My Transition to Low Fat Raw Vegan: Part IV
* Feature Article: My Transition to Low Fat Raw Vegan: Part III
My Transition to Low Fat Raw Vegan: Part III
I ended My Transition to Low Fat Raw Vegan: Part III last week with some of the initial benefits I experienced on raw and as well as my minute detox symptoms.
It’s now finally time to wrap things up with some advice I would offer my past self, as well as what I did right and how this all pertains to you.
My Advice to Myself
Knowing what I know now, here is what I would say to the Swayze of 2007:
*#1: Eat More Food*
Yep. I know I’ve said it lot, but it’s true. The key to being successful on a raw food diet is eating as much food as you care for (specifically fruit).
And all you weight-watchers out there, don’t worry. You will still lose weight on such a diet.
And I’m not just saying this to toot my own horn or hear myself speak read my own words. This is an important issue that I am constantly being reminded of.
I would say that my response to the vast majority of emails I receive – probably 75% – result in this simple response:
You need to eat more fruit.
Is it really any wonder that I have struggled with same problem myself?
And honestly, I was eating a good amount of calories on most days (just below 2000, which is the estimated amount that a person of my height, weight, and activity level needs).
That wasn’t the issue.
The issue was that I was still hungry! Like many of you, I was coming from a diet of heavy caloric restriction (not to mention food with very little volume) and my body was literally calling out for more food and better nutrition. I was still too caught up in the numbers and the “eat less, exercise more” mantra to realize it.
As a result, I would do fine for a couple of days. Then the hunger would catch up with me and I would go binge crazy!
On the other hand, after my binge-heavy 2008 summer vacation, I started purposefully under eating on calories. I wanted to get the excess weight off as quickly as possible.
Of course, this completely backfired. Again, I would white knuckle for a few days, but then the lack of calories would get to me and I would eat, eat, eat anything in sight.
It wasn’t until I finally allowed myself to just eat as much as I wanted (in December of last year) that my cravings drastically decreased and, therefore, I stopped binge eating.
*#2: Slow it Down, Dude!*
This was posted on October 31, 2007 and was supposed to be my game plan for the next 30 days:
- Between 15-18 pieces of raw fruit a day (blended or whole)
- At least a pound of raw greens a day ( blended or whole)
- Steamed/boiled vegetables w/ sea salt 3 times a week (i.e. corn, peas, broccoli, edamame, potatoes, etc.) for dinner
- No more than 180 calories from fat every other day (i.e. nuts, seeds, avocados)
- Dried fruits only on occasion
- 6 ounces of decaffeinated tea w/ 1 tsp of honey once a day is permissible
This means…
- No meat
- No cheese
- No dairy
- No grains
- No legumes
- No caffeine
- No processed foods (except honey in tea)
This was a great plan for me because it allowed me to eat high amounts of fruit, which I was already slightly accustomed to anyway, while at the same time incorporating some transition foods (i.e. tea, steamed veggies, salt) to help me make it through.
I soon got impatient and started upping the ante. By day 18, I had cut out all steamed foods and tea in an effort to cut back on cravings.
The problem here is that once I went 100% strict raw, there was no going back for me. I felt stuck in the “all or nothing” mindset that I am so prone to. If I decided to incorporate some transition foods again, I felt guilty because then I wasn’t 100% raw.
Then I felt deprived and that’s when my bingeing got really out of control and I began eating foods that I had not so much as looked at in months!
If I had just taken it slow and kept at my original plan that was well-suited to me, I am sure I would have avoided a lot of stress, overeating, and mental anguish.
I think this is another reason why I was able to stick with raw in December 2008. Not only was I eating as much as I wanted, I also consumed salt and spices if I desired them. As an emotional eater, it helped to know that salt was not a forbidden food and, more importantly, that I could eat it *without guilt*!
What I Did Right
It’s been 2 years and 7 days and I’m still here.
Obviously I did something right…right? 
*Dedication*
From the moment I began my journey to raw, I knew it would take some work. I knew I would have difficult days. I knew I would make mistakes here and there.
I was okay with all that and I was prepared for it. More importantly, I was completely dedicated no matter what.
Going raw was my #1 priority.
So many people discover raw, jump right into it, and expect it to be a piece of cake.
I sometimes receive emails from people looking for that special something – kind of like the “ah hah” moment I briefly mentioned in Part III – that will quickly and effortlessly make them a 100% raw foodist.
They want to go raw at the snap of their fingers, without any extra effort. They want to have their cooked cake and eat it too.
Sorry, but that isn’t possible.
A healthy raw food diet is simple, sure. But there is a big difference between simple and easy.
Eating fruit all day, greens in the evening, and limiting your fat intake is a simple concept. Eating this way in a household full of others who do not understand and do not support you is not always easy.
Eating a meal of just bananas is simple. Ensuring that you have enough ripe fruit on hand requires knowledge and experience.
Preparing a green smoothie of banana and celery is simple. Planning ahead for an upcoming social event – like Thanksgiving this Thursday, for instance – can be tricky.
I’m not trying to scare you away from raw or make it seem reserved for only a select few. When compared to any other diet on the face of the planet, a low fat raw vegan one is by far the simplest, easiest and most rewarding diet around.
Is there any other dietary plan in which you can eat pounds and pounds of food day in and day out and still maintain a sleek, muscular, sexy physique and experience energy levels that rival those of a small toddler?
NO WAY!
Low fat raw vegan wins hands down, every time.
My point is that, just like with anything worth while in life, going raw requires a little extra work.
But if you are truly dedicated and remain focused on the long-term, you will work through it all in your own time and on your own terms.
My Advice to You
If you are struggling with maintaining a raw food diet, you can certainly learn from my mistakes.
To recap:
- Eat as much fruit as you want
- Develop a game plan and STICK TO IT
- Take it slow
And most importantly, make going raw your #1 priority. It may require a little work on your part, but the numerous benefits you will receive will more than pay you back for all your hard work.
And your tummy and taste buds will love you for it. 
Go raw and be fit,
Swayze
16 comments
Straight forward and to the point, also inspiring . I have been to many a rawfood site and found yours the best. Many Thanks !
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Swayze Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 7:48 am
Thanks so much, Gerry!
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I like what you say but I do worry about things such as dental problems and hair loss that I have read can be a big problem for many who have consumed a mostly fruit diet?
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Swayze Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 7:48 am
I have an article on dental health and raw foods below:
http://www.fitonraw.com/2009/06/raw-food-diet-tooth-decay/
Some people do experience hair loss, but this is the minority and it is usually a detox symptom that clears up within a few months. If you would like more info on this, I suggest starting a thread in the Raw Food and Sports message board on vegsource.com
Hope that helps!
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I am on day 21 and have stuck to the 80/10/10 …it has had it’s very tough moments and also some exhilerating ones. The cravings have caught me by surprise. I have happily been a vegetarian for over two years, have not eaten chicken for 12 years and for the last year and three months have abstained from sugar coffee and rice and have had very little cravings. NOW I find myself thinking about food I would nver touch in a million years!!! WHY NOW! It is not all clear sailing staying on 80/10/10 and I have been thinking I must do something clever to stop these insane cravings. My tummy is ssooo full of mango and nectarines and I am only on my first course for the evening!! Most evenings I cannot eat as much as indicated in Douglas Graham’s book and I’m only at a little over 1200 calories for today, as for most days. I find I am losing more weight than I want to ….I feel stuck. I keep trying to eat more. I sneak in a few extra walnuts or macadamias thinking on one hand I may put on a bit of weight ..yippeee.. then on the other hand I worry that I may get candida, even though I have never had it. I feel I am becoming so serious about all of this and would like to lighten up. So Swayze, your suggestion to eat a little steamed food may do the trick. I know that I would actually LOVE is a piece of sour-dough spelt bread…toasted…with tahini and a smattering of honey…mmmmmm.
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Swayze Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 7:44 am
You got it, I would definitely recommend transitioning for you. It will allow you to get used to larger amounts of fruit without having to worry about calories just yet.
Remember, being healthy is not a race to the finish line!
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Thanks Swayze…yes I know it is not a race but I did so much want to do 30 days…. I have been trying to go 100% raw for a year now and luckily was not too much into the fats… I think…I HOPE not anyway….
So I am off to steam up some fresshh organic corn.
I have been keeping my dockets each time I go shopping for raw and will add up to see how much these 21 has cost. This has stresed me out a little/lots because I have spent ooodles of money buying organic. Yesterday couln’t find organic celery so bought the conventional one …the taste was lacking. I t was kinda like water no taste. ….mmmmm …another decision to make…will have to get another little job to pay for my fruit.
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um, just for the record, peas and edamame are indeed legumes… (check wikipedia)
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SSoo….I didn’t steam any vegetables…had no interest in getting the pan out and onto the stove…BUT I had some bread….eeeekkk!!! …it didn’t kill me…I toasted it and ate it with my eyes closed to get the full drift…it was ok…but then I launched myself into lettuce and cucumber with smatterings of tahini and organic mustard…it was truly yummy and I forgot all about the toast. Today I am happily back on the wagon and feeling so much freer in the mind…sort of let out of the self made prison of discontent …I know I know it is the right way to go for me I just had to loosen up and not be all worried and serious. At the moment I am munching my way through a second helping of savoury vegie stew inspired by Roger Haeske’s ebook recipe’s. So thanks Swayze thanks so very much for being the voice in the wilderness as I fumble around trying to get this glorious way naturally and at MY speed.
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Oh and by the way…because I have been doing so well not using sugar in Roger Haeske’s recipes I use nectarine or peach (it’s summer here ) for sweetener it does just fine…I read an article on agave syrup and will give it a wide berth …anyone can check out the article at http://thursdaysgirl.wordpress.com/2008/08/18/is-agave-nectar-good-or-bad-for-our-health/
Cheers .Terri
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Swayze Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Congrats and no need to thank me. You’re doing it all on your own.
Thanks for the link! I like to use apples or grapes when I make SVS. I tried agave in a recipe some time ago, but I did not like the taste at all.
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Hey Swayze,
I’ve been on your mailinglist for a while now and I must thank you for your blog and tips – great stuff!
It’s annoying sometimes how everyone keeps harping on about eating enough but that truly IS the key to staying happy, healthy and low-fat raw!
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Swayze Reply:
November 25th, 2009 at 10:22 am
Thanks, Tina!
Honestly, I could answer “How am I supposed to eat that much fruit?!” and other fruity questions all day long and not get annoyed.
What can I say, I love my fruit!
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and yes it is the secret…eating enough …but I seem not able to so far and at the moment (3evening meals later since my 1st comment) I am eating a huge plate of steamed vegies with condiments and bread….sheeesh!!! not out of some eating craving but purely to try to put some weight on…I feel a bit down tonight because a good honest friend of mine who I haven’t seen for 2 years said he thought I had some illness or something when he first saw me. Told me this after a few meetings that I look sick and that a 2 years ago he thought I looked good seemed energetic happy and healthy…which in general I was. I feel I have lost a lot of my good looking attributes and it is not that I am stuck on the way I look but more than one person has told me there is nothing of me. It is not so heartening to hear this and from strangers as well….not all are overweight that throw this comment. I was back on the wagon yesterday but tonight I am rethinking the whole deal of getting super fit. Oh dear!!!
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Swayze Reply:
November 25th, 2009 at 10:30 am
I have to ask…
Do you feel you are thin or is it just everyone else?
If you really are struggling to keep the weight on, I highly suggest incorporating more cooked food into your diet. That way you can still get enough calories and gradually get used to larger amounts of fruit. Plus, if you recognize the cooked stuff as necessary for succeeding on raw in the long-term (and not “bad” eats), you won’t feel guilty for eating it.
The best way to start is to come up with a simple plan that you KNOW you can stick to everyday and follow it.
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Iguess I am thin but I really did not feel like I am (until yesterday)…I see the veins protruding from my arms…eeek I do have muscle but I guess not enough to cover up the boney parts….any way I have been moaning and groaning for days now yet at the same time there is a really positive side …for a time there the yin and yang of it all was not giving me rest. So enough of the moaning!! Tonight I had vegie stew but put in some hand crafted condiment made from coriander and chilli and a teeeeeny weeeeny bit of olive oil (eeeek) but there is no vinegar and no sugar. Made by alovely African woman and sold at the farmers market. SSSSooo …that has brought some level of satisfaction to the palate. I do love of eating raw. I had full intention of steaming some more sweet potatoe and other vegies similar to last night but I kinda went into automatic and made RAW Vegie Stew ..ala Roger….
Today I hung very loose and did very well… I have decided to bring the joy back and use my intuition as to what will get me eating. This not eating enough is mostly in the evenings so what I did earlier ( before taking my dog for a walk) was made up a thick yummy mango and peach (not over blended so it was like a dessert) entree. This way I have the desire to eat a main meal. I know that my emails are long winded and I thank you for your input…I have noone here to share this amazing yet sometimes difficult process of Low Fat Raw. I live in Western Australia …nearly the end of the earth, if it was flat ;>) I may have to hunt for a group here who are attempting 80/10/10
I am light and happy today…not skinny and miserable.
Love and Light
Terri
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