Do you count calories, and/or carbs, fat, and protein?

jessmastrilli
jessmastrilli Posts: 203 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Before joining this site, I was on weight watchers, which paid no attention to calories, but to fat, carbs, protein and fiber. This past week on MFP, I lost 1.2 pounds (which is pretty decent and healthy), but I'm just making sure I'm doing this right. Do you guys focus more on just calories, or do you also count in carbs, fat, and protein in what you eat per day? Thanks!

Replies

  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    Calories most important of all.

    Within that, I thry to hit around 100g carbs, 100g protein, and let the fat fall where it might. I track fat and sugar, even though I'm almost always over, but I want to make sure they're not going sky high!
  • jessmastrilli
    jessmastrilli Posts: 203 Member
    Calories most important of all.

    Within that, I thry to hit around 100g carbs, 100g protein, and let the fat fall where it might. I track fat and sugar, even though I'm almost always over, but I want to make sure they're not going sky high!

    Mostly my reason for asking is because it's pretty easy to count calories. But then when you start adding in the other elements, it starts to get confusing. That's why I enjoyed weight watchers for a while because you just calculated it all into a food point. But I wanted to kind of get away from that because I was getting a little bored with it. Plus everyone on here is so nice and supportive!
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    Before joining this site, I was on weight watchers, which paid no attention to calories, but to fat, carbs, protein and fiber. This past week on MFP, I lost 1.2 pounds (which is pretty decent and healthy), but I'm just making sure I'm doing this right. Do you guys focus more on just calories, or do you also count in carbs, fat, and protein in what you eat per day? Thanks!


    This is more of a side note, but if you're counting fat, carbs, and protein, you are essentially counting calories.

    1g pro = 4kcal
    1g cho = 4kcal
    1g fat = 9kcal


    I think it would be in your best interest to track these and additionally it requires no additional work on your part because MFP will automatically do this for you.
  • McBully4
    McBully4 Posts: 1,270 Member
    balance them all
  • Linda_Darlene
    Linda_Darlene Posts: 453 Member
    BBL
  • LeenaRuns
    LeenaRuns Posts: 1,309 Member
    balance them all

    This. I try to stick within my macros while making the best choices possible.
  • kelly101386
    kelly101386 Posts: 389 Member
    I just count the calories but try to get as clean and healthy as possible.
  • utahgirl247
    utahgirl247 Posts: 370 Member
    along with calories, i watch my carbs, protein, fat, sodium and even fiber. getting healthy and losing weight is so much more than just watching your calorie intake. i work hard at trying to keep my carbs under 100g a day.
  • amonroe1343
    amonroe1343 Posts: 206 Member
    I concentrate more on the carbs, protein and fats then the calories but just make sure I'm within my calorie limit. I try to choose my carbs, protein and fats wisely and pick whole grain carbs, lean proteins and healthy fats.
  • Cupcakehippiemommy
    Cupcakehippiemommy Posts: 457 Member
    I pay attention to everything especially sugar,fat and sodium ^u^ Congrats on the loss doll!
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    Keep carbs to under 50g a day, eat real food and rest will work itself out.
  • RachelWest86
    RachelWest86 Posts: 36
    I focus first and foremost on my cholesterol, since that's what I really joined to lower (my weight is fine, I'm just a Southern lady who ate too much fried junk), but I've noticed that on my really good low cholesterol days, I don't have any trouble staying within my calories, carbs, or fat. I do tend to go over on protein, but I try to keep it lean proteins. I keep a close eye on sodium too, because if you're eating a ton of salt, your weigh-ins aren't going to be good because of water retention.

    I've been doing this for about 150 days now (minus a 10 days break for injury) and have fluctuated between 5 lbs lost and 8 lbs lost, depending on how well I behave.
  • Jorra
    Jorra Posts: 3,338 Member
    Carbs, fat, and protein ARE calories. So yes.
  • stephqj
    stephqj Posts: 20
    Personally, I try to get at least 25 grams of fiber a day, to help keep my cholesterol down. My trainer advised me to take my weight in KG (not pounds) and try to get at least that many grams of protein in a day, preferably lean, just to maintain the muscle mass I have. If I'm building muscle intentionally, I'll eat more protein. There are days I eat nothing but egg white omelets and fruit, maybe a spoonful of peanut butter at the end of the night.
  • chivalryder
    chivalryder Posts: 4,391 Member
    CRAP! I just had a huge write-up explaining my PoV. Damn you, F5 button!

    Ok, lets try this again:

    I use my BMR and TDEE - X kcal to determine how much I should be eating. From there, I figure out an appropriate macro I should be consuming every day. I then ignore the calories and just try to eat the macro. I feel WHAT you eat will make a bigger difference than HOW MUCH you eat.

    Yes, I know, once you've broken the food down into it's simplest form, and your body can then use it, a calorie is a calorie, regardless of where it came from. How many calories you eat ultimately determines how much weight you gain/lose. Theoretically, you could eat pure lard and/or white sugar, and as long as you're under your calorie goal, you'll lose weight. However, without the macro and micro nutrients, you'll probably die trying that.

    The difference between every calorie is what your body has to do in order to break it down into it's simplest form. Simple carbs, complex carbs, protein and fat all break down at different speeds. You'll have a different effect from each one. Also, protein is the only product your body can use to repair muscles (important for after working out), and fat is the only product that your body will actually store in fat cells (correct me if I'm wrong). Simple carbs will give you a quick boost of energy, and spike your insulin (not always a bad thing) and complex carbs will give you a decent amount of energy over a longer period of time.

    Then there's all your micro nutrients that you should be trying to eat as well... If you eat mostly fruit, veggies, nuts, and lean meats, you'll do a lot better than if you are frozen pizzas, candy, chips, pop, and other junk foods, even if you meet your calorie needs.

    If you eat your macro, you will meet how many calories you should be consuming.
  • Love_flowers
    Love_flowers Posts: 365 Member
    I used to count calories but did not have success as I always struggled to either dont eat over my budget or struggling to meet my budget.

    Now I dont count calories at all as I have adapted a new kind of relationship with food. (Because I have counted calories for around 6 months I now know subconciously that I consume around 1000-1400 calories a day which is fine with me and I keep losing weight this way. would not change my new lifestyle for the world! :D
  • Lina4Lina
    Lina4Lina Posts: 712 Member
    Just calories.

    My macros are set at 60% carbs and 20% fat and protein. Due to IR/PCOS/hypoglycemia, I care about the type of carbs I eat but not really how much of them I eat.
  • MSeel1984
    MSeel1984 Posts: 2,297 Member
    Calories and Carbohydrates.

    I take note of how much protein I'm getting and fiber as well...but I don't count it persay.

    I'm a little more of a stickler on carbohydrates because I'm diabetic, so the amount and types of carbohydrate I eat impact my blood sugar levels.
  • giorgiomera
    giorgiomera Posts: 11
    I'm doing 1800 calories per day, but I'm also managing my macros. So right now, I'm aiming for 20% Fat, 30% Carbs, and 50% Protein. That comes out to about 40g of fat, 135g of carbs, and 225g of protein per day.
  • jessmastrilli
    jessmastrilli Posts: 203 Member
    Thanks for all your replies! Definitely a wide range of answers. I think what I will do is continue to do what I'm doing, if I don't see a big loss (although I have noticed with all the walking/jogging I've been doing, my clothes seem to fit better, just not seeing numbers on the scale go down as much as I would like), then I will change what I'm doing. I seem to usually eat just a bit more carbs than MFP recommends but I do walk/jog a lot every day so I'm not too worried right now. Like I said, if I don't see the results later on, I'll change what I'm doing. Thanks for all your help guys!
  • Delovelybella87
    Delovelybella87 Posts: 69
    I try to have a good balance being I burn more calories then I consume but would say I eat more protein then anything else and try to keep my carbs under 60 g a day
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    I count calories to manage overall weight and macronutrients for overall heath. My priority on the macros is protein 1 gram per lb of lean body mass, then fat about .4 grams per lb of body weight, then carbs with the rest.
  • Scarlett_S
    Scarlett_S Posts: 467 Member
    I count everything and keep protein high and carbs reasonably low. My main goal is calories in, calories out - I know if I blow it with something I am craving I still have to stay within my calorie goal for the week. So if I have a high calorie day I have to compensate by exercising more or eating less the next day, etc.
  • Sweetpea472
    Sweetpea472 Posts: 229 Member
    The bottom line is: calories in vs calories out. You can lose weight so long as you burn more than you consume.

    It's up to you if you want to strictly lose weight or improve overall health. Your overall health is dependent on your balance of macros & micros. Eating 90% carbs isn't healthy and neither is eating 90% protein. Balance is key... giving your body many different foods so that you're taking in proper ratios of vitamins & minerals. Must this balance be achieved every day? Not necessarily. It's reasonable to look at your intake over a week's time to check that you're getting everything you need.

    Eating for health while creating a sensible caloric deficit will result in healthy weight loss, IMHO the best kind!
  • zaph0d
    zaph0d Posts: 1,172 Member
    I count calories and aim to get sufficient protein and fat.
  • escloflowneCHANGED
    escloflowneCHANGED Posts: 3,038 Member
    I don't count the carb/fat/protein ratios, I just eat what I want, which tends to be high fat/protein.
  • megsmom2
    megsmom2 Posts: 2,362 Member
    I watch calories...but try to also be aware of what I'm doing with fiber and vitamins. It helps me make decisions about what to eat when.
  • jessmastrilli
    jessmastrilli Posts: 203 Member
    The bottom line is: calories in vs calories out. You can lose weight so long as you burn more than you consume.

    It's up to you if you want to strictly lose weight or improve overall health. Your overall health is dependent on your balance of macros & micros. Eating 90% carbs isn't healthy and neither is eating 90% protein. Balance is key... giving your body many different foods so that you're taking in proper ratios of vitamins & minerals. Must this balance be achieved every day? Not necessarily. It's reasonable to look at your intake over a week's time to check that you're getting everything you need.

    Eating for health while creating a sensible caloric deficit will result in healthy weight loss, IMHO the best kind!

    thanks! This reply was definitely what I was looking for! Thanks!
  • Onaughmae
    Onaughmae Posts: 873 Member
    I track my calories, protein and carbs. I dont count my fats, I just try to incorporate the more healthy fats in and I tend to buy things that are low fat anyway. I aim for high protein because that is what works for me :)
  • ladyraven68
    ladyraven68 Posts: 2,003 Member
    I aim to hit my protein/fat/carb macros, and then the calories will look after themselves.

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