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So Tired...

Everyone keeps talking about this massive energy surge they get from eating raw foods, and I’m sitting here thinking, “it’s not fair!”

If I get 8 hours of sleep a night, I’m usually okay until about halfway through the afternoon when I just want to nap. If I get less than that, I’m useless all day. I know some people’s sleep needs are more or less than others, but isn’t it unreasonable that I should require 12+ hours of sleep a night to function normally? Does anyone else have any idea what might be going on here?

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Comments

  • carrie6292carrie6292 Raw Newbie

    Lately i’ve been feeling the same way, but i don’t think mine has anything to do with my diet. It’s probably stress for me. I just want to sleep all teh time lately and that’s not how i normally am! I used to take Goji Juice and i was super energized, so i think i’m going to start taking that again to see if it can get me through the next few weeks. We’ll see :)

  • carrie~

    Where can you find Goji Juice?? or do you make your own?

  • vtrawgirl-I have found Goji Juice at Lifestyles Mrket, Thrifty Foods, Planet Organic and The Market on Yates. Those are all Canadian stores though.

  • troublesjustabubbletroublesjustabubble Raw Newbie

    hey vtrawgirl-how much are you eating? Whenever I”m tired it’s because I haven’t eaten in a while and need to give myself a boost. Even if it makes you feel like you’re eating all the time things will even out after a while. Food=energy

  • CalebCaleb Raw Newbie

    I am in the same boat lately. I started off with a pretty good energy surge, but has been lacking lately. I’m starting to feel sick again though so I am thinking it may be that, but I hope that is not the case. I missed too much work this year already.

    I have no advice to help you other than make sure you are eating enough, but just know you are not alone! Just because we are eating raw doesn’t mean we will NEVER get tired again.

  • greenghostgreenghost Raw Newbie

    Also be sure to keep an eye out regarding how much WATER you are drinking.
    Dehydration symptoms include – tiredness, headaches etc….
    So chug some pure water when you are feeling lethargic….

  • troublesjustabubbletroublesjustabubble Raw Newbie

    great tip greenghost. That’s major for me. When I drink alot of water I have far more energy. This may sound strange but hot water or warm water is the best when you need a boost.

  • greenghostgreenghost Raw Newbie

    thanx tjb, yes it’s funny I often drink water at room temp. My sister thinks I’m nuts because she needs to put ice-cubes in everything. To each his/her own! ;)
    I have trays of ice in my freezer just for her – when she visits.

  • carrie6292carrie6292 Raw Newbie

    The goji that i take is from Free Life… they’re online. I think it’s just freelife.com I believe it is pasteurized and there are some other juices blended to take away from the tartness/bitterness. But, you know what? if it’s my one non-raw item, i’m okay with it :) Plus, for whatever reason, it keeps me from craving sweets!

  • bittbitt Raw Newbie

    you might be still detoxing. how long have you been eating raw or mostly raw? it takes time.

  • pianissimapianissima Raw Newbie

    do you think you have candida?

  • troublesjustabubbletroublesjustabubble Raw Newbie

    Okay, I”m gonna hijack this thread a bit because I have a question about tiredness myself.

    Alright, for the last week and a half I have been tired like I used to be before raw. I get to work feeling tired and I dose off alot. Once I’m home from work I’m fine but most of the day I struggle with it. My question is, do you all have any suggestions about changing my diet so that I don’t have this tiredness? I’ll take what you’ve got.

    Also, should I maybe do a cleanse or something? I’m wondering about parasites too.

  • FruginiFrugini Raw Newbie

    Could you be anemic? I’ve been anemic twice and the symptoms (for me at least) seem to be a subtle, aching exhaustion that most of the time I’m not even aware of and don’t understand why I feel so stressed, overwhelmed, and flat. Then I finally go to the doctor and she says I have almost no iron in my blood (oops).

  • Bear in mind that the northern hemisphere is entering fall and that many, many people are sensitive to the change of seasons. The coming cold weather always makes me put on weight and need more sleep. It is temporary!

    I’m quite happy that I’m connected to the cycle of the seasons. Celebrate the connection and treat yourself to extra sleep if you can.

  • dodododo Raw Newbie

    i agree with jenoz on this one. before electricity mankind woke with the sun and slept with the sundown as they couldnt do a whole lot when it was dark, in the summer we tend to feel more vitalised and i think thats partly due to the sun itself and partly due to the old urge to make use of the daylight. in winter they spent more time sleeping by nature as the sun rises later and sets earlier. winter is synonymous for taking it easy for lots of species so go with what feels natural, if you feel you need more sleep take it.

    even on those gray days getting outside in the fresh air and filling your lungs is so important, even more so prob as you tend to be outside more in the summer naturaly. personally i love winter and fresh rain and crisp air as much as i love summer so im happy to be out in it all :)

    hope you find some energy to enjoy the seasons :)

  • ZoeZoe Raw Newbie

    Your body is busy healing itself whilst you’re asleep, I would think that over time as it finished up it’s cleaning out job you’ll find yourself needing less sleep.

    I know for me that it wasn’t until I got to the end of year 2 into the beginning of year 3 of being raw that I noticed that I was sleeping less. Which is a shame because I Love my sleep! Even though I don’t need it I like to sleep for about 9 hours a night.

    I had a read of your story on your website. It ceratinly seems like you’ve already gone through major changes since going raw. Maybe you just need to wait and see if you will need less sleep the further you go on.

    Congrats on your transformation so far, you look wonderful!

  • angie207angie207 Raw Master

    I’m the same as Zoe. I never noticed any “massive energy surge” but I do have more energy overall, which I really found out by going back to cooked foods last year & realizing I had no energy! But it was after about two years when I noticed I was sleeping less than I used to.

  • troublesjustabubbletroublesjustabubble Raw Newbie

    Well thanks guys! I probably do need more sleep I’m just not sure I can get that much more.

    Zoe-it has been a really great journey and I’ve come a long way. I didn’t have any energy at all when I was eating cooked food and for the first couple weeks of raw I didn’t either and then I got the best burst and that lasted until last week. I’m really confused at why all of a sudden I would be getting tired.

    I still think it could be something in my diet. I may try to stop eating earlier in the evening or something. I’m going to experiment a little.

    lindsaylou-how do you get more iron? I may be slightly anemic.

  • angie207angie207 Raw Master

    tjab – I looked up iron in raw foods – Parsley (juice, because you’d need a LOT of it), pumpkin or sesame seeds (about a cup of either has a full day’s supply of iron), & sunflower seeds (takes about 2 1/2 cups for a day’s supply of iron). Sorry, I know – that sounds discouraging even to me, and I eat a lot of seeds!

  • troublesjustabubbletroublesjustabubble Raw Newbie

    sheesh, that is a lot of seeds. I do eat sunflower seeds often but not nearly 2 1/2 cups. I also eat pumpkin seeds but not nearly enough. darn. Well I’ll start adding more of those and we’ll see.

    Thanks angie:)

  • troublesjustabubbletroublesjustabubble Raw Newbie

    Here is something I found and I’m going to start implementing more of this stuff.

    How to Get Enough Iron on a Raw Food Diet Step1 Take an iron supplement. These supplements can be purchased over the counter at most drug stores. If you have trouble finding them, ask a pharmacist for help. These supplements should be taken in low doses.

    Step2 Add more alfalfa to your diet, which contains iron and a slew of other nutrients like calcium and folic acid. This veggie also detoxifies the body and treats diabetes and arthritis.

    Step3 Increase the amount of raw meat, fish and eggs in your diet. All are rich in iron and can boost your iron intake levels.

    Step4 Eat more bowls of raw oats for breakfast. A bowl of raw oats has seven times the amount of iron and potassium as a bowl of hot oatmeal.

    Step5 Add more kale to your salad or eat it as a snack. Kale is rich in nutrients, especially iron. Eating raw veggies, seeds and nuts in general on the raw food diet are generally a good idea. All of these items are rich in iron as well.

  • Annabelle77Annabelle77 Raw Newbie

    Hey vtrawgirl, I’ve been having the same problem. Actually, after about the third week of raw I was like a live wire! The amount of energy and clear-headedness I had was like something I had never had (or hadnt since childhood)... I think that was when the detox ended.

    BUT since then, I have been sooooo fatigued! Every day I struggle with it, and I am beginning to worry about it. I am thinking about getting a full blood work-up to see if I am deficient in anything. I am hoping that the raw/vegan lifestyle will be okay for me in the long run… and that I get my energy back!! I couldnt stand to add meat or animal-derived protein back into my diet…

    so sad

  • WinonaWinona Raw Newbie

    Annabelle – don’t be discouraged! I think it’s important to understand what’s happening with your body. I highly recommend reading matt monarch’s website and getting regular colonics. http://mattmonarch.blogspot.com/

    He says “When you don’t feel well, it generally means that you are becoming cleaner and ‘evolving’ to the next level – it is a necessary part of the process and not something to be afraid about.”

  • angie207angie207 Raw Master

    tjab – Thanks for the info. – I looked it up – 17 cups of chopped kale would give you a day’s supply of iron. Oats, 2 1/2 cups for a day’s supply. I think I’m going to have to agree with the supplement, especially for vegans – omnivores can probably get plenty from eggs & meat, but I don’t want to have to eat those every day to get iron. :(

  • chicorychicory Raw Newbie

    goji berries are high in iron :)

  • ungratefulungrateful Raw Newbie

    I was thinking the same thing about that feeling of peace and loving your fellow man.

    I have been high raw for almost two months now and I still feel irritable a LOT, esp on public transportation.

  • JoyceHJoyceH Raw Newbie

    Hi Vtrawgirl, nice to see another Vermonter on the website. I think this makes three of us including myself that have posted :-)

    I sometimes find that the change of seasons from summer to fall sometimes makes me feel a bit tired now and then. Anyone else experience this? Today I’m feeling tired and have a scratchy throat…hoping some hot bikram yoga will sort me out later today.

    I’m not one to give diet advice b/c what works for me personally might now work for you and I believe there are just so many variables to how someone feels really good and healthy. No two people are alike. But I will suggest aerobic exercise and yoga. Even taking a brisk walk this time a year with the gorgeous leaves and colors can be invigorating.

    Happy fall and hope you feel better Vtrawgirl

  • JoyceHJoyceH Raw Newbie

    PS – I like your website! Very cool that you are certified by Alissa Cohen. I’m dying for an excuse to try her new restaurant in Boston. (it’s a 3 hour drive for me)

  • troublesjustabubbletroublesjustabubble Raw Newbie

    I’m gonna take supplements. There is no way I’m going to get enough iron from food. I don’t eat anywhere near enough of those things to bring it up to a daily serving.

  • angie207angie207 Raw Master

    I think the feelings of peace, love, acceptance, etc. while not caused by diet alone, are made easier or more accessible for a lot of people through eating raw, because a lot of times what messes with our attitudes & emotions is not feeling good due to the junk we’ve been putting into our bodies. Eating raw really nourishes my body & gets rid of those food/health-related causes, so it is EASIER for me to be patient & kind because I don’t have headaches, PMS, fatigue, etc. It is still a process & effort to learn/change behaviors & attitudes; the only difference is that I now have one obstacle out of the way. It takes a while, too. I’ve been at this for a little over three years now, and it is getting better.

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