So much energy

[vegggeeemom]

What do I do? It's almost midnight and I really ought to be in bed, but again I feel so wired.
I know I should be doing more things in the day to make me tired!
I wonder if I went to bed if I'd be able to just go to sleep?
Oh it's wonderful having this energetic feeling back! :D

Pam

[rawpriestess]

Hey, I'm with you on this.

I just posted in my journal, how I am up early and to bed late, when I was eating cooked, I would nap every afternoon, because I was actually too exhausted to do anything, even sit and relax.

[sweetgoddess]

lol...that is so fabulous. I have a lot of those nights where I am just bursting with energy and cant go to sleep, so I read or "dream-think".
Isnt it a marvelous feeling? That is one of the first things I noticed when I went raw. energy like when you were a child. MY husband just started raw a couple of days ago and isnt coming home from work exgausted already. I cant wait to see his energy change for him, as it is pretty low.

So glad you are already seeing firsthand some benefits of your raw diet. More to come! Yeah you! :D

pppppppsssstt~ RawPriestess go to bed! lol

Blessings~

[cattzeye]

Having tons of energy was one of the earliest benefits I noticed when I first began the raw lifestyle several years ago. I have to wake up at 4:30 AM for work Mon through Fri, so I try to be in bed by no later that 10:00 PM. But most nights I wake up several times during the night, and look at the clock and wish it was time to get up already! This is such a wonderful feeling for me, because for most of my life I was depressed, at times quite severely. My refuge from life was sleeping, and I slept alot. And even with all that sleep, I was exhausted all the time. Now, I can't wait to get up and start my day!
What a change, and one for which I am grateful for every day. I don't even mind waking up at night; I just lay there and think about different things, in fact I have had some great revelations in the middle of the night. I like to listen to how quiet the world is at night, it is comforting to me.

I just can't say how much I love eating raw! I am so glad for the path that brought me to this place, and for forums like this one, where I can share my joy with others who understand.

Blessings,

Christine

[sweetgoddess]

Christine, you gave me goosebumps.
What a beautiful change in your life. I am SO happy for you.

Blessings~

[Essensual]

Friends, RAW Vegans, and countrymen...lend my your ears.

RECAPTURE THE NIGHT!

As a mom of 3 I use this time to do things I could not do during the day while at work, or uninterrupted while at home with the chickadees--as they demand undivided attention. Once the little ones go to bed...HIGH ENERGY MOM GOES INTO ACTION! :cool:

First I prep clothing and meals for the following day or so. I can also use this time to read books, mags, or mail that has piled up. I can also use this time for mom's special spa treatments complete with soft music, fragrances, and oils. Ahh..yes self administered deep conditioning treatments, manicures/pedicures, waxings, bleachings, pluckings :eek: ......NIRVANA! (Sorry if that sounded a little freaky).

So think about it...what is it that you could do to RECAPTURE THE NIGHT?! :cool:

(This needs to be a new thread-hee,hee)

[cattzeye]

Sweetgoddess,

Thanks so much for the good words. Having more energy and not being depressed anymore, fabulous as this is, is only one of many positive changes for me since going raw. Another really BIG plus is that I no longer have "IBS" symptoms. I can't even tell you how debilitating this was for me. The constant bloating, gas, pain and intestinal cramps had gotten progressively worse over the years. I had been to several doctors about it, and none could offer me any hope, or even any advice. This was when I decided to take my health into my own hands, and started doing research. I found out that IBS is a term doctors use which doesn't really mean anything, it's just a label for when they don't know what's wrong with you. So in a way, I am grateful for the pain I went through all those years, because it brought me to where I am today, living a raw foods lifestyle, and reaping so many benefits.

Essensual, those were great ideas for "taking back the night". The only problem for me is that I have a S/O living with me, and I'm afraid carrying on at night would wake him up. Perhaps I could use that time to read, though. I have one of those little clip-on lights for books, I could just go in the livingroom to quietly read.

Christine

Christine

[RawTruth]

Christine,

Another idea (which I stole from Dr. McDougall who espouses only 4-5 hrs. of sleep a night for optimal mental health) is to use that time to exercise. He says we should get to sleep around 10, which, of course will have us be reeeaaallly early risers. I've actually done this myself for a few weeks and there's nothing to compare with walking in the quiet beauty of the early early morning moon.

By the way -- he also advocates staying up all night for one entire night as an immediate cure for low-grade depression. He supports this in his book(s) with considerable research, as he always does. It may sound odd at first since we've all been told that we "need" 8 hrs. of sleep. But, this is also the medical establishment that tells us that we must eat dairy and meat and see doctors regularly to be healthy! And, it does work. I've done it.

Anyway, I got a bit off topic. I just love the idea of raw & living foods giving us so much energy that we can live our lives to an even fuller extent than before!

You go, ladies (and any lurking gents)!

[cattzeye]

HI Rawtruth,

That's a good idea, getting up early and exercising. I wish I could do it, as my favorite time to exercise is in the morning. But I already get up at 4:30 am to be at work by 7:00am. I do get up quite early on the weekends to exercise, though.

That's interesting, the theory of sleeping less for better mental health. I know that I always feel better with less than 8 hours sleep. I swear, I don't know how people can stand to sleep for 12 hours, like some people I know. Or sleeping in until noon on weekends. I just physically can't do it!

Christine

[CJB]

Christine,

I had to chuckle at your comment about sleeping 12 hours. I am a champion sleeper...have been all my life! I'm still sleeping quite long hours at night but I'm sure once I've been raw longer that that will change. I envy those of you who can pop out of bed...in the past I was simply pre-verbal until I had a couple cups of coffee. I'm off coffee now and am still sluggish in the morning, but less so than before.

Rawtruth, I have no doubt about the 10pm thing. I wish that I could do it but I'm usually working until 10 pm and then have to come home and wind down. I guess I'm also just a bit of a night owl anyway. (Hmmm, she says as she's writing this at 11:30 at night. :rolleyes: )

Guess I'd better try to sleep myself. Night all!

[Gosia]

I suppose ever since I had my first baby, sleep has become very precious. I get up at 7am, or before, and go to bed usually before 10pm. I definitely do not believe in sleep deprivation theories!;)

By the way, cooked foods, spices, coffee and cocoa (raw or not) can negatively affect one's sleep. So can (raw or not) onions, garlic, ginger etc. Basically, anything stimulating. Including one's thoughts, sometimes (did happen to me). Especially, if one has been raw for a while, and become sensitive to stimulants.

Exercising late during day can have that effect too.

Have a nice sleep,
Gosia.