When veggies are "too filling"

AKARUTHIE
AKARUTHIE Posts: 5 Member
edited November 18 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi all, my doctor recently tasked me with a restrictive diet (dairy, sugar, gluten) and though it's getting me to eat much healthier - and feel much better! - I now find I can't seem to get enough calories for MFP.

I do add healthy fats to my veggies but once I have my ginormous salad at lunch I really don't have much appetite for dinner! I'm proud of cutting all my go-to garbage food but my digestion seems to be changing that I'm practically forcing myself to eat.

Full disclosure: I had a mild ED over 30 years ago but this feels different as I'm genuinely full (and am not motivated by self-hatred). Any feedback from the community would be lovely. Thanks in advance, R

Replies

  • Tacklewasher
    Tacklewasher Posts: 7,122 Member
    Why did the doctor put you on the restricted diet? Is it more than for just weight loss?
  • AKARUTHIE
    AKARUTHIE Posts: 5 Member
    I'm having big allergy issues to the point it's affecting sleep, so it was less about weight loss than being able to breathe :/ After slowly easing into her advice I'm getting more than 4 hours rest for the first time since 2016!
  • inertiastrength
    inertiastrength Posts: 2,343 Member
    I've been adding avocado and pumpkin seeds to my diet, seems like it would fit and help bring your calories up since they're quite calorie dense
  • SuzySunshine99
    SuzySunshine99 Posts: 2,989 Member
    Do you eat meat? Maybe swap out a few of the veggies on your salad with chicken or tuna. This would give you some protein, additional calories, and less of the "bulk" that fills you up. I eat a big salad for lunch everyday, too, but have no problem eating dinner.
  • inertiastrength
    inertiastrength Posts: 2,343 Member
    SuzySunshine99 wrote: »
    Do you eat meat? Maybe swap out a few of the veggies on your salad with chicken or tuna. This would give you some protein, additional calories, and less of the "bulk" that fills you up. I eat a big salad for lunch everyday, too, but have no problem eating dinner.

    If she's having trouble with calories perhaps even less lean red meat like a juicy ribeye <3
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Peanut butter
  • apullum
    apullum Posts: 4,838 Member
    Maybe I'm missing something here, but why not just have a smaller salad?
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    Can you eat nuts?
  • Tacklewasher
    Tacklewasher Posts: 7,122 Member
    AKARUTHIE wrote: »
    I'm having big allergy issues to the point it's affecting sleep, so it was less about weight loss than being able to breathe :/ After slowly easing into her advice I'm getting more than 4 hours rest for the first time since 2016!

    Okay. That info helps. I'd focus on healthy fats. Avocado, nuts if you can, peanut butter if you can. Go with a smaller salad and add chicken at lunch?
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    Is this some kind of FODMAP investigation?
  • ritzvin
    ritzvin Posts: 2,860 Member
    ditto on the meat. Make sure you are reaching your protein macro..work your veggies around a meat (or other protein item).
  • Chadxx
    Chadxx Posts: 1,199 Member
    Why not add olive oil to the veggies?
  • AKARUTHIE
    AKARUTHIE Posts: 5 Member
    Thanks everyone -- so helpful, and fast :smiley: I've spent a lifetime peeling the skin off chicken, avoiding peanut butter, etc. but I realize it's time for me to start rethinking all my habits. My sleep-deprived brain isn't back at full capacity yet so I truly appreciate your respectfulness and ideas!
  • French_Peasant
    French_Peasant Posts: 1,639 Member
    edited May 2017
    If you have suddenly shifted from a very low-veg to a very high-veg diet, your digestive system will likely need some time to adapt, rather than shoving ALL the veg in there at once. Some of us did an 800g-of-veg-a-day challenge as the UK recently recommended minimum of 10 servings a day, and we just wanted to see if we could do it. I got sorted out digestively after I stopped eating an entire bag of freeze-dried blueberries every day (so tasty, but a little while later: BLUUURG!).

    Here are a few more things to consider that might be a little more palatable than endless piles of salad:

    --Guacamole with tortilla or sweet potato chips
    --Hummus with veggies, tortilla chips, or gluten free crackers
    --wasabi peas or freeze-dried sugar snap peas
    --If you are allowed fruit (you don't specify whether you are cutting *added* sugar, but I would assume this is the case), you can make all kinds of smoothies or buy the Naked brand drinks, which are packed with nutrients (although not fiber, as opposed to smoothies you blend yourself)
    --Dried fruits like raisins go down very easy and pack a calorie wallop.
    --All the nuts and nut butters you can eat---nuts have an insane amount of calories, but they are so good for you
    --Rotisserie chicken with the skin included, fattier cuts of steak, bacon, salami and other charcuterie also have robust calories for anyone trying to gain.
    --roasted root veggies with a lot of olive oil
    --Potatoes of all sorts


    ETA: Here is the 800g a day challenge: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10521320/10-a-day-800g-veggie-fruit-challenge-participants-check-in/p1
  • animatorswearbras
    animatorswearbras Posts: 1,001 Member
    full fat hummous? Funnily enough I actually watched an interesting BBC documentary last night that suggested hummus could actually aid sleep during one of the sleep experiments. (if it doesn't aid sleep though it's ruddy delicious and will help get your cals up in a healthy way) good luck x
  • susanp57
    susanp57 Posts: 409 Member
    What time are you eating lunch? Are you eating it later in the day?
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