How To Keep Warm on Raw Foods
* What’s New: Low Fat Raw Recipe E-Book
* Feature Article: How To Keep Warm on Raw Foods
Low Fat Raw Recipe E-Book
As promised, I will be releasing a short recipe e-book very soon…as in *next week* soon! I know this is perfect timing for many of you, as we’re all finally adjusting from the Holidays and (it’s okay, you can admit it) from all the cooked food craziness.
The book contains over 35 recipes, all from various low fat raw vegans I “know” around the net. Even some of my awesome subscribers pitched in with some delectable dishes.
Whether you are brand new to raw foods or have been on-and-off raw for years, I’m sure you will enjoy the tasty recipes in this book.
And speaking of awesome subscribers…
Also as promised, all of my subscribers will receive a special discount on the book. This is only for those on my list so be sure and opt-in in the little “Free Newsletter” box at the top of this page! 
Swayze
How To Keep Warm on Raw Foods
I just gotta be honest. Being a raw foodist during the winter can really suck sometimes. The summer sunshine is long gone, along with all the beautifully ripe fruit and veg.
You head over to your local grocery store looking for some ripe fruit and all you find are rows and rows of green as grass bananas and rock-hard, out-of-season melons and mangoes.
Some days I could almost kill someone for just one ripe Red Haven peach.
*sigh*
But the worst part about a winter gone raw?
It’s @*#&$^% cold!
As a raw foodist, one of the biggest issues you will come across is staying warm.
To help deal with the chilliness, most raw foodists try bundling up in clothing and blankets and sipping warm water. Many “raw” gurus out there even advocate eating steamed veggies and warmed broths to warm up.
Nonsense, I say!
You don’t need layers and layers of underwear and you CERTAINLY don’t need cooked food to keep warm.
There is a completely raw, completely easy, and completely effective way to keep warm on a raw food diet and you can bet your ice cold caboose I’m gonna give ya the scoop!
Oh yeah…and it’s completely free, too! 
Break a Sweat
Sorry couch potatoes, but the best way to beat the winter blues is to exercise.
Sure, you can take a hot shower, or put on some thermal underwear, or drink some warm water…
But these tactics take FOREVER and usually have fleeting results.
Taking a shower feels great. So great, in fact, that I don’t want to leave. I end up wasting a lot of hot water just standing around and by the time I step out of the tub, I’m ice cold again!
Instead, I recommend moving your body. And I don’t mean a full 60 minutes of intense exercise…since I know you’re doing that already. 
I mean just a few minutes of simple bodyweight exercises (i.e. push-ups, mountain climbers, pull-ups, squats, etc.)
Here’s a simple Calisthenics routine that I like to do:
- Jogging in place, 30 seconds
- 50 jumping jacks
- 10 push-ups
- 10 mountain climbers
- 10 body squats/calf raises combo (you squat, do a calf raise and repeat)
I usually run through this 2-3 times to get my heart rate up a little bit. It only takes a few minutes to perform and by the end of the routine, I’m super toasty for hours on end!
There’s no exact science here. For instance, if I happen to be a little sore from weight training the day before, I’ll just stick to aerobic moves like jogging in place, football runs, and jumping jacks.
Just pick your favorite moves and get to work!
Besides warming up those frigid fingers and toes, I’m sure I don’t have to mention all the other benefits of exercise. Even just a few brief minutes of movement can have profound effects on your body AND mind.
It’s a total win-win!
Another Calorie-Burning Warmer-Upper
Dance Dance Revolution!
Okay, so it’s totally dorky, especially for those rhythmically challenged among us, but it’s really a lot of fun. Just set the game to basic (or difficult, if you dare) and you’ll be surprised how quickly you break a sweat! There’s even a workout setting that allows you to track your calories burned.
And you will *really* have some fun if you’re into techno remixes of 80’s pop tunes.
Techno meets Duran Duran…who can resist?
Go raw and be fit,
Swayze
11 comments
Hi Swayze,
I have definitely found this to be the case that exercise increases your core temperature and kick starts your body. Though I do like to sip hot water in the morning, but I do that all year round.
Our naturally tendency is to want to curl up by a warm fire but movement is the best cure. (Though 20 minutes in a hot tub spa works great too!)
With that I am going to go workout now.
Thanks Again for the Tips,
Dr. Debra
Swayze Reply:
January 9th, 2010 at 5:33 pm
Awesome, Dr. Debra! Thanks for stopping by.
Great advice thanks!!! i’ll try the exercise
Thank you for the post. I absolutely agree that exercise is the number 1 key. I also found that doing a deep breathing exercise, a few yoga poses, or Kundalini yoga’s breath of fire (rapid breathing technique) for a few minutes is also very effective.
I look forward to your new recipe ebook!
Swayze Reply:
January 9th, 2010 at 5:34 pm
Great ideas! I’ll have to give that a shot when I don’t feel like doing jumping jacks or mountain climbers.
Hi Swayze,
Great article!
I find that it´s important to eat more fruit when it´s cold outside. I ate twice the amount of calories in NJ than I do now that I´m in Panama (shivering burns TONS of calories).
I wrote a similar article called ¨The Surprising Reason People Crave HOT FOOD During The Winter¨
http://karmynmalone.com/?p=381
Stay warm (and RAW)!
Love,
Karmyn
Swayze Reply:
January 9th, 2010 at 5:39 pm
I’m the same! I’m just as active in the winter as in the summer, but I always find myself eating a bit more food than I do when it’s warm out.
Boo yeah! Dance, dance, Revolution!
Boy, do I miss my gaming days!
And it’s very true, I notice that the mornings I run, are the mornings I don’t need to turn the heating on (big plus: good for the environment, as well as my waistline!)
xxx
Tina
Swayze Reply:
January 9th, 2010 at 5:38 pm
Yeah, DDR’s pretty sweet. I’ve been gaming since I was very little, but it seems the older I get, the more I appreciate and enjoy it.
Thanks for this tip! I did your routine twice and then my 12 minute kettlebell workout. Good stuff!
Swayze Reply:
January 16th, 2010 at 8:10 pm
Nice! I’ve been eager to buy a kettlebell and give it a try in my routines…it looks like fun!