Afternoon Disaster

[RawNaturale]

Hi all,

In my journey to be more raw, I decided to go 100% raw for a day yesterday, to test it out. I did fine until about 2 pm and then became very low-energy, tired and hungry. I finally ate some brie and Ezekiel bread at around 3. Felt better, but still low-energy.

My weight loss is pitifully slow, so I am afraid to eat too much fruit and nuts, but maybe I should eat more of them. Alissa's book is on the way, so maybe that will help me with meal planning and what and how much to eat.

Here's what I ate until the brie and bread at 3 pm...

Wheatgrass juice first thing (about 2 oz)

Breakfast: Fruit smoothie (banana, clementine, 1/2 pear, black berries and flax) made with almond milk (about a 16 oz shake)

Snack: Large apple

Lunch: Large baby spinach salad with 3 kinds of sprouts, olive oil and sun-dried tomato dressing



I've noticed I feel good in the morning but have decreasing energy as the day goes on -- this has always been the case with me. I am hoping that a raw diet will mitigate this, if not remove it.

I drink close to a gallon of water a day, and have started doing 25 minutes on the Elliptical trainer in the morning. No weight training yet. I live on a farm and get other exercise cleaning stalls and doing chores -- I have a lot of strength and muscle, but way overweight. I am 5'8" and at last weigh-in on Tuesday weighed 237. Down from 248 on 1/3/05. My weight goal is about 160 - 165 (med/lg frame). I realize that at my current weight, I have to feed my body, but I'm not sure what and how much to eat.

Any suggestions, experience, etc., would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Julie

[sweetgoddess]

Hey Julie~so glad you're going to go for it 100% ! That is great news.
I too am rather curious about how much to eat, so afraid I cant help you on that one. For me, I decided that for the 2 or 3 months, I would only worry about eating all raw-not how much, not calories , not when etc. And so I eat whenever I want to. I figured that would fall into place on it's own after my body dealt with other things.

This approach so far, has helped me stay the course while working on the most challenging issue regarding food-emotions and mental patterns.
I am sure everybody has to find their own approach. But I am also sure Alissa's book will help you a GREAT deal. I hope you get it quickly!

As far as the energy crash, how about an energizing juice, or a handful of nuts and greens a half hour before you know its going to hit you-or a nap! Siesta~zzzz.......is that a possibility? I am sure that after awhile on raw you wont have those energy crashes.

You're going to get lots of great responses no doubt, so let me send you my best wishes as you make your way through this and congrats for deciding to go for it! :)

Warmly~
Carmel

[heather]

i am doing the same thing. if i am hungry, i eat. even if i just ate, i eat again. it has really helpd me keep my energy up (so far........i am only on day 5 of the challenge)

[Amethyst_Rain]

i agree with Carmel and Heather...if you're hungry: eat...if you're not really hungry but just feel like eating, but not sure what: don't eat at all till you're hungry
just go with what your body tells you...for me it helps to eat fruit in the morning and for snack, then have something fatty like avocado, olives, nuts with tomato or greens for lunch, another piece of fruit for snack and then a large green meal for dinner...everyone is different though...i think it aslo depends on your schedule...hope that helps, and congrats on your decision :)

[Sharon in Colorado]

I wouldn't worry about the energy crash on your first time all raw. Try it straight for a few more days and then see how you feel. Sometimes low energy is a sign of detox and healing too. If you are super tired you may just need more sleep!

[Stargazer]

Hi Julie :) I don't have a lot of experience to share because I'm only on day 3, but my approach is the same as those who have already replied. I'm eating as much as I want, what I want, when I want, as long as it's raw. I think this is the most important first step for me - just to stay on course. Later on when this change becomes more natural to me, I will look at my weight loss and see what I can alter in my eating routine.

I also agree very strongly that tiredness in the first while can be a sign of detox, or just lack of sleep in general. Definately try to go for a while, maybe even the whole 30 days, before assessing. Your body is going to go through so many changes and it will have lots of reactions, before it settles down.

It sounds like you're doing lots of excercise - maybe you need more food/calories? Also it looks like you are doing well in the morning when you are having fruit, so maybe it would help to add more fruit in the afternoon?

Warm wishes to you.

Claudia :) :) :)

[SedonaSun]

Hi Julie,

First of all, you crack me up! I enjoy reading your posts and journal.

I can't tell you what or how much to eat, but I'll share that the first week or so I ate and ate. If eating more bananas kept me from eating SAD food, I ate more bananas. But I found that it took a lot less food to feel blah from overeating than before raw. Not that I always overate raw, but I recognized that feeling quicker.

Also, I used to, and usually still do, make a large smoothie -- about 32 oz, and drink it throughout the morning and into the afternoon. I use frozen fruit of some kind which makes it cold and thick without watering it down with ice.

Have you tried bananas with almond butter on them? I really love those. They're quick and easy and tasty and filling from the almond butter. Perhaps that would help afternoon hungries??

After a couple weeks I stopped eating nearly as much--unless I fall into the old overeating pattern occasionally. I have not, and still don't worry about calories. I'm starting to recognize food combos my body wants and doesn't want. But at the beginning, I didn't worry about that because I just wanted to get through the day 100% raw.

As far as weight loss, well, I'm stalled right now. I lost about 12-14 the first 2 weeks and have held there the last 2 weeks. But, the bright side of that is that I've maintained a weight loss for 2 weeks :) I'm really hoping the rest starts coming off again, even if it is at a slower rate. Even if you don't lose as quickly as you want--which a lot of seem to be dealing with--I think you'll still feel better raw than SAD. Give it some time and eat if you gotta eat. You'll know if you've eaten too much.

[tracyinfo]

I have to agree with everyone. When you are hungry -EAT! When I first started out, I ate alot (Raw food only) and still lost weight. It's kind of strange, in this culture, to eat as much as you want and lose weight!

--Tracy

[RawNaturale]

Ok, I gotta eat. I do get enough sleep, thankfully. I know that when I first started doing this I felt like doo doo and have only started to feel better (from detoxing, I think) over the past week or so. I absolutely LOVE fruit and I'm afraid I'll OD on it if I let myself have as much as I want. I did low carb for about 18 months and the thing I missed the most was fruit. Well, and Krispy Kreme. :rolleyes: But yes, I do know the difference between real hunger and other "false hungers". I probably haven't been eating enough and I know that can stall weight loss.

I wanna go on a raw food retreat. Anybody want to go with me? :D

Thanks for all the input...it's great to hear everyone else's experience with Raw-dom.

[KitaKazoo]

Hi Julie,

I'm really proud of you trying to going all raw. Even just for one day is a big step.

Before I give into the afternoon slump, and eat something... I'll drink some water and then take a 20 minuite nap sitting in my office. Usually that will fix it, but sometimes I haven't eaten a good lunch and really need to eat more. I like to have a handful of walnuts and raisins. They fill me up and I feel energized

Kita

[chilove]

i wouldnt worry about limiting anything right now, just concentrate on going raw, after you feel confident being raw you MAY want to consider limiting nuts, but definitely don't worry about fruit!! fruit is low calorie, low fat, full of wonderful vitamins and pure water and gives sustained energy. as far as the energy issue goes i always feel much more energetic when i'm eating a lot more fruit and a lot less fat.

[Sweet lips]

EAT GIRL

I agree with everyone here - if it is fruit eat it, if it is veggie eat it - I am serious. Once your body feels that you have begin to listen to it, you will find a remarkable change as to what it craves and what it doesn't want or need at this time.

As for the weight loss, don't focus on that at all - look at the other benefits your are receiving at this time, and take it from there. I know you are probably thinking - don't focus on losing weight - is she crazy - nope, well yeah, I am a little crazy - but, I say that because your body knows that also, and will stress and hold up the weight loss - just flow, and look at what you see happening to you- the weight will follow and drop off, and you will be looking for it - like, what happen to that love handle or lap top as your britches fall to the ground.

Now :cool: let me get in your business, how is your water consumption and your elimination - that can affect you as well, but you sound like you need to EAT GIRL

Dancing Dancing - I regress Feelin' Good posted a website from Dr. Bass, on the fasting thread under juicing: http://www.drbass.com/newconcepts.html#qanda
I clicked on symptoms and this was there and this may very be you:

"Consequently the withdrawal of stimulation which follows the abandonment of animal food produces a slower heart action - a resting phase - which registers in the mind as relaxation or a decrease of energy. This initial letdown lasts about ten days or slightly longer, and is followed by an increase of strength, a feeling of diminishing stress and greater well-being."