Can you really eat all the veggies you want?

Dreamerlove

I have heard JM and other trainers say "eat all the veggies you want". BUT when I log my yummy sweet mash potatoes it adds calories. So if I go over in my cals and had veggies, is that ok?

foxyforce

potatoes aren't really a vegetable, they are a root i think...all potatoes are a moderation thing!

jen0619

Hmm. I don't count potatoes as my veggies.

Curves73

I agree with the ladies- Potatoes are a different animal. But if that is you in your pic. Do what ever you want - You look amazing. lol I personally count everything- even veggies.

reneeot

potato's are a veggie but not the veggies most nutritionist refer to as the one's you should eat limitlessly. Green beans, brocolli, spinach and the like are the ones they are talking about. I eat potatos just smaller portion.

Dreamerlove

Isn't sweet potato a superfood? Will that count for something? lol

ajbeans

Potatoes are good for you if you eat the skin, but they're not as good as other veggies. And with mashed, you're probably putting butter and salt and other things in them that take away from the veggie goodness.

Anyway, yes, you can eat all the veggies you want, but that doesn't mean you can eat just ONE kind of veggie all day long. You need a variety to get the nutrients you need.

Dreamerlove

I agree with the ladies- Potatoes are a different animal. But if that is you in your pic. Do what ever you want - You look amazing. lol I personally count everything- even veggies.

AWE!! Well it is me...BUT in 2007 when I was 30 pounds lighter, lol. Thats my inspiration pic

kao708

A calorie is a calorie...if it comes from a sweet potato that's better than it coming from a cheeseburger I guess but if it has calories, you need to log it accurately and try to stay within the guidelines of the system.

Happy_JoJo

I don't personally track my veggies, ....all goes back to my days of doing WW and they never counted veggies in your daily totals so I figure if they can do it that way then so can I.

heyitsmekatie

the "free" vegetables don't usually include potatoes, corn, or anything starchy.

Dreamerlove

Potatoes are good for you if you eat the skin, but they're not as good as other veggies. And with mashed, you're probably putting butter and salt and other things in them that take away from the veggie goodness.

Anyway, yes, you can eat all the veggies you want, but that doesn't mean you can eat just ONE kind of veggie all day long. You need a variety to get the nutrients you need.

I bake mine then mash them and put smart balance and pecans-that's it. So that's a better way.

Molly08

Potatoes are considered a starch

jerseyshorenurse

Non-starchy veggies...like broccoli.
Potatoes (white or sweet), corn, legumes...they're all veggie-ish but pack a lot more of a caloric whallop. But you really can do a lot worse than an occasional sweet potato binge, as long as you're not junking them up with butter, salt, brown sugar, or marshmallows...ick. I don't know WHO invented THAT thanksgiving side dish! I'll take mine plain, thanks )

skinnylizzard

Isn't sweet potato a superfood? Will that count for something? lol

They are very good for you, BUT, they are high in carbs. They have a lot of density, so I think the idea is things like lettuce, celery, cabbage, broccoli. You'll notice that they have way less cals and carbs for large amounts!

ChefJenn

a white potato is in more the Starch family.
sweet pots are better for you but still in moderation.

sarahliftsUP

Ohhh, how I wish I could eat all the potatoes I want!

If you look at the nutritional info of a potato, even sweet potatoes, compared to carrots, celery, broccoli, lettuce, etc. you'll find that potatoes contain a lot more calories.

So when you hear people say you can eat all the veggies you want, they are talking about the ones that are more water based rather than starchy like the oh-so-yummy potato.

catcrazy

I count everything. Going over calories is still going over calories. Recently read about a guy that couldnt understand his weight gain, no junk, turned vegetarian mainly ate fruit n veg ...Dr's just thought he was lying but he was eating extreme amounts...12 apples a day (1200 minimum) and lots of veggies.

Count em!

urdaprincess

this is true, but it is mainly the green veggies they are talking about. I am doing this too...I make sure that most of my dinner and lunch is mainly veggies (green)

YeaILift

A calorie is a calorie...if it comes from a sweet potato that's better than it coming from a cheeseburger I guess but if it has calories, you need to log it accurately and try to stay within the guidelines of the system.

If calories are calories why are they better coming from a sweet potato rather than a cheeseburger?

jerseyshorenurse

Your butt won't know the difference. But your arteries will.

A calorie is a calorie...if it comes from a sweet potato that's better than it coming from a cheeseburger I guess but if it has calories, you need to log it accurately and try to stay within the guidelines of the system.

If calories are calories why are they better coming from a sweet potato rather than a cheeseburger?

sparksfly13

You can eat all the veggies you want when it's something like spinach, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, onion, bell peppers, lettuce, green beans, etc. Potatoes, even sweet potatoes, are good for you but in moderation. They are very high in carbs! Take tomatoes on the other hand, 35 grape tomatoes are only 70 calories and 18 carbs. Other veggies that are high in starch are beets, corn, and peas. All others can be pretty much unlimited.

YeaILift

Your butt won't know the difference. But your arteries will.

Then, how would my arteries know the difference between a potato and a hamburger? (Assuming I meet my macronutrition for the day in both cases)

pyro13g

Potato != vegetable.

edorice

Isn't sweet potato a superfood? Will that count for something? lol

You have to eat potatoes and sweet potatoes in great moderation. They are a starch along with corn and peas. Our bodies process these starchy veggies differently than say lettuce, broccoli, and cabbage. The starchy vegetables are higher on the glycemic index.

YeaILift

Isn't sweet potato a superfood? Will that count for something? lol

You have to eat potatoes and sweet potatoes in great moderation. They are a starch along with corn and peas. Our bodies process these starchy veggies differently than say lettuce, broccoli, and cabbage. The starchy vegetables are higher on the glycemic index.

Which spikes insulin, but current research shows that this has no significant effect on fat loss or retention.

ajbeans

Potatoes are good for you if you eat the skin, but they're not as good as other veggies. And with mashed, you're probably putting butter and salt and other things in them that take away from the veggie goodness.

Anyway, yes, you can eat all the veggies you want, but that doesn't mean you can eat just ONE kind of veggie all day long. You need a variety to get the nutrients you need.

I bake mine then mash them and put smart balance and pecans-that's it. So that's a better way.

Ah, but pecans and Smart Balance aren't veggies, are they? So it goes back to what I said -- you add things in that take away from the veggie goodness.

pyro13g

Isn't sweet potato a superfood? Will that count for something? lol

You have to eat potatoes and sweet potatoes in great moderation. They are a starch along with corn and peas. Our bodies process these starchy veggies differently than say lettuce, broccoli, and cabbage. The starchy vegetables are higher on the glycemic index.

Which spikes insulin, but current research shows that this has no significant effect on fat loss or retention.

Huh? That insulin response is saying "store as fat" to drop blood sugar. Spike your insulin response daily and let's see if you still have that rip.

YeaILift

Huh? That insulin response is saying "store as fat" to drop blood sugar. Spike your insulin response daily and let's see if you still have that rip.

Reducing the dietary glycemic load and the glycemic index was proposed as a novel approach to weight reduction. A parallel-design, randomized 12-wk controlled feeding trial with a 24-wk follow-up phase was conducted to test the hypothesis that a hypocaloric diet designed to reduce the glycemic load and the glycemic index would result in greater sustained weight loss than other hypocaloric diets. Obese subjects (n = 29) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 diets providing 3138 kJ less than estimated energy needs: high glycemic index (HGI), low glycemic index (LGI), or high fat (HF). For the first 12 wk, all food was provided to subjects (feeding phase). Subjects (n = 22) were instructed to follow the assigned diet for 24 additional weeks (free-living phase). Total body weight was obtained and body composition was assessed by skinfold measurements. Insulin sensitivity was assessed by the homeostasis model (HOMA). At 12 wk, weight changes from baseline were significant in all groups but not different among groups (-9.3 +/- 1.3 kg for the HGI diet, -9.9 +/- 1.4 kg for the LGI diet, and -8.4 +/- 1.5 kg for the HF diet). All groups improved in insulin sensitivity at the end of the feeding phase of the study. During the free-living phase, all groups maintained their initial weight loss and their improved insulin sensitivity. Weight loss and improved insulin sensitivity scores were independent of diet composition. In summary, lowering the glycemic load and glycemic index of weight reduction diets does not provide any added benefit to energy restriction in promoting weight loss in obese subjects.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16177201?ordinalpos=1itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum


I can link a few more articles when I get back from studying if you want.

Crowhorse

potatoes aren't really a vegetable, they are a root i think...all potatoes are a moderation thing!

In that case, better not count carrots as a veggie, either, since they are also a root.

Potatoes aren't too bad. Make sure to leave the skins on, because that is the healthiest part (and they are the tastiest part of the potato).

That_Girl

No, it's not ok. lol Calorie wise.

You can eat what you want but calories add up.