Question about post-raw meal energy levels

[gordon]

Hi Everyone,

I am slowly moving over to a raw diet, typically eating raw in 2 out of my 3 meals each day. I've been doing this for a few weeks now and have noticed some positive changes (although I feel the cooked part of my diet is sabotaging this progress - I'm having a hard time completely switching over, but I'm reading a lot of books to help in that dept - and now I have this websource to use too!).

Anyway, my question is: After a lunch of a green smoothie (typically kale or broccoli with fruit) and 2-3 servings of other fruits or vegetables, I feel quite tired (like I typically would after eating cooked food). Today was the worst (today was also the first time I had an avocado with my lunch). Is this normal for a newby, or am I eating more than I should at lunch?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Veganforlife]

Welcome! Well, I personally feel (as does Alissa) that when you are consuming ANY cooked food it is "sabotaging" the process. Your body is working very hard to digest the basically dead foods you are eating. Folks are quick to blame the Raw foods as causing the tired feelings when in fact it is probably the cooked foods you are consuming...
I would say do a 30-day 100% Raw challenge and see how well you will feel...

[Green_Woman]

Folks are quick to blame the Raw foods as causing the tired feelings when in fact it is probably the cooked foods you are consuming...

This!! Do not jump to the conclusion that nutrient dense, enzyme rich food is causing your sluggishness, if you're still eating the heavily processed, DEAD "SAD" foods every day.

Rather, take Veganforlife's wise suggestion - take a few weeks and eat ONLY Raw Foods, and see how you feel then!

Consider it an experiment in enabling your Body to do what it needs to without the HINDRANCE of processed, cooked foods.

[rawintexas]

Go toward 100% raw and see how it feels. Also, I noticed early on that I tended to eat too much at a time because I felt like if I didn't have that HUGE smoothie or HUGE salad I'd be hungry again soon....so I ended up overeating those meals. Now I now I can eat again soon if I want. I can have a small salad at 1 p.m. and eat again if hungry at 3 p.m. so I don't need to overeat. That helped me. Eating small and often. I've discovered that by traditional dinner time (evening) that I have very little appetite. Try to cut out the cooked food and start following your gut.

[Raw Angel Mom]

One side effect in the begining of raw food for some people is being TIRED. BUT THIS IS GREAT NEWS, BECAUSE YOUR BODY IS SIMPLY REPAIRING HERSELF AND SHE NEEDS YOU TO rest in order to accomplish her task better.

This is completely normal

Keep up the great work and for making room for the good stuff. I agree that you should try a 100% raw challenge.

[gordon]

Thank you everyone for your responses! I really appreciate all of your help and support. This website is awesome!

[rawstrength]

It could be the kale or broccoli making you tired. The intense fibers in kale/broccoli can be very difficult to digest for some people.