I need help getting more carbs!

babygatorgirl
babygatorgirl Posts: 9 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hello! Whenever I start eating healthy, I always have trouble getting enough carbs. Right now I am eating 3 meals a day (with the exception of a day I just slept away due to headaches and insomnia the night before), but would like to add some snacks. I feel like all I do is eat all day and its hard to eat all this food but I'm still not getting enough.

I always meet or exceed my fat and protein but have trouble with calories and carbs :/

Any suggestions or snack ideas would be so greatly appreciated! Thanks :)

-Megan

Replies

  • chivalryder
    chivalryder Posts: 4,391 Member
    Eat a banana, pear, apple, orange, mango, etc.


    Problem solved!
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Why do you want more carbs?
    Carbs are not necessary, if you are following MFP guidelines they tend to be too high on carbs and too low on protein, depending on your deficit fat might be fine, or a little low.

    You can change the % but if not, use the fat and protein as minimums to go over on, and carbs as a maximum to stay under.
  • ryry_
    ryry_ Posts: 4,966 Member
    Are you eating according to the MFP default %'s? If so you likely are getting enough carbs because they skew heavily towards that marco and typically do not give you a high enough goal for fat or protein.

    However, for more carbs?

    English Muffins, Bagels, Candy, Fruit, Bread, Buns, etc.
  • BetterThanExpected
    BetterThanExpected Posts: 104 Member
    Why do you want more carbs?
    Carbs are not necessary, if you are following MFP guidelines they tend to be too high on carbs and too low on protein, depending on your deficit fat might be fine, or a little low.

    You can change the %, but if not use the fat and protein as minimums to hit, and carbs as a maximum to stay under.

    This. Protein and fat are both vital to the body, but carbs are not.
  • babygatorgirl
    babygatorgirl Posts: 9 Member
    I was always told your brain needs carbs!

    I just made my food log public sorry about that.
  • silverinc13
    silverinc13 Posts: 216 Member
    You probably need to adjust your % of intake from the auto-set of MFP. They don't get you nearly enough protein and WAY over carb.
  • ILoveGingerNut
    ILoveGingerNut Posts: 367 Member
    Why do you want more carbs?
    Carbs are not necessary, if you are following MFP guidelines they tend to be too high on carbs and too low on protein, depending on your deficit fat might be fine, or a little low.

    You can change the %, but if not use the fat and protein as minimums to hit, and carbs as a maximum to stay under.

    This. Protein and fat are both vital to the body, but carbs are not.


    ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????/
    wish you a long life lol
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    I was always told your brain needs carbs!

    I just made my food log public sorry about that.

    Your % for today look better than the POF defaults. Even those doing low carb <30 grams seem to be able to function, though I couldn't go that low, mine are set at 45% I believe.
  • ryry_
    ryry_ Posts: 4,966 Member
    Yea MFP is giving you a 50% goal for carbs. At 129 (what you have for today) that comes out to 35%. You are getting plenty of carbs. You might want to think about adjusting your ratios to 40/30/30 or 35/35/30 for a C/F/P goal to get a better idea for your numbers
  • 17ChargerGirl17
    17ChargerGirl17 Posts: 441
    I eat very little carbs and come no where close to what it tells me and I normally go over on my Protein. You'll be fine, you don't need to add more carbs.
  • babygatorgirl
    babygatorgirl Posts: 9 Member
    okay thanks everyone!
  • castlerobber
    castlerobber Posts: 528 Member
    Why do you want more carbs? Unless you're trying to fuel long, hard cardio workouts daily, you're probably getting more than enough. Increase fat and protein instead, which should help with both calories and feeling satisfied. Snacking isn't required for weight loss, if you're feeling satisfied without snacks.

    If you must have more carbs, choose more vegetables, sweet potatoes, and lower-sugar fruits such as berries and cherries, rather than bread, pasta, or sweets.
  • devil_in_a_blue_dress
    devil_in_a_blue_dress Posts: 5,214 Member
    Just from looking at your diary, I can tell you're set to MFP default. Try changing you marco settings to 35% carbs, 30% fat, 35% protein and see how you do.
  • bajoyba
    bajoyba Posts: 1,153 Member
    Why do you want more carbs?
    Carbs are not necessary, if you are following MFP guidelines they tend to be too high on carbs and too low on protein, depending on your deficit fat might be fine, or a little low.

    You can change the % but if not, use the fat and protein as minimums to go over on, and carbs as a maximum to stay under.

    This. Your diary actually looks pretty good, but you are coming in quite a bit under your calorie goal some days, so definitely try to get as close to that number as you can. And as mentioned above, try to hit those protein and fat goals. :smile:
  • rgunn02
    rgunn02 Posts: 169 Member
    I think your diary looks great! the carbs that you are getting are healthy. MFP tend to be too high in the carb requirements. I think it's based on the old version of the food pyramid that was bread/grains/carb heavy
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Hello! Whenever I start eating healthy, I always have trouble getting enough carbs. Right now I am eating 3 meals a day (with the exception of a day I just slept away due to headaches and insomnia the night before), but would like to add some snacks. I feel like all I do is eat all day and its hard to eat all this food but I'm still not getting enough.

    I always meet or exceed my fat and protein but have trouble with calories and carbs :/

    Any suggestions or snack ideas would be so greatly appreciated! Thanks :)

    -Megan

    This doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. If you are deficient in sometihng, then your diet is not heatlhy.

    Also, how did you get to the point that you need to lose weight if you can't even eat enough calories to meet calories for a deficit?

    My guess is you are cutting out everything not typically seen as "diet food". You don't need to eat like a rabbit to lose weight. Just eat food that has carbs that you enjoy. Fruit or veggies, whole grains, bread, baked chips or crackers (since you don't need more fat), pasta, a cookie.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    go into MFP customer settings and make your macros 40% Protein, 30% carbs and fat ..that is a pretty standard breakdown.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Why do you want more carbs?
    Carbs are not necessary, if you are following MFP guidelines they tend to be too high on carbs and too low on protein, depending on your deficit fat might be fine, or a little low.

    You can change the %, but if not use the fat and protein as minimums to hit, and carbs as a maximum to stay under.

    This. Protein and fat are both vital to the body, but carbs are not.


    ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????/
    wish you a long life lol

    This is a true statement. You can survive and thive and no, or very little carbs, do that with fat or protein and see where that gets you.

    Protein: to build/repair muscles/tissue, help retain muscle in a deficit (plus more)
    Fat: helps absorb certain vitamins and minerals, helps digestive system, hair, nail, skin health, and more
    carbs: easy to use energy source, but you can get the energy from the fat and protein above, just takes the body more work to get them in a state they can be used for such.

    That said, I tend to eat a fair bit of carbs as I tend to perform better when eating, and I like them.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    on a side note, I will say that this is a first as every single thread about carbs ends to be how to eliminate them so this is refreshing..
  • johnwhitent
    johnwhitent Posts: 648 Member
    I was always told your brain needs carbs!

    I just made my food log public sorry about that.

    I was listening to a brain specialist on NPR the other day who said the brain needs carbs and everyone should start the day with a few carbs to insure proper brain function. But, she said about sixty calories worth were sufficient to get the brain functioning properly after a night of sleep, so we're not talking much here. I know the low carb types may disagree, claiming carbs are not essential, but this was a brain specialist so I'm going with her recommendation. Besides, I lost 55 lbs eating a high level of carbs daily. They may or may not be necessary, but they are not the devil and there is no reason to avoid a perfectly good food group. I do stick to whole grains and such, but I love carbs and find that I perform best (cycling, running) when I have a good supply of carbs.

    Like a lot of others here, my goals are set for 40/30/30. But I try to go over on protein on lifting days and over on carbs on endurance cardio days.
  • babygatorgirl
    babygatorgirl Posts: 9 Member
    Hello! Whenever I start eating healthy, I always have trouble getting enough carbs. Right now I am eating 3 meals a day (with the exception of a day I just slept away due to headaches and insomnia the night before), but would like to add some snacks. I feel like all I do is eat all day and its hard to eat all this food but I'm still not getting enough.

    I always meet or exceed my fat and protein but have trouble with calories and carbs :/

    Any suggestions or snack ideas would be so greatly appreciated! Thanks :)

    -Megan

    This doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. If you are deficient in sometihng, then your diet is not heatlhy.

    Also, how did you get to the point that you need to lose weight if you can't even eat enough calories to meet calories for a deficit?

    My guess is you are cutting out everything not typically seen as "diet food". You don't need to eat like a rabbit to lose weight. Just eat food that has carbs that you enjoy. Fruit or veggies, whole grains, bread, baked chips or crackers (since you don't need more fat), pasta, a cookie.

    I have had very unhealthy eating habits sometimes while eating "healthy". I have yoyo dieted, starved myself, obsessed about food, been way too strict, and had borderline exercise bulimic tendencies in the past. Then on the opposite extreme everyone in my family is obese and eating out for every meal is normal.

    My mind is in a healthy place now compared to when I lost weight in the past. Even though I am at my heaviest, I feel the healthiest I have ever been. I am not on a "diet". I am trying to make a lifestyle change. I enjoy everything I am eating. I had been eating crap and hated it and didn't enjoy it at all. There is nothing I feel like I am denying myself. Losing weight is a goal of course, but it is not the main reason I am making changes. I just want to be as healthy as I finally feel inside.

    I want to slowly transition into a vegetarian or vegan based diet in the longrun.

    I want a truly nutritious balanced meal plan and not be afraid of carbs or anything!
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I was always told your brain needs carbs!

    I just made my food log public sorry about that.

    I was listening to a brain specialist on NPR the other day who said the brain needs carbs and everyone should start the day with a few carbs to insure proper brain function. But, she said about sixty calories worth were sufficient to get the brain functioning properly after a night of sleep, so we're not talking much here. I know the low carb types may disagree, claiming carbs are not essential, but this was a brain specialist so I'm going with her recommendation. Besides, I lost 55 lbs eating a high level of carbs daily. They may or may not be necessary, but they are not the devil and there is no reason to avoid a perfectly good food group. I do stick to whole grains and such, but I love carbs and find that I perform best (cycling, running) when I have a good supply of carbs.

    Like a lot of others here, my goals are set for 40/30/30. But I try to go over on protein on lifting days and over on carbs on endurance cardio days.

    What is necessary to sustain life and what is optimal in the diet are not the same things. Carbs are good fuel.
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    I was always told your brain needs carbs!

    I just made my food log public sorry about that.
    My brain certainly needs carbs.

    Bread, potatoes, rice, quinoa, barley, oats, pasta, couscous, noodles, vegetables, fruit.
  • babygatorgirl
    babygatorgirl Posts: 9 Member
    I was always told your brain needs carbs!

    I just made my food log public sorry about that.

    I was listening to a brain specialist on NPR the other day who said the brain needs carbs and everyone should start the day with a few carbs to insure proper brain function. But, she said about sixty calories worth were sufficient to get the brain functioning properly after a night of sleep, so we're not talking much here. I know the low carb types may disagree, claiming carbs are not essential, but this was a brain specialist so I'm going with her recommendation. Besides, I lost 55 lbs eating a high level of carbs daily. They may or may not be necessary, but they are not the devil and there is no reason to avoid a perfectly good food group. I do stick to whole grains and such, but I love carbs and find that I perform best (cycling, running) when I have a good supply of carbs.

    Like a lot of others here, my goals are set for 40/30/30. But I try to go over on protein on lifting days and over on carbs on endurance cardio days.

    I need to do some more research because I learned something in college about carbs and the brain. I don't remember the specifics. Thanks for the info!
  • johnwhitent
    johnwhitent Posts: 648 Member
    I was always told your brain needs carbs!

    I just made my food log public sorry about that.

    I was listening to a brain specialist on NPR the other day who said the brain needs carbs and everyone should start the day with a few carbs to insure proper brain function. But, she said about sixty calories worth were sufficient to get the brain functioning properly after a night of sleep, so we're not talking much here. I know the low carb types may disagree, claiming carbs are not essential, but this was a brain specialist so I'm going with her recommendation. Besides, I lost 55 lbs eating a high level of carbs daily. They may or may not be necessary, but they are not the devil and there is no reason to avoid a perfectly good food group. I do stick to whole grains and such, but I love carbs and find that I perform best (cycling, running) when I have a good supply of carbs.

    Like a lot of others here, my goals are set for 40/30/30. But I try to go over on protein on lifting days and over on carbs on endurance cardio days.

    What is necessary to sustain life and what is optimal in the diet are not the same things. Carbs are good fuel.

    Agree
  • babygatorgirl
    babygatorgirl Posts: 9 Member
    I guess I am a little paranoid about making sure my body is getting everything it needs due to not treating my body so good in the past.

    I'll change my settings! I didn't even know you could do that. I recently switched to MFP for the first time, I had previously used sparkpeople to track my food and exercise in the past.

    Also, I plan on adding A LOT of exercise to my life. I have a lot of free time on my hands and I am going to make use of it. Before I do that, I wanted to make sure my body was getting enough nutrients.

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