As we enter into a New Year, many of us have compiled lists of resolutions. Two of the most common New Year's resolutions are to lose weight and exercise. The benefits of exercise are well known to most of us. Exercise strengthens bones and muscles, improves cholesterol levels, and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, breast and colon cancer. When we exercise, we feel better physically and mentally.
However, the real secret to weight loss may not be how much you exercise, but rather what you eat. This information may be disheartening to some. I, for one, spent many years trying to come up with a way to be healthy and energetic without giving up my favorite foods. Many times the greatest rewards come from what we remove from our lifestyle.
When I went 100% raw (eating only fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds), I lost 37 pounds in a couple months without trying. I was not exercising more. In fact, in the beginning of my raw journey, I was exercising less because of fatigue caused by detoxification. I wasn't trying to lose weight. The weight loss occurred because my body could now eliminate the toxic load I had accumulated, free from the burden of digesting cooked foods.
According to a recent news article on Yahoo! by LiveScience.com, a new study suggests that diet actually plays the key role in losing weight. According to Loyola nutritionist Amy Luke, "Dietary intake may be more important than energy expenditure. Weight loss is not likely to happen without dietary restraint."
Why do people embarking on a raw food diet lose weight? According to David Wolfe, one of the world's foremost authorities on raw food nutrition, a diet of raw plant food easily takes off unwanted pounds. He advises to specifically target and minimize cooked fats (heated oils, pasteurized milk and cheese, cooked eggs, as well as fat-dominant meats such as bacon) and cooked starch (bread, pasta, cakes, cookies) in the diet as these foods put on extra pounds. However, raw fats such as avocados and coconut oil can help you lose weight as they contain lipase, a fat-digesting enzyme that can provide the extra help the body needs to target cooked fats. Cooked starch is essentially sugar and is converted to fat in the body if it is not used for energy.
Angela Stokes, author of five books, is known for her remarkable physical transformation losing 160 pounds on a raw food diet. Her message is that weight loss occurs as part of the journey toward better health. When you align yourself more with Nature, the excess weight falls away. By feeding your body the fuel it thrives on, exciting results will follow. You can read about Angela's weight loss story on her web site at: www.rawreform.com.
Over 25 years ago, I figured out that I could lose weight by reducing the sugars and carbohydrates in my diet. I also felt more energetic, was more positive, and could think more clearly. However, I still had cravings for unhealthy foods, was sick a few times a year, was stressed, and knew that I could feel better. By switching to a raw food diet, I am at my ideal weight, I no longer get sick, my mental outlook and clarity are improved, and I have the energy to accomplish my goals. In conclusion, it is possible to lose weight by exercising more, eating less, or taking certain foods out of your diet. However, if you are interested in achieving optimal physical and mental health, a raw food diet is your best approach.
