Are there any specific raw diets for weight loss?

[ItsMyLife]

Like that go by percentages of carbs/fat/protein and calories?

I'm sick of hearing that just going to a raw diet will make anyone lose weight. It's too general of a statement. I could eat 500000 raw green apples a day and I know that won't make me lose weight. I'm also not that much overweight so maybe a 200lb person going from fast food to raw would lose weight, but that won't work in my case. http://www.therawfoodsite.com/YaBBImages/rolleyes.gif

I'll probably just go to what I know works if I don't find anything else. I don't want to do a 100% raw diet anyway..maybe 75% the least.

[Curandero]

I try to stick pretty closely to the 50/40/10 ratio (carbs/protein/fat) recommended by some fitness gurus, and this is easy with a raw or vegan diet.

I don't subscribe to the idea that raw (or vegetarian) is the answer for everyone either, but it works for me and my mother and 5 sisters (we're all Bloodtype A). My ex-wife and I had a great friend who was strictly vegan for several years (she ate a wide variety of organic greens and other veggies, nuts and fruits--lots of it raw) until she slowly began to die. She finally saw a naturopathic doctor who recommended she immediately begin introducing lean meats to her diet, and within just a few short weeks, she had made a significant turnaround. Come to find out she is Bloodtype O, so that was really the only adjustment she ever had to make.

Trust your intuition and experience, make the right choices for you, and live well!

[fancy1]

I too have tried to stay MOSTLY Raw... not sure if I will every go completely RAW... we'll see... it is surely lifechanging and I figure any change in the right direction is better than where I was.

so progress, although a bit slow at times, is still in my best interest and so I do the best that I can for myself....

Listen to your body, it will let you know what works for you...

[joni]

After my first MC in July of 2005 I tried to go completely raw. I was 95% successful, and wanted/want to lose a total of 100lbs. For me, when I ate a lot of nuts and oils I did not lose as quickly. When I stuck mostly to green veggies, with a lot of sprouts and avocados for fat and flavor, the pounds came off almost faster than when I was on the cleanse. It is February, and I have lost about 40 lbs, and continue to eat about 80% raw. (I can't give up the coffee.)

[laurenspeak]

Congrats Joni on your wt loss. I have surveyed many "raw" foods that are now widely available at certain grocery stores. Some of them taste quite good and are made with nuts, seeds, dates, etc. However small amounts of these pre-packed vegan, raw-food "un-chickens" "pizza's" or the sweet packaged snacks can contain lots of calories because of the nuts and coconut used. So I reserve these items only for occasional treats and try not to eat too much in one sitting.
Mind you, nuts are healthy (walnuts contain lots of the heart-heathly Omega 3 (good) fatty acids and almonds are touted high for their health value as well), but moderation is the key. About a handful (one oz or about 1/4 cup) is a good serving size. I personally like to snack on dates and almonds. It's less expensive than buying those prepacked "raw food" snacks. (PS I love coffee, too!)
Lauren

[fancy1]

I too enjoy snacking on rasins and almonds...

It's a nice treat and a bit of the salty and sweet that I occasionally crave...

[sopheetsa]

hey there fancy1, just thought I'd say hello & that i'm thinking of you-- e'en tho I haven't been these parts much. will say I'm pilin on the weight- & things are getting dangerous w the snacks! :)

joni: it sounds like you're on the right track! yea-- those nuts are so tempting-- and OH SO FATTENING! (I say just having finished noshing on some "no cholesterol, no gluten, no prservatives no colorants" SESAME BITES!

[Dreams]

Hi Sopheetsa!

SOOOOOO GOOOOOD to SEEEEEE YOOOUUU HERE!

How are you? We all miss being in touch with you here! I have completed another 10 day MC since I finished my 29 day MC!. I certainly wasn't planning to do another cleanse so soon, but I felt I had some issues with my post MC diet.

Didn't seem to help though. As a matter of fact I did much better with my eating BEFORE my second cleanse. But all that another time! :)

I have wondered so much about how you are really doing. You went such an incredibly long, long time on your Master Cleanse! I send good wishes and good energy to you every day. You are my Hero! ;)

So check in again when you can and let us know how you are. We are all still in touch here, though not quite as often or as much as when we were all cleansing together. Still here, though. Lovin' ya, ~ Dreams ~

[Guest]

20% fat or under and you will lose a great deal of excess fat on raw.. if you skip the salt, and cut your fat to 10% you will drop weight very fast indeed. I am raw now, have been since January 12, with only a couple days in Feb of cooked foods.
It is totally doable, and you literally can eat as much as you like of very tasty stuff. Watching the fat made the biggest difference to me. I did 45 days of 100% raw with unlimited everything and lost 6.5 pounds with a huge smile on my face. I have melted off 39.5 pounds doing the 20-10% fat and no salt 100% raw in three months.
And honestly, I feel pretty terrific.
I began the raw trip with the Master Cleanse :
http://www.rawradiance.com/MasterCleanseJournal.html
Best Always,
LN

[EssDub]

Ellen,

That is EXACTLY what I needed today! I'm still only doing 80 - 85% raw daily, but your journal is very inspiring.

-S

[knotty_celtic]

Is there a book to read on how to go on a raw food diet? I just finished a 18 day MC and am trying to find a better way to eat, while still being able to shed some pounds and keep the weight off.

[joni]

I found the book "The Complete Book of Raw Foods" very helpful, although the most helpful information has been on boards like this and other websites, once you make the switch, finding a few good cookbooks will keep you from getting bored by eating salads all day everyday. It's amazing the foods that can be made :)
My favorite cookbook is "RAW" by Juliano. He also has a restaraunt in Santa Monica, CA. I went there to try out some of the recipes, so that way I would know if I was making it right.

All of that being said...I haven't been very raw since my last post in Feb. The winter got the worst of me and warm soups and other hot comfort foods got the best of me. (Although I did remain Vegan)

I plan on doing another MC June 1-11 and then back to RAW now that the weather is warmer.

[shoebubbles]

One of these posts kind of scared me and not that I don't think people should put their opinions or experiences on here ;) I would like to make a response to one. I am type O BLOOD and I live a 95% raw diet and am perfectly healthy. I get my yearly exam and have never had a problem. I am only saying this b/c I don't want anyone reading this w/type O to be discouraged if they are deciding to switch to raw b/c it is fantastic and I have never felt better (have been doing this 7 months).


PS I ate meat for 27 years and don't regret a single day that I no longer do so.

Shoebubbles :p

[realraw100%notbs75%]

If you don't go 100% Raw (or at least 100% being your intention - you can't help getting the occaisonal insect or 2 in the vegetables ) then you are NOT RAW

(also take proper supplementation)

Either you are RAW (100% Raw) or you are not

[swimgirl]

Wouldn't the occassional accidental insect affect your vegan status and not the RAW status? It's not as though the insects are cooked...

[browneyedgerlee]

just saw this book on amazon

The Raw Food Detox Diet: The Five-Step Plan for Vibrant Health and Maximum Weight Loss by Natalia Rose

- don't know if it works or anything, or if you're even still looking, but thought i'd share

here's another one:

Eating in the Raw: A Beginner's Guide to Getting Slimmer, Feeling Healthier, and Looking Younger the Raw-Food Way by Carol Alt

[browneyedgerlee]

If you don't go 100% Raw (or at least 100% being your intention - you can't help getting the occaisonal insect or 2 in the vegetables ) then you are NOT RAW

(also take proper supplementation)

Either you are RAW (100% Raw) or you are not

What do you mean the insect or two??