New To This & I Have Lots Of Questions

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Permalink Reply by Alice on September 23, 2010 at 12:10am

Hi Katherine,
welcome to LFRV diet! I'm quite a rookie as well, but your questions are actually good for me to evaluate my current situation. I'll just answer the questions I know/have an opinion about

Basic:
How many times do you eat a day? - I eat 3 big meals and countless snacks but I'm trying to eat more for each meal so I'll have less snacktimes.

How big is a normal meal for you? - not big enough in calories! I've had a HUGE soup (tomato-grapefruit-cucumber all blended) and that was only 75 calories. I'm too full to eat anything else now but I know my stomach will be empty very soon.

How much do you eat in an average day? - compared to cooked food: a lot more in volume but a lot less in calories (I'm working on eating more)

What do you eat in an average day? a half kilo of one fruit (today it was 400g of grapes) for breakfast, A big melon (in 2 sittings) for lunch, any fruit and veg I can lay my hands on for dinner and about 10 apples inbetween

How much vegetables do you eat in a day? Not much to be honest.. Some tomato and cucumber (both are actually fruit though) and celery, sometimes spinach in smoothies (I don't like salad)

What vegetables and fruit are a necessity? Not sure, but a lot of people have boxes and boxes of bananas as a staple.

What would a normal week worth of groceries be for you? phew.. I spent £40 on food this week and I'm running low after 5 days.. must find a more affordable way soon!

Do you eat all your meals mono, or combine foods? Most of the time mono because I was never good at digesting and this is the most comfortable.

If you combine, what fruits are good to combine and what vegetables are good to combine? (Would combining honeydew, cantaloupe, grapes, and pineapple be okay?)
- not an expert on this, I just eat monos or follow recipes on 80/10/10 book to be safe!

Can you drink green, black, and/or white tea (all have caffeine) - used to be hooked to green tea but not so much anymore. Caffein is toxic so I'm not having any.

If not, is there some kind of tea that you can make that is okay? - If I crave warm drinks, I squeeze lemon in hot water.

What brand of water do you drink? all I can afford is filteres for tap water

How much water do you drink? a litre just after waking up and then about a litre during the day between meals

Is it okay to eat fruit not completely ripe, or it is necessary to eat them ripe? - they're harder to digest unripe

How many calories do you need to take in during a day (I still want to loose weight)?
I'm trying to lose weight (or body fat % to be more accurate) but I'm worried about getting ENOUGH calories rather than less with this particular diet! It's very hard to get enough calories without eating dried fruit. You have to have enough calories for now because if you're calorie-deficient you'll get cravings for naughty foods(meaning every thing that isn't LFRV). I've lost 2 lbs in 2 weeks and I had average of 2000 calories (I'm 5f 4in and weigh 123lb and trying to lose fat because my body fat % is 26 which is not ideal) but I'm trying to eat more so that I can sustain this diet long-term.

Is a food like hummus okay? There are some raw hummus recipes you can use to make your own hummus, although it'll probably be high in fat, so taking up your 10% quite quickly. I'd still have it for my celery sticks. Store-bought hummus is mainly out of cooked chick-peas.

What are some good recipes that are a bit more savory?
Soup(mixed in blender) made of tomato, pepper greens etc.
sticks of celery, pepper, carrot etc with hummus?
that's all I can think of for now but I'm sure there are lots of recipes

How long should it take to eat a normal meal (ie how fast do you eat?)?
takes quite awhile! about 30 minutes but I do other stuff while eating it (which might not be a great thing to do)

How of a time should you leave between going to bed and your last meal?
I try to make it 3 hours and failing every day! The stuff leaves your stomach quite quickly so you might not need to worry about it too much.

Is buying pre-cut fruit okay, or is it better to buy whole?
If they're cut, some of their nutrients are gone, but I'd choose that instead of a sandwich if I had to choose.

Exercise:
How many calories should I try to burn exercising daily?
It's entirely up to your lifestyle, but most people here seem to do quite a lot.

Other than running, walking, and biking what are some easy exercises to do (that are low impact on knees)?
I have weak knees too! lol
lots of stuff in the gym: rowing machine, nordic skiing, even treadmill with slow pace but very steep gets your heart-rate going up. I love swimming too.

Is there a certain amount of time I should have between exercising and eating? (before and after)
not sure, but doing it before burns fat, and exercise just after eating leads to indigestion (in my case)

Other:
Do you use makeup-if so what kind?
I try to buy stuff that says it uses organic substance, but actually, less is better.
I noticed that my face is a lot less greasy, hence less need to put powder

How do you wash your face?
Just with water, unless I had makeup, cleansing foam about twice a week.

How long was it after you went raw for you to quit your "other" facial cleansers?
Haven't quit yet.

What types of lotion are good? Not sure yet.. but most are pretty much same.



Hope this helps!

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Permalink Reply by ♥FruitLover♥ on September 23, 2010 at 2:30am

Thanks so much. This helps :D

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Permalink Reply by Tarah @ 40 Below Fruity on September 23, 2010 at 2:38am

Basic:
How many times do you eat a day? (ie. snack all day, 3 basic meals, 5 snacks, etc): 3 Meals per day
How big is a normal meal for you? 800-1500 calories (Ex. 10 bananas, 7 mangos, or 15 dates)
How much do you eat in an average day? 3000-4000 calories
What do you eat in an average day? Mangos, bananas, dates (medjool & Bahri), greens, oranges, nectarines, peaches
How much vegetables do you eat in a day? Not very much, every few days I'll have some
What vegetables and fruit are a necessity? The cheapest in your area that you can buy in bulk. Usually bananas, dates and oranges in Canada.
What would a normal week worth of groceries be for you? 40lb case of bananas, 40lb case oranges, 11lbs dates, 20-30 mangos. around $650 (Groceries are expensive on Vancouver Island)
Do you eat all your meals mono, or combine foods? No, I also eat smoothies, mixed fruit & salads
If you combine, what fruits are good to combine and what vegetables are good to combine? (Would combining honeydew, cantaloupe, grapes, and pineapple be okay?) No, take a look at a combining chart
Can you drink green, black, and/or white tea (all have caffeine) No, but I will drink tea without caffeine
If not, is there some kind of tea that you can make that is okay? Herbal tea is all right
What brand of water do you drink? Well water from our land.
How much water do you drink? 4-5L per day
Is it okay to eat fruit not completely ripe, or it is necessary to eat them ripe? I would let them ripen
How many calories do you need to take in during a day (I still want to loose weight)? 3000 for women to lose weight and achieve optimal fitness
Is a food like hummus okay? No.
What are some good recipes that are a bit more savory? Check out the recipe boards.
How long should it take to eat a normal meal (ie how fast do you eat?)? It takes time for your stomach to expand in the beginning to accommodate the food, but now 61/2 months in, only about 20-30 minutes.
How of a time should you leave between going to bed and your last meal? Around 3 hours
Is buying pre-cut fruit okay, or is it better to buy whole? Whatever you prefer. Whole is cheapter.

Exercise:
How many calories should I try to burn exercising daily? As many as you desire. Try to get in at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily.
Other than running, walking, and biking what are some easy exercises to do (that are low impact on knees)? Exercise videos, Bikram Yoga.
Is there a certain amount of time I should have between exercising and eating? (before and after) Eat closely after exercising. DurianRider has a great thread about exercise training, when to eat and such. I'll look for it.

Other:
Do you use makeup-if so what kind? No
How do you wash your face? Water & and dry brush
How long was it after you went raw for you to quit your "other" facial cleansers? Around 3 months in. I used to have severe acne for 7 years, all gone now.
What types of lotion are good? Shea butter and coconut oil are great lotions and all natural.

Good luck on your journey :)

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Permalink Reply by Chris Phillips on September 23, 2010 at 8:48am

Hi.

Do you honestly spend $650/week on food?

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Permalink Reply by Adrienne D. on September 23, 2010 at 3:16am

Basic:
How many times do you eat a day? (ie. snack all day, 3 basic meals, 5 snacks, etc)

3-4 meals, usually 3 fruit then one greens meal

How big is a normal meal for you?

Depends on how active I was that day or what activity I have planned for the next day. 10-20 bananas, 15-20 dates, 18-25 peaches or nectarines. Greens are usually a pound plus 5-10 tomatoes.

How much do you eat in an average day?
3800-4500 is usually my minimum

What do you eat in an average day?
Bananas, dates, nectarines, greens, tomatoes and cucumbers. Depends on the season. Soon I will be gorging on dates, kiwis and oranges plus greens.

How much vegetables do you eat in a day?

Greens are the only "vegetable" I consume really. All the root veggies don't digest well for me.

What vegetables and fruit are a necessity?
bananas and dates as a staple because they are so calorie dense, and greens for their minerals and tastiness! Beyond that simply your favourite fruits

What would a normal week worth of groceries be for you?
Two 40lb boxes of bananas, 20-30lbs of peaches/nectarines, 5-6lbs of greens, everyother week 10-20lbs of dates added in. Usually 100-120$, with the dates weeks closer to 200$.

Do you eat all your meals mono, or combine foods?
If you combine, what fruits are good to combine and what vegetables are good to combine? (Would combining honeydew, cantaloupe, grapes, and pineapple be okay?)
Always mono except for greens and tomatoes if I'm in the mood for it. Melon should always be eaten alone and in the morning because it digests so quickly. Grapes and pineapple, maybe.

Can you drink green, black, and/or white tea (all have caffeine)
If not, is there some kind of tea that you can make that is okay?

I find all tea dehydrating.

What brand of water do you drink?
Tap water?

How much water do you drink?
3.5-5 litres

Is it okay to eat fruit not completely ripe, or it is necessary to eat them ripe?
Why would you eat it unripe? it is perfect when it's ripe. I prefer perfectly delicious food!

How many calories do you need to take in during a day (I still want to loose weight)?
3000+ calories. Fruit works differently in the body then other "foods". Don't focus on losing weight, just eat all the sweet fruit you can and be as active as you can. Your body will balance out in time.

Is a food like hummus okay?
I think there are some raw hummus recipes, using zuchinni or somethign similar...but regular hummus, no. It contains oils, garlic, salt, etc.

What are some good recipes that are a bit more savory?

Tomatoes are excellent for savory.

How long should it take to eat a normal meal (ie how fast do you eat?)?

20-30 minutes, sometimes less, sometimes more depnding on the fruit.

How of a time should you leave between going to bed and your last meal?
I try for at least 2 hours. It depends on my schedule though. if it's been a hectic day, i'd rather go to bed stuffed then go without just because it's nighttime. If you're hungry late at night it means you didn't eat enough during the day, so it's a learning curve.

Is buying pre-cut fruit okay, or is it better to buy whole?
Whole and bulk is always cheaper.

Exercise:
How many calories should I try to burn exercising daily?

Don't focus on burning calories. Just be as active as you can so you feel well. Enjoy activity for what it is and how amazing it makes you feel. Results will come.

Other than running, walking, and biking what are some easy exercises to do (that are low impact on knees)?

Cycling is very low impact, and it is an amazing sport to get into, addictive even...:D. Strength training is amazing as well and super easy to do in your own home.

Is there a certain amount of time I should have between exercising and eating? (before and after)

If it's going to be a big workout, 2 hours between a big meal and going out, then a few bananas or dates during. In th emorning I'm usually active after I'd have my litre of water, then have breakfast right after. Try to eat within an hour after exercise.


Other:
Do you use makeup-if so what kind?

No make-up at all. All humans have natural beauty, we shouldn't hide that. I find my skin is MUCH better without.

How do you wash your face?

A few splashes of warm water then a few splashes of cold each morning and evening.

How long was it after you went raw for you to quit your "other" facial cleansers?

About a month.

What types of lotion are good?

I use coconut oil sometimes, but not often, otherwise my skin has become supple enough not to need anything else.


All you have to do is trust in the fruit, be active, drink lots of water, soak up the sun, and get enough sleep. Everything else just settles into place after that.

- Adrienne

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Permalink Reply by ♥FruitLover♥ on September 23, 2010 at 3:26am

Thanks so much guys :D

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Permalink Reply by Freshtival on September 23, 2010 at 8:03am

Hi Katherine,
quote: "What do you eat in an average day?"

For breakfast I usually have a "double shot" (2 oz) of Wheat Grass juice. My next meal is usually a mono meal of watermelon. Then later I have a mono meal of grapes. After that I like to have a salad but today I am going to have a mono meal of Honey Crisp apples that I just got instead and I may follow that later with the salad. Thats about it except that If I feel like snacking I like to eat more grapes. I eat a fresh fruit & greens diet. Everyday's a picnic. :)

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Permalink Reply by Derek on September 24, 2010 at 6:44am

search for Foodnsport and durianrider on youtube.

A lot of your questions are answered on there.

There are a lot of videos but they can be addictive and you can watch them for hours on end :)

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