What Are You Cutting Back?

lauren0804

i've been told recently to cut back sugar to lose weight and don't worry about calories. Limiting my sugar to 26 grams a day. This is hard, but can be done. Some days good some days not. I've been doing this for a few weeks. Noticed a little difference, not sure if this is still the right route.

What are you cutting back on? Calories, Sugar, Carbs...etc?

almc170

Cutting calories works for me. I don't have any medical reason to worry about carbs or sugar, so I don't.

SideSteel

i've been told recently to cut back sugar to lose weight and don't worry about calories.

Who told you this and did they tell you why?

Ezada

I am watching my Calories, Carbs, Saturated fat, Sodium and Sugars. When I notice that I am doing much better on maintaining the levels of one I switch it out to something else to watch, like my Saturated Fats.

To me it's all about a healthy balance of everything, you can't just watch one and not the others if you want to maintain a healthy lifestyle, I could eat 1200 calories a day and still be eating crap food high in fats, sodium and sugars.

I also look at my protein and Iron, though I try to hit and surpass the minimum amount MFP tells me to eat. I am notoriously low on Iron at times, so I usually take a supplement at lunchtime if I anticipate being low.

The right route can be different for everyone though, some people only have a few problem areas to look at. I am bad about everything so I monitor everything.

diannethegeek

Calories are the only thing I'm cutting purposefully. I also try to make sure I get enough protein, which has the added benefit of cutting my carbs as a side effect.

stardancer7

Calories, sodium, and negative thinking! :drinker:

DenyseMarieL

I've cut back my calories, but increased the amount of protein within those calories. I wasn't getting the protein I needed before. And by cutting calories, I'm trying to eliminate alot of chocolate, cookies, etc.....so inadvertantly cutting back on sugar.

cashcw

I'm cutting out all soft drinks. I try to drink a glass of low fat milk, glass of OJ and water the rest of the day.

tinamartinson

I agree about healthy balance and finding what works for you.

But, I highly disagree with not worrying about calories and just cutting sugar. Calories do matter even if it isn't from sugar.

TheRealParisLove

Sodium. I don't even worry about sugar since I rarely even eat it in granulated form, anyway. The sugar from complex carbs is actually pretty good for you, and MFP has the sugar settings way low. A single serving of fresh fruit like grapes will use up your sugar for the day.

Sodium, however, is a major contributing factor to high blood pressure. My family has a history of high blood pressure so I am trying my darndest to stay under that 2500mg number most days. I still go over pretty regularly.

Erienneb

I've cut calories, and pop. I'm also trying to lower my sodium and increase potassium. No more fast food! That was a huge change.

dwh77tx

Carbs. I was able to eat a good size amount of cereal in the mornings over the summer because I was more active. However, now that the kids are back in school I replaced the cereal with a lean protein instead.

bcl003

I'm mainly just cutting back on calories, but have been watching my potassium and protein to make sure I get enough.

lauren0804

i've been told recently to cut back sugar to lose weight and don't worry about calories.

Who told you this and did they tell you why?

She was/is my wellness coach ( I don't see her too much these days because of finances). The main area where I gain weight is my mid section so she said sugar is the cause of the weight gain. I think I eat fairly well and not a junk eater, except for the occasional candy now and then.

birdieaz

Only thing I rarely do now is soda and try and keep my sodium under 2000. I keep things simple, there is no forbidden food groups.

Hmmcglothl

I've tried to cut out sugar, carbs, fat...not eat after 6pm..on and on. The ONLY thing that has worked for me is to count calories. I really think that a calorie is a calorie. Just that some food helps to sustain your level of fullness for a longer period of time. If I binge on carbs the insulin response my body gives makes me STARVING the whole day so I'm just more likely to eat more calories that day.

lauren0804

Calories, sodium, and negative thinking! :drinker:

I like the cutting back on negative thinking part

peuglow

i've been told recently to cut back sugar to lose weight and don't worry about calories.

Who told you this and did they tell you why?

She was/is my wellness coach ( I don't see her too much these days because of finances). The main area where I gain weight is my mid section so she said sugar is the cause of the weight gain. I think I eat fairly well and not a junk eater, except for the occasional candy now and then.

Knee jerk reaction --- she's wrong. I don't mean for that to sound harsh, but thinking that cutting sugar and keeping your calories where they areis a solution to your problem is probably why she's a 'wellness coach' and not a real nutritionist.

Marksman21

Just calories, I eat the same stuff I did before. Granted, in smaller proportions than I did before.

Though I am also trying to cut back my soda intake, I used to only drink the Diet stuff (which a sugary one now and then for indulgance), but I'm starting to think I should replace some of it with something better. Crystal Light works, but that gets boring quick.

darrensurrey

Isn't so bad really. My desire to be healthier and look good is greater than my desire for this ****.

sarahisme18

I've been trying to cut back on sugar, too. Not because they are more important than the calories, though—I don't think that is true. I just want to have a healthy balance of sugar!

I'm also cutting back on calories, but I'm focusing on ADDING more veggies into my diet! I think the mindset of adding more of something while cutting back on something else helps me stay balanced and in a non-deprived state of mind.

Also trying to add more healthy fats into my diet and not be afraid of limited amounts of butter, oil, etc. I spent most of my life thinking that FAT was bad, but have recently learned that it is really part of a healthy diet—even our neurons need fat to build their insulation, and we need fat to absorb healthy nutrients.

I think sugar is the same thing... cutting back to a healthy amount is good, but it is part of a healthy, balanced diet. Check out the book In Defense of Food, and the Nutrition Diva podcast—great resources for learning the truth about nutrients vs. food and a balanced diet! Good luck!