Anyone who's been raw for over 3 months...

[soaringeagle925]

First of all, what a fantastic board. I'm a member of a few paying raw boards and I've got to say this is the best one yet - and it's free!

Next, I'm curious - I went on a 100% 30 day trial and I'm on day 17. I'd never done raw before, or vegan, or vegetarian (except once years ago for a few weeks) - but even with that said, the detox process hasn't been too bad, except for the fact that I'm supersleepy often, and that it's REALLY hard for me to go out in traffic because I can hardly breathe.

In the beginning, I got surges of energy, but now I'm pretty medium at best. I'm not really seeing any other positive effects yet - no weight loss (or inch loss - maybe half an inch to inch at best on waist, nothing else - I always take all my measurements), haven't had long-term focus in quite a few days, etc.

I know we're not allowed to link to negative sites, but one of them mentioned that even when he was raw for years, he still felt pretty much the same way I feel now - surges of energy sometimes, but also surges of feeling super-tired - so it was never energy all the time as a lot of people say.

For those who are 3 months raw or more, can you confirm or deny that please? How do YOU feel on a day to day basis? Do you get sleepy still?

Thank you!

[iamacranberry]

I learned the hard way that it's much wiser to transition slowly rather than jumping in 100% right away. It's easier on your body and your mind.

[soaringeagle925]

Hmm - it's not even that I mind being raw... it's not that hard for me as I'm a pretty disciplined person. The only thing I strongly dislike is how little choice there is.

I know a lot of you make lots of things, but I'm in Brazil right now visiting for the next month and a half, and I don't have a food processor, juicer, or dehydrator. I do have a blender in which I make lots of smoothies, the rest of the time I'm eating fruits and nuts. Kind of boring and I miss my bread - but I can deal with it. :)

I have been considering going high raw once my trial is up so that I can still indulge once in a while/deal with social situations - especially since I'm in a new country and would love to try their food. :)

[Eva]

Mmm, what a wonderful time of year to be in Brazil! You lucky thing. :) I'll be there for some amount of time in January and February at least too!

Very cool that you're 17 days in. Don't forget that you have many more than 17 days of other food and issues that may need healing. Everyone's experience with the timing of weight loss and other factors depends on many different factors.

So, my thoughts on the specific issues you raised. Here's my experience. I've been 100% raw for about 99% of the time for the last 20 months or so. I have healed acne, ADHD, an ulcer, constant digestive problems, amongst many other things. As of the last couple weeks or so, I feel just pretty good (not fantastic) -- but it's not because of raw. I have a lot of decisions and change and high stress in my job at the moment. Actually, this level of stress would have put me in bed with an ulcer pre-raw.

In any case, someone being "raw" doesn't mean all that much if the diet and lifestyle are not ideal. One person can be raw and drink green smoothies daily, get lots of greens, oil pull, eat for nutrition and only when actually hungry, enjoy life, love life and people, get lots of exercise, sunshine and fresh air, follow his/her dreams, focus on the good in life, etc... Another person can be raw and be pessimistic, sitting inside staring at the computer all day with handfuls of nuts and emotional issues.

Could you blame the raw food for not being healthy? Could you credit the raw food for feeling great? Our bodies and our lives are more complex than that. I believe that a PLANNED raw diet is the best on the planet. A PLANNED high raw diet is just as good for some people if it subtracts stress and adds flexibility without causing cravings and other issues.

Welcome to the board, by the way. :) This is where I found out about raw, and I can't tell you how much support you'll find here on your journey!

[soaringeagle925]

Wow - thank you for such a detailed, AWESOME response!

I definitely agree - I feel superlucky to be in Brazil right now. I found an amazing fruit store on the way home from the beach today - had the freshest grapes I've ever tasted in my life. SO wonderful!!

You're right about I'm sure I have way more than 17 days worth of issues that need healing - it's just that on the other site I found, the guy said he was raw for 9 YEARS and still had the same detox issues. I'm sure he had more than 9 years of stuff to clear up, but a lot of the other raw food experts say it stops after a month, or a few at most - so I was just curious as to other people's experiences.

How long did it take before you felt fantastic? I know right now you're not feeling it (and I hope the stress goes better for you :)) - but before then?

As far as the diet and lifestyle, you have a good point. There ARE some days where I'm on the computer often (it's my job), but I make it a point to get sunshine at least 5 days a week and go to the beach at least 3 (I'm in Brazil, it would be a tragedy not to!)

I do have a lot of nuts, and a bit of granola and flax crackers. I also have lots of fruit - bananas, mangoes, acai berry, etc. There are some days I could do better with more fruit, less nuts, and more greens overall - that's for sure.

But you make a great point - it can get depressing sometimes, not knowing Portuguese, and I'm sure that's part of why I'm feeling the way I do. I felt awful this morning and forced myself to go to the beach, and when I went, I felt a lot better.

Anyway - thank you again, you gave me a lot to think about and I very much appreciate it. :)

[cara4art]

For such a short time raw, and coming from more of a traditional diet, you are doing awesomely well! You mention that you've lost "only an half-inch or an inch" from your waist in the time you've been raw! Believe me, that is fantastic! There are lots of us, especially older raw fooders where it takes a lot longer for this to happen, depending on what other inner healing work our bodies choose to do first on raw. Eva puts it very well too with her thoughts, because one's whole lifestyle and emotional issues come into it as well. If you haven't faced your emotional issues, since one doesn't have the addictive foods to fall back on to numb feelings, these will come up for you to be attended to - this IS an emotional/spiritual detox process as well as on the physical level. As far as your stay in Brazil, make the best of it - I'm sure you'll find some good stuff to eat, and focus on the amazing new experiences and the opportunity to experience a different culture.

[Bodhi]

I'm going to crawl out on a limb here. I think people need to journal about their eating habits so they can pinpoint what makes them feel good or what makes them feel poorly. I also think people need to know what their BMI is supposed to be and where they are on the chart. People need to track their calories, protein, carbs, and fats to ensure they are consuming enough. Crawls back off limb. :p

[sport]

it's just that on the other site I found, the guy said he was raw for 9 YEARS and still had the same detox issues.

:)
He may not have been on a healthy raw diet. Just because a diet is all raw does not make it perfect. He was probably having way too much fat.
You would be better off on a high raw low fat diet than an all raw high fat diet.
I have been 100% raw for 3 and a half years but I still do not consider my diet to be perfect and I always strive to improve it. More greens and less fat is my target and I am almost there. I do feel great and love how I feel.
Maybe you should reduce your nut intake.

[rawstrength]

Surges of energy and times of tiredness are normal in the beginning.
After about 1 year raw, my energy levels have evened out to a nice relaxed-yet-energized feeling all the time.
Only 17 days raw is too soon to be worrying about eating too much fat! In time you will adjust. In the meantime, just stay raw.

[sport]

Only 17 days raw is too soon to be worrying about eating too much fat! In time you will adjust. In the meantime, just stay raw.
I fully agree.
But I think that the guy that was 9 years raw and not feeling good must have been doing something very wrong.

[rawstrength]

I fully agree.
But I think that the guy that was 9 years raw and not feeling good must have been doing something very wrong.

I agree with you about the guy who was 9 years raw not feeling good. It could be something wrong with his emotions (too much stress), lifestyle (too little physical activity), environment (toxic chemicals from cleaners, personal care etc.), food (too much non-organic food or too little greens), there are myriad causes for not feeling well. I don't know anything about this supposed 9-year raw guy, so I can't say!

[iamacranberry]

Probably had too many nuts and dates. That'll make me sick any day.

[ArcturusXIV]

More greens is usually the cure. :)

[Eva]

Whoah soaringeagle -- 9 years! LOL, I'm sure this guy is missing the boat in more ways than one... Diet really is just a part of life. Period. I hope he's not blaming his issues on being raw.

Sheesh, as for the grapes, I can just picture them and taste Brazil. Sigh... Were they the really, really big ones?? Geez Louise, and you're at the beach too! Yup, yup it sometimes can get lonely in a foreign country without speaking the language (my Hungarian is not top notch, by the way -- so I feel your pain for sure!). Enjoy the insecurities and being out of your comfort zone. And enjoy the tropical fruit -- but stay away from the white rice and churrascarias!! :eek: Haha.

I felt GREAT but not quite fantastic after just a few days raw. Mind you, my first couple days were pure hell because I was detoxing from coffee. Yikes! My skin started clearing, my stomach was much better in seriously, days. I'd say it was a couple months there where I couldn't believe it but it just kept getting better and better. I was so crazy happy and clear. The day I stopped taking Ritalin and could still get my work done was a BIG day too (that was actually only about two weeks in). But feeling FANTASTIC most of the time, it was about two months of being all raw.

Anyways, I've just come back from seeing a band where I was with some youngins bouncing my head a lot at the hard-core band that is so not my usual style... so sorry if my late night ramblings are not too clear. :eek::o I guess it's time to call it a night. :)

[chilove]

Hi there,

I've been raw for a little over six years and I have loads of energy all the time unless I'm eating a lot of fat. When I over do it on the fats I feel sluggish and tired. As long as I'm eating a simple diet, I feel awesome!

Blessings,

Audrey
www.rawhealing.com

[Inca_faerie]

I used to feel not so great until I added in raw hemp protein powder and amino acids, and cut waaaay down on high fructose fruit like dates and such.

[soaringeagle925]

Thank you guys!!!!

cara4art - You're not the same cara4art on MUA, are you? There's a health and fitness board I go to that has an incredible cara4art who constantly gives amazing advice. :)

Thank you for the encouragement, too. I think I'm pretty okay emotion-wise, I've cleared up a LOT this past year. Obviously nobody's ever perfect, but in my research I've heard of people having angry outbursts, sad outbursts, etc. - luckily I've been pretty stable.

How long does it take most people to start releasing weight?

Bodhi - You know, that's not a bad idea. I actually have been keeping a daily journal with thoughts and food I've been eating, but I haven't been doing it on a food-by-feeling basis. It's definitely a fantastic thought, thank you for it!

sport - He was actually 75% fruitarian, maybe he wasn't having enough greens as others said?

I keep reading conflicting things about fat - some people say eat whatever you want as long as it's raw, others say work on the fat. I find without fat, I'm constantly starving, whereas some granola and/or nuts really helps (although I overdo it every time).

rawstrength - Have you been 100% this entire year? Wow, that's admirable. Thanks for the 17 day encouragement, too - I appreciate the non-extremist views here, they make me feel a lot better.

One of the other boards I'm on is all about Optimal Raw, so they don't like any of the "gourmet" stuff, not too many nuts (and if you eat them, just right before bed since it takes the longest to digest). No flax crackers, granola, etc. :)

iamacranberry + ArcturusXIV - More greens, less nuts... seeing a pattern. I'll work on that =)

Eva - Definitely loving the insecurities and I'm a huge fan of comfort zone push - BUT I'M SO CURIOUS ABOUT THE CHURRASCARIAS!!! Reallllly considering going "high raw" for one week just to try it out, after my 30 day trial. But I also don't want to love it and then have a hard time going raw. We'll see.

Love your posts and fantastic energy, thank you again!

chilove - Sluggish and tired on fats, that makes sense. Maybe I'll try an all fruits + veggies day.... or maybe even start a fast. Hrmmm, so many ideas here... thank you for your response. :)

Inca_faerie - I can't wait until I can buy hemp!! Thankfully I don't care for dates (or avocado, for that matter :D) which I'm sure is helping me out a TON. =)

[Eva]

You're so very welcome... As for the churrascarias, if you really want to give them a try, do it. Just, do it. But then see how it made you feel and if raw or churrascarias are healthier. :p;) There's a quote on here that says "Nothing tastes as good as raw feels." That's a good thing to meditate on BEFORE if you want to stay strong or after if the meat kicked you in the butt. Haha.

[Aleesha Sattva]

okay i haven't read the responses so please ignore me if you've heard it already.

energy comes and goes. some days i have a great deal of energy, other days not so much. i just go with the flow... but overall... i am waaaaaaay healthier, have waaaaaaaaay more energy and am waaaaaaaaaaaay thinner than i was eating SAD food.

i've heard so many people say "i was raw for X amount of years and felt like crap, my teeth rotted etc." then they go on to say "i refused to tweak my diet because i believed so strongly in the *insert here - fruitarian, 80/10/10, greens only etc diet here*"

and here is, in my opinion the problem. instead of saying "oh man i'm not feeling optimal perhaps i should do some MORE research and add something new to my diet to see if that helps" they simply put their head in the sand and continue on. we all need to be responsible for our own choices... if that means adding in spirulina... then do so. if that means realizing that your green smoothie consumption has gone waaaaaay down... increase it. etc etc etc

is raw food for everyone? i don't know... don't care either... all i know is that for me... it's workin'!!!

[cara4art]

"cara4art - You're not the same cara4art on MUA, are you? There's a health and fitness board I go to that has an incredible cara4art who constantly gives amazing advice.

Thank you for the encouragement, too. I think I'm pretty okay emotion-wise, I've cleared up a LOT this past year. Obviously nobody's ever perfect, but in my research I've heard of people having angry outbursts, sad outbursts, etc. - luckily I've been pretty stable.

How long does it take most people to start releasing weight?"

Yep, that's me! There ARE a few people over there who are interested in raw food but not many though. Thanks for the compliment! Yes, this is a process, and your body in it's infinite wisdom will let you know what's right - you just have to tune in and pay attention. At this point in the game since you're new, try different things to see how your body responds to different foods. Lots of times, weight will not be released until one's body has done other balancing work, especially with the liver and other detoxing issues. So as long as you are eating a decent amount of healthy raw foods(keeping your fats moderate)including green smoothies, and exercising on a solid program, results WILL come.
Just as one is despairing of any weight dropping off, it happens, several pounds, just like that! Sometimes that has been due to a tweak/refinement, other times not. I know, as I've had this happen. I know it's really easy to feel disappointed when one isn't losing when one hears about someone who goes raw(usually someone who is in their late teens, early 20s or so)and in a week their skin is glowing and they've dropped 8 pounds. You can't compare yourself to those occurences and wonder what you're doing wrong - if you've gotten onto healthy raw, and since you mentioned that bit of inches lost around your waist, I'll repeat, that's fantastic and you're doing something right. Some people do drop some weight within a few weeks, for others it takes a number of months before anything significant happens - your mileage may vary. In the meantime, you are doing such great other things for your general health by adopting this lifestyle.
Another scenario on the weight release department is that sometimes that might not come until you have a detox episode in the form of a "flu" or a "cold"(your body is now strong enough that it will start to throw off stuff that's piled up in there)that several pounds will drop off just like that, you'll feel MUCH better, and the weight doesn't return when you start eating again either.
So keep on keepin' on - there's great support here!