My Raw Transformation - The External Version

My passion for Raw Transformation, and all issues related to it, springs, as you might expect, from my own personal experiences. Last Friday, during the most recent Fresh Friday! call, someone asked me how I had lost so much weight over the past few years, or more to the point, why had my weight been so much, um, heavier in the past while being raw? I'm going to do my best to keep this post short, as there's other posts waiting to come through, but for now will let photos and a little bit of commentary do the talking...

If you want to ask questions, feel free... I'm not shy : )

Me aged 1 with mum. As you can see, by this tender age I was already beginning to billow out like a little calf, thanks to the huge amount of cows milk I had downed, one way or another. On my 5th birthday I woke up in a hospital bed coughing up blood after an operation to remove my adenoids. I see now that the two were very much linked, but at the time, and I suppose things haven't really changed all that much, it was a case of "If in doubt, cut it out".

This was me (left) just a couple of days after turning 21 in October 1993 looking rather doll-like, which was quite a novelty considering I had spent my teens battling with my weight. (Which is why I cannot find any pictures!). At this juncture I had been into raw food for about 6 months - long enough to, at this point, be still very much in the honeymoon phase and feeling very excited by it all. I had never in my life been able to fit into size 10 (UK) clothes until then. Not long after this photo was taken I bought my first ever pair of size 9 Levis, previously thought physically impossible for me!

Me, middle, about 2 or 3 years later around 1996/97 with 2 friends about to go out on the town. At this point I was very into raw food and loving the way I was looking and feeling, as I could wear whatever I want and could out-dance anyone! At this stage it was not uncommon to have men chasing me up and down the road or around the nightclub, which had its plus points ; )

This was me just 2 or so years later, aged 26, photographed in mid-1999 for a Christmas feature in Health & Fitness magazine. As you can see, not only has my hair been cut to a very short boyish crop, but my weight has clearly increased, as have my hips! In the magazine feature they labelled me a fruitarian for "fringe factor" appeal, but I wasn't one (and told them so). They just liked the shock factor. That said, by this point my diet had changed from its original very pure and simple menu of fruit - salad/protein - juice - salad/protein kind of a routine, to a predominantly fruit-based diet. I found out later - much later - that oh-my-goodness, it was fruit that was responsible for me being a rather chubby raw foodist! Rare, but obviously possible... D'oh... (And yes there are far worse pictures than this, but they're not yet scanned. Not sure if I'm brave enough!)

November 2001, 2 years later and scooting around Paris looking at small cars along the way (as you do). Still a little on the rounded side, and still not quite sure why, but confident (read: hopeful) that I would one day get back to my early-raw proportions. Little did I know that 2 months later I would be pregnant!

July 2002, seven months pregnant and apart from the obvious, looking and feeling more slender than the year before despite being heavily pregnant! In fact, I lost weight during my first trimester! Why? I stopped eating so much fruit (I could only stomach so much), and all my other eating habits turned on their head. I ended up eating a big breakfast (previously no breakfast), a decent lunch, and a smaller dinner, and way less fruit generally. The pregnancy itself was great and I could even still wear normal size 10 dresses!

December 2002, with other new raw-friendly mums. Luke is 3 months old and I suddenly find myself smaller post-pregnancy than pre. For the next few months I just kept dropping weight naturally, despite eating more macadamia nuts than Australia could produce in a year (maybe ; ) and lots of great home-made raw food pizzas!

Two photos from the following year, both taken some time in 2003. You can see that the weight is still coming off, and the old Karen is returning. Perhaps what I was carrying on my body is now in my arms?!

This was taken at the very start of 2005 for the new Fresh Network web site. Now into size 8 jeans (USA size 4), I was actually slimmer than ever before in my adult life, but strangely enough my weight was about 12lbs heavier than those very early days... Curious! [In the early raw days I went down to 8 stone 2 lbs at my lowest - (114lbs), but here I am probably around 9 stone (126 lbs). Not that I would know, I rarely weigh myself... a good thing]

And this is me today ; ) 13 years down the line and finally ... she got it!

And the moral of this story: She who is slow burner and does not metabolise fruit well gain weight; she who learns to listen to her body, eats lots of greens and honours body's requests becomes right weight!

Comments

[Helen Amber]

Hi Karen,
I came across your site today, and I must say it is the best raw food site I have seen.. The free recipes are fantastic and I can't wait to try them out. You really hit the nail on the head when it comes to understanding the 'issues' raw foodist go through in the beginning (protests from family, detoxing, thinking it's harder than it actually is etc) I think raw foodists are a great inspiration! I was wondering, when you went though your pregnancy, did you find it pain free? I have heard that raw foodists have a very smooth pregnancy... And, do your kids eat 100% raw too and if so, are there times you give them the odd naughty?
Regards Helen

[jet]

Karen,
Thank you so much for your postings!.
I´ve just recently come across your site and it´s brilliant encouragement for fledgelings to the raw world.Inspirational, light hearted,insightful, informative,and supportive.
Green smoothie greetings,
Jet

[Meg]

Hi Karen!
Love your site. I'm also wondering about Mary's question above - how much fruit is too much? Or rather since it could be different for everyone - how much fruit was too much for you?
Thanks,
Meg

[Carol Moore]

Want to see how you can stay raw while you have non rawfoodist spouse or friends that you have been around daily. It is hard for me stay raw. I am still trying for a year always tempting to cooked vegetarian meals while eating out with them. How to avoid tempting or craving?

[Christina]

Karen,
I'm interested in losing a little weight and wanted to know what the right balance is for eating raw. I'm just getting into this whole raw food thing!

From Karen: Hi Christina. This is something that you'd need to have a 1:1 about or read books on, as there are way too many variable to go into through this medium. If it's just a little weight, then most likely only eating when hungry will be enough to lose that little bit!

[mary Laredo]

Karen -
I just read your story with interest & I'm wondering just how much fruit do you consider too much? Thanks! - Mary

[Diane]

Do you have any information on reducing body fat and improving body fat composition?
Thanks for a great site!

[Heather]

Whan in incredible visual story! Thanks for sharing such a great inspiring photo time line!

[Melanie Charlton]

Karen,
I think your website is amazing! You have put the essence of yourself on this site and we are all amazed and humbled by your wisdom beyond years. Its a pleasure reading everything and motivates me to be a better and healthier person.
xxx
Mel

[Jen]

Oh Karen, you are a brave and funny lady! She who has sense of humour about weight fluctuation gain many admiring friends!