Energy Meltdown

[RighteousYogini]

Hey Folks
Im having a breakdown and it's only Day 2 of 100% raw. I was taking all sorts of "healthy" energy pills, caffeine, espresso, energy drinks....... and now... Im totally going through a major crash. 11 days ago I was about 80% raw so I didn't think this would be so hard, but now at 100%, I just want to sleep ALL the time, I cant wake up early or if I do Im foggy headed and have to go back to bed. I nap twice during the day... dying for some of this raw energy people speak of, but it isn't here yet! So to be sure Im still totally raw, I made lots of SWEETS. The main staple of my diet right now is raw vegan cheesecake, raw macaroons, and greens. I figure i can tweak that later if I can just get over this phase.

Question: is organic fair trade espress beans REALLY THAT BAD?? (this is the addiction yelling, lol).....Will one espresso a day counteract all of my other efforts??

Namaste,
shanti

[modernmonkey]

Sorry to hear all this. Sounds like you have some major addictions. Don't you think you should give up caffeine before you go raw, to ease the detox process? Otherwise I think you should allow at least a week of detox before you start to feel energised again. You won't get that energy after 2 days. Your body needs time to eliminate the toxins. They are already rising to the surface, that is why you feel so crap. If you give into them now, you're only gonna have to go through it all again next time you decide to go raw.

Also you are consuming a lot of sugar (not fruit) and fat, it's gonna drag you down. Lots of fruit and salads is in order and pamper yourself, allow yourself to take it easy...

[RighteousYogini]

Well, to be honest, I thought that giving up gluten, dairy, any and all wheat products, sugar in all forms, and cutting down from about 4-5 coffees a day plus an energy drink to one coffee a day WAS quite a big step before going 100%. So...yes, now I'm suffering some at 100%. But I've decided to give myself the permission to sleep all day if I need to in order to stick with it!

[modernmonkey]

Good, that is very wise. Glad to hear it. Caffeine is the worst. In the past, every time I gave it up, I got horrendous headaches and felt like crap. Even from one cup a day. Even just from tea. Don't underestimate the power of caffeine. How you feel could be just from that one thing.

[PeachyLove]

I notice when my body need to heal from something, I get really sleepy and I go into a deep, deep, deep sleep. If I try to resist I am also foggy and feel aw…. But when the sleep is complete I am healed of what ever and I feel wonderful.

So, I think you could be detoxing and healing. You may have to go though this process, before you experience raw energy.

Drinking lots of water and greens will help with detox. Water and greens will help with bowel and urine elimination, dilute and cleanse the blood, thus helping your body with the detox burden.




Question: is organic fair trade espress beans REALLY THAT BAD?? (this is the addiction yelling, lol).....Will one espresso a day counteract all of my other efforts??

Namaste,
shanti

I think espresso is not raw and in my opinion Yes it will.

But, you could slow your detoxing and healing down, by slowly eliminating it over a few weeks. Start with one cup, half, quarter etc...

I think you should do whatever is going to keep you on the raw path.

I hope this helped.

Robin

[RighteousYogini]

Thanks tonnes to both of you... Well, when I first dropped to 80% raw (took out the dairy, sugar, wheat, and TOFU and all packaged tofu) within 24 hours I developed a ridiculous cold that put LASTED 9 DAYS me in bed for 3 days horrid headaches etc and lost my voice... so then I dropped to nearly no caffeine because I couldn't handle coffee (talk about blessing in disguise). Then I took out the other 20 percent and...irritable and tired... but tolerable. It's absolutely amazing what even ONE coffee will do! I mean, the detox speaks for itself...if its that hard to get off, it cant' be good for me! Plus, I have to note, last week my back and joints were a mess. As of yesterday.... I cannot recall my back ever feeling so good. I don't think it's a coincidence.

[RawMark]

I was taking all sorts of "healthy" energy pills, caffeine, espresso, energy drinks....... and now... Im totally going through a major crash.

So to be sure Im still totally raw, I made lots of SWEETS.

Well, of course you're crashing.

For one thing, "energy drinks" and caffeine don't actually give you energy. They do no have energy of their own! What they do is to stimulate your body to release certain chemicals into your bloodstream (mostly sugar and adrenaline). So the energy you feel is coming from your own body maxing itself out on energy it does not really have ready. And eating sugary stuff causes spikes and subsequent drops in energy that is a whole 'nother big topic on its own.

Basically, you're setting yourself up for crashing and, in the end, long-term deficiency of energy and health. If going raw is a bit of a trial then ease into it rather than throwing yourself into a fully raw diet that is compromised. Years ago I remember meeting a bunch of really unhealthy vegetarians who had totally missed the point of their diet and were eating junk food. I see that now again as organic foods become popular - just because it's organic doesn't mean it's good for you. Healthy food is balanced and nutritious, regardless of the diet's basis.

[RighteousYogini]

Hi RawMarc

How else could I ease into it if I had already taken out tofu, all forms of sugar, all dairy and other animal products, wheat, processed foods, and cut down to one coffee a day? What else is there after that but to go 100%? That's where I was at, and okay, and then I went 100%.

Thanks everyone for your support and responses!

[modernmonkey]

What I think Marc means is to transition slowly so that your body doesn't receive any major shocks and you don't experience this 'denied' feeling. First, a week without caffeine (that will be your biggest help), then refined sugar (sodas, cookies, cakes etc..), then meat, then dairy, then refined grains, then cooked food. I think the caffeine has been your biggest problem so learn to cut that out completely first. Then tackle your other 'cravings' or vices one by one. The idea is that the transition will be so gradual that you will experience very little detox symptoms and not feel like you are 'not allowed' stuff.

See it more as a process of elimination rather than an overnight transformation. But wean yourself off caffeine first. That's coffee, tea, energy drinks and chocolate. When your only transition is giving up a cooked dinner you can even slowly transform that gradually too. If you eat plenty of fruit, veg, greens, nuts, avos and seeds you shouldn't even 'crave' raw sweets. The coffee and sweets is too similar to a SAD diet. I understand you feel you need it to stay raw but it hasn't worked has it? You feel so lousy that you're desperate to have a coffee to make the feelings go away. Wean yourself off coffee and curb your cravings with what I mentioned above.

[RighteousYogini]

Raw Monkey

Nah, I'm following Alissa's plan which is : go for it..... 100% off the bat. She's the expert, right? As well, I really don't foresee putting coffee, cooked foods, sweets, chocolate, etc back into my system so that I can go and take it out again. That makes literally no sense at all, now that I'm 100%. BUT sleeping when headachey makes a brilliant difference! I made it through the cravings and came out on the other side! :throwhearts:

[green goddess]

I just wrote out a lengthy reply, was finishing the last sentence, and my cat walked across the keyboard and it disappeared. Grrrr! :(

To sum up what I'd said, get rid of coffee. I think you realize this already. Coffee is a crutch, something people become dependant on and can't fuction properly without it; this scares me, actually. It's kind of similar to hearing drinkers say they can't participate in social situations without 'a drink or two'. Coffee drinkers need that cup or two a day to keep their energy levels up, and if they stop, whammo! Drowsiness and withdrawal! But after the coffee-cleansing hump, things return to normal, and the body re-learns how to function without coffee! The transition period is not fun (so I've learned; I've never had a cup of coffee myself), but so worth it in the end. :)

What might help right now is eating lots of fruit and greens. Fruit because it's yummy and sweet and satiating, and greens because they help with detoxing and go so well with the fruit. But, of course, listen to what your body wants - if it seems you want more sweet food, have some dates! If you feel like you want more fat, have an avocado!

I wish you success with your coffee issues, and we will all be here to support you! :heart

[modernmonkey]

Gosh, I never meant you to reintroduce crap only to go and give it up again. That would be idiotic!!!! I was trying to make a point. Failed!

[Namaste Mama]

What about using Raw Cacao and Maca? Maca heals the adrenals and yours are probably pretty exausted right now.

[RawMark]

I really don't foresee putting coffee, cooked foods, sweets, chocolate, etc back into my system so that I can go and take it out again.

Sorry, I thought you said you were eating a lot of sweets? Did I misunderstand?


I made lots of SWEETS. The main staple of my diet right now is raw vegan cheesecake, raw macaroons . . .

My point earlier - one of my points - was that sweets in any form aren't a good staple. I'm mostly referring to those with any kind of refined sugar (even agave), though even living on something like dates isn't ideal.

[ReneeH]

In LOLF Alissa tells us how important MOVING is, and getting fresh sunlight...Vitamin D!!! Have you tried that? When I used to crave things, I found that getting out and moving helped me to get my mind off of cravings...

And, try adding a couple of Smoothies to your Diet...

[RighteousYogini]

Yes!!! I've been replacing old sweets wtih raw desserts with lotsa agave....I get tonnes of exercise, teach yoga, spin, have been walking... I feel awesome today........ slept through the headache, and feel so proud and empowered that I made it through without craving! And only a small piece of my vegan cheesecake...I eat 3 smoothies a day and the rest is all fruit and veggies.....AND the delux desserts!

[Raw Angel Mom]

It is also a detox symptom. I feel your body is all excited to have those powerful nutrients and need you to sleep so it cans start doing major repair.

I had those time, that i couldn't stay awake.

It will pass, just hang in there.

[RighteousYogini]

What about using Raw Cacao and Maca? Maca heals the adrenals and yours are probably pretty exausted right now.

thanks! Ill try some raw cocoa.... and I do have maca that I put in smoothies.....

[RighteousYogini]

It is also a detox symptom. I feel your body is all excited to have those powerful nutrients and need you to sleep so it cans start doing major repair.

I had those time, that i couldn't stay awake.

It will pass, just hang in there.

Thanks Angel... back to my mid-afternoon slump with major caffeine withdrawl headache . .. sigh...sadly nap isn't an option now.

[modernmonkey]

Cocoa is also caffeine. Just sayin...

[RighteousYogini]

Raw cocoa? hmmm, I didnt see that in Alissa's book, although she adamantly points out caffeine is not good. If she says its okay, I dont think Ill take more off my list of edibles.

I wonder if nightmares are also a detox symptom........ funny how they manifest in so many ways......

[RighteousYogini]

Dear Ms. Monkey..you posted about cocoa and caffeine...now you have me worried cause I cannot go through this detox hell again...Im going to post a question on it.... thank you for the heads up......