Healthy Challenge 2 - fiber, fiber, fiber

[Erudite]

Ok! If you hated the no-sugar challenge...raise your hand. I just hated it as soon as I took it. I like sugar...a lot. I don't think I went a single day without some form of over sugar somewhere. Yeah, it is in everything, but I couldn't even forgo the stuff where I was choosing to add it. And so my challenge is not to deprive yourself of anything. I challenge us all to become AWARE (not add to or subtract from) of our fiber intake. A dietician friend once gave an enrichment night where she gave 5 points of having healthy weight. #3 was, and I quote, "fiber, fiber, fiber" We need fiber for lots of things. This website gives you the low-down on fiber:

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

It says that we need 20-35 grams of dietary fiber per day and gives some tips for increasing our fiber intake. NOW this challenge is to keep track of your fiber intake. Keep eating whatever way is making you feel healthy, but start tracking your fiber intake so that you know where your fiber is coming from and how much.

FYI that website also discusses water consumption, which you need to increase as you increase fiber intake. Don't forget your water!

[5ft Diva]

This challenge is much more do-able. I'll take it once I get a handle on everything swirling around me at the moment.

[Big_Sissy]

One very easy way to include more fiber is to buy little/baby carrots and eat at least 5 a day. They contain a lot of fiber, and will do the job just fine.

[5ft Diva]

Good to know.

[amberpatomo]

This challenge is very doable for me! It's funny I just bought some all bran crackers at walmart a couple of days ago. They are so good. I highly recommend them. They are made by Kellog's and are flavored with garlic and herbs.

[Big_Sissy]

Which won't help your chances of getting kissed, but will help your fiber intake

[Erudite]

Ok, I've been keeping track and I am finding that in my regular diet, I get into the upper teens of grams of fiber, but not usually to 20. If I concentrate on my choices I can easily get to 20, but I think regularly, I do not. It's been very revealing!

[5ft Diva]

I'm confessing that I haven't even been keeping track. I'll try to do better....tomorrow...or the next day. I'll find a time.

[Dia Minha]

I finally got around to counting. I had a hard time finding a list of fruits and veggies and such that had fiber count on it. (Do you have one, Erudite?) I finally found one that gave sort of estimates. Such as orange 4 grams, fruit, like pear 3 grams. So I counted my grapefruits as 4 and my apple as 3. Yesterday I had a very high fiber day at around 38 grams. However, today was quite a bit lower at around 23. Looking back on my food journals and again I am just estimating, because I can't find an exact fiber content list, I averaged around 30 grams a day.

Thanks Erudite. Even though I have been making high fiber food choices, I never really sat down and figured out how much I was eating. I actually would have guessed it to be much higher, and now I know different. I now know I need to work harder on shooting for that 35 every day.

[5ft Diva]

Well, your fiber challenge is working because I was at the store this morning and before picking up an item to throw in my cart I considered how much fiber it would give me per serving. I've never done that before. Thanks for helping me become aware, Erudite!

[Erudite]

Cool! It does come down the small choices sometimes! I know I don't buy cold cereals that have less than 3 grams per serving of fiber. I figure if there is less than that it won't stay in the kids' tummies long enough. (and I've even finally trained TR to look for such things.) Every little bit...