New here....weight loss & raw?

[pureMama]

So, I've been about 90% raw for the past 2.5 weeks. The only cooked foods I'm still doing are hardboiled eggs, beans, lentils and rarely brown rice.

I'd love to be completely raw but I think its just hard on my budget :( I feel best at 100% raw but its nearly impossible for me (at least now)

Anyway, I'd like to lose about 10-15 lbs. I'm curious how to do this on a raw diet. I've already lost about 5 or so pounds since I started but I'm not sure if I'm doing the right things...quite honestly I'm lost.

How many calories is right for me? How much fat? Protein? Can anyone direct me in the right path?

BTW I'm 5'6 or so, and 135lbs, I've got a lot of belly fat I'm trying to battle right now. Any tips on a raw diet?

[revdrcyn]

Well, you are not overweight, but Green Smoothies could help with the belly fat.

One of the raw gurus, maybe Doug Graham, explains that toxins are stored in fat cells. When we introduce greens into our system, especially blended (since cell walls are broken down), toxins are released from said fat cells.

The result supposedly is a decrease in visible body fat.

Green Smoothies are delicious no matter what!

[Linds]

pureMama,

Green Smoothies rock & they really fill you up! Since I've been raw I've never counted calories, fat, protein, anything - it's been really nice : ) I just make sure that I'm eating a bunch of greens, veggies, fruits & nuts (less of fruit & nuts, more greens/veggies). I've never had a problem with protein, but I do make sure that I incorporate chia seeds, hemp seeds, ground flax seeds every day. I bet if you wanted to go 100% you would be able to - give yourself a chance before saying you can't : ) But I'm with rev, definitely start up with the green smoothies!

[CathyA.]

GS all the way!!

[pureMama]

well that is encouraging. I bought a huge load of greens today. I've been doing green smoothies but I keep running out of greens and bananas LOL. I'm still not used to how much stuff I need to buy at one time. I've just been making spinach/bananas so far. I made a collard greens one and I almost threw up. LOL, any suggestions? Should I add flax in there? Any good GS recipes I should know about? :)

[Emma Jane]

There's a thread at the top of the recipe section of this board with 70 GS recipes, check that out! ;) XxX

[Shels]

I agree with everybody, green smoothies work wonders - but make sure you chew them! It's important for your digestion, so either leave some pieces in there to munch on or maybe sprinkle some pine nuts in at the end or something.

Although eating raw will do amazing things for your health and body, odds are it alone is not going to get you the results you want, and you'll have to exercise a bit as well. (I'm mostly worried about my belly as well, so I do pilates).

Try not to overthink your food. Specific amounts of specific nutrients are less important than we're taught to think they are today. (For example, Americans are baffled that we get any protein without meat, any calcium without dairy, etc.)
Just eat what feels right, and stay away from grains and processed food. Drink lots of water every day, and wait until you're really honestly hungry to dig in.
Above all remember greens, water, and sleep. Good luck!