focus more on - Calories, Protein, Carbs, Sodium

southernmom3

Since I started MFP and logging my food in, I have a question I am hoping y'all can answer for me. What should I focus more on, the amount calories, the protein I eat, the sodium intake or the carbs? For me it is hard to keep everything under the goal - usually I eat more carbs than I need to 'cause they are cheaper and are more within my food budget. How can each of these affect your weight loss?

PDXHollyD

It's up to you. I focus on carbs (Atkins/ketogenic way of eating) but you'll find most people around here are more into counting calories.

TinGirl314

Calories in verses calories out results in weightloss....
If you have a heart condition- This is where you need to watch Sodium
Insulin issues- Those are your carbs (I can't eat white carbs and lose...NOT saying that's for everyone, that's for me. )
If you want to build and preserve muscle- That's your protein
And if you have fatty liver or pancreantitis that's your sat fats and triglycerides

Unfortunately it's all part of the same cycle. If you're finding white carbs good because of cost (I'm guilty of easy mac) try adding a can of chicken (Or regular chicken if you have it.) Cutting carbs with protein significantly reduces the blast of sugar to your blood stream. Though I will say in a true test of cost....buying veggies and meats are usually just as cheap if not cheaper per meal.

I'm trying to get off TV dinners and easy mac, but with a difficult cooking situation I've been unable to so far. That is not a cost problem though, it's a convenience crutch.

Hope that helped, if only a little bit.

The_Enginerd

You will be able to get better feedback if you open up your diary.

It depends on what your goals are and where you are at in your weight loss. From your ticker and your question, I'm guessing you're most concerned with weight loss. In that case, focus most on your calories.

Calories in versus calories out will determine your weight loss.
Adequate protein will help maintain lean body mass (muscle). The popular suggestion is one gram of protein per pounds of lean body mass, but I think this depends on how much and what kind of exercise you are doing.
Sodium will effect water retention and high levels can cause high blood pressure in some individuals. It will not effect long term weight loss.

southernmom3

thanks for the input - I am newer to this site and still learning on what to focus on for the best results. I walk for exercise mostly but have been trying to use an elliptical lately. (that is a work in progress) I will continue to work on staying at my daily calorie goal and see if I need to adjust my carbs or protein at a later time.

linsey0689

Calories in protein for me. I know I have a lot of sodium so I can take that out of my mind I know if I get a lot of processed foods that's when I go over my sodium. Carbs if you're not about diabetic is not too much to worry about at least in my opinion. Calories are in a big thing for me because that's what this whole site is based around for 1 and for 2 calories is a combo of fat protein and carbs so it really tells you a lot. For every carb is 4 calories, every gram of protein is for calories in Evergreen a size 9 calories.