My Raw Experience

[SeaSiren]

Have been raw since 9/11/05 and have seen many benefits such as, weight loss, clearer skin, higher energy. The fact that I can eat as much as I want is great also. However, I have had some problems along the way such as detox days, especially in the beginning along with headaches and I have not been lifting as much weight. (some of this on another thread)

Update on my raw experience: I know my weight lifting is off but I regarded that to the weight loss I was experiencing. Problem is, I am very sore after working out for days. My recovery is not fast enough and that can't be good.

I read somewhere (need to find it) about a weight lifter who ate "high raw" but also supplimented with vegan protein drinks. Protein has been regarded as the key to rapid muscle recover and my be what I need. I will do more research to find out more and may go to a high raw / 75% or more diet.

If anyone has any info on recovery when raw that would be helpful.

[xParkXCorex]

I'm startim' over on bein' a raw foodist. Makin' it better. I will be official again tomorrow probably.

[goatee]

I don't know if this helps:

Stephen Arlin, in his book "Raw Power" (see www.rawfood.com ), explains in a question/answer section how he became much more powerful after switching to a raw vegan diet:
Q: Are you personally stronger than when you were a cooked food eater?
A: I can say that I'm at least twice as strong as I was when I was eating a *Standard American Diet. I used to benchpress 300 pounds three times, now I can bench that weight twenty times. That's a huge improvement in brute strength. On a burnout set I used to benchpress 135 pounds forty times, now I can bench that weight well over one hundred times. That's a huge improvement in muscular endurance. I also find that I need little or no rest between sets of exercises now.
Q: Where do you get enough protein for real muscle growth?
A: Where does a cow, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, or gorilla get enough protein for real muscle development and growth? Raw plant foods. Protein synthesis is protein synthesis.
*Note: Standard American Diet (SAD) is a meat-based diet.


And for a website on a guy that's 80% raw and a hardcore athlete:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/kristi17.htm

And Dr. Doug Graham is a raw athlete and advisor:

www.vegsource.com/talk/raw/
www.foodnsport.com
www.organicathlete.org

[SeaSiren]

Thank you for the info!

I still eat a lot of raw but found (like him) the recover time to be unacceptable on 100% raw. I have added vegan protien powders and found my recovery time to be within 24 hours, well within my acceptable range.

[xParkXCorex]

Sounds cool

[DeflatorMouse]

I think you've hit on it--the solution is you need to drown yourself in protein. But there are cheaper (& yummier) ways to go about that. I remember protein powder used to cost me $39.95/month. These days I spend half that much on Brazil nuts & cashews to suppliment not only protein but oils. And extra helpings of raw chickpeas/tofu helps, too.

It's just an idea, if you ever decide to go 100% raw again!

[froggythefrog]

Not to screw you up, Deflator Mouse, but I don't think tofu is "raw".

[anthony11]

Not to screw you up, Deflator Mouse, but I don't think tofu is "raw".
It isn't.

[DeflatorMouse]

Not to screw you up, Deflator Mouse, but I don't think tofu is "raw".
It isn't.

*kicks tofu under sofa*

Did I say "tofu"? I meant "taro". :sweat:

(Aw bloody hell. Back to the drawring board.)

[anthony11]

*kicks tofu under sofa*
Did I say "tofu"? I meant "taro". :sweat:
(Aw bloody hell. Back to the drawring board.)
Heh. I personally don't think that you're condemning yourself to Hell if you eat anything that isn't considered "raw". Heck, a lot of raw people won't touch food made with Bragg's Liquid Aminos because they don't consider it to be "raw". It's a vanishingly tiny portion of one's diet and couldn't possibly matter, but I know people like that. Mind you, they also tend to be the ones who think that staring into the sun is healthy.....

[goatee]

Thank you for the info!

I still eat a lot of raw but found (like him) the recover time to be unacceptable on 100% raw. I have added vegan protien powders and found my recovery time to be within 24 hours, well within my acceptable range.

Just a note: both Stephen Arlin and Doug Graham are hard core athletes and 100% raw. I'm not saying you or anyone else has to be too but just that it can be done. :)

[SeaSiren]

I know who Brendan Brazier is. I am not familiar with the other two. It was interesting that my cardio was unbeleivable! But my weight lifting/healing time was the problem. The only other 100% Raw food weight lifter I knew about eats 3x's what I eat in a day. There is no way I am comfortable forcing down that much food. So for now the 75%-80% works for me. My body is always adjusting so who knows what the future might hold! :)

[goatee]

Yeah, I'm not a fan of Stephan Arlin's diet. I'm not sure what Doug eats but one part I read is where athletic raw vegans would be eating 10-12 bananas at a time. Not really for me either. But it works for him.

I'm not even raw right now (well 25% lol) but I will be. I've tried 3 times and failed 3 times but there's always next time. :)