Do you limit Fruit?

Trinique34
Trinique34 Posts: 53 Member
edited November 30 in Food and Nutrition
Hello
I am new to MFP and calorie counting so this question may have been asked already.
I come from a background of doing low carb diets, mainly ideal protein, so I have cut out fruit completely in the past because I was told it was high in sugar.
My question for you calorie counters is do you cut back on fruit? I'm having an apple, orange, banana and half a grapefruit most days, is that too much? I'm only allowed 1200 calories a day but it's the only place I get my carbs from because I have eliminated grains for now. However, since I only have 1200 calories I'm finding 1/3 of my calorie intake is coming from fruits. Because I am short, under 5 feet I find it hard to lose weight so I'm finding that when I cut back on carbs I tend to lose and it keeps me motivated when I lose.

I also workout 4-5 times a week, twice with a trainer so I do get some exercise calories on some days which I use as well.

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Replies

  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I dont, but if I was eating only 1200 (I'm not) and 1/3 of my calories came from fruit I would starve to death.
  • Michaelg235
    Michaelg235 Posts: 1,093 Member
    I never limit fruit basically that's my go to move when I want chips or something apple or chips I'll take the Apple
  • sugom2
    sugom2 Posts: 93 Member
    Hello, I am also under 5 feet and have found that I loose more weight if a do include fruit into my diet. I also watch my carbs. What I have found to work is fruit in the morning with my smoothie (I choose to use Shakeology as my choice of smoothie because of the additional nutrients--some people rag on it). During the work week, I eat high protein and vegetables at lunch and dinner also includes high protein ad veggies. I don't eat bread or pasta and if I do, it is limited to the weekend. Eating this way I have lost 20 pounds and moving on to my next 15 to maintain.
  • Trinique34
    Trinique34 Posts: 53 Member
    edited March 2016
    I'm not starving at all. I have an apple at 10 am with 20 almonds, a banana with lunch (normally 4 oz of chicken and salad) and 1/2 a grapefruit and 1/3 Avocado around 3 pm, dinner is protein and two veggies, yesterday was asparagus and mixed veggies, then for my snack I might have an orange. My concern is if this will prevent me from losing weight since I just started and it's all trial and error for me. I'm just a bit confused since I've done low carb for sooo long. But now I want to do it the healthy way.
  • sylkates
    sylkates Posts: 173 Member
    edited March 2016
    I don't. I only believe in CICO, and it's working for me so far. Fruit easily fits into my calorie limits.

    I do tend to eat fruit instead of the old sweet junk food I used to eat. It is more filling than that.

    I also tend to ignore macros, since I have no medical conditions that necessitate keeping track of fiber, saturated fat, sugar, carbs, or fat. I go over on sugar pretty often since I love fruit and dairy, but I'm careful about keeping my teeth clean and the doctor hasn't mentioned anything alarming, so I think it's OK for me. I also go over on fat pretty often since I love nuts and avocado. Maybe I shouldn't be so reckless but it seems to be OK so far.
  • Michaelg235
    Michaelg235 Posts: 1,093 Member
    I dont, but if I was eating only 1200 (I'm not) and 1/3 of my calories came from fruit I would starve to death.
    Looks like a half detox

  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Trinique34 wrote: »
    I'm not starving at all. I have an apple at 10 am with 20 almonds, a banana with lunch (normally 4 oz of chicken and salad) and 1/2 a grapefruit and 1/3 Avocado around 3 pm, dinner is protein and two veggies, yesterday was asparagus and mixed veggies, then for my snack I might have an orange. My concern is if this will prevent me from losing weight since I just started and it's all trial and error for me. I'm just a bit confused since I've done low carb for sooo long. But now I want to do it the healthy way.
    Okay then. That sounds nutritious enough when considered on the whole.
    Low carb can be healthy as well, btw. I eat very healthy by most standards. And lower carb.

    I'd need more calories, and more protein, but I'm taller. If it's working for you, then go for it. The fiber is great!
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    I like fruit, but if 1/3 of my calories were coming from fruit I would want to make sure I was meeting all my other nutritional needs (like protein and fat).
  • Trinique34
    Trinique34 Posts: 53 Member
    sugom2 wrote: »
    Hello, I am also under 5 feet and have found that I loose more weight if a do include fruit into my diet. I also watch my carbs. What I have found to work is fruit in the morning with my smoothie (I choose to use Shakeology as my choice of smoothie because of the additional nutrients--some people rag on it). During the work week, I eat high protein and vegetables at lunch and dinner also includes high protein ad veggies. I don't eat bread or pasta and if I do, it is limited to the weekend. Eating this way I have lost 20 pounds and moving on to my next 15 to maintain.

    Thanks so much for sharing this. I do tend to eat some carbs on the weekend and limit fruit, but for me to lose weight I have to cut back on carbs during the week. Otherwise I don't lose a thing, even with exercise.
  • Trinique34
    Trinique34 Posts: 53 Member
    sylkates wrote: »
    I don't. I only believe in CICO, and it's working for me so far. Fruit easily fits into my calorie limits.

    I do tend to eat fruit instead of the old sweet junk food I used to eat. It is more filling than that.

    I also tend to ignore macros, since I have no medical conditions that necessitate keeping track of fiber, saturated fat, sugar, carbs, or fat. I go over on sugar pretty often since I love fruit and dairy, but I'm careful about keeping my teeth clean and the doctor hasn't mentioned anything alarming, so I think it's OK for me. I also go over on fat pretty often since I love nuts and avocado. Maybe I shouldn't be so reckless but it seems to be OK so far.

    What is CICO?
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Trinique34 wrote: »
    sylkates wrote: »
    I don't. I only believe in CICO, and it's working for me so far. Fruit easily fits into my calorie limits.

    I do tend to eat fruit instead of the old sweet junk food I used to eat. It is more filling than that.

    I also tend to ignore macros, since I have no medical conditions that necessitate keeping track of fiber, saturated fat, sugar, carbs, or fat. I go over on sugar pretty often since I love fruit and dairy, but I'm careful about keeping my teeth clean and the doctor hasn't mentioned anything alarming, so I think it's OK for me. I also go over on fat pretty often since I love nuts and avocado. Maybe I shouldn't be so reckless but it seems to be OK so far.

    What is CICO?

    Calories in/Calories out. aka dieting, aka, counting calories. What most folks on MFP are doing.
  • James12315
    James12315 Posts: 30 Member
    I only monitor calorie content mainly. I love eating fruit and will eat 1 or 2 a day but I also love other foods so in a way I do limit them but only because I prefer to balance my diet out with meat and veg also.
  • evayna
    evayna Posts: 66 Member
    I would starve without fruit :neutral: Especially considering I just finished my lunch and have already had:
    1c. Strawberries- 54 cal
    1/2c. Black Berries - 30 cal
    1c. Red Grapes- 90 cal
    1 Golden Delicious Apple- 56 cal
    1 Clementine- 35 cal
    Vita Coco Coconut Water/Pineapple- 120 cal
    For a total of: 385 of 1200 Calories

    So it's a pretty substantial part of my diet! :smiley:
  • MostlyWater
    MostlyWater Posts: 4,294 Member
    I do not, personally. But DH is sugar sensitive and does limit fruit.
  • MamaMc3
    MamaMc3 Posts: 213 Member
    I don't limit fruit because I like the sweet taste, and I'd rather eat fruit than candy! :) I think you have to find what works for you - if you are starving, try replacing some of the fruit with protein. If you're doing ok, just enjoy it! :)
  • positivepowers
    positivepowers Posts: 902 Member
    edited March 2016
    . . . if I was eating only 1200 (I'm not) and 1/3 of my calories came from fruit I would starve to death.

    Amen to that!

    ETA: I don't limit my fruit. If I want it and it fits into my macros for the day I have it.
  • positivepowers
    positivepowers Posts: 902 Member
    Trinique34 wrote: »
    sylkates wrote: »
    I don't. I only believe in CICO, and it's working for me so far. Fruit easily fits into my calorie limits.

    I do tend to eat fruit instead of the old sweet junk food I used to eat. It is more filling than that.

    I also tend to ignore macros, since I have no medical conditions that necessitate keeping track of fiber, saturated fat, sugar, carbs, or fat. I go over on sugar pretty often since I love fruit and dairy, but I'm careful about keeping my teeth clean and the doctor hasn't mentioned anything alarming, so I think it's OK for me. I also go over on fat pretty often since I love nuts and avocado. Maybe I shouldn't be so reckless but it seems to be OK so far.

    What is CICO?

    Calories In vs. Calories Out. For those of us trying to lose weight it should be CI<CO.
  • elivelez62
    elivelez62 Posts: 19 Member
    I stay within 25 g of sugar a day. I substitute fruit for flavored yogurt once a day.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    I dont, but if I was eating only 1200 (I'm not) and 1/3 of my calories came from fruit I would starve to death.

    This is how I feel.

    I don't limit fruit (I naturally tend to more in the summer and a lot more vegetables than fruit), but I focus on getting enough of other things and that tends to mean I eat 1-2 servings of fruit in the winter and 2-3 in the summer.

    Really, it's about preference and what is satisfying to you.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited March 2016
    If 1/3 of your calories is coming from fruit, I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that you're probably not hitting other nutrition requisites. Fruit is great and all, but there's a lot more to proper nutrition than just fruit and veg.

    I don't limit fruit per sei, but I put far greater emphasis and importance on vegetables...usually 2 servings of fruit per day...occasionally 3.
  • Tricia7188
    Tricia7188 Posts: 135 Member
    Don't limit fruit, but weigh it if possible. Trying to estimate a "medium" apple was driving me crazy haha. Now I just cut out the core and weigh in grams. I was actually eating less apple and berries when I was estimating size and using cups so yay for getting more food!
    I pretty much have also been doing what you're saying without really trying/knowing, where I have been eating fruit as my "carbs" ie instead of bread, pasta, grains etc. Cause usually I'd rather eat a sweet juicy apple or strawberries than other carbs etc if I'm trying to stay satisfied and low cal. My splurges tend to be the simple carbs on weekends(pasta, cake haha) etc, but not daily.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    I go through waves. Sometimes I don't find fruit to be low calorie considering it doesn't keep me full. I'm eating it again right now and I have to be careful because I find myself just reaching in and grabbing a strawberry or a bunch of blue berries here or there. I really have to be sure to weigh it.
  • zoeysasha37
    zoeysasha37 Posts: 7,088 Member
    Trinique34 wrote: »
    I'm not starving at all. I have an apple at 10 am with 20 almonds, a banana with lunch (normally 4 oz of chicken and salad) and 1/2 a grapefruit and 1/3 Avocado around 3 pm, dinner is protein and two veggies, yesterday was asparagus and mixed veggies, then for my snack I might have an orange. My concern is if this will prevent me from losing weight since I just started and it's all trial and error for me. I'm just a bit confused since I've done low carb for sooo long. But now I want to do it the healthy way.

    Weight loss comes down to calories. Fruit alone will not cause someone not to lose weight. You could eat 1200 cals of only fruit per day and still lose weight. Weight loss comes down to calories not the foods you pick.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    I eat whatever I want that fits my calories goal. I eat more vegetables than fruit but I'm not avoiding fruit. Vegetables are usually lower calorie and easier for me to add to meals than fruit.
  • alismommy1992
    alismommy1992 Posts: 72 Member
    No... I love fruit
  • trjjoy
    trjjoy Posts: 666 Member
    200 to 300 of my daily calories come from sweets. And I don't starve. So yeah, if it floats your boat... I say go for it. Have your fruit and eat it too.
  • Selkie_Runner
    Selkie_Runner Posts: 41 Member
    edited March 2016
    Trinique34 wrote: »
    .
    My question for you calorie counters is do you cut back on fruit? I'm having an apple, orange, banana and half a grapefruit most days,
    Well today (it's still morning) I've had half a Canteloupe, an apple, a pear, Grapefruit, Kiwi fruit, Raspberries, Blueberries, 2 Bananas and that's probably around half the fruit I have in a day. So the answer to your question is No. Fruit is great has lots of Fibre, Vitamins, antioxidents and yes shock horror Sugar, but we need carbs to function well and the way the sugar is bound up in fruit you don't get the sugar rush that comes along with processed sugar.

    So yes eat fruit as long as its within your Calorie goals. Fruit is good. #carbsarefriends

  • smotheredincheese
    smotheredincheese Posts: 559 Member
    I don't limit fruit but normally only eat one or two pieces a day anyway. If I ate the amount of fruit some of you eat though I would be spending some serious time in the bathroom :o
  • blueboxgeek
    blueboxgeek Posts: 574 Member
    For me I just stick to my calorie goal, ensure I hit my minimum protein and then fill the rest up with what I like.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I limit to two fruit/servings a day, or it's harder to meet my protein and fat goals.
This discussion has been closed.