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Login Here Signup Here Signup using FacebookTransitioning to raw since May 2007. Recently did a 22 day fast, intending to be as close to 100% raw as I could be after breaking the fast. It has been a couple of weeks, and I am not doing as well as I had hoped. I’ve also started a regular running routine.
I feel like lately I’ve been eating way too much in order to appease a huge appetite. Not hunger—appetite. One recent day’s intake included 5 avocados. Another day I ate 4 bananas in one sitting, when I just thought one should be enough. One night I was snacking on some almonds and ate the entire 4 servings bag. Then there were a few occasions where I still felt my body needed something after eating the regular fruits and salad, so I would break open a can of refried beans or garbanzo beans. And that would do the trick. Amazingly well.
So I am trying to normalize my eating habits. Deciding to cut out nuts and limit avocados to one a day. But what does all of this behavior signal? Is this mostly emotional eating? What is my body missing that it feels so much better after eating the (cooked) canned beans?
Comments
Many raw foodists are having issues with appetite, hunger, and fullness. They say they often feel hungry and full at the same time or that they’ve finished a meal of greens and suddenly were struck with the urge to eat a whole pack of dates, or in your case, nuts. I truly believe that the problem lies in calories. People don’t realize that a salad and a few fruit for a meal averages only about 200 calories or less, which is way too low for anybody. The people finish these low-calorie meals and feel like they ate a lot because two fruit and a huge bowl of salad seems like a lot of food, but are still hungry because of the low calories. So, they go for the nearest snack, feeling guilt and shame and confusion as to why they are suddenly struck to eat so much after finishing a big meal.
I had the same problem. I would eat a big bowl of greens with an avocado and a raw corn, and after I would feel this urge to eat everything, including what others were eating around me (toast, eggs, cheese…). Then, I would dive into the fridge and consume like a billion grapes and go for a gazillion nuts, always feeling guilty afterward. And, I did the same thing as you, I told myself, “THAT’S IT! NO MORE NUTS! NO MORE GRAPES! I JUST CAN’T HANDLE THEM, I DON’T STOP!” I thought I was acting on an insane craving, but really, I was HUNGRY because I hadn’t eaten enough calories. I was mentally full (because it looked like I ate a lot) but I was physically starving myself, and only wanted to eat what others were eating since it was out in the open, right in front of my face. I started looking into the calorie thing, and found out that where my required amount was 1,700, I was only eating 600 calories a day!!! -Which also explained why I always felt so tired.
It’s very important that you make sure you are eating enough calories. Your binging may just be the result of not eating enough. Try counting the calories in what you eat, just for a little while, to make sure you’re getting everything you need. Also, when you aren’t getting enough calories, and suddenly do run for the avocados, you may actually end up overeating. So, good luck!
Oh, and p.s. I can now eat grapes and nuts without a problem (providing I eat enough at meal time).
I think it’s more about habit and reward. Don’t deny yourself fruits, but deny the canned food! I rarely eat the recommended calories. I just don’t get hungry, but sometimes I’m in the mood to snack if something sounds or tastes good whether or not I’m hungry. I get that way with Brazil nuts because I like the texture. You may have similar responses to refried beans. They’re your comfort food.
Starchy foods make you hungry because they’re empty calories, very little nutrition. Beans don’t digest well.