Do I pay attention to calories, carbs, fat, and protein?

blondieqaz

Hi, I am just gettin started with myfitnesspal and do not understand how to use it. Do I try to keep the calories, carbs, fat and protein under count? I find it easy to stay under in the calories, but not in the protein. Should I pay attention to all of them or just pick either calories or carbs to stay under?

kenazfehu

I watch calories, cholesterol, and fiber.

Lisamb757

You need to pay attention to all of them to be successful! Make sure you're getting enough healthy fats(nuts, peanut butter etc) and enough protein. I'd be more concerned about keeping carbs in check than calorie count to be honest! It really makes a difference! I was at a plateau and lowered my carb intake and upped protein/fats and lost more weight!

pholbert

Going over on protein is fine. Most people think the protein MFP gives you is a little low.

AmyRhubarb

Protein is good, and I think MFP sets it a little too low anyway. As far as the others, all are targets for the day, so if you're a bit under or a bit over on any of them, it's not the end of the world. Of course it also depends on your fitness goals, what types of workouts you're doing, etc. Example, runners may need more carbs, heavy lifters more protein, etc.

If MFP has you set at the standard 1200 calories per day (as it does most people when they first start), I would definitely recommend hitting that number, and eating back calories burned by exercise, so that your NET calories at the end of the day are at least 1200.

etoiles_argentees

What's your goal? Are you trying to lose weight?

lindafjohnson

i started out watching protein and was finding I was always over. I was told by someone that protein is not the most important. It should be calories, carbs and fat. Too much fat and too many wrong carbs will hinder your weight loss

WendyTerry420

Yes, but for protein and fats, make it a minimum and make calories and carbs a maximum.

Adubmarie87

I personally keep track of all of them for different reasons. Carb/Sugar I look at to keep from my body from storing fat. Protein is a what my diet was made of before I cut done due to obtaining too much muscle. I was a big meat eater before dieting and now I only eat it once a day or every three days. I eat all the veggies though. So look at what you are eating and if it has too much of your daily value, find in alternate with a lower percentage.

e.g. Organic sugar vs. truvia or a 4 ounce beef vs. 4 ounce salmon
Hope this helps!

kimosabe1

before, I was always over on sugar so I crossed that out and added vitamins to my plan. It's going great now.

laura30188

My doctor recommended this sight to help my keep track of and count calories. She recommends I watch the carbs and the calories but I watch them all. So far I have been under on them all. But this site has me on a higher calorie diet than she suggested.

phyllio77

Hi, I am just gettin started with myfitnesspal and do not understand how to use it. Do I try to keep the calories, carbs, fat and protein under count? I find it easy to stay under in the calories, but not in the protein. Should I pay attention to all of them or just pick either calories or carbs to stay under?

Depends on your goals. I personally try to eat as per the Canadian food guide and as organic as possible. I always aim to keep my calories under...sodium in the past was always an issue..so I keep sodium under as well....if my protein is high don't stress about it...as long as I ate controled portions and variety I was good. I have had several occasions when my protein had put my calories over. As a recovering carb junkie I try to keep the carbs to a minimum.
Good luck with your goals.

cjeanthiele

I personally keep track of all of them for different reasons. Carb/Sugar I look at to keep from my body from storing fat. Protein is a what my diet was made of before I cut done due to obtaining too much muscle. I was a big meat eater before dieting and now I only eat it once a day or every three days. I eat all the veggies though. So look at what you are eating and if it has too much of your daily value, find in alternate with a lower percentage.

e.g. Organic sugar vs. truvia or a 4 ounce beef vs. 4 ounce salmon
Hope this helps!

pixiestick

Cals, Sodium, and Protein.

jgsparks89

Well, for weight loss, the most important thing is calories....calorie in, calories out. If you can create a deficit, then you'll lose weight. However, eating a well balanced diet definitely helps. I keep an eye on my macros as well as iron and calcium. I shoot high from protien and low for fat, but if I keep it under my total calorie goals, I consider it a successful day.

Depending on your goals and individual needs, you may need to increase/decrease certain macros to your specific needs.

Jut starting out, I would keep your log and see what your daily eating looks like, then adjust and set goals based on what you are doing wrong, and what you are already doing right.

Bernadettetoo

Hi, I am just gettin started with myfitnesspal and do not understand how to use it. Do I try to keep the calories, carbs, fat and protein under count? I find it easy to stay under in the calories, but not in the protein. Should I pay attention to all of them or just pick either calories or carbs to stay under?

Watch "bad" carbs . Don't eat "white" or "processed." Eat whole grains, fruit, and veggies.

fldiver97

the 'standard' MFP setting is only 15% protein........pretty low for many people. I felt hungry in the beginning and always went over on my protein and that helped me feel better and fuller. After a while on this site I found out that you can adjust your macros (carbs/protein/fat) and I changed mine to 40/30/30 which works out great for me. It helps me to eat healthier and more filling food. I don't always hit 30% protein and I don't worry too much as long as I get 20+ %, sometimes have to add a protein shake (yes, you can keep a shake/smoothie pretty low cal and tasty). I also started running and do Yoga (4-6 times a week for an hr, the Yoga that is) so that gives me exercise calories to eat back. Play around with your settings, maybe up the protein a bit (unless you have kidney problems, higher protein diets are fine). I was worried about salt, calcium and fiber for a while so I tracked those. Once I figured that I had no issues getting enough fiber and calcium in my diet I switched the settings to track other stuff. One thing that I am almost always over is sugar. I rarely ever use regular sugar. Just eating fruit will get you over, same with milk. I don't worry about sugar as long as it comes from fruit but I watch the sugars from baked goods, sweets and desserts. Eating high protein, a good amount of healthy fats (from almonds, nuts, avocado etc) makes me feel full and for the most part I am able to eat pretty healthy. I don't feel deprived, still eat out or have treats but try to fit them in my calorie count for the day.....

CrazyCatLadylovescats

It all depends on the eating model that you are using. If, for instance, you are doing Weight Watchers, follow their goals.

I am doing a Primal/Paleo style. I try to keep my carbs way lower than recommended here, I try to keep total calories in line, and don't worry about protein or fat, except trans fats (which so far has been at zero every day anyhow.)

You may find that if you are hungry all the time that cutting out grains (which are high calorie) will help you to be able to eat more vegetables and meat to help you feel full, as you can almost eat as much raw vegetable without dressing as you want and not have to worry about the calories.

BarackMeLikeAHurricane

Try to stay under on calories, over on protein, and don't worry too much about carbs or fat. Some people say to watch carbs, but fruits and vegetables are carbs so I think that's stupid. Watch your refined carbs like bread and pasta, but fruits, veggies, and oats are good.

missjoci

Fat - you can go over on fat everyday and still lose weight, but they need to be healthy fats. Protein - the protein goals on MFP are pretty low. To build muscle, you'll want to take in 30-40% of your calories in protein. Carbs - If you're eating empty carbs, incorporating whole grains will make your weight loss easier and you'll crash less. Sugar - you'll go over a lot on sugar if you're eating fruit, just make sure they're healthy sugars. Sodium - some people do great on keeping this low. I think it's pretty hard to do. Watch the canned and boxed foods you buy, they tend to hide a lot of sodium. Lots of sodium will make you hold water. All the vitamins and minerals are important, if you find you're not getting the appropriate amounts, a supplement is the way to go. As many other people have mentioned, to lose weight the biggest part is creating a deficit in the calories taken in from the calories spent.

Hope that helps! It's a little bit different for everyone, change around the amounts and see what works best for your body.

crimsoncat

I watch calories, calcium, protein and fiber. I especially watch fiber because I have been to the hospital before with constipation and calcium because my grandmother has osteoporosis. I'm doing weight training to strengthen my bones as much as I can while I'm young. I don't watch fat, and carbs because I noticed I tend to swing back and forth. I'll be over on fats one day, over on carbs the next.