SAD Pregnancy vs. RAW Pregnancy - Check out the difference!!

[sherahtaylor]

Here's a raw testimony if there ever was one!

I still can't believe the difference JUST changing my diet from SAD to Raw has made - I didn't really exercise much at all to speak of during my raw pregnancy so I know it's just the way I was eating. I've had five full-term pregnancies, and every time without exception I would gain 42-50lbs plus experience a myriad of awful symptoms that are considered "normal" for pregnancies (see below).

I have always been weight-conscious but it is SO discouraging to "diet" and exercise during pregnancy because you really don't see any results. With normal diets, that is. Plus, I always got so sick that I couldn't keep up with any kind of diet in the first three months, and by then I always gained 15lbs anyway. So I was always kind of relieved during pregnancy that the pressure to lose weight was gone and I could eat HOWEVER I wanted - meaning Taco Bell, lots of Blizzards, grilled cheese, whatever.

So I found raw in August of 2006, and was about 95% raw until February 2007 when I got pregnant again - I stayed 95% raw for the duration of my pregnancy. I weighed 134lbs at the start of my pregnancy, which I hadn't seen that number in years.

I gained a total of 23lbs during my raw pregnancy. These pictures tell it all - you can just see the energy vs. the tiredness on SAD. I'm so thrilled to be able to break the vicious cycle of gaining 50lbs, then working SO hard to lose it with Body for Life or South Beach diets, only to get pregnant again and gain it back.

BEST of all, I hhad little to no morning sickness in the first trimester (we're talking couch-ridden, throwing up alot normally!), no heartburn, no backaches, no acne or dull/losing hair, no tired and heavy feet, enough energy to get through the day with five kids ages 8 & under, keep up the housework, run errands, whatever. I felt, well, bouncy! LOL. And I loved being pregnant and being able to wear all the cute clothes and actually have that cute little belly instead of feeling like a whale. COMPLETE opposite of all five previous pregnancies.

Definitely doing the HAPPY DANCE for the success I had! And who knows...maybe another one is in the future for us! =)

http://home.comcast.net/~sherahtaylor/before.after.collage.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~sherahtaylor/before.after.collage2.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~sherahtaylor/before.after.collage3.jpg

[Frugal Raw]

OH MAH GOODNESS!!!!!!!! I am almost speechless - but you look abso-RAW-lutely amazing!!!!!!

[rawstrength]

I said it before, and I'll say it again
CONGRAWTULATIONS! That's amazing!

[kellijean]

You are FREAKING AWESOME! Those are really inspirational pix. I am done having kids, but seeing the difference in your body this last pregnancy versus the others and even your face is amazing. In your latest pix you look like a TEENAGER! I dont know how old you are, but with 5 pregnancies you cant possibly be a teenager still! Man oh man, that gives me hope that I will see a change in my over all looks...I just turned 38 and I really want to turn the clock back. :)

[Care4raw]

You actually look so much happier as well as being 'gawgus!".You have so much vital life coming through in the 'raw pregnant pics'.

These are really inspirational.Very happy for you and your family!

[sherahtaylor]

You actually look so much happier as well as being 'gawgus!".You have so much vital life coming through in the 'raw pregnant pics'.



Thanks everyone!! I think being so much happier is absolutely the thing I have realized too - DH and I really want a bigger family, but I hated being pregnant SO much, and what it did to my body and how it made me feel. I was completely miserable......and now it's like SURE I'd love to be pregnant again!! No more dreading that part of it - and who wants to dread things in life, really??

In the "before" pictures of my 2 previous pregnancies (mostly I wanted to show two pregnancies because each time I gained so much weight, it was a consistent thing for me) I am 27 & 29, and then in my "after" picture I am 30, getting close to 31. :D

[earth_sista]

woah momma! you are amazing! such a beautiful pregnant woman! congrats :D

[RawHeaven]

Wow Sherah! You are so gorgeous and glowing as a raw mommy to be. The difference in your SAD vs RAW pregnancy is astounding. I'm just blown away!
Simply beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing.

Crystal

[StarFire]

my goodness.... that is soo amazing. The difference is night and day! You are a beautiful mama - regardless of SAD or RAW... but the RAW pregnancy... you are simply glowing... you look so strong and vibrant... and soooo healthy and happy ... you are as beautiful as the pics that Storm and Jinjee post of their pregnancies... what an amazing testimony!

It will also be interesting to see what the difference will be in the delivery -- and the 'awareness and alertness of the baby once he arrives (or she)! ... Please keep us posted... What a fabulous testimony this is...

thank you soo much for sharing!!

RAWk on... you are beautiful!!!

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/GIVEAFLOWER.gif

[avanderland]

This is such an amazing testimonial! While having kids is a bit of a ways off, I've wondered what it must be like to be pregnant and raw. I know there are some stories out on the internet, but hearing firsthand, and seeing your comparison photos! WOW. AMAZING. Kudos to you for sticking through it, and I'm glad it is making everything easier!! Can't wait to hear about the rest of your journey!

[beckx]

amazing! of course you look beautiful and glowing in all of the photos, but the raw ones... you look like a completely different person (not to mention you look about 18 years old). congratulations!

[CosmoRaw]

you look amazing. Congrats!

[charika]

WOW! This really encouraged me. I am a mom of two toddlers and I too gained like 50 pounds both times and felt AWFUL. The morning, afternoon, and evening sickness had me also bed ridden. But WOW. AMAZING! It really gives me hope if we ever decide to have another. In fact after reading your story and seeing those pictures, I almost want to go now and get pregnant again and try it out for myself..LOL... Kidding. Not sure how dh would feel about that. But Congradulations again. You are beautiful and an inspiration. Thanks so much for sharing:)

[goingrawchelle]

Incredible! You look amazing! What a testimony of this lifestyle! I have four children...you make me want another to try it raw...but we're done. Congrats!:D

[gritsnla]

You look great! All the nutrition you are taking in is going straight to that healthy baby that will be with you shortly. I hope you post your baby's birth weight as I think that will only add to your great testimony. Like I said, you just know it is going straight to the baby.

Here's to finishing out those 5 more weeks with glowing health!!

[tanishamarshall]

Oh my thanks for sharing, this is great to hear.

[jacsam]

Exciting!!!! Your babies eyes are sooo blue and beautiful.

[Bananna]

!!!Wow!!!
You look SO beautiful!

[brydee]

Wow you look wonderful!!! the difference!!!:eek: you look so much younger and happier:D

[herbalgirl]

Wow! You look (and must feel) great!

This inspires me to go more raw for my next pregnancy. I already have 4 babies and don't want to keep tacking on that 10 or so pounds with each one.

[Theogirl]

I only gained about 30 pounds with each baby, but the 4-5 months of nausea, vomiting, dizziness and spaciness not to mention feeling almost psychotic until I went on medication with #1 made me want to never do that again!
DH and I have decided on no more considering the pregnancy experience but since going raw I've wondered how different another pregnancy would be for me now.
I'll just live vicariously by seeing the wonderful difference for you! Congratulations on your big vibrant family!

[cordeliasmama2]

That is amazing...what is even more amazing is that you have 5 kids under 8 & you look outstanding & so young!!! Congrats to you! I want to have at least 3 little ones running around...=0)

[April22]

Goodness! You look amazing! And this is your sixth! Seeing these pics kind of makes me want to try it all over again with another baby.

[raven]

What a gorgeous mom-to-be you are! What a difference from your earlier pregnancy (not that you looked bad). It's sad that women needlessly suffer through pregnancy. I can't believe you're having your sixth child. How do you manage? Congratulations!

Suzy

[snufkin]

If I ever have children I hope to do the same. :D

[Green_Woman]

You look like two different women. So brown and slender and healthy with baby# 6 and so "normal" pregnant with baby #5....


How amazing!! I'm so excited to see pics and proof like this. It really makes me just want to dance with excitement that I really am discovering the path of "Life"... RAW LIFE. :D

[JEN]

WOW!!! The difference is just amazing!!! You are glowing and beautiful!!!

[ghostlykisses]

Wow that is so cool. The SAD pics you look older and run down but in the raw pics you look young and lively. Amazing!

[ness.123]

WOW you look amazing....were you raw before you got pregnant or did you start eating raw when you found out?

[Kindermama]

Oh wow... the first pictures look just like me during both my pregnancies- more so my first where I gained about 70lbs!!! And my 2nd pregnancy was much better- but I still looked about the same. Funny saying this, but I can't wait to get down to my goal weight and then get pregnant again!!

You are such an inspiration to me!
Thank you!!

[Devonshire]

I can only hope to look like that when i get pregnant!!!

[Seabie]

Baby #6! Wow!!! You look amazing! You are certainly going to need all that energy your getting from eating raw:)

[Pookietooth]

You look so much better, so much healthier! And so beautiful! You have gotten a lot more tan, too, which I assume is because you feel better and are out and about more.

[gritsnla]

sherahtaylor - how are you and baby?

[lazyraw]

what an amazing difference!

can i ask you something? I had always wondered... is there a difference in the labour pains you experienced? I've read a couple articles that claim things like labour pains and monthly periods go away when you go raw... just curious!

[kailaniece]

WOW WOW WOW!!!

You look amazing! It's really wonderful to see the drastic effects that a raw lifestyle can have. My sister is early in her first pregnancy and I'm trying to convince her to be raw for it.... though she's never been raw before. What is your diet like? Were your doctors against it at all?

Again, such an inspiration... I almost look forward to being pregnant one day now :-) (does raw take away the pain too? ;-) )

Best of luck and Congrats!

Kaila

[kailaniece]

Actually, I know from my own experinece that when I'm raw or not eating a lot of carbs and processed foods if I'm not being raw, I don't have cramps. I think sugar and starch might do something to trigger crams with me....

[RubyLeo]

wow, can really see the difference. :)
Also the fact that you gained 50lbs during SAD pregnancy and 18lbs during RAW pregnancy is another testimony as to WHY THIS WORKS!

[JennaBoBenna]

You're so inspiring!! Great pics!!

[prettyenough]

how wonderful that you shared this experience with us!! i just had my son june 24th and this pregnancy was SO crappy compared to my first. i absolutely loves reproducing and being pregnant in itself the first time, and the second, things just went down hill from day 1. its part of what is motivating me to get into raw as of now. im still working on what to start eating and stuff but maybe if we decide to have another child it will be yet another wonderful experience! youre beautiful mommy!!

[layne]

You look wonderful! I'm pregnant and considering going raw (gradually). Just the glow in your photos alone is inspiring! Thanks so much for sharing!

[sunstruck]

You are such an awesome role model!!!
I too am currently 6 months pregnant with our 2nd child. Before getting pregnant I was doing so well following a Raw Foods lifestlye. But I fell of track. I am trying so hard to get back on track. I have gained 30 lbs already - it doesn't help that while pregnant I have had to come off of some of the medications that I was taking.
Now I am so tired with no energy.
Any advise would be greatly appreciated and welcomed.
Thank you
Danielle

[Traceyraw]

You are a real inspiration to me. I am 14 weeks. I have been on the SAD diet but was veg and tried raw before but life stress got in the way. After seeing your pics. I am going for it now. Thank you for posting.

[brnfmlymom]

You look ten years younger in your newest photo! Absolutely amazing! All of these stories are inspiring me to try going raw again!

[icewoman]

I really enjoyed reading your blog. I am 5 weeks pregnant and due in July. I would like to eat mostly raw. I am not sure about starting and how to start. Could you give me a few typical days and what you eat? I have 4 children very close together and I have gained alot of weight. Do you think if I eat healthfully and raw that instead of packing on pounds I can actually lose the unnecessary weight the body doesn't need as well as giving enough nutrition to the baby?
thank you
Ester

[Nayeli_Raw]

(I know this is an old post so you may not be around here anymore!) but I think you look so gorgeous!! You are glowing, and it is definitly more then the pregnancy!

[katacykls]

you look amazing raw foods are powerful and great.

[Nappilocs]

WOW!! What a difference! You look amazing!

[Yoga Star]

Hi Sherah

You have inspired me 100% to stay high raw during my pregnancy. I love seeing your pictures and reading your blog. Congratulations and you look amazing!

Love

Dominique

[dat311]

First, CONGRATULATIONS! You look wonderful!

You are inspiring to me. I have two boys and gained 60 lbs with both pregnancies and just looked and felt so awful. I want more children but I don't want to ever look or feel the way I did again. You have just showed me that I can be a beautiful pregnant woman if I just eat RAW!!! Now I am excited and am considering having another baby again!!

(now if you can find a cure for those first few months of sleepless nights!!!)

[sherahtaylor]

LOL I know....my 2nd raw baby (#7) is now 4 weeks and I'm in the midst of those sleepless nights now. It's been rough, but I'm so happy to say that I feel wonderful and love my postpartum body as well! Never thought I could say that, I always thought that it was just par for the course...you have a yucky, jiggly pp body for at least 3 months after the baby, usually more like 6-8 months. I love raw foods!

[Raw Hope]

This is what I was looking for when I logged on tonight. When pregnant you are encouraged to eat a well- rounded diet so i dropped my vegatarian%raw diet and embraced the Standard American Diet. I dont want to experience Pregnancy like the Standard American would. Its quite awful(from spending 2 weeks mostly in bed from nausea& vomiting)
Looking forward to a Raw Pregnancy

[Aleesha Sattva]

BEST of all, I hhad little to no morning sickness in the first trimester (we're talking couch-ridden, throwing up alot normally!), no heartburn, no backaches, no acne or dull/losing hair, no tired and heavy feet, enough energy to get through the day with five kids ages 8 & under, keep up the housework, run errands, whatever. I felt, well, bouncy! LOL. And I loved being pregnant and being able to wear all the cute clothes and actually have that cute little belly instead of feeling like a whale. COMPLETE opposite of all five previous pregnancies.

just thought i'd add my raw preg experience so far.

i've had no morning sickness and i was soooooo sick with my last babe (this is number 4 for me)
a little acne but nothing like it was with all my other pregnancies

we'll see how it turns out in the end - i'm a mere 14 weeks at this point.

[Aleesha Sattva]

LOL I know....my 2nd raw baby (#7) is now 4 weeks and I'm in the midst of those sleepless nights now. It's been rough, but I'm so happy to say that I feel wonderful and love my postpartum body as well! Never thought I could say that, I always thought that it was just par for the course...you have a yucky, jiggly pp body for at least 3 months after the baby, usually more like 6-8 months. I love raw foods!

welcome back shera!!! that is soooo cool to hear. i hope to follow in your footsteps!!!

how were your births?

[rawfoods]

Oh my goodness! What a difference!

[Katie P]

You look sooooo good! That is so inspiring for when I want to get pregnant to stick with raw for sure! Can I ask how you got your protein intake??? My sister eats alot of raw but she's been adding some non raw foods to increase her protein...did you just do like a ton of greens?

[Raw Hope]

Just came back to tell you guys She's Right since My last post here last week I ditched watever one else was telling me I need 2 eat for the baby & i ate from the raw food diet (@ least 90%- honestly) & i feel so much better. This past week i could operate like a normal person without the nausea & vomiting & fatigue that followed me for two weeks all day & I am well on my way on my first pregnancy & i'm making it RAW
So thanks SHERAH & ALEESHA now Im doing it too

[Aleesha Sattva]

yippppeeee for YOU!!!

[rawkchicster]

Hi there! You look absolutely FAB! What does a typical day's worth of food look like for you... do you eat whatever you want whenever your body wants it, or do you try to do more fruits/less fat?

[margoss]

Sherah...you look so much younger with the last pregnancy!!
I was veggie for 8yrs when I became preg but not completely raw..just ate how I wanted it. I did have soy milk bc Almond was too expensive. Anyways, I was rarely sick except when BS would bottom out & I was Starving. I looked good & people couldn't believe I was almost 40. MD's were shocked at my CBC, diabetes check everything. I took flax oil & B12 supplement too.

[holistica]

This is really impressive! I sent the URL to this thread to a SAD pregnant friend of mine. I'm hoping it'll change her outlook a bit!

[alwayshungry]

Wow!...the pictures speak for themselves.

[chilove]

Wow, those pics are amazing! You are so vibrant and alive looking in the raw pics. Amazing!!!

Very inspirational, thanks so much for sharing!!!

Blessings,

Audrey

[mooranka]

Hi There,

My name is Marienka and I was browsing the internet this morning uner the topic of "raw food pregnancies" when I found your article. Thankyou so much for your inspiration. I have printed your pregnancy side view comparison photo and stuck it on my fridge :) I would much rather look like the raw you as I am 2 months pregnant now and have been toying with the whole raw pregnancy thing and your photo was what I needed to slide into it.

I would like to keep you updated as things progress if that is ok?

Much thanks,

Marienka from Down Under

[Sara1803]

Wow! You look really beautiful and happy!

[Tru]

Amazing! Wow -- great testimony!

[MyRedPanda]

Hi! I just wanted to saw awesome job! I am planning on having more kids in the future, and wanted to know if you would share a typical raw pregnancy day with me, like what you ate, how much, etc.

[Eva]

Love having an excuse to see this again! So inspiring! Eating a mostly raw pregnancy over here too, and TOTALLY loving it! I'm 23 weeks now? and the big things now are 1/ baby kicks a lot and 2/ belly's increasing in size. Otherwise bicycling and enjoying life as usual. Baby loves me moving and enjoying life! :heart

[MyRedPanda]

Eva I love your website :) You are going to be my inspiration, for the next pregnancy. I have been vegetarian for about ten years, was vegan pre pregnancy (although not raw) and I second guessed myself and let other people talk me out of eating vegan during pregnancy. The next time I am just going to listen to my body and eat what feels right, and since starting to eat more raw food I feel better than I have in years :woot:

[Eva]

Eva I love your website :) You are going to be my inspiration, for the next pregnancy. I have been vegetarian for about ten years, was vegan pre pregnancy (although not raw) and I second guessed myself and let other people talk me out of eating vegan during pregnancy. The next time I am just going to listen to my body and eat what feels right, and since starting to eat more raw food I feel better than I have in years :woot:

Aw, I'm not doing 100%, though. I'm used to 100%... but there have been moments that I have simply craved other foods. Not for emotional reasons, but because my body was telling me something. Not many times! But I am listening... not to others so much... but to my own body.

No reason to ever second-guess yourself! You know your body better than anyone else, and if YOU feel better than you have in years, well good for you for listening to YOU!!

Thanks for the love on the site!! I love to share -- which is putting it mildly. Raw food can just be so flippin' awesome!!

Love, Eva

[MyRedPanda]

Aw, I'm not doing 100%, though. I'm used to 100%... but there have been moments that I have simply craved other foods. Not for emotional reasons, but because my body was telling me something. Not many times! But I am listening... not to others so much... but to my own body.

No reason to ever second-guess yourself! You know your body better than anyone else, and if YOU feel better than you have in years, well good for you for listening to YOU!!

Thanks for the love on the site!! I love to share -- which is putting it mildly. Raw food can just be so flippin' awesome!!

Love, Eva

Well, even if you are 80% while you are pregnant that is awesome. I just gained SO MUCH WEIGHT with my first pregnancy. I gained 60 lbs. Seriously. It sucked. I started out at about 95 lbs and ended up at 157 lbs and my baby was 3 weeks early. No, I did not have GD or pre E. I had a very healthy pregnancy. The crazy thing is I weighed all my food and calorie tracked the entire time and ate between 1800 and 2200 cals/day, and it was all vegetarian stuff, just heavy on the carbs, cheese, and animal protein, because that is what other people were telling me I needed. The next time around I am not going to listen to them. I honestly am a really small framed and short person, and I typically only need about 1200 cals/day for maintenance. So I should have eaten that amount till the end of the first trimester, the upped it to 1400, then to 1600 - 1800. But I was told I would harm my baby if I ate under 1800 cals/day and vegan (mind you, not even raw, just vegan) was out of the question (I was vegan pre pregnancy). Anyway, I really feel like because I listened to the standard idea that you need 1800 cals/day minimum that i gained 60 lbs. I have lost all of it but about 10 lbs now, but still. Carrying around 60 extra lbs sucks, even if it is while you are pregnant. Ideally I think I should have gained about 25 lbs. I think raw food is not only a great way to give your baby all the nutrients it needs, it is also a way to keep your weight in check, while still listening to your body and eating something not raw when the craving arises if you know you need that for nutrition (and not if it is something like cake or a nutritionally devoid food).

[pelikay]

Wow!!! You look fantabulous!!!!! You radiate health and vitality. I'm sure kids 6-8 are also different than 1-5 in all aspects. You are a beautiful soul. Peace and blessings!!!