Goal macros vs diary macros

jpatton8737
jpatton8737 Posts: 6 Member
edited November 2024 in Getting Started
Why are they different? I look at the goal settings and they differ greatly from the diary goal break down each day. Why is this?

Replies

  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I'm not sure what you mean...
  • seska422
    seska422 Posts: 3,217 Member
    Are you talking about the pie chart? That shows what you've eaten so far today and the diary goal shows what you aim toward having after the day is complete.

    If the first thing you enter is sugar that you put in your morning coffee, the pie chart will show 100% carbs even though it might just be 20 calories.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    The free version of MFP bases macros on percentages. When you are looking at the goal page, you are seeing the grams as calculated on the base calorie goal. In your diary, the grams change when you log exercise. The exercise adds calories to your base goal and then that changes the grams.

    Example:

    Base calorie goal = 1500 calories
    If carbs are set at 30%, your goal carb grams are
    1500*.3 = 500 calories
    500 calories/4 calories per gram of carbs = 112.5 grams
    113 grams of carbs

    Add 200 calories of exercise to get a goal of 1700 calories and your carb gram goal goes up:
    1700*.3 = 510
    510/4 = 127.5
    128 grams carbs
  • jpatton8737
    jpatton8737 Posts: 6 Member
    That's why I'm seeing the difference here? 8e0mp7yxydhi.png
    fdxvgysb51sk.png
  • jpatton8737
    jpatton8737 Posts: 6 Member
    So to get the goals to stick at the proper number I've got to upgrade? Seems hard to plan your meals and macros if it's going to be changing like that.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    Your normal goals are 90g carbs/33g fat/135g protein. When you add in exercise calories, you get to eat more and those calories get dispersed across your macros in the same percentages.
  • seska422
    seska422 Posts: 3,217 Member
    edited December 2016
    jpatton8737 wrote: »
    So to get the goals to stick at the proper number I've got to upgrade? Seems hard to plan your meals and macros if it's going to be changing like that.

    You could either not enter your exercise or enter it but change the calories burned to 1 calorie so that it won't change your goals.

    MFP is designed for you to add exercise calories. It sometimes overestimates so some people only add back 50-75% of exercise calories shown.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    I know my protein and fat goals in grams. For me, I follow straight gram goals and as long as I hit those two minimums I do not care if I go above them. So I hit protein, fat, calories, and my carbs fall in place.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    jpatton8737 wrote: »
    That's why I'm seeing the difference here? 8e0mp7yxydhi.png
    fdxvgysb51sk.png

    Uhhh....did you exercise?
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    Wait...you're a 36 year old male set to 1200 calories?
  • CyberTone
    CyberTone Posts: 7,337 Member
    jpatton8737 wrote: »
    So to get the goals to stick at the proper number I've got to upgrade? Seems hard to plan your meals and macros if it's going to be changing like that.

    Your profile indicates you are male. The MFP Guided Goals should not go below 1500 for males. If you have set it to 1200 Calories per day, that is too low, and you run a greater risk of not only losing fat, but losing lean body tissue, such as muscle mass, which includes your heart. I would strongly urge you to not endanger your heart health by setting such a low daily Calorie goal.
  • jpatton8737
    jpatton8737 Posts: 6 Member
    Yes I'm a 36 year old male - I'm cutting extreme right now just for the next 6 lbs. once I hit my goal I'll be reversing my intake to hopefully build muscle mass with minimal fat gain. I'd like to get down to about 14-16% body fat.
  • CyberTone
    CyberTone Posts: 7,337 Member
    jpatton8737 wrote: »
    Yes I'm a 36 year old male - I'm cutting extreme right now just for the next 6 lbs. once I hit my goal I'll be reversing my intake to hopefully build muscle mass with minimal fat gain. I'd like to get down to about 14-16% body fat.

    I am 55, 5'8", 147lbs, and about 17% estimated body fat per a Fitbit Aria scale (which I know is not exactly accurate). My BMR is 1470 and my Sedentary maintenance is 1830. I average 2100 Calories In (eating) and have a Fitbit Charge 2 that helps me estimate my Calories Out (moving) so I *net* 1830 to maintain. If I *net* fewer than 1800 Calories per day, I lose weight.

    There is little long-term benefit to cutting Calories In (eating) below a person's BMR if one wants to maintain lean body mass. It is possible to lose fat and maintain lean body mass while eating at a reasonable deficit.

    I would suggest you read through this post about Recomposition.

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10177803/recomposition-maintaining-weight-while-losing-fat
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    did you program any kind of custom goals in? if i go to my actual profile, I see my custom goals for the day; but if i go to the goals page, it tries to give me the default goals for my age/weight etc
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