A question for those who weren't rawists/vegans prior to going raw

[bigV]

I started going raw probably a day or two after labor day. For the most part, I've been almost completely raw except for eating some cooked meals maybe 5 or 6 times now. I've never been a vegan prior to going raw. It's been a struggle but I'm going to stick with it. I'm already seeing positive results such as more energy, easier sleeping, losing weight, recovery time from working out has been minimal, etc. My goal isn't necessary to be 100% raw. If I can maintain around 85-90% raw, that's fine with me. I know there will be times I won't be able to eat raw such as during the holidays or sometimes socializing with coworkers and friends.

I've been reading some of those posts on people who have been raw/vegans for a long time. The ones who might have had some cooked food or other bad food said they've experienced some bad side effects (bloating, tiredness,etc) from doing so. I was just curious for the people who were just eating a SAD lifestyle prior to going raw, how long does it take for your body to adjust to just eating raw food where you might experience those same effects? I'm also curious with longtime raw food dieters/vegans, how long/bad did some of the side effects last the times you ate something from a standard american diet?

My goal is to see if I can stay around 90-100% raw till Thanksgiving. There's no way around eating a SAD during the week of Thanksgiving especially with family coming into town I haven't seen for awhile. I just want to be prepared for any rude awakening side effects my body might endure that week when I've been going raw. lol

[jevans]

I went from eating SAD to 75% RAW almost immediately. The transition was fairly easy for me since I strongly believe that this WOE is right and healthy. What other way of eating can claim (And prove) that you can help diminish or even eliminate, illnesses. I guess I am one of the lucky ones. I didn't have any transition symptoms at all. Nothing. And believe me, my diet was bad!

I just completed a 4 day juice fast and I didn't experience anything on that either. No head achy, no surge in energy, no sleepiness,etc... nothing at all. And I'm hypoglycemic. The only odd thing about the fast was the psychological feeling of not eating food for 4 days. That was weird.

From what others have posted, the transition symptoms could take anywhere from a couple of days to a week. BUT, they all say how much better they feel after switching. As I mentioned, to help you stick with this is believing that this is the right thing to do. For me it was watching some of the food movies on Netflix. That will make you a believer. Good luck.

[Aleesha Sattva]

i went from very SAD to 100% raw overnight and let me say it was the BEST thing i've ever done... ever. i was so unhealthy and my health improved right away. literally... right away.

my skin cleared up. i released heaps of weight...

raw RAWKS!!!

[awdturboscott]

I think what bigv is asking is the side effects of SAD splurging. I was 100% raw for a couple weeks and one day I was on a road trip, didnt have anything raw to eat so stopped and got a chicken wrap. Didnt notice anything right off the bat, but later that night I started feeling like I was getting the flu or something and that night I was experiencing a fever and body aches. I juiced about 8 oranges before I went to sleep and woke up feeling back to normal. Ever since then Ive been maintaining an about 60-70% raw diet until I can 100% figure out a good meal plan and also have the willpower to actually stay with it. From the research Ive done its basically a bad case of digestive luekocytosis, my body was not use to cooked foods at all and it used all of my "not up to par" immune system and thats why I was experiencing all of that. My best guess anyways.

[bigV]

@awdturboscott - Yeah I think the side effects of SAD splurging is a better question to ask.

I know it will take awhile before i'm in the 90-100% range consistently of being raw. I know when I first went raw, I almost was 100% the first 2 weeks. I went out for dinner and had some thai food, (noodles,veggies,tofu) and felt immediately tired and lethargic about an hour after eating. I know one other time eating SAD food, I felt like I was coming down with a cold the next day but that seemed to pass by the end of the day. I just want to be prepared for any future side effects down the road. It will be tough during the Thanksgiving week with family in town and I'm hoping to stay around 70% or higher if possible.

[TriciaR]

Hi!

I've only been raw for 4 days with only one cooked meal. I was having serious cravings on Day 2! I was on SAD, but eating mostly clean during the time before I decided to try to go raw for 30 days. Other than a headache for 2 days that started in the afternoons, I've had no symptoms from going raw this week. Unfortunately, I also haven't noticed any improvements other than already dropping 3 lbs.! I keep going back and forth as to whether I want to keep it up or not, but I'm going to try to at least do the 30 days and see how I feel then.

[thenewamanda]

I've had cooked vegetables (steamed/baked) with no ill consequences, but I've found the two times since going raw that I've had something rice-based (rice noodles, plain steamed rice) I have felt really ill and had terrible diahrrea. Just a warning. As your body adjusts to being raw, there are some things that it won't want to tolerate. For me, as a result, it makes me want them less, which makes me eat healthier in general, which is great and makes everything so easy!