Calories left, but macros are met

poma91
poma91 Posts: 181 Member
in Food and Nutrition
From today on I am (and will be) eating at 40/30/30 ratio. I pre-logged all the food for the day and ended up at quite low calorie count. My macros, however are met (or very little under). So should I up my calories and exceed the macros? I still haven't had my workout (I burn around 300 cals and will end up at even lower net calorie count) but I have logged the protein shake that I drink after working out. I was thinking of adding some nuts but then my fat will be way over. (my diary is open)

If you look at my previous days you'll see that there is nothing logged except water and coffee. The reason is that I water fasted for a couple of days. I broke the fast but still didn't log it :) For those of you who are going to attack me about fasting I don't want to sound rude but no I didn't starve, no I didn't mess up my metabolism, I didn't do it for quick weight loss.

Also maybe some of you will tell me that 1200 cals are too few. Well I know all about TDEE, BMR and so on. I like to switch around my calories. I keep my cals low for some weeks then up them and then low again, etc., etc. Besides I don't want to go too heavy on my digestive system after the fast.

What I am trying to say is that I really appreciate your advice and comment on the question that I asked but please don't judge me too much or too harshly :flowerforyou: After all everybody makes their own choices and learns from their own mistakes. I found something that works for me, so this is what matters :wink: Thank you!

Replies

  • grimendale
    grimendale Posts: 2,153 Member
    You've got 27g of carbs left, and going a little over on fat or protein isn't a problem. A bagel with sugarfree jelly, butter, cream cheese or nut butter would all help up your calories without blowing up any of your macros, as an example.
  • poma91
    poma91 Posts: 181 Member
    Thanks! I was thinking of peanut butter sandwich or something but this damn fat annoys me hahah :D
  • TruckersWifeTruckersLife
    TruckersWifeTruckersLife Posts: 408 Member
    Alright i am going to sound like a complete numb nut here, i have heard so much about macros what is it
  • crandos
    crandos Posts: 377 Member
    Alright i am going to sound like a complete numb nut here, i have heard so much about macros what is it

    Macros that people speak of are carbohydrates,fats and protein.
  • grimendale
    grimendale Posts: 2,153 Member
    Macros is short for macronutrients. It refers to the percentage of your daily calories coming from protein, carbs and fat. Some people choose to add others (sodium, for instance), but those are the main three.
  • AlwaysWanderer
    AlwaysWanderer Posts: 641 Member
    30% Protein and fat are minimum intakes, so it's good if you go over. Try nuts, or grilled chicken salad etc.
  • TruckersWifeTruckersLife
    TruckersWifeTruckersLife Posts: 408 Member
    Thank you everyone I dont think I have enough macros but also on the other hand I am not going to feel over full trying to have the right requirement I eat until I am content and if i get a bit peckish later on I have what I call banana oat balls as a friend gave me the recipe for them
  • poma91
    poma91 Posts: 181 Member
    30% Protein and fat are minimum intakes, so it's good if you go over. Try nuts, or grilled chicken salad etc.

    Um are you sure? I mean 30% each? Usually MFP sets it to 55% carbs 25% fat 20% protein (or something like that I am not 100% sure) BUT main idea is that protein and fat are set below 30% (or at least protein is) I hope you get what I am trying to say :)
  • katrop
    katrop Posts: 4 Member
    sorry to intrude but are macros what are along the bottom and is that number a percentage of your daily intake

    thanks in advance
  • stt43
    stt43 Posts: 487
    For your purposes macros are more of a 'take in at least this amount' type thing, and calories are typically a 'don't take in more than this amount' type thing. If you hit your macros and have calories left then you're lucky and can use them for whatever you want. It won't hurt to have more fat, protein, or carbohydrates, as long as you're calories are still correct.
  • TruckersWifeTruckersLife
    TruckersWifeTruckersLife Posts: 408 Member
    When I think about it i probably get all my macros as i dont know if everybody does this i know i do i keep a log of how many coffee's i have a day and log that as well i log that in my snacks
  • katrop
    katrop Posts: 4 Member
    :smile: thats great looks like my protein is lacking a little but others are fine
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I try to stay under my macros but if not, it's not the end of the world.. I just try not to go more than 10 over though (except protein, I don't care how much over I am, but I'm 40/30/30 anyway). I have a sensitive stomach though so too much fat is usually bad news for me.

    Most days though if I'm not hungry, I'm close to my macros, and have calories left, I just don't eat.
  • AlwaysWanderer
    AlwaysWanderer Posts: 641 Member
    30% Protein and fat are minimum intakes, so it's good if you go over. Try nuts, or grilled chicken salad etc.

    Um are you sure? I mean 30% each? Usually MFP sets it to 55% carbs 25% fat 20% protein (or something like that I am not 100% sure) BUT main idea is that protein and fat are set below 30% (or at least protein is) I hope you get what I am trying to say :)
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets
    It's a good read, might help you out :flowerforyou:
  • ShannonMpls
    ShannonMpls Posts: 1,936 Member
    I always consider my protein goal (130g) and fat goal (68g) to be minimums, not max - I don't hesitate to go over that at all. My weeks usually shake out to be 30/30/40 (fat is my favorite macro obviously!).
  • BoxerLover96
    BoxerLover96 Posts: 82 Member
    Great post! I wondered about this too...whether to hit your calories' goal or marcos? I usually do well with staying within my calories per day, but I have hard time meeting my marcos :/

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