Newbie with Questions.......

[solchile76]

Good Day All,
I have been slowly transitioning to a raw life style. I know it is what is best for me, but I have been allowing how others opinions to affect my decision making. For a while I was eating fruit (apples, grapes, plums, peaches), nuts (cashews), avacado and greens, but the majority of my diet was fruit. My friend who is health conscious convinced me I wasn't consuming a balanced diet and the sugar in the fruit was keeping me from loosing weight. I think my metabolism is off from me fasting. I read a lot and notice many raw foodists consume mainly fruits and they are ok. Does anyone know the effects of a high consumption fruit diet on weight loss? Peace within.......

[Rawkinlocs]

I'm sorry I don't have the answer to your question...but I just wanted to say welcome and ask...are you solchile from NP?

Okay, I did want to also ask, how long were you eating that way? In other words, what was the time frame that you ate raw (or high raw) and didn't notice any weight loss.

But I, too, have seen many people switch to raw (and primarily fruit and/or raw recipes) and the pounds shed. Some faster than others. I don't believe fasting would throw your metabolism OFF, though...if anything it should help your body regulate things.

How high was your fat (nuts, etc.) intake?

[Jay]

Hi Solchile, and welcome to this community!!

I've been raw (sometimes slipped a couple of times but always right back on track) since the end of July, and I already lost more then 30 pounds. Now I was and still am overweight, so I still have to lose more pounds, but I just wanted to let you know that you can lose the weight too, even on a diet consisting of mainly fruits. Heck, I've eaten more fruits than veggies! I also noticed that I don't really eat a lot, just when I'm hungry, I'll eat. If I eat when not really hungry, or like in front of the tv in the evenings, my tummy hurts... (maybe because I ate a raw self-made cookie containing nuts and dried fruits, that's apparantly a combination that I should be carefull with...)

anyways, just eat what you like, raw of course, or high-raw, and you'll see the pound will come off.

I also noticed that at certain stages, my weight stays the same for a couple of weeks, and I don't lose anything, But I did notice I still lose something because my clothes kept getting looser around me... so don't get scared you're not losing the weight, just be patient...

The best of luck!

Joke :D (my name)

[CherimoyaMel]

From what I've read, raw foodists who mostly eat fruit usually have problems with tooth decay and mineral deficiencies. I don't know about the weight loss issue, but I'd really encourage you to eat enough greens. Best wishes to you.

[Alissa]

Ok here is the problem. It’s fine to be 80% raw or whatever percentage is for you and if you have a lot of weight to lose then you will still lose. But...
If you don’t have a good amount of weight to lose and your eating raw + cooked you may see it come off very slowly. Here’s why... when you eat just raw plant fats your body uses these. You will not slow down your weight loss by incorporating these foods into your diet, you need them! But if you are eating these high fat foods plus cooked food your body is not getting the chance to cleanse and detox because the cooked food is still creating toxins in your body. So eating a lot of high fat raw foods, avocados, nuts, coconuts, olives, etc... Plus cooked is not a good idea. Switch to all raw or stay with a percentage cooked but watch the raw fats and just eat mostly fruit and greens in between the cooked. Does that make sense; it’s a little hard to explain here quickly.

[solchile76]

Rawkinlocs, yes I am the solchile from NP. Glad to see you here.

Jay, thanks for the warm welcome ....I have seen some changes in my clothes. I started massage therapy school and practicing massage is a workout. I noticed my lower half toning up, but my midsection is pulling in a slow second.

I've been about 80% raw for a little over a month. I eat only fruit in the morning and as a snack throuout the day. I will eat one avacado and a handful of cashews (sometimes more, they are so darn tasty). I force myself to eat one salad (i'm not a fan of greens). Because I don't like eating greens I bought some green food powder and add it to carrot juice. I also try to get in some carrots and celery. I say 80% raw because I still give in to the black beans and tortilla chips. I purchased Alissa's book back in July. I want to try her 4 week plan, but my money is tight so I'm trying to make do with the what I mentioned above. Any suggestions? Peace within.

[solchile76]

Ok here is the problem. It’s fine to be 80% raw or whatever percentage is for you and if you have a lot of weight to lose then you will still lose. But...
If you don’t have a good amount of weight to lose and your eating raw + cooked you may see it come off very slowly. Here’s why... when you eat just raw plant fats your body uses these. You will not slow down your weight loss by incorporating these foods into your diet, you need them! But if you are eating these high fat foods plus cooked food your body is not getting the chance to cleanse and detox because the cooked food is still creating toxins in your body. So eating a lot of high fat raw foods, avocados, nuts, coconuts, olives, etc... Plus cooked is not a good idea. Switch to all raw or stay with a percentage cooked but watch the raw fats and just eat mostly fruit and greens in between the cooked. Does that make sense; it’s a little hard to explain here quickly.

That does make sense. Thanks.

[Alissa]

Great. Actually it sounds like your eating pretty well. You don’t need to count all your fat grams and stop eating avocados, etc... (I get nervous people will cut them out completely) just watch how much raw fats plus the cooked if your trying to lose. Sounds like you’re on the right path though!

[Curtis]

solchile76,
Welcome to this community, nice to have you here! :)

[vegbaby]

Great. Actually it sounds like your eating pretty well. You don’t need to count all your fat grams and stop eating avocados, etc... (I get nervous people will cut them out completely) just watch how much raw fats plus the cooked if your trying to lose. Sounds like you’re on the right path though!
Alissa,

I can't usually get avocados here (occasionally, and they're often bad) and can't ever get coconuts, so all my raw fats come from nuts. I've read that too many nuts make your body acidic, but I dont' have a lot of choice! Oh, and flax seeds.

Melanie

[Sweet lips]

Welcome Solchile.

Glad to have you here! :)

[Alissa]

Mongolia??? Isn’t it colder climate there?
There are certain places that are going to be harder to do raw food.
(Everyone in the states, forget it, you got it easy no matter where you are so don’t think you can use that above statement as an excuse! ;) )
I know people in Alaska, Germany, etc.. That are doing raw but it can be a bit more difficult, so you really need to work with what you have.

[solchile76]

Alissa,

I can't usually get avocados here (occasionally, and they're often bad)
Melanie

Thank you everyone for your warm welcome.

Speaking of avacados. How do you choose good ones. Many, many, many times I buy avacodos they are often bad. Does price really make a difference? Thx......

[Rawkinlocs]

Solchile,

I met this vegan lady at the fruit market once and she told me to get them when they're not REAL soft, but like softish-firmish. But what I began doing (since I don't really use them much except for making salad dressing) is get them firm and green and then leave them on my countertop for a day or two and by then, it's nice and ripe and not too overly ripe (dark inside).

[Alissa]

Rawkinlocs, your so smart with the raw now, look at you go! I was just about to answer this and as i scrolled down there you were, answering the same way i would have!
I was just thinking about you this morning. Look how far you have come since first being on this board, what, 2-3 months ago? WOWOWOWOWOWO!!!
Every time i read a post from you you give such great information, you’re so welcoming and you’re always there to help! Thanks for being part of this board!

[rawjojo]

About Avacados,

Mine are usually dark and icky inside also. Is is safe to eat them in this state or should I just get trid of them. It seems like I through more away than I actually get to eat!

[Rawkinlocs]

Rawkinlocs, your so smart with the raw now, look at you go! I was just about to answer this and as i scrolled down there you were, answering the same way i would have!
I was just thinking about you this morning. Look how far you have come since first being on this board, what, 2-3 months ago? WOWOWOWOWOWO!!!
Every time i read a post from you you give such great information, you’re so welcoming and you’re always there to help! Thanks for being part of this board!

Heeeeyy...is that a compliment or are you calling me a "pre-raw-dummy"?
:( Nah, I'm just kidding - I know you didn't mean anything by it and I thank you for being glad I'm here as I am VERY glad to be here! I DO feel better and more coherent since eating more raw...but I had it going on before that too! :D

@Rawjojo re: the dark avo - I had used them that way before in my dressings but the last time I made dressing using an extrememly soft and dark avo, my husband and both agreed it was the NASTIEST dressing I've ever made...very awful tasting and the only thing different was the "bad" avo. So, no more using them in that state for me! I don't know how safe or unsafe it is to eat them, though. We didn't get sick or anything from it.

[Tanja_swe]

I don't know if this will be of any help or not but I found this page when searching the internet: http://www.thefruitpages.com/

[solchile76]

@Rawjojo re: the dark avo - I had used them that way before in my dressings but the last time I made dressing using an extrememly soft and dark avo, my husband and both agreed it was the NASTIEST dressing I've ever made...very awful tasting and the only thing different was the "bad" avo. So, no more using them in that state for me! I don't know how safe or unsafe it is to eat them, though. We didn't get sick or anything from it.

Uhh...yeah the dark avo is disgusting. I purchased some last week that were not good. That was the third time I purchased bad ones from this fruit market. In my area .99 per avo is a good price, but everytime I buy one at that price it sucks. I think I may have to purchase the $1.99 avos and see how those turn ou.

[ehartmanf]

I guess I'm pretty fortunate because almost all of the avocados I've bought have been good ones. I just love them.