I started incorporating raw foods a lot more into my lifestyle this past April. About two weeks ago, I began eating 95-100% raw. I drink green smoothies almost every morning, eat a lot of fresh, watery fruits, and try to incorporate as much greens as possible. The one non-raw thing I have been consistently eating is steamed broccoli because it feels right to my body. In addition, I exercise about 5-6 days/week and have a fairly active lifestyle and job (lots of walking as I don't drive) .... yet, still, I haven't lost any weight at all! As much as I'd rather not admit it, it's pretty discouraging. Since I'm new-ish to the raw food lifestyle, I don't know if I'm doing something wrong or if that's just how it's going to be for me...
any feedback, information, support, etc. would be totally appreciated! thanks !
Comments
Petals,
I have a couple of questions for you also.
How much weight do you need to lose and how long have you been overweight?
Did you begin your active lifestyle/excersie routine before or at the same time as the dietary changes?
What is the driving force behind your decision to go high raw?
Besides the dietary changes you have recently made, what other changes are happening in your life?
Do you have any medical problems?
How old are you?
I feel like we need more information in order to offer any sound advice. Absent that I can only tell you my experience and try to offer encouragement. I began this journey a year ago last June and I've lost 72 pounds. I still have 31 pounds to reach my weight goal. Losing weight played a part in my decision but my primary goal was to become healthy and not face a future with diabetes, depression, aches, heart disease and Lupus. I had been on the SAD diet my entire life but I always knew that getting back to the basics of good, clean food in it's natural state made sense for good health. I also never yo-yo dieted. I have watched all of the women in my family yo-yo so much that most of them are morbidly obese. My twin sister is 435 lbs and hasn't been able to lay down in a bed for years because she is afraid she won't be able to get back up again.
Anyway... when I first started the weight was just melting off. I lost 20 pounds in the first 2 weeks. By the begining of August I had lost 40 pounds. After that things started moving much more slowly. From the start I recorded my body measurements and weight on a weekly basis. I took pictures too. I began to see a pattern of my weight loss. I noticed that I would from day to day move in a three pound range. I would just hang around say the 161 to 164 range for a few weeks with my recorded weight being usually 162 and then all of a sudden I would dip down to 159 and then pop back to 161 for a week or so. Then I would end up in a new range between 158 and 161. It's sort of a two steps forward, one step back sort of thing. It works though. I am slowly and steadily losing the fat.
Just about a month ago I went for my annual physical and absolutely aced it. I'm healthier than I have been in at least 20 years! For me... that's my reward. That's what I'm looking for. I need to say that during all this time I never incorporated any sort of activity or exercise program into my life. I lead a very seditary lifestyle and I've never been inclince to sports or other physical activities. I have been telling myself to start an exercies routine but I've put it off.
About a month ago a freind of mine invited (pulled, pushed, cohersed) me to join her in a belly dancing class. I have had an absolute blast with it! It's one of the funnest things I've ever done. I'm currently visiting my husband in San Diego and the atmosphere here is so active and alive that it's contagious. So, while I'm here I have free acess to a gym with personal training sessions. I began working out a week ago. I am sooo sore right now but it feels great. With just over 30 pounds to lose, I want to be sure I'm losing fat and not muscle.
All this to say to you that we all lose weight differently. I don't know much about your physical condition or your goals so the best I can do is try to encourage you. Don't give up. Don't compare your progress to anyone else. Figure out your goals and what your body specifically needs. If your goals are different than your bodies needs then don't be afraid to change your goals. Throughout my dietary journey, flexibilty has been my best friend. I've only have one solid, unbreakable rule and that is to stay away from any processed food. I've been 100% raw vegan to 50% raw foodist and everywhere in between. I don't count calories and I don't worry about getting too much fat in my diet. I just eat what I feel like my body needs at that time. Many blessings to you. I hope this helps.
cheers,
Michelle
Thanks to both of you for the responses!
In response to your questions, I do cardio exercise, usually a switch between elliptical and treadmill, and some strength training thrown in there too. I tend to go for 30 - 60 mins, and try to switch it up as much as possible. As for the smoothies, I do not add any supplements, sweeteners, or oils. I usually add a lot of fresh and frozen alkalizing fruits and dark greens, like spinach, collard, or kale.
A question I appreciate both of you posing to me is if I actually need to lose weight. I am not overweight, I am 5' 6" and about 138 lbs. I think I know that I don't really care as much about losing weight as I do about being more fit, but it's hard to totally convince myself of that when I still feel like there is fat on my body that I'd like to lose. I guess I just feel like my body should be releasing more than it is, so to speak, since I am eating so well and exercising. I know that it takes time and adjustments and lots of constant attention.
I'm just trying to listen to my body and figure things out. It's true that my relationship with food has been ten times more positive and healthy since switching to a high raw foods diet, as well as my mentality surrounding eating, and even my body image to some extent! I appreciate the support and encouragement both of you have offered, it certainly helps to hear there are others out there on a similar journey. :)
Along with having control on your diet, doing regular exercise and yoga is also very essential to loose weight. Day to day body movement is must.
Sometimes if we exercise too much or make too sudden of a diet change, our bodies will go into panic mode and save every ounce of fat they can find. It's probably best to go into things gradually and/or just have patience :)