Some Advice from the long term rawbies

[pinkrosebud]

Hi Everyone!!!
I am having the preraw health issues that I used to have before going raw. Just with in the last 3 weeks, I have a crack on the inside of my nostril, which I used to get all the time, my skin is breaking out like crazy, and my stomach is really gassy, and bloated, and I seem to have a little soar throat. All this began shortly after I started upping my greens and doing low fat raw. Do you think there is a correlation? Am I lacking something in my diet, or is this detox? I am by no means doing no fat, that would be impossible for me. I eat lots of avos and young coconut, and just this week added some tahini and hazelnuts, and actually now that I think about it my nose owie is doing better this week than last. I am trying to lose weight, but the scale is not budging. I have been afraid to step on it this week because I am not able to do my intense workouts due to my school load. Here is my yummies for the day, just kind of snacked all day, sometimes that is nice.
Juice of collards greens first thing in morning, carrot, grapefruit, lime, cucumber juice about 16 oz, GS with 2 bananas, lots of greens and coconut water, raw pizza crackers, salad with 1/2 small avo and other veggies, some raw tahini honey candy and raw hazelnut choc. candy about 1 TBL each, lots and lots of fruit, 1 banana, 1 papaya, strawberries, 1 small apple, fruit dip and dried pineapple. Am I maybe eating too much and taxing my digestive system. Any advice would be great. P.S. I have been high raw for about a year, with one major hiatus during the holidays which is where the weight gain is from. I am doing 100% raw this month.

[RawHeaven]

I'm not a long term rawbie, just over a year. I'm interested in hearing the great advice you're sure to receive. I just wanted to share that perhaps the mixing of a lot of fresh and dried fruits, dehydrated foods is giving you gas & bloat symptoms?? Do you have a high metabolism and do you burn calories easily? You strike me as someone who needs a lot of fuel or uses a lot of fuel daily. My metabolism is average and I pretty much just have 1-2 green smoothies, 1-2 avocados, nuts sometimes and two pieces of fruit every day. Sometimes I get gas if I eat dehydrated foods, too many nuts or mix sweet/citrus fruits with other foods. Congratulations on where you are with your raw journey. Good luck and I hope you find relief.

[DavidZaneMason]

Yes. YOU have to do what is right for YOU. You may not be able to tolerate or thrive on the same kind of combinations and foods that others do. Eating a mainly vegetable diet (with some raw fats) will give rise to greater weight loss. Just keep in mind that that CAN and probably SHOULD be a more gradual weight loss. If you like, you can always journal EVERYTHING that you eat in a week....and see what your caloric intake really is.....and then computer how many calories you need to maintain your body weight every day. If you are eating consistently much higher than this....then long-term weight loss will be difficult...yes?

-David Z. Mason

[Azura Skye]

certainly enjoy your food - but if you are worried, then I would point out that you seem to be eating a lot of fat and processed food.
We don't need that much fat, maybe a small handful of un processed fats a day - like nuts, or an avo. Eat plenty of fruit and plenty of veg and you should be fine, exercise too! :D

[pinkrosebud]

Thank you for your thoughts. I appreciate all the advice.

[pinkrosebud]

Are you saying yes to lacking something in my diet, detox or consuming too much, or all three? I am curious about this becuase you seem to be very knowledgable about the long term raw lifestyle. Also, you mention primarily veggies and low fat, but I have read a lot about the importance of consuming lots of fresh ripe fruit. What are your thoughts on this?

[SuzyQ]

I would suggest that you look into essential fatty acids as they are essential to your health. Perhaps a tablespoon of either Udo oil (florahealth.com) or a tablespoon of flax oil. I would suggest the Udo oil as it is a blend of omega 3,6 & 9 The actual ingredients are: Flax oil, sunflower oil, sesame oil coconut oil, evening primrose oil, rice bran oil, soy lecithin, oat germ and bran oil, mixed tocopherols (non-gmo). Udo oil is for people who want one product that gives them all of the good fats they need without any of the bad fats they should avoid. Every cell, tissue, gland & organ is dependent upon the presence of essential fatty acids. They are the main structural component of cell membranes and are necessary for cell growth and division. (This is from the label.)

Udo's oil is formulated by Udo Erasmus, phD, an internationally acclained authority on the subject of essential fatty acids and author of the groundbreaking book "Fats That Heal Fats that Kill." Udo's oil blend is fresh-pressed in a state-of-the-art low heat, light & oxygen-free environment & packaged in an environmentally friendly glass bottle. Udo's oil has a pleasant, nutty, buttery taste and can be added unheated to foods such as salad dressing & smoothies. I add it to almond butter as well.
I know you listed avocado & coconut & hazelnuts on your list, but perhaps you would respond better to the essential oils?

[pinkrosebud]

Thanks, that is a great idea. I think I will get some UdO oil. :rolleyes:

[DavidZaneMason]

Hey Pink! No...your diet sounds fine...although you eat many processed things. This certainly seems normal during transition (it was for me)...but the combinations and processed stuff CAN cause problems with some folks (as it did with me). You can certainly experiment with eating one food at a time....for a day.....and see how this food affects you. That's really a decent litmus test. When one eats a bunch of stuff all mixed together...hard to tell what may be causing a problem...you know?

-I think until you reach YOUR raw goals....it's probably good to eat a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables....but focusing mainly on dark, leafy greens and conscious, measured amounts of raw fats.....in order to facilitate weight loss (if this is your goal also). Keeping up a good activity level....and journaling what you are truly eating weekly can give you good insight into whether you are eating a diet that keeps you full....but still has the lowered calories you need as part of a long-term weight loss lifestyle/strategy.

-For my own part...I found that eating often.....every 2 hours or so...helped to stabilize my blood sugar and promote weight loss. In my experience, eating less to the point of hunger....or fasting is NOT conducive to long-term weight loss. But you can let food be your medicine...if it is food that is inherently cleansing....full of minerals....and lower in calories. What do you think?

-David Z. Mason

[pinkrosebud]

Thank you David for your insights. It's funny I don't think of my food as being processed becuase it is all freshly prepared by me with whole ingredients. But I guess the dehydrating process is what you are talking about, the pizza crackers, dried pineapple, the raw candy is homemade nut butter and honey, but I guess this is all considered processed food, or is blending and food processing with out dehydration even considered processed food?

[DavidZaneMason]

Right. I think blending and juicing are fine...when eaten right away. Other things have often been stored for a long time....and perhaps have little or no enzymatic activity to begin with....and then are mixed together....and then stored some more.....and THEN eaten....heh...heh. Just not as vital...in my book....as fresh, unprocessed plant foods. I'm sure this causes no problems for most folks...but for me it did. Just a suggestion.

-David Z. Mason