Whats up with the sugar limits on MFP - they can't be right

nomex

according to MFP, I go over my sugar limits by eating 1 banana and 1 apple per day. WHAT??????

I eat ALOT of FRUIT! I am over every single day. I eat a fruit smoothie for breakfast (I usuallly have spinach in it too) or oatmeal with fruit to sweeten it. I usually have fruit and / or veggies for my snacks and as part of my lunch....

I eat a pretty balanced supper (which usually doesn't include fruit) of veggies, meat and some kind of starch/ grain.

Is this okay if it is fruit sugars? How do others keep their sugar within the MFP guidelines? It seems impossible!

Nikstergirl

If you are eating natural sugars like fruit I wouldn't even worry about it, but if it's a lot of refined stuff and sweets then maybe pay attention. I usually only focus on calories, protein and sodium. I do watch fat, but most of my fats are from nuts and such, so I don't worry too much there either.

believetoachieve

Both of those are notorious for sugars! I try to have either an apple OR a banana, never both. But I think fruit sugars are less detrimental than "normal" sugar. I set mine to 60g a day, more or less. I'm curious to see what others say!

halphord

I'm usually over my sugar limit by noon...and it's all from fruits. I don't worry about it if it's from fruit, natural sugars. If it's from processed foods, sodas, etc...that is what I watch.

Bridgetc140

This happens to me too. At this point, I ignore naturals sugars as I eat an apple, orange, and banana almost every single day......I just pay attention to items with added sugars.

allie_00

I don't even log my sugar because it's generally all natural, not processed. I have a major beef with MFP in that regard. Also, I personally believe their protein count is way too low. And I'm usually always under in my carbs. I would suggest to just eat as you normally would and not pay any attention to it! There's certainly nothing wrong with eating fruit.

Scncartist

I agree with Nikstergirl...I pretty much only watch my Calories, Protein and Fat. But I also watch my Iron. I totally ignore the sugar for the low limit. But I also try to avoid refined sugars also.

ChefJenn

i have this same issue.
I have to drink plum juice to help my digestive tract and it never fails when I drink that and then add in my banana or plum or pears I go over.
sometimes what I have learned to do it just log everything ( minus the fruit) and see where my sugar is . My daily sugar limit is 24 grams and its just not possible when I add in my fruit. Once I see that I was ok with sugars from my meals I then add my fruit to my log.
like others said its the refined sugar to watch for

qtpiesmom

Fruits are super high in sugar, being diabetic I know i have to watch how much fruit I take in and the types

http://www.sugarstacks.com/fruits.htm
http://thepaleodiet.com/nutritional_tools/fruits_table.html

Try only eating half of a fruit instead of a whole one. The eating of a fruit is more fiberous than drinking juice which does help.
Carbs turn to sugars too so they count them in sugars too.
It may not all be from the fruit there are other things like corn carrots peas when cooked High in sugar
Bread has sugars

Hope that helps a little

siggensr

I also usually go over on sugar from greek yogurt and 1 bananna, i dont pay too close attention to it however i have started to eat more veggies in the morning instead of the bananna, sugar snap peas, and red/yellow/ orange peppers. I realized that sugar even naturally is overwhelming high in my diet, and that it wouldnt hurt to add more veggies. I have been feeling better since changing my diet around slightly.

hope that helps

Talazws

I have the same issue- I eat fruit everyday, and every day I am over my sugar limit! I have fresh berries on my oatmeal in the morning, carrots for snacks, and plenty of naturally sweet vegetables with my lunch and dinner! Usually, my only non-fruit/vegetable source of sugar is low-fat soy milk, but I recently found some great almond milk with no sugar in it, so that will help a little. I am glad everyone agrees that "good" sugars are ok! I think I will go and eat a piece of fruit for dessert right now...

WifeMomDVM

Ideally you want to stay under 40 grams of fructose - at this point your liver is "full" so to speak and will begin converting sugars into fat. The table another poster posted above is most helpful. I use it all the time.

For more information about how much fruit and sugars one should eat search the message boards for a thread called "The Great Fruit Debate"

This was a thread I posted a couple of months ago with ALOT of information about fruits and sugars and how much! Hope this helps.

Here is the table again.

http://thepaleodiet.com/nutritional_tools/fruits_table.html

believetoachieve

I have a major beef with MFP in that regard. Also, I personally believe their protein count is way too low.

The initial guidelines when you initially sign up (as you just did) are just that - a guideline. You're supposed to go and modify the numbers in order to get your more personalized plan. The system can't possibly take into account every aspect of your individual eating plan. It's only a base, a guideline, and a starting point!