Weight Loss???

[Rawsome Ginger]

Ok, I know that raw is not about just losing weight and vanity. But...here goes.... I have a vacation coming up and I would like to be looking better! Like the good ole days! :) You know, smoothe the lumps and bumps! Any tips or suggestions?? I have bread of any kind by the end of everyday! And when you think of losing weight, you seem to be even hungrier! :eek: :eek:

[iamacranberry]

Eat a mostly or all raw diet, focusing on making yourself healthy, not on losing weight. This is the only way I know to lose weight, as when I focus on the number of kilos, I can never lose the weight. And a bit of strength training always helps, too!

[c'estlaviebelle]

Definitely pick up Alissa's book and do the 30 day challenge. I'm on day 17 (my count, I created my own timetable instead of using the one on the board) and I've lost over 10 lbs... plus my cellulite and such has reduced drastically for such a short period of time.

[rawererin]

i know it's been said over and over but green smoothies- and eat light to heavy, try to have green smoothies during the day then chewed food at night. i really noticed a difference weight wise when i was diligent with my green smoothies, and ate mostly fresh produce (not a lot of nuts, or dehydrated foods)

[Juicyfruit]

This is what worked for me. I have been high raw for over 4 years. 100% off and on. I've always held onto that "last five pounds". I did not start dropping the weight until I watched and payed attention to what I ate. I watch for my energy level to get low before I start getting hungry. I have learned raw or cooked, calories do matter. I know Alissa says not to watch your calories and I agree that this is what you should do until you transition. Once you transition to 100% your appetite naturally goes down and it's easier to watch what you eat. When I am 100%, it is effortless for me to cut back because I am not as hungry. What I do is eat a little something every hour or so when my energy level begins to drop. I eat just enough to make the hunger go away. Here is how I ate today:

Got out of bed ate 1/2 banana.
Hour later: smoothie with 1/2 banana and 1/2 c. Cherries, 1/4 c. orange juice and same amount of water
Hour later: two brazil nuts and an orange
Hour later: banana with 1tsp coconut oil
Hour later: Tbls. pumpkin seeds, another orange
Hour later: Coconut water, tsp coconut oil

Anyway, this is how I continue to eat all day. I have lost eight pounds, was only trying to loose five. I need four more to go as I am only 5'2. I currently weigh 111. Just thought I would share because it is working so well for me! I really think what is working is that I take just enough bites to give me energy so I don't get overly hungry and overeat. I also make sure to have some fat with every piece of fruit I eat to keep blood sugar balanced.

I think that when we are 100% raw the weight falls off easier because cooked food really does stimulate the appetite due to addictive substances that cooking creates in the food. At 100% your appetite naturally subsides and you eat less due to the absence of these substances .

[mel_s12]

I agree with the above posts.

I started losing weight when I was 100%.

When I watch what I eat AND eat raw, I lose even more. The problem with calorie counting is that it can get addictive and can become a huge waste of time. Why focus on limiting calories when you can focus on getting as many nutrients as you can from high quality, raw foods.

Also, there are some people that claim that they can eat up to 5000 calories and still lose weight. I wouldn't recommend this, but what I would recommend is to eat 100% raw.

Oh and don't forget exercise! I would highly recommend reading the book 'The Maffetone Method.' It talks about how too many people stress their systems by overdoing exercise. All that is necessary for fat loss, is 45 minutes of LIGHT exercise a day such as walking. Anaerobic exercise is good for the body too, but there needs to be a balance of more light exercise to build an aerobic base.

[ShelShel]

There is nothing like being 100% raw for losing weight. NOTHING.

I've been heavy my whole life until Feb 2006. I started going raw and by Thanksgiving of that year...I was 64 pounds thinner. I've managed to keep it off rather nicely too. I seem to bounce back and forth sometimes leaving raw, but the minute I am back to it, my husband is the first to comment on how quickly it works for me. (It flattens my stomach like nothing ever has. I had two c-sections and thought that was a lost cause. Now I just have a bit of a pooch.)

I've just gotten back to 100% and I looking forward to this being my thinnest summer ever.

Try the 30 day challenge and see for yourself. (It also works wonders for your skin!)

Vanity aside...it makes you feel great too! It's a win, win, win in my book! :D

[chilove]

Hi There,

Here are some suggestions:

Eat a lot more fruit and you won't crave the carbs that you are now craving in the bread. Our bodies are meant to be fueled by carbohydrates and fruit is the ideal source of carbs for humans. Reduce the amount of fat that you eat and exercise a lot more and you will lost as much weight as you want! :-)

Go online and bookmark a lot of great inspirational raw weight loss stories and before and after pics and look at them everyday to get inspired.

Be determined. You can do it!

Blessings!

Audrey
www.rawhealing.com

[Revvell]

I have bread of any kind by the end of everyday! And when you think of losing weight, you seem to be even hungrier! :eek: :eek:

Drop the bread. Just doing that will make a major difference.

Part of why you seem to be even hungrier is your mindset. Change that to "becoming" healthier than "dropping weight". Dropping weight is a negative; becoming healthier is a positive.

Also, you might look at what may be resistance to becoming healthier if there is such. So some sentence completions such as ~ "One reason I choose to eat bread is...." "One reason I choose to remain less healthy than I can be is..."
It's not always about the food.

Revvell