Has anybody ever gotten fat eating raw?

[Pailani]

I just discovered that my new Vitamix can pulverize almonds, make decadent shakes and even banana ice cream. These are treats that I hadn't had because the food processer was too much trouble to wash, or because my coffee grinder couldn't handle many almonds - and, frankly, I figured I was better off without the temptation.

But now, I've had a Mudslide, I found out that I can make banana ice cream in my blender, and it's easy to grind almonds to make smoothies more wonderful. The possibilities are endless!

Seriously, though, I can't expect to be able to eat this way all the time and not put on weight, can I??

[Sheryl]

Seriously other people eat steak, french fries and more daily and don't gain weight! Keep on eye on your body, balance with salads and I'm sure you'll do great!

Cheers,
Sheryl

[Rawkinlocs]

I eat ice cream, shakes made with cashews, choco-avocado pudding and RP's brownies all the time and I haven't gotten fat. I can see weight going up, but I doubt one can become overweight eating raw. I have what I call an ideal weight RANGE...some people get caught up into an ideal weight...I never go outside of my range. So, while when I wasn't eating all those goodies I was at around 126, the last time I weighed in since beginning to indulge in those treats, I've only gained 2.5 lbs. I don't think that's bad at all considering. My range is from 124-128 and so far in the last 2 years, I haven't seen it stray under or over that range. I can't say this is the case for everyone...just my personal experience!

[madmel]

Congrats Rawkinlocs, I believe you have a "natural" eating pattern and that's a good way not to overeat. How tall are you? I think I remember you have lost weight on raw, or am I wrong (might totally be...)?

I believe if people tend to live on nuts and sweet treats with lots of high sugar ingredients they can gain weight, but for me raw isn't this but finding a healthy balance of all good raw foods and my daily staples are fruits, greens, some oil and nuts.

I think you can overeat on any diet, just because it's raw doesn't mean it cannot be stored on your hips ;) I think sometimes (no particular person meant here!) people just take the word "healthy" as an excuse and overeat, that can happen with every diet or lifestyle.

If I ate a pound of nuts a day, a couple of avos, I am sure I would gain weight - whether raw or not... But: This is not what I want, this is not the path I am on. I want to live a healthy and simple life, getting in tune with my body, being happy. I am happy with fruits, greens and the occasional treat. For example, RP's brownie recipe lasts me a week... There are times, like the last days, where I am exceptionally hungry and this morning I did have a handful of cashews along with my durian-banana pudding. But this is not every day (I hope...).

Oops, I am straying, I should stop right here :)

mel

[Gosia]

Well, I know one who did gain weight (but did not get fat, she was underweight before raw):
http://www.howigainedweight.com/tips.html

My guess is that it is possible to put on weight while on raw, but usually one experience a weight loss, not gain.

Gosia

[livingatthetop]

You are in such a great place in three months I will be in that place I can't wait I AM GOING TO Spoil myself for a day and then eat what ever I want to eat as long as it is raw but I am going to drink one or two 8 ozs of green drinks per day to keep me healing and healthy.

I get excited even talking :D :) about it !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tirza]

Couple a low metabolism and a sedentary lifestyle with lots of nuts and higher calorie mixes like cakes, puddings, ice cream and patties I would think one couldn't help but gain weight.

If we concentrate more on fruits and veggies and combinations that go lighter on the nuts, it can't hurt, especially if we find ourselves in the situation mentioned at the beginning.

No?

[Sheryl]

It's not quite as simple in my opinion as how many calories we eat. Certainly weight loss seems easier on raw, even when consuming a similar amount of calories. But really if someone sat down and ate more than they needed each and every day they would eventually unbalance and begin to gain weight.

I have a friend travelling in Thailand right now, who estimates he's eating about 7,000 calories a day in fruit (and biking alot). He's only gained a few pounds in months. He's a athlete too, not overmuscled or overweight.

Cheers,
Sheryl

[Eveleaf]

Didn't Victoria Boutenko gain quite a bit of weight on raw?

This is just what I've heard, and I have no idea what she's eating, but I'm betting whatever it was, it was raw.

Cheers,
Eve

[madmel]

I believe Victoria Boutenko lost a lot of weight starting with raw ;)

Or do you mean recently, eveleaf?

mel

[LNdolls]

Well, one can eat a boat load of raw - high fat raw - nuts, avocados galore.. .up to eight whole avocados in one day... and still lose weight, yes..
I did it.. My first 45 days 100% raw I ate like a proverbial Queen... whatever and whenever as long as it was raw... and I ended up 6.5 pounds lighter at the end.. With no trying, no struggle! So, I say you can totally relax and eat, eat, eat... your body will slowly adjust to all the good fats and nutrients and the excess weight, if there is any will drop away. And I noticed my tastes changed over time, too.
grin
Alissa is right!!

[Conscious Midwife]

RAW is void of preservatives and toxins that slow digestion and metabolic function. High fatty foods on RAW would also seem to stimulate increased BM's.

I can't imagine becoming over weight on raw unless your diet was strictly honey and raw bread,, and then I still can't imagine it as long as your body is moving daily.

Hmmm

I just can't imagine it :eek: :confused: ;)


Oh I just remebered that several months back I was trying to have a few days of liquids only, blended everything. I gained weight when smoothies were made with Silk soy milk as a base plus fruit. The on a few raw days I did liquids only by first making a nut milk ot of raw cashew then adding frozen fruits. Lost weight!!!. Cashews are high natural fat but the SILK soy milk was high processed "stuff".

[Pailani]

I've been having mostly green smoothies or fruit smoothies, and one avocado every day. I had that Mudslide yesterday evening and the one thing I noticed was that, for the first time since going raw, I experienced that feeling I've heard about of being completely satisfied and not wanting to eat anything else, and it lasted the rest of the night.

I also re-read Alissa's book last night and she said somewhere that it can take 3-6 months (elsewhere she doesn't state any specific time) for your body to adjust and start nudging you to cut out certain things. I'm about two months at 100 percent, so I'm going to just take another month or more just doing what RP and some others do, just eat what I feel like when I feel like. I'd like to experience that "complete freedom" that Alissa talks about, but I've been too focused on trying to watch the fat. Unless my digestion bothers me, or if I start having candida symptoms, I think I'm going to stop worrying so much about it and stop worrying about my weight (for a few months, not forever!) By then, maybe my health and energy will be so much better that I'll be more emotionally ready to give things up.

Experiencing complete satisfaction last night was pretty cool. :cool:

[veganman]

It's not quite as simple in my opinion as how many calories we eat. Certainly weight loss seems easier on raw, even when consuming a similar amount of calories. But really if someone sat down and ate more than they needed each and every day they would eventually unbalance and begin to gain weight.


Sheryl -

for me, logic and my training agrees with you. But then I see a guy on here that apparently consumes less than 500 calories a day, lifts weights, and apparently gain muscle. I am still trying to figure out if the calories are irrelevant (as many posts have stated) or if they do matter (as science dictates).

[trrish]

Of course people gain weight eating raw - many underweight people do. Will you get overweight eating raw? I suppose if you put your mind to it, you might be able to do it.

The thing I've noticed about the high-calorie smoothies, or Alissa's fudge balls, and such things, is that I cannot eat that much of them. I made myself a huge banana, coconut, nut-based smoothie last week. I got through about maybe half of it and that was it.

To me, that is one of the really wonderful differences between raw and not-raw. Your body tells you when to stop!! I could probably drink 3 civilian milkshakes without feeling full. But in raw world, I can't do it. I love that.

trrish

[Ariella]

i think it just depends on your body and metabolism. i exercise a ton BUT if i eat very many nuts/avocados/oil etc. i gain 2 to 3 pounds the next day and it takes me a week to get them back off again IF i keep low fat for the week. so really everybody is different. if i ate all the gourmet and nuts and nut butters, i would be huge!

if you feel good eating more nuts though then listen to your body and eat them. :)

Ariella

my blog: www.ethicalcentral.com/blog