Having trouble balancing my numbers

monayoung1
monayoung1 Posts: 2 Member
edited November 16 in Health and Weight Loss
Im doing 1300 Calories - 130 Carbs - 130 Protein - 29 Fat. I have trouble reconciling all the numbers per day. It's hard getting to 1300 calories unless I eat so much my stomach aches, OR I exceed my fat and carb numbers. Protein is hard to reach also, even though i'm drinking protein powder and protein chips, etc. Any suggestions from someone successfully making these numbers work.

Replies

  • KateTii
    KateTii Posts: 886 Member
    1300 is not a hard number to reach. How are you recording your intake?

    Apart from that, what are your goals? It may be easier to firstly focus on calories, then worry about macros. When I first started I was overwhelmed by trying to make the numbers perfect and failed. I then started only working on the calories - having to "budget" my meals made me pick better choices and my macros got a lot better naturally.
  • Hoshiko
    Hoshiko Posts: 179 Member
    Just out of curiosity, what made you pick those numbers?

    I don't really have any advice because I get 130g of protein on my really good days, and I'm eating a lot more calories. I'm sure it's doable but I can see why you're struggling a bit!
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    edited March 2017
    Why are you trying to eat like that? It's excessive protein and extremely low fat. Of course it will be hard.

    I lost 50 pounds eating 1300-1600 calories, just making sure I got in at least 100 grams carbs, 70 grams protein and 70 grams fat daily. It was easy to do and stick to. And much more importantly, I'm keeping weight off, at last, after several failed attempts.
  • GauchoMark
    GauchoMark Posts: 1,804 Member
    Without knowing anything about her physically, how can you say that the protein is excessive? It really isn't that high for a female, especially one that is obviously doing a high protein/carb low fat diet.

    @monayoung1 if you want to open your diary, it would help us a little and we might be able to give suggestions. Also if you want to give your stats - height, weight, BF%, etc. that would be helpful as well.

    Otherwise, there is really no reason on a 1300 calorie diet with a 130g protein goal that you should be having issues hitting the goal unless you are vegetarian. Even if you don't use protein powder or protein chips (skeptical that those are even high in protein) if you are eating 3 meals a day with meat, it is an easy goal. I would guess you are either eating the wrong foods in general or you are not estimating your food portions very well.

    To give some perspective, 1 average size chicken breast (~ 6oz raw which is about 4oz cooked) is about 38g protein with essentially no carbs/fat (depending on how its cooked). Eat one of those for lunch and dinner maybe some eggs and/or greek yogurt for breakfast, and throw in an afternoon protein snack and you have exceeded your 130g.
  • size102b
    size102b Posts: 1,370 Member
    edited March 2017
    I lost 71lbs in a year not watching macros
    It's too stressful I just ate 80% healthier foods :smiley:
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    .4 grams of fat per pound of bodyweight is a good minimum for a woman. You're eating enough for a 73 lb person. I'd encourage you to up your fat intake to ensure good hormonal functioning.
  • monayoung1
    monayoung1 Posts: 2 Member
    Thank you everyone for your input. I appreciate your thoughts. More information you requested is as follows. I am 5'3 and started this program 1 month ago weighing 196 pounds and today I weigh 186. I am losing weight even though I struggle to hit my numbers. I do have some medical issues (response to someone's question). Here is a typical day's menu for me. I eat 3 times a day. Breakfast - 1/2 cup Oatmeal, 4 eggs (3 whites 1 yolk) sometimes spinach and salsa with eggs, sometimes fruit. Lunch - 4-5 oz meat (weighed) chicken or fish baked, Quinoa and brown rice, Veggie (salad or spinach or beans). Dinner - 4-5 oz meat (weighed) chicken or fish or pork, sometimes lean steak, either baked or grilled. Quinoa or sweet potato, once in awhile small pasta dish (1/2 cup max). Protein drink and protein chips or plain popcorn for snack. All of this is entered into daily food diary to track all my numbers.
  • GauchoMark
    GauchoMark Posts: 1,804 Member
    honestly, that looks like a good menu to hit your goals. You might just need to adjust the quantities slightly, but on the surface it looks like you are eating the right things.

    So, you've lost 10 lbs in 4 weeks. Considering your height and starting weight, I would say that you are doing everything right and losing at a good pace. You'll want to slow that down some the closer you get to your goal, but for now, 2lbs/wk is a good target.

    As for reconciling your numbers, don't worry too much about hitting them exactly every day. Prioritize as follows:

    1 - Stay within your calorie goal - most important.
    2 - Hit your minimum protein goal.
    3 - hit your minimum fat goal (since your total fat is low, I hope your are supplementing with EFA's)
    4 - whatever is left can be carbs. - least important.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories