Obsessing about the daily nutrition summary

Jessiebell527

Most days I am under calories, I am almost always in the red with sugar, protein etc, Not a lot but should I be hawking this so much? How do I limit protein when everything I read tells me to eat more?

starkiss100

I'm always in the red w/sugar too, but under or close to my calories

SarahSmiles2004

Really I wouldn't worry too much about being over in protein, unless you're eating a lot of red meat or fatty proteins. If you're not in the 200g mark I think you're fine. I have heard everything from women needing 70g to at least 1 g per pound of body weight. So all in all I think you're fine. The things MFP gives for a basis is based more on the RDA of things that is pretty basic. I almost always go over on sodium and sugar. But then when I go visit my doctor she says I'm fine. I' m not going out of my way to eat a salt lick or down a bag of sugar in a day but some foods have more of something than others. I.E. fruit - a lot of sugar in fruit but is it bad for you? No. Try not to stress too much. Do some research and I'm sure there are people here that know even more than me, but then again you have to take everything with a grain of salt because you're body is different than anyone else's. If it really concerns you I would suggest a dietitian who can talk to you about it and figure it out, yes dietitian - I am not discounting nutritionists but dietitians are probably the most sound advice you can get due to education and experience.

Jessiebell527

Thanks!!

jc1231

I think the sugar grams are very low on MFP, so unless you are eating a ton of junk I would not focus on it so much. A few years ago I worked with a nutritionist and he gave me meal plans to follow. Every day he had me consume between 100 - 145 grams of lean protein each day. LEAN protein being the key. The reality is that protein takes longer to metabolize and keeps you full longer. I eat 5 - 6 meals a day, my 3 main meals and 2 - 3 small meals/snacks. I had the best results when I incorporated protein in with EVERY meal. I have been doing this and so far having great results since I am down 7 pounds since 1/1/13. I hope you find this helpful.

katiekido

I'm always over on my sugar too. Eating fruit definitely puts you over the sugar limit. I only count sugar that is "added sugar" and don't worry about the natural sugars found in fruit, etc.

Hadabetter

I intend to obsess about the calories (sort of). The others I plan to treat as FYI...hmm, I may want to watch how much (or little) of this or that I am consuming.

ItsCasey

As long as your sugar is coming from whole food (fruits, for example), don't stress about it. But if you're getting a lot of sugar from processed food, stop.

And don't worry about protein at all. You are probably not eating enough if you're even close to what MFP suggests. I regularly eat (yes, eat ... no shakes here) anywhere from 180 to 230 g protein a day, which is way more than 1 g per pound of bodyweight or lean body mass. Protein is necessary if you want to look good and be healthy. It is basically impossible to eat too much.

Also, red meat is good for you unless you are getting it from a drive-thru window or deep frying it and eating it 5 times per day. A nice piece of steak never gave anyone a heart attack.

Linli_Anne

Hitting your macros is important...but don't stress on everything all at once.

Start with focusing on one area for a while, really nailing it down - for me that is my protein - I know that I need more, and so for the last week I have been making it a priority to incorporate it with every meal.snack. I have gotten significantly better in this area.

Sometimes, putting your focus on just the one macro will help the other ones fall in line too.

I personally don't track my sugars because I don't eat a lot with added sugars, my sugar values will come from the foods I'm eating, and I can't really decrease how much sugar is in an orange.

cwolfman13

manually adjust your macro goals...MFP's defaults are wacky...high carb, low protein, low fat. You should be getting 10-30% of your calories from protein. My Macros are set at 40/30/30 (carb/protein/healthy fat)...maybe try 50/25/25 for yourself and see how that goes. One reason protein is important when you're eating at a deficit is to help preserve lean mass while you burn the fat. In the absence of protein and resistance training, your body will burn both.

Jessiebell527

Thanks so much! I appreciate all the good info!!

dym123

I'm the same way, under on calories, over on protein. I used to obsess over it, forcing myself to eat when I was full or not hungry. I figure since I'm eating good protein, not a lot of processed food, mostly whole foods and I'm not feeling fatigued, I haven't gone into "starvation mode", weight loss still steady, in fact I have tons of energy and my weight loss has gone from averaging a pound per week to 2lbs per week. I decided to stop obsessing, eat when I'm hungry, eat good stuff and enjoy the occassional treat.

ethomsen

i am always always always over sugar and protein. I tend to focus on the overall calorie total and fat total. Natural sugars in fruit and greek yogurt are bound to put you in the red. If you're not eating an excessive amount of added sugars than I think it is fine

lacurandera1

Treat protein as a minimum, especially if you haven't adjusted MFP's default of 15% for that macro.

Chief_Rocka

You shouldn't limit protein

UsedToBeHusky

You can change your macro goals. MFP defaults to a pretty low setting for protein anyway.

n0ob

I'm always over on fiber, protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Iron, Calcium, Potassium and Protein...

seekingstrengthX2

Take sugar off of the tracker. Problem solved!

basillowe66

Protein burns fat Jessie. My sister in law who wanted to lose 90 lbs work at a hospital and she went on their weight loss program. They told her to stay at or under 1200 calories and get at least 80 g of protein. She lost the 90 in about 8 or 9 months



Basil

purpleroxmysocks

Just eat healthy and don't stress, it's hard but you'll get the hang out it ha I am still working on it myself.

FitBeto

i am always always always over sugar and protein. I tend to focus on the overall calorie total and fat total. Natural sugars in fruit and greek yogurt are bound to put you in the red. If you're not eating an excessive amount of added sugars than I think it is fine

lasmit4477

Depending on what your goals are, you should change your macro settings. MFP defaults are low for protein. You should not limit protein, especially when/if you are in a calorie deficit. You could set it up using 35% carbs, 25% fats and 40% protein. Also, sugar is something that you need not pay attention to unless you have some type of medical issue regarding this. Consider your source as well. Fruit, veggies and dairy will always send me over sugar levels that MFP sets up. You can take it off of the diary listing so that you don't see it anymore.


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

PaveGurl

the default macros are not right for everyone - you can adjust your macros to be more in line with your personal and recommended needs. You can do this by going to My Home > Goals> Change Goals> CUSTOM.

For example, I reduce my carb-load significantly because I'm gluten- and grain-free. I increase my protein because my doctor recomends that I get 1g for each pound of lean body mass, and I cut my sugars to about 30g/ day (which is the max RDA suggestion, actually - and I include fruits in that).

I'm currently at 20% carb, 40% each protein and fat (non-processed vegetable fats, specifically, like coconut oil), because that is what works for my and my doctor says is OK. (My BP and all blood work are within acceptable ranges and have improved since I began, for those who are concerned about such things for strangers )

BrienJD

I really don't watch much of anything except my calories. Personaly, I'd go nuts if I tried to keep EVERYTHING under like sodium, too radical for me. If my calories are under, my carbs usually are so I'm happy. It just depends on what works best for you. Watching only my cals is enough for me and it's having the desired results. Don't obsess.

cuterbee

My protein usually goes over (as does my sugar), but my calcium intake has been way, way under. So I'm staying at or under my calorie count and right now working on getting more dietary calcium (I'm also adding a supplement).

vjohn04

Calories are king!

I'm always over on sodium and sugar, but .... ehhh. No biggie.