new to raw food talk and looking for some support! :)

[Revvell]

I know it's protein because I listen to my body; after work I crave nuts, seeds, nut butters, chicken, fish, edamame, cheese, yogurt, ect. Almost any other time i have a food craving it's for chocolate or sweets. Also the hurting muscles mean they need raw materials to rebuild, right?

That's no proof of needing protein. You could be needing any number of other nutrients those foods contain. People just get so hung up on "The Protein Myth" as it's called they can't see beyond it to the other nutrients our bodies may be calling for. Nuts, seeds, nut butters, chicken fish, cheese, all contain fat. Edamame? *shrugs* who knows? Yet, as I said, they ALL contain other nutrients than amino acids.

Also, cravings often happen for other reasons ~ the foods we want often are what we're use to; their could be habits or emotional eating patterns behind cravings as well. We want what we know. If you're receiving the nutrients your body needs during the day, it wont be "craving" these foods unless there are other reasons for the cravings.

[Nihil Scimus]

That's no proof of needing protein. You could be needing any number of other nutrients those foods contain. People just get so hung up on "The Protein Myth" as it's called they can't see beyond it to the other nutrients our bodies may be calling for. Nuts, seeds, nut butters, chicken fish, cheese, all contain fat. Edamame? *shrugs* who knows? Yet, as I said, they ALL contain other nutrients than amino acids.

Also, cravings often happen for other reasons ~ the foods we want often are what we're use to; their could be habits or emotional eating patterns behind cravings as well. We want what we know. If you're receiving the nutrients your body needs during the day, it wont be "craving" these foods unless there are other reasons for the cravings.

Fair enough, although I do find it interesting that all the foods I crave at this point in the day have one thing in common... They are my current main sources of protein. Chicken has very little fat, and chicken is what I really want the most; but I try to strictly limit (or eliminate) meat consumption so I turn to vegetarian and plant-based, albeit fat-loaded, protein sources. Also, I didn't start having these cravings until I started this job. And it just seems to reason that after walking 7-10 miles a day pulling around loaded carts, taking the stairs 6-8 times round trip, and working a 12hr shift my body *might* need some raw materials as I still haven't hit an equilibrium point. I'm pretty small, but I've gained some serious muscles in the past 6 months!

I do, however, think you're on to something suggesting that I switch to mass greens. I've been consuming maybe 1-3 ounces/day, but that's not always consistent. I'll give it a try and I bet it helps me make the switch!!! Gracias;)

[Nihil Scimus]

Just remember that everyone's body and dietary needs are unique. Different foods do different things to different people, and we have different nutritional needs based on different lifestyles and genes. Trust me, I'm not an Adkin's diet proponent; but I do know what amino acids do and realize they do play an important role in the body.

Equally important in my own search for... healthyness... has been the slow implementation of a low-to moderate-glycemic index diet. This leads to higher consumption of fats, but fats can be healthy! Especially if you need quick energy! Come to find out, more than a moderate to small amount of raw fruits can adversely effect me; and I think that phasing out a lot of them is what got me off the habit of making green drinks. Flavoring with lemon or vinegar only is alright, even good--just not the first thing I think of to make to eat.

Green smoothies all the way?

[Revvell]

Just remember that everyone's body and dietary needs are unique. Different foods do different things to different people, and we have different nutritional needs based on different lifestyles and genes. Trust me, I'm not an Adkin's diet proponent; but I do know what amino acids do and realize they do play an important role in the body.

Nobody is saying differently yet, you seem to be fighting to continue eating meat. Understand this ~ dead animal carcasses have to be broken down into the amino acids to make them available for your body which is why so many are tired after eating meat. Plant amino acids are immediately available.

And it just seems to reason that after walking 7-10 miles a day pulling around loaded carts, taking the stairs 6-8 times round trip, and working a 12hr shift my body *might* need some raw materials as I still haven't hit an equilibrium point.

That's what you're (programmed) mind is telling you but go to YouTube and check out Zenkahuna and his group. All high raw vegans.

There will always be a time of transition if one goes from an animal based or SAD diet to a plant-based one. Is what it is.

[VeGenesis]

I know it's protein because I listen to my body; after work I crave nuts, seeds, nut butters, chicken, fish, edamame, cheese, yogurt, ect. Almost any other time i have a food craving it's for chocolate or sweets. Also the hurting muscles mean they need raw materials to rebuild, right?

Wow Nihil - you reminded me of how I used to crave all those things too. That was really part of my journey that I hated so much. For me the solution was eating more greens. Really a LOT of greens and more than one kind a day. I figured out that the DARK green leafy veggies had protein, Vit A and Omega-3 fat builders and minerals - the building blocks found in Dark Green Leafy Veggies. I remember well how my muscles felt, and how my doctor told me I needed to eat some meat for the protein and fats.

I read some post on this site that you should eat a pound of greens a day for the average American guy, I figured I was eating between 50-100grams only! So I added more and more... I reached a level of 500grams a day - half a kilo! What an amazing difference that made. I see why so many talk about GREEN smoothies. You will hear a lot of people talk about how they could live on green smoothies! Half a kilo of greens in smoothies is a bunch for sure - I put 250grams in two different smoothies during the day. But within a week I felt so much stronger, muscle pain vanished and my cravings were just at a level I could say was a memory of eating SAD.

What really convinced me was the next time I saw my doctor. He took one look at me from across the room and said, "Wow Lan, you look great. I'm glad you are eating some meat again." When I told him I was still no meat and no cooked food, he said, "Whatever you are doing, keep it up because it is working!"

I started getting so much stronger that my wife bought me a weight lifting machine (gym) for our spare bedroom and eating 1/2 kilo greens a day has allowed me to double my lifting strength!

[Nihil Scimus]

Nobody is saying differently yet, you seem to be fighting to continue eating meat.

What's funny is that meat is not something I have had issue controlling myself with. I always used to tell my friends that I'm not a vegan, I just eat like one. Sorry if I came off as defensive; I just felt like I came under attack for looking for a good amino acid source... I realize now this confusion may have been due to my own careless vocabulary in referring to the building blocks of protein as protein. Silly me! The whole point is that I KNOW that my norms are not cutting it... I'm looking for something better (like kale!).

Thanks for the tips VeGenesis!