Raw Food Diet - Day 6 (Blog)

[Fortune]

There are several other raw bodybuilders you can find on the net.

Raw-Vegan Transition Story - Shannon "The Braveheart"
Garden Diet - grow younger and attain your ideal weight with all natural food
The Fruitarian One at Gone Raw
We Like It Raw - Raw Food Goodness: Nature Love, My Raw Food Mentor

And so on...

[Steve Pavlina]

Those are awesome links. The last one seems to give me a 404 error though.

[Jacko Green]

Originally Posted by Fullcrum

Message to all:

Welcome to Charlie's Gym

This dude eats raw foods. And has big muscles.

There is your proof that RAW WORKS FOR MUSCLE GAIN!

umm.....did you look at the pictures? The guy barely looks like he works out.

Something else....when you say that plants have "abundant protein" and support that with the fact that "broccoli gets 45% of it's calories from protein", you're overlooking the fact that broccoli has very few calories. So 45% of a small number is obviously a smaller number.

[seeker5]

Hmmm, here are the things that so far, from the outside-looking-in I find appealing about this RAW diet. Mind you, I haven't tried it yet, but the more I read the more interesting it becomes. Those of you who are eating raw, let me know if I'm wrong.

1) Easy and fast to prepare. No cooking time
2) You can do this anywhere in the world. When I travel to Europe, it'll be something easy to do there. This isn't the case with other diets where specialized food aren't available everywhere.
3) Easier socially at other people's place. For example, instead of explaining what kind of cooked meal I'm restricted to and having them learn how to cook this meal, I could simply let them know that this dinner, I can simply eat 6-9 bananas. Yeah, I'd look weird, but that's ok as it would involve almost no effort on their part to prepare my food.
4) Relatively easier to carry the food around as snacks and eat as is. No having to keep it frozen and no having to cook it.

This is, naturally in addition to the health benefits, if it does work out. Which is why I'll probably wait until all the results are in for the full 30 days from the 4-5 bloggers who are doing this

[Elizabeth]

You can get raw almonds from D & S Ranches:

Buy California Almonds & Nuts Online, California Almonds, Nuts, Natural Raw

Evidently, small growers can sell unpasteurized almonds direct to customers. I emailed the company and they confirmed that they can indeed sell raw almonds.

I have no relationship with this company, but today's post reminded me that I've been wanting to follow up on this for a long time.

I just ordered a pound today (look for the nonpareil almonds - some of their almonds are pasteurized, some are not). Looking forward to my raw almonds again!

Elizabeth

[seeker5]

Hmmm, I just realized something. Does the RAW Vegan diet mean no chewing gum as well? I would guess no gum as the gum is a process food and some of its content is digested.

[slinky]

Originally Posted by Jake Birkett

OMG! o.O I'd read that 2-3 times per day was normal if you were eating a good healthy diet

2-3 times per day? I've been more like 2-3 times every two weeks my entire life, and in the past it was even worse (once a month, maybe, and I always clogged the toilet). For most of my life I've eaten lots of vegetables and whole grains.

[Fortune]

1) Easy and fast to prepare. No cooking time

Before, I used to make elborate salads. That takes a lot of chopping (even with a food processor).

For example, instead of explaining what kind of cooked meal I'm restricted to and having them learn how to cook this meal, I could simply let them know that this dinner, I can simply eat 6-9 bananas.

Better add a few to that number. I've experienced that other people tend to eat MY fruit because it is irresistable.

Does the RAW Vegan diet mean no chewing gum as well?

Obviously, yes. I tend to chew gum when I go out (especially after eating raw garlic, he he). But now I'm just taking a few apples with me and munch on those.

2-3 times per day?

I easily go 6 or more times and it's always a LOT. Good, solid too. On the other hand, it only takes a few seconds to poop because it all comes out in one solid swoop, and leaves no traces. The downside is that I no longer have an excuse to read on the toilet.

[beel]

blood oranges are in season and they are incredibly delicious and super easy to peel ... i've been eating them like crazy lately and recommend them to anyone that has never tried them. they almost have a berry flavor to them.

tangelos are my other favorite. haven't seen them out just yet - it's a mix between tangerine and grapefruit.

just thought i'd recommend these other citrus as i hadn't seen them mentioned, i don't care for normal oranges (so hard to peel and blandish taste), but clementines and satsumas along with the tangelos and blood oranges are amazing!

[Fullcrum]

Raw-Vegan Transition Story - Shannon "The Braveheart"

The most awesomest link of them all...very nice raw success story.

[jbailey]

I'd believe it on the variety - I've had the same conversations with a number of people since going vegan 7 years ago. Moving away from. "What for dinner? Chicken." to a cuisine-based one meant doing a lot of exploring I wouldn't otherwise have done. While technically I'm limited as a vegan, in practice it's enough to keep me out of the standard ruts.

(Instead I just get my own special ones. *g*)

[Roger Haeske]

Originally Posted by MasterD

Thanks Steve for the clarification.

Talking about brushing teeths. I am doing the raw fruit diet for a couple of days too right now; but one thing I begin to notice is that my gums are beginning to hurt. Is this normal? What can I do about this? Brushing teeth a couple of times a day extra will be sufficient?

My gums hurt also when I first went raw. It was like they were tightening. But after a while I never felt that discomfort again. It just goes away with time. But my gums have remained tight and healthy.

Roger

[Roger Haeske]

Originally Posted by Wildside

Alright, finally we are talking about constipation! I thought I must be the only person on a raw food diet that is constipated...and it looks like I could be right! I mentioned it in the original 30 days raw thread that I have been raw for 6 days now and am totally backed up. My diet has been pretty similair to Steve's, high in fruit (probably 8-10 bananas per day as well as lots of other fruit), and lots of veggies (salads and smothies and also some juicing) the only difference I can see is I also include two tablespoons of flaxseed oil and I do have some nuts, not many, usually a few walnuts in my salads and also yesterday started having some sesame seeds and pumpkin seeds in my salads.
Anyway, I am totally constipated and it sucks! I think because of the constipation I haven't really seen any energy increase or felt better than before I went on this diet.
Anyone have any Ideas? Roger? Anyone?

Thanks
Steve

Hi Widside,

Sorry to hear about your constipation. I know the first time I went raw I had constipation as well. Actually I just didn't go to the bathroom for three days. I thought that I'd never have to go to the bathroom again. That somehow fruit didn't leave enough residue to cause a bowel movement.

Needless to say that theory turned out wrong. I've heard an occasional person mention that they were initially getting constipation with bananas, but over time that cleared up for them.

So I think it's just a matter of your body transitioning to new fuels and fibers. I'm quite certain that over time, you should see a dramatic improvement in your current constipation problems.

There's a night a day difference between the hardness of stools while on cooked food versus raw food. The more water in your diet, the softer will your stools be. Just as Steve described.

So maybe for whatever reason your not getting enough water in how your doing your diet. That could happen if you're not consuming enough calories.

And as far as I know there's nothing in bananas per se that should cause constipation. Just make sure you're eating them ripe when they are spotted.

Nut and seeds are by far more constipating than bananas. Try reducing or eliminating them and see what happens. But it's likely just a transition period thing.

As for the other remedies like cleanses and colonics. I'd be really cautious and only do something like that as a last resort. You can as you've learned become dependent on them.

What people don't realize is that some people after just one or a limited number of colonics can never again go to the bathroom without the aid of a colonic.

These can be quite harmful. The internal cleansers like psyllium husk, etc, can damage the intestinal wall. Luckily if you eat raw, in most cases you won't need to resort to these methods due to the very high levels of soluble fiber.

Roger

[Wildside]

Originally Posted by Roger Haeske

Hi Widside,

Sorry to hear about your constipation. I know the first time I went raw I had constipation as well. Actually I just didn't go to the bathroom for three days. I thought that I'd never have to go to the bathroom again. That somehow fruit didn't leave enough residue to cause a bowel movement.

Needless to say that theory turned out wrong. I've heard an occasional person mention that they were initially getting constipation with bananas, but over time that cleared up for them.

So I think it's just a matter of your body transitioning to new fuels and fibers. I'm quite certain that over time, you should see a dramatic improvement in your current constipation problems.

There's a night a day difference between the hardness of stools while on cooked food versus raw food. The more water in your diet, the softer will your stools be. Just as Steve described.

So maybe for whatever reason your not getting enough water in how your doing your diet. That could happen if you're not consuming enough calories.

And as far as I know there's nothing in bananas per se that should cause constipation. Just make sure you're eating them ripe when they are spotted.

Nut and seeds are by far more constipating than bananas. Try reducing or eliminating them and see what happens. But it's likely just a transition period thing.

As for the other remedies like cleanses and colonics. I'd be really cautious and only do something like that as a last resort. You can as you've learned become dependent on them.

What people don't realize is that some people after just one or a limited number of colonics can never again go to the bathroom without the aid of a colonic.

These can be quite harmful. The internal cleansers like psyllium husk, etc, can damage the intestinal wall. Luckily if you eat raw, in most cases you won't need to resort to these methods due to the very high levels of soluble fiber.

Roger

Thanks for the repsonse Roger. It makes me feel better to know you (and probably a few others) experianced the big C when you first started raw. I'm going to just stay the course and hope everything clears it self up (or out). Actually today I have had numerous little movements...so hopefully the big one is coming soon lol. Glad you commented on the colonics and cleansers as I was considering one...I will definitly hold off now as I don't want to do any major damage in that department.

As for banana's I didn't know about eating them when they were spotted. I usually eat them as soon as they are yellow enough. I find so many times when you go to buy them that the store, their shelves are stocked with all green ones, and you have to buy them and then wait for them to turn yellow. I rarely wait long enough for spots...I will try and get a bigger rotation going so I will always have some spotted ones.

Thanks again.

[Wildside]

Originally Posted by Fullcrum

Raw-Vegan Transition Story - Shannon "The Braveheart"

The most awesomest link of them all...very nice raw success story.

Ya, I really enjoyed that story. And Shannon is the first raw food guy I have seen that looks really buff and healthy. To me most raw fooders look to skinny and unhealthy...it is one of my biggest concerns about staying 100% raw...I have always been considered someone who stays in pretty good shape and I have always worked out pretty hard (with weights) and have taken pride in my muscularity. I don't think I want to be perceived as to skinny or frail etc.
The closest I ever came to eating raw before was probably about 5 years ago. I bought the book "fit for life" and pretty much followed it for about a year (and have loosely followed since) it prescribed fruit until lunch, and then something healthy for lunch (I think I was supposed to have a salad but I usually had a tuna sandwich with whole wheat bread...which was kind of cheating as the diet was big on food combining, as in no starchy carbs with proteins...but I digress) and then for dinner I always made a monster salad with a cut up chicken breast or tuna in it.
at the time I was running 10km (6miles) 3 times a week on alternate days and hitting the weights for 3 days and taking one day off a week.
I have never had more energy or looked better in my life.
I am hoping I get the same or better eating raw...we will see. I am definitely going to do the 30 day trial and judge it after that...If I am to skinny I might start adding some tuna or salmon to my evening salad or something...we'll see. If I do end up modifying it after that to suit my needs, I know for sure I will at minimum stay 75% raw...as all the research I have done on it has convinced me the more raw the better!

[water5]

The Shannon story is great. I really am curious about the protein issue for bodybuilding. I know according to The China Study that it we do not need to worry about protein survival the way people talk about it.

But I really want to know if muscles can be added on a raw/near raw diet?

I wonder for Shannon, how much muscle he had built before and after raw?

I have been vegan for a year and a half and it is one of the best things I have done. But I am feeling the effects of cooked food as I am starting to eat more fruits and green smoothies.

[water5]

Steve,

It would be wonderful if you could take a blood sample before and after the trial. I would really be curious to see how your glucose levels and cholesterol levels measure up. Even if it is the remaining 3 weeks, it would still be valuable information.

Keep up the great work!

[Steve Pavlina]

Originally Posted by Wildside

I bought the book "fit for life" and pretty much followed it for about a year (and have loosely followed since)

One of the Fit for Life authors, Marilyn Diamond, went raw for a while herself. I don't know if she's still raw today though. I know she wrote an article talking about sprouts as a great source of protein.

[shiggityjoe]

Originally Posted by Fullcrum

Message to all:

Welcome to Charlie's Gym

This dude eats raw foods. And has big muscles.

Average about 3700 calories a day.

The guy was 49 years old at the images. See the vids of him working out on the "High Intensity Page"

No supplements, milk, meat, or giant piles of nuts. Just lots of bananas . Haha, and other stuff too of course.

There is your proof that RAW WORKS FOR MUSCLE GAIN!

I'm completely unimpressed, both with his website and with his video of "high intensity training". How is a set of 10 slow chin ups high intensity?

I certainly don't consider that high intensity. I realize that this is a former bodybuilder, who has only just begun training again for the purpose of the raw food diet - but as far as I'm concerned he simply shows that its possible to be fit and eat raw food. His back hes flexing in the other video... big whoop.

I don't consider his muscles big, I'd really like to see someone actively competing, or better yet would be a powerlifter eating the raw food diet. That would prove to me that the raw food diet is sustainable even for those who wish to maintain large amounts of muscle mass and maintain low bodyfat.

This really intrigues me, I'm going to do more research but I have a bit of a hankering to just to my own raw food experiment,

[Wildside]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

One of the Fit for Life authors, Marilyn Diamond, went raw for a while herself. I don't know if she's still raw today though. I know she wrote an article talking about sprouts as a great source of protein.

That wouldn't surprise me if she went raw...I found fit for life leaned heavily towards raw foods (before anyone even knew what a raw food diet was...well I guess not that many people know what it is now...but even less did then ); They encouraged a vegaterian diet with lots of fruits and vegitables and basically said if you were going to eat meat make sure you combine it with a salad to get the assitance of the enzymes. I think the book was written in the 80's so that is pretty forward thinking for back then.

[Fortune]

Here are some bodyweight training videos from "The Fruitarian One":
YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

[Jake Birkett]

2-3 times per day? I've been more like 2-3 times every two weeks my entire life, and in the past it was even worse (once a month, maybe, and I always clogged the toilet). For most of my life I've eaten lots of vegetables and whole grains.

The British have a phrase "Regular as clockwork" which basically means that the "goal" for a lot of people used to be to go to the toilet the same time each day (I'm not sure how many people have this "goal" nowadays). If I didn't go every day I'd say I was constipated - also having all that old matter inside you can't be good. For people that go less often perhaps there's a physiological component or they don't drink enough water or maybe it's just that people's bodies are different for some reason? I'm not a bowel expert so I can't say.

As for that guy in the Charlie's Gym link, he looks pretty healthy to me. I think a lot of 50 year old guys would swap their bodies for his. Sure, he may not be MASSIVE but that always looks pretty unnatural to me plus any body builders that have come to my Aikido lessons can't stretch at all and are cumbersome - I never want to be like that. Also I often see "big musclebound guys" that have a lot of fat too, and if the cost of getting big muscles is eating crap then count me out. I'll eat naturally and use my body naturally in an active way and that's fine for me! I'd rather look like Jackie Chan than Arnie (I respect both of them for their incredible achievements mind you).