Newbie ? Will you review my diet and make comments?

[LeanGreenMachine]

I'm not 100% yet but I'd like to get there eventually....

Here's what I eat for the most part, of course the fruits vary...

Breakfast: Fruit smoothie with 2 bananas, frozen blueberries and water
Snack: Large green apple
Lunch: Raw cut-up veggies with sour cream dip (a vice to get me to eat my raw veggies for now...veggies are peppers, carrots, broc, cauli, celery)
Pre-workout snack: Green smoothie with pear, orange, banana, parsley and kale
Dinner: Big salad with spinach and spring mix, flax seeds, tomato and Newman's original dressing (eventually I'd like to get rid of the dressing)

My workouts range from elliptical, weight workout, yoga and outdoor activity.

What do you think? I'm not into nuts and seeds whatsoever. I take a B supplement, calcium and a multi and drink only water.

What would you change, if anything? My goals are listed in my signature.

Thanks to everyone for your comments and feedback!

;)

[lavendarJ]

I think you are doing great LeanGreenMachine. You inspire me to keep on keeping on. I was worried about having the energy to do the exercises that I used to do when I was eating all that other stuff (mainly starches and those so-called nutrition bars) I am cleansing but afterwards my eating plan will probably be similiar to yours (except no sour cream, i never have like the stuff plus it is extra stuff that the body doesn't have to have). I usually have my fruit in the morning or earlier in the day. For my salad dressing I usually use a little braggs apple cider vinegar and some spices and call it a day. Sometimes I will throw in some cold pressed olive oil... what's your take on olive oil.

[Rawkinlocs]

Your eating plan looks fine (of course with a couple minor exceptions ;) )

But if you have Alissa's book, make her onion dip. OMG it is SO good and you'll not miss that sour cream dip at ALL!!

Try experimenting with some of the raw dressings as well...there are some threads within our recipe section here with some really good recipes!

[batman]

Have you tried lemon juice in your salad? It refreshing!

[twinee1]

Diet preferences are so personal so it is hard to make to many suggestions on food choices.

I think I would not do the pre work out snack if I was trying to lose weight. I would eat a bit more greens at lunch...or have half green smoothie as pre work out snack and balance post work out. Since you work out mid day you should have enough glycogen stores to fuel a work out w/o having fruit prior.

[LeanGreenMachine]

Hey all and thanks for the comments!

I think cold pressed olive oil is fine but somewhere I read that most brands in a regular supermarket have toxins...always buy it in a dark colored glass bottle. I don't do this yet...I'm still using Newman's original which has olive and canola which isn't the greatest but it gets me to eat my salads. I've tried to make my own with oil and vinegar or use lemon juice but it turns me off.

I plan to get Alissa's book and DVD when I can afford it. If anyone has these items and would like to do a "temporary" trade, I have a great book by Harvey Diamond called Fit for Life not Fat for Life that has a lot of great info in it. I am completely trustworthy and if someone is interested, we could ship the trade to each other then set a time to ship them back. Right now, I'm on a tight budget!

Eventually I'd like to get rid of the dressing and make my own and get rid of the sour cream dip but for now, this is where I'm at. I'm thinking this diet is around 1500 calories so if I cut out the pre-workout smoothie, that would take me down to around 1000 calories....that doesn't seem like much to me. What do you guys think, does my above diet plan sound like too much calories to lose weight without damaging my metabolism?

What have been your results with weight loss and calories on raw?

Thanks for all your help! I love this board and its members, you guys are rawsome!

Kelly in Ohio

[LeanGreenMachine]

PS.....my workout really happens around 5:30 p.m. My last eating before the pre-workout snack would be noon. This is my lunch of raw veggies and dip, not a whole lot of calories. Think I should still skip it? (The green smoothie) Then I would eat the salad for dinner around 7 p.m. This would give me 3 meals and two snacks per day. First snack is the apple mid morn and then the 5:15 pre-workout shake.

I also wanted to say to you guys who have gone on to become certified teachers from Alissa, this is something I may be interested in when I reach goal...and thank you for being our inspiration here on the boards!

Kelly

[JMD]

HI,

WELCOME!! I appreciate your vulnerability and willingness to change.

To me, I would NOT cut out food...This is not a calorie diet--for me..because it keeps me focused on calories and NOT on life and living. Without knowing your height and bone structure and medical history, It seems like you are doing fine. In time, maybe you would like to try different dressings that are raw. I love apple cider vinegar and flax oil which i get at the health food store. Be patient and let your inner self guide you. My thoughts are to maybe record your raw journey in a journal and then see what foods work or don't for you in the upcoming weeks, months, and yrs. My diet seems to transition with the seasons and weather.

GOOD luck!! YOU ARE RAWSOME!!!
JMD