Are MFP's sugar goals completely unrealistic?

Yes. I'm glad i'm not the only one. If I have a piece of fruit I go over my sugars. It could be like 3 thin slices of pineapple and i'm done in for the day Its rough sometimes to live up to MFP set standards.

Well, I don't have a problem staying under on my sugars (and carbs, ususally). However, I am diabetic, and make it a point to avoid sugar in all forms as much as possible. I still get some sugars (23 grams of 42 allowed today), but I stay under.

In return, I almost always go over in Protein, and often over in fiber and fat.

I guess you'd have to get a perfectly balanced diet to stay at or under all the daily goals.

In spite of being "over" in protein/fat, I've still lost 50 lbs since last September. As long as you don't have a specific need, like my need to avoid sugar and keep carbs low, I don't see any reason you can't be "high" in sugar, so long as it's a good sugar, like the fruit you're eating. Provided you stay under your calorie goal, of course.

Your scale will tell you if you're on course or not - don't get bogged down in minutia.

Sugar is just a carb. As long as you're eating enough fats and protein, your carbs/sugar aren't particularly important unless you have a medical issue that requires carbs/sugar to be monitored.

However, it should be noted that fructose and sucrose can only be stored as liver glycogen and not muscle glycogen. The liver can hold 100-120g glycogen so anything more than that will be converted to triglycerides. As long as you still have a calorie deficit this will even out. Just try to make most of your carbs glucose and not sucrose or fructose. Fructose in particular has been shown to decrease exercise performance, increased likelihood of gastrointestinal distress, and increase perception of exertion.

Here are some studies:
http://www.setantacollege.com/wp-content/uploads/Journal_db/the effects of glucose....pdf

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3592616


As long as you're under your calorie goal, you'll lose weight. Some people find that sugar (even from fruit) causes them to have more sugar/carb cravings so keep that in mind.

For information on setting your macro target, read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/911011-calculating-calorie-macronutrient-needs?page=1#posts-13821336

I actually did a little research on this because i had the same question/concern. Banana in mmy protein shake in the AM and an apple with my lunch and I would be over my allotment for the day. I did a little research that says - yes - around 24-25 grams of sugar is appropriate for women... but that is only ADDED sugar (i.e. - as in the sugar that is added in processed food). I have yet to find a study that gives a limit on sugar found naturally in fruits & vegetables. So - is MFP unrealistic - no - but it would be WONDERFUL if they fixed the system to start recognizing the difference between natural sugar and ADDED sugar. That would be a much better gauge. In the meantime, I just mentally make my own adjustments based on my food choices for that day - and realize and I always WAY UNDER the 24 grams of ADDED sugar recommended.

Hope that helps!

I don't think so. I am usually under. Your sugar levels will go up if you exercise. If you need to eat more sugar without going over your goals, exercise more.

I actually did a little research on this because i had the same question/concern. Banana in mmy protein shake in the AM and an apple with my lunch and I would be over my allotment for the day. I did a little research that says - yes - around 24-25 grams of sugar is appropriate for women... but that is only ADDED sugar (i.e. - as in the sugar that is added in processed food). I have yet to find a study that gives a limit on sugar found naturally in fruits & vegetables. So - is MFP unrealistic - no - but it would be WONDERFUL if they fixed the system to start recognizing the difference between natural sugar and ADDED sugar. That would be a much better gauge. In the meantime, I just mentally make my own adjustments based on my food choices for that day - and realize and I always WAY UNDER the 24 grams of ADDED sugar recommended.

Hope that helps!

I am happy to hear that the amount is for ADDED sugar, but think that MFP does not take this into consideration. I eat no products that have flour or processed sweetener in them and do not use any kind of sweetener, yet with two small oranges a day I am over my limit. I have learned to ignore it, but I wonder that if one category is wrong, if the others are too and where I go to find the right numbers.