Question from a person who recently started this journey

Ms_Blondie

I've been wondering something and I was hoping someone could answer it for me. If you stay under your calorie limit for the day but go over a little on your fats or sugar, is that okay or should you be staying under those to?

Avalonis

I've been wondering something and I was hoping someone could answer it for me. If you stay under your calorie limit for the day but go over a little on your fats or sugar, is that okay or should you be staying under those to?

While you are in losing mode, you are fine going a little over on fats and sugars.

Research has shown over and over that macronutrients (within reason) don't matter for weight loss, what matters is total calorie intake/output.

Keep in mind, eating all cheeseburgers or candy will cause you to crave more, and feel like you are starving to death. Plus, you probably won't feel very good, and suffer from malnutrition over long term.

But as far as losing weight goes, a little over on a particular macro won't really matter.

*Edit* If you start trying to be a bodybuilder or get "ripped", Macros DO start to matter, and you really need to pay attention to them then. Thats not your scenario yet though

GypsyRose25

I wouldn't really worry all that much if you go over your fat or sugar. As long as you are trying to eat healthy and are within range for your calories, you should be fine.

alecta337

It depends on the kind of fats and sugars.

If the fat is saturated or trans fats then its bad. But not as bad if the fats are from something healthy like peanut butter, avocado, or any nuts.

Tracking sugars is stupid on MFP because there is no differentiation between refined sugars and sugars from fruits. If all your sugar is from fruits then just ignore it. Dont stop eating fruit because its high in sugar!!

yanicka

I would say start with the big stuff first. Calories in vs calories out. When this become easier it won't feel as overwhelming to take care of the micro nutrients

ratherbeskiing

I can honestly tell u I have gone over on my sugar and protein every day.I think it because A) I eat a lot of meat-chicken steak I love meat and Greek yogurt. and because I allow myself to have 1 - 100 cal or under treat every day. It could be a popcicle or a 100 cal cookie or brownie but they tend to contain sugar. Along with natural sugar in fruit I am always over. I am sure that if I did not allow myself the treat a day I would not go over and probably lose more weight but it is the one things that keeps me happy.

Atlantique

I've been wondering something and I was hoping someone could answer it for me. If you stay under your calorie limit for the day but go over a little on your fats or sugar, is that okay or should you be staying under those to?

It's just about impossible to stay under your sugars unless you don't eat any fruit or dairy. I ignore the sugar limit, although I'm careful about added sugars. I don't find it difficult to stay under on fats most of the time, and MFP doesn't have a crazy limit on those.

If you just started out, don't try to change everything at once. You'll just make yourself crazy. When I started, I just tried to stay on calorie limits for a week or so, and then slowly made other changes. A change every week or two is fine and gives you time to wrap your head around them.

rat70

I don't pay much (any?) attention to individual nutrients. My focus is on eating a wide variety of high quality foods. I am over on sugar every day and a little over on fat most days. I am nearly at my sugar 'limit' by the end of breakfast eating just 1/2 cup muesli and 1/2 a banana. I don't even need to have a 'treat' to be over. Just another piece of fruit will do it. Check out my diary if you are interested. Give simply keeping under your calorie goal a go for a while and tweak things if you need to would be my advice. Make sure, though, that you are eating well and not feeling hungry.