Starving!

[Scurvy Dog]

Ok. Today is my first day RAW and I am SO HUNGRY! For breakfast I made a smoothie with blueberries...a banana... an orange and 5 macadamia nuts...1/2 cup of water and a few ice cubes. By 9 I was uncomfortably hungry...at a Lara Bar...drank some water...by 10 I was munching on another banana and it's now NOON and I feel like I could eat a horse! I am surprised to be so hungry. I am also missing my COFFEE like an INSANE WOMAN! Starting to get a headache! I kind of knew this last part would happen...but what's with being so hungry? Anyone else this hungry at the beginning?

Scurvy Dog

[Drawn]

It's common to be really hungry in the beginning. Feel free to eat as much as you want. Your body is used to bad fats and feeling overfull. It should taper off in a couple days. You may want to incorporate a fat (coconut oil, nuts) in your morning smoothie.

[Rawkinlocs]

Definitely! You are going from eating (not sure what your diet was before today) to eating lighter, natural foods. It will be an adjustment that your body will make if you stick with it. As Drawn said, it's quite normal/common in the beginning because you're not accustomed to eating this way. But as time goes on, you will find that your body will adjust.

In the meantime, be prepared to eat more until your body gets used to this change! Keep stuff (fruit, nuts, seeds, dried unsulfated fruit) with you at all times. If you have a dehydrator, make flax crackers and grawnola to have on hand as well. Get some raw recipe books (Alissa's is a must-have IMHO) and learn to make things that will keep you satiated.

[rachelmh]

I am on my first day too, and know exactly what you mean! I just ate a ton of dried apricots. Now my stomach hurts pretty badly, so I am finally not hungry. I made some salt and vinegar potato chips in the dehydrator yesterday, so I will be eating those tonight. And I am making the first few recipes that Alissa lists in week one of being raw. You really should have her book. I read it in one night. It clinched my decision to go 100 percent raw! Bring stuff with you that you have to chew -- carrots, etc. Chewing usually satiates for whatever reason.

[sosiesmom]

I was exactly the same way and ate a ton. The best advice I got about going raw was to eat as much raw food as it takes you to stay raw in the beginning. Over time, I find I;ve been eating a lot less.

[Scurvy Dog]

Thanks for the replies all! I don't feel like such a pig now! :p I do have Alissa's book and have read part of it...it is a great book! I had the portabella mushroom cap with avocado for lunch and am feeling a bit better...but I didn't bring enough food with me this morning and thot I was going to start gnawing on my desk before lunchtime finally got here. Oh well...I learned my lesson. Thanks again to everyone.

Scurvy Dog

[RowanC]

EAt as much as you want, but try not to eat too much dehydrated stuff the first few days. It's ok to eat SOME but a bag full of apricots is too much.

I eat smoothies for breakfast also. I eat around 7 am and by 9 am I'm ready for more food. Bulk up your smoothies with fresh greens. Eat plenty of bananas and avocadoes. NUTS will fill you up too!

I usually have a piece of cashew cheesecake each morning around 9 am. Holds me until lunch.

You shouldn't feel hungry. If you are, drink more water and EAT MORE!

Good luck!

[RowanC]

I re-read your post.

You MUST get used to taking food with you everywhere you go!

Make fudge from nuts and dates processed together and made into balls.
Take avocadoes and lemons.
Take tomatoes and apples.

Three of my favorite recipes in Alissa's book for taking to work:

Pear and Beet Salad -- YUM
Apple and Turnip Salad -- DOUBLE YUM
Salmon Pate -- TRIPLE YUM

Put the pate in lettuce and roll it up and eat it. Better than a sandwich! Especially if you put a slice of tomato, avocado, onion in too! :D

[rawpriestess]

I don't think you are getting enough food,

there are people on this site, who eat 10 bananas for breakfast, then another 5 for snack, then have a huge salad for lunch, and I mean an entire head of lettuce, with lots of other veggies too, then a huge snack of an entire pineapple then dinner is even more food,plus late night snack.

Like Alissa says, make tons of food, and have it ready, be prepared for anything, and have food with you, where ever you go, in the beginning it will keep you raw.

NOW, I NEVER go anywhere, without lots of food,

when I go to town, I always, take at least, 2 bananas, 4 cups of water or sun tea, or both, 2 oranges, 1/2 a pineapple, 1 to 2 cups of nuts, and at least something chewy and sweet, like cinnamon rolls, or cake or something like that.

I take my own celtic sea salt in a little container, although I don't use salt hardly ever, if I get really hungry, I can stop at any place and get a salad, with a little lemon (they always have this for tea) and my salt, I have an instant dressing

take twice as much food as you think you need,
and make sure to take several tastes and textures with you

sweet,
salty
sour

crispy
crunchy
smooth

wet and dry

and you'll be fine, this way you can add to other food, or just munch your way through the day,

humans are not supposed to gorge three times a day, they are supposed to munch all day long, this is how the apes do it, and this is how it is best for us to do it too.

[PDMagnusen]

I agree with what everyone else is saying. It's really all about proper planning - you must have foods with you at all times! Also, don't worry about eating too much in the beginning. When I first went raw, I ate as much as I wanted. As you become comfortable on this diet, you will naturally begin to eat less - that is not something to worry about now at day 1. Just focus on staying raw! :D Good luck!!

[Brianna]

When I first got into raw foods, I started by having one totally raw day per week. I remember being so extremely hungry all day. I ate just about constantly...smoothies, fruit, salads, raisins, nuts, etc. Now eating all raw, I am almost never hungry. I think that the body just takes some time to adjust to the dietary change, but don't be afraid to eat if you're hungry.