Raw Living Question!

[bowenkm]

Hey Everyone,
I am new here and I was thinking about going raw! :eek: lol.
I have a few questions first.

1. Is it hard to stay on this diet?
2. Could you please give me a very specific example meal plan (exact lol) for a day?
3. how much calories, fat, etc do you eat on this diet?




Thanks

[Mindatrisk]

Hello,

I'm a newbie too, i've been about 3 weeks eating raw vegan. Is it hard to stay raw? YES, but only if you aren't enjoying what you eat. That was my problem in the first 2 weeks because I was making very healthy but very horrible tasting smoothies, and I ended up lapsing. Now, however, I am making much more effort and i'm actually excited about what i'm going to concoct and eat. A further thing is to always have some raw fruit, veg, seeds, nuts etc. to hand in case you end up in a situation where you are hungry and become tempted to just eat whatever is available and convenient.

I'll give you my best day's meal breakdown. Some days have been good, some bad, this was the best:

Morning... Pear, spinach, banana, ginger smoothie.

Lunch... A large plate of chunky sized yellow pepper, tomato, carrot, celery, apple with a tomato, garlic, paprika, red pepper sauce to dip into.

Tea... Avacado, mixed nut, chilli, tomato, red pepper pate on baby gem lettuce leaves. For dessert, blended mixed nuts and dried fruits with a sauce of blended strawberries and frozen berries poured over.

During that day i'll have picked at some dates and figs too.

I think the trick is to be as open to as much fruit and vegetable as possible. I'm not at all fussy, so it means I have loads and loads of options of different things to try, combine, experiment with to keep things fresh and interesting.

Good luck with it, it's about trial and error, and not giving yourself a hardtime when mistakes are made. Whatever steps you make, this is a positive direction, so be patient and give yourself time to adjust and find an enjoyable place to be in. :)

[bowenkm]

Thanks so much. i have a few more questions. is it bad to have over 250 carbs a day? that seems like a lot and you would gain weight off of that. and also if im a teenager and i concume 1500 calories a day with 150-180 carbs per day with 30-40 fat. and i was eating really healthy and im 125 and 5'4 tall. if i start eating alot of fruit and veggies and eat raw wont this make me gain the weight back

[Raw Angel Mom]

Get Alissa Dvd's NOW. It is so inspiring and it really leave you with the feeling that this is so easy.

Of course this could be a journey but at some point, you will tell yourself, there isn't any way that i am going back to my old ways.

Yes, it may appears overwhelming at first but once you learn the little trick and how to prepare this amazing food, you will be excited. Allissa's dvd is the one dvd that truly made me feel that i could do this.

Give a try and see for yourself.

My food meal are so much different then from a few years ago. At first, i will have nut soaked all the time, to be ready to make gourmet. But now, i eat simple because this is what i feel like. A simple coconut noddle with tomato sauce, green smoothie and sometime just whole food such plain tomato. Once you know how to make live food, your life will change and it will be so much easier. At time, i can go banana and make all kind of gourmet meal, such cookies, crackers, cheese, loaf, stir-raw vegetables, taccos etc....

Learn to make couple nice dressing salad, couple pate recipes, couple simple recipes and desert and you will be all set for a while.

Take a plunge and give a try!

[janicejourney]

bowenkm: I have personally never gained weight on raw. I have only lost weight eating how ever much I want and whatever I want. I am 5'6.5 and 124 lbs. I have had to try not to lose too much on raw though. Try it for 2 weeks of eating everything you want and you will be shocked that you not only don't gain but you might even lose weight. Restricting fat/calories for me on this lifestyle doesn't work at all. HTH :) Blessings and enjoy.

[DawnD]

I agree with Raw Angel Mom. Get a few recipes that you like lined up so that you have something to go to each day. Its all about being prepared. I had a hard time at first because I had to keep my husband pleased and it was stressful. Get a few breakfast ideas-fruit alone or smoothie. Lunch-salads, dips, pate with a side. Dinner-Pate with side, tacos, pizza, salad. Snacks-fudge, fruit, dates, crackers. You are recreating you lifestyle so be patient and go easy on yourself until you find your niche. Also, I don't count calories and my weight holds steady at 120.

My raw day: Fruit-papaya and banana pudding, 1 grapefruit later, green smoothie at about 11am. Heavy smoothie mid afternoon-almond milk, banana, strawberry, blueberry, hemp, maca, cacao, greens. Dinner-nut pate with vege side, taco, pizza, guacamole and salsa, etc.

Hope this helps. I wish you success. Raw is worth you time!

[blizzardfrisbee]

I've only been raw for about 2 months now. It hasn't been hard for me but that is probably because I love fruit and veggies of all sorts. I was at a conference the last couple of days and everyone around me was eating cooked foods that really smelled good. I wasn't tempted but I think that was because I am committed to eating raw and have great will power. I'm doing this because "I" want control of my health. I saw my health going on a downhill slide the last few years(kidney stones, artthritis, a couple benign cysts and high blood pressure) and I had been searching for something to stop the downhill slide without the medicines everyone is so quick to grab from a doctor. I first went vegatarian in March and then in 2 months ago raw.

What am I eating??? Well I have been experimenting. I always have fruit in the morning--just plain or in a smoothie. Then for lunch a salad--sometimes will have crackers I made in the dehydrator with salsa, dip or raw cheese. For dinner, I have a raw veggie type of salad- with a meal I've made. I've made spaghetti, faladels, and raw pizza so far. Hmmm! Very good.

I still feel like I am in the experimenting stage--still getting the hang of the dehydrator.

I love being raw!!!! Have so much energy-- it feels like it is popping out of my ears!! :)

[beckyh]

Hello! I enjoyed reading your post about going raw. I have been going raw for about 3 weeks. i am not totally raw because of my family, I only eat a cooked meal for dinner and I take enzymes with that meal. Do most of you only eatuit in the mornings, and do you wait and eat every three hours or just whenever you want to? I am waiting to get my Vita-mix blender so that I can make some good green smoothies and other delicious meals. I am getting ready to order Alissa's book, do you think that i need the dvd? so far no one has answered anything that I have posted on here and I noticed there isn't a lot of activity on these boards, is that normal? Thanks! Becky

[blizzardfrisbee]

I went breakfast, lunch and dinner usually but have started to just get into the habit of eating as I'm hungry. Sometimes it is small and other times more a meal. I have Alissa's book and dvd. I think the dvd is a must! It was very helpful just to watch how easy she made it look to make foods. Well, I seem to think that there is plenty of activity on the boards.

[beckyh]

Thank you for your response. When I was looking at some of the forums some of the last activity was back 2009, and then I joined a group but i noticed that the group hadn't been active since 2009. I did just order her book, but you think the dvd is a must, i guess i will have to get that also. Could I ask you want you eat. Do you usually eat your fruit in the mornings, or all the time?

[Revvell]

You're over-thinking this. On raw, we don't count calories, fats, carbs, etc. We eat what we want, when we want and eventually we can hear what our body's want at any particular time.

Even now many will say eat only fruit for breakfast. If I feel to eat pizza or lasagna or nothing at all I do.

If you look at "New Posts" of "Quick Links" you'll see what's going on here/now. Yes, her dvd's are a "must".

For some, this food program has been very easy; for others, not so. Just like anything, commitment in important. Some are what they consider 100%; some not. There are no definites here. We're all on our own path/journey. What's yours? That's what's most important here ~ to you!

~ Revvell ~

[beckyh]

You hit the nail on the head, I am over thinking it too much! I always do that when something is new to me. When you say pizza or lasagna is that raw or cooked? I want to eat raw, and so far I have been, and I am trying hard to not be in the old mind set of couting calories, fat, carbs, and everything. I enjoy working out and before I started eating raw, I had to count everything and make sure that I was feeding my body the proper amount of nutrition. Thank you for asking me what is important, and that would be my health. I appreciate all of your input!!:)

[Icequeen]

The diet was very hard for me to stick to in the beginning. My cravings were insane and my detox was icky. BUT... after the first couple of weeks, the insane cravings went away and it was easier. I fell off the wagon after a surgery and am now getting back into the swing of things, and going through the cravings/detox all over again.

For the first time in my life, I don't count ANYTHING. I don't count carbs, I don't count calories, I don't count fats. I eat what my body craves, without thinking twice and the pounds just melt away.

Oh, and what do I usually eat... it varies every day. Somedays I crave greens and make green smoothies, or green juices. I did a green juice yesterday that had apple-spinach-lemon and carrots and I'll be darned if it didn't keep me full for 8 hours! I had it at 2pm and wasn't remotely hungry until 10pm, at which time I had some grapes. Other days I want something fat laden for breakfast... on those days, I'll pull a piece of my favorite raw lemon cheesecake out of the freezer and eat that. I basically just graze all day long on what my body wants. The last couple of days it's been on a cesear salad kick... so I'm going through the romaine like crazy with the raw cesear dressing. Other days I might not eat anything but fruit all day.

[Basenjimamma]

I agree with what most have said..don't think about it and listen to your body..no counting needed.
I eat when I am hungry, sometimes a lot sometimes not much at all.
In the beginning I ate a lot of fruit (well I still do..lol), avocados, and greens..I slowly got into adding more advanced meals, but I seem to be the happiest when it is simple and not so advanced. I love Alissa's book, it is my bible..I don't have the DVD, yet, but I have heard nothing but great things about it.

Good luck, I believe in you.

[beckyh]

Thank you so much!! I just ordered my vita-mix blender so I haven't been able to make the green smoothies that i want to becuase my old blender is horrible. I also did just order Alissa's book. Do any of you live in the NorthEast? I live in PA and I am a little nervous about going into the winter months without a lot of produce to choose from and the warmth! I do have a question about hot water, is it okay to use hot water to make some soup or even raw "oatmeal"?

[janicejourney]

Also, I am pretty sure she meant raw pizza or lasagna :)

[beckyh]

That is what I thought. Is there recipes on here for both of those dishes? Do you order any raw food online, if you do could you recommand a good website? I have been ordering some of my foods from rawguru, i was just wondering if there were any other websites that you would recommand. Thank you

[janicejourney]

I like Natural Zing and of course Alissa's store on this website. The raw pizza and lasagna recipes are in Alissa's book and if you search here on this site you will probably find plenty of other recipes for them too.

[mommyliz]

def get the dvds! they make the book even that much more helpful/useful and they motivate you to read the book and make the recipes!

[CosimaMoon]

bowenkm: I have personally never gained weight on raw. I have only lost weight eating how ever much I want and whatever I want. I am 5'6.5 and 124 lbs. I have had to try not to lose too much on raw though. Try it for 2 weeks of eating everything you want and you will be shocked that you not only don't gain but you might even lose weight. Restricting fat/calories for me on this lifestyle doesn't work at all. HTH :) Blessings and enjoy.

So is the weight you're at the one you want, and you have to try hard losing more than that? I'm about your same weight/height, but I'm afraid to go high raw again because I always gain weight.

[BlackKat]

It was difficult the first few days, then once I started learning more and more it got easier. Sometimes it sounds more difficult than it actually is. Quite frankly it is the easiest diet of all for human kind. People seem to think that food should be "on-the-go" and fast food ideas are slammed into us daily. There should always be time to eat!! it's what keeps us alive and breathing!

A motivator for me has been what my kitchen now looks like. Before everything was stuffed in the fridge and freezer (tv dinners, chicken nuggets, tater tots, ice cream, cookies, cheetos, loafs of bread, etc.) It was very very dull. Now, my kitchen has so much color. A rainbow. Fruits and vegetables are beautiful to look at and make you feel amazing.

When it seems like it's hard to keep up, just remember... you are only doing what is absolutely natural for your body and mind.

[Revvell]

You hit the nail on the head, I am over thinking it too much! I always do that when something is new to me. When you say pizza or lasagna is that raw or cooked?

This is a raw website.... From Alissa's book, of course. :D

[maria84]

I personally find it hard so far and I've been weening myself on for half a year or so.

I really like variation in my life and I don't have a dehydrator or juicer so far so that may be part of my problem. Also, when you're so used to making cooked recipes, it's a whole new world making raw recipes that actually taste good!and i've tried some recipes from youtube and boy, does on person's taste vary from another's!

[janicejourney]

So is the weight you're at the one you want, and you have to try hard losing more than that? I'm about your same weight/height, but I'm afraid to go high raw again because I always gain weight.

I am at a great weight right now. In the past when I went raw I got comments about being too skinny. I probably got down to 117 or so. 2 things I do now to not get looking too skinny are: make sure I work out a lot, so I have good muscle tone under the fat that I lose and bump up the green smoothies and calories. I eat plenty of fats and such but mind you I still lose eating this way until I hit my ideal weight, which I think is 120-125.

I am not sure what "high" raw means to you. My "high" raw is all raw except some coffee in the morning, sometimes blue corn chips some days, maybe 1 or 2 nonraw foods per week. The rest is 100% raw. Doing this much raw I never gain. What is the definition of high raw for you?

[ArcturusXIV]

Calorie: a unit of heat equal to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water by one degree at one atmosphere pressure; used by nutritionists to characterize the energy-producing potential in food.

No, you will not gain weight. Read Eating for Beauty by David Wolfe NOW! He also takes some Kirlian photography of vegetables, both cooked and raw, interesting to see their auras and compare their energy levels. It gives you some insight into the food you're eating!

[bing]

Raw food is indeed personal journey. Some may have similar experiences but it all boil down to hearing what your body is trying to tell you. We shouldn't be too harsh on ourselves. Just focus on healthy living and everything will just follow through..(good benefits and all). :)

@ janice: thank you for your post. Now I know how to combat with being skinny when I'm on raw. I will now plan for possible physical workout.

[beckyh]

I personally find it hard so far and I've been weening myself on for half a year or so.

I really like variation in my life and I don't have a dehydrator or juicer so far so that may be part of my problem. Also, when you're so used to making cooked recipes, it's a whole new world making raw recipes that actually taste good!and i've tried some recipes from youtube and boy, does on person's taste vary from another's!

I totally understand what you are saying. I am the same way. The hardest thing for me is that I still have to cook for my family. It is a whole new world. So far my favorite things have been the salads, desserts, and some of the smoothies!! But I totally get what you are saying!

[blizzardfrisbee]

I live in PA--Duncannon PA! Where are you?? I have been raw for 2 months.

[beckyh]

I live in PA--Duncannon PA! Where are you?? I have been raw for 2 months.

Are you talking to me? Becasue I live in Downingtown, PA. Not sure where you are?