sugar???

dfanto

Ok, I'm new to this and I added onto the list sugar levels to watch. For breakfast I had a cup of Oatmeal Squares in skim milk, and that was about half my sugar intake for the day! Am I doing something wrong, or is it ok to go over in sugar if you're under in calories??

Iceprincessk25

I would say that sugar, carbs and fat (at least for me) are things that I try not to go over in because it's not going to help me get to my goal.

TheMaidOfAstolat

I don't worry about sugars from fruits/grains/veggies, but processed foods and added sugars.
Most cereals have a lot of added sugar...just look at the nutrition label. If it's in the top 5 ingredients...don't eat it. Also, be mindful that sugar comes in many forms...watch out for anything that ends in 'ose' or syrup (those are lovely little hidden sugars).

CrystalT

I'm posting a link to a topic from a few weeks ago about tracking sugar. Maybe it will help you out.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/74098-tracking-sugar?hl=tracking+sugar#posts-1007413

ractayjon

I would stay within the recommended sugar (and fat, protein etc) values...the guidleines are set up to help you to achieve the goals you have set.
With that said I think that tweeking the way we eat is the hardest part about weight loss. Changing our habits is what will allow us to move in the right direction.
For you - if your breakfast ate most of your sugar allowance - maybe you should think about changing your breakfast? Milk itself has a lot of sugar (when I was pregnant I had gestational diabetes and one of the first things that my nutritionist cut was milk because of its levels)..and oatmeal squares Imnot sure what they have but maybe a different kind of oatmeal instead. Or a different kind of cereal - or a different breakfast (say and egg and hot oatmeal instead). Think different options to maintain the goals that you want.
Good luck!!

pettmybunny

The thing to remember is that fructose and lactose are natural sugars, found in fruits, vegetables, and milk. Along with these natural sugars, there is a multitude of vitamins and minerals to be had. The 40 grams that MFP sets as the guideline is what the FDA has recommended as "added" sugar. This would be equal to 10 teaspoons of sugar.

I sometimes track my sugars, but at the end of the day, I mentally subtract the sugars I'm getting from natural sources such as fruits, veggies, and milk. I find that when I do this, I am within my allotted grams.

TGIBriday83

I would have to agree. Naturally occuring sugars that you find in foods such as fruits and vegetables aren't the problem. It's the refined sugars you find in things such as processed foods, candy, soda, etc. I find that when i slip and start enjoying things like that i start packing on pounds in a relatively quick amount of time. On the flip side I also find that eliminatiing, or nearly eliminating all processed and refined sugars makes pounds melt off my body. It's hard though because it really is like a drug. Sometimes I just can't say no and go on a sugar binge of epic propotions, especially within the first week or so of saying "ok no more sweets." Anyways, I wouldn't worry about natural sugars so much. Now if your eating an entire bag of oranged in one day then yes you have a problem haha

dfanto

everyone's posts were a ton of help. thank you so much!