Do you JUST watch calories?

Michelle8683
Michelle8683 Posts: 64
in Food and Nutrition
So ever sense I started logging my food on MFP I always stay in my calorie goal, but I always go over on the sugar, and most of the time the carbs. My question is does it matter if you go over those things or do I really just need to be focusing on the calories?

Replies

  • Carnivor0us
    Carnivor0us Posts: 1,752 Member
    Focusing on both carbs and calories have met me with personal success.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    I focus on keeping my calories in the right range and getting enough protein. Fat and fiber come next. Carbs and sugars are some of the last things I'd look at.
  • melissacaniv
    melissacaniv Posts: 4
    You should definitely watch carbs and sugar. Sugar turns into fat if you consume too much, and for carbs it depends what type of carbs you are consuming. Heavy carbs like bread and pasta take forever to burn off so if you want quicker results you'll need to cut back immensely on the heavy carbs. Definitely up your protein put in more greens and cut down on the sugar and heavy carbs and you'll see the difference!
  • FatFreeFrolicking
    FatFreeFrolicking Posts: 4,252 Member
    I focus on calories first. Second, eating whole foods 90% of the time.

    I watch my carb/sugar intake as well because I am insulin resistant and hypoglycemic.

    Hitting my protein & fat macros are essential for me because they help keep my blood sugar stable.
  • rosebette
    rosebette Posts: 1,660 Member
    You can set the diary to display those macros that you are most concerned about. I have high cholesterol so I want to make sure I don't go over on fats (although I sometimes still do). I also want to make sure I make my protein macro.
  • MyouTakaraTriesAgain
    MyouTakaraTriesAgain Posts: 68
    You should definitely watch carbs and sugar. Sugar turns into fat if you consume too much, and for carbs it depends what type of carbs you are consuming. Heavy carbs like bread and pasta take forever to burn off so if you want quicker results you'll need to cut back immensely on the heavy carbs. Definitely up your protein put in more greens and cut down on the sugar and heavy carbs and you'll see the difference!

    No.

    Too much of ANYTHING will turn to fat. Calories from carbs take no longer to burn off than calories from any other source.
  • FeraFilia
    FeraFilia Posts: 4,664 Member
    I make sure my calories are in line foremost, but I try to hit protein/fat before I hit carbs (actually, I end up going over on one or both almost daily, while staying under my calorie limit)... just because it keeps me satiated vs getting hungry again.
  • wizzybeth
    wizzybeth Posts: 3,578 Member
    Since I eat very few foods anymore with added sugar, I ignore the sugar goal. I also eat more whole foods so I'm not worried about carbs - I'm looking to get more "nutrient dense" foods in my body. Over the course of the past few weeks I've only gone "over" on fat a couple times, and am over on sugar DAILY because I eat a lot of fresh fruit. Since I am eating high fiber foods, I don't worry about tracking fiber either, lol...

    I have my settings set up to track (in addition to calories of course): potassium, iron, calcium, protein, and Vitamin A, since these are very important to me and I want to get as much of these vitamins and minerals as I can from the foods I eat. I wish the tracker would let me choose more than 5 things to track at a time. :(
  • eric_sg61
    eric_sg61 Posts: 2,925 Member
    You should definitely watch carbs and sugar. Sugar turns into fat if you consume too much, and for carbs it depends what type of carbs you are consuming. Heavy carbs like bread and pasta take forever to burn off so if you want quicker results you'll need to cut back immensely on the heavy carbs. Definitely up your protein put in more greens and cut down on the sugar and heavy carbs and you'll see the difference!
    These will clear up your confusion
    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/how-we-get-fat.html
    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/nutrition/nutrient-intake-nutrient-storage-and-nutrient-oxidation.html
  • nicsflyingcircus
    nicsflyingcircus Posts: 2,894 Member
    I focus on my calories and making sure I get a minimum 100g of protein daily. Monitoring my protein tends to ensure my other macros work themselves out about how I want them to.
  • FoxyLifter
    FoxyLifter Posts: 965 Member
    I aim to meet my protein minimum (1g of protein per pound of LBM) and my fat minimum (0.35g per pound of body weight). I also try to meet my micro goals by at least 50%. Other than that, I fill the rest of my calorie allotment with whatever my heart desires. That, plus heavy progressive lifting, is how I've been losing fat and retaining muscle. It's not just about weight anymore. I care about my body's composition.

    Carbs are not the devil! Moderation, variation, and no unnecessary elimination!
  • sympha01
    sympha01 Posts: 942 Member
    I focus on my calories and making sure I get a minimum 100g of protein daily. Monitoring my protein tends to ensure my other macros work themselves out about how I want them to.

    This. Tracking ALL your macros is unnecessary because they're three corners on a triangle: essentially they've all GOT to add up to 180 degrees, so to speak. Most people agree hitting your protein is important to protect lean mass while you're eating at a deficit and/or doing resistance training. Priority between the other two macros is personal preference / body issues. Some people (like me) need to hit a certain fat minimum to avoid stomachaches and support healthy digestion and generally just feel awesome. Some people prefer to watch carbs because they've got a history with insulin (keepin' carbs low) or are in serious training for athletic performance (keepin' carbs sufficiently high).
  • swaggityswagbag
    swaggityswagbag Posts: 78 Member
    I track protein and carbs - keep carbs as low as I can (usually under 30g) and try to at least get within 10g of my protein macro (so between 80g and 100g a day). Fat falls where it does, but it usually is between 50 and 100g. Overall, I try to keep it under 1400 calories so fat is usually lower.
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  • Kymmu
    Kymmu Posts: 1,650 Member
    You should definitely watch carbs and sugar. Sugar turns into fat if you consume too much, and for carbs it depends what type of carbs you are consuming. Heavy carbs like bread and pasta take forever to burn off so if you want quicker results you'll need to cut back immensely on the heavy carbs. Definitely up your protein put in more greens and cut down on the sugar and heavy carbs and you'll see the difference!
    These will clear up your confusion
    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/how-we-get-fat.html
    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/nutrition/nutrient-intake-nutrient-storage-and-nutrient-oxidation.html

    informative articles- cheers!
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Calories, protein in that order.
  • Chezzie84
    Chezzie84 Posts: 873 Member
    Yep. I only have calories in my diary, nothing else.
    Not tracking carbs, protein, fat or sugar has not hindered me in any way.
  • silvanshadow
    silvanshadow Posts: 18
    Calories first, exceeding my protein goal (100g) second (but almost as important).

    I also try to keep my carb intake below 150g because I normally find myself hungry on the days I eat more than that (and consequently eat less protein/fat to fit my calorie goal).

    I tend to keep a eye on sodium, not to restrict it, but to be able to explain random weight "gains" on the scale that were more likely caused my retaining water than anything else.
  • kelsully
    kelsully Posts: 1,008 Member
    I am a gluten free, Dairy free vegetarian. I aim to eat a fruit or vegetable at each meal and attempt to balance it with a protein or fat of sorts, like nuts, beans, avocados etc.

    My main focus is the calories but I will try to make my protein % as high as I can. I don't focus too much on carbs and sugar as they just exist in fruits and veggies.
  • Swiftlet66
    Swiftlet66 Posts: 729 Member
    I pay attention to many other things beside calories because I am trying to determine a diet that is best suited for me in the long run so I pay attention to how I physically feel from the type of foods as well. I pay attention to calories and all my macro nutrients for losing weight. Protein and fat matters for fullness and fat especially helps in regulation so it's important to me. That includes fiber too. After I got the hang of which macro nutrient ratio that is doable for me, I am now looking at other things like iron and calcium content of my usual foods and adjusting accordingly. Yeah I know it's complicated but don't mind me, I'm just doing a mini experiment on myself right now. Lol. If you're looking to just lose weight, most people would agree, calories matter most.

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