How Can I Keep From Losing Too Much Weight on the Raw Food Diet?

On Apr 9, 2007, at 8:20 PM, lisa wrote:

Dear Rhio:

Do you eat 100% raw? I ask because you look radiant and healthy in your pictures.

How can I keep from losing too much weight? I am concerned because I look too thin and it isn't as feminine looking to be so thin and people notice.

I am 53 years around the sun. I teach raw foods. I went raw in 2005 and slipped into imbalances because I wasn't well educated enough...and so I went back to cooked...but the cooked didn't help me...in fact I developed the worst head fog....it felt like hypoglycemia but I could never eat enough to clear it up. I finally began to go raw again (100%) and since that day the head fog was gone completely.

I have only two concerns my weight loss and my digestion. I seem to have difficulty digesting the raw food without getting a little bloated and gassy.

Thank you for any help and suggestions

Your Raw Friend

Lisa

On Apr 13, 2007, at 5:30 AM, Rhotline@rawfoodinfo.com wrote:

Dear Lisa,

I eat 99% raw. The 1% is for the times that I might get fooled. Thank you about the pictures. Unfortunately, I have the opposite problem from you. Some people think I'm fat. Size 4 is not good enough for them, they want me to be size 2 or 0. But I'm happy with my weight now, so that's all that matters.

Things I've heard. The people that get too skinny in the beginning of converting to a raw food diet, will normalize their weight at some point. It usually happens naturally, and could take varying periods of time. You might think about doing some weight training. It doesn't have to be anything heavy. Weight training is excellent for the bones too.

I am not a practioner of any kind so please accept the following only as an exchange of ideas and information.

If you are having some trouble with digestion, it might be wise to strictly adhere to food combining principles for a while. You might also take some digestive enzymes with each meal. Eat meals in a relaxed atmosphere. Have you ever seen a cat or other animal take it's food and go off into a corner somewhere? They like to eat in peace and quiet. Eating in relaxed atmospheres aids digestion. Perhaps you need to simplify your meals a little. Lighten up on the salt and spices a bit. And most importantly, really chew your food well. Chewing well is one of the indispensable lessons I learned at the Ann Wigmore Natural Health Institute in Puerto Rico. Eat in a leisurely fashion. Don't just gulp it down.

Water is important. Drink at least 8 glasses a day. Try to drink a glass or two 1/2 hour before a meal. Try to not drink water during the meal because it dilutes the digestive enzymes. If you get thirsty during a meal because it may be salty or spicy, then take tiny sips of water. It is absolutely imperative that if you eat dehydrated foods, crackers, etc. you drink water either before or even with because a lot of dehydrated food will dehydrate your body and interfere with proper digestion. I find that I can't really eat some of the commercially prepared raw food crackers and other treats because they have just been dehydrated too much. I don't get the same reaction when I make my own. Probably they need to really dry out the food so that it doesn't get moldy so I don't fault them for it.

In my experience, digestion is one of the things that improves rapidly on the raw food diet.

With blessings and peace,

Rhio

April 13, 2007

Thank you Rhio for a most thoughtful reply! I appreciate your experience with the raw food lifestyle.

You are absolutely beautiful the way you are and a marvelous and radiant example of the lifestyle. I would not give what some people think even a nod.

Thank you for the advise of digestion and dehydrated foods. I have been adding crackers to my meals especially with a salad or building little pizza like things and will be aware of drinking enough. I believe, though, that the relaxation will be the key to it. That struck a cord. WIll be happy when the weight comes back on too!

Love and Peace

Lisa

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