Sodium - does anyone else struggle with this metric?

Rhody_Hoosier

So I notice in my first couple weeks here that I am over on sodium early and often.

I'm struggling to manage a slight caloric deficit while also keeping the sodium under wraps.
My daily calorie intake is upwards of 2700-3000 depending on my activity.
I do log all my food, but only my cardio exercises. I am not logging any of my strength training which is 6 days a week.

Should sodium even be on the radar as a concern if I am pushing between 2.5 and 4 liters of water through my system every day?

What say you? Anyone else out there struggle with this?

cwolfman13

I'm hypertensive so I have to watch sodium...if it's a concern, eat more whole foods and less processed foods...less eating out, etc. Processed foods are laden with sodium as it preserves shelf life.

rankinsect

What's your blood pressure? If you have high blood pressure you might need to reduce sodium. If your blood pressure is fine, there's no real benefit to being low sodium.

Rhody_Hoosier

rankinsect wrote: »

What's your blood pressure? If you have high blood pressure you might need to reduce sodium. If your blood pressure is fine, there's no real benefit to being low sodium.

BP is in normal ranges on the lower side. Not an issue.

annacole94

I wouldn't worry about it. The way to eat less sodium is to eat less processed foods, and watch sauces (asian sauces are full of sodium... delicious sodium). It's not necessary unless you've been told it is.

Lillymoo01

I often go over on my sodium and I normally prepare my meals from scratch without adding salt. As my blood pressure was fine when it was checked a few months ago I have decided not to be overly concerned.

Christine_72

I only go over my sodium when i eat bacon or too much packet food. Are you eating a lot of either of these?

TH2017

Christine_72 wrote: »

I only go over my sodium when i eat bacon or too much packet food. Are you eating a lot of either of these?

This.

I love bacon but I am finding I will need to cut back on it due to the sodium. It sucks because it is a easy protein that helps me feel fuller longer.

Christine_72

Christine_72 wrote: »

I only go over my sodium when i eat bacon or too much packet food. Are you eating a lot of either of these?

I must learn how to do a screen shot without having my toolbar in the shot! Now everyone knows I'm obsessed with Reese witherspoon

bbell1985

I am so over on sodium. I salt everything. I can't even look anymore. I'm fine though, besides the water weight.

TonyB0588

Not usually a problem for me, but the last three days have all had unusual social activity, so there was a spike. back to "normal" eating from today.

Theo166

I don't trust the sodium tracking here because I usually pick a best guess food to represent what I've eaten, I can't bother with a new recipe every time I cook a pot.

The Beef Barley soup I make will have less sodium than the commercial brands in the database.

lorrpb

Long term overages on sodium can lead to high blood pressure. Going over once in a awhile isn't a problem for most people. Just because someone is high on sodium and "fine" today, doesn't mean they will be in 5, 10, or 20 years. That's why it's important to watch. Some conditions take a long time to develop. High BP and diabetes being two of them.

Machka9

Sodium - does anyone else struggle with this metric?

Some days it can be hard to get enough sodium, and I have to salt stuff. I've got my own salt shaker in my drawer at work now for my lunches.