B-day...I know I am going to hear it for this!

[newyearspromise]

Ok, I know a lot of you are going to say, "Don't do it!! You can eat raw!!", but my birthday is coming up on the 8th of Feb and I REALLY want to eaither go out to eat (cooked) or order a pizza.

I have my reservations. I don't think I am in danger of falling off the wagon if I do this. I actually think I will want to get back on raw because I will probably feel like crap.

BUT, my main concern is, can my body handle doing something like this after being raw for over a month at that point?

I have not made up my mind yet...I just don't know if I will get sick or something. Anyone done this before? What was your experience?

[Rawkinlocs]

Newyearspromise,

YEP I've done this and let me tell ya. IT'S NOT WORTH IT!!!

"Just this once" never works...especially if you go back to SAD food. Not only did I get sick, but I also had the TOUGHEST time getting back on raw. Once you wake that "sleeping giant" it is HARD to put him back to sleep. Oh yeah, you'll feel like crap and make yourself all kinds of promises to never eat _____ again, but then the cravings hit... HARD and you wake up the "addiction" all over again. Take it from someone who has been there/done that!

So, you have been warned...proceed with EXTREME caution!

[findingme]

Hi Newyearspromise,

I TOTALLY agree with Rawkinlocs. I did the 30 day challenge back in September and after the 30 days I thought...well, I deserve to have some pizza (it was my cooked food of choice too) and let me tell you I fell HARD. I haven't gotten back 100% raw since. I remember how amazing I felt during those 30 days and I wish I could beat this addiction once and for all, but like Rawkinlocs said once you wake that sleeping giant he does NOT want to go back to sleep. Anyways, just thought I'd pass along my two cents as I would have loved a disclaimer before I went back to cooked. And plus cooked tastes much better in your head.

Best of luck!

[jazzycd]

I agree with the other 2 post. I did great for 3 weeks then had one little slice of pizza and I've been trying to get back to 100% raw but it's not working. Don't do it it's not worth it.

[exurb]

another in total agreement with Rawkinlocs. When I first went raw, I would occasionally under certain social situations eat a small amount of non raw to be "polite", it was really hard to get back into the wonderful flow of raw after those times.

What was your new year's promise anyway?

Why don't you make yourself some RAWESOME pizza, and a decadent cake or pie instead? Maybe alissa's blueberry pie? a cheesecake? Date nut torte?

I like pizza with a buckwheat-based crust, a pine nut-macadamia cheese, basil pesto, black raw olives, fresh herbs, soaked & seasoned sundried tomatoes, some sliced leek, a little hot peppers, etc... I'm tellin you you can do better and you ain't missin' nothin to walk away from that SAD pizza. Why not treat yourself to some nice indulgent raw item you normally wouldn't buy? If you drink wine, you could indulge in a nice red. Have you gone to a raw restaurant... if there isn't one in your area, maybe take a road trip to one.

To me there's lots of wonderful raw possibilities!

[aisah]

Hi Newyearspromise, I cannot agree more with the other previous responses. Though I have never done a full cooked meal after being raw (not counting those first few days of 'stealing' BITS during my 'to&fro' days) so I cannot tell you from experience why not to. But coming from a logical point of view, i wonder why would you want to eat cooked food on your birthday? If you crave the taste, there are many raw substitutes. If you think you want to 'lavish' on that special day, but think about it, does not eating cooked food 'destroys' your body so to speak. You know with what the depleted enzymes, what with over-taxing the body, robbing the body of its minerals to make up for the lack of it with the food you consumed.... is this how you would show you love your body on your birthday!?? I do not mean to be harsh but I would like to get the point straight and I am concerned with people wanting to try or skim the cooked food area. Once the cooked enters your mouth its a downhill slide all the way. Once you are deep in the pits, it feels dark and lonely and like the whole world has shut down on you. Making the climb back up the hill all the more exhaustive, even thinking of it tires you simply. The goal is far-reaching but the thought of raw memories is good. So you most probably would end up sitting on a couch, thinking of good old days munching on those hydrogenated chips good for the tongue taste but once down the throat bad for the body food. You are an adult, its your choice. Be vigilante I would advise. I am your friend, I will say no and hold your hands refraining you from doing so if I am there real time. With all that said, enjoy your birthday with full consciousness and good health, filled with love and abundance.... does not that sound good served with raw??

So have a GOOD HAPPY HEALTHY BIRTHDAY for a NEWYEARSPROMISE.... remember its a newyearspromise, what better way to pronounce it on your birthday :)

my best to you ~ a

[Rawkinlocs]

Oh yeah...Aisah mentioned you wanting to "lavish" on your birthday...honey take that restaurant/pizza money and treat yourself to a wonderful full body massage or a manicure/pedicure or just a full day at the spa getting pampered.

Celebrating doesn't have to be about food/eating...make it about YOU, but CELEBRATE you by treating yourself well rather than sabotaging your self with a cooked "treat".

[aisah]

Oh yeah...Aisah mentioned you wanting to "lavish" on your birthday...honey take that restaurant/pizza money and treat yourself to a wonderful full body massage or a manicure/pedicure or just a full day at the spa getting pampered.

Celebrating doesn't have to be about food/eating...make it about YOU, but CELEBRATE you by treating yourself well rather than sabotaging your self with a cooked "treat".

Oooh good thinking there Rawkinlocs, I second that big time!! Indulge yourself! Immerse! Pamper yourself! Beautify the birthday girl! Treat yourself like a Queen on that day!! Nothing but royal treatments!! Go for it!!

[Guydiane]

I totally agree with Rawkinlocs my husband just decided the other day out of the blue to have cooked food after have none since Jan 1st. He was so sick and felt like crap.

[JustMe]

I like pizza with a buckwheat-based crust, a pine nut-macadamia cheese, basil pesto, black raw olives, fresh herbs, soaked & seasoned sundried tomatoes, some sliced leek, a little hot peppers, etc...

Oh God that sounds good!!!!! Thanks for the ideas!!! :)

[Lady Green Jeans]

newyearspromise,

No judgement. Your question is good. I have done it after over two months raw. I did get sick. Not quite "sicker than a dog," but really not well, either.

I love the suggestions for treating yourself as queen for the day. If cooked food is what seems to be what will accomplish that for you, then that is what you should do. It is your special day so you get to choose.

Happy Birthday! wishes in advance. May it be simply the best one yet!

[eachpeachpearplum]

I fell off the wagon during the holidays and am STILL stuggeling to get back to 100%. The addiction so incredibly strong - it's like a beast just waiting and taunting. Once you give in the beasts got you and you may have a hell of a time shaking him off. :o

I am totoally understanding your desire as thats whats I wanted at Christmas - beacuse it was MY birthday. Ask yourself , when you were eating SAD what non-food thing would you do for a treat and try that. I love the spa idea too.

I am so with you but please dont - I have strugled every day since then.

BTW - HAPPY BIRHDAY!!! :D

[dreamrawalwz]

I did this back in september and thought "i know i'll do it just this once and I'll get back on" but I havn't gotten fully 100% for over a week since then and I feel/look miserable compared to then. We have to ask ourselves "why?" "why do you want/'need' this cooked SAD item? What good is it going to do for you?" I found out that I don't know the answer to the "why" question, I just did it (the inner SAD voice lol). Do NOT wake the beast. It is NOT worth it! As others said, use substitutions. Don't feel you have to please others to be social, konw that you're doing something good for your body by not eating SAD like they are.

[swingbolder]

"Just this once" never works...especially if you go back to SAD food. Not only did I get sick, but I also had the TOUGHEST time getting back on raw. Once you wake that "sleeping giant" it is HARD to put him back to sleep.

This was my experience too. It's very, very hard to get back.

[saltywater]

I did that this weekend.... I went to a friends birthday party and didn´t feel like having to explain my "diet", so i had some salad and the smallest piece (for real, it was sooooo tiny) of veggie lasagna. After a while i started to get really bad cramps...my insides were hurting so bad. If i moved in certain positions it would be even worse...it was so bad that my boyfriend wanted to take me to hospital. But i knew what it was, he knew what it was also... My body was acostumed to living food and suddenly i overflow it with dead food, no enzymes...no life. Belive me IT´S NOT WORTH IT!!!!! Especially when you are doing so well, a month is a long time!!!! Go to a raw foods restaurant instead!!!
Happy Birthday and take care!!!

[Amberly]

Why would you want to feel like crap on your birthday? ;)

[JMD]

Not to sound redundant butttttttt....I must agree.!! Why hurting your body is going to be something to celebrate!! Try to get a mainucure go shopping do something besides rewarding with food. I know -being an addict myself with food--that it is a killer. Your body will have a craving/reaction -IMO-to the flour and processed foods and who knows when it would stop?? I mean cocaine addicts do not take a little sniff because it is their birthday nor do alcohoics because it will kill them.....so can food --maybe slower but for me it could emotionally especially!!

So pleaseeeee stay in today----take some of the above suggestions and give yourself the gift of freedom the MORNING after your bday!! Think how good you'll feel waking up non-bloated and unremorseful.

:)Sorry if this was harsh--i mean it very kindly---Let me have done the pain for YOU!!

Happy bday!!
JMD

[newyearspromise]

Ok, I am reconsidering.

I might take the money and do something else with it. Massage, new outfit...

Or maybe make a huge raw dinner for my family at home.

It is crazy because my mind has already been thinking all day, "Oh...just a week until that pizza or steak and fries..." Like I have already made up my mind, which I haven't!!!!!

Today at lunch I went to a pizza place with a bunch of co-workers. I didn't eat anything. I didn't even bring any money. I am so good at this. I have not fallen in almost 30 days (except one night when I wanted to taste the accidently cooked chili--I had made it raw but after eating realized I had left it cooking and it was then cooked--but I just wanted to see if it tasted normal because my raw chili had tasted weird--I only tasted it and moved on...so I don't even count this because it was not that I had lost control, I was trying to test something out...).

So the "bad" me keeps saying, "You have so much control and willpower, you can do this, no prob..."

But the "good" me keeps saying things to give me a reality check.

The thing is, I just don't like a lot of raw dishes all that much, so I mostly eat salads and whole fruits and veggies, which is fine with me on a daily basis because I LIKE this stuff. But for my b-day...well, I guess it's just that thing I always want to do, go out and eat and celebrate with my family.

Ahhhh!!!

I guess if I knew FOR SURE that I could get back on without waking the sleeping giant...I would do it. I am doing soooo well, though, I just agree that it's probably a very VERY bad idea.

[newyearspromise]

Oh, just to let everyone know, my b-day is not until the 8th, so I have lots of time to think about this. This is not the type of thing I would just do emotionally.

I have been thinking, there is this one restaurant in town that might try to accomidate me. I have also been thinking that really, the atmosphere of going out is 1/2 of what I am craving.

This restaurant has the atmosphere and might be able to come up with some things for me to eat. I think I will stop by there tomorrow on my lunch break and chat with the owner...

Thanks so much for the support in this. I am still wavering, but trying to make the right decision!!! :)

[Curleedst]

How much weight have you lost this first month raw?


Ok, I know a lot of you are going to say, "Don't do it!! You can eat raw!!", but my birthday is coming up on the 8th of Feb and I REALLY want to eaither go out to eat (cooked) or order a pizza.

I have my reservations. I don't think I am in danger of falling off the wagon if I do this. I actually think I will want to get back on raw because I will probably feel like crap.

BUT, my main concern is, can my body handle doing something like this after being raw for over a month at that point?

I have not made up my mind yet...I just don't know if I will get sick or something. Anyone done this before? What was your experience?

[karenisraw]

newyearspromise,

I cheated one time becuase I had a craving for sushi, so I got it and here is what that cost me.

bloatation
constipation
full of a lead brick that I wanted out of my body
weight gain
a dull and dazed mentality
I did not feel so great afterward

Think of it! And that was sushi, much less a pizza... :eek:

[JennaBoBenna]

Ah! Don't do itttt

I have the hugest cooked "hangover" right now. Last night at my mother's I had pasta, rolls and butter, and rice crispie treats(i actually ate gelatin! GLECH! i'm supposed to be vegan! lol) I am so nauseous right now and I woke up with a big headache. I've been stuck in bed all day(i'm on a laptop) because if I walk around I get all dizzy and nauseous. Even if I lay down the nausea gets worse. I can barely drink water :( :( :( I feel like a gigantic crumby crumb :( I'm never doing that again. And I'm not even 100% raw! I think it was mainly the gelatin that's making me feel this way...but still! Please don't make yourself feel all crumby on your birthday. And also, the cheese from the pizza will make you all mucous-y and that's no fun on top of no fun :( the food I ate wasn't even that good. But I still ate it! Why?! i dont knowwww :( I am such an addict.

Okay, enough self-pity :p I know that pizza you're thinking about is making you salivate because you know it tastes sooo goood...but it really doesn't. Think about smelling a ripe pineapple and biting into a juicey pear mmmmm eating kiwi....popping raspberries. yummm ohh i wish i could eat :rolleyes:

I hope you have a fantastic birthday and that it doesn't leave you rolling around in bed the next day with a tummy and headache

[karenisraw]

Did you know the aroma of cooked foods stimulates some kind of something in the brain that is in the same area of the brain that is stimulated by other addictions such as drugs, alcohol, etc.....? In otherwords, cooked food is literally an addiction that you cannot help becuase there is stimulation in the brain that tells you you want it. I learned this from my raw vegan doctor in his lecture. Sooooo if you tell yourself, you are addicted and to ignore it then maybe you won't want it..

k

:p :p

[FreshAir]

Wow, what a great thread! I am bookmarking it so I can come back to it when I'm feeling like "a little cooked won't hurt me", or "it's a special day, one cooked meal won't do me in".

Notice not one person said they felt great after eating cooked or how good it tasted. I try to remember that it only takes me 15 minutes to eat that pizza that I remember in my mind as being so good. FIFTEEN minutes to give you 24 hours of misery and days or weeks after that trying to get back on the raw wagon! Every single person said the same thing - been there, done that, and SOOOO not worth it. We all tried it and got the same results..... that speaks volumes!

I noticed a couple of weeks ago that, after eight months of being raw, I have FINALLY quit noticing food around me! I was so excited about this (really, you would have thought I bought the winning lottery ticket at the convenient store!) But I don't look at other people's food now at restaurants, or notice any of the food except the produce at the grocery store, or what my co-workers have when we sit together at lunch. Food doesn't speak to me anymore..... that is so huge for me! I actually stopped to get cookies for co-workers the other day (my turn to pick up), and I never even thought about opening the box for one. Never in my life has food not called out to me. It's like someone took the chains off that had me bound to cooked food.

I really want to thank everyone who shares their experiences on this board, the tough nights when you want to cave, and the high you feel the next day when you didn't :) I like the people who say "I don't mean to sound harsh, but......", because a lot of times that is exactly what I need to hear! I could not have made it this far on the raw journey without this board.

[Nini]

I have been reading these posts with interest.

For me, the big 5-0 is on the 18th.

I just know my personality - if I eat anything other than raw, I will be hooked; back to the cooked addictions we all know and hate.

My family won't let me eat anything cooked.

They finally have their mom back.

[monkeyboy]

Hi,

How about this,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Peace,

M.B.

[newyearspromise]

Well, to answer a question:

I have lost about 20 pounds in the past 4 weeks. Pretty amazing to me...so I really don't want to risk getting off track here.

Becoming 100% raw was fairly easy for me after the first week. But I am thinking that if I go off, I might have a harder time... I don't know. It might be easy.

But I DO NOT want to feel like crap like people say...

The thing I love about raw foods is that I don't have to think about food anymore. I don't have this food addiction thing. It's so freeing and wonderful.

I don't think I want to give that all up...

:confused:

[vegggeeemom]

This is a great thread! I know that back in October it was my birthday!
I had the exact same feelings..it was about 1-2 months after being on raw.
I "knew" what I should or should not do, but felt this overwhelming feeling to eat cooked..don't know why.
Just like you I posted about it and people suggested that it is an emotional tie from childhood.
What do we do when we are kids for our birthdays? Eat cake, pizza, cupcakes....all that SAD junk food!
So, maybe in some way you're wanting to get that "feeling" from when you were a child of your birthdays? Just a thought.

I went off raw in December due to life circumstances and have had a HARD HARD time getting back on track to 100% raw.

So, glad that you're asking questions "out loud" on the forums though. It means you're thinking! :)

Happy Birthday and congrats on the weight loss so far!!

Pam

[eachpeachpearplum]

[QUOTE=newyearspromise]Ok, I am reconsidering.

I might take the money and do something else with it. Massage, new outfit...

QUOTE]

Hows about this. Why not go onlline and purchase a BUNCH of raw cookbooks, videos & DVD's. My books help me so much to keep inspired - I now have 15 books and about 7 DVD/Videos.

Assuming you already have ALissa book I cannot speak higher of Living Cuisine By Renee Loux Underkoffler. I recently made her Choconot Mousse Pie With Vanilla Cream Frosting & Raspberries pg. 414 and almost fainted it was sooooo mooorish! Make something like this and I swear you will NOT miss you SAD cake. Her version of a "crust" is the best I have tried as it has a crunch to it and the choconot filling is beyond rich - dont be put off by the ingredients as they seem a bit strange! Or try her Mango Papaya Coconut Cream Pie W/ Raspberry Frosting P.416.

[vegggeeemom]

Gotta link?

Pam

[Rawadventures]

Happy Birthday to you!!!! I will send you all of the positive thoughts in the world to help you make the best choices. I know, as other people have stated, that it is SO hard to get back to 100% raw after going off. I am struggling right now to get back where I want to be.

My wish for you is that you will have a healthy and happy birthday! Give yourself a gift of healthy eating for your birthday... pamper yourself!

[eachpeachpearplum]

Gotta link?

Pam

Sorry, dont know how to "link". Amazon or any raw food store has it. Cover price is $21.00.

Cheers :p

[Cecilia]

Here it is on amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1583331719/qid=1138920193/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-4642128-5396632?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

I love the book too, and it has a great section on different foods and condiments. Just information, not recipies. I read it over christmas :p I'm a dork.

Amazon also lets you see inside. I find it nice when I'm trying to make up my mind. I would assume they have it at your local barnes and nobles or borders or something, but I'm not sure.

[ambiguous]

You still have time to order yourself a raw treat from one of the many raw websites, or from www.rawbakery.com if you want to really indulge.

[vegggeeemom]

Thanks for the link to the book. I love finding new raw uncook books!

Pam

[chiefchewy]

Fresh air... that is a great idea to bookmark this page.. i have beend about 90% raw for 6 weeks or so but have been 100% for the last 2.... last night we went out for dinner and i gave in a ate 1/2 of an enchilada and with in 30 minutes i was have eruptions in my stomach... i had terrible indigestion... came home and took a few enzyme caps and finally an hour later was able to fall asleep.... my husband said it was in my head... but i told him it was in my stomach!
the weird thing is when i ate cooked food, i never had any kind of stomach issues.... i could eat anything, with anything.... never even had indigestion before!
was a great experience for me... it has made me want to fight to stay all raw even more.
i can't imagine what would happen if i had been raw for 90 days!!
chewy

[newyearspromise]

Raw bakery.com....hadn't thought about that!!!

I'll go there now and see what I can find. :)

[faith4u]

I decided to eat some cooked food last night with my family. After being raw for 5 months (the last 5 weeks I have been 100%), I was feeling very anti social. Last night I had decided to change my thinking from, "Oh my gosh, I can never have such and such" to "If I want it once in a while, it's okay".

You see, many people that have written raw food books say that it takes about 3 years to totally transition to a raw food lifestyle. Many of them (Alissa included) have falled off the raw track over and over.

I was about ready to quit altogether because of several issues and certain foods (like baked potatoes) that I really missed. Giving myself permission to have them has made me want to stay raw. (By the way, i would always pick a healthy cooked food rather than junk)

Anyways, back to last night. We went to a Chinese restaurant and had steamed broccoli, and green beans in garlic sauce over rice. The first bite tasted good but after that it really didn't taste good at all. I ate a full meal because I knew we were going to be out for awhile. After I got done eating I felt like I had eaten rocks it felt so heavy. I felt kind of sick to my stomach. All in all it really didn't hit me as hard as I thought it would. I did wake up with a bit of a headache and I was starving like I hadn't eaten anything for dinner.

So, not to sway you or anything but I feel comfortable knowing that I have the freedom to choose cooked food once in awhile if I feel the need to. It made me want to stay raw it didn't make me want other cooked food. This could have to do with the fact that I am still eating whole, good food when I choose cooked food rather than junk food.

Keep us posted!