Losing Weight isn't as easy as it sounds...

[Lea_t_singer]

I've been 100% raw on and off for several months, and for about 6 months I was 100% raw. During this time I was hoping to lose weight, but I gained 6 pounds... Are there other people on here, that have found that 'just eating raw' isn't the weight loss miracle that they hoped for? I sadly am someone who loves food and eats a lot of it, and I feel like I'm the only person in the whole world who can't just eat a normal amount of food without having to count calories or something. I want the raw lifestyle to work, but I really need some help. Does anybody have like a meal plan or something that worked for them? A daily routine that they stuck to that helped them lose weight? ANY help would be so appreciated! :)

[spicyfull]

Try to eat GREEN and MOVE.......You must be Active, the more you MOVE, the more you LOSE.

[Kitty]

This is just what I have heard. If you have some health issues besides weight then maybe raw is helping, you just can't see it. Maybe its concentrating on healing other parts before it heals the weight problem? And when its time for your body to lose weight it should come right off.

I have even heard of people going months without losing then losing tons all of a sudden. Also are you following a high fat raw vegan diet or low fat? I think different people need different things. If you are high fat try low fat, or visa versa? Those are just some suggestions.

[luckitri]

So many maybes. Maybe your body is hoarding nutrition in extreme survival mode due to what it perceives as extreme conditions. (?) Maybe your body is concentrating on detox(?) Maybe you have slow metabolism (?)

Continue on as this is a learning process of getting to know your unique body and how to help it to serve you.

I know. The warm weather is here and I don't look as glamorous as I had hoped either. That is OK.

[punkspirit]

congratulations to 6 month 100%! Thats more then I ever made!

Did you have lots of detoxification symptomes??

My advices would be:

-Keep food simple!!
If you eat mono fruits or simple salads the craving for overeating will just go away!!! And you are allowed to eat as much as you want!! (thats what helps me)

-Reduce processed things like oil, salt, agave...

-Drink fruitsmoothies

-Reduce fats. Even though nuts, avocado and stuff are very good fats... they are "building"... for cleaning your system eat lots of fresh simple juice fruits!!!

(A "raw-guru" said, the more fruits you eat the faster you loose weight..coz they are washing out all the toxines out of the cells...

-thumbrule: nuts=building, fruits=cleaning, vegetables=neutral

One thing I could think me is: IF a body is full of toxines, it absolutely needs water(as contained in fatcells) to keep the procentuall level of toxines in the body on a lower level.Keep the toxines flowing that they don't stick somewhere on important organes... As soon as the body is a bit more cleaned (done with juicy raw fruits, veggies, smoothies) it can start to give away the water/fat...

this theory would also explain why chemical dehydration-pills are a crime against your health. you trow in more chemicals, and force the body to give away the sheltering water...*shakes head*

I read for example, that it can be dangerous to put a fat horse on a too fast diet because of the detexification it has to go through(and horses eat a lot of raw foods anyway;) )

Just have a try!! Eat ONLY raw fresh, juicy fruits in TWO days ... just a try for fun!! I guess, coz of the loss of SALT you will loose 2-4 pounds...
no garantuees though:p

GOOD LUCK!

[Revvell]

I want the raw lifestyle to work...

What does "work" mean to you?

What is your purpose in eliminating weight?

Revvell

[eatyourbroccoli]

have you considered a fast to address any personal/emotional issues that may be preventing you from losing weight? (NOT a fast as a means to lose weight though..)

are you doing any spiritual/religious work? its sometimes difficult for your body to evolve without your mind in tow.

whats your schedule like? do you have time for a nightly walk maybe? time to try and reconnect with nature a bit? sit outdoors and read a book (now that the weather's warming)? yoga perhaps?

self-love, for me, was the FIRST jump i had to make towards regaining my health through a raw foods diet. and this jump, for me, i didnt allow to occur until around a year into my raw journey. you can be eating the healthiest foods in the world, but if your digestion is compromised by repressed emotions and/or ongoing stress, the health benefits of any "healthy diet" will be affected.

things will work out for you, however it is youd like them to, so long as youre subconsciously allowing it.

it may sound silly, but consider considering it. :cool:

[SeaRose]

Just a few words of encouragement: I have been trying very unsuccessfully to lose weight for about 15 years now. First blamed it on low thyroid, then bad metabolism, etc. etc. I have tried everything, Atkins (:eek: ), vegetarian, fasting, and the weight wouldn't move. I actually gave up.

Then I made a decision. I decided that I would concentrate on getting healthy, (extensive health problems here) instead of losing weight. I made health my number one priority. That's what started me on raw.

I am happy to say that this approach IS WORKING!! It is working SLOWLY, but it is working, and I am not even 100% raw yet, but I will be this week (need to hit the grocery store). I want to stress that in 15 years of trying THIS IS THE ONLY APPROACH THAT WORKED FOR ME!!! I just eat healthier, I do not count calories, I do not combine foods in any certain way, and I certainly do not count fat grams. And the benefits to my health, well, I just cannot list them all here. :D

I would encourage you to do the same. Make being healthy your number one priority, the rest will follow. Remember, you are healing your body on a cellular level. Also, practice positive visualization. I picture myself thin and most importantly, healthy.

This will work for you!!!!! Keep up the good work, 6 months is fantastic, if you can do that, you can do anything!!

[eatyourbroccoli]

Then I made a decision. I decided that I would concentrate on getting healthy, (extensive health problems here) instead of losing weight. I made health my number one priority. That's what started me on raw.

I am happy to say that this approach IS WORKING!!

ditto :) :cool:

[KatK]

These things are helping me:

walk 1 hr/day
drink eight 8oz glasses of water/day
drink green smoothies

[Morningstar]

ditto :) :cool:

I second that.

I mentioned it in my 30 March blog as well. Once I let go of the Weight Issue, and focused on just being Raw & healthy the weight is coming off & I have found it easier to be raw.

[Ariannah]

Ironically enough, the above advice to forget about weight, and focus on health is a good one, and very true!

Enjoy eating foods you like, take note of how you feel. Listen to your body's cues.

[puffysmom]

I am curious. Have u lost any weight? a few #s here and there? I know some people here have lost a lot and fast but some of us just r not like that. I lose very slowly but even though I have not been doing this long I feel so much better. I have lost a few inches in my waist.
I was sick a few weeks ago and thought I was over it even though I had a couph and sinus problem but now i am finding that I still have it as it gets worse sometimes. I started a detox tea program to see if i can get my body cleaned out. I also have psoriasis and it is not clearing up so that can mean toxins.
I start my day out with a not cold glass of water with a quarter of lemon juice in it. It detoxs the liver. I dont know if it helps with weight but that is not my top priority for now. Getting my body cleaned out is.
I bought a magazine only cause it had detox info. There r 3 dif ones to follow but the one that seems to work for all three is to sip dandelion tea. 2 cups daily. It boost the liver's production of dtoxifying enzymes by as much as 244%. It promotes healing of the digetive tract, flushes excess fluid out of the lymphatic system and boosts the gallbladder's production of bile to speed metabolism and the elimination of toxins. I sure am going to give it a try. It sounds better than the tea I am now drinking. There r other suggestions that one can work into a Raw way of eating.
I dont normally waste my money on magazines do to all the recipes that involve Sad eating but the detox got me interested in this one.
I hope u keep on doing Raw if not for weight loss but for health. So many of us have the weight problem and I know for all of us it will work.
Val in the March April challenge does nothing but smoothies and has lost a lot of weight. She does not do any nuts from what i can tell. Check out her postings and see how good it is working.
And now that i have written a book I will bid u goodbye for today. :D

[Damzlfly]

My only issue is eating too many desserts. It's really hard to not eat for comfort or boredom, but you really need to look at WHY you are eating. Personally, I eat because food tastes GOOD. Not because I'm hungry...and this is what I am working on (this coming from a girl who made 3 different desserts last night :rolleyes: )

[Rawmommie]

I'm really trying to understand why every time someone asks about weight they are treated like there is something wrong with wanting to lose. Is it b/c many of you have never been overweight?

I've been raw for 2 1/2 years and it has changed my life. I'm healthy and vibrant and can't even begin to name off all the ailments that have been healed. I have healed acne, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue...but I have still struggled with losing weight though.(I weigh 193 right now and have lost 17 pounds since Jan actively trying but before that I was not losing) I have to cut my nut and avocado consumption b/c MY body burns food slower and even though I won't gain on raw eating whatever I want, if I want to lose, I have to eat less. I don't think there's anything wrong with talking about ways she can lose weight after being raw for 6 months.

I understand that in the beginning we want to discourage newbies from tweaking things and worrying about weight b/c staying raw can be a challenge in itself, but after 6 months, there is nothing wrong with wanting to drop weight that isn't coming off. Not everyone can eat whatever they want and lose weight. I have met people who eat more than me and drop weight like you wouldn't believe. I truely believe that different people burn food differently.

Anyway, I wish you good luck, you may want to try eliminating certain things to see how YOUR body responds! :)

[Ariannah]

I'm really trying to understand why every time someone asks about weight they are treated like there is something wrong with wanting to lose. Is it b/c many of you have never been overweight?

Erm, I wish I fell into that category :P

Encouraging someone to forget about the weight for the time being is not treating them like there is something wrong with wanting to transform their weight. Heck, I want to transform my weight! I want to release this flab into the great unknown and be the real me sometime soon! :D

The priority, even for people who want to lose weight, is to improve the diet overall ("just eat raw!" is a vast improvement over many of the eating ways that got people overweight to begin with!), get used to it, get established, and then tweak it to get the numbers on a scale (in my opinion).

I don't think that it's the asking about weight loss that is even the issue, it's the approach to it. People get disappointed when they don't lose 50 pounds in a couple of months and then think "oh I am doing something wrong!". The focus is very counterproductive that way.

For me, I'm a "whole person" approach type of gal. Sure, I can "lose weight" on any diet, but am I going to feel good along the way? On raw, the weight for me personally, is being released very little by VERY little.

The speed ain't crash-diet speed, but the direction is there, AND I feel good. I feel better than I did 25 years ago. That's sayin' something!

That is what matters. It's not a race.

[Rawmommie]

I understand. I think I'm really just projecting and need to stay out of the weightloss threads! :rolleyes:

I did all the things suggested, just focused on staying raw, focused on health and happiness...and I AM happy and healthy...I just didn't lose weight! :p

So I guess for me, I'm still a little touchy about the whole "just be raw and eventually you will lose" b/c after 2 years I still hadn't lost.

Anyway, hope I didn't sound too defensive there! It's the one issue I just can't seem to have peace with after all this time. :)

[Rawkinlocs]

I'm really trying to understand why every time someone asks about weight they are treated like there is something wrong with wanting to lose. Is it b/c many of you have never been overweight?

I've been raw for 2 1/2 years and it has changed my life. I'm healthy and vibrant and can't even begin to name off all the ailments that have been healed. I have healed acne, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue...but I have still struggled with losing weight though.(I weigh 193 right now and have lost 17 pounds since Jan actively trying but before that I was not losing) I have to cut my nut and avocado consumption b/c MY body burns food slower and even though I won't gain on raw eating whatever I want, if I want to lose, I have to eat less. I don't think there's anything wrong with talking about ways she can lose weight after being raw for 6 months.

I understand that in the beginning we want to discourage newbies from tweaking things and worrying about weight b/c staying raw can be a challenge in itself, but after 6 months, there is nothing wrong with wanting to drop weight that isn't coming off. Not everyone can eat whatever they want and lose weight. I have met people who eat more than me and drop weight like you wouldn't believe. I truely believe that different people burn food differently.

Anyway, I wish you good luck, you may want to try eliminating certain things to see how YOUR body responds! :)


Hi Karen!

When I read your post, the thought came to me that perhaps your weightloss was slowed because there was so much healing that needed to take place! I mean, won't the body focus on what is most important first and foremost...the healing aspects that need to take place, and then weightloss?

I know I've been overweight before raw and I know Ariannah (who replied above with focusing on health) was...not sure of the others. I know everyone is different - but I believe that healing will take place first and weight loss will happen at various rates depending on what needs to be done first. For example, a diabetic person may begin to lose weight much faster because it is the excess weight that contributes to the disease. Most people I've ever talked with diabetes always say that their doctors tell them that if they lose the weight, they will find they may reduce or come off their meds.

But some diseases of the body may not have a direct connection to the excess weight and therefore, the body will focus it's attention on the situation that needs it the most. I mean, I know that 6 months is a nice amount of time to be raw, but in all truth and honesty...compared to a lifetime of eating cooked food (I won't speculate and say SAD food) 6 months really isn't that long of a time and also, we don't know what was going on during the "on raw/off raw" period the OP spoke of.

I'm just theorizing here (and probably not making much sense :p )- I don't have any solid proof...but it just seems to really make sense to me.

Also, it just "seems" to me that once you start TRYING to cut things out or back (as opposed to allowing the body to get there on it's own, which in most cases, it does) that it then becomes a diet because let's say I had a strong desire to lose weight and after trying all other diets, I hear about raw foods. I tell myself that it all makes sense and if others can lose insane amounts of weight eating raw and living foods then maybe I can too!

So, I go raw and I notice that I'm not losing weight and even put on a few lbs. Then, someone tells me to start cutting back on or cutting things out. Then I start feeling like, "Hmmm...I thought this "diet" was different, more freeing and here I am still having to watch this or cut that...oh well, I'll do it but then I feel like I can NEVER have any of the fun food creations I keep hearing everyone else talk about because if I do, I might gain weight again"

That, too me, sounds just like any other diet out there. HOWEVER...if I were to go raw, allow myself to go through the process for a while and then overtime, all of a sudden I notice I don't eat as many nuts as I used to or I don't have a desire for so many recipes or I am beginning to crave more fruit and greens. THEN, I don't feel like I am on just any other diet because it all happened more naturally.

I don't know - I'm just saying - some may actually not care if it comes across in that light as "just another one of those diets"...perhaps if someone is going to do a "diet" in the sense of the word meaning "way to lose weight" then it's better to do it THIS way (raw and living foods) as opposed to the other ways since this will produce health along with weight loss! :D

But these were just some thoughts that came to me....sorry if my comments are not well-received! :o

[Princess Elaine]

I agree with you rawmommie...and don't get me wrong, I agree with others who say it's about how we feel, our health, etc...yet for me, now I'm only 7 months raw and though I feel great...I could tell the difference on day 4 of eating raw, my skin has changed...I LOVE this feeling...yet I haven't been on where the weight is dropping off of me...I only have what I feel is about 12 pounds to lose...yet I can gain on days I've over indulged (sorry, with high calorie foods)....

I've commited to my friend Raw Truth (who I happily got to spend time with Saturday at the raw food festival at Living Temple) to exercise EVERY day...a 30 minute walk EVERY day...so the days I don't go to the gym, so far two in a row I was out the door at 5:30AM...2 miles round trip to the pier and back, I run to one light post, walk to the next and will change that to run two light posts, etc...until I can run to the pier like I used to do. We'll re-evalute my weight goal in two weeks...I do work out hard at the gym two times a week and I'm hoping this daily cardio will make a change.

I'm grateful for my health and plan to continue eating raw...I do know the few extra pounds I'm carrying aren't the way my body was intended. Lose it slow???? Heck, I've gained a couple pounds the past few weeks...

Love, Elaine

[Princess Elaine]

Rawkinlocs...Our posts passed in the sky and I hear you about our bodies changing and no longer wanting certain foods...and yes, 7 months raw isn't very long for me after eating cooked my whole life (though a lot raw)...I no longer eat piles of nuts...I no longer eat piles of dates, get the picture??? hahahaha!!!...I now crave green smoothies and fruits.

Perhaps because I have so little to lose (12 pounds) that my body isn't ready to drop it...oh well!!!. I do love hearing how others do their lives and I learn from everyone and know I'm not alone with my feelings.

Elaine

[Elizabeth]

I do not know if any of this applies to you..but thought I would offer it. If it does not seem useful..then, feel free to ignore it and move on to something that works for you...:)

From what i have read, and experienced, fruits are "cleansing" and nuts,seeds, grains, and even vegetables are "building."

If you are having trouble releasing weight, I think that a fruit diet would be a good idea...

Also..have you done any juice fasting? For me, the desire to feel full can lead to "overeating," even on Raw, and juice fasting has helped me get more in touch with true hunger and is helping me break the cycle of eating to satisy appetite and to erase feeling of emptiness (both physical and other)...


http://www.freedomyou.com/recipes/fruit%20diet.htm


The best to you...:D

[Rawkinlocs]

Rawkinlocs...Our posts passed in the sky and I hear you about our bodies changing and no longer wanting certain foods...and yes, 7 months raw isn't very long for me after eating cooked my whole life (though a lot raw)...I no longer eat piles of nuts...I no longer eat piles of dates, get the picture??? hahahaha!!!...I now crave green smoothies and fruits.

Perhaps because I have so little to lose (12 pounds) that my body isn't ready to drop it...oh well!!!. I do love hearing how others do their lives and I learn from everyone and know I'm not alone with my feelings.

Elaine

Hey Princess! :)

So, are you saying that although you no longer eat piles of nuts and dates (through natural progression?) - you are still having trouble with losing those last pounds? If that is correct, why do you feel that is?

See, I always tell people that there is a weight RANGE that we should be willing to accept and not necessarily a set number. That way, if weight fluctuates a little, then it's no biggie.

Also, there are SO many variables about weight that we don't even consider:

1. What OUR intended weight is may not be what is truly ideal. Sometimes it may be a few pounds heavier than what WE think it "should" be and sometimes it's a few pounds lighter than what WE think it "should" be. I always thought that I "looked better" at a higher weight than what my body ended up balancing out at - so I had to get used to that and now I'm comfy with it.

2. Genetics - some people are just born into "stockiness" with a bigger bone structure, etc.

3. Stress!!!! - Stress can bring on weight like it's nobodies business!

4. Water weight - this could be from "that time" or it could be (once again) from the body doing some healing. I read once that when we injure something on our bodies, the swelling that takes place is the body insulating and protecting the area (with water) but we've always been told that swelling is bad and that we should "do things" to reduce the swelling and something else about water retention having to do with flushing out toxins or something to that effect.

5. If working out, muscle mass!

Just a few more things to consider - but again, if one feels comfortable and does NOT feel like it's "going back to the whole diet mentality" to cut back or cut out things, then so be it. Some people actually LIKE counting calories - to me personally, that would be a bondage, but for some, it really does float their boat! So...to each his/her own! :)

But also keep in mind (speaking to all, not any particular person) that cutting back doesn't have to mean cutting out. Cutting back could simply mean having fruit all day and then something heavier with nuts at dinner or even at lunch and then fruit or salad or smoothie for supper. Or it could mean when making a dish (if that's what one likes) cut the amount of fat in half or things like that.

[greenfeline]

Listen to Alissa and Revell's first podcast (look for the rawkin radion thread on the main RFT page). Alissa states what others have mentioned that your body may be doing other levels of healing before the weight loss. And I agree with others to just focus on being healthy.

[chilove]

Hello there,

After spending WAY too much time on many various raw boards for the last four years I've noticed a trend that seems to indicate that most people do lose weight effortlessly on raw eating whatever they want, but that about 20% of people do not. These people frequently find that they need to tweak their approach by dropping their fat levels and then they'll lose weight. I think that each person facing this decision needs to be careful to not restrict themselves too much or too soon after first going raw to avoid cravings and backsliding into cooked. Feeling too restricted can lead to feeling deprived which can lead to giving into cravings. It is important to find a balance that works for where you are emotionally with the whole process.

Wishing you all the best!!!

Audrey
www.rawhealing.com

[tweety]

Ironically enough, the above advice to forget about weight, and focus on health is a good one, and very true!

Enjoy eating foods you like, take note of how you feel. Listen to your body's cues.

Hi Ariannah,
Yeah this is really good advice I try to heed but that is so dang hard!
i've been in physical therapy for 9 months now after a bad car crash last summer and it is really hard to not think about weight vs. being healthy... especially gaining weight from overeating/depression/lack of physical activity/bad foods

This year I started 60% and now about 80-90%.
I first gave up coffee (been 6 weeks now) YAY!!!!
I still have been eating meat and smokin cigarrettes.
So now my challenge is to stop eating meat period and quit smoking.

I only ride my bike but that's about it, because plantar faciitis keeps me from jogging/walking.

Our society is so focused on the exterior rather than the interior of our health. We are brainwashed into "losing weight" and teaching old dogs new tricks can be a challenge.

I really like the discussion of the "focus on health not on losing weight" topics in the talk forums.... fat is a symptom of other imbalances in the system just as skin breakouts/eczema are an indication of something wrong on the internals.

...because when I think about my fat, I give my power up to my spare tire LOL! :D :rolleyes:

tweety

[tweety]

I don't think that it's the asking about weight loss that is even the issue, it's the approach to it. People get disappointed when they don't lose 50 pounds in a couple of months and then think "oh I am doing something wrong!". The focus is very counterproductive that way.


yes and then they abandon the raw food lifestyle and think it is their fault and become more depressed and unhappy with their life.

We have always taught each other to "count our blessings" but that has now become a cliche' in society.
Do we REALLY count our blessings? Are we really acknowledging the abundance that already EXISTS in the present??

ok i better stop now before i get myself into a mind trap ;)

[Rawmommie]

I agree with the natural progression statements and I think that may be where the difference in some of us lies. I have an ED. I overeat, cannot remember a time when I didn't. In any case, I kept waiting for the natural progression of wanting less nuts, less avocado, and it never came. So, for me, I had to make myself cut down and once I did, all was well!

So, I believe that naturally letting raw take it's course is best, but maybe some of us don't ever get to that place b/c of our food issues? I feel like I have so much freedom that I didn't have eating SAD though. I also agree that if someone comes into this lifestyle and immediately starts restricting themselves in a harsh way just to lose weight, then yes, their raw path may be in jepoardy.

[Princess Elaine]

Rawkinlocs...yes, it has been through natural progression (thank goodness)...and one of my favorite meals my first couple of months of raw was guacamole...on anything....I would of liked it spread on a piece of card board for that matter!!!....green smoothies are a staple in my day...I'm now drinking a 32 ounce or more a day fruit smoothie....

I feel I'm being realistic in my weight/size choise...WAY higher then when I was younger and I stayed 105 or less until my mid 40's....I'm 5'2"....now, I see when I was 130 it fit me well....

Talking with Raw Truth on Saturday she said, 'are you exercising everyday'??? oh did I wanna lie...so I commited to something EVERY day...I'm a massage therapist and though my job is physical...I'm lacking in the cardio area...that I will change and see what happens...

I love my way of eating...just got home from the gym and am drinking a celery/fresh pineapple smoothie....

Thanks for all your feed back...Elaine

[Ariannah]

yes and then they abandon the raw food lifestyle and think it is their fault and become more depressed and unhappy with their life.

We have always taught each other to "count our blessings" but that has now become a cliche' in society.
Do we REALLY count our blessings? Are we really acknowledging the abundance that already EXISTS in the present??

ok i better stop now before i get myself into a mind trap ;)

I hear you. I know how depressing it can be to not lose weight when I want to, or at the rate "they say" it should happen.

Despite all my talk in my posts in this thread, I am someone who totally flips out with delight when my clothing starts fitting more loosely, and some flabbage is released. However, it is because I am enjoying the good feelings on raw that the weight becomes a side issue.

I have difficulty staying raw for longer than a few months (not due to cravings, oddly enough), except in warm months, cooked food does not exist then. Not much cooked food these days I can eat anyway, without feeling bad effects instantly.

When I am raw, I don't really enjoy a bunch of fancy recipes, but that is just me. I tend to go for what can be made quickly in a blender or food processor or just plain.

I mostly speak from the point of view of someone who has had eating disorder issues in the past, and grown to a point of self-acceptance. So, if I can accept myself the way I am now, then hee-haw, I will be flipping out with utter gleeful delight at any positive change that occurs. Self-acceptance doesn't mean "I don't want to change", but it's more of a release of unnecessary stress. More of a "how can I be happy in the here and now?" state of being.

I'm still overweight, and the weight is taking its time coming off. I want my body to adjust with each stage of the game, and I want to be healthy at the same time.

[Ariannah]

Hi Ariannah,
Yeah this is really good advice I try to heed but that is so dang hard!


Not always easy for me too, but I make choices to accept myself. Doesn't always come naturally, but it comes.

[luckitri]

The first time I had a problem with overweight was when I developed the Cushing's Syndrome. It more than doubled my starting body weight and went undiagnosed for years! Since then my weight has gone up and down drastically and I have been overweight again. The dramatic gains and losses at an older age has caused me to age even more and it hurts to see but nothing I can do except hope that eventually raw will change that. Sometimes there are underlying medical reasons that can cause the weight gain. I do believe that raw can cure many of them or at least make them more under control. Unless you are really suffering I personally would prefer raw to the standard western medical model of treatment. I wish I had known about raw before I lost my adrenal glands, before I lost my lung, before I lost my gall bladder, and so on - there is so much healing that may be going on in your body that you are unaware of so I just hope that you can trust in it.

[Solace]

Yep we get to be part of that SPECIAL 20% factor, oh lucky us:rolleyes: . I will try to stay positive, it can be hard to do. I am workin my but off but its still there:p . I have had a few moments of breakdown because of it- I just do not want to get depressed again. I am sure i will look back on it as just part of the cleansing process but its hard because everyone around me is looking for reasons to pick RAW apart. They expect the weight to come off = that must mean its working. I only have 30 lbs extra to take off,,, I take a deeeeeeeeeep breath because it may be the stress thats keeping it on. Hang in there my 20% friends,, there have been sooo many other wonderfull things I have lost besides weight like = PAIN. What can be better than chronic pain being gone.:)