Fiber, macros, and calories

lynn_glenmont

It's taken me a while to notice this, because I haven't yet mastered balancing all my macro goals for the day, but because package labels (in the U.S., anyway) apparently include fiber in total carbs but don't count them in figuring out calories, I can reach a point where I've met all my macro goals, but I still have 100 to 150 calories left, since MFP apparently assumes all my carb grams count as four calories. I'm wondering how other people deal with this -- do you calculate your carbs net of fiber, and treat that as your true carbs for meeting your macro goals? I know some people customize their macro goals, and I may eventually do this, but right now I'm just using the default percentages set by MFP, although I don't worry if I go over on protein, but that practically never happens.

Ophidion

Much better macros and how to set them up...

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

lynn_glenmont

Much better macros and how to set them up...

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

Thanks, I appreciate that information. But I'd still have the same problem, even if I changed my macro targets: What am I supposed to do when fiber consumption creates a significant discrepancy between meeting calorie goals and meeting macro goals? Do MFP and other macro target-setting systems intend for you to count fiber toward your carb targets?

Sarauk2sf

Much better macros and how to set them up...

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

Thanks, I appreciate that information. But I'd still have the same problem, even if I changed my macro targets: What am I supposed to do when fiber consumption creates a significant discrepancy between meeting calorie goals and meeting macro goals? Do MFP and other macro target-setting systems intend for you to count fiber toward your carb targets?

It depends on whether your primary focus is on calories or macros.

I have my macros as a range and hit those - if the calories are a bit under or over, that is fine. You can always look to hit your macros as minimums and just fill the rest to hit your calorie goal.

So, a kind of a non-answer. Just pic a method and try to be consistent.

ETA: fiber has calories - just not 4 cals per gram. Depending on the type, it averages about 2.5 cals per gram. So you would not net them in either case.

lynn_glenmont

Thanks, Sarauk2sf, that's helpful. And thanks for reminding me that the body does get some calories from fiber; somehow I had forgotten that in trying to make sense of the discrepancy between the macro targets and calorie targets. I just would have expected that if I hit my macro targets, I would be darn close to hitting my calorie target, since the macro targets are based on getting a certain percentage of your calories from each macro. Maybe it's the accumulation of all those half grams that MFP rounds consistently rounds up to the next whole gram.

Right now I have a combined 95 carb and protein grams left uneaten from my targets (and zero fat grams left, thanks to a bag of microwave popcorn in lieu of lunch -- but it kept me from being hungry all afternoon), and I'm 546 calories short of my daily allotment If I ate all of my remaining carb and protein grams (for 380 calories), I'd still have 166 calories left but no carb, fat, or protein allowances. --- Oh, I'm so stupid. Obviously MFP intends for me to drink those calories. That's about 24 grams of alcohol. I could have half a bottle of Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron, or about 5 ounces of the spiced apple wine that's open in the fridge. Decisions, decisions....

Sarauk2sf

^^lol

Do not be worried about going over on fats (or protein) - they really are a minimum. It's fine to go over on carbs also, but I usually try to limit those a little unless I am going to go to the gym, and then carbs may be a good choice. Or beer or wine

jaredpinney

I have been having the same problem lately!!! My fiber content definitely leaves me with at least 100 to even 200 calories left over just about every other day! I usually eat extra protein ... But this has been bugging me a lot lately lol:) happy to see I'm not the only one!