CALORIES? CARBS? FAT? SUGAR? SODIUM? WHATS YOUR FOCUS?

13

Replies

  • Time4achange77
    Time4achange77 Posts: 28
    I am watching calories, fat, sugar, and sodium and carbs. I am always red on the Vitamin A and C.
  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
    I try to keep my protein and fat high, while eating low-moderate carbs.
    I gave up on sodium.
  • kelly_e_montana
    kelly_e_montana Posts: 1,999 Member
    calories but i try to eat over my protein and fiber and stay under on cholesterol
  • Slove009
    Slove009 Posts: 364 Member
    I pay attention mostly to calories, sodium and fat. Sodium is one of the things I focus on a lot because it is in everything and sometims your daily amount of sodium can be all in one place if you're not careful!
  • Amberonamission
    Amberonamission Posts: 836 Member
    Calories, sodium and potassium. I had not realized before MFP how deficient in Potassium I was.
  • junipearl
    junipearl Posts: 326 Member
    I try to keep my sodium and sugar low
    my iron and protein high
    my calories even =)
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,148 Member
    1. Sodium under 2300
    2. Calories at 2000

    I don't worry about carbs, fat, protein too much, but I hate seeing the red numbers.
  • harvo
    harvo Posts: 4,676 Member
    Calories and carbs...Calories because my doc said to lose weight you have to burn more than you take in...Sugar because I am diabetic.
  • sarahharmintx
    sarahharmintx Posts: 868 Member
    1. Calories
    2. Sodium
  • Rhia55
    Rhia55 Posts: 247
    Mostly calories and fat, I try to make sure they're always in the green. I always go over on protein but I don't mind that due to strength training.
  • chivalryder
    chivalryder Posts: 4,391 Member
    1. Calories (to calculate...)
    2. Protein
    3. Fat
    4. Carbs

    If I get my protein and fat right, I'm all good. I don't worry about sodium or sugar, because I eat mostly veggies and other foods from raw. I eat as few processed foods as possible, so I get little unnatural sodium (there is sodium in everything we eat, just not in the form of salt). I also don't eat any refined sugar at all.

    I don't buy into the whole "too much sodium will make you gain weight/hold onto a lot of weight" deal. Two days in a row, I ate over 7000 mg of sodium (they were bad days) but I still lost weight during those three days. I feel carbs have a larger impact on water gains and losses than sodium does. That all depends on your glycogen stores.

    That being said, I do not suggest eating more than 1500mg every day.
  • sherrirb
    sherrirb Posts: 1,649 Member
    Calories first and then sodium. High sodium days cause you to retain water and my legs swell up when I eat high sodium.
    I think this has also been a very big contributing factor to my need for medication to control HBP.

    Since January of this year when I got serious about my weight loss and using MFP, I've really been watching my sodium. At my last doctor's appt about a month and a half ago, my doctor has reduced my BP meds to less than half what I was taking before. She told me I continue to lose weight and control my sodium intake, I can probably be taken off the BP meds altogether. That is my goal right now!
    That was a huge NSV for me and why Sodium is priority.
  • shorty35565
    shorty35565 Posts: 1,425 Member
    Most of the time I do go over on sugar, but the others are very easy to keep under for me. And I also try to eat 100g of protein or more.
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    Calories for losing weight and protein for keeping/gaining muscle.
    Not too bothered by the rest.

    Some time I'm going to give it a go keeping my sodium intake low and see if it makes a difference, but generally done ok eating lots of high sodium foods. Don't have high blood pressure etc.
  • Aurorakitty
    Aurorakitty Posts: 57
    Calories, Carbs and fat. Usually i'm under on carbs but over in fat. I watch sugar and sodium too.
  • rwhawkes
    rwhawkes Posts: 117 Member
    Calories only; I figure that if I can keep the calories under control, and eating fairly clean, all the rest of it will naturally fall in line.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I posted this in another thread but still applies:

    Calories come from (3) MACRO-nutrients - Fat, Protein, and Carbs. Everything else (fiber, sugar, saturated fat, etc) is subset of these 3 main biggies - otherwise known as MICRO-nutrients. Set up your macronutrients so that you are eating at least 1 gram of protein for your LEAN body weight - it's a goal, sometimes I hit, sometimes I don't. Make the next highest percentage fat, and then carbs. NOTE, 1 gram of Fat = 9 calories, 1 gram of Protein = 4 calories, and 1 gram of carbs = 4 calories.

    NOTE: eating FAT does not make you FAT

    That's an interesting approach. I also do 1g of protein per LBM, but I can hit that with my protein set to 25% of calories. So I do fat for the other 25% then carbohydrates for half my calories. I am not sure why you want want more fat than carbs.

    The percentages and the "fat does not make you fat" slogan most likely means a Paleo/Primal diet.
  • Lisa760
    Lisa760 Posts: 113 Member
    Calories
    Sugar
    Carbs
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Calories, sodium and potassium. I had not realized before MFP how deficient in Potassium I was.

    If you are using the MFP database to track potassium you may not be as deficient as you think. Many foods that contain potassium don't list it in the database.
  • vikdexkaykai
    vikdexkaykai Posts: 92 Member
    Calories, Carbs and fat. Usually i'm under on carbs but over in fat. I watch sugar and sodium too.
    That's kinda what I'm doing at the moment.
  • vikdexkaykai
    vikdexkaykai Posts: 92 Member
    Calories only; I figure that if I can keep the calories under control, and eating fairly clean, all the rest of it will naturally fall in line.
    This is kinda what I thought as well!!
  • MissMollieD
    MissMollieD Posts: 130
    I posted this in another thread but still applies:

    Calories come from (3) MACRO-nutrients - Fat, Protein, and Carbs. Everything else (fiber, sugar, saturated fat, etc) is subset of these 3 main biggies - otherwise known as MICRO-nutrients. Set up your macronutrients so that you are eating at least 1 gram of protein for your LEAN body weight - it's a goal, sometimes I hit, sometimes I don't. Make the next highest percentage fat, and then carbs. NOTE, 1 gram of Fat = 9 calories, 1 gram of Protein = 4 calories, and 1 gram of carbs = 4 calories.

    NOTE: eating FAT does not make you FAT

    That's an interesting approach. I also do 1g of protein per LBM, but I can hit that with my protein set to 25% of calories. So I do fat for the other 25% then carbohydrates for half my calories. I am not sure why you want want more fat than carbs.

    Because if you eat healthy fats on a regular basis, you're body will use fat for energy instead of carbs. And if you over eat on carbs (i.e. you do not immediately burn up all the carbs you ingest) - it becomes sugar and sugar increases your insulin level. Soon your body cannot absorb any more sugar, the excess sugar is stored as fat.
  • MissMollieD
    MissMollieD Posts: 130
    I posted this in another thread but still applies:

    Calories come from (3) MACRO-nutrients - Fat, Protein, and Carbs. Everything else (fiber, sugar, saturated fat, etc) is subset of these 3 main biggies - otherwise known as MICRO-nutrients. Set up your macronutrients so that you are eating at least 1 gram of protein for your LEAN body weight - it's a goal, sometimes I hit, sometimes I don't. Make the next highest percentage fat, and then carbs. NOTE, 1 gram of Fat = 9 calories, 1 gram of Protein = 4 calories, and 1 gram of carbs = 4 calories.

    NOTE: eating FAT does not make you FAT

    That's an interesting approach. I also do 1g of protein per LBM, but I can hit that with my protein set to 25% of calories. So I do fat for the other 25% then carbohydrates for half my calories. I am not sure why you want want more fat than carbs.

    The percentages and the "fat does not make you fat" slogan most likely means a Paleo/Primal diet.

    Wrong. Not paleo/primal or what have you. A lot of research and understanding.
  • FrancineQueen
    FrancineQueen Posts: 3
    Those tools (calorie, carbs,protein etc...)are put there to balance our diet. They not only help us lose weight but also help us eat healthier. Check out the Canadian Food Guide, this helps us balance our food groups and portions. Try it for a couple of days and see if it keeps you out of that red zone.
    As for sodium it is verry hard to stay in the balanced zone.. Look at food lables and choose food that have less than 10% sodium. As for fiber, the more the better!!!
    Hope this help... Good Luck!!
  • emtjmac
    emtjmac Posts: 1,320 Member
    I'm always over for protein, sometimes for fiber, never for fat, carbs or calories unless I had a cheat meal which is rare. I'm in the green in my sodium every day, I make sure of it. Eat less processed food and be watchful of the amount of sodium in bread. It's not difficult to eat 2500mg or less of sodium every day unless you just don't try.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    I posted this in another thread but still applies:

    Calories come from (3) MACRO-nutrients - Fat, Protein, and Carbs. Everything else (fiber, sugar, saturated fat, etc) is subset of these 3 main biggies - otherwise known as MICRO-nutrients. Set up your macronutrients so that you are eating at least 1 gram of protein for your LEAN body weight - it's a goal, sometimes I hit, sometimes I don't. Make the next highest percentage fat, and then carbs. NOTE, 1 gram of Fat = 9 calories, 1 gram of Protein = 4 calories, and 1 gram of carbs = 4 calories.

    NOTE: eating FAT does not make you FAT

    That's an interesting approach. I also do 1g of protein per LBM, but I can hit that with my protein set to 25% of calories. So I do fat for the other 25% then carbohydrates for half my calories. I am not sure why you want want more fat than carbs.

    The percentages and the "fat does not make you fat" slogan most likely means a Paleo/Primal diet.

    Oh, duh! That makes sense. I was trying to think about what kinds of food that a person would eat for those macros. :laugh:
  • itgeekwoman
    itgeekwoman Posts: 804 Member
    YES! You can't cut a single thing out of your diet and expect to win long term. The key to this is balance and moderation.
    My nutritionist set a guideline for me that is this.. 3 protein , 3 carbs and 2 fats a day. All the veg that I want to eat in addition to that.
    The trick is in the types of carbs or fats that you eat. Even protein. You can pick bacon. or you can pick turkey, chicken, or even lean beef.

    I don't think you have to get rid of anything except refined sugars and corn. (useless food) Good luck.
  • Melo1966
    Melo1966 Posts: 881 Member
    I track calories, protein, fiber and water.
    When choosing foods I go low fat then low sugar then low sodium.
    I do not have to worry about gluten or dairy. :tongue:
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    I posted this in another thread but still applies:

    Calories come from (3) MACRO-nutrients - Fat, Protein, and Carbs. Everything else (fiber, sugar, saturated fat, etc) is subset of these 3 main biggies - otherwise known as MICRO-nutrients. Set up your macronutrients so that you are eating at least 1 gram of protein for your LEAN body weight - it's a goal, sometimes I hit, sometimes I don't. Make the next highest percentage fat, and then carbs. NOTE, 1 gram of Fat = 9 calories, 1 gram of Protein = 4 calories, and 1 gram of carbs = 4 calories.

    NOTE: eating FAT does not make you FAT

    That's an interesting approach. I also do 1g of protein per LBM, but I can hit that with my protein set to 25% of calories. So I do fat for the other 25% then carbohydrates for half my calories. I am not sure why you want want more fat than carbs.

    Because if you eat healthy fats on a regular basis, you're body will use fat for energy instead of carbs. And if you over eat on carbs (i.e. you do not immediately burn up all the carbs you ingest) - it becomes sugar and sugar increases your insulin level. Soon your body cannot absorb any more sugar, the excess sugar is stored as fat.

    Carbs become sugar no matter how many of them you eat. Your body needs sugar. I like to get a little bit of fat with my carbs and a little bit with my protein. I set my macros to 50/25/25 almost two months ago. I hit my goals on most days. On some occasions I go over on fat and on some days I go over on carbs, but so long as there is a caloric deficit, then the body isn't going to be storing any fat for energy.

    Thanks for responding. I was very curious about that, since you didn't post the actual percentages that you use, I was speculating. :smile:
  • lovinmyselfagain
    lovinmyselfagain Posts: 307 Member
    I watch calories first, then I make sure I get enough protein every day, and I watch my sodium levels. The only "red" I'm ever concerned about are calories and sodium. I keep an eye on the others, but the 3 mentioned above are the most important to me.

    Edit:And fiber! Can't believe I forgot that-getting enough fiber is also important! So 4 things...

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