Question about Sugars

Trouble in what sense?

Insulin spikes? Yes.

Calories? Perhaps.

A lot of sugar isn't a problem if you're about to run a marathon, though.

Unfortunately what you seem to have done is replaced 1-2 meals with a high sugar meal replacement. When you eat a regular meal, it usually has multiple elements that are different. What you're kind of doing is like eating a plate of fruit for a meal. So yea, I would call that a problem. Are you hitting your other macros? Are you getting enough protein? Complex carbs?

Maybe look for other smoothie recipes that incorporate more protein and fat.

Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »

Not something I would worry about, personally. I ignore the sugar number here, because all of mine comes from fruit and I'm not going to limit my fruit to meet a magical (and somewhat arbitrary, given that it's all sources) number.

This.

Also a lot of people recommend switching sugar for fiber and then watching overall carbs. I think that's a better proxy if you just want to help monitor whether you are getting a balanced diet.

redwards555 wrote: »

I just want to make I'm not going to add weight instead of lose it with all this sugar that comes from fruits and veggies!

Nothing wrong with smoothies. I'm kind of anti juicing, because you remove the fiber, but smoothies include it. I like a hot breakfast (and have the luxury to have one), but if I was time crunched I could totally see having a smoothie. It's a good way to incorporate fruits and veggies into breakfast.

The only thing I'd watch for if you are sometimes doing them for dinner too is that you are getting a good balance--enough protein and fat--since smoothies can be carb heavy depending on what you put in them. Some also find drinking calories less filling. I'd be fine with it at breakfast, probably, but mentally have a problem with it for dinner, but that's an individual thing so it just depends on what works for you.

To your actual question, going over the sugar limit won't affect weight loss at all. The calories affect weight loss, the rest is to help you work through how to create a nutritious balanced diet that might be more satiating. MFP does not distinguish between added sugar and inherent sugars (in fruit, veggies, and dairy), and as such its limit is really low. The WHO recommends no more than 25 grams of added sugar, but that's not counting all the sugar from fruit and dairy. I'd say don't worry about it or if you want to monitor your diet overall think in terms of carbs and fiber, as that will make sure you aren't eating sugary treats at the expense of fruits and veggies or whole grains and legumes or the like (assuming you didn't already know if that was so, as I think you would).

SOME people feel more satiated on low carb, even to the extent of cutting fruit, and some apparently have blood sugar or insulin issues that are extreme enough to make fruit an issue, but I know that I've never found that including fruit in my diet was a negative or caused any ill effects, and I've lost weight just fine even though I'm sure I was over my sugar limit all the time in the summer (I eat lots of fruit in the summer).

Agreed -- as long as you're in a calorie deficit, you're doing great.

The potential problem with being overweight and asking your body to deal with a large surge of carbs is somewhat subtle (and still unsettled science), but very interesting to me.

The carbs quickly become sugar in your blood. Insulin signals your body to store all of that excess sugar as fat. Adipose tissue can become "full." That level of fullness is different for all of us -- you don't have to be obese to suffer this problem. When adipocytes are full, that leads to fat storage in muscle tissue and organ tissue. That seems to lead to lots of problems down the road.

Bottom line: if your body doesn't need to store sugar as fat, you're fine (e.g., deficit eating). And if your body does need to store it, and there's plenty of room to store it, you're probably also fine.

Also, try putting cinnamon on anything and everything you can. It helps your body to metabolize sugars more efficiently.

redwards555 wrote: »

ok, I am overweight- I need to lose a good amount. I am not diabetic either. I just want to make I'm not going to add weight instead of lose it with all this sugar that comes from fruits and veggies! I'm NOT replacing everything I eat with a smoothie. I eat plenty of protein (chicken, almonds, quinoa, etc.) I just started with the smoothies for breakfast- its better then not eating anything, and if I can get my fruits and veggies that way, then so be it! If I am in a rush in the evening, I can make a smoothie, and that is also better then not eating anything because of time... I am assuming this is correct?

I am just starting with this, so it will take time for me to figure everything out. Encouragement and advice can go much further then telling someone they are doing it wrong.

thank you all for your advice so far, this is great.

As long as you are eating a rather balanced diet and enjoy the smoothies, then you are fine. Personally, I am not a fan of smoothies as they don't fill me up.