Yes I peak at your food diary and must ask you...

anfmusicgrl

IDK...but if they are doing okay achieving whatever goals it is they are aiming for, unless they are asking for advice...live and let live? Or..maybe they are monitoring it...and that is an improvement from their prior choices?

Some people track their sodium, and revolve their lives around that, or some track their sugar, and revolve their decisions are that. Moral of the story is, though, that all people are different...and even though some people choose to cut things out of their lives, others either simply have found a balance of foods they can live with, or just have not discovered the effects of certain things on them..

Example: I hate artificial sweeteners aka high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, splenda, etc. My step mother passed away at 47 from a stroke. Artificial sweeteners are linked to a much higher stroke risk...and considering she drank diet sodas and teas daily for years....I tend to believe those studies. I'd much rather have some real organic sugar, than that crap. However, many others choose to drink diet soda all day. That is their prerogative. Not mine.

Another example, is the fact that I choose organic milk, cheeses, meats, and pretty much everything else I can find that is organic. THIS is due to my mother developing a rare cancer (Leiomyosarcoma) at age 49. She was incredibly healthy until then. For some, switching from chips, to lettuce is enough. For me, I think not just along the lines of "how many calories are in this"...I think "how pure is this, how much of this is genetically modified, has hormones, is it contaminated by the pesticides?" Again, it is a matter of what matters to ME. What matters to me, does not necessarily matter to everyone. Of course, people would benefit from switching to organic, or cutting out sugars, or whatever topic we might be talking about...but to each their own.

If you are very curious, just come out and ask them instead of posting a topic? Perhaps they aren't aware of how sugar affects their body/

alyson820

Because I just don't care.

susannamarie

I track protein, fat, carbohydrates, fiber, and potassium -- because when I'm low in fiber and potassium I notice the effects, and sugar is counted under carbohydrates anyway.

vjrose

I am way more concerned about carbs since the sugar from treats is a very small part of my diet, I do check it daily on my phone app but the macros I track are those that affect me and have been shown by research to have a real measureable effect on weight loss. I have no indications in blood work or tests of diabetes so I would rather focus on weight loss.

Captain_Tightpants

All the sugars I get are monitored in the carbs

Lolli1986

I sometimes switch between sugar and fibre. I usually KNOW when i'm getting to much sugar, but I'm not so good at knowing when i'm getting too little fibre. I track sugar when I am specifically trying to decrease my sugar intake.

For all the people saying they don't notice sugar making a difference to their weight loss............ you do understand that sugar is glucose and glucose is the molecule involved in creating energy (ATP to ADP). If glucose is freely available in your bloodstream, your body will use that glucose for energy instead of a) using glycogen stored in muscles etc, and b) breaking down the fatty deposits and using that for energy.

Weight loss is entirely centred around trying to USE the potential energy stored in those fatty deposits, thereby decreasing their size and YOUR WEIGHT.

There are no ifs or buts about it - sugar does affect your weight loss.

christina0089

I prefer to montior my macros fallowed by cholesterol as hear disease and hight cholesterol runs in my family. Also since I track my carbs its kinda on target with the sugar. If my carbs are on or under target then I tend not to worry over it much. That and I really don't use sugar for much of anything. I have switched to splenda

GG70

I am trying to figure things out for MYSELF and learning from others in the process.. There are many people who don't track certain things and I just simply like to know why.. ( in a behind the scenes way.. NOT at all in a judgmental way. We are all learning and growing in our lives.. no need to be mean or have an attitude. We all look at each other's diaries.. I just wanted to throw it out there and get a variety of ideas.. maybe shed light on some things for ME.. I do appreciate all the ideas.. and absolutely whatever works for you, do it! I wish you all health and happiness! : )

pukekolive

I monitor my sugar at the moment because I have a sweet tooth but am about to take it off my macros/micros as I'm aware when I go over with refined sugar - other things interest me more such as sodium and fibre.

The only reason I monitored it was to see if I felt better when my sugar was stabilised (I am not diabetic) and I do - no sugar cravings and I don't look for chocolate/ cakes

MomSof4

I agree with the fruit "sugar" .... If I know I am eating more fruit and less crap - that is what seems to be working for me

firesoforion

Not enough columns. I want to monitor my iron, and I've switched the last column among a few other options, and currently it's sodium.

DonnaRe2012

I added sugar at first just to see what I was consuming.

PaleoPath4Lyfe

Because I haven't found sugar to make a difference in my weight loss or my overall health (based on bloodwork and how I feel). I do tons of long endurance-type cardio, and to be honest - my best workouts are often fueled by jellybeans. :-)

Blood work won't show the signs of inflammation until after it has set in, which could be years from now.

HorrorChix89

Because I already monitor protein, sodium, iron and calories...taking away my sugar will just cause me to hurt you in various ways.

PaleoPath4Lyfe

I do. I don't always come in under. I mainly monitor my sodium though. I often wonder why more people don't monitor that.

That is another thing I don't have to worry about monitoring since I cut out all processed foods also.

Fresh meat, eggs, fruits and vegetables have natural occurring salt and sodium, so need to monitor.

Wherethebleepisourstork

Because I think it's silly that a kiwi, a banana, and a sweet potato will put me 'over' on sugar. And, I just really don't care.

I agree!!!

PaleoPath4Lyfe

Because the sugar monitor on here is immensely inaccurate. You should be watching refined sugars but a lot of my sugar comes from fruit.

I'm definitely more preoccupied with iron and sodium.

You should also watch how much "natural" sugar you consume also. It is metabolized the same as refined sugar and can lead to chronic inflammation in the future.

amandammmq

Because I think it's silly that a kiwi, a banana, and a sweet potato will put me 'over' on sugar. And, I just really don't care.

Exactly this! If a meal plan doesn't allow me to eat a banana and an orange in the same day, something is a bit off on the sugar limits, in my opinion!

MissFit0101

because it doesn't matter to me

kissy28wv

I do monitor my sugar intake but for the most part its fruit or a glass of lowfat milk that sets me over and I am ok with that.

Elf_Princess1210

I try to. Sometimes I'm on the go, so fast food is the only chance I have to eat and that can affect my sugar intake.

1953Judith

Salt and potassium records have provided me with a ton of information to control my blood pressure. Sallty foods are a bigger source of non-nutritional calories for me than refined sugar. My blood pressure is spiked more by salty foods than stress. I watch potassium because I have had medically defined lows several times (not good). At some point I may wish to look at my sugar levels, but I haven't seen the need in year that I have belonged to MFP.

prism6

I can only keep count of so many things at once. I am losing now,when that slows down,I will have something to switch up..

MommyLyssa

I find myself agreeing with almost every post! Haha There are many reasons I don't track it.
Because I like to track other things and see where I fall.
Because I like sugar and would die without it. Lol
Because I eat fruit and watching it go over because of that annoys me
Because I got tired of it being red
Because I figure it is tracked enough in the carb spot, although I change that one up too, because I don't really watch carbs.
Because...

Oh, p.s. Just in case someone pokes my my diary, note that all the low days were because I was dying. Not because I normally eat that little. Ha! I doubt people will go digging, but I thought I would post this little disclaimer anyway

tiffnkailey

Well I just joined. And haven't really figured out a food plan. Just winging it and trying to eat natural foods. Hopefully I will learn more as time goes on.

hubkal

because the "sugar" on here is not broke down into "good sugar" and "bad sugar (white table sugar) if we all stopped eating milk, and fruit then we would never go over on our sugars! I learned that from my dietitian. It was nice having this tool to look at, she told me to hide it. worry about carbs, sodium, fiber, and protein. ALSO MFP sets your protein TOO LOW as well! I almost always go over in protein!

SoozeE512

Sugars are a subcategory of carbs and are monitored under the carbs section!!

I thought so too at first, until I started tracking sugars and realized that while I could be way under on carbs, I was always way over on sugars. I think TOTAL Carbs is what we'd like to be seeing, but instead we're seeing that "other carbs" category - if you look at a cereal box, you'll see what I'm talking about. Fiber + Sugar + Carbs = Total Carbs.

I haven't stopped tracking my sugars since.

But everyone has their own priorities depending on the weaknesses they need to keep in check - I feel like my biggest weakness is sugars so I am one of those people who do track that. I do check other things from time to time, like sodium or cholesterol but usually those numbers are at a reasonable number for me, not too high, not too low, so I'm really not too worried about those for myself.

LilRedRooster

Sometimes, an Oreo Blast from Sonic produces faster runs the next day.

ElPumaMex

Sugars are a subcategory of carbs and are monitored under the carbs section!!

^^^ This

sleepytexan

I've never had a problem with sugar in my life.

I've always been within healthy weight range for my height, even at my highest (12 lbs. ago), and I enjoy sugar, even plan to allow calories for sweets consumption multiple times a day (gasp!).

I work out 6 days a week, and I have an athletic body fat percentage.

That's why not.