How will the initial 30 days affect a vegan?

[CorporalChicken]

Hello!

This has probably been asked before (had a quick gander but couldn't find a relevant thread!) and is probably like asking 'how much wood could a wood chuck chuck if a wood chuck could chuck wood'!... but as an existing vegan how should I expect the detox process to be during the first 30 days of raw?

I haven't consumed any artificial sweeteners for years. I never take paracetemol or aspirin. I'm not on the pill, nor do I ever take antibiotics. I occasionally get hives as a reaction to certain E numbers though.

Right now, I feel like garbage. But mainly because of 1) not getting enough sleep 2) not eating enough or of the correct food and 3) being cooped up indoors all day everyday.

I'm not going to be in the same league as most people, I'd imagine... or am I wrong? Does a nightmare await? ;-)

Any info or past experiences much appreciated, folks!

[monkeyboy]

Hi Everyone,

Monkeyboy is in a very generous mood tonite.

I think you'll feel the effects of the raw lifestyle almost immediately.

You may go through a small window of detox, but it will pass.

Make sure to get exercise.

Remeber raw is not a fad diet...it is a lifestyle that you tweek day by day.

I wish you the best from the preppie colony.


Peace,

M.B.

[theresaann]

hard to say, hard to say....

have you been a WHOLE FOOD vegan? or eating some processed flour, sugar, etc? Alcohol? all that matters, plus your own situation. Emotional eating? that's another thing that comes up on raw. candida? hmm....that one is a bugger on raw (the fruit can exacerbate it...at least it sure is in me).

but overall, I bet it would feel fantastic for you!!! IT's a way easier jump from vegan than SAD, that's for sure (I've done it both ways...)

have fun!!

[heabrook]

Vegan doesn't always mean healthy. I've know many unhealthy vegans, meaning they eat too much processed prepackaged food with hydrogenated oils. There is a lot of "vegan" food out there that isn't healthy for you.

If you are a vegan that eats mainly whole foods, then you will probably detox less. But you have to realize that not all toxins come from food. Everyone is toxic to some degree because there are toxins in the air that we breathe. Have you had fillings in your teeth? that's another toxin.

So the question is then.. Did you load up on prepackaged but vegan foods? Or did you eat mainly whole foods?

Despite former diets, everyone will detox to some degree. Depending on the amount of prepackaged foods you've consumed, you have probably had a fairly good diet (ie, no animal products) so you will probably not have a horrible time detoxing. Good luck and don't give up! :)

[ljannise]

I was a cooked vegan for a good while & I still think it helped my transition tremedously.

I remember that weird sweat I got once I stopped eating meat. That huge flush.

I eventually took things further by becoming a RAW vegan so it was as if it was ALL a transitioning. (Now when I look back on it)

I noticed that when I was not eating meat any longer, it was replaced by lots & lots of canned veggies, cooked rice & beans. You have amazing things to look forward to.

Instead of craving cheese or dairy (same thing), you might have starch issues. You wont be eating rice, potatoes or pasta anymore.

[CorporalChicken]

Thanks for your replies everyone :-)

Definitely not a wholefood vegan, at least not now! I do eat a fair bit of sugar :o , have hydrogenated margarine, eat tonnes of pasta, not much rice (though I love it, just lazy to make it!), the only ready meals I can eat are usually vegetable detox meals that are 90% vegetable based anyway. I seldom have cereal, but have been using bread to fill me up lately as I have no time to eat :(

I have a serious sweet tooth! Though I've been trying to replace snacking on sweets with snacking on nuts and seeds and dried apricots.

In retrospect, the potato thing could get me though!

[levamssg]

CorporalChicken
About your serious sweet tooth -- that is one thing on raw, there are so many good sweet things to eat and its ok!

Try Alissa's Date Nut Torte -- even non raw foodies get hooked on this one.
So, don't focus on the stuff you won't be having .. instead focus on the delicious stuff you Will be having. :)

As for detox -- everyone has their own row to hoe on that one. But since you are focusing on healthy -per your post you've already identified a couple of other things you need to address:
1. start getting outdoors more and incorporate a bit of exercise (take a walk during lunch), before or after work maybe ... or at the very least get up and do stretches during the day to get the body moving a bit.
2. get enough sleep.

A lot more than just what we eat goes in to how we are feeling.
You are doing a wonderful thing for yourself by deciding to go raw. Enjoy the journey.

[sport]

I was cooked vegan for about 4 years and vegetarian for 25 years before that. I did not experience any detox. I have been raw since July 05 and am 100% for 99% of the time (exceptions being vegan cooked for sisters birthday). My lifestyle was very like yours and I was not taking any chemicals in to my body. My idea of dessert before going raw was a slice of wholemeal toast with some of the expensive french (St Dalfour) sugar free marmalade.