Seasonal, holiday food failings...

[Sharon]

I just wanted to share with all of you very supportive people that I have had a HORRIBLE time staying raw this holiday season. I have a desk job and work in a place where we get a TON of candy and other junk sent to us from various vendors. I have absolutley no will power and it has only gotten worse. I have decided that I am going to give myself a break and I hope if any of you are having these struggles you will do the same. This is a lifelong journey and we are all bound to have moments when we don't eat the way we know we should. This is my first winter trying to be raw as well, so again, I'm viewing all of this as a transitory, seasonal thing. Otherwise I would be feeling so down on myself (I sort of am, anyway). This thread is more of a venting session for me, but I have to believe I'm not the only one struggling this time of year! :( Here's a toast to an even more healthful new year, peace in war-ravaged countries, and just more harmony in the world - and harmony in our heads!(LOL)
Peace and thanks - this is the most positive and supportive raw food forum!
Love,
Sharon

[Stargazer2]

I know what you mean about the struggle; I'm considering myself lucky that we are mostly at home this year, and all my husband has requested as a 'special' food at Christmas is eggnog--and he's happy with the store-bought version. The office has been horrible; way too many cookies and candies available; fortunately I can shut myself up in my own office for much of the day, then I escape to my car during lunch. One thing I am doing is preparing a double batch of Michelle Reeve's Brownie Bites for New Years weekend; that's when we are having a lot of family come to visit (from Wednesday after Christmas to New Year's Day), and this is a grazing bunch of folks. I LOVE the Brownie bites, but they are very rich so I save them for special occasions. If these will save me from going off raw while we have guests, I'll be thankful!~

Sharon, I'm with you!! You will be in my thoughts over the next couple of weeks; I won't be online, but I've got you on my list! I'll be supporting in spirit!

Peace,
Valerie

[Sharon]

Thank you Valerie! I am going to look into those brownie bites~! :D

[Sharon in Colorado]

I can't wait to make the brownie bites myself. I find that when I'm all raw I don't want any of the stuff in front of my nose, but if I'm part to high raw, it is easier to give into temptation. Once you make that decision to stay all raw, things are so much easier!

All the best to you!

[blueberry]

I'm having a hard time too. I am still very new on my journey but I think that the cold weather has a lot to do with it. It's somewhat depressing. The sun is rarely out. You go outside and your nose gets frozen in a second. I think it's possible, it's a goal of mine, but since I am so new at it this weather is making it hard. Maybe once Spring comes along I can adjust a lot better. I don't know if I am ready to go cold turkey.

I guess the best thing to do is to focus on eating a large amount of fruits and veggies first and then maybe you won't crave anything else.

[CherimoyaMel]

You're not alone, Sharon. Holiday parties have been a real challenge for me. I'm not tempted by the meat, but I am tempted by cakes, cookies, egg nog, pasta and, last night, I even drank 3 alcoholic beverages! I've gained 7 pounds. I haven't been working out, and I feel sluggish.
It's TOUGH when cooked, refined foods are right out in front of you, and everyone around you is loading up their plates. By the middle of last week, I wasn't even trying to contain myself anymore.
So what can I say? We'll get back on track. Let's try not to stress about it.

[ksabe98]

Hi guys hang in there it's not like someone is standing over you judging every bite you put in your mouth. And I know you can always come here and confess your food sins and we all will understand and sympathize and join you in your confessions. Besides we did not get sick or ill from an occasional slip up. It is the habitual abuse of bad things being put into our bodies over long periods of time. I also wanted to ask if I could get that brownie bite recipe. I sure would like to make something like that right about now. Thanks
Lisa

[SimplyRawesome]

I'm there with ya'll. My husband's company had an employee appreciation party on Friday and they kept walking around with these hors'doeuvres that were scrumptios. They had scallops wrapped in bacon. Mmmm.... I unwrapped the scallops and tossed the bacon! Then they had bite sized crab cakes and stuffed potatoes. BUT! I was good when it came to the actual dinner - fruits and salad ... washed down with Jack Daniels and Coke!! Oh well, I tried! :rolleyes:

Then Saturday night I went to my friend's house and she kept pumping me full of Crown Royal and Vanilla Coke. Yummmm... went down real smooth! :( Unfortunately, I paid the price as I was not a happy camper on Sunday. I felt horrible. We need to be careful we don't overdo it - like I did - or we pay a dear price.

Like last week, I ate pasta three days in a row and my asthma flared up and I was wheezing and full of mucous. It wasn't worth it. So, all I can say is "moderation" through the holidays. Try to flush your system out with lots of lemon water and raw fruits and veges as much as possible. That's what I'm going to do. Nibble at the "sad" stuff if I feel the urge to, but splurge on the "raw" stuff. I'm just thrilled that I'm not in an office all day, because I know that would be extremely difficult to resist. My heart goes out to all of you in that situation. Hang in there and just do the best you can.

Happy Holidays everyone!
Victoria :)

[Rawmommie]

I'm trying to look at things differently. I was prepared to have a little slip on Christmas, but now I'm almost sure I won't. What is the price I will pay? My face will break out, I'll be tired and lethargic, I'll most likely get a headache and muscle pain too. The scale will go up and I've gone so far, why waste a whole week getting it back down?

I realized that my whole life I've USED food. I've used it when I was sad, used it when I was lonely, used it when I was tired and angry and even in pain. I'm not going to use it to be happy either! Why does sitting in front of the tree with my kids with a piece of coffee cake, watching them open their presents make it BETTER than sitting there enjoying each and every single moment without it? It doesn't. Why does food need to make my christmas party better? Can't I find happiness without it? Can't I have fun without it? Yes, I can!

Yes, it's just one day. (I had it all worked out that one day isn't that big of a deal in the big picture) Why use one day as an excuse to put things in my body that I know aren't good for it and will make me feel like crap?

Whew! I think I just convinced myself! I'm staying Raw on Christmas! :D

Karen

[Rawkinlocs]

Here is where to find the brownie bites recipe: http://fromsadtoraw.com/Recipes/BrownieBites.htm

Try to hang in there everyone! Rawmommie, thank you for what you wrote to convince yourself and I hope I can do the same! :D It's tough, but we all must try to get through this. Don't beat yourselves up over the slips, but don't just dive in head-first into the sea of cooked either...let's ALL (myself especially) try to remember how GOOD we feel when we eat raw and how CRAPPY we feel when we eat cooked (especially cooked crap). I know when those items are present the thoughts of what will happen are far from us or we just push 'em in the backs of our minds, but there has to be somethings we can focus on to help say "no" more than we say "yes".

Today is a new day...we can do this...

[Sharon in Colorado]

Thank you Rawmommie. You have put into words what I've always believed is true. That we don't need to eat like everybody else to enjoy our friends and family. I get that kind of thinking from time to time: "I have to experience tasting this or that so that I'm not robbing myself of enjoyment with others" but it is just not true. That is a huge social stigma with any kind of diet different from society.

Food doesn't bring people together. People bring people together.

[SHANE]

Yeah I made it past my 30 day challenge (lost 13 lbs.!) but i have had a few cooked things, like shrimp cocktail at a Christmas party and red wine. Not much meat, but cooked veggies. Well Christmas is only days away and we are all probably doing better than when we weren't aware of eating raw since it's planted in our brains forever. RIGHT!? Happy Holidays to all!

[Sharon]

Thanks everyone for helping me commiserate! The holiday festivities are nearly over and when they are I will be one happy raw camper! Oh Rawmommie- I only wish it was one day. In my business Christmas eating starts at the beginning of the month and lasts until New Year's!!!! :eek:

Love to all~
Sharon

[smasty]

Man oh man...I am having a super hard time. And I've been HARD CORE raw for 7 months.

I will need a 30 day raw challenge very badly, very soon.

Get this...Do y'all get Alex's newsletter? It's great if you don't get it. Anyway, he profiled "The Raw Bakery" in his last newsletter. I thought I'd really treat myself and have the $100 vanilla/coconut cake delivered for Christmas. Well...it gets delivered tomorrow...along with a $40 delivery charge, and I'm about as far from raw today as ever.

Maybe it will inspire me to get back on board.

So anyway....those of you staying strong...YOU ARE AWESOME! Feel very proud of your accomplishment, because it's a war out here!

Those of you faltering (I'm with ya--hate to say)...let's stick together and help each other get back on track.

[Sharon]

Smasty = I may have to join you on the challenge. I've not participated in this as of yet, but it may be what I need to get back on the horse, as they say!

(Today's delivery to the office: buttercookies, desserts from a Greek restaurant, and Baker's chocolates.Ugh.) :(

I will be in touch with you and anyone else who wants to join us. Maybe after Jan. 1??? :o

[teddy]

Hello all,

I sympathize with you since I haven't been raw for very long. I am not beating myself up about the mishaps because I have not decided to become 100% raw but I personally know for a fact that being raw for myself around the Holidays is not going to happen. Everything is so centered around food at this time. It might be a treat for everyone to be raw all year round and then to indulge during the Holidays. I understand though that doing something like that will really throw the body off balance. But shouldn't there be some room for error if we are new to this? Please don't be hard on yourself.

Teddy

[twinyoga]

I agree that we can not be hard on ourselves. I've learned that. We still have to enjoy our lives.

I had dinner with friends tonight, they both had burgers, fries, and chocolate cake and ice cream for dessert. There was no raw food offered (no salads!) so I had steamed veggies (squash, zucchini, broccoli and a baked potato). I was teaching them about raw. They were interested but said they could never do it. But I was never even tempted to eat what they had on their plates and passed on the chocolate cake.

Anyway, the point is, enjoy how good you feel with your food choices and enjoy. I know it's hard but we can help each other.

Debbie

[Sharon in Colorado]

Smasty don't forget to take a picture of that cake for us. I hope it's the best raw cake you've ever had for 100 smackers.

[Sweet lips]

All - we are probably stuggling about this time as this is the first year for many of us - but you know what, Celebrate what you have accomplished and be blessed for it.

Smatsy - Let us know in full glowing detail how this 100 dollar cake is.

You gave me some advice this summer, that helped me a whole bunch and it came with Love and prayers so back at you girl, and the prayers and love are with it too. :D

[Olive]

The holidays have been so hard for me! I had very little trouble staying 100% raw on my 30 day challenge, but I really didn't have a concrete plan after that, which has not been good for me. I'm still starting my day off raw, with a smoothie every morning. And I'll usually have a decent amount of fruit during the day, but otherwise I'm striking out. Sad thing is, the cooked food I'm eating is making me feel awful, but the compulsive eating urge overrides it at times. I guess I should say I'm doing better than usual, in that I'm staying aware when I'm eating unhealthy. It used to be that I'd just zone out and eat! I have to be gentle with myself . . . progress NOT perfection!