Monday, July 28, 2008

Why You Need Calories to Lose Weight



Today I talk about why I don't think I was losing weight during the last 20 days of my last raw food challenge. Calories are important! Don't skimp on the calories!

11 comments:

Lisa (Pixywinks) said...

Bunny
Eureka! I do think this has been one of my challenges with the weight loss. I pretty much know for sure I'm not eating enough. Duh. Now that you said it, it makes sense.
Thanks for the reminder. Off to eat more calories now.
XO
Pixy Lisa

Unknown said...

Bunny, you have really been an inspiration to me--you were the first testimonials that I watched on youtube (it should be called gluetube because I think I was on it for hours to my family's chagrin!) as I was getting ready for my own 30 day challenge. I am on day 14 and would love to correspond with you--my e-mail address is lightwithin@live.com.
Thanks!
Kim

Penni said...

Thanks for sharing this important info. I believe in what you're saying because it's been my experience as well. I guess I need to learn to forage for food more (or simply get up and move my @$$ maybe?!)

xo..
pen

bitt said...

I just saw a book in the bookstore about how coconut oil helps you lose weight! Cool, huh?

Unknown said...

hey!
that was very enlightening. thank you

but i think i am still 'scared' to eat more! i feel that eating more = gaining more weight

exactly how many more calories should i be eating that makes it enough caloies??? do you know how i can find out?

also when you started eating more calories, did you start to gain weight first then drop (cos i assume if your body is in starvation mode originally, it would first cling on to whatever extra calories it receives). Or did you immediately lose weight??

Isle Dance said...

I was wondering if you rec'd my email about this very thing way back when. I was so worried! I'm thrilled to see this post!!! :o)

Anonymous said...

I'm happy you have learned that, Bunny! You'll find that the more you fuel your body with lots of raw calories, the more it will respond and you'll not only get to a healthy weight, you'll experience all kinds of positive changes within your body!

Lots of love to you,

Wendi
XOXOXO

Carrie Nicole said...

Yep, so so so very true. My issue as well. Although my eating is so erratic that my body will hold onto anything bc there's never any consistency that it can rely on.

When I eat regularly (roughly same calories per day) for a couple of weeks, I always start to see results. Consistency for me is key in this area and of course my biggest challenge!

Remember, the more active you are the more calories you will need as well. There are lots of online calculators that will help you figure out your BMR (base metabolic rate) = calories needed per day just to maintain normal body function (so your body doesn't start storing fat and burning muscle instead) as well as how to calculate how many additional calories you would need on top of that to lose weight based on your activity level or to even maintain weight.

Carrie Nicole said...

Here's a good summary of a few diff methods that are most commonly used to calculate this...

http://www.freedomfly.net/Articles/Nutrition/nutrition14.htm

Carrie Nicole said...

Darn it, got chopped... here it is again, you'll prob have to cut/paste:

http://www.freedomfly.net/Articles/
Nutrition/nutrition14.htm

Tom said...

Calories DO NOT equal weight gain. The key is the kind of calories. The body needs a balance. Most "rawfoodists" love fruit and have no problems eating it. However, they do less well with mineral-bearing veggies. Consequently, they majorly overeat fats: oils (yeah, not rawfood, but you'd be surprised to see how many people include olive oil.) Add up the fat calories in most raw recipes and it hits 50-75%. That's from all the nuts and things like seed cheese, olives, avocados, etc. Sure they're good for you, but not to excess. In reality, you need no more nuts or seeds in a day than a couple tablespoons. To succeed with rawfood, you need to plan ahead and have plenty of food on hand to grab and snack on. You need to basically be eating 6 meals a day...lots of fruit in the morning and afternoon, then veggies (salads, etc.) later in the evening when your body needs less energy. Then you don't feel "starved" and start cheating. (Or eat lots of nuts and dried fruit...almost as bad.)

Keep up the good work...you'll get there.