Can we talk about weight, being 'too thin'?

[muse]

I was raw, and then a 100% fruitarian for a few years many moons ago. I felt great, never was ill, lovely backs of my legs (no cellulite), felt very confident in what I was doing, including periodic juice fasting.

However, I was 18 or so when I started. While I was legally an adult, I was still dependent financiallly on my parents, and emotionally very influenced by them.

They freaked out about my weight. I was 5'8 and 110 lbs or less. I'd lost about 20 lbs in a couple of months (upon going raw) and it frightened them. 'You're too thin!' and the rest of it. You know what I'm talking about...family in tears, trying to get me to 'eat' (I did eat, just not what they thought I should), 'you need protein!', etc, etc.

They were so distraught, I agreed to therapy for an 'eating disorder'. Years of therapy, including meal plans and getting completely into SAD as a marker of mental and physical health. I gained weight. Everyone was happy, but I was addicted to all manner of horrid foods, felt sluggish, depressed, and out of control. Quite the contrast to the 'eating disorder' which was RAW!:)

I've been RAW for a couple of months, and it's starting again. 'You're too thin, you look ill, you look like you could be hospitalised stat'. Husband is freaking out, people are making comments about what I eat, worried.

I love my husband, love my friends and family. But I'm in my mid thirties this time and I do not feel the need to please as I did when I was 19. So I won't be swayed this time, and lose my health in order to please loved ones.

However, I'd like to chat about what it's like to be 'too thin' in a world where 'curves' are thought to be automatically healthy. 'Some meat on your bones', and other comments.

It's not just loved ones and their opinions. The standard diagnostic evaluators for eating disorders make it nearly impossible to convince medical personnel that one doesn't have an eating disorder. Does the patient restrict their eating? Yup. Fast on water or veg/fruit juices? Yes. Are entire 'food groups' eliminated? Yes. Is her BMI 'underweight'? Yes. Does she appear phobic about certain foods, refusing to eat them? Yes. Is she fixed on a particular diet? Yes. Does she claim to have more energy, does she appear to be hyper at times? Yes. Are family members concerned and try to have her eat to no avail? Yes.

How do you deal with something that looks like an ED to a clinitian, and the medical person can absolutely diagnose it as such, based on the criteria in the DSMIV or whatever? How do you say, 'but I feel my best, and I do not believe the recommended 'healthy' diet is for me?' I suppose just standing up for oneself. But you know how a medical person would react to hearing, 'I eat 4 oranges for breakfast, typically, then raw tomatoes and cucumbers, and some lettuce...'

Since it seems that long term raw foodists move away from nut-heavy, complex 'recipies', toward more simple eating, mono eating, and lose weight as a consequence, then it seems like there would be those around them who are fearful and worried. It doesn't look anything like 'normal'.

When I read a post from RawNora here, about how she got to her lowest lifetime weight and realised how 'normal' it is in our society to think of bodies as having excess weight on them, that resonated with me. It's 'normal' to get 'the cold that's going around', normal to publically confess to food addictions ('I've got to have my chocolate at that time of the month'), normal to be 'struggling with weight'. When one isn't on that reality, I've had the experience of loved ones (who cares about strangers?) wanting to get me on it.

Anyway, thanks for reading this long post. Very interested to read people's thoughts on this issue.:)

[lavendarJ]

Interesting viewpoint muse. It sounds as if you know your body very well and you know what's best for you. Personally, I don't think of curves as fat. I think of curves in terms of the natural frame of my body.

I've been on both ends of the spectrum. I've been a so called "normal" weight and then I have been noticeably overweight. I have always had curves - meaning God gifted me with a particular shape and form that was there at 130 pounds years ago and is still present now at 170. Anything extra - well, that's on me and I will be accountable for that. But I hope my curves will always be a part of me.

If I listen to western doctors and get down to their "ideal" weight suggestions... I'll be at 125. Honestly, I don't know about that is all I can say... and that's just for me. People think I'm lying when I tell them I'm 170.. maybe I'm just really solid... but my family members and other friends have notices the changes since I embraced raw last August and they think I am around 125 or 130 and that I'm starving myself. When I tell them that I've been stuck at around 170 since last December, they look at me and even bodly try to get me to "confess" about what diet pills I'm really taking.

Even I myself don't think I look 170, but numbers don't matter to me. Everyone wants a number as my final goal. I just tell them I have a range in mind (near 140) but more than likely, I will just listen to my body. I don't have a desire to look like a stick. My goal is maintaining health from the inside-out first and foremost.

I don't know if my comments really helped you at all with what you were pondering. But I'm glad you posted this topic - it is always provides an opportunity for reflection and achieving clarity about who we are.

[konmai]

I can definitely identify w/ your story to an extent! I actually go about eatting RAW like it's an eatting disorder. :rolleyes: Once in a full moon, I'll make a point to eat SAD in front of my family. They're also concerned about my being too thin. They've even discussed hospitalising me. :mad:

Which is why I 'choose' to eat SAD in front of them every now & then. It's better for me to do that than get hospitalised and eat heavy SAD 24/7 for now.

I don't seem to get addicted to eatting SAD though which is good for me. After reading your post, I just thought about making more complex RAW meals that look SAD. Maybe that would help me out w/ the family. Right now, I only mono-eat veggies which is probably the major concern for my family. :(

[Elizabeth]

I hope this is not too strongly worded... It is just my opinion..if it is worth anything to you, then I am glad...:) , if not, then I trust you will find some other insight that helps you through this issue...


why even subject yourself to "expert" (or other) scrutiny? I would not even argue about it, but would just do what you know it right for you, and refuse to be drawn into a defense of something which is entirely your business....

BTW , "concern" over your weight etc., is often just concern over your doing something different which, in for so many,seems like an attack on their (poor??) choices.

You are responsible for your own diet and health...your LIFE!!! I would recommend making that VERY clear. No one can die for you, or suffer through your illnesses for you, and no one has the right to pressure you into doing/eating things which, for you, are/seem unhealthy...

Blessings to you....:)

[jaurequi]

Muse,

I agree completely. However, many people (especially young) gravitate toward "special diets" in order to mask a true eating disorder. It is unfortunate, not only for them, of course, but also for the dark shadow it casts over truly, the most healthful of dietary lifestyles.

I would just embrace your hard-won independence and confidence and rejoice in your strength and in your ability to control your life and your health. None of these people (even while good-intentioned) are going to eat for you; none of them are going to take care of your body every day; none of them are going to deal with the illnesses you may experience if you succomb to their way of eating, in fact, they'll be dealing with their own miseries.

I think you should engage, primarily your spouse's concerns: do what you can to allay his fears. The two ways best to do that is through education (give him the literature and science to back up what you say; there is a lot out there and it is not necessarily framed within "RAW.") Check out Dr. Fuhrman, for example who advocates high raw); the second way is through watching your progress.
Be the example; don't let this bring you down.

Best,

[Ama]

I agree with Elizabeth.

No health professional is going to be okay with raw... it's not the norm. I remember reading in Shazzie's journal when she had her baby and took her to the doctor for check-ups the doctor said the baby needs more vitamins, feed her milk and Shazzie would say she is getting milk, my milk. The doctor was pressuring her to feed her baby cows milk and at another point was telling her to give her baby some sugary cereal that was fortified in some vitamins. Shazzie said, these vitamins are added, why not just give my child the vitamins if that's what she needs. Why would I give my child some sugar crap that had vitamins added. This is all paraphrase mine but the point is that they didn't get raw and kept pressuring her to feed her baby foods that were sugary, processed and just plain bad for her. My point in bringing this up is any *regular* doctor is most likely going to take the same approach.

If you feel you need more fats and don't like nuts try adding some coconut or avocado or one of those fatty fruits to your diet.

[Sunshine9]

It is definitely possible to be raw and thin without being emaciated. Usually if people are really underweight, it is a sign that they aren't absorbing things properly. I've read that blending a big portion of your food can significantly help with this.

I understand though about the comments... all through high school I got unwanted attention because I was so thin, and everyone thought it was appropriate to make comments about my body. Some people are just very naturally slender. You still need to make sure you're healthy and getting all the minerals you need, and I don't think that that happens by default just eating raw.

Good luck :)

[misslinda]

I'm dealing with this right now with my family as of course I understand their [reaction] b/c I did have a 17 history with anorexia BUT I say [did] b/c I am no longer claiming the condition NOR will I allow them too either EVEN if "physically" it raises eyebrows. Whenever comments come up, I ignore them and continue on with my happy and vibrant self.

People in general like to make assumptions etc, I was just out walking the other day and I hear whispering comments like "anorexic" or one regular walker stopped me and said "I didn't recognize you --you are way too thin What happened to you???" I almost questioned myself thereafter BUT screw it, I looked at all the other walkers and here is everyone with skin problems,tired eyes,no glow,overweight etc. Why wasn't a comment directed towards them? That's exactly it, people assume too much.

LIVE your life as an adult and don't concern or worry about what they THINK you are doing.........you only need to worry about yourself. EVERYONE needs to worry about their own self.

I think the Glaser farm guy went down to like 140 lbs at his 6'2 height before he settled at his true weight.

I'm happy to be natural and raw.......I allow nature to take it's course. Which is completely OPPOSITE of living off 2 tbsp of non fat yogurt and 7 cups of coffee. :)

[chilove]

Hello there,

Thanks so much for posting this! I know exactly what you are going through. As I lost weight, the "Wow, you look great" comments started becoming "You're not going to lose anymore, are you?" and "You are too thin, you need to gain weight". (I'm currently 5ft 7in and around 120--I'm somewhat thinner now than in my pic on my website-I've probably lost about 10 lbs since then, unfortunatley mostly in my face and upper body which makes it more pronounced) My parents and partner are concerned about my weight and I suspect they are beginning to wonder if raw has become an eating disorder for me although they were very supportive at first because they saw how it healed my fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue.

Now that I eat very simply and low fat because that is how I feel the best eating and what gives me the most vitality, happiness and energy, they worry that I am being too extreme. I think that we have to realize that they really are concerned about our health and are not just trying to be critical. We also have to accept that in order for us to feel the best, we are going to be living in bodies that are thinner than society's ideal (or people's ideas of what is healthy).

I think the proof will be in our health, vitality and energy. When they see us being very healthy and strong for a number of years, never getting sick, etc... despite our thinness and how simply and how little we eat, they will realize that we were right and relax. It can be tough in the meantime though.


I am currently trying to gain muscle weight to add some bulk. I do think that will help. I also remember that many people have reported gaining back some body weight after getting to a really low weight even though they ate the same amount. We may be going through a type of cleansing and may bulk back up a bit with new, clean healthy tissues :-)

All the best,

Audrey
www.rawhealing.com

[RawNnyc]

I love this thread. This story sounds just like me.........well, this is my first time raw, but I remember when I first found out I had Celiac Disease. I lost tons of weight ....when I took the gluten out of my diet, I was eating like a maniac and still not gaining weight. Thats when people, EVERYONE started literally attacking me about it. It was horrible! I felt TONS better for the first time in my life, happy about my weight, but also, just feeling healthier, and happy about that. I said why does it matter if I weigh less if I feel SO GOOD?!? And I was eating MORE THAN PLENTY IN FRONT OF THEIR FACE!That's insane! They kept telling me I needed to eat things like cookies to help gain the weight back etc. etc. WHY? They kept telling me I should go see someone, etc. etc. ......it was so stressful...:( But then I actually started to believe them! I started getting scared myself! So then I started eating the junk food and everything....and here I am, sick again. With different problems, but nowhere close to healthy.

Now I have changed my attitude. Excuse me but 'F' everyone who wants us to conform for NO REASON! If you are happy, and healthy, AND EATING THE THINGS THAT HAVE THE MOST NUTRIENTS IN LIFE, they have no say about anything that you do. I personally think it's REALLLYYYY SAD (Sad) now that I see how messed up everyone's way of thinking is. I hear everyone always talking about the government over here (in NY) and how they don't trust it and it's all about money and greed and big corporations and they don't even care when they kill people for this or that, etc. SO THEN WHY DO THEY THINK IT'S OKAY TO EAT CHEMICALS and JUNK JUST BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT SAYS IT'S OKAY??????????????????????????????????????????? I feel like I've really woken up these past few years and sometimes I wonder if I was better off ignorant........it's so depressing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But then again, I'm just not that type of person and when I don't feel right, I need to find the answer. Now that I found it, there's no way around it...

[Sharon in Colorado]

The only thing I could think of is using allergies, disease or well-being as your defense against eating cooked food. Instead of you 'prefer' to eat this, it might be better to answer the medical establishment as you 'feel better' eating the way you do.

My excuses for avoiding the animal products are my hereditary cholesterol, but when it comes to cooked plant food, I usually say that when I eat that it makes me 'tired and lethargic'. Because if I use any other excuse, like a non-health one (for instance preference or what have you) it sounds more like an eating disorder TO THEM.

[Lunar*Fey]

I know exactly what you mean! I am in the same situation that you were in at 18 only I am 15 (almost 16). Of course, I did at one time have an eating disorder (for a short time. I was newly 13 and TOLD I had an eating disorder. I got SO completely scared I started to believe it and then I did develop one to an extent). Now my weight seems to refuse to go above 89 at 5'4" and my bones aren't doing so well (although I think that has more to do with lack of absorbtion/lack of vitamin D) and I really need to fix that. They have sent me away twice now and are threatening again even though I eat TONS..they know this and watch it. They think I secretly exercise or somethng which I don't. They, meaning family members and "professionals" and so on, tell me I am killing myself and not giving myself enough nutrients. They can see my frustration in not meeting their health requirements..I openly display to them my extreme effort and energy I try my best to give toward my own healing at all times. But they just look at me or yell at me with sympathy or extreme anger and tell me I am sick and need help. All my vital signs are all completely healthy by the way. The white blood cell count is always slightly low though and now something in my bloodwork says I'm eating at my bones or something. They started aching after I heard that so I know I need to do something about that one. But relaly, sending me away again will rip me to shreds...so I am pumping myself with food as always but I NEED to get my weight up up up so they don't send me away. THus I am trying to apply for a job so I can buy my own groceries and even better feed this appetite that rarely fails. not that I don't eat enough now, I just have this feeling that I need more than what my body tells me. I am still growing and such anyway. I've always been super thin too, which makes it even harder for people to believe that I eat so much and that I have absolutely no desire to starve my body.

[Ireland]

From what I have learned, it's quite common for someone to go 100% raw and lose a lot of weight and end up too skinny or too thin.

Often this happens because people don't understand how important the exercise aspect of healthy living is and don't recognize the need to build muscle. Two thin raw vegans the same height can look very different depending on the amount of muscle on the body.

To me, skinny or thin doesn't look at all healthy unless there's good muscle tone to compliment the thinner frame. Take Storm Talifero for instance. He's a raw vegan body builder who's almost 60 years old and he looks incredible. There are many others like him.

It's all in the balance: proper diet, exercise, sleep, sunshine, spiritual life...

[SmilingRawDancer]

I seem to maintain a fairly meaty weight on raw, oddly enough. I've never had the problem of losing too much weight on raw, etc.

HOWEVER, other people have told me that I look thin, and have made concerned comments, so I think it all depends on what they're comparing you too. Most people hadn't seen me at all over the summer, so the drastic change alone shocked them, and in comparison with my old self, yes, I look pretty thin.

<3

[Firicia]

Thanks for this post! I am actually kind of scared of becoming my thin self again. To the point where I'll be doing great with raw and then just get scared or something and I'll eat SAD lik a little piggy. I am working on it, but hearing that other people get bad comments too makes me feel better and less scared. I just need to learn to not listen to anyone and do this compleatly for myself.

But when I was 17/18 I lost weight eating "healthy". I am 5"5, and through just mindful eating and listening to my body when I was 17 I went from 142, down to about 118-123. I felt good and healthy and finally not insecure about people calling me fat... only to find a more horrible name then fat... bullimic. My best friend and the time and her mom were talking me behind my back saying that I must be throwing up my food... I was devistated... it felt so bad that after a while of being called names for not being fat and "acceptable" anymore that I started shoving my face with junk until I am where I am now... 165... and horribly unhealthy and unhappy. I wish I wouldn't have let people get to me like that, but I was 17. Now I am 21, and need to get this weight off to put my mind at ease. I keep worrying about my heart and about diabetes etc... and thats not what I want but if I keep eating SAD... everyday on it I feel my body going downhill.

Honestly eating raw is easy, I don't feel deprived physically of food, I don't miss sugar... but dealing with all these emotions is the part that sometimes sends me running for the hills. It will get better, and I will get healthy again for MYSELF this time. That is my promise, I'll lose the weight for myself, no one else. And they can mind thier own buisness on what I am eating or when I have to go to the bathroom... geeze thinking of throwing up my food is just so stupid! I am terrified of throwing up, and still cry and want my mom when I do throw up (so embarassing, but I am a big baby cuz it scares me so much)

Anyways you're not alone, and thanks for this post. I just really see why I have gotten off track for the past 5 days, and now I promise myself by the end of today I'll be back on track!

[Adagio Breezes]

I know exactly what you mean! I am in the same situation that you were in at 18 only I am 15 (almost 16). Of course, I did at one time have an eating disorder (for a short time. I was newly 13 and TOLD I had an eating disorder. I got SO completely scared I started to believe it and then I did develop one to an extent). Now my weight seems to refuse to go above 89 at 5'4" and my bones aren't doing so well (although I think that has more to do with lack of absorbtion/lack of vitamin D) and I really need to fix that. They have sent me away twice now and are threatening again even though I eat TONS..they know this and watch it. They think I secretly exercise or somethng which I don't. They, meaning family members and "professionals" and so on, tell me I am killing myself and not giving myself enough nutrients. They can see my frustration in not meeting their health requirements..I openly display to them my extreme effort and energy I try my best to give toward my own healing at all times. But they just look at me or yell at me with sympathy or extreme anger and tell me I am sick and need help. All my vital signs are all completely healthy by the way. The white blood cell count is always slightly low though and now something in my bloodwork says I'm eating at my bones or something. They started aching after I heard that so I know I need to do something about that one. But relaly, sending me away again will rip me to shreds...so I am pumping myself with food as always but I NEED to get my weight up up up so they don't send me away. THus I am trying to apply for a job so I can buy my own groceries and even better feed this appetite that rarely fails. not that I don't eat enough now, I just have this feeling that I need more than what my body tells me. I am still growing and such anyway. I've always been super thin too, which makes it even harder for people to believe that I eat so much and that I have absolutely no desire to starve my body.

Hey Lunar*Fey! I tried to send you an e-mail, but was told you're not accepting them from RFT members, so i'll post it here!

I've read some of your posts and it seems like you're going though a really tough time right now. Do you exercise at all? Exercise, especially weight-bearing exercise, like walking, running, etc, really help to increase your bone mass. Lifting weights (even 4 or 5 lb hand weights) helps your bone density and will help you gain muscle and look healthier. And if your weight won't go above 89, you may be stuck at a plateau, and adding some exercise may help. And spend 30 minutes or so out in the sun each day to get some vitamin D!.

What are you currently eating? If you're just eating fruits and veggies, you're going to have a hard time gaining weight. If you don't want to eat cooked foods (I'm thinking whole wheat bread and veggie burgers), then I reccommend eating plenty of raw nuts and seeds and nut butters. How about getting or making some raw peanut butter and eating with apple slices? Very very few anorexics eat nuts and nut butters and adding them to your diet could help convince the professionals that you're trying to gain weight.

You also might want to eat one or two cooked meals a week, to appease your parents. I'm not saying you should eat a cheeseburger from MacDonalds, but maybe a sandwich of raw peanut butter on sprouted whole wheat bread with a banana, some raw brocoli and a glass of almond milk? If it helps you gain weight, gets your parents and professionals off your back and keeps you out of an inpatient program, won't it be worth it? I know adding cooked food is not ideal, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. And if you want to stay out of ED treatment, you may have change some things and make some compromises. You know what they say about desperate times.

Hang in there hon. ;)

[cassidy]

You know what is strange? Ever since I began raw/high raw (I go back and forth) my whole body shape has changed. I don't remember who mentioned, but similarily: I LOOK like I've lost weight although I havn't. I am 140 and am told I look like 115. Weird huh? I would like to be about 125... but that's another story!

For those of you with this problem (including OP) have you considered getting blood work to proove that you are perfectly healthy? You could have clinical paperwork to show your family.
And... if it comes up in the neg. in some areas you will also have a good indicator for yourself what you are lacking in your diet (more vitamins, calcium... etc).

[vgloveforlife]

When I was high raw during the Summer I went down from 115 to about 100 (I'm 5'1) and people were saying the same thing to me, that I was way too thin. People were very concerned and very skeptical of the raw food diet.
My problem may have been that I stopped working out and I may not have been getting sufficient calories eventhough I was eating lots of nuts, avocados and coconut oil...I think it's hard to get enough especially on a high green diet.
Since then I have gone back to a half cooked and half raw diet and I've gained some weight which I am happy with (I actually have a butt again!)
Anyway-as long as you are feeling healthy while being thin on a raw food diet then I wouldn't worry about it but if you have additional problems (like I did) then a diet change may be in order.

[solarliving]

When I was raw for 2 weeks I felt like I was getting too thin and I went back to cooked. I've been raw for 3 days and I understand now that I need to eat larger portions to get enough calories. My co-workers know that I'm eating this way and they're already worried about me losing weight. It doesn't bother me. I'm used to it since I've been thin most of my life. I think we are not used to associating someone really thin with being healthy. I do believe there is a point when someone is getting too thin and they need to consume more calories. If you can honestly say you are eating enough calories and you feel good, then I would keep doing what you feel is best for yourself.

[harpstruck]

I COMPLETELY understand where you are coming from.

I was fruitarian for a while in my early 20's. I've ALWAYS been thin, even as a meat and potato eater! I am 5'5" and about 103 lbs (47 kg). Now in my 30s, I have been 100% raw for two months, and I am worried about losing more weight. MY problem is that I think being a bit curvier is more attractive and wish I could be a bit heavier.

I love how I feel on raw, my health is so much better. Luckily, my husband always seems to love how I look. But EVERYONE ELSE will have the 'thin' comments, 'you need to eat some meat', etc. I just try to avoid anyone who isn't at least accepting.

I haven't weighed myself since going raw (hardly ever did before either!), and I am scared to!!

[ella]

for those of you unhappy about your low weight, i agree you should start some strength training. muscle will definitely help out in that regard. i have been doing this and i like the results! mix it up by adding ashtanga yoga, and different weight training exercises. pilates will also tone you wonderfully.

i was going through this when i first started raw. i wasn't eating enough. a banana for breakfast, salad for lunch and another for dinner isn't going to bring on the pounds and could very well be harmful. i got worried for myself- but believed in raw, so kept at it. be sure you're eating plenty of raw foods and vegetables, but also adding heavier foods like avocados, nuts & nut butters, seeds, raw protein smooties, and the amazing desserts in the recipe section will be helpful as well.

here's an interesting article / study-- "Raw food eaters thin but healthy": http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4389837.stm

show this to the naysayers.

[muse]

Thanks for the BBC article, that is a good one. Had a laugh about 'obesity protects against osteoporosis'. That could be worded better, me thinks! Kind of like how menstruating 'protects' against osteoporosis. Just keep menstruating....or get obese.:)

So many thoughts as I read through this thread. My husband has said to me lately that I'm 'skin and bones' but at 5'8 and 116lbs, that's hardly the case. I am breastfeeding as well, and my milk is abundant, let down hasn't been slowed by going 100% raw or my weight loss. That's my really good defense right there.

I think there is a bias against being 'too thin' and it does freak some people out. They don't associate very thin people with health.

I think I eat enough, but I also know that I'm working through my body ridding itself of toxins. Hunger pangs, feeling lightheaded, weak, etc are body signs of detox, not need for food. Rethinking what it means to be hungry is something that's so important in this RAW journey. Just as rethinking 'food obsession' (we all have to get obsessed in the beginning of RAW, to learn and do this properly, be educated), 'too thin', 'healthy', etc.

And the psychological toll (as well as physical) of eating to get people 'off our backs' (such an interesting, rich phrase!!!), appeasing others by eating what/when they think we should, isn't something I'm willing to do. Since I have the experience of leaving RAW/fruitarian because the 'experts' and my family thought it prudent, I know what that was like and all I lost. This time is different for me, I will stay true to RAW and others will have to deal with their expectations of me. If I disappoint them, it's not me anyway, it's time for them to look at how they set themself up for disappointment with expectations.

[blacktulip]

i'm so glad this was brought up and i've definitely enjoyed reading everyone's stories and thoughts because it's a very common experience, one I'm extremely familiar with as well.
When I went raw, I immediately lost roughly 20lbs, on an already thin frame, but i know my body very well, and it was a detox. I felt the toxins and excess weight (we all had it while eating cooked and processed foods no matter how "healthy" we thought we were!) and suddenly everyone thought i had an eating disorder, it became a huge topic of conversation, i felt like all my relationships now revolved around the issue of my new diet, and it was really difficult for a long time.
However, my joints were loose and clear, yoga was taken to a whole new level, my energy soared, i didn't need as much sleep and i felt emotionally clear and happy. My eyes were sparkling and my skin glowed. So the people closest to me, especially my wonderful parents, were very supportive, because they looked not at my body, but in my eyes- which radiated light and good health.
Those who attacked me, I tried to remember that it was coming from a loving and concerned place, but if they continued gossiping and not being supportive, (some even cut off contact with me for a while), I had to realize their actions were coming from their own issues with food or health.
After almost a year of 100% raw, my weight began to slowly climb a bit. . . maybe because it's Maine and COLD (!) and i started to eat some more dense food, dried fruits, etc. following what my body told me it needed.
I believe in following your instincts, listening to your body, being still in order to do so, and to maintain a level of movement and happiness to live at your optimal weight and state of health.
Health is not just weight. . . it's how you feel, how you live, and how you treat others.
I just wanted to add my thoughts to everyone elses, and thank you again for this wonderful discussion that i think is really important to cover!

[Eva]

It seems like the only people who talk about me being "too thin" have always been careless with their diet, overweight, or both. It's never people who are healthy ito how much they exercise, what they eat, etc, I think that's good to be aware of, regardless of whether they are saying these things because they care or because they are clueless. It's still a tough thing having to deal with other people's perceptions and ideals; even if we ignore them, there's no way around various comments being made!

As a side note, I have a friend who is about 350 pounds... I never comment on her weight, maybe because I feel like she would take offense. It seems like most people are more comfortable making comments about being "underweight" than "overweight" because they think it is not similarly offensive.

I have alternated between vegetarian/vegan for my much of my life, but then I go through bouts of including meat and dairy, which usually starts with one little craving that I give into. With any diet, though, I ate a decent amount of raw food.

This is my first time going completely raw. I have been dealing with acne, bouts of major fatigue and depression, anxiety, ETC. ALL for the FIRST times in my life, not to mention I am always getting a cold or a cough or an ear infection. The only difference of my last year is that I am now married to a man who loves to cook. Everything. For too long. I have droned on and on about how he cooks the vitamins out of the vegetables, we have too much meat, this and that, but I kept eating what he cooked. Finally, I've wisened up. I spent a few weeks with my mom and ate more raw, but I am now back and on Day #4 of 100% (which I guess is really #3 because of the cup of coffee I had on the first day?).

I know what that diet did to me! And WE'RE ALL ON THIS BOARD BECAUSE WE KNOW THIS DIET IS RIGHT!, even if the "standard American" doesn't agree. On Day #4, my acne (which would just NOT leave for the entire YEAR) is starting to clear up! How many times have I heard that diet does not cause acne, according to the people who decide such things!? And that "everything" causes cancer. And that we NEED meat. etc.

I have alway stuck at the same pretty light weight, so I am sure that soon people are going to be blaming it on this diet instead of genetics. I hope that I/we can hold strong to our ideals!

Sorry for such a long post!

Does anyone have any canned one-liners that stop the comments and "concerns"???