Question:
Should we worry about the CARBS in fruit?

Carbs in Fruit is VERY HIGH. Bananas are about 26 grams, Apples about the same. I'm so confused, about what I can eat an what I cant. Should I worry about the carbs in fruit? Is fruit GOOD carbs? Please help! Thanks    — T W. (posted on January 10, 2003)

January 10, 2003
Yes, carbs in fruit are still carbs. Carbs will slow your weight loss... plus you need to use this time to change your tastes and take the major carbs out of your diet permanently if you are to have long term weight loss success. Get a good carb counter book and learn it for life. As a rule of thumb... the creamier or starchier or sweeter a fruit or vegetable is, the more carbs it has. Corn is bad, potatoes are bad, peas are bad... ripe peaches are bad, banana is bad, pears are bad. Now to earmark the good fruits and veggies... the ones that are watery in texture and more tart in nature are low carb. Spinach is good, broccoli is good, asparagus are good, mushrooms are good, lettuce is good, tomatoes are good, kiwi is okay, nectarines are okay, grapes are okay, watermelon is okay, cantalope is okay. See the pattern. Picture the taste in your mind and determine the creaminess or sweetness... a bite of ripe pear is very sweet... a bite of strawberry is watery and tart... strawberry is better. Just make sure you arent eating too much fruit... just a few pieces are fine and wont sabotage your carb count.
   — SusanMaria

January 10, 2003
I am a member of the "everything in moderation" club. I follow the simple rule: Protein first, then fruits and veggies, then other carbs if you have room. Sure, veggies have less carbs than fruit but fruit has other things that are good for you, too, like fiber and vitamins. I also think it is good to have some (natuarally) sweet food in your diet to keep you from feeling deprived. <p>I read the book Protein Power before WLS and the things they said made sense to me. In essence, I followed their diet plan after surgery and to this day, just because it seems natural to me. I eat protein at every "meal" (I eat every few hours). Early post op if I ate some protein I could NOT eat a whole banana. Heck, I couldn't have eaten a whole banana at all. I averaged about 800 calories and about 40-50 grams of carbs a day. Then I went up to 1000-1200 calories a day as a natural progression of increasing pouch size and appetite. My carbs increased TOO much and my weight loss slowed dramatically. When I added the appropriate amount of protein for me (100 grams) and cut back on the carbs I lost the rest of the weight. Now (maintenance) I probably average about 1800 calories and 100-125 grams of carbs. That works for me and I am not regaining weight at that level. I eat fruit, but almost always with protein (a piece of cheese, peanut butter, deli meat, cottage cheese, etc.).<p>The main carbs to avoid are "white" carbs: white bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, white flour, refined sugar, etc. You can replace those with a moderate amount of complex carbs: 100% whole wheat bread/flour/pasta, fruits, veggies, etc. Your body will thank you for it! The one thing I DIDN'T agree with in Protein Power is that we don't need any carbs at all to live. When I don't get some good carbs in my system I spend all my time on the potty trying to make a dollar out of fifteen cents, IF you know what I mean! :P
   — ctyst

January 10, 2003
ALL carbohydrate you eat turns to sugar when you digest it. However, it is the pure or simple sugars that are the ones for concern. Fruit tends to be high fiber, berries, specifically raspberries have more fiber than any other fruit. Fiber tends to negate the sugars. A 4 inch piece of banana is 15 grams of carb so have super small bananas or cut in half. Fruit is a good thing, vitamins, fiber,etc. All things in moderation. From what I understand, people tend to dump on liquids such as juice, milkshakes, Starbucks special coffees that are sweet, etc. cause they are more quickly absorbed.
   — Dana S.

January 10, 2003
Kudos to you Cherie for the GREAT and appropriate advice. Can I join the "everything in moderation" club with you?? I had WLS so I could just live and enjoy life - not worry every day about being on a continual diet.
   — ronascott

January 10, 2003
Fruit is a good carb. I agree with Cheri too, everything in moderation. Protein first, fruit and veggies second, then the other carbs and fats.
   — Cindy R.

January 10, 2003
Sugar is sugar. I let myself go berserk with fruit last summer, first time ever. Has little bowls of fresh fruit compote. But 2-3 a day. For 3-4 weeks. I was in fruit frenzy. UNTIL. My pants got tighter & tighter. Uh oh. Stopped the fruit, pants got looser. Sigh. I knew it, but had to push the limits. I do eat fruit now & then, but not the 4-5 servings a day I'd like. Sigh.
   — vitalady