Burning Muscle during exercise...

[Angelina]

I have been an intense exerciser for years now..been through different phases, i.e. heavy lifting; martial arts/kickboxing..you name it I've done it. Along with that I always followed a very healthy diet (mind you not RAW, but unprocessed; lots of veggies/salads, lean protein~ usually from fish or whey; healthy fats. From time to time I noticed a strong ammonia smell after particually intense cardio/Bikram workouts (especially Bikram, its really intense after that). I was told that it was muscle breakdown and to supplement with glutamine; but I am beginning to wonder, was it really muscle breakdown or was it the excess protein in my diet? Has anyone else experienced this in their former SAD life and will it decrease now that I am RAW? :confused:

[ReneeSC]

Angeline,

When meat proteins are in the bloodstream, they will come out in the excretions as more of a putrid smell.

As far as metabolizing muscle mass, you up your nut mass, and iron to see if that helps you from losing any.

Do you notice any leaving?

[Angelina]

Thanks Renee..I just started Raw a week ago, so its too soon to say if there's muscle loss...haven't noticed if the smell is gone yet (honestly, this is gross but I think its in my clothes no matter how much I soak them, time for a new gym wardrobe!)

[tglasco4]

I was told that it was muscle breakdown and to supplement with glutamine; but I am beginning to wonder, was it really muscle breakdown or was it the excess protein in my diet? Has anyone else experienced this in their former SAD life and will it decrease now that I am RAW? :confused:

I don't know about the muscle breakdown thing. I would agree that its a release of toxins. You're right, one week is way to soon to notice. But if you keep up your resistance training along with the cardio you are doing, the raw lifestyle will cause you to release toxins quickly. It may smell bad for awhile, but then it will be gone. Since I don't know how much in the way of toxins you have in your system its hard to tell how long it will take. I am noticing alot less "funk" :p in general since I have become raw.

Peace.

Todd

[angelandarose]

I agree with Todd, I am also noticing less and less 'funk' from my urine smell to my underarm smell. ;) Give yourself a lot more time to detox and drink lots of purified water.

Love,
Angie

[twinee1]

There are alot of mis conceptions on the Ammonia Smell. You are not burning your muscle and it is not meat in the system causing it either. It is a NORMAL processs of the Amino Acid breakdaown. The question is really why do you sometimes smell it and sometimes not ??

First look to water consumption. How much water ?

Also read this article..it explains it in layman terms.

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=326

[Angelina]

The reason I sometimes smell it and sometimes don't depends on the intensity of the workout, i.e. my cardio workouts tend to be on the higher intensity scale; so its basically when I sweat a LOT.. thanks for the link, I'll check it out :)

[Angelina]

That makes soo much sense, I've been recently maintaining a somewhat lower carb level until now...so I guess that smell will be history real soon...Thanks everyone :D

[rayoflight]

OK. I know I may be setting myself up for a firing range with this one; but can someone refresh my memory...what is so wrong with meat? I've been raw on and off for over two years now (sometimes even 100%!), and while I can say I definitely notice the positive effects of staying away from dairy, refined sugar, and processed flour etc and eating plenty of fruits, veggies, nut butters and milks, seed cheeses and only raw desserts etc. I seem to feel better with a little organic meat in my diet...particularly lamb and fish...sometimes I feel very tired and I've heard it may be vitamin B12 I'm lacking...protein definitely seems to pick me up; I also tend to have intense cravings for it, even though I added raw hemp protein powder to my smoothies. I am pretty active; too, I do yoga, walk, and do intense cardio/resisitance training classes but haven't been able to sustain much weight loss just doing raw; I noticed more on a low carb diet. I reallly want to be raw because I know it's right, but how can I get enough protein and sustain weight loss/muscle mass without meat? I'm about 75% raw; meat fish and eggs are the only non raw items I eat, for the most part. Occasional popcorn or brown rice.

[twinee1]

I can understand your concern with giving up meat. Raw diets can tend to increase the Carb Count and Fat Grams if you are not careful.

Try this..eat Raw all day, avoid higher Fat foods like Nuts, Avocado and Raw Deserts, if weight loss is a concern, and for your late meal have some cooked protein, I still have Organic Eggs some nites on my salad or Goat Cheese. This is how I started out. I lost 3 pds doing this. Now I have moved to the next level. I added Hemp Protein Powder to replace my Whey Protein w/ all kinds of artifical additives. Also added Garden of Life Goatein Protein Powder , Protein Tablets and the Super Seed Protein Fiber Sup..this compay is awesome for the Bodybuilder / Fitness persons needs.

After reducing my Meat Protein Intake (about 125 grams a day on my Bodybuilding Diet) to about 50-75 now...I make cooked protein for my evening meal and it has totally lost appeal. Tonight I thought I would make Organic Beef for my Husband and eat some. OM Goodness. I could not eat it.
I made a veggie soup in the Blender with some Hemp and ate it with Nori, Cabbage Sprout Roll Ups...so much better.

Cooked meat constipates me that is why I gave it up.

[Denise Nicole]

I can not tolerate food containing cholestrol (i.e. meat). It makes my cholestrol go through the roof. Thus why I became vegan and why I do not need meds even though the rest of my immediate (meat eating mother, father, & sister) family is on them. For me meat = a slow death.

[tglasco4]

Hello Ray of Light,

As you probably have guessed, this question has been asked before on this board. I think it would be best if your question were moved to the general discussion area. As far as sustaining muscle mass, in spite of the popular opinions, flesh food is not necessary. First of all, protein is produced by the body from amino acids. Eating flesh food is not really providing good protein. I have not eaten flesh food in over 6 years. I used to weigh 230lbs (mostly fat), now I weigh 195lbs (mostly muscle). I have been raw for 17 months. For the last 28 days, I have eaten no fat whatsoever. I have not lost any muscle mass. Fruit, vegetables, seeds and nuts will provided all the body needs nutritionally. A good workout program with strict form will provided muscles. Again, I asked Rawkinlocs to move your question to the general area, because I am sure many here will have great information to share with you about flesh food....

Peace..

Todd

[NRG]

I'm looking for answers to why I am so much more tired when I try to do
my usual route of 3-4 miles. I've been raw for 30 days and am trying to
really balance my meals with variety so I get all the nutrients I need. My
muscles seem to give out sooner. Is this a sign of detox? I was on a pretty
heavy meat diet before this but also ate very few non-organic or processed foods.
Thanks - NRG

[Arky]

It is surprisingly common (and I don't claim to know the underlying reasons why) for people eating high-raw diets to notice a more acute sense of smell.

Sweat contains urea. Could it be that you are simply smelling urea more acutely than you have done in the past? Urea can smell quite like amonia.

Obviously, the more you sweat, the more urea you will excrete and thus you will smell more strongly.


J.

[twinee1]

NGR..what is your daily diet look like ? Do you mind posting it for us to see. It may help us to give you some advice. Also when do you train?

I am finding just the opposite. My runs are better since I changed to a Live Food Diet. But on the other hand when weight training I find that I MUST keep the fruits at the lower end of the gylcemic index. no dried fruits and no natural sugars.

I add Hemp Protein and Garden of Life Goatein IP and Seed of Life to my daily diet. The Goatein IP (5 grams protein per serving) is great during the work out.

Leslie

[jaurequi]

NRG :),

Meat does not provide carbohydrates. Carbohydrates = Energy. So whether one eats meat or not, that is not where energy comes. You are not getting proper carbohydrates for your particular body needs for activity. Everyone is different and it takes time to figure out on what carbs your body works well.
Over the years I've discovered the ways I can eat and do well; but there are definite no-no's.
As an endurance athlete, I have to go high on carbs, followed by high-nutrient/mineral-density foods like greens in abundance; then lots of veggie variety. On the lower end, fats.
You just need to refine your daily intake and take note of how you feel. Try writing down what you eat and how you feel.

[rawgrrl]

NRG, is it possible you're dehydrated? You might need to drink more water if your body is releasing toxins. Recently, a doctor told me that people should be drinking at least half their body weight in ounces (150 pounds = 75 ounces) every day.

[NRG]

I really appreciate the thoughtful replies. I will try to drink more before and
after my runs as a start. I also must mention that the last two runs were
much better - I felt more like my old self.
My diet: Well I'm really new at this and am deffinately not doing the intense juicing that some of you more experienced rawists are into. I am trying to go
low tech (part of my life philosophy) and see what I can do with fresh fruit and
salads plus carbs on an as desired basis. For example, today I ate a large
fruit salad for breakfast. For an early lunch, I had a whole avocado with salt and pepper as a
mono meal (on a suggestion from an expert on troubled digestion) a large salad (lots of different ingreds like 3 kinds of sprouts, steamed kale, lettuce, carrots, cukes..) and a tahini dressing.
Dinner was cooked because I craved the delicata squash so much and I also
had a cup of sweet brown rice about an hour after the squash. I used earth balance margarine (soy based ) on the squash to make it even more delicious.
So that's one day in my life.
Any comments? I love you all!! :p