where's the magic?

[Zaphirah]

I've been 100% for about a week. No weight loss. No nuthin'. I'm trying to remain hopeful and I'm thinking I need to figure out my pH or something. I do feel better, but to not have dropped an ounce is not exactly motivating, ya know?

I've been drinking a quart of gs a day, a salad with avo and eevo, and a glass of sesame mylk. I also snack whenever I want on celery. and I eat a handful or 2 or 3 of nuts. I also eat 1T of coconut oil w/ cacao at the end of the day. I drink 1-2 quarts of water too.

[Eva]

I hate to say it -- but ping ponging (lots of raw, then off it, then lots, then off it) makes it take longer to get back to the magic.

But hang in there! And relax, go easy on your heart, love yourself, do the cheesy talks in front if the mirror if you need to ("I am beautiful as I am. I am eating the best food on the planet and nourishing myself. I deserve it!" etc.) and be in it for the marathon not the sprint -- this will be the ticket.

The magic is almost yours if you can just wait.

[Shell]

Hey Zaphirah,
I don't know about how your body reacts to nuts, but I know that for me, when I eat more nuts and less fruit I tend to either plateau, or gain. What has worked for me, is: blender full of gs for breakfast, fruit for snack, large salad with whatever greens/tomato/sprouts, etc., with a little olive oil for lunch, more fruit for snack, and as for dinner, I usually have zucchini noodles with random veggies and a tahini dressing. So, yes, I don't eat too much fat, but I eat enough to keep me satisfied, and meet my needs.
Like I said, I don't know how careful you have to be around nuts, etc. (if you're one of those lucky ones who doesn't have to limit!), but I find that more fruit and greens and less of the dense nuts/fats keeps me moving in the right direction.
And Eva's right......it may take a little time to get back on track, so lay back and let the magic happen!

[Raine]

I've been 100% for about a week. No weight loss. No nuthin'. I'm trying to remain hopeful and I'm thinking I need to figure out my pH or something. I do feel better, but to not have dropped an ounce is not exactly motivating, ya know?

I've been drinking a quart of gs a day, a salad with avo and eevo, and a glass of sesame mylk. I also snack whenever I want on celery. and I eat a handful or 2 or 3 of nuts. I also eat 1T of coconut oil w/ cacao at the end of the day. I drink 1-2 quarts of water too.

At your current weight, you may be getting all the calories you need to maintain. Are you using something like www.FitDay.com to monitor your food intake? What sort of exercise are you doing?

[Alina]

Hi Zaphirah,

From what you wrote it looks like you are eating too much fat. Even if it's raw, fat shouldn't be more than 10% of your diet.

I would suggest eating more fruit for breakfast, big salad for lunch and dinner. Eat more veggies and vary them. 2-3 handfuls of nuts is way too much. Nuts should be eaten sporadically, not every day. Eat more greens and vegetables and you will see your weight slowly start coming down.

Also, don't expect quick results - raw foods is a lifestyle, not a "lose 20 pounds in one week" scheme. Take your time, eat well, and don't forget to exercise.

Good luck!
Alina

[Inca_faerie]

Hi Zaphirah

Are you drinking enough water? your body could be hanging on to some water weight so maybe try drinking 2 litres pure water a day and see what happens.

[Zaphirah]

Thanks everyone. :) (for clarification-by handfuls I mean 7 or 8 nuts at a time)

[Eva]

Hi Zaphirah,

From what you wrote it looks like you are eating too much fat. Even if it's raw, fat shouldn't be more than 10% of your diet.



I have to respectfully disagree with this as a general statement. I personally gain (a small amount of) weight if I limit my fat because my body goes into starvation mode. Some people naturally thrive on more fat. We can't all go into a cookie-cutter shape of what percentage of this or that makes our bodies lose/gain/maintain weight and health.

[qnjnean]

are you eating only when you are hungry, and then, just enough to satisfy?

[Care4raw]

I have to respectfully disagree with this as a general statement. I personally gain (a small amount of) weight if I limit my fat because my body goes into starvation mode. Some people naturally thrive on more fat. We can't all go into a cookie-cutter shape of what percentage of this or that makes our bodies lose/gain/maintain weight and health.



I agree. I do better low fat, 10%, but just reading these boards alone shows how others thrive with nuts, avo, coconut oil, etc.They even accelerate their weight loss when adding high fats. So watch and and listen, track yourself, etc. Fitday is excellent as someone suggested.An eye opener.

My advice is to exercise. Thats really necc. So start moving and being consistant. track your loss with your work outs as well as your eating habits.

Good luck. You've been on these boards awhile so i know there is a lot of knowledge in you to get the job done, and you will!

[Revvell]

I agree with Eva on both her posts:


I hate to say it -- but ping ponging (lots of raw, then off it, then lots, then off it) makes it take longer to get back to the magic. and
I have to respectfully disagree with this as a general statement. I personally gain (a small amount of) weight if I limit my fat because my body goes into starvation mode. Some people naturally thrive on more fat. We can't all go into a cookie-cutter shape of what percentage of this or that makes our bodies lose/gain/maintain weight and health.

I'm not sure about "starvation mode" but, w/out enough fatty foods, one just does not metabolize fat soluble nutrients. That's been my experience.

Revvell

[ShelShel]

The only way I can eat raw and be happy...and that's actually very important to me, being happy when I eat :D is to be full after a meal. I find that I always need nuts or avo or coconut oil at least once a day if not three times. :rolleyes: I never count anything...if it's raw...I just eat. I try not to pay attention to the scales because sometimes they don't move, but my clothing feels so much better within days of starting back to raw, that I know it's working. I'm sorry to hear that it hasn't kicked in just yet, but I believe if you really stick with it, it will.

Also, if you aren't really happy eating this strictly, take a step back until you do. The goal isn't to suffer to get results. The goal is to love thriving! Eat what makes you happy and adjust in little steps to journey to 100% raw.


I would also like to suggest that perhaps there is some internal healing your body is doing first.

You can so do this! Just be gentle on yourself and embrace the good things you do. And above all enjoy your food and be happy! (((HUGS)))

[Thick]

And, Zaphirah, try putting the scale away in a closet for awhile. For me, the scale tends to grant permission, forgiveness and praise. You don't need that from an object, you need it from you!

[Aleesha Sattva]

alissa suggests you eat eat eat. if it's raw... eat it. as much as you want for the first while... your body will let you know when it's time to start reducing your intake.

so eat girl... eat!!!

put away the scale and let your body do it's magick. giving it a time table isn't what it needs... it simply needs you 100% raw... so gift it that!!!

[Random]

I whole-heartedly agree with the suggestion to put the scale away! I'm 30 years old and I'd never owned a scale before a week ago. I've never been weight-focused and have always considered myself a pretty balanced person when it came to weight and body issues. I know that I'm overweight by about 30 pounds, but I thought I had a pretty good grip on that. I bought a scale because I wanted to track how my body changed on raw.

I was shocked to find that I was quickly becoming obsessed with weighing myself! I was weighing myself once or twice a day at first. Within a few days I was weighing myself every time I went to the bathroom, and I started fretting over .2 pounds. So much for being balanced! When I found myself actually taking my clothes off to weigh myself multiple times a day, I realized that things were quickly getting out of control.

This morning I put my scale out of sight. I've told myself that I'm only to weigh myself once a week on Fridays. And it's HARD to keep myself from doing it! In about a week, I became addicted to an object. It's really shocking. If I could start over, I'd never buy the silly thing!

I'm trying to focus on how I feel and (to a lesser extent) on how I look. Weight is just a number, right? (She says as she looks longingly at the cupboard where the scale is stored)

I thought I'd share to maybe save someone else the trouble that I'm currently going through!

[ShelShel]

I totally agree...I actually threw my scale away!!! :D I don't care any more what I weigh...only what I feel like in my clothing.

[MOTH]

I also found the scale wayyy too triggering to use. I'm also naturally competitive with myself, always pushing myself forwards, so for me, it was self-damaging and counter-productive to health to use a scale.

[Aleesha Sattva]

we just recently got a scale... free from airmiles ;) i've had to hide it away in my room so my kids don't go crazy on it... but i just made a rule... you can only weigh yourself once every two weeks. it seems to be working.

ours tells us how hydrated we are, bmi etc... which is why i got it. don't like to weigh myself much at all... it's just depressing when you haven't released any weight.

i highly recommend doing measurements instead. much better way to really know what your body is doing.

[Raine]

Random - I got quite the laugh out of your posting! I, too, am guilty of shedding clothes to get an accurate weight.

At this point I only weigh myself first thing in the morning. If I do feel the mad desire to weigh later in the day (which rarely happens anymore) I just chalk it up to me needing inspiration to keep focused on my goals. The inspiration is usually needed during a 24 hour period before girly time when my mind "thinks" it wants a Sno-ball (you know, those chocolate cupcake, marshmallow, pink coconut things?!) but the reality is that my body does NOT want one and it's just a mind game my inner child plays. At those times, I'll shed clothes and reinforce myself visually with my current weight.

It's nice to know I'm not the only odd ball out there. ;)

[Zaphirah]

I need my scale. It actually KEEPS me balanced. I am prone to binging and gaining up to 5 lbs a week. The scale reminds me of my goal each day and helps me stay on track. I don't live or die by the number-if it's up a little I think to myself "How much water did I drink yesterday? I should try to drink more today..." or "Wow-it's been awhile since I last exercised-gotta make that a priority today." That kind of thing. It's easy for me to put everyone else but myself first, therefore getting enough water, exercise, fresh air, and balanced foods are always the FIRST things to go. The scale makes me accountable to ME. I weigh myself first thing in the morning. it sets me on the right track. Hey-I've lost 75 lbs (+/-) so far so, it's gotta be working! LOL!

[Raw Angel Mom]

I wouldn't force myself to eat coconut oil unless i feel like it. I use it for recipes but this is it.

Don't worry about loosing weight or not, it will come in perfect time, right now, your body is focusing in the area where it needs it the most. You said that your are feeling better already so this is great news. Just eat and don't deprive yourself. Try not to eat if you not hungry but instead go for a walk, drink more water.

I recommend for you to chew your food throughly, which will lead to digest better and eat way less.

You will find the food that work the best for you, right now, just don't worry about it and try all kind of raw goodies.

[RawSweetie]

I whole-heartedly agree with the suggestion to put the scale away! I'm 30 years old and I'd never owned a scale before a week ago. I've never been weight-focused and have always considered myself a pretty balanced person when it came to weight and body issues. I know that I'm overweight by about 30 pounds, but I thought I had a pretty good grip on that. I bought a scale because I wanted to track how my body changed on raw.

I was shocked to find that I was quickly becoming obsessed with weighing myself! I was weighing myself once or twice a day at first. Within a few days I was weighing myself every time I went to the bathroom, and I started fretting over .2 pounds. So much for being balanced! When I found myself actually taking my clothes off to weigh myself multiple times a day, I realized that things were quickly getting out of control.

This morning I put my scale out of sight. I've told myself that I'm only to weigh myself once a week on Fridays. And it's HARD to keep myself from doing it! In about a week, I became addicted to an object. It's really shocking. If I could start over, I'd never buy the silly thing!

I'm trying to focus on how I feel and (to a lesser extent) on how I look. Weight is just a number, right? (She says as she looks longingly at the cupboard where the scale is stored)

I thought I'd share to maybe save someone else the trouble that I'm currently going through!

Random~~
Your post is so great, honest and funny. Thanks for sharing!

Scales are eeeeeeviiilllll.....:p

[annavon]

Look at the positive things!!! You have lost 29 pounds since you started in September and you only have 7 more pound to you goal. Keep in mind that if you are excercising your body composition may be changing to more muscle which weighs more than fat. Also, the last 5-10 pounds come off the slowest. You may want to add some brisk walking in the morning to give your metabolism a jump start, the sunlight combined with the walking is very good for your seratonin levels. Above all, be kind to yourself. :)