3 weeks raw, too thin

[tames]

3 weeks raw.... I know that part of this detox is losing weight, but I am really getting thin. I have been told that people at work have been asking whether I am sick or not. I feel pretty good but I keep losing weight. I don't know what to do. Everything I have read says that I will gain again. The cravings for me at least have not been too bad for cooked food. I really don't want to go back to SAD, but I don't want to get any thinner.

Sorry, I know all you good people hear this over and over, but us newbies have to let out our frustration. Thanks for putting up with us!

--Tim

[city]

I wish I had your problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eat more fat. Add more nuts and avocadoes also upping your date and banana intake won't hurt.

[tracyinfo]

I agree with city. More high caloric food. Avocadoes are wonderful additions to any meal. Keep some sunflower seeds and almonds soaking and sprouting all the time. (almonds don't sprout much)

Keep us posted.

[sachis2112]

Please don't be too concerned as of yet. My fiance lost A LOT of weight at first but he's slowly putting it back on and is looking and feeling MUCH better than before.

A little note of encouragement. Lance Armstrong lost all of his muscle mass when he went through chemotherapy. After the treatment was over, he gained it all back but it was different. It was as if it tailor-made itself to his needs. So he claims that what he got back was better.

I had to keep telling my fiance this to keep him calm. He stuck with raw and the muscle that he's gaining back (his muscle had started going away too) is all refined... precisely what he needs it for. (He's a percussionist.) I won't be surprised if you gain everything back in this manner over the next couple weeks.

[Autumn]

I think 3 weeks is too short of a time to start raw, detox, lose weight and start rebuilding to your "natural" weight. Give it a bit more time. From all I've read, you will start gaining and reach your perfect weight.

[RawTruth]

Tim,

I disagree with the advice to deliberately add more fats to your diet. Just continue eating like you have been (and like your body tells you to), and your body will continue doing what it needs to do to find its way to health. If it needs to shed more weight, it will. You (the brain and consciousness) don't know what your body intuitively does knows. Just trust the process.

Above all, don't worry about your weight loss. Ignore what people are saying. First, in our cooked food world, people who lose weight rapidly are usually ill. That's reality, so it's not unusual that someone would wonder. Secondly, maybe they were simply concerned about you. Despite that, though, you are the one who seems to be worried that you're too thin. How about if you focus on how you feel.

Consider, also, that mainstream news has been filled recently with reports that the VAST majority of Americans are now overweight, and not just by a few pounds. So, people's perceptions of you being "too thin" are not based on personal knowledge of what an average, healthy person "should" look like. Most people haven't seen many -- if any -- people who are at what I think of as their "true" body weigh, anyway. Thus, their vision has been skewed and warped by the epidemic of obesity that our country is being laid waste by.

I believe that your body will find it true weight on raw, but it's certainly not going to happen when you first begin. Congratulate yourself on being 100% raw and know that this is what happens when one does this. If you're terribly concerned, there are stories of people who have gone before you that you can read so you don't feel like there's something wrong with you.

I personally have been and continue to be told that I'm too thin and have lost too much weight, so I really do understand your situation. However, as I head into my 7th month continuously 100% raw, I rarely give it a thought -- and I definitely don't listen to anyone else's judgment. IF it were a long-time successful raw foodist who said I was too thin, I might possibly listen, but, even then ... I doubt it.

Also, all the long-time raw foodists I've seen, met and read about who are both 100% raw and vigorously active range from quite thin to very lean, depending on their choice of activity. The less thin lift weights or do other strenuous weight bearing exercise. Do you do anything like that? If not, that may be something to consider, also, since increasing your lean muscle mass will give you some (healthy) bulk and also should be included as a part of a healthy lifestyle, of course.

I've rambled on enough, I think. Have faith, Tim. You're doing great and you're exactly where you should be for your own unique and beautiful body.

[flutterfly]

I totally agree with RawTruth. Your body knows what it is doing and will regulate when it is ready.

[jaurequi]

Hi, tames, I like reading your posts! You seem to be doing well.

I put on muscle by increasing my greens via smoothies. I'm not sure, but it must be the excellent absorption of protein and fatty acids (and at the same time) that did it...or that's what I'm positing :).

Are you working with weights? I think this will help put weight on as well as increase your appetite.

I used to consume soy protein isolate (and way too much of it too) because I thought, as an athlete, I needed it on my vegan diet -- wrong! It seems I'm getting all the protein I need and I'm having great results keeping my fat at 10-12% (fluctuates from time to time). Not sure of your fat needs, but I like to keep mine there.

Also, maybe you need more calories. If you get full quickly before you've had enough -- and this is easy on whole foods -- you may want to add some of the dehydrated foods for concentrated calories. Even dried fruit as snacks will up your caloric intake. Just try to brush after eating them! :D
I find I keep my weight in check by not eating concentrated calories; and, I don't care for dehydrated foods anyway. If I wanted to gain, I know how: I would add the dehydrated, higher-calorie -- not higher-fat -- foods.

[Doe]

Tames, please look at these men who have been raw about 30 yrs each. They are healthy and have strong muscles. Gerald (Storm) Taliaferro - http://www.thegardendiet.com/storm.html (http://www.thegardendiet.com/storm.html) and Doug Graham - http://www.doctorgraham.cc/ (http://www.doctorgraham.cc/) click on gallery, then scroll down and click on Can you do this?

[tames]

Thanks all for your encouragement. I have heard of Dr. Doug Graham and maybe should look at some of his material. Funny thing is I have tended to eat that way just naturally. I really like fruit more so than greens. I do eat a large salad everyday. I am trying to like avocados put I am finding it difficult. I have made the Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms (w/guacamole) and find it palatable, but it fills me up fast. I never had an avocado before I started this diet! I think they are much more commonly eaten in California than in the mid-west.

My juicer is broke right now and just waiting for some cash to purchase a green star.

My exercise habits are more aeorbic than anaeorbic. I love Jazzercise, and do try to get to every "circuit" class which uses weights and bands. This type if exercise of course tends to burn more fat/calories than gain muscle mass. Now I can clearly see now it is designed more for SAD eaters. Being single, I do so many things alone, and I really like being part of the class. I do have a weight set here at home that I should start using.

--Tim