Help, I am losing my will power

[Lucky Lady]

Hi Everyone,
I have been raw for about 6 months and have had little difficulty until now. Now I am temped by the smell of cooked food and the convience of fast food. I am getting tired of the stuff I eat for the sake of time and do not have the time to be creative. If anyone has a few tips, I could really use them, before I fall off of the wagon.

Lucky Lady

[rawzeit]

Eat cooked food and fast food. You'll feel so horrible that you want to get back to raw in no-time.

[trinity082482]

Motivation for staying raw I guess would be to have some really good satisfying foods ready to eat for when you want to cave! To have some raw macaroons in a cookie jar or ready to eat diced veggies with some raw cheese dip will help you to keep from eating something cooked.

[Raspberry4]

What do you usually eat in a day? Are you able to take a Saturday or Sunday and make enough for 2 or 3 days (soup, salad, cut up veges, luscious dessert, dehyrdated nuts, almond milk for raw cereal)???

I have to uncook like that in batches too. The smell of cooked food can be so tempting and at times it does seem like cooked food is more convenient; but I am also so surprised and delighted at what I can make in minutes that is more nutritious and delicious raw - for example: I took a banana, cut up in a bowl, added raisins and almond butter and it was so fast and really good. I also can whip up a raw soup now literally in seconds in my blender (almond milk, braggs, garlic, ginger, and olive oil and throw in some spices or cilantro fresh). Anyway... I hope this can help you - you have done so well to keep with it for 6 months - don't throw it away. Pat yourself on the back for sticking with it and continue on. You can do it!:)

[Stina]

Some friendly suggestions:

keep reading lots of books on the subject of raw to keep inspiring yourself and educating yourself

experimenting with recipes is surely important for the first couple of years

spend lots of time here on the board harping and whining to get sympathy from us= we'll give it to you!

Some colonics might be in order to get over this bump in the raw road.

Walk around the produce department and let yourself buy whatever looks pretty.


Hang in there! Slipping up with SAD food could really spiral out of control.

[discodancer]

I just logged on to post a comment about losing will power, and there was one already. I have been mostly raw for about six months as well. I have totally loved it--still do--but as it has gotten cold, I have really craved some hot food, like soup. I know I can make raw soup, but it is not the same. I also just ended a hugely stressful semester (teaching) and find myself craving protein like eggs and fish and yogurt. I had this happen some months ago after a car accident, and I just went with it for a while, and the feeling went away. The holiday season has also been hard in terms of gatherings with a lot of cooked food.

I do NOT want to spend much time preparing food--I don't have and don't want a dehydrator--but I agree that I need to do a little more on terms of planning.

My specific questions are: how do you handle the desire for hot food when it is cold out? And what do you do about social gatherings and potlucks? I always bring some raw dish, but my usual will power does not hold when faced with some of the cooked dishes.

Thanks for any feedback. I hate feeling as if I have fallen off the proverbial wagon!

[Stina]

I personally allow myself to drink hot herbal tea and the warmth from that satisfies my need for that department.

But as far as that deep down intrinsic decision to be all Raw, it takes deep prayer and meditation for me. But I've sure experienced fierce cravings in the face of my former-favorite cooked food at restaurants, twice so severe I got very dizzy, emotional, blurred vision, gerbils in the stomach and really really crabby! If heroid addicts get worse cravings than that, I don't blame them for relapsing! I avoid restaurants now......... and come well prepared with several good dishes to potlucks. I don't go unless I"m in a good mood and calm either.....

[Lucky Lady]

Thank you everybody, for the help. Yes, I do have the weekend and I can fix food for the week. That is what I did the first 30 days and had gotten away from it. I had gotten into a rut of eating oranges for breakfast, a salad for lunch from Sub Way and a smaller home made salad for the evening snack. As I write this I can see the problem. I am on a mini vacation in Key West and have found a few places (on line) that are raw frendly. I plan to visit them today. To much of the same thing will make everything else look good. Even stuff that is not good for you. Thanks again for the suport.

Lucky Lady

[mamabird1953]

Since I'm fairly new to 100% I'm finding it a little harder to stay raw in the fall and winter months. There isnt as much a variety of fruits,etc. So, I ordered Alissas book and DVD as well as a dehydrater. Food has been a little boring lately and I have blown it somewhat. I know I need to get more creative. So, I'm going to join the 100% raw January challenge. In the summer I was feeling fantastic and I have noticed by eating even a touch of SAD that my arthritis symptoms have returned and have had to take pain meds again. It's just not worth it. Health really is our greatest wealth.

[Aleesha Sattva]

i make food on monday to last the week. that way, when i want to eat, it's just an arms reach away.

deviled egg-less dip, zucchini pate', non-tuna pate'...

i make sure i always have lots of flax crackers and some tortilla chips which are in my dehydrator right at this moment as a matter of fact.

lara bars are good to keep on hand, a small bag of raw nuts, things to keep the 'starvation food-hunt' at bay.

[mamabird1953]

Where do I find the non tuna pate recipe? I did just order Alissas book and DVD.

[inspiredraw]

It's been a while since I've visited here and reading this thread I realize what a mistake that is especially when I'm having so much trouble staying raw. I think one of Victoria Boutenko's 12 steps is to seek support, but of course, I'm stubborn and think I can do everything on my own.

In my blog I posted a new plan to eat whatever I want as long as it's raw vegan or at least vegan. I start out good in the morning but as the day progresses and cravings start setting in, things deteriorate. The idea to make meals and snacks ahead is a great one. There are many pates and sweet snacks I could make that are very satisfying. The thing is when I'm craving I need something I can grab right away. If I can continue to do this with the right foods eventually my only cravings will be for more raw (I hope).

Peace and blessings
Gail

[mamabird1953]

Inspire: I know exactly what your going thru. I read that your going to do the challange. Thats great. I did it in July. Everyone was so sopportive and had lots of great menu ideas. My SO is going to start as well. I use to be so strong and now when he says lets go out for dessert, I'm right there wagging my tail. We have the exact same birthday tomorrow. He is 15 mins. older than me. So, I thought I would make us a raw birthday cake. Another thing, I ordered Alyssas book and DVD. I think watching the DVD will really help. The cravings and compultions do dissapear. I really like your quote. See ya in the challenge!

[discodancer]

Hi, Lucky Lady and everyone else--

I was wondering how you all did over the holidays? I would say it was not my healthiest time ever, but a good friend gave me some raw food bars as part of my gift,and I also got another raw foods book, one meant for just one or two people, so I feel very motivated again. And I have started having green smoothies for breakfast. I love them, but talk about detoxing your body!

I turn 60 in a few weeks and am having a party and dance. I know I am eating real frosting--end of topic!--but other than that, I want to stay raw. The party is a potluck, so I hope to bring something quick and wonderful so I will at least have that to eat.

[Dylan]

I would just stop requiring yourself to be perfect. I don't see a reason to get down on yourself because you crave things you've been eating or doing for basically your entire life.

You're only a human being, not an olympian god (not that they were perfect by any means). Nobody's keeping score of your food choices on a chalk board in the sky. This is all supposed to SERVE YOU and HELP YOU grow and become more beautiful and energized. Once you get down on yourself it's like YOU ARE IN SERVICE TO THE DIET!