Hi Olivia
Apples and most other fruit (except bananas) are not starchy if they have been ripened properly. My husband eats them every day and has no problems. They can be starchy if they have been picked before they are ripe and then left in cold storage before being put out in the grocery store. In this case, the starch in the fruit has not been able to go thru the natural process of converting into fructose which is safe for ASer's to consume. Usually, if you buy apples from that are sourced locally they will be OK (eg local orchard). Imported fruit is usually cold stored and is often starchy (eg mangoes).
Please don't give up on the No Starch Diet yet. For it to take effect you really need to look a little more long term - like at least 3 months before giving up. It can take this long just to get it straight what is starchy and what is not! At least that was the case for my husband and now after almost 5 months his progress is leaping ahead to the point where he is now able to work fulltime again and start cutting down his anti-flam meds. Previously, he was hardly able to walk and it was really scary.
The diet is very hard to get used to for the first couple of months and I can understand why you would want to give up if you are not yet seeing results. But once you see results you will find you no longer have the desire to eat things you know will hurt you. Some people also do not experience results until they eliminate dairy products (lactose is a secondary food source for the bacteria).
As you say, if you lived your life in a wheelchair you would be miserable. Surely, cutting out foods you know will cause you pain would be less miserable than that?
I wish you all the best, whatever you decide but sincerely hope you will continue with the No starch diet to give it a good chance before quiting.
Someone here has the motto: "Eat to live, don't live to eat"
Good Luck
Chelsea
