Where is the energy??

[Jeannie]

80% raw for several weeks... day 4 of 100%

I want to know where the energy is..? Everyone is raving about having heaps of energy but it's not happening for me!! I was kind of expecting to be bouncing off the walls right now ;) but instead I feel depleted of energy and spaced out with brain-fog!

Am I just being impatient? This morning I had a huge bowl of watermelon and then a handful of dates and went to the grocery store, and I was slightly light-headed so I bought a raw organic spirulina smoothie and had to have it in the car before I drove home, was feeling a little better after that but not for long.

Then, at home I had a huge green smoothie with spinach, tomato, apple and carrot juice. Baaaad combo... ew.. wasn't very nice.... but I reckoned.. anything to feel better! (from now on will be sticking to tried and tested smoothie recipes) I also snacked on some nuts and had another few pieces of watermelon. The only thing is that I am not feeling hungry at all,(unusual for me!) I have been forcing myself to eat something just to get some energy going. Maybe more juices will work better for me?

[modernmonkey]

Hiya

Maybe you could start your day on more sustaining foods like banana, mango or quinoa. Melon is one of the fastest processing fruits and unlikely to sustain you for long.

Also, make sure you are having quality sleep. Sleep will affect you energy equally as food and bad sleep could counteract the goodness of your diet.

Yoga is great in the morning. That can be energising.

I think in time you will suss it out, you just need to find out what works the best for you.

Good luck.

[Mikey_H]

Sounds like you are eating too much fruit and not enough of other foods.
Question... did this energy loss set in before of after you decided to go 100% raw?
If it was present when you were 80% perhaps you were eating the wrong raw AND cooked foods...
If it has only been present since going 100% then chances are you are not eating enough of the right nutrients. Most of my diet is fruit and vegetable but I couldn't bear if those were still the only foods I've eaten for a long period of time. I've tried it just like many have, but it simply wasn't sustainable for my high energy needs. I've been there before, light-headedness, dizziness and little energy. Always happens when I eat too much fruit/veggies and not much else. Keep in mind that's just me. Bump up the fats and bump up the protein.
If you were feeling more energy at 80% raw, then you might have been healthier at 80%. In that case you should stick with 80% raw for now and see where that takes you. Just avoid junk food!! Not all cooked food is junk!!!!! If that were true... then wow ancient chinese medicine would have little or no meaning. You need yang to balance the yin. Who knows, maybe even raw sources of protein and fat will balance you out. Start slow, things are a process. Switching to a particular "diet" or high standard like 100% raw immediately is not good for everybody.

It took me a MUCH longer time to get to the extremely high point of raw I am now. Everytime I either forced myself to do 100% raw for longer than a few weeks or did the exact opposite and ate too much cooked and/or junk... I was out of balance. You need the ups and the downs to know for sure where you stand. Good luck!!

[Jeannie]

Thanks for the advice! Mikey, I have been experiencing this since going 100%, so I think my body is protesting!

I have been eating more today, and more greens, still feeling a bit off but will see how long it lasts, hopefully this lack of energy passes. I have been snacking on goji berries today too, it says 'superfood'! on the pack... sooo.....hopefully a change soon!

Modernmonkey, I might have been sleeping too much! On leave at the moment so sleeping in the last few days!:) Ahh... holidays!

Went for a 5km brisk walk this morning too, have been slack in the exercise department for over a week, so I am sure that is also a reason why the energy levels are down...

[Aleesha Sattva]

80% raw for several weeks... day 4 of 100%

I want to know where the energy is..? Everyone is raving about having heaps of energy but it's not happening for me!! I was kind of expecting to be bouncing off the walls right now ;) but instead I feel depleted of energy and spaced out with brain-fog!


could be detox.

[James Carmichael]

Try a salt water flush. Do it first thing in the morning and don't eat for a couple of hours afterward. I feel energised all day after it.

[fastfreedom]

Could very possibly be from detox. But if it isn't from detox then, I was also gonna recommend the fats. Are you eating enough of em?

Nuts, seeds, avacados, oils, etc...

[EscapeArtist]

It could be from detox..
Or it could be from not eating enough calories
Or it could be from not getting enough greens
Or it could be that you are deficient! I didn't get energy until I began to supplement with vitamind D3 and B12

[Jeannie]

Looks like getting some more calories is working :) Weird, because I am really not all that hungry so have been listening to my body so when I feel a bit low on energy I eat something even if I don't feel hungry..

Also added a bit more avo and nuts, and I have to find a way to get more greens! Honestly, I don't like raw greens, (other than lettuce etc) still have to develop a taste for them! All these years of cooking them to death, smothering them with heaps of cheese and baking them in the oven is going to take a while to undo! Combining greens with fruit for smoothies works very well though.

What exactly does a salt water flush entail?


I am feeling very positive and it is so amazing to have so much support!

xxx

[fastfreedom]

I don't particurally like greens either. At least not the seriously green greens. LOL So I'm glad to hear that you can get em with smoothies cus I'm thinking of getting a serious blender to up my green intake. And it sounds like you eventually get a taste for em after drinking green smoothies for a while.


SWF - salt water flush. Basically it's two teaspoons of sea salt dissolved into a quart of water. Then you drink it within a short time frame. I would drink em within a couple minutes. I just tried to chug em down and get em outta the way. Also I use two rounded teaspoons to make sure it works properly. Then you wait 30 minutes to 2 hours and stay near a toilet. Another thing, they are supposed to be done first thing in the morning on an empty stomach before you eat or drink anything. Basically it makes ya go #2. ;)

[monkapotapus]

SWF - salt water flush. Basically it's two teaspoons of sea salt dissolved into a quart of water. Then you drink it within a short time frame. I would drink em within a couple minutes. I just tried to chug em down and get em outta the way. Also I use two rounded teaspoons to make sure it works properly. Then you wait 30 minutes to 2 hours and stay near a toilet. Another thing, they are supposed to be done first thing in the morning on an empty stomach before you eat or drink anything. Basically it makes ya go #2. ;)

Please note doing a SWF will also flush a lot of the healthy bacteria from your colon that needs to be there.....;)

[Jeannie]

Just an update, specially for those just starting out and going through the same thing!
I am doing the 30 day challenge and feeling better each day! Also have noticed that I am feeling 'light' and have better energy levels and I don't know why but I am sure my sense of smell has become more intense? Anyone else had this?

Lost a bit of weight, can feel a difference in my clothes, I don't have a scale and don't want one, I will know when I am at a healthy weight :)

[kaleboy]

add greens via green smoothie...I'm a newbie and doing it this way is easy. Wash up is 2 min.

[mcster]

Great to hear you're doing better. Some thoughts from your earlier posts...

It could've been detox. It could've been bad food combos. Bad food combos not only taste bad but certain foods cause indigestion when mixed. I can't fathom tomato and apple go well together. One thing I did notice is the absence of fats which you now seem to be introducing. Lots of vegans and raw people miss fats as an oversight or they think they will lose weight faster by not eating fats. That is a myth. Healthy fats actually help burn unhealthy fats and help with weight loss. They are also critically important to keep you running on all cylinders. Here's the simplest advice: eat a variety of fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds and sprouted legumes. Try some superfoods to supplement your diet like hemp, chia, seaweeds etc. That will give you all the vitamins, minerals, aminos and fats you need to achieve optimum health. And try not to get too exotic with your food combos.

Hope that helps.

[RawBogan]

Jeannie,

I make a carrot salad with heaps of calories that keeps me going in my heavy physical job.

Shredded carrot
Chopped celery
Thin sliced Red Capsicum
Chopped sultanas
Coconut Oil
Apple Cider Vinegar

Mix

The other food I eat at work is leafy green wraps with lots of sprouts, zucchini and anything else I can fit. This gives me the nutrition while the carrot salad gives me the energy(not that this doesn't have plenty of nutrition).

All the best.
RawBogan Joondalup.

[Jeannie]

RawBogan: Your ideas sound great,thanks! Nice to see another Aussie on the forum, I had a good laugh at your username!

Mcster: I agree about the bad food combinations, that can be pretty nasty, indigestion and gas are never pleasant. I think I am getting the hang of it slowly but surely, and am starting to believe that keeping things simple is the way to go. I have a few small mono meals throughout the day which seems to keep the energy levels constant. Also learning to listen to my body (except for last night when I was craving coffee! :no:)

Kaleboy: Yea for the green smoothie! :cheer: