I fell off the wagon.

[Sharon Reeves]

If feel so bad right now I need someone to tell me it's not the end of the world. I have been 85 - 90% raw for over a month and haven't had any meat since July 15th. I went to a reunion yesterday where everyone brought dishes and the hostess provided entrees: lasagna, barbecue, meatballs and fried  chicken.  As I walked into her home the chicken and lasagna smelled so good I was afraid I would never resist.  I did.  I ate a plate of marinated veggies, a fruited coleslaw with a mayo free dressing and various other veggie dishes.  I would say my dinner was 90% raw, I did have a bite of a pasta salad. I avoided the cheeses and the appetizers for the most part except for some fresh fruit.  I drank only water all day other than to taste the sangria for her to ensure she had a good balance. Then I came home today with leftovers she sent for my Hubby...chicken, meatballs, baked beans, potato salad....and a good bit of the marinated veggies and the slaw for me.  No problem, huh?   About a half an hour ago I couldn't stand it any longer so I went into the kitchen opened the refrigerator and took a piece of chicken and ate it.  I truly did not enjoy it past about the second bite.  I feel so guilty.  This was my idea to get myself healthy but I feel like I let myself down.  Have I ruined everything?

[Susan : )]

Simply, make your next bite raw....

Tomorrow is a new day!

[Graham]

So, let me get this straight. You've been eating 85-90% raw for over a month, no meat for almost two. One piece of chicken. Does that drag your percentage down to maybe 84.50-89.75%? Something like that? Daaaaang, girl. Pretty serious letdown. How will you ever forgive yourself!?!

Or you could take the attitude of accepting your indulgence – nothing more, nothing less, definitely nothing to feel guilty about. After all, this is a lifestyle change, not a battle between good and evil. Unless you want to make it such. And if you do, lol, you've got more serious issues than chomping down on a chicken leg. Lighten up on yourself. :-))

PS  I hope you ate a piece of organic papaya to help with the protein digestion. You could have done that much, and that would have been enough. 

[Sharon Reeves]

I did.  I just felt so guilty.  And, it really did a number on my digetsive system..  Lesson learned.  Thank you Susan!

Susan : ) said:

Simply, make your next bite raw....

Tomorrow is a new day!

[Susan : )]

I am here to cheer you on!

I believe in YOU!
Go Sharon!  Go Sharon!  Go Sharon!

Sharon Reeves said:

I did.  I just felt so guilty.  And, it really did a number on my digetsive system..  Lesson learned.

Susan : ) said:

Simply, make your next bite raw....

Tomorrow is a new day!

[Sharon Reeves]

I think I was just feeling so guilty about being so weak that I felt sorry for myself.  I know I have done very well on this journey.  I  wish I had eaten that organic papaya.  I would probably feel much better physically now.  I actually didn't realize how much better I was feeling until I fell off that wagon.  I will remember that it's not a battle of good and evil and move forward with my new lifestyle.  Thanks, Graham!

Graham said:

So, let me get this straight. You've been eating 85-90% raw for over a month, no meat for almost two. One piece of chicken. Does that drag your percentage down to maybe 84.50-89.75%? Something like that? Daaaaang, girl. Pretty serious letdown. How will you ever forgive yourself!?!

Or you could take the attitude of accepting your indulgence – nothing more, nothing less, definitely nothing to feel guilty about. After all, this is a lifestyle change, not a battle between good and evil. Unless you want to make it such. And if you do, lol, you've got more serious issues than chomping down on a chicken leg. Lighten up on yourself. :-))

PS  I hope you ate a piece of organic papaya to help with the protein digestion. You could have done that much, and that would have been enough. 

[ADB]

You should congratulate yourself for not having gone off your plan at the event!  Having had a small piece of chicken is not bad at all.  Like Susan said, make your next bite raw!  

Congratulations for having been high raw since July 15th!!  Have you seen any positive results since then?

[Susan Morris]

I can completely relate to your feelings.  The first time I was a vegan, I quit 15 years ago because those scenarios kept popping up.  I didn't know back then that being vegan included omitting honey, and so when someone told me I wasn't really a vegan  because I ate honey I felt like a fraud.  Every time I went out to eat the restaurants offered little or nothing, and if I went to a friend's home to eat, it seemed like I was either putting them out or making them feel bad.  A lot of friends and family members gave me a hard time about it because they thought it was weird.  So I went back to the standard American diet because back then it seemed like it took too much effort to be vegan.  My husband was also vegetarian and he ran into similar problems.  He was getting a lot of peer pressure from a friend to eat pizza, and when he finally gave in he got sick because he wasn't used to it.  He decided that he would rather be used to the pizza and eat what his peers were eating, so he want back to the SAD too.

Last May, my husband and I converted to the raw vegan lifestyle for health reasons.  But we decided that this time we aren't going to be so hard on ourselves.  We aren't going to try to be perfect all the time.  Every day in each situation we make choices, and each morning is a new day.  Since May, we've fallen off the wagon about once a month on average.  I'd rather fall off the wagon once a month and be raw vegan the other 30 days, than to quit entirely.  Considering that our original plan was to eat one raw vegan meal a day, I think we are doing better than we expected.  We are happy with the health results that we have experienced so far, and we plan to continue to do the best we can each day.

These days being raw vegan makes me feel really happy and joyful.  So if someone wants to give me a hard time about something that makes me happy and joyful, I simply don't have time for them.  And I believe in being kind above all else, and that includes being kind to myself, even when I disappoint myself.

I think it gets easier as time goes by.  We make it easier on ourselves by eating full raw meals before we go out.  I find that we are less likely to get cravings if we are very well nourished with plenty of greens.  Although we know that even vegan junk food is still junk food, we do keep a few things like kale chips on hand which are not a part of our regular diet but in an emergency it's better than other things.

Oh, and this time we eat honey occasionally, and we don't worry about whether we are "real vegans!"

Anyway, hope this helps and best of luck to you!

[Graham]

 "I actually didn't realize how much better I was feeling until I fell off that wagon." 

So there ya' go! Lesson learned:-))

I have to wonder about our strugglings with diet, if we are struggling, if it isn't a deeper issue of self-acceptance.

[Dianne]

I am new to this forum and reading some of the threads so...

 

One piece of chicken?  You have just made me feel sooo guilty, lol!  I won't even tell you what I just cheated with.  Just the fact that you have been sticking to the plan for the last couple of months means you deserve a huge pat on the back.  There isn't any person who is absolutely perfect, and just because you had a little hiccup, does not mean that you have 'ruined' everything.  Give yourself a shake and face tomorrow with a stronger resolve.  I just wish I had your will and strength.  YOU GO GIRL!!!

[LaWayne Freeman]

I am so sorry you feel like you failed. In my book, the fact that you didn't really like the chicken after the second bite is a victory! It is a sign that you've taken care of your body, and it now recognizes junk when it comes in. Rejoice in that, my new friend!

LaWayne

[Sharon Reeves]

I have gotten over my guilt.  I also have realized that I am not the kind of person who can jump intko something with both feet.  I have not eaten any more meat but I am still not at a 100% raw every single day, I have been inspired by the story Susan tells.  I have eaten a few cooked veggies or grains in a week's period.  I have remained free of milk, yogurt and sour cream but have on rare occasions given in to my intense craving for cheese and butter...I no longer hate myself when I do it I realize I am simply a work in progress striving to get  my body healthy again by not putting things in that aren't good.  I believe I can do this now, at my own pace, without feeling guilty.  Being a vegetarian for a while as opposed to a carnivore is a huge forward step for me on the road the becoming a vegan.  I thank everyone for your support on this journey.

LaWayne Freeman said:

I am so sorry you feel like you failed. In my book, the fact that you didn't really like the chicken after the second bite is a victory! It is a sign that you've taken care of your body, and it now recognizes junk when it comes in. Rejoice in that, my new friend!

LaWayne

[katelynn courtemanche]

I would like to say that it happens to the best of us, that we give into temptation, and while it is not our proudest moment it doesn't mean that you have ruined everything. The mind is a powerful thing, and you really can't let this affect you negatively. The most that you can do is admit that "yes, I messed up, but I know i WILL do better next time."

One step off the road doesn't mean that all your efforts are done and over with. You can get as easily back onto the right road, as you momentarily stepped off. 

I know that going through my journey into raw foods, that I fell off the band wagon more then I would like to admit, but it never stops me from getting back on that wagon.

I hope this helps!