for anyone higher fruit/veg and lower fat

[rachelmh]

So I think I was eating too much fat. I want to transition to lower fat, higher fruits and veggies.

So far today I had a green smoothie (5 c spinach, two bananas and a c of cherries.) Then I had probably a c of grapes. Then I ate 4 or 5 big strawberries. I just don't feel satified, so I got a salad (lettuce, baby carrots, some bell peppers with vinegar. And the vinegar is hurting my lips, so I think I am done with this salad. Bummer.)

I am making the flatbread with cashew hummus and and olive tapenade from RFRW tonight, and that is really nut and olive heavy.

What do I do? I am just not satisfied? I am at work (got the salad from a little place we have here that is closing in 10 minutes, but they don't have anything else I can eat there.) I have some more strawberries, grapes and blueberries. Should I just eat these?

Does the body get accustomed to this way of eating? Or should I just go back to my higher fat diet, when I felt great -- albeit not losing any weight?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[sport]

How much fat were you having in you "high" fat diet. The body needs some fat and maybe the fat was not the reason that you were not loosing weight.

[Lay-Lay]

That really is a thing where you have to listen to your body. If you trully feel you need to cut back on your fat intake maybe do it slowly. Personally I am nowhere near this phase of my journey. I usually eat what I want when I want it. Somedays I have no fats and others days are loaded with them. If you are hungry and have fruit on you I would eat it.

Also maybe it is just me but vinegar makes me more hungry then normal, but thats just me.

[rachelmh]

I would usually have avocados and nuts/seeds in the same day. And olive oil on my salads. I decided that I need to stick to one meal a day with fat in it. I was tracking in nutridiary and my fat was something like 40-60 percent of my total calories. That just seems REALLY, REALLY high to me.

I don't know -- just trying to play around with this. I have to tell you, though -- I would normally have some form of fat in my lunch (avo or nuts.) And today, didn't have it -- and I am hungry.

I think I am going back to my other way of eating. But then again, I will read someone else's post and try their way of doing it too. GOtta love new lifestyles.

[JinxieKat]

You certianlly can go that route if you want to. If you go to the website www.rawfoodbootcamp.com that is exactly the type of diet we do over there. It does work, _but_ it is a big challenge. So you can challenge yourself to go for your dreams in a quicker manner, or you can follow the more gentle approach like Alissa uses. They both have merit and will get you where you want to go.

Jinx

[Sharon in Colorado]

The first step in easing up on your fat intake is to eliminate any concentrated fats, like oils which are pure fats. Next would be your "unfresh" fat like unsoaked nuts.

Now that you are left with fresh fats from whole foods, you can slowly decrease the levels until you feel comfortable and enegized. You may start at 20-30% for a while and see if you can reduce the amounts slowly.

One thing to be sure of is to get enough fruit in your diet. Bananas and other dense, sweet fruit will help you feel more fulfilled. Just make sure you are getting enough of that or you will want to eat more fat again.

[rachelmh]

I guess my concern was that my proportion was way higher than that 20-30 percent. I am going to cut out oil, unless I am making something gourmet. I will incorporate my usual avocado at lunch, maybe cutting down on the amount until I am fruit for most of the day and salad with nuts or avo, or a gourmet, at dinner/lunch.

[Jackie1995]

I found a source for FREE coconuts, and my DH and I split the coconut water and meat daily for our respective smoothies. (He likes his way too sweet for me, and not hardly any greens, where I am a less sweet, 4-5 cups greens gal.)

Since I've started the coconuts, well, my percentage of fat usually runs 35-40% which I think is high, but hey, I'm only eating around 1500-1800 calories daily. So what's high?

And since I eat no overt oils, and limit to one ounce nuts (various types, on a rotation schedule) and once in a while 1/2 avocado, hey, I'm not beating myself up about it.

In fact, about a month ago, I decided to try to kickstart some weight loss (I've been at EXACTLY the same weight spot for over 7 months) so I cut back fat intake to a mere 15%. And guess what? Not only was I hungry more often, my skin started getting pretty dry and flakey.

And I didn't lose an ounce.

I'm back to my "high" fat percentages, all from natural, wholefood sources, (no oils), and I feel terrific. And my skin is back to being nice and smooth, not like that dry spell. I have a funny feeling that if I really want to lose the weight, it's not my diet that's going to do it. I've got to increase my exercise. *sigh*

That's my two cents!

[rachelmh]

I hear ya on the exercise. I ate a fairly high fat meal last night, the flat bread and hummus from Raw Food Real World. I actually felt soooo good after I ate it.

I exercise 5-6 times a week, but I think I also need to kick up the intensity a bit.

You all are great. Thanks for the suggestions!

[daisyduke]

I think you aren't satisfied because you aren't eating enough calories. Grapes, strawberries, cherries are all great for you but you have to eat a lot of them to get enough calories. I eat 10-15 bananas at one meal to get the calories that I need (I work out for at least 2 hours everyday though). But the trick to eating low fat and making it work is getting a sufficient amount of calories. Getting enough calories will make you feel satiated and will eliminate cravings. So if you're getting cravings or don't feel satiated then you need to eat more. You should maybe go with higher calorie fruits at first as well such as mangoes and bananas. Good luck!

[ellenalesa]

I am eating mostly fruits and salads, with olive oil dressing. I try not to u se too much dressing, is this something I need to worry about? I try to not use too many nuts/seeds.

I'm hoping Lay Lay will jump in here; I see she lost 20 pounds in a month and I hope to do that. I am going to commit to 100% raw for 30 days AFTER July 4....would like to hear how people are doing...

Ellen

[Sharon in Colorado]

I think you aren't satisfied because you aren't eating enough calories. Grapes, strawberries, cherries are all great for you but you have to eat a lot of them to get enough calories. I eat 10-15 bananas at one meal to get the calories that I need (I work out for at least 2 hours everyday though). But the trick to eating low fat and making it work is getting a sufficient amount of calories. Getting enough calories will make you feel satiated and will eliminate cravings. So if you're getting cravings or don't feel satiated then you need to eat more. You should maybe go with higher calorie fruits at first as well such as mangoes and bananas. Good luck!

That couldn't be more true.

When I lower my fat intake, I get cravings for more fat IF I am not getting enough calories, and fruit calories are really the only substantial raw calories to get unless you are planning to eat 5 heads of lettuce at once!

Not that greens don't have their place, and should well be eaten in abundance but fruit is where your low-fat calories are coming from, and should make up at least two-thirds if not more of a daily low-fat diet.

[rachelmh]

I ended up eating a lot of cashew hummus, olive tapenade and walnut-based flatbread crackers. I definately think I was calorie deprived. Interesting concept. I have been using two bananas and other fruits in my smoothies with the greens/spinach. Hmm, need to contemplate this one.

Today I had a smoothie of one banana, a cup of lettuce, half a pint of blueberries; then two cups of cherries and a Think Organic bar (220 calories right there.) And I am totally not hungry.

Good point about the calories, thanks!