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Anyone Else?...Under Calories but in the RED on macros?

Posts: 589 Member
edited January 19 in Food and Nutrition
So I noticed that I am under calories alot but at first it was becoming a problem with me being in the red on sodium..Now it is carbs and sugar..It is like no matter what I do something is in the red and it is sooo frustrating..I know that things are not going to be perfect but it's hard enough trying to be under and then others things are in the red..Anyone else have this problem quite a bit? Mines are set to 40, 30, 30 & that is what I feel is good for me.

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Replies

  • Posts: 126 Member
    Agreed!!! Bump!
  • Posts: 3,488 Member
    it's hard to make suggestions without seeing your diary.
  • Posts: 589 Member
    It is soooo frustrating and stressful..I see I have one that understands what I mean....
  • Posts: 589 Member
    I understand...My diary has always been closed because I have noticed alot of my friends who have theirs open get alot of negative comments on their pages and that I do not want to deal with..I am not going to always have a good day and I dnt need people to point that out to me and make it like it is the worst thing in the world..Like I said, I normally do pretty good because I am under calorie wise but now carbs & sugar are over all the time.
    it's hard to make suggestions without seeing your diary.
  • Posts: 26,368 Member
    I don't think it's actually possible, unless you really tweak your numbers, or just eat a ton of veggies, not to be in the red for macros.

    I'm always way in the red on protein (because I'm too lazy to change every setting back every time I recalculate my goal) and in sugar. I try to stay under in fat and carb (I'm always way under in carbs). Basically I guess if I still have calories and I'm hungry, depending on where my macros are, I'll try and eat something appropriate, but it often messes up another macro in the process... so I don't sweat it too much. I just avoid too much fat because I have a sensitive stomach.
  • Posts: 5,691 Member
    Are you looking at the nutrients before you make a decision about eating the meal? Getting macros right takes a bit of practice and prep, but in time you'll start to 'know' what to pick. I can throw a meal together without much thought now and know it'll be somewhere around 40/30/30.
  • Posts: 663 Member
    Yeah, I'm always red on protein
  • Posts: 2,003 Member
    So I noticed that I am under calories alot but at first it was becoming a problem with me being in the red on sodium..Now it is carbs and sugar..It is like no matter what I do something is in the red and it is sooo frustrating..I know that things are not going to be perfect but it's hard enough trying to be under and then others things are in the red..Anyone else have this problem quite a bit? Mines are set to 40, 30, 30 & that is what I feel is good for me.

    Use your diary as a planner rather than a tracker.

    log you meals the night before, so that you can tweak your day and adjust the meals/snacks to get closer to your goals.
  • Posts: 61,406 Member
    I only care about the total calories and protein. The other things tend take care of themselves if I get those two correct. Every other category can go in the red every single day for all I care.
  • Posts: 2,412 Member
    I only care about the total calories and protein. The other things tend take care of themselves if I get those two correct. Every other category can go in the red every single day for all I care.

    That's me too.

    I aim for 40/30/30 but don't stress about it if I'm in a decent deficit and not hungry.
  • Posts: 589 Member
    I thought being over on protein was ok but that it wasn't ok to be over on sodium, sugar, fat and carbs...Am I wrong??..But it is almost impossible to be under on everything..Hard enough being under on calories & I am making good choices like fruit, nuts, whey protein, egg etc..yea I am not always a perfect eater but even when I am I am still in the red....!!!
  • Posts: 589 Member
    Even when I do as you suggested I still go over :(

    Use your diary as a planner rather than a tracker.

    log you meals the night before, so that you can tweak your day and adjust the meals/snacks to get closer to your goals.
  • Posts: 1,243 Member
    I've had times when I'm way over in calories yet green on macros.

    Dat dere Smirnov...
  • Posts: 457 Member
    So I noticed that I am under calories alot but at first it was becoming a problem with me being in the red on sodium..Now it is carbs and sugar..It is like no matter what I do something is in the red and it is sooo frustrating..I know that things are not going to be perfect but it's hard enough trying to be under and then others things are in the red..Anyone else have this problem quite a bit? Mines are set to 40, 30, 30 & that is what I feel is good for me.

    I am in the red for sugar almost every single day, but i chalk that up to eating fruit throughout the day for the most part. I wouldn't stress too much!
  • Posts: 518 Member
    I never paid much attention to the other stuff just calories...and carbs occasionally.
  • Posts: 34,595 Member
    You've gotten all the answers that will help you solve this. Now it's up to you to practice and learn - like we all did. Unless you study your Food Diary on a regular basis, you aren't going to magically stumble on the combo.

    Really, just worry about getting enough protein, staying within your calories, and let the rest fall where it falls. You're fine.
  • Posts: 61,406 Member
    I thought being over on protein was ok but that it wasn't ok to be over on sodium, sugar, fat and carbs...Am I wrong??..But it is almost impossible to be under on everything..Hard enough being under on calories & I am making good choices like fruit, nuts, whey protein, egg etc..yea I am not always a perfect eater but even when I am I am still in the red....!!!

    The only one of those that will affect weight loss is calories. The only one that will affect lean mass is protein.

    Even if you're concerned about other health issues, you'll find that your cholesterol and BP will improve merely by losing weight
  • Posts: 589 Member
    Right!!! lol..Me 2!! :)
    I've had times when I'm way over in calories yet green on macros.

    Dat dere Smirnov...
  • Posts: 589 Member
    Ty sooo much for the info..I needed to know this!! I do have high blood pressure that I am on meds for and it is getting better and better :)

    The only one of those that will affect weight loss is calories. The only one that will affect lean mass is protein.

    Even if you're concerned about other health issues, you'll find that your cholesterol and BP will improve merely by losing weight
  • Posts: 4,733 Member
    Right!!! lol..Me 2!! :)

    don't forget that your body doesn't work on a 24-hour cycle. you may log on that cycle, but your body doesn't really know or care if your macros are obtained over a 12 hour period, a 24 hour period, or a 30 hour period.

    the daily logging helps you stay on track, but keep an eye on your weekly averages to better gauge your success in hitting your macro goals.
  • Posts: 589 Member
    I am always studying my food diary and trying to change out certain foods for others so that I am not in the red..Thanks for the info as i have learned more about protein and incorporated more of that starting last wk..I will focus more on calories & protein ;)
    You've gotten all the answers that will help you solve this. Now it's up to you to practice and learn - like we all did. Unless you study your Food Diary on a regular basis, you aren't going to magically stumble on the combo.

    Really, just worry about getting enough protein, staying within your calories, and let the rest fall where it falls. You're fine.
  • Posts: 589 Member
    Thanks Boo!! :):flowerforyou:
    I never paid much attention to the other stuff just calories...and carbs occasionally.
  • Posts: 222 Member
    Yeah, I'm always red on protein

    All I look for more or less...
  • Posts: 392 Member
    I've had times when I'm way over in calories yet green on macros.

    Dat dere Smirnov...

    This.

    But--

    is going over protein bad? :/ I assumed that was okay, especially if your fitness regimen is strength training heavy, maybe.

    I ALWAYS go over my carbs. All the time.
    Sodium is tricky too, but I've learned to balance that out.

    But you're def not alone,
    & I'm sure there are a ton of people who do the same.
  • Posts: 6,990 Member
    I only pay attention to the protein macro. And I try to go over because I don't think I get enough. I don't much care about the others though.
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