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TropicThink · 12-06-2008, 11:35 AM

I'm about 80% raw, and it works wonderfully. The remaining 20% or so is usually protein dense foods or even some grains. I currently train twice a day six days a week, so I consider myself fairly active.

I AM losing weight, though, but that's part of the plan; I'm getting back into boxing and slimming down (A LOT) to make make weight.

The effect of eating raw has been astounding. I never even thought about boxing again until I started eating raw last year. It's made me feel like 18 again (I'm 33). Things that had seemingly been gone forever, like my reflexes, quickness etc, are now back. It's just nuts. I didn't know how ♥♥♥♥♥♥ I had been feeling until I started eating raw. I've been an insane health geek all my life (I'd stay up at night reading about the molecular structure of nutrients when I was 14), and even though I despite that fact ate incredibly unhealthy for a number of years (and lived a very unhealthy lifestyle in general with constant partying, too little sleep etc) when I did eat what was considered healthy by conventional standards, I didn't really feel very healthy. Going raw changed all that. Now I'm definitely the healthiest I've been for at least ten years, and it just keeps getting better.

I experimented with raw foods when living n Australia in the late nineties, but I guess the incentives weren't good enough back then seeing as I was already in pretty good health etc. I wish I'd just gone for it. The years between then and now would have been better for sure.

Try it. You don't have to go 100% raw. Even if you went 60% raw it'd be great, but I think the you'll see the REAL benefits at 80% plus. I go 100% raw here for short periods here and there as well, but hang around at about 80% most of the time, because it's easy and because that does seem the ideal ratio right now as far as gains in the gym etc go.

Personally, I'd advise you to stay away from eating too much fruit. You can certainly eat quite a lot of it being active, but I find that it is MUCH more beneficial to get those calories from other sources. Fructose isn't that great, and I don't like the long term effects you see in a lot of people on the fruitarian or the 80-10-10 type of approches. For fairly inactive people I think a high fruit diet is total madness (but then, why would you be inactive and expect to have good health?), and while it works for a lot of active people I do think there are probably better ways to take care of ones health. For a lot of people I actually think going OFF fruit (and high glycemic foods) for a few months can be a really, no, REALLY smart move. I do know there are fruitarians who are very, very healthy, but I think - at least long term - that they could be even healthier if they ate a little less fruit. That's my opinion, though, and as you know, everybody's got one.

If you just start by adding more raw foods to your diet, the transition is remarkably easy. Add a salad here, a green smoothie there etc. As you gradually eat more and more raw foods, the crap starts falling away almost by itself. And getting enough calories isn't very hard at all if you know what you're doing.

Biggest challenges: the detox and your friends / family / significant other. Overcome those, and I think you'll be eating raw for a long time. I'll NEVER go back to eating mostly cooked foods again. Raw is great. I hope you try it.

12-06-2008, 11:35 AM	#8 (permalink)
TropicThink Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 73	I'm about 80% raw, and it works wonderfully. The remaining 20% or so is usually protein dense foods or even some grains. I currently train twice a day six days a week, so I consider myself fairly active. I AM losing weight, though, but that's part of the plan; I'm getting back into boxing and slimming down (A LOT) to make make weight. The effect of eating raw has been astounding. I never even thought about boxing again until I started eating raw last year. It's made me feel like 18 again (I'm 33). Things that had seemingly been gone forever, like my reflexes, quickness etc, are now back. It's just nuts. I didn't know how ♥♥♥♥♥♥ I had been feeling until I started eating raw. I've been an insane health geek all my life (I'd stay up at night reading about the molecular structure of nutrients when I was 14), and even though I despite that fact ate incredibly unhealthy for a number of years (and lived a very unhealthy lifestyle in general with constant partying, too little sleep etc) when I did eat what was considered healthy by conventional standards, I didn't really feel very healthy. Going raw changed all that. Now I'm definitely the healthiest I've been for at least ten years, and it just keeps getting better. I experimented with raw foods when living n Australia in the late nineties, but I guess the incentives weren't good enough back then seeing as I was already in pretty good health etc. I wish I'd just gone for it. The years between then and now would have been better for sure. Try it. You don't have to go 100% raw. Even if you went 60% raw it'd be great, but I think the you'll see the REAL benefits at 80% plus. I go 100% raw here for short periods here and there as well, but hang around at about 80% most of the time, because it's easy and because that does seem the ideal ratio right now as far as gains in the gym etc go. Personally, I'd advise you to stay away from eating too much fruit. You can certainly eat quite a lot of it being active, but I find that it is MUCH more beneficial to get those calories from other sources. Fructose isn't that great, and I don't like the long term effects you see in a lot of people on the fruitarian or the 80-10-10 type of approches. For fairly inactive people I think a high fruit diet is total madness (but then, why would you be inactive and expect to have good health?), and while it works for a lot of active people I do think there are probably better ways to take care of ones health. For a lot of people I actually think going OFF fruit (and high glycemic foods) for a few months can be a really, no, REALLY smart move. I do know there are fruitarians who are very, very healthy, but I think - at least long term - that they could be even healthier if they ate a little less fruit. That's my opinion, though, and as you know, everybody's got one. If you just start by adding more raw foods to your diet, the transition is remarkably easy. Add a salad here, a green smoothie there etc. As you gradually eat more and more raw foods, the crap starts falling away almost by itself. And getting enough calories isn't very hard at all if you know what you're doing. Biggest challenges: the detox and your friends / family / significant other. Overcome those, and I think you'll be eating raw for a long time. I'll NEVER go back to eating mostly cooked foods again. Raw is great. I hope you try it. Last edited by TropicThink; 12-06-2008 at 11:41 AM.