Sample of what I eat - why can't I lose weight?

[SmilingRawDancer]

Over the past month I've logged what I eat because I'm crazy frustrated with not losing.
Here's a sample of what I eat:

Breakfast-lg Banana blended with cacao and hemp protein powder
1 fruit, apple or orange

Lunch - Salad w/ 1/2 avocado, onions, grape tomatoes, and some carrots or other veggie

Dinner - fruit - oranges, pineapple, more banana ice cream, strawberries, etc.

I'm a big fruit gal. During the day I might have a couple walnut halves, and I ALWAYS have 1-2 brazil nuts too.

I've been on RFT for a long time, and I've talked about this before, but I'm so BEYOND frustrated. I've lowered my nut intake, done consistant exercise (but lower intensity, I was pushing too hard) and I recently had my blood work done to check on my b12, iron and test for anything that might show why I've been so exhausted lately.

Does anyone have any words of advice, because this is extremely difficult for me.

I'm 19, 5'2 (short, which explains the lower need for food apparently.) and 127 pounds, which is not accounted for by muscle.

[rawstrength]

Hey there,
127 pounds is a fine weight for being 5'2". My weight fluctuates between 120 and 128 pounds. I am 18 years old and also 5'2".
However, I have tons of energy and I also eat about twice as much as you do, and I don't excersize much.

Maybe you should try getting more greens?

But seriously, DON'T obsess about your weight. You are fine, I'm sure. You are at a healthy weight for your body. Our culture has messed up a lot of womens' body images, promoting skeletal as the ideal.

[Nurse in the Raw]

Maybe your body does not want to go below 127. Why are you trying to force it?

[SmilingRawDancer]

Because I used to be slimmer, with less body fat too...oh well.

[samadhisoul]

I am 5'3 (and 1/2)
and 125 is comfortable for me (and soft, lol)

127 and 5'2 is definitely a bit noticeable and I can see her being uncomfortable.
kinda like me and my 136 :(

doens't SOUND bad but looks so on me.ALL my extra 11 pounds seem to be right in the middle.
IMO, of course

have you tried upping your oil intake? I am back to taking oil daily but I have just started so nothing to report.

hang in there, and I'll keep checking this thread cuz I want help, too

[SmilingRawDancer]

thankyou samadhisoul! It IS definatly noticable, but pre raw I was 136 too, so this is a little better. Being short and smaller framed isn't exactly a blessing in this sedentary age....

Oh, and I definatly have the weight around the middle, too. I wouldn't mind if it was in my butt and boobs, rofl.

Upping oils sounds like a nightmare to me 0_0

A little history - I started raw after a stressful year of not eating much at all, and for a year or so ate lightly and little nuts and fat. Maybe 1/4 avocado a day, and a small handfull of nuts. I went on a cruise with family, was VERY stressed out again, but stayed raw. After that, the weight started piling on slowly. I was advised to up my fat intake, so I did, but that made the weight gain faster, from 110 pounds up to the 127 that I'm at now. Apparently coconut oil and I don't get along :p I thought MAYBE it was just the oil, so I started eating young coconuts instead, and gosh darn they're just so freaking yummy that I ate one of those a day for a couple months.
I'm not sure what changed. Originally I was eating VERY pure raw. Mostly salads and fruits, very little blended matter.

Over the last month and 1/2 I've reverted back to that, and I've been eating fruits and salads and veggies with little fat, and I havn't seen any improvement.

[rusmiley99]

Can i ask why you ate more fats? DId that help you lose, i eat mostly greens now...and am afraid to eat fats-wont they make me well, fat?
I'm about 5'2 also.

[Eveleaf]

You mention being exhausted, and I'm going to guess it's your metabolism. Did you get your blood work back? Perhaps your thyroid is not performing optimally?

[molliegirl]

I'm guessing you're undereating, by a lot, esp since you say you're so tired. Not a lot of people know that you can go into starvation mode when you undereat for your height/ age/ weight and your body will refuse to lose any fat.

Check out caloriecount.com. Do some searches and use their calculators to find out how many calories you should be eating to lose. Doesn't matter if they're from fat or fruit. Don't go OVER your target, but don't go under, either. I know, this is hard. This is why weight loss is so hard!!

[SmilingRawDancer]

I've been logging on CRON-o-Meter (8/1/1ers use it I think) and I eat an average of 1300 a day, but I'm pretty sure I'm underestimating by a couple hundred. It's hard to keep track of stuff :( I'd think that's more than enough to stay at a lower weight...

[juliebove]

I wouldn't worry about it. I am taller than you and weigh more. I've stayed the same for a long time. This is apparently what my body wants to be at. I'm just happy as long as I don't gain any more.

You might try adding some coconut oil to your diet. I lost 12 pounds right away just by doing that.

[tiggerbounce]

Have you tried doing any of the cleanses that Alissa has listed? I believe she has the liver/kidney cleanse? If you are truly carrying extra weight around the middle maybe you just need to help your body move things along. Maybe it would help balance your body out to do cleanses and drink some of those really great herbal teas like pau d'arco, etc. And taking probiotics to get your internal flora in balance.

Sorry, that's all I've got. Unless of course you are using salad dressings with a lot of salt. That could be something to consider as well. Or water that is being put through a water softener. That really messes me up.

[SmilingRawDancer]

I don't have alot of salt, just a bit of sea-salt daily. I don't like salty stuff much :\

Cleanses, eh? Would a watermelon clease work? lol

I use a Brita water filter since all our water is full of DRUGS! lol

[tiggerbounce]

Well, anyone who knows me knows I would definitely advocate a watermelon cleanse!:D I am just about to freeze watermelon chunks to covet all day tomorrow! hee!

Not sure the Brita gets those things out, my dear. I am freakishly keen on RO. We get boil orders here a couple of times per year and that just grosses me out waaaaaaay to much. The RO system was the first thing installed in our house. You can actually get smaller ones for under your sink and Culligan even leases them. Not sure about all of that though. I just do NOT drink non RO water. Ever. Period. And I do not drink out of public water fountains!

Ack! gag! ew!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you start a watermelon cleanse......don't leave me out!!! lol

I think the liver cleanse is like a 3 days cleanse. I probably need that. And I can tell my kidneys are in massive pain and need something. Gotta get that dandelion tea and juniper berries out. Sigh

I bet that you will be in top bikini form soon!:D

[SmilingRawDancer]

I bet that you will be in top bikini form soon!

Ah I hope!
;)


I'll go stock up on melons soon, 13 lbs each and 2 for $5!
Honestly though, I think I'm squeaky clean. It's hard NOT to be on raw food. This diet is naturally cleansing...

[tiggerbounce]

oooh.....tigger is jealous.......that is an awesome price for melons! :eek::D

Well, I am guessing you are right about being clean. But sometimes the body is just out of balance somehow. Mine was a mess. I am 5 2" also, but not near your weight anymore. I can not even remember that weight anymore after the steroid inhalers the doc gave me. gggrrrrrrrr....

I read up on candida when I was so ill. It said in the research 2 things in particular that really pierced my brain....

1) 60% of the population has a candida problem and most do not know it
2) 100% of people with cancer tested 100% positive for candida overgrowth ( i have comments on this that I will reserve for myself)

For me, Pau d'arco is my favorite healthy tea of all time. That and taking probiotics at the same time. If there were nothing else I did for myself, these two things would be it. Pau d'arco kills fungus and the probiotics I am sure you know are the intestinal flora.

I would not hesitate to try these for a month or two and try to see what the results are. You can feel nauseas and end up in the bathroom from the die off of the candida etc. But after a couple of days you will feel different.

My teenage son demands that I keep him well stocked with both. Clears up his acne pronto. He also uses the tea right on his face wtih a cotton ball.

I also use it that way for yeast infections. I can not say enough positvie about them. I would make such a great spokesperson...lol

I better get to bed. Hope you have a great night!:)

[Nurse in the Raw]

Because I used to be slimmer, with less body fat too...oh well.

According to my calculations, you are at your ideal body weight.

[Anastasia Alston]

Hey there,
127 pounds is a fine weight for being 5'2". My weight fluctuates between 120 and 128 pounds. I am 18 years old and also 5'2".
However, I have tons of energy and I also eat about twice as much as you do, and I don't excersize much.

Maybe you should try getting more greens?

But seriously, DON'T obsess about your weight. You are fine, I'm sure. You are at a healthy weight for your body. Our culture has messed up a lot of womens' body images, promoting skeletal as the ideal.

I second what she said! I am 5'2-1/2", weigh 125# at 40 & wear a size 2-ish. I get teased all the time about "disappearing into nothingness" I say 2-ish because they don't make a size 1-1/2. HOWEVER I am a very active person, regularly hiking, biking, dancing, daily yoga, occasional trips to the gym when the weather is not to my liking, etc. I am pretty muscular. If you aren't looking the way you'd like, look into more movement & less at your food intake. If that's already taken care of, then maybe accept that your maturing body is going to be different & perhaps weigh a little more than it used to. BTW, the stuff around the middle will only go so far before you have to move to take care of the rest! ;)

- Stasi, Pea Pod (Morab), Rosie Cotton & Binnabik (The Pibble Posse)

[zig_zag]

According to my calculations, you are at your ideal body weight.
What are your calculations? What are they based off of? Because I'm 5'10 and approximately 135 at the moment and I actually feel quite unhealthy rightnow. I've fallen off the raw band-wagon these past couple of weeks, and have been eating like a pig, haven't been active, have no energy, and feel unhealthy and awful... and constipated hehehe. When I'm raw and during the summer, I'm significantly skinnier, and feel better and clearer, with loads more energy and optimism(yeah, yeah, I know, so why did I stop?).... Anyway, my point in saying this is that... You cant really calculate what someone's ideal body weight is, as every person's body is different. For some people 135 could be overweight for their body's ideal, while for others it could be severely underweight, wherein they're bodies might discontinue to ovulate, for example. Just had to put that out there;)

[SmilingRawDancer]

Thanks for all the advice!!!
I saw pau d'arco tea the other day and was curious what it was (that, and rooibos?!), I'll buy some next time.

Gee, I WISH I was a size 2! I'm more in the 7-9 or 8-10 region, and my waist is 29" :(

I can tell already that my talk is getting confusing - see, I don't care what I WEIGH - I just want the fat to be gone, and the muscle to be IN. I started lifting weights a little, I'm breaking into that slowly - but my body comp is just not what I'd like.

** just saw the prev. post

I agree. I know some MINISCULE women who weigh 125, but they don't have an ounce of jiggle on them. I'm the opposite - all jiggle, no BAMM lol
I hate to say it, but I think ALOT of it IS genetics - my folk all store around their middles, not the butt/boob regions.

But.....my lack of energy MUST be part of this all, somehow. I DO go through periods of extreme stress (even though my stressors would seem ridiculous to some, it's all ME, I know, but still.)
I wish I knew just HOW exactly stress effects weight loss - some people gain weight because of cortisol when stressed (ESPECIALLY around the middle), others lose weight. I'm in the FORMER category.
I would think calories-in vs calories out would STILL apply, even with stress involved...but apparently not.
I just wish i could resolve my issues BEFORE the southern california bikini-fest extravaganza that IS summer.
I had my blood tested - my results for you all to analyze will be available once the stupid website for the hosp. is fixed and running.

[SmilingRawDancer]

ok, here:

My ferritin was 14.2, and the normal range is 13-150 ng/mL
b12 was normal-398 pg/mL, TSH was 3.13 uIU/mL, cholesterol 130, but my HDL is low :(

[Nurse in the Raw]

What are your calculations? What are they based off of? Because I'm 5'10 and approximately 135 at the moment and I actually feel quite unhealthy right now.

Lippincott's Manual of Nursing, Nursing Health Assessment and The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. I am using the same basic height to weight ratio that a doctor or nutritionist would use. Your ideal body weight is actually between 140-164 lbs. Feeling healthy and being at an ideal body weight are two different things.

[Nurse in the Raw]

ok, here:

My ferritin was 14.2, and the normal range is 13-150 ng/mL
b12 was normal-398 pg/mL, TSH was 3.13 uIU/mL, cholesterol 130, but my HDL is low :(

Looks good to me!

[SmilingRawDancer]

Ahhh I made a boo-boo post. :) You were talking to the prev. poster...I thought you meant 140-164 for ME..I was like HOLD IT lol

[rawererin]

up your greens, add some spinach to that morning smoothie... maybe get your thyroid tested...
good luck

[Nurse in the Raw]

Ahhh I made a boo-boo post. :) You were talking to the prev. poster...I thought you meant 140-164 for ME..I was like HOLD IT lol

Nope, your good......just keep working out with those weights. Your body composition will change.

[SmilingRawDancer]

Isn't the TSH essentially a thyroid test?

[Nurse in the Raw]

Isn't the TSH essentially a thyroid test?

It is and normal ranges are 0.4-4.2.

[northernstars]

I managed to gain 100 pounds eating a very nutritious diet but gained weight anyway because of stress! I have finally lost about 40 pounds of it, but it was such a struggle until I started eating raw foods! That was also after a 2 1/2 month stay in hospitals after I had a massive stroke! Have your adrenal function tested and see if just maybe that might be the problem. A blood test can determine if you are producing too much cortisol which shows up in the upper waist.

[SmilingRawDancer]

What would one do if their cortisol WAS too high, or if their adrenals weren't functioning properly?

[Clare]

TSH isn't enough to really know that your thyroid is healthy...my doctor looks at T3/T4, especially since your TSH is at the upper end of healthy, meaning it is trying to stimulate that thyroid a little more. I have known of some doctors that treat or at least investigate further if TSH is over 3. Add some dulse to those smoothies and eat a raw nori wrap everyday, especially if you don't supplement iodine. Also, you said you eat 1-2 brazil nuts/day? That is also excellent for thyroid (selenium) so keep that up. If the exhaustion continues, seek out an integrative MD who will test thyroid (and even adrenal function) properly with blood/hair analysis.

[JudyMac]

Ummm, I did notice one thing in your food list...protein powder...many of them are not raw, most contain soya and some people are intolerant of soya. It causes puffiness, and water retention.

[raven]

Your metabolism was probablyl affected during the year when you ate very little. When you said you weren't losing weight, I've had the same experience but then I saw that you're 19 (I'm 54). I think you could go lower than 127 but, as previous posters mentioned and you already realize, it's about body fat and not only weight. I'm a size 4 at 5'2" and 133 lbs.

First of all, don't be hard on yourself. You're in a normal weight range and your body is still re-adjusting. Your diet is good but perhaps too high in sugars. You may want more greens and veggies and less fruit, which will stimulate insulin production and fat accumulation. You're very young and need to eat a balanced diet. You are likely mineral deficient from eating little in the past. Incorporate sea veggies and green juices and smoothies. Soaked seeds and ground flax are good to stabilize your blood sugar.

It's also important to work out if you want to add muscle and lose fat. You'll change quickly at your age. Keep up with the weights. Yoga is also very strengthening. Good luck.

Suzy

[zig_zag]

Lippincott's Manual of Nursing, Nursing Health Assessment and The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. I am using the same basic height to weight ratio that a doctor or nutritionist would use. Your ideal body weight is actually between 140-164 lbs. Feeling healthy and being at an ideal body weight are two different things. Sorry, I just dont buy into that mumbo jumbo. That's very in the ways of 'traditional medicine'- that traditional medicine so well known to be replete with imposed flaws. 140 is definately not my ideal body weight. I have an athletic body type, and my family is thin (both my parents were sticks when they were my age). The weight I'm at now was achieved through 2 weeks of seriuos over eating due to depression and anxiety:D Definately not ideal, sorry.... I could go on about my own case, but I won't- I'll just say that people have different frames, different body types, different ethnical backgrounds and makeups. To say that someone at a certain height should weigh a certain weight is frivolous, IMO.
ANyway, SmilingRawDancer, as someone else suggested, you could have damaged your metabolism somewhere along the line. Or perhaps your portion sizes are too large.... Do you ever overeat? Do you workout in any form? Movement is very important, for so many reasons. But one obvious one is that it revs up your metabolism and accelerates your digestions;)
I think you also should incorporate more greens into your diet, and perhaps less nuts (though you should still keep your healthy fats in!!!)
Having said that, it could also be that your body IS at a weight it feels comfortable staying at, and perhaps you should just relax and let it takes it own course.... Your metabolism slows when you get older, so that could account for why you are not as small as you were when you were younger;) What are your frame and build like? Do you have smaller bones? And hourglass figure?
And...If you dont have energy, I definately suggest upping your greens, perhaps eating smaller portions (if you are overeating... which WILL slow you down) and eating more frequently, and MOVING mroe! Lastly, From what you've shown, you eat about 1 3rd the amount I do hehee.... So.... Maybe you're even undereating and killing your metabolism?
Sorry we can only speculate:o What did your good 'ol doc say?

[zig_zag]

Your metabolism was probablyl affected during the year when you ate very little. When you said you weren't losing weight, I've had the same experience but then I saw that you're 19 (I'm 54). I think you could go lower than 127 but, as previous posters mentioned and you already realize, it's about body fat and not only weight. I'm a size 4 at 5'2" and 133 lbs.

First of all, don't be hard on yourself. You're in a normal weight range and your body is still re-adjusting. Your diet is good but perhaps too high in sugars. You may want more greens and veggies and less fruit, which will stimulate insulin production and fat accumulation. You're very young and need to eat a balanced diet. You are likely mineral deficient from eating little in the past. Incorporate sea veggies and green juices and smoothies. Soaked seeds and ground flax are good to stabilize your blood sugar.

It's also important to work out if you want to add muscle and lose fat. You'll change quickly at your age. Keep up with the weights. Yoga is also very strengthening. Good luck.

Suzy
Oh excellent post, insight and advice:) Definately agree!

[Care4raw]

After a year of not really losing the weight (similiar size to you)I have way,way upped my fruits and veggies and almost eliminated my fatty foods.Have lost a 1/2 lb daily since and have the added stamina to increase two miles into my daily workout so far.

[IamLoved]

Hello,

I just wanted to say that you are right about how people carry weight differently so they can look very different at the same weight. I have always been curvy and carry my weight in my bust, hips, and thighs. I also have a very short torso which makes having a tiny waist almost immpossible. That being said at 5'1" when I weighed 136 I looked really good and everyone thought I weighed a lot less then I did because of how I carried my weight, I was able to "hide" my problems areas (thighs) well. I still wanted to lose 15-20 pounds and people thought I was nuts!

I second the exercise. I have started jogging and it has helped tremendously not just with taking the pounds off, but also in how I feel about myself.

Also check out T-Tapp. She does a body composition thing which tells you what body type you are. This helps us to have a better "ideal" for how our bodies should look according to our body composition. Like, me, being insanely short waisted. It is really interesting.

Good luck and please keep us posted.

[SharonC]

What would one do if their cortisol WAS too high, or if their adrenals weren't functioning properly?

Holy Basil is one of the best recommendations for stress/adrenals. I am taking a combination of herbs (that includes Holy Basil) called 'Adrenal Health' by Gaia Herbs. Supposedly a good company - tested free of heavy metal toxicity - no animal by-products or gelatin. Sources of herbs look good, etc. Just started taking this as well as 'Glycemic Health' by Gaia Herbs. Also borage and evening primrose oil both contain GLA that is supposedly helpful with weight loss.

I have a problem with middle section weight as well! It is just annoying even though I can get away with covering it up with my clothing choices - everything else is pretty good, especially my legs and behind, so that helps!! I am built just like my Mom, so I do believe that at least part of it is that I am genetically pre- disposed to carry extra weight around the middle. And, also that my family would do well in times of famine - we are great at storing! My sister and Dad are not nearly as health conscious as my Mom, brother, and myself, and they are too overweight. My Mom was gaining extra weight after menopause and almost excepted it as normal, until she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and I started her juicing and completely changed her diet. She is now thinner than me!

I am 42, 5'6" and weigh around 145, but in the past I have felt much better at 135. Have dipped down in the 120's when I was younger, but I think I was too bony looking in the neck area.

I am trying to exercise more - really liking pilates. I do a lot of gardening and walking the dogs, but realized that I definitely need more, especially weights.

Sometimes I think I am not eating enough either. Not really hungry in the morning - eat more later in the day. I like organic red wine and know that is not helping!

[greenfeline]

The thing is you can't tell much about what a person looks like from their weight & height. I am 5'4 weigh from 120-125 and I wear size 7-9. Also some people carry weight in different places. I personally don't carry any extra weight well because it all goes to my midsection. If weight gets distributed evenly it's a different story. I want to see a pic!:p

[Nurse in the Raw]

Sorry, I just dont buy into that mumbo jumbo. That's very in the ways of 'traditional medicine'- that traditional medicine so well known to be replete with imposed flaws. 140 is definately not my ideal body weight. I have an athletic body type, and my family is thin (both my parents were sticks when they were my age). The weight I'm at now was achieved through 2 weeks of seriuos over eating due to depression and anxiety:D Definately not ideal, sorry.... I could go on about my own case, but I won't- I'll just say that people have different frames, different body types, different ethnical backgrounds and makeups. To say that someone at a certain height should weigh a certain weight is frivolous, IMO.

Well, that certainly is your opinion and you are entitled to it. However I don't think it is wise to tell a person that they should be smaller when they are at their ideal weight. This could pose a danger to their health. A lot of people on this board have issues with anorexia and bulimia so be careful what you encourage. As far as traditional medicine goes, just about everyone will need it some day in some shape or form so don't be too quick to judge. We all get old and our bodies wear out, regardless of our health status.

[SmilingRawDancer]

Ummm, I did notice one thing in your food list...protein powder...many of them are not raw, most contain soya and some people are intolerant of soya. It causes puffiness, and water retention.


I use a rice protein powder by Nutribiotic, which says it is treated under 90 degrees. I don't advertise my use though, as being honest and open is sometimes punished on certain forums. It's soy/gluten/GMO free.
I use it as a protein booster because it's a bit higher in protein content and lower in calories than the Hemp I use.


After a year of not really losing the weight (similiar size to you)I have way,way upped my fruits and veggies and almost eliminated my fatty foods.Have lost a 1/2 lb daily since and have the added stamina to increase two miles into my daily workout so far.
That's what I've been doing for the past month :) More salads and fruits, way less nuts and fats. Maybe 1/2 tbsp of oil and 1/2 avocado a day, which is a big cutdown from what I would eat before, I think. I snacked on nuts a little, which may have added up alot more than I thought. AND those DELICIOUS young coconuts! OMG. Best god-made fruit/nut EVER.


ANyway, SmilingRawDancer, as someone else suggested, you could have damaged your metabolism somewhere along the line. Or perhaps your portion sizes are too large.... Do you ever overeat? Do you workout in any form? Movement is very important, for so many reasons. But one obvious one is that it revs up your metabolism and accelerates your digestions
I think you also should incorporate more greens into your diet, and perhaps less nuts (though you should still keep your healthy fats in!!!)
Having said that, it could also be that your body IS at a weight it feels comfortable staying at, and perhaps you should just relax and let it takes it own course.... Your metabolism slows when you get older, so that could account for why you are not as small as you were when you were younger What are your frame and build like? Do you have smaller bones? And hourglass figure?
And...If you dont have energy, I definately suggest upping your greens, perhaps eating smaller portions (if you are overeating... which WILL slow you down) and eating more frequently, and MOVING mroe! Lastly, From what you've shown, you eat about 1 3rd the amount I do hehee.... So.... Maybe you're even undereating and killing your metabolism?
Sorry we can only speculate What did your good 'ol doc say?

I think I could have damaged my metabolism, and I figured that eating alot more calories per day over time would pep it back up, and that's when I added more oils and young coconuts. Didn't boost anything but my waist size:o
I overeat occassionally, but I'm better now at knowing when it's likely to happen, and I prevent it. If it's a high stress day I make a HUGE point to go do some Sudoku or something ELSE besides be around something to munch.
I exercise on my recumbent bike and treadmill almost every day, some days more intense than others. Mon-sat I do at least 30 min of either at a light-moderate intensity, a couple days getting a full hour in.
I have smaller bones, and ...no figure. Short-waisted/short torso, and all my fat goes to my middle. So I'm straight. :p
The good ol' doc said nothing. Literally. He said it could be my thyroid or b12 levels causing the energy issues, or "most likely, stress." I was also tested for Hep C because my parent has it, and I was never called with those results, and they weren't posted online.

[cara4art]

Until you mentioned that you are only 19, from your description of how your body is reacting(or not reacting in this case)made me just assume you were in middle age or close to menopause, as this is what menopausal women go through all the time. It DOES sound like your metabolism got messed up along the way - and chronic stress will do its nasty work in that department as we well know. Until one heals the underlying problem, weight will not be released. I agree with others here that solid exercise will help and at your age, you will be amazed at how fast you will respond as well. Trying to just "diet" to release weight usually doesn't work because the weight released will often be a good amount of lean tissue and water along with some fat. Lean tissue is what you want to hold onto and INCREASE, as it will help your metabolism as well as your shape. For fat loss, it really does take a combo of a very clean diet, resistance training(3x a week, and cardiovascular exercise(4-5x a week, 40-50 minutes, sufficiently intense as well). Every body is different as to how much fat one can eat as well. Some folks do well with adding certain fats to their day's food, others don't.
As far as what weight one feels good at, and looks good at, several variables come into play, body build, frame size, and body composition. You can have a couple of people who are the same height, body build etc. but if one has more lean tissue on her than fat, she will look a lot smaller than the one who doesn't, on account of the fact that the same number of pounds of lean muscle tissue take up less space than fat tissue. Frame size makes a HUGE difference too. I'm 5'5", with a very petite frame and a short waist(short waists tend to store fat there too), so anything over 115(and that's pushing it)looks "too pudgy" on me, and this is with working out too. As far as the age variable goes, recent research shows that one should not gain more than a very few pounds as one ages for optimal health, especially in the mid-section.

[cherries]

What would one do if their cortisol WAS too high, or if their adrenals weren't functioning properly?

Adrenals are something I'm just learning about, here is something about copper overload and adrenals.

I bought this book called "Living Beauty Detox Program" and after I got it, I was so dissapointed in it that I almost threw it away, because it is nowhere near raw or even vegan, but I kept it, and I'm glad I did, because it has a lot of great info in it even if it isn't raw.

The book talks a lot about copper overload and how that depresses the adrenal glands. Copper overload would come from water pipes and vitamins.

Halfway down this page it starts talking about depressed adrenal glands
[www.google.com]
This talks about how she solved her acne by fixing the copper-zinc balance
[www.google.com]

I'm not exactly sure how to detoxify copper. Protein and sulfer (from onions garlic and maybe MSM) seem to be high on the list of things I've seen mentioned. The right type of protein to detox copper is Metallothionein and I don't know what foods that protein is in I think your body might make this protein.

[cherries]

I'm 5' 3" and I hover around 115, I FEEL fat if I weigh more, and I am so unobsessed by weight that I don't even own a scale. I read somewhere that according to some statistics gathered by life insurance companies, people who are 10% (or maybe it was 15%) less than their ideal body weight lived the longest. I can't find that link now so it may not be acurate.

Ok, so why are you not loosing weight?

It's because you are stopping your detox cycle by eating protein in the morning. (In your first post you said you ate hemp powder in the monning.) Detox is the same as weight loss because fat cells are used to store toxins.

Fruit is the only food that you should eat in the morning if you don't want to stop the weight-loss/detox cycle because fruit can be digested in the stomach without the help of the liver, so the liver can continue it's detoxing.

How to Eat According To Your Body’s Circadian RhythmYour (http://www.ehow.com/how_2109430_eat-according-bodys-circadian-rhythm.html)body follows certain daily cycles known as your circadian rhythms. Circadian refers to the regular recurrence of cycles of activity that occur every twenty four hours. If you eat in tune with these naturally occurring rhythms you will notice a tremendous increase in your overall health, energy, and well being.

[The Forager]

Hi Cherries! Thanks for your informative post- I'd never heard of Circadian Rhythm. Makes a whole lot of sense to me.

[SmilingRawDancer]

So do those who do Circadian Rhythm eating NOT believe in green smoothies in the mornings?

[molliegirl]

Me, from the other thread... Most raw foodists (almost all I've read about) agree that fruit only in the morning is the best. For lunch and dinner, intro the veggies and proteins.

Don't know if this affects weight loss, though... I know it sure couldn't hurt. I'd be curious to know if this gets you out of your rut. But you CAN lose weight, about a pound a day, with a fast.

[Anastasia Alston]

Hmm.... I eat whatever I want in the mornings (or any other time of day) - usually a green smoothy in the AM. Actually the food comes at some time around noon; usually I end up having nothing but water until I get home from yoga some time between 11:30am or noon. I'm not usually hungry in the mornings. If I am a little hungry, a few - & I mean FEW - hazel nuts & water will hold me until noon or later. My smoothies always contain nut mylk (macadamia/cashew), hemp seeds or nut butter & lately nut mylk yogurt. There's definitely fruits in there - papayas, mangoes, strawberries, blue berries, Inca berries - whatever I happen to have on hand. If my body says "lets have a salad!" or "How about a sticky bun?" I don't say "Nope! It's only fruit for you until after blah-blah hour." :p

I've heard of Circadian Rhythms applied to a lot of things before, but like Alissa says, I don't make things any more complicated than they need to be. I don't even do "proper" food combining; I pay attention to things that make me feel less than stellar in combination & avoid those combinations next time. I keep things very simple. if I had to look at clocks, charts or count anything, I'd SOOO not be doing this! <lol> I have enough things to look after without adding stuff. Besides, it's more fun for me this way! :D If you're a more scheduled, disciplined kind of person (you really don't want to know about me, lists & schedules... :eek: ) these kind of things prolly work well for you, but I'd be dead in the water if I went there. ;)

Sorry for the ramble!

- Stasi, Pea Pod (Morab), Rosie Cotton & Binnabik (The Pibble Posse)

[cherries]

Oh, it's not that complicated. I don't look at a clock and, when true hunger hits, I often start eating things other than fruit before noon (or is the true noon, 11 am on daylight saving time?). I figure that just extending my detox cycle is enough, I'm not going to make myself uncomfortable and hungry.

Eating fruit this way, is like doing a little fast every day. It's cleansing!

This was the core idea behind the Fit For Life books and Harvey Diamond recounted how he had people who tried his diet (his diet was based on natural hygeine principals) say that fruit till noon has changed their life.

It starts halfway down the page and finishes on the next page.
http://books.google.com/books?id=1bagUcM87rYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=fit+for+life&sig=0JivpHQiMPZv77xrK01nLpY7BWE#PPA125,M1

[northernstars]

I know that for me my weight was directly related to stress! My adrenals are shot and I am doing everything I can to get them healthy again. This started in my early twenties and I am now 61, so it can go on for a long time. If your adrenals are affected it will cause weight gain and losing it is a real battle. I used to average under 2,000 calories of highly nutritious foods (although still ate some meat and dairy) but did not lose any weight. Since becoming a raw vegan I have finally lost some of the excess weight. But that was also after having a massive stroke and spending 2 1/2 months in hospitals! My reading says NOT to eat fruits until later in the day! This is from the book "Adrenal Fatigue" by, I believe, a Dr. Wilson. Check out Future Formulations for the website.

[SmilingRawDancer]

See, this is my problem. I LOVE raw, and I think eating whatever raw whenever you want is SO the best thing in the world, but then there are cancer patients etc and people wishing to heal certain maladies that wish to take it one step further, and further personalize their diets.

However, I hear so many conflicting ideas.
Up the fat, lower the fat.
Fruit in the morning, fruit at night.
Fast, don't fast.
More greens! No greens before noon.

I want an answer, and I want to heal my adrenals and thyroid and lower my physical stress as best and as quickly as possible.

** And I say that after 2 years of being raw.

[Apasaraw]

I want an answer, and I want to heal my adrenals and thyroid and lower my physical stress as best and as quickly as possible.

** And I say that after 2 years of being raw.

Eating what we truly "feel like" eating at that moment is probably a good barometer for what your body needs....not what we "should".

The reason I love raw is it gets us off the cycle of when to eat what and when and how...I don't want to think about my food that much. I just want to enjoy it, fuel up and get going...I also shop hungry...against popular opinion. My body tells me what to get. If I shop full...I don't want to shop at all.

Have you tried eating what you crave? Even if it seems weird?

[Anastasia Alston]

Oh, it's not that complicated. I don't look at a clock and, when true hunger hits, I often start eating things other than fruit before noon (or is the true noon, 11 am on daylight saving time?). I figure that just extending my detox cycle is enough, I'm not going to make myself uncomfortable and hungry.

Eating fruit this way, is like doing a little fast every day. It's cleansing!

This was the core idea behind the Fit For Life books and Harvey Diamond recounted how he had people who tried his diet (his diet was based on natural hygeine principals) say that fruit till noon has changed their life.

It starts halfway down the page and finishes on the next page.
http://books.google.com/books?id=1bagUcM87rYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=fit+for+life&sig=0JivpHQiMPZv77xrK01nLpY7BWE#PPA125,M1

Gee, in that case I wonder if my lack of desire for any food of any kind first thing is along the same lines? Interesting! :) Thanks!

- Stasi, Pea Pod (Morab), Rosie Cotton & Binnabik (The Pibble Posse)

[SmilingRawDancer]

If I ate only what I craved, I'd eat almost no greens...

[andra]

I dont know if this has been said, but making sure you are getting enough sleep and making sure your room is DARK (no outside light coming in, no artificial light coming in) is important for weight loss and also cancer prevention. Research is proving that people who work the night shifts under artificial lights and then sleep during the day, when light is coming in, experience more cancer and other problems.

andra

[Eva]

(Negative) stress can come from so many sources that we don't really think about -- unhealthy relationships, not following our dreams or feeling a sense of purpose, a crappy job, controlling relationships, too much to do + too little time, disorganization, clutter, too much computer time!

ooooor deficiency in sunlight, fresh air, "me" time in a clean, calm, happy space, love, laughter, introspection.

Those are just off the top of my head.

Stress releases a hormone that slows the metabolism and causes weight gain. You "should" feel aMAZINGly happy and thrilled with your life, have a safe and happy space to call your own and a feeling of compassion.

If you think these things don't affect your weight and overall function, I might say you're crazy! If I were you -- and, well, I'm not! so take it with a few grains of some pink salt :o ;) -- I would
toss the scale (really), stop counting calories and analyzing, up my green smoothies and sea veggies (B vitamins -- help with any sort of stress), go for a lovely long walk, rid your personal space of all clutter, put on some uplifting music while you're cleaning, and make sure you're letting yourself dream big for yourself + do something to make it come true


And start telling yourself nice thing, in the mirror, even though it's cheesy. "I am beautiful as I am." etc. FOCUS on the things you're satisfied with.

Or maybe you are following your dreams, happy as a clam or more, doing all of these things, and I'm crazy, going on and on about something that's not relevant. ;)