Gave in to my cravings

[Laura Harvey]

Today I was six days raw, and starting to feel better. The problem was that I was also having a terrible craving. I wanted fatty, salty food. I was good all day, drinking a green smoothy and lunching on some vegetables. I could feel in the pit of my stomach that I was craving something. My mind took over and I realized I wanted a cheese burger and fries. I went looking for some raw food snacks at the store and found a few that I thought would take care of the craving, but after eating them, the craving was still there. I decided that I would give in to the craving, but I was not going to let myself end my raw food journey. I ate it, enjoyed it for a moment, then felt too full and heavy. Now my feet feel swollen and I am super thirsty. My diabetes is not happy.

Tomorrow I plan to start the day with a shot of wheat grass and staying with raw food. I will also remember how I felt after eating the junk food so I will stay strong for the next time I have this unbearable feeling. It is still my goal and plan, for me to stay on raw food so I can overcome my illnesses.

[Maureen Griffin]

Just realize that even if people don't post as they have today, the silent rehabber's are definitely having their challenging momentstoo -but hey, it's good to get it out there and give others the chance to let off a little steam too.

Good luck with making the best choices for you as you go forward.

And Helloooo Hawaii!

[Jill Geary]

 

I am 4 weeks into raw and I am really craving pizza....a big cheese tomato deep pan cheese crust pizza *drool* I went and bought a wheat free gluten free pizza base and topped it with fruit and veg and baked it. It was yummy sorted my craving out. I know it was cooked and not really on the raw diet plan but it was better than going to a Hut and eating a giant pizza to myself. I have been thinking a lot about cravings and my body trying to talk to me. That really is what a craving is it's your body talking to you. You felt it in your stomach and then your mind took over. The conditioning of all those years of junk food took over. This I think is the really hard part trying to switch that conditioned response to cravings off...or transforming it into a healthier response. Our bodies need nutrition and our minds need comfort. It's finding a balance and a compromise in between these two parts of ourselves that takes time. Personally I am doing the best I can with what I have on a daily basis and even if I did eat an entire hut pizza I would not beat myself up about it. All I can do is start thinking about what I am doing and that I think is the trick...learning not to be switched off or numb any more to why we eat, when we eat or what we eat.  It's nice not to feel alone with this craving challenge. Thanks. love~peace~joy xjillyx

 

[Laura Harvey]

This is all very good information! Thanks everyone!

[Kimberly RT(T)]

I like what everyone is saying.  I have had to go through and redefine every craving.  Is it really for that particular item or is it for the fat and salt?  Probably fat and salt.  After listening to my body for over a month I'm starting to hear what my body is saying.  You will get there. 

 

[Basil]

Make sure you are eating enough unrefined sea salt or pink Himalayan salt and as much cold pressed oils as you feel like. Otherwise you will probably have that kind of craving again.

[Helen]

Cravings are usually masking an emotion that is lurking and wanting to be validated. By craving certain foods we are just wanting to hide that emotion and numb it down by eating something that we have enjoyed in the past.

 

Next time it happens see if you can take a quiet moment to sit and ask yourself where the craving is coming from, if there is an emotion attached to it, where that emotion originated. It is useful to have a notebook to hand to write down whatever comes up. Listen to what is coming up, it may not make sense to begin with but over time if you continue then you may well see a pattern forming.

 

Give yourself love and reassurance in the moment that the craving is happening. Imaging your arms around yourself giving you a big hug.

 

Once the emotion has been heard it is easier then to understand why and where the craving suddenly came from and to let it pass.

 

Hope that helps, I used it on myself yesterday when I had an argument with hubby and immediately wanted to 'eat' something to make me feel better. Instead I asked myself why the argument had flaired up , gave myself a hug and some love and then sat and rationally talked to hubby and had him hear me and then I heard him. Afterwards the need to eat had passed and I had my evening smoothie as usual.

 

Emotions can be so strong that when you are in the grip of them it is really hard to even recognise what they are. Give it a try and see if it helps.

 

Helen x

[Leah Duyao]

Hi! Hey I did the exact same thing about 3 hours ago and stopped at McD's. Craved a vanilla shake, fries, and a McDouble. Where that came from I do not know, especially since I have been craving healthy foods lately since going raw recently. But like the comment below, let's dust ourselves off, because we both plan on a highly raw day in the morn. It sort of motivated me to go even higher in my raw food choices. Right now I feel swollen and fat in my belly. Tomorrow WE will feel great!

[djd]

There should be some sources of fat and salt that are raw vegan.