Raw Foods for Runners?

The responses on this thread are making me laugh:

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=2506343

Do you really think its so strange to eat a banana meal? When running 100mpw, I do need 5000 calories a day, and with only 2 meals, 20-30 bananas is a reasonable size.

An no, eating bananas is not expensive. That's why I eat more bananas than say papayas. And yes, I do go to Costco and buy fruit.

to I think you are confused:

Tropical fruit meals work best, and this fruit is available year round. Eating an apple meal is not such a good example. I can't get the calories I need from meals of apples. But I can on meals of bananas, mangoes, and other tropical fruits. Humans have learned to live in colder climates, but I don't think this is the most natural place for us to live. Other primates live in the tropics.

How much does it cost you to eat a meal of 20-30 bananas?

I eat my pop tarts raw. Does that count?

areyourich:

The bananas I buy are around $0.59/lb, so 20-30 bananas might be a $6 meal.

You must have more money than me, because I would never spend $6 on a meal.

Atwell, I believe you took the wrong slant on this issue. I'm done with the what humans should eat issue. But I agree that eating mostly fruit and some vegetables is a valid way to go. I think the better way of approaching it would be to explain that you have seen great performance improvement and point to examples like Harley, a cyclist in Australia who follows this diet and regularly outperforms Olympic athletes. You open yourself up when you dictate to people. Some people are just going to eat fried chicken, and defend it to the death.

This was an interesting thread to read. Keep up the good work atwell.

One question, particularly directed toward the person who posted the model article. What exactly is "searing meat"? Is it practical to go to a restaurant and request this?

Also, Atwell, I'm going to assume you don't go to restaurants much anymore? I know I don't, because I find it impossible to find places that don't have food with no dairy or meat, unless it has a ton of fat or sugar in it (Salads).

It is true, I don't go to restaurants very much any more. When I do, I usually order a salad or fruit plate. But, I don't do this much, because it is a lot more expensive than just having fruit & salads at home.

By the way, I am married, and am 30 years old. My wife thinks my diet is a bit strange, but so far she has pretty much been okay with it. She is not into raw food, but at least she is almost a vegetarian.

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

This thread is cracking me up. For some reason I picture this guy living in a house with banana trees, apes swinging from vines and all kinds of jungle noises in the background.

I'm just a hobby runner, not a serious one - but I also follow the 80/10/10 diet and all I can do is share my experience with physical performance on this diet - I have way faster recovery with fruit. It's amazing really.

Once I was working out with a trainer at the gym and she was very puzzled because she was working me out hard with the strength training and I was struggling, but in between sets, instead of being out of breath and completely worn out, I was breathing very normally and acting like I had just done nothing.

I am a very small person, so my meals do tend to be smaller. I have never eaten 20 bananas in a sitting, 7-10 is more the norm for me. :)

I find that a super low fat and low protein diet (bananas are very low in fat, btw) keeps me in top shape physically and mentally. I've honestly never felt better in my life.

I blog about it here at

http://www.goingbananasblog.com

if anyone is interested in the whys and hows.

cgrunner wrote:

This thread is cracking me up. For some reason I picture this guy living in a house with banana trees, apes swinging from vines and all kinds of jungle noises in the background.

Right and I'm sure you have a slaughterhouse in your garage...

Joej wrote:

Atwell, I believe you took the wrong slant on this issue. I'm done with the what humans should eat issue. But I agree that eating mostly fruit and some vegetables is a valid way to go. I think the better way of approaching it would be to explain that you have seen great performance improvement and point to examples like Harley, a cyclist in Australia who follows this diet and regularly outperforms Olympic athletes. You open yourself up when you dictate to people. Some people are just going to eat fried chicken, and defend it to the death.

don't you think if this guy regularly outperforms olympians that he could maybe make it to the olympics and prove himself?

atwell you are aware that a raw Vegan diet is devoid of B-12 right??? megaloblastic anemia isn't very helpful for a runner. hope your using a supplement.

I have read all about the B12 issue. The amount required in the human diet is miniscule. There are a variety of opinions. Some people say you must supplement, and some people say you don't. Some people even say that the bacteria on our mucus membranes make all that we need.

I currently do not supplement. I figure I don't wash my produce well enough to remove all of it.

See

http://www.pamrotella.com/health/b12.html

for more info.

But, again, I'll repeat what I have said a few times on this thread:

I am following this diet because it is working for me now. I am feeling well and running well. If things start to go downhill, I'd get tested for B12, iron, etc., and change things if it seemed like that would help.

yo atwell

I had 4 bananas tonight with dinner

in addition I had some can fruit cocktail some cereal and some humus on crackers

how's that for a meal?

I know it's not 20-30 bananas but hey, it's a start right?

Well, after reading all these posts & chuckling to myself, I got inspired (and bored) & decided to make a video of me eating 20 bananas in a sitting. I also follow the raw food diet that Atwell here follows, although I don't eat 30 bananas like he does!

This was after my run yesterday. No, this diet isn't a joke. There are a lot of people thriving on this diet & getting rid of life-long health problems in the process. Personally, I've never had more energy in my entire life!

So anyways, take it for what it's worth. I'm not really trying to argue which diet is the most optimal or trying to convert anybodies thinking. I just find it humorous that everybody here thinks eating 20 bananas is so extreme!

Enjoy my video :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXD0RRde1ag

Paul