How long until I can work out strong again?

[theresaann]

Hi y'all~

I am now 2 weeks, one day raw and am kind of disappointed because while I have more energy in GENERAL, I don't have much energy yet to work out and my muscles feel weak. Is this just detoxing? anybody else experience this in the beginning of raw? I can do easy stuff, like gently yoga and walking at a moderately strong pace, but I can't do the muscle strength stuff like weight training or more intense yoga. I so much want to get to it!!! I am being patient, just wondering if others have had this experience, and if so, how long was it before you regained your strength to do more strenous exercise?

[kmik]

I'm sure everyone is different, but just this past week, after 40+ days of being raw, I was in kickboxing, and man, I was hittin' those bags hard. Harder than I ever did. Someone else even commented about it.

Just hang in there, it'll be there for you too. Don't lose sight of what your body is doing, and you'll make it through to the other side stronger than before!

[twinee1]

I know exactly what you mean. When I first changed my diet to the greens, fruit, dropped cooked protein..I was so weak. A few times I got really shaky and could not finish my work out.

I have been eating Raw 10 weeks and just in the past few weeks I feel normal again in the gym. I am weaker on the weights but that is because I was not lifting as heavy since Sept..so I have to build back up from that & I had a chest injury in Aug and cracked my sternum and that set me back too.

So to answer your question for me 4-6 weeks easy ! So be patient...it will come back. Add a little at a time. My husband noted the other day that my running speed was really good (he can run circles around me) and was keeping a better pace than I was.

Oh and also I find I am eating less on raw so this my be a factor too.

[edie]

:) I think everyone is different...Maybe this is a good time to listen to your body, accept what it is telling you and enjoy doing gentle yoga. 2 weeks that is rawsome, hang in there it gets easier! EDIE ( I am a body builder and when I eat raw I get great workouts)

[Kitty]

The same thing is happening to me. I have never had to much energy to begin with but for a while there I was able to at least spend a good hour at the gym lifting weights and running. Two weeks on raw and I don't feel as sleepy but I haven't felt like I had the strength to run or anything like that. I do think its detox really. I am not sure but I really think that it will come back. I decided to take it easy for the first month then next month start up with exercising again. Good Luck!

[theresaann]

yes, it is kind of depressing, especially after the promises of more energy and everything! I will hang in there. It will work itself out. Also, I know if I am promoting candida growth with too many fats then that's part of this. I just read that interview with Dr. Graham that Frederic Patenaude has on his site about the 80-10-10 percentage way of eating raw, and while I know I couldn't do that yet (still too new to raw), I did look at how many fats I'm eating and realized I have probably been doing 30-40% fat-yikes! Hmm. I think that could be why I don't have as much strength. Well, I'm looking at it now. Thanks all for sharing!

[squidly]

theresann

Got to agree with you. I lift weights 3 times a week, yoga 2-3 times, cycle for 50 mins 2-3 times plus walk 45 mins every day (with dogs). I have been on and off raw for 6 months and now 98% for almost 2 weeks. I am 'awake' more but feel weaker duing my workouts - today was especially hard me I have to say. I am going to ride it out and hope it gets better.

[twinee1]

I was pondering this: that maybe our bodies do not need as much heavy weight training ?
I am 10 weeks 95% raw, protein is 1/2 of what is was (which is now a more acceptable amt. for health) carbs have doubled more veggies for sure !! and fat is up a bit and as you all state in the everyday life I am MORE AWAKE MORE ENERGY...but in the gym still weaker than I was and my cardio sessions are shorter at 30-35 min vs 45-60 min.

Point is: my weight is stable (lost 3 initially) and I look the same as far as muscularity and my lower tummy is flatter. If I had been eating cooked and reduced the weights and cardio as much as I have I would of gained 3-5 pds !!! So that is why I am thinking maybe on Raw my need for the monster work outs are gone and I can be more reasonable in the gym, same results.

So if that is the case I will take that benefit. !!

[Lauraw]

Dear Theresaann,

What a great question. I went through more noticable detox when I did a 19-day Master Cleanse prior to going raw. During that time, I'd have days where I was Super Woman at the gym, then days of weakness and needing several naps. The order of these days had little rhyme or reason. I just tried to listen to my body and cooperate.

Now, after two months of 95% raw, I'm lifting heavier weights than before. A few months ago I discovered the "Power of 10" workout, where you do extremely slow reps (10 seconds up, 10 seconds down), which works the muscles deeply so you don't have to work out more than once or twice a week. I highly recommend it. I've been seeing way more definition with less time investment, and the workouts feel good! Here's the link: http://www.power-of-10.com

Also...how are you combining your foods? I know Alissa recommends not worrying too much about this in the beginning, but my system was sluggish the first few weeks raw. I think it was because I was eating a lot of ill-combined (but yummy!) new recipes. Going to fruit or green smoothies until noon and then whatever else for the rest of the day helped my body help itself to higher energy levels.

Good luck and hang in there!

[theresaann]

Hi guys~

well, I decided to go to 85% raw, doing basically the Halleluiah Acres approach. THe first night I made a black eyed pea miso soup with vegetables and had a piece of sprouted grain bread with almond butter. I could feel my body soaking up the nutrients, or so it seemed. Slept great that night and in the morning had tons of energy to do yoga. I've felt that way for three days now. I have green smoothies for breakfast and salad for lunch, or mono fruit meal, and then some steamed or baked veggies plain or in a stew or soup for dinner, plus a big salad. I FEEL GREAT!! I have TONS of energy to work out now, and I'm pooping way better. Go figure. I think seasonal juice fasts and all raw for a couple of weeks plus one day a week juice fasting is a great addition to the 85% raw. As long as I feel this great, I'm gonna keep doing it!

[fiddler]

Hi guys~

well, I decided to go to 85% raw, doing basically the Halleluiah Acres approach. THe first night I made a black eyed pea miso soup with vegetables and had a piece of sprouted grain bread with almond butter. I could feel my body soaking up the nutrients, or so it seemed. Slept great that night and in the morning had tons of energy to do yoga. I've felt that way for three days now. I have green smoothies for breakfast and salad for lunch, or mono fruit meal, and then some steamed or baked veggies plain or in a stew or soup for dinner, plus a big salad. I FEEL GREAT!! I have TONS of energy to work out now, and I'm pooping way better. Go figure. I think seasonal juice fasts and all raw for a couple of weeks plus one day a week juice fasting is a great addition to the 85% raw. As long as I feel this great, I'm gonna keep doing it!

Excellent!! The Hallelujah Diet is a great program. Rev Malkmus is the real deal. It is good to eat the salad with the cooked portion of your meal. Keep up the great effort.

Cheers, fiddler

[AutumnBreezColordLeavz]

Make sure you are getting in 10 mcg of B12 Daily.

[rawcanadagirl]

Hi Theresaann,

I do lots of weight training/bodybuilding, and when I first went raw, I noticed a definite decline in the amount of weight I could lift.
(very disappointing - almost made me quit)
Muscle is hard to build - and it felt like the raw diet was weakening me and melting the muscle away.
It took a few weeks of tweaking my diet, until I was seeing the results I was looking for. When I first went raw, I was eating alot of fruit and veggies, but considering the amount of exercise I do, not enough good fats. I began eating more avocado/nuts/seeds and power smoothies made of hemp (or some other nut milk), bananas, and greens. I also put a scoop of raw hemp powder in my evening drink!

I think that the body needs some time in the beginning - but I got back in full force after a month or so...and am now better than ever

Good luck!
RCG