Cooked food while transitioning: How bad?

[discovering_me]

Hi, newbie here with a question!

I've read that having even a little bit of cooked food can keep your body toxic. Why is this? I would like to transition to 100% raw, but always fail when I expect to do it overnight. (Can't even last a full day--I'm too emotionally addicted to food.) Is it OK to be, say 90% raw, and 10% cooked, while being super-conscious of why I can't resist the cooked, thereby hopefully chipping away at the addiction to the cooked food?

When I do eat cooked now (when I can't resist the craving), I try to be more conscious each time--I think about how I hate my addiction to the food, and I try to question why I'm ingesting toxic matter (i.e. what does this say about my emotions and about my self-regard). I hope that this will eventually change my attitude from one of craving to disgust. Until I get to that point though, how bad is it that I'm not going 100% raw overnight? I just can't seem to do that, as I'm too emotionally addicted to the comfort of cooked food.

I've tried eating as much raw food as I want (e.g. dates when I crave something sweet), but I end up overeating that food, and spiralling back into cooked food.

Thoughts?

[Revvell]

First of all, the word "transitioning" means just that ~ you move into what you want. It's a journey or a passage. Some can do 100% immediately; most wont. You will find most here are still on the journey and can go days, weeks, even months of raw at a time before going 100%. Some will never go.

Thing is, until you handle your mental/emotional issues, then it'll continue being difficult. If you still see food as comfort rather than nutrition, it may continue being difficult. One thing to do if you are unwilling to address your emotional needs otherwise, find other foods ~ nourishing foods ~ which comfort you.

It's the same with issues of being overweight. Until the emotional issues behind the overeating, binging and weight gain are handled, nothing is handled. People keep calling it "food" issues. It's not the food, it's the issues deeper than the food. Food doesn't do anything but hang out. Humans are the ones reaching for it. Why? Because they are using it as a drug. Why? What feelings are they trying to suppress? What issues are they hiding from? What needs to be addressed?

R.

[Goddess_girl]

Thing is, until you handle your mental/emotional issues, then it'll continue being difficult. If you still see food as comfort rather than nutrition, it may continue being difficult. One thing to do if you are unwilling to address your emotional needs otherwise, find other foods ~ nourishing foods ~ which comfort you.

It's the same with issues of being overweight. Until the emotional issues behind the overeating, binging and weight gain are handled, nothing is handled. People keep calling it "food" issues. It's not the food, it's the issues deeper than the food. Food doesn't do anything but hang out. Humans are the ones reaching for it. Why? Because they are using it as a drug. Why? What feelings are they trying to suppress? What issues are they hiding from? What needs to be addressed?

R.

I really wish one of the "in-tuned" people on this thread will/could write a post about this topic. I really dont know how to deal with what I am going threw and I know many other posters are in the same boat.

[Universal]

Peace,

Me personally, the moment i heard about raw foods i was already a vegan for about 1-2 months. I was mainly eating a lot of cooked vegetable combinations along with some rice & beans. Now in January of this year, i decided to try the Master Cleanse after hearing about some of its benefits from a woman who worked in a health food store. After completing the Master Cleanse i continued to eat a vegan cooked diet, and i was a lot more conscious and aware of what i was putting into my body. I finally decided in the first week of February to try out eating raw foods. And from that point on, it's been pretty much 100%. I never had too much of a problem transitioning. But that's ME. Everyone is different. I had already given up meat for 9-10 months up until that time, and i had given up dairy a good month or so as well. Plus i was coming straight off the Master Cleanse which did a lot for me mentally.

Everyone's path before reaching raw is different. So don't ever feel bad because you don't go straight to 100% right away. 20% raw is a lot better than 2%! Likewise 50% is a lot better than 5%. Set goals for yourself and gradually "feel" your way thru it. As your percentage begins to increase, your cravings will begin to decrease. I'm sure a lot of others can attest to that.

I agree that a lot of the issues that keep people from staying on the raw path are issues that go a lot deeper than just food. People who for years have used food as a sort of outlet (aka drug) in order to escape a tough situation, will have a hard time maintaining raw over a period of time. So i agree that those issues must be dealt with before choosing to go on this journey.


PEACE
Universal

[kmik]

From one cooked food addict to another, I respectfully disagree with Revvell and Universal.

While on cooked, I tried to deal with my "issues" but always ended up spiraling further and further into the cooked void that is obesity and depression. This past July I tried to go raw, but never could get it going. I would try just eating cooked one day a week, or just one small "healthy" meal, but it kept sucking me back in, in a big, bad way.

Then, two things happened. Number 1, I read Alissa's book, and number 2, I discovered smoothies. Alissa's book taught me the how's and why's of going 100% cold turkey. And I found that if I had a smoothie in the morning that had hemp protein powder and coconut oil, most days I had no cravings for cooked foods, and the days that I did, they weren't too overwhemling.

Within a couple of days my whole relationship with food (and with myself!) changed. It was quite sudden that my use of food became for nutrition, and I was able to stop beating myself up for not being able to overcome my "issues." This was not something I expected. But once my body could get free of the poison, I realized that COOKED FOOD was my "issue!" I no longer overeat, because I just don't need it. The emotional "need" you might feel for overeating may actually be a result of the food itself! I read somewhere that MSG is added to food to make people eat more. They say it's a good thing, cuz then people get more "nutrition." (I guess anything can be justified! :eek: )

Granted, it hasn't been completely smooth sailing ever since. It has been a learning process. But it has been one that is doable! I slipped twice after finding my "secret formula," but learned and kept going. I'm almost at 90 days 100% raw!

As far as my secret formula, I've now changed from fruit smoothies to green smoothies (read Ode to Green Smoothies http://www.rawfamily.com/articles.html for more info on those). I've heard others say that the green smoothie did the trick for them too. I do still use my hemp protein powder and coconut oil.

Let me tell you, it's such an incredible feeling to be liberated from cooked foods and all the bad feelings that go along with them! If you decide to make the leap to 100% and if you use smoothies and read Alissa's book, I would LOVE to hear how it works for you! (of course if you don't, I'm still here for support ;) )

[Revvell]

Peace,
So i agree that those issues must be dealt with before choosing to go on this journey.
PEACE
Universal


That's not exactly what I said. Choose to go on the journey asap. Just know that, "stuff" you've not dealt with "may" come up ~ thinking you can never have this or that again ~ and more. Just know, you CAN eat anything you want, whenever you want ~ yet also know, you have a choice.

Revvell

Well, it seems kmik and I were writing at the same time. If that worked for her, it can work for others. Go for it!!!

[FloridaBahai]

Any increased amount of raw food in your diet is that much better. Yes, if you eat cooked food, the toxins will still continue to enter your body and may prevent a detox. I've also read somewhere that the amount of acid ones stomach has to produce in order to digest cooked food is not good for the raw food that may be ingested afterwards. But still, the more raw the better. So, if you're consuming more raw food than previously, I'd say, "more power to you!" You are SUCCEEDING in eating more raw. You aren't failing at not eating enough raw.

It's like smoking cigarettes. Having two cigs a day is better than having the entire pack but keep in mind, and this really hit home when Alissa said it on her DVD, that having one cigarette or one cooked meal every once in a while will keep the addiction and cravings alive. If you haven't done so, I strongly suggest getting Alissa's book. There are recipies in it that are remarkably similar to cooked food and might satisfy your cravings enough to get through the detox.

After the first recipe I had, fetucinni alfredo, I was full but not heavily so and I was satisfied. I wasn't hungry nor did I crave anything for the rest of the day.

There is also no such thing as too much raw food. Eat all the dates you want. Eat all the nuts, seeds and avocados you want - especially while transitioning. I'm rather new here myself and this is info I've learned primarily here on this forum or in Alissa's book. I can tell you that it's true for me and already, I'm eating more simply. Your cravings will change. Instead of wanting an old staple, the day will come when you crave some bananas or some greens or really feel like having some fats (nuts, seeds, fatty fruits).

You're doing well. Just give it some time.

Craig

[discovering_me]

Thanks for the input, guys. kmik, it definitely sounds like we're coming from the same place. I think that I should go for 100%, as eating anything cooked would likely lead to spiralling for me. However, I think that I need to be careful even when I'm eating raw, as I my habit is to eat to distract me from feeling my emotions.

It is mentally difficult to imagine never eating cooked food again, but I'm going to try to remember that it just doesn't work for me. Food has been an issue for me my whole life, and I would finally like some freedom from it as I've got enough other crap on my plate (no pun intended), and I think that going raw would help me. :p

[twinee1]

Brian Clement has done alot of research, studies on the raw food diets, fruitarian, breatharian diets and cooked food. Davis Wolfe (on of the raw food guru's) has respect for his work. He recommended in his last interview reading his books.I did a search the other night and found this at living foods site...good read.

http://www.living-foods.com/articles/clement.html

[sweetgoddess]

I have to say I agree with what everyone said here! And if you could combine what Revvell is talking about and what kmik is sharing, wow, your journey will accelerate.

We are physical/emotional/mental/spiritual beings. So along the journey all of these levels will come into play.

I wanted to share one thing with you that I learned on this journey.
"hating' my relationship with food, "hating" my weight, feeling"disgust" towards food etc were tremendous obstacles that actually kept me stuck for a long time.
That is not what you wish to achieve!
Hate, disgust etc are actual forms of energy and they will not serve you.
"That which you resist persists"
So, in place of wishing to feel disgust for cooked food--feel love for living food! In place of hating the choices you feel dont serve you, love the choices you make that do serve you. And when those moments come where you judge yourself or what you chose in a moment--leave them in the moment and dont carry them forward. Bless it and move on, realizing there is something valuable you can learn from the experience.

Replace "negative" with "positive" and watch the astounding difference.

You can do this. Believe in yourself. we do!

Warmly~
Carmel

[kmik]

Hi again DM,

I think that you'll be pleasantly surprised when dealing with emotions on raw. You'll have more clarity and emotions may not seem to get so out of hand, and you won't need the distraction of food.

As for the psychological approach to 100% raw... I went on a 90 day challange (glad I did, because if I only asked myself for 30 days, that wouldn't have been enough separation, and I probably would have gotten sucked back in.) So I just had to tell myself that in 90 days I could re-assess and determine if I wanted to continue raw, or if I wanted to try cooked again. I know in my logical brain, cooked food was poison to me, but I couldn't tell the other part of my brain that, because cooked food was an old trusted friend that got me through a lot (or so I thought!).

So maybe that approach will work for you... because "never" is a long time, and that will put more pressure on you. By the time 90 days is up, you will have discovered so many wonderful raw treats and have healed enough that you can let your the logical part of your brain take over.

Just so happens, there's a group of us starting a 90 day challange on January 1 :) at this thread http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8269

And as Carmel said, we believe in you!

[Jamin]

WOW kmik, Good for you-- 100% for 90 days. keep it up!!

And Revvell, I agree with alot of what you said on the phsycological aspects of eating.

dicovering_me- You are doing great, so long as your goal remains to be 100% it doesn't matter how long it takes you to get there as long as your on the road.