Does fruit really count?!

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Replies

  • leahgoldgirl
    leahgoldgirl Posts: 61 Member
    All calories are NOT created equal. That said, they still are calories and they do count. While 500 calories of fruit is a whole heck of a lot better than 150 calories of Doritos, they do factor in and you do have to count those 500 calories, if you are trying to lose weight.

    The other thing to keep in mind about fruit, is though it is great for you and chock full of necessary vitamins, fiber and antioxidants, it is also high in sugar.

    I would suggest swapping out some of the fruit for veggies, which have the vitamins, are lower in sugar and calories and still high in fiber, and maybe even throw in a few nuts (high in calories, but also high in good fats, protein and a lot of other things your body needs).
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    I'm kind of a mfp newbie. I've been logging fairly accurately. However I work shift work, so when I work a 12 hour shift I eat a lot of snacks. Usually all being fruit, strawberries/blueberries, grapes, peach and a plum. However those alone are over 500 calories or very close to. I'm finding I'm using a ton of my calories in just these snacks at work. My question is how much does fruit count in the grand scheme of things, should I overlook the fact that they are so many calories?
    A calorie is a calorie. It is entriely possible to become obese eating only healthy, natural, "clean" foods.
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    Of course fruit "counts." As you said, fruit has calories. Eat the fruit, and make sure you get sufficient protein and fats so it all forms a balanced diet.
  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    Everything counts in large amounts.
  • FrankiesSaysRelax
    FrankiesSaysRelax Posts: 403 Member
    Yes I count them. 500 calories are a lot to disregard.... if you eat it - log it x

    Yep. You don't get to decide which calories count and which don't. If you eat it, it counts.
  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
    If you're using any sort of logging system other than the Weight Watchers Points System (which does not attach a value to fruits) then yes you should count them. They have calories and a calorie is a calorie.
  • divaj87
    divaj87 Posts: 2 Member
    They definitely count! Fruit adds up if you munch on it all day! Like pineapple for example, has a lot of natural sugar in it. To me, sugar is sugar and a carb is a carb. :)
  • witmer1
    witmer1 Posts: 128 Member
    Everything counts. They have calories. Calories are calories, no matter where they come from.
  • craigerr
    craigerr Posts: 1
    I am new here as well, I am eating "fruit til noon" in my weight loss plan. Definitely the calories count, but from the research I have done, eating frequent portions of a food like fruit puts your metabolism into fat burning mode rather than fat storing mode.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I'm kind of a mfp newbie. I've been logging fairly accurately. However I work shift work, so when I work a 12 hour shift I eat a lot of snacks. Usually all being fruit, strawberries/blueberries, grapes, peach and a plum. However those alone are over 500 calories or very close to. I'm finding I'm using a ton of my calories in just these snacks at work. My question is how much does fruit count in the grand scheme of things, should I overlook the fact that they are so many calories?

    A calorie is a unit of energy...nothing more, nothing less. All calories count; yes, you're getting more nutrition from 500 calories of fruit than you would with 500 calories of cake...but to your body, the actual calorie is just energy and it's going to use it in the same exact way, regardless.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    I am new here as well, I am eating "fruit til noon" in my weight loss plan. Definitely the calories count, but from the research I have done, eating frequent portions of a food like fruit puts your metabolism into fat burning mode rather than fat storing mode.
    *sigh*
  • mirandaeaston
    mirandaeaston Posts: 25
    Fruit counts but you may be over eating fruit due to blood sugar spikes try adding a good protien with you fruit snack. I love fruit so I try to limit to two time a day with other food never alone. Try more vegies. Hope it helps :)
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    I am new here as well, I am eating "fruit til noon" in my weight loss plan. Definitely the calories count, but from the research I have done, eating frequent portions of a food like fruit puts your metabolism into fat burning mode rather than fat storing mode.
    *sigh*

    *head desk*
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    They count! Good for you for choosing healthy calories, though. =) But I'd agree with the people suggesting you add some protein and fat in there. Eat some blueberries and an egg, or some nuts. You'll probably find yourself needing to snack less since fruit doesn't always make you feel that full.
  • leomom72
    leomom72 Posts: 1,797 Member
    you cant just ignore 500 cals a day..log them..if it was like a strawberry here and there, it may not be such a big deal, but 500 cals are 500 cals..good luck
  • sarashmor
    sarashmor Posts: 3 Member
    Thanks for everybody's input.
    I guess I wasn't very clear in my post. The fruit never puts me over my calories, I eat low cal breakfast and lunch and take a low cal dinner and snacks when I work nights. I guess it's working because I'm down 14 pounds in a month.
  • whierd
    whierd Posts: 14,025 Member
    I have never seen a fat fruititarian.
  • janatarnhem
    janatarnhem Posts: 669 Member
    I have never seen a fat fruititarian.
    Ha! Me neither!
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Yes just overlook them. Fruit has healthy sugars so it equals 0 calories.


    .....No, count them.

    LULZ

    yeah that's about what I was going to say.
  • herblackwings39
    herblackwings39 Posts: 3,930 Member
    500 calories is 500 calories. If you'd count a cheese burger or a slice of pizza for that amount you should still be counting fruit and veggies.

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