shifting from processed high fat raw to whole food raw? (bit long)

[rkk]

Hi all. I used to be quite active on this site a year back, and have recently been more active again here as I started eating all raw again 10 weeks back (almost 2.5 months). For those who might remember me from the past, I previously struggled to stay raw for a week or two without falling off the wagon... so for me, being 100% raw consistently for 10 weeks now is a huge accomplishment. (I guess I'm more like 99% raw since I'll have the occasional herbal tea, or put some store bought dried herbs on my food - but whatever.)

Anyway, one of the things that is helping me this time around is allowing myself to eat whatever I like as long as it is raw. That means I eat fruit and vegetables, but also eat a lot of nuts and packaged/dehydrated raw foods, or goodies from a nearby raw restaurant (like raw cakes etc). I often put avocado and olive oil on my salads as well. Calorically I don't think I'm eating all that much... probably not enough. However, my fat percentage is pretty high with all the nuts and seeds in my diet. I don't think I am eating enough whole foods, as a lot of my raw food includes packaged snacks with a few fruits each day thrown in for good measure.

A few years ago (back in 2006), I attempted raw food for about 6 months (not continuously as I kept falling off track and binging on cooked foods every few weeks.. so it was nearly 4 months of actually eating raw in total). At that time I had joined a group that advocated a low-fat whole foods raw diet. I lost weight fairly rapidly (38 pounds over the 6 months.. from 196 to 158 pounds). And I felt absolutely amazing and happy and wonderful inside. Unfortunately I wasn't over my food addictions and went back to my old ways and gained all the weight back and more. :-(

This time, I don't feel the same way I felt before. I have lost 18 pounds in the last 2 months (I am currently 5'2" and 181 pounds). However, of that, I have only lost 2 pounds in the last 6 weeks... which is painfully slow, especially as I have so much more to go. I just started a jogging program over a week ago (as I wasn't doing any exercise previously), but I haven't lost any extra weight yet. Unlike my attempt back in 2006, I don't feel as alive as I did back then. I still have a bit of depression (although I am able to manage it without any meds, thanks to raw food)... so it's not terrible, but I could definitely feel much better. I think eating more fruits and veggies and less dense nuts and seeds would make me feel more alive and happy. Although I don't want to eat as low fat as I was previously eating, I want to at least eat a comparatively lower fat diet (like 20% fat or so would be good, I think). Or if I do eat fat, I would like them to be in whole form (like avocados) instead of packaged snacks (like raw cashew cookies).

I wanted to ask if any of you have any advice for making this shift. I know the easiest advice would be to say "just do it". But I want to know things like... does this shift to less processed foods occur naturally the longer you are raw? Or do you consciously have to push yourself to eat more whole foods and cut out the junk? For me it's a fine balance, as I want to eat more whole foods and lose weight and be healthy, but I don't want to feel 'deprived' again and fall off the wagon like I did in the past... as I want to continue my raw path. I think emotions also play into it, as crunching on those snacks allows one to eat for emotional/stress reasons, and it seems eating whole foods doesn't have this effect.

I welcome any thoughts anyone has on this. Thanks so much for reading!

[amarryth]

I think a good way for you to start your transition would be for you to make those treats yourself. The convenience factor is part of the trouble. If you have to make those cashew cookies yourself, you probably wouldn't do it as often (it's so much easier to grab an apple!). Saving the treats for once in a while is a good way to go.

I believe we naturally progress towards more whole foods, but you do have to give it a bit of a kick start.. if convenience foods are a daily thing, that is just wayyyyy too easy to hold on to.

Good luck!

[seria]

congratulations on what u have achieved so far
are u juicing or having smoothies both r quite filling i juice 2 times and have a big salad 4 lunch and i make myself a raw brownie which is my treat but only have a bit every day that fills me up and i normally lose at least a pound every other day if not every day
try and reduce the snacks and incorporate more greens via juice or smoothies dont go cold turkey as it might send u backwards
my husband has suffered from severe depression has been hospitalized but since last year and being 99% raw he is doing wonderfully hes out of work at the moment and i was worried that might make him feel a bit low but he has been feeling great good luck x

[RawKnitster]

I'm searching for the same answers you are looking for.

I'm coming up on my two year raw anniversary and have not lost any weight for a year. I'm 179 pounds, 8 pounds more than I was a year ago. I hate to bust the raw myth about eating whatever we want, but after two years of raw eating and still experiencing ups and downs in weight, I've reached the conclusion that it doesn't matter if we are eating raw cookies or avocados. After the first few months of being raw and the initial loss of some of the more toxic pounds we are carrying, it all comes down to one thing... calories in, calories out.

There have been times when I feel the call to eat more simple whole foods. It doesn't last more than a day or two, then I am back to making something special. It keeps me raw and healthy, but doesn't help meet my goal of weight loss, which can be a little depressing.

Recently, my tastes have been changing. I'm getting fed up with rich nut based foods. Haven't given them up yet, but I feel the time is drawing near. So to answer your questions.... Yes, I do feel the shift, but it isn't enough. If I want it to happen, I need to start consciously pushing towards making the choice to eat simple, whole foods. :)