aiming to lose weight with raw foods

[Yeshualives]

I'm so excited - i've been reading a lot about nutrition and raw foods and it looks SO healthy to switch to more raw food. I've managed to lose 2 stones by watching what I eat and taking a Diabetic medicine Metformin, but I seem to have got stuck. I gave up processed foods a couple of weeks ago, and starting from today I am going to introduce more raw food.

I weigh 20 stones, so I figure I should lose around 9 stones - the weight of a whole person - eek!! But this is long overdue - I don't know why but I just haven't had the motivation to do this before, but getting diagnosed diabetic and being referred for a gastric band has given me the push to do something more active.

I am curious to know if anyone else here has switched to a high raw food diet, especially as many of the raw food sites i've seen seem associated with some wacky belief systems. However, the science seems to make sense so here I go ...

 

[MelechYisrael]

I was in the hospital twice last month dealing with this bowel disease I have. That knocked me off my feet and gave me a wake-up call.

I didn't switch to raw vegetables, though I did change my diet completely about 4 weeks ago. I actually started eating vegetables - raw and cooked as well as a fair bit of fruit. I find this difficult since I am not fussy on either of these foods. I also started eating yogurt in fair amounts since it is good for the colon. I left junk food behind completely. No fats whatsoever...no butter, no margarine, no oils and no red meats. And lots of that yummy stuff called fiber! More exercising - aside from walking the dog, though walking I've been told, is the best way to tone up and strengthen your heart muscle.

It's been a tough go, but with the Lord's help, I'm doing okay with it.

I believe too, that somewhere, Chad had posted a list of certain vegetables and how they contribute to a healthier system.

 

[Yeshualives]

I was in the hospital twice last month dealing with this bowel disease I have. That knocked me off my feet and gave me a wake-up call.

I didn't switch to raw vegetables, though I did change my diet completely about 4 weeks ago. I actually started eating vegetables - raw and cooked as well as a fair bit of fruit. I find this difficult since I am not fussy on either of these foods. I also started eating yogurt in fair amounts since it is good for the colon. I left junk food behind completely. No fats whatsoever...no butter, no margarine, no oils and no red meats. And lots of that yummy stuff called fiber! More exercising - aside from walking the dog, though walking I've been told, is the best way to tone up and strengthen your heart muscle.

It's been a tough go, but with the Lord's help, I'm doing okay with it.

I believe too, that somewhere, Chad had posted a list of certain vegetables and how they contribute to a healthier system.

Hi MelechYisrael,

I'm glad that you're doing okay now - I must admit that I'm not fussy on fruit either so i've found that harder to add to my diet. I read with interest about you giving up fats - I've been researching on the internet and read articles that processed fats can trigger all sorts of illness, but specifically insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome. However, organic extra virgin olive oil and some other oils are good for you - I think flax oil is one, so I wonder if you might want to google for info about them and consider adding them back into your diet to make sure you get your omegas???

I saw Chad's list of veggies and it was really interesting - about how vegetables can look like the organ they help nutritionally!

Take care,

Rachel

 

[MelechYisrael]

Hey Rachel,

Thanks for the info. But I cannot eat flax either. But you've got me thinking...my friend used to be a nurse, I can ask her about oils to use as well as do a google search. Despite not liking vegetables, I do prefer them raw, so I have been forcing myself to eat more salads. And the "omegas" you mentioned, I believe I get that from the fish I eat. It's found in tuna, salmon, shrimp and other types of fish. I also take a natural supplement called acidophilus which, along with the yogurt, puts bacteria back into the colon. I've also stopped having so much caffeine and limit myself to no more than 4 cups of tea a day. The caffeine can be harmful to the digestive system. I absolutely love cheese, and I cannot eat that either. Quite high in fat as well. Though the mozzarella doesn't seem to be too bad, as well as feta, romano and parmesan. I've never been big on red meat, so giving that up wasn't too dificult, though every now and then I do get a craving for a really sloppy Big Mac, lol. I've tried cooking with tofu, but have to say, I'm really not fussy on that. So my proteins consist of fish - which we are suppose to have 3x a week, I believe as well as chicken and eggs. All my pasta and rice has now changed from white to whole wheat. I have tried rice flour to bake with, but it tastes gross. I blend up bananas and strawberries and add them to vanilla yogurt and make frozen popsicles with it...very yummy.

All this is a big change for me, and a learning process too, I suppose. But as I told the Lord, if it stops any more painful incidents, I'm all for it!!

Have fun with your diet!!

Keep looking directly at the Son.

Anje

 

[Yeshualives]

Hey Anje,

Thanks for your reply - your diet sounds really healthy! I've just got a book by a woman called Alissa Cohen called Living on Live Food - she has a website with a forum where you can ask all sorts of things about raw foods and healthy eating. I'm just glancing at the book now, and it looks really inspiring. I thought that eating more healthily would be simple, but when i'm hungry I tend to think of easy things that are less than healthy to have.

It's great to hear from someone else who is finding that a change in their food intake is really helping them. I think i've eaten badly for years, so I'm hoping to be able to reverse some of the damage i've done to my body by changing my diet.

Take care,

Love Rachel :wink:

 

[MelechYisrael]

No, not very simple, but once you get the hang of it, and get yourself into a good routine and eating habits, it's not so bad...lol. My snacks consist of rice cakes or rice cookies...there's all sorts of different flavors. Or I snack on toast and peanut butter. Or my yogurt or a piece of fruit. I try to eat 3 small meals a day, as it's easier for the system to digest. I used to eat one meal only and then I would really pig out. I'm finding a wonderful difference with the small meals. If you can believe it, there's even healthy junk food, haha. And it's quite tasty too.

Like you, I did not eat properly for years. I think I really did a lot of damage to my insides. I should have known better, but as you say, it's easier to find something junky and easy to eat, rather than cooking or making something healthy.

I think what amazes me the most, is the cost of eating healthy. So many advertisements and such about heart failure and strokes and the likes and how we should eat better to maintain our bodies, but when it costs almost $3 for a small pkg of whole wheat pasta...who has that kind of money to spend?

The Lord provides.

 

[Yeshualives]

I've just been reading the book by Alissa Cohen and its even more radical than I thought - or, perhaps, I should say, even more simple than I thought. She advocates giving up all cooked food and provides references to its addictive qualities and the way it makes toxins accumulate in the body. So the raw diet is essentially fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and sprouts as far as I can see though i've more to read. She also gives up dairy.

I would be skeptical, but I know that when I tried this a little in the past in my early teens I felt great, so i'm going to give it a go. I just need to get a cheap food processor and a blender first to help prepare food and make more interesting meals.

In her book she lists many conditions that are remedied by a raw food diet such as diabetes, high blood pressure, fibrymyalgia and others - so i think i'll try and get the equipment tomorrow. I can't wait to get started as I've been feeling lousy for so long....

 

[MelechYisrael]

I admire your determination. I did have a look at this woman's website. And it all seems to be fairly on the up and up. But before you decide to go so radical...check out other sites to see what they say about this kind of diet. Perhaps raw vegetables and fruits combined with a healthy eating style would serve you better. Just make sure that you don't leave out or neglect what your body needs in order to function at its best. Some of these diets go to the extreme. And sometimes that type of extreme can be unhealthy as well. Not all diets are meant for all people. You can also check with your general physician and see if he/she has any ideas for you. I don't mean to undermine your knowledge, as you do seem to have a good understanding of what it takes to stay healthy. Just wouldn't want to see anything happen.

Keep looking directly at the Son.

Anje

 

[Yeshualives]

Hi Anje,

Thanks for your post - I understand what you are saying and I will read around a bit more. However, I'm fairly convinced by this lady's book. I think if I just tried to do it alone I might come unstuck - but she prints off lots of simple recipe suggestions and says that many people do not eat enough on raw initially and that's why they have trouble. She gave some examples of her diet - and one day had six bananas for breakfast - which sounds ever such a lot, but she says that once you have detoxed your body will let you know what to eat. Also, what I didn't realise is that many nutrients like grams of protein are unavailable in cooked foods because the enzymes are denatured by cooking. So when you eat raw, even though you may eat less grams you're able to absorb more.

I'll let you know how it goes anyway!! I want to make sure I've got plenty of a variety of foods in and recipes prepared so I don't get hungry at the beginning of the changeover. To be honest I feel so terribly unhealthy at the moment and following my doctor's advice hasn't really gotten me anywhere except on more drugs - plus my doctor told me I would be on medication for the rest of my life which didn't sound very hopeful. I do think conventional medicine has a role to play in life definitely but my doctor doesn't seem to know much about nutrition - although maybe other doctors out there do.

Well, thanks again ... it would be good to keep in touch ....


Take care,

Rachel

 

[stephen]

Some 'bonny' ladies about on this thread.....I wish you well.

Last autumn.....I became aware that I was huffing and puffing.....and could not bend enough to pic up my golf ball.....Doh.

Since then I have reduced....'lost' a stone in weight. I feel so much better. T he temptation remains to eat a 'pork pie'/ sausage roll, ect as I stroll though the town.......But I turn away from such temptation in my fight to reduce.

I just love the 'sweet trolley'.......but not yet....I must reduce


In His Love

 

[Yeshualives]

Some 'bonny' ladies about on this thread.....I wish you well.

Last autumn.....I became aware that I was huffing and puffing.....and could not bend enough to pic up my golf ball.....Doh.

Since then I have reduced....'lost' a stone in weight. I feel so much better. T he temptation remains to eat a 'pork pie'/ sausage roll, ect as I stroll though the town.......But I turn away from such temptation in my fight to reduce.

I just love the 'sweet trolley'.......but not yet....I must reduce


In His Love

he he - well done for shedding a stone!! I know how strong cravings can be - i'm hoping that mine will diminish over time!

 

[MelechYisrael]

Some 'bonny' ladies about on this thread.....I wish you well.

Last autumn.....I became aware that I was huffing and puffing.....and could not bend enough to pic up my golf ball.....Doh.

Since then I have reduced....'lost' a stone in weight. I feel so much better. T he temptation remains to eat a 'pork pie'/ sausage roll, ect as I stroll though the town.......But I turn away from such temptation in my fight to reduce.

I just love the 'sweet trolley'.......but not yet....I must reduce


In His Love

Ahhh...I was raised on all those lovely English delicacies. My mum is British and my dad is Scottish. What yummy food we had growing up!!! I remember when in Scotland, the breakfast meal was enough to feed ten people! Even sweeties on the table.

I don't exactly know how much a "stone" is, but good for you for losing the weight and for your tenacity. I've got approximately 25 pounds to rid, but it's so hard 'cause I've honestly no will power.

Next week I won't be strolling 'round town too much...all week the temperatures are suppose to be very high. I believe on Wednesday, with the humidity we're to hit 100F - and 95F for the rest of the week...ugh! Ah well, exercise won't do in that heat...but if I just stand outside for 5 minutes I'll sweat out 10 lbs, lol. Yeah, this weather just might be okay after all...

As you go a-strollin' enjoy your beautiful country.

Anje

 

[MelechYisrael]

Hi Anje,

Thanks for your post - I understand what you are saying and I will read around a bit more. However, I'm fairly convinced by this lady's book. I think if I just tried to do it alone I might come unstuck - but she prints off lots of simple recipe suggestions and says that many people do not eat enough on raw initially and that's why they have trouble. She gave some examples of her diet - and one day had six bananas for breakfast - which sounds ever such a lot, but she says that once you have detoxed your body will let you know what to eat. Also, what I didn't realise is that many nutrients like grams of protein are unavailable in cooked foods because the enzymes are denatured by cooking. So when you eat raw, even though you may eat less grams you're able to absorb more.

I'll let you know how it goes anyway!! I want to make sure I've got plenty of a variety of foods in and recipes prepared so I don't get hungry at the beginning of the changeover. To be honest I feel so terribly unhealthy at the moment and following my doctor's advice hasn't really gotten me anywhere except on more drugs - plus my doctor told me I would be on medication for the rest of my life which didn't sound very hopeful. I do think conventional medicine has a role to play in life definitely but my doctor doesn't seem to know much about nutrition - although maybe other doctors out there do.

Well, thanks again ... it would be good to keep in touch ....


Take care,

Rachel

Yes, let me know how you do with your change in diet.