Sugar help please!!

Alright, so on this weight loss journey I have decided to cut way back on my sugar intake (I was a 2-liter of Coke per day and Hershey bar with almonds JUNKIE).  The problem I have is this:  when I go to the grocery store and want to buy, for example, unsweetened apple juice and read on the label that it STILL has 40+ grams of sugar per serving.  I know it's probably natural sugars from the fruit (I didn't see any added dextrose or any other "ose" ingredient for that matter), but is even fruit sugar bad???  I'm about at the end of my rope because I LOVE fruit juices but don't want to sabotage my efforts by still loading up on sugar.  Any advice or suggestions is greatly appreciated, because I'm not much of a fruit eater, except for grapefruit which I LOVE.  I guess I'm lazy; I'd rather drink apple juice than eat the apple itself.  (But even THAT has sugar!!  AGGGHHH!!)  Thanks to all!!!

Jennifer

I wouldn't call fruit sugar "bad", but any sugar is high in calories, so you need to make sure you're not using up too many calories on sugar at the expense of protein, whole grains, and healthy fats.  My main issue with fruit juice is that you don't get any of the fiber you'd get eating a whole fruit.  I was a juice junkie before I started watching my calories, but I've pretty much eliminated juice from my diet now.  Occasionally, I'll drink water with a splash of juice in it, but I never drink juice straight.  For me, it's just not worth the calories, because it doesn't fill me up the way food does.  I do try to eat 2-3 servings of whole fruit a day, because then I'm getting fiber and vitamins along with my sugar.  

Sugar isn't "high" in calories, so to speak--it's got the same amount of calories as any other type of carb. I personally don't think fruit sugar is bad at all, but that it should still be limited to a certain amount, just like healthy fats. I try to stay away from all refined sugar.

I agree with the person who said eating the whole fruit is better than just drinking juice.  I still drink juice sometimes, but mainly when I am in a hurry and a glass of orange juice is all I have time to grab.  I tried peeling a orange while driving once and I seriously don't recommend it.

the sugar in fruit is not bad, but yes just limit the intake you have of them.if you have too much sugar intake your body seems to crave sugar more and people tend to binge. you need to be careful when reading labels of any kind of juice bc they can be just as damaging as the bottle of soda or candy bar. However when looking for juices try sugar-free juices they do have them and they are just as tasty. or flavored waters as well are good .

-on a side note you can still eat your chocolate , just have one piece of dark chocolate per day ( it is very healthy for you and has good antioxidants)

I have been buying fruit that is season. Right now it is dark sweet cherries, strawberries, melon and pineapple.

I love chocolate too! Chocolate covered raisins,mini dark chocolate chips(just few sprinkled in my recipes),a glass of low fat chocolate milk,or chocolate graham crackers. I also like the chocolate flavored coffees they have out.