Fiber, Sugar, and Sodium

metalvegan

A bit of background - I've been vegan for nine years and meatless for about 20 (I'm 27). I've been on MFP for about 5 weeks, started off with really great, rapid weight loss and then in the last week and a half I've plateaued


So here's my issue:

I've looked back over my diary for the last several weeks and noticed that I am ALWAYS over my recommended sugar level... by a lot. I eat *some* treats, but not often, and I do eat a lot of fruit (plus soy yogurt and almond milk). Is this something I should be cutting out or cutting back on??

I'm also always way over my fiber limit. Are you all, as vegans, experiencing the same? Is that bad?

Finally, my sodium levels tend to be significantly under what is recommended, and while I know too much sodium is bad, I'm wondering if too little is bad as well.

Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions

cersela

I am curious about this too, I am also over my fiber limit, and usually over on sugar (I eat a lot of fruit, but I also have the occasional non dairy ice cream or chocolate). I am usually way under on sodium, the only reason this would be bad if if you are drinking tons of water (like I am) you could end up flushing and with too few electrolytes. I started drinking a little bit of coconut water (nature's gatorade) since I don't eat much sodium.

darkling_glory

I don't think it's bad to be over on Fiber unless it's giving you the trots. I'm ALWAYS over on fiber and feel fine.

For the sugar, if you are really worried about it, I would break it down and really only track process sugar. You'll have to do this manually as MFP won't do it for you. But you could just count up your process sugars and ignore the sugars in "whole" foods like fruit & veg and see how you are with that.

carld256

There's nothing wrong with going over on fiber, the more the better really. If your sugar is coming from fresh fruit then I wouldn't worry about it. I don't track sugar myself.

A week and a half plateau isn't bad. If it stretches on for 3 or 4 weeks then I'd take a closer look at portion sizes to make sure you aren't eating more than you think. I know I've had that problem in the past. Things have been going better since I got a kitchen scale and really starting trying to be accurate in my tracking.

amanda_ataraxia

I am always over on sugar, by a LOT. But, I do not eat any processed sugars whatsoever. All of my sugar comes from fruit so I pay no attention to it. It has not hindered my weight loss at all.
I'm also always over on protein and fiber. Again, no negative effects.

metalvegan

Thanks for your input, everybody!! I'm going to take a closer look at where my sugar is coming from, and not worry about going over fiber or under sodium. Thanks!!

Jackieonappy

I am always over on my sugar too. Some days, I only eat fruits. It is the processed stuff we have to worry about.

carebearhere

Just checked and am the same, hopefully it won't slow me down, it's crazy though, things like canned chilli beans are boosting the amount of sugar quite a lot, I'm gonna have to start cooking more XD

rumandreason

Glad I found this thread, been waaaay over on my sugar. A couple of kiwi fruit sent it through the roof this morning! Going to stop tracking it.