10 a Day (800g) Veggie&Fruit Challenge Participants Check in!
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crzycatlady1 wrote: »Sorry I wasn't around today-busy trying to finish a painting project before hubby got back from his trip (and saw the huge mess I had made while he was gone lol). Long, exhausting day but now you only see the paint I spilled all over the floor if you squint and look really closely
Today was a big fat fail for me. I only got in 137g of veg/fruit today (spinach, tomato and mini sweet peppers). I ate a late lunch at around 2pm, due to painting, and it was a quick bowl of soup and a small side salad. I had good intentions to make a larger supper with veggies, but it's now 9:30pm and I'm just wrapping things up-threw some crackers on a plate, slapped a triangle of cheese spread on them, topped them with pepperoni and called it supper
Don't worry. Yesterday was also a fail for me. Back on it today though starting with orange juice.1 -
Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink wrote: »I managed 578 grams today but I am really sucking at this. Did the powers that be really think that people can eat this much fruit and vegetables? How did they come up with 10 fruits/vegetables? My protein intake is lacking. And if I cut back on other carbs like bread or pasta just so I can eat more fruit/vegetables, I will hate life. Don't get me wrong, I love fruit and vegetables but..........
How many more days? Lol
This challenge taught me I would make a bad vegetarian/vegan. I've learned about the food I eat as in what is an actual fruit/vegetable (chocolate and coffee don't count BOO!). I'm also unhappy that only certain amounts of things count, but maybe I'm being too anal about it.4 -
klingonbarbie wrote: »as a vegan I already eat more than 10 a day lol but I am concerned that I am going over on my daily 'natural' sugar allowance, i inteNd once the warmer weather here in UK comes at the end of Aprilt o go raw to 4...so that means I will be eating about 20 a day fruit & veggies ps i suffer from a chronic underactive thyroid so my weight loss is very very slow
I am also concerned about this but am going to ignore the sugar for the month and just try and get the 10 a day in and see what the benefits are short term - if I've lost weight/energy levels/digestive (Brown & Co deposits)/skin condition/water retention/pmt effects etc. Obviously we can never know the full benefits for many years if you are going by the article and avoiding heart attacks/strokes/cancers. I do suffer with high blood pressure and cholesterol and a diet high in fruit and veg can lower these.
I have tried Raw til 4 two years ago and it was good for weight loss and fun for a while. I went vegan at the same time but am not vegan anymore.1 -
Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink wrote: »I managed 578 grams today but I am really sucking at this. Did the powers that be really think that people can eat this much fruit and vegetables? How did they come up with 10 fruits/vegetables? My protein intake is lacking. And if I cut back on other carbs like bread or pasta just so I can eat more fruit/vegetables, I will hate life. Don't get me wrong, I love fruit and vegetables but..........
How many more days? Lol
I was wondering where they got that number also! While I do eat a lot of vegetables on a regular basis the amounts do vary and I don't eat a whole lot of fruit. I have made sure to get at least what this requirement states and I have put in a bit of fruit where I previously was not. I wonder if the powers that be have tried meeting the requirement themselves? I have never kept track of how many servings I eat in total so some days I likely ate 800 g or more other days less. I have also had a day or two in the week of having very little if any vegetables.
That being said I have discovered that:
1) While I do eat a good many vegetables on a regular basis I do feel the physical difference with meeting this lofty requirement daily.
a. A more full feeling for a longer time.
b. A bit of bloating.
c. Not drinking as much water because my stomach feels full. This may be where some people find sluggish
bowels I think. Not enough hydration to move it along.
2) I am able to stuff my self with less vegetables than junk food. Likely the fiber I am guessing. A pack of cookies or quart of ice cream is not a challenge. LOL!
3) I think people who haven't made vegetables and fruit a part of their regular diet would struggle here. Maybe lack of knowing how to prep the stuff. Maybe they are trying to eat a lot of things like a carrot, or salad and not incorporating the vegetables into meals. (Say, vegetable soup, or a veggie lasagna or other casserole type of thing, maybe a quesadilla with veggies, veggie pizza etc... ) I assume this can feel daunting and tedious for people who are not proficient in the way of the vegetable. This also goes for fruit. I am thinking of the man in the article that was posted further up. He had a grapefruit, apple and banana for breakfast. Most of us could only maintain such intensity for so long.
4) The sense that all these servings must be eaten ASAP may loom over some folks. Instead of trying to spread it out through out meals and snack some folks may find that they are trying to get in 400+ g of vegetables or fruits in a single sitting. This may be part of what brings on some of the problems such as constantly feeling stuffed, bloated, gassy, and just sick of the vegetables and fruits. It takes about 2 hours for food to leave the stomach, and another couple for it to head through the small intestine. Trying to cram all this through there is going to leave one feeling a little like Santa Clause.
Just some things that came across my mind. I hope people who have not typically been vegetable eaters do not get turned off of vegetables because it feels impossible or difficult or inconvenient. I think they could offer some creative and more user friendly ways to help people get on with an increase without it feeling like a chore.5 -
Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink wrote: »I managed 578 grams today but I am really sucking at this. Did the powers that be really think that people can eat this much fruit and vegetables? How did they come up with 10 fruits/vegetables? My protein intake is lacking. And if I cut back on other carbs like bread or pasta just so I can eat more fruit/vegetables, I will hate life. Don't get me wrong, I love fruit and vegetables but..........
How many more days? Lol
I've really been thinking about this too. For some people it seems to be a fairly easy thing to do, but yeah-I'm realizing that I'm not one of those people I think its an awesome goal to work towards though, and I do wonder if it will get easier the more you do it? I'm definitely going to keep at it after today and will try and hit 800g or close to it, several times a week. 3 -
crzycatlady1 wrote: »Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink wrote: »I managed 578 grams today but I am really sucking at this. Did the powers that be really think that people can eat this much fruit and vegetables? How did they come up with 10 fruits/vegetables? My protein intake is lacking. And if I cut back on other carbs like bread or pasta just so I can eat more fruit/vegetables, I will hate life. Don't get me wrong, I love fruit and vegetables but..........
How many more days? Lol
I've really been thinking about this too. For some people it seems to be a fairly easy thing to do, but yeah-I'm realizing that I'm not one of those people I think its an awesome goal to work towards though, and I do wonder if it will get easier the more you do it? I'm definitely going to keep at it after today and will try and hit 800g or close to it, several times a week.
This has inspired me to seek out some of the more "light weight" vegetables. Bell peppers and the like. I think it would help a lot!2 -
@ThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken I was cracking up at what you said yesterday, " Ya know this may be why they say a diet with a lot of fruits and vegetables is good for weight loss. It really does have a lasting fullness factor doesn't it?" And today I am cracking up at the thought of being "proficient in the way of the vegetable"...very taoist!
I think one of my issues is that, I just happened across the challenge on Monday morning, so didn't have the weekend to prep all kinds of delicious veggie items. Hence, I've doubled my veg intake with a large portion of it being raw, which is perhaps not the gentlest approach for one's digestive system. I haven't increased my fats, although I have them set as 35% of my goal and I am usually pretty close with them (generally 65-75 g as I look back through my diary), but roasting or sauteeing the veg in olive oil would help boost my fat and also help pre-digest things a little. Yesterday was definitely easier, as I had processed pears, juice and chips, plus some blueberries baked in a sugarless scone.
I also agree with @zyxst that it's ridiculous that potatoes aren't included...I understand that they are problematic for some people, but with their excellent nutritional profile, you would think they could be included as a one-serving-only gimme, with the caveat that they not be fried or whatever. As I continue this over the next month, I think I will allow the occasional skin-on potato.
As with others, it has been a struggle to meet my protein macro--I think I made it to 95 g last night, which is in the ballpark of what I need, because I ate some slices of deli chicken right before I went to bed (anyone else remember the days of having milk and cookies or a big old bowl of cheerios for a bedtime snack?)
On the bright side, I have really cut down on my high-sugar treats...not that they are bad, but it is definitely more challenging to fit them in; but yesterday I just had one Mary Jane (old-timey! My kids get lessons on "the history of candy," LOL!)
I like fruits and veg, and previously always got probably an average of 5 or 6 servings a day, but I would still be hungry, and definitely not feel like having a delicious pile of celery at 10:00 at night! This challenge holds my feet to the fire, though, so I prioritize that pile of celery.
I suspect things will become easier as my body and habits start adapting. I have 4 beautiful blue hubbard squashes sitting in my basement, leftover Halloween decorations (I buy a lot of gourds and pumpkins and try to ensure some are culinary sorts) so I am planning to do some roasting and soupmaking this weekend so I am better prepared for the coming week.
Also, between yesterday and today, I managed to lose 4 lbs thanks to some large checks clearing and considering I had done what I am euphemistically calling "an inadvertent bulk" over the holidays of a few lbs, this is definitely welcome to get me back in my maintenance sweet spot, if it's a real whoosh and not just a water retention anomaly.
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I like carrots, but I'm not buying them this week. This challenge has forced me to push my dental visit up by a month. My poor, sore, bleeding gums.
I went back to my roots and fried the last of the zucchini. Would be better with cheese, but I went with simple black pepper.
I'd find this easier to meet if what I considered a vegetable was actually a vegetable. Enough of me b1tching.4 -
Nony_Mouse wrote: »1407 made up of watermelon, carrots, hummus (chickpeas), gherkins, blueberries, red pepper, mushrooms spinach, avocado and blackberries.
It so interesting how some of us find this super easy and yet others struggle.
And @Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink , forever. Mwahahahaha
Well, I know you, AnnPT, and I are vegetarians. I don't know about the other ones who are finding it easy are doing it. I know that being a veggie makes it easy for me.4 -
Nony_Mouse wrote: »Scrap that - 1677. Needed more watermelon...
Yet more illustration that satiation is individual.
(I'm in the "easy" camp . . . but admit I've been practicing for a while.
)
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Approximately 800g:
Radish 14g
Cherry tomatoes 37g
Lettuce 70g
Cucumber 45g
Beetroot 82g
Carrot 25g
Celery 28g
Strawberries 80g
Leeks 120g
Red cabbage 60g
Apple 20g
Parsnip 50g
Banana one
Orange juice3 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »Nony_Mouse wrote: »1407 made up of watermelon, carrots, hummus (chickpeas), gherkins, blueberries, red pepper, mushrooms spinach, avocado and blackberries.
It so interesting how some of us find this super easy and yet others struggle.
And @Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink , forever. Mwahahahaha
Well, I know you, AnnPT, and I are vegetarians. I don't know about the other ones who are finding it easy are doing it. I know that being a veggie makes it easy for me.Nony_Mouse wrote: »Scrap that - 1677. Needed more watermelon...
Yet more illustration that satiation is individual.
(I'm in the "easy" camp . . . but admit I've been practicing for a while. )
Yes indeedy, it's much easier for us Vegeosaurs who have been doing it awhile. I liken it to walking or running, really it's something that you probably have to build up. I'm not surprised some people are feeling bloated and full if their digestive systems are not primed to deal with a kilo of fruit and veg a day!!
I've been mucking around with my diet this year in an attempt to identify eczema triggers (now that the bell peppers in my fridge have all been eaten I'm probably not going to replenish them, I'll sub in something else in their place), so my protein was down this week purely because I'd changed lunch from cottage cheese on toast (cutting out wheat/gluten
) to carrots and hummus. Next week I'll make a second dip thing with cottage cheese and avocado to bump that up again, and have cucumber sticks as well as carrot. I may need to ditch some fruit to allow for that, but it's end of season for blueberries anyway, so that's quite convenient. Had more than a few 'blueberry raisins' in this past week's punnets. 4 -
What I also found is all this extra eating is making me tired! I usually avoid naps, but now I feel like I need one. It's like my body is going to conserve energy one way or another and it is going to do it by making me sleepy!2
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GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »Nony_Mouse wrote: »1407 made up of watermelon, carrots, hummus (chickpeas), gherkins, blueberries, red pepper, mushrooms spinach, avocado and blackberries.
It so interesting how some of us find this super easy and yet others struggle.
And @Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink , forever. Mwahahahaha
Well, I know you, AnnPT, and I are vegetarians. I don't know about the other ones who are finding it easy are doing it. I know that being a veggie makes it easy for me.
I'm definitely not a vegetarian! I have no issues getting 150g protein (from various sources) every day...2 -
On anotherNony_Mouse wrote: »GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »Nony_Mouse wrote: »1407 made up of watermelon, carrots, hummus (chickpeas), gherkins, blueberries, red pepper, mushrooms spinach, avocado and blackberries.
It so interesting how some of us find this super easy and yet others struggle.
And @Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink , forever. Mwahahahaha
Well, I know you, AnnPT, and I are vegetarians. I don't know about the other ones who are finding it easy are doing it. I know that being a veggie makes it easy for me.Nony_Mouse wrote: »Scrap that - 1677. Needed more watermelon...
Yet more illustration that satiation is individual.
(I'm in the "easy" camp . . . but admit I've been practicing for a while. )
Yes indeedy, it's much easier for us Vegeosaurs who have been doing it awhile. I liken it to walking or running, really it's something that you probably have to build up. I'm not surprised some people are feeling bloated and full if their digestive systems are not primed to deal with a kilo of fruit and veg a day!!
I've been mucking around with my diet this year in an attempt to identify eczema triggers (now that the bell peppers in my fridge have all been eaten I'm probably not going to replenish them, I'll sub in something else in their place), so my protein was down this week purely because I'd changed lunch from cottage cheese on toast (cutting out wheat/gluten ) to carrots and hummus. Next week I'll make a second dip thing with cottage cheese and avocado to bump that up again, and have cucumber sticks as well as carrot. I may need to ditch some fruit to allow for that, but it's end of season for blueberries anyway, so that's quite convenient. Had more than a few 'blueberry raisins' in this past week's punnets.
On another thread that was mother to this one, I'd suggested that those who'd be participating in this challenge might do better if they started the ramp-up gradually a couple of days in advance, instead of making a massive sudden jump in fiber, not so much because of satiation but . . . other things.
That few days was probably too fast a ramp IMO anyway. If there's anyone reading this thread and thinking about trying the 800g thing on your own: Please consider increasing your daily veg/fruit servings gradually over a couple of weeks or more!
In retrospect, it was foolish of me, but I didn't predict the extreme satiation effect some are seeing, or the difficulty in getting protein alongside the veggies/fruit.7 -
On anotherNony_Mouse wrote: »GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »Nony_Mouse wrote: »1407 made up of watermelon, carrots, hummus (chickpeas), gherkins, blueberries, red pepper, mushrooms spinach, avocado and blackberries.
It so interesting how some of us find this super easy and yet others struggle.
And @Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink , forever. Mwahahahaha
Well, I know you, AnnPT, and I are vegetarians. I don't know about the other ones who are finding it easy are doing it. I know that being a veggie makes it easy for me.Nony_Mouse wrote: »Scrap that - 1677. Needed more watermelon...
Yet more illustration that satiation is individual.
(I'm in the "easy" camp . . . but admit I've been practicing for a while. )
Yes indeedy, it's much easier for us Vegeosaurs who have been doing it awhile. I liken it to walking or running, really it's something that you probably have to build up. I'm not surprised some people are feeling bloated and full if their digestive systems are not primed to deal with a kilo of fruit and veg a day!!
I've been mucking around with my diet this year in an attempt to identify eczema triggers (now that the bell peppers in my fridge have all been eaten I'm probably not going to replenish them, I'll sub in something else in their place), so my protein was down this week purely because I'd changed lunch from cottage cheese on toast (cutting out wheat/gluten ) to carrots and hummus. Next week I'll make a second dip thing with cottage cheese and avocado to bump that up again, and have cucumber sticks as well as carrot. I may need to ditch some fruit to allow for that, but it's end of season for blueberries anyway, so that's quite convenient. Had more than a few 'blueberry raisins' in this past week's punnets.
On another thread that was mother to this one, I'd suggested that those who'd be participating in this challenge might do better if they started the ramp-up gradually a couple of days in advance, instead of making a massive sudden jump in fiber, not so much because of satiation but . . . other things.
That few days was probably too fast a ramp IMO anyway. If there's anyone reading this thread and thinking about trying the 800g thing on your own: Please consider increasing your daily veg/fruit servings gradually over a couple of weeks or more!
In retrospect, it was foolish of me, but I didn't predict the extreme satiation effect some are seeing, or the difficulty in getting protein alongside the veggies/fruit.
Sage advice! ⇧ ⇧ ⇧ ⇧ Even for people who typically have 5-6 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Which is where I fall for the most part. I essentially doubled my intake. I think some of the side effects of the sudden increase were a little less for me because I already do consume a fair amount regularly, but they were apparent none the less.
The advice I would offer to anyone who wants to go for this requirement is increase by only a serving at a time each week or maybe every two weeks. This will make the transition much more comfortable. If you feel too full to drink fluids then you should scale back. I found myself feeling dehydrated because drinking wasn't even on my mind. So to recap:
1) Increase by a serving at a time.
2) Stay hydrated
Don't let the experience of more vegetables and fruits become a chore or a misery. If you do not enjoy your food and you feel poorly for having eaten it you will definitely not stick with your program.
All that aside, this was fun for me. I enjoyed the experiment. I don't know if I will continue at this rate or if I will try cutting down to maybe 600 g a day. I think that even though some of us did jump into the deep end so suddenly we did get a lot of good out if it. I think we all will be a little wiser going forward and maybe even got some new vegetables and fruits in that we have never had before.5 -
On anotherNony_Mouse wrote: »GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »Nony_Mouse wrote: »1407 made up of watermelon, carrots, hummus (chickpeas), gherkins, blueberries, red pepper, mushrooms spinach, avocado and blackberries.
It so interesting how some of us find this super easy and yet others struggle.
And @Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink , forever. Mwahahahaha
Well, I know you, AnnPT, and I are vegetarians. I don't know about the other ones who are finding it easy are doing it. I know that being a veggie makes it easy for me.Nony_Mouse wrote: »Scrap that - 1677. Needed more watermelon...
Yet more illustration that satiation is individual.
(I'm in the "easy" camp . . . but admit I've been practicing for a while. )
Yes indeedy, it's much easier for us Vegeosaurs who have been doing it awhile. I liken it to walking or running, really it's something that you probably have to build up. I'm not surprised some people are feeling bloated and full if their digestive systems are not primed to deal with a kilo of fruit and veg a day!!
I've been mucking around with my diet this year in an attempt to identify eczema triggers (now that the bell peppers in my fridge have all been eaten I'm probably not going to replenish them, I'll sub in something else in their place), so my protein was down this week purely because I'd changed lunch from cottage cheese on toast (cutting out wheat/gluten ) to carrots and hummus. Next week I'll make a second dip thing with cottage cheese and avocado to bump that up again, and have cucumber sticks as well as carrot. I may need to ditch some fruit to allow for that, but it's end of season for blueberries anyway, so that's quite convenient. Had more than a few 'blueberry raisins' in this past week's punnets.
On another thread that was mother to this one, I'd suggested that those who'd be participating in this challenge might do better if they started the ramp-up gradually a couple of days in advance, instead of making a massive sudden jump in fiber, not so much because of satiation but . . . other things.
That few days was probably too fast a ramp IMO anyway. If there's anyone reading this thread and thinking about trying the 800g thing on your own: Please consider increasing your daily veg/fruit servings gradually over a couple of weeks or more!
In retrospect, it was foolish of me, but I didn't predict the extreme satiation effect some are seeing, or the difficulty in getting protein alongside the veggies/fruit.
Regrettably, I just read your words of wisdom on that thread yesterday, so a little too late! I did have a good laugh though.
I think I am adapting pretty quickly...I just crossed the 800 g threshold by dipping a banana into chocolate fondue left over from Valentines Day, and I am still hungry for dinner although I have now blown my calories.
Welp. Time to finish the lifting I didn't get done over lunch!
7 -
Friday
100 g carrots
30 g sweet potato hummus
93 g zucchini
142 g strawberries
30 g banana chips
30 g exotic fruit mix (raisins, golden raisins, Craisins)
= 425 g
I'm throwing in the towel. I can't deal with the gum pain. I failed per U.K. standards, but did fine per Canadian ones.7 -
March 3, still cruising:
Mixed berries, 111g
Cremini mushrooms, 105g
Tomatoes (sun dried), 25g
Elephant garlic, 12g
Tomatoes (bottled, diced), 88g
Orange sweet pepper, 53g
Onion, 20g
Spinach, 31g
Romaine lettuce, 123g
Cucumber, 115g
Avocado, 41g
Tomatoes (raw), 62g
Cape Gooseberries, 34g
Celery, 71g
Cabbage, 167g
= 1058g
Even though vegetarian, I get 100g minimum protein daily (for GW 120, CW 125, LBM probably 90-something pounds). Got 130g yesterday, which is exceptional for me (unless I go over goal calories). Normally drink 8-10C water daily, only occasionally as little as 7C (not counting coffee). Not meaning to brag (much, anyway ), but rather to suggest that all of this gets easier with practice, and the micros/fiber are good for a body.
I hope this challenge will encourage everyone who participated - and some in the spectator seats - to keep eating more veggies/fruit . . . even if not quite 800g every day!
Thanks for getting the ball rolling, @crzycatlady1 - great idea - it's been fun to read everyone's thoughts, obstacles, and reactions!7 -
Weird day today. I sort of fell apart when it came to later in the day.
56 g roasted chickpeas
240 g pumpkin
106 g banana
36 g avocado
124 g broccoli
292 g romaine
209 g zucchini
160 g tomato
20 g blueberries
= 1,243 g5
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