Most people eat too many carbs, period. Then there are those that watch their carb intake and try to always eat protein with their carbs. But too many of them still eat too many of the wrong carbs. Too many whole grain breads, whole grain pasta, brown rice, etc. is eaten. Every time you eat these carbs, they are taking the place of vegetables and fruit. This prevents you from getting the optimum vitamins and minerals from your food.
With that said…the eating challenge for the month of November will be to get all your carbs from only vegetables and fruit. No sugar, no bread, no pasta, no rice, and no milk. If the food is mostly carbs, then it better be a veggie or fruit! The one exeption, when you can eat whatever and as much as you want, will be Thanksgiving dinner (not Thanksgiving Day!). If you have more than one dinner with different sides of the family then you can have a cheat meal with each Thanksgiving dinner you eat.
Whoever completes this challenge successfully will receive a small surprise from CrossFit GR!
November Eating Challenge!
Posted October 29th, 2009 by BA
57 Responses to “November Eating Challenge!”
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October 30th, 2009 - 8:53 am
I’m going to stick with continuing my challenge for November, but I’ll focus on trying to eat as many veggies & fruit as possible. Just FYI, when I write “zone” instead of “paleozone,” it doesn’t mean that I consumed no veggies or fruit, just that it wasn’t all veggies & fruit.
November 1st, 2009 - 1:15 pm
My people,
I’ve had a number of inquiries regarding the diet today so I thought I’d do a quick post. I know we decided to do this in short notice so I expected to have some extra questions. I had a chance to explain the challenge to a few of you in detail, but here it is again for those who weren’t there.
1 rule = if it has carbohydrates in it and its not a fruit or a vegetable you can’t eat it for 30 days. You don’t need to ask one of the trainers for every food you like or want to eat. Look at the label.
If it’s a fruit or a vegetable you don’t need to look at the label (starches are out since they’re not fruits and vegetables and contain many carbs).
If it didn’t come off a tree or a plant, it has a label. If the label has anything but a 0g for carbs… you can’t eat it. End of story.
If Brandon want’s to make exceptions for foods that contain more protein than carbs that’s fine. But you’ll need to read. If you’re not sure about something, find the box or Google it.
Just some general guides:
1. Pretty much all dairy products are out, examples: yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese, milk, butter, etc….
2. Anything with processed or unnatural sugar will by default have carbs in it. Look at the label.
3. You’re pretty much going to be stuck to water, tea and coffee since most other drinks have carbs. Juice is out, soft-drinks are out, sports drinks are out. You could probably have diet beverages during the challenge since most of them are carb free. Again, read the label.
Final thoughts:
It’s only 30 days. You can pretty much do anything for a month if you want it bad enough. Don’t stress about the foods you’re going to miss for a short period. Adopt the mindset that you’re doing this to learn something about yourself, your relationships to food, and your health. If you literally can’t go 30 days without certain foods, what does that say about your relationship to them? What does it say about your social environment if you’re constantly being tempted? How might you solve that in the future?
Enjoy the process and the challenge. Look at it as a way to take away some knowledge from an experience you haven’t had before. Don’t try and fit your old diet into the challenge. Branch out. Have fun!!
At the end you can eat yourself silly and you’ll get your special surprise! Nothing is forever, every diet challenge ends at some point. Remember THAT when you really want something you shouldn’t have.
November 1st, 2009 - 8:51 pm
11-1-09 232#
- salad with turkey on top, oil (organic extra virgin olive oil) & vinegar
- coffee
- vegetable beef soup
- vegetable beef soup
- rotisserie chicken, sweet potatoe, cod liver oil
November 1st, 2009 - 11:05 pm
11-1-09
-Lunch: almonds, apple, grapes
-Dinner: taco salad with lettuce, lean beef, tomato, salsa
- Snack: almonds, grapes
P.S. things I passed up today, sour cream, cheese, taco shells, tortilla chips, jelly beans, m&m’s, apple cider, and chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream cake…
November 1st, 2009 - 11:09 pm
11-1-09
Lunch: apple, almonds
Dinner: Taco salad with lettuce, black olives, tomatoes, salsa
Snack: Almonds, another small taco salad same ingredients.
Things I bypassed: jelly beans, ice cream cake, soft shell taco, cheese, sour cream…
November 2nd, 2009 - 8:40 am
breakfast
turkey
apple and nuts
lunch
turkey jerky
nuts lots o veggies
med salad with beef
from noodle and co
November 2nd, 2009 - 11:19 am
Excellent work guys. Keep any eye on your fat intake, make sure you’re getting enough. Don and Mandy… looking pretty good. Make sure you’re getting some healthy fats Corey. Ext. Virg oil, avocado, almonds, etc..
November 2nd, 2009 - 8:28 pm
11/2/09
Breakfast: egg beaters, tomato, 1/2 avocado, and an orange
Lunch: turkey, almonds, apple and an orange
Snack: almonds and 1/2 Orange
Dinner: sirloin steak, broccoli, 1/2 avocado
November 2nd, 2009 - 9:45 pm
11-2-09 229#
- vegetable venison soup
- vegetable venison soup
- vegetable venison soup
- vegetable venison soup, rotisserie chicken, pear
*I’m eating unti my heart’s content…yum! No carb cravings at all.
November 2nd, 2009 - 10:16 pm
chicken mandarin salad (wendy’s)
fruit salad
November 3rd, 2009 - 2:03 am
11/2/2009
Brunch: chicken, EVOO, apple, grapes, almonds
Dinner: “heart healthy” nut mix. turkey, apple, grapes
Snack: grapes
* I’m having a hard time with this challenge, still craving the “bad” carbs, but going to keep going. It is hard not being able to drink anything but water (coffee and tea are not for me). I will just keep thinking of the starving kids in Africa etc. and be thankful for lean meats, nuts, fruits, veggies, and clean water
November 3rd, 2009 - 8:43 am
eggs fruit and almonds
turkey patty veggies assorted seeds
turkey patty w/avacado and steamed veggies
November 3rd, 2009 - 4:34 pm
11-3-09 227#
- rotisserie chicken, cauliflower, pear,cod liver oil
- coffee
- veggie venison soup
- veggie venison soup, walnuts
- dill pickles
- meatloaf, green beans, corn, dill pickles
November 3rd, 2009 - 7:22 pm
11/3/09
Breakfast: egg beaters, oranges, almonds
Lunch: turkey, green beans, mixed veggies, almonds
Dinner: turkey, green beans, mixed veggies, almonds
Snack: almonds, an apple
November 4th, 2009 - 7:37 am
11-3
Hard boiled egg
salad
smoked salmon
November 4th, 2009 - 10:56 am
turkey rolls
apple
almonds
salad with almonds and chicken
pecan chicken salad and tomato soup
November 5th, 2009 - 12:39 am
Fruit salad, almonds, banana, grilled salmon, veggies.
November 5th, 2009 - 8:10 am
eggs avacado apple
turkey lettuce wraps banana seeds
roasted chicken veggies assorted nuts
November 5th, 2009 - 9:15 am
11-4-09 226#
- venison steak, kiwis, rasberries, cod liver oil
- barbecue chicken, sweet potatoe
- venison steak, sweet potatoe
- coffee
- rotisserie chicken, sweet potatoe
- deli ham with cheese melted on top, 2 pears, 2 kiwis
November 6th, 2009 - 12:08 am
I had a pear, mandarin chicken salad, salad, almonds.
To Brandon: I didn’t know you could have cheese and sweet potatos and barbecue on your chicken…?…What is that!>?!?
It sounds like carb heaven.
November 6th, 2009 - 1:39 am
11-5-09 224#
- chicken salad with double chicken and thousand island dressing
- wonton soup (broth only), salad with thousand island dressing, baked crab meat, green beans, spinach with cheese
- deli turkey with cheese melted on top, pomegranite, hamburger with cheese on top, grapefruit
Turtle,
My intentions of this challenge was to get people used to (and even better yet, learn to enjoy) eating fruit and veggies as their primary carb source. I’ve learned to clump a food into either a protein, carb, or fat category. This means most foods have more that one macronutrient, but are usually primarily one and will fall under that category only. This is how The Zone recommends to eat. Milk is one of those exceptions where it can float around all three macronutrients. Particularly if you drinks low-fat or skim milk.
I’m handling whole fat cheese as a fat source, not a carb source. There aren’t enough carbs in it when compared to its other macronutrients to cause an insulin spike. I’m concerned with your primary carb source.
I guess I never thought of a sweet potato as a root rather than a veggie. Sweet potatoes are in the produce section of the supermarket, therefore I considered it a veggie. I also considered radishes, carrots, turnips, beets, and parsnips veggies and I still consider them to be healthy to eat. My root/veggie error was pointed out to me the other night, but now you know where I’m coming from. I get no insulin spikes from these foods so I don’t have a problem with them. As a matter of fact, I think it is good to eat them. But like all of us, I’m still learning. Robb Wolf has no problem with eating sweet potatoes and my body builder friend who I work with everyday eats sweet potatoes constantly because they don’t produce an insulin spike like white potatoes do because they have a lower glycemic index.
Regarding the barbecue on my chicken…again, the food is primarily protein. I don’t make a habit of putting babecue on my chicken, but that is how it was made for me. If you want to marinade some chicken to help add a little spice to your meat on occasion I don’t have a problem with it. If it causes an insulin spike, don’t do it. If it doesn’t, then I would say no problem. This is still in agreement with the intention of this challenge which again is to make the primary carb source of your meal to be a fruit or vegetable.
The goal here is to help us realize that we need only fruit and veggies, and I guess roots (barring white potatoes), as our primary carb source. We don’t need bread, pasta, rice, sugar, etc. for carbs at all. With that said…the best thing we can get from this challenge is to actually learn to enjoy having fruit and veggies as our primary carb source.
November 6th, 2009 - 8:29 am
turkey lettuce wraps nuts apple
chicken breast and tomatos
jerky apple nuts and seeds
zone bar
November 6th, 2009 - 5:42 pm
Hey, Turtle, I hope you’re eating a large volume of those foods, because your posts read like you’re eating below subsistence levels.
November 7th, 2009 - 12:55 am
Banana, apple, salad, beef jerky, salmon and salad.
Thanks for the clarification Brandon! Your intention is working I am getting used to liking fruit and veggies. I can’t wait to have a beer on thanksgiving or twelve… lol
November 7th, 2009 - 1:00 am
KT:
I post in chronological order generally, but yes sometimes I repeat the salad without posting because I eat lots of salad.
November 7th, 2009 - 1:32 am
11/3/09 Tuesday
Breakfast: apple
Lunch: salad burger with field greens, onion, olives, pickle, EVOO, vinegar
Dinner: turkey, nut mix, apple, grapes
Snack: eggs and pico de gallo
11/4/09 Wednesday
Brunch: omelet with eggs, onion, pepper, broccoli, bacon
Snack: apple
Dinner: turkey, strawberries, grapes
Snack: pistachios
11/5/09 Thursday
Brunch: chicken, EVOO, pear, nut mix
Dinner: taco salad with lettuce, tomato, pico de gallo
Snack: Pistachios
11/6/09 Friday
Brunch: pistachios
Dinner: stir fry with broccoli, beef, bean sprouts, carrots, onion, peas, water chestnuts, soy sauce
November 8th, 2009 - 12:54 am
beef jerky, banana, pear, salmon, chicken garlic soup, banana, beef jerky
November 8th, 2009 - 10:14 am
11-8-09 224#
- venison vegetable chili, grapefruit, cod liver oil
November 8th, 2009 - 11:41 pm
eggs, salmon, banana, pear, roast beef, carrots, sunflower seeds, pineapple. I ate a lot today but it was all of the stuff just listed.
November 9th, 2009 - 10:29 am
greek salad with chicken olives
turkey rolls veggies and seeds
beachcomber club wrap from Jimmy johns
November 9th, 2009 - 11:08 am
11-9-09 222#
- venison vegetable chili, pistachios
* I haven’t been updating the website with my meals like I should, but I haven’t cheated yet. I feel great and have lost 10 pounds so far. No carb cravings either.
November 10th, 2009 - 12:22 am
beef roast, hard boiled eggs, pineapple, banana, beef jerky, cantaloupe, smoked salmon.
November 10th, 2009 - 12:38 pm
turkey rolls and apple and seeds
turkey veggie wraps and almonds
turkey veggie soup assorted nuts and seeds
Corey
November 10th, 2009 - 11:21 pm
banana, beef, 2 burger patties, salad, beef jerky, banana, chicken.
November 11th, 2009 - 1:05 am
11-10-09 221#
- veggie venison chili
- Chinese buffet: salad with thousand island dressing, wonton soup (broth only), crab meat, cheesy spinach, szechuan chicken, diet coke
- hamburger salad with thousand island dressing
November 11th, 2009 - 9:55 am
eggs veggies and avacado
turkey veggie soup seeds
turkey avacado lettuce wraps tomatos
November 11th, 2009 - 11:47 pm
beef, banana, pineapple, carrots, salad, 2 burger patties, beef jerky, steak, pumpkin seeds.
November 12th, 2009 - 3:00 am
11/07/09 Saturday
Breakfast: apple
Lunch: fruit cup, meatballs (at a baby shower, tried to partake in healthy alternatives other than cake, cookies, etc.), broccoli
Dinner: taco salad with taco meat, lettuce, tomato, salsa, olives
11/08/09 Sunday
Breakfast: apple
Lunch: chicken, butternut squash, corn, pineapple
Dinner: cashews, almonds
Snack: EVOO, eggs with pico de gallo
11/09/09 Monday
Breakfast:apple
Lunch:EVOO, chicken, grapes
Dinner: EVOO, chicken, grapes
Snack: apple
11/10/09 Tuesday
Breakfast: banana
Lunch: EVOO, eggs with pico de gallo, sausage patties
Dinner: olives, banana
11/11/09 Wednesday
Breakfast: banana
Lunch: 2 eggs, pico de gallo, chicken
Dinner: chicken, broccoli, sunflower seeds, strawberries, grapes, peach
Snack: orange, pistachios, pineapple
P.S. Don has been following the diet also and doing a fabulous job, he is just not posting meals like I am. We usually have the same meals though, and I would tell you John if he cheated
!
November 12th, 2009 - 9:32 am
11-11-09 221#
November 12th, 2009 - 9:32 am
11-12-09 221#
- 2 bowls of split pea soup, cole slaw
November 12th, 2009 - 10:00 am
eggs avacado veggies
greek salad with turkey and lots o veggies
turkey soup, walnuts
November 13th, 2009 - 8:43 am
11-13-09 221#
- venison veggie soup, cod liver oil
November 13th, 2009 - 4:37 pm
turkey rolls cherry tomatos seeds
greek salad turkey
steak veggies salad
November 14th, 2009 - 12:00 am
11-12
beef, hard boiled eggs, southwestern salad from wendy’s, (I messed up because I had chili on it), pear, banana, beef, almonds.
11-13
hard boiled eggs, beef, salad, banana, pear, almonds, burger patty from wendy’s (it had cheese on it), beef, pineapple.
November 14th, 2009 - 8:47 am
apple turkey and nuts
salad with chicken and fruit
turkey greek salad
November 16th, 2009 - 12:24 pm
eggs avacado veggies seeds
turkey lettuce wraps
veggies
nuts
chicken
veggies
pistachios
Corey
November 16th, 2009 - 8:35 pm
11-16-09 220#
- chicken salad with organic ranch dressing
- venison veggie soup
- hamburger patties with cheese, sweet potatoe
* I blew it! On Friday night I ate a bunch of junk. I was quite tired which causes sugar cravings for me. I lost the mental battle and caved in. I’m still down 12 lbs since the start of the month though.
November 16th, 2009 - 8:42 pm
The past few days have consisted of: salads, bananas, apples, pumpkin seeds, almonds, salmon, chicken, pineapple, carrots, sunflower seeds, coffee, diet coke, water, ***saturday i messed up and had a shredded chicken burrito, I didn’t eat the rice or taters but I did eat some of the tortilla shell with it. Other than that I am leaner and feel much better. This diet works!
My boss Scott lost weight and my parents both lost weight as well, they are all doing the diet with me.
November 17th, 2009 - 8:29 am
chicken apple pistachios
chicken veggies nuts and seeds
greek salad with turkey and olives
Corey
November 18th, 2009 - 8:14 am
turkey apple and seeds
greek salad with turkey and olives
zone bar
November 19th, 2009 - 10:45 am
11-18-09 219#
- salad w/chicken on top and organic ranch dressing
- chicken, sweet potatoe
- beef stew, cashews
November 19th, 2009 - 11:43 pm
salmon, salad, fruit, almonds, salad from mcdonalds was good (phil was right!)
OMG I LOVE SALAD!!! lol
November 23rd, 2009 - 3:14 pm
I just cheated so bad!
I had a muffin and cookie straight from the bakery!
I also had b dubs hot wings and beer on Sunday with my Lions.
So much for abs…
November 23rd, 2009 - 10:28 pm
eggs and veggies with avacado
turkey wrap tomato and seeds
grilled chicken salad
November 24th, 2009 - 4:10 pm
Go, Corey!!
November 25th, 2009 - 10:30 am
hard boiled eggs apple seeds
turkey greek salad olives
eggs and greek salad olives
November 30th, 2009 - 8:48 am
Hope eveyone had a great holiday!
I ate very good this last week even with being gone since Wed.
step on the scale this morning 194 which I am good with as I feel my strength has gone up even while cutting.
yesterday
eggs apple seeds
chicken apple almonds
chicken and veggies nuts and seeds
Corey