 30 minutes then all of the sudden I walked past this bin of pears that were all beat up and looking so pathetic but I smelled them and I wanted those pears so bad. I found one that was not too beat up and took it home and feasted like never before. So amazing. I should have bought them all as it was heaven. Weird. Well hang in there it will pass.

Wow, that's so interesting! This is the premise that Genefit Nutrition is based on...eating foods that you are drawn to by using the senses (mainly smell and sight).

[VeggieGirl]

Awww.... I just *LOVE* all of you! Warm fuzzies all around for everyone. Very good, very good advice. I like the idea of comfort food. So, does that mean I can give myself permission to eat bananas all day without worrying about how they rate on they glycemic index??? lol...
And I'm glad to hear that many of you have experienced this too. I am craving savory stuff - like pesto and salty things so I'll have to try the jalapeno OJ.

After I posted yesterday, I realized that once again, I think I am making this too hard on myself (who, ME???) and spending way too much time in my head instead of my heart and body. And it's high time I got myself a dehydrator so I can have some PIZZA!!!

As a side note - I have a new friend who owns an organic Vegan restaurant - he just said I could order organic produce from him at 10% above wholesale!! SWEET! Just thought I'd offer that idea to any of you - just in case you can create those kinds of 'hookups' for yourself in your community to save you some of your hard-earned money while still eating good raw stuff.

Thanks again - I'll keep you posted on my progress. :)

VeggieGirl

[Sharon in Colorado]

I agree with the fasting suggestions. Like when you are sick and nothing tastes good to you, it's a signal. And if your body isn't wanting food anyway, what you do eat could very well go undigested for a while.

Try upping the liquids - drink some good clean water and call us in the morning.

[Olive]

I hearbye give you permission to eat nothing but bananas all day, lol! I went through the same thing with almond butter--went through a 12 oz. jar a week for three weeks and then it passed!

[tglasco4]

Man this is scary, you guys are together getting good, very good. This is great advice and info! To some up what I have seen for our dear raw sister Veggiegirl....(1) Its mostly psychological (2) It could be you need to fast if only for a day (3) you may need to browse the produce section and check out the sights and smells because maybe your body needs something specific and don't worry about how much of it you eat (like the bananas..lol). (4) It will pass.....

Continue on my friend...with Peace, blessings and incredible health!

Todd

[Rawism]

I kinda know what you are going through. I hardly ever have an appetite. I relate it to my stomach shrinking since I have been raw.

I find myself eating when people say "What did you have for lunch (or dinner)"? My friends/family seem to be very concerned about what goes into my mouth lately.

However, I think that is great because I don't have hunger pangs either. So it's not like I feel like I am depriving myself or my body. Weird I guess.....

[VeggieGirl]

Alright, so ya wanna know what I did?
I took y'alls advice and gave myself permission to eat raw 'comfort' food and I quit obsessing about how much 'sugar', oil, etc. I was eating by living on avocados and bananas! Basically, I got out of my head (Yes, it was psychological) and into my body! I feel like that rough time has passed because I am excited to eat again, esp. avocados with herbamare sprinkled on top - my favorite. I feel like I'm a bit past the point where I have to make everything gourmet and just enjoy simple fruits and veggies.

And... I also fasted too - not intentionally though! I haven't eaten all day today - just a bit of water - I barfed a couple times this morning. :( Gross, sorry. It was weird though, I don't feel sick like I have the flu - I just had to heave! So I did, even though my tummy was empty. I think that's a bit of detoxing going on, don't you? :rolleyes:

I can see now that what I was going through is just part of the bumps in the road of getting over cooked food and all the habits that go with it. Going Raw can really RAWK your world! :eek: I realized I have had to pass through feeling weird not being able to go to the store and get a quick meal, raw, like I would like to...and that I'm quite content eating almond butter and bananas instead. New rhythm, that's all. I think I'm in the groooove. :)

Anyway, thank you all so much for your support. It really made a difference!! :D

Love,
VeggieGirl

[flutterfly]

I am happy to hear that it all worked out for you. I will try the same thing if I go through what you did. Thanks

[Olive]

Congrats VeggieGirl! I just discovered Herbamare and sprinkling it on top of avocados was my first try--heavenly!