A grapefruit and apple challenge
You must try this.
My client and friend Jan observed, “If you see someone walking down the hall eating an apple, take note: that person is skinny.” She says skinny people eat apples!
Health Magazine reported that women who added apples to their daily routine – without changing anything else about what they ate – lost 2 pounds in 10 weeks, according to one study.
They also say people who ate half a grapefruit three times a day lost 3.6 pounds in 12 weeks – 3 pounds more than those who didn’t. The grapefruit eaters had smaller waistlines, too.
Take the grapefruit-apple challenge with me. I’m going to give it a try. One or two apples and 1.5 grapefruits per day.
Here is a grapefruit recipe for 170 calories. It is yummy.
Preheat broiler. Cut 1 grapefruit in half and spread 2 tsp. honey on top of one half Broil for 7 minutes or until the edges are golden. Top with 1 tablespoon chopped walnuts.
(note: I’ve been cutting the amount of honey and nuts & putting the nuts on before I broil it.)
Now, I know red flags may be going up for some of you. Sandra endorsing the grapefruit diet? Really?
No. I’m simply adding grapefruits and one apple a day to my already healthy eating plan, which also includes a daily dose of dark chocolate. While I’m getting swimsuit ready, for a May scuba diving vacation.
Comments(8)
Just be aware that there are antidepressants that are incompatible with grapefruit such as paxil, wellbutrin and the like. But, that may be why it works, since it is supposed to overly increase the effect of those drugs do a dangerous level. Maybe the grapefruit is the garden’s version of an SSRI. Wouldn’t that be cool? We know that weight gain is often associated with depression and poor sleep, so maybe improving one’s mood may just be all that it takes to tip the scales in our favor.
I think you’re also supposed to avoid grapefruit with statins (Lipitor, etc.)also – right? Too bad for hubby, but I can eat it! Must try this receipe – and maybe even the apple plus grapefruit each day thing. Bet I could do it. I’m sort of trying for one apple and one orange each day but dont often do it.
Wondering how much dark chocolate you allow each day, Sandra….
Roasted more veggies last night – including KALE – it was great! Wondering what’s the most nutritious/flavor-full mix of veg to roast. I love: bell peppers, onions, eggplant and tomatoes; also sweet potatoes, broccolli, cauliflower, asparagus. Potatoes are great but high carb, of course. (sweet potatoes too?) Carrots?
I am going to try the grapefruit/apple challenge. In fact, I am going to try the grapefruit recipe right now.
I’m doing a version of this. At least one grapefruit each day and usually two apples. I am actually loving the broiled grapefruit. I am no longer adding the nuts, they were making my mouth a little sore.
Some observations: I sweat when I eat grapefruit, so that is a clue that it is speeding up my metabolism. Right? Being aware that I’m including these fruits in my daily diet increasing my “mindfulness” of my food choices all day long, so I can see how that would make a difference in my overall calories. Then there is the fact that if you are eating a grapefruit or an apple, there is probably something else that is higher in calories that you actually are not eating.
So all in all, I can see how it can work. Now, given that my sweetie bought me an entire heart shaped box of Fannie Mae truffles this week, will I actually lose weight? That remains to be seen. But if I don’t gain, I guess that would be a success.
In a perfect world, I’d be counting calories to see if weight loss was actually due (as it usually is) to simply less calories consumed. I couldn’t find the willingness to do that this week. But that’s okay.
I will say that grapefruits taste much much better broiled. Even with very little honey. And this is the perfect season for grapefruits as they are at their peak (I think… by the looks of the price and selection at the store)
Sandra
Grapefruit, as indicated above,is off limits when one is on statins. Food-drug interactions would be good information to include when applicable. It is amazing to me the drugs people are given without adequate information about possibe harmful interactions with other drugs and select foods. I am on statins and cannot have grapefruit which is sad since they are one of my favorite fruits. But apples, blueberries and grapes always make me happy. I have a cup of blueberries, 19 almonds and yogurt mixed together for at least one meal a day.
Just wanted to give an update, that indeed I am still eating one grapefruit and 2 apples everyday. And in 3 weeks I’ve lost almost 6 pounds. That said, I am also counting calories. Averaging 1500 per day. (Doesn’t include the cream in my coffee or any non-starchy vegetables.
I really think that the grapefruit combination is helping on several levels.
(One) When I start my day with a grapefruit… I am setting my intention for the day. I’m reinforcing the message, “I am eating with the intention of losing weight today.”
(Two) At about 120 calories, it really does satisfy me through to lunch.
(Three) According to some studies, it helps regulate your insulin, that maybe why I’m not craving anything else in the morning. (Four) When you are eating two apples as snacks, that eliminates other more high calorie snacks, for sure… so it’s easier to keep calories low during the day.
(Four) I feel really virtuous when I’m eating the grapefruit…when I see that big pile of grapefruit peels in my compost…when I”m bringing home a load of them from the store… It’s hard to feel deprived and virtuous at the same time.
can you substitue whole grapefruit with 6 oz. unsweetened grapefruit juice?
nice article about grapefruit…very informative and beneficial for me…thx