Question?? Calories or everthing else???

GirlieGirl2013

Do you guys focus more on staying under your calories or do you try to stay under carbs, fat and protein as well???

Erica262

I do try to have a balance, though calories are my main focus. If I have a carb-heavy breakfast, I'll have a low-carb lunch. I try to make sure to get protein with each meal and snack. That might be a little more of a challenge for me because I'm sort of a vegetarian. If I notice Monday was too carb-heavy, I'll eat lower carbs on Tuesday. But basically I focus on calories and hope that the rest falls into place.

Mrsbrandnewmeslimandtrim

bump

GirlieGirl2013

Today is my first day of tracking my foods and I was like WAIT!!! I'm ver on my carbs!! But I'm still within my calories. Thanks for the advice...I will tweek in tomm

craigineson

For me, macros are more important. If I go over my calories slightly, it really isn't a problem because I already have a large margin of error on most days.

alcon79

I try to stay at calorie goal, and focus on hitting my protein macros daily. I find when I focus on protein, I tend to get a lot closer on my other macros as well.

WendyTerry420

Do you guys focus more on staying under your calories or do you try to stay under carbs, fat and protein as well???

Since I am trying to lose weight, I focus on calories first. I aim for a minimum of 72g protein and a minimum of 45g of fat, and carbs are about 50% of my calories. I do try to fit my diet into the macro-nutrient ratios that I set up. I am getting pretty good at that too. But calories are what's important for weight loss.

WendyTerry420

I try to stay at calorie goal, and focus on hitting my protein macros daily. I find when I focus on protein, I tend to get a lot closer on my other macros as well.

This is true for me too!

GirlieGirl2013

Great advice ladies!! Yall are the best!! :happy:

TeaBea

I try to stay at calorie goal, and focus on hitting my protein macros daily. I find when I focus on protein, I tend to get a lot closer on my other macros as well.

^This! .... I can't focus on everything .... all the time.

Firefox7275

I am primarily tracking protein, sugars and fibre. It's a lot easier not to go over on macros like fat if you only eat them in their whole form - nuts, seeds, avocados, olives, coconut, oily fish and so on. Also much easier not to take in too many carbs if you base your diet around nine portions of fruits and vegetables then adding in protein and carbs, not deciding you want pasta for supper and then using protein and veggies as condiments.

hiker359

Yup, calories above all else. Make adjustments to what you eat to get the macros right. Pre planning your meals can help you dial in to the sweet spot to get where you need to be.

CorvusCorax77

Today is my first day of tracking my foods and I was like WAIT!!! I'm ver on my carbs!! But I'm still within my calories. Thanks for the advice...I will tweek in tomm

When I first started, it was just calories I worried about. I lost a lot of weight that way.

Now that I"m more focusing on bodybuilding and going from "fit" to "athletic" I am more focused on having enough protein to build muscle.

TheCaren

I'm trying to stay within calories (but I'm not rigid about it) and I am focusing on lowering sugars and increasing proteins and reasonable amounts of fiber. But that's due to health related issues. I keep an eye on carbs but I'm not all crazy about it. My weight loss is slowing, and I know that's due in part to my lack of exercise. But if increasing my exercise doesn't bump up my weight loss, I might have to look more closely at carb consumption.

alpine1994

Just calories. I don't pay any attention at all to going over on fats or carbs (although there are certain high-carb foods that I avoid most of the time - rice, pasta, sugary things, white potatoes). For protein, I just try to get in as much as I can. I take a glance at how I did on carbs, fats, and protein at the end of the day but staying under calories is my goal.

delacruz_courtney

Calories

jennfranklin

I try to stay within what MFP says.. but have a hard time with the sodium and fat, since I am trying to include the good fats in my diet!

taylor0204

I focus on my protein, sugar and overall calories.

weeblex

IMHO calories are the weight loss bit, the macros are about making sure you eat healthy.

Eat a rounded diet that is in your calorie limit and the weight will come off.

Helloitsdan

Eat below your TDEE to lose weight.
Master your macros for better body composition.

IndigoFlowers

When I started losing weight I was only concerned about calories, then I realized my sodium intake was through the roof. So I finally got a grip on my sodium. Then realized I didn't eat enough fiber, so I also got that to where I like it now too. Now I try to get my protein at a nice spot.

At the beginning of my weight loss I was concerned about my carb intake because it was quite high, but I still managed to lose weight every week without any problems. However, now looking at my food diary I realize that I eat far less carbs now than I used to. I never consciously aimed to eat less carbs, it just happened!
Your eating habits will change quite a bit once you realize what fills you up and satisfies you for a couple hours, and what fills you up is typically on the healthier side full of fiber, complex carbs, etc.

Don't let all the macros stress you out or overwhelm you, you can focus on getting one down at a time, or even just focus on calories for the first little while you are on here.

AndiNorwich

i like to keep a 500 calorie deficit by the end of the day, and keep my carbs at or below 30gs per meal.

artickb22

I focus on calories and fat but keep a close eye on the rest of it.....a perfect day? when I see all green at the end of the day!

Edit: oh yea and soduim...I'm no longer Hypertensive thanks to watching that! !

maqsmj

just monitor the basic, protien , carbs and fat and you will hit your calories for sure