How many people drive themselves crazy with watching sodium

mfrano

OK so I am always below on my calorie count and tend to keep my carbs and sugar at a decent level..however The sodium thing kills me! I do drink between 64 and 128 oz of water daily so if I am doing that do I really need to worry about the sodium? HELP!!!

heyitsmekatie

my sodium is always high too. i eat a lot of frozen food, prepared food, restaurant food, etc... so it's the price i pay for convenience.

MelissaL582

Watching my sodium has really helped me with my weight loss. When I grocery shop for myself, I stay away from the inner aisles. Restaurant food is so high in sodium- Subway is high in sodium. You're better off just eating at home.

Manda1987

I set my sodium goal lower than MFP gives. MFP adheres to the American standard of 2300 mg per day, but the Canadian Food Guide suggests much less: 1500 mg!

I do try to keep it below 1500, but if I go over I don't freak out, so long as I stay under 2300 mg.

The real reason why you need to watch your sodium intake is for your cardiovascular health. If you have a family history of heart problems or high blood pressure, you should really be careful about your sodium.

jaxcpotter

I watch the sodium simply because I strongly dislike waking up to an extra puffy face in the morning. For me it doesn't matter how much water I drink, I will bloat if my sodium is high. It is difficult to find convenience foods which are low in sodium. I agree with aznladie82, avoid the inner aisles.

ShellyMacchi

*LOL*
my husband just told me i HAD to add my name to this list ...
(seeing as i was just sitting here surfing restaurant sites for nutritional info, specifically looking for sodium info, and seeing as he and i just had quite a discussion about my 'new obsession' re sodium)

Both he and i have high blood pressure.. and in the past i 'thought' i was trying to watch my sodium intake and eating within limits.. but on joining mfp and adding the sodium tracker to my diary i can see all the hidden sodium and i have become obsessed with not going over 1500mg a day now.

i like to talk about my revelations to hubby and it's driving him nuts because even though he SHOULD care, he doesn't. BUT... when i told my Dr about this site and it allowing me to track sodium so much more completely now, he was thrilled!

dawny78

Sorry I'm new to all this how can sodium stop you loosing weight ?

ShellyMacchi

Sorry I'm new to all this how can sodium stop you loosing weight ?

too much sodium and you retain water... one of the fasted ways your weight goes up

Manda1987

It's all chemistry.

Your body tries to maintain a certain ratio of water/electrolytes. When your sodium levels go up, there's proportionally less water, so your body doesn't eliminate as much water as it normally would. That's when you put on water weight.

paigeski

I have such a hard time with sodium! For my job, they fly me out for 4 weeks at a time for work (I work on the oil rigs as a mudlogger/wellsite geologist) and I stay in a motel the whole time. The motel doesn't have a kitchen, just a microwave and fridge, so its been very hard for me with my sodium intake. I really can't help the sodium I eat, because I have no other option sometimes-either go out to eat or have a frozen dinner. I try to add more fruits, veggies, salads, etc..but after a while, I need something a little more filling. On my 2 weeks home, it's so much better!

Elle408

I'm never over on my sodium.... I'm not sure if the foods i'm logging have the sodium content correctly written in. I think we measure it differently in the UK so it's not showing up properly on the diary???

Anyways, having been a huge, major salt addict (Seriously, I put it on toast.. and pizza.) I have now stopped adding it to food, so I figure i've practically halved it anyway. And I drink more. So yeah, I'm gonna say that i'm good.

backinthenines

It all depends how active you are. If you do any kind of endurance activities you actually need salts to maintain a decent electrolyte balance.

The standard setting is based on a sedentary persons needs.

I ignore it.

Johnsjm

Here is something my dietician said to me. Too much sodium will cause swelling and water follows sodium. Therefore, it can greatly affect your weigtloss. MFP says 2500 of sodium per day, but ideally you should stay under 2 tsp or 2000 mg of sodium! Great alternatives are 1/2 the sodium iodized salt (if you really need salt), Mrs. Dash is a great seasoning back up along with garlic & onion. No matter what you eat from a box, frozen and even cheese has sodium due to preservatives. Avoid those high in sodium at all cost! If you pay attention when shopping you will find great low sodium choices, Jif all natural low sodium tastes great & is better for you, greek yogurt in place of sour cream is a great alternative, A good rule of thumb is sodium should be 1/2 the calories listed on the item. As one other reply stated, even subway has sodium so no place really is safe to eat out.

No matter how much water you drink to flush the sodium, it still greatly affects your body.

I decided to have pizza one night as a family fun friday night. Couldn't decided where to get the pizza, I figured the bake & take kind from the grocery store would be the healthiest. After spending 1 hour reading the labels on frozen pizzas and the fresh bake & take pizzas, and making the pizza from scratch, I quickly realized my sodium was going to be through the roof. I decided to run to dominos and read their ingredients. Too my surprise, it was the "healthiest" way to go, by that I mean, less calories, less sodium & less fat, if you order the basic dough, basic sauce and pepperoni only. Not what I expected, but it makes sense, the more fresh ingredients, the less preservatives!

dawny78

So how do i measure this and how do i get the level down to what it needs to be ??

Ely82010

I do drive myself, and my husband, crazy watching the sodium especially when eating out. I have given up some seafood restaurants and food because of the sodium, and I only buy low sodium canned beans (which I also rinse before using), and tomatoes. I try to use fresh or frozen vegetables for my meals as much as possible, and I read the labels. No more cottage cheese for me until I find a lower sodium brand, no pizza, no pre-packaged food unless they are below 600-500 mg of sodium, no added salt in my meals. Just lots of other seasoning. No chinese food or sushi, no fast food places.

I am usually between 500 and 1000 mg below my sodium limit everyday, but it takes lots of planning. There are many foods, not processed or canned, that are high in sodium so it is difficult to estimate until I enter everything in my diary. It is not easy but it is duable.

dawny78

So i'm thinking the noodle bar tea i had last night is why i put on a 1lb over night even though i was still under my cal intake for the day .

NOLAdy

I watch it now that my dad has been having liver problems, and developed diabetes. His diet has gotten so strict. I've been reading labels for a long time so it's just one more thing for me to look out for. And, I'm a salt person more than a sugar person. You get used to it, though.

ShellyMacchi

Too my surprise, it was the "healthiest" way to go, by that I mean, less calories, less sodium & less fat, if you order the basic dough, basic sauce and pepperoni only. Not what I expected, but it makes sense, the more fresh ingredients, the less preservatives!

i agree, it sure does pay to investigate and be aware!
i was just checking nutritional info on chain restaurant sites... and i was AMAZED to find i could have an individual perogy pizza (from Boston Pizza) for 1/2 the sodium i could have on just about any item on the 550 cal menu form applebees.

i just do NOT understand why restaurants cannot cook with less salt and leave it to the customer to add extra if they feel they need it... isn't that why there are salt shakers on the tables??

NOLAdy

i agree, it sure does pay to investigate and be aware!
i was just checking nutritional info on chain restaurant sites... and i was AMAZED to find i could have an individual perogy pizza (from Boston Pizza) for 1/2 the sodium i could have on just about any item on the 550 cal menu form applebees.

i just do NOT understand why reataurnats cannot cook with less salt and leave it to the customer to add extra if they feel they need it... isn't that why there are salt shakers on the tables??

I'm suprised Applebees is even as successful as it is. Or still open for that matter. It's got to be the most processed food at any restaurant. I got chicken once and I'm fairly certain it wasn't even a real chicken breast, but chicken parts used to form a breast.

dawny78

i just do NOT understand why restaurants cannot cook with less salt and leave it to the customer to add extra if they feel they need it... isn't that why there are salt shakers on the tables??
[/quote] very good idea i feel that this maybe one thing i need to watch ...i will be avoiding the noodle bar till i am down to the weight i want to be at .

SillySarah

It all depends how active you are. If you do any kind of endurance activities you actually need salts to maintain a decent electrolyte balance.

The standard setting is based on a sedentary persons needs.

I ignore it.

Same here.

I almost always go over my sodium intake each day by about 1000 mg. I am pretty active and I sweat a lot. But I drink a lot of water throughout the day and my blood pressure is healthy.

To the OP: Everyone is different. If your blood pressure is in a healthy range, you drink a lot of water, and if the food you are eating is minimally processed, I wouldn't worry about your sodium intake too much.

mfrano

I have been reading that Sodium is different for everyone so with that I am going to ignore the sodium tracker and focus on my calories, carbs and sugar..continue my workouts and drink plenty of water!

adorablechaos

Where do I find the sodium tracker?

Never mind...found it :blushing:

Crystals422

I have done really well lowering my sodium over that last two weeks. I do have high blood pressure so I know it is important to my health as well as weight loss. Mrs. Dash makes no salt spices so that is nice. Sodium is everywhere!! I make all my meals and try to stay under 1500 a day.

Crowhorse

I don't watch sodium at all. Not that concerned with it.

In fact, a while back, I was reading something that said people are waaaay too freaked out about it. It said that of the people with blood pressure, it's usually only a small fraction of that population that really has to worry about it. Wish I could find that report.

But do what you feel is safe.

mamagooskie

I closely watched my sodium for a few weeks and was able to keep it under 1500 but it was hard as I was sure sodium was a major reason for my lack of current weight loss and I drove myself crazy altering my foods for the day constantly to make it fit in, but I only ended up losing .2 lbs so for me it didn't make much of a difference for water retention or weight loss.

Lately I've eating how I used to and I almost never go over anyway unless it's a "cheat day" so I'm happy with my sodium as long as it's under 2500.

maggieschuck

I set my sodium goal lower than MFP gives. MFP adheres to the American standard of 2300 mg per day, but the Canadian Food Guide suggests much less: 1500 mg!

I do try to keep it below 1500, but if I go over I don't freak out, so long as I stay under 2300 mg.

The real reason why you need to watch your sodium intake is for your cardiovascular health. If you have a family history of heart problems or high blood pressure, you should really be careful about your sodium.

The USA just revisited the sodium intake standard. Its also down to 1500 mg per day. I was put on a low sodium diet by me Dr. because I have kidney issues. Its not hard to stay under the 1500. Its all about the choices you make. If you make most of your food, buy fresh foods and stay away from ham, bacon, fast food and crap foods, you'll be fine. Read all the labels, make your own foods, and cut back on pre-made (grab and go foods).

PrairieRoseNE

I drive myself AND my family crazy, but I have High Blood Pressure, so I have to be vigilant about reading labels.
What bugs me is the high amount of sodium in what one would consider "natural foods" - such as milk.
Doesn't matter the %'age of the milk either. Being female and in my 40's I was trying to get a healthy balance of Calcium & Vit. D from my foods, but everything dairy that I like is high in sodium. So now I take a Viactiv calcium chew to get at least 50% of my daily requirement of Calcium. Geesh - another "pill".......

gardea

So, I was getting frustrated cuz I wasn't losing any weight and haven't since about mid February. I joined MFP this week. I was doing great on my calorie intake levels and I was exercising a bunch, but I still hadn't lost even an ounce. Then I read about watching sodium intake. It wasn't on my list of levels, so I added. WOW!!! I was over mostly everyday or at least close to being over. I did this on Wednesday. Since Wednesday, I have lost 1.5 lbs. I think my problem was my sodium intake!!

WildcatMom82

I obsessssss over sodium! My baby eats what we eat and they can't process as much salt as we can, so I'm always trying to find healthy meals that are also low-sodium. Last week was a big old fail in that dept! I try not to worry about it if I go a little over since I've started running and sweat a TON (like dripping in the first 5-10 mins) but I don't want to overload her kidneys. Plus my b/p crept up quite a bit in college when I was living off dining hall food and frozen meals, I have no doubt it was a side effect of too much. Even not cooking with salt or adding it to anything doesn't always help!

Atlantique

i just do NOT understand why restaurants cannot cook with less salt and leave it to the customer to add extra if they feel they need it... isn't that why there are salt shakers on the tables??

very good idea i feel that this maybe one thing i need to watch ...i will be avoiding the noodle bar till i am down to the weight i want to be at .
[/quote]

Because they don't make much from scratch, and at chain restauarnts they don't make anything from scratch. It's all at least partially prepared before it is shipped to the restaurant. So yes, you're going to the chain restaurant to eat frozen food!