Bananas - Diet Friend or Foe

JolieBlonde

I was doing so well losing about a pound a week. This week I replaced my breakfast chicken muffin with Trader Joe's Multigrain Os, a banana, and 1/2 cup TJ's fat free milk. I've gained 3 lbs in 5 days!

I was just trying to get some potassium. But the sugar in that one meal ended up being 45grams!

Does anyone have insight on this otherwise super food? I hope to add and exercise/cardio routine to my life soon. But for now, the only thing I have control over is my diet and trying to lose weight. I'm going through an unbelievably stressful time and was super proud of myself for sticking w/my diet and not trying to cope w/food. So seeing the scale climb over that one change is a big deal for me right now.

Thanks for your input
Jolie

JennsLosing

i pretty much eat a banana a day, and ive been losing steadily.

sc1572

I love bananas! They're my everyday food! I eat a lot of fruit so I always go over in sugar as well.

CoachMaritova

I like bananas.

Tereztaylor07

Cereal and Bananas is lot of sugar with no protein. I eat a banana with peanut butter (or add a half cup of milk and ice and make a breakfast smoothie!). I always try to eat carbs with a bit of protein to slow the sugar spike that follows. Your breakfast is just one big carb/sugar rush!

SabrinaJL

My mom lost about 60 lbs and she eats a banana pretty much every day.

jeffsgal105

I'm assuming you're female, if not sorry. Perhaps it's just that TOM gain. I've had no problems with bananas causing weight gain. Just the Ben & Jerry's lol

swaymyway

I eat a banana a day and have lost almost 100lbs, nothing wrong with bananas!

Are you perhaps due your time of the month by any chance?

courtneylwatson

A serving of a banana is actually half of a banana. Thing is they go bad if you only eat half. Maybe freeze the other half for a smoothie in a later meal?

cheshirechic

I've had no problems with bananas and weight gain, but I'm also interested in responses.

I usually use a banana as a sweetener to overnight oats (made with greek yogurt for protein's sake), and as a sweetener in muffins instead of just sugar sometimes.

gentlebreeze2

You don't need to be as concerned about sugar in fresh fruit. Bananas are so good for you with potassium, potassium is water soluable so you need to make sure you have a good balance between sodium and potassium every day. Really it's the refined sugar that isn't good for you.

kadoodle76

Cereal and Bananas is lot of sugar with no protein. I eat a banana with peanut butter (or add a half cup of milk and ice and make a breakfast smoothie!). I always try to eat carbs with a bit of protein to slow the sugar spike that follows. Your breakfast is just one big carb/sugar rush!

Thanks for that...I didn't know about eating protien to slow sugar spikes. I always try to eat fruit with things high in iron because it helps absorb the iron, but didnt know about protien.

gentlebreeze2

A serving of a banana is actually half of a banana. Thing is they go bad if you only eat half. Maybe freeze the other half for a smoothie in a later meal?

A frozen banana on a stick is just as good as ice cream.

beccau_20

They are a friend to me )

hpsnickers1

I was doing so well losing about a pound a week. This week I replaced my breakfast chicken muffin with Trader Joe's Multigrain Os, a banana, and 1/2 cup TJ's fat free milk. I've gained 3 lbs in 5 days!

I was just trying to get some potassium. But the sugar in that one meal ended up being 45grams!

Does anyone have insight on this otherwise super food? I hope to add and exercise/cardio routine to my life soon. But for now, the only thing I have control over is my diet and trying to lose weight. I'm going through an unbelievably stressful time and was super proud of myself for sticking w/my diet and not trying to cope w/food. So seeing the scale climb over that one change is a big deal for me right now.

Thanks for your input
Jolie

Even the sugar in fruit can stop weight loss in its tracks if you get too much of it. Sugar is sugar regardless of where it comes from. The difference is nutrients in fruit and no nutrients in refined sugar. The body isn't saying 'this is sugar from fruit so this is okay. I'll treat it differently". It doesn't. It's all treated the same. Even "complex" carbs (like grains) are broken down into simple sugars and raise blood glucose levels. Unless you are doing excessive exercise the body has no other choice but to send sugars/carbs that aren't used immediately off to fat for storage. Carbs are just instant fuel.

If you do a lot of excessive cardio (which the body sees as stress) then carbs will get used. If you don't then drop the carbs and increase your fat.

Bananas are one of the highest sugar fruits (funny how all the GMO fruits are highest in sugar. The granny smith apple is the one apple that resembles the original apple the most - and it's the tartest - the "true" apple is very very tart). Bananas are also GMO fruits. I eat very little fruit but when I do it's berries. They are very low sugar - especially strawberries and raspberries.

bmmadden

i pretty much eat a banana a day, and ive been losing steadily.

Me too cheerios and a banana is my go to breakfast and Ive lost weight pretty steadily too, but Ive heard some people and even some "diets" restrict them so I guess maybe some people react different to the sugar and carbs in them, maybe try ditching the cereal and try something with protein along with banana or half banana

jchester71

I eat at least 1 banana a day. The bottom line is calories in and calories out. If you gained that much weight in those few days (and you are sure it wasn't water weight) you are simply eating more than you are burning.

Fat_2_Fit_Mommy

I just started this diet thing. But I eat a banana just about every day I LOVE bananas they have to be one of my favorite fruits. But I did lose 1 pound soo I guess they haven't hurt me any.

mkraemer91

Not sure how you eat your bananas.... But I know some people don't like the taste when they are still green/yellow. If you eat a banana that is still green/yellow the majority of it is starch, with few sugars. I think around 80% starch. As the banana ages the starches are converted into simple sugars, so if you eat a banana that's starting to or is completely browned it contains mainly sugar. Probably around 80-90% sugar!

SetecAstronomy

You don't need to be as concerned about sugar in fresh fruit. Bananas are so good for you with potassium, potassium is water soluable so you need to make sure you have a good balance between sodium and potassium every day. Really it's the refined sugar that isn't good for you.

I second that!

moonflower09

It seems to me if you are staying w/ in your fitness/calorie plan it will all fall into place. How often are you weighing in? Maybe try 1 x a week and concentrate on water and good eating habits. Health and fitness has to follow when your are eating right. Stress can be a problem too. When your ready some light excercise can help w/ stress and weight loss. I like bananas too. Just make a delicious banana berry smoothie for dinner. Keep up the good job!