Getting Fat!

[Nelson Rau]

I'm new to BAV, although I was a Veg participant in the Program at SFSU in the early Sixties. I'm a 65 years old retired disabled senior in San Mateo, currently living on a govt. pension program that is not 'income' according to the IRS, therefore I have no income whatsoever. The govt. pays for all my expenses of housing, food, etc. and I live a minimally comfortable life.
My problem that I am concerned about is that, although I have generally been a lacto-raw-vegan for most of my life, in the last few years I am now getting definitely obese! In fact, I quit using the scales when my weight went over the scale maximum of 300 lbs and I am now probably approaching 400 lbs!
I don't know if age has any factor for a vegan to be gaining weight in his senior years, but since I am minimally somewhat disabled (although I can walk short distances!), I get relatively no exercise whatsoever. For various unstated reasons here, I rarely leave my penthouse apartment here in San Mateo but maybe once every 2 weeks, so you could say that I am 'confined' to my home.
My question here to the Mentors is: Although I am yet on a Safeway lacto-raw-vegan dietary (Safeway Home-Delivery!), which is (together with Vit-Min Supplements) keeping my 'insides' relatively healthy, I am yet gaining weight. Is there any specific vegan food that I might be missing, by getting all my foods from Safeway, that would counteract the weight gain, which I am attributing to a sedentary-old-age lifestyle?
Oh, I've seen all the constant commercials daily on TV for the RelaCore tablets, at about $100 for a 30 day supply, which is supposed to remove the 'cortisol-abdominal-bulge' caused by stress. First of all, I don't have any stress, only eustress (the good stress!), in my life. Second, I don't believe those pills work! It's usually a scam. Third, even if they did work, I can't really afford such 'medications', as I also have no MediCare/MediCal or any other health Insurance that might pay such a 'drug cost'!
The only thing I trust is the food I put in my mouth, but unfortunately, I am also a person with Adult Onset Food Allergies, so ANYTHING I put in my mouth might cause: 1. loss of eyesight; 2. heart attack; 3. 5 different kinds of skin diseases; 4. innumerable gastric system distress; 5. extreme sinus and respiratory distress; 6. lung irritations/infection; and a half dozen more 'disabilities'! However, generally, raw foods and juices have always seemed to 'agree' with my insides! Unfortunately, I have no access to seaweed or other exotic raw-foods that might help! But, tell me anyway, IF there are such foods that might help me lose weight and stay healthy!
_________________
NJRau

[LHLisavegan]

Nelson Rau,

I'm not one of the official mentors here but I read your post.

It sounds as though you have multiple problems going on with your health. So I'm sure that a lot of things, in addition to your increasing weight, are difficult for you.

For me, although exercise can help, it's mostly about calories and how many calories I take in. I can gain weight on healthy vegan food: raw, beans, whole grains, vegetables, fruit, if I eat too much/too many calories.

I would suggest that you first check with your medical professionals to make sure that there's not something medical going on. There are multiple conditions that can cause otherwise inexplicable weight gain, and most of them are treatable.

I realize that you're on a limited in income and might not be able to use the services of a vegan RD. But you can check out online advice from vegan MDs, RDs, and other knowledgeable people at sites such as www.vegsource.com, www.pcrm.org, www.vrg.org, and others.

And you can always put in a request to Safeway to start carrying items that you would like to buy!

Good luck to you.

Take care. Lisa

[Nelson Rau]

Lisa

I guess I must have missed something as I have not received any Replies from your Mentors addressing my issues, nor noticed any further Replies in the Forum other than your own, and you have said that you are not a Mentor. What do I have to do to get some advice from your Mentors?

Nelson


> [Original Message]
> From: Nelson Rau <nelsonrau@earthlink.net>
> To: forum@bayareaveg.org <forum@bayareaveg.org>
> Date: 9/10/05 6:31:09 PM
> Subject: RE: Topic Reply Notification for "Getting Fat!" in forum "Mentor/Support Program"
>
> Thanks Lisa. I'll check the link you provided for Replies. As to your personal comments, I've never heard calories associated with raw vegs and such before. I have always ignored calories, as I seem to have one of those typical aversions to calories, as something I just don't want to hear about. I guess there is a similarity to Mathematics, as something that really turns me off and so I stay as far away from Math and calories as I can! But really, you are just kidding about calories and raw food... Right? Calories are something that makes a person fat, and raw food makes a person skinny... or so I've always heard! I just can't see calories, i.e., as processed carbohydrates, relating to whole/natural carbohydrates! Calories are for people who eat processed foods, but don't apply to raw, natural foods! Or at least such is my understanding! And I only eat small portions of raw foods anyway, so I don't consider my raw foods dietary as a problem.
>
> But I will definitely check out your 3 other links to vegan MDs. What is an RD? Anyway, I've never heard or known of vegan MDs. I have completely given up on regular MDs and I no longer go to see any MD at all anymore, for several years now! Because I know, no matter what my symptoms, they will try to prescribe drugs/medications, which my body is allergic to, just as it is to food! Years back, I had extreme 'reactions' to medications that were not even known to be side-effects of the prescribed drugs and I will never put a medication in my mouth again! But I am unable to afford Holistic Practitioners. But I will check out your vegan MDs.
>
> Again, Thanks for your thoughts!
>
> Nelson
_________________
NJRau

[LHLisavegan]

Nelson,

I'm not an RD (registered dietitian), but I do know that ALL foods have calories. It's very easy to get a lot of calories without feeling full, from fruit juices for instance, even though fruit juices are raw foods.

As far as receiving replies from the official mentors, please be patient. I'm not sure how this program works, but some users/mentors probably check this message board only occasionally, and I don't believe anyone posts unless they feel they can be of specific help.

If you haven't already, check out: http://www.bayareaveg.org/mentor.htm for an overview of the mentor program at BAV.

Best wishes, Lisa

[Warren]

Nelson,
The only thing I can say is that it sounds like perhaps you are consuming more calories than you are burning. I would consider the calories and fat of the products you are eating. Since I am not a doctor I cannot recommend a specific calorie intake for your needs but if I were you I would read up on what the average calorie intake is for an adult male and then maybe look up calorie counting diet tips to see what an appropriate calorie intake would be for you to both loose weight and then sustain a low weight taking everything into consideration such as your not being able to get much exercise. I hope this was helpful.

Warren

[caity]

I want to acknowledge you for staying the course throughout your life - dedicating yourself to veganism. What a journey you must have had! It must be very frustrating to have allergic responses to so many vegan foods.

My mom is 75 and obese (but not vegan) and I've experienced her being in a lot of pain because of her weight - emotionally and physically. She is adament about not exercising (plus her bad hips don't really allow a lot of movement). I hope you have an opportunity at some point to move - even upper body movement if you don't want to walk around.

I've been thinking about your post and have two comments:

First, if you ask 10 people how to lose weight, you'll probably get 10 different answers. I agree that it's a basic calories in / calories burned equation - but I understand that every body is different. I'm glad to read that you don't plan on spending money on pills. Obviously, if a product sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Secondly, I want to echo the suggestion that you talk to a physician, but if you can bite the bullet (pay out of pocket) and talk to a vegan-friendly holistic doc, it might do you a world of good. A naturopath might provide some insight that you hadn't considered. Also, a physical trainer specializing in obese clients might be a consideration (again, possibly expensive - but free if you ask a knowledgeable friend to take it on).

Best of luck to you,
~Caity

[paula]

I agree that the first thing to do is to check in with a physician. Certain conditions, for example, hypothyroidism, can lead to weight gain, but have few other obvious symptoms.

If you have ruled out medical causes then the next thing to do is to find some form of exercise which you can and will do on a regular basis.

Finally, look at your diet and try to emphasize foods which are more nutrient-rich and less calorie-rich.

Best of luck,
Paula