hungry transitioner

[Rawena]

Hi I'm completely new and trying to transition gradually from SAD to raw foods. I've started making green smoothies for breakfast and I vary the recipes every day but my formula is usually to combine:

- 1 piece each of 2 types of fruit (eg. apples/banana/pears) + handful of berries; and
- 2 types of greens (eg. celery, spinach, alfalfa sprouts); and
- 1 tbsp flaxseed oil.

It always makes a glass full which I drink quite slowly. The problem is, once I drink it I am STARVING again within an hour or two which is surprising to me because on my former diet (2 slices of toast with jam and butter) I used to be full for 4 hours. Does anyone else have this problem or are you making smoothies in bigger quantities (eg. 2 cups worth)?

I should also mention that I run 15-20 miles a week and do power yoga or bikram once a week so also wonder what sporty raw fooders do to stay fuelled up. Thanks!!

[gs4life]

hi rawena--i usually drink about 1 liter of green smoothie in the morning to keep me going until lunch. my green smoothies usually consist of approx. 4 pieces of fruit (and sometimes some frozen berries), 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed, 1 cup of water (maybe a bit more) and 1 head of romaine lettuce or a large amount of spinach.
right now i don't have access to my vitamix so i've been eating lots of fruit in the morning--anywhere from 500-800 calories worth to keep me going until 3pm (i have class all morning).
i would suggest that you have a larger green smoothie in the morning and see how you feel! it should keep you fueled up and happy!

[HolyGuacamole]

Gosh, that sure doesn't sound like very much to me, especially for someone so active.
I would at least double that quantity for starters, and only expect it to hold me over for a few hours.
When you're eating raw, particularly something so unassailably healthful as green smoothies, you can eat as much as you want. Just listen to your body.
I find that green smoothies make me really crave greens, so if I have a green smoothie in the morning I will make a huge one, 32 oz. or so, and sip on it all morning, then have a giant green salad for lunch. Sometimes I have a fruit snack or nori roll or something else in between! :D
But that's just me.
I think the bottom line is, if you're hungry - eat!

[Rawena]

thanks GS4Life and HolyGuacamole - I will just increase quantities and see how that works.

[Jenifae]

You can make a larger amount of GS but, I usually will eat a handful of nuts to feel more full myself.
Welcome to RAW!
:)

[MiahTay]

First I'd like to say WELCOME!

There was something I discovered when I first discovered raw foods. With sad food or even just cooked healthy food, it takes a long time to pass from the stomach giving us that full feeling. Raw foods move more quickly from the stomach but are continuing to give our body fuel just not that heavy feeling in our stomach for the same amount of time. So, I had to learn was I really hungry or was my stomach just empty. You very well MAY BE hungry and need to eat more but I just wanted to share my experience.

Blessings,
Heather

[annavon]

I do a green smoothie in the morning, but I only use about 1/2 c to 3/4 cup of fruit and more greens. I find if I have too much fruit I get hungry sooner. On mornings that I am especially hungry I add some raw protein powder. I use blend of hemp and rice protein that is purported to be raw. Mine come out to about 20 oz.

[curlygirl82]

I was so starving the first two or so weeks I was raw, but that just simply went away. So maybe it will for you, too? Also, I really like adding some nuts or nut butter (raw!) to my smoothies. That'll fill you up for longer.

[cara4art]

Oh, you definitely need some more food, with your level of activity! I'm pretty active myself, so I should know! A common mistake that new people to raw make is not eating enough food, and still thinking of SAD quantities of things, like a 1/2 cup of this, or 1 cup of that, or a small salad for the meal, which is simply not enough when it comes to the kingpins of the raw food lifestyle, fruits and veggies! This is not just another "low-calorie" diet, although it can be if you are not eating enough, or are going extremely low-fat(10% of calories or less). Just the greens part of my green smoothies is often equivalent to 3-4 cups, let alone the fruit and other things! You might want to get up to, say, at least 3 cups of greens in your GSs, and a cup or two of any fruit you want. To power this up to a filling meal, add a tablespoon or two of raw hemp protein powder, and 1-2 of chia seeds that have been already pre-soaked. You will be amazed at how much more satisfying this will be. Add some healthy fats to your salads like avocadoes, a bit of extra-virgin olive oil, raw tahini, pates, etc. If you have a dehydrator you can make filling goodies that are yummy and healthy too - mine gets good use about twice a week with my staple supplemental foods like crackers and raw granola(which is fab for a high-energy snack!). There's also a possibility that you might be one of those who do better with higher-fat, higher-protein version of raw, but you won't know that until you experiment with different foods. As lots of people including Alissa say, don't be afraid to eat in the beginning, as long as it is raw. Now's the time to experiment with many different combos and note how you feel as this is all new. Have fun, and you're sure to find yummies! Check the recipes discussion section of this board, as well as Alissa's book. There are plenty of other good web resources for recipes and books too.
However, it is not uncommon for new raw foodists to be hungrier in the beginning, because we're used to the fuller feeling of the denser cooked foods and want to have that same feeling. For some people depending on how dense their diet was and just WHAT was in that diet before this is truer than for others. But in due time, as one's body gets acclimated, it is also not uncommon to want LESS food, and it be simpler to boot, saving the more complex recipes as supplemental items, or for potlucks and company. I know this was the case for me as far as desiring simpler things and less food in general after a number of months. But trust in raw - so many excellent things are ahead on your journey and you will learn so much about your body's infinite wisdom. As you continue and you really tune into your body, it will tell you what it needs(and guaranteed it won't REALLY be fast food junk!)
Anyhow, good luck!

[goobygirl]

I start with 2 cups of purified water, 1 banana, about 1 c frozen mixed fruit, and then the rest all greens. I fill up my vitamix (64 oz) with greens, pack it down, and it works out to about 5 cups of liquid. I drink this from anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour or more. It keeps me full for up to 5 hours! I used to be a real grazer, and never felt satisfied. The green smoothie has really helped with cravings and feeling satisfied. I add very high fiber greens like kale, and purifiers like parsley and cilantro. I also add about 10 drops of grapefruit seed extract to help keep yeast at bay and to kill any nasty bugs (parasites).

If I get hungry before dinner, I make a gigantic salad, and I mean big. Like a salad serving bowl size is what I eat, not serve out of.

So, I would up my green smoothie volume, and if you keep getting hungry, try adding some almond milk or nuts to the drink (make sure you grind them up well).

[ArcturusXIV]

Your body is nutrient-starved. Once you start feeding it the right stuff, it craves it more and more. I would do what others say, but also think about adding some walnuts, cacao beans, and maca to your diet. Those fill me up quite well, and satisfy my craving for SAD foods as well. I make a smoothie with all three, and a little bit of agave and coconut oil. It tastes just like a milkshake, and simultaneously satisfies my hunger and my sugar craving. I can stay full on one of those smoothies for at least four hours. Just eat a lot of nutrient-rich foods, and eventually the hunger will go away.