Things have not been going so good with this new diet. It's kind of been up and down, and I'm having second thoughts about if it's the right diet for anyone. I had a pretty rough start. The first day was really hard. I felt like I was full with the juice, but my mind felt like it hadn't eaten at all. I figured that it was because a lot of eating is the act of chewing and I wasn't doing that as much. I was drinking most of my meals. I also thought that I would have some issues in the bathroom the first day or so because of problems I've had in the past with vegetables messing with my stomach, but I didn't have that problem. I almost wanted it to happen though, cause I wanted to feel like my system was cleaned out. Oh well. It's only day 4 and I'm just not sure about this whole thing. I have gotten myself back down into the 160's in only a few days, but I feel so tired and so sore all the time. I go to the gym every morning, but it's so hard to recover ! My muscles hurt more than normal and I'm not doing as much. I feel like my eyes are more sensitive to light and I get headaches easier. I knew coming into this that I might feel like crap for a few days at the start of this, but not this crappy ! I actually broke down and cried this morning ! I think a lot of it had to do with other things going on in my life these days that's been kind of stressful, but this diet has also been really stressful ! I CRAVE meat !! I was on a very high protein diet before this one and I feel like my body is going through major withdrawals ! I have been reading this Andrew Weil M.D. book, " Eating Well For Optimum Health ", and he talks a lot about the different diet fads and how dangerous they can be. Thinking that one type of food is horrible and that we should cut it out of our diets can be dangerous. He says in one part " The body needs regular intake of proteins in order to build, maintain, and repair itself. " He also talks about how Carbohydrates are important too as well. That they are mainly used for energy production.
I am wondering if I need to add back in some meats and dairy to my diet. I need to watch how much of it I consume, and continue to keep eating a ton of raw fruits and vegetables ( as well as keep drinking the juices I've been buying ). I feel like a lot of my problem before was the amount of food I was eating, and that I wasn't eating enough RAW fruits and veggies. I think that if I start adding it back into my diet in small amounts that I'll start to feel better. I hate feeling so run down after the gym. I'm so used to feeling on top of the world, and full of energy ! I can't function like this ! I defiantly don't think I could ( or would want to ) go completely vegan EVER ! I can understand some people wanting their lives to be that way. Especially if it goes strongly with their belief system, but it's just not for me. I feel like I have learned something about moderation these few days that I hadn't yet before. As well as the HUGE important of fresh, raw vegetables and fruits ! I really have always thought that it is all about balance, and I feel like these 4 days have really taught me that. Not just with my experience trying this new diet, but also with all the information I've been reading in these few days as well. I think THAT is the most important part any one can learn. Educating ourselves on what is in the foods we eat, and more importantly what that does to us is KEY ! I think that if we can pay more attention to what we put in our bodies, and know as much about it as possible then we can't help but make better decisions about what we eat ! Also the amount that we put in our bodies is even more important ! There is such a thing as a healthy amount of fat. There is such a thing as a healthy amount of animal proteins and carbohydrates. They are all scientifically important to our bodies. Even vegans have to substitute their protein intake with tofu and other things. I think if I can make my balance work for me and my body than THAT is the right diet for ME ! I don't think I need to figure it all out in one try either. I think it's going to take time and experimentation to really get there.
I am wondering if I need to add back in some meats and dairy to my diet. I need to watch how much of it I consume, and continue to keep eating a ton of raw fruits and vegetables ( as well as keep drinking the juices I've been buying ). I feel like a lot of my problem before was the amount of food I was eating, and that I wasn't eating enough RAW fruits and veggies. I think that if I start adding it back into my diet in small amounts that I'll start to feel better. I hate feeling so run down after the gym. I'm so used to feeling on top of the world, and full of energy ! I can't function like this ! I defiantly don't think I could ( or would want to ) go completely vegan EVER ! I can understand some people wanting their lives to be that way. Especially if it goes strongly with their belief system, but it's just not for me. I feel like I have learned something about moderation these few days that I hadn't yet before. As well as the HUGE important of fresh, raw vegetables and fruits ! I really have always thought that it is all about balance, and I feel like these 4 days have really taught me that. Not just with my experience trying this new diet, but also with all the information I've been reading in these few days as well. I think THAT is the most important part any one can learn. Educating ourselves on what is in the foods we eat, and more importantly what that does to us is KEY ! I think that if we can pay more attention to what we put in our bodies, and know as much about it as possible then we can't help but make better decisions about what we eat ! Also the amount that we put in our bodies is even more important ! There is such a thing as a healthy amount of fat. There is such a thing as a healthy amount of animal proteins and carbohydrates. They are all scientifically important to our bodies. Even vegans have to substitute their protein intake with tofu and other things. I think if I can make my balance work for me and my body than THAT is the right diet for ME ! I don't think I need to figure it all out in one try either. I think it's going to take time and experimentation to really get there.