I am very interested to read whether the fellow members eat fruit as part of their diet?

Whether you are cutting or bulking, what sort of fruit do you consume? Are there any restrictions to what sort of fruit must be consumed whether you are cutting or bulking?

As a newbie to this sport, your information would be very beneficial.

Thanks in advance, Melbournian.

Except on cheat days or the occasional carb-up, I don't eat much fruit, no. When I do it is usually an apple or banana or blueberries with my oatmeal.

I generally have 2 or 3 servings of fruit a day. If I'm doing lower carb, I might go down to 1 serving.

I eat bananas and orange juice

Do a thread search. There's lots of informatin about fruit. Lots of opinions, too.

1. Fruit is healthy, and good for you. There are tons of vitamins, minerals, anitoxidants, etc and tons of research that suggest consuming a variety of fruits reduces risk of suffering many different types of diseases, reduces risk of stroke, reduces risk of cancer, etc. etc.

2. The main argument against fruit is sugar. The fear of sugar stems from either fear of high blood sugar levels or fear of high insulin levels. While the impact of fruit on insulin varies from person to person, the impact on blood sugar is fairly consistent and most citrus fruits will impact blood sugar less than complex carbs like brown rice.

3. There is a beilef that fruit hinders cutting. Is it true? I don't know. I know it is a indisputable fact that you can cut while eating 2 - 3 servings of fruit every day. I've done, other bodybuilders have done, and many of my clients have done it. So the question isn't "can you get to low body fat" but rather, "is it optimal?"

It may not be optimal, but then my take has always been to focus on health first, optimal second. I'd rather be healthy and take longer to get there than to be "optimal" and suffer missing out on things like the powerful antioxidants in fruit. So my take is that you should always throw fruit into the mix, unless you are eliminating it just for a short 2 - 3 month period before a bodybuilding show or other event.

For example, fruit may cause bloating and other issues when taken before or during endurance events, and it may not be optimal to peak on stage for bodybuilding. However, I see a lot of confusion where people generally looking to lose weight feel like they need to train and eat like bodybuilders ... really, you only need to eat and train like a bodybuilder if you want to be one. Otherwise, there are many other routes to getting lean and living healthy.

Jeremy

Do a thread search. There's lots of informatin about fruit. Lots of opinions, too.

1. Fruit is healthy, and good for you. There are tons of vitamins, minerals, anitoxidants, etc and tons of research that suggest consuming a variety of fruits reduces risk of suffering many different types of diseases, reduces risk of stroke, reduces risk of cancer, etc. etc.

2. The main argument against fruit is sugar. The fear of sugar stems from either fear of high blood sugar levels or fear of high insulin levels. While the impact of fruit on insulin varies from person to person, the impact on blood sugar is fairly consistent and most citrus fruits will impact blood sugar less than complex carbs like brown rice.

3. There is a beilef that fruit hinders cutting. Is it true? I don't know. I know it is a indisputable fact that you can cut while eating 2 - 3 servings of fruit every day. I've done, other bodybuilders have done, and many of my clients have done it. So the question isn't "can you get to low body fat" but rather, "is it optimal?"

It may not be optimal, but then my take has always been to focus on health first, optimal second. I'd rather be healthy and take longer to get there than to be "optimal" and suffer missing out on things like the powerful antioxidants in fruit. So my take is that you should always throw fruit into the mix, unless you are eliminating it just for a short 2 - 3 month period before a bodybuilding show or other event.

For example, fruit may cause bloating and other issues when taken before or during endurance events, and it may not be optimal to peak on stage for bodybuilding. However, I see a lot of confusion where people generally looking to lose weight feel like they need to train and eat like bodybuilders ... really, you only need to eat and train like a bodybuilder if you want to be one. Otherwise, there are many other routes to getting lean and living healthy.

Jeremy

Great reply, :tu: thorughly agree

I don't think I could EVER give up fruit. I eat 2-3 oranges daily.

I eat a ton of fruit. I basically eat them in a sequence based on their glycemic index on a workout day:

Complex carb and 1 Low GI fruit with breakfast (apple/pear)

Complex carb and whatever fruit I want with second breakfast before workout (apple/pear/blueberries, banana, pineapple, whatever!)

After workout I usually have honey, oatmeal and 2-3 Medium to High GI fruits (small orange, pineapple, banana) I haven't yet figured out whether it's the food, the workout, or the time of day that makes me sleepy at this point but this is the only spot where I worry about my fruit intake.

And then I stop with the fruit for the day and just have one more complex carb before 4 oclock.

Do a thread search. There's lots of informatin about fruit. Lots of opinions, too.

1. Fruit is healthy, and good for you. There are tons of vitamins, minerals, anitoxidants, etc and tons of research that suggest consuming a variety of fruits reduces risk of suffering many different types of diseases, reduces risk of stroke, reduces risk of cancer, etc. etc.

2. The main argument against fruit is sugar. The fear of sugar stems from either fear of high blood sugar levels or fear of high insulin levels. While the impact of fruit on insulin varies from person to person, the impact on blood sugar is fairly consistent and most citrus fruits will impact blood sugar less than complex carbs like brown rice.

3. There is a beilef that fruit hinders cutting. Is it true? I don't know. I know it is a indisputable fact that you can cut while eating 2 - 3 servings of fruit every day. I've done, other bodybuilders have done, and many of my clients have done it. So the question isn't "can you get to low body fat" but rather, "is it optimal?"

It may not be optimal, but then my take has always been to focus on health first, optimal second. I'd rather be healthy and take longer to get there than to be "optimal" and suffer missing out on things like the powerful antioxidants in fruit. So my take is that you should always throw fruit into the mix, unless you are eliminating it just for a short 2 - 3 month period before a bodybuilding show or other event.

For example, fruit may cause bloating and other issues when taken before or during endurance events, and it may not be optimal to peak on stage for bodybuilding. However, I see a lot of confusion where people generally looking to lose weight feel like they need to train and eat like bodybuilders ... really, you only need to eat and train like a bodybuilder if you want to be one. Otherwise, there are many other routes to getting lean and living healthy.

Jeremy

This was such a great post, I just wanted to quote it so it was repeated again, for emphasis.
The RDI for fruit is 2 - 3 servings a day. If you're concerned about GI, apples and pears are great low GI fruit. I eat lots of watermelon, too. And tomato, which *is* a fruit. :nod:

Another good point to remember: You've heard the "eat the rainbow" saying, right? Eat different colors of fruit and vegetables throughout the day to make sure you get your nutrients covered. For instance, red generally = lycopene, so eat tomatoes, grapefruit, watermelons, etc to cover that. Deep colored stuff like blueberries or apples bring a lot of antioxidants, yellows have carotine.

I love grapefruit.

I love fruit. I have apples and bananas around the house always and eat them daily. Also pears and sometimes grapes. When I was seriously cutting I only had four apples a week. Now I have three pieces of fruit a day. Doesn't seem to hurt me.

Grapefruit, apples, oranges, bananas, pears, plums, grapes, watermelon, blueberries, strawberries, avocados, peppers (some would call them a veg though), nectarines...

cutting or bulking, usually about 3 servings / day.

No one right answer. JL pretty much nails all the pertinent points

I eat fruit, but just because its healty I don't go crazy with it (just like anything else).
I eat it during the day, try not to eat fruit at night.
I choose more berries, apples, peaches, nactarines, plums, pears, cherries over oranges or bananas.

Although sometimes I have banana after workout, orange when I crave it.

Only to prepare for competition I know I will stop eating fruit (about 3 months)

Apples are great. (http://www.t-nation.com/portal_includes/articles/2006/06-044b-diet.html)

I love fruit and use it as my "sugar" source pre and post workout.

I'll often have an apple or banana or something pre-wo and then throw a banana (really helps with consistency) and frozen berries or frozen fruit mix into the blender with oats, f/f splenda sweetened yogurt, whey, and some crystal light for my pwo shake.

I don't know about whether it's ideal, but it seems to be working alright. I'm not any fatter because of it.

I don't eat much fruit but that's mainly because I'm a picky eater and there aren't many fruits that I like. I force myself to eat at least one serving of fruit per day for the health benefits.

I've also found that good, ripe fruit is an excellent way to stifle cravings for sweets.

When I was heavy, I ate a ton of fruit. I realized for me anyway, fruit stokes my appetite. It might seem like a good idea to eat 2 peaches, (about 150 cal), but if eating this makes you eat almost uncontrollably, it is not worth it. Now I try to stick to berries, & grapefruits. I have an occasional apple or banana, but keep away from grapes, all types of summer fruit (which is difficult since I really love to eat peaches, nectarines, plums, cherries etc.). To compensate for the lack of fruit though, I eat a ton of vegetables.

I eat a lot fruit. Today alone I had one apple, bananna, 1 cup of pineapple, a cup of strawberries and one kiwi. Now, if only I could eat that many vegetables! ( So far 1 cup brocolli, 1 cup green beans, and one sweet potato. )

Fruits are originally good... "They contain plenty of nutrients we need." That was lesson being taught to us, and up until today, I still believe that it is true. Why should you banned them from your diet? If I were to sacrifice, I'd rather sacrifice junk food rather than fruit. But of course that would be a completely different case when you really have to watch your calorie intake. But for a normal person who wants a healthy life, making fruit as a part of your diet is a good idea! :tucool:

I think there are so many things you should cut out of your diet before removing something as beneficial to you as fruits. I eat about 3-4 servings a day, but I skip the sweetest ones, because I like them too much and because they are higher in calories. My favorites are berries, apples and pineapple. I drink 7dl of 100% fruit juice like pomegranade, cranberry, apple or orange juice as pre/post running. I just prefer my carbs to be healthy. Bread and pasta had to go a long time ago. But too much of anything is never good for you. Fruits are calories too.

I eat fruit every morning. Actually, I eat an Australian orange every morning. An hour later I eat an apple. No amount of vitamins in the world can replace healthy fruit and veggies. I have lost over 100 lbs in 10 months so I don't really care how much peolple say not to use it if you are cutting because I know you can eat it and lose fat. I was hooked on cherries when they were in season. I miss them.

OK fruits are good but when should they be eaten?
Here in Asia fruits are eaten after a meal as desserts/sweet dish.
But recently I was told that eating fruit after a meal is useless and causes nothing (i.e. 0% nutritious) but stuffing the stomach. Thus fruits should only be eaten on empty stomach for full nutritious effect. Is it true?

But recently I was told that eating fruit after a meal is useless and causes nothing (i.e. 0% nutritious) but stuffing the stomach. Thus fruits should only be eaten on empty stomach for full nutritious effect.

Told by whom?

And no, that 's bullocks.

But recently I was told that eating fruit after a meal is useless and causes nothing (i.e. 0% nutritious) but stuffing the stomach. Thus fruits should only be eaten on empty stomach for full nutritious effect. Is it true?


makes no sense at all....really


the same people who say ..."dont have fruit", are generally the same people who say have a cheat day and eat all you want?...i lost sight of what was healthy for a while avoiding fruit...but not too often do you see fat peole laying passed out overstuffed form bag of fruit..its usually from a bag of mcdonalds

I eat fruit most everyday, its my main source of carbs eventhou veggies should be...

makes no sense at all....really


the same people who say ..."dont have fruit", are generally the same people who say have a cheat day and eat all you want?...i lost sight of what was healthy for a while avoiding fruit...but not too often do you see fat peole laying passed out overstuffed form bag of fruit..its usually from a bag of mcdonalds

yeah it really doesn't make any sense does it? I eat fruit daily too, i just tend to stay away from juices because I like them too much and could easily drink too many calories. LOL.

Yeah we always get apple cider, boy do I like that stuff too much. Easily 1-2k calories in drinks alone >.>