New Member with questions

[Guest guest]

Greetings Members! I just recently joined and figured it was time for an

introduction. I am Ravyne Hawke, 38 yrs. old, and an overweight vegetarian.

 

Six months ago I switched from a Lacto-vegetarian to a strict (cooked foods)

vegetarian. This was a HUGE step for me because white cheeses have always been

my downfall. I did find a few soy and rice based cheeses that appealed to me, so

it did make the transition a bit easier. Just recently, in the last month, I

have been making a transition from a cooked-foods vegetarian to a raw foodist.

 

I do have some health concerns that make my transition a bit more difficult:

diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholestrol. I am on medicine for all of

these. I will be having all of my numbers checked for these at the end of the

month and I do hope that my current dietary changes have helped my numbers

drastically. I have been fortunate to have a doctor who has supported my

vegetarian lifestyle, but I am not sure how she will respond when I tell her I

am switching to a raw food diet. I guess I will know in a couple of weeks.

 

Here are my current issues: I am about 100 lbs. over MY ideal weight. Since

switching from a lacto-vegetarian to a strict vegetarian, I have lost 35 lbs.

However, I have been eating about 80% raw for the last month and I haven't lost

a single pound. In fact, I have gained 5 lbs. I admit that I am not the most

active person in the world because of several factors: I work two part-time jobs

(one very seditary, the other semi-active) and I am in the process of making a

major move from my current home in Virginia to Oklahoma in mid-April. So most of

my free time from working has been spent sorting, packing and cleaning. I get

tired very easily because of my excess weight, so I can only do about an hour's

worth of packing, et al. at a time.

 

I would like to seek some advice from the long time Raw Foodists on this board.

But first, let me post a daily menu of what I normally eat during the day.

Please feel free to comment and make recommendations for me.

 

Breakfast:

 

Green juice that consists of 3 large stalks of celery, 2 large kale leaves, 1

medium green apple, a half of a large cucumber, and a small piece of ginger.

Sometimes I add a large carrot or a beet with the leaves intact. To this, I add

two large scoops of Hempseed Protein and two tablespoons of a green powder mix

called Nature's First Food.

 

(This will usually get me through about 2 hours worth of energy before I feel my

energy level begin to decline)

 

Mid-morning snack:

 

about a 1/2 cup of fruit (apple, papaya, raisins or berries)

a few tablespoons of either pumpkin or sunflower seeds

 

Lunch:

 

A large salad with mixed baby greens (including spinach), red onion, red pepper,

yellow squash, zucchini, sprouts, cucumber, shredded carrots, a few sunflower

seeds and a few golden raisins. I make my own dressing of extra virgin olive oil

and either apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar with some thyme, basil,

rosemary, and crushed red peppers. I sprinkle kelp and dulse granules over the

whole salad before eating. Sometimes instead of the sunflower seeds, I will add

a few slices of avocado.

 

mid-day snack:

 

a small piece of fruit (usually an apple) or about 5 brazil nuts or a small

handful of walnuts

 

Dinner:

 

(Usually this is when I have a cooked meal as I cook for my husband at this time

too)

 

Usually a vegetable stir fry with snow peas, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower,

bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, and onions. I usually use a little extra

virgin olive oil and bragg's for this. This is eaten over 1/2 cup of brown rice.

 

I try not to eat anything before bed, but occassionally if I am feeling dizzy or

my sugar is low, I will eat a few blackberries or blueberries.

 

Well there you have it. My typical daily food intake. The weight isn't coming

off and I am feeling a bit discouraged since everyone I have talked to about Raw

Food says they lose weight so fast on this diet. Anyone know what I may be doing

wrong? besides the one cooked meal, that is.

 

Sorry this was so long! I promise not to write a book the next time! Thanks for

any advice any of you may have for me.

 

Love and Blessings,

Ravyne