Hi! I've been raw for about 10 days, and though it's about my millionth time trying again, I am finally sticking to it. My approach this time was to eat whatever, as long as it was raw, as I have read that's what the experts recommend as your body acclimates to eating raw. Went I went raw previous to this time (and failed in the long run), I didn't eat so many heavy foods, and I lost a lot of weight, but in the same sense I felt a bit deprived and gave it up at the first sign of stress. :( But I am back on again, though this time I have not really lost anything, except maybe 1 pound or so (or I am less bloated, or something) but I really do not notice a huge difference in my clothes.

Anyway, I have been eating way too many dates and nuts I am sure. Man I love dates but they are so high in sugar and calories I'll never lose anything eating as many as I do these days! Lately my taste for them has diminished, but my desire for heavier foods still lingers.

Now I have heard that because I crave them, by body "needs" them. To what extent do you think this is true? And to what extent do you feel this is psychological? I was a vegan/vegetarian before going raw (indirect consumption of milk products), so I don't think my body misses the "full" feeling meat supposedly gives you, but it still likes the "full" feeling; I hope you know what I mean.

Also, one more question, how long do you experienced raw vegans think it will take for my body to acclimate? I have all the patience in the world as I refuse to go back to cooked, I just feel so much better on raw. I just want to know if I should a) "wait" for my body to get used to a raw diet, b)perhaps I am using this as an excuse to just overeat, c) I need to make more of a conscious effort to be raw ALONG with eating smaller portions. My fear is the feeling of deprivation.

I know I am a bit of a comfort eater, which isn't such a great thing, but the good news is that my "cravings" are becoming fewer and fewer. I don't know, I think I am just afraid of the "unknown", you know. Thank you to whoever took the time to read this!!!!!! :) Best of luck in your raw journey and thanks for your input! :)

Hi

I think for me cravings are about what my needs (or maybe only wants). I used to get occasional cravings for mcdonalds cheeseburgers and french fries. I was never a big fan of mcdonalds so it took me awhile to realize that what I was really craving was the fat, not specifically mcd's food that I didnt like all that much. I think that maybe mcd's was just the greesiest 'fattiest' thing I could think of when my body was needing fat. These days when Im needing fat I will crave breakfast 'sausage' tofu scramble toast and margerine (although I have trouble eating very much of things that are so rich). Also, I will overeat other foods if I dont get enough fat. I think that applys to all the nutrients and not just fat.

Cravings, for me anyway, signal that something is missing, even if it is psychological or emotional. I try not to deny them at all. I would say that cravings mean your body needs something to be 100% true, but not always the thing you think you are craving, at least for me. Hope that was helpful.


I'm not raw but I am wanting to head in that direction, maybe have one or two raw days a week to start. So I cant answer any other questions but I will be watching for answers also. I'd like to know what are portion sizes on a raw diet? or do they not matter at all? And I'm especially curious about how long the body takes to 'detox'? There is so fear of the unknown for me in a raw diet.

I pursued raw searching for that perfect mix where my body would thrive. For me, I found many benefits of raw, but felt I could not do 100% without injury.

I tried raw for a few weeks and could not recover from weight lifting. My muscles just weren't recovering leaving my body injured.

As far as detox; if you read the raw boards you will find people who continue to detox years later and struggle with raw constantly, this was a big red flag for me. I do not want to "struggle" with my food intake.

Raw still will play a big part in my diet, however, in moderation. Which will play a (hopefully) wonderful part in my Vegan diet.

I am trying to pursue a lifestyle where I incorporate cardio and weight bearing exercise along with a healthful satisfying diet to feed my body. I do not regret trying raw and have learned a lot.

Good Luck in your pursuit! :)

Thanks! I've rencently just added a couple of cooked foods into my diet, and things are going MUCH better. I am consuming hot soups, and with the addition of that things are so much easier. Currently I'm now just trying to stay away from crazy unnatural chemicals and preservatives, and I am trying to buy more and more organically. I think that if I make a majority of my diet raw foods, I can still reap many of the benefits. :) Thanks for all your input! :)

Thanks! I've rencently just added a couple of cooked foods into my diet, and things are going MUCH better. I am consuming hot soups, and with the addition of that things are so much easier. Currently I'm now just trying to stay away from crazy unnatural chemicals and preservatives, and I am trying to buy more and more organically. I think that if I make a majority of my diet raw foods, I can still reap many of the benefits. :) Thanks for all your input! :)
This is about where I am in my diet. If it works for you, then IMHO it's a fine thing. I'm not one who thinks that "cooked" food is (necessarily) "toxic". I do have a great time at raw potlucks and made a number of raw dishes for my housewarming last weekend, which really inspired my ovo-lacto renter.

Warm soups help me out too -- eg Amy's southwest roasted veggie. I usually add a bunch of sprouts into it after warming so I don't feel like I'm straying so much.

I think that our bodies to a certain extent let us know what they need re cravings, but I don't think it's as clear and reliable as many claim -- I think much of it is learned behavior, or perhaps a bit of salt addiction.

I've been raw accidentally for 2 days now because I am doing a vegetable/fruit fast. I am drinking tea however. Anywho, yes, your body is telling you that you need something. You must not be getting a balace of nutrients. Can you eat sprouted grains and beans? What about raw desserts and energy bars they have in some natural food stores?

5th day out of 10! w00t. Off topic, I know. :p

Good luck to all!
Countess, I'm on a fruit and veg fast as well. I feel great heading into day 4, except I'm sweating! Let me know how it's going...

This is pretty old thread.

I'm sure Countess is done with that fast by now. :p

Or she's twig skinny and should post on the eating disorders board!

Hi!

The change will take about 3 weeks the deepest and some little more two months. What other boards may mean with struggle is that they still detox, but thats normal. When your body is clean, you react way more sensitive on environmental poisons and detox immediately. eg. you are in a bar where a lot of people smoke so the whole next day you feel like smokes coming out of your pores, as it can detox directly as you are clean. When not, you dont smell it so much and dont feel like detoxicating as your body is all the time occupied with working out the dead enzyms of the cooked food.

The lust now for nuts or fatty sweet things is because your cells cry for the input they are used to-- the unhealthy cooked stuff or "fast carbs" like noodles which get sugar while digesting. Go over it, eat nuts and olives or what you want as long as its raw and don´t mind about weight matters. Your body will find in 2-6 months his natural shape which was originally given. Some are born with more fatcells some with less- its not to mind about, its nature.

If you have anymore questions, just pose :up:
Important is to start the day with fruits and fresh sqeezed juices - at least half a liter. At night you detox most and that helps to let it flow out in the noon. Watermelons are the very best for me- but this is my maybe only my taste... :lick:

love, dolores