What exactly am I supposed to do on a day like this?

drwaddy
drwaddy Posts: 50 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I've been trying to eat cleaner and cleaner over the last month, getting away from fast food as much as possible, although I still love it... But, now I'm hitting my protein requirement and my carb requirement and coming in almost 1000 calories short for the day... Do I just go eat a stick of butter?

Replies

  • _Waffle_
    _Waffle_ Posts: 13,049 Member
    1 gram of protein per pound of body weight is fine. MFP's generic assessment of how much protein you need is far short of what's typical for people who live an active healthy lifestyle should be having. Unless you have a medical condition that prevents you from having too much protein then you can have more. What I work on is filling my protein goal, then I sort of let the carbs and fat just fall where then may. If you're making halfway good choices on food you'll end up filling the other two buckets pretty much on their own. Don't stress if they're not exactly perfect.

    I have my personal goal set at 40% carbs, 35% protein, and 25% fat. You can change yours by going to "Goals", then click the green "Change Goals" button. Next select "Custom".
  • Ilikelamps
    Ilikelamps Posts: 482 Member
    McDonald's drive thru
  • drwaddy
    drwaddy Posts: 50 Member
    I think I'm at 35% protein 40% fat and 25% carbs. I'm 220 LBM so I have 215 on there, but even if I go eat a couple shrimp and get my 220 I'm still 800 under with my hour of workout I don't record that puts me at around 1800 deficit for the day?
  • BrainyBurro
    BrainyBurro Posts: 6,129 Member
    I think I'm at 35% protein 40% fat and 25% carbs. I'm 220 LBM so I have 215 on there, but even if I go eat a couple shrimp and get my 220 I'm still 800 under with my hour of workout I don't record that puts me at around 1800 deficit for the day?

    forget trying to stick to silly ratios.

    determine your minimum daily goal for fats (as a function of your bodyweight) and your minimum daily goal for protein (as a function of your bodyweight, BF%, and strength training goals) and hit those absolute numbers. once you do that, you can eat any combination of fat/protein/carbs you want with the remaining calories.

    this little blog summarizes how to determine those and even how to convert them to ratios just to make your MFP settings consistent, but i honestly only ever look at absolute numbers myself.
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/BrainyBurro/view/setting-your-mfp-macros-a-quick-easy-example-663914
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    I've been trying to eat cleaner and cleaner over the last month, getting away from fast food as much as possible, although I still love it... But, now I'm hitting my protein requirement and my carb requirement and coming in almost 1000 calories short for the day... Do I just go eat a stick of butter?

    Butter works. But in addition you could add two baked potatoes and top with cheese and broccoli.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    I've been trying to eat cleaner and cleaner over the last month, getting away from fast food as much as possible, although I still love it... But, now I'm hitting my protein requirement and my carb requirement and coming in almost 1000 calories short for the day... Do I just go eat a stick of butter?
    Not unless you season it well. :bigsmile:

    Seriously, eat some calorie dense foods: peanut butter, nuts, avacado, oils (cook with it, don't eat it straight. :bigsmile: ), legumes, etc. There's no reason you should come 1,000 calories under. Sometime we screw up our macros too, just try to come as close as you can.
  • kirili3
    kirili3 Posts: 244 Member
    If you're eating over 1200, then that should be fine. Especially if it's just one day when you don't feel so hungry. No need to force it.
  • LunaStar2008
    LunaStar2008 Posts: 155 Member
    If I am under my goal I take the deficit. If I am not hungry and I am at a deficit, I take the deficit. Maybe you are more hungry the next day and need that deficit to stay in your weekly goal.

    Why encouraging to eat something if you are not hungry?? Or do I miss read this threat.....:grumble:
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    80% clean, whatever that means to you.

    20% unclean and tasty and enjoyable and sustainable, ect, whatever that means to you.

    And indeed, 1 day not bad if not hungry yet, your workout may want the repair later, in which case hungry tomorrow.

    In which case, just as you are willing to miss goal today by being under, be willing to go over tomorrow to balance out.

    To many are willing to miss under, but not go over to balance out, thinking bigger is better - when it's not.
  • feliscatus84
    feliscatus84 Posts: 80 Member
    I looked at your diary and noticed that you drink low fat milk and such. Adding fats like avocado, full fat cheese, full fat sour cream, full fat salad dressings, olive oil, nuts, whole milk, etc will boost up your fat intake/calories and also help keep you satiated. I notice I can stay full for hours if I include a good amount of fats and protein with just enough carb.

Categories