The dreaded question: Calories? Please humor me this once :)

[SmilingRawDancer]

ARE calories really that: calories?
I've searched these forums, trying to find some peace.
I've struggled with some eating issues, and I turned to raw food for a chance to eat without any mental hold-backs, yet I find myself having the same problems.
If I eat all raw (or at least as much as I can, roughly 95%), do I HONESTLY not have to worry about intake at all? I would love to just get to a peaceful place where I can just eat what my body (or I) wants, and not worry about grams of that, the protein in this, etc.

I really do just want to enjoy food and have peace, without worrying about weight gain or too many fats.

If anyone has any words of encouragement, any stories...anything, please share : )

Thanks! <3

(I really do think raw food IS the answer, I'd just love some back-up.)

[ShelShel]

Where to begin... :o I started going raw last february. All my health issues have disappeared and I have lost a ton of weight. (I have dieted my whole life...been anorexic in college...and thought I would be unhealthy and fat because it's "in my genes!")
If you are struggling with trying to control your diet to achieve anything from health to weight loss...and it's overwhelming you...you should just go 100% raw. You won't need to get all caught up in calories...or weighing food amounts. You can just stop letting food rule your life and start living!
It was one of the best decisions I have ever made and it's changed my life! ;) Hope it has the chance to change yours too! Raw (((HUGS)))

[SmilingRawDancer]

Thankyou all!
I'll definatly read and learn more, but it's nice to know that humans CAN eat and be "normal" with food with no (hugely noticable) ill health effects : )

[DavidZaneMason]

My experience:

-I had a lot of weight to lose in the beginning....so I journaled....counted calories...wrote down all my small goals and kept them.......and kept track of my exercise and all intake. It worked well for me. I lost a pound a week for about 60 weeks straight! Ha! ha!

-After being raw for a time....my weight stablized....and has remained pretty consistent since. But since getting to my goal weight...I certainly don't count calories any more. You can use that technique to help you reach your goals. Once you do.......and you are eating and living as optimally as YOU determine you know how.....then why should you have to?

-Just my opinions / experience - which I hope are helpful to you.

-David Mason