Green juice/weight loss

[tames]

--Sigh-- Well, everbody is different. It is my opinon that for some green juice may slow down, and for others it may not. I have been drinking a Victoria Boutenko style green juice every day for the last two weeks. I was down to 140 lbs and have now lost 8 more. Talk about skinny. I got lots of bones showing that I never knew I had. I had held at 140 for about 4 weeks and hoping that I was now stable. But nooooo. So, for me, it may have introduced yet another detox period. I have been raw since July 1.

Since I am so thin now, the temptation to go to cooked is very great. I feel good, but I can't stand to look at myself in the mirror. I really look bad (as far as thin), and people are very genuinely telling me that I look very thin, and are very concerned that I will become anorexic. And yes I am eating avocados, salads, olive oils, nuts - all the fats. I also eat a lot of fruits too. Banannas galore. Bananna ice cream with walnuts and honey nearly everyday. I have even started eating late in the evening too since that was a "trick" to try. I am afraid to exerise too much for fear of burning too many calories. Besides, weight training is not going to make my face fill back out, I need some fat.

So, I am at 132 lbs today. 145 I can live with, 132 I have to do some serious thinking.

Sorry to be so discouraging. It is really funny how raw affects people differently. I would still recommend it to anyone, even though I may not last too much longer.

--Tim

[Rawma]

Tim,
Could you post the recipe for the green juice you are drinking? I am shopping for a good one!
Thanks,
Lisa

[Curleedst]

I am shopping for some good green juice as well.

[VeganVixen]

lucky ,lucky ,lucky .........

[Halo Aglow]

I would like to know this green juice recipe as well.

[Punky]

I wish I had that problem Tim :p
All kidding aside, I know males tend to worry about their weight loss
since some will be thinner than they would like or that they consider healthy looking. I only know enough to be dangerous here, but I believe I have heard many males lose a lot of weight at 1st detoxing (more so than women)than later "regain" it to a weight they are more comfortable
with. I think? it was Paul Nison that went thru this. Correct me if I am wrong someone...but read up on him Tim!
Sorry I am not more of a help with suggestions, but I did want to reassure you this happens to a lot of males esp. at the beginning.
If you have not heard of Paul Nison, he is a prominent lecturer & writer
in the raw food movement and has a website (not sure of the actual link but I am sure it will pop up if you google it).

[Punky]

http://www.paulnison.com/

[jaurequi]

tames, I'm so sorry you're struggling :(
I would hate for you to start eating unhealthily!
If anything, perhaps you could eat lightly cooked foods in addition to a predominantly raw plan? Maybe beans and steamed potatoes?

I hope, whatever you do, you do it with your optimal health in mind :)

A man, stephen Arlin, is supposedly a raw body builder and he states:

"I currently eat, by weight, about 70% raw, organic fruit, 25% raw, organic, green-leafy vegetables, and 5% raw, organic nuts and sunflower seeds. Note that I'm using the botanical definition of a fruit which is: A fruit is something that contains the seeds within itself for regeneration of the plant. Avocado, tomato, cucumber, squash, pepper, etc. are all botanical fruits." You can read his interview HERE (http://www.living-foods.com/articles/bodybuilder.html)

He has a book out (in the above link at the end of the interview) for which, I cannot vouch; however, perhaps it is worth a read before you make a final decision.

Best,

[tames]

Thanks all. I am still raw... I am trying some more grains/dehydrated stuff. We'll see.

My green juice is fast and easy. Using a blender:

1 cup water
1 apple (I like red delicious) cut in chunks
1/2 lemon with peel cut in a couple pieces
blend that up

Add
1 carrot - cut in chunks
1 stalk celery with green tops - cut in chunks
Several pieces of romaine lettuce or anything green you want. Just wad it up and stick it in the blender.
I add about another 1/2 cup water to thin out the thick goo.
If I want it sweet, sometimes I add some agave.

I then pour the goo into a nut milk bag over a large bowl. Then just "milk" it by squeezing out the juice. Put the pulp in your garden or compost pile.

This is VERY easy, and takes about 6 minutes including rinsing out the blender. The lemon with peel takes out the "gag" factor in green drinks!

--Tim

[shadymonk]

Being skinny and being healthy are two different things. Without knowing all the particulars, it is hard to say if your weight is good or bad. How do you feel? How is your energy level? Are you getting sick or weak? Have you considered that skinny may just be your body type? Just some thoughts.
-Chris

[Jackie1995]

Wow!

I make green smoothies, but I don't turn them into juice (i.e. leaving the pulp behind). With lots of variety, I drink the blended results, and *sigh* have experienced little or no weight loss.

But I feel great! And I get in my greens, which would be sorely lacking in my diet if it were not for the blending of various fruits and veggies (with kale or spinach being a staple of my smoothies).

In fact, a typical smoothie of mine hits at about 450 calories.

My recipe:
banana - 1 small or medium
honeydew, pineapple, nectarine, pear - pick one or two
yellow squash, zucchini, cucumber, celery - pick one or two
flaxseeds - 1 tbsp
water, ice
kale, spinach, collards, mixed greens, other lettuce - pick one

blend like crazy!

Enjoy!!

Makes me feel good, gives me energy, but no weight loss at all. On the other hand, I'm not exercising for more than 45 minutes each day, and I'm working sitting down...so no surprise there, right?

Hope this helps a little.

[shadymonk]

Hey Tim, I just found this on Victoria Boutenko's website in the FAQ:
<<<I'M LOSING TOO MUCH WEIGHT ON RAW FOODS, HELP!
As far as body weight goes, everyone reacts differently to raw foods, but I do believe that your body does eventually reach an equilibrium. The symptom of weight loss can happen during the first year of transitioning to raw food because assimilation is still low due to toxins in the body. When the body is loaded with toxins it becomes unable to assimilate nutrients. Eating more food doesn't help. What to do? How to make the body cleaner? By cleansing it with the means of a raw food diet and even fasting. Eating more nuts cannot help. Nuts are not very easily digestible. As long as you are on a raw food diet and you have plenty of energy you are likely doing the right thing.

I also believe that there are a number of other factors that affect body weight. Stress seems to be my number one factor; as my stress reduces so does my weight. Something that so many people overlook though is the need for exercise. Of course raw is a great thing for the body, but exercise is equally important.>>>
Peace.
-Chris

[skeenan37]

Tames - I sent you a pm

[TimmyC]

I call mine Tim's Green Juice.

Benefits for me:
1. I am more energized the day I drink them
2. I am way more positive the day I drink them
3. I feel that I'm losing a ton of weight because I drink so much green.

These two things are hard for me to explain, because it's like I'm riding a high for the rest of the day! It is awesome.

However it might not be the best tasting drink in the world, but I don't care as these other affects are to great for me.

Recipie:

Makes 32 oz plus:

2 green sour apples
1 huge bunch of broccolli or 7-10 giant leaves of Kale
16-20 oz of water.

I blend it all together and sip through a straw. It's pretty simple, but it works well for me.

(Another Tim)

[Ariannah]

There should be a book called "Greens not Prozac" :D :D :D :D :D
My favorite fruit base for my green smoothies is watermelon. It's a "watery" fruit and makes it so I don't need to add water. This morning, my DH asked me to make him a green smoothie! and I used watermelon, banana, kale and baby greens. YUM! (Sorry, I don't have amounts of each)

[TimmyC]

Good Idea!! I'm sure I could get a Dr. to help write it...or begin the study.

[sport]

"My favorite fruit base for my green smoothies is watermelon. It's a "watery" fruit and makes it so I don't need to add water. "

It is not recomended that you mix watermelon with any other food as the enzymes required to digest it are completle unique and will clash with the enzymes required for the other fruits. The saying regarding watermelon is "eat it alone or leave it alone". When I eat it I do not eat anything else for half an hour at least.

[Ariannah]

This is the type of news that did not make my day. :( But thanks for telling me. I see so many other smoothie recipes that have melons added to them, and thought this would be nice....

Sigh... live and learn. :( :( Lightbulb moment, I guess. I knew this about cantaloupes, which are also a melon, and should have clued in about watermelon too, also a melon....

Well, I'm going to do new smoothie recipes.

[twinee1]

tames...try adding more substance to your greens. I am using apple, lemon, whole bunch of Romaine and one huge bunch of Kale and 5-6 stalks of celery w/ maybe 1 cup water.

[Beanie]

You can put the WHOLE lemon in the vitamix including the seeds? Boy that would make my life easier!! :)

[tonibird1]

Can you please tellme what the Victoria Boutenko stylegreen juice consists of.
As you said everyone is different. I have been doing a green lemonade for a few weeks now but my weight has not changed much. I am approximately 95% raw. Maybe your cocktail will help.

Thanks,
Tonibird1 :(

[Healthe]

Hi Tim,
Here's an article by Dr Douglas Graham that might help.

http://www.fredericpatenaude.com/skinny.html

Hope this helps, Sandy :)

[Sharon in Colorado]

Tim - I know how this is - my husband lost a lot of weight and went off raw - but heck it was only 10 days for him.

How tall are you by the way?

I suggest you seriously consider a consult with somebody like Dr. Doug Graham before throwing in the towel. He's coached hundreds of people and even world-known athletes on the raw diet. The expense would be worth it, as far as your health is concerned. He has a raw & sports board on vegsource.com but he won't answer specific health questions directly on the board, however a private consult with him would help immensly. Many others on the board may be able to answer other questions.

By the way the refenced article in the post above mine is excellent. Please take a moment to read it. And it sounds like what you are eating from your OP with some of the details of your diet that you probably fall into that cateogry.

[TimmyC]

Sandy,

Thankyou so much for sending me that link! It's a fantastic article!! I will definitely keep everything the Dr said in mind as I go forward in my raw journey!!

Tim

[Maverick]

Interesting topic, I have given this some thought and the article kinda of reinforces what I was thinking about calories. Before discovering raw vegan, I went on a reduced calorie diet this Summer and I dropped 35 lbs in about 3 months. I basically put myself on a 1200 to 1500 calorie diet during this time. I wrote down everything I ate, so after doing this for a while you kinda get an idea of how many calories are in the food that you consume.

Long story short, if you eat a lot of vegetables which are nutrionally dense food vs. caloric dense food, you are going to lose a lot of weight or have a hard time putting weight on.

Just for instance, I have been drinking fruit smoothies recently, and I was surprised today that I ate drank about 40 ounces a green smoothie and I tallied up the calories and it came out to 1500 calories, and that was just for breakfast! According to my age and weight etc., that would be 2/3rds of my daily caloric intake requirement assuming I just wanted to maintain my weight. Another words, if I wanted to lose weight in my instance I would have to eat lightly for lunch and dinner.

Bottom line, record what you are eating everyday and calculate how many calories you are consuming. I bet you will be surprised, and from there make adjustments in what you are eating by increasing more calorie dense foods if you want to gain some weight.

Best of luck. :)

[Healthe]

Hi Tim,
Here's another article that I read from Fred Patenaude website that was interesting:

http://www.fredericpatenaude.com/purehealth/091505.html

Go down in the middle of the newsletter to read an article on about weight gain.

Sandy :)

[TimmyC]

another great article!!


Thanks Healthe!


Tim

[TimmyC]

I feel so stupid...this thing was directed at the other Tim who started the message thread. Anyway, these articles are fantastic, and good to keep in mind as I go through my raw journey!

[rawpriestess]

Tim (Timmy C) let me tell you a story so you won't feel stupid.

There was a thread marked "GINGER" and one of our regulars name is Ginger, so she thinks it's to her, and goes in to see what's up, then she finds out it's about the root "ginger" and so, in her beautiful way that she has, she told us all about it so we could laugh WITH her, definitely not AT her.

You see, we ALL make mistakes, those of us who can laugh at ourselves, will always be joyful. So, laugh, it was funny, and you aren't the ONLY one who has ever dont this for sure.

LOLLOL

HAHAHAHAHA HAHAA HAHHA AHAAHALOLOLOLOLOLLLLOOOOLLLLL

tee hee. snicker, chortel, guuuufffffaaaahhhhh. smile :o)

[TimmyC]

RP, thanks again!!!

I was laughing but turning red on the outside...one of my major faults that I need work on is not to take myself so seriously. You're too cool! That response helps me do that that's for sure.


...but you know what? I know I was supposed to read those articles. They talked about those that don't eat enough, and I know people on here are thinking that, so I read it intensely to see if it applied or should apply. So I'm very glad these links were posted, and will keep this info in mind as I go forward. Right now I just listen to my body, eat when I'm hungry, and eat the types of foods my body is telling me it needs. It's working too. None of this woould have worked for me unless I had good teachers such as yourself and others. Thanks once again.

Tim

[twinee1]

I just love this website, Frederic writes some great useable articles. He wrote :Eating a low-fat, high-fruit diet will not cause insulin levels to spike, will not cause unneeded weight gain and will not cause a fatty liver. People condemning a fruit-based diet have obviously no experience with it.

I am living proof his above comment is true. I was diagnosed with (reactive) hypoglycemia in 1994. Since then I totally avoided foods like FRUIT ( told not to eat any carbs unless eaten with protein but ugh I would not do that so I cut it out of my diet for 11 years !)

When I went raw I was concerned about the fruit in a mono meal (I am food combining) but alas after my two week of detox (at which time I felt horrid and had multiple blood sugar crashes EVERY DAY! ) I can eat fruit any time and type !! No problem !!!! I have not had any blood sugar issues since going raw (after the detox)

The only issue I have is with raw honey, and dates, raisins prunes. So I just avoid the dried sweet fruits.

Leslie

[TimmyC]

That's excellent twinee1. Good for you that you're having so much success with the raw food diet! I love reading posts like this as I have a few dear people that can use this information for bettering their own health. Thanks for posting!!




I just love this website, Frederic writes some great useable articles. He wrote :Eating a low-fat, high-fruit diet will not cause insulin levels to spike, will not cause unneeded weight gain and will not cause a fatty liver. People condemning a fruit-based diet have obviously no experience with it.

I am living proof his above comment is true. I was diagnosed with (reactive) hypoglycemia in 1994. Since then I totally avoided foods like FRUIT ( told not to eat any carbs unless eaten with protein but ugh I would not do that so I cut it out of my diet for 11 years !)

When I went raw I was concerned about the fruit in a mono meal (I am food combining) but alas after my two week of detox (at which time I felt horrid and had multiple blood sugar crashes EVERY DAY! ) I can eat fruit any time and type !! No problem !!!! I have not had any blood sugar issues since going raw (after the detox)

The only issue I have is with raw honey, and dates, raisins prunes. So I just avoid the dried sweet fruits.

Leslie

[Sharon in Colorado]

I feel so stupid...this thing was directed at the other Tim who started the message thread. Anyway, these articles are fantastic, and good to keep in mind as I go through my raw journey!

You know I thought it was kinda funny myself, because you were answering the posts but where's the Tim who originally posted the question? It's like you took his place!

[sweetgoddess]

you are absolutely adoreable Tim!! :) :p

[TimmyC]

You're making me blush :o

[Douglas]

Just buy some weights and start working out you will put on Muscle and have your weight gain. You will bulk up some and feel much better. I read Dr Fuhrmans book and he says we are spose to be real lean. I know I like to workout myself. It looks good to have some muscle or for the ladies to be real tone. Plus it is good for you heart to get a good workout anytime. Give it a try and see what happends Doug In Calif....... :) :D :eek:

[RawTruth]

Just for instance, I have been drinking fruit smoothies recently, and I was surprised today that I ate drank about 40 ounces a green smoothie and I tallied up the calories and it came out to 1500 calories, and that was just for breakfast! According to my age and weight etc., that would be 2/3rds of my daily caloric intake requirement assuming I just wanted to maintain my weight. Another words, if I wanted to lose weight in my instance I would have to eat lightly for lunch and dinner.

Bottom line, record what you are eating everyday and calculate how many calories you are consuming. I bet you will be surprised, and from there make adjustments in what you are eating by increasing more calorie dense foods if you want to gain some weight.

Best of luck. :). . . this is a very old discussion that seems to crop up here every so often. If you search through the archives, you'll see how it's been debated and how this expert or that expert and various articles are named. But, since there are a few newer people here who may not have participated in those ... I'll be the one who steps in with this --->> Calories DO NOT count when you're a raw and living food vegan. You cannot compare this lifestyle to any cooked food diets. It is not the same. You cannot bring the "matrix" mindset to raw and living foods -- it is a completely different paradigm. Calorie counting, fat grams, sugars, carbs ... all those things we've been told for years are important are NOT important when eating raw and living foods. Our bodies do NOT function the way that we've been led to believe when we're eating the natural way that we were made to eat -- raw and living foods.

I am very aware that there are members here who ascribe to Doug Graham's philosophy. That's fine, well, and good. If that's how you choose to eat raw, may you live long and prosper. However, many/most (?) of us here at this forum don't. Alissa has written here in a few long, detailed posts -- with respect and admiration for Doug, who is her friend -- why she doesn't believe that is the optimal raw food diet. And why there is no need to count calories. This is also mentioned in her book. I personally believe that counting calories is detrimenal to our physical and mental health. It's important to let go of those ways of measuring . . . it's making something that's so simple much harder than it needs to be. Just make the dang smoothies, drink them, continue eating all raw each and every day ... and you'll achieve heights you wouldn't have dreamt were possible.

[TimmyC]

Well said Raw Truth!

I'm no expert (hopefully I'll be one someday), and I really liked what Alissa had to say after a lot of reading. So I'm following her at first blindly, but now with more knowledge behind me...I don't count calories, I eat when I'm hungry, listen to my body about what to eat (and that is balance in itself), don't weigh myself, and eat simply, and it's working very well for me.

Tim (advocate of Alissa, and her belief in raw and living food)



. . . this is a very old discussion that seems to crop up here every so often. If you search through the archives, you'll see how it's been debated and how this expert or that expert and various articles are named. But, since there are a few newer people here who may not have participated in those ... I'll be the one who steps in with this --->> Calories DO NOT count when you're a raw and living food vegan. You cannot compare this lifestyle to any cooked food diets. It is not the same. You cannot bring the "matrix" mindset to raw and living foods -- it is a completely different paradigm. Calorie counting, fat grams, sugars, carbs ... all those things we've been told for years are important are NOT important when eating raw and living foods. Our bodies do NOT function the way that we've been led to believe when we're eating the natural way that we were made to eat -- raw and living foods.

I am very aware that there are members here who ascribe to Doug Graham's philosophy. That's fine, well, and good. If that's how you choose to eat raw, may you live long and prosper. However, many/most (?) of us here at this forum don't. Alissa has written here in a few long, detailed posts -- with respect and admiration for Doug, who is her friend -- why she doesn't believe that is the optimal raw food diet. And why there is no need to count calories. This is also mentioned in her book. I personally believe that counting calories is detrimenal to our physical and mental health. It's important to let go of those ways of measuring . . . it's making something that's so simple much harder than it needs to be. Just make the dang smoothies, drink them, continue eating all raw each and every day ... and you'll achieve heights you wouldn't have dreamt were possible.

[Ariannah]

I completely agree with RawTruth as well! Raw is the easiest way of life, and there is no need to complicate things. It's nice to always eat whatever I truly want, and let my body do it's own thing. Like Tim, I eat quite simply, but throw in a few recipes every now and then for a bit of variety, and above all relax and enjoy!

[fiddler]

Hi Tim,
Here's an article by Dr Douglas Graham that might help.

http://www.fredericpatenaude.com/skinny.html

Hope this helps, Sandy :)

Thanks so much Healthe for posting this article. I've been wanting to learn more from Dr. Graham since a friend of mine recommended him a few weeks back.

[vegggeeemom]

I have to agree with RT and TimmyC.
I don't count calories either. I need to up my green smoothies that's for sure.
Getting ready to make one right now.
Along with Tim and Ariannah, I also eat very simply. I LOVE it. When I first started raw though, I had to have prepared items.
But, the longer I am raw, the easier it is getting to eat just pick up and go foods.
Cheaper on my pocket book as well!

Once in awhile, as others have stated, I will prepare something.
But, it's been probably a month or more since I've fixed any raw gourmet dish.

Eating simple is the way to go for me. But, for me it took time to get to this point.
For others it seems to come naturally!