Fruit - good for your diet, but is it bad for weightloss?

lismany
lismany Posts: 18 Member
edited November 9 in Health and Weight Loss
I have been a bad eater all my life, which ultimately resulted in weight issues for the last 10 years I cant seem to get it off. Often when I feel I should diet I go straight to chicken, fruit, and veggies.

I can have a serving of strawberries and grapes, an apple, a banana sometimes even a tangerine or orange on top of it all in ONE day (broken up between meals/snacks) is this good, or bad?

That being said, is there a limit on how much fruit I should have weekly/daily to LOSE weight?

I know one apple a day keeps the doctor away, but what keeps the lbs away for a little while?

Replies

  • kristen6350
    kristen6350 Posts: 1,094 Member
    I typically eat a serving of fruit 1-2 times a day. I haven't had any issue losing. Unless you are trying to watch sugar for health reasons you shouldn't have any issues either.

    If you want, take a look at my diary. My fruit usually comes in around 10am during the work week. Typically either berries, an apple or an orange. Whatever I have on hand.

    I typically know that bananas will make me hungrier, so I try and avoid those if I can.
  • Roxiegirl2008
    Roxiegirl2008 Posts: 756 Member
    I eat fruit every day. I make sure I count the calories. I seriously eat an apple for my snack each day. I also add some sort of berries to my Greek yogurt at lunch.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    That's six servings of fruit. The Canada Food Guide recommends between 7-8 servings of vegetables and fruit a day for young women so you are right in range.

    http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/basics-base/quantit-eng.php

    What is your BMI index?
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    edited January 2015
    As long as it fits your calorie goal (and macro goals if you pay attention to those), it doesn't really matter what you eat. Some people are freaked out by sugar at the moment but unless you're a diabetic or similar, it shouldn't be an issue.

    Think about it...have you ever heard of someone getting fat by eating too many fruits in a day?

    I'm a big fan of fruit too. In the summer when everything's fresh, I can eat several servings in a day. Hell, I've eaten a whole pound of strawberries in one sitting!
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    "but what keeps the lbs away for a little while? "

    Eating the appropriate number of calories for your needs.
  • Holla4mom
    Holla4mom Posts: 587 Member
    Welcome to the forum lismany!! It's totally okay to eat fruit. It's a misconception that they are "bad for your diet." They are only bad for your diet if you have a medical issue that requires you to cut your sugar and carbohydrates drastically.

    Otherwise, set your weight loss/ calorie goals and your macros (how much carbs, protein, fiber) you want and go for it!


  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    IMO, good for diet and good for weight loss are the same. A balanced diet will keep you from suffering other health issues (hair loss, rickets, weak bones, other deficiency related health issues, gall bladder problems). To lose weight, all you have to worry about is the total number of calories a day you are getting in, and MFP calculates that for you.
  • sherbear702
    sherbear702 Posts: 650 Member
    "Nobody ever got fat eating a banana" I like that quote. Although fruit is delicious, you probaby shouldn't pound it down all day long. Throw some veggies in there, lean protein, dairy, etc...if you want to lose weight you should eat a balanced diet and stay at or slightly under your calorie goal.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    It doesn't matter what you eat if your only goal is to lose weight. You can eat any kind of food or nothing at all and still lose.

    If you want to be a healthy person, then you should put some thought into the foods you eat, do some exercise, get regular check-ups and hope for good luck. The luck is the best thing to have, but you might want to hedge your bets and have a healthy lifestyle.

    Eating fruits and veggies isn't just for people trying to lose weight. People who are obese with no intention of losing still eat fruits. People who are thin and not worried about their weight eat fruit. People who are losing eat fruit.

    I eat a lot of fruit and I still lose weight. Down 80 pounds and still going. Fwiw. :)
  • jkwolly
    jkwolly Posts: 3,049 Member
    sherbear702 wrote: »
    "Nobody ever got fat eating a banana" I like that quote. Although fruit is delicious, you probaby shouldn't pound it down all day long. Throw some veggies in there, lean protein, dairy, etc...if you want to lose weight you should eat a balanced diet and stay at or slightly under your calorie goal.
    Unless they ate too many banana's over their daily caloric needs :p
  • Sercee
    Sercee Posts: 36 Member
    The only time I've come across fruit restrictions is in the first two weeks of a specific eating program I have that specifically cuts all carbs (similar to Atkins) in order to reset the way your body processes glucose. The fruit is added back in after 2 weeks, though, and you can eat as much as you like as long as you're meeting your goals.
  • cebreisch
    cebreisch Posts: 1,340 Member
    There are good things/bad things about fruit. They're better for you than cookies, but they also have lots of natural sugars, but the sugars are natural and not processed, but you also get fiber....it's an awful cycle! LOL

    Vegetables always are better, but fruits are better for you than most other things.

    Several of my doctors have said they have vegetables (the non-starchy kind) for 1/2 their plate, lean protein for 1/4 of the plate and carbs for 1/4 of the plate. You could certainly do fruit for 1/4 of the plate (as the carb) for your meals.

    I know Weight Watchers will typically allow about 2, maybe 3 servings of fruit "free" due to the fiber in them, but wants people to have 7 servings of fruits/vegetables a day.

    For what it's worth....
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    Everything in moderation.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    edited January 2015
    It's fine as long as the fruit isn't taking away from hitting protein goals or fat goals. Personally, protein and fat comes first because they are essential. But I also get 3-4 servings of fruits a day.
  • SuggaD
    SuggaD Posts: 1,369 Member
    I agree with everything in moderation. I prefer more vegetables, less fruit. So no more than 2 fruits per day for me.
  • Springfield1970
    Springfield1970 Posts: 1,945 Member
    edited January 2015
    As long as it fits your calorie goals and macros I say go for it.
  • leggup
    leggup Posts: 2,942 Member
    For pure weight loss, if you lose weight on 1,500 calories, it doesn't matter whether most of them came from fruit or ice cream or broccoli. People bring up macros (protein, fat, carbohydrates) because fat and protein are lacking in most fruits and yet are essential for digestive function, mental function, staying alive, etc. Log your foods to see if you're getting enough protein and fat.
  • ithrowconfetti
    ithrowconfetti Posts: 451 Member
    lismany wrote: »

    but what keeps the lbs away for a little while?

    A calorie deficit, regardless of the types of food you choose to consume, assuming you have no underlying medical/health conditions.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    edited January 2015
    SuggaD wrote: »
    I agree with everything in moderation. I prefer more vegetables, less fruit.

    Me too.
    So no more than 2 fruits per day for me.

    This is what I usually end up eating (1-2 servings), but I don't limit it. I simply don't ever exchange fruit for vegetables. I dislike the 5-7 servings of fruit and veggies recommendation, since they aren't really interchangeable. However, if I happen to have a day where I, say, eat 6 servings of veggies, 4 servings of fruit, and still get in my protein and a reasonable amount of fat and stay within my calories, it doesn't bother me in the least. Pretty rare that I would end up eating that much fruit on top of everything else, though.
  • nineateseven
    nineateseven Posts: 65 Member
    Fruit is great! Just keep an eye on how much calorie "space" you have for things you need to meet other nutritional needs. I've had to scale back on fruit a bit because I needed the calorie space to fit in more foods that were higher in iron.
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  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    If it fits your calorie goal you can eat whatever you want and lose weight.
    You might feel better or fuller if you eat a certain amount of protein foods, fats, grains, vegetables and fruits instead of large amounts of just one thing. Fruit might not fill you up as much as a regular serving of lentils, meat or cheese. Something to think about.
  • lismany
    lismany Posts: 18 Member
    Wow thank you everyone for such helpful information! I think I am going to try and replace my fruit snacks (not the gummy kind) with veggies. I was never really a fan of veggies unless they are on a plate accompanied with other flavors and things.

    Anyone eat veggie snacks regularly and recommend anything?

    I could so celery with a smidge of peanut butter? Or is that counter-productive...
  • Laurashar34
    Laurashar34 Posts: 22 Member
    I quite often snack on chopped up carrots, celery and cucumber with some low fat houmous or Tzatziki for dipping. I just make sure I properly weight and count what I'm eating to make sure it's within my daily limit
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    edited January 2015
    lismany wrote: »
    Wow thank you everyone for such helpful information! I think I am going to try and replace my fruit snacks (not the gummy kind) with veggies. I was never really a fan of veggies unless they are on a plate accompanied with other flavors and things.

    Anyone eat veggie snacks regularly and recommend anything?

    I could so celery with a smidge of peanut butter? Or is that counter-productive...

    You really need to stop looking at individual foods in isolation - both celery and peanut butter are just foods and neither is good or bad. They just have completely different nutrition and calorie profiles.
    Think of your diet (noun, not verb) as a whole.
  • DancingMoosie
    DancingMoosie Posts: 8,619 Member
    If you really like fruit, eat the fruit. Just log it and make sure you don't go over your calorie goal. It doesn't hurt to also eat vegetables. Both are good for you. You don't have to give up one for the other, eat both. Maybe eat fruit at breakfast and lunch, veggies at dinner or snack. I like raw celery, carrot, cherry tomatoes, red bell peppers and cucumber; cooked broccoli, squash, and sweet potato. Try different things and have fun:)
  • trina1049
    trina1049 Posts: 593 Member
    I stick with two 4oz servings of berries a day, depending on my calorie allowance for the day, which fits into my macros (35% protein, 35% fat, 30% carbs). I lose weight much better with a controlled carb allowance and low glycemic food choices including veggies. I've lost 40 pounds so far and I track my sugar intake along with the carbs.

    Celery and peanut butter sound good!
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    lismany wrote: »
    I can have a serving of strawberries and grapes, an apple, a banana sometimes even a tangerine or orange on top of it all in ONE day (broken up between meals/snacks) is this good, or bad?

    right so that's about 250-300 or so calories right there ... if you can eat those within your calorie defecit it's fine, if not it's not
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    There's nothing wrong with fruit, as long as you don't exceed your calorie goal. Fruit typically has more sugar. But all fruit is also vegetable and some of the things we normally call vegetables are also fruit, such as tomatoes, peppers, and squash.
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