My Raw Expirience

Early in September of 2009

I started eating MOSTLY raw and MOSTLY vegan.

At the same time I quit alcohol (I drank about 3 beers every night)

8 days later I experienced what was probably the best day of my entire life

physically and emotionally speaking. I felt GREAT and almost felt like I was

glowing or something.

Nothing in my life had ever compared to the way I felt

which lasted for a few days. This feeling of euphoria slowly waned but the

benefits I experience from my lifestyle change are ongoing:

• I'm losing weight
• I need less sleep
• I used to be hungry all the time (even after I ate) and now I'm no longer tormented by the constant food cravings
• My blood pressure numbers are now very close to 120/80 or a little less
• I sleep better
• I don't cough in the morning anymore (caused by blood pressure meds)
• No more acid reflux WHICH WAS A TORMENT FROM HELL!
• Way more energy (enough to where I'm exercising again)
• The constant depression I lived with  has lifted, and even when I have a little bout of negativity it fades very quickly

I still count calories on CC, but now  AT LAST  I'm losing weight!

That is amazing! I just started making the switch from vegetarian to vegan. I am cutting out dairy products and hope to see a spike in my overall function as a human in regards to mood, weight and internal functions.

I am really glad to read this!

I dont think I will ever be able to go raw, I try to juice now and then, and eat a raw salad occasional and fruit everyday. But I totally agree that raw vegan is by far the best diet there is. For those of us that can't pull it off take digestive enzymes. Digestive enzymes are only found in raw foods, otherwise your pancreas has to create enough to digest everything you eat. It's only meant to supply 50% of the enzymes, you are suppose to get the rest from raw foods. 

Hi inkblue,

Didn't know that bit about the pancreas.

Good to know.

Thanks for your reply.

hey kenkenkenkenken~

I used to be a raw food chef in a restaurant, and I was a raw foodist for over a year. If you ever need help or want recipes, feel free to ask!

Renee

I have also gone completely raw a few times in my life. Initially I did all raw except for I also ate whole grains. I didn't notice such a dramatic difference though like you had until I went completely raw with no grains. I too felt euphoric, almost like I was on a drug or something! I felt so much more at peace. In Genesis it says God gave Adam and Eve every seed bearing plant for food. It wasn't until after the flood that God told man kind they could eat meat. I am no theologian but I believe that maybe that is how we were meant to eat.

Unfortunately I haven't had the self-discipline to maintain it. I have noticed though that with just cutting out excess sugar and cutting down on calories, not eating after 5 or 6 at night that I need much less sleep and feel more energetic. I think that is because there is less strain on the body. I hope you are able to continue with your healthy lifestyle change!

(edit: removed repeat post)

Hi graham4jc,

It's funny you should mention that it was almost like being on a drug or something.

I felt exactly the same way, but there was no crash, no downside at all

(except that it didn't last forever!  tee hee)

I think that the euphoria is our  body telling us we're on the right track.

I think that I'm going to try not eating after 17:00-18:00 too.

I've heard  that calories tend to "stick" the later in your day that you eat them.

And feel that it's true for me, based on my experience.

But the TV is so seductive, and the goodies so close at hand!

Kenx3,

And I found that I didn't crave anything when I did all raw too. My body was satisfied so I didn't feel the need to seek a "rush" from something else- like sugar, alcohol or even entertainment. My husband and I have always enjoyed the thriller type movies but as strange as it seems, I didn't even want to watch those. I wonder if thrill seeking, wanting to watch scary movies, etc. is more biochemical than mental. Like our bodies are trying to get that rush of adrenaline out of some biochemical imbalance or need.

I didn't continue on that way for long enough to find out that the natural high would end. I just figured if I could manage to stay on long term, I would always feel that way! Bummer!

Also, when I mentioned not eating after 5 or 6 I was mostly talking about non-raw foods. Don't you think it would be OK to eat an apple or something (though not nearly as fun as a big bowl of ice cream or popcorn!)? I doubt raw foods would have the same effect because they are so easy to digest.

Karrie

Hi graham4jc,

Just read an interesting article about how soup helps you lose weight.

And it seems to me like the apple you mentioned would be a good choice for the

same reason.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8 068733.stm