What is up with people gaining or loosing weight on raw?

[startootsie]

Hello all!

I have heard of both! I have heard of some people gaining MORE weight on raw, and also, I have heard of some people loosing TOO much weight on raw.

So, what is the deal? I don't get it. I have also heard of some people messing with there metabolisms, cause they were raw and then they went back to cooked because they felt so bad. They say at first they felt so good, but then they felt terrible.

I don't know why someone would gain weight on raw, but I have heard of it countless times.

Does anyone know anything about this?

Thank you all!

Create your life, so you can live your dreams!

Peace to all!

Christianna

[Princess Elaine]

I'm having to rethink my eating..when I started 100% raw over 4 months ago I was told by many, 'oh, eating raw you don't count calories and can eat anything you want as long as it's raw'...uh uh!!!...I want to lose about 10-12 pounds and instead I'm yo-yo'n and I'm thinking about starting counting calories....yet how to do that with the green smoothies....huge salads???....then I was told last week...'oh, you have to cut back on your avocados and nuts' (the same person 4 months ago who said I could eat anything)....so....tomorrow I'm starting a journal , though I do this every so often. write down everything I eat...post any ill effects...I do get slack and not journal...but for now...I want to slim down a bit and perhaps keeping track of calories at this time may be what I have to do....

I have the willingness to follow any directions that could help.

Elaine

[trinity082482]

Every "body" is different.
I lost 2 pounds during my first 9 days because I ate simple. Salad, greens, smoothies and fruit.
Then I started eating things with oil, nuts and seeds and I gained 10lbs in a month! Very discouraging. But now I know what works for my body and I limit what makes my body gain weight. Maybe in the future I will learn how to balance everything raw so that I don't have to limit anything but right now I am doing what is best for me and that is the difference between gaining and loosing while raw during my journey :D

[Princess Elaine]

Trinity...thanks for the feedback and a reminder....keep it simple!!!! I lost a few pounds too the first few weeks...and yes, I've added too many fats back in and I know there will be some balancing out once my body finds a comfort zone and also learns how to eat only when hungry....I feel it once in a while so I know it will zone in soon to be a natural everyday feeling.

Elaine

[Ariannah]

This is my second time on raw.

Each time, I ate liberally from food as is, and saved mixtures and recipes for when I had cravings for special food, or if I wished for something cooked, to have that instead.

At one point, I was eating a lot of fudge balls and torte, but I was still losing weight. My body has balanced out what I "go for", and I don't eat those things as frequently.

My diet is currently high in fresh fruit, a bit of frozen berries, some greens, kohlrabi, and some nuts and lentil sprouts.

My own personal preference is that when I blend foods, that each food within the blend be something I'd also enjoy eating on its own. I try not to blend too many things.

But I still stick to my own "literally raw" these days, as I find it suppresses unnecessary appetite and I feel good, clean and alive.

[FirstGarden]

Some folk's have chainsaws for metabolisms, while others, like me, gain weight just looking at food.

An active vs. sedentary lifestyle is another factor.

Eating primarily fruit & veg's will flush you out and increase your system's efficiency. If your ratio of concentrates is too high, and especially if you are *combining* different concentrates, i.e., dried fruit with nuts, you will maintain weight or gain. That is because of the system needing to deal with different elements at one time, thus slowing down efficiency. Remember, anything that is not fruit or veg's in their original state, is a concentrate. Dried fruit is a concentrate. Seeds/nuts are concentrates. I think that for many of us -- particularly those with slower metabolisms -- the secret lies in a greater ratio of high-water-content foods. But, there are obviously several factors that come into play.

[sungoddess]

I just simply eat too much. Bingeing on raw is going to make me gain weight. So for me, a mental readjustment is in order! I have been working in it for a while, and its slow in the making- but I am determined!


Yea, I was sometimes able to eat less calories when eating cooked- thats basically why. Calories

[startootsie]

Thank you all!

So, my next question is. Has it changed since you were on cooked food? Is it the same now? Or do you still loose MORE weight on raw then you did on cooked? Or do you gain more weight on raw then you did on cooked food?

Oh, I have also heard of some people going on raw food, and for a while they loose weight and then all of a sudden they start gaining weight. What is that about?

I hear so many theries, it's hard to know what to believe. Maybe it is body types too, I don't really know.

I have also heard that some people can eat way more calories on raw? Hmm.

I have been studying and researching everything almost. And everyone says something different! Some say high fat, some say low fat, some say high carb, some say low carb, some say high this low that and high this low that. Think of it in your head, theres almost every myth or truth out there. I am trying to stick to balance.

Please tell me your experiences!

Thank you all!

Create a day of love and peace!

Christianna

[trinity082482]

I gained more on raw then cooked. I duno how nuts turned out to be more fatty then a Mc Donalds combo LOL. But I am so much more healthier. I have more energy and I feel cleaner and more pure. It must be my blood getting some proper circulation HAHAHA :)

[sungoddess]

I actually think I CAN eat more calories on raw and remain a LOWER weight than I WOULD on cooked. HOWEVER- I eat SO MUCH sometimes that I still gain or just stay the same.

If I was raw- and ate normal amounts of food, I think I would be a stick. I am about 115-118 at 5'5"- so we are not talking obese. We are talking- 10-15 extra pounds of fat that wouldn't be here if the eating was a bit more normal!

[luna99]

I actually think I CAN eat more calories on raw and remain a LOWER weight than I WOULD on cooked. HOWEVER- I eat SO MUCH sometimes that I still gain or just stay the same.

sungoddess, if you don't mind me asking... how much is SO MUCH to you? i'm just curious because I'd really like to lose weight on raw and not gain and I'd just like to hear how much raw you have to eat in order to GAIN weight.

thanks!

[Sharon in Colorado]

I gained more on raw then cooked. I duno how nuts turned out to be more fatty then a Mc Donalds combo LOL. But I am so much more healthier. I have more energy and I feel cleaner and more pure. It must be my blood getting some proper circulation HAHAHA :)

They actually do!

Big Mac - 50% fat from calories http://www.mcdonalds.com/app_controller.nutrition.index1.html

Almonds (1 cup) - 80% fat from calories www.fitday.com

Raw fooders, in general, take in MUCH more fat than cooked or even vegetarians. Because they are replacing their starch with fat to feel more full and satisfied, instead of fruit. You can plug in your daily intake and see for yourself.

The reason why Alissa says to eat all and what you want as long as it's raw, is to help you stay raw. With some people, eating anything cooked will cause them to backslide further. While this really helps people stay raw, if they are going to overdo their fat intake on a consistent basis it is unhealthy in the long run. Just because it's raw doesn't mean that taking in 60-70% fat calories in a day, every day, is healthy.

For certain people, with certain medical problems taking in that much fat may be dangerous to their conditions.

[trinity082482]

They actually do!

Big Mac - 50% fat from calories http://www.mcdonalds.com/app_controller.nutrition.index1.html

Almonds (1 cup) - 80% fat from calories www.fitday.com

Raw fooders, in general, take in MUCH more fat than cooked or even vegetarians. Because they are replacing their starch with fat to feel more full and satisfied, instead of fruit.



:eek: Woha!!!! Thanks for posting that! Now everything makes much more sense :D

[sungoddess]

I am talking about- you know, 3000 calories worth of foods per day- normally aided by a late night fat binge or date binge- too many cals for me- 2000 is pushing it. :eek:

[Zuri]

I actually think I CAN eat more calories on raw and remain a LOWER weight than I WOULD on cooked. HOWEVER- I eat SO MUCH sometimes that I still gain or just stay the same.

If I was raw- and ate normal amounts of food, I think I would be a stick. I am about 115-118 at 5'5"- so we are not talking obese. We are talking- 10-15 extra pounds of fat that wouldn't be here if the eating was a bit more normal!

I apologize. I am not understanding what the challenge is in being 5'5'' between 115-118 lbs. I thought it was "normal" for a 5'4'' woman to be between 130-135 lbs. Maybe you've gotten your bodyfat percentage checked already.

[Dara]

Startootie,

You might benefit from reading Conscious Eating by Gabriel Cousen, MD. It includes an in depth discussion of Ayurvedic dietary considerations. It helps you figure out what your doshas is- vata, kapha or pitta. Once you understand what your doshas is you can then build your diet around that. Some people need 50% carbs, 30% protein and 20% fat in order to maintain normal weight. Others need high protein with lower carbs and fat and still others live heathier on a higher fat diet. The reason any diet only works for about 1/3 of the population that tries it is because that diet is geared for one type of person and not all types. Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine by Gabriel Cousens, MD is another good resource. It doesn't go as in depth as Conscious Eating but it will definately help you to find what percentages of carbs, fats and proteins will work for you. I wish we all could just eat as much as we wanted as long as it is raw and maintain a healthy weight but it's not that easy. Good luck!

[sungoddess]

I apologize. I am not understanding what the challenge is in being 5'5'' between 115-118 lbs. I thought it was "normal" for a 5'4'' woman to be between 130-135 lbs. Maybe you've gotten your bodyfat percentage checked already.


I assure you I have cellulite on my thighs and love handles on my sides and a pouch on my stomach and a double chin. I have very tiny bones and 115 is simply not as healthy as 105-110 would be for me. Many people are 5'5" and 120 and feel great- but I KNOW 1. that I binge and eat FAR too much 2. I have more fat on my body than is healthy for ME.

I totally understood what you mean though-people's bodies are very different. I also don't have as much muscle as one MAY have if they were my height and comfortable at the same weight.

[rawfigure]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zuri
I apologize. I am not understanding what the challenge is in being 5'5'' between 115-118 lbs. I thought it was "normal" for a 5'4'' woman to be between 130-135 lbs. Maybe you've gotten your bodyfat percentage checked already.




I assure you I have cellulite on my thighs and love handles on my sides and a pouch on my stomach and a double chin. I have very tiny bones and 115 is simply not as healthy as 105-110 would be for me. Many people are 5'5" and 120 and feel great- but I KNOW 1. that I binge and eat FAR too much 2. I have more fat on my body than is healthy for ME. I totally understood what you mean though-people's bodies are very different. I also don't have as much muscle as one MAY have if they were my height and comfortable at the same weight.

Yes Scale weight means little. Two different people can look totallly different at 5'5" and 115 pds. Lean body mass to the bodyfat ratio makes a difference in how one looks. So it is very individual !

[misslinda]

There are so many variables as to why some gain and lose and gain gain gain.


Myself, I do raw with simple principles in mind. At 100% raw for six month until late August, I was riding 96 ish lbs but I knew my body hadn't reached it's ultimate cleansing point so who knows where my body would have leveled out to be........I followed simple guidlines.

Fats slow down the healing and cleansing process. I avoided fats while in my cleansing process of raw eating.

Dehydrated foods are void of water and make the digestion of these foods more challenging and attribute to gas and bloating.

Food combining maximizes digestion and assimilation.

Exercise is essential no matter what.

But let's not forget that RAW is a process and your body needs to go thru the various layers to reach it's comfort. The human body is so intelligent!

I remember reading Dr. Gabriel Cousen's take on raw food lifestyle errors. Some raw foodist spend many many years on a "cleansing" diet rather than a maintenance diet.

I also tend to think, when people have opinions about their lack of success on raw or they gained this or that, the posts are written when they are highly emotionally charged. RAW cannot be achieved over nite and improvements can be made no matter what.

:)

[Ariannah]

I actually think I CAN eat more calories on raw and remain a LOWER weight than I WOULD on cooked. HOWEVER- I eat SO MUCH sometimes that I still gain or just stay the same.

If I was raw- and ate normal amounts of food, I think I would be a stick. I am about 115-118 at 5'5"- so we are not talking obese. We are talking- 10-15 extra pounds of fat that wouldn't be here if the eating was a bit more normal!

Wow I guess one person's fat is another person's lean!

I'm 5'4" and the last time I could even imagine weighing that in my most absurd fantasies was when I was 13...

[Ariannah]

For me it's a matter of simple vs gourmet. A year and a half ago, when I first heard the words "raw food lifestyle", I took it literally. I thought of what raw food was to me, as I had grown up to know it, like gobbling up all the red peppers before they made it into the stir fry (much to my parents' chagrin).

I nostalgically reminisced the summer work I had had, picking peaches off a tree and how wonderful I felt when 100% of what I had eaten that day was fresh, tree-ripened peaches! I'm amazed most of the peaches made it into the crates for sale.

I remembered my foster mother's orchard, how I could just go and eat apples to my heart's content, freely, or forage for blackberries in the trails of her large property.

So, I went to the produce section and I saw a whole world of "as is" food opened up to me. I could just eat grapes, or red peppers, or cucumbers, or fresh medjool dates (The organic ones at the Health Foods Store are raw). No cooking! Just eat!

After that day, when I was so gloriously feeling amazing just after one day (a bit of detox came a few days later), I decided to look up on line to see how many other people were doing it. Most of my Google searches revealed people juicing, dehydrating, processing, and very few people just eating. I saw a lot of people who said they could never "do raw" because of having to plan days in advance for a meal. I felt quite out of place.

Since then I've tried a LOT of recipes that I've seen here. They are delicious, but they do tend to stimulate my appetite rather than satisfy me more. They are WAY better than eating cooked, but I am a lazy raw foodist.

I am also finding that I blend in better among groups of people, when I eat just fruit in a social occasion and it advertises how much more "natural" raw food is. I am also finding (for myself) that I don't think nuts are really intended to be consumed in such large quantities. Cracking them from their shell is VERY hard work, and after about 15 minutes of cracking just almonds, I've earned about a small handful. Cashews, a person needs to practically hire a jackhammer to be able to get a peek inside the shell....

They are all delicious, and a very healthy living food, but we live in a world where we can buy pounds and pounds of nuts already out of the shell. Our Annual Christmas nuts-in-shell in a big basket showed how quickly they are meant to be consumed ;-)

[vgloveforlife]

I lose quickly on this diet no matter what I eat. I could eat fat all day long and still lose weight. The problem is I don't want to.

[swingbolder]

I've been raw for two years. When I first started, I was around 130. I went down pretty quickly to about 112, which was too thin for my frame, then it stabilized after several months to what it is now, which is 120-124. I'm happy at this weight and it doesn't really fluctuate no matter what I eat from day to day.

[trinity082482]

I apologize. I am not understanding what the challenge is in being 5'5'' between 115-118 lbs. I thought it was "normal" for a 5'4'' woman to be between 130-135 lbs. Maybe you've gotten your bodyfat percentage checked already.


I hate that LOL :p

My doctor even said being 130-145 lbs for 5'6 height was normal.
But I'm 138 and I can't fit into a size 8! :eek:
My arms and legs jiggle. I have cellulite and a tummy that hangs over my pants like I'm carrying an extra 40 pounds on top of my 138. :)
I would love to be 110-120lbs but some people that weight still don't feel healthy. I guess its different for everyone but I'm glad I'm "normal"

:D

[Ariannah]

I'm 5'4" and I'll be absofreakinglutely delighted to see the first number on the scale be a "1" someday. I weighed last month, and I am under no circumstances getting back on that scale until I fit into my size 14s. ;) The first number is likely a "1" now, but I am not a scale magnet, so I'm just letting my clothes guide me.

It's odd how one person's "fat" is another person's "slim". I look darn good at about 145-150 pounds, maybe even more. It's these danged stocky Norwegian bones. :)

I'm so out of place when it comes to all these people who are 50 pounds lighter than me feeling "fat" (and people do it in front of me in real life, I am not talking about here :D )

[Pailani]

Ithen I was told last week...'oh, you have to cut back on your avocados and nuts' (the same person 4 months ago who said I could eat anything)....

Actually, that's how it should work - when you start, you should allow yourself to eat what you want while your body acclimates to the diet and you heal some and see how your body reacts to a raw. Then, after a few months, you start refining, and, for a lot of people, this means cutting back on fats. The rules when you start can be different from the rules you follow long-term.

[luckitri]

Cellulite. The fact is that some breeds/tribes of humans do have more cellulite and it is hereditary. The only way it will be gone for these individuals is if they lose almost all of their body fat which IMHO is not the way to go! Some breeds/tribes of humans have denser muscles and or denser bones. How much is hereditary from genetics, centuries of eating patterns - who knows?

[startootsie]

I've been raw for two years. When I first started, I was around 130. I went down pretty quickly to about 112, which was too thin for my frame, then it stabilized after several months to what it is now, which is 120-124. I'm happy at this weight and it doesn't really fluctuate no matter what I eat from day to day.

Thank you!

What do you eat exactly on a normal basis?

Create a day of happiness!

Christianna

[startootsie]

Startootie,

You might benefit from reading Conscious Eating by Gabriel Cousen, MD. It includes an in depth discussion of Ayurvedic dietary considerations. It helps you figure out what your doshas is- vata, kapha or pitta. Once you understand what your doshas is you can then build your diet around that. Some people need 50% carbs, 30% protein and 20% fat in order to maintain normal weight. Others need high protein with lower carbs and fat and still others live heathier on a higher fat diet. The reason any diet only works for about 1/3 of the population that tries it is because that diet is geared for one type of person and not all types. Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine by Gabriel Cousens, MD is another good resource. It doesn't go as in depth as Conscious Eating but it will definately help you to find what percentages of carbs, fats and proteins will work for you. I wish we all could just eat as much as we wanted as long as it is raw and maintain a healthy weight but it's not that easy. Good luck!

I have all of his books, I think. Or at least three of them. The Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine, Concious Eating, and one about how food effects our moods and spiritual self.

They are all great books, I just have to get around taking the test to see what type I am. I have been to The Rainbow Live-Food Cuisine in AZ, and some one there thought I was a fast-oxodizer. On the Dosha subject, I think I am a blend of mostly Pitta and Vata.

Thank you for bringing his books up!

Create a day filled with joy!

Christianna

[startootsie]

There are so many variables as to why some gain and lose and gain gain gain.


Myself, I do raw with simple principles in mind. At 100% raw for six month until late August, I was riding 96 ish lbs but I knew my body hadn't reached it's ultimate cleansing point so who knows where my body would have leveled out to be........I followed simple guidlines.

Fats slow down the healing and cleansing process. I avoided fats while in my cleansing process of raw eating.

Dehydrated foods are void of water and make the digestion of these foods more challenging and attribute to gas and bloating.

Food combining maximizes digestion and assimilation.

Exercise is essential no matter what.

But let's not forget that RAW is a process and your body needs to go thru the various layers to reach it's comfort. The human body is so intelligent!

I remember reading Dr. Gabriel Cousen's take on raw food lifestyle errors. Some raw foodist spend many many years on a "cleansing" diet rather than a maintenance diet.

I also tend to think, when people have opinions about their lack of success on raw or they gained this or that, the posts are written when they are highly emotionally charged. RAW cannot be achieved over nite and improvements can be made no matter what.

:)


Thank you!

You have some great insights!

Fat slows down the healing proccess? You are a genious! I had that feeling you know! I got injured from over-training, and that injury healed, but then from limping and then being on cruches, I got another one. Or a muscle imbalance, cause I really don't know exactly what it is. Everyone I go to tells me something different, so now I am asking myself trying to get answers. Well, anyway. I had a feeling that eating so much fat was causing me to not really heal, so just yeterday I have started to take it down to about 10-20% fat. I didn't listen to my intuation before. So, wow. I was eating a lot of fat, a lot of nut butter, avocados, coconut butter/oil, nuts. Do you think that to much fat is why I have not healed very well?

Thank you so much for this reply!

Create a day of peace and happiness!

Christianna

[misslinda]

* chuckles *

I'm no genius :p I keep learning and reading.

Fats slow down the digestion process b/c it has to be broken down,processed and assimilated more than your high water content foods like fruits and vegetables to be metabolized. Here is my thinking....


Being creatures of modern age around mass pollution and surrounded by multi layers of toxins from cosmetics to the foods we eat out of toxic containers, plus years of cooked foods, our body sytem is under/overworking and for some, the organs are damaged on a cellular level.

The first layer is to rid the toxins and if we are in cleansing mode (limited fats) than our digestive process can start concentrating on cleansing........enhancing the bloodflow b/c blood/circulation is required for healing. Then those nutrients can be utilized effectively. That's in a nut shell. I'm not doctor and scientist so I'll keep it brief.


Startootsie, I don't know why you have healed b/c I do not know you very well and your situation but I do belive the fats slow down the healing process and even more so ingesting multiple kinds of fats. I'd be interested in your experience with the changes.

[startootsie]

* chuckles *

I'm no genius :p I keep learning and reading.

Fats slow down the digestion process b/c it has to be broken down,processed and assimilated more than your high water content foods like fruits and vegetables to be metabolized. Here is my thinking....


Being creatures of modern age around mass pollution and surrounded by multi layers of toxins from cosmetics to the foods we eat out of toxic containers, plus years of cooked foods, our body sytem is under/overworking and for some, the organs are damaged on a cellular level.

The first layer is to rid the toxins and if we are in cleansing mode (limited fats) than our digestive process can start concentrating on cleansing........enhancing the bloodflow b/c blood/circulation is required for healing. Then those nutrients can be utilized effectively. That's in a nut shell. I'm not doctor and scientist so I'll keep it brief.


Startootsie, I don't know why you have healed b/c I do not know you very well and your situation but I do belive the fats slow down the healing process and even more so ingesting multiple kinds of fats. I'd be interested in your experience with the changes.

Thank you!

I will keep you updated when I see changes. I have heard a few others say that they believe that nuts are in a shell, so obviously you should not consume to many of them. I believe in that too. Now I am sticking to 1 tsbl spoon of coconut butter/oil, a little flax and pumkin seeds. I think this should work good, unless I have misscalulated and I am still eating more fat then I think.

Thank you for all of your help!

Create a day of love and light!

Christianna

[startootsie]

Hello again!

Where did you all go?

Are a lot of you saying that you can eat more calories, if they don't come from fat? I don't count calories. But I am a researcher, so any onfo on more about this would be great!

Thank you!

Create a day of peace and harmony!

Christianna