I need some encouragement

[Marine Mom]

I have been working on becoming raw since the end of Nov/first part of Dec. Have had on and off 100% raw days and when I ate cooked food I made sure I made good choices. Last week was more raw days than not. Then I started on Sunday 100% raw and have made three totally raw days following Alissa's recipes in her book from week 1. First of all, I am so exhausted. I thought I had detoxed a few weeks ago when I went transitional raw and gave up caffeine, and my daily regimen of pain pills. By day 5 I felt like a truck hit me.

So, I am needing to know, is this exhaustion ever going to end? And why I picked the coldest winter in history to start a raw diet is beyond me, but when it is 17 degrees outside it has been hard but I have stuck to it. My sprouter finally arrived about an hour ago and I am too tired to take it out of the box but I feel like I would feel much better if I had sprouted grains/seeds. Still waiting on the dehydrator I ordered before Christmas.

I don't think I am eating enough during the day. I do pack a lunch but I have been training a new girl all this week and it makes it hard. Last week I trained another new girl and I did great in that every meal she wanted was hamburgers, etc., and I ate my raw lunches.

Anyway, I really want to stick with this and see it through. I am just exhausted, have a headache and my ears ache (may be from the cold) and cant seem to think straight.

BTW, everything I am reading about raw makes complete sense to me. And every recipe I made of Alissa's thinking, "I don't know about this, I don't think I can eat this," has turned out delish. I never dreamed I would ever eat raw zucchini strips and like it. The mock salmon pate is terrific as was pad Thai dish.

Thanks for letting me type away on a ramble...but like my title, I do need some babying right now!

Love yall!
Kris

P.S. My son, a Marine deployed Saturday and I am also thinking of changing nursing careers and going into day surgery....I am not normally a depressed person but I feel so very overwhelmed and down right now.

[RawKnitster]

Hang in there, MM. You are obviously going through a lot stress right now, training new workers, and the huge effect of having a son deployed. Sounds like detox is giving you a big kick, too. Stick with it and get it over with. Detox comes in waves. In between waves are some great highs. Ride this wave out and you will be that much stronger when the next wave comes.

You have worked hard to get where you are. Stick with raw and raw will start working for you. :)

[michigan roman]

i started raw during a november too , when winter hit i was FROZE

couldnt feel warm for nothing . many people add powdered red pepper / cayene to things to help warm . the herb yarrow helps warm . i think olden days it was given to people freezing on flu viruses to warm up , if i drink yarrow tea in summer i sweat like wild . also i think i was told low iodine could make one cold so i bought some powdered kelp for its iodine . www.seaveg.com has good stuff in my experience

and grumpy / depressed when making this GIANT diet change was how i was , i wanted to throw a chair thru my dining room window :eek: i was so grumpy :D and i started hating raw foodist and hearing
their stupid ideas :eek:

it was like 6 months of struggle . but ide stomach issues that weaken me going in so i was already down and thusly your transistion shouldnt be as long

and what kept me pushing and has made me a rawfoodie forever is NORMAN WALKER / his book RAW FRUIT AND VEGI JUICES is old school rock solid wisdom . its a cheap 10 dollar book can be bought amazon or other easily .
walkers outlook is all i'll ever need to keep me sticking to raw

HERES TO YOUR SONS SAFETY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[michigan roman]

heres link to book

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu8CNN01LhkQAefdXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE0Ym1ta2s 3BHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMTAEY29sbwNhYzIEdnRpZANIMzk4XzEwN Q--/SIG=12sifvejq/EXP=1263438093/**http%3a//www.amazon.com/Fresh-Vegetable-Juices-Norman-Walker/dp/B000ICKT60

funny i forgot exact title as ive given my plus over 20 other copies of this book to family / friends so dont have one .
and i read a reveiw of book at amazon where another person gives them away like i do

[streetsurfer]

I find garlic and maca to be a good source of energy for me. I think the spirulina and hemp powder added to green smoothies helps also.

I am usually cold too, so your not alone. My body temperature which was always steady at 98.6 has now dropped to under 98 and was even 96.7 t one point, but I am hoping I can adjust eventually. I can't do pepper because of food sensitivities so I just layer up and wear a cap most of the time (no insulation in the attic with the head shaved). I find myself eating small meals and snacks much more frequently or I get cranky and tired. Maybe that will help you with the energy part of it. Wish I had an answer for the cold. I really thought exercising outside as the temperature started to drop would help but I haven't noticed any improvement. I should be doing more though. Maybe by this time next year it will straighten out.

Thanks for the info MR. I have some kelp/iodine drops and will take them more often. Must try the yarrow too. Can you use the average yarrow from the garden, I wonder? I'll have to harvest some next year if so.

[DeniseM]

I don't think I am eating enough during the day.

First of all, congrats on going raw!

The quoted sentence above stands out to me. A lot of people experience exhaustion during the first part of raw (especially when your body is relearning how to live without the crutch of caffeine), but it can also be a consequence of undereating. Do you find yourself feeling starving at the end of the day, craving cooked food, feeling too sluggish to exercise, having headaches, feeling irritable, having trouble focusing, or getting dizzy or lightheaded? These issues can crop up when you're not giving your body enough fuel.

Also -- is your exhaustion constant, or do you feel bursts of energy as well? I'd say it's more likely to be undereating than detox if the exhaustion never lifts.

Can you post a sample of what you normally eat in a day?

I completely sympathize about the cold winters, by the way. But think of it like this -- if you can survive a winter being raw, think of how easy it'll be once summer comes! :)

[michigan roman]

the white flowered variety is the most potent , but the pinks / reds / etc are usable too

it stops bleeding externally and internally too . i once got a bloody nose and grabbed a handful of yarrow foilage and rubbed into nostrils and bleeding stopped within a minute after ide been bleeding like 10 minutes

[terry brown]

Hi Marine Mom,

Hang in there, I am sure it is all detox and you will be feeling better soon.
I am almost 3 months raw. It is the best thing I have ever done for myself.

I am a Marine mom too. I know the pain you are feeling around the deployment.

Lots of good thoughts your way and to your Marine.

Terry

[Green_Woman]

Marine Mom: Stressful work load will definitely make Detox more difficult. (Speaking from experience here.) But I agree with those who pointed out your questioning if you're eating enough.

Bring MORE food than you think you're going to need with you to work each day.

Bring a VARIETY of foods.

Drink GREEN SMOOTHIES daily - they will help ease you through Detox as well as help boost your Energy.

Find a way to incorporate GINGER into your diet... it's WARMING and it's also calming and ca help reduce your emotional stress.

I wish you THE BEST for you!!!!

[Marine Mom]

Also -- is your exhaustion constant, or do you feel bursts of energy as well? I'd say it's more likely to be undereating than detox if the exhaustion never lifts.

Can you post a sample of what you normally eat in a day?



Thanks everyone so very much for the support and ideas! I so appreciate it and needed it tonight.

Yep, exhausted all day...I am pretty sure I am not eating enough.

Today:

Breakfast: 12 oz Green smoothie with pulp (kale, romaine, apples, lemon)
Later: two small bananas
Lunch: Alissa's pad thai with squash noodles and scant mung bean shoots (prob about a full measuring cup, 1/2 red bell pepper, small avocado
Later: one of my home made date nut balls: about size of golf ball (dates, raisins, walnuts, ground flax, sesame seeds, coconut, sunflower seeds, honey, coconut oil)
Prior to supper: aprox 8 oz green smoothie (same as above)
Supper: Alissa's collard rolls - 1 large, a date,
Later: about tablespoon of honey

And that is it...that I can remember. I am fairly certain I need to eat more. When I am not hauling around new RNs to train it will be easier, they already think I am weird enough for not eating burgers and chic filet today, I am not pushing it with the green drink but plan on packing it in my lunch bag when I am solo....however, I am having some good conversations with them about why I am doing this and the benefits.

I am crawling off to bed!

Kris

P.S. Thanks for the well wishes for my son and Terry, I pray your son is safe!