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Rawnna
10-05-2008, 06:15 PM
Hi there. Hope this is the right spot to post this and ask my question

My name is Anna, and I've been reading threads here for about a month and have yet to post. I'm very new to the raw lifestyle, however over the past couple of months I've done a lot of research. Bought a cookbook, along with Alissa's book and read it in two nights. I truly believe this lifestyle is going to be beneficial for me.

I'm 21 years old, but for the past few years I've felt like an old woman. I've struggled with fatigue and mental fog for as long as I can remember. Even after having 8 hours of sleep or more, I would ALWAYS need a nap in the middle of the day to function the rest of the evening. I have bad allergies, and a weak immune system in general. I know I'm sensetive to sugars, because anytime I would eat dessert or carbs, I'd immediately be sleepy and go into a sugar coma! (Which was pretty much all of the time because I was addicted to sugar!)

Apart from those issues, I developed acne at the age of 15 and it's STILL just as bad as it was then. I tryed everything under the sun, including lots of holistic things as well. On an acne forum, I found people trying green smoothies to help their complexion so I've been doing that for about 3 months. It does seem to help my skin. That's when I stumbled across the raw lifestyle. So basically - long story short - I went 80-90% raw for 2 weeks up until me gorging myself last night at an engagement party that was catered. (Don't plan on repeating that anytime soon, I feel like there's a brick in my stomache! lol) In those two weeks, I definitely felt better. I lost weight and I looove that light feeling. I had more energy, although I still needed my naps most days and still need at least 8 hours, but I think it still helped. My allergies weren't as bad either. At first, my acne was getting better however then it started getting worse. I figure its detox, but at the same time, after research I've done I found a lot of people who are raw-foodies found that eating a certain raw way breaks them out. Like too many fruits, or too many fats, or the combination of them both. As if transitioning to raw isn't hard enough already, now I have this confusion and am wondering if that could be a problem.

I know many say sometimes it gets better before it gets worse, but I was hoping for some insight from people who have been through this. Just how long? I've read for some people they get clear skin immediately, while others its a couple of years. I just don't understand why it would take that long when for a while it started to clear up more with green smoothies and in the beginning of trying raw. How can I be sure its detox, or if its a bad raw food combination? There's so much confusion and trial and error. Not too sure who or what to believe or what I should try. Interestingly, last night after eating cooked food and some dessert, my skin actually looks better today.
-sigh-
I realize it's still so early and I'm not even 100% raw, but was just feeling quite depressed this evening about all of this and thought I would see if anybody had some insight on the matter.


Thanks for reading my rant and I look forward to continuing participating in the forum. I intend to keep up this raw lifestyle until I can achieve the health I deserve.

-Anna

Bodhi
10-05-2008, 09:08 PM
Welcome to the forum. Hang in there. :D

Zaphirah
10-05-2008, 09:33 PM
I have skin similar or worse than when I was in hs. But when I am all raw, usu. for about a month, it gets SO much better, almost not noticable. Drinking cucumber juice (esp with a little burdock root) has really helped me. But for me, I have to be 100%, or I just break out somethin' fierce. Welcome to RFT. Like the above poster said "hang in there!"

Rawnna
10-05-2008, 10:07 PM
Thanks for the reply. I've heard cucumber juice really helps...I'm going to try adding it to my green smoothies, or making a new juice concoction so I can get more of it into my diet. Not too familliar with burdock root - I will do some research.

Robison
10-06-2008, 06:22 AM
Im definatly not an authority on this subject but Im new too (4th day). I can say that in those 4 short days, my daily heartburn has gone and some of the gastric and elimination problems I was having have dissapeared. Gone!

On skin, I noticed that when I wake up that my face is not as oily or maybe the oil is thinner. This is after only 4 days though. I am still detoxing with headaches and general fatigue but today looks a little better.

Im not sure how bad your lifestyle before trying to switch over was. Mine was about as horrid as you can get so I may see benifits faster than someone who is switching from Vegan or even a SAD low fat type diet.

Veganforlife
10-06-2008, 08:11 AM
Oh hang in there is right. PLEASE give it more time! You figure you've got a lifetime of "undoing" to do.
Also, get your mindset in the right place. Don't look at it as not working or getting worse (before better), look at it each day at a time. That today was way better than yesterday and tomorrow is gonna be even better. Time goes so quick that before you know it, you will have gained that health, glow, and wealth of fueling your body correctly.
Your body needs time to heal.
Don't give up.

tanishamarshall
10-06-2008, 08:16 AM
Welcome to the forum Anna. Going raw is truly a journey, detox can happen several times or for some they never really experience it. I have not had to deal with acne but I would like to believe the longer you are raw the better it will get.

HolyGuacamole
10-06-2008, 10:52 AM
Hi and welcome!

Definitely hang in there and try not to be overwhelmed with all the information that's out there.
Before long you will sort out what works for you and what doesn't, and how different things are affecting your body.
One thing that seems to be common among all folks who eat raw is that we become really in touch with and aware of what's going on with our bodies (and hearts and minds).

One simple thing you might try is keeping your sweet fruits separate from your fats and see if you can tell any difference. Many have a hard time digesting that combo and it's suspected to be the culprit in all kinds of problems.

I think it's awesome you're doing this for yourself.
Stick with it - you really, really won't regret it.

pixelkatt
10-06-2008, 11:29 AM
I'm new here as well.. I don't have problems normally with my complexion but I did a long time ago and found out that I must have an allergy to walnuts because that was what made me break out.. Now I'm on day 13 of 100% raw and I have had my first breakout in months because I thought maybe, just maybe I can eat walnuts now, lol.. but it's not meant to be..

I ate raw tacos last night and I made the taco meat with walnuts. It was wonderful! But then I broke out almost immediately. :( So am going to make taco meat with pumpkin seeds now instead..

My point is maybe you might be sensitive to something you are eating? It's just a thought.. When you said the first three weeks it was getting better but then started getting worse, can you think of anything different that you incorporated into your diet? You might try eliminating those things and then trying them one by one to see if that might be the problem..

.·:* pixelkatt *:·.

abbygkatt.vox.com

~`~`~`~`~`~`~`

Raine
10-06-2008, 11:41 AM
Have you considered coconut oil for your complexion? Sounds crazy I know to put oil on the face.

My complexion is very sensitive and on top of it I ride a motorcycle as my only mode of transportation so I deal with the wind, heat & cold, etc. No one ever comes within a decade of guessing my age.

I use Dr. Bronner's soap on my face OR Whole Foods 365 mint soap. I swear by Thayer's Rose Petal Witch Hazel 2x daily. 2x weekly I apply the Queen Helene grape seed extract mask. 2x weekly I apply a very light amount of organic coconut oil to my face (a little goes a long way).

Further my diet is lots of water and juicing. I'm much more into fasting & juicing than eating raw; however, my diet is predominately raw. I just don't get into the drawn out preparing process as I'd rather throw a salad together.

Of course, also keep in mind it could be something in your environment - candles, detergent, etc.

Rawnna
10-06-2008, 12:39 PM
It could be a food allergy I suppose, but at this point it is a hard enough transition into raw as it is. It's overwhelming to think about changing food combinations. I can't think of anything I've done different.

Thanks for the reply :)

Rawnna
10-06-2008, 12:40 PM
I've tryed the oil cleansing method for about a week, and didn't see any improvements. In fact it was a little worse. But I was using a combo of castor oil and olive oil. I've heard coconut oil is great for the skin both externally and internally. Do you apply your layer and then sleep with it? Or let it sit for awhile and then wash it off?

Thanks

Rawnna
10-06-2008, 12:42 PM
Hi and welcome!

Definitely hang in there and try not to be overwhelmed with all the information that's out there.
Before long you will sort out what works for you and what doesn't, and how different things are affecting your body.
One thing that seems to be common among all folks who eat raw is that we become really in touch with and aware of what's going on with our bodies (and hearts and minds).

One simple thing you might try is keeping your sweet fruits separate from your fats and see if you can tell any difference. Many have a hard time digesting that combo and it's suspected to be the culprit in all kinds of problems.

I think it's awesome you're doing this for yourself.
Stick with it - you really, really won't regret it.


Thanks for the reply! I've thought about seperating those things. However I thought eating raw was supposed to help heal your body, so why is it that the combo would cause skin problems? Any suggestions on how to seperate the two food groups? Do you mean, one day eat just fruits and one day fats, or cut one out for a week? etc.

Thank you!
Anna