Nuts to you?

[lycheenut]

Hi everyone,

This may be a silly question because I haven't actually purchased Alissa's books, but on the Raw food diet are you supposed to limit your intake of nuts if you want to lose weight?

Thanks!

[Oxygen]

When you first start eating raw, don't limit yourself. The transition to raw can be simply wonderful, but if start saying to yourself, I can't have this or that, then that may make you crave it more. At first, allow yourself to eat anything you want. The weight will come off.

[Rawkinlocs]

Right on Oxygen!

Please do not try to go into the raw food dietary lifestyle with restrictions and with the "diet mentality". Allow your body the time enough to first of all get used to eating raw foods because it's gonna be different than what you're probably accustomed to. So, allow whatever it is you need to stay satisfied and not feel deprived lest you end up finding it too strict and too hard to do and going back to your old eating patterns. If nuts will do that for you, then eat them if/when you need them.

After you've allowed yourself to get accustomed to eating raw and the lighter feeling, etc. and IF you haven't lost weight (because a LOT of people still lose even if they eat all of the nuts and nut-based dishes they desire) then you can start tweaking your diet and cutting back on nuts (not necessarily totally eliminating them) to achieve the desired results.

[Shell]

I'm also new, and also wondering about the whole "how many nuts" question! I've been using the banana search to try to find as much info as possible, but still have questions. I've found that I've even gained weight in the 2 weeks since I started 100% raw, and I KNOW I'm overdoing the nuts! So, I figure I'm one of those people who is going to have to limit fats.....so, what is a good ratio to play with?

[StarFire]

Just a quick note to the newbies... that's why I followed Alissas 30 day plan in her book. The book is so informative and the 30 day plan is so easy and delicious! I didn't have to worry about nuts, how much of this or that... it made the transition to this lifestyle sooo easy! I just added in the snacks I wanted, fruit, nuts, stuff like that.

If you don't have the book - please -- seriously consider getting it. It is a wonderful tool to have in your library and your kitchen. AND IT'S GOOD FOREVER... not like one of those books that's great when you first get started... but the information in Alissas book will help you as long as you decide that this lifestyle is for you!!

RAWK ON -- and blessings on your journey! ;) :D

[Rawkinlocs]

I'm also new, and also wondering about the whole "how many nuts" question! I've been using the banana search to try to find as much info as possible, but still have questions. I've found that I've even gained weight in the 2 weeks since I started 100% raw, and I KNOW I'm overdoing the nuts! So, I figure I'm one of those people who is going to have to limit fats.....so, what is a good ratio to play with?

Shell,

Try not to think in terms of "ratios" and "percentages" but rather, "Hmmm...okay, if I'm eating a nut-based dish for lunch and then another nut-based snack after that and then a nut-based dish for dinner, maybe I could/should cut out one of those nut-based dishes to maybe one per day with a nut-based snack of some sort." Unless you really and truly like the whole "numbers game", don't take the fun out of being raw by making it too difficult! :) You can still eat a "FUN" raw diet even if you feel the need to cut back a little. Don't restrict but rather restructure!

But still, it's only been 2 weeks for you. One of the things Alissa and many others will tell you is that, in the beginning of going raw HIDE that scale! Don't rely on it to tell you what is or what is not happening to and in your body. The weight could be water-weight, it could be muscle (if you work out), it could be a number of things and the scale may show fluctuation in the beginning as your body adjusts to eating raw. Again, if you start trying to limit yourself before you've REALLY gotten into this raw lifestyle, you could be setting yourself up! Just try to keep this in mind.

And yes, as Starfire said, please consider getting Alissa's book - SO much more than mere recipes but it's a really good guideline and tool especially for newbies to raw!

[the_lab_rat]

I don't know if I should even post this, but I kind of feel the need to express a slightly different experience... But first off, just to be clear, I'm not trying to disagree with the previous posters or Alissa's book or anything :)

I think whether you do or don't need to think about nuts/fats depends somewhat on the diet you were eating before going raw. If you were eating a typical american diet of fast food and junk food and not a lot of healthy stuff, you probably won't even have to worry about limiting anything or counting calories or fat. Even eating a buncha nuts, you'll probably be getting less fat and calories (or at least more healthy types of fats) than on your previous diet.

Personally though, I came from a low-fat vegan diet which did not include any nuts or oils, so when I started following the 30 day plan in the book it was waaay too much fat for me and I gained weight. But that might be a rare experience, because most people don't start off with such a restricted diet. I know there are a few other people here who have to limit fats... but the only way you'll know is to just go raw and at first just focus only on staying raw, then once you're comfortable with 100% raw start playing around to find what works best for you.

Just my 2 cents or whatever. Hope that's ok :)

[Rawkinlocs]

I don't know if I should even post this, but I kind of feel the need to express a slightly different experience... But first off, just to be clear, I'm not trying to disagree with the previous posters or Alissa's book or anything :)

I think whether you do or don't need to think about nuts/fats depends somewhat on the diet you were eating before going raw. If you were eating a typical american diet of fast food and junk food and not a lot of healthy stuff, you probably won't even have to worry about limiting anything or counting calories or fat. Even eating a buncha nuts, you'll probably be getting less fat and calories (or at least more healthy types of fats) than on your previous diet.

Personally though, I came from a low-fat vegan diet which did not include any nuts or oils, so when I started following the 30 day plan in the book it was waaay too much fat for me and I gained weight. But that might be a rare experience, because most people don't start off with such a restricted diet. I know there are a few other people here who have to limit fats... but the only way you'll know is to just go raw and at first just focus only on staying raw, then once you're comfortable with 100% raw start playing around to find what works best for you.

Just my 2 cents or whatever. Hope that's ok :)

VERY well-said! I agree...it really DOES depend on the type of diet you ate before raw. I would think that if one was low-fat (cooked) vegan prior to going raw, then it would be a cinch to switch over to a low-fat raw diet. You're just not cooking your food! :) I can see where it "may" pose a challenge, though, if the low-fat (cooked) vegan/vegetarian diet consisted of a lot of heavy starchy-type foods (potatoes, rice, etc.) tofu and other soy-based products or seitan and beans, however. While low-fat, they are typically still considered "comfort" foods in the vegan/vegetarian diet and THAT may pose a problem trying to mimic those things in the raw diet since raw potatoes and raw beans don't come nearly close to the cooked versions. So, I can still see the potential to start reaching out for the nut-heavy raw dishes for that fuller, "comfort" feeling.

However, I'm sure that if one can, you could incorporate things such as flax or sprouted grains in one way or another.

But that was a good post and a good POINT, lab!

(oh, and I'll be replying to your email soon! :) )

[the_lab_rat]

However, I'm sure that if one can, you could incorporate things such as flax or sprouted grains in one way or another.

But that was a good post and a good POINT, lab!

(oh, and I'll be replying to your email soon! :) )

Oh yeah, I looove the flax! I should've mentioned, even if you do eventually want to limit nuts, you should try things like flax and hemp seeds (flax crackers...yummy!). I seem to do fine with those, perhaps because they have more fiber than nuts but still have the healthy fats.

(and rawkinlocs, I'll be finishing my email to you soon too :) )

[Shell]

First of all, thanks, Rawkinlocs for the helpful information.....it can all be a little overwhelming at times, and I'm DEFINITELY not an "I like to count calories/numbers" type of girl! I think it's just the only way I have ever been used to "dieting".....although, I don't consider this a "diet", more of a lifetime commitment. I do have Alissa's book, and have read it through....I think I just took her advice a little TOO literally! I mean I REALLY went "nuts" (sorry, couldn't resist)! But I'll definitely now take into consideration the amount of nut-based dishes I consume daily. One per day should definitely suffice.





Personally though, I came from a low-fat vegan diet which did not include any nuts or oils, so when I started following the 30 day plan in the book it was waaay too much fat for me and I gained weight.

To the_lab_rat, I think we're one in the same when it comes to this.....I'm coming from a mostly vegetarian diet (not quite vegan) which was low in fat as opposed to no fat, but still, not nearly as much fat as prescribed in the 30 day plan. I now know I'll have to cut back, but in a smart way, and while still following Alissa's plan, just a little modified!

Thanks all, for the advice, and I know I wasn't the one who started the thread, but I really appreciate it all the same!!

[the_lab_rat]

To the_lab_rat, I think we're one in the same when it comes to this.....I'm coming from a mostly vegetarian diet (not quite vegan) which was low in fat as opposed to no fat, but still, not nearly as much fat as prescribed in the 30 day plan. I now know I'll have to cut back, but in a smart way, and while still following Alissa's plan, just a little modified!

Shell16, You may still not have to worry about an increase in fat from following the plan. I think why it didn't work for me was because I'd been eating NO nuts, added oils, etc. Seriously, I can't even remember the last time I ate nuts before raw. Must've been several years ago at least. So it was a big change that my body obviously wasn't ready for. But just an increase in fat won't necessarily make you gain weight, since they're healthy fats. Some people actually find they lose weight faster when eating more healthy raw fats!

[aililiu]

Some people actually find they lose weight faster when eating more healthy raw fats!

like me :) i was on a no-fat calorie-restrictive diet.... when i started eating nuts, seeds, avos &oils, ohhhmigoodness the weight came off. and i wasnt even over weight. im 5'8'' and was 145, wanted to be 135, now im 122. almost everday i eat an avo, lots of hemp seeds, hemp powder, flax seeds, oils, sometimes nuts (i dont eat those as much now, i find avos sit much nicer on my tummy :) but i ate LOADS of them at the beginning!!) im not losing really anymore but im still eating all that fat and maintaining. i used to hold onto fat like nothing else, i think my body was like "finally! healthy fat! now i can start getting rid of this gross UNhealthy fat because i know therell be more good stuff coming in regularily."

i think you just need to experiment and see how your own body reacts. i know not everyone will react like i did.

hope this helps :)

liliu

[belleadonna]

In the light of what I read in "The China Study" I am limiting fats to no more than 15% of my diet. That's just my personal choice and I am not advocating it to anyone. Each has to do as they feel is fit for their body.