How in the heck does anyone manage sugar?

michelewobbe

I cannot manage to maintain sugar limits within my daily value. I eat a pescatarian diet and this includes a lot of fresh fruit and veggies which automatically puts me over my daily sugar limit. I am beginning to wonder if the daily limit is correct or not. Ideas anyone?

Mjhnbgff

The thing about MFP is that it doesn't distinguish between added sugar and natural sugar in foods such as fruit (fructose) and dairy (lactose). I only count added sugar when calculating my daily sugar intake. I don't worry about natural sugar. The fiber in fruit helps to slow the absorption of sugar into your blood so your blood sugar doesn't spike the way it would if you had a glass of juice or a piece of candy. Same thing goes for dairy. Fat also slows down the absorption of sugar. I eat a ton of fresh fruit and fat free dairy and I've managed to lose 75 pounds and I don't have high blood sugar so I take that as proof I'm doing something right.

_Zardoz_

Unless you're diabetic there is no real need to monitor sugar

MelsAuntie

I just ignore it.

susannamarie

I ignore it. Unless you have a medical reason to need to track every gram of sugar there's no need. MFP's recommendations are, for some reason, set to the customary recommendation for *added* sugars.

cwolfman13

MFP recommendation = American Heart Association's Recommendation for ADDED and REFINED sugar because people tend to drink 40oz big gulps and suck down highly processed foods laden with high fructose corn syrup. Just watch that **** and eat your fruit and veg and use some common sense. The obesity epidemic isn't being perpetuated by an apple a day that I am aware of.

ddslowly

i just switched it to show my potassium level instead. i think it's better this way.

TheVimFuego

Unless you're diabetic there is no real need to monitor sugar

Yep, but I will say that since my low carb days I crave food a lot less. And I wasn't diabetic so it may be worth cutting sugar for a bit for some people. Maybe, I dunno, I'm just a bod on the internet.

I was probably insulin resistant or something.

These days I ignore pretty much everything apart from getting my protein in and maintaining the calorie gap.

Maybe it's the higher protein that is satisfying me.

magerum

I don't have a medical condition that dictates that I do, so I don't.

BeachIron

I eat ice cream and donuts and ignore mine

sunnyskys2013

I think fruit, veggie and dairy sugars are fine. I mostly worry about added sugar.

lemonmon1

I have been wondering this too. I've seen/read about high fruit diets (google "fruity fluffy floaters") but I get mixed info when I look into high fruit diets and sugar. I know MFP numbers for sugar is not exactly relevant to those eating very minimal processed sugars, as the carbs not set for plant-based diets either. If anyone has an article or research ababout sugar and fruit being fine, I'd like to see it. I would like to up my fruit intake but I'm a little hesitant.

Brad805

Unless you are eating a lot of prepared items that contain refined sugars you might want to reset MFP so it does not show you the sugar value.

Schlackity

I ditched my sugar tracker and changed it to cholesterol.

Hattie2513

Hmm interesting.. I have always wondered about this too. I am conscious that its best to have high sugared fruit like bananas straight after a workout. I might start worrying about this less now... I do occasionally have breakfast bars which are probably a big no no. I don't have them weekly though..

almc170

I don't. No need to.

RllyGudTweetr

Unless you're diabetic there is no real need to monitor sugar

This, adding "prediabetic or hypoglycemic" to the pile of "unless." Sugar's a carb; don't glorify it with its own category unless it's medically necessary for you.

Akimajuktuq

Unless you're diabetic there is no real need to monitor sugar

Wrong. Why wait until one has diabetes when it can be prevented? Yes, it can be prevented with lifestyle/diet. I did it. Not to mention all the symptoms of metabolic syndrome, which includes excess fat storage; isn't that why some of us are here, to lose fat?

It's easy to manage sugar. Don't eat it. Some people need to limit fruits, others do not. Do what works for you. Adjust your macros or just ignore the red numbers.

DatMurse

I ditched my sugar tracker and changed it to cholesterol.

that's equally as bad. dietary cholesterol has a very low impact on total cholesterol.

even then the lipoprotein levels do not have a decent correlation with heart disease.

BeachIron

Unless you're diabetic there is no real need to monitor sugar

Wrong. Why wait until one has diabetes when it can be prevented? Yes, it can be prevented with lifestyle/diet. I did it. Not to mention all the symptoms of metabolic syndrome, which includes excess fat storage; isn't that why some of us are here, to lose fat?

It's easy to manage sugar. Don't eat it. Some people need to limit fruits, others do not. Do what works for you. Adjust your macros or just ignore the red numbers.

Yes. Let's argue with people who know what they're talking about 'cause we're all special and everyone's opinion matters . . .

FFS

michellechawner

I changed that tab to fiber, since I seem to not get enough of it.

You can change them! I know, I have one banana and i'm over sugars for the day, it's ridiculous.

3foldchord

I ignore it. Unless you have a medical reason to need to track every gram of sugar there's no need. MFP's recommendations are, for some reason, set to the customary recommendation for *added* sugars.

This.
I just look over my log and if most my sugars are from fruits/veggies/etc than I don't worry. If my cookies and candies start gaining momentum, I make changes.

Debbjones

I look at all package labels for sugar content and limit my sugar in all prepared foods. Also, I never use it in cooking and I stay away from milk and cream products (milk is a hidden source of sugar, non-fat milk contains more sugar than whole milk!). I do take calcium supplements to meet my daily requirements. That is how I turned my type 2 diabetes around and lost a total of 85 pounds. I do get my sugar fix with sugar alternatives and sugar free processed foods such as sugar free jello pudding. I understand I am eating "sugar alcohol" in my "sugar free" foods but it worked for me and it keeps my sugar levels below the recommend level in MFP. The bottom line is... my blood sugar is at normal levels and I am no longer a diabetic.

maybeazure

I am always over. I only worry about calories and sodium. I do try to eat stuff that has vitamins, including fruit. I figure that losing weight would be more helpful than worrying about too many oranges.

magerum

Unless you're diabetic there is no real need to monitor sugar

Wrong. Why wait until one has diabetes when it can be prevented? Yes, it can be prevented with lifestyle/diet. I did it. Not to mention all the symptoms of metabolic syndrome, which includes excess fat storage; isn't that why some of us are here, to lose fat?

It's easy to manage sugar. Don't eat it. Some people need to limit fruits, others do not. Do what works for you. Adjust your macros or just ignore the red numbers.

Sugar doesn't cause diabetes. Period.

epie2098

MFP can't tell the difference between a fruit sugar and table sugar. Fruit never made anyone fat. As long as you're eating more veg than fruit (I say this because I know people who hate vegetables, but get their '5 a day' in fruit and think it's okay) overall, you're on the right track.

JDBLY11

Unless you're diabetic there is no real need to monitor sugar

Wrong. Why wait until one has diabetes when it can be prevented? Yes, it can be prevented with lifestyle/diet. I did it. Not to mention all the symptoms of metabolic syndrome, which includes excess fat storage; isn't that why some of us are here, to lose fat?

It's easy to manage sugar. Don't eat it. Some people need to limit fruits, others do not. Do what works for you. Adjust your macros or just ignore the red numbers.

Yes. Let's argue with people who know what they're talking about 'cause we're all special and everyone's opinion matters . . .

FFS

I had a regular slice of fresh pineapple the other day and it used up about 100 calories and 28 grams of sugar which was most of my limit. I think the setting is too low.

DatMurse

MFP can't tell the difference between a fruit sugar and table sugar. Fruit never made anyone fat. As long as you're eating more veg than fruit (I say this because I know people who hate vegetables, but get their '5 a day' in fruit and think it's okay) overall, you're on the right track.

fruit can make people fat...

whats the chemical difference of sugar from fruit vs table sugar?

Heather_Rider

The thing about MFP is that it doesn't distinguish between added sugar and natural sugar in foods such as fruit (fructose) and dairy (lactose). I only count added sugar when calculating my daily sugar intake. I don't worry about natural sugar. The fiber in fruit helps to slow the absorption of sugar into your blood so your blood sugar doesn't spike the way it would if you had a glass of juice or a piece of candy. Same thing goes for dairy. Fat also slows down the absorption of sugar. I eat a ton of fresh fruit and fat free dairy and I've managed to lose 75 pounds and I don't have high blood sugar so I take that as proof I'm doing something right.

^ This EXACTLY down to the fact that I too have lost 75 pounds! I eat TONS of fresh fruit! I dont have high blood sugar! Matter of fact, I was pre-diabetic, and in losing the 75 pounds, my sugar is now at a healthy level and im feeling better than ever!

lithezebra

I count my total carbohydrates, including sugar, and try to restrict it to 30% of my total calories.

Achrya

Manage? I usually go "hey, over again?" And eat cookies.