Need some guidance

[Rawma]

Hi,
I am new to raw...7 days now! I am finding it quite easy and enjoyable and a very smooth transisition for me. I have a few concerns though. First let me begin by saying that I have been 99.9% raw with the exception of sprinkled goat cheese I had on a very small salad last night (12th anniversary!). I have had wine and I am weaning off of coffee. Just 2 sips today! I have been 95% vegan with the exception of some raw oysters and some raw goat cheese. My concern is that I am always so full, stuffed feeling really. I don't feel as though I am eating too much cuz I get so full that I can't eat again for so long. I have indulged in some (alot of) dehydrated fruit which I will back off of. I have not received Alissa's book yet but I do know, from reading all your posts, that she does recommend just eating raw and not to worry about how much for now but I am not sure if I am eating too much.
I began this with the thoughts of doing it for 2 weeks but now I am convinced I will go the 30 days if not forever, I truly enjoy eating this way. But I would love to know what everyone elses experiences were when they began with weight loss and bloating/stuffed feeling.
I have not experienced much in the way of detox with the exception of the very long headache I had on the 2nd day and some mild cramping.
I appreciate any knowledge you could lend.
Thanks,
Lisa

[sport]

Hi
Did you say that you had raw oysters. Is it normal to consume them this way. I thought that they could be dangerous if undercooked.

[jaurequi]

Hi, :),

Well, everyone is different. But I must say, you are also one of the lucky ones to have such ease in the transition. As you peruse the site, you will see for many, it is not so smooth.

Also, be aware that at some point you may have uncomfortable moments and be careful not to label such experiences as "failures." It's very disconcerting to see how many people feel destroyed after eating a piece of cooked food.
See all the challenges as your schooling -- valuable experience which is pure knowledge to use in the future. You would not be learning it if it weren't some valuable information you needed to employ later.

Feelings of bloating are very common! Don't worry. Your body is adjusting to the drastic change -- and it is drastic. You're automatically getting more fiber which causes bloating. This will not always be.
Whenever one changes their diet, there are adjustments that ensue. Some are lucky and don't have some of these issues, but it's not as common as those who do.
For example going vegetarian or even moreso, going vegan, one experiences the same symptoms. You're not alone :)

As far as weightloss, this too varies. Some lose right off the bat; others take months. Only thing that seems to be sure is that everyone who sticks with it reaches a weight their body is meant to be. In other words, if someone is underweight, they put on just the right amount eventually (it may take time) and if someone is overweight, they lose the weight eventually.

However, my personal opinion is that this is not carte blanche to eat whatever, whenever forever. At first, one should not concern so much with food/ calories/fat or weight issues or whatever aesthetic issues they have AT FIRST; ideally, one should be taking notes as to their progress and adjust their diet so it is optimal for *them.* But these first weeks and months are crucial for allowing your body to adjust; so don't fret about not losing copious amounts of weight immediately: eat what you want, responsibly. Then you can fine tune it.
You are already doing this: you said you are giving up some of the dried fruit. This is good progress. You should not eat so much dried fruit in the long run; but at first, if it gets you through the days/weeks at first, then they are necessary. And occasionally eating them is not bad (just be careful with your teeth if you intend to eat them often!)

Anyway, in a long-winded way, I'm saying you're doing great :). Don't turn back now. Your weightloss will happen. You will also begin to see your taste buds change. You'll crave one thing a lot for a time, then burn out on it...

Not everyone has the same experience; yours will be just as valuable and help someone else who reads about it one day too. Be patient :) It's the same with exercise: you have to do the time! You have to feel the pain or no gain :).

You'll get there!

Best,

[Rawma]

Thank you so much for replying Jaurequi! I so appreciate your words of wisdom and you have fueled me on! Thanks again!
Sport-In the non-raw world raw oysters are consummed regularly like sushi. If anyone has some insight on this, I would love to hear from them!
Thanks again,
Lisa

[Rawkinlocs]

Rawma,

I, too, experienced the bloating feeling in the beginning and depending on what I eat now, still (on occasion I still do).

Now please keep in mind that while not everyone here IS vegan, this is a raw-vegan board where we really don't get into the whole raw meat, raw eggs, raw dairy thing. But some raw fooders are not raw-vegan and do consume such items.

So, feel free to openly discuss all other aspects of your raw diet here with the exception of the oysters and cheese. Thanks!

[Punky]

Hi
Did you say that you had raw oysters. Is it normal to consume them this way. I thought that they could be dangerous if undercooked.

Sport, have you never heard of eating raw oysters?
It is quite popular over here in the states, we have oyster bars,etc...quite common to eat them this way. Although it is not vegan of course.

[Punky]

Rawma,
Jaurequi already gave you such great advice, that I don't have much more to add. I did experience bloating and gas :o my 1st week or two raw.
It has totally subsided now. Everyone is different with the weight loss.
Your 1st month just focas on staying on raw foods and after that you can tweak
your diet a bit. Also add some excercise if you don't already.
I was really tired though from detox my 1st month raw so didn't excercise much...For me, if I stay raw I lose 2-3 lbs. a week on average...if I add some cooked in there or too much wine I don't lose any...but that's me...everyone will experience differences in weight loss. You can't always see changes on the scale either; I look less bloated and thinner raw even when I don't lose much weight on the scale.
Hang in there, you are doing wonderful!

[Rawma]

Rawkinlocs...got it! Thanks. I really do plan to be vegan though, just trying to find my way!
Punky, Thanks so much for your reply...you all have made me feel more impowered!
One note...I LOVE MOCK SALMON PATE!
Lisa

[Pepper]

hi rawma, this is pepper and I'm new at this........ how does one find someone elses journal? Some have an invitation to read their journal in their postings, and others don't. Can you hide your journal, and if so, how.

[rawpriestess]

Hi, as far as I know there is no way to hide a journal, but the way to find one is to go to the home page, you can get there by clicking on the orange at the top of the page, with the word "home" under it, on that page, scroll down until you see the forum 30 day challenge, click on that, you will see an alphabet at the top of the page, and lots of picks, if you look at the picks you will see they are in alphabetical order, let's say you are looking for someone named Raw Joe, you would click on the "r" at the top and it will take you to the "r" section, look for "Raw Joe" if you don't see him, then click on the next page, (you will find this at the bottom of all the picks-but it is light grey so sometimes hard to see), click on the second page, and look there, you can keep going until you are throught he "r" section.

Now if you don't find their journal, they simply may not have one, as not everyone does. Only some people choose to post in a journal.

Hope this helps.