Very Discouraged

[ondgo]

:( I have been on this raw food diet for about 3 months now. I usually am not driven by weight on scales, but when the scales indicate that I have gained 6 pounds I begin to worry. I have also gained 3 inches in the abdomen, 1 inch through the buttocks area and 1 inch around each hip area!!! My typical day begins with a banana/almond butter/milk shake, snack consisting of either grapes, or soaked almonds. Lunch is a big salad...greens, alfalfa sprouts, avacado, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, soaked sunflower seeds....I don't ususally eat 'dinner'...however, snack on either pizza bread made like crackers with spinach/avacado dip, or celery with same.....maybe a few more nuts... on occasion may have another banana with almond butter. I have incorporated eating about 3 rolled dates in coconut daily.

I do not understand what is going on.............please advise:rolleyes:

[Heather B]

Are you exercising? That's critical. After reading all the testimonials, it's hard not expect the "shedding" of weight but we're all different so patience and daily exercise is essential. At least, that's how it is going for me. My daughters, 16 and 13 years old, who are about 75% raw, lose weight really fast. To the point that it scared them. I'm 45 and things aren't shifting much. But now I'm walking every other day and clothes are a little loser.
Good luck with it. Do you feel better aside from the inches? That's what is keeping me going. It really works
From one newbie to another.
Heather:)

[ondgo]

yes I am exercising! Walk 2 miles a day, 3 on the weekends. I do feel better.....but feeling better I'm not quite sure is equal to gaining weight and losing inches.

[Veganforlife]

I personally think your body is undergoing changes. 3 months is NOT a long time to see changes. DON'T base what has happened to others on what you expect to happen to you. Your body is totally different.
Do you drink water? Water really helps flush away gunk.
Keep on doing what you are doing. Don't be frustrated. Instead, be positive. Your mind is telling your body it is failing...
Oh and silly me - forgot

two words: GREEN SMOOTHIES!!!

These guys (GS's) really, really help shed the weight!

[ondgo]

Well, I do drink water...that's it!! quit coffee and sugar free gum....everything!!!

can you enlighten me on green smoothies and what they consist of please?

[Veganforlife]

Do a green smoothie recipe search, using the search button (on green bar) up top. There are tons of recipes already posted here.

Also, check this out:

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=40280&highlight=green+smoothie+recipes

[Frugal Raw]

Welcome!! Green Smoothies are generally made from 60% fruit and 40% greens (spinach, kale, lettuces).

[Veganforlife]

Here's one to get you started:

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=37707&highlight=green+smoothie+recipes

[RawSinger]

Perhaps cut down on the nuts a tad. Maybe incorporate weight-training into your workout. Also, focus on your inches and not your weight. Good luck and keep up the good work!

[ondgo]

I will try some green smoothies.....

what is a green smoothie feasting??? is that essentially a fast just drinking green smoothies??

[Veganforlife]

I suppose so. There's a thread floating around describing it. Don't know. I've never done it. Too extreme (radical) for even me! :eek:

[MintLia]

I think we like to forget that eating too much of anything will make us gain weight. I can't be sure but it sounds to me like you're eating too many nuts. Nuts are very rich in fat and althought raw nuts have healthy fat in them they are very high in calories. So if you eat nuts for breakfast, lunch and dinner that may be too much for you. We are all different and I know some people can eat lots of healthy fat and not gain weight but most of us will gain.

If you feel hungry when you don't eat nuts, then you should eat more of whatever you're eating at the time; if you're used to having two bananas with nuts for breakfast, instead, have four bananas, five if you don't feel full. Try to have nuts for lunch only (this way you also give the body time to utilise some of that healthy fat as fuel throughout the day).

Again, I don't know how many nuts you eat but a good measure would be a spoonful for lunch with your veggies. For your other meals eat lots of fresh fruit and if you're exercising like you say and you don't have some medical condition the fat should come off.

Good luck! And don't give up!

[Helen121]

I'd tend to agree with Mintlia that you should cut down on the nuts as these teamed with the avocado are giving you a lot of fat in your diet. Just because these foods are raw doesn't necessarily make them heathy options. I think things like nuts and dehdyrated foods (which usually contain a lot of nuts) should be eaten for special occasions.

A good way to check what your daily intake of fat would be is to log onto a calorie counter site try www.nutridiary.com I think you may be quite suprised at the outcome. I try to follow Dr Doug Grahams recommemdation of eating a 80/10/10 diet that is 80% of your calories should come from carbs, 10% from protein and 10% from fat. Give it a try its worth spending an hour or so doing it to see where you are at.

Good Luck

[StarFire]

Aloha and Welcome to RFT!!! REMEMBER... you are changing a LIFEtime of habits and patterns.... it will take time for your body to adjust...

make sure you are getting exercise.... even if it's just walking (which I read up above that your are doing some pretty good walks there -- so that's GREAT!).... drink lots and lots of water.... keep your body hydrated and the water will help flush out the toxins too...
and make sure your bowels are moooooving!! THAT is super important!!

We all lose differently... and so it's really good advice to not judge your journey by how others have lost weight.... that can be very frustrating - especially if you are truly working hard and giving it your best effort.... but you're not losing as fast as so-in-so...

we are ALL so very different.... so hang in there.... You're doin great! Give yourself the time you need ... allow your body the time it needs to make changes .... from the inside out....

RAWk on... you're doin jes fine...

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

[spicyfull]

RAW........is NOT the latest weight loss gimmick. It is a LifeStyle change and if you lose weight in the process.........So Be it.

People JUST don't get it. RAW is expected to be as a by-pass surgery where you lose weight over night.

It takes time for your body to adjust to anything. EAT RAW and EVERYTHING else will Change.........

[jacsam]

Alissa talks about this in her book....have you had a chance to read it? She talks about this being a lifestyle like spicyfull mentioned and she also talks about that at first you'll naturally eat alot of nuts, avacados etc but that at some point you'll go more light....anyway, it's in the book.