Help! Can't seem to get enough carbs!!

[Melindaxl]

Hi, I'm a raw foodest and I eat alot of fruit, but I still can't seem to eat enough were my body feels satisfied! Also my nails are so thin and break so easy!
I do around 1 hour of tae-bo daily, I walk with my bodyfriend 30 min. 3x a week, I help my parents by keeping the house clean(two story house), doing the laundry, doing some of the shopping & helping my dad with the yard (our yard is big)! I do alot of cardio because for some reason, I can't seem to get any results using weights or exercises like yoga!! I wish I could because I would love lifting weights and doing exercises with them, where I would have alot of different choices!!
I eat alot of bananas because it's too hard for me to get enough carbs using other fruits, I still eat like a couple of apples & oranges everyday, but my main food is bananas -to make sure I get enough carbs!!
I still can't seem to get enough in me though!! The only way is if I have around 20 bananas a day and in order for me to be able to do that, I have to make alot of smoothies - I only use ripe bananas, water & ice!!
Today, I ran out of ripe bananas so my blood sugar went very low and I got very weak!! I have a whole closet full of bananas, but there just not ripe enough yet!!
I feel like I'm hungry all the time and I'm not loosing the fat I want to get rid of! I'm 24 and my weight is around 140 and I'm like 5'5 or 5'6. Here is how I normally eat!!

8:00 a.m. smoothie w/ 2 Lg. apples, & 2 med. bananas, 1/2 c. water & 1 c. ice.

12:00 p.m. smoothie w/ 5 Med. bananas, 1/2 c. water, 1 c. frozen bananas & 1 c. of ice

3:00 p.m. smoothie -same as 12:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m. raw soup smoothie w/ 1-2 oranges, 1 lg. tom, 4 celery stks, 4-5 c. lettuce, and about 1 lg. carrot.

9:00 p.m. smoothie-same as 12:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m.

Does anyone have any suggestions for me, I feel like I'm eating way too much, I'm not overeating though! I just eat until I'm satisfied! I feel like I'm starving for carbs all the time!! I know there's lots of people on the raw diet that do more exercise and activites, etc. then me!! Has anyone else had a problem with balancing the diet out with your activites? Can anyone help me?
Thanks for your time and help in advance. Take care and have a great day!!
Melindaxl

[Revvell]

From what you've posted, you are not eating any fats. Where are the avocados, nuts and seeds? Without oils and fats, your body will not feel satisfied AND you will not be able to assimilate fat soluble vitamins.

Where did you get the idea being raw means only fruits? Hon, get some greens and some fats into ya!!! You are missing LOTS of nutrients one of them being calcium.

Injoy ~

Revvell

[misslinda]

WOw, at least your consistent :p Have you tried incorporating more veggies?---fruits are the most easy to digest for the body so I'd imagine your body utilizes it pretty quickly.

Also just a thought, I wonder if your body is not getting the enzymatic reaction at its best bc/ of the smoothies. When you "chew" , the saliva provides enzymes to help breakdown the food so the body can process it more efficiently digest and assimilate. How 'bout try eating the fruits instead of smoothie.

Do you stay away from nuts by choice? water intake?

no other problems?


To your health,
Linda :)

[Sharon in Colorado]

It doesn't look like you are eating too much, but maybe you should throw some solids in there. Perhaps it would satisfy you better if you take the time to chew some of it, like perhaps, for dinner.

Based on your weight and exercise you mentioned, you should be eating at least 3000 calories from what you burn off. Have you tried grapes or mango or other sweet fruits when you are out of bananas?

You might also want to check out Janie's food logs on her journal site to get an idea. She's very small (smaller than you are) and was sometimes getting over 3000 calories a day, yikes. I can't tell where she puts it all but she's pretty solid from looking at her pictures. Sounds like you and her are on similar high carb plans.

http://www.ringlet.org/

[Melindaxl]

Thanks everyone for your info!! I don't eat much nuts, seeds & avocados because they put inches on me and I mean just a little bit of them does that!! Plus if I get to eating them most of the time I can't seem to stop, I love them too much!! Also it's hard for me to do my cardio when I have more fats in my diet, it makes it harder for me to breath while doing cardio-don't get me wrong I'm not that out of shape where I have heart problems! I wear a size 10 in pants! I do better sticking to the 8/1/1/.
I don't eat much raw vegetables because I crave for the toxins then! I can't seem to be satisfied with my vegetabes plain! So I really have to make a raw soup out of them for me to enjoy them. I live in Bloomfield, Missouri and you don't get all the great produce here! We don't have the money to order organic, I wish we did, but we don't! Actually it's pretty tight this way too!! I tell my self my health comes before any other things I want in life- if you don't have a life, you can't get those things you want in life!!
I'm going to try to start eating my fruit more whole again, I believe that is part of it!! I love other fruits, but some of those other fruits are too expensive for us! Mangos are around 1.30 each! I have parent to eat the sad diet and it's hard to have room in the refridgerator for the melons!! I love melons too!!
In a few years or so , I plan on getting married if my health is doing as good as it is now!! I have epilpesy and right now I can't drive and do other things girls my age could, but doing as good as I am now-up to next December-I should get those rights back! See my epilepsy was so bad I passed out driving one time & been rushed to the hospital a couple of times! I was having them like every other week, but now I haven't had one since the first week in December 2004.
I hope I explained everything! Thanks again for all you'll help! I'll try them out!
Melindaxl

[Revvell]

*looks around up at the ceiling, whistling a silent tune*

[joy]

Something that made a big difference for me with workouts was incorporating more greens, for their protein and mineral content. They give lots of energy for workouts and facilitate muscle growth.

If you don't like salads or vegetables plain, you might try tossing some greens into a smoothie. You can add several cups without really altering the taste.

Also, fats (nuts, avos, seeds) and fibers (celery, lettuces, some fruits) slow the absorbtion of carbs, which will extend your body's energy, rather than dispensing it in one quick burst. If you're unwilling to add these things, I don't know what to tell you, as a fruitarian diet isn't something I'm too familiar with.

[Melindaxl]

Thanks I'll try to add some more greens and see how I do! What do you do with the nuts, avos, seeds? How do you eat them without adding salt to them?
Thanks again!
Melindaxl

[joy]

If you like avos, they're good tossed into a salad or mixed with tomato, lemon, corn, and onion (if you use it). It sounds like you don't use much salt, so you probably wouldn't need it.

Of course, you can always do elaborate desserts and dishes with nuts, but for a simpler diet, just eat some plain. A single brazil nut has all the selenium you need for the day, and a few pumpkin seeds have your daily zinc. Sunflower seeds and flaxseeds are high in protein, great in crackers, and if you're not accustomed to lots of salt/spices, you could make those with veggies (celery, tomato) only.

If your diet has evolved to the point where you don't use condiments (mine hasn't :) ), you might do just fine enjoying things as they are, or simply omitting the seasonings.

[Melindaxl]

Thanks! Joy! That sounds good, but I still have to use condiments to enjoy my vegetables, but salt makes me get bloated and seasonings make me itch. I guess because they're toxins and maybe my body's more sinsative to them then what it used to be! I wished I could use condiments without any problems!! That's why I can only enjoy them in a raw soup because it mixes the flavores more and makes it where you can taste the natural salt better, where I'm not craving for salts condiments!!
Thanks again!! Melindaxl

[VeganVixen]

maybe you need more protein without the fat? -I cant handle fats well at all ,I sometimes feel like my carbs are going out the window ,when I do-I add raw organic nutiva hemp protein powder go to http://www.nutiva.com/products/0_protein.php for more info

[Sharon in Colorado]

VV I can tell you love your hemp! ;) :D

[Melindaxl]

Thanks, but where does hemp come from? I've never heard of it before? I might try it, but sometimes I have to watch my protein just as much as my fats! That's why I normally do better on the 8/1/1. I think you all are probabley right though, maybe I need something to help stay in my stomach a little longer. like maybe a little protein once in awhile and a little of fat once in awhile. I would mostly stick to the protein though and only have a very little bit of fat, so I won't get to carried away with it!
Thanks again, I'm going to try to start having my fruits with alot of greens too!! Have a great day! Melindaxl

[asil]

Hi Melindaxl,

It sounds like you're doing all you can to imrove you health. Excellent! I'm no expert on your body, obviously, but I wonder if you might think about this: you say you don't do well with fat and protein. But by your own account, you're not doing so well without them. Why not try adding a bit of fat and protein to what you already eat? Say, oil and lemon juice on a salad; nuts in your smoothies; nut butter on a banana. Even just a bit will make you feel more satisfied. It will also solve the condiment problem -- salads taste SO much better with dressing. And BTW, I think most people here fix their own condiments, so you won't have to worry about the itching you get from commercial condiments (which often have MSG or MSG-like substances).

Good luck!

[VeganVixen]

lol ,I sound like a commercial!!! hee hee -thay need to PAY ME for that!!!!! ;)


anyways ,hamp is a seed ,and IS related to cannibis -but DOES NOT have the thc content ...

the hemp protein has VERY little fat ,I think 2 g of fat ,11 g protein and 14 g fiber (no sugar)

[RawTruth]

Hi. I see that you're really struggling with your daily food choices. I'm wondering if you have Alissa's book ... or any other basic raw book. They do a great job of explaining what you need to eat and why. You might consider buying at least one as a good investment in this lifestyle. ('Course, for all I know, you might already have a bunch!)

The reason I mention books is that there are particular things that I've found helpful (that you might, too) that are explained in good, well-researched resources. For instance: you don't need to count calories; you don't need to worry about balancing your nutrient intake like you do when you're eating SAD; you need to throw out the concept of food groups as has been pushed on us by the government; you'll be getting your protein from vegetables; and, that the fat in avocados and nuts do not add cholesterol and will not make you fat (unless you overeat them, of course).

I know someone else mentioned it already, but it's so true that if you make your own salad dressings (which is very economical, by the way), your salads (vegetables) will be bursting with flavor and, if you add a few soaked and sprouted nuts to them ... or a 1/2 avocado ... you should feel more satisfied and probably won't feel hungry again right afterward. I'm wondering what vegetables you're eating that you say you can't handle without seasonings -- and what seasoning you consider to be toxic? If you're referring to salt, Celtic sea salt isn't processed and is very safe to use.

If you haven't already done so, you might find it helpful to read through some journals here ... or the before and after section of this website ... or the Testimonials section of Alissa's book. It seems like you're primarily interested in losing weight, so, if that's the case, you'll definitely learn what it takes to do that by reading success stories!

Best of luck!! By the way, I agree with the other people that perhaps you're relying a little too much on only fruit and should be eating more greens. However, it's kinda hard to respond adequately to you when we don't know things -- like how long have you been eating raw? What was your beginning raw diet like? Why are you ingesting only liquids? What foods are you referring to when you talk about carbohydrates? I hope you don't think all these questions are strange :)

[Melindaxl]

No, I don't think all those questions are strange! You all just need more detail about my diet!! I've been a raw foodest for a few years now, but I've had problems on and off through the years!! In the beginning I got so full with the fiber that I ended up not eating enough and didn't know it until I found out at fitday. com. I found out I was having only around 500 calories a day! I ate a few fruits like apples and a banana and a few large salads!! When I found out I ordered some raw food books like Raw Power, Eco-eating, Nutrition and Athletic Performance & Raw Secreet! As you see I've read several and actually I would like to read more, but I haven't heard of any other good ones lately! I love reading about this stuff! I could never get tired of it!
Actually I was planing on becoming an natural doctor of some kind, but it wouldn't work here!! Too many meat, potatoe and dairy people and they believe in taking medication, they don't believe it's the food that causes illnesses! Most the people around here that know how I eat think I'm crazy and can't believe it! Every time I got to the store to pick up all my fruit and vegetables you ought to see how everyone's stairing at my cart because of all the fruit, vegetables and no meat, dairy or starch! It don't bother me, it's just they need to ask them selves how much raw fruits and vegetables have they had to day instead of protein, meat, starch & dairy!!
O.K. back to the quetions- when I talk about carbohydrates I'm talking about raw carbs like raw fruit and vegetables! I like to ingest in liquids because it's alot easier to get those extra carbs in you and it tastes alot sweeter! I like how the sugar adds up when you make a smoothie! Also there's not raw peanut butter or nuts and seeds around here right now!! The only thing we get is raw nuts, but that's not until fall-were out now! So I though is what I might do is add more greens through the day and use olive oil for my dressing with some salt! I thought it would add some more calcium and fat! Does that sound good along with my apples, bananas and oranges?
Well sorry so long, I hope I answered everything, if I missed anything please tell me and I'll explain it! Thanks for everything and have a great day!!
Melindaxl

[Sharon in Colorado]

Melinda where in the world do you live?

It would be funny for you to do the opposite with other's carts. Like, where's the fruit?

[asil]

Melinda,

I live in a *very* rural area. Once a week I drive into Austin and stock up at Whole Foods and other places. But if I run out of things I can scratch by at our sad little service station/convenience store, about 13 miles away. Even at this little store they have raw nuts in the baking section. So check your supermarket's baking isle -- I'll bet that have raw nuts in *all* seasons.

Also, I just noticed that you eat nothing but smoothies. No wonder you're hungry! Girl, you have got to eat some solid food. 2700 calories would completely fill me up -- but I wouldn't be getting it all from smoothies, and I would definitely be having some yummy, filling fats like nuts and oils.

I'm glad to here you have so many books -- they must have some recipes you could try, something other than smoothies. Nature gave us teeth for a reason :).

[Melindaxl]

Thanks Asil! I'm back to eating more solid food! Now I only have 1 smoothie a day, but now it's hard to get all that food in that I need, but even if I can't get the food in that I need-I'm not getting weak anymore! I'm going to start having fruit salads during the day to add more greens for the day with my Lg. vegetable salad at night! I'm going to try to flavor my salads or greens during the day with my fruit and when I have my vegetable salad at night I'm going to try 1/2 of a avocado- I just hope it don't add any iches like they used to do!! I have a problem with any fats, refined starch & any cooked proteins! I've noticed it also has alot to do with digestion! If my food's to hard to digest then I get constipated and it turns into fat!! Plus I have to really watch my salt because if I don't I can gain water weight very easy and I can't stand that feeling of bloat! That's the biggest reasons why I would stay away from greens and vegetables and only have them once a day! I'm too tempted to want salt or a condament with salt in it with them. One salad a day won't be too much condament, but more then one would! So I guess I'm just going to have to make sure I don't have more then one salad with a condament a day and I'll have the rest of my salads with fruit!! Does that sound better? Thanks again & have a great day!
Melindaxl

[RawTruth]

Melinda, thanks for answering the questions. Just a little clarification -- have you been 100% raw for the few years? I'm concerned that you're having the kinds of problems you're describing after eating this way for so long. I've never heard of that before. Did/have you followed a specific program like Alissa's 4 weeks of menus? Or Rhio's suggested meal plan?

Since you're open to adding to your raw library, I can't recommend Alissa's book too highly. It is easy to read and should answer all your questions. She explains how to start eating raw (not applicable to you, I realize) and why.

Since you're concerned about your digestion, you might consider eating according to "food combining" guidelines. That could very well take care of that problem.

Like was mentioned already, if you make some yummy salad dressing, you won't need to add salt to your salads :) although Celtic sea salt should be okay, shouldn't it?

[VeganVixen]

what about different salad greens (like arugala,fennel,swiss chard,dino kale,romaine)
with a few herbs like cilantro ,dill, some tyhme ,or basil with strawberries(great for salads) or citrus ,also dried figs are GREAT salad toppers ,also lemon juice is a good dressing ,olive oil, or a vinegar (I use balsamic ,but braggs is the only raw type)?

[Melindaxl]

RawTruth - No I haven't been 100 % for those few years! Once in awhile I would wake up in the middle of the night starving and I would eat me some canned green beans or canned peas. The reason why I would eat them is because I wouldn't be hungry for fruit or wouldn't feel like tasting any salad dressings. I felt more like having something a little salty and sweet or creamy. I didn't want something really sweet or tangy! Plus I didn't want to have alot of carbs since I would be going back to bed!!
This winter I had the problem of being cold all the time and fruit & vegetables sometimes made me feel colder, I guess because they were in the fridge!! So I ended up overeating on mixed nuts because When I ate the raw I couldn't add salt to them without feeling bloated! I don't know why! The mixed nuts where salted too, but maybe because the oils add to them helped the salt digest better or something! I mean it don't make any since to me!! Maybe I was putting more salt on them then the mix nuts has on them. I don't know though! I have tried sea salt before-for some reason it makes me bloat more then any salt does!! I try to stick to the light salt or not have any peroid because I bloat really easy with salt!
I've not seen Alissa's 4 week menus. Where can I get to them? See last year I didn't have a problem with the diet at all! I was eating 15 bananas a day & 1 lg. salad with f.f.salad dressing with low salt & no spices & that's the time once in a while when I would get hungry at night! I did great with my energy though! I slimed down to size 7's and I believe thats my size that fits me! I felt great, but after cold weather came it all fell on me!! I was to cold all the time and craving something warm to put down my body! So I increased my activies to help my blood flow more to help produce body heat & it helped, but not much to make a differense where I would stop. That's why I I overate on mixed nuts, I knew fats produces more body heat for the body! I've studied Natural Hygiene so I know about combinding the food right! When I studied Natural Hygiene it's what lead me to the raw diet! If I eat fruit with protiens I onlly use acid fruits like oranges, I eat lettuce & celery with fruit or vegetables or proteins, I eat melons by them selves if I have any! I hope I answered everything, if not let me know o.k. Thanks again & have a great day! Melindaxl
VeganVixen, thanks for your info! See there's not alot of greens here until we get our super Wal-Mart in May! Mostly all we have is Romain Lettuce & celery! For toppings I'm not sure about the herbs-I'll have to check them, but I know we have lemon juice or lemons where we can make our own, olive oil & vinegar! I don't want vinegar though! I don't want something really sour! I can use lemon juice though because it tastes more fresh and a little sweeter. Most of the time though I like something creamy with a little sweet & light salty taste to it! So that's why I think I'll try the avocados or olive oil!! Still if you have anymore ideas, I would love to hear them because they might be better and healthier then mine!! Thanks again & have a great day! Melindaxl

[misslinda]

Melinda!

I take it you went INTO raw the way you are eating ( no salts etc)? Reason I ask is, another member mentioned that maybe it's possible that herbs, spices,vinegras and salts (that are viewed as bad by some raw foodist), are needed to help expel the toxins and bad stuff in our bodies. Just a thought. :)

Boy, if you bloat that easy, perhaps you still have internal imbalances???? Are bm's regualr and healthy? :confused:

Any previous health concerns like hormonal, thyroid, colitis anything? :confused:

[VeganVixen]

WATER is the best diuretic!!!!!!!!

[Melindaxl]

Misslinda, your right! Where I started on the raw diet, they told me that all salts where bad and toxic for the body and to only get your sodium from natural sources- like celery & tomatoes! I couldn't go without having a dressing so I found a fat free mayo salad dressing with very low sodium around 110 mg for 2 tbs. I did great using that, but I just got where I couldn't stand the taste anymore. It was too sweet and tangy! It didn't taste sweet and creamy like the reguar mayo dressing, so I stopped using it! I use salad dressing sometimes, but I look in the ingredients to make sure there's no egg, meat or dairy in it! See I think is why I get so bloated when I have salts is because they make me thirsty where I can't wait to have my water after the food is digested, I want it within a hour and salt holds water- which causes water weight & bloat! When I use salad dressings I don't seem to have as much of a problem I guess because the salts not straight salts, it's liquified instead! So it might digest better and I hardley ever get bloated then. The only problem I have with the dressings is they make my body itch like crazy. They haven't ever done that to me before until this year! I've been a raw foodest for a few years now! Well I hope this explains everything and thanks for your info! I didn't know that they might help me expel the toxins out of my body! I've learned it only makes it worse! Have a great day and thanks again!
Melindaxl

[Veggienut]

I have some very good information that I feel could help you out. You are simply consuming too much acid to lose weight. You are bloating and having problems with certain foods because it sounds like you have to much yeast still from acidic foods. I would post everything now, but it is late and I am tired. But I wanted to check in with you before going to bed. Please e-mail me at dwkllk@sbcglobal.net or call me at 785-827-3125. I hope I can post that info without getting in trouble? I am new to this. Take care!!

Larissa

[Veggienut]

[QUOTE=Veggienut]I have some very good information that I feel could help you out. You are simply consuming too much acid to lose weight. You are bloating and having problems with certain foods because it sounds like you have to much yeast still from acidic foods. I would post everything now, but it is late and I am tired. But I wanted to check in with you before going to bed. Please e-mail me at dwkllk@sbcglobal.net or call me at 785-827-3125. I hope I can post that info without getting in trouble? I am new to this. Take care!!

Larissa

"Nothing taste as good as good health feels"

[Veggienut]

oops! Sorry for the double posting. Was trying to figure out the quote deal. :)

[RawTruth]

Veggienut, just go back and delete one of them. Also, just a hint -- you might not want to post your phone number and private e-mail address in such a public forum.

When you get the time, posting the information here might help a lot of people!

Welcome.