I need help with macros!

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rose313
rose313 Posts: 1,146 Member
edited December 2024 in Food and Nutrition
My goals are set to 40/30/30 but my daily goal is 151 carbs, 50 fat, 113 protein...are those numbers not 40/30/30 because a gram is a different size for each item?

Replies

  • dr3wman
    dr3wman Posts: 205
    Yea it should automatically be set to the correct values. The difference in protein and fats at the same percentage is due to the fact a gram of fat is 9 calories, while a gram of protein is 4.
  • rose313
    rose313 Posts: 1,146 Member
    Yea it should automatically be set to the correct values. The difference in protein and fats at the same percentage is due to the fact a gram of fat is 9 calories, while a gram of protein is 4.
    Awesome, thank you! How many calories is a gram of carbs?
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    4 cals per gram fr protein and carbs, 9 for fat
  • dr3wman
    dr3wman Posts: 205
    4, just like Protein. So-- Carb:4 kcal, Protein:4 kcal, Fat:9 kcal
  • rose313
    rose313 Posts: 1,146 Member
    Great! MFP is so good at doing the math for me so I don't have to. But I still get curious as to the "why" behind it.
  • dr3wman
    dr3wman Posts: 205
    Great! MFP is so good at doing the math for me so I don't have to. But I still get curious as to the "why" behind it.

    The "why" behind why a gram of fat is 9 calories instead of 4? The easy version is just that a gram of fat contains more energy then a gram of carbs or protein (a calorie is a unit of energy). In a test that is done to measure calories (caloromitry), you pretty much light food on fire and see how much remains after a time period. So think of fat as a very dense, thick molecule that is alot harder for your body to burn than a protein or carb
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