My clothes are too big!

[juliebove]

Since changing my diet, I've been losing weight slowly. I am still not 100% raw, but close to it. I am still working on some issues like the dehydratar so I can eat a more varied diet. I don't feel as though there is anything holding me back from going 100%, but what I am doing now seems to be working very well for me.

This morning I got dressed, but my bra didn't feel right. I adjusted the straps and it still didn't feel right. Then I looked in the mirror. The blouse I had on was one I hadn't worn since last summer. It was HUGE on me! Into the giveaway box it went. Found another bra that fit better and put on a T-shirt. It too is large but wasn't as unflattering as that huge blouse.

Looks like the weight is finally starting to come off the top of me. I'd lost a little over 30 pounds, but mainly off the bottom part of me where I really didn't need to lose any. Felt like a beachball walking around on stick legs. I'd already bought smaller pants to accomodate this. Now I'm finally starting to see the results I wanted! Woo hoo!

[codajess]

Right on!!!!

[blessed]

:) I know you feels good to look in the mirror and see the new YOU!!!!!!!!!
I've been running my fingers around the edges of my bra it feels funny like i may be looser, it's not binding me like it use to.
How long have you been eating high raw? I'm on my third attempt and this time it's sticking. I've worked hard to get here.
What are some of the other benefits you are seeing?
With me, my hair is getting thicker and longer and my constipation problems are much better along with more energy.
I feel much, much better since i started on this journey, can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Ann

[juliebove]

I've always eaten a lot of raw food. The big changes began sometime in Dec. when I was told I was allergic to almonds, dairy and egg. I had totally stopped eating eggs by then following a couple of bad reactions to them in Nov. Almonds were not something I ate a lot of, but I did eat them sometimes. Cheese was another matter. It was pretty much my main source of protein.

I didn't know what to eat. I certainly felt better when I stopped eating this stuff but needed some additional sources of protein. I started making sprouts. Someone told me about pumpkin seeds. I bought some roasted ones and didn't care for them. Then I tried some raw ones and loved them!

Then one day I was flipping through a magazine and read an article about Carol Alt and her raw food diet. I was amazed by how she said the weight just fell off her and how much better she felt. I looked for her book in the store. Didn't find it but found some others, and in reading them I discovered that I was already eating a mostly raw diet. I just hadn't looked at it that way. Bought a few other books, then hers (didn't care for hers) and then ordered Alissa's online.

I've been making more gradual changes to my diet. Like trying to add more coconut oil. The lady at the health food store said making this change alone allowed her to lose the belly fat she could otherwise not seem to budge.

I am not into percentages although I would say prior to making these changes, the bulk of my diet was at least 2/3 raw on any given day. Sometimes more. This was just me eating what I liked to eat, mainly raw veggies and salads. The rest of it requires more though and effort on my part. I'm going to go soon and try making another batch. Hopefully they will be better than my first attempt.

[blessed]

:) so tonight around 7:00 i put together 1/2 cup of golden flax seed and walnuts grinded them in my food processor sprinkled in 1/4 cup of carob powder and some shredded coconut with 2 bananas sliced up, blended this addding almond milk as i blended it up making it spreadable. Spoon it out and spread it on my dehydrater sheets. They've been in there since 7:30, they look good, they should be ready to turn by around 11:00 tonight then hopefully they will stay in there until morning, they look so good.
I made this recipe up that's why it's not like one out of a book.
I love this way of eating now that i can substitute for my cooked sweets.
Take care and Congrads.

Ann

[Dimond]

Congrats, Juliebove!

[rawpriestess]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

YOU RAWK!!!!!

[Binty]

I have been reading and experimenting with raw food for 6 months now. I have about 100lb in weight to lose. Whenever I start on my raw journey, i worry about the amount of oils and nuts I eat, although i must say i don't binge on them. I then resort to my traditional diet clubs and groups, fail miserably and come back to raw. I guess you are going to advise me to trust myself more. I know I should, but could you give me any other advice on how to stay raw and lose weight at the same time. I live in the UK, not in London, so I don't think there is much support around here. I might be wrong, but this is something I really want to do as I know the health benefits, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Please help.

Thanks

[juliebove]

I have been reading and experimenting with raw food for 6 months now. I have about 100lb in weight to lose. Whenever I start on my raw journey, i worry about the amount of oils and nuts I eat, although i must say i don't binge on them. I then resort to my traditional diet clubs and groups, fail miserably and come back to raw. I guess you are going to advise me to trust myself more. I know I should, but could you give me any other advice on how to stay raw and lose weight at the same time. I live in the UK, not in London, so I don't think there is much support around here. I might be wrong, but this is something I really want to do as I know the health benefits, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Please help.

Thanks

What I've found I have to do is INCREASE the amount of fat I eat. I guess I got into that low fat mindset back in the 80's and I took it to the extreme. I was actually eating little to no fat in my diet. I saw three dieticians and all of them told me I needed to eat more fat. They advised me to do things I didn't want to do, like adding oil to my veggies. I don't like salad dressing and don't like oily veggies. Although I did discover that I like carrots dipped in a little bit of really good tasting olive oil and then sprinkles with salt.

My breakfast is almost always pumpkin seeds. One handful. I might occasionally have walnuts instead or a bit of fruit in addition. There's enough fat in those seeds or nuts for that meal. I don't need any more.

I don't always eat lunch. But that is changing. I have diabetes and have been having blood sugar issues. I stopped eating lunch because my blood sugar was too high if I did. Now it's going the other way and I'm having hypos if I don't eat. Today I put some nuts and a bit of dried fruit in a bag to take with me. I forgot it. Bought a raw pumpkinseed bar at the healthfood store. But either way, nuts or bar, that's enough fat for that meal.

Now my dinner was not totally raw. Had a small amount of vegan chili that had some olive oil in it. Also had a big salad with olives on it. There's enough fat in that meal.

So what am I missing for the day? Coconut oil. I am trying to eat a serving of that every day. I don't know what I will have for my bedtime snack but it will certainly have coconut oil in it.

If I do eat between meals it is limited to nuts, seeds, coconut or occasionally raw veggies.

Now if one were to break it down to percentages (don't ask me to do this, I hate math), it would probably seem that I am eating a lot of fat in a day. However, I am eating only good, healthy fats. I do have diabetes so I have to keep these things in check. If I eat too many carbs in a meal, my blood sugar will be high. Too much fat in a meal and the carbs I do eat might not get into my system when I need them to be, so my blood sugar goes too low.

I do have a system of checks and balances going for me. Daily there is my meter. Blood sugar meter that is. If my blood sugar is in range, then that's good! Then there is my lab report. Urine and blood that is. I do have one thing out of whack. Time will tell how that goes. But it isn't related to the fat in my diet. Then there's the scale, tape, measure, mirror and people's comments to me. All positive! So this seems to be working for me. But if at some point it is no longer working, I'll start tweaking my diet again. I do have to do that from time to time.

I can't say what's right for you. I know a lot of people who love fruit and could easily eat mostly just that. That kind of diet would never work for me simply because I don't like fruit very much.

[raw-a-go-go]

I have realized how important adding fats are to my diet as well.....most significantly I feel satiated after eating fats (especially avocados) when I have days of feeling hungry.
My question, though, is about coconut oil. I have always been under the assumption that this is a bad oil, but I keep reading about it on people's posts. What are it's benefits and how has it aided in your weight loss journey, Juliebove?....or anyone else? Thanks