100 POUNDS+ TO SHED?

[Anastazia]

Hi, everyone!
Anyone else here with 100 lbs or more to lose? I know that anyone with any weight to lose can relate to many of the different things that go with being overweight, & weight loss...but those of us with LOTS to lose, the obese, morbidly obese, etc. have some additional issues going on.

I thought I'd see if anyone else would like to join me here with supporting each other on this particular aspect of our raw journey, with accountability, sharing our struggles & victories, as well as solutions to issues those with less weight to lose don't deal with...& whatever else we're led to share.

{Perhaps Bunny would even set up a specific group here for us...? Bunny...?}

Soooo...anyone interested?

~Anastazia~

(& please don't take offense at this cartoon! It just made me giggle!)

[aRawOma]

Shauna,
So I've disappeared also for awhile, and gained some weight during it. But spring has sprung and I have so many greens in my garden that I freakin' have NO excuse.........so green smoothies every morning for me. I also joined a company that sells super foods and I hope to use them to jump start me again. I know WHAT to do its just DOING it that seems to elude me.
Someone........ actually, everyone says this is supposed to be fun. If it's not then don't do it. But do you think that maybe they don't understand OUR thinking as a person with a weight issue. We think differently don't we?
I know I'm the first one to question my food choices and then think that what I'm doing is wrong. Then guess what? If I think its bad for my body then it reacts to just that.
I've been on one diet or another for my whole life so I keep thinking like this is a diet instead of a WONDERFUL new lifestyle.
So how can we help each other? I kinow if I checked in more often I would feel better and get the support I need.
Hope you all are having "THE BEST DAY EVER", to quote David.
Carol

Shauna Leigh Alexander said:

Carol, Anastazia...I am going thru a similar thing as the two of you. I would love to join this group, as I need to lose 100 more pounds. It was a great start last year, and felt amazing and released 66 lbs., but I petered out, and am slowly starting my RawFood adventure, again. Have a beautiful day, everyone!

[Melody]

I am here too.. saying hello for the first time! I have 120 lbs to lose... and am sooo frustrated with myself.

I am in such bad shape and exercise really hurts.

I know I have to make it through the hump of just doing it! I'm doing pretty good with my eating... but need to move.

[aRawOma]

Melody,
Hello, what kind of exercise do you do? Maybe you should do less right now if it hurts. Then build up to it over time. Something is better than nothing, but too much is not good either because then you quit.
Keep at it, we've all been there and know what you go through.
Catol

Melody said:

I am here too.. saying hello for the first time! I have 120 lbs to lose... and am sooo frustrated with myself.

I am in such bad shape and exercise really hurts.

I know I have to make it through the hump of just doing it! I'm doing pretty good with my eating... but need to move.

[Shauna Leigh Alexander]

Carol,

I, too, had been thinking about this as a diet, and realize how mentally it creates an urge to binge on things i "can't have". It's funny you were talking about knowing what to do and just doing it......Can't tell you how many times I have beaten myself up over choosing one item over a healthier option or even buying a ton of amazing fruits and vegetables, but letting them go bad, then telling myself I know better. I am pushing past all of that to keep sane and happy, though. And just buying things in small quantities, lol! So far, I have consistently done a green smoothie for the morning. Taking it one step at a time. I tell ya, I am so grateful for you and everyone else on here for sharing your experiences. I look forward to learning more, and sharing more....just knowing there are others going thru similar things is comforting. I am rooting for us all!!! Let's definitely keep checking in! :) Enjoy those garden greens!

You have the Best Weekend Ever :)

Shauna

[Susan]

Hello,

I would love to join this group! I have close to 200 pounds to lose. I gave up the S.A.D. and became a cooked vegan April 28, 2008. I recently bought Victoria B's book "Green For Life" and must say I am truly enjoying a green smoothie every morning. Eating a huge salad for lunch. Munching on pea pods or red pepper slices for snacks. Just need to convert my dinners to RAW. I feel so much better eating the raw meals as opposed to the cooked grains & beans that I had been eating. Looking to meet new friends as my family & friends are not very supportive of this lifestyle! And learning about this new RAW adventure!

Suzy

[aRawOma]

Hey Susy,
Glad you stopped in......we are a small group but we are mighty.

I have a question, do you think that you're all eating enough? I have a feeling I'm not because I seem to have stopped loosing weight. In the beginning I was loosing well, dropped about 50 pounds over a period of 6 months. Then I tried the juice fast last year and stopped after 10 days, later I tried to do the green smoothie challenge, and that stopped my weight lose dead in it's tracks.
Now I can't seem to remember what I was doing before that was working so well.
I don't seem to want to make too many burgers and stuff out of nuts, have lost the need for dehydrated crackers so its alot of fruit and veg during the day. But like I said am I eating enough because of the darn diet mentality that I have lived with for so long.
Do you folks have some good breakfast ideas? What kinds of foods do you eat?

[Candace]

I have a ways to go, as well. I became vegan Feb 13th, 2009 and just learned about the Raw Food idea this past weekend. My life has changed dramatically and am grateful to have found a way to eat the right foods.

My biggest struggle is those cravings for potato chips. I honestly never liked chips like that until these past few months..lol! But tonight was a good night. Instead of sneaking some chips from my husband's lunches, I made a green smoothie and had a handful of almonds. I'm full now and gonna run on the treadmill before bed tonight.

[RawVeggie]

i'm in as well ... i started off at 228 at the end of february 2009 and came down to 202 during april.
unfortunately it has stopped since then :-( have no idea what to do, i love my raw food, i hardly have
cravings, i usually even eat extremely little, because i'm just not hungry ... *sigh*
so i guess you may want to count me in as part of the "inventory" ...

[Nic Oletta]

Hello everyone! I definitely need to be part of this 100+ club. I've lost 100+ lbs before, and kept it off really well until I got pregnant and my life pretty much exploded in a direction I never thought it would. Stress + hormones + a really bad diet = gaining 90lbs during my pregnancy. I gained another 30 odd pounds in the past 20 months since having my baby!!! So I really need to get my act together and get back to the body I once had. That was the only time in my life I have been at a normal weight.

We can do this! Especially if we do it together. Can't wait to get to know you all better. :)

[FunkeeMommee]

This convo has sloooowed, but I'll drop my 2cents to see if it starts back up.

HI! I am on board with about 130 to lose (at least ideally - who knows where the body will actually stop - maybe after 100?)

Anyway, I have been high raw for about a week. I gave up soda's about 1 month ago and the cravings are pretty much gone. I even tested myself twice - and I have definitely burned those soda/sugar bridges.

I have also stopped drinking coffee at home - except occassionally - which means my sugar consumptions are way down.

I am just getting started on green smoothies & juicing. Have you all had any success with that or are you "just" eating raw veg/nuts etc?

See you all later..!

[Anastazia]

Hi!
I'm still here, just getting settled into my new home, & getting used to all the changes...been out every day but 3 or 4 since we got here July 1st, when I've been used to getting out 2, maybe 3 times a week, so am kind of exhausted, but also, getting a little more strength...
...FunkeeMommee, I do find smoothies help a LOT, especially with CRAVINGS, as well as ensuring that I get enough calories each day, & helping me consume food in the AM hours...

I've been swimming numerous times since getting here, & it's the only thing I can do for any length of time that doesn't hurt! & it's helped me begin toning up, & shedding some pounds, (as long as I stay at least high raw...)

I've been setting some specific goals, & my first one involves a wedding Hannah & I will be attending back in my hometown mid-october...I want to be able to wear a specific dress that I've had for awhile, & never been able to wear! When I can, I'll be posting pictures!

Nic, stress & hormones definately affect the scale, but you know how much exercise helps BOTH! Stay on that treadmill!!! (I'm still waiting for Hannah & my brother-in-law to set ours up!)

Thanks for what you've shared, Dennis! & remember, you're blessed, bein' a guy, you build muscle faster, & I'm sure you know that muscles burn twice as many calories as fat!

Are any of you doing any weight-lifting, for toning, & building strength?
What about skin-brushing, for toning up skin as the pounds come off?
I'm starting to do both again, when I remember & have time! My aim is DAILY!!!

& Candace, there are recipes for RAW potato chips, made in the dehydrator! Sweet potato ones are MUCH better (& better for you!) than the white potato ones!!!

aRawOma, I kinda went thru the same thing, sometimes we just need to stick with what's working, & only shake it up when it stops...what worked best for me was keepin' it simple, starting the day with smoothies, then fruit for snacks, & a BIG salad for dinner, often with sprouted sunflower seeds, sometimes with sprouted chick peas or avacado, but not every day, & homemade dressings, & the OCCASIONAL raw dessert, in moderate quantities...I dropped 45 lbs in 43 days doin' that!!!
I know, I know, why did I ever start experiementing with recipes, & goin' back & forth between raw & cooked?!?!?! I shed 65 lbs total on raw, then gradually gained back 30+, & have now FINALLY began shedding them again...cooked food is SOOOO not worth it!!! (For SOOOO many reasons!!!)

I hope we can get a group going for 100+ lbs...{I'd be happy to head it up, Bunny!}
~Anastazia~

[Anastazia]

*bumpity-bump-bump*