I'm so puffy! Any insights??

[hippodamia]

Hey everyone.

I starting eating raw about a month back, albeit not 100%, but anywhere from at least 50%-75% everyday and closer to at least 75% or more on most days. I haven't totally given up my morning coffee or tea on most days and I often eat oatmeal or a muffin as well (1-2 hours after drinking juice, I get up really early to get into work by 6am) and for dinner is a very small meal (about 1/4 of what I used to eat) of whatever I made for DH/DS and some raw veggies/fruit. So, lunch and snacks throughout the day are all raw.

I am just getting really puffy! Especially when I wake up in the morning. Before eating more raw foods, I would feel this puffy only after eating out and eating something like Chinese food and then only when I first wake up and it would go away by the afternoon. Now I am just feeling puffy all day.

Did anyone experience this? I am guessing it could just be another sign of detox. I am also getting massive pimples as well (just very painful on my back and a few on my face), so I assume those are definitely detox. But, I am mostly annoyed with this swollen feeling (especially in my hands) and hope it goes away soon. My joints were even a bit achey this morning.

I drink water through out the day, I could probably drink more, but I easily drink 1/2 gallon or more at work and a few more glasses at home.

So, I was just wondering if anyone else experienced this feeling or not.

Thanks!

-Hippo

[lafsalot]

Detox and your body's reaction to the dairy/gluten you are still having - maybe? ~ Cathy

[Angelina]

I'm not certain, but I thought that one wouldn't experience much detox if they are not 100%? You're still eating pretty toxic stuff - coffee and wheat (in the muffin) so I wouldn't think the puffiness is completely detox, I might say that its from your body rebelling in a way. I always got puffiness from my food allergies, maybe you are becoming allergic to the non raw things you are still eating. Wheat is such a bad thing to eat even though its the mainstay of the american diet; soo many people are allergic to it or have intollerances and don't even know it - maybe try to eliminate the muffin and oatmeal for a week or two and see what happens.

[dalimeindacoconut]

Just call me Miss Puffy. I've been experiencing the same thing the last several days, noticeably. It also may be from my raw soy sauce, not sure, still trying to figure that one out. Feel like I'm becoming a hypochondriac on this site, but I do realize it's detox. Conversely, I am also feeling sexier. Go figure.

[Rubyred]

You might try eliminating all gluten/wheat products for a week and see what happens. If I eat gluten type foods I get puffy too.

There's a great book out there called, "Going Against the Grain", by Melissa Smith that discusses why so many people are sensitive to gluten type grains. I can have a little sometimes with no ill effects, but if I eat it daily it shows up in my bloated face. :o

[samariah]

cut out all grain and dairy for a week. grains and dairy make me blow up and break out.

[Nurse in the Raw]

I eat anything non raw and I am sure to look like a blow fish the next day. Try eating some watermelon in the morning to get rid of the bloat and stay away from the offending stuff.

[hippodamia]

Thanks a bunch for all the tips!

I just found it so odd that now that I am cutting back more and more on SAD foods that I am really feeling all this puffiness. Maybe I was always really puffy and it become a normal feeling for me, so now I really notice it more.

I am always thirsty too, can never seem to drink enough water!!!!

Thanks again!

[mulch]

transitioning time is different for everybody
it took me a whole summer to get my diet to 100%
i have pimples now but the puffiness reduced
i also did not realize how puffy i was until i transitioned into raw (before i was 100%)

[Ginger]

I think it's because you are still eating some cooked foods. If you were all raw I would say cut down on salt and make sure you have proper hydration & elimination.

[pdx kris]

Hippo,

Wheat and dairy the two highest up foods on my "puff up" list. I'm wondering if you still aren't ready to give them up, if you could move them to the end of the day so that you'll have all night to digest? Also, by doing so, you'd be starting your day raw, which would most likely make it a lot easier to get in more and more raw foods in all day long instead of cooked.

[samariah]

and honestly, i don't think i would be where i'm at now if the forums weren't the way they are now. i think they are fine.

[StarFire]

Green smoothies all around! http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/Cheers.gif

GROUP HUG!! http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/smiley_huggrouphuggle.gif

[StarFire]

Hey everyone.

I starting eating raw about a month back, albeit not 100%, but anywhere from at least 50%-75% everyday and closer to at least 75% or more on most days. I haven't totally given up my morning coffee or tea on most days and I often eat oatmeal or a muffin as well (1-2 hours after drinking juice, I get up really early to get into work by 6am) and for dinner is a very small meal (about 1/4 of what I used to eat) of whatever I made for DH/DS and some raw veggies/fruit. So, lunch and snacks throughout the day are all raw.

I am just getting really puffy! Especially when I wake up in the morning. Before eating more raw foods, I would feel this puffy only after eating out and eating something like Chinese food and then only when I first wake up and it would go away by the afternoon. Now I am just feeling puffy all day.

Did anyone experience this? I am guessing it could just be another sign of detox. I am also getting massive pimples as well (just very painful on my back and a few on my face), so I assume those are definitely detox. But, I am mostly annoyed with this swollen feeling (especially in my hands) and hope it goes away soon. My joints were even a bit achey this morning.

I drink water through out the day, I could probably drink more, but I easily drink 1/2 gallon or more at work and a few more glasses at home.

So, I was just wondering if anyone else experienced this feeling or not.

Thanks!

-Hippo

Everyone has valid points here hippo... it is true the higher percentage raw you are the better and yes 100% is ideal...

however...

as we are all on our own journey - with each of us working to find our balance ... we will each transition in our own way, and at our own pace. Looking at what you wrote above... you are eating and drinking some things that will cause some pretty strong reactions (whether detox) or allergy wise... coffee.... wheat....
and maybe since you have upped your intake of raw foods - you are confusing your body a bit... it wants to detox - and heal - but then it gets conflicting foods... two steps forward... 5 steps back kinda thing.

Plus there is really so much to consider here that could also be the cause. Maybe you need to exercise - help move the toxins out of your system! I sit alot at work and if I'm not taking the time to really work out - exercise, walk .... something to cause myself to sweat and move -- I will feel myself swelling. If I'm not drinking enough water - I feel myself swelling... If I eat too much fruit - I feel myself swelling!!!

First step of course - is to drink as much water as you can -- that will help regardless of what the cause is! it will help yu to flush those toxins out of your system.

second - make sure youre getting some exercise -- also very helpful regardless of the cause of the puffies...!!
and then...

continue to eat as much raw foods as you can, make wise choices when youre not...

You will find your balance, be patient -- trust the process.. I'm sure you realize the higher raw you are (100% being ideal) the better -

THE BETTER YOU WILL FEEL, the FASTER YOU WILL HEAL and THE BETTER YOU WILL LOOK ... ;)



http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/naked.jpg .... blessings & RAWK ON !!! ...

[cherries]

Hippo, a lot of raw food recipes still use a lot of salt, mostly so they taste right to people transitioning from SAD, you could try cutting out that salt if you are adding it. Salt causes you to retain 96 times the ingested salt's weight in water.