I always seem to be over my daily sugar intake. Help?

lollie1285
lollie1285 Posts: 239 Member
edited September 26 in Food and Nutrition
I eat well, keep snacking to a minimum, etc. No matter what I do, I'm always way over my sugar intake for the day, and slightly over my fat/protein as well. I know the protein is fine to be over a bit, but I'd like to stay within the goals MFP has designated for me as much as possible.

If you take a peek at my food diary, you can see what I mean. Now, I have to say...the biscuit I ate yesterday was not from Chick-Fil-A. It was a grocery store biscuit with no nutritional information, but it was huge, so I logged it as one of the worst biscuits you could possibly eat hehe. Today I allowed myself some snack crackers. But it seems like the main sugars are coming the occasional piece of fruit and my morning cereal. I really don't see a way around that....

Any tips? Is going over your sugar intake a deal breaker for weight loss?

Replies

  • jen11232
    jen11232 Posts: 59 Member
    I've essentially eliminated bread / crackers for about 6 months now and I try to be careful about my carb intake (though my ongoing addiction to popcorn isn't helping much...). As much as I love bananas, I try not to eat them and opt for a lower carb fruit like apples, pears and oranges. Carbs aren't bad - just eat the right kinds (ie: those found in fruit and vegetables) as opposed to bad carbs.
  • Moonbeamlissie
    Moonbeamlissie Posts: 504 Member
    Don't log your fruit and see if it gets better. Or subtract your fruit after you log it. That is what I do. Fruit has sugars but it is good sugars.
  • PDMURPHY316
    PDMURPHY316 Posts: 1
    Sucks that fruit is the culprit most of the time. I had a banana this morning and logged it in and i was like WOW! I felt guilty about having a banana, I had cereal but it was honey bunches of oats and the sugar in that isnt too bad. I think 4g or 6g.
    Try atkins snack bars they have only 0-1g of sugar. I had to map out the rest of my day today to make sure my sugar didnt skyrocket =(
  • trac3
    trac3 Posts: 134 Member
    I'm wondering the same thing! I think I'm eating pretty good most days, and no sugary items other than from maybe condiments or something? I don't use that much!!! Didn't think about it taking from fruits....what kind of cereal are you eating?

    My sugar is always over by 20-50 grams!:huh: Gosh I'd hate to log a bad eating day!!!!:noway: I tend to go over on my fats too, but it's usually the days I'm eating nuts or avacado....love my avacado! But I figure that it's good for my heart.
  • ZebraHead
    ZebraHead Posts: 15,207 Member
    Hi -

    I think if you look around (on the internet) or search MFP you will find that 'some' levels of sugars from fruit is nothing to worry about.

    The sugars in fruits may be 'simple' sugars (carbs) and not be as much of a concern to you.

    But I don't pretend to know anything about it really.

    Good luck to you. :flowerforyou:
  • cupfanncbms
    cupfanncbms Posts: 101
    I think your diary looks pretty good. I'm often over on sugars because I eat a lot of fruit. The "sugars" from fruit are not the same as table sugar. Your body metabolizes it totally differently. I don't even pay attention to the sugars as long as I'm not eating cookies or the like...

    Looks like you're doing good with whole grains and stuff, too. I had pretty much cut out all the white flour/rice items from my house before I started dieting. Whole grains are *ALWAYS* the better choice.

    One thing I've done is to limit my corn. It's high in sugars, and I don't think body knows what to do with it, really... I prefer peas or green beans-the body seems to know what to do with those better anyway. ;) I also try reaching for fruit before grabbing a piece of candy (this was really hard over Easter lol).

    Looks to me like it isn't too bad... except you aren't getting 1200 calories.
  • bluebird321
    bluebird321 Posts: 733 Member
    Cut out the bread, corn (eat green veggies instead) and processed food and any fruits that are starchy and high on the glycemic index (especially bananas). I like fruit also, but I try to pick one that is low in sugar.

    You will get a lot of different opinions. Everyone is different.
  • luv2ash
    luv2ash Posts: 1,903 Member
    I dont eat fruit because of this reason, at least for now during my weight loss phase, once I reach goal, I will add them in. It helps to keep my carbs at or below 100 a day. Not to worry, I get all my nutrients,vitamins, and minerals :)
  • PegasusDeb
    PegasusDeb Posts: 665 Member
    I don't even bother watching my sugar anymore, for the same reason. When I was getting my sugars from fruit it threw it all off. As long as I eat healthy, and have a snack to keep the cravings at bay, I'm not going to worry about it. Diabetes runs in my family, so sugars & sodium is ones to watch. I now just watch my sodium, and that's what kills me. I'm improving... slowly!
  • EmilyP88
    EmilyP88 Posts: 1
    I hate to say it, but I've always called cereal my "gateway drug." It leaves you craving carbs and sugar because that's really all it is. Maybe switch to light whole wheat toast with spray butter in the morning instead. I also microwave 2 slices of turkey bacon - tastes great and won't put you over on sugar.

    On other bit of advice that worke for me (because I was having the same problem going over on sugar!) was to really watch labels and switch to Light Silk as an alternativ to milk. It has less than 1/2 the sugar (less calories too), and tastes great! "Fruit sugar" is still sugar unforunately.

    Good luck :)
  • lollie1285
    lollie1285 Posts: 239 Member
    I hate to say it, but I've always called cereal my "gateway drug." It leaves you craving carbs and sugar because that's really all it is. Maybe switch to light whole wheat toast with spray butter in the morning instead. I also microwave 2 slices of turkey bacon - tastes great and won't put you over on sugar.

    On other bit of advice that worke for me (because I was having the same problem going over on sugar!) was to really watch labels and switch to Light Silk as an alternativ to milk. It has less than 1/2 the sugar (less calories too), and tastes great! "Fruit sugar" is still sugar unforunately.

    Good luck :)

    You're very right about the cereal leaving you with cravings. Every once in a while, I get very shaky and cranky after eating cereal. Then I have to eat a piece of fruit or some snack crackers to feel better again. Spikes in blood sugar suck. I just love cereal so much though and don't want to give it up. Today I made the mistake of waking up way too early and leaving too much of a gap between breakfast and lunch, so my blood sugar started to drop really low from the cereal. Usually I'll eat my cereal around 9-9:30 and then eat lunch at 12, so I don't have much time in between to feel shaky and crabby.
  • lollie1285
    lollie1285 Posts: 239 Member
    I think your diary looks pretty good. I'm often over on sugars because I eat a lot of fruit. The "sugars" from fruit are not the same as table sugar. Your body metabolizes it totally differently. I don't even pay attention to the sugars as long as I'm not eating cookies or the like...

    Looks like you're doing good with whole grains and stuff, too. I had pretty much cut out all the white flour/rice items from my house before I started dieting. Whole grains are *ALWAYS* the better choice.

    One thing I've done is to limit my corn. It's high in sugars, and I don't think body knows what to do with it, really... I prefer peas or green beans-the body seems to know what to do with those better anyway. ;) I also try reaching for fruit before grabbing a piece of candy (this was really hard over Easter lol).

    Looks to me like it isn't too bad... except you aren't getting 1200 calories.

    I broke down yesterday and ate a fun sized kitkat bar. I'm 25 years old and my mother still makes me an Easter basket, God bless her soul. I rarely eat corn, love green veggies like broccoli. (my absolute favorite). I've been eating whole grain breads and brown rice for years, I actually just prefer them more to white bread and rice. Yum. Yesterday I actually ate those remaining hundred calories or so but forgot to log it, and today I'm planning on having a light and fit yogurt before bed, so that'll use up those remaining calories as well. Good to know my diary is in pretty good shape though! That makes me happy :)
  • lollie1285
    lollie1285 Posts: 239 Member
    I'm wondering the same thing! I think I'm eating pretty good most days, and no sugary items other than from maybe condiments or something? I don't use that much!!! Didn't think about it taking from fruits....what kind of cereal are you eating?

    My sugar is always over by 20-50 grams!:huh: Gosh I'd hate to log a bad eating day!!!!:noway: I tend to go over on my fats too, but it's usually the days I'm eating nuts or avacado....love my avacado! But I figure that it's good for my heart.

    I like to eat from the Kashi line. Their Strawberry Fields cereal is my favorite. Today I ate blueberry something or other. I also like Cheerios (banana nut is delicious).
  • DianaPowerUp
    DianaPowerUp Posts: 518 Member
    Generally, things that are high in carbs will increase your sugar, and not in a good way (unlike fruit). I LOVE breakfast cereal, but I've given it up b/c of what you described. Try plain Greek yogurt for breakfast - you can add what you like to make it a little sweeter, but at least you have control over what and how much goes in. I add a little Truvia and cinnamon to mine. I also eat a lot of eggs/bacon/cheese for breakfast (not nec. all together!). I've found that the increased protein and decreased carb/sugar really helps control my cravings and satisfies my hunger more.
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