Do you ever get to the point where cooked foods...

[Rawkinlocs]

...don't bother you?

I was sitting here thinking about my grandmother (paternal) Every year, since I was a wee tot and probably before that even, my grandmother's family has this big family picnic at a popular park in my area.

They have all the grills going and bring potluck dishes and play games and of course, EAT!

And every year, she expects my family and me to be there.

Well, this year, we are not into eating meat and I am not into eating cooked foods. I COULD go there and eat fruit and raw goodies, but to be honest, I don't feel I'm at a point where I'm strong enough to be around that...the nostalgia of it all...the smell of the grilled foods...

So, I'm calling her and telling here we won't be there because I'm trying to get to a certain point in my health and wellness and I don't feel strong enough to deal with being around what they'll be having. I mean, a person who has recently quit drinking isn't gonna go hanging out at a bar/club/pub knowing there's still a chance of "backslidding", right?

I don't mind not going, I don't mind turning down social events that involve food. But what I want to know is, do you ever get to the point in raw eating where cooked foods don't even bother you at all?? I mean, will I forever have to avoid being around cooked foods in order to successfully stay raw or will I eventually get the point where I can be around it, smell it, see it and not be affected at all by it?

I don't feel sick when I smell meat cooking...in fact, sometimes in the back of my mind I'm saying, "Ummm that smells so good"

*sigh, so someone PLEASE tell me that one day, after staying all raw for some time, that I will be free to be around anything and not be tempted by it.

Thanks for listening to my little morning rant

[smasty]

Yes! I'm there! I'll tell you what gets me there:
1. Feeling incredible, and knowing that eating cooked food makes me feel bad
2. Seeing my weight stable for the first time in my life! No matter what I eat! (as long as it's raw)
3. Knowing that (you'll hear me say it over and over) one bad choice will put me in a tailspin that takes months to pull out of.
4. Being free from the anxiety of food

There's probably more i could add to this list...but when I think about it, it makes cooked food JUST NOT WORTH IT! You could put a piping hot Dominoes pizza under my nose right now and I wouldn't feel a tug. A tug of pity maybe for the souls scarfing it down.

I hate to see you avoid social situations though. It's important to nurture bonds with people. I know being in such a food-oriented situation is hard, but you learn to enjoy socialization and not the food. Take tons of raw food with you! Raw pie, raw breads, huge fruit salads...you can eat all day right along with them! Fill up before you go. Eat lots of food, don't feel deprived, just eat raw. There's so many choices for raw foods, you really don't have to feel deprived. Take a whole raw torte and nibble on it all day if you have to. Feel proud that you're making healthy choices and not running away from anything. You can do it, EASILY, with the right mindset.

Sue

p.s. I love your username!!!

[Kristi]

I still have tugs but people around me are so helpful. If I go to a family gathering they don't pressure me anymore. I volunteer for the salad or fruit. It is getting easier. If I go out with friends I chime in on where we should go so I can get something I can eat. They even ask now..."can you eat there?" I've had to "announce" I'm raw at certain situations so I don't eat something cooked if I'm feeling weak. This way I HAVE to remain honest or I'll look like a phony. It makes me stronger. I have to play games with myself but that's ok because it's a game that is making me healthier. I've played games for years that have made me sick.

[Alissa]

Rawkinlocs,
I could not have said this better myself. Everything sue and Kristi said is what i would have told you also. All the positive points and why not to eat. (Its a mind set more then ANYTHING!), bringing food with you because when you feel the temptation AND your hungry thatÂ’s a double whammy, announcing your raw so that even if you decide in the middle of the event that you want to cheat it will stop you because you already told people.
I love what they both told you!
The reasons 1-4 sue gave and KristiÂ’s last line "have to play games with myself but that's ok because it's a game that is making me healthier. I've played games for years that have made me sick."
I think you should print out what they wrote, take it with you with a bunch of raw food and have a wonderful time with your family.
One more thing. Imagine right before you go how good and PROUD of yourself you will feel when you wake up the next morning and have made the right choices for you!
Best,
Alissa

[Rawkinlocs]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, advice and encouragement!

I still don't think I can make this picnic, though (it's this coming Sunday and I just don't feel comfortable with being in that situation at this time. Please don't get me wrong...I'm not saying I avoid ALL social situations). But I know ME and believe me, with all the food they're going to have out there...it won't be pretty no matter WHAT I take with me. I'll push the little raw food right to the side and have some of my aunt's famous lemon cake that people have actually TRAVELLED to get a hold of!

*sigh...my day is coming...my day is coming...where cooked foods won't make me even flinch

Thanks again you guys!

[marigold]

when i first went raw even animal cooking smells got to me - i came up with the idea of enjoying the smells knowing i wouldnt want to eat the food and this really helped me..i did used to find it hard been around others eating cooked food esp out in the open on a cold day..there was me with my cold pudding and them with hot soups..
i have found over time now i would find myself eating my food and not even wanting their food or noticing it..so yes i would say it definately gets easier..

having said that when away recently i find myself looking in cupboards seeeing what i can eat and wanting cooked food cos its nicer..so its still ther e for me yes and easier..i am happier with my raw more than i was....

[suebee]

YES! You do! DonÂ’t worry rawkinlocs, it gets easier.
The better you start to feel about yourself and when you realize how great raw makes you feel and that you never want to go back to the old ways the food will not bother you ...as much;)
When you can walk into a place and know you look and feel your best you will feel so confident that the food wont 'call ' to you anymore.
I think its smart not to put yourself in situations you know youÂ’re not ready for.
Like everyone here is saying though it takes time and there are always moments in life when your guard is down, you feel vulnerable, and you feel like your mental state is not the strongest but after time you learn how to trust that if "I just donÂ’t eat this tonight, ill be so proud of myself in the morning and wake up feeling as good as i do now and not go back to my old ways". I also love what sue wrote in another post when she said,
"Now, I realize that with my history, I can't afford to mess around. As I say, I'm ONE bad decision away from being the miserable person I used to be. So I just don't allow flexibility in my eating plan. I can't, I can't afford to lose control. I love my life right now! Food used to torture me, food caused constant anxiety in my life. I'm free from all of that now. I never want to go back."
Perfect!

[Rawkinlocs]

Thanks Marigold and Suebee!

Marigold, I did that once and it did kinda help. I made something for my kids to eat and it smelled so good and I just sat there over my daughter's plate and inhaled. She was like, "Uhh...mom? What are you doing?!?" and I just said, "I'm smelling it and taking in the smell of the food although I'm not going to eat it". Once I was done, I didn't have the desire to eat it anymore.

It seems like it's moreso the initial wiffs I get of a thing and then if I allow my mind to take me there, thinking and imagining the way it tastes that get me everytime.

But I trust and believe that as many of you stated, overtime I will get past all of that!

Thanks again!

[marigold]

i remember i felt actualy GRIEF so strong when i went raw at first..for the loss of coooked food i used to eat.it was that strong..that powerful and i have to say that i did move through it now..my experience is that the whole process does evolve and mellow and becomes your reality..at first even making raw food seemed hard and now it s so easy .just a big of wizzing and chopping..so you too have faith rawkins....
love marigold