About Raw Till 4
What Is Raw Till 4?
Raw Till 4 is a lifestyle rather than a diet. A vegan program that focuses on eating A LOT of raw fruits (especially bananas!) and vegetables, no animal products, little to no fats or seeds. You basically eat whole, unprocessed raw foods until 4pm. Then you are allowed to cook and eat certain beneficial foods, but again, without oils to help flavour and cook your food. Following the raw till 4 program is challenging for those used to eating animal products, or even for vegans used to eating processed foods, but the health, fitness, and increased energy levels speak for themselves.
This ain’t no pop pills, expect to get thin fast, fad diet. Raw Till 4 is a long term lifestyle that will make you feel incredible, keep your body in balance and harmony, and keep your weight where you want it. All without counting calories! Actually, you do need to count your calories, at least initially. But not to make sure you don’t eat too much. With rawtill4 you count your calories to make sure you are getting enough!
No High Impact Exercise Or Useless Pills on Raw Till 4
If you’re like me, you’ve tried all the silly programs that require you to workout 17 times a week, and take expensive supplements of questionable origin or benefits. These are just marketing products produced by snake oil salesmen who want to get you hooked on their program so you’ll buy their supplements and vitamins and workout equipment for the rest of your life. A perfect example of this model is the Body For Life. I’ll admit I got into amazing physical shape on Body For Life, but I cringe at the sheer volume of aspartame I consumed in the mountains of EAS Myolplex shakes I ate on that program! Ewwww. I’m amazed I’m still alive after all that aspartame.
You’ll Be Shopping here alot on Raw Till 4
Living Raw Till 4 just makes sense. You eat a ton of quality whole fruits and vegetables all day until 4. Eat as much as you want ( or can). Want to eat 20 bananas a day? Go for it! You can find more details on the types of food you can eat on this program here.
After 4 PM you can actually cook food, again focusing on healthy cooking of the right kinds of high carbohydrate vegetables and grains, and even pasta (gluten free)!
You’ll see many who fail on the Raw Till 4 program who claim they are SO tired and run down, and ultra cranky, and just can’t think clearly. The likely cause is they don’t eat ENOUGH calories. When you eat real, raw, whole foods, you need to eat a lot of volume to get sufficient calories. You have to use a Jedi mind trick to get over that hurdle. You MUST eat A LOT of raw, whole foods to get enough calories. I can’t stress this enough!
Men need at least 3000 calories on this program. Women need 2500 calories.
Many people fail when they try the Raw Till 4 Diet because they simply donβt have the drive and determination that you do. They complain about being full or constipated because they are ingesting way more calories per day, but they fail to keep pushing through til the body rebalances itself.
Have faith in the process, and more importantly in yourself! If you stick to eating whole, unprocessed raw foods til 4 pm and whole, unprocessed cooked foods after 4 pm, you WILL begin to lose weight. But more importantly, you will begin to feel amazing!
Hey I was wondering what site/tool/app you use to do the nutritional analysis? Thanks!
Hey Emily, I just use cronometer.com to track my calories. I’m frugal by nature so don’t want to pay for the iPhone app. If you can, weigh your food on a scale instead of using units or cups. For example, enter 700 grams of bananas, instead of entering 7 medium bananas, etc. You’ll get a better caloric count.
What about sugar spikes from all the fruit?
Never had a problem with sugar spikes from fruit. I do remember getting sugar spikes from sugar back in the day though!
Hi Michelle, that can be very normal, it’s well documented. But if you’re eating clean and true, you’ll soon see your weight going the other way!
fruit has fiber and you can often mix vegetables in your smoothies and for dinner have some beans, rice or oatmeal. and if u eat fruit liberally tough out the day your blood sugar should remain on a cycle like if that make sense cause ur not eating sugar,then animal fat , then carbs and your insulin is all over the place.
The fibre regulates the uptake of fruit sugars, and the low daily fat ibnake ensures the delivery of blood sugars is not blocked by blood fats.
Oddly doesn’t happen!
I’ve been eating this way for half a year without issue.
http://www.nynomads.com
oh my god…. “Im frugal by nature so I dont want to pay for the app” ?! there are people who dont even have cell phones or facebook, or electricity!… its ok that you have an iphone and a web page and probably a car and a bunch of other stuff …. but just…. dont say you’re “frugal by nature”, people from other parts of the world, like me, will just laugh.
Lol. Sorry Ami, it’s all relative, isn’t it?! I think most people looking at cutting out processed junk food aren’t living in third world poverty. I can tell you from my stats that the majority of my blog readers are from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, France, Sweden, and New Zealand. Not a poverty stricken third world nation to be seen. So when I say I’m frugal by nature, I can assure you I am extremely frugal relative to the majority of wasteful consumers of the United States.
Firstly if it is Freelee commenting Had to say keep up the great work and love ya from the east <3
Many of stricken Third world countries (Middle Eastern) citizens are in fact vegans despite they're conditions and despite what media says about us, we still try to do good and serve this planet that we all share. The Mediterranean diet in its self is full of veges/fruits and once having the ideology of Veganism, transforming into Vegans would be relatively easier since meet is pretty much expensive for those who lives in these regions. tbh i feel that First world folks should consider why we are a third one having almost nothing to do except for bullshits, killing each other, worshiping stupid gods that helped none of us and sleep! we should be a bit fair here one of the main reasons of being this much messed up is due to wars and west GOV greedy actions since they disrespect those people lives ranging wars and stealing resources only for the benefits of those greedy capitalist , Plus governments here are like F*&#$@. The East is just a burden on humanity and other living beings but I think it does matter to try and change that by doing more talks and enlightening more people about it, maybe fighting the bad governmentβs policies and speaking up more for those who are really in extreme pain and absolute poverty. π
1-PS: No hate was intended and just wanted to say that some of us are trying and fighting against the stupid Norms here in the East. π
2-PS: If you had any question about the East feel free Freelee or anyone else to ask. π
Regards and keep doing good π
As an American I really want to find that statement rude, but it’s honestly pretty true. I personally wouldn’t pay for an app either, and find myself to be frugal in comparison to most Americans, so there are exceptions to the rule. Ugly, fat, selfish lot we are, pretty much though. Too bad :(.
lol if they are reading this they obviously have internet! some people are so ridiculous
Hi I have been doing this for two months now and have loved it and lost nearly 4kg but I have recently gained back a bit and Im not sure whether you are supposed to eat foods which only have 5% ( to 10% ) fat or if u let’s say have a fatty food but then have a lot of non fatty foods to make the final fat percentage 5% or is it just every individual thing you eat has to be 5-10% fat – no more ?
So this diet is basically: I can eat as many raw fruits and vegetables as I want and not worry about getting fat??
Thanks. That is so helpful!
I follow a modified version that includes supplements, caffeine, and a greater protein intake. I don’t want to sacrifice my health.
It’s kind of a hybrid of Soylent and Raw Till 4.
I write about it a good deal on my blog that examines living in NYC on less than $100/week.
http://www.nynomads.com
Hi Emily! I use MyNetDiary. It’s on the app store and it is completely free. It works great as it helps you create your plan and gives you a daily analysis and feedback depending on what you’ve eaten that day. I’ve been using it for almost a year now, and I would probably be no where without it! π
There’s also MyFitnessPal – a huge database of food, nice charts in the app
Follow and live by the Canada’s food guide everything is good for you in moderation
How do I know what to eat and not to eat? Can I eat tomatoes, raisins, and vegetables or is it strictly fruit?
Hi Carrie,
You can eat any raw foods until 4 pm, however fruit is really the best way to get the most calories in that your body requires. Things like bananas, dates, mango, pineapple, etc, are just much more calorie dense than veggies. Remember, you should aim for 2,000 calories intake before 4pm! That would be hard to attain with most veggies!
I know it’s Raw til 4, but based on what time? I don’t wake up early in the morning. I’m a night owl. Sometimes, if I don’t have to go to work, I don’t wake up til 4! How many hours after waking up should you be eating the raw foods til you switch?
{Can I eat tomatoes, raisins, and vegetables or is it strictly fruit?}
Carrie, tomatoes and raisins ARE fruit, lol
I am researching more about raw till 4. How many calories a day do I need? I’m female, 27 years old and 5’2 I’m about 140 lbs. thank you!!!! π
You should strive for 2500 calories or so.
actually you can’t just be told how many calories you need just like that. you need to calculate your BMR which tells you how many kilojoules you need in a day to maintain weight. then you can convert this to calories (1kcal = 4.18kJ). If you eat under this amount you will lose weight. If you eat by this amount you will maintain weight. If you eat more than this amount you will gain weight. Don’t forget to add in the physical activity level into your equation aswell.
You’re right. Some people can’t just be told how many calories to eat. And those people should probably not try to follow a program like Raw Till 4.
I think the point of that comment was that everybody has different caloric needs. Calories are still calories and 3500 of them = a lb so if your metabolism only sheds x amount a day and youre eating twice that I believe you will feel good based on the type of intake but you will surely gain weight. Its just math. My question is where did you develop these numbers? 2500 for women and 3000 for men?
Is there a reason my comment was removed? I simply asked about the formula used to create these calories goals?
I’m not aware of your comment being removed? Either way, I didn’t create the raw till 4 diet, so if you want more details Google Freelee raw till 4 and you’ll find the creators site.
I would LOVE to start this diet! However, I was recently diagnosed with Celiac disease and while you would think that the RT4 would be ideal… in my case, it wouldn’t. I have found through my research that there are several gluten “cross reactors”…bananas being one of the main ones. So essentially, when I eat bananas, by body is so confused, it thinks i just ate a huge serving of gluten filled food and attacks my digestive tract and I am in the bathroom in pain for a while. I have found through elimination that I am also reacting to apples and pears.
So… do you have any suggestions? Or is my best best to continue on the Auto Immune Protocol (a sort of paleo diet – that says no to all grains and all nightshade veggies) until I heal enough to eat some of the main staples of this diet? I love the simplicity of what you’re doing, but I am not sure it works for everyone (my case being exactly what so many celiacs experience)
Hi Tara, I really can’t answer these medical questions. You are best to consult a doctor/nutritionist that specializes in Celiac diets.
I do the raw til 4 way of eating, and I don’t do any bananas because I am allergic to them. I also have a gluten allergy and try to stay away from that as well, but I have found other fruits to eat that work for me. You just have to play around with it a little and keep track of your calories.
I started a gluten free diet in November & have been wondering why I am still getting so bloated after eating bananas! Thanks for the help!!!!
I really couldn’t say why you’re feeling bloated still, but you should keep a good record of your daily eating and maybe you’ll see a pattern of some bad food combining or something?
Hi! I have a problem with this too. Usually it only happens when the bananas aren’t ripe enough. When the peel becomes very spotty, I have no problem eating bananas.
Food combining could be the issue? Are you eating bananas alone or with other foods or after other foods? Look up good food combining with bananas for fruits that are good to have with bananas….also avoid eating bananas and other sweet fruits after other foods especially after ur eve meal as they can’t digest so quick on top of the more savoury foods so that can cause bloating π
Hi Tara, I was diagnosed with Celiac disease about four years ago and I’ve been high fat vegan, paleo, tried the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. All which I followed very precisely but none of them worked for me. I was always a little nervous to try raw foods because I hear they can be harsh on the digestion. I went off the Specific Carbohydrate Diet a couple of weeks ago and am nearly all raw, pretty much raw till 4 and eat some cooked veggies/potatoes and salads at night for dinner. I’m actually amazed at how well my body and digestion are responding. I will say that I did have a hard time with bananas and pretty much all other fruit until the excess “fat” got out of my body. It took a week or so and after I cut down on my fat intake, the bloating is significantly less! I assume my body is still adjusting to the fiber and raw foods though because I’m experiencing a little bit of bloating during my transition to raw foods. Anyways, just wanted to share what I’ve learned over the years through trial and error. Healing the body is one thing but healing the digestion on top of everything can be tricky! Also, I’m reading through the 80/10/10 Diet by Dr. Douglas Graham and it might be a good one to read to assist you through your journey to healing! Best wishes to you!
Awesome Megan! Glad to hear you are doing so well on raw till 4!
When I was first diagnosed with Celiac, I found that I was reacting to EVERYTHING! You probably have leaky gut. Look into that. Once I healed the leaky gut, I could eat all the fruits and veggies I wanted. π Good luck!
Hi I was wondering how about if I’m on an extremely low budget? What can I eat then? And how much can I eat at dinner time?
I find it far cheaper to eat whole foods than it is to eat processed junk food.
Hi-I am on my first week- all going well so far- can you please help-I cant find anywhere the justification for the gluten free bit..please help
Yeah, don’t stress the gluten free bit so much if you are tolerant. I admit I do eat regular pasta on ocassion. shhh
Can you drink anything other than water and smoothies on this diet ? Example can you drink Arcohol or wine occasionaly? Thanks
It’s all up to you and how you want to feel and the progress you want to make in your health.
Hello,
I’m seriously considering going raw. Do you know of any helpful sites I could visit to learn more about raw till 4.
Also can I go raw till 4am then break off till 4 pm? I work nights, so I sleep all day
sure you can do whatever works for your work/life schedule! Google raw diet and you’ll find millions of great sites.
Hi,
I wanted to ask you something about this diet. I have been struggling for more than 2 years to get pregnant without success (unfortunately). When my partner and I started doing various analysis to see if something’s wrong, it turned out that I have hormonal imbalance. Of course, my doctor wanted to give me birth control pills to regulate my hormones, but how the heck am I suppose to get pregnant if I’m on the birth control pills? So I said that I’d prefer to get my hormones back in balance in a more natural way. Do you maybe know is there link between infertility/hormonal imbalance and food that we eat? Do you think that raw food/raw till 4 could help me to rebalance my hormones?
I am not a doctor, but then again most doctors don’t know anything about the effects of eating a raw diet. So, that being said, eating raw til 4 will rebalance your whole life!
Hi there, I just wanted to you an option if your still having trouble. Im on Raw till 4 because of Endometriosis, PSOS and Hypothyroidism. Because of one or maybe all of the above my hormones were completely out of whack. No periods, underweight, depression… And I believed Docs that told me I would never have children. They pushed anti depressants and after loads of doctors rejecting my request to get my thyroid checked, a few did do it. Results were fine.. A relative of mine in Brisbane went to a naturopath for menopause symptoms and spoke to the naturopath about me. Dark spots on my face, anxiety, depression, etc.. She called me and asked if Id see her. I warned “If you truly are not serious about actually helping me Id prefer not see you because I can not stand another day, I wake up with tears dripping down my face because I woke up for another day.” She pleaded with me to see her. I went, She checked my thyroid in the proper way ( takes into account time of the month..) Anyway, I felt great after a few weeks, a new person, my periods came back, I fell pregnant in 3 months of putting her advice into practice. Her name is Kim Balsone. She has appeared on SBS and has written her own book. Her reasons for becoming a womans Naturopath are because of her experience. Shes incredible. Google her. Anyway. 2 babys later with perfect thyroid function, no cysts or depression and anxiety.. I believe she turned my life around:)Raw till 4 has really helped with cramping from endometriosis to all other bloggers:)
I was even diagnosed as Bipolar by one, Borderline personality b another…. All because of my thyroid.. And doctors and Psychiatrists happy to write perscriptions that would cause more trouble.. Insomnia, and loads of other problems. I no longer go to Doctors. Naturopaths all the way!
What did she do? I have all those problems!:(
Hi! I went through hormone imbalance hell!!! The only thing that helped was eating healthy (tons of fruits and veggies, no processed food), exercise, a b-complex vitamin and great sleep. All of that and giving my body time to heal from all the damage done by birth control and junk food.
How would you recommend stopping calorie counting? I come from a background of anorexia, and calorie counting is so triggering expecially when it is programmed into my brain to eat 500 calories, rather than 2500. I want to succeed at this without having to count calories, thanks.
I think it’s important to count your calories to make sure you are eating ENOUGH! After many months you’ll find you don’t need to track calories every day though.
That advice shows little to no true understanding of very serious health issues – such as anorexia. Avoiding trigger, such as calorie counting, is key to avoiding relapse. It would be prudent to advise someone raising these questions with you to see their health adviser/specialist to explore the options before attempting to launch into a ‘way of life’ that includes counting calories.
I certainly do recommend to everyone with health issues or not, to consult a specialist before starting any new lifestyle. Keep in mind, raw till 4 calorie counting is to make sure you get enough, not to restrict intake.
Just eat as much as you can!!! I can relate as having bulimia!! This way of eating gave me the freedom I dreamed of regrading food, eating and feeling happy with my body. Good luck x
Dear,
Please do not count calories each meal.
Go to your nutritionist and have them create a meal plan based on your new desired dietary changes. Let them know you feel raw foods is the best way to keep you on track and that you feel it is the healthiest thing for your body.
That way, you will NOT set off your eating disorder.
DO NOT DO THINGS YOU KNOW WILL CAUSE A RELAPSE! NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE SAYS.
How much much per week does this diet cost roughly? Ty! π
I spend about $10 per day to eat raw till 4.
do you have like a banana hook up how do you eat 10 to 20 bananas on $10 day. Along wit with all of the other food
Hi Dina, I just buy a bunch of bananas when they are on sale at any of the local grocery stores, and of course, BJ’s has a great price on organic bananas all the time. I like to freeze them when they get ripe enough and then throw them in my smoothies!
I just started Raw Till 4 a couple days ago and i’m feeling great so far. My one question is dates. I just do not like them. π Other than bananas are there any other good fruits that may be easier to find year round? Also, how do we feel about avocados?
If you don’t like dates, don’t eat em!! I have grown tired of them myself. I do a lot of frozen mango in my daily smoothies. BJ’s sells big bags of frozen cubed mango for a great price year round. Avocados are delicious! but high in fat, so you should limit your intake to keep your daily fat to 5% or so.
Hey! What kind of food am I able to eat AFTER 4pm?
And how many calories? Thank you π
You can cook up potatoes, sweet potatoes, root veggies, rice, corn pasta (I even eat regular pasta sometimes!), and don’t worry about counting calories, if you’re eating real, unprocessed, whole foods.
Can we have any vegatables, not just root veg after 4? And what would u suggest to add in replace of milk in recipes like soup? Rice milk, coconut milk? Thankyou in advance
Sure! You can eat vegetables after 4! As for soup, I don’t add any kind of milk. If you get the water content right, it’s creamy delicious goodness. I don’t like to eat the processed store bought rice/coco/etc milks.
Isnt Pasta is processed food?
I was wondering why nuts and oils are avoided on this lifestyle? Also what is a cheap way to get that amount of fruit each day?
Nuts and oils are avoided because they are very high in fat. The raw til 4 plan is all about high carb, low fat, non processed foods. In my experience the cheapest way to get a ton of fruit in each day is Bananas! And the easiest way to eat a lot of bananas is to make smoothies. Yum!
I was wondering about potassium. I started having 4 bananas a day and my potassium levels skyrocketed which my doctor said would lead to hyperkalemia which would then alter heart rhythms and advised I cut down on my banana intake. I don’t see how eating 20 bananas a day can be a good thing. I’m interested in hearing your side on this.
I really can’t comment on your specific medical issues. I’ve been eating 10 – 15 bananas per day for over a year. My bloodwork is perfect. Your bloodwork results could be an indication of another issue not related to bananas, but as soon as you told your doctor you’ve been eating 4 bananas a day they just assumed that was the cause of your increased potassium levels. It’s the easy way out.
Hey, for how long the extra weight is staying with you form the begging of this lifestyle – I have gained 3kg in past half a month. Please, I don’t wanna be fat forever :))) Thank you.
stick to the guidelines and you’ll be fine in the long term. And get moving, walks, biking, shoveling snow π
How important is variety in this diet? I love bananas and could eat them all day but I’m not a fan of dates or mangos. I’m fine with the dinner options but breakfast and, can I eat a ton of bananas, drink water, and be ok?
Absolutely!
I was wondering….why until 4?
Just curious
Don’t get tied up in the 4pm thing. The main point is to eat raw all day and then you can eat a cooked dinner. You don’t have to eat dinner at right at 4pm. It all depends on your lifestyle and workday.
Hey, I’ve been really struggling with binge eating recently and have put on two stone in half a year which upsets me no end….. Does this diet help lose weight or just maintain your weight? And what’s used as a base for the smoothies?
This lifestyle can definitely help you lose weight and feel great! Search around this site and on google for all kinds of smoothie recipe ideas.
Hi what is the difference between raw till 4 and the banana girl diet?. I have had terrible addiction and eating disorder stuff. I am a nichiren buddhist and someone told me about you last week and the cente. I started today and I feel so bad for eating so much fruit all day and corn pasta for dinner. I’m new to raw vegan. I are a lot of figs and dates for lunch, had 4 bananas for breakfast, a large juice, corn pasta for dinner. I can’t belive I would lose weight eating this everyday? I really want to trust the program and am finding it hard
You just need to stick to the guidelines religiously and yes you should lose weight over the long term. But more importantly, you will feel energetic and full of life!
Do not feel bad for eating so much. This is the biggest thing to wrap your head around… fruit does not turn into fat in your body. Fat turns into fat and sodium will bloat you with water retention, thus why we cut down on both fat and sodium. Fruit and hydration will help your body heal itself from the huge amount of nutrients you are feeding your body. If you are hungry or wanting food, you need to eat. You need more calories and you need more nutrients in your body. Do not stress over your weight as this way of eating will naturally bring your body to it’s ideal weight over time. The thing is – it takes time. You’re healing a lifetime of damage to your body. If you put on weight in the beginning, it’s because you needed to. Your body was dehydrated, it needs that extra weight from water there to heal and flush out toxins.
We eat too many dry foods and drink too little water. Combine that with salt, living in climates with dry/extreme hot or cold weather and your body is going to be very dehydrated.
Hi, I am a vegan planning to go raw, but I have a 1 1/2 year old who I am mostly raising vegan, but I am concerned that she isn’t getting all the nutrients because shes still growing. Are there any good sources you could recommend for vegan children/toddlers? Would it be crazy to put them on raw till 4 also? I know children have different needs, fat, etc. any info would be appreciated. Thanks!
Paige
I’d consult a registered nutritionist on that one!
Check “Mango Island Mamma” on youtube, she has different videos on hoe she is raising her vegan (mainly raw) baby.
I was just wondering-with such a high fruit and carb intake, are you not worried about developing diabetes from all that sugar?
No, not at all. I’d be more worried about it if I were eating the average american diet of over processed, high fat, high processed sugar foods!
Hi I’ve been doing this diet strictly for the last 2 weeks. I’ve been feeling incredible. .. just been so balanced in my digestion, my moods … it’s really wonderful. After so many years my health has been really bad (Chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosed in 1997) I’ve done so many things to help myself but I was just getting no where until now. It’s not 100% but I feel I’m getting somewhere. . So thank you π
Qu 1. I’ve unfortunately had a couple of times where I’ve had no option but to eat outside the raw parameters. .. fat% has gone thru the roof. .. How long does your body take to recover from doing that & should I do anything the next day or just put that down to one bad day?
Qu 2. Headaches. I’ve had some huge ones that have lasted for a few days. I’ve always got them when I’ve OD on too much sugar. .& I feel it’s the same with the amount of sugar in consuming some days on this like with putting Coco sugar in smoothies. I typically increase my water intake but without medication I can’t shift the headache. . Any suggestions are warmly appreciated.
Qu 3. Ginger & garlic. They are root veges & can definitely help to spice up a dish. .. I love them raw … Are they OK to include?
Thanks.
Kristina
Ginger and garlic are great for your health. I add both and fresh chilli to a lot of things that I cook (or even raw to salads.) I personally feel physically ill or headachey when I consume too much straight sugar. It doesn’t matter where it comes from, if it’s not diluted enough, I just feel unwell. Because of this, I use dates sparingly and if I’m adding coconut sugar I will either add only a teaspoon to a smoothie or up the volume of water so that it balances out. I haven’t tried datorade, but I think that it would make me feel quite ill, so I stick to more diluted sources of sugar. As long as you’re eating your fruit ripe and sugary and eating enough to make you feel like the Energiser Bunny, you’re doing fine.
Hey!
I am a 16 year old girl and interested in starting this diet for ethical reasons but also because I’m very enthusiastic about maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I was wondering whether certain parts should be altered because of my age, such as the calorie intake etc. as some could argue that I’m not an adult and therefore don’t require the same daily intake of calories. thanks!
You’ll have to consult a nutritionist on that one! Good luck!
This depends less on your age (there’s no standard 16 year old) and more on your size and growth maturity. At your age I had finished growing, where-as I know 16 year olds who are tiny and look more like pre-teens.
I would go to a doctor and see if they can judge where abouts you are growth-wise. Also ask your parents when they finished maturing. If you’re a lot smaller than both parents, you’ll likely want a lower minimum caloric intake, but if you’re around the same size, I’d say go for 2500kcal.
Also, I’d suggest you find some good information on child/teen development and veganism vs “normal” before telling your parents if you think they may not be very supportive of the change.
Hi…:)Can you eat dried fruits like raisins and sultanas? Thanks
If you can guarantee they don’t have added salt and/or sugar. That may be a challenge.
HI, can i eat gluten? or soy? or beans?
It’s your choice, on gluten. I do eat regular pasta sometimes. I don’t eat soy. Beans, in moderation.
Would eating the same thing everyday be alright?
I’ve been known to do that! As long as you’re meeting all your daily nutritional requirements, it’s all up to you! Some get bored eating the same thing every day, but I don’t.
Hi I am looking to lose weight with my wife. Currently I am at 272lbs down for 305lbs.( When i ate the SAD diet) My wife is at 180lbs.(Back to Vegan) I see there is a 7 day meal plan for beginners. Will you provide maybe a meal plan for a month aka more variety? I just ordered a vitamix since seems like the best option for this lifestyle. Can you give some insight into how many calories we will need? I think she will need 2000 calories before 4 and I will need 2500 calories before 4. Can you provide some of your experience for maximum weight lose. I know that will motivate my wife to better health. Thanks
Sounds like you are both on the right track! I am working on getting more meal plans, but in the meantime just try to mix things up, while keeping to the guidelines. Get Creative! As for the calories in, that sounds great!
I’m looking forward to try this the Raw till 4. I recently have change my eating habit and became vegetarian, going on seven months, but I want to take it to another level. Here we go!!!
I have been curious about this diet for quite a while now but haven’t tried it to it’s full extent because I simply hate feeling super full. I get bloated really easily and I just feel bogged down when I have a lot of food in my belly. I also feel sick when I eat a lot of sweets and believe it or not I do NOT have a sweet tooth. I never eat sweets, they make me feel gross. I am vegan and gluten free and I eat ZERO processed junk. I am very fit but not quite as fit as I want to be (think Zuzka Light) I am almost there but I can’t stay on track of the workouts because I work a physical job at long hours. Do you think this diet is what will get me there? Is the bloating and full till I’m sick feeling something that just needs to be overcome in the first few weeks? I have tried eating 10 bananas but I nearly puked after eating 4. Also I hate smoothies. I know that is weird but they make me gag. Anything thick like that has triggered my gag reflex since I was very young. Things like porridge, mashed potatoes or any sort of pureed food. I notice that smoothies are the best way to cram the fruit in but I just can’t. Am I perhaps just not cut out for this diet???
Honestly, I think Raw til 4 may be difficult for you.
Thanks for your honesty. I think so too.
Hi just starting out! I am underweight is it possible to gain on this diet? Also do you know where I can find eating plans? I’ve been googling but it’s just tips I need like examples of calorie sizes so I know what my goals are?
It is definitely possible to gain weight on this lifestyle. Just eat a ton of the approved foods in the guidelines and you’ll be amazed by your boundless energy!
I wonder in how many days of diet can I see results? Does it foresee any cheating meal? And when you’re traveling, or in a restaurant, how do you manage?
It can be pretty challenging when travelling. At times like those bananas are your (constant) friend. And apples.
Hello,
I started eating raw till 4 today. I threw away my scale but I know I am weighing somewhere between 285 – 300 lbs. Yes it sucks, I’m obese. I know I am not alone and am really really bloated at the moment. I ate 8 oranges with 32 oz of water in my vitamix this morning. 12 apples (8 small, 4 medium) with about 24 oz of water. Then my dates arrived while I was (still am) drinking my apples. I ate 10 dates. (those things are fucking outstanding) and am so full I am having a really hard time finishing my apples. After adding the dates I finally got to about 1850 calories on my calorie tracker. I should have started eating earlier because my first meal didn’t get started until 11am. I just have a hard time eating first thing in the morning. I don’t know why. So what basically should I be aiming for calorie wise?
Id like to know cal intake before 4pm and then from 4pm on (basically dinner) what calories should I aim for then and what should my total calories for the day be? I know Im not supposed to restrict but I just want to know the minimum. I feel so bloated that I cannot imagine eating for the rest of the day and im under 2000 cals. I am assuming my tummy will empty in the next couple hours with all the water but ugh! Please give me an aim someone?
try for a minimum of 2,000 calories before dinner, and at least 500 calories for dinner. But if you’re still hungry anytime during the day, gobble down more (approved) food! Have at it!
Hi, I’ve been vegan for about a year now and am just starting to research this raw lifestyle. I really want to try it! My only concern is that I’m training for a marathon right now- can I get enough calories to have energy for multiple hour runs on this diet? And what would you suggest eating for postrun recovery? My first thought is a big smoothie with bananas, dates, spinach, and berries.
You will have PLENTY of energy for multiple hour runs if you pack in the approved foods/calories on Raw Till 4. I can’t help with post run recovery ideas, but your idea sounds perfect!
Celery is a fantastic post run food. If you’re not a fan, try disguising it in a juice π
Hi, I’ve been vegan for 7 months now. Beginning was rough as far as balancing high carb v fat (I love avocados), but I’ve been raw til 4 for 3 months now. Initially, going vegan I gained ten pounds. I’m 5’1″, I was 123 lbs last year and I got up to 133 lbs about four months ago (before being vegan I would eat between 1500-1800 calories per day maximum, some days I’d skip meals etc). Even though I wasn’t raw til 4 initially, I was eating probably between 2500-3000 calories per day so the weight gain makes sense. Being that I’m 5’1″, I’m actually very small framed. How many calories should I be aiming for per day? And, of those, how many calories should be raw from fruit? Hunger is not an issue, I haven’t felt hungry since going vegan. Should I be aiming for 2000 raw calories and following that up with a smaller dinner (500 calories or so) or should it be more like 2/3 of the full days calories should be raw (so say 1666 raw calories out of the full 2500)? Sorry if I’m overthinking things… Thank you
Hi. I’m thinking of starting raw til four for the new year! Just wondering though, if im looking to lose twenty pounds with a four day exercise schedule per week, how long should it take to lose it all?
no one knows the answer to that, sorry!
hi freelee – i started rawtill4 yesterday and just wondering what your thoughts are on protein shakes? i have 2 really good brands Vega and Amazing meal, they were pretty expensive so i wouldn’t want to waste them. sometimes they ‘seem’ like a nice substitute in the evenings. how do you personally feel about them from your nutritionist and raw/vegan perspective? Thank you!
this isn’t Freelee’s website! You only need 5% protein per day so you won’t be needing any protein shakes on this lifestyle!
hey there should have also asked…. i live in a cool climate in the winter and love teas, usually i sweeten with stevia, but i’ve been feeling that i should stop. do you have any experience with stevia?
what are you thoughts about soups in the evening. sometimes i like to do a warm carrot ginger with kale soup… maybe i could do that over pasta or potatoes or rice?
thanks for any thoughts you have
ps. day two and i already am feeling amazing. previously i was feeling so bloated and uncomfortable
I don’t sweeten anything so have no input on stevia. I eat A LOT of soup (sweet potato, or squash soups are my faves)
I honestly have completely destroyed my life, so far I am only 18 years old and I weight about 80kgs and my height is only 5ft. I really want to change my life style and start a new one. I’m done with justifying being fat! Please suggest what I do.
cut out all junk, processed foods for a start, and promise yourself you’ll try raw till 4 as a new lifestyle.
hi! i was thinking of getting into this lifestyle. its seems really healthy and i m looking forward to it. but i dont think i’ll be able to fit in that many bananas into me. i like changing things. can i eat say, two bananas and add other fruits instead of having 3 more bananas?
Absolutely! Do what’s right for you, within the confines of the guidelines.
Is there a limit on how much cooked carbs we should be eating? Thanks for responding to my previous post.
This will kill your metabolism. The body needs lots of fat and cholesterol to produce testosterone and other hormones which burn fat and speed up the metabolism. This has to be a joke.
Not sure why you are here on a website about raw till 4 then Emit? Move on to the Atkins website, I hope you have a good heart surgeon!
hi, i started this lifestyle around 1 month and a half ago. im 168 cm and i now weight 69 (i was 58 when i started) i do come from a restricting background so i understand this can be healing. but can i overeat on this lifestyle, i cycle for about 20-30 min a day and i can easily eat 5000+ calories (i lose count after, whilst using cronometer). but i feel that im constantly hungry π please help me
Hmmm, I want to try this, but I don’t live alone…so how would I go about explaining to the people I live with that I want to do this? Suggestions?
You don’t need to explain anything to anyone! Do what’s right for you.
I have been vegan for about 7 months and have mostly focused on eating whole foods, but I think I eat too many fats throughout the day – avocado, peanut butter, nuts, occasional olive oil, chia seeds, almond milk… all of which are some of my favorite foods.:) I lost about 25lbs over the first few months of being vegan but have stayed about 20lbs above my goal weight for the past couple months and my weight loss has significantly slowed down. I’m considering trying raw til 4 to see if it can get me back on track towards my goal weight.
What I’m wondering is how many grams of fat are acceptable to eat each day on this diet? I know I will have a hard time cutting fats out entirely, but is it something where I truly should aim for 0g to get the best results, or is under 10g okay? I’ve done a lot of searching on the internet and haven’t really found anything that specifically defines what “low-fat” means. Thanks for any insight you can provide!
As per the Raw till 4 guidelines, you should be striving for 5% of your calories from fat (good fats, of course!). Use cronometer to track your all your food intake and you’ll see that you won’t likely need to add any extra fats. Definitely try to avoid peanut butter, nuts, oils, chia seeds, nuts. good luck!
hello! okay so far so good , eat fruits and vegetables to 16 hours. … But what then ? I can eat ? and in what quantities ? There is some guidance to help me if I have any questions? thanks you!
Check out the raw till 4 guidelines for ideas!
Is there a forum for RawTill4-ers? I was wondering if anyone had testimonials on how RawTill4 affected and/or treated their adrenal fatigue? Thanks all!
~Ash
Hi Ash, You can find the official raw till 4 group on facebook.
Hi i just found your website. I just started with the raw till 4 lifestyle. Its about a week now. Is it normal to feel tired and lazy to do stuff?
Have you been keeping track of your meals, how many calories per day are you getting? If you are getting enough calories, it certainly could be a detoxing issue that will go away in the near future.
Hello! I’m reading a lot about raw till 4 to decide if I will try this new lifestile… I’m from Brazil and some fruit here are too expensive, so I’ll have to test and find out how much I’ll spend with in a day and in a week! =) But I’m seeing such good results, and opinions that’s hard not to try it! Just one thing I need to ask you… I can eat tea? I love green tea! And All the fruit need’s to be organic? Here the organic it’s sooo much expensive! =\ And what’s the best thing to eat in the morning, before training? Bananas? how much? (isnt in the breackfest) =) Thank you so much! Boa noite! (good evening).
Eat organic when you can, and but don’t stress it too much if they are too expensive. Conventional fruits and veggies are still much better for you than processed foods, or meats, of course!
I’m sorry.. I forgot this… for dinner, when we can cook things.. how much we can cook the potato, for exemple? Until stay very soft? or has a temperature limit? Thank youuuu! Obrigada.
cook them to your own preferences.
Hi! When you say that I can cook foods after 4pm, what kinds of things would you recommend? What do you usually have for dinner?
I eat a lot of sweet potatoes, corn pasta with tomato sauce, potatoes (fries, mashed, baked etc.) And of course lots of veggies!
I would like to know if Quinoa, Polenta, Corn Meal or Vinegar is allowed on Raw Til 4?
Hey, my height is 158 cm and 55 KGS and 17 yrs old. How many calories should I get a day? I want to lose 4 or maybe 5 kgs how long would it take? I saw your YouTube video that’s why I came here and I decided to have a healthy lifestyle for now on.
2500 for everybody!!
So i recently started this, and my mom and dad are telling me that high carbohudrate foods are bad and that i should focus on taking in as much protein and fat in me? how can you explain that this is not the case here? (as freelee the banana girl said that she is on a low fat and low protein and high carb diet)
Your parents have clearly been brainwashed by the media and food conglomerates on the high protein good/ high carb bad thing. It will be tough for them to come around. You could try searching for some of freelee’s youtube vids, I know she’s talked about this several times. But honestly, I doubt your parents will buy in to it.
So, maybe just focus on you and let the results speak for themselves.
Hey! I just wondering, Jamie, do you realise how much damage you are doing to all teenagers who don’t really realize what the hell you are promoting? You should make it clear that your diet program is for those who wants/needs to loose weight. I have 13 years old daughter (we are vegetarians/vegans) and she stuck on your program. She need proteins, she need fats, her body needs right nutrition to grow. But she is teenager and difficult to understand that not everyone can be honest. Your banana diet looks great maybe for you, I found very difficult to eat 1.1 kg banana for breakfast and 1.1 kg for lunch, but it’s your stuff- do it at your own. It’s kind’a sceary that you are not prevent it from children. Think about it. Let me know when you decide to do something about it so I can show to my child that it’s not for her anyways. Thank you and have a nice day.
Regards Edita
Hi Edita, I was left wondering if you realize that this is not my program, and there is nothing to promote here. It’s Freelee the banana girls program, and one that I happen to follow successfully, and so I chose to write about it. I’m not pushing it on anyone else and if it’s causing a problem for your 13 year old daughter, maybe you should take some responsibility for letting her surf the internet willy nilly. I can tell you there are a lot more scary and dangerous things on the big bad internet than this raw till 4 program.
Let me know when you decide to do something about your daughter’s free reign on the internet.
Regards,
Jamie.
Hi!
So I am very interested in your Raw Till 4 plan and I have some questions. I am 5’2, just turned 16, and I weight cycle from 116-118. I want to gain lean muscle and burn off my fat so I thought this would be a good program for me. Problem is, my mom is Italian and she loves cooking with olive oil and all those things so it might be kind of hard to really stick with this plan because she will make me eat. Any tips? Also, can I still eat peanut butter, bread(toast/French bread),eggs, and rice? I’m just not really quite sure what to eat and not to eat. Thankyou!
Hi Sarah, the raw till 4 program is vegan, gluten free, and low fat, and no overt fats. So, eggs are out, bread is out, nuts, and peanut butter are out. It could be that this isn’t the right program for you, and that’s okay!
If you cannot have any sweets or fruit after dinner; then what can you have?
Maybe you’re not eating enough for dinner if you’re still hungry after dinner?
Is bread something to be avoided?
Most definitely.
how long does it take for your taste buds to change to find the realatively more bland foods appealing on the Raw til 4 diet. Especially if your coming from a SAD high salt fatty meat rich flavored diet?
It only took me a few days, but then I wasn’t eating a high salt,fatty diet before I started. I’ve seen others state it took them one to two weeks.
Can I have a cooked lunch instead of a cooked dinner? I figure it might be better to eat light before going to sleep…or is there another reason why I shouldn’t?
Thank you.
Hi Alessandro, my understanding of this is that you want to eat raw all day and then cooked, because of digestive issues.
Hello. I’ve been doing rt4 for a few days and it’s great so far, however how can I get my 2000+ calories from fruit when I’m on the go? I feel like a bit of this diet assumes you are home all the time. Is there anything more practical I can do than bringing a bunch of giant cups of smoothies, and a big bunch of bananas?
Hi Mary, I’ll be honest with you. I imagine this is a pretty tough lifestyle for those that work outside the home! I am lucky, as I am self employed and work mostly at home. Bananas are really the most practical on the go higher calorie raw till 4 food. I also bring dates with me. But I do get a little tired of dates, I must admit.
Maybe one of our readers will chime in with some other food ideas!?
Hi, just wondering if couscous is allowed as part of the cooked food?
Freelee doesn’t recommend it on raw till 4.
Ok. Thanks.
My mother got type one diabetes from doing a similar all fruit Raw vegan diet. This is NO JOKE! Consult a doctor for your blood sugar and get your stomach acid and pancreas checked before doing something like this diet with all of the sugar. Especially if diabetes runs in your family! My mothers pancreas just completely shut down because of the sugar spikes and sugar from all the fruit
Do you have an email I can email a personal question to?
The link to the left doesn’t work for me
Hello, try the email icon at the top right, and that should work for you now.
Thanks
Hey!is it bad to not reach 2500 calories. I just strted but I get full fast and never reach 2000
If you just started, it might take a bit of time for your body to get used to eating that much volume of food. Don’t worry, you’ll be eating a pile awesome fruit in no time!
Why are beans excluded from this diet plan?
they are kind of high in protein. I don’t exclude them, I just eat them in very small quantities.
Okay, thank you for the feedback. Under the “Raw Till 4 Principles”, it says beans aren’t recommended so I was just curious as to why that was.
Hey, love the website. Been seriously thinking about raw till 4. Already a vegan but going to start this new thing tomorrow morning! Just wondering though, I am a huge fan of cereal in the mornings, would that be ok on the raw till 4? (nut based cereal with almond milk kind of thing)
Hi Bitch Peas, nice name. π
I can tell that you haven’t read the raw till 4 guidelines. You should give them a read before deciding whether this lifestyle is a good fit for you. Nuts should be avoided, as should processed food, and of course, cooked foods before dinner.
I’m 14 (almost 15). Does age matter for this lifestyle?
I can’t answer that one, you should consult with a nutritionist, or your doctor, before starting any plan.
I absolutely love love love bananas and they’re extremely filling for me. However if I consume more than 2 I have a hard time staying up past 6pm. And I need to stay up til at least 8:30 because I have 3 kids. Any solution for this? I have eaten more than 3 a day because I’m worried I won’t be able to stay awake.
I really don’t know what to tell you here. good luck!
Hi I had an important question to ask on the Raw till 4 lifestyle. Can I drink coconut milk after 4? I have always wondered this because I have a vegan recipe that the base is coconut milk and I have it after dinner as a dessert. I was wondering because its from a fruit
P.S. Is almond milk okay anytime? It says minimal nuts and I drink Almond milk as a dairy milk replacement.
Thx, Baii!
I think Freelee would say no to Almond milk ( as nuts are a no no). I think she would say no to coconut milk as well, but hey you gotta live it up sometimes.
Hello!
Is it possible too eat too much calories on this lifestyle? (As long as I still follow HCLF vegan lifestyle). I think that maybe sometimes I’m eating too much calories (3000) because I feel cravings (actually for fruit, not for processed foods). But because I have a history of calorie restriction, ED…I’m so scared sometimes that maybe I just don’t “listen to my body” and eat too much!
I don’t think it’s possible that 3,000 calories is too much if you’re following the guidelines perfectly. And if you’re super active and still hungry eat more.
Where do you get your fat from if you’re not allowed to eat fats? Considering you need them to transport nutrients into the cell walls…
I’m getting 5 – 10% of my daily calories from fat. Even spinach has .2 g of fat from 2 cups of raw spinnach. It’s not that you’re not allowed to eat fats, you just aren’t supposed to eat overt fats, ie, oils, nuts and seeds, etc.
Hi i al spanish. Km going to ras dieta bit can i eat fruit and vegetables together??salad for example with fruit. And…can i get fat for fruit?im not sure….thanks!!!good and fruit day π kisses!!!!!
some people might say it’s not good to combine fruit and veggies due to bloating, but everyone is different. I do it, without issues. You should use cronometer to track everything you eat and you’ll see just how much fat you are getting per day. good luck!
Thanks!!!i dont eat fat.i like fruit wwith cucumber…but i eat yogur.bad i know. I dont eat bread sweets meal etc i eat 80 % raw . thanks!!!
I dnt understad…this dieta is forma weight los but people gain ir…why???lugar fruit get fat?can i get fat eatin mucht vegetales only?and fruit?sorry!!!and thank yuo. You are ver y hice:) goood good day
This diet is dangerous and misinformed. Cooking actually releases beneficial nutrients in vegetables such as lycopene.
Also animal fats have now been proven to be beneficial too. Keep your carbs low and animal fat/protien high. Lots of fish too.
If you want to follow a diet and lose weight. Stick to the paleo diet and watch your fruit intake due to the fodmaps and high sugar intake. Also take regular exercise.
Hi James, I would like to read more about your own research study on the diets you blindly follow, such as the Paleo Diet. Please email me some links to your info. Thanks!
Cooked fruit? I feel really stupid for doing this but I did it anyways. I wanted to make the bananas ripen faster so I put them in the microwave. They did ripen but now i’m thinking it counts as cooked food. Also i’m not sure if I can find a cooked banana in cronometer. So does it count as cooked food? Also anyway to make bananas ripen faster?
Thanks
Sydney
Is it bad if u eat fruit after 4 ect the u eat cooked or u have to eat cooked at exactly 4
4 pm is just a guideline. you can eat your cooked meal later if you prefer.
also i prefer fruit n greens but my partner and boy likes cooked food and eating out became boring unless i wanted to consume high fat raw cakes..no thanks so raw til 4 became convenient..and thanks Freelee for helping so many women ur so enpowering to us οΌοΌ
Hey freelee, i love this diet for its energy levels but in order to get long lasting results i have increased my cardio,, i have been working out around 3 days a week weights or cardio and weights for a while and have recently switched to mainly cardio based workouts. Elliptical, running, bike and a smaller amount of weights based around my legs. I have been increasing the amount of days when i can but how much do you recommend?
I have been eating 3500-4500 calories lately also is this too much?
I am 20 years old, 66kg (6kg overweight, heaviest ive ever been, i gained this weight from eating excess protein and fat with my carbohydrate calories in the past) where as i used to range between 57-63kg and before that was 46-53kg. I do desire to be back at the lower range. I just find i do get hungry and so i eat until i am content, which is usually at the above calorie range.
When i visit my boyfriend, i feel lean as i stick to 2000-2500, its easy to i dunno if its because i wanna be lean for him or i just get distracted π a bit of both…
Is this a bit of bored/emotional eating? I feel like its real, and that its just my bodies reaction to ridding itself of the stressed cortisol state of the past.
I have only just ditched caffeine about a month ago. I crave it but theres no way i want it back in my life, it actually makes me feel sick to think about consuming it regardless of those sugarfree aspartame cravings!
During the ‘raw’ phase i consume dried mango and a healthy lemonade. Are these more refined sugars holding me back?
When a craving for bread after 4 hits me, i ensure i eat bulk veggies first but then allow it if it fits my 801010 macros. For example tonight i felt quite sick during/after dinner until i ate some.. i was also craving lentils tonight, perhaps iron? Or was it the b vitamins?
Apologies for this long message but i do hope you reply as the many topics could help other fruitbats :)!!
Thanks freelee! xx
Hi! This isn’t Freelee’s site, it’s just a blog about my journey on Freelee’s raw till 4 “diet”. To contact her you’ll need to go to her site at http://www.thebananagirl.com
Hi, I just started this diet yesterday, today is day 2, and am feeling great, though i didn’t use any cronometer or ways to measures the calories, but i do agreed that stuffing so much fruits in a day is tough and so super bloated but I feels great this morning, and getting fruits in my place (Malaysia) have no problems at all… so am all in.
But since i can’t use any types of oils, I wonder where do i get that 5% fats? N protein as well? Soy milk ok?
Thanks for the great idea… anyway am not a dates person so … basically no dates. And for vegies wise, I have read that it have to be root base, so does things like capsicum, long beans, ladies fingers etc etc… are all out?
you should give cronometer.com a try and you’ll see exactly where your fats are coming from
I am 13 qweeks pregnant. Will this diet be safe for me?I want to make sure I get things like b12, iron, and folate.
Please consult with a doctor and/or a registered nutritionist before undertaking the raw till 4 lifestyle or any other eating plan.
Hi there,
I’m not quite sure whether I’d be able to follow this lifestyle forever, so before I start I’d like to ask a few questions:
– Would that be possible to add one non-vegan meal a month to the diet? Would that have a negative effect on my health? Having a steak, some fish or a piece of cheese sometimes would really help me to maintain this lifestyle.
– The other big concern is my teeth health. How to avoid having any teeth issues? Should I brush my teeth every time I eat a meal for example? Or should I eat drink lots of green smoothies? Or maybe you have some better suggestions?
Thanks,
Lilija
I really can’t answer your health questions, or your motivation. If you’re thinking of eating steak or cheese, then I’d say you are not currently ready or motivated to live this type of lifestyle. No offense intended.
Do I have to eat potatoes/soup/salad something cooked at night or can I have a smoothie if I feel like it? I guess my question really is, can I eat fruit for dinner?
absolutely! Freelee, the creator of Raw Till 4 suggests a fully raw day once a week, I think.
How do you get protein in? what do you eat to get your protein? I am beginning this lifestyle put I want to do it right without leaving muscle mass.
You get it from vegetables and fruits. If you’re stressing about protein this may not be the right lifestyle for you as raw till 4 is all about the 5 – 10% protein (from non animal sources)
Because this is low protein is it healthy for growing kids
I really don’t know. You’d best ask a doctor or nutritionist.
Hey, it seems that even with bananas this diet is very expensive. I can’t be spending more than $5/day on a good day and in the states, 10 bananas a day are WAY more than that. Do you have any suggestions on being able to perform this diet on a low budget? It seems that rice and beans are the only option, and I’d really like to get clean and fit.
Don’t you have a Sams Club, Costco, or BJ’s near you? They all have great prices on bananas. BJ’s even have organic bananas!
Hi Guys!
What I don’t understand is: why no lentils or beans??
What’s “bad” about them?For me as a professional athlete it seems quiete important that I get a good amout of protein. But without beans and lentils I can’t reach over 40g /day.
Please help me π
Hi Simon,
I’m not sure why you are interested in the raw till 4 lifestyle if you are in need of beans and lentils. It’s okay, do whatever works for you personally.
I would like to try this but cannot eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. Specifically, any food with a high glycemic index and high has producing foods make me sick/cause digestive problems. I recently had an Alcat test and am now also off coffee, avocado and gluten. Suggestions for recipes that don’t include the foods I can’t eat??? Thanks!
My only suggestion would be find a lifestyle that works for you. This one, high in fruits and vegetables, is clearly not for you!
Hi there,
I’m 23 years old, I way about 60kg! I’m not looking to lose any weight just purely want to eat well, and control my IBS. My stomach is having a fair bit of trouble excepting most foods unfortunately.
Please let me know what your thoughts are π
Thanks.
Hi Ben, I’m not a doctor, nor do I play one on the internet. I would consult a real doctor, or a nutritionist to get their take on IBS and Raw till 4.
My gut feeling (no pun intended) is that switching to Raw till 4 will likely alleviate any IBS symptoms, though not immediately.
How can one eat unlimited amount of fruits without getting diabetes?? Like if I were to eat ten oranges that’s about 80g of sugars, natural sugars, but anything of too much is bad, I’m really interested in doing rt4 but I’m just worried
natural whole foods are not going to cause diabetes in and of itself. Are you currently diabetic, or borderline diabetic, or have a family history of diabetes? If so, I would recommend you consult a doctor and/or nutritionist.
So I can not eat chicken breast or any meat after 4? I’m really not sure what to eat for a meal since mats are all we’ve done for years. DO you have any sites you can recommend for good after 4 recipes?
TIA
not sure if you’re joking but if not, you don’t eat chicken or any other meats before or after 4 pm. Google raw till 4 recipes.
Hi I’m in the first week of RT4, I’m absolutely loving all the food (I made your sweet chilli sauce last night π ) the only problem I’m having is my family, my Dad is an omnivore and my mum is vegetarian (which is a little easier) and I don’t know how to tell them I’m going vegan… I’ve always eaten a lot of fruit and vegetables but they really disapprove as they say it makes things harder; going out to restaurants, round friends houses etc, do you have any advice about how I can persuade them into letting me make decisions about my own diet? Thanks x
Hi I’m going vegan (drinking apple pie in a glass as we speak) and I’m loving the RT4 lifestyle but I don’t know how to convince my parents to let me stay vegan as they’re very disapproving because of how difficult it makes socialising with other people, I’ve always eaten a lot of fruit but this is a big step in their eyes, do you have any tips on how to tell them I like eating this way? Thanks x
There is no good way to tell meat eaters why you choose to be vegan. And there is no reason to explain it. Each to their own, and all that.
Hi! I was wondering how many calories a day I should eat on the raw till 4 diet? I’m a 5’4″ 16 years old female, about 240 lbs. Thanks!
Hi i recently found out that i have PCOS.. and i read that eating Vegan/Raw can help with this to control some of the effects of the syndrome.. i have been trying to conceive for a year and nothing that i have tried has helped!! i was also told that since i have PCOS i should be careful with the amount of fruit i should eat because i have insulin resistance i really want to know if anyone has any info about how changing the way i eat can help with PCOS!
thanks
I would not rely on the internet for medical help. You should talk to your doctor, or a nutritionist who specializes in PCOS. Please seek help from a professional.
Hi I was just wondering if you have any idea how to build muscle on raw till 4. Do you know of any protein powder I can put in my smoothies or just any ideas on what I should eat after I lift?
Thanks for the help!
Get enough raw till 4 approved calories in each day, and LIFT MORE WEIGHTS. If you feel you need protein powder, that would put you out of the raw till 4 10% max protein range and then you might as well go find a new lifestyle.
I’m 18 years old and recently had a baby so I’m obviously in a need to lose some weight. I was one of those low carb high protein girls before pregnancy and actually dropped 50lbs in 6 six months with that lifestyle…along with intended workouts 5 to 6 times a week. I’m really intrested in this diet and am so down to try it…but I only bring so much money a month…and only have $150 left after bills and what not. Is there anyway to do this diet with that type of money left over every month?
Regardless of your lifestyle choices, you need to eat, so you’ll have to make it work with what you have coming in. You just have to choose.
Hi, I have a few questions. I want to go raw not only for the health benefits, but for the animals and the environment. I am an O+ blood type, which researchers say rely on meat! If I go vegan, do you think this will ruin my body in some way?
Also, what if I think I am eating 2500 calories per day but really am eating only 1500 or something? Is that starving myself? What if I am already full?
Thanks
Please consult a professional on those questions!
Hi I started the rawtill4 3 weeks ago and feel good for it no weight-loss yet sadly but hoping it’ll come…I’m 38 years old 5.5 and 96 kilos π I was vegetarian before but decided vegan fits me better..
I am on chronometer(LAST 3 days) but i don’t understand the fat ratio? how much do i need? I am packing in the fruit and am around 2400 2500 in calories but fat seems a lot higher than 10% which is the amount at the end of the day ??… What fat am I looking at? Help please.
I can’t really say unless I saw your cronometer diary.
Hi! I was looking into this lifestyle and I come from a low grain-high protein diet with 1200 cals/day with weight lifting and cardio. If ai switch to HCLF, should I stop lifting weights so I don’t bulk? I want to be lean and fit with good digestion, not bulky muscled or bloaty. Or should I keep lifting weights? I already have a good amount of muscle built up, I’d just like to be skinnier. Thanks!
Do you think I will gain weight on raw till 4 if I am not calorie restricting at the moment? I eat about 2500-3500 calories of non vegan food and I maintain a weight of about 127lbs at 5 ft 8 and I want to stay this way and just go vegan for ethical reasons, and maybe build more muscle (I weight train). But my diet at the moment is very high in protein so I am worried that even though I am not calorie restricting I will gain alot of weight from an increase in carbs even if I keep my calories the same
Short answer: I have no idea.
Hi! freelee you have inspired me so much I’m 13 and I’m such a big fan I love your videos so much and I’ve watched your videos for a while now and the one video you made about milk and the dairy industry really made me think twice about eating there products and I haven’t eaten dairy for almost a year now and tomorrow is my first day of going 100% vegan I’m so excited thank you for everything you do for people it really shows you care about people and there health keep doing what your doing because your helping people live healthier and happier lives love forever and always natalie
Enjoy type 2 diabetes.
lol. thanks. It must be wonderful knowing everything!
Hi,
Just wondering if your a trained nutritionist? I am just wondering about protein intake and also healthy fats for to improve digestion and prevent arthritis?
No I am not. You should definitely consult one before taking on any new diet change!
I have a question regarding the goal of getting 1000 calories for breakfast and for lunch. When we are starting out brand new to this program, Im sure it will take a while for our stomachs to get used to the high calorie intake. I know I personally have been under-carbed for all my life. lol My question is this, if we have consumed say %75 of our breakfast…say maybe 750 calories, and feel full…should we try to continue to finish our breakfast or lunch?
So 41yo Type2 diabetic (on pills) female obese at 130kgs/173cm tall office worker ie fairly sedentary. Rawtil4 a good idea to try or not suitable? And if ok to try then how many calories to aim for. Will be slowly increasing physical activity as have some injuries to take into account. Cheers, D.
I think anyone should try eating a healthy vegan diet! You should obviously do so under the watch of your doctor.
Some days I am not hungry at lunch can I eat most all my calories in morning and night cooked food?
Can I do this if I’m 17 weeks pregnant?
Hi Kerena, that is a great question, and one you should most definitely ask of your doctor! Please discuss with a medical professional as soon as possible!
Hey,
I was just wondering how this is more beneficial as a vegan diet to a normal vegan diet with no processed foods? Why is the Raw til 4 better for you than just having a normal, whole foods vegan diet?
Thanks π
I’m no expert on raw till 4, just a happy and healthy follower of the program. That being said, there is a large focus on not eating FATS on raw till 4, for example, from nuts. Hope that helps in some way.
Can you use this diet if you have diabetes?
Why shoud my pasta be gluten free?
Hi there! I’m a flight attendant and just wondering whether you think this would work me. As i go into different time zones my body can be confused and there are times where I can go 24+ without more than 3 hours sleep. Would I just stick to the UK that my body is used to? Bit of a tricky one but would love love love to eat clean and fresh like this.
Thanks
C x
That is a tricky one! I think if I were in your shoes, I would stick to my home time zone and eat accordingly.
Thank you!
Hi, I wanna know which one is better to drink cow milk or almond milk, which one is better? or should I eliminate them both?
Thank you
I will be waiting for answers π
hey, i dont wake up until 3:30 pm each day, will this diet still work for me? i think i could handle only eating raw for the first half an hour or so til 4. can’t wait to start
Hi! I recently went vegan and at the beginning I was a junk food vegan, but now I’m trying out the rawtill4 lifestyle. I drank a 6 bannana smoothie and felt amazing after it but my family freaked out. They told me I was eating too much sugar and that I should not be having a smoothie that just has sugar in it. I’ve tried to tell them that the sugar in fruits healthy and fuels our bodies but they have not listened. I am the only vegan in my house (although I have tried convincing them to change) and now everyone in my family is so focused on what I’m eating and telling me their opinions about it without any proof. I was told that by banana smoothie was “a sugary treat that should be had for desert” What should I tell my parents to get them to stop freaking out about me eating fruit?
I would like some advice on the whole no raw after cooked thing. What if I go to brunch with family or friends and eat cooked food. For the rest of the day would you eat cooked food? I’ve been trying to do this, but then I feel silly trying to avoid all the delicious fruit sitting in my kitchen, and eating unhealthy pasta instead. This happens a lot. Because ultimately I want to eat more raw, but don’t know how important it is to eat raw before cooked. If it doesn’t bother my stomach to eat raw after cooked should I do it? And with desserts…what if I eat a cooked dinner, can I have a raw dessert? Or should I stick to unhealthy pastries or something?
I only read like half of this, I’ll be honest, so maybe this is in need of more critiques. 1. Aspartame does not cause cancer, chill tf out. 2. Gluten-free is only a health benefit if you have Celiac Disease and your body trips out when you eat gluten. Don’t be so fucking dumb. Do you also believe vaccines are full of autism? Moron.
I’m 14 and trying to start out on Raw Till 4. I’ve struggled with disordered eating since the age of 9 and I’m trying to turn that around. I am already Vegan and I’ve tried Raw Till 4 but I have one problem; I can’t seem to eat ENOUGH to get sufficient calories. I can only eat up to 1,500 calories. Is this normal or am I doing something wrong?
Just wondering why I need to have so many calories? I’ve been reading your site but can’t seem to find the reason. Thanks!
Why no gluten?
Is it okay to 3 mangos on raw till 4
Can you eat 3 mangos on raw till 4?
Hi im very interested in the whole unprocessed food meal plan since learing that not only are we not supposed to eat meat considering our teeth and stomach length, some of the biggest animals are veggiy but more importantly the drugs + bad hygiene leads to all kinds of crap being stored in flesh of all largely consumed animals , even fish! but also, they actually put abscess puss from cows into dairy products … clearly this makes me feel sick and certain statistics show that our diets today are one of the highest causes of diabetes and cancer. However I definitely cannot afford to loose any weight so I wander how much and of what would I need to eat to build mass while cleaning my body at the same time? Sorry for the essay.