4 questions

[livenraw]

I thought I would ask these all in the same post instead of making them separate post. Saves time and space, you know.

First, why am I still craving a lot of fat and wanting to eat a lot of fat? This is my 4th week in and I thought by now, I would be tapering off of eating a lot of fat. However, I was really, really, really hungry the other day and I tried my best to load up on a ton of vegetables and fruits. It wasn't until I ate an avocado that I was satisfied. Is my body just not ready for less fat yet? Or am I just one of those who will be prone to eat a lot more fat, than say, someone else? I know everyone's body is different. I also wonder if maybe my craving for fat stems from the fact that I did Atkins for almost two years and ate a ton of fat. Could that be it as well?

Second, my 4th week in started last Wednesday, and since then, I have been craving heavy, cooked foods. Why is that? I haven't given in to any, and at the wedding, I stuck to fruits and veggies - even though the heavy, cooked food smelled good and looked good. How long before that craving passes? I thought I'd be over it by now.

Third, is there any natural remedy to get rid of that metallic smell on your breath? I never know I have it, but my dh has been kind enough to let me know that I have it (in a nice way, of course) I've tried brushing my teeth a ton of times as well as gargling with mouthwash but to no avail. Is there anything else anyone can suggest for this? Or is there something I can eat that will work to prevent that metallic smell?

Fourth, how do you truly define raw? Now I have some people who decided to go raw and it's been explained about nothing being cooked over 115 degrees. So the other day, someone asked me if an egg would be considered raw if it weren't cooked above 115 degrees. How do I answer that kind of question? I have a feeling I'm going to get questions like this a little more now, (well, wouldn't meat be considered raw if it's not cooked over 115 degrees?, etc) so is there a true defintion of raw so they totally understand it and what it truly is (and I guess that way, I can understand it more, too)? I can't even imagine just EATING an egg right now. Blah. That doesn't even sound good to me. But I'd like some type of defintion or explanation about the question with the egg so I can pass it on to them.

TIA for the answers you give and for taking time to read this long post!

[sweetgoddess]

Hi livenraw.

I remember Alissa talking about how people in the beginning stages of raw, "think" they should be eating less of this ( mostly I see fat and fruit thought of), or taking this and that, and begin adjusting their diet based on what their mind thinks it "should" be doing. I believe she stresses listening to your body, and what it tells you. After 4 months there is no stage you should be at. There is no reason to think that after 4 months you should cut down on fat when your body is clearly telling you to eat it.

Gosia has been raw a few years and has posted of her natural progression. You may want to look up hr posts, or maybe she will respond here. RawTruth has also posted about her natural progression. So I think it is very important to allow your body to naturally progress through its raw journey, listening to it when it signals you to eat an avacado, to eat more of this, to ick dont want that. Your body is your best guide. If it wants more fat right now, dont deprive it. It is doing a lot of work in there and needs its building tools!

I remember Alissa talking about how people start adjusting their raw diet based on something they read, or what their mind thinks, or what someone else is doing, and it is too soon, and then they struggle. The body knows!

As far as the raw egg/raw meat question, there are people who eat raw animal products. You could simply explain you are a raw vegan and do not eat raw animal products. If that wasnt sufficient, you could also explain the dangers of eating raw animal products, such as bacteria for one ( ecoli, samenella(sp?) etc. Not to mention the pesticide/antibiotic and other unnatural and unhealthy raising practices going on.

I am not going in order here, LOL. The metallic smell is detox. I dont know how you would stop this, and I am not sure stopping it would be beneficial. Maybe you could chew on mint leaves , drink lots of water to help flush out what you are detoxing, an enema to help flush out....just some ideas, I am sure you will get more in this thread.

I cant answer you on the cravings as I still get them also.

Blessings to you~

[Sweet lips]

I won't be in order -

S.G. is right - it is metallic breath is detox, I have found that placing cloves in my mouth, or dropping peppermint or spearmint drops on my tongue, helps out and I do not offend anyone, or taste nasty in my mouth.

What is raw -Raw is uncooked food, be it meat, eggs, dairy or the like. However for the purpose of this board, many of us are raw vegan here. Raw vegan diets comprise three key food groups: sweet fruit, high-fat plants and greenleafy vegetables. Additionally, included high fat foods such as avocados, olives, nuts, seeds and cold-pressed oils. Depending on what you are eating, you may fit either category.

For a little while, you may need to include the fat in your diet, since the avocado relieved the desire and abated your hunger.

Although, you have lost a tremedous amount of weight, being a raw vegan was not the method, this is not the way that it was done, so your body may be in another phase of detox by your eating raw. I can stress enough that you should listen to your body, and continue to enjoy your success. :)

[deedub]

Both the Sweets have responded on the breath issue.... Detox- it's a good thing. The raw thing... Raw is uncooked, but just because its uncooked does not mean one would want to eat it..
The cravings, time heals all and everyone is different. Example there are people who say they quite smoking/whatever and never again wanted another cigarette/whatever. I quite smoking and occasionally think smoking would be a good idea. I call this a craving. I do whatever I have to do to get over it. I quite drinking 15 years ago and occasionally I think it might be a good idea to have a drink. I call this a craving. I do whatever it takes to get over it. I quit eating cooked food 3.5 months ago. Often I get the idea to eat some cooked food. I call this a craving. I do whatever it takes to get over it.
I do whatever it takes to get over it because I have compelling reasons why I quit doing whatever is was that I quit doing.
Hope this helps.

[Gosia]

1. You have answered this question already. I agree with you. If you need an avocado to satisfy your hunger, then have it. Why suffer? Enjoy your raw foods, do not deprive yourself, and do not worry about the fats. I learned that the amount of fats I eat is inversely proportional to the amount of fruit I eat. That is, the more fruit I eat, the less fat I eat, and vice versa.

2. In my experience, when I am all-raw, then I do not have cravings for cooked foods. Sometimes, when I have some cooked foods, out of curiosity, for example, I pay for that with cravings coming back (as well as constipation, dehydration, tiredness, pimples etc), and, interestingly, after that, I always want my fruit back. So, it is best to avoid cooked foods altogether. I think that it is actually easier to be all-raw than say 95% raw. It seems to me that a transition to all-raw diet may be a gradual process. Perhaps some can just do it instantly. For me, it took months to get used to a new way of eating. Now, I do prefer fruit over pizza, for example. Over 2 years ago I would think that I could never satsify my hunger with fruit. Now, I eat fruit all the time, and I could not satisfy my hunger with pizza!

3. Make sure that you eat plenty of juicy fruit. This should help!

4. Raw is defined as not heated over 115 F. Raw vegan is raw and vegan, which is the diet that this board is dedicated to. I like eating food that is as close to natural as possible. Fresh fruit and greens are two main ingredients of my diet. We buy fruit by boxes and greens by tens of bags, we also grow our own greens. When we buy a house, I would like to plant some fruit trees...

All the best,
Gosia.

[tames]

Yep, eat what your body is telling you to eat! For me - take simple water for example. I was not much of a water drinker before raw. EVERYTHING was diet pop or errr soda depending on where you are from in the country. I am six weeks raw, and I have to say that just a couple days ago I drank some water, and thought: Oh man this tastes good! So for me, it took six weeks to drink water and enjoy it not just because I have to.

--Tim