how is it possible to have only 23 grams of sugar a day?

I have pondered this at length. From what I've read, for people who do not have health problems specifically related to sugar, the added sugar should be limited.
http://www.rodale.com/recommended-sugar-intake?page=0,0
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/Sugars-101_UCM_306024_Article.jsp

i too have asked this, since its a default for MFP, i wish they would address this issue. If you have any sort of fruit or dairy, you are done. I have only used it as a guide to know what snacks are dooming me but for the natural sugars it counts, I wouldn't worry about them. good luck

According to my fitness program, I am supposed to have only 32 grams of sugar a day. My questions is this... how am i supposed to eat more fruits if they are full of sugar. According to my calculations If I have 2-3 pieces of fruit a day, I am already meeting my sugar intake... and this does not include eating other foods. Any help would be great! Thanks.

Laura

We should be eating way more vegetables then fruit.

As far as I can tell, it's not possible. On my best days, that is the one macro I always always go over. I've just stopped worrying about it, basically.

I don't know what your "fitness program" is, but you need WAY more carbs than that to perform the most basic daily bodily functions. Maybe there's a misunderstanding?

You need exactly 0 carbs to perform the basic bodily functions.

You do need carbs, carbs give you energy. If you cut carbs completely out of your diet you will be tired all the time.

It is actually much better when you can hit precisely 31,667. Requires more work, but who said dieting was gonna be easy?

Orrr...

Just learn about nutrition, healthy habits, stop trying to lose weight and learn how to live the rest of your life.

You will not get a lot of support for fad diets on these boards I'm afraid

Retracted due to finding evidence contrary to my prior knowledge.

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/nutrition/how-many-carbohydrates-do-you-need.html

I don't know what your "fitness program" is, but you need WAY more carbs than that to perform the most basic daily bodily functions. Maybe there's a misunderstanding?

There is NO biological need for carbs, so there is NO need for any of them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_breast_milk#Composition

But yeah, you probably know better than your own DNA!

Eating carbs is alright, healthy, and there is about as many good reasons to not eat carbs than to cut off 3 of your fingers right now. You would survive... But why do it?

unless you have a medical condition that requires monitoring sugar, i wouldn't worry about it.

sugars just get stored as fat if you don't use them for current energy needs, just like other carbs. monitor your carbs so you're not consistently going way over or way under and you should be fine. if you are going way over and don't have a related medical condition, you'll just see the effect on the scale. that's all.

I've met my goals for sugar a few times, but it's just not sustainable for me to hit it perfectly every day long term. I pretty much just watch the numbers and try to get as close as I can, but I usually go over a bit.

You do need carbs, carbs give you energy. If you cut carbs completely out of your diet you will be tired all the time.

Not true. While I don't cut out my carbs, I have them significantly reduced. If you ask any low-carb dieter you will find that they will say they have MORE energy - not less. While carbs may be the bodies preferred source of energy, it isn't the only source. I typically have between 15-35g carbs. My sugars are anywhere from 0g to 15g. On a bad day as high as 30g.

100% agreement with Jim. My net carbs are typically in the 10-20 range primarily from splenda or veggies. I just started cardio this week after an 8 month absence from it. My 1st day back I did 25% more in time at a faster speed then when I was low calorie/high carb diet AND felt better afterwards. My energy levels are through the roof too.

I truly hope that was not a big surprise to you... 8 months of consistent eating habits with a big weight loss would produce cardio results whether you were on a twinkie diet, a low-carb diet or a balanced diet... Grats about that too, but that has just nothing to do with the choice of the diet. It has more to do with your consistency and dedication, no matter the composition of the diet.

To the OP, the key is really just to be consistent... A dude lost weight drinking/eating nothing but beer for 6 weeks, google that for fun. Calories in vs Calories out with an aggressive dedication and consistency will yield results. And no amount of Hollywood accounting with weird tweaks to your diet will replace that dedication and consistency, don't bother.

If eating low sugar will prevent you from being consistent 7 days a week and then some, it is BOUND TO FAIL. If it was easy for you, then you would not be starting this thread, so I assume it is a problem.

Just change your whole approach to this journey. This is not something that will stop once you hit a magic number on the scale, this is forever if you succeed. Might as well be a pleasant journey?

I eat mostly low carb and my average sugar intake is about 15.

You do need carbs, carbs give you energy. If you cut carbs completely out of your diet you will be tired all the time.

Not rue for all...