under on calories, but macros are perfect...

jillybeanpuff
jillybeanpuff Posts: 144 Member
in Food and Nutrition
is it more important to meet your calories or to have a good ratio of macros? For some reason I get one or the other. I'm trying to eat about 1650 calories which a little above my BMR. Right now I'm getting between 1500-1550 cals a day, but my macro ratios are spot on. I'm trying to get enough protein, but if I eat more calories it increases my fats and carbs so my ratios are off. I'm doing 30% carb, 35% fat, 35% protein. I'll make my diary public for now, just to get some help on how to fix this

Replies

  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,266 Member
    Calories generally speaking. I could hit my macros eating 100 calories.
  • Crazy4Healthy
    Crazy4Healthy Posts: 626 Member
    Definitely calories, your body needs the fuel. If you eat you cals and your macros are a bit over, nothing to worry about. Just try to keep them as balanced as you can.
  • IronSmasher
    IronSmasher Posts: 3,908 Member
    Calories generally speaking. I could hit my macros eating 100 calories.

    How many grams of CHO, protein and fat would that be?
  • elainewitch
    elainewitch Posts: 30 Member
    I was wondering about that myself. My calories are always way under because I'm scared of going over on everything else.
  • TheNewDodge
    TheNewDodge Posts: 607 Member
    Calories generally speaking. I could hit my macros eating 100 calories.


    Lol wut
  • tsh0ck
    tsh0ck Posts: 1,970 Member
    Calories generally speaking. I could hit my macros eating 100 calories.

    uhhh ... no?
  • IronSmasher
    IronSmasher Posts: 3,908 Member
    Hit your calories while keeping your macros in mind.
    You also need to know a little bit about food, as in what sort of macros youshould expect when checking your diary, as there are a lot of errors due to it being a user generated database. Use the macros as a guide to eat a more balanced diet, plus eat vegetables. Everyone should eat vegetables.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,266 Member
    Calories generally speaking. I could hit my macros eating 100 calories.

    How many grams of CHO, protein and fat would that be?
    Doesn't matter, added up they would equal 100 calories. If someone is dieting it's important to hit your calorie goals and not worry to much if some hits their maco's perfectly....I could hit my macros and eat well over my calorie goal and gain.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    Calories generally speaking. I could hit my macros eating 100 calories.
    I couldn't even hit my protein macro with 100 calories. If you meant 1000 calories, I could hit my protein but would be way under on fat and carbs (about 280 calories to split between them).

    To the OP - this is how I rank them in order of importance:

    1) Hit calorie goal (not over, not too far under).
    2) Hit or exceed protein macro (actually a two-way tie for #1 as far as I'm concerned)
    3) Hit fat macro
    4) Fill in rest with carbs
    5) If calories left over - splurge accordingly until #1 is met.

    If you have your macros set to the MFP defaults, don't worry about going over on protein - it's a good thing. MFP sets protein to 15%, which is too low for most people who are a) in a caloric deficit and b) exercising on any kind of regular basis. You should at least consider MFP's protein goal as a minimum, if not go in and custom set your macros to something more appropriate. Don't worry about going over on fat or carbs - eating fat doesn't make you fat - eating too many calories makes you fat. If you're staying below your calorie limit (assuming you have it set to a sane level), you'll be fine and will continue to lose weight.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,266 Member
    Calories generally speaking. I could hit my macros eating 100 calories.
    I couldn't even hit my protein macro with 100 calories. If you meant 1000 calories, I could hit my protein but would be way under on fat and carbs (about 280 calories to split between them).

    To the OP - this is how I rank them in order of importance:

    1) Hit calorie goal (not over, not too far under).
    2) Hit or exceed protein macro (actually a two-way tie for #1 as far as I'm concerned)
    3) Hit fat macro
    4) Fill in rest with carbs
    5) If calories left over - splurge accordingly until #1 is met.

    If you have your macros set to the MFP defaults, don't worry about going over on protein - it's a good thing. MFP sets protein to 15%, which is too low for most people who are a) in a caloric deficit and b) exercising on any kind of regular basis. You should at least consider MFP's protein goal as a minimum, if not go in and custom set your macros to something more appropriate. Don't worry about going over on fat or carbs - eating fat doesn't make you fat - eating too many calories makes you fat. If you're staying below your calorie limit (assuming you have it set to a sane level), you'll be fine and will continue to lose weight.
    It was an exaggeration to show that macros can be in line when calories aren't. I seem to be having a hard time tomight getting my point across.....too much wine I guess.

    Edit: I can see where it doesn't makes sense when comparing grams as opposed to percentages. my bad.
  • IronSmasher
    IronSmasher Posts: 3,908 Member
    Calories generally speaking. I could hit my macros eating 100 calories.

    How many grams of CHO, protein and fat would that be?
    Doesn't matter, added up they would equal 100 calories. If someone is dieting it's important to hit your calorie goals and not worry to much if some hits their maco's perfectly....I could hit my macros and eat well over my calorie goal and gain.

    Well try that tomorrow.

    But I think you'll find that the daily goals are in grams, not percentages.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,266 Member
    Calories generally speaking. I could hit my macros eating 100 calories.

    How many grams of CHO, protein and fat would that be?
    Doesn't matter, added up they would equal 100 calories. If someone is dieting it's important to hit your calorie goals and not worry to much if some hits their maco's perfectly....I could hit my macros and eat well over my calorie goal and gain.

    Well try that tomorrow.

    But I think you'll find that the daily goals are in grams, not percentages.
    LOL.....I just edited my above post saying that....I see most people here posting percentages, and made that connection.
  • elainewitch
    elainewitch Posts: 30 Member
    Calories generally speaking. I could hit my macros eating 100 calories.
    I couldn't even hit my protein macro with 100 calories. If you meant 1000 calories, I could hit my protein but would be way under on fat and carbs (about 280 calories to split between them).

    To the OP - this is how I rank them in order of importance:

    1) Hit calorie goal (not over, not too far under).
    2) Hit or exceed protein macro (actually a two-way tie for #1 as far as I'm concerned)
    3) Hit fat macro
    4) Fill in rest with carbs
    5) If calories left over - splurge accordingly until #1 is met.

    If you have your macros set to the MFP defaults, don't worry about going over on protein - it's a good thing. MFP sets protein to 15%, which is too low for most people who are a) in a caloric deficit and b) exercising on any kind of regular basis. You should at least consider MFP's protein goal as a minimum, if not go in and custom set your macros to something more appropriate. Don't worry about going over on fat or carbs - eating fat doesn't make you fat - eating too many calories makes you fat. If you're staying below your calorie limit (assuming you have it set to a sane level), you'll be fine and will continue to lose weight.


    Thank you for explaining it. And yes, my calories aren't set at an insane level. :smile:
  • bdamaster60
    bdamaster60 Posts: 595 Member
    count macros, not calories. The food data base is a collective input by MFP users, who may have the macros on, but input the calories wrong.

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