Is it bad to go over my macros?

Biochemic
Biochemic Posts: 2 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
It's always a big concern to me when I see that I've gone over my sugar, carb, or fat limit for the day and still have about 300-500 calories left to consume... And I don't mean going 5 grams over, I mean like going 15 or 25 grams - or more - over the amount I'm supposed to have daily. I tend to eat a lot of fruit high in carbs and sugars whenever my mum buys them and that usually leads me to go over my macros and not being able to hit my calorie limit for the day. Is it bad to go over my macros? Even if it's just because of fruit? I just feel that it's going to make me gain weight or stall in trying to lose weight, especially if I try to reach my calorie goal for the day after I've already passed my sugar/carb limit...

Another question, is eating a lot of fruit bad because of its high sugar and carb content? It's such a controversial topic, I can never get a straight answer concerning whether fruit is good or bad for you lol.

Replies

  • sammyliftsandeats
    sammyliftsandeats Posts: 2,421 Member
    Calories are all that matter for weight loss. If you have no health problems (like diabetes), then being over your sugar is fine.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    No reason to be concerned for your weightloss as long as you stick to your calorie goal.

    It can be difficult to stick to your calorie goal if your diet is unbalanced, though, and too much carbs on the expense of protein can make you more hungry. But if you feel fine, you are most likely doing well. And too much protein on the expense of fat and/or carbs is also unbalanced with the possibility of leaving you unsatisfied and possibly malnourished. But we'll be talking extreme unbalance and long time for that to happen, and you'll be feeling lousy and correct the unbalance, long before any damage is done.
  • rdl81
    rdl81 Posts: 220 Member
    total calories are all that matter for weight loss but if you are trying to change body composition and working out a lot there will be a minimum amount of protein you need
  • distinctlybeautiful
    distinctlybeautiful Posts: 1,041 Member
    Just want to add that sugar is not a macro. It's a form of carbohydrates. Protein is the other macro, and it's definitely important.

    As far as whether it's a bad idea for you specifically to eat a lot of fruit.. I'd say it depends on what your calorie goal is. If you're trying to stick to 1200 calories but get so full from fruit that you're under by 300-500 calories every day, I'd say you're eating too much fruit and should try replacing it with more calorie-dense foods. If you can stand to add in some calorie-dense foods without eating less fruit, then maybe it's not too much. If you're aiming for, say, 2000 but coming up short, it's probably not such a big deal.

    As others have said, though, getting enough protein is important for body composition (i.e., maintaining muscle while losing weight) and for overall health.
  • terbusha
    terbusha Posts: 1,483 Member
    Calories are the important thing to worry about for fat loss. If you go over on carbs, then drop your fat a bit to compensate and stay on point with calories. I always try to nail down my protein intake, but carbs and fat can be somewhat interchangeable...since they are both basically important for energy metabolism.

    As for what's too much sugar, I wouldn't worry about it if you're not eating lots of sweets. While fruit has sugar in it, it also comes with fiber and lots of nutrients. This of course can change if you have blood sugar issues. If that's the case, chat with a doctor about an appropriate diet. If you're healthy, I wouldn't worry about it at all.
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