8 Months Raw-Question

[RAWisme]

Hi there,

I've been 100% raw for 8 months. In the beginning I lost 10-15 pounds (I don't own a scale). Within the the last few months I've gained it back. I seem to have a butt now where before I've always been kind of flat in that area. It seems that no matter what or how much/little I eat this weight remains in my chest and butt. The only way I lose weight is if I fast but even then, my butt is still more prominent than before raw. My body shape seems to have permanantly changed. ???

I'm not overweight but I really enjoyed how thin I got when I first went raw. Is this the weight my body prefers? I'm also wondering if it may be due to detox. I have cellulite and I'm wondering if I'm retaining water around my butt area due to the toxins? If this is the case, is it odd to be retaining weight due to toxins after being raw for 8 months?

In trying to figure out the cause for weight gain, I've found myself becoming obsessed with food. I really want to be able to "just eat raw" and not have to constantly think about what food and how much. I'm just trying to figure out what's going on.

Any insight is much appreciated!

TIA

[Ginger]

I was like that too, in the beginning it didn't matter what I ate as long as it was raw and the weight melted off fast. Nowadays I keep gaining if I don't limit my fat intake. Some people have also found they can eat all the fat they want but have to limit their fruit intake. You may have to tweak your diet a bit to make it keep working for you. Don't give up, you will regret it! I tried that lol, did NOT work! :D

[Stina]

Just wanted to congratulate you on not owning a scale! :D

[StarFire]

how strange -- I've just been going thru the same thing -- but for me -- I've also been under some heavy stress lately -- like for several months - work has really been really INTENSly stressful... so I assumed that was why I was gaining weight.

Apparently some people gain weight when they are under stress and I seem to be one of them... :o ... lucky me....:( but it's all good... if it wasn't for raw - I'd probably look like a balloon now instead of just putting on a few exta here an there! ;)

and work has sort've leveled off -- so my stress has gone down... and so my weight is adjusting again...

guess we'll find our balance here one of these days!!

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/Summer.gif

[RAWisme]

Just wanted to congratulate you on not owning a scale! :D

LOL! I haven't owned a scale in years! I refuse...I'm neurotic enough!:rolleyes:

Yeah, I've tried to eat low fat and high fat and my weight is just stuck. And it seems that my body composition has changed which I find kind of strange. My underarms are thinner but my butt is bigger which has never been the case in the past. My arms would pretty much stay consistent.

I've also found that I'm now craving cooked food! Go figure! After 8 months, I now crave cooked food. I'm very frustrated because I've stuck with it this long and now I'm gaining weight and having cravings.

[Eva]

Well... part of what happens when you first go raw is that you lose your "false body," then your body gets to where it naturally should be...

Which may NOT be where it is now... That's just what typically happens. Are you under stress? Do you work out? Do you listen to your body when you eat (ie, only eat when your body not your mind says that you're hungry). Are you keeping up the green smoothies? Are you obsessing at all about the weight (that might actually make it stick around, believe it or not!)?

That's all I can think of off the top of my head, but all of these things can make a big difference. And sometimes, your body thinks you need to be protected (like when you're stressed or not in an emotionally safe or open environment)... and it actually keeps some weight on to protect you. I'm not sure that would go to your rear, though! ;)

[ShelShel]

I'm so glad that you started this post. I have been going nuts the last few weeks...desperately trying to figure out what I've done different that I should have put on so much weight in just my mid-section. (and I haven't really gained any weight...I'm just thicker there!:mad: ) It's frustrating. :confused:

My rings are loose, I try on clothing and it's loose around my legs...unfortunately I have no butt anymore :p and tight in my tummy. I can't wear anything I could just maybe 5 months before...when I was a bit heavier to boot. All my dresses are too tight in my stomach to wear anymore. A fitted coat that I wore when I was a good 20 pounds heavier...is almost impossible to button and belt. Why!????? I keep asking myself what is different about my body? About what I am eating? Is it just me or am I going crazy?!?!?

The scale has pretty much stayed the same these days, but my clothing...it's like my body has changed...what I could wear at Thanksgiving of last year...I can barely squeeze into...and it's just my tummy. AGGGGRHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Thanks for letting me vent.

I wonder what it is though...will it stay this way? Should I consider getting slightly larger clothes? Will I ever be as thin as I was or is this the best I can hope for?!?!?

I know one thing, I can't tweak my diet anymore than it is and be happy. There is just no way. If I can't run the gammit of eating whatever I want as long as I am 100% raw...then I'm back to a diet, not a way of life I can live with.

Do all raw fooders eventually gain some of their weight back...even if they are 100% raw??? I need long termers to reply. Please. :o Have you maintained your weight loss...or gained some back even though you are 100%!?!?!? Thanks!

[Conscious Midwife]

TO the original OP...
What's wrong with a big booty. Curves are in girl. Folks try to buy the JLO booty or at least their doing yoga booty ballet to get tha curvacious rump with a little junk in the trunk, love those lady lumps:D

To ShelShel....

Sounds like intestinal bloat. Maybe you need a colonic. Maybe all that icky gut stuff people talk about is sloughing of from the sides of your intestines and detaching from the diverticuli pouches and just ready to be let loose.

[Ginger]

I'm thinking you need to concentrate on higher nutritional content foods.. like superfoods. Foods that pack quite the nutritional punch! Try to focus on foods rich in vitamins, minerals and the super important trace minerals. Your cravings could also be that you reached the next level of detox and you just need to accept it, release it and ride it out.

[aililiu]

bizarre. im just over 7 months raw and the same thing is happening to me. i lost a bunch of weight initially and felt FANTASTIC at that weight but now ive gained about 10 lbs back--- i did expect and didnt mind gaining about 5 for the winter, thats natural i feel-- but its getting a bit much :( everyones telling me i look better now ive gained some back but i felt better lighter. hmmm.

[rawgreenyogini]

I'm feeling the same roller coaster gals!!

ShelShel- I have mid-line crisis too! The Christmas party dress was just a little too tight in the belly this year, couldn't fit into it last year any part of it, and the year before it was too big!

lifeAgift - intestinal bloat you say? How would one go about fixing it? Mono-diet?

[Conscious Midwife]

http://medicalimages.allrefer.com/large/ileus-x-ray-of-distended-bowel-and-stomach.jpg

Ileus - X-Ray of Distended Bowel and Stomach

[rawgreenyogini]

That does not look good.

[RAWisme]

I know I should embrace my lady lumps but I like being skinny! I like the light feeling too! :(

I think you're on to something RawVeganMom...maybe I've reached the next level and therefore need to just eat less now that my body is more efficient in absorbing nutrients.

I'm going to decrease my food intake even more and see what happens. I may not need as much food as I have in the past.

[rainbowgirl]

Me too, kinda.

But I think also my exercise has slumped (think.....I KNOW!) with the weather and also I have been overeating a bit (a BIT, you know you had two bowls of olive dip last night!)

Anyway, good reminder to get on track.

ALso, gotta remember, this may be our "winter body" with a little more fat cause of the cold and so on......at least I'm hoping!

RaWnbowgirl

[Conscious Midwife]

Seriously folskl how many BM's are you having a day?

At elast 2-3 I hope if you've been Raw for a considerable amount of time.

With the change in weather are you really getting enough water too?

[SmilingRawDancer]

I've gained weight too, but I chalk it up to too many calories.

I have good BM's - 2-3 per day, morning after breakfast, and then a couple hours after lunch.
I'll try fasting tomorrow, lord knows I need it! <3

[rawkchicster]

Just wanted to congratulate you on not owning a scale! :D

AMEN!!!! death to all scales!!