I used to join gyms and get crappy results... or I'd get results and then stop... and the muscle would go very quick.

Now I've joined again... but this time mostly raw and on a body building program.  It's a program to shock the muscles to grow and not become comfortable with the same routine each time.

Even though you say you don't want mass and you want toning and strength... strength and toning were the very first results I have received by my program.  And it's all over my body.  It's fantastic.  I went for a run on the weekend and freaked out at how strong my legs suddenly were!

And the muscle needs to grow to get stronger and the bigger it is the more calories it will use so therefore you would get more toning. 

At least that is from my experience.  It takes ages to get good size in muscles so a weight workout combined with cardio would give you the results you are probably looking for.  All you do is play around with the weight you are lifting and the reps and sets.  You will need to sit down with someone who is qualified to write you a program so that you get the results you desire.

Hope this helps.  

My water experience is different.  I only get the urge to drink while working out at the gym.  Because I have found that the huge amount of melons and other juicy fruit have supplied a tonne of water.  I drink a litre of watermelon for breakfast... and often juice 6 oranges with greens for lunch.  Juicy cherry toms for morning tea.  I have also noticed I don't drink all my water if it's not hot when working out.  I think Melons are the BEST way to get loads of filtered nutrient rich water so you don't have to remember to drink water by itself.

Hope this helps.

Whats going on   Is everyone in Adelaide? 

Maybe I shall hint to my husband to take a xmas holiday there!!! 

I've never been to Adelaide and it looks like everyones going there.   

With raw... I don't make complicated recipes... I'm moved onto the raw and simple... eat on the go type BUT I still make this one recipe every week.

meat of young coconut in blender
with 3 fresh dates (take the pips out)
juice of one lemon
a little coconut water (approx 1/4 of a cup or more depending on your thickness and the blenders ability to process)
Blend and scrape the sides down with a spatula... wait until it's smooth and caramelly.

It takes like a sweet and tangy caramel custard.  I love it as a meal.  It's gorgeous! 

I have a question...................

I read that statement by piers and was like... WOW.  But it confused me alot!

If carrots and mangos and bananas are not natural to our taste in their original form... then what is?  Or did I read that wrong?

I need some clarification on this one please.  I now have unanswered questions arising.  

I guess hi GI is simply alot of energy within the food that's easily accessible.  So therefore I guess that's a good thing.  It's people who don't eat enough of it that find they need more energy and think that low GI is just more convenient.

I'm happy to continue on my way with fruit and greens.

I don't think it's worth another thought.  Thankyou all for your words on the subject.   

What is the raw vegan thoughts on the GI???

I had a Rugby player give me advise on Friday... and it was that because of my high metabolism I need to get more food that have a low GI.

Is this necessary?  Is it really a concern to monitor the GI for a raw vegan? 

And is fruit a high GI???  I would imagine it is...

What about greens?  Are they considered high or low?  I know Oats are low GI.  What about root vegetables? 

Problem with cardio is that I do actually loose what little fat content I have ... which is already low. 

It's perfect to build the muscles and see nice definition as it is now.  I just need to gain more muscle to shape my body before I get back into the cardio.  I started with it to improve my lungs and heart and I always get it working throughout my weight session... but have dropped the cardio off as it was showing on my body... and I didn't like it.  I am intending to do it again once I've built abit of mass on the muscles.  I figure the cardio in the weight session is enough for now.

I'm just alittle confused if it is necessary to eat beyond the calories to get the muscles to build in size.  I can't see myself consuming 3 or 4 thousand calories in one day.  I can manage 2 to 2 and half but that's it. 

I don't want to rely on someone from a bodybuilding website as they are all into the mass protein idea.  Yet Doug Graham recommends 10% protein.  I monitor it daily... and I find it difficult to stay with the 80/10/10... I'm doing more like 10 protein, 20-30 fat and 60-70 carbs.  Man it's hard keeping the fat content down.  I'm close though.  I don't think I've been below 20% for fat content though... and I don't touch nuts/seeds.

Any ideas of calorie numbers would be helpful.  At least to try for a while.  Is it overeating if you consume more food than you are hungry for but you need to get the calories in???  I would say yes to that.  But then is the muscle going to have enough in the night time to grow bigger.  I want size!!!!

Okay... enough from me.   

Does anyone have any idea how to make raw tahini at home???