Really hard to keep the weight on . . .

[julesmoz]

After about 3 months at 100% raw, I had lost way too much weight. People were very worried about me because I was so thin.

For the past month and a half, I've been intentionally eating much more so as to gain weight. I've gained enough to look "normal thin," but it's hard to eat enough food everyday to maintain this. Doesn't it seem weird to constantly eat more than your body wants? I hardly ever wait to eat until I'm actually hungry, because if I did, I wouldn't eat enough calories in my day. I feel like it's as hard for me to keep the weight on as it is for most people to keep it off!

It seems like the number of calories I need to satisfy my hunger is way less than what I need to maintain a healthy weight. Do you think this could have something to do either with my metabolism or my digestion? If so, what measures do you suggest?

[rawpriestess]

I think it is best to eat what you want, when you want, and not worry about too fat, too thin, too blue, too pink, there is no "too" who's idea is this anyway, who says you are too thin?

Balderdash!!!, even if YOU feel too thin, why is that? it is a learned behavior, just eat raw, enjoy it, when you are hungry -- eat, when you aren't -- don't.

just allow your body to use it's infinite intelligence to take you where you need to be.

[Sunshine9]

Other than being too thin how do you look/feel? Are your eyes dull? Dark circles under them? Complexion? Tongue coating? Thin hair? Do you notice any less than optimal health signs?

I have read that sometimes people are underweight because they have poor digestion and all the raw food just passes right through them without absorbing any of the minerals...

and sometimes it just takes some time for the weight to even out. I wouldn't worry.

[julesmoz]

That's the thing - everything else about me looks healthier than it's been since I was a teenager. People just conveniently overlook those things.

More than anything, I'm so sick of people's comments (especially family) that I want to eat enough to shut them up. Plus, I'm not exactly fond of looking like a skeleton, regardless of their remarks.

Is this just how raw is gonna be for me? Always hard to keep the weight on? Or does it eventually even out? Honestly, I don't think I want to keep doing it 100% if it means always being too thin . . .

I'm plenty willing to persevere if this will pass, but if this is how it's always gonna be, then I don't know.

[Lay-Lay]

I would think once you reach optimal health that the weight issue would even out to a healthy level that your body needs. I wouldn't worry about it. I would just enjoy being raw.

[DavidZaneMason]

Opinion:

-If you are concerned: Eat only 1 or two very large meals a day. Make sure you are getting a large amount and a wide variety of calories.

-If you are healthy, energetic and happy......don't worry too much about what unhealthy people are saying to you.

-If your weight figures are within medical norms (which are rather high anyway)...then I imagine you are fine.

-David Mason

[julesmoz]

My weight wasn't even close to within medical norms. I'm still definitely below the "norms," but I don't look so incredibly thin . . .

[faith4u]

I hate to say it but I wish I had your problem. ;)

Have you plugged in the amount of food you are eating into FitDay?

If so, how many do you naturally eat on your own?

How much do you have to eat to maintain your weight?

What is a typical day food intake and exercise for you?

What is your height and weight that you are trying to maintain?

[vgloveforlife]

I think I am losing too much weight too. I was thin to start and now I feel skinnier than ever and I hate that feeling.
Sunshine- I think this is exactly what is happening with me! What can one do to help their bodies digest the food properly?

[ellenalesa]

Julesmoz,

do you eat nuts, nut butters, and avocados? That would probably help up your calorie intake. How about making almond milk and using that as a smoothie base? or are you already doing this?

Ellen

[Draginvry]

Are you naturally skinny, by any chance? Some people are made to be skinny. Me, for instance. I'm 5'6'' at a healthy 105 pounds. A very healthy 105 pounds, actually.

Now, most people would say that I am underweight for my height. And I am quite skinny. But I'm not emaciated. Or malnourished. There's a big difference. I'm just skinny.

If anybody makes any comments about me wasting away, I simply challenge them to an endurance test. When running laps around the track, it is very easy to determine who wastes away first.

"Healthy weight" and "socially acceptable weight" are two very different things.

[konmai]

A lot of people would love to have your problem!! :p

As mentioned already, it is really not something to worry about. Once your body is healthy, it'll stabilize its weight to where it should be.

If you're more worried about what the scale says, maybe try some strength training. Not only will you get stronger, muscle is a lot of weight. :D

[Apasaraw]

You aren't too thin, you're perfect! My husband and his entire family are built this way no matter what they eat...you must be related. I think we have a skewed version of thin in America. I have a friend from Kenya, he was naturally too thin by our standards. While being here for 2 years he put on weight and is still very lanky/slender by American standards. Do you know what his relatives in Kenya call him now? Uncle Fatty. He isn't even close to fat! It's perception.

Does your body feel good? Is your mind clear?Then you're proabably fine but check with your Dr. if you are concerned. People tell me I am too thin now (they remember me as round, soft and squooshy) but my Dr. still finds I am 30 pounds overweight.

I agree...use fitday.com to see if there are holes in your diet...maybe you need a tad more fat. mmmmm...avocados!

[bittersweet]

This is perfectly normal. When I first went raw, I lost 25 lbs in two months, going from 130 to 105. (I'm 5 5") Over the next ten months, I gained (without trying to) weight, bring me up to about 115.
Please stop forcing yourself to eat more than you want! It's bad for your digestion, and could even contribute to your "problem" by causing malabsorbtion.
Eat what you want, and in the amounts that you want. Make sure that you are hydrated. Try a colon cleanse, this will help with digestion and assimilation.

[Sharon in Colorado]

Julezmom 3 months isn't that long. Have you checked out Shazzie's 2000 raw transformation journal on www.shazzie.com. She got really thin during the first year, and then built back up.

If you are really concerned how do you feel about weight bearing exercises? That would help you put on some bulk.

Otherwise, just thank the people who tell you that you look too thin, and tell them how wonderful you feel! They won't know what to make of that! :)

[janicejourney]

If food is going right through you, you could also try drinking your food more often as well... lots of smoothies with greens and fats (coconut oil, or blend some nuts in). I have the same problem. I actually did quit raw because I was so tired of hearing it. This time I just made sure I do eat plenty, never to the point of feeling icky though, just plenty. Lots of desserts and smoothies. Also, the building muscle piece is REALLY important, because when you do lose the weight, it is not skeleton that people see but muscle, which looks healthier and will change their perception. I started Bikram Yoga, and I LOVE IT!!!! The very same friend that was harassing me last time is staying with me again from out of town, and I was so concerned she would harp on me. She actually said I look great and more healthy this time.. the muscle and 5 lbs made the difference.

[dreamrawalwz]

You aren't too thin, you're perfect! My husband and his entire family are built this way no matter what they eat...you must be related. I think we have a skewed version of thin in America. I have a friend from Kenya, he was naturally too thin by our standards. While being here for 2 years he put on weight and is still very lanky/slender by American standards. Do you know what his relatives in Kenya call him now? Uncle Fatty. He isn't even close to fat! It's perception.

Does your body feel good? Is your mind clear?Then you're proabably fine but check with your Dr. if you are concerned. People tell me I am too thin now (they remember me as round, soft and squooshy) but my Dr. still finds I am 30 pounds overweight.

I agree...use fitday.com to see if there are holes in your diet...maybe you need a tad more fat. mmmmm...avocados!

That's what happened to a friend of mine. She's from Samolia (sp?) and she is VERY thin now and other there they call her fat. Going back to her country and people calling her fat (even very under weight) caused her to have an ED :( Perception can be damaging...

The perception in the US is VERY scewed. As you can see the standards are getting higher. The "normal" range is just that...normal and average. As "average" rises those that are thin and healthy get ridiculed, made fun of, put down, ect. saying that they're "too thin" even if they can out do that other person in all ways (physically). I don't know, maybe your body is going to it's natrual weight. The weight it SHOULD be at and you're just not used to it? If you don't feel you can eat the amount you should can you drink a lot of juices to add some calories? Try denser foods if you're just eating plain fruits and salads.

[rawnora]

I've been listening to a set of tapes by TC Fry where he describes fasting a young girl who was unable to put weight on. It sounds crazy to fast someone in this condition (he admits it was a bit of an experiment) unless you realize that problems with assimilation and metabolism are typically what cause people to be underweight even when they overeat. Fasting allows these issues to heal. Even though the girl was only 88 pounds (as I recall) before the two-week fast, she only lost a few pounds during it and afterwards she was able to gain enough weight to put her in the 'normal' range (normal being defined as what is optimal for a human being, not what is established by SAD weight charts). He says she also started doing weight bearing exercise after the fast and within a couple months she was all the way up to 107 pounds.

Chronic underweight is caused by the same systemic dysfunction that causes chronic overweight. The solution is not to force extra work on your body by eating more, but to allow it to heal and have faith that it knows what it is doing.

It is very common in our culture for people to carry much more reserves than is appropriate or healthy, and when they don't it is more often than not a sign that something is wrong (anorexia, etc.). Maybe when raw fooders constitute a larger percentage of the populace, people will assume you're raw when you look skinny, rather than sick.

Hope this helps.

Best,
Nora
www.RawSchool.com

[Draginvry]

Yeah, I've eaten my stomach sick before.

Sometimes, fasting is the only option. If your system is so screwed up that you aren't digesting your food, then eating more will not help, regardless of if you are underweight.