Don't Worry - Still Raw

I barely got through this most recent food crisis. It's been a rough week and it seemed I was being sabotaged from every angle. To make matters worse, I admit I spent a lot of time drooling over foods that I've sworn off for at least the next 6 months. By the time we hit the road to come home yesterday, and I had nothing but a bag of apples to snack on while my husband was feasting on some fragrant fried chicken, I was a mess.

When my husband stepped out to pump some gas, I fell apart in a pile of tears. I sobbed and prayed, and sobbed and prayed. It was by far my weakest moment of these last two months.

As the snot and tears were running down my face, I simultaneously thought these two things:

1) These were the feelings that I'd been expecting and fearing all along. This was the state that I have felt so grateful to have miraculously avoided for the last two months.

2) Thank you, thank you, thank you God that I haven't felt like these every day for the last two months.

So, I had a good cry, and then I chomped down on my apples. I've found that it's a lot harder for me to feel bitter and angry with a full stomach - regardless of what it's full of. And today, the crisis is over and I'm back to feeling like a raw foodie inside and out. I do not feel like it is a thick, stinky garment that I'm being forced to wear. I'm back to feeling like I'm making a choice, and that makes ALL the difference.

If I'm doing something because I want to do it - because I'm choosing this for myself - then I am 100% more likely to be successful than if I'm doing something because I feel like I have to. As soon as I have that feeling, I start feeling trapped, angry and bitter. That will absolutely end in me quitting. Every. Single. Time. Especially on the food front - feeling trapped is a MAJOR trigger for me because of some of my past food experiences.

I can point to different pools of fat on my body and be like, "Yeah, that's from the winter of '02; this one's from that one time in '06." Yup. My pounds gots stories! Which is why I need to be very careful about the ones I tell myself, and the ones I believe. Today, I'm feeling the "happily after ever" vibe.

Thank.
Goodness.

I'm feeling much more centered and in control of things. However, I'm still in desperate need of a thorough grocery run and have to rely on my husband finding the time in his busy busy schedule to go to the store for me, as I'm still spending most of my time with my sprained foot elevated. But the good news is that he can't last long without food, either, and at this rate, we'll both be dead by midnight tomorrow if he doesn't get to the store first thing in the morning. 

6 Things To Combat Cravings

I know I've been talking a lot about temptations and challenges, but I want to also say that my moments of shock don't last that long, and it's comforting to know that they will pass. Here are some of the things that I've found really help me stick to my guns:

1) Education. I watch a lot of YouTube videos about this life style. One of my most favorite channels I've discovered during this process is Fully Raw Kristina. A couple nights ago, after finishing my last blog post, I found the following video of hers, which helped me enormously. Among other things, she said that the gut-wrenching cravings usually just last about 10 minutes, so it's just a matter of getting through that short window of time. She's been inspiring, educational, and a downright pleasure to watch.

2) Good Food. I try to keep foods around that I sincerely enjoy eating. The more I have, the less likely a craving will cripple me. If things get REALLY tough, I'll go to a raw food restaurant. This is a sure way to put me in a state of bliss, and always gives me new food ideas.

3) Finding New Recipes. Looking up raw food recipes on Pinterest and the Internet helps me realize that there is a world of possibilities that I just haven't explored yet. This gets me excited about trying these new foods, and really helps to scratch my creativity. You can find links to my Pinterest boards for these different raw recipes over on the right side of this blog. These recipes really encourage me, because I'm often surprised by how easy and delicious they are.

4) Vision Board. I haven't done this yet, but a friend suggested I create a vision board. This would give me something to look at when things feel rough, and remind me of all the reasons I'm doing this. I'm going to do this for sure, because when my cravings are really bad, I am so stuck in my own brain that I totally forget why I'm doing this. I just feel trapped, like I have to do this, and forget that I'm making a choice for very specific - and very important - reasons.

5) Herbal Teas. I've already mentioned this, but I like to have a cup of herbal tea when I'm feeling overwhelmed. It's something that I enjoy so much, and it really helps me relax and feel more in control of my situation. If I'm starting to freak out over what I'm going to eat (or what I can't eat), I'll have a cup of tea while I make a plan. It instantly changes my state.

6) Journaling. Writing in my journal has always been an effective way for me to process what I'm going through, cravings or otherwise. It's just a natural way for me to unravel the things that overwhelm me so that I can look at the parts of my situation. That always changes my perspective, and helps me be more in tune to what is, instead of what things seem like.

That's all I can think of at the moment, but I'm sure I'll think of more. Feel free to add to this list by commenting below.