Today, I’ve got a quarter of a sugar baby watermelon gifted from my lovely friend Wendy, 3 bags of black grapes, and a few limes to add to my water. Leftover salad is already prepared and waiting for dinner. I will likely hit around 1800 calories with some leftover grapes.
Today is also a gym training day, so my food is intentionally light and full of water. I carb-loaded yesterday (about 2250 calories) with banana smoothies all day (just bananas and a little water) plus and a gigantic dinner salad of tender baby greens, juicing pulp of carrots beets, and ginger, raw vegan spirulina and maca for a slight protein and nutrient boost, and a peach, tomato, and habanero sauce (yep, just blend peaches, tomatoes, and raw habaneros). I ate about half and saved the rest for tonight.
It has been 4 weeks (I double checked my food logs) since I last indulged in overt fats of any kind. I always feel so much better without any overt fats in my diet, and yet I’m still hitting between 10-15g of fat per day normally from covert fats hiding in our hydrating low fat fruits and veggies.
It’s a pet peeve of mine when people say they are on a No Fat diet or looking for No Fat recipes. That’s not possible unless you aren’t eating. There is fat in all fruits and veggies! The only worry is if you are under-eating perpetually.
Fewer than 1600 calories a day long term might be cause for concern (unless you are a tiny person), but especially if you are newer to the lifestyle. Although, sometimes my body will ask for lower calorie days for a short period of time for healing purposes. 1800-2000 is closer to the general minimum for most people on this lifestyle. 2000-2600 is an excellent normal range for most people. More active folks, bigger folks, or those who naturally burn faster may feel better around 2600-3000. What works for one body, may work entirely different for another. You have to find your own healthy sweet spot.
The danger zone (especially for newbies) is perpetual and continuous calorie (nutrition) restriction, especially if calories dip below 1,200 per day consistently, as that puts the body in a starvation mode where the body collects and stores as much as possible making it incredibly difficult to increase calories later without survival rebound weight gain. It is also restricting your vitamin and mineral intake, which can cause numerous problems/deficiencies later on.
As we go along on this lifestyle through many years, it is noted that many long-term low-fat raw vegan fruitarians will become much more efficient with their food intake and not require nearly as much food as they did in their initial few years, but that is different from intentional restriction, as they are feeling absolutely satisfied and are properly fueled/nourished.
This is just something to be mindful of if you are transitioning to the lifestyle. It is best to eat abundantly and consistently for weight loss or weight gain and avoid starvation survival mode induced from chronic restriction. There is also a difference between eating abundantly (feeling satisfied), and forcing the body into restriction (feeling hungry). We don’t need to feel hungry or dissatisfied on this lifestyle to achieve results.
Of course, we are always the best judge for our own body’s needs, and all advice out there may or may not work for you. I only share what worked for me, and what seems to work for the majority of others who have tried it. I hope it can help you too.
