Amouts on your food diary

I have my calories set at 1,880. In the charts it has carbs, protein, fat, sodium and sugar. Is this grams?
Mine say 71 for a daily goal for sugar. That is way over any recommended amount. The same with carbs.
yes I want to gain weight, but in a healthy way. That much sugar and carbs cannot be good.
Am I reading this right?
I went to my profile but don't see how to change the recommended daily amount. Or the amount I want to eat and keep track of.

Replies

  • itsbasschick
    itsbasschick Posts: 1,584 Member
    yes, that's grams. and clean complex carbs are good for you, a great energy source. that does seem high for sugar to me.

    you can change your macros in the Goals tab.
  • jackielou867
    jackielou867 Posts: 422 Member
    You will find there is a lot of natural sugar in fruit, some in veggies, even in milk. Even on my healthiest days I struggle to stay below this figure. Instead my goal is to not add any unecessary sugar into my day. I aim for high protein and make sure I get some good healthy fats like avocado. Do not demonize fat or natural sugar. Do a little research and you will find there are good and bad versions of both. Honey for instance has many health benefits, but it is sugar!
  • cwoyto123
    cwoyto123 Posts: 308
    Sugar is not an issue unless you are diabetic. I consume 400-500grams of sugar a day.
  • itsbasschick
    itsbasschick Posts: 1,584 Member
    that's true, but on the other hand if you're restricting your calories, sugar isn't as good a fuel for workouts as clean carbs.
  • Jesse_Hunter
    Jesse_Hunter Posts: 162 Member
    Well, Are you gaining weight alone, or are you gaining weight while lifting weights/building muscle?

    Depending on what your goals are, I would manually set my macros and use that as a weight gaining guide.

    I would set a general calorie amount, but, it would be less important overall. If you are using macro's as a guide, calories will fluctuate depending on what you are eating.

    You can calculate your macros for gaining weight as follows:

    Multiply your body weight X 16 = Calories per day

    Multiply your body weight X 0.8-1 = grams of Protein per day

    Multiply your body weight X 0.4 = grams of Fat per day

    Multipy your body weight X 1.5-2 = grams of Carbs per day

    This all really depends on how active you are though. How many times per week you exercise, etc.

    Hope this helps.
  • AdieEve
    AdieEve Posts: 87 Member
    Sugar is not an issue unless you are diabetic. I consume 400-500grams of sugar a day.

    Holy cow! Consuming that much sugar in a day most certainly is unhealthy, and can lead to a host of medical conditions including type 2 diabetes!

    http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/280-public-health-fda-added-sugar-label-0427.html
  • kynsie2
    kynsie2 Posts: 35 Member
    Jesse_Hunter
    Thank you!
    Gaining weight mostly right now.
    Just started walking 2 miles a day.
    Been very sedentary for years, just quit smoking so starting from scratch.
  • Achrya
    Achrya Posts: 16,913 Member
    Sugar is not an issue unless you are diabetic. I consume 400-500grams of sugar a day.

    Holy cow! Consuming that much sugar in a day most certainly is unhealthy, and can lead to a host of medical conditions including type 2 diabetes!

    http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/280-public-health-fda-added-sugar-label-0427.html

    Why do you assume it's added sugar and not just sugar from fruit or something?


    And does the recommendation apply to people at normal weights who are controlling their food intake?
  • Jesse_Hunter
    Jesse_Hunter Posts: 162 Member
    Jesse_Hunter
    Thank you!
    Gaining weight mostly right now.
    Just started walking 2 miles a day.
    Been very sedentary for years, just quit smoking so starting from scratch.

    Ah, great news, Well start slow with the days of exercise. Then, you can increase the frequency once you adapt.

    If you do decide to calculate your macros, and gain weight according to them, try out a certain ratio for a week or two and see where your weight is. If you need to gain more, or you're gaining too much, adjust the Carbs. I would keep the Protein and the fats relatively the same. Good luck!
  • 3laine75
    3laine75 Posts: 3,069 Member
    I don't even track sugar (replaced it with fibre). Unless there's a medical issue, I don't see the point.
  • 3laine75
    3laine75 Posts: 3,069 Member
    that's true, but on the other hand if you're restricting your calories, sugar isn't as good a fuel for workouts as clean carbs.

    I can't even work out what that means (and this is the gaining weight section so probably not restricting calories) :/
  • xmichaelyx
    xmichaelyx Posts: 883 Member
    I avoid carbs because they make me hungry.
    that's true, but on the other hand if you're restricting your calories, sugar isn't as good a fuel for workouts as clean carbs.

    Strong broscience.
  • __freckles__
    __freckles__ Posts: 1,238 Member
    I have my calories set at 1,880. In the charts it has carbs, protein, fat, sodium and sugar. Is this grams?
    Mine say 71 for a daily goal for sugar. That is way over any recommended amount. The same with carbs.
    yes I want to gain weight, but in a healthy way. That much sugar and carbs cannot be good.
    Am I reading this right?
    I went to my profile but don't see how to change the recommended daily amount. Or the amount I want to eat and keep track of.

    The main macros you should focus on are protein (.8 - 1 grams per pound of body weight) and fat (.4 grams per pound of body weight). Carbs are delicious and should not be avoided, but there isn't a minimum/maximum limit you need to worry about - unless, as the guy above mentioned, carbs make you extra hangry. As far as sugar goes, as others have posted, unless you have a medical issue don't really worry about it. I don't even track it.

    Also you may have to play around with your calories until you are gaining at a steady pace. All the calculators said I would gain at 2200. Turned out that was my maintenance and I ended up eating 2600 during my bulk.
  • kynsie2
    kynsie2 Posts: 35 Member
    Thanks to all who responded.
    yes, on my recent blood work it came back as pre diabetic.
    So watching sugar an carbs.
    No added sugars, and carbs turn to sugar so I have to watch what I eat.
    Hard to do when I want to gain weight.
    Dr said more protein and fiber.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    that's true, but on the other hand if you're restricting your calories, sugar isn't as good a fuel for workouts as clean carbs.

    sugar is a great source for workouts?

    have you never heard about cake runs? I know loads of people who have cake or pie and then set PR's for their runs.

    love that stuff.
  • 3laine75
    3laine75 Posts: 3,069 Member
    Oh that changes things. Just go for it on fat then, much easier (sometimes too easy) to get the calories up that way.

    I'm clueless as to foods that are low GI or GL but berries are pretty low in sugar if that helps.
  • Amestris
    Amestris Posts: 152 Member
    that's true, but on the other hand if you're restricting your calories, sugar isn't as good a fuel for workouts as clean carbs.

    sugar is a great source for workouts?

    have you never heard about cake runs? I know loads of people who have cake or pie and then set PR's for their runs.

    love that stuff.

    Yum cake runs! I may have to try that.