Lots of questions (Long)

[pinkrosebud]

1. I prefer to eat my coconuts whether mature or young instead of ingesting spoonfuls of the oil. Does this have the same health benefits? Also can I use the oil in recipes and receive the same health benefits? Or do I have to consume the oil all by itself? Particularly interested in weight loss.

2. The month of August and first half of September I was only about 70% raw. I included cooked such as alcohol and breads,roasted peanut butter, olives (cooked olives are so much more affordable) and a few other things. My belt and clothes are now tighter and I have gained about 7lbs just in 6weeks of not being 100% raw. I was about 97% raw for the previous three months lost about 12 lbs my first month and then hit a platue that would not budge and now have gained. Obviously I am going back to extremely high raw. My question is about those questionable foods: nama shoyu, agave, balsamic and apple cider vinegar, maple syrup and molasses, are these foods not raw? I thought they were or at least permitted because they are "healthy" seasonings. Have people noticed stalled weightloss with the consumption of these foods?

3. I love fat. Honestly I want to eat it by the spoonfuls, it is the only thing that really satisfies my cravings (raw fats, coconuts, olives, oils, nut butters, avos, whole nuts, you name it and if it is fat I will love it). I just read Alissa's post on eating what you crave and not worring about the calories or fat. I think I sometime eat too much fruit in hopes of satifing my cravings for fat. But then I feel like maybe I should just eat all the fat I want and see what happens. I know I can eat A LOT of fat with out getting disgusted so I am a little scared but maybe I should just try and see how I feel. What do you all think. Is there a danger in consuming too much fat?

Lastly I have about 15lbs to lose so not a lot but definatly enough to make me on the round side. I know from experience that the last 15-20 lbs are the hardest so this may be why I hit the platue, but I really want them off once and for all. I was a fat kid, a chubby teenager and now I am a curvy, voluptuos(sp) 24 year old woman. I love my curves but hate the rolls on my tummy and back (they have ALWAYS been there). I have been health concious for a number of years but never got the last 15lbs off. I do excercise. Any advise?

Thanks for all the help I really appreciate this site and the wonderful people who participate. You all make my life style doable. Cheers!

[Xanadu]

1. Use the oil either way, same health benefits. It's also good as a facial cleanser/moisturizer.
2. Maple syrup and molasses are cooked for long periods of time to get them to the consistency SAD eaters are used to. Some agave is cooked but not the one on Alissa's site. Balsamic vinegar is high carb. Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar is raw. Nama shoyu is from soybeans which could unbalance your hormones.
3. Watch the nut butters, some that say they are raw are actually not. Some on Alissa's site here could tell you which ones. I can't remember off hand.
On the "Lastly" one piece of advice would be to drink plenty of pure water and walk an hour a day or as close to that as you can.

[Xanadu]

Forgot to include, you can lose weight just fine on the raw diet without exercising but it is just easier to do so with. But more importantly exercise is good for many other things besides losing weight as you probably know and we need those things in our lives.

[pinkrosebud]

Thank you, yes excersise is one of my tools for staying sane and not getting depressed, esp. in my long, rainy Washington state winters.

Also, I will switch to braggs this week instead of the nama, and only do apple cider vinegar in my salads instead of balsamic.

[alecia]

exercise is extremely important, but what type of exercise you do is also crucial. if you really want to jump start your weight loss you really need to do some higher intensity cardio. that's what always has worked for me when i have a few pounds to lose.

i can diet and eat right all day but running is what really keeps me thin.

[kaybee]

hey i wouldnt switch to braggs, its not raw and no longer reccommended by alissa as i understand it.... use the search tool and you will find threads on why its "dodgey". at least nama shoyu is live, though not raw