Are you mad??

[Werevegan]

as in mad = crazy? :p

Thats what I ask myself as I think about going 'all raw' again. I'd like to share some of my previous pitfalls with everyone and get some suggestions on making it work this time.

I've tried Dr. Graham's program a couple of times, and found two issues that consistently made me stumble:

1) The need to count calories to ensure enough food intake. According to my understanding, one of the main reasons people fall off the raw diet is not eating enough. Hence the need to count calories to ensure you eat ENOUGH, instead of too much.

2) So, while trying to count calories, I found that I was having to stuff myself with fruit, to the point of being uncomfortable afterwords. For example, eating 8 nectarines at one sitting. :(

I've browsed a number of threads on the site already regarding calories, and the consensus I've seen here is that it is unneccesary. Just eat when you're hungry, and eat til you're satisfied. Does that sound about right?

One of the attractions of the raw diet for me is not having to cook. :o So the idea of having to spend a lot of time making dehyrdated or other 'gourmet' raw foods is unappealing. Do you find it necessary to 'uncook' your food to make this work?

I'm sure I'll have plenty of other questions, but let me say thanks in advance for the plethora of advice I'm sure to receive. I've spent two or three days browsing the boards here and am happy to be involved with such a friendly group of people.

:)

[sweetgoddess]

Hi WereVegan and welcome.
You are correct that the consensus here on this forum is that it is not necessary to count calories, fat grams, carb grams etc.
Eat when you are hungry, eat what your body guides you to eat and eat until you are satisfied sounds just right!

You do not have to dehydrate your food. Plenty of people on the forum dont use dehydrators. There are so many things to make with a blender or food processor and of course such a huge variety of whole foods.
I do have to say though from my own experience, that using a dehydrator is easy, just whip something together in a few minutes, throw it in the dehydrator and take it out sometime the next day when you feel like it. lol

In the recipe forum here, you will find tons of recipes, lots that dont require a dehydrator. Use the search feature up top to search anything you think of. example: fudge, brownies, raw chili ( this is just as good not dehydrated btw)....etc Alissa's book also has about 300 recipes in it.

Best wishes to you as you start back to raw.You can do it! :)

[RawTruth]

Yep, I have to admit that I'm mad and have been completely so for 7 months now. :D

Sweetgoddess has already answered much as I would, but I'm going to go ahead and respond to some of your questions, anyway. Okay?

According to my understanding, one of the main reasons people fall off the raw diet is not eating enough. Huh. I hadn't heard that. Perhaps it's mostly with the 80/10/10 theory. I believe that the most common reason people fail at eating a 100% living food diet is that they aren't adequately prepared -- in their kitchens, in their daily routine, at work, in restaurants, when starving at the end of the day, when stressed -- and also inadequated educated about exactly what cooked & processed foods do to their bodies.

So, while trying to count calories, I found that I was having to stuff myself with fruit, to the point of being uncomfortable afterwords. For example, eating 8 nectarines at one sitting. :( Yuck. It seems so much more natural to simply feed your body what it wants/needs and stop when it's had enough.


I've browsed a number of threads on the site already regarding calories, and the consensus I've seen here is that it is unneccesary. Just eat when you're hungry, and eat til you're satisfied. Does that sound about right?Yes, this is the approach advocated by Alissa Cohen, the owner of this site, and which is explained fully in her book Living on Live Food. I'm mentioning that because it offers a simple, logical and fully-articulated rationale for eating this way. It also explains how, after time, your eating will undoubtedly change as your body detoxifies more and more.


One of the attractions of the raw diet for me is not having to cook. :o So the idea of having to spend a lot of time making dehyrdated or other 'gourmet' raw foods is unappealing. Do you find it necessary to 'uncook' your food to make this work? Nope, I sure don't. Not now. However, during my first months, I did make raw gourmet kind of a lot, and I did buy and use a dehydrator in my 2nd month. It took me a while to evolve into eating the way I do now which is almost no raw gourmet (except occasionally at a restaurant), and little to no dehydrated (again, except sometimes when eating out). I eat very simply now, and it works really well.

[sport]

Hi There
You could try juicing and that way you can have the benefit of more produce and more neutrients without actually having to eat lots.
Green smoothies are easy to make and very worthwhile.
I find the dehydrator handy because it is very simple to make a huge batch of crackers and they are then available if you ever need a munch in a hurry. They are also handy if you have to travel. You can just eat them with tomato or avocado or on their own.
Low calorie diets have long been held as life extenders as long as you are getting enough neutrients.
Good Luck with it

[Werevegan]

OK, I admit it - I've never been much of a cook, if I couldn't burn it on a grill I usually wouldn't make it. Yes, I can make rice, steamed vegetables, macaroni and cheese but thats about. What does this have to do with raw? Well, I've never tried any raw gourmet foods for those same reasons - seemed too complicated. But then again, thats just an assumption, because I've never really browsed through recipes for raw 'uncooked' foods, either. (Some of the pics didn't look all that appetizing anyway.. :D ) But I will take a look this time around and see if there are some I can experiment with.

I did and do juice frequently, and make smoothies. I really enjoy them. I kind of thought I could live off smoothies, but the tiny voice of 'conventional wisdom' in the back of my head tells me I 'need' something more substantial. :confused: LOL

And yes, eating socially is one of the other pitfalls that knock people off raw. It was a problem for me as well. Between the two, I can't say for sure if it was trying to eat too much food or eating out too frequently which really did me in, although it was probably both. :cool: I agree though, Raw Truth, that it is a definite 'yuck' moment when you force-feed, even if its just fruit! :eek:

[FreshAir]

I never was a great cook either (I'd rather be out in my flower garden :p ) and usually cooked begrudgingly! But now, I just throw everything in the blender or food processor. And you don't have to spend a fortune on either one to start out with either.

I do find having raw crackers and almond butter on hand, and fudge in the freezer will get me thru any crisis I'm having. And surprisingly, when I eat out, just knowing I've got a yummy dessert to come home to, keeps me content without going overboard. I usually order salad when I'm out, not because I HAVE to, but because I really want it. I tell them to hold the meat but put more of everything else raw on it. I've yet to have a bad one. I'm still having trouble giving up the diet coke, but I am down to just one glass and only when I eat out :)

I try to remember the person who wrote in (sorry, I can't remember who that was) that said "do the animals is the forest need to use fitday.com to figure out if they are getting enough calories, carbs, proteins, fats?" I was skeptical in the beginning when people here said your body will tell you what it needs. They were right. The first time I made guacamole, I thought I'd eat it all day, every day. The next day, I had no interest in it at all, and I wanted fruits and veggies. Sometimes I think we think too hard about this lifestyle, instead of just doing it. It's really great.....just eat raw!

[tames]

I never was much of a cook either. Ate a lot of take-out and fast food. However, I am finding this uncooking rather fun (6 weeks raw). Tonight I had the stuffed portabella mushrooms. It took about 6 minutes to prepare. That's it!

I did start dehydrating this weekend. I really enjoyed having the crunch of the flax cracker.

At the point of raw that I am at, I love discovering all the great things you can make. To die for: Alissa's Blueberry Pie. I just can't get enough, and very easy to make. I have people at work that I gave a little bite to asking me to make a whole pie and bring it in, but as soon as I make it I want to hog it all for myself. --Hey-- we need a pig smilie!

Get her book, you won't regret it. I also have her DVD set showing how to prepare some of the foods. Very informative. It made all this so much easier. Sounds like you have some experience with this already, but we want to keep you and your palate interested enough to stay raw for a long time!

--Tim

[Punky]

as in mad = crazy? :p

Thats what I ask myself as I think about going 'all raw' again. I'd like to share some of my previous pitfalls with everyone and get some suggestions on making it work this time.

I've tried Dr. Graham's program a couple of times, and found two issues that consistently made me stumble:

1) The need to count calories to ensure enough food intake. According to my understanding, one of the main reasons people fall off the raw diet is not eating enough. Hence the need to count calories to ensure you eat ENOUGH, instead of too much.

2) So, while trying to count calories, I found that I was having to stuff myself with fruit, to the point of being uncomfortable afterwords. For example, eating 8 nectarines at one sitting. :(

I've browsed a number of threads on the site already regarding calories, and the consensus I've seen here is that it is unneccesary. Just eat when you're hungry, and eat til you're satisfied. Does that sound about right?

One of the attractions of the raw diet for me is not having to cook. :o So the idea of having to spend a lot of time making dehyrdated or other 'gourmet' raw foods is unappealing. Do you find it necessary to 'uncook' your food to make this work?

I'm sure I'll have plenty of other questions, but let me say thanks in advance for the plethora of advice I'm sure to receive. I've spent two or three days browsing the boards here and am happy to be involved with such a friendly group of people.

:)


Hey WereVegan!
Lots of great advice already so I won't repeat everything!
You do not have to count calories at all! Doug Graham is wise but
may not be the program for you right now. I think counting calories
would only be needed if you are NOT losing unwanted weight eating raw
for awhile, or you are losing too much weight that you don't want to lose.
Also if you highly active and athletic. I guess what I am trying to say
is just eat raw and enjoy...later if you need to "tweak" your raw diet
look into it, but it is not necessary.
Just make sure you eat a variety of food as time goes by to include
different nutrients.

And if you don't like to prepare a lot of gourmet raw--don't!
It's just there if you need these things and can help people
transition to raw from cooked at times. The longer I am raw the more
and more I enjoy eating more simply...and my appetite decreases too.
If unCOOKING intimidates you Alissa's DVD shows you how to use
a lot of the equipment.
It helped me a lot when learning to prepare some dishes.
Good Luck on your raw journey!