Body Predisposition & Raw Foods for Thought

[trugoddess]

I'm wondering if anyone has come across information that discusses the pre-dispositions of our bodies and the effects of the raw/living foods lifestyle. As I read through the posts, it's abundantly clear that the responses to various food choices, the tendency to lose or gain weight, frequency of elimination etc... are all very individualized. But that got me to thinking about what patterns have emerged, over time, for people with different body types. I'm thinking that because the genetic code that has resulted in our individual body types is constant, there may be patterns that would suggest the need for certain modification of the raw/vegan lifestyle. For example, do raw foodists who have a history of obesity, in general, tend to experience slower weight loss if their intake consists of high glycemic fruits & nuts? Could there be a genetically pre-determined threshold? Do those who are genetically predisposed to being thin experience the opposite? And I've noticed that a number of people on the site are working to heal emotional imbalances. Are there certain food combinations that would help them to do so more successfully if we understood more about the body predispositions that contribute to those imbalances? Please share what you know. Thanks.

[RawVegan4Health]

I've been obese (based on BMI definition) for most all of my life. I went raw and the pounds have been almost melting off since, at a rate between 2.5 and 3 pounds per week average. I am now just overweight (based on BMI definition) and plan to continue losing in hopes of finally hitting my "ideal weight" (based on BMI definition) for the first time ever in my life.

[trugoddess]

I checked out your site and it seems that you put some very specific guidelines in place (fat intake etc...) that have contributed to your success? That's exactly what I'm saying. I'm wondering if the results would have been different it you'd simeply gone raw and eaten whatever you wanted and didn't pay attention to portion control...

[Veganforlife]

I like the fact that I DON'T have to count this or that and watch how much of this or that I'm ingesting. That's the freedom of eating raw. I'm sure our genetic codes play a factor, but you know what? I don't care about that. I do care that I have healed two MAJOR illnesses I have had. One my whole life - migraines (53 years worth) and the other my non-functioning thyroid (6 years worth). I feel alive and healthy each day. I let my body decide what it's craving and then go with it. I use the energy that I would use wondering/calculating/adding/subtracting, etc. to do other things that I didn't have the energy for pre-raw. I am living - finally.
But whatever works for you - go for it...

[Sammijane]

thryoid issues definitely play a huge role. I was super tiny and skinny up until about age 18/19 when mysterious flab just appeared very quickly on my thighs, hips, tummy. Then I was diagnosed with hoshimoto's thyroiditus. Which made me feel a little better because then I knew that it wasn't my fault that even though I exercised and exercised the flab just never seemed to shrink. My body wasn't burning it for fuel!! Now however, things are much different!!

Yet, Even raw I have to make sure I exercise and don't overeat nuts/dried fruit or the flab comes back a bit (in litterally a day or two... its sooo strange). Now I'm doing green smoothies with alissa's greenfood powder, maca, coconut oil, and eating a lot of sea veggies. All things which promote regulation of thyroid! So... I feel better- my hypothyroid symptoms are slowly fading away. Its only been like 3.5 months since being raw so I hope that when the year is over I will have a fully functioning thyroid... efficient metabolism... and off my meds!!! Heres hoping!

But yeah, the raw foods one chooses to eat are and def should be individualized to their specific needs.

[RawVegan4Health]

I checked out your site and it seems that you put some very specific guidelines in place (fat intake etc...) that have contributed to your success? That's exactly what I'm saying. I'm wondering if the results would have been different it you'd simeply gone raw and eaten whatever you wanted and didn't pay attention to portion control...
You must not have read far enough. I don't count anything. I did back in February and early March when I was veg*an, but have stopped counting since going raw.

[portiz]

I'm with Veganforlife...I go with my cravings. If I'm craving fishy...nori rolls...something tart...keylime pie (which I'm eating for lunch right now...much to the surprise of my coworkers!!:D )...sweet...ice cream or smoothie...filling...a pate or guacamole spread over romaine lettuce leaves...simple...fruit or flax seed crackers.
I'm at my desireable weight of 125 lbs (according to BMI) and the only exercise I get so far is walking the dogs for at least an hour a day. And let me tell you...when you walk two boxers, its not JUST walking...its an all over workout. I've noticed some soreness on my arms from their pulling (to check out other dogs) or managing their back and forth just from walking (handling two boxers going in two different directions at the same time is tough).
I don't have a scale but I've already noticed that some pants are fitting a bit loose as are a few blouses that don't stretch, so I'm sure I'm still losing weight.

[barose]

I have wondered this too. I have a history of slow (and enlarged) thyroid, PCOS with insulin resistance and know I cannot eat high glycemic fruits such as bananas. So far I do better with high-fat foods like coconuts and avocados sprouts and greens, though I still eat a large amount of fruit: berries and peaches mostly at this point (while they are still in season).

I also feel the need for superfoods: spirluna and cocoa mostly at this point too.

[beppa66]

I'm with Veganforlife...I go with my cravings. If I'm craving fishy...nori rolls...something tart...keylime pie (which I'm eating for lunch right now...much to the surprise of my coworkers!!:D )...sweet...ice cream or smoothie...filling...a pate or guacamole spread over romaine lettuce leaves...simple...fruit or flax seed crackers.
I'm at my desireable weight of 125 lbs (according to BMI) and the only exercise I get so far is walking the dogs for at least an hour a day. And let me tell you...when you walk two boxers, its not JUST walking...its an all over workout. I've noticed some soreness on my arms from their pulling (to check out other dogs) or managing their back and forth just from walking (handling two boxers going in two different directions at the same time is tough).
I don't have a scale but I've already noticed that some pants are fitting a bit loose as are a few blouses that don't stretch, so I'm sure I'm still losing weight.
Please tell me the key lime pie recipe!!!!

[sport]

I believe in the predisposition aspect of it.
I think that I was born to be raw but they just forgot to tell me.

[Stina]

I'm fasting and my brain is toast (Toast!!) and hardly understand the question, but the only thing I could think of is how some people cater their diet to their blood types, even Raw, to the point of eating Tartar recipes with raw beef.