calories...

[mad4mangos]

so i know that a lot of people talk about this and ask about this. buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut...here it is again! can anyone explain to me why people say calories don't matter on raw? i have a very hard time with that....coming from a background of obsessive counting. it's ingrained in me. so any scientific evidence you have would be great...just to ease my worries. i was always taught that losing weight is about calories in vs calories out...end of story. any info you have would be awesome! thanks!

[mad4mangos]

i just did a search for this and didn't find very much info.

[girlsmiley]

My understanding of this is that because the amount of calories in certain fruits and vegetables are less than the amount of calories expended during digestion you end up in the negative, calorie-wise ... which is pretty cool. I believe that celery is one of these items.

Of course, there are lots of fruits and veggies - and of course nuts and other fats (avocado) that help to balance it out.

Plus, by eating whole foods you get lots of fiber which is missing in processed foods ... so you get full on less :D

Do you have Alissa's book? I think she talks about it (mine is loaned out right now so I can't check at the moment).

[tvillemom]

Mad4, I understand the concept of raw foods vs. calorie counting is that raw foods digest easier, and faster. Cooked foods slow down our digestion. (If I remember all this right, someone else may want to help clarify)
Also, the importance of eating RAW is for the health benefit. If you read Alissa's book though, there is a section where she says: if you want to loose weight, eat more of this, if you are fighting this problem, eat more of this:
I can't quote her, but when I find my book, I will post the pages. Maybe if you are not loosing weight, and this is a major concern, reread her book, this may help.
Best of luck.
Wendi

[tvillemom]

YAY, girlsmiley to the rescue!! :D
Wendi

[girlsmiley]

LOL ... we must have been posting at the same time!

[mad4mangos]

i think for people just so caught up in the "diet, counting calories" mentality, it is so hard to break this. it's probably more of a control thing. i fear immensley not knowing the amount of calories going into my body. i know the only way to break this is to give up and try it out, right? but still...evidence and facts don't hurt with this process. :)

[rawfigure]

To a certain degree "Calories do matter" regardless of the diet..if you eat more calories than you expend..lets say expend 2500..eat 4000..you will gain weight. It is a law of nature. BUT it is harder to over eat calories on Raw...unless you live on the Fats.

[girlsmiley]

There was a time when I put my intake into fitday ... some days were low calories and some days were higher, depending on my nut and avocado intake.

I gave up when I started making recipes and it was too hard to figure out :D

RAW is about FREEDOM ... it will take time to let go of old habits so just relax, and as Revvell says, "Play with your food" :D

[Frecs]

Calories DO matter....but your source of calories is what really matters!

If you eat mostly raw fruits and vegetables you will find it very difficult to eat too many calories. In fact, you may have to force yourself to eat more than you want just to keep your calories up! (When I first started, I had to do this just to get my calories above 1000 which is where I lose weight the best. Now, I average 1300-1500 calories a day.)

If you eat allot of nuts, avocados, oils and raw-junkfood, then you may end up with allot more calories than you need for maintenance or weightloss (depending on your goal). In which case, you would be wise to either increase your exercise (calorie expenditure) or decrease your fat intake (calorie intake).

BTW, at first, I used fitday.com to track my calories/carbs/fats/proteins until I got to the point where I was getting enough calories consistantly while hitting the fat% I was aiming for then I stopped bothering for the most part. Every now and then I'll check myself but I don't feel the compulsive need to anymore....in fact I've managed to rid myself of several "diet-compulsive activities" (calorie counting, weighing, and the constant thinking of food).

[eatyourbroccoli]

this is a loaded question, as youll get many responses from either side and then probably ultimately a mod will step in to reiterate alissas view that "calories dont matter so long as its raw"

and id have to agree with alissas view on this. ive been with raw for 18 months now, and one thing ive most definitely learned is calories for me do NOT matter. when i was SAD i would eat 1000-1200 calories a day. now that im high raw/100%, i eat around 1800-2000 calories a day (because i leat a lot lol), and im an average of 13 lbs less than i was when i was SAD, despite the higher caloric intake. i wasnt even overweight in the first place..but raw has left me leaner, stronger, firmer..and calorie-counting free.

youve just gotta trust it..and over time, youll even realize that your appetite is far more about when youre actually hungry, and not just when you feel like you *should* eat. were not naturally supposed to be overweight, and if you learn to trust in your body and eat when youre hungry (and as much as you need until youre full), and stop when youre not, your bod will adjust to your ideal weight..regardless of how many calories youre taking in per day.

[Ariannah]

I can eat more calories than I could on a cooked diet and still lose weight.

Last year I plugged into fitday a few times just to be curious and see what all the fuss was about. I figured if I was losing weight, it had to be because for once in my life I was finally getting far fewer calories than I deceived myself in the past that I was getting. There was no other explanation for it because of all the hype of calories in other diets.

Well, imagine my shock when the times I was losing the most weight were when I was getting about 2100-2200 calories per day. (I was eating a lot of Alissa's fudge balls and date-nut torte) This was great news for someone with a sluggish thyroid who is supposed to have a "low metabolism" (very true on COOKED - I gained weight on far less)

And I was moderately active. Not a couch potato, but not seeking the gym on purpose or anything either. I went for walks and stuff, but I rarely did a hard and fast workout (not that less exercise is very healthy)

I eat fewer calories now, as my body has adjusted somewhat. But really, when your body is reset to nature, it behaves differently. My only regret is ever having gone off raw at ALL.

I am back on and no, I don't count anything at all anymore. I eat what my tastebuds (which are no longer contaminated with processed garbage) dictate to me because I can now trust my body.

On a cooked diet, my body was in a confused, addicted, foggy state, and highly unreliable, and lying to me with disgusting cravings about what I "should eat".

With raw, your body TELLS you different things, and sends you different signals, if you let it. But my theory is only 100% raw and very little "questionable" stuff.

Your mileage may vary.

[Raw Jewelrylady]

I can eat more calories than I could on a cooked diet and still lose weight.

Last year I plugged into fitday a few times just to be curious and see what all the fuss was about. I figured if I was losing weight, it had to be because for once in my life I was finally getting far fewer calories than I deceived myself in the past that I was getting. There was no other explanation for it because of all the hype of calories in other diets.

Well, imagine my shock when the times I was losing the most weight were when I was getting about 2100-2200 calories per day. (I was eating a lot of Alissa's fudge balls and date-nut torte) This was great news for someone with a sluggish thyroid who is supposed to have a "low metabolism" (very true on COOKED - I gained weight on far less)

And I was moderately active. Not a couch potato, but not seeking the gym on purpose or anything either. I went for walks and stuff, but I rarely did a hard and fast workout (not that less exercise is very healthy)

I eat fewer calories now, as my body has adjusted somewhat. But really, when your body is reset to nature, it behaves differently. My only regret is ever having gone off raw at ALL.

I am back on and no, I don't count anything at all anymore. I eat what my tastebuds (which are no longer contaminated with processed garbage) dictate to me because I can now trust my body.

On a cooked diet, my body was in a confused, addicted, foggy state, and highly unreliable, and lying to me with disgusting cravings about what I "should eat".

With raw, your body TELLS you different things, and sends you different signals, if you let it. But my theory is only 100% raw and very little "questionable" stuff.

Your mileage may vary.


Ditto.Great post rawandnatural !!!
Not to mention the slowdown of metabolism on a low calorie diet. ;)
Lana

[Mira Sheri]

I read in a health magazine (can't remember which) that scientists now believe the reason we overeat is because the brain registers that we're not getting enough nutrients and keeps looking for them in the food we eat. So if you're eating a food with a low nutritional value, you will eat A LOT of it before your brain gives you the signal that you're full. I used to eat so much processed sugar in the mornings that I actually got 1000 kcals worth in what I considered a snack - not a meal! (Just realised this the other day :eek: !) No wonder I overate, and no wonder I ballooned! On raw, your nutritional needs are met a lot quicker, and you feel full a lot quicker. I think this is why people lose weight on raw. I am averaging on about 1200 kcals these days, and that's when I'm stuffing my face all day. I don't think calories are as important as we believe - I think it's all about the nutrients! :D

[raw-siobhan]

that would make sense, mira sheri, to me. I had a large salad this morning with some nuts, peas, and greens at about 8:30 a.m. I also had 3 chocolate nut ball concoction thingies that I made (fairly small) shortly after that. It is now almost 3 p.m. in the afternoon and I cant even thing of eating yet...still stuffed. I tried to get a ballpark calorie cound on Fitday and at the most I have eaten about 700-800 calories today...mostly due to the chocolate nut ball things. I used to be able to do a large Big Mac meal with a large diet soda (diet, I know, feel free to laugh!) and a couple of hours later I would be wanting another similar "meal"...yikes! :eek:

[PeachyMama]

I personally decided to limit myself to 1/4 - 3/8 cup of nuts or a large avocado a day for fats ... and then eat as much of fruits, veggies, smoothies as I wantto. I feel like a glutton sometimes, but I realize my overall caloric intake is FAR less than it ever was as a carb junkie.

[eatyourbroccoli]

I read in a health magazine (can't remember which) that scientists now believe the reason we overeat is because the brain registers that we're not getting enough nutrients and keeps looking for them in the food we eat. So if you're eating a food with a low nutritional value, you will eat A LOT of it before your brain gives you the signal that you're full. I used to eat so much processed sugar in the mornings that I actually got 1000 kcals worth in what I considered a snack - not a meal! (Just realised this the other day :eek: !) No wonder I overate, and no wonder I ballooned! On raw, your nutritional needs are met a lot quicker, and you feel full a lot quicker. I think this is why people lose weight on raw. I am averaging on about 1200 kcals these days, and that's when I'm stuffing my face all day. I don't think calories are as important as we believe - I think it's all about the nutrients! :Di really, really like this explanation. thanks for sharing :)

[mad4mangos]

eatyourbrocolli,
you're right. i was expecting a wide range of answers. some people say "i eat 2500 cals and still lose" while others say they eat 700-800. that seems awfully low to me. even 1200 is not a lot. i guess it's one of those things where you just have to say, "screw it" and try to just eat raw and see what happens. at least while i'm raw i feel good. today, i ate cooked and i did not feel full. i'm not upset at myself for eating cooked. i know this is a journey and that is just part of the journey. but i'm raw as of this very second. i know it will get easier and the questions i have will be answered in time by my own journey. very philisophical..i know. ;) well, thank you all for your input. any other suggestions or ideas are GREATLY welcome! :) Hugs!

[Ariannah]

2100-2200 was about as high as it got.
But after the honeymoon was over, it settled more into the 1800-1900 range....

there was more to my post than just the number :)

[Mira Sheri]

i really, really like this explanation. thanks for sharing :)

Anytime! ;) I wish I could remember where I read it, but I found this article by Joel Fuhrman, MD, by googling: http://www.enotalone.com/article/3250.html

I recommend reading the whole thing, but here are some interesting quotes: "In fact, if you consume sufficient nutrients and fiber, you will become biochemically filled (nutrients) and mechanically filled (fiber), and your desire to consume calories will be blunted or turned down. One key factor that determines whether you will be overweight is your failure to consume sufficient fiber and nutrients. This has been illustrated in scientific studies." But: "If you are serious about losing weight, don't drink your fruit - eat it. [...] If you are not overweight, drinking fresh-prepared juice is acceptable as long as it does not serve as a substitute for eating those fresh fruits and vegetables. There is no substitute for natural whole foods."

[mad4mangos]

But: "If you are serious about losing weight, don't drink your fruit - eat it. [...] If you are not overweight, drinking fresh-prepared juice is acceptable as long as it does not serve as a substitute for eating those fresh fruits and vegetables. There is no substitute for natural whole foods."

Hmmm. That is a little weird. I wonder if he is talking about smoothies. The whole fruit is in there. ?? I'm gonna take a look at the article.

[Mira Sheri]

Hmmm. That is a little weird. I wonder if he is talking about smoothies. The whole fruit is in there. ?? I'm gonna take a look at the article.

I think he just means juices - and I'm not sure if he's considering things like us raw foodists making our own! For instance, he says: "Too much fiber and too many nutrients are removed during juicing, and many of the remaining nutrients are lost through processing, heat, and storage time."

Home-made juices are probably still very good for you, although as he says, they may not make you feel fuller. And I am sure smoothies are absolutely fine :)

[Missrawdiva]

Mad4Mangos.. I was wondering the same thing. Why not drink your fruits and veggies in green smoothies since its the whole fruit. I am confused now.. can someone enlighten me??

[girlsmiley]

Because smoothies are the whole fruit you are getting the fiber.

I believe the *intent* was for juice ...

[Mira Sheri]

Because smoothies are the whole fruit you are getting the fiber.

I believe the *intent* was for juice ...

Yup, that's how I understood it as well. Freshly-made juices will give you the nutrients (except fiber) but will not make you feel full. And most store-bought juices won't even do that. Home-made smoothies on the other hand... :D

[mershwista]

I think it's because with raw, you're able to listen to your body, and your body rather than a calorie count will tell you when to stop. Because even on raw, you CAN eat too much. But to do it, you'd have to completely ignore your body's signals.