Staying Below The Numbers

kt_kat_88
kt_kat_88 Posts: 74 Member
in Food and Nutrition
What is the amount of mg/g to stay under when you are trying to watch your carbs, sodium, cholesterol and fat?

Replies

  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    edited August 2018
    I look at fat and protein as minimums and try to go over those numbers. Sodium and carbs fall where they may. I don't have any medical conditions that require monitoring either of those (actually my blood pressure tends to run a bit low, so higher sodium is fine for me). Everyone is different and you will find that some combinations work better than others for keeping you full.

    Here's a great guideline on setting up your targets:

    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/819055/setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets/p1
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    You don't have to be *below* any of them (unless your medical professionals tell you differently).
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,089 Member
    If there is a medical reason for you to limit any of those things, your doctor should give you a specific maximum number, or should you refer you to a registered dietician who can give you those numbers and (bonus) help you in selecting foods and an eating plan that will help you to achieve those goals.
  • kt_kat_88
    kt_kat_88 Posts: 74 Member
    Yes my doctor told me to watch my intake of all of them but only gave me numbers for the carbs. So maybe I just need to stay below the default amount then?
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    Doctor directed is different. Can you get a referral to a registered dietician? They would be able to give you some more specific and guided support.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    kt_kat_88 wrote: »
    Yes my doctor told me to watch my intake of all of them but only gave me numbers for the carbs. So maybe I just need to stay below the default amount then?

    If your doctor is telling you to "watch" your intake, you should follow up with them to find out exactly what they have in mind. Does it mean the default number for everyone, do you need to limit it more, etc?

  • tcunbeliever
    tcunbeliever Posts: 8,219 Member
    If your doctor only gave you a specific number for carbs, the focus on that one first...I'm sure he will get more specific for the others if he doesn't see results with that change.
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,089 Member
    kt_kat_88 wrote: »
    Yes my doctor told me to watch my intake of all of them but only gave me numbers for the carbs. So maybe I just need to stay below the default amount then?

    If it were me, I would call the doctor's office and tell them that she or he told you to watch sodium, cholesterol, and fat, but that the doctor didn't give you specific advice on how much you should consume, and ask if she or he can give you that information, or give it to the nurse/patient coordinator or whomever could pass it on to you. Vague advice like that is pretty worthless. What would you think if the doctor gave you a prescription to take "some" of medicine X, but didn't provide a dosage amount?
  • pinuplove
    pinuplove Posts: 12,871 Member
    I'm a nosy *kitten*, especially when it comes to my health, so I'd be all over the doctor's office for the how's and why's. And then I'd research online (tsk tsk Dr. Google is bad, I know). Then I'd act accordingly. RD referral is a great idea!
  • elsie6hickman
    elsie6hickman Posts: 3,864 Member
    That's a really good question, because my Dr. tells me to watch calories and carbs, but has never mentioned to me anything about protein. Right now I am just using what MFP is specifying for my 1200 calories a day. I'm sure my cardiologist would have something to say about fats and sodium. I guess that is one of my pet peeves about the medical community. They tell you to "watch" something, but they don't seem to quantify it so I know what I am doing.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    edited August 2018
    When they say “watch” I interpret that to mean to not exceed the RDA, for those items that have one. Best to ask.
    PS Remember, most doctors aren’t nutrition experts

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