Thanks so much everyone for all of your advice, encouragement and recipes. I will give it the old college try. I'm sure I will never learn to love all of the vegetables as some of you do, but maybe I can learn to tolerate them. I agree with you though because I know I am not eating enough food and I am loosing weight very slowly, so I have got to find a way to make this work. Will keep trying -- sigh.
I totally know the feeling - but we don't have a choice, I get frozen veggies and try to combine them with broccoli soup, try to mix them with my omelets, etc... I've heard that if you don't stick to the program and eat less your body will not get the same results... I'm sticking the idea into my head that this is not gonna be forever, just for a couple months.. and that's it! Good luck to you!
I agree, I know I am not eating enough and that's why it's not working for me as well as it could. A couple of months seems like an eternity on this food.
Um, the vegetables are kind of a key component here, kids...as in a lifelong component, so y'all better either suck it up or start getting creative. There are LOTS of good vegetables out there, and after you get past Phase 3, you can have all the higher glycemic index ones that are restricted until then. (Like mashed potatoes, which are an absolute no-no until then.) And yes, if you don't eat all your veggies, it WILL affect your weight loss. Here are some recipes that might help.
Thank you for the recipes. I know what you are saying and I know it's true, but I seriously am trying, but my body is rebelling. Going from a little salad here and there and a few veggies on the side of my dinner to 4 cups is just a lot for my body to digest and I am not feeling well at all.
I completely agree... vegetables were never my favorite. I have found that spices are the secret. As long as your spice doesn't have sugar or MSG, you are good to go. My favorite is and Orange Lemon Pepper on zucchini grilled on my George Foreman Grill, which has quite the kick. And I hadn't used that grill in like ten years!
Also, if you are craving fruit, you must try rhubarb! I had never tried it before, but was game for anything when I started the diet! It tastes like baked apples. Just saute it in a little water, add a couple packets of Splenda and a little cinnamon... mmmmm. I swear I wouldn't have been able to do this diet without my rhubarb! You can also steam it in the microwave. You can do it alot, and it's got a little bit of a bitter firm taste (like apples), or "overdo" it and turn it into a sort of applesauce.
Good luck. Don't give up. You'll eventually find a vegetable that you can tolerate.
You had me at rhubarb. Can we have rhubard because at least that would have some flavor. Right now I'm eating celery, peppers, mushrooms, cucumber and that's about it. Most of those are fairly flavourless, so rhubarb would be exciting to me right about now.
I just had to comment because that was soooo me at the beginning. I didn't think I would make it because I was literally forcing the veggies down. Now I cannot get enough and wish I could have far more than 4 cups and have to limit myself! So, it could get better if you stick with it and keep looking for new recipes on here. Thanks to the person who suggested that orange lemon pepper on zucchini, that sounds delicious! Also, yes eating too little is as detrimental as eating too much as the previous poster said. The sheet states must be followed no more or no less for a reason!
Congratulations and good for you!!!
I am so happy for you, but that will NEVER happen to me. I just don't like vegetables enough and because we have to eat so much of them, I am enjoying them even less.
I agree with the spices. I eat everyday at either lunch or dinner, 2 cups of zucchini sliced thin. I put garlic granules, oregano, sea salt and pepper and bake them until a little crispy. I don't know what I'd do without it, as the broccoli and cauliflower give my stomach an ache eating 2 cups at a time. The one way I do get it in is to steam and add to the broccoli-cheese soup. I love veggies, but 2 cups of some are overwhelming to my system
This sounds good - thanks. I agree with you. Two cups are a lot when you're not used to eating that much and my tummy has not done well
with it either, so I can relate.
Thank you for the recipes. I know what you are saying and I know it's true, but I seriously am trying, but my body is rebelling. Going from a little salad here and there and a few veggies on the side of my dinner to 4 cups is just a lot for my body to digest and I am not feeling well at all.
Assuming you're in the early stages of Phase 1, it can be tough, no doubt, but humans were meant to eat veggies, not processed white crap, so...the fact that your body is rebelling against vegetables might be an indicator that you're headed in the right direction (yay!), or it might mean you have something going on physically, like diverticulitis or another digestive issue. Have you let your coach know that you're having problems or been checked out by your doctor recently?
People with diverticulitis and Crohn's, etc. can still do IP, they just recommend that they puree their veggies and either add them to a soup or a drink, like Peach Mango with pureed broccoli. Sounds gross, I know, but it's really good! And I routinely eat the vegetable chili with 2 cups of baby spinach cooked in WITH the chili...takes up a lot less bulk than it does raw, and preparing it that way maintains most of the nutritional value.
Just some ideas. Try not to think of veggies as your punishment for needing to lose weight...that's so not what this plan is. It's just part of learning to eat differently and think about foods in new ways so you won't go back to your old habits when you get to Phase 4.
