Need Advice on Tweaking my Raw Diet

[littleangelbear]

It will be one year raw for me as of December 2006 :) Yeehaw! :)

I'm doing well, except for an occasional cooked Thai meal on the weekends. I need to find a good restaurant for my weekly date with hubby that has good salads.

Trying to tweak my diet a bit. It's complicated though so I've been doing lots of trial and error...

My biggest challenge is that I have super, turbo fast metabolism (I know, I'm lucky) with a tendency towards low blood sugar. So...I need to eat more often but in smaller amounts. But, here's the thing...I run out of snack ideas. I was doing fruit, but it doesn't stick. Also, I'm trying to cut down on nuts as a snack (I do allow them in entrees 'cause geesh, I'm an athlete and work out a lot!). I also don't eat any energy bars unless I'll be away from home and need to bring a Larabar to hold me over for 4+ hours (such as at a football game where there's nothing to eat at all). I also save bars for the morning of a bike race.

I love how I look and feel eating raw, but I have to admit that I am getting more 'vain' about my appearance. What I am saying is that I have a tad bit of 'weight' I'd like to release in the abs :) I am super fit, but you know that last 5 pounds that hangs on? LOL I am not overweight and am on the thinner side, but I just feel better with a nice looking tummy, you know :) Is the 'gut' the last part to leave? LOL I lost inches in my lower body and now, I'm losing it in my upper arms and such. It cracks me up though that my forearms get thinner, but why not my tummy? I think it has to some degree, but 'cause I'm a girl, it's one of those things I think I just want to have a nice one of :)

Anyway, I am trying to get out of my food rut. I tend to eat like this most days...well, since I cut some extras out of my diet.

Breakfast--half avocado with mango or assorted fruit
Snack--small piece of fruit; Tiny, tiny amt. of nuts
Lunch--Green salads with spinach, sprouts, onions, tomatoes, misc. veggies, lemon juice, olive oil (only a small tiny drizzle)
Snack--fruit or a small smoothie (if it's race season, I'll add raw hemp protein powder)
Dinner--varies...very few nut-based dishes. I love raw tabouleh, watermelon soup, angel hair marinara, carrot pecan burgers, etc., etc. Often, for dinner, I'll make a couple of salads from Alissa's cookbook for hubby and I...we share.
Snack--raw dessert very rarely now, but in summer enjoy watermelon :)

Maybe I'm just too impatient with myself...I want my body to look the way I want it...yesterday LOL. Hmmm...what is up with me?

Maybe I don't need tweakin'?

Thanks,
L

[DavidZaneMason]

-Your diet sounds pretty darn good to me! You could always set smaller, refinement goals (which I don't recommend for beginners). Things like mono-eating....or voluntary/happy/conscious light-fasting.....can be good additions to your raw food arsenal.

-Don't compare yourself to anyone else...or any guru....and be happy! :)

-David Mason

[spicyfull]

My dear ,seem like you are going to have to WORK that gut to get the ABS you want. I don't think there is any other way. I know you don't want a Tummy tuck..........

[jaurequi]

I think you have done all you can nutritionally for your lower stomach, so now just exercise. You can also practice holding your lower stomach tightly, all day (this does not include holding your breath and is not painful). I think both diet and exercise are the key to, not only better health, but also to a better appearance.

As for snacking, I would do vegetables. Carrots, cauliflower florets, broccoli, root slices all hold up well for travel. Snack on those. Take various sauces/dressings in containers with you, if you get bored.

Best,

[littleangelbear]

Thanks and hugs for the recommendations :)

I do cardio quite a bit since I'm a bike racer...I ride my bike anywhere from 5-12 hours per week depending on which part of the season it is for my training. So, I'm not a stranger to the idea of working hard to get what I want ;)

I think it's time for me to get out the physioball and do some work on my core :) Kinda funny how being raw gets you to your personal and spiritual core too ;)

Hugzzz,
L

[chilove]

Hello there,

I'm sure you would lose weight if you reduced your fats. It looks like you are actually consuming quite a lot of fat.

All the best,

Audrey
www.rawhealing.com

[Dimond]

I would starve on that little amount of food and I'm not an athlete (though I am thin). It looks like dinner might be the only time you eat a larger/heavier meal. Why not change that around. Breakfast should definitely be larger/heavier. Maybe 3 larger/heavier meals would actually help. Especially if you have a fast metabolism.

Also, there are better raw bar choices than Larabar.

[littleangelbear]

It looks like you are actually consuming quite a lot of fat.

chilove--
I'm high raw (95 percent mostly) and only consume natural, healthy fats. I rarely eat Larabars any more as mentioned. Also, when I say drizzle of olive oil, we're talking half teaspoon. And, I eat only 8-10 nuts at a time.

It's easy to point to fat as the culprit, but without knowing me and my metabolic stuff as well as my exercise level, you can't really make such a blanket statement like that, especially if you are basing what I am eating on the SAD levels for fat, etc.

Also, everyone has different dietary needs, etc. I'm pretty in synch and in tune with my body. If I didn't have some healthy fat in my diet, I'd starve!

Plus, I'm not talking about losing 100 pounds :) I really am looking to change my body composition not lose 'weight' per se. There is a difference in my book. I'm already thin and also, muscular...I just want to get 'cut' because well, I do :) I'm currently wearing a loose size 4 jeans to give you an idea ;) I just want to look better in a bikini :)


Gilmore Girl--Thanks for those ideas...I have been working on eating a larger lunch and such. Do you mind sharing the other Larabar options? I am totally okay too with spending $2.00 on bars LOL.

[Dimond]

Organic Food bars use to be one of the best and usually found at most health stores, but for the past year the quality has gotten pretty bad.

I like Pure bars the best. Their cherry & apple ones are 100% raw & organic and all the ingredients used are raw (I asked tons of questions). Think Organic is another good one (my 2nd fav). There's a couple others available on various sites. Alissa has the Crunch Bar, though that has honey in it. I'm personally am not a fan, but all of the SAD people I've given one to love it. It's not bad, but definitely not filling/satisfying.

[Seren]

Hmm the ony thing that struck me is the avocado in the morning. The AMOUNT of fats you are consuming seems fine, but Shazzie says that you should try and only have fruit in the morning, and no fats becauase in the morning your digestion isn't working as well so these fats may end up getting stored instead of utilised. Maybe wait a few hours, or until lunchtime until you have the avo and instead, have more juicy fruits?

Just a suggestion.

Love Seren xXx

[chilove]

I hope I didn't offend. You asked. :-)


All the best,

Audrey
www.rawhealing.com

[Forever Young]

The difference in 95% and 100% raw could be the reason you can't seem to take off the extra weight on your belly, there is a big difference between the two. Sounds like you are doing really good, let your body tell you what it needs, it never lies. Forever Young

[Lunar*Fey]

hun, now I have never seen you but it really does not sound like you need to LOSE weight at all..you may desire to distribute the weight differently but all we can do is eat raw, exercise well, and get enough rest...oh and drink plenty of water. I would not try and document what you eat or how much or to eat this then and that now and blah blah blah....you've been raw for a year all you need to do is listen to your body. there may be a reason that little bit of fat is clinging to your tummy. Your body will know best. Sometimes what we see when we look at ourselves isn't how we truly are. Have you asked friends/family how they perceive you? I hope you don't find this offensive at all because its not meant to be. It sounds like you are a very healthy woman. And I would lose a ton of weight if I ate the amount you are....with no exercise. Maybe your body is clinging onto your tummy because really it is in starvation mode? It sounds insane but although you may feel full....it happens to a lot of people. If I got your portions correctly you are eating a wayy low amount of calories and your metabolism probably slowed a bit or started to shut down a bit I mean because of it. Sorry I am rambling, not talking much sense. But really, thats what it sounds like. Your body will start feeding off your muscles and bones eventually...and you probably wont even see it. Thats why I would never focus on weight...what weight? fat? muscle? bone?
sorry if I am not making sense again, I should be getting to bed. lol