Discouraged and ANNOYED!!!

[orangeflame]

[COLOR="Red"]I have been raw for almost three months now. And I don't mean just dabbling..I guess I've stayed somewhere in the 90% range this whole time..and I've tried to properly combine my food for the most part (starch separate from nuts, everything separate from fruit, etc etc). For the last month I've been sticking with lighter foods..a lot of fruit and veggies, less nuts and fats and gourmet raw).

So what gives??? I have had some positive results on raw(less allergies, in touch with emotions, slightly better skin, a little more energy, slightly improved memory) And don't get me wrong, I have NO intention of going back to cooked.

But OVERALL i really feel SHAFTED. I've heard all these miracle stories about people dropping weight like crazy in the first few months, bursting full of bliss and spirituality and happiness, running on 5 hours of sleep a night and still lousy with energy. I've heard everything from 'my boobs got perkier and bigger' to 'my eyes are gorgeous now and my skin perfectly clear'....

Well, then it beats the hell out of me why NO ONE has commented on me looking any different in any way...I've lost maybe 3 pounds (I need to lose about 15 ) I am still getting zits, I have no fewer wrinkles or firmer skin, my sex drive is at zero, my breasts are most certainly NO perkier and I still have cellulite on my ass! (pardon my French)

What gives? I know it's not all about the superficial, but I don't really feel like I'm 'detoxing' anymore either.

Is there ANYONE out there who saw their body make changes much more gradually? is it EVER gonna happen for me???COLOR]

[Vaclare79]

[COLOR="Red"]I have been raw for almost three months now. And I don't mean just dabbling..I guess I've stayed somewhere in the 90% range this whole time..and I've tried to properly combine my food for the most part (starch separate from nuts, everything separate from fruit, etc etc). For the last month I've been sticking with lighter foods..a lot of fruit and veggies, less nuts and fats and gourmet raw).

So what gives??? I have had some positive results on raw(less allergies, in touch with emotions, slightly better skin, a little more energy, slightly improved memory) And don't get me wrong, I have NO intention of going back to cooked.

But OVERALL i really feel SHAFTED. I've heard all these miracle stories about people dropping weight like crazy in the first few months, bursting full of bliss and spirituality and happiness, running on 5 hours of sleep a night and still lousy with energy. I've heard everything from 'my boobs got perkier and bigger' to 'my eyes are gorgeous now and my skin perfectly clear'....

Well, then it beats the hell out of me why NO ONE has commented on me looking any different in any way...I've lost maybe 3 pounds (I need to lose about 15 ) I am still getting zits, I have no fewer wrinkles or firmer skin, my sex drive is at zero, my breasts are most certainly NO perkier and I still have cellulite on my ass! (pardon my French)

What gives? I know it's not all about the superficial, but I don't really feel like I'm 'detoxing' anymore either.

Is there ANYONE out there who saw their body make changes much more gradually? is it EVER gonna happen for me???COLOR]

Don't give up. I don't think 3 months raw is enough to see some difference in some people. Everyone is different. Sometimes it takes longer for some people to see a difference even when there are some you have probably overlooked. :) Wish I were 3 months raw. I'm just starting.

[Rawkinlocs]

What was your diet like before raw? What is the 10% of your diet that is not raw?

You cannot gauge your results on other's results...it just doesn't work that way. Some get instant or almost instant results while for others, it takes longer and it all just depends...depends on previous diet, previous lifestyle, previous meds taken (if any), etc. etc. etc. Just like some people have massive detox episodes while others seem to just breeze through it with "maybe" a slight headache at first if anything at all. We're all different.

Don't be discouraged. Rather than focus on what has NOT happened for you, celebrate what has...even if the changes are not as significant as you would like them to be, your body has made some changes that you've noticed...that's a GOOD thing...so just keep on keepin' on...do it because you KNOW it's what's right for your body and don't even think about or focus on what has not transpired and one day you're gonna look up and all of those things will have happened for you! But why not try 100% raw for 30 days or so and see if those things you're looking for don't end up coming to you! ;)

[Raw Yogini]

So, you've had SOME improvement, that's great! :D

Also, what are you eating/drinking as your 10% not raw? That will contribute to your results as well.

[Aleesha Sattva]

What was your diet like before raw? What is the 10% of your diet that is not raw?



exactly what i was going to ask. if that 10% is potato chips... i bet that's the reason for your zits!

you mention starchs... so what are the starchs you are eating? if it's bread... that's a huge problem right there.

bottom line you need to be honest with yourself. try 100% raw for ONE MONTH... just 30 short days... and see if you don't find a bigger difference.

also, when you have little to release... you release slower :) be thankful you don't have 130 pounds to release!

[queenfluff]

If you have zits you are still detoxing. Zits are one of the bodies way to cleanse or push out impurities. Potatoe chips don't cause zits themselves but the toxins left over sitting in your body after eating that sort of bad food does.

If you really want to get the whole detoxing thing over with the best thing to do is to do a cleanse or a fast of some sort. When the body is busying digesting, it doesn't have much time to devote to healing and cleansing.

If you were on a SAD diet before (and more than likely for an extended period of time like most people), it is going to take longer than 3 months. Sorry.
If you have years of bad food in your body, would you really expected it to all be released in 3 months? Our bodies don't work at broadspeed. There is an order to what the body takes care of first and what it puts lastly in importance. Everyday functioning is first - getting out years of old bad toxins might not be at the top of the list. So it is slow.

Yes, and what is that other 10% - if it if bad junk you might never finish detoxing because you are continuouslly putting more bad food in your body that will again need to be detoxed out.

Also, being discouraged and annoyed can be part of detoxing too.

Those people that had those "amazing results" might have felt even more crappy than you did before. They might have been in a worst state than you. Maybe compared to how they were doing previously their results are "amazing" to them.

[orangeflame]

Thanks to everyone for the compassion and encouragement..

Just to clarify, I'm not usually even eating 10% cooked, it kinda fluctuates between 0-10%

..but when I am, let's see:

*maple syrup
*85% cacao dark chocolate (mmmm)
*the occasional sprouted ezekiel bread or wrap

Don't know if these really count as 'living foods" so:

*raisins (that I am not sure are dehydrated under 119)
*nuts that are raw but not sprouted
*cashews (which are 'raw' but suppossedly not technically raw)
*organic sulfite free red wine

[Veg4Life]

are you keeping a detailed journal of everything you eat, how you feel etc. each day?

I did a 30 day raw and at the end of it all, I felt exactly how you are describing- frustrated and expected WAY more results. It wasn't until a couple months later when I had fallen back into some of old eating patterns that I realized by referencing that journal and comparing how I was feeling that I had WAY more results than I intially thought. Plus, I didn't do it nearly long enough.

My 2 cents: try 100% and be in it for the long haul. Depending upon your age and how you have treated you body in the past, it could be awhile before you get your raw glow on.

Best of luck to you. I SO know how you feel. I had to fall backward to see the contrast and am actually beginning a 3 month 100% raw tomorrow. Would love to stay in touch and lend each other support. :)

[agumble]

Remember too that even if you're not experiencing any changes that are noticeable to you, a lot may still be going on inside of you. For example, I had elevated liver enzymes when I started raw and within a few weeks, they had drastically gone down. I still get acne, I still need my eight hours of sleep, and I get run down from time to time, but sometimes there's so much more going on than we realize. Just remember that you're doing the best thing for your body right now. You may not be reaping benefits immediately, but think about how it's going to pay off in the long run.

[VeggieMel]

How much water do you drink, orangeflame? That's important for energy and weight loss. Excercise is important, too.

[orangeflame]

All of your positivity is contagious! THANK YOU...

I really guess I just needed a reality check. You all make such good points: more is going on inside than we realize, it takes different amounts of time for different people, exercise is key (I am starting a routine TODAY), any positive results are worth being grateful for...etc.

Speaking of grateful, I am grateful that I stumbled upon this site and met all of you wonderful people.

You've inspired me to start a new thread where I'm going to list all the positive changes I'm experiencing since raw, and invite everyone to add their own list on.

[Elisabeth]

Also remember that if you only have 15 pounds to lose, it's going to come off wayyy slower than someone who has 100 pounds to lose.

Nice to see you are feeling encouraged! :)

[MOTH]

I'm 7 months raw and just now started to get the "wow, you look great" comments, from many people who see me.

[Debbietook]

Hi

So in that 10% we've got: sugary syrup, cooked chocolate, cooked grains and alcohol...

I saw significant improvements on going 80% raw, but very soon after changing my diet I lose the taste for alcohol, and wasn't eating chocolate either.

As someone else said, you need to try 30 Days 100% raw - with those sorts of things in your '10%' raw is simply not getting a fair crack at the whip.

Best wishes

Love, Debbie

[domestic goddess]

I have been raw for over a year and my wt. still fluctuates, I don't have all the miracle wonerments, boundless energy, exuberant bliss that many speak of here either. HOWEVER, I also do not have much weight to lose (maybe 10lbs) and I have noticed other subtle things. You are right in thinking that it can't be all superficial. Bottom line is that there is no better way to eat than this (imo :o ) and that alone should be enough to carry you through. If you are able to let go of the 'superficial' stuff, and just go with the fact that you are making a lifestyle choice that will benefit you in the long run and just simply *be* wth that...you may feel better. 30 day challenge...sure. That may help. Exercise will certianly help. Green smoothies will give you a boost of energy also. Drinking enough water is important. Everything you are doing will help you. Also, even if you were healthy before, you have YEARS of treating your body a certian way, it isn't going to heal overnight (or in 3 mo. necessarily)

Don't give up. It takes time. Just keep on doing what you are doing, and maybe experiment with some of the options people have offered here and see what comes of it! :D

[tanishamarshall]

My change has not been as dramatic as most. I seem to have lost more inches then pounds, I also tend not to weigh myself because I think it's to stressful, but last time I did weight I lost over 50lb with a total of 75lb lost, but even though I'd lost a lot of weight most people can't tell that I have. I went from size 28 to size 14 shirt and can probably wear size 12 now but my hips are going down slow, I guess that is because I am a women.. The hips are the reason why it doesn't show as much because my bottom portion can fit an 18 and I can even zip size 18 pant(Previously size 28 pants) but my hips make it not look so good so I wear a larger size pants because of hips.

My change has been slow and still is slow. I believe this next year things will turn around. I personally know I've changed but sometimes it doesn't always seem like the world can tell. Yes people can tell from a face picture but that is about it.

I wouldn't get caught up in who can tell, the change that is happening in you might not be visible, there could be things going on inside that you can't recongnize and I bet as long as you stay consistent those visable changes will shine through.

[Raw Angel Mom]

One major thing to keep in mind is that once you provide the perfect nutriment for your body's need, it will work first on your major organ, gland system, etc.... It is intelligent and knows what to do, just trust your body and focus on our accomplishment and health. The extra pound will drop in perfect time.

Your body seek to keep you alive for as long it cans be. What makes us gain weight is our emotions, our body doesn't want the toxic food but our emotions wants it. Now that you have done this wonderful choice for you, do not worry or get impatient, just focus on the moment and your health. Surrender is so important.

Your body won't keep the fat once it gets around to it. I lost all my bad fat and finally gain some healthy one.

Have you consider to add a little bit of exercise. It will speed up the cleansing process in you and if you do weight lifting. Not only it will feed your muscles with more oxygen, you will burn more fat.

Congratulations, you are doing so great. Wow 3 months. Also, check your waiste, sometime, we may weight the same but we are loosing mass. Your pants got to ge more lose by now. I bet that you have lost a lot of fat. If you are already exercising, you will appear to gain weight but in truth the muscle weighs more then fat.

Best wishes!

[tanishamarshall]

Raw can be tricky, you might want to check inches if you haven't done so already.

[rawfoodistdavid]

Some cells in the body take a few days to turn over, some quite a few months. Yes, eat lighter, more healthy raw food can give a pretty instant boost to some people (or a bunch of detox symtoms to others).

Either way, the real benefits take longer to emerge. I felt a bit the same as the orginal poster:

'Hey, I've been pretty raw for a few weeks, why aren't I running marathons?'

Then after a few months, I looked back at where I'd been a year ago, when I got really sick with a tooth abscess and my digestion just went after the anti-biotics.

I was so tired mid-afternoon that sometimes my eyes were watering and my head felt like it was rolling around. I was squirting clear, mucosy diarrea many days. I'd have sudden 'ray gun' like stabbing pains in the head and migraines that I thought I'd mostly grown out of, or sharp pains in the guts. I'd have severe woosy moments almost every day and by asked if I was okay by people as I was just so pale. I started to think I shouldn't drive as I always felt like I was mildly drunk. My psoriasis become 6 times worse than I'd ever seen it, itchy, bleeding.

Months down the line, and after being 90% raw most weeks: I don't have the stabbing pains or headaches. My digestion, after being virtually non-functional, is now very good. At worst I might feel slightly spacey SOME DAYS but no dizzy, woosy attacks. I feel sharper when driving and no longer have fears of long drives by myself. While I don't have jump-around energy I often notice that I'm still beavering away at work at 4.00pm+ while a few months ago I'd be craving sleep from 1pm until hometime, working at a snails pace and putting myself under pressure.
My psoriasis while sadly still appalling has at least stabalised, is far less itchy, doesn't blood up my shirts and introducing wheatgrass seems to be the trigger for some improvement.

So, yeah, I still feel like a somewhat fatigued, not particularly well guy with bad psoriasis but if I look back, I've made a fabulous recovery so far. When changes are gradual you tend to absorb them and take them for granted.

[kaa]

Congratulations on your three months.
I think that people are different .... it takes courage to stick with your own experience.
I read somewhere that sometimes people need more sleep their first year raw... this has been the case for me.
I have to agree that the wine and bread are probably not helping.
How about trying wild rice which you can soak overnight and eat RAW. There is wonderful wild rice at living tree community foods on the internet. This is a wonderful option that I have used.
Also are you moving your body?
Good luck and keep the faith

[andra]

I do not know how much you are exercising or how active you are. I have found that consistent, balanced exercise (i.e. cardio, strength training, and stretching/yoga) has helped the tone in my legs (in addition to my overall health and appearance). And I do regular body brushing with a dry brush and I see much improvement in the appearance of my legs.

So, I would encourage you to move your body. If you are already active, maybe reviewing your routine with somebody to see if you need to make changes or modification.

andra

[Aleesha Sattva]

My psoriasis while sadly still appalling has at least stabalised, is far less itchy, doesn't blood up my shirts and introducing wheatgrass seems to be the trigger for some improvement.

So, yeah, I still feel like a somewhat fatigued, not particularly well guy with bad psoriasis but if I look back, I've made a fabulous recovery so far. When changes are gradual you tend to absorb them and take them for granted.

Have you done a parasite cleanse and added 'Oil of Oregano' into your life? I suggest you research both :)

[petaltothemetal]

Very good responses from this group. Here's mine, from another person with slow results:

I'm not expecting a huge immediate response from my own raw journey because I've been eating Paleo (raw with some meat and eggs thrown in) except for homemade brown bread. But I still had a big belly, and that's what made me decide to step it up to 95-100% raw with no meat. When I cut out the bread for the first week I had diarrhea and then all of the sudden I felt so much better and didn't even have the gas I thought I'd have to be creative to hide from the general public for the rest of my life. Before Paleo I was eating a diet everyone in the world would think was healthy but us (!) - whole grain bread and pasta, 50% veggies, lean meats, virtually no sugar at all and never any junk food, not even one diet soda. I had bad pimples whenever I didn't get too much sleep, ate too late at night or had my period. (Makes you wonder what I would have looked like on SAD!) Now I only get pimples right before my period now, and only on the hairline. It's hard to be in my forties and still getting pimples like a teen. I have to confess that sometimes I have to remind myself it used to be worse!

I've been Paleo for a year (except for the bread) and 95-100% raw for 2 1/2weeks and have only lost 9 pounds from my starting point. I am hoping the step up will help me shed the rest of the weight I need to lose. One thing I did notice was I used to wake up really phlegmy and had to spend an hour drinking coffee, blowing my nose and taking allergy pills while sitting half blind (even my eyes would be clouded over). Now it only takes 15 minutes and one or two tissues until I'm functional. It's an amazing change, but so gradual over the course of A WHOLE YEAR that I hardly noticed until it hit me like a brick two days ago. Is it possible that your changes are so slow you aren't even noticing them?

My daughter, on the other hand, is heavier and hardly ate any raw food at all. And she has very bad skin. I'm expecting she will lose weight and show results much faster than I do. I hope I'm a big enough girl not to be envious!!

I do work hard on the farm I own and I go to a gym sometimes, but not enough. I know in my heart that I have to step up the excercise. Farm work has left me with great arms and legs but done nothing for the shape of my gut. I got rid of the cattle and pigs and sheep when I moved here. I am thinking with the raw diet that I should plant even more fruit trees than I already have. I can't believe how good my own fruit leathers and juices are. I was missing so much deliciousness before and didn't even know it. The wonderful food keeps me going even when I think I should have a beautiful flat belly. When you feel discouraged, I recommend finding a farmers market (most towns have one two days a week) and trying out some new fresh fruits and veggies. Make food so sensuous you'll want to keep up the diet even on the bad days.

Also know that the people with the most amazing results are the ones you'll see the most pictures of. We can't all be Angela Stokes (I think that's her name). If we were, there wouldn't be any meat and potato people left because the whole world would want to be like her! :)

-Larisa
pw: 171
cw: 162
gw: 140

[orangeflame]

Well I guess we are all making progress in different ways at different times, but the important thing is we are progressing.

Docsharp: I think you look great already! But more importantly I'm glad your health is improving.

Larisa: best of luck!


I know some people suggested going 100%..this is a very good suggestion, and something I'd like to try at some point soon..but I still think you might be misunderstanding how often I eat the uncooked stuff..and in how small an amount. To clarify, I'd say that I'm 98-100% MOST of the time..so I don't think the cooked stuff is having THAT much of an effect.

To everyone who asked if I was working out: Um, you're brilliant. I think this is exactly what I need to be doing. Before I went raw I was a regular exerciser, but the decision to go raw was so time consuming (reading, researching, shopping, uncooking, etc etc) and my detox symptoms (in the first 2 weeks) were so uncomfortable, that I decided to stop working out for the time. Now, 3 months later, I'm ready to start up again..I'm hoping it will shake away this stagnation!!!


You guys are the best..thanks for the boost.