Survey: how many calories do you eat, approx.??

[molliegirl]

Hi all, I'm a calorie counter, because weight loss is such a tricky thing. I'm new to raw (100%) and trying to lose 20 pounds.

I know most of you don't see the need to count calories, but I suspect I still do - - I don't want to undereat (starvation mode!!) or overeat or I won't lose, so for now I'm keeping track and trying to stay within a 400-calorie window every day.

So my question is, for those of you who are at your ideal weight or below... How many calories (approx) do you eat per day? Or if you don't count, could you just give me a typical day's menu, including snacks and amounts of each thing, so I can figure it out? When I'm done, I'll let everyone know whether the skinny people on this forum are eating more or less than the calorie counting gurus/ websites say is ideal to maintain their size. This is a good way to show whether calorie counting is necessary for people on a raw diet because if these people are naturally eating their calorie requirements, those of us with abnormally big appetites will know we have to reign it in. . . But maybe they're eating a lot more, which would be awesome and prove the superior weight loss effectiveness of raw!

Oh, could you also include your height and gender?

Thank you for your imput!;)

[SmilingRawDancer]

I've ALWAYS wondered this too. I hope this thread stays up, because I've heard of some people being heavier/fatter and eating lower calories than they do now/during raw. Some as much as 3000-6000 a day.
I WISH that were true for me, if it was I would be downing nutmilk all day long :p

I'm not at *MY* ideal weight, but I'm within a "healthy range" as dictated by the gov.
125-127, 5'2, 19, female, eating average of 1300-1500 a day. I exercise for about 4 hours a week at a light-moderate exertion.

[Nurse in the Raw]

I've ALWAYS wondered this too. I hope this thread stays up, because I've heard of some people being heavier/fatter and eating lower calories than they do now/during raw. Some as much as 3000-6000 a day. I WISH that were true for me, if it was I would be downing nutmilk all day long :p

I'm not at *MY* ideal weight, but I'm within a "healthy range" as dictated by the gov. 125-127, 5'2, 19, female, eating average of 1300-1500 a day. I exercise for about 4 hours a week at a light-moderate exertion.

I know you said that you just now started to lift weights.....but if you want results, you need to stick with it. You are at an ideal body weight, you just need to firm up. When you lift weights, your body is in fat burning mode for about 24 hours, even while you sleep so forget the scale and begin measuring your chest, waist, legs, hips and arms. As your workouts improve, your weight may go up (muscle weighs more than fat but takes up less space) but your measurements will go down. If you are going to lift weights, you need to increase your raw protein or else you will be spinning your wheels. It's a fine balance. Did I mention I used to be a body builder? That's another story :rolleyes:

[SmilingRawDancer]

I know you said that you just now started to lift weights.....but if you want results, you need to stick with it. You are at an ideal body weight, you just need to firm up. When you lift weights, your body is in fat burning mode for about 24 hours, even while you sleep so forget the scale and begin measuring your chest, waist, legs, hips and arms. As your workouts improve, your weight may go up (muscle weighs more than fat but takes up less space) but your measurements will go down. If you are going to lift weights, you need to increase your raw protein or else you will be spinning your wheels. It's a fine balance. Did I mention I used to be a body builder? That's another story


Well, I don't know how "intensely" I'm lifting weights that'd I'd need to increase protein that much. I do arm and back work for now, I'm learning a routine. I have increased my protein though, so that's good. I do hemp and a rice protein by nutribiotic.

[Nurse in the Raw]

You should lift to the point of muscle exhaustion. 10-12 reps, three sets. It's the only way to break down muscle fiber and rebuild. Do back and arms one day, legs (lunges) and butt (squats) another day and abs on the third day. If possible, rest one day in between. To do what you want to do with your body, you must increase your protein to 2-3 shakes a day. Muscle will not increase without protein, especially if you don't gain muscle easily.

One thing I noticed when I went raw is that I became very flabby and I am naturally a very muscular person.

[klomasius]

Gosh, I have NO idea!

I've never counted calories, and was once quite heavy. I just switched to a high raw diet and the weight came off.

I know this is probably not very helpful to you, but you might want to try just eating raw for a while and not bothering to count the calories and see what happens, you might be pleasantly surprised, I hope so! :)

I just couldn't imagine breaking down my food consumption and looking at calories and portions etc, I'd probably go mad! But if it helps you,then no probs!

Hope you lose the weight you wan to lose!

Edit:

I see you wanted a typical day's menu, so here goes, hope this helps.

Breakfast (easten over about an hour on the way to work).

1-2 bananas
1-2 mandarins or apples or pears
green smoothie (including avocado), about 250mls (not sure what that is in oz)

Lunch (+ snacks up to)
More fruit (1 banana, 1-2 apples, kiwifruit etc, maybe about 3-4 pieces of fruit)
Salad (often of 1 avocado, 1-2 tomatoes, greens, dressing of olive oil, lime juice, salt, herbs etc)
OR sometimes a dehydrated main like burgers and crackers with green salad
More green smoothie drunk throughout the day, maybe another cup.


Afternoon snack

Sometimes a raw bar, 1- 2 carrots , 1-2 fruit pieces (wow, that's some load of fruit, never looked at how much fruit I ate!)

Dinner

Another salad, similar to lunch salad, sometimes with tahini

Raw dessert (bananas, nuts (maybe handful or two), agave syrup, coconut oil (2 tablespoons?), cacao powder)

or sometimes a vegan SAD meal

Hope this helps!

[Raspberry4]

The beauty of this lifestyle is that it frees us from calorie counting and weighing and measuring food. Basically eat when you are hungry, and stop eating when you are satisfied. It is very freeing. If you need to track your calories for some reason there are websites that do that for you. Good luck. I hope you can find away to enjoy this lifestyle without having to count calories. Good luck on your journey.

[IamLoved]

One of the (many) things I love about raw is that I don't HAVE to count calories. It is so freeing! I just eat when I am hungry and when I am not hungry I don't eat. Some days I eat more depending on what I did the day before or what I am in the middle of and some days I go to bed thinking, gee, I didn't eat much today. That is the beauty of raw.
It was hard at first to get into that mode of thinking because I did WW for over a year, but this is the best thing. I also found that when I worry and stress about if I am eating too many calories I sabotage myself and I don't lose weight because I am stressed out about it. When I just eat raw without obsessing about calories I do just fine and I enjoy the freedom!

[tinystrawberry]

yesterday i probably ate about 2,500 calories and today i woke up 3lbs lighter:confused: raw is amazing..on SAD if i ate that many calories i'd gain weight.

[Eva]

Hey Mollie -- I find that if I eat raw food, I weigh less than non-raw food. Period. Even if the non-raw food is not so many calories or I'm eating less. Even if... this that etc.

This lifestyle really is freeing.

The calorie counting won't add up to anything in particular because we all have done different things to our bodies and have different metabolisms and exact foods and exercise etc.

Sometimes, people can eat less calories (to lose weight) but then their body goes into starvation mode so holds onto the weight as a sort of survival tactic.

I firmly believe that if any person gets back to the real hunger signals (and ignores emotional food cravings) -- eating only when hungry and eating whatever it takes to be full -- then they will eventually get to their ideal weight. Regardless of how many calories that ends up.

[Apasaraw]

When I actually count it up which is rare...I'm at 1600 average a day...1800 on more active days hiking and such. People tell me this is low, but I maintain a weight of 165 and am a solid size 10. I could actually stand to lose 15 more lbs for good health...20 for even better health...but it ain't gonna happen! haha!

[Aleesha Sattva]

all i know is my scale tells me how many calories i burn without doing anything... and it's at about 1550 if i remember correctly (it's somewhere in the 1500's)

but honestly, as you get into raw... you'll see just how unnecessary counting calories is.

i believe, that calories is simply a measure of energy in food. it means nothing. what matters is how much unhealthy fats you are taking in... and on a raw diet... that would be ZERO :D

[snufkin]

Today I had green smoothie for breakfast. Huge salad for lunch. 2 oranges and a banana. Then a handful of raw cashews with probably 2 handfuls of raisins.

I estimate that at around 1700. And I am probably not done. So.. I would say between 2,000 - 2,500. I am definitely losing weight. I exercise frequently (although not in the past two weeks because my dumb exercise broke... but that is besides the point!) and I think that counting calories on this "diet" would be like counting the number of breaths I take. I don't have any fear of gaining weight from either! Although it would be interesting if there was a study done on the amount of calories eaten by a SAD eater and a raw foodist to test whether all calories are the same.

[SmilingRawDancer]

Although it would be interesting if there was a study done on the amount of calories eaten by a SAD eater and a raw foodist to test whether all calories are the same.
That's what we're trying to get a rough estimate of here ;)
I'd love to see some results, although this type of survey might go over better on other raw forums where people are more likely to count the amount of calories they eat.

[molliegirl]

I may soon get to the point where I abandon the calorie counting. This is my third day 100% raw so I'll soon know for myself whether I'll need to count in order to lose or not. It seems that most people don't need to count to lose... but there are quite a few people who haven't lost anything on 100% raw, either. Wondering which category I'll fall into!! ;)

[pinkrosebud]

I am really struggling to lose weight with raw. I am 5'6, 149.0 lbs and female I have tweaked my diet many ways, such as cutting down fats, upping my greens, trying not to eat many nut products, less raw processed food etc., but nothing seems to be helping. One thing I do is eat a lot of fruit, and a significant amount of dried mango. Right now I could eat a lb. of dried mango every day. That might be my problem. I am going to eliminate it when this batch is gone and not buy anymore for two weeks and see if I lose any weight. I on average eat about 2,000 calories a day, and try and exercise 5 days a week... I am a graduate student so other than my gym time or walk I do no physical activity. Today I have eaten:
B- marinated asparagus, 1 lg. tomatoe, 1 cup blueberries and 1 cup strawberries
L- Asian, lentil slaw
S- Dried mango (a lot), dried pineapple, 2 dates, 1/2 fresh mango, tastes of some choclate and agave sauce with raisins that I made.
D- Shruggs, probly a green salad, because I have had no greens today:eek:
Everyone's experience with raw is SOOOO different. I have always struggled with my wieght, since I was a very small child, I am 25 years old and the battle continues. I think that if you were fit and active as a child, and became overweight as an adult, then your body has memory of the childhood fitness, and it is easier to regain. Just my hypothesis. Good luck, one thing with raw is that it makes you feel good, and look good even if you don't lose weight your skin changes. Cheers.

[molliegirl]

That must be so frustrating... If I were you, I'd do a juice or water fast or a master cleanse fast. I think that because your diet is so clean, you probably wouldn't regain any of the weight you lose... Its hard but worth it. So, so worth it. That's what I did before my wedding, and I've kept off the weight for six months. The other thing I'd advise is to keep track of every calorie you eat, and put it in writing. But first, go online and find out how many calories you should actually be eating -- you can't go too low, or you won't lose. Caloriecount.com is the best website out there for all that good info. I know you're busy, but it'll be so worth it. I have eaten JUNK and lost weight counting cals... It just takes time. And eating all raw will give you a major edge so that it won't take you as long as it would someone else.

How long have you been raw??? The other possibility is that it just hasn't been long enough. Are you 100%?

[avanderland]

Hey Mollie -- I find that if I eat raw food, I weigh less than non-raw food. Period. Even if the non-raw food is not so many calories or I'm eating less. Even if... this that etc.

This lifestyle really is freeing.

The calorie counting won't add up to anything in particular because we all have done different things to our bodies and have different metabolisms and exact foods and exercise etc.


I agree! I have been losing pretty steadily and I REFUSE to count calories for even one day. I've caused pretty bad shame spirals and food issues before over that stuff, and I refuse to buy into it. I know that for six months last year I was miserable, walking 16,000 steps/day, working out for an hour at moderate intensity 4x/week, AND counting my calories to make sure I neither overeat nor undereat --- and nothing came off, nor did the inches budge, nor did my clothes loosen.

Now I do nothing, and it's like whoa!!

Some days I eat more, and some days I eat less. I cannot give you a typical day, other than I try to start with a green smoothie of 16oz. minimally. Sometimes I eat a ton of fat because I'm CRAVING coconuts and other fatty things... Other times, I just drink green smoothies all day and have a large salad for dinner of just greens + dressing.

[Aleesha Sattva]

One thing I do is eat a lot of fruit, and a significant amount of dried mango. Right now I could eat a lb. of dried mango every day. That might be my problem.

S- Dried mango (a lot), dried pineapple, 2 dates, 1/2 fresh mango, tastes of some choclate and agave sauce with raisins that I made.
D- Shruggs, probly a green salad, because I have had no greens today:eek:
Everyone's experience with raw is SOOOO different.

If I may... I would do two things. No more of your dried fruit. FRESH IS BEST!!!

And add a GREEN SMOOTHIE to your day... at least one... maybe even two or three.

Greens are very very very important - very important (did I mention they are very important???) LOL - they are. Best way to get them... green smoothie!


The other thing I'd advise is to keep track of every calorie you eat, and put it in writing.

I don't mean to be disrespectful... but you've been raw for 3 days and you are giving advice in a thread where you are asking for advice on this very topic???

I completely disagree with you. Completely. There's no reason for her to count every calorie she eats. All she needs to do is eat FRESH LIVE FOOD and she'll release her weight.

I've released over 85 pounds since August 07. I had 3 months were I didn't release a single pound. Nope, not a pound. I did release size... but no weight. Our bodies do this... we just need to remember that this is a journey, not a destination. It took time to gain the weight, it'll take time to release it.

*smiles and leaves the room*

[lavendarJ]

I too am like the many others in that I do not count calories. When I initially embarked upon my raw journey I simply took Alissa's advice (after hanging out on her sight for a while and researching raw veganism) to "just eat". I have absolute freedom in choosing to eat life sustaining foods.

[raw_danceruk]

Agreed with the wise and experienced here

EAT RAW, EAT in Abundance

and.. get your Green smoothie on

The weight will be released, raw isnt about restriction or calorie counting

Eat raw, be happy, keep active. :cool:

[Apasaraw]

Here here....when I started raw a couple of years ago, I ate alot more. Now I think my nutrient level isn't in "starvation mode" and I don't have to eat as much. I'm talking volume and frequency here. Calorie counting ruins the fun of eating and fueling up in a delicious way! Keep it simple and eat what your body wants and let it go. Free your mind and you'll enjoy it more...

I count my kcals 2x a year. This is only to give my Dr. a list of an average week of eating for my checkups. It's the only time I get weighed as well. SO freeing!!!