I just don't get it.. weight gain

[Gorecki]

hellow! I'm about 80% raw right now. Still in the beginning of the process... but I am gaining weight and I can't figure out why!! I am 170 cm and my weight is 58 kg. For breakfast I eat some fruit. Lunch is a salad with a variety of vegetables. Dinner is mostly a raw food dinner with vegetables. In the evening I grab some fruit. I don't think I eat too much. But when I dare to eat one hot meal I can a lot!! If I don't... I still gain but less. I know this is not a diet to loose weight, but I didn't want to gain either. I can't figure out why, I'm eating less calories than before, no sugar, less fat, no diary,... My only sin is coffee and once in a while a glass of red wine. I don't eat a lot of nuts or dried fruit. Maybe you guys can give me some tips? (sorry about my English, I'm Flemish ;))

[Gorecki]

Typ-o: must be... when i eat a hot meal i GAIN a lot and not 'can' :-)

[kaleboy]

alcohol is full of sugar and if you are having a full fat milk coffee then both of these will give you plenty of fat. Also the alcohol and the caffine may be limiting your bodies intelligence to process food correctly so in a way it is hanging onto the fat at the expense of other good stuff...

[bananaberrie]

So you are about 5ft 6 in and 125 lbs? You are are at an ideal weight, so you might not loss weight very easily. But as far as why you are gaining...well, that I'm not so sure. Have you recently started exercising? How are things moving through you, in other words how are you bowels? When I first went raw I don't think my body knew what to do with everything I was putting in it, and nothing was coming out. Food was going in but no waste was coming out.. It has been 2 months now and I think my body is finally getting use to the change. I too am at an "ideal" weight for my height. And after being on raw for 2 months I have maybe lost 5 lbs. But if I exercise I gain weight even while eating raw. Sometimes I think it just takes a while for your body to adjust to the change. I read somewhere that sometimes some diet take 6-8 weeks before your body starts to drop weight or regulate to the new diet.

Also a lot of people on this forum will tell you that there is a big difference in 80% raw and 100% raw and that the 20% will make a big difference on how your body reacts.

I'm not sure if this was helpful at all, but it will be interesting to hear others take on it. I would just say keep eating raw, give it a least 6-8 weeks to give your body time to regulate to your new diet.

Oh and congrats on an 80% raw diet, that is great!!:woohoo:

[Gorecki]

thank you for the replies!

Well I actually don't drink alcohol a lot, only a glass on saturday and I never at milk in my coffee, so it's pure.

I don't do any exercise because I can't with my Mitochondrial disease. I'm hoping to add some sport after some time, but I have to wait for approval from my doctor...

I will give my body the time to adjust, hoping it'll be fine. I don't mind my weight right now and hope it'll balance out again..

Theanks!:throwhearts:

[BlackKat]

Many times I have seen posts on this forum about people who struggle with weight loss on the Raw diet. I too have struggled.

One thing in common a lot of the times with people who don't seem to lose a lot of weight/see extreme health benefits is that they are under 100% raw. Even me being about 95% raw for months didn't seem to shed many pounds. But after trying 100% for a couple weeks, wow. Everyone was noticing a change in me.

Now, like others have said, you have to go at your own pace and don't push yourself to do something that your body just isn't read to do (or your mind for that matter).

You can still lose weight being ALMOST all raw, but it has been very slow for me, and it stops at times. I end up needing to switch up foods, and exercise a lot more.

Even a small amount of cooked leaves toxins in your body, and just those few measley little toxins may be what's slowing things down.

Just remember to be proud of yourself for coming as far as you have, and giving this raw gift to your body and soul. At whatever rate you are going, at whatever percentage you are doing, there are magical things happening to your body. :dance:

[Aleesha Sattva]

As Alissa says over and over again... it's not the raw foods you are eating... it's the non-raw foods.

It's the coffee and anything else that makes up your 20%... once you release them from your body... you will notice a huge difference. ;)

Welcome!!!

[Gorecki]

I noticed:-) That's why I'm preparing myself for a juicefast. easier for me to keep me on rawfood afterwards. Still need to find some info about it though. Monday will be D-day... gonna stop doing the alcohol stuff. Didn't drink any coffee today though. Went to the toilet today, had been a week!!! Feel much better now

Thanks for the replies!

[proteus]

i'm going to agree with others who say that its because you have added raw foods ON TOP OF what you were already eating instead of replacing it.

if you don't want to go 100% yet, that's fine. i DO recommend that at least 70% of your foods are raw. Not everybody can manage 100% but everybody should be able to do 70%. if 70% isn't working for you then most likely you are getting that other 30% wrong.

we cannot discuss that other 30% on this forum of course. but if you send me a private message i will be able to help you.

[Gorecki]

Hellow,

Thanks for the replies. I don't eat raw ON TOP of other food though;) I start my day with a smoothie, lunch a salad (all raw), in the evening a prepared all raw meal. BUT on fridays, i eat a hot meal in the evening. I eat probably more then 70% raw, but I sometimes drank coffee or a glass of wine. If I eat a 'normal' meal it's cooked veggies. No pasta (gluten allergy), no rice... just veggies...

I can't imagine that I'm eating too much, maybe I need to eat more? I tried to calculate my calorie-intake, but it's never more than 900 MAX!

Anyway I'm sick, got the flu, so I started a juice fast today. Had some lovely greens and beets... I'm going to do this very very easy, because it's my first time and I don't want to mess with myself :)

Quit drinking coffee and wine a week ago, feels a lot better...

thanks for the posts!

[Raw Angel Mom]

Alcohol is very fattening.

Coffee will store the fat.

For myself, i noticed that rice would make me gain weight even if i would exercise. I now do 100% raw much better in term of energy and emotional balance.

Make sure you eat green smoothie, it heals addiction

[Tenuviel]

I really can't believe that eating a plate of cooked veggies or a cup of black coffee will prevent weight loss, especially if eating mostly raw all day. look at the people that lose weight effortlessly on dr. Fuhrman's diet of lb of cooked veggies (green)and 1 lb of fresh veggies daily, raw fruits, beans and 1 cup of cooked rice etc. I'm willing to bet you aren't eating close to enough food. 900 calories will put you in starvation mode. The bare minimum of calories for even a small bed ridden person is around 1200. i'd say either bulk up your lunch time salad, or do another smoothie for lunch, wait a bit, then a salad. or add some more snacks in :)

[Gorecki]

Thank you! I will try to add some meals like salads... I got myself a BIG jar of rejuvelac from my mom. So I'm ready to do the test. I don't have any distractions this week. No birthdays no parties... I only have a family dinner on sunday, will see how that turns out. I hate those party's. I just want to do my fucking raw food thing for about a month without any other meals. But my social life won't let me :(:( And I know, it's only ONE stupid meal a week but it has a big influence on my weight.

I just have to shed about 3 kg that's eum 6 pounds? My mother told me that I'm not loosing it because I'm on a perfect weight. Well perfect for her that is :) love her anyway she's such a great inspiration and helping me a lot. She made me a whole menu for this week... so I'm excited:-)

Hope you guys are doing well. How do you manage your weekends and dinners with family or friends?

[Respeezy]

Obviously you get sick and a flu if you eat under 900 calories.

[SemiAutocraticWeapon]

Hellow,

I can't imagine that I'm eating too much, maybe I need to eat more? I tried to calculate my calorie-intake, but it's never more than 900 MAX!

Anyway I'm sick, got the flu, so I started a juice fast today. Had some lovely greens and beets... I'm going to do this very very easy, because it's my first time and I don't want to mess with myself :)

Quit drinking coffee and wine a week ago, feels a lot better...

thanks for the posts!

So, that may be your problem...when the human body doesn't get enough caloric intake it actually is a detriment to your metabolism. Someone earlier mentioned working out...a similar thing occurs to people that make any sudden changes to calorie intake, be it burning more or taking in less. It confuses the body, and to counter that your metabolism slows because it thinks you are starving.

When I was 100% raw a couple years ago I was able to get plenty of variety and calories, even being athletic and a totally normal weight for my size. I actually lost about 7-10 pounds after a week or so, but then maintained.

[Gorecki]

Just a little update...

I KICKED OUT MY SCALE :woohoo:

That stupid thing was taking control of me...

So I kicked it out, didn't weigh myself for about a week (that's a long time for me, i used to weigh myself 3 times a day) and went on the scale a week later at my parents in laws' house. I lost 3 pounds :dance:

I had a family dinner on sunday but I did great and took my own food with me. They understood so that's nice. My father in law can totally dig it and is now trying to make raw food himself ;)

I made a deal with myself and I'm only weighing when I'm at their house, which is every two weeks.

I think I just didn't loose anything because I couldn't let go. I tried to control my weight constantly, but didn't realize I was screwing with my body.

Feel good now. 1 1/2 week 100% raw... :cheer:

[Stina]

How much weight do you want to lose?

[Gorecki]

How much weight do you want to lose?

Not too much anymore... Weighing 56,5 right now. Would like to end with 54 kg

[GlimR]

I'm the cook here so if I have family/friends over then I make food for them which includes a huge salad and I eat that with some avocado/nuts, etc...and just enjoy their company. If I am going out to eat, sometimes I bring things with me to add to a restaurant salad....dressing in a small bottle, strawberries, clementines & glazed nuts or an avocado.....something to make the meal more substantial. If we go to a mexican restaurant I order quacamole & salsa and bring my own raw chips or flax crackers to dip with. Your friends and family will eventually just take it as what you do, no big deal unless you make it one. Wishing you the best.

[GlimR]

Hey, I just saw your post about the weight loss and taking your own food!!! Very cool. Good to see you feeling great about you.

[MamaJ]

New to this group! Ive been having the same problem and dont get it either! Over the past year Ive been on and off raw foods. Did a 92 day juice feast last year and lost a ton of weight but went back to eating cooked foods...not great choices to say the least. After falling of the wagon Im back on raw foods 100%. I really wanted this time to be successful since I plan on having another baby next year... or at least being pregnant next year. I want to have a completely raw pregnancy in hopes that the second one is easier then the first. Ive been eating enough...or at least I think so. I have fruit in the morning and a veggie/ fruit and maca shake mid morning. my biggest meal of the day is lunch. I usually have a huge salad with avocados, nuts, veggies, etc. Then I have a snack in the afternoon and a light dinner which is usually carrots or celery with raw hummus, oranges, melons, apples, or grapes. I don't let myself get too hungry and eat every few hours. I could be drinking more water then I am so ill be working on that. I dont count any calories but have been weighing myself everyday. I have bedtime tea at night and a lightly caffinated tea in the am with raw honey...its a skin detox tea that makes my skin look extra glowy:) I drink wine occasionally. I think that last time was two weeks ago but its not a habit. Not more then once every two weeks I would say. I am usually at the gym 5 days a week but have been slacking since I feel like Im detoxing and am just not feeling the motivation but Im waiting for it to kick in. I only went twice this week. Last week I lost a few pounds but starting gaining back this week. What gives??? I have my wedding in 4 months and already had 10lbs to loose. Not happy about the weight gain but not about to cut back on what Im eating since I feel pretty satisfied with my diet. I love not having any cravings for cooked foods. 100% is the way to go for me. Any advice? Also, Im totally sick! Was feeling totally amazing last week and the begining of this week and now im n bed with a head cold. What the heck??? Oh and ive been 1005 raw for 2 weeks now!!!