Nuts & Avocado's

[oigetit85]

I have a really weird question...but i'll explain why at the end. Isn't anyone here scared of all the fat that is in nuts and avocado's? I've dealt with an ED (eating disorder) for all of 14 yrs. now and am such a fat-phob that it scares me terribly to even eat more than 5 almonds in one day. I grew up very overwieght and was made horrible fun of and that damaged me. At 22, lost ton of weight then went Anex/Bul, and turned total fat-phob like I said. I don't want to ever be like that little girl again, but I want to get over the phobia, it inhibits my desire to go total raw, cause i need the fat to sustain me. Am I making any sense? Am I, myself, a total nut? Thanks for any help out there!!

*scared to go back~~

[Blissed]

What I've experienced and what I've learned from people long on the raw path is that you might initially crave/desire/wish to eat a higher dose of fats and nuts during the transition, though the body will tell you when it's time to wean off of those. It's actually not healthy in the long run to keep a high level of fats/nuts in the raw diet - I've frequently seen/heard that an optimal raw diet runs 80/10/10 [carbs/protien/fats]. I will say that I believe that this is something to work into. While I ate these more heavily initially, I had no problems with weight gain; instead I lost weight to my optimal weight which I continue to hold now. There's a scientific basis behind all this, and if you're interested in reading more, I'd recommend two resources: Gabriel Cousens, MD's books, particularly Rainbow Live Green Cuisine's front section, and Fred Bisci. Both guys have been 100% raw for over 30 years and go into the scientific balance concepts. Hope that helps!

[oigetit85]

Thanks for your help. That's good to know that fat is really only 10% of being raw. I have dr. graham's book and I think that is what he prescribes too, is his 80/10/10 plan. Thing of it is, i don't have a problem NOT eating nuts, oils and avocados...i'm scared of them and DON'T want to eat them at all. I hope to get over this. So many recipes call for for them, I don't know how to substitute the almond milk, etc.

[dreamrawalwz]

I've had anorexia and I'm currently recovering from bulimia so I understand your fear. Try to think of this way: you're trying to finally nourish your body and get it healthy. The healthy fats in avocados and nuts will NOT make you gain weight, if that's your fear. They help with metabolic processes and other good things your body does. Because of your past I'm not sure of your current situation, but the fats will help your hair shine and grow, nails grow, skin get softer, ect. Start out slowly. Incorporate just one more nut every few days and then a slice of avocado every 2 weeks or so. You will be doing your body a favor. You deserve it.

[oigetit85]

Thank you so much Dreamrawalwz! I so needed to hear that. Sounds like a good idea, now if I can do it. Since I've damaged my bod for so long it seems to be sucking in all the food and I keep gaining. That is my fear. To gain. And now with the nuts, etc. I imagine it will soak that up too and I will baloon. Like you said, I will have to go slow. Thanks again for your encouraging words!

[Blissed]

your body will stabilize at what is an optimal healthy weight for you; you are only gaining a small amount [though it may seem like a lot] - it will only go to the point that you reach a healthy weight for you

[oigetit85]

thanks to you too blissed. i wish you were local so you could teach me raw food uncooking. i don't have any of the $$ appliances and can only eat foods in natural state, no grinding, juicing, dehydrating or blending. i am a poor white girl :) and am making due w/what i have.
thanks to you both!

[dreamrawalwz]

If you have weight you need to gain (not by your mind, but physically even if you personally don't see it) a lot will go to recovering your organs, not visibly...not sure if that helps at all or not...

[vgloveforlife]

I eat a high fat raw diet and I am LOSING weight.

I wouldn't worry about gaining weight unless it is a healthy weight that you need to gain. This diet is not about counting fat grams and calories. Eat whatever raw foods you want, you want get fat.

[Tangerina]

Ive been eating as much as I want of whatever raw food I want... probably roughly one avo and a cup of nuts a day along with tons of veggies, fruit and some grains and I have lost 3 lbs in the past 2.5 weeks. Also, think of this.... if you do gain weight eating this healthy fat, then it is probably because your body needs it for some vital function.... fat is soooooo important to brain function and many many other vital organs... also, read in Alissa's book in the FAQs section where she addresses this.... she explains about how plant fats are so different than cooked fats and don't get stored as easily

[exurb]

I would say to help you get over it, do the math and count the calories at first. I found that a whole boatload of veggies I ate only added up to about 200 cals for the day, so then when you added 1/4 cup of nuts at 150 cals, or half an avo at 160, you're still extremely low on the cals. Then leaves you room for fruit, other decadent stuff and your cals are still low. Hopefully this will help to lead you to eat a balanced diet to give your body what it needs for you to be happy and strong.

Also, please remember your brain is made of fat, many of your neurotransmitters, hormones, etc., need fat to properly form, it is an ESSENTIAL nutrient and also makes you feel good. The brain's fuel is glucose, so don't overskimp on the fruit either or things that give you reasonable blood sugar.

Please nurture your precious self with all the wonderful healthy foods you need to be happy and healthy, and don't buy in to that B.S. about extreme low fat.

[ShelShel]

I too have been overweight all of my life. It's not a good place to be. I didn't really think I had a choice. My genes. You know!?! But then I found raw and for the first time....ever....as long as it's RAW, I can eat anything and be slender. (Even nuts and avacado!) :eek: It still amazes me. I wake up and can't believe this is my body. I've lost 52 pounds this year...since February. (And I'm still losing.) I figure when my body reaches it's ideal...it will just stop giving up the weight. I feel so great...I can't describe how healthy I feel. If anyone on this board has an eating disorder because they are afraid to be fat...you have to go 100% raw. It will change your life. No more staring at food you can't eat...no more counting calories...no more fat clothes you keep just incase. This is not a diet, but a way of life! Live it! Love yourselves enough to eat what will make you healthy and thin! Naturally! :) I really hope you take the plunge! Raw Rawks! And so do you! (((HUGS)))
Ps...I struggled with anorexia in college. It's very painful. Let go...and go raw! It's one of the most freeing things I have ever done!

[Pierre]

I have been eating lots of avocados, olives for weeks at a time (I buy a case at a time), and peanuts occasionally, and I have been losing since I started raw. I just binged on avos and lost 1500 g! It went like this:
Sunday: Bought avos and other food. Simultaneously, most of the avos I bought last time turned ripe. Ate three or four avos.
Monday: Monthly weigh day. 70.9 kg. Ate more avos.
Tuesday: Started to detox. Got a fever (don't worry, it's not as severe as a real illness, though this was my most severe so far). Put all the avos in the fridge.
Wednesday: Took a shower, drank water till evening, then ate a salad.
Thursday: Back to eating avocados. 69.4 kg.
1500 grams of trans fat? pesticides? cooked beef grease? who knows? poof! down the drain or burnt up.

So don't worry about getting overweight on raw. It won't happen. I recommend not eating lots of nuts, but buying a few jars of raw olives. Olives and avos are easier for us to digest than nuts; even squirrels sprout nuts before they eat them. (You probably won't find raw olives in a store, though I have. You can order them online.) One Greek olive is 2.8 edible grams, so it's not enough fat to worry about, and the rest of the jar will keep better than half an avocado ;) A Botilla olive is 8 or 9 edible grams, but I don't think it has as much fat as a Greek (Botillas are packed in water). And if you eat the whole jar - still don't worry :)

[lissomllama]

I've struggled with anorexia/bulimia for almost my whole life and that is in the past now. I eat a LOT of nuts and avocados and I'm actually still losing weight. Eating natural, good, healthy, raw fats does not make you fat at all, it provides essential fatty acids that strengthen and beautify your hair, skin and nails and protects your organs and bones and enhances your immune system. They do not make you fat or overweight. Raw is not abouy calorie counting or fat gram counting. you need fats and before you can be totally successful at raw, you must work to cure your eating disorder, otherwise, your raw lifestyle could be tainted with the bad energy of an ED. You do not want to associate raw (perfection) with an illness. I wish you luck, you'll be just fine.

[LightLover]

Pierre. is it save to eat raw olives?

ll

[oigetit85]

You guys have really helped. Thank you. I did buy an avo over the weekend and tried it (for the first time). Kind of an odd taste, but who knows! Might try the olives if I can find them raw. Saw my nutritionist last week and mentioned I had been going 75% raw each day and she blew a fuse and told me it was just my ED talking, so now I'm confused. Did eat cooked over the weekend and just seemed wrong. But I will eat a few more nuts and might try that avo again.. :D Got some thinking to do, weigh this out to see if it's ED, or my values to babies with faces. Which I couldn't even think of putting anything in my mouth with a face. Things to ponder. I'll try to keep ya'll posted. Thank you again everyone!! :p

[LightLover]

Step to a window, ladies, if you can. Better still, find some place with a view. Look out across the earth and say to yourselves, "The whole, vast world is incomplete without me!" From the book Captivating

I bet YOU ARE RIGHT! :)