Do carbs, fat, sodium, sugar and protein goals matter?

PiscesMan123

So eating anytime is OK (the general consensus) as long as I stay below my caloric intake. Thanks for the input.

Now I wonder about those other measurements...Fat, Sodium, Sugar, Protein, Carbs... I found myself not really paying that much attention to them until recently, when I noticed salt goes over the top consistently. When you are striving for weight loss, do you also strive to stay within those other limits as well?

melimomTARDIS

i try to keep my salt within range for my overall health

MissHolidayGolightly

Minding macro (protein, fat, carbs) and micronutrients are for nutritional and general health purposes. Weight loss is based solely on caloric deficit.

Ang108

PiscesMan123 wrote: »

So eating anytime is OK (the general consensus) as long as I stay below my caloric intake. Thanks for the input.

Now I wonder about those other measurements...Fat, Sodium, Sugar, Protein, Carbs... I found myself not really paying that much attention to them until recently, when I noticed salt goes over the top consistently. When you are striving for weight loss, do you also strive to stay within those other limits as well?

I do. But not for weight loss, but for generally improved health & well being. That in return makes weight loss easier for me.

Sabine_Stroehm

PiscesMan123 wrote: »

So eating anytime is OK (the general consensus) as long as I stay below my caloric intake. Thanks for the input.

Now I wonder about those other measurements...Fat, Sodium, Sugar, Protein, Carbs... I found myself not really paying that much attention to them until recently, when I noticed salt goes over the top consistently. When you are striving for weight loss, do you also strive to stay within those other limits as well?

It's going to depend on your goals. A number on a scale? Improved health? Body composition?

baremington

as i understand it, macros don't matter when you're talking strictly about weight loss. they do matter, however, in terms of overall health. personally i try to keep it pretty balanced, although i don't worry very much about sugar or sodium- i care more about keeping the big three (protein/fat/carbs) relatively matched to my ratio goals.

LivingtheLeanDream

I keep an eye on my salt and always stay under quota. Protein and Fibre are also ones to watch although I never seem to get enough of those. I keep my macros at MFP settings.

As far as I'm concerned its Calories in/Calories Out more so than macros but everybody's different.

Some people need to hit their macros or else they lack energy, thats not my issue, I'm full of beans

JoRocka

well.

it depends is the answer.

Many people look at fat and protein as minimums- and carbs as maximums.

When I'm bulking- I honestly don't give a hoot about macros (and I never care about micros).

But when I'm cutting- it's different. Metaphore.

I have 25$ for the day for food. ( so that's for math purposes- 2500 calories)

I can chose to spend my 25$ on a really nice steak- and that's all I get- all day.

Or- I can chose to have a
5$ quick egg mcmuffin thing breakfast
15$ hearty chicken salad with a small side for lunch
2$ boiled eggs for a snack
5$ Rotisserie chicken with some veggies (5$)
2$ dessert.

Leaves me 6 bucks left over to have another snack- or have a coffee. Whatever.
If we pretend our calories are dollars- now we have a deficit.

and I'm fed for the day.

So that's how you view your calories- when you have a budget of calories- instead of blowing it on a high calorie option- you pick very filling- but LOWER calorie options- that leave you full- but give you more calories to eat more things. If I chose to blow my 2500 calories on a really big burger- then I'm going to be hungry again.

does that make sense??

The_Enginerd

Those things matter too, but don't think of fat, protein, and carbs as "limits", treat those more like guidelines to drive what you eat. Those things you concentrate on for satiety, performance, preference, and general health, but the the mix will not matter in terms of weight loss (other than the water weight loss from going low carb).

Unless you are diabetic, you can basically ignore sugar. Excess sodium can cause water weight retention and there may be health reasons you want to limit it, but as far as body fat loss goes, it has no bearing.

In general pay attention to these in this order:

1. Overall calories
2. Macros
3. Fiber, Micros, and Sodium

jgnatca

If salt is consistently over, I suspect you are eating out or eating prepackaged foods more often. It doesn't affect weight loss (other than water retention), but salt is something health professionals track because it can affect blood pressure.

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutrition/sodium/index-eng.php

cwlsr

I will keep it short! If you eat canned foods or use them in your recipes it is almost impossible to keep the sodium in line with the numbers that MFP gives you in your daily intake requirement. Secondly most fast foods will also wreck the plan. Everyone who cares about good health tries to limit their sodium intake but don't get discouraged if you go over from time to time.

MissHolidayGolightly

They also help with feeling satiated. Protein, fat, and fiber will fill you up more quickly and keep you fuller longer than sugar and carbs not made of fiber.