A bit confused...

I've been 99% raw for 6 months now and have heaps more energy - it's great! Interestingly, I haven't lost any weight. That's not what I'm doing this for - I know my body's working on other stuff just now so it doesn't worry me at all. But I DO want to give my body the best environment for healing that I can... so when, about a month ago, I realised that I was having trouble digesting all the fats I was eating, I cut way back - to about 1/6 avo and 1tblspn mixed sunflower/pumpkin seeds a day. I have no gallbladder so fats are hard for me, and cutting back to this amount made a huge positive difference.

I'm just coming out of my second liver flush (in response to my body's signals re: not digesting fats) and, like the last one 2 weeks ago, I've lost weight - about 4 or 5 lbs. I'm assuming that's only coz you have to cut fat out completely for the three days before and the day of the cleanse (apart from the olive oil, lol) and I do for a day or so after coz it knocks me around a bit...

But what I want to ask, and it's probably a silly question, is this: why do I only lose weight when I cut out fat altogether? I mean, cutting down from what I was eating to the amount above was a huge change but didn't have any impact on my weight at all - only no fat at all seems to do that. Now I am NOT prepared to continue on no fats beyond what's requierd for the cleanse - I know my body needs fat for various cellular processes etc and I'm for health not appearance - but I am really curious as to why this happens... after 2 years of only gains or at best, maintenance, to lose 5lbs in 4 days is astounding! It's not that far from my normal daily intake to no fat, so why the huge change in weight?

I have a feeling there'll be such an obvious answer to this that'll I'll roll my eyes at myself and go 'of couuuurse!' lol but for the life of me, I can't figure it out on my own. :rolleyes: So, thanks!

I don't know because I'm just the opposite. If I don't eat enough fat I hang on to the weight.

Hello aussiebeachgirl and weclome to our group.

You are not the only one I've heard say this. The ones that had these experiences found that that 1% not raw and and heavy fats just could not be handled by their bodies. Once deciding to respect that fact and take that last step things started flying health and weight wise.

Don't ever worry about not geting enough fat on raw. Everything from lettuce to tomatoes and watermelon has some fat and it's in just the right form for us. Since you are already raw why not do a 30 day challenge going that extra 1% and only giving your body what it can handle. Baby it for 30 days and see how much it will thank you for the effort.

Teri S

Hi Teri, and thank you :) Sorry, but do you mean to try cutting out fat altogether for a month? Is that healthy? Everything I've ever read says we all need at least some fat. I don't want to compromise my health just to lose weight... even though it's a sign that things aren't quite right, it's just not that important in the big scheme of things. I'm in this for life so there's plenty of time for the weight to come off when it's ready...
At the same time, I know I have trouble with fat, so if what you're saying is healthy and ok, it might actually free up some energy for healing that's currently going to process something that's hard on my mutilated system. Though the amount fat I have now seems to be fine.
Oh, and when I say I cut down on fats, I mean nuts - I don't eat cooked fats at all...

How long have you been raw? (or did I miss that?) Maybe part of the problem is that your body is healing, or compensating for recent surgery on your gallbladder??? That would be my guess. Maybe your body is working REALLY hard just to digest the tiny amount of fat you digest(because of not having a gallbladder)...hence you not loosing weight. Just my thoughts.
Wendi

I think Doe meant a 30 day 100% raw challenge-- not a 0% fat challenge.

Thanks for the suggestions Tvillemom... but the GB surgery was 11 years ago, so it's def not from that. lol. And I've been raw for 6 months now.

Ah, anamnesis, that makes more sense! I didn't think it would be safe to go no fat at all. I know what Doe is saying, but I'm not ready to try the 30 days yet. I know I will be soon but in order for me to stick with it for the right reasons (and not coz I'm an obedience nazi) I have to feel the effects of the 1% physically. Like, feel crook after a cooked meal or other non-raw indulgence. If I went 100% before that happened, I'd only be doing it to do 'the right thing' and that's not good for me!

Does anyone else have any idea why I'd suddenly lose weight in this circumstance? Thanks!

I guess my question is do you want to lose weight? Some people start raw at their ideal and so no weight loss is normal for them.

Secondly, Is there a reason once a month you couldn't do a few days fat free? If you want to lose weight that is. If this is how your body finally loses a few pounds and you want that...then eat 100% raw throughout the month and then spend a few day straight, fat free, when you feel your body urging you to. Then you could lose some and still have a few fats the rest of the month to keep satisfied.

Just an idea.

I've discovered even though we are all on a raw journey...it is distinctly our own. What works for one of us, won't for someone else. I noticed that when I added more fat, I lost more weight...which is in direct conflict with what I read about most. :rolleyes: Crazy our individuality....but so worth it when we figure out what works.

I think what doe meant (I may be mistaken) is that 99% raw may be holding you back some. There is a huge difference in health and weightloss between 99% and 100%. Why not try a 30 day 100% raw challenge. Hope all goes well with you!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by aussiebeachgirl

Hi Teri, and thank you :) Sorry, but do you mean to try cutting out fat altogether for a month? Is that healthy? Everything I've ever read says we all need at least some fat.

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All raw plant material contains fat. It is not possible to eat a raw plant based diet and be fat deficient. To illustrate this:

% of the calories in raw food from fat

apples - 5%
bananas - 4%
blueberries - 6%
cantaloupe - 7%
carrot juice - 3 %
celery - 7%
collards - 12%
cucumber - 11%
lettuce - 13%
spinach - 13%
tomatoes - 13%

They also all contain protein. It is not possible to eat a 100% raw food diet and become fat or protein deficient.

Yes, the 1% cooked can keep the body from releasing toxins, fluids, and weight. Especially if that 1% is seasonings. If you have been 99% raw for 6 months without the results you are looking for why not try 30 days at 100% raw without added fat. Of course the fruits would have to be increased for the calories if eliminating the added fat calories.

For someone starting out on raw 30 days of anything raw is great and brings tremendous benefits. 6 months is wonderful. To continues receiving increasing health the time eventually comes to start tweaking what raw foods are being eaten.

The above nutrition info came from www.fitday.com

blessings,
Teri S

Thanks Doe, LayLay and ShelShel

ShelShel, that is a great idea, and one that didn't even occur to me! I haven't weighed myself in about 18 months but I'd guess I'm about 74kg/163lb and I'm 5'8" so I'm not overweight as such, but I am carrying about 24lb more than my 'average', the docs say from PCOS, I think something else entirely. So yeah, I have weight to lose but I'm in no hurry.

Doe, you know, after writing a few days ago that I don't think I'm ready for a 30 day challenge, it seems that maybe I am - I went to a conference today which I had to specify my dietary requirements for: Gluten-free Vegan. Anyway, yesterday I decided that I didn't want to eat cooked at this function, even if it was GfV, so I made a raw brocolli curry to take with me for lunch and fruit salads for morning and arvo tea. I've never done this before for a work function but it went fine - I didn't even look at the food everyone else was eating! It was events like this that I was saving my 1% for, but now I stayed raw for that, it's actually been EIGHT days straight of raw, and as it happens, the 4kg I lost doing the liver flush have stayed off!!! Unlike last time when I 'had to' have a SAD day a few days after it and the weight just came straight back on...

So, it seems I'm doing the 30 day challenge!! GO ME :D LOL
Wish me luck...

Aussiebeachgirl,
Excess weight has more to do with overall body toxicosis than eating too much or eating too much fat. The reason why we notice weight loss when we stop eating fat is that fat digestion requires energy that the body would otherwise use on cleansing the toxins that it stores in fat cells. This is why some people, including long-term raw fooders, can eat lots of fats at certain times and not gain weight at all. I overdo fat sometimes but weight gain is never a problem -- there are other, more subtle signals that tell me I'm overconsuming fat, like lethargy, mucus, or cold sores.

The weight loss you're noticing in such a short period of time is probably mostly water, because even though the "cleanses" that are ingested are harmful, there is little eating that is done during them so the body is able to divert the energy it would normally spend on digestion to eliminating the stored and circulating poisons that it normally needs water to dilute.

It's not only the eating of fat that causes a (toxic) person to retain weight, but eating complicated recipes, spices, and 'foods' that are eaten only to flavor other foods like vinegar, salt, raw soy sauces, etc. However, it's very important in transition to stay entertained so that being raw is not a sacrifice. This is so important that the trade off of having to be a bit more patient with weight loss is well worth it. People who get in a hurry to lose weight and move to a very strict fat-free diet too soon usually end up going backwards.

Best wishes,
Nora
www.RawSchool.com

Aussie,

There are lots of reasons..

However, I wanted to comment on the gall bladder thing. Have ya ever considered a solid well made enzyme with plenty of lipase? That would help alot. My digestion rocks since i got some of them along time back. (not to mention enzymes promote healing, some weight loss etc.) My fav brand based on alot of reseacrh is at:

www.baselinenutritionals.org (or maybe com...i ferget righ off)

they have GREAT prices if ya order in bulk..cheapest i ever seen for something so high quality.

Hope that helps
Jeff

Thanks RawNora for your reply. It goes a long way to solving my confusion. I'm not interested in cutting out fats to lose weight - that goes against everything I know about how to look after my body. Like I said, I'm not worried about the weight, only confused as to what was happening.

Interestingly, the weight I lost has stayed off this time, most likely I think to me staying 100% raw in the meantime. Being 100% raw is much, much easier than I thought it would be - I think keeping that 1% was more of a psychological escape route than anything else. I've not felt the desire for anything cooked at all, or even for any salts, spices or vinegar at all. I just eat fresh raw food and really enjoy everything I eat! In fact, my favourite lunch at the moment is crudites (with lots of celery as I seem to be craving it at the mo) with a dip of avocado mixed with raw organic unprocessed coconut oil... man, that is SO good! lol Rich and decadent and so very flavoursome.

I'm feeling really good on 100% though not much different to how I felt on 99%. I've got loads of energy and I'm feeling awake when I'm awake, which is pretty kewl, lol.

Wisslewj, can you tell me more about the enzymes? Like the differences before and after you took them? I don't think I want to take supps anymore but I'd like to know more before I decide for certain.
Thanks!