Having trouble staying within all the limits of "nutrition"

xoxoxo34
xoxoxo34 Posts: 1 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
One way or another I'm over a few and under the nutritional mark. I.e: over mono fats, sugar, calories + carbs and under vitamins and such no matter what I eat. Anyone with this problem?

Replies

  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    For Micros, I try to do this:
    - At least one serving leafy green and one fibrous green / day, more if possible
    - At least one brightly coloured red or orange veg or fruit / day
    - 1/2 cup legumes / day helps with fiber & protein & satiety & other stuff. 1/2 cup berries = good for fiber & antioxidants & low cal
    - 2 servings fish / week, one of them mackerel for fats, also omega 3 supps daily. some nuts here and there
    - switching up meat sources so I get some of the good from all and not too much of the bad (am slightly beef reliant, working on this)
    - using olive oil over butter when I can (I know dietary Sat fat isn't supposed to be a problem for cholesterol but there's been a correlation for me, enough to try to watch it, even if it's wrong)

    I tried being more precise about it but that's really as close as I'm likely to get and it's not that bad.

    Beyond that, I eat whatever else.
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    edited December 2015
    Oh and protein powder now, but just because I'm trying to heal from something. With almond milk bc some calcium in there. Calcium is annoying to get in under cals. I don't trust the supps for it, either
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    edited December 2015
    I don't know if it's even possible to get the RDA of 1000 mg calcium (for women and men under 50, women over that need 1200) through food sources, on e.g. a 1600 calorie limit, if you're also aiming to get your other macros and micros.

    Because you can get 100-300 mg from a serving each of most of the good food sources (1/2 cup greens, 1 cup milk or yogurt, 1.5 oz cheese, 2.5 oz fish). I might have a perfect day like that twice a year. Here are recommended food sources from the dieticians of canada:

    1 cup milk = ~300 mg = 124 cals (for 2% milk)
    1/2 cup collard greens = 189 mg = 50 cals (no big)
    1.5 oz cheddar = ~300 mg = 171 cals
    3/4 cup yogurt = ~300 mg = 110 cals for a greek yogurt (good buy though bc protein)
    3/4 cup navy beans = ~100 mg = 526 cals
    2.5 oz canned mackerel (who eats that) = 181 mg = ~250 cals

    300 + 189+300 +300 +100 +181 = 1370 mg calcium (ok a bit over RDA).

    124 +50+171+110+526+250 = 1231 cals, for some snacks and maybe 1 actual meal (fish, greens, beans)

    http://www.dietitians.ca/Your-Health/Nutrition-A-Z/Calcium/Food-Sources-of-Calcium.aspx

    Reasons to consider not using calcium supplements and consider *trying* to get it via food

    http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/08/thinking-twice-about-calcium-supplements-2/

    (it may build up in some people's arteries. the recommendation in the article: "Until such information is available, consumers seeking to preserve their bones would be wise to rely primarily on dietary sources of the mineral and to pursue regular weight-bearing or strength-building exercises, or both. Walking, running, weight lifting and working out on resistance machines is unquestionably effective and safe for most adults, if done properly." Which is ok for those who *can* currently exercise :/ )
  • CoffeeNCardio
    CoffeeNCardio Posts: 1,847 Member
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/


    This is a helpful tool just all around where calories are concerned, but it also has a helpful menu planner that helps you come up with ideas of meals that'll meet your macros. I dunno how it does for micronutrients/vitamins, but if carbs/fat/protein are your concern, this can help.

    However, note what @queenliz99 said: in the beginning, when motivation is rare and everything's already a PITA, don't complicate things by getting all worked up about the little red numbers on the right. If the far left one is green, be happy with that. Then later, when you have fitness/health goals that begin to matter more to you than actual scale losses (they will...) that's when you do some research and maybe reset those counts to get on with that easier. One thing at a time. Trying to figure out healthy living all at once can really suck the chutzpah out of you.
This discussion has been closed.