Fats, calorie counting and more!

[Alissa]

"...If you know you don’t feel well with that much fat then certainly its good to eat less of it. It really is a learning process. That’s the thing, A lot of people think they can do raw for a couple of weeks and figure out the perfect diet. There is NO perfect diet. And let me warn you ahead of time… even when you think you have it figured out and have been eating raw for years and you feel you found the perfect way for you to eat… it will change! Think about it, we are always changing as human beings so of course our diet wouldn’t stay the same as a few years before when we were in a different location, environment, doing different things, working out differently, In a different emotional state, etc… its ever changing .

Don’t try to pin this diet down, it will never be perfect, just like us! LOL!

Ok, so first, I personally don’t believe that ‘fat is fat’. If that were true people would not be dying of excess meat consumption and healing themselves from a high fat raw diet. Ive just seen both too many times. Of course there is always the person who is gorging themselves and eating 20 cups of nuts a day, etc.. and obviously that’s not the healthiest diet either. Excessive amounts of one particular thing is not good for anyone, raw or not and there are always those that go to the extreme.

I really never never never tell people what percentage of fat or anything else they should have. I have obviously got pretty good at looking at a few days worth of peoples food intake and knowing what needs to be cut out, added, or changed. Most of it is because I have been doing this for so long but some is intuitive also as you need to take into consideration the persons mental state as well. I strongly believe that. Its really not just about the food.

(Someone asked): “What fat % do you suggest for weight loss with energy?
Please don't say listen to your body CUZ I LOVE FAT - nuts, seeds...YUMMY!”


See this is the problem. Of course you cant listen to your body because unless your starting with a clean slate your body doesnÂ’t know exactly what it needs. How can it tell when its still getting cooked, (I don’t know if your 100% raw or not) or too much of the wrong foods and is off balance. This is why I tell people to go 100% raw, totally vegan raw. Raw raw raw, no exceptions for a month or two or more because only then, I believe is when you can really start to listen to your body for signals. But here is also the thing. Even then, how do you know those signals are coming from the emotional or physical? It takes time to really get this. Not days or weeks or even months for some people. This is why I say to people, ‘go raw, don’t worry about the amounts of things, let your body heal and cleanse and when its ready you will naturally start to crave what you need and what is right.’
Otherwise people after weeks, months, etc…start adjusting or listening to other people and saying, ok maybe that’s my problem, and start cutting back and cutting out and adding weird things and then saying, this doesn’t work and this and that is not doing it for me. Like I always say, don’t expect to be cooked for 30-40-50 years and then after a month to have it perfected with the raw diet. It takes time really it does.

(someone asked):
"How long does a person have to wait to not crave the need for fat sources?"

LOL, wouldn’t it be wonderful if I could answer that one! Who knows?! Anyone who tells you an exact amount of time it takes is lying. And you will always crave fat sources if your not eating enough of them. At first you will crave more on raw, avocados, nuts, etc.. because your body is adjusting to a new way of eating. Your body is using these fats much more efficiently and quickly then cooked fats so you need more at first since your body is not used to the clean fuel its getting. It will subside, but give it time. I can promise you this. If you do 10% fat you will be craving fat more often then not. Maybe not at first, maybe not in the middle, but at different times. Why not just eat raw and let your body adjust. You wont be eating tons of nuts and loads of fat for very long. You’ll get sick of it. Your body is craving it for a reason. Maybe it needs the good healthy fats and maybe you shouldn’t deny it that.
Also, I would eat more avocados and fatty fruits and vegetable instead of tons of nuts as you wont feel great after eating that many nuts. But again, you need to step back and let it take its course, I just feel an urgency to get it right. Raw food will never work if you need to be perfect with your diet. Its not set up that way. If you’re a calorie counter, fat watcher, carb and protein analyzer (not saying you are) then this isn’t the diet for you.

This diet is so beautiful and feeing. Let it be that. What’s the point if your going to do it the same way you did cooked?

[Rawkinlocs]

Okay...one more "Alissa's-oldie-but-goodie-post" that I felt needed to be put into it's own thread.

Enjoy!

[lavendarJ]

That last line says it all Rawks......

[askcassyfirst]

Cherie,

Thanks for reposting this! This is what I remember about RawFoodTalk! :)

Cassy

[juicyraw]

What a wonderful post! I've been tied to calorie counting for the last few months -- and not just calories --- I kept up with fat, fiber, sodium, carbs, protein, points --- Weighed and measured every bite that crossed my lips.

I kept a daily chart with all these things on it... plus the calories I was burning with exercise.

And I wasn't losing weight (well, 2-3 lb per month).

Now on raw, the weight is falling off and all I have to keep up with is RAW!

Plus the HUGE bonus of feeling so much better already. It's almost too good to be true. But it is!

Thank you Alissa for the freedom you share with others. Thank you for the clarity.

[bowie]

bump.......

[Cherry-tree]

I am so glad to have read this, as today I am feeling ugly and bloated and really, REALLY want a bean and rice burrito and then felt incredibly guilty for eating a large portion of almonds and avacado. I am going to trust others who have already gone through this craving struggle and go with the flow.

It is so nice to be able to read Alissa's messages, even if they are "old".

[beppa66]

I'm over the counting. This way takes away the guilt about food completely.
Everything we're eating (raw) is good for our bodies, minds etc.
I'm focusing my attention on how great I feel and how thankful I am to have found this way of life.

[shine72]

bumping up for the oldies and newbies alike!

[tanishamarshall]

Great post, thanks for bumping it up Shine..

[bowie]

Bumping ===>

[bowie]

bumping...........

[Alissa]

bump...............

[bowie]

bumping...............

[bowie]

Bumping up.......