Downsides to extra fruit/veg servings?

Lexandreia
Lexandreia Posts: 82
in Food and Nutrition
I've been trying to lose 2 pounds for the last 3 weeks (I'm 5'2, 18, 108lbs). I exercise a ton (on gym days (3X a week) I do a timed mile on the treadmill, a mile on the elliptical, calisthenics and about 45 min of weights (using 20lb dumbells for arms, 55lb barbells, squat 70lb, other stuff). I run 2.3 miles on my non-gym days (3x a week), calisthenics everyday and a 4.6 miler on Saturday.

I eat clean but I get super hungry for some reason and end up eating a ton of extra servings of fruit and vegetables. I go through a truckload of vegetables and as many as 5 servings of fruit a day. I try to balance it out with lean protein and some good grains but the bulk of my food consists of vegetables. Even though fruits and vegetables are caloricly low they still have calories. Could they be the reason why my weight loss stalled? I was 107 before I gained 5 pounds over the summer due to not having a gym available....

What would you recommend I do if I'm hungry? I don't want to starve myself because I know I'll end up binging within the week if I do.

I get about 1400-1600ish calories a day (2 meals a day with no snacks, I'm estimating 500-800 each meal). I don't have time to track on MFP because I've been so busy with college but I have a vague idea and regularly check in with the dining commons website. Thanks

Replies

  • CountryGirl8542
    CountryGirl8542 Posts: 449 Member
    Not sure if you are eating enough or not (it is some factors) but maybe try reading this http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/974888-in-place-of-a-road-map-2k13 ... you can pick what percentage of macro goals you want... Other than that maybe you are building muscle? try focussing on your body fat percentage instead?
  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    Without logging consistently, there's no real way to know why the weight isn't shifting. I suggest you start there. I really doesn't take that long if you just do it.
  • HayasakaErica
    HayasakaErica Posts: 4 Member
    I have found that having more frequent, smaller meals throughout my day really curbs how much I want to eat. It doesn't have to be a whole meal; an orange here, some Greek yogurt or even a handful of cashews. Just a little something to help me get to my next full meal. Water will also help take us some of the void in your stomach so you may want to drink water more frequently (if you don't already).
  • TemikaThompson
    TemikaThompson Posts: 222 Member
    Without logging consistently, there's no real way to know why the weight isn't shifting. I suggest you start there. I really doesn't take that long if you just do it.

    This!
  • nelinelineli
    nelinelineli Posts: 330 Member
    Yup, you need to track exactly what you eat. Fruits have a lot of calories and you're quite small. At your size, if you eat about 1600 calories a day and pile up an apple or two you're already at maintenance.
  • JessHealthKick
    JessHealthKick Posts: 800 Member
    you have to track - weight and be picky about it. 5 servings of fruit? If it was 5 bananas, you'd be looking at 500-600 calories. So they aren't low calorie wise (but do have nutrients so don't cut back completely). You have to log. I am a full-time student too, and I know that unless I am logging, I am not going to be able to control my weight loss/maintenance. You just have to do it!
  • curativelifter
    curativelifter Posts: 5
    you have to track - weight and be picky about it. 5 servings of fruit? If it was 5 bananas, you'd be looking at 500-600 calories. So they aren't low calorie wise (but do have nutrients so don't cut back completely). You have to log. I am a full-time student too, and I know that unless I am logging, I am not going to be able to control my weight loss/maintenance. You just have to do it!

    This
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    Why are you trying to lose any more weight at all?
  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
    You really need to track consistently in order to figure out why it's not working. Especially if what you're tracking is mostly fruit/veg and lean protein, it should be pretty easy to track. Are you counting the fruit and veg as part of the calories you're estimating? Because they sure do have calories.
  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
    Why are you trying to lose any more weight at all?

    She's not underweight, and losing 2 lbs still won't put her underweight -- some people are happier/healthier at the bottom end of the normal bmi range.
  • aimiekundert
    aimiekundert Posts: 7
    Maybe its the fruit? Even if they are lower cal, thats alotta sugar
  • adamnb13
    adamnb13 Posts: 9
    So are you saying you havn't lost any weight in 3 weeks?
    It is important to record everything you eat if you want to be successful, although it would seem that your at a pretty good weight for your height already, and your body is not going to want to drop much more weight. However as a fellow student I would say that if you just pin a MFP tab on your web browser then whenever you go on your computer, which I would assume would be at some point most days, just log everything down.
    If you are feeling hungry then try incorporating more lean protein into your diet. Protein has been proven to reduce hunger and increase satiety, reducing your cravings through the day.
    Also I would advise reducing consumption of grains before cutting vegetables and fruits. Although their are benefits to grains, especially oats, fruits and veg are more nutritionally dense and should be the main component of your diet along with some good quality protein source.

    Also my flat mate is a 5'3" girl and she says that she doesn't really loose weight unless she eats less than 1000 calories a day. No formula can provide guidelines for every single person accurately. keep good records of your calorie intake and if after a couple of weeks you havn't lost ANY weight, drop your calories down by a couple hundred a day and see if there is any benefit a couple weeks later. :)
  • ketchup38
    ketchup38 Posts: 112 Member
    It's not enough to just have a vague idea. You actually need to log it all to be certain.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    You have to log. Personally I don't eat too many veggies and fruit because otherwise I don't reach my protein goal.
  • Lexandreia
    Lexandreia Posts: 82
    You really need to track consistently in order to figure out why it's not working. Especially if what you're tracking is mostly fruit/veg and lean protein, it should be pretty easy to track. Are you counting the fruit and veg as part of the calories you're estimating? Because they sure do have calories.

    Yeah, I am. I usually add 100-200 extra to my calorie estimates at the end of the day (the numbers you guys are getting) in case if I did underestimate.
  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
    You really need to track consistently in order to figure out why it's not working. Especially if what you're tracking is mostly fruit/veg and lean protein, it should be pretty easy to track. Are you counting the fruit and veg as part of the calories you're estimating? Because they sure do have calories.

    Yeah, I am. I usually add 100-200 extra to my calorie estimates at the end of the day (the numbers you guys are getting) in case if I did underestimate.

    Don't do that -- you might as well have overestimated.

    In order for more detailed help, you really need to start tracking instead of estimating.

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