Help! Newly raw gaining weight!!

[Earthworm]

Hi, I just went raw 8 days ago. I love the diet, Alissa's book and the dvds as well. I am following the book, but I have gone from 120 to 124 in the last week! So, I am wondering - is it the nuts, the bananas or the avocado. I have been eating avocado quite often as it has been making it an easy transition. I love the concept of this diet and I love the food, but the weight thing is a problem for me. I am happy at 120 - can anyone offer suggestions about what to cut out? I would hate to lose both nuts and avo on the diet. If I cut out one - which one should stay - or am I thinking about this all wrong? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated! Thanks so much, Earthworm:)

[kherd2]

Hi, I just went raw 8 days ago. I love the diet, Alissa's book and the dvds as well. I am following the book, but I have gone from 120 to 124 in the last week! So, I am wondering - is it the nuts, the bananas or the avocado. I have been eating avocado quite often as it has been making it an easy transition. I love the concept of this diet and I love the food, but the weight thing is a problem for me. I am happy at 120 - can anyone offer suggestions about what to cut out? I would hate to lose both nuts and avo on the diet. If I cut out one - which one should stay - or am I thinking about this all wrong? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated! Thanks so much, Earthworm:)
i hear you completely. I went on my food diet for 3 weeks and I didn't lose one pound. I was so frustrated I went to sushi and lived it up. Well today, I'm hurting. My nose is clogged, I'm coughing continuously. I'm going to juice all day and stay on raw. I guess it's not the weight. It's your body regrouping. Hopefully we will eventually both lose weight. Good luck....

[cassidy]

I wouldn't eliminate either. Maybe just cut back a bit.

[Ama]

I would give it some time. Cutting things out of your diet when you are just starting raw is not a good idea. That can lead to you getting frustrated because you aren't full enough and then going back to SAD food. I'd just take it one day at a time. Incorporate green smoothies if you can. They are yummy, a great-healthy way to get your greens and fill you up. Just make sure to add enough fruit so you don't taste the greens.

Your doing great... just keep it up!

[GreenSky]

My Mom had the same problem when she tried Raw. In fact, she completely cut out nuts, avo, bananas, etc. Only ate salads (no dressing) and apples, and still gained weight. She kept it up for several weeks but eventually became too frustrated and ditched Raw for Atkins (which she's lost a ton of weight on). I'm in no way advocating the Atkins diet, just that sometimes it takes longer for some people to start seeing results with Raw. Stick with it and it will work out.

I should also add that while on Raw, it was the best my mom has felt in as long as she can remember. It really helped her joints, mobility, etc. There are tons of benefits beyond weight-loss with the Raw way of eating.

Hang in there!

On a side note, I'm having the same problem. I'm on day 9 of Raw with no weight loss. The first time I did Raw a couple years ago the weight melted off and within the first week I had lost 10lbs alone. That doesn't seem to be the case this time around. I think I abused my body too much with yo-yo dieting and now my body is trying to retain weight as it's expecting the shock of my yo-yo dieting. I've heard this can happen from dieting all the time and now my body seems to be playing it out. I know that my body will eventually realize I'm doing what's right for it and will start to shed the pounds.

[Solace]

Dont even think about it. THINK HEALING. Healing your body, tell that to yourself everyday 'I AM HEALING" Than your body will get rid of what it does not need. Get rid of your scale Really, put it away for a few weeks. Heal than lose. I know my loss has been slow too but the long term is where its at baby really.;) :D

[Amberly]

I have been 100% for almost 2 months and just these last few days I have been feeling more compact and my tummy is flatter. The funny thing is these last few days I have somehow not thought about weight, I've just thought about having fun enjoying raw. I was afraid I'd never lose it. I quit worrying and it's falling off. Maybe I just needed time.

[Solace]

I have been 100% for almost 2 months and just these last few days I have been feeling more compact and my tummy is flatter. The funny thing is these last few days I have somehow not thought about weight, I've just thought about having fun enjoying raw. I was afraid I'd never lose it. I quit worrying and it's falling off. Maybe I just needed time. See how encouraging is that !:D :D :D

[Ginger]

I kept gaining for 6 months on raw, got frustrated because I was getting so big & ended up giving up on raw for a year after that. Now i'm back but watching my fat intake on sparkpeople.com and I have lost almost 50 pounds in 3 months. :D

[Solace]

Rawvaganmom where did you get your avatar, its cool ! I am a painter and have been wanted to paint vagantransform/earth connection like that!:cool: P.S. what fats do you eat ??????

[GreenSky]

Rawvaganmom where did you get your avatar, its cool ! I am a painter and have been wanted to paint vagantranform/earth connection like that!:cool: P.S. what fats do you eat ??????

Not to steal Rawveganmom's thunder, but the painting is called "The Seed" and it's by a very talented artist: Pawel Jonca. You can view Pawel's gallery here:

http://pejot.gfxartist.com/

In fact, I HIGHLY recommend going through the Elite galleries on that site. I too am a painter and it's my all time favorite site for that kind of thing.

[Rawkinlocs]

I also think that people tend to get it in their heads what THEIR ideal weight is (ONE number) and if it ever goes beyond that, they get upset. But I have settled in my own mind on a weight RANGE that I've noticed my body has stabilized at and that is pretty much where I have stayed - 124-128.

We also need to keep in mind that weight can be a number of factors, water weight, "that" time of the month, muscle, and as someone else suggested - HEALING...if there is some kind of internal healing that needs to take place in the body (and we may not even KNOW about it) then the body is going to focus on that as much as possible and do what it needs to do to tend to that healing.

Also, about the ideal weight - sometimes OUR ideal weight is not the same as what our BODIE'S ideal weight is. WE may think it "should" be one thing, but perhaps due to genetics, body frame, etc. it "should" actually be something else. What WE think is too thin or too bulky may be just what our bodies need at that time.

But if it gets what you may feel to be excessive as in, you put on an extra TEN or more pounds, then perhaps look into cutting down (not necessarily cutting out) the amount of fat. But for now, focus on eating raw.

[Ariannah]

I am learning to take things as they come. Our bodies are not like vending machines with instant gratification.

My body goes through phases where I'll heal with no weight loss, then phwoomp! Suddenly I am down a jeans size.

I keep my diet simple. I'm going through a phase where food really isn't top on my list of things I think about. Today I had some grapefruit and some dates so far, and plan to have a green smoothie later on... so I'm just rolling with it.

I know it can be discouraging, but keep on going. Even if you eat more than you think you should, let yourself go through the raw phases. People coming off cooked often use the nuts and avocadoes etc, to get a sense of satiety in transition.

You're still new, so only tweak what you think you want.

Too many people who have weight loss goals seem to put that as top priority and forget that the rest of their body needs healing. I mean, if it's just weight loss we want, we can go on just about any "diet program" out there.

But for me raw is a lifestyle. I'm overweight right now, but I sure as heck am not dietING (as a verb). I'm raw because it's an all encompassing lifestyle and makes me feel good.

Best to you,
Ariannah

[Tomato]

Hi, I just went raw 8 days ago. I love the diet, Alissa's book and the dvds as well. I am following the book, but I have gone from 120 to 124 in the last week! So, I am wondering - is it the nuts, the bananas or the avocado. I have been eating avocado quite often as it has been making it an easy transition. I love the concept of this diet and I love the food, but the weight thing is a problem for me. I am happy at 120 - can anyone offer suggestions about what to cut out? I would hate to lose both nuts and avo on the diet. If I cut out one - which one should stay - or am I thinking about this all wrong? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated! Thanks so much, Earthworm:)

A long term and successful raw fooder said recently to me that when you are doing all the right things, your body will know what to do. (This was in response to me asking why I wasn't losing weight right at first.) This person was right! I did start losing the weight shortly thereafter.

That said, I'd like to gently encourage you to experiment with getting most of your calories from sweet fruit rather than avos and nuts. Avos and nuts are great to satisfy you, but a long term diet high in avos and nuts is not healthful and may cause weight gain (among other things). Don't feel like you have to abstain from them, but with the very fatty foods, moderation is a good policy. Fat is very difficult to digest and slows you down. We all need fat for sure, but there is fat in veggies and fruit. Skipping a few days of avos and nuts may be an experiment you want to try. You may be surprised at the results.

Many long term raw fooders who started out in a very high fat diet usually find themselves naturally gravitating toward a lower fat, simpler diet high in fruit and greens anyway. I feel that when we're new to raw, our body signals may not be as accurate as they would be after being raw for a long time. So "listening to what your body wants" may not be as helpful right away. After all, we've been eating cooked food all our lives! Our bodies think we still want that! :)

Sure, it's perfectly okay to use avos and nuts in big quantities in your transition period to help you feel "full" but if for you personally, seeing short term results (weight loss) will help you stick with raw, then this is what I suggest trying. Some people lose weight eating a high fat raw diet right from the start and others just don't. If you're one of those others, then I'd suggest trying upping your fruit intake.

Bananas, by the way, are an excellent source of calories. They are actually VERY low in fat and very high in good carbs. So keep eating those bananas!

Hope this helps. I've been there!

[Solace]

Thanks muchly Greensky

[Ginger]

Thanks greensky.. I always wondered where that pic originally came from. I saw it posted on a myspace page & saved it. Looks like i'm actually not allowed to use it as a sig or avatar :(

[Ginger]

Rawvaganmom what fats do you eat ??????

I eat all the same fats I used to, just sparingly & not everyday. I try not to eat any oils though. Too refined & processed & unnatural. I prefer whole foods like avo or seeds etc

[Solace]

I eat all the same fats I used to, just sparingly & not everyday. I try not to eat any oils though. Too refined & processed & unnatural. I prefer whole foods like avo or seeds etc I looked at your website a little, is it all YOURS or are you part of a group ? Also did it say something on there about a book ?:)

[Sharon in Colorado]

I tend to gain 5 pounds more by the end of the day. I don't think anyone should worry about a 5-8 pound difference, but if it goes beyond that and continues, then you need to look into your dietary and activity regime.

Unless you are under or overweight that is.

[Ginger]

Yep it's my site, I am working on a book slowly but surely!

Sharon in my case it wasn't like I gained 10 pounds & gave up, I gained over 30 pounds eating 100% raw for about 6 months. Not sure exactly how much, because I didn't have a scale. I have never been really fat before (except while pregnant lol) so it was upsetting to say the least.

My average size was 9-10 to sometimes a 12. On raw I went up to a size 18-20. That is a HUGE difference. Now that i'm low fat raw, I am down to a 16 & still losing. I lost 8 pounds in 9 days so far on my 30 day challenge.

[Solace]

Yep it's my site, I am working on a book slowly but surely!

Sharon in my case it wasn't like I gained 10 pounds & gave up, I gained over 30 pounds eating 100% raw for about 6 months. Not sure exactly how much, because I didn't have a scale. I have never been really fat before (except while pregnant lol) so it was upsetting to say the least.

My average size was 9-10 to sometimes a 12. On raw I went up to a size 18-20. That is a HUGE difference. Now that i'm low fat raw, I am down to a 16 & still losing. I lost 8 pounds in 9 days so far on my 30 day challenge. Thats bizarre, that amount of gain. What the heck were you eating ? The women who wrote the book Skinny Bitch http://www.skinnybitch.net/. - hope I am allowed to write that, hehe- anyways I have not read it yet but its all about going RAW. They said they eat Tons and lotsa fats and they're skinny B's :confused: Is it our bodies saying things are not moving right. I would love to know ?

[Ginger]

I have that book! :D It's more about going vegan than raw.

I was eating the typical high fat raw diet, not very many whole foods, mostly recipes. And lots of nuts, seeds, oils, avocado etc.

[sbaker]

that book is great for people who arent open to raw, and even people who are leary of vegan lifestyles. i gave it to my mom who is 50 and trying to shed some pounds. shes into organic but still eats meat and cheese. anyway...the book doesnt really hit you in the head with animal issues...but more .."hey if you want to lose weight, dont eat cheese..and here's why..."
I think its a good medium book.

i only lose weight on raw if i cut out almost all my nuts (i only really eat almonds and walnuts) and only eat half and avo a day.
when i first went raw for a long time just eating what i wanted i ate TONS of almond butter. I coated my salads with "thai almond sause" and munched down TONS of almond butter freezer fudge. i didnt gain anything, but i never lost a pound either. i do stay away from oils just because i never think to use them.
Although i was bummed i didnt lose anything i was kind of hopeful that once i DO lose the weight i want, i can eat all the freezer fudge i want! With my body, had it been real fudge i would have gained 30 lbs by then:)

[Solace]

I have that book! :D It's more about going vegan than raw.

I was eating the typical high fat raw diet, not very many whole foods, mostly recipes. And lots of nuts, seeds, oils, avocado etc. I'm glad I didn't buy it. I was told it was completely RAW.:(

[GreenSky]

Thanks greensky.. I always wondered where that pic originally came from. I saw it posted on a myspace page & saved it. Looks like i'm actually not allowed to use it as a sig or avatar :(

Uh-oh! Sorry, I didn't realize you couldn't use them as avatars. I wasn't trying to get you busted or anything :eek: In my completely non-professional, espousing illegal advice way, I'd suggest still using it if you want to. Probably millions of people illicitly use images on the web. It's not like you're publishing his art and making money from it. The worst that would happen is a polite email asking you to stop using it.

Anyway, don't listen to me. I just realized that's probably really bad Karma. If it was my own art I wouldn't care as it gets my name out (free advertising). Just think of how many more people know who he is now because of your use of his art for your avatar! But we should respect the copyright.

[Earthworm]

It was so helpful to hear all of your advice and support. I know I shouldn't be concerned about weight, but I have to be honest with myself, I am! So, I decided to do a trial and error to make sure it wasn't the nuts.( I didn't want to not have faith in them) So... Here is what I did, not that I recommend it to anyone as I am new... but, I cut out avocado and bananas and went right back down and have stabilized at 121, which is just fine. So for me I have now found comfort in this and love the raw diet more than ever. I still eat tons of nuts, honey and cacao - and I don't feel guilty. : )

[Buttercup9105]

i would just cut back on both. Also, I read in a raw book that eating raw food may make you gain weight because that is really the appropiate weight for you. Maybe your body really needed that extra weight and it's very healthy. If you stay at this weight, I believe it may be a healthy weight for you.

[i<3veggies]

rawveganmom,
i'm new here, tried raw before and couldn't stick to it...

i'm hoping that this will help.

anyway, are you saying that you eat raw, but cut most of the fats..? do you train with weights? what is your training regime?

i do not want to gain weight, or get flabby...so i'm kind of scared about losing muscle mass ...

[eatyourbroccoli]

ive been high raw for about 18 months now with intermittent periods of 100&#37;. whenever i start one of those 100% periods, i probably gain about 2-3 lbs over the first week. but then the end of week two comes around, and one morning i wake up smaller than i was when i started. i figure this is just my digestion adjusting. happens everytime without fail.

also, youll eventually have to find which foods work best with your body. for example, i become very slender when im doing low or no sugar, and very high fat. others do better on more sugar. every body is different, and yours is no exception :) but for now, id definitely focus on being raw. this is definitely a lifestyle change, and trying to put too many restrictions on it while still adjusting often leads to frustration.

[So Delightedly Raw]

Hi, I just went raw 8 days ago. I love the diet, Alissa's book and the dvds as well. I am following the book, but I have gone from 120 to 124 in the last week! So, I am wondering - is it the nuts, the bananas or the avocado.

Hi Earthworm,

I just started adding more avocados, nuts, and nut-butters because I was losing weight on my green smoothies made with lots of fruit. I was perfectly satisfied and had lots of energy; but, I can’t afford to lose weight. The avocados, nuts, nut-butters are working -- I’m expanding. My clothes are fitting much better now, as they did when I bought them.
Bottom line-- IMO and experience lots of fats add weight; fruit doesn't.
Good Luck to you!:p

[Ginger]

rawveganmom,
i'm new here, tried raw before and couldn't stick to it...

i'm hoping that this will help.

anyway, are you saying that you eat raw, but cut most of the fats..? do you train with weights? what is your training regime?

i do not want to gain weight, or get flabby...so i'm kind of scared about losing muscle mass ...
I do go to the gym at least once a week, & I do at home strength training through my plan on sparkpeople.com. They give you a basic plan you can customise & do up to every other day, it's really neat! I try to do cardio daily also, usually dance dance revolution video game! :D
I try to eat mostly whole foods & watch my fats because if I just eat them as much as I like taste-wise I end up not feeling so good & gaining weight. I do eat fats, sometimes more then my body needs, I definitly don't completely restrict them or anything. I just aim for less then 10% of my calories as fat. Most people don't have to worry and can eat whatever they like as long as it's raw. I tried that and I reached a size 18 after NEVER being more then a 12 even cooked & eating fast food all my life. Although when I first went raw I ate tons of fat & lost all my pregnancy weight, so I guess my body just changed over the years to not want as much fat anymore.

[tammay]

Actually, I was afraid I would gain weight going 100&#37; raw but I've been losing weight so far. Not like crazy, but my jeans are definately fitting better (but those size 6 pants are still tight). I agree with all that's been said about thinking about raw as a healing and not dieting. I've had issues with binge eating in the past so I don't weigh myself and I try not to stress about eating.

Maybe we shoud determine what "lots of fat" means. I've always found that term very individual. When I was doing lowcarb dieting, I could eat 70-80% of my calories with fat and do ok. As a vegan, I've been more around 40% fat and that's what I'm doing now as a raw vegan. But a lot of that has to do with how many calories I take in. As a rule, I hate working with percentages because they seem so misleading. A person eating 1200 calories and 40% fat will be eating much less fat than, say someone eating a 2000 calorie diet and eating 30% fat (you'd think).

To me, 40% is not high fat. I eat roughly a few ounces of nuts, either a few tablespoons of tehina or half of an avocado, and about 2-3 tsp of olive oil a day. I eat six mini meals a day and dry fruit for snack and average about 1400 calories a day. To me, that's moderate. I'm not consicously dieting - this is just what my body is satisified with at the moment. Given that I have protein concerns (and yes, I know there's a bunch of hype about that :D) I probably will not significantly lower my fat intake because those are the things that are offering me the most protein (except for the green salad I make with just greens and vinigrette :p. But you never know. I have read that many long-term raw foodists end up cutting back on fat just because they find it too heavy for them.

Tam

[So Delightedly Raw]

Hi, I just went raw 8 days ago. I love the diet, Alissa's book and the dvds as well. I am following the book, but I have gone from 120 to 124 in the last week! So, I am wondering - is it the nuts, the bananas or the avocado.

Hi Earthworm,

I just started adding more avocados, nuts, and nut-butters because I was losing weight on my green smoothies made with lots of fruit. I was perfectly satisfied on them and had loads of energy; but, I can’t afford to lose weight. The avocados, nuts, nut-butters are working -- I’m expanding-- My clothes are fitting much better now as, they were when I bought them.
Bottom line-- lots of fats add weight.
Good Luck to you in this!:p