Running and raw

[rainbowgirl]

I have been raw for a while (came back after a pregnancy hiatus, couldn't keep it up in the first trimester, but then miscarried), and more recently, started running.

I can't seem to get enough energy and am hungry. I also want to lose weight. I ate some boiled potatoes and beans this week to try to supplement and felt better(not just full, I know that feeling) and also, I lost more weight (which leads me to think my body is doing the starvation thing).

My daily diet goes something like this....
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breakfast:
two apples with 1/8 cup dried coconut, two tbsp pumpkin seeds, and handful or raisins or 5 dates, with cinnamon and vanilla, all ground up

two to three large cups of water

lunch:
two tomatoes, one green pepper, two cucumbers, and some greens with lemon, salt.

cup of water

dinner:
green smoothie, made of apples (two), and either strawberries or peaches, with some dark greens (about 1 cup or more). i drink the whole blender full minus one cup for kids.

I snack on dates and sunflower seeds (dates-10/day, seeds-handful a day)

Another two cups of water before bed.

------------------------------

If I have almonds, I would add them to the breakfast meal. If I am ravenous, I eat the same thing I had for breakfast before bed.

I sometimes skip the salad meal or the green smoothie meal (if i don't have any greens in the house).

How can I make my diet better. I am trying to get ready for a 5k, and need more energy, and I also need/want to lose weight.

Sue

[rainbowgirl]

That I'm breastfeeding, but in my experience (preg or breastfeeding 11 1/2 years now), when my little one is over 1 1/2 years, it doesn't affect my eating, or what I need to eat little much.

Just to make sure I put all the "facts on the table".

Sue

[ciarac]

Hi,

I am a runner too, so maybe I can relate.
It does sound to me like you are not getting enough calories.
I am not a fully fledged rawling but I have been trying to be raw for a long time. Every time I restart and have a good bout, I don't really feel the energy people speak of. So, I started keying in what I ate in fitday.com.
I was amazed to see how few calories I was getting.
My diet would sound awfully like yours, i.e. I did eat my fats, and I felt like I was eating all day, but I just wasn't consuming enough.

Maybe you should try to add a couple of cups of apple and zuchini juice. Lots of energy in that. Perhaps, also, you are somebody who just needs more carbs than fats. Sounds like now you are getting enough fats, which is good, but not enough carbs. As I said, perhaps juice is the way to go.

If not, maybe try some superfoods; bee pollen (not vegan, granted), young coconut water, avocado, garlic, etc...
I'm big on lemons also. I think they are so energizing.

I'm no expert so this is just my take on your situation.
:cool:

[rainbowgirl]

Lemons always give me a zing, I will up them.

We don't have avocados available here (i live overseas).

I will try fitday, it should be enlightening. I will try to juice more, but I'm truly learning to be a fruit person.

I am addicted to carbs........and always have been. If I had my druthers (pre-raw), I would eat a bowl or brown rice with boiled potatoes with beans perhaps.

I am gluten-free, what can I eat to get more carbs....apples? is that a carb????

Sue

[rainbowgirl]

Just did the fitday thing. 1418 calories, 17 grams of protein, 310 grams of carbs, 29 grams fat. protein was 5 %, carbs were 77 %, and fat was 19%.

I actually feel better with less fat, so I don't know how to tweak this with protein/fat thing.

I can up the carbs.....but what should I eat for protein that doesn't shoot the fats up real high (i can't deal with the extra fat personally).

Sue

oops, just fixed my date consumption (error), and ended up with 1200 calories, 21 percewnt fat, 5 percent protein.

ANy hints?????

[rawzeit]

Just eat more and forget about the whole carbs, protein, fat thing. Eat as much as you like, whatever it is, as long as it is raw. :)

[rainbowgirl]

I just don't have the energy for my upped lifestyle, running and so on.

I was doing fine on a standard, eat what you want raw food lifestyle, but I started running, and a daily workout may be somewhat like, run 5 miles, then do medicine ball workout, core training/military-like training, pilates, and the like.

I just need more tweaking on my diet, to make it.

Maybe i"m not eating enough, maybe i'm not eating enough protein......maybe i should up the carbs....

I'm in training for a race coming up and want to move it up a notch.....and feel more energetic.

I already did the detox thing and am moving a little on, I just think my diet could use some adjustment (as in the last week, I had some cooked food as I couldn't make the adjustments in my raw diet to accommodate my active lifestyle), and I wish to remain raw.

I also need to lose a few pounds, and when I don't eat enough (protein?/calories? ), my body goes into semi starvation and I keep the weight. I kinda want to figure out that too.

THanks,

Sue

[Priscilagj@mac.com]

I'm a marathon runner, so I completely relate to what you're going through. The problem is, if you're just starting, your energy is bound to be low. But you'll get through it and it'll pass. You are eating TOO little, try adding oils and avocados to your diet. It'll keep you stronger.

[beppa66]

I would add some more fats especially since you are hungry - like coconut oil and avacado. And perhaps some blue green algae for energy. Bananas, berries and cacao fudge!

[moonstar]

..could you please share your workout routine -- core training, medicine ball, and so forth (along with your running)? Would love to hear about it!

Thanks!

[Ms. Tulip]

Hi Rainbowgirl,
I have more energy when I don't overeat fats and high sugar
food like dates while increasing my intake of greens. Here is a good guideline for a great chopped salad: in a large mixing bowl put in lots of chopped small greens (spinach, kale, parsley,cilantro, etc), hemp seeds (2 tablespoons), sprouts, vegies, and some dehydrated (if possible) almonds or pumpkin seeds. Squeeze on some lemon and drizzle some oil. Finish with salt and mix thoroughly. Everything should be chopped pretty small and thoroughly mixed.
Make sure you are eating from all the raw food groups. If you have Alissa's book see page 85. And see pages 35-36 for the huge variety of foods to choose from.

Alissa also gives a list of athletes on page 173: Nutrition and Atheltic Performance is a book by Dr Douglas Graham, and there is world marathoner Gail Olinekova who may have something written? Perhaps you could research raw athlete diets?

Be sure to drink and prep your food with enough pure water. Water contaminants can make you feel sick or less energetic. HTH!

[Ms. Tulip]

Hi Rainbowgirl,
I have more energy when I don't overeat fats and high sugar
food like dates while increasing my intake of greens. Here is a good guideline for a great chopped salad: in a large mixing bowl put in lots of chopped small greens (spinach, kale, parsley,cilantro, etc), hemp seeds (2 tablespoons), sprouts, vegies, and some dehydrated (if possible) almonds or pumpkin seeds. Squeeze on some lemon and drizzle some oil. Finish with salt and mix thoroughly. Everything should be chopped pretty small and thoroughly mixed.
Make sure you are eating from all the raw food groups. If you have Alissa's book see page 85. And see pages 35-36 for the huge variety of foods to choose from.

Alissa also gives a list of athletes on page 173: Nutrition and Atheltic Performance is a book by Dr Douglas Graham, and there is world marathoner Gail Olinekova who may have something written? Perhaps you could research raw athlete diets?

Be sure to drink and prep your food with enough pure water. Water contaminants can make you feel sick or less energetic. HTH!

[rainbowgirl]

My work out runs a little like this:

I am in the c25k running thing (www.coolrunning.com). it gets you from couch to running a 5 k in 2 or three months. It's free and fun(ask me again when they move up a notch next week, lol),

Then I cool down, do pilates (alycea ungereau intermediate routine)

Then I lift weights (follow an oldy but goody book called body sculpting (heidi miller).

Then it's time for martial arts kicks, front/side/back, and punches in the horse stance.

Then it's time for sit ups, with medicine ball in hand (either on chest, above chest, or overhead), then it's time for Push ups, regular style, and then pilate style.

Somewhere in there I work on plies(it helps my inner thighs). I also do a 100 jumping jacks or jump rope (pretend rope), earlier in the day(separate time).

I know I could increase in certain areas but this is what I'm doing RIGHT now.

And now I am going to go try to fuel my day! Thanks everyone for the idea, I'm gonna try a few things this week, but after we go grocery shopping cause I don't have enough food to be choosy today!

Sue

[sigtau66]

From my experience training for a marathon since the middle of May, the only time I've hit a "low energy" spot was when I wasn't getting enough greens. To me that screamed not enough protein.

For about 7-12 days I wasn't consuming any salads or any other type of greens. I was still consuming a lot of fat and calories as I was just eating a lot of nuts and fruit. I could really tell something was wrong because even running 5 miles was hard on a day-to-day basis. Since then, though, I've stepped up my salad eating and take 2000mg of Spirulina and 3000mg of Chlorella per day now. I haven't had any energy isseus since.

[Judy]

Brendan Brazier is a professional triathlete from Canada I believe.
He's a vegan and high raw, and has written a book on (raw) food and performance, with recipes and all:
http://www.brendanbrazier.com/

I believe he developed some (raw) supplements for athletes as well.
It sounds like you're eating too little, don't skip any meals. Green salads, (green) smoothies, plus maybe upping your fruit intake. Supplements like spirulina tablets, green powder or other green stuff may be very helpful, as do seeds like hemp seeds for extra protein and fatty acids, and a very good one: sprouts!

[lamount03]

So I"m REALLY new at this, but have been vegan for a while and am VERY active. I started doing triathlons this year and have been amazed at my recovery and energy .... anyway.. my suggestion would be to add some hemp powder, maca, chlorella and either oil (I love Udo's DHA oil ... veggie based) or Coconut oil/butter to your smoothie. Hemp is a GREAT source of protien and fats (but not too much since I know that's a concern) the chlorella is packed w/ chlorophyll and protein and the maca is for energy and hormone balance.

this is an old thread... so how did your race go?

Happy running.

[rainbowgirl]

And that's fine. I have a small hiatus, for this month because of many issues including a miscarriage and fasting.

Starting up next week again with the same program, and happy with my progress in general.

100 percent raw and trying to incorporate the high level of exercise my body "needs" has been a little difficult, but I'm totally up to the challenge.

Sue

[nfracer]

Rainbowgirl-How did your race go? Are you still running? I invite you to the November Fitness Challenge thread to track your progress---along with any other exercise fanatics like us! Did you tweak your diet? I find nuts weigh me down and send me into a major binge of wanting more more more!!!! So I am trying to nix the nuts for now....and my training does not seem worse for ware yet...of course it's only been 2 days! Well, Happy trails!

[rawkchicster]

I know, energy bars are typically very SAD. lol.

Brendan Brazier just put out a video making his raw energy bars. Wow, they look delish, can't wait to try them!

http://gliving.tv/videos/

[Spiral Leana]

17 gm protein, 310 carbs and 29 fat and you think you need to up carbs???? not that it is too many for the work outs you are doing but from everything i know i would say you need to probably triple your protein and double your fat (assuming you are over 100 lbs)

i agree with the spirulina supplementing it helps me a lot and i know you are overseas but hemp protein powder has 15 gms of protein for 2 tbs and is great source of omega 3 and 6

flax oil could also help

good luck

[girl81]

I wonder if you're low in iron (anemic)?