Weight-Loss Too many fruits and vegetables - a bad thing?

Weight-Loss

Ella_1

New member
I'm slightly confused as to whether I'm eating too many fruits and vegetables, mainly apples. It may sound like a ridiculous thing to say but I really do eat an excessive amount!
A typical day..

Breakfast- one apple and one pot of fat free yoghurt (50 calories)

Lunch - Chopped ice berg lettuce and cucumber with two tablespoons of extra low fat cottage cheese (48 cals per two tablespoons) and an apple.

Snack - special k cereal bar (90 cals)

Supper - 200g of peas microwaved, two tablespoons cottage cheese and sometimes one serving of tomato sauce, plus an indefinite amount of just iceberg lettuce (as much as I can stuff in my mouth!!) OR some nights if I fancy a change from peas I’ll just have half a tin of chopped tomatoes (40 cals) heated up like soup and tipped over a salad to liven it up a bit with a MOUNTAIN of grated carrot!

The only thing I drink is water with the occasional diet coke (when I'm desperate for something sweet!).

During the day I normally only consume about 600 calories and therefore in the evening think it is ok to eat an indefinite amount of fruit - this is normally apples, oranges or a kiwi. However, the problem lies with the fact that I can sometimes eat as many as FIVE apples in one evening!! It doesn’t put me over with calories (assuming an average apple is around fifty calories) but should I be concerned about the levels of carbs involved?
I don't eat any bread, pasta, rice or starchy foods like sweet potato but the amount of fruit I'm eating concerns me.

I've continued this diet for the past nine weeks and have lost about 19lbs which is all the motivation I need to continue HOWEVER I just want to know if there is a limit on the quantity of fruit someone should consume. I hope I don't come across as stupid by asking this question, it's just that I'm no expert! Any advice would be much appreciated.
 
Your diet is mostly made up of carbs, and next to no fat or protein.

I would definatly try to include some protein in there, such as adding some meat to lunch and dinner. Protein helps keep you full for longer and also helps to repair muscle and maintain it.

Keep eating this way you probably won't maintain the muscle that you have, so when you do get down to your goal weight you could possibly have a higher body fat percentage, and a much lower BMR.
 
how are you planning on living like this for the rest of your life?

- a small apple is really about 63 calories - and it's really tough to find a 50 calorie apple... so you might be getting in more than you think.

Iceberg lettuce is doesnt have a lot of nutritional value..

and you've got little to no protein or fat in your diet -which maintain muscle aside - going for hte vanity reasons your hair and y our skin need to stayhealthy..
 
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I agree with them! I would recommend trying to get in 1000 cals a day before the evening... Try eating more DARK green leafy veg (spinach... ummm... can't think of anything else!) and a variety of other veg. That way you'll get the wide range of nutrients in that your body needs.

If you're worried about eating meat, try pulses, legumes or beans for protein. Lentils, butter beans, kidney beans, chickpeas.... all of these are protein!
 
You might want to change up your fruits, too. Pears have 3-4 times the fiber of apples. Bananas have some protein and about 3 times the fiber.
 
Balanced diet for weight loss

Hi,

Yes, i agree with the others, your diet is way too restrictive.

1) Aim to eat fruit (2-3 servings a day) and vegetables (3-4 servings a day), and bread, rice, potatoes, and pasta most often
2) Meat, fish and alternatives (2-3 servings a day), and milk and dairy should be eaten in moderation
3) Foods containing fat and/or sugar should be eaten least often

Try adding more veg for increased variety, such as

1. Dark green vegetables - such as, bok choy, broccoli, dark green leafy lettuce, kale, spinach, and watercress
2. Orange vegetables - such as, squash, carrots, pumpkin, (sweetpotato - included in the carbohydrate group)
3. Dry beans and peas - such as, black beans, chick peas, kidney beans, lentils, pinto beans, soy beans, tofu, and white beans
4. Starchy vegetables - such as, corn, green peas, (potato - included in the carbohydrate group)
5. Other vegetables - such as, asparagus, bean sprouts, beets, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, eggplant, green and red peppers, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, tomatoes, and turnip

Around one third of your plate should be filled with meat (or alternative), one third with a carbohydrate source, and half with veggies at each main meal.

Check out LINK DELETED on meat, beans and alternative sources of protein.

Summary of LNK DELETED
Any other questions, I'd be happy to help!
 
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I have the same problem with apples (at least they're not chips, huh?). I solved that by walking to the fruit store, once a week. I get as many as I can carry (plus milk and eggs and what have you), and they've got to last the week. It was just getting absurd: I'm perfectly happy to eat ten apples a day, but that's hard on the wallet if not on the hips.
 
Firstly, I'm not entirely sure how to quote people on here or how to reply directly to individual people so I'm just going to try and fit it all into one hideous and rambly response!

1. Anamay - As of the 2nd of April 2008 I have lost exactly 27lbs. I've still got a little way to go but I'm pretty proud of myself. I've stuck to my diet religiously (as in not eating anything naughty) but after reading some of the responses I realised I had to get my act together and tweaked my diet a little. I'm eating more protein and less apples haha. As a result I've been able to exercise more so the plan is working!

2. Thankyou so much for all of your advice, I actually printed a couple of things off to remind me of what I should be eating. VERY greatful to you all(especially dietriffic).

3. Pancake Batter- I'm glad I'm not the only one! I could happily eat apples all day, it's like an addiction haha. We can be strong for each other :) but like you say, far worse things we could be eating!

So basically, thanks for all the advice! I'll hopefully be posting my before and after pics in a week or so - wish me luck!
 
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