Is a diet based purely on raw, unprocessed foods the best way to lose weight?

mkshgp23

Been on MFP off and on over the years; recently turned 50 and it seems like my body instantly lost muscle tone and gained weight! 🙄
Looking for people to exchange tips and tricks to lose weight and tone up, post 50!

Oh, and I like motorbikes, sketching and sci-fi. 😎

rileysowner

The only way to lose weight is to be in a negative calorie balance, that is eat less energy than your body expends through existing, exercise, and lifestyle. Whatever works best to help you adhere to a calorie deficit is what is best for you.

No need to go raw in my opinion. I started out simply counting calories and was losing at a decent rate. 3 months in I got blood work back showing a HbA1C entering the pre-diabetic range, and I switched to Keto. The weight loss rate stayed basically the same. I am down over 80 pounds since February and I am 57. I didn't really do any exercise during that time. Keto works for me in terms of a way of eating, so I will stick with it as I have seen the effects of diabetes that is simply managed by cutting out sugar and medication and it is not pleasant. Keto has brought my A1C to the normal range, and I intend to keep it there by continuing Keto.

AnnPT77

For myself, I just ate foods I'd long been eating, just in smaller portions, different proportions on the plate, or frequencies, in order to hit a sensible calorie goal. At 59-60, I lost around 50 pounds (class 1 obese to a healthy weight) and have stayed at a healthy weight for 7+ years since, using the same reasonably easy, reasonably enjoyable eating patterns I'd learned while losing.

I was already pretty active while obese - yes, really! - so I didn't dramatically change exercise, either. I just kept doing the same fun active stuff I'd been doing for a dozen years while staying obese (because I was eating too much).

Different things work for different people, though. That's just what worked for me. (Details here, if you want to consider a similar approach: https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10636388/free-customized-personal-weight-loss-eating-plan-not-spam-or-mlm/p1).

I admit, if one of your concerns is lost muscle tone, than doing something to challenge your current strength is probably a useful idea. Weight training is the most efficient, but there are other ways to challenge strength if you don't enjoy lifting. (I admit I don't enjoy it, and I'm not totally bereft of muscle for a 68-year-old woman.)

Sure, many people will find less processed foods more filling than ultra-processed ones, not to mention more nutrient dense and less calorie dense. But IMO it's fine to include a few treat foods now and then within calories, because being over-fat isn't a sin we need to expiate by punishing ourselves with deprivation. (Not to mention that deprivation usually backfires eventually!)

Raw for sure is optional: Some nutrients are more bioavailable in cooked foods, and others are more plentiful in raw. I'd vote for an enjoyable mix of cooked and raw, personally.

There's a lot of nonsense out in the blogosphere these days about weight loss and fitness. More moderate common-sense approaches can work fine, and be easier to stick with.

Just my opinions, of course.

P.S. As you'd guess, I voted "no".

Best wishes for success!