The Not So Normal World: Part Three

Cravings are fascinating things. 

They tell us so much about where our body, mind and emotions are at at any given moment. I think they tell us how healthy we are. I think they tell us how well we listen to the messages we are presented with each moment. Cravings can tell us when we are in balance and cravings can tell us when we are out of balance.

Even cravings for “bad” things tell us clearly what we need (and it’s usually not what we think…). A craving for alcohol (or some other mind-altering substance) for example can be a very clear message that we need to give our mind a break from thinking (and alcohol may be the easiest/cheapest/most accessible or the only way we know how to do that). If we are lucky enough to find another way to give our mind a break from thinking, we usually find that we crave alcohol much, much less.

I’m not really talking about the pros and cons of substitution when dealing with cravings or addiction, I’m talking about seeing beyond the manifestation of a particular craving to what’s really underneath and finding a way to satisfy that deeper need.

I had a really stressful day yesterday. At one point I started thinking about sugar. I couldn’t get it out of my head. The interesting thing was that I didn’t actually want sugar – I thought about chomping down a Cherry Ripe or slurping on a sweet cup of tea and there was no real urge or desire to go and do it. There was merely this circular thought – “I need sugar. I need sugar. I need sugar” and it didn’t have much power. I thought about what was really going on.

1. An emotional need to feel OK or to have someone else make me feel OK

2. A physiological need for more glucose in the brain (the brain is the biggest user of glucose in the body)

3. A habitual need to eat something that made me feel (slightly) better in the past

I debriefed with my husband for the emotional need but I was still thinking about sugar. I had some apple juice from a carton (not something I would usually consider – fresh made is SO much better). Still thinking about sugar. I went home. Still thinking about sugar. I began to come  up with alternatives to sugar that would give me the sweet/comfort taste I wanted but without the processed stuff. I got home and roasted a plateful of potatoes. 45 minutes in the oven. Not too bothered by the thought of sugar anymore. Yum. Very simple sugar. Lots of it. Not thinking about sugar anymore.

Since ending my fast I have watched my cravings shift. The first few weeks I wanted  nothing but fat – avocado, olives, oils and LOTS OF IT! My body was screaming for fat to repair itself and I gave it to it by the bucket load! This past week, fruit has been looking more appealing to me and so I’ve been eating it again. Fascinating I tell you! I love it. 

I think these green smoothies are really helping me to slow down the pressure of cravings too. They are giving my body and mind massive doses of micro nutrients. In the past, I NEVER would have been able to stop myself from having a block of dark peppermint club chocolate when I was feeling stressed out. I never would have been able to see the craving so clearly, see it for what it is and find an alternative. Not a substitute but a simpler response to my body’s needs.

How about you? What food cravings do you experience? How do you usually deal with them? 

 

As an aside, I’ve been enjoying writing this blog so much (and loving all the fantastic feedback!) that I’ve decided to continue it. As many of you know, my husband Charles is overweight and together we want to blog about his journey with weight loss! He has been bravely enjoying my renewed interest slash obsession with nutrition and living food and been coming along for the ride (yes, green smoothies and everything!) and all the books say raw food is the simplest way to lose and maintain weight loss. How exciting! Stay tuned for more…

: )