Lack of Results?

[Pailani]

I've read the glowing reports of people who have finished their 30-Day Challenge, and they've had such great experiences.

I was high raw for two weeks before I started my 30-Day Challenge, and I'm almost two weeks into my 30 days of 100 percent raw. I feel a little less tired, but that's it. Is this going to be as good as it gets for me? Are there some people for whom it just doesn't work?

[AutumnBreezColordLeavz]

Maybe it takes a bit more time in raw state for your body to respond. This could be due to toxins that you need to still flush out. Only guessing but it is my educated best.

[JustMe]

Hey Pailani! Maybe you should make a 'wish list' of the things you would like to benefit from this diet and also write down the things you would feel before you were raw. This will probably help you keep track when things get better or maybe you'll notice an ailment is gone that you were never able to shake before, etc.

[Rawkinlocs]

Pailani,

I would ask you first, do you have many ailments or any at all? I completed my 30 days and noticed one or two differences, but nothing as major as the other ladies BUT, I contribute that to the fact that I did cheat some during the challenge and the fact that I didn't have much to recover from in the first place.

But even if you DO have health challenges that you would like to see get better, please DON'T give up!! It doesn't happen the same way for everyone. For some, results come faster than for others but that doesn't mean the results won't come to you....they will, just try and keep at it. Like some lose weight after the first week of being raw while others don't have weight loss for a month or longer after being raw.

[sweetgoddess]

I know my results are so dramatic because I am in bad shape--very overweight and my diet was atrocious...this is a huge, huge dramatic change in habits for me ...i was waking up in the middle of the night with horrible head pain from mucous...I was/am ?? very toxic and I know it. The first day I tried raw..I ate only fruits and veggies by night I was detoxing so badly...in less than 24 hours...imagne how toxic my system is then?

So maybe your results arent as dramatic in such a short time because you have a little more balance in your system and a lot less toxic inner environment! It's probably a very GOOD thing, so please dont be discouraged. :)

Warmly
Carmel

[coffeesquirrel]

i agree with sweetgoddess, those that have a lot to lose (in wt, toxins, health problems ect) notice and have significant changes i think a lot faster. I would assume prob because the body is just so overloaded. I'm one of those impatient people who loves immedient gradification but i think with this you just kinda have to go with the flow and what feels right in your body.
Blessed Be,
Jen

[levamssg]

I did lose weight going raw - but haven't noted great strides/changes like others have written about either. However, I was finishing cancer treatment at the time I started raw, and currently have a job that can be extreme stress. Given those two things, I feel just fine. In fact, most days better than fine - definitely better than last year at this time. So, even tho I'm not seeing dramatic changes I can pinpoint, I shudder to think what shape I'd be in if I hadn't gone raw!!

So maybe small gains are really a lot bigger than we realize.

[Pailani]

Thanks, everyone. Maybe I'm just discouraged because everyone else is feeling so great and I'm tired from being up with a sick baby. I probably shouldn't gauge the results of this diet while I'm operating on 3 hours of sleep.

[Sharon in Colorado]

I feel the same way as you. I wouldn't be surprised if the changes were very minimal in me by the end of my challenge. For one, I've been on and off raw for 2 years. Two, I've been a vegetarian over 3 years and slowly refining my diet. I guess if I was eating horrible food, drinking and smoking, etc. I'd probably see some dramatic results.

[Melissa]

Pailani,
After three months all raw, I've hit a wall of frustration too. I still believe this is going to help me more dramatically if I stay with it. But I started in not-so-great-shape (bad fibromyalgia, some chronic fatigue, and about 50 lbs overweight) and I expected more WOW results. I wrote a bit more about my frustration at being "stalled" in my journal entry tonight and also in a thread I just started titled "Hard times--staying raw without comfort foods?" Maybe we can find a way to jumpstart our engines together? :o
I absolutely KNOW that raw works (from a much more dramatic experience in the past) but just have to figure out this puzzle now.

[RawGranny]

Hang in there Pailani. It is going slow for me too. Just keep in mind that everyones body is differant. I have lots of health problems and am past my 30 days. None of my health problems have gone away yet but I know that some day they will. Stay positive and focused. I have faith that my day is comeing. I don't know when, but I keep eating raw and follow my own path. :)

[Amethyst_Rain]

yes, my progress is slow, too...it's not a bad thing really...be glad that you're not having horrible detox :) it's also better for your kidneys and liver, cause they can take some time and not get over-worked...be patient...it will happen...think of it this way...you're making the changes...so they will happen...there's no way that they won't if you keep at it...so it's only a matter of time...keep the faith :)

[RawTruth]

Hi Buddy,

I'm so glad you've started this thread. Although, I'm sorry you're discouraged.

I'm feeling much the same way as you are. Some days I think there are positive changes, but then others seem "ordinary" or I'm feeling kinda down. I'm not having very drastic improvements, either. (Don't tell anyone, but I've been thinking maybe it's because I'm "older.")

I do have a list of things I was concerned about when I started, so I'll see what happens in few more weeks. There are small things like my eyes had been sort of bloodshot for a couple of months, but now they're much less so.

Maybe the people are right who say it's because you weren't eating poorly to begin with. For myself, I've been vegetarian for over 20 years. The last 6 months or so, though, I've been crisis eating sweets, sometimes chips, and an occasional soda. But ... over all, compared to SAD, I've been eating really well. Sounds like you have been, too.

I bet that the lack of sleep is coloring your view just a teensy bit, too.

You have such support here. The response is just amazing!

[rawfitness]

Hi Everyone. I've been reading daily but haven't been posting. This one is very close to me so I thought I'd share my experience.

I've been raw since the beginning of October. I've had two occasions over the holidays where I ate cooked food. Both instances were Cheese and I felt horrible/guilty for doing so. I would still say that I was 100% raw except for those 2 days.

Now for some background. I'm 25, a fitness competitor, 5'3'' and 139lbs when starting 100% raw. My former diet consisted of 113 grams of protien a day! Now if thats not enough to make you gag... Anyway this is important because today 4 months later I weigh 145-147lbs. So, I've actually gained weight. I'm still struggling with getting over the fact that this is working eventhough I've gained. However, I do believe that this is the right thing to do. Here's why I know I'll eventually lose the weight:
#1- I probably have so much uric acid build up from the protien its going to take a while to get it out of my system
#2- My body is changing at a cellular level in ways that I can't even see. There is evidence in the fact that: - my skin looks perfect, I sleep amazingly well, and I no longer have any yeast infections
#3- I'm still coping with emotional eating. I'm learning how to do different things to cope with this but occasionally, I'll eat a bag of nuts in one sitting.
#4- I took a lot of medication when I was yonger. Antidepresants for years as well as birth control. I'm no longer on them but I imagine that its going to take a while for those to clear themselves of my system.

I keep reminding myself that when my body is ready to let go of the weight, it will. Till then the only thing I can do is my best to keep feeding my body the foods it needs to rid itself to the years of bad things that I did to it.

Also, when I first went raw, I got really sick for a couple of days and broke out in cold sores almost every other week from the day I started. Since December that hasn't happened though and I still haven't lost any weight. I actually think some of my muscle is turning to fat. And...thats ok cause its only temporary.

One thing that I've learned from the years for competing in gymnastics, cheerleading, marathons, and figure competitions is that changes are very slow. Its easy to look at someone a year down the road and think, wow, that happened to them so fast, why isn't it working for me? In all actuality those people probably didn't think it happened all that fast for them when they were going through it.

Maybe it would help to look at it from an alternative perspective. What is the alternative to eating raw foods? For me, there isn't one. I've been limiting myself in my food choices since I was 13, and now I have an abundance of them.

Hopefully this will help to keep you on track. My number 1 reason for doing this was so that I could lose the weight I've been trying to lose for years. It hasn't come off yet but this is the only way of eating I've ever done where I understand why I am doing it. Every time I have a craving for something (usually chocolate) I find a raw alternative. My problem is that I could eat the alternative for every meal. I'm getting better and all the while learning that this is a process.

Keep telling yourself that things are changing on the inside and hopefully that will help keep you on track. The weight will come with time, HAVE FAITH, and don't give up!

Heather

[FEELIN'GOOD]

Rawfitness-

"....this is the only way of eating I've ever done where I understand why I am doing it."

I love that! Great wording...

Don't get discouraged Pailani- I know when I first started raw I felt really good for like 3 days then I got so tired! I mean dead tired! I never been so out of it. But like the quote above- the results WILL come and when they do- watch out girl! So hang in there- your day will come soon. Try to get some relief so you can take a good long nap... you need rest to really heal yourself and reap the benefits- then you won't need all that sleep. (Trust me- I pulled an all nighter last night and I'm still going...focused and alert :D

We are here for you.... you are doing wonderful!

Melissa