The Secret For Optimum Weight Loss & Health


People have been asking if my rapid weight loss is because I’m 100% raw. Let me be perfectly clear: I am not 100% raw. An exclusively raw food diet is not the goal here. Healthy, clean cells are. Feeling vibrant and alive is the incentive. My body is not clean enough to eat a 100% raw food diet…yet. And then there’s the whole emotional component. I’m just not there. However, since transitioning to raw ~ holding steady at 85-90% since beginning almost eight weeks ago ~ I am changing my relationship to food. As I said in the previous post, I used to live to eat and now I’m learning to eat to live.

The people I know who are in perfect health and eating 100% raw, consume very little food. Surprisingly little, actually. Why? Because they simply don’t need too. Their bodies are like finely tuned engines, operating at optimum capacity. Clean cells can easily absorb vitamins and minerals, so their bodies get adequate nutrients from the fresh fruits and vegetables they consume.

Not this gal. I’m consuming a lot of food. A lot. So how come I’m losing so much weight? What’s the secret? Ah, the secret. I spent years trying to figure that one out … Weight Watchers, Diet Center, Slim Fast, Protein Power Plan, Atkins, Sweatin’ to the Oldies, Dexetrim, Somersizing … and the list goes on, and on. Sometimes, I actually succeeded at losing weight. But, I always gained it back, and then some. What I didn’t know then was that, despite my best intentions and most valiant efforts, I was poisoning my cells, tissues and organs with synthetic indigestible food. Today, I consume mostly whole, organic when possible, living food. If I do purchase a packaged food product, I first read the label. I’m not interested in the calories or the fat grams or the carb content. I read the ingredient list. If it’s unrecognizable, I don’t eat it. It’s not food. Simple.

Raw foods contain something that can’t be found in any other food ~ live enzymes ~ and that my friends, is the secret. When you start feeding your body active enzymes, your engine will start revving up and your metabolism will naturally increase. Not only that, but these wonderful little guys will start to work overtime for you, cleaning out all the toxic build-up in your cells. And that’s when the weight starts to disappear. Take out the garbage, take off the weight.

How do I flood my body with live enzymes?

Well, for starters, I consume nothing but fresh fruit and juices before lunch. I might have a quarter of a watermelon at eight, a couple of bananas at nine, half a cantaloupe at ten, and a nectarine around eleven. What I eat and how much might vary from day to day, but you get the idea. I never feel light-headed because I’m infusing my bloodstream with an ample amount of natural sugar, and I’m allowing my body to direct all of its energy toward healing and cleansing rather than having to work overtime on trying to digest heavy foods. Here’s the thing with fruit: it spends no more than 30 minutes in the stomach, so it’s best to eat fruit alone and on an empty stomach.


But, before I have any fruit, I always start my day with a fresh green juice. There is nothing more loaded with enzymes than fresh vegetable juice. And I’m not talking about a V-8 or even a Bolthouse or Odwalla. Pasteurization kills live enzymes. Freshly extracted juice contains organic water from the plant and is rich in oxygen, vitamins, minerals and enzymes. I usually begin my day with a 12 ounce glass and try to consume about 36 ounces a day. It’s fun to experiment and come up with your own concoctions. Here are some of my favorites:

Green Lemonade (compliments of Natalia Rose)
  • 1 head romaine
  • 5 stalks kale
  • 1-2 Fuji apples
  • 1 lemon
  • 1-2 inches fresh ginger
Green Goddess
  • ½ pound spinach
  • 2 cucumbers
  • 2-3 stalks celery
  • handful of sprouts
  • ¼ inch fresh ginger
Emerald Forest
  • 3 cucumbers
  • 3 stalks celery
  • handful of parsley
  • handful of mint
  • 1 gala apple
Broccoli Forest
  • 6-8 broccoli spears
  • 1 bunch parsley
  • 3 granny smith apples

Comments

Anonymous said…
I can relate immensely with this post. I am about 75% raw, feel great but my emotions seem to be holding me back from going any further. In due time, in due time...
EARTH MOTHER said…
Amen to that! I'm very weepy today for no apparent reason other than something is bubbling up to the surface, needing to be released. My eyes are leaking. ;)
Anonymous said…
I went on a raw diet last year and lost half a stone quickly but that was because I couldn't find anything to eat that I liked!
I wish I could get on with raw food as I know it's healthier but I'll just stick to my home made soups.
Hi! My friend says his stomach really really hurts right after eating raw apples. I suspect his stomach's mucus layer is diminished. Any suggestions?
Bryan said…
I really love tasting different fresh foods and experimenting with new recipes. Of course, it's not always easy or possible to buy local fresh foods. And admittedly it's more expensive. However, taking the time to focus on what buying healthy nutritious foods makes me feel really positive and I am starting to see the benefits.
EARTH MOTHER said…
That's wonderful, Bryan. Keep it up! You will reap many benefits.
Miss Yoga said…
Wow these are very health foods you presented. Go green! As what most of us have said. I think aside from maintaining a a healthy diet, maintain also a regular exercise.
net10review said…
What a nice recipe! I'll do this at home.