CK- you did mention that, I guess I thought that maybe such large quantities of it might negate the weight-loss aspect lol. At any rate, I'm so glad I have a cast-iron bowel, it never gives me the runs or even makes me have to go! If it did, I probably wouldn't eat so much lmao!

I got to thinking about this while enjoying a delicious raw coconut: Does one reap the same amount of benefits by just eating the raw coconut as opposed to coconut oil?  It seems that there are dozens of articles and research out there that glorify coconut oil and often list it's numerous health benefits. Wouldn't it be safe to assume that one could reap the same benefits just by eating raw coconut meat? I would actually think a person could reap more benefits from raw coconut verses coconut oil as coconut oil is usually still "processed" to some degree. Thoughts?

Eric-Thank you for the info! I will try to contact Inger to ask her some more questions!

This question is more directed towards the females but if any men have suggestions or personal experiences with their own hormones in regards to following the RAF diet, feel free to comment.

I suspect I have some hormonal issues going on. Up until a year or so ago, my periods were always irregular. Sometimes they were very light and short while heavy and lengthy at other times. I've also had adult acne that gets pretty bad during menses (but is slowly clearing since being raw). I also went to my gyno with right-sided ovary pain and they found a small cyst. I wassurptises by the cyst because I have never been in birth control but did have the copper iud in at the time and for some years prior. I'm thinking, and have read that the iud can upset the hormonal balance and cause ovarian cysts. I still feel the pain in my ovary though and it gets pretty bad during menses, ovulation, and during orgasm so I know it still has to be there. I'm hoping that by eating a high fat, raw diet, I can hopefully overcome these issues. Do you think this is a good course of action or should I seek other treatment?

So lately, I've really been trying to listen to my body and give it what it craves, I've been eating high fat content beef, coconut meat, coconut butter, coconut oil, grass-fed butter, tallow and realize from tracking what I've eaten that my carbs are generally 20-30g. I feel AMAZING! Don't know if ketosis has set in or not because I've only noticed being dizzy on rare occasion and feeling a bit fatigued at times. However, the extra fat and reduction in carbs has done magnificently for me! I notice changes fairly quickly in my body and have noticed a much more peaceful mindset, greater strength/energy at the gym, more lean muscle definition, hair and skin are beginning to get lustrous and strong (both were extremely dry from going low fat for even a few months), and satiety that lasts for much longer than carbs ever provided me! Just wanted to share some progress that I'm very happy with...I love this way of eating!

Tyler-I live in the deep and dirty south lol.  That being said, it's difficult to find even grass-fed beef from a trust-worthy source here much less any other type of animal. But, being the "sportsman's paradise" state, wild game (deer, fish, water fowl, rabbits) are always in high abundance. I'm on the fence about consuming the wild game here though as I fear they may be infested with parasites aland I know the water here is anything but clean (near the Gulf of Mexico) and am skeptical about consuming any wild-caught seafood for that reason as well....

Tyler- That's awesome about the wild blood being sealed in the package with the meat! Where do you buy your wild hare from (assuming you buy it since you mentioned it being packaged) out of curiousity? Would like to order some soon!

Also, I find that without counting calories, I naturally eat around 1300-1500 calories...depending on different factors.  Like I mentioned above, I find that a large salad followed by a fat and meat meal is typically enough to satisfy me for the day. However, because I am very active (both at work and the gym) I am wondering if I am getting enough calories in?  I also am wondering if I am getting enough protein and fat. My carbs are generally between 30-80g depending on the day, fat is usually between 80-100g and protein is typically between 50-70g. I have been feeling a bit fatigued lately but am confused as to whether this might just be my body adapting to less carbs or if it's because my calories are too low?

Sabertooth- "Finicky as a feline..." eh? lol I see what you did there   I have been experimenting with different carbs (high glycemic etc) and find that the higher the glycemic index, the worse I feel in a couple of hours after my blood sugar falls again. I have been so accustomed to eating super sweet fruit after being on the HCLF vegan diet and I think it got to the point of addiction, that and without having much fat for energy, high sugar fruits were what got me through the day. Lately, I have been trying to stay away from sweeter fruits though and have been eating a lot more fats (both plant and animal) along with veggies in place of the fruits. I find my energy to be much more stable and I don't experience the huge sugar crashes. I've been finding that a salad in the late afternoon followed by a large meal of meat and fat in the evening suits me very well and keeps my hunger to a minimum. I feel much more satisfied when I eat more fat so I think my body is naturally gravitating towards ketosis or a near ketosis state as I have been recording my intake and finding that I tend to naturally consume between 30-80 g of carbs and mostly from coconut butter, avocados, and my greens. I still need to find my optimal macro ratio but am choosing to just give my body what it craves which appears to be more fat and meat.  Perhaps my body will want more carbs in the future, time will tell.

By the way, your description of your salad had me drooling! I really like all the add-ins you mentioned and might try re-creating such a salad once I get off work today haha!

Thank you all for your replies, they were quite reassuring. So I'm guessing that because the body is better able to assimilate the raw food, especially the animal meat/fat, I must simply not have as much waste to get rid of since it appears that those of you who replied seem to go only once or twice a day too.

Satya- As far as to WHY I want to achieve a higher degree of leaness--I don't expect everyone to fully understand but reaching the aforementioned degree of leaness is merely a goal for me. I've worked very hard on my bodybuilding journey and just feel this is the next step. I don't plan to stay this lean for a long time but rather just want to see if I can get there, so to speak.

You mentioned that you employ carb-cycling?  I'm curious as to how you personally use carb-cycling (like which days your carbs are higher and typically what are your carb macros for low and high carb days)?  Do you feel your results have benefited from carb-cycling?

Hi.  I am wondering why you would want to go lower in body fat.  Seems like you are already pretty lean.

  I find ketosis is more a factor of my exercise levels more than strictly what I eat.  YMMV.

I'm not quite sure I understand the above-statement regarding ketosis as you mentioned previously that you carb-cycle? Can once still cycle carbs while in ketosis???

Sabertooth & Eveheart-I appreciate the responses and found them helpful.  I know I need to ease up on trying to calculate and weigh everything out.  I'm a very regimented person though and came from a bodybuilding diet where I was supposed to weigh out and calculate macros as closely as possible and I'm finding it difficult to break out of that, being as that it became second nature to me.  I've gotten pretty good though and decreased my incessant need to calculate everything by just trying to consume a set amount of calories (as I still have goals in the gym and need to be following a restricted calorie diet to some degree) but have been letting intuition guide me daily as to what my percentages of fat, protein, and carbs are. Some days I intuitively eat more fat than carbs and some days I feel better consuming more carbs than fat. I don't think I will worry about going in or out of ketosis quite yet but am rather trying to become accustom to better listening to my body and giving it what it wants on a daily basis.