Difference in macros into calories

Why don't my macros e.g. fat x 9 add up to my overall calories? I am over 100 in my cals yet under my macros???

Replies

  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Because you have an erroneous or multiple erroneous entries logged.
  • callumwalker1995
    callumwalker1995 Posts: 389 Member
    D
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Because you have an erroneous or multiple erroneous entries logged.

    Do you ever have this problem?
  • Gallowmere1984
    Gallowmere1984 Posts: 6,626 Member
    edited July 2016
    Why don't my macros e.g. fat x 9 add up to my overall calories? I am over 100 in my cals yet under my macros???

    It's often because of rounding on nutrition labels.
  • callumwalker1995
    callumwalker1995 Posts: 389 Member
    But I'm over 100 out today?! My macros add up to 3059 but my cals say 3164
  • callumwalker1995
    callumwalker1995 Posts: 389 Member
    Should I focus more on hitting my macros than calories then? How can I be 'missing' 150 calories?
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Verify your own entries against packaging or and/or other sites like USDA. Entries in the database are user entered for the most part...there are a lot of errors. Also, there are rounding errors but they shouldn't be that substantial.
    Should I focus more on hitting my macros than calories then? How can I be 'missing' 150 calories?

    It doesn't matter because you don't know which is correct without verifying your entries.
  • callumwalker1995
    callumwalker1995 Posts: 389 Member
    What should I focus on then? Macros or calories? The macros on some packaging don't even add up to their overall calories!!! No idea what to do
  • callumwalker1995
    callumwalker1995 Posts: 389 Member
    Way off again today on MFP. Said I hit my 3188 calories today exactly yet my protein Iwent under by 8, my carbs by 35 and went over 3 on fats which equates to 145 calories different, why is this?
  • callumwalker1995
    callumwalker1995 Posts: 389 Member
    Also why is the MFP app different to the website version?
  • Nikion901
    Nikion901 Posts: 2,467 Member
    did you add the calories from fiber when you did the math? Doubt it would be 100 calories worth, but the carbs in your food diary are net carbs after fiber carbs have been subtracted out.
  • bpetrosky
    bpetrosky Posts: 3,911 Member
    Also why is the MFP app different to the website version?

    Send a support ticket to MFP. It's not our job to explain or fix it.
  • callumwalker1995
    callumwalker1995 Posts: 389 Member
    Nikion901 wrote: »
    did you add the calories from fiber when you did the math? Doubt it would be 100 calories worth, but the carbs in your food diary are net carbs after fiber carbs have been subtracted out.
    Nikion901 wrote: »
    did you add the calories from fiber when you did the math? Doubt it would be 100 calories worth, but the carbs in your food diary are net carbs after fiber carbs have been subtracted out.

    Many of them are from the database should I add my own? It's not the carbs it's the fats and protein that are off
  • callumwalker1995
    callumwalker1995 Posts: 389 Member
    Was over calories on the app by 100 yet under all macros again today. Should I just aim for my macros rather than cals?
  • sllm1
    sllm1 Posts: 2,130 Member
    Calories are the focus for weight loss - I would aim to hit your calorie numbers and then keep an eye on your macros. That's how I do it, anyway.
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    edited July 2016
    OP, most entries are user entered, so you need to check them and choose one that is correct. If none of them are, you can add your own corrected entry.

    Some people don't pay any mind to their macros, so when they add an entry they won't be careful about those numbers. Other people only count macros, not calories, so they may not be careful with the total calorie number. Different goals, different priorities.

    Calories for weight loss.
    Macros for satiety, fitness, and health.
  • VeryKatie
    VeryKatie Posts: 5,961 Member
    kimny72 wrote: »
    OP, most entries are user entered, so you need to check them and choose one that is correct. If none of them are, you can add your own corrected entry.

    Some people don't pay any mind to their macros, so when they add an entry they won't be careful about those numbers. Other people only count macros, not calories, so they may not be careful with the total calorie number. Different goals, different priorities.

    Calories for weight loss.
    Macros for satiety, fitness, and health.

    This.

    Watch the calories, worry less about macros.
  • callumwalker1995
    callumwalker1995 Posts: 389 Member
    VeryKatie wrote: »
    kimny72 wrote: »
    OP, most entries are user entered, so you need to check them and choose one that is correct. If none of them are, you can add your own corrected entry.

    Some people don't pay any mind to their macros, so when they add an entry they won't be careful about those numbers. Other people only count macros, not calories, so they may not be careful with the total calorie number. Different goals, different priorities.

    Calories for weight loss.
    Macros for satiety, fitness, and health.

    This.

    Watch the calories, worry less about macros.

    I'm bulking so what do you recommend?
  • callumwalker1995
    callumwalker1995 Posts: 389 Member
    kimny72 wrote: »
    OP, most entries are user entered, so you need to check them and choose one that is correct. If none of them are, you can add your own corrected entry.

    Some people don't pay any mind to their macros, so when they add an entry they won't be careful about those numbers. Other people only count macros, not calories, so they may not be careful with the total calorie number. Different goals, different priorities.

    Calories for weight loss.
    Macros for satiety, fitness, and health.

    Do yours add up though? I can't understand it really
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    kimny72 wrote: »
    OP, most entries are user entered, so you need to check them and choose one that is correct. If none of them are, you can add your own corrected entry.

    Some people don't pay any mind to their macros, so when they add an entry they won't be careful about those numbers. Other people only count macros, not calories, so they may not be careful with the total calorie number. Different goals, different priorities.

    Calories for weight loss.
    Macros for satiety, fitness, and health.

    Do yours add up though? I can't understand it really

    Yes, allowing for some small rounding errors, because I check that the database entries are correct before I log my food, and if none of them are, I create my own entry with the correct numbers. I guess can you be more specific of what you don't understand?
  • seska422
    seska422 Posts: 3,217 Member
    The calories and macros are independent values on nutritional info labels. Calories aren't calculated from macros and are rounded to the nearest 5 or 10. Macros are rounded to the nearest whole number.

    In addition, manufacturers have the choice to include all, half, or none of the calories from fiber depending upon the type of fiber. That can throw off the calories.

    It's all estimates anyway. Getting within 145 calories on a day where you ate 3188 calories is pretty much on the nose.
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    seska422 wrote: »
    The calories and macros are independent values on nutritional info labels. Calories aren't calculated from macros and are rounded to the nearest 5 or 10. Macros are rounded to the nearest whole number.

    In addition, manufacturers have the choice to include all, half, or none of the calories from fiber depending upon the type of fiber. That can throw off the calories.

    It's all estimates anyway. Getting within 145 calories on a day where you ate 3188 calories is pretty much on the nose.

    That's a great point that I didn't think of. 145 cals would be big for me eating 1500 cals, but yeah, for over 3000 it's not that big of a deal!
  • callumwalker1995
    callumwalker1995 Posts: 389 Member
    seska422 wrote: »
    The calories and macros are independent values on nutritional info labels. Calories aren't calculated from macros and are rounded to the nearest 5 or 10. Macros are rounded to the nearest whole number.

    In addition, manufacturers have the choice to include all, half, or none of the calories from fiber depending upon the type of fiber. That can throw off the calories.

    It's all estimates anyway. Getting within 145 calories on a day where you ate 3188 calories is pretty much on the nose.

    Should I just try and hit macros then and just casually take noteof the calories whether I'm in the ballpark or not?
  • seska422
    seska422 Posts: 3,217 Member
    edited July 2016
    seska422 wrote: »
    The calories and macros are independent values on nutritional info labels. Calories aren't calculated from macros and are rounded to the nearest 5 or 10. Macros are rounded to the nearest whole number.

    In addition, manufacturers have the choice to include all, half, or none of the calories from fiber depending upon the type of fiber. That can throw off the calories.

    It's all estimates anyway. Getting within 145 calories on a day where you ate 3188 calories is pretty much on the nose.

    Should I just try and hit macros then and just casually take noteof the calories whether I'm in the ballpark or not?
    Don't overthink it. Do what makes you comfortable. As was said above:
    kimny72 wrote: »
    Calories for weight loss.
    Macros for satiety, fitness, and health.
    Calories are also for weight gain, since you are bulking.

    If you like watching the macros, watch the macros. If you'd rather just watch the calories, watch the calories and make sure you are getting at least enough protein and fat.
  • callumwalker1995
    callumwalker1995 Posts: 389 Member
    seska422 wrote: »
    seska422 wrote: »
    The calories and macros are independent values on nutritional info labels. Calories aren't calculated from macros and are rounded to the nearest 5 or 10. Macros are rounded to the nearest whole number.

    In addition, manufacturers have the choice to include all, half, or none of the calories from fiber depending upon the type of fiber. That can throw off the calories.

    It's all estimates anyway. Getting within 145 calories on a day where you ate 3188 calories is pretty much on the nose.

    Should I just try and hit macros then and just casually take noteof the calories whether I'm in the ballpark or not?
    Don't overthink it. Do what makes you comfortable. As was said above:
    kimny72 wrote: »
    Calories for weight loss.
    Macros for satiety, fitness, and health.
    Calories are also for weight gain, since you are bulking.

    If you like watching the macros, watch the macros. If you'd rather just watch the calories, watch the calories and make sure you are getting at least enough protein and fat.

    Thanks it's just really annoying I mean I'm already trying to be more accurate by tracking in the first place but then even that is inaccurate!
  • AkersT79
    AkersT79 Posts: 7 Member
    The 4-4-9 rule for macros to calories is actually just a estimate, it's a general range or guideline. The only way to accurately assess the caloric value of an item is to analyze it, since most of us everyday people do not have the means to do so the 4-4-9 rule was created. Additionally, food labels are just an estimate as well. Some food companies test their product for nutrient content, some use the USDA database others use their vendor provided data or any combination these methods. Each new ingredient added to the item compounds rounding error and variations making the data slightly skewed. My point being that the label is a general guideline and if you meet your goal on paper daily know that overtime the variations all average out. One day you may be off on calories but ok on macros and the next may be reverse but overall the average should be on point.
  • callumwalker1995
    callumwalker1995 Posts: 389 Member
    AkersT79 wrote: »
    The 4-4-9 rule for macros to calories is actually just a estimate, it's a general range or guideline. The only way to accurately assess the caloric value of an item is to analyze it, since most of us everyday people do not have the means to do so the 4-4-9 rule was created. Additionally, food labels are just an estimate as well. Some food companies test their product for nutrient content, some use the USDA database others use their vendor provided data or any combination these methods. Each new ingredient added to the item compounds rounding error and variations making the data slightly skewed. My point being that the label is a general guideline and if you meet your goal on paper daily know that overtime the variations all average out. One day you may be off on calories but ok on macros and the next may be reverse but overall the average should be on point.

    Thanks mate yeah I just it wantit to be accurate that's all as it's my character that's all