New and Nervous Transitioner/Detox

[Autumn]

Hello everyone. I am thrilled to find such an active board with such caring, informative people. :) I pray that I am posting correctly, since I was just chastised like a 3-year old on another board for not reading/following their 350 rules. (I signed my post)

Anyway, I'm a 37 yr old, married, no children, work at home professional who has been dabbling in going completely raw for the past, oh, 8 months. Presently, I eat about 90% fruits and veggies, with occassional quinoa, raw oats and brown rice. Of the 90% F&V, I eat about 70-80% raw (more so in warmer months). I have been reading everything I can about the raw foods healthstyle and feel this is the next step in my progression.

I must admit I am a bit nervous about the various detox symptoms I've read. I'm basically a big baby and since I am a sole proprietor, I don't know what would happen to my business if I started feeling very awful and couldn't work. I realize that detoxing would be different for every person, but what is the worst I could expect and how long does it typically last? Is it easier (faster) to detox using a fast (kinda get it all over as quickly as possible?) Any comments/suggestions would be very appreciated.

One thing I noticed already on this site. Why is it that people who are raw are so beautiful? Glowing skin, shiny hair, happy faces, pretty smiles, strong bodies - if your pictures aren't a glowing recommendation for going raw, I don't know what is!

Autumn :)

[flutterfly]

Don't worry so much about the detox. It is better out then in lol.
Raw does make the skin better. I am sure your skin is very nice since you are about 90% raw already. I would think that you already have done a lot of detoxing.
Welcome here, Georgie

[Autumn]

Thank you for the welcome and the reply. I didn't mean my skin (although it has gotten much better), I meant everyone who I see here-your skin just glows. :) I realize now that questions should be in the other discussion threads, so I will mosey on over there. Thanks again.

Autumn :)

[sweetgoddess]

LOVE that fiery red hair of yours! The first time i tried raw, last year, I jumped from an awful diet...meat, sugar, bread you name it..straight into 100 percent raw and i started detoxing by nightfall! The worst detox I experienced was headaches, cold like symptoms, pressure in my head from mucous buildup..it didnt last too long ..this second time around the symptoms are much milder...and you can slow them down if you do have them--coming from the diet you described I dont think you have anything to fear. Go for it!

[Sharon in Colorado]

If you are already eating high raw, likely you won't get any real bad detox when you go all raw. Anyway, I'm sure they can't be worse than any cooked symptoms you may be presently experiencing. Actually it's like a very slow cleanse when your raw. As opposed to a quick cleanse/detox when you are juice fasting, and even quicker when you are water fasting.

All the best to you!

[Rawkinlocs]

Welcome Autumn!

Also to cosign with what has already been said, I received advice from Nora of Rawschool.com that when we DO go through detox symptoms, it's good to eat as lightly as possible (mainly juicy fruits) and that will make the symptoms not last as long. But if we are eating heavily (nuts, grains, etc.) that may make the symptoms hang on longer.

Try not to be fearful, though. It may not even be as bad as you anticipate. Like sweetgoddess, I had headaches (not bad ones) and a couple of days of cold-like symptoms. But it didn't last long and wasn't bad at all. As it was stated, I really think how "bad" the symptoms end up being depends on the previous diet.

[Autumn]

Thanks all for the nice welcomes! :)

I see now that I was a bit confused when I read the detox symptoms of others. I thought these symptoms came about even after transitioning to raw by whatever degree. I didn't realize that the most severe were probably suffered by those who went from all cooked to all raw very quickly (although I do understand now that some have only minor discomfort). I guess I read a few posts from those who had the worst of the lot and freaked. I am much less worried now!

SweetGoddess, thank you for the nice compliment! :)

[twinyoga]

I was strict vegetarian before going about 80-100% raw each day. I haven't had caffeine in years. My point is that I have had very little detox symptoms. I think if you are already mostly raw, the transition will be very simple.

Good luck.
Debbie

[misslinda]

Warmest welcome Autumn,

Much strength and peace in your raw journey.

luv,
linda :)

[Autumn]

Thank you all for the warm welcome. I look forward to sharing with you all.

[MaxMarie]

Like you, I've found this board to be better than others. Folks are just so much more KIND!!

Yeah!

I can't say I've had any detox symptoms. I did have one day where I purged a bunch of gunk from my intestines. But it was easy and I felt SO GREAT afterwards.

I celebrated (insert sarcasm) my one month of being raw by having pizza with my auntie and cousin at California Pizza Kitchen this weekend. I got a headache afterwards and couldn't sleep. Tossed and turned half the night. Bad dreams too. All as my poor tummy tried to make heads or tails of what I had consumed.

Have a great day!

[Sharon in Colorado]

Were there garlic or onions in the pizza? I've heard about garlic and onions causing nightmares. I didn't think this was true until it happened to me. Although I can't say it happens when I eat the sweet onion bread, but that's a sweet onion, not as strong.