Daily Calories For Weight Loss and Health

For the past 2 years I have been toying around with how many daily calories for weight loss and health that would be most supportive for my body. Since the first time I heard Dr Doug Graham talk about the high calorie low fat diet some 11 years ago, I have played back and forth between a low fat high calorie diet, a typical high fat raw diet and calorie restriction. During the periods in which I only ate a low fat raw vegan diet did I feel the best. So last year in February of 2011 did I finally made a decision to eat a low fat raw vegan diet 100% of the time and of course have fun doing so.

Click here to visit Alison Andrews

Still I was resistant to eating more than what My Fitness Pal suggested I eat to lose weight, recommended the daily calories for weight loss to around 1200, but during my emotional state surrounding my divorce I unconsciously started eating 1200-1400 calories per day for over 1 year. That year I released 25 pounds and went from 130 to 105 within 2 months time. I was melting and this I thought was awesome!

That was until after only 2 months I started having these uncontrollable cravings for cooked foods for the first time in years. I would take a nibble of rice, sweet potato or cooked corn. I started becoming obsessed about food and weight loss just like when I was anorexic (age 5-25). Next I realized my health was starting to suffer, becoming weaker and my emotional state was continuing to become out of control.

This is when I started seeing a counselor and she began to support me towards finding a solution. In May I was playing around online when I decided to check out my friends new book From Fat to Fabulous. She allows you to view the first 30 pages for free. After reading these 30 pages I just had to have it! I went immediately ordered it and read the whole book in a couple of hours. Since then I have reread it several times along with rereading The 80/10/10 Diet book for the 5th time and finally understood why I was could not stay on the low fat raw vegan path, not enough calories.

As the book, From Fit to Fabulous explains through and through how important it is to get enough daily calories for weight loss and health. If you are not getting enough calories from fruit your body with naturally crave the most dense source of calories- fats! When the body needs calories instead of asking for sweet fruit to satisfy its needs it will remember the source that has the most calories for the least amount of food. For example you can eat 3 bananas which contains around 300 calories and is 93% carbohydrate, 4% fat and 3% protein or 1 med. avocado which has only 17% carb., 78% fat and 5% protein. Sure it's a "good" fat but too much fat is stored as fat and too many calories are stored as energy. Besides from my experience even when you are hungry you can only eat so many bananas at one time verses the avocado, olive oil on a salad or nuts.

The science contained within Alison's book is the best information I have come around when wanting to know daily calories for weight loss and most importantly for optimal health. Although, Dr. Graham is very informative in his book, for me the case studies and research information contained within Alison's book finally convinced me to start eating more calories. It took some time to eat more than 1500 calories a day but within 2 months I was able to consume 2500-3000 low fat high carbohydrate calories a day.

Have I lost weight yet upon increasing my daily calories for weight loss? No, to my disliking I have gained weight but that is because like thousands of women I limited my calories to just enough for my body to run my basic functions; heart, liver, brain, etc.. Now everyday I just keep reminding myself that once my body is confident I won't be starving it again the weight will easily release. I trust my body and when my body no longer feels there is a famine coming I will be fit and healthy.

For the moment I keep eating an average of 2500 calories per day, in addition I run, circuit train and play everyday. I am also visualizing my dreams, intentions and ideas I want to manifest in my life daily. Now with my health back on track I feel great, no more cravings what so ever as long as I am getting plenty of my calories from fresh fruits and I feel emotionally happy and healthy.


Today my daily calories for weight loss are sometimes 3000 in one day and now I eat for health more than weight loss because my ultimate intention is to be healthy, wealthy and joyful from the inside out. This includes fresh positive thinking, being and playing.

The biggest key I found is to enjoy your life and the process of playing around with your food. If you don't enjoy what you, no matter what it is, you won't want to continue to do it very long. So why not just play around with your food and see how many yummy fruity fun creations you can come up with each day. Enjoying a low fat, high carbohydrate, raw vegan lifestyle will support your body, mind and spirit!
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A few questions I have been asked recently on daily calories for weight loss and health:

Do I need to eat 100% raw low fat vegan to loss weight and be healthy?
Eat what ultimately causes your body to feel good. I have a friend who enjoys eating a bit of cooked potatoes and rice each day. However, he says he has more mental clarity when he eats 100% raw and that is his new intention.

The most supportive foods and daily calories for weight loss and health for are whole, fresh, ripe, raw and organic fruits.
The next best are whole, organic, vegan foods like rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, beans, etc.. It is important to follow and listen to your heart and body they will lead you to success because you body naturally wants to be healthy.

Where do you get your protein or what's the best source of protein?
Fresh leafy greens (romaine, spinach, kale, green leaf,  etc) eaten fresh and raw are the most supportive sources of protein for a human body. In addition remember that you only need 5-10% from your daily calories in protein. 10% is the maximum and according to The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted And the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss, And Long-term Health, if you eat an animal based protein or too much protein your body will turn on the cancer cell receptors.

Not to worry if you are eating a plant based vegan diet including fresh leafy greens, you will get plenty of protein. There is even protein in bananas! (I love this because I love bananas!)

What do you eat in a typical day?
A typical day for the summer season looks like this:

Breakfast: 1/2 watermelon blended usually this is about 18 cups= 828 calories
Lunch: Banana Split made with 5 frozen bananas blend with 2 sliced bananas on top, carob/date sauce (2 dates) and sometimes strawberry or blueberry sauce= 850 calories
Snack: 4 bananas blended with 2 pears and cinnamon or 4 mangos blended with 1 cup blueberries= around 600 calories
Dinner: 4 cups Mixed lettuce greens + 4 med. heirloom tomatoes + 1 mango blended with 2 cups of grape tomatoes, green onion tops and cumin powder=  475 calories

Total: 2750 Calories for the day and 92% Carbs/ Fat 3%/ 5% Protein

I love eating this way because it fills me up and I get to eat dessert all day long (or what tastes like sweets).
From Fit to Fabulous includes a meal plan and shopping list too!

I hope my journey and From Fit to Fabulous supports and inspires you to health, happiness and even weight loss! Always play with your food and have fun because how you feel is the most important part in your health and in your life!

For More Inspiration on Daily Calories for Weight Loss-  Click here to visit Alison Andrews she lost 20 pounds on a low fat, high carbohydrate, raw vegan diet. She has a wonderful site with lots of fun videos, amazing recipes, and more interviews with others who have enjoyed a fresh lifestyle too.

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