Trouble excercising

[glowbug]

Hey everyone! I've been 100% raw for almost two weeks now, coming off of a vegetarian (not vegan, but still pretty light) diet. Before starting raw foods, I excercised almost daily with swimming, running, and lifting. During the first few days of eating raw, I eased up on the physical activity so as not to tax my body too much, but now, I find myself feeling lightheaded and weak to the point that I have to stop, especially with running. I've been eating bananas, greens, and nuts to help but nothing seems to make a difference and I have actually noticed a negative change in my body shape. I'm a 20-year-old female, 5'6" 130 pounds.
Anyone else out there with similar issues, or with suggestions? I haven't felt detox type symptoms at all, save this, but I'm at my wit's end and wanting to quit.

[RawSar]

For me when I was a SAD eater I could and had to work out extra hard and very intense long work outs.
Now that I have been raw for a couple years my work outs have been much shorter intense work outs or if I wanted to work out for an hour I would make sure its not intense and just slow weight lifting or jogging.
I have gotten better results with my shorter intense work outs and eating raw then with long intense work outs and SAD diet.

Two weeks isn't very long at all. It could be detox and your body asking for rest?
Dont give up :) Just give your body time to adjust

[Dimond]

I find splitting my smoothies works the best. Having 1 beforehand (30-60 min) and 1 afterward. This ensures that you have plenty of energy and nourishment to work out as long and hard as you want.

[Azaria]

I have actually noticed a negative change in my body shape.

Can you expand on this?

What you're experiencing may also be from a low hemoglobin (hemoglobin is the oxygen being carried in your red blood cells) and may be worth getting checked out through a blood test? If it is low you can easily boost it with certain raw foods or appropriate supplements.

[Belladonna]

Hey! I've been having the same trouble with energy as well! I wonder if we are deficient in some food group? For me, a 6 mile bike ride (partial up hill) has been wearing me down, and according to everyone i talk to that shouldn't wear me out... I'm 16yr female 125lbs and am in decent shape. I started thinking it is a deficiency in my diet?? I eat lots of fruits, nuts and seeds, with a salad a day and some greens in my morning smoothie....

[ives]

I'm not 100% raw, probably 90%, but when i went from being a vegetarian to a 90% raw vegan I couldn't work out to the same degree as before.

I think I have less energy than before and get tired a bit easier.

For example, I used to run 5-6 times a week.Between 4 and 10 mile runs. Now I can only 2 or 3 and a lot shorter...maybe 3 or 4 miles.

Maybe it will just take time for the body to adapt. When I went raw vegan, my body had a terrible time adapting: I was weak to the point of exhaustion for about 3 weeks. I added supplements but nothing seemed to help. Luckily it passed, otherwise I think I would ahve given up. Each day was a massive struggle.

[glowbug]

Thanks for the replies everybody!

As far as body shape, I mean that I've been super duper bloated. I know it's likely just a detox thing though, so grin and bear it I guess.

Working out is part of my identity, and it might be too hard to ever accept a permanent loss of capability. Really the most durastic change I've made is giving up eggs, as I ate so few grains and dairy in the first place. But for now, I'll give it time, try splitting smoothies (great tip, thanks!) and if that doesn't work, look into the hemoglobin test.