which is worse

leomom72

so, when i first started, i was only watching cals, but then, i realized i needed to watched fat as well, i was doing ok..then it was brought to my attention many times ( even tho i didn't remember it till recently ) about my sodium. i added that to my diary to keep an eye on, and now, all my food is getting thrown off..calories are no big deal, they are easy to gain back, but what should i try watching more..fat or sodium ? it seems as if i eat my cals and fats, they are ok, but my sodium is thru the roof...HELP !! or, if you have any ideas on low sodium meals, thats great too..i appreciate the help

( sorry, i hope this makes sense..i am trying to multitask )

Clonekuh

Both are delicious, but I would try to limit sodium more and eat healthy fats. I think fats are a good part of the diet.

rosieflo

I think it is dependent on your needs. For me, since I struggle with high blood pressure, I try to watch the sodium. I also struggle with diabetes, so i watch my sugar. I think this is where the help of your doctor is so beneficial. Ask you doctor or make an appt with a dietician.

Clonekuh

Also, what kind of food are you eating that is super high sodium? I think if you try to add more lean meats like chicken or turkey it could help you keep both fat and sodium in control.

Natalie0506

You definately need to watch your salt intake more than your fat intake. Good fats are good for you, but there is no good salt. And to watch your intake, make most of your food from scratch, and don't add salt. Don't eat pre packaged food, especiall the frozen stuff. It's all full of junk.

King_Bee

My health coach told me to stay away from packaged meats, even the "healthy" turkey breast can be high in sodium because of what they use to package it I guess.


***Yea, what Natalie said.

debdptg

No food is good or bad (except chocolate, which is both). I think the idea is balance and moderation. So, find some low fat foods that you enjoy, and some lower sodium foods - and mix them up. Think long term...

potluck965

Which foods are you using that are so high in sodium? I eat just regular food and have no trouble staying well below the MFP sodium limits. If you are using a lot of prepared foods then that;s where your problem may be.

It's not so much that you need to make low sodium meals, it is that you need to NOT make high sodium meals.

dave4d

Sodium makes you retain water, so it will affect scale weight. I don't think it hinders fat loss so much, but it will affect your scale weight. If you are prone to high blood pressure, you should limit sodium as much as possible. Stay away from processed foods, and restaurants. Even most sauces, and flavorings will probably put you over on your sodium, so be careful with what you use to flavor your food. Sometimes there are lower sodium options out there.

Fats, as long as they are healthy fats are ok, but should be kept in a reasonable range. The problem with fats is that they are laden with calories. It is easy to go over your calories with fats.

Sugars is another area you will want to watch. Too much sugar can be bad for you. Try to get most of your sugars from fruits, and avoid processed sugars.

lmr9

I think you should watch them all. Personally, I watch the following things on my daily diary: calories, fat, carbs, protein, and sodium. I try to keep them all in check and under the limits. For me it was trial and error trying to find the right mix of foods. Like others have said, processed foods and "diet" foods are super high in sodium, and usually aren't good for you, so try to cut those out, as much as possible. If there is a low sodium option for anything, I buy that (soup, lunch meat, even canned veggies have a "no salt added" option).

What I've found helps me the most is trying to eat as "clean" as possible. I know there is a whole diet around "clean eating" - which I do not follow all the way, but I do try to eat things in their most natural form. Fruits, veggies, lean meats, egg whites, nuts, wheat pasta, olive oil. No fried foods, gravy, or crap like that. Water, water, water!!! No sodas (diet or regular). I pretty much only drink water, green or black tea, coffee, and the occasional beer or wine. Also, I try to avoid artificial sweeteners. I use real cream and sugar in my coffee.

It's amazing how much (volume) food you can eat when it's fruits and vegetables!

Also - cook at home - you can never control what you are really eating when you eat out. I don't understand why, but restaurants add in excess, unnecessary oil, butter, and salt to the foods they cook Sucks, but it's true.

To answer your question directly - fat or sodium? - as long as you aren't eating a lot of bad fats (fried foods, cheeseburgers, excessive amounts of butter or oil, etc.), I would watch sodium more than fat.

Okay, that's my two cents. Thanks for listening! Good luck! :laugh: :flowerforyou: :drinker: