New to raw ,and confused?

[beau4ever]

Hi everyone! i'm new to all this. I have about 80 pounds to loose,and want to try doing it raw. I tend more toward vegatarian diet,although i do eat our american bad for you diet. I'm really sick of meat etc.. I bought many books so far on raw ,but i not sure how the diet goes? I know you don't coun't calories. but can you mix some vegatrain cooked meal with raw meals and still loose weight? are all the raw derserts considered a meal or a desert and a no no for looseing weight? can you eat a whole raw cake as your meal? or keep it as a goodie. Please if any one can give me some tips. thanks cathy

[Revvell]

Hi Cathy and welcome.

Here's the thing. To get the best results go 100%. For some it's easy ~ for others, because of time restraints, etc., they are transitioning.

Thing is, with raw, it's more about overall health and not just a weight-loss diet. It's a lifestyle for someone who wishes to live the best they can feeling the best they can ~ for life.

What many new-to-raw folk don't know is, when going raw, they will be receiving more nutrients than before as their system cleans out the old, dead, toxic waste matter so, your body will be going through many changes. What I have found is, sometimes there are internal things that are very important to heal before weight comes off. Allow this good, natural food to do it's thing ~ whatever that may be.

If you look at the journals, you'll see MANY here have lost a LOT of weight.

As far as what to eat when? Whatever you want, whenever you want, long as it's raw. As your system comes more into balance, you will find yourself craving healthier foods ~ green smoothies, more salads, etc. At first, you might be needing more fatty foods ~ nuts, seeds, avocadoes, etc. Best thing to do at this time is ~play with and enjoy your foods.

Revvell

[RawTruth]

I bought many books so far on raw ,but i not sure how the diet goes? Hi Cathy.

Welcome.

Alissa's book sets it all out very clearly for you. Your first step would be to read it. Then, follow her advice. Join the 30-Day Challenge. And ... no, eating some cooked is not part of it.

I think the most important thing to realize is that this isn't a "diet" -- it is a lifestyle change that will bring you abounding health like you've never experienced. The weight loss is a side effect of your body healing and realigning itself into what it was created to be from birth.

You're in a great place to get support. Just be sure to follow Alissa's plan; you can't go wrong.

;)

[maraw]

Good morning Cathy! I just started this about a week ago - I'm on day 5 for 100% raw and going strong. I know what you are feeling too. I went through the same thing a couple of weeks ago when starting to consider raw as a weight loss program. The first thing I made was a wonderful raw mango pie. It really inspired me. This message board has been VERY helpful too. I have received instant encouragement, support, and advice whenever I need it. Really nice group of people here.

I would also like to encourage you to invest in Alissa's book as suggested by RawTruth. When I first started thinking about going raw, all I could imagine was carrots sticks, raw broccoli, and guacamole. Well, I barrowed the book from a friend of mine, and I just ordered my own copy yesterday. The first part of the book is introduction to raw. Then there's a section on "testimonials" so to speak. Then, there's the recipes. Most of the recipes are only a few, very accessible ingredients. It helps to have a food processor, but even that isn't paramount. Even if you don't like to cook much, you will find yourself really enjoying preparing these foods. Plus, you can eat all you want and not feel bad about it.

To respond to your question about eating a cake for a meal, in Alissa's video (which is really all about food prep) she talks about that. I had two slices of that mango pie for breakfast not too long ago. And I didn't feel the slightest bit of guilt. No reason too. I also suggest reading the journals. It is very helpful to see what other people are eating and how they are doing with their raw diets. And it gave me some great ideas about what to eat. One of my favorites is bananas and raw almond butter. Wow! Who would have thought...

And with regard to the weight loss issue, my husband is only going about 1/2 raw. He still eats pasta, and breads, meat and some sweets. He is not experiencing the same healthy changes that I am. I have already lost a few pounds and I feel wonderful. He has lost no weight and, although he enjoys the meals I am making for us, he feels no great difference really.

So in summary, buy the book, definitely go all raw, and relax. This is a wonderful time in your life. You are giving a tremendous gift to yourself and your family: your improved health and well-being.

Good luck and welcome!

[AubreyG]

Hi, Cathy!

I know tha going 100% raw is daunting at first. I have to admit that I went 75% raw to begin then after 2 weeks I went 100%. I did notice that I felt GREAT when I ate raw, but then if I ate something cooked, my stomach would cramp up and reject it within the hour. Going 75% my first couple weeks showed me how valuable the raw food was to my body, and how much my body didn't enjoy the cooked or processed food once it had a taste of what it was really meant to have!

Its kind of like a Mercedes (I don't have one, but you get the idea...) most people would rather ride around in the luxury of a car like that, which runs smoother, than a 1981 Pinto that has transmission problems. Once you get to feel how nice the ride is, it is difficult to want to go back to driving the Pinto. On raw and living, your body runs like the smoothest luxury vehicle, sleek and streamlined; efficient, having more energy to do all the other things in life that are interesting! On cooked, our bodies run much like broken down and old vehicles, shuttering from the wear and tear the road of life has put on them. We may not realize that this is really how our bodies are running until we trade in the cooked food for the live and raw food. This is the best analogy I can give.

We all chose to be here for different reasons. I chose health. You may be thinking weight. I eat when I want and as much as I want of anything that is raw and living; but I will tell you this: when you are truly eating right, your body won't require as much. You won't be eating so much, nor will you have the desire to. And furthermore, you will be craving food that is good for you because you will be addicted to the way it makes you feel. Losing weight is just a pleasant biproduct of the lifestyle change.

Best of luck!
Aubrey

[swingbolder]

I would highly recommend Alissa's DVD, not just the book. It's a terrific motivator and it makes you see how easy it is to prepare good raw food dishes. Sometimes reading recipes in a book OTOH can make the process seem more complext than it really is.

[Sharon in Colorado]

Breakfast is probably the easiest part of the day. Simply eat fruit or a smoothie. You can cut up bananas, apples, oranges, mangoes, grapes, etc. and eat them in a bowl, or simply grab a couple of bananas. With a smoothie the easiest thing to use is fresh squeezed OJ or water with 2-3 bananas, some strawberries and some frozen mangoes, peaches, etc. Since your system is still waking up, water rich fruits are the best to eat.

Lunch for me is usually the most difficult, because my brain tells me to eat fruit but my body usually wants something salty and fatty! LOL. I usually end up eating some kind of salad or guacaomle thing on crackers, but sometimes I'll eat some bananas and mangos since they are denser and more satisfying.

Dinner is another easy one - a large salad. I like to use chopped romaine, red or green onions, bell peppers, cucumbers, etc. It's best to make a simple dressing, although I've been using the Whole Foods 365 balsamic vinegar dressing found in the produce section. You can mash up an avocado with orange juice and a little salt for a great dressing, or even use plain orange juice. Some people use olive oil and vinegar. Blending soaked sunflower seeds with lemon juice, a little honey and some sea salt & herbs is good too. You may have to expirement a little bit. Usually the dressing combination is a type of fat with a type of acid (fat-oil, nuts, avo...acid-lemon/orange juice, vinegar).

Counting calories can be important for weight loss or training, but in the beginning of the game, you really don't need to worry about it. It's enough just to learn how to eat raw, what's raw and what isn't and try to overcome cooked cravings before having to think about your caloric intake.

Hope that helps.

[Sweet lips]

Welcome, welcome

Protocol being established - all has been said well. I also encourage you to read the journals of many for fresh beginnings daily. Take it one step at a time, and move at a pace that challenges you but does not stress you. That is very important - to avoid stress.

My husband has joined me on the 30 day challenge (which will be forever, little does he know ;) ), and his breakfast today was a blueberry tart - Alissa's blueberry pie made in muffin tins - a big tart nevertheless, raw, filling and fulfilling. Lunch is stir dry a recipe created by Rawkinlocs, and dinner will be on his own as my son and I will be out this evening.

Search using the feature under the banana for information and recipes, post and encourage as well. Drink plenty of water to aovid potential cramping from introducing more roughage in your body, and enjoy a smooth and helpful ride. I have lost 31 pounds, and I have about another 60 to go. It has been easy for me when I remain true to my goal, the process follows the intention.

[rawpriestess]

Hi,
Welcome,
And what a good question you asked.

You can eat any raw food you want, at any time. Dont' worry about anything especially in the beginning.

It doesn't make any difference if you eat a cup of blueberry, a cup of almonds, and a cup of dates, or if you just eat it all in a pie.

Just eat what you want, and make all the fun recipes you can find, and enjoy it.

Raw food is the tastiest food in the world. I love it. I know you will too.