Weight Loss Secrets for Sticky Fat

[saxmaam]

This is a question for those of you who DIDN'T automatically lose weight after beginning to eat raw. Maybe you even GAINED after starting to eat raw. For those of you who eventually started losing weight.

Was there a secret, a trick, or an insight that enabled you to start losing?

Thanks,

Susan

[Zaphirah]

I like fasting.

[saxmaam]

I like fasting.

Juice fasting or water or ?? And were you a "hard loser"?

[Zaphirah]

both juice and water. what is a hard loser?

[saxmaam]

both juice and water. what is a hard loser?

Someone who has a very hard time losing any weight. Didn't automatically lose weight on raw, as described above.

When I was younger I could lose weight a lot easier than now. In fact, now it pretty much seems impossible. So I think that at this point I am a "hard loser".

[testingforme123]

People who don't lose weight (or gain) seem to do so for different reasons. When I first went raw, my dh and I (now we're great! :)) were arguing a lot (mind you, I was grumpier for a year or so pre raw!!!)... And my mom had some horrible stuff happen to her at around the same time.

I was lucky enough to be able to go spend some time with my mom in FL and to heal emotionally and to gain some insight, along with eating raw. It was a great combination!!! I lost about 10 pounds without effort, which brought me from a healthy 130 to a very healthy 120 (I'm very small boned and 5'6").

When I have emotional issues, the weight starts to come back up, no matter what I'm eating. If I'm taking care of myself by not surrounding myself with negative people, and doing the other "basics" like green smoothies, daily moderate exercise, sunshine, etc... all of the sudden I slim down again (regardless of whether I'm eating nuts or whatever).

Anyhow, I hope that's somewhat helpful to you. I'll tell you that 120 suits me much better, but the ONLY way for me to be at that weight is to be happy.

So funny -- I made this login once to figure out some of the stuff on the User CP area -- I have NO IDEA how I ended up logged in now with that name... but this is EVA!

[Aleesha Sattva]

hmmm I'm a bit concerned for you regarding your terminology. "hard loser" ??? We are what we think, say and feel. If you are telling yourself you are - hard - and second - a loser - then that's not very confidence building and empowering. How about changing this around and instead looking at it as:

My body is using the nutrients to remove toxins right now and when it's done, it'll work on releasing my excess weight... till then I am happy to fulfill my bodies needs, one beautifully raw meal at a time.

My personal mantra is "I am a light, lean, healthy being."

[Aleesha Sattva]

Now to assist you further...

Green Smoothies are a great way to release weight. Try doing nothing but green smoothies for 14 days... you'll see just how much weight will release and just how much health you'll gain!!! Drink as many as you want... any flavour and combo you desire. No limitations except... try to keep away from nut mylks and stick to yummy green smoothies for the two weeks. Many people release a pound a day on this little program although men do tend to release more than women. :P

[rawstrength]

For bodies reluctant to release weight (like mine), excersize is wonderful for toning, lifting, and reshaping.
You may not be overweight, but rather undermuscled.

[saxmaam]

hmmm I'm a bit concerned for you regarding your terminology. "hard loser" ??? We are what we think, say and feel. If you are telling yourself you are - hard - and second - a loser - then that's not very confidence building and empowering.."

I just mean "loser" as it applies to dropping fat.

Rawstrength, I'm overweight and could stand some more muscles, too! If all my extra fat turned to muscle, then I wouldn't consider myself overweight :)

Thanks for replies so far. I'm going to stay in listen mode for a while, but that doesn't mean I'm disregarding them.

Susan

[rawstrength]

If all my extra fat turned to muscle, then I wouldn't consider myself overweight :)

^^^My point, exactly.

I agree with Aleesha's sentiments that you could use a shift in thinking. For example, my mother's side of my family were all famine survivors from the Greek civil war. My father's side of my family were all survivors of the Irish potato famine. In my SAD childhood, I ate less food than all of my friends, but was always on the chubby side. Many of my family members take drugs for low thyroid and still have slow metabolisms (thankfully my thyroid is fine!) If there is anyone in the world who is a "hard loser," then that is me. Instead of thinking of myself as genetically predestined to carry extra weight, however, I think of it a little bit differently. I like to think that I am living in abundance that my ancestors could never even dream of, luxuriously basking in the most healthy and well-nourished body possible. I am not a "hard loser," but a graceful, beautiful being. How could I ever consider this modern world with so many options, choices, possibilities and bounty a burden when my ancestors could only eat boiled potatoes, or on the Greek side, boiled beans (and not even enough of them)?

[oai]

got more air & sun. wore less clothes (yes. seriously). :)

[rawstrength]

got more air & sun. wore less clothes (yes. seriously). :)

Well, air is relaxing, and less stress = less weight.
The sun provides vitamin D, and better nourishment = less weight.
Being cold burns calories.

That sounds like a perfectly delightful way to lose weight!

[theresaann]

check out this thread I started a couple of days ago:

http://rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=45467

[saxmaam]

http://rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=45467

I DID see that, thanks. Since I'm very near 100% raw now, I don't think I want to go backwards. But your post convinced me to cut the caffeine completely (again!) I'm nearly down to zero caffeine after a few days of reducing. And I don't drink alcohol already, so that's not the problem.

Lately I'm SOOOO HUNGRYYYYYY. I do eat green smoothies but that's just a part of my diet. I imagine I'd be ravenous if that's all I consumed, but I'm thinking I'll give it a try for one day, tomorrow. (Thanks Aleesha.

Exercise ... <sigh!> I keep falling off that wagon and climbing back on again. I love it when I do it, and other times I don't want to do it!

THanks everybody for the thoughts. I think I'll sort of blog in this thread tomorrow about my one-day green-smoothie-only challenge so that I don't conveniently forget about it mid-day.

[rawstrength]

One tip to help keep excersizing - make excersizing as easy, convenient and fun as possible. Sometimes I put my workout clothes and white cotton socks on before I go to bed at night, so I can wake up, drink water, put my shoes on and go running. I also keep my ipod and other excersize stuff handy so that I don't have to look for it when I want to work out.

[saxmaam]

got more air & sun. wore less clothes (yes. seriously). :)

So ... you were just cold all the time in the winter? I keep my home pretty cool in the winter. If I set the thermostat too low, though, my cave-person genes kick in and I just want to spend my time in bed, under the comforter.

[oai]

So ... you were just cold all the time in the winter? I keep my home pretty cool in the winter. If I set the thermostat too low, though, my cave-person genes kick in and I just want to spend my time in bed, under the comforter.

if it's really cold & snowing, i think i'll put a sweater on... not necessarily a coat. people would just look at me weird if i go t-shirt. :D i'll try to get in an hour of air & sun though w/ minimal clothing.. maybe in my own yard. :p

i usually try to bare skin when i'm out & try to go out when the sun is up in the sky. :) at home, i go under the covers.

right now, i'm still experimenting with this... being my own guinea pig. ;)

[pixelkatt]

I know this is going to sound really weird but for me, when weight starts to stick I've learned that it means I need to eat more. I try to eat every 2 hours (so about 6 times a day) but smaller meals. I have a really hard time doing this because I tend to forget to eat so I literally will set my oven timer (one of the things my oven is good for, lol) for 2 hours every time I eat. When I do that it comes off really easy for me. Strange I know but it works. :)

I also try and eat my biggest meal mid-day and eat a light meal for dinner. I have been making nori rolls for dinner because I can't over-stuff them. When I make salads, I tend to add and add and add and before I know it it's a huge bowl that would normally feed 3 people, lol..

[saxmaam]

OK, this is the day I decided to consume only green smoothies plus my daily ration of green tea (tapering off).

I made a vitamix full of GS last night so I'd have some on hand early in the morning. I pick greens from the garden, but it's hard to do in the dark! (Yes, I'm an early riser). I forgot to put fruit in at first, and that was one BITTER drink, because I always include one carrot-top, two sorrel leaves, 3 baby grape leaves from the garden along with kale and stuff. It's much better now I added the peaches.:rolleyes:

Yesterday was a terrible binge, even though raw. Instead of complaining about "sticky fat", maybe I should marvel that I don't gain even more.

OK, that's my story. Good things are gonna happen.

[HolyGuacamole]

Good things are gonna happen.

That's right!

[saxmaam]

OK ... it's 9:30 and I'm craving stuff even though I'm FULL of green smoothie. What I'm craving is all over the map, too, from fresh fruit to (SAD) chocolate turtles to (SAD) new mexican nachos to raw onion bread, etcetera. I can resist the cravings as long as I don't give in at all at all.

I really don't understand this. I think I've had plenty of calories and nutrients in my smoothies and the quality of the food I've eaten for the last few months has been exceptional. Where does this crazy craving come from, and what can I do about it?

[HolyGuacamole]

Why resist cravings for raw?
Have the fresh fruit. If you have raw onion bread and you want some, eat it.
:)

[Bananna]

Yes, this is my problem too...I therefore offer empathy.

Do you have a certain time of day that you are more vulnerable to calorie consumption than another? Like for comfort? Maybe you should eat then, and distract yourself the rest of the day?

Idleness, it's the Worst culprit regardless, I think. Not only are you bored, but maybe slightly anxious cuz you have time too think to much, probably around food, relaxed physically(appetite stimulant).

So maybe just keeping busy. Don't you find whenever you spring clean or something, you could easily just not eat all day, or maybe just a snack or two? Whereas when your idle, it's downright torture?

[saxmaam]

Why resist cravings for raw?
Have the fresh fruit. If you have raw onion bread and you want some, eat it.
:)

Maybe you haven't read the whole thread?

[HolyGuacamole]

Maybe you haven't read the whole thread?

Actually I did but I guess I didn't retain it between when I read it and when I replied, which was days later. :rolleyes:
*shrug*

[DST_DIVA33]

by just adding a green smoothie everyday this week I lost 6lbs.. I don't know if I would call myself a fast loser but I have been raw since July and I have lost about 31lbs. I am sticking with this life style I want to lose about 60more pounds. My advice is to stick with it. You will lose it. Pray about it as well. And don't focus on the the losing part, just focus on being raw. :-)

[saxmaam]

So ... it's 2:09 pm. I had a couple of hours that I was neither hungry or craving. Now I'm BOTH. I really don't like this much. I do like the green smoothies, but I guess I get a big bang out of EATING ... and different FLAVORS.

I'm sticking out the day, though. Maybe there is something I can learn from this.

[violetsareblack]

Green smoothies actually "clogged" me and I lost more when eating plenty of avocado, coconut oil and cabbage.

It really does depend on the person.

I do say though, avoid nuts at all cost for now as I gained with nuts.

[Ahzea]

Hi, Aleesha

Thanks for recommending green smoothies.
I've been drinking them lately and my weight hasn't budged.
When I get desperate about my weight stats I feel like drinking only green smoothies, but I didn't know if it would be healthy (mentally).
I know Clent in Oregon lost 200lbs in 8months by eating raw, mostly green smoothies.

Yesterday, was my first day recommitting myself to ALL raw.
Felt detox symptoms yesterday, but woke up with the boundless energy I love ON RAW. Then had headaches which I don't enjoy. I kept eating so the pain would go away, but I only got a tummy ache! I drank a lot of tea and a little after. Any other advice for these headaches I get when I am not eating cooked food and my brain feels like it's starving? (I felt optimistic about the food, but my body reacted otherwise.)

Would love to be raw until birthday or goal weight, whichever comes first!
Feeling very focused because I have each month's calendar posted on my wall with weight goals for each month.

I'm exercising too of course.

Peace and Love,
Ahzea
New Member today!

[ArcturusXIV]

You tend to crave whatever is in your bloodstream when you are detoxing. I remember reading this in David Wolfe's book. So you may start to have cravings for SAD foods you haven't had in years... It is just your body removing these toxins from your bloodstream. Stay strong, and eat lots of avacadoes.

[saxmaam]

Well ... I stuck with this until 4pm and then I was starting to HATE green smoothies. I always have liked them before. So here I was taking food I love to eat (chew) and putting them into a form that I like less. I think I learned what I could learn from this.

Had a dinner of onion bread and a riced vegetables with beets and seasonings.

[ShelShel]

For me the only thing that works is to allow myself to become a priority. I tend to care for everyone else over myself...this is very stressful over some time. I tend to ease the emotion with food. :o Not good. But when I balance things more, make time for myself, a walk, a good raw meal...I truly start living more abundantly. Weight loss comes, clear skin, clear mind...peaceful heart.
Get to a good place, eat raw and live!:) Then the weight comes off freely.

[Aleesha Sattva]

Hi, Aleesha

Thanks for recommending green smoothies.
I've been drinking them lately and my weight hasn't budged.
When I get desperate about my weight stats I feel like drinking only green smoothies, but I didn't know if it would be healthy (mentally).
I know Clent in Oregon lost 200lbs in 8months by eating raw, mostly green smoothies.

Yesterday, was my first day recommitting myself to ALL raw.
Felt detox symptoms yesterday, but woke up with the boundless energy I love ON RAW. Then had headaches which I don't enjoy. I kept eating so the pain would go away, but I only got a tummy ache! I drank a lot of tea and a little after. Any other advice for these headaches I get when I am not eating cooked food and my brain feels like it's starving? (I felt optimistic about the food, but my body reacted otherwise.)

Would love to be raw until birthday or goal weight, whichever comes first!
Feeling very focused because I have each month's calendar posted on my wall with weight goals for each month.

I'm exercising too of course.

Peace and Love,
Ahzea
New Member today!

detox is a big part of the raw lifestyle... and fasting for that matter. drink plenty of water and you will detox. you have to... simply put, your body needs to remove those years of toxins from it's cells to gain the health and weight release you want... so... you just simply have to stick it out. sorry, but we all have had to. there isn't anyone here who hasn't... so take some comfort in that and know what are all hugging you during your journey to wellness (((hugs)))


Well ... I stuck with this until 4pm and then I was starting to HATE green smoothies. I always have liked them before. So here I was taking food I love to eat (chew) and putting them into a form that I like less. I think I learned what I could learn from this.

Had a dinner of onion bread and a riced vegetables with beets and seasonings.

i read all your postings about your one day trial... honestly you were fighting your addiction to food and eating. everyone goes through it in order to fast. you need to overcome that constant need/desire to go to the fridge or cupboard and grab food and stick it in your mouth.

i'm very surprised that you think you learned all you could from this... in a few short hours. LOL ah there is soooooooo much more to learn. you are merely at the beginning (like preschool)... but you will learn when you are ready... willing... and able. be kind to your self and know that there is much more for you, if and when you are willing to allow the lessons to come. (((hugs)))

[saxmaam]

i'm very surprised that you think you learned all you could from this... in a few short hours. LOL ah there is soooooooo much more to learn. you are merely at the beginning (like preschool)... but you will learn when you are ready... willing... and able. be kind to your self and know that there is much more for you, if and when you are willing to allow the lessons to come. (((hugs)))

Well, we all love being laughed at.

I realize that I could get a PhD in drinking my food and all the self-discipline that would take. But I don't want it.

Thanks, Aleesha, for the suggestion and encouragement.

Susan

[Aleesha Sattva]

Sorry you took it to mean I was laughing at you I simply put that in to lighten my post. I guess you missed the part when I was saying to be kind to yourself... (((hugs)))

[oai]

You tend to crave whatever is in your bloodstream when you are detoxing. I remember reading this in David Wolfe's book. So you may start to have cravings for SAD foods you haven't had in years... It is just your body removing these toxins from your bloodstream. Stay strong, and eat lots of avacadoes.

this, i feel, also resonates with my personal experience. after my 2nd water fast, my cravings for unhealthy food went down to about a 3 as before it was around an 8-9 on a 0-10 scale. and my cravings, overall, went down to a 4-5 compared to the 8-9 before. i have a fruit smoothie (made from one whole fruit), & i would be full for about 4 hrs.

which leads me to thinking that maybe cravings for food, even fresh raw vegan, may not just a be a call from my body for more nutrition. this is my personal experience. i'm still learning.

[saxmaam]

Sorry you took it to mean I was laughing at you I simply put that in to lighten my post. I guess you missed the part when I was saying to be kind to yourself... (((hugs)))

I tend to take LOL to mean that the writer is laughing. So sure ... and consider what your quote sounds like with that in mind. (I won't elaborate!) I guess LOL has come to be a catch-all writer's reflex like the smilies people used to put in letters all the time (a generic positive expression :))

However, I did understand that your intentions were good and I read everything else you said and I'll keep it in mind. So I tried to end my post with acknowledgement of the positive, and thanks.

Nuff said?

[Zaphirah]

I am a hard loser-sorry I didn't get back to this thread sooner. :o (very difficult week, healthwise, for 1 of my dc.)

I have a very stressful life. I lose when things are going okay, and gain when I am stressed. My life is MUCH less stressful than it was years ago, but it still can be tough due to some health issues with my children.

I don't exercise. There I said it. It's true. I honest-to-goodness don't have the time or the support, but I am okay with that, not thrilled, but compassionate to my situation, if that makes sense? I know my time will come. After all, I have lost almost 90 lbs in 5 years, and next year my WHOLE LIFE is going to change when my last baby goes to school full time.

I am going to commit to GS for the month of November and see what happens. I have high hopes that things will really shift for me.

[ltcartwright]

Juice or water fast, plus look into doing a colon cleanse.
Take a look at this thread (http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=12099&highlight=Tests+Notaking+101%3A+Req%27d).

[rawstrength]

I don't think fasting helps weightloss when you already have a slow metabolism. Every time that I have tried fasting, as soon as I start eating, I have immediatly put back on all of the weight that I lost when fasting. A juice feast would be better than water fasting in this respect because on a juice feast you are still taking in calories.

But fasting is great for improving your health. I just don't recommend it for weightloss (esp. when you have a slow metabolism). I bet that fasting could even help underweight people put on weight by improving digestive efficiency.