Am I eating too much

[rtistyksyko]

I'm still relatively new to the raw food community. Right now I'm about 80-85% raw and have been for almost 2 weeks. :) It is my hope to be completely raw by the end of sept. Still I noticed something that is slightly bothering me. While eating raw food I'm consuming way more calories than I normally do. I'm really worried that I won't be able to continue with the weightloss I have been doing for the past couple months. I exercise everyday by walking about 4-5 miles and then doing pilates. Should I be worried about this increase in food? Should I go back to restricting calories? Does anyone have any suggestions?

Also has anyone heard of larabars? Are they good for you?

Thanks for the help I look forward to hearing from everyone.

Amanda

[smasty]

I think it's really important to eat a lot of high water-content foods. If you do that, it's hard to eat too many calories. Cut down on dense dehydrated foods. I still eat them, they're just not the basis for my diet--they're the garnish.

[Gosia]

I would say if you eat when hungry, you will be fine. Sometimes one can mistake thirst for hunger, so beware of that too.

Gosia

[Sharon in Colorado]

The above two said it all. If you are eating your fresh, water content foods you don't need to worry about the amount of food or calories.

Could you give an example of what you've been eating that is so high in calories?

The Lara Bars are not particularly "good" for you, although if you are comparing them to a Milky Way, they are a better option. Most people just keep one or two in their car or purse in the event of a hunger emergency. Once you get along on raw, you probably won't feel the need to buy them.

[rtistyksyko]

Thanks so much for the information so far.

Normally what I eat during the day is probably a banana, orange, plum or some other fruit for breakfast. Then a little while later I have carrots or ezekeal bread with either honey, raw almond butter, or pate on it.
For lunch I generally have a large green salad with some more fruit and then midway during the day I have a few raw rasins or some nuts.
For dinner I have a small green salad and then either some brown rice and steamed veg. or fish and steamed veg. or steamed veg and brown pasta.
Then as a dessert I'll have some strawberries or blueberries or blackberries if I can get my hands on them.

So what should I do to improve and what exactly do you mean by water-based foods?

[dreamrawalwz]

I would say don't worry about it right now. You're transitioning so that can impact your weight (halt weight loss since you're not 100 yet), Also, since you've eaten cooked most of your life your body is craving the nutrients so give them to your body! Now how much is "too much" for you?

[rtistyksyko]

Normally when eating cooked food I'd eat about 1400 cal a day.
Now that I've gone raw I'm taking in about 1800 cal day. O.o
Since I am trying to lose weight I'm worried because the extra calories add up to about a pound a week and I don't really have time to increase my exercise, nor do I think I really need to.

[juliebove]

Water based foods would be the fruits and veg. Nuts are not water based. Most fruits and vegetables are low in calories. Bananas and avocados are exceptions to this, but you don't seem to be eating a ton of this. If I were you, I'd avoid the Lara bars except for emergency type situations. There are some really good truly raw bars out there.

[rtistyksyko]

Thanks so much for the adivce! What kind of bars would you recomend? I'm usually on the go a lot so I like having them for when I forget to eat or my job gets in the way and I can't fully stop for lunch.

[Lay-Lay]

What are calories? Haha, just kidding, I don't count them. This one great thing about this lifestyle, you don't have to count anything. You can eat as much or as little as you feel like. YEAH!

[rtistyksyko]

Do I still not have to count calories even though I"m not 100% raw yet? ^_^ Sorry about being paranoid just don't want to see all my hard work go to waste in a few weeks of over zealous eating. Thank you everyone for being so helpful

[Lay-Lay]

Thats up to you. BTY, when I first went raw, some days I was eating at least 3000 calories on some days. My body must have needed it and I lost 23 porunds. Now mind you this is not a diet. Everyone loses and gains at different pase due to whatever healing is taking place with them. Some people lose right away and some take up to a year to start melting away. I highly recommend doing this lifetyle for another reason rather then weightloss. The weightloss is just a bonus in my opinion.

[rtistyksyko]

Thanks so much for that post! I really do want to do this lifestyle for more than just weightloss. For the past 2 weeks of just being about 80% raw I have felt better, slept better and had more energy than I have had in a while. It's just that I have issues about my weight due to childhood problems and so I can't help but be a little bit anal about it. I'm getting better though. Iloverawfoods, your post was really helpful. I'm going to try and not worry about it so much and just go for it. Hopefully by the end of sept. I'll be 100% and then I can fully enjoy the benefits this lifestyle can bring.
Cheers everyone!

[sport]

[QUOTE=rtistyksyko]Then as a dessert I'll have some strawberries or blueberries or blackberries if I can get my hands on them.

QUOTE]
Can I suggest that you eat your fruit before you eat the slower thing so as to give them the chance to move on before they get a chance to ferment in your system.