advice on following macros

mickic23
mickic23 Posts: 1 Member
edited November 17 in Getting Started
I am trying to do macros, but find I am having a hard time getting all my carbs in and keeping my protein and sugar down. MFP has me at 50% carbs, 30% fat and 20% protein. Do I need to change my percentages? Or is this pretty standard?
Food suggestions for getting my carbs in and keeping protein and sugars down are more than welcomed!!

Replies

  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    That's standard.

    Try pre logging your day to see if you hit your macros.
  • Theo166
    Theo166 Posts: 2,564 Member
    Yes, you can change the generic macros assigned by MFP.
    Based on what I was actually eating, I tweaked mine to 40/35/25.

    Your proper sugar level may require more self reflection and review of your diary. MFP set 60g for me and I only approach/exceed that when I've been naughty.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    mickic23 wrote: »
    I am trying to do macros, but find I am having a hard time getting all my carbs in and keeping my protein and sugar down. MFP has me at 50% carbs, 30% fat and 20% protein. Do I need to change my percentages? Or is this pretty standard?
    Food suggestions for getting my carbs in and keeping protein and sugars down are more than welcomed!!

    That's just default...you can arrange them however you like...but personally I wouldn't obsess and stress too much about macros. They're good to be aware of, and it's important to get adequate protein and fat...but a lot of people do a lot of hand wringing over macros for little to no actual gain.
  • TrekkieJenee
    TrekkieJenee Posts: 24 Member
    Theo166 wrote: »
    Yes, you can change the generic macros assigned by MFP.
    Based on what I was actually eating, I tweaked mine to 40/35/25.

    Your proper sugar level may require more self reflection and review of your diary. MFP set 60g for me and I only approach/exceed that when I've been naughty.

    What do you eat? I have yet to have a day that I don't go over my sugar limit - and that's even when the only sugar I have is in fruit.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Theo166 wrote: »
    Yes, you can change the generic macros assigned by MFP.
    Based on what I was actually eating, I tweaked mine to 40/35/25.

    Your proper sugar level may require more self reflection and review of your diary. MFP set 60g for me and I only approach/exceed that when I've been naughty.

    What do you eat? I have yet to have a day that I don't go over my sugar limit - and that's even when the only sugar I have is in fruit.

    I've never even looked at my sugar limit...
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    I ignore sugar personally

    can you open diary
  • TrekkieJenee
    TrekkieJenee Posts: 24 Member
    Sure. How do I do that?
  • TrekkieJenee
    TrekkieJenee Posts: 24 Member
    Figured it out. Just opened it up.
  • Tacklewasher
    Tacklewasher Posts: 7,122 Member
    mickic23 wrote: »
    I am trying to do macros, but find I am having a hard time getting all my carbs in and keeping my protein and sugar down. MFP has me at 50% carbs, 30% fat and 20% protein. Do I need to change my percentages? Or is this pretty standard?
    Food suggestions for getting my carbs in and keeping protein and sugars down are more than welcomed!!

    Change the percentages. I'd up protein so you hit 80-100g per day (others will say even more) and take it away from carbs.

    Really, you should probably just watch calories, with an eye to make sure you get a decent amount of protein and let the rest fall where it may. I stopped looking at both sugar and sodium, but added fiber as I have had "issues" and need to be aware of my fiber.
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    you have a few entries where the macros and calories don't add up - looking at your steak on Monday - the entry is 193cal, but if you add up the protein and fat you only get 126cal
  • Theo166
    Theo166 Posts: 2,564 Member
    edited April 2017
    Theo166 wrote: »
    Yes, you can change the generic macros assigned by MFP.
    Based on what I was actually eating, I tweaked mine to 40/35/25.

    Your proper sugar level may require more self reflection and review of your diary. MFP set 60g for me and I only approach/exceed that when I've been naughty.

    What do you eat? I have yet to have a day that I don't go over my sugar limit - and that's even when the only sugar I have is in fruit.

    I tend to be light on fruit, heavy on veggies. My diary is open if you want to look.

    In your case it seems Milk and fruit are your big contributor. I wouldn't worry since both are naturally occurring and you are getting the fiber with your fruit.

    I focus on my fiber and mostly ignore sugar.
  • stationlouisa
    stationlouisa Posts: 150 Member
    I find it odd that most people on here seem to say just ignore the sugar unless you are worrried about diabetes. I would recommend you watch "That Sugar Movie" it may change your mind. I think the Recommended sugar intake for women in the US is 6 teaspoons a day. approx. 4.8g in a teasp so try not to go over roughly 30g. I find this is easy if I can avoid cakes lollies and biscuits LOL
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    edited April 2017
    I find it odd that most people on here seem to say just ignore the sugar unless you are worrried about diabetes. I would recommend you watch "That Sugar Movie" it may change your mind. I think the Recommended sugar intake for women in the US is 6 teaspoons a day. approx. 4.8g in a teasp so try not to go over roughly 30g. I find this is easy if I can avoid cakes lollies and biscuits LOL

    I watched that movie today - the biggest pile of twaddle I've ever seen.

    (and the people suggesting that tracking sugar isn't necessary are usually also recommending that people get at least minimums of protein, fat and fibre..)
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    mickic23 wrote: »
    I am trying to do macros, but find I am having a hard time getting all my carbs in and keeping my protein and sugar down. MFP has me at 50% carbs, 30% fat and 20% protein. Do I need to change my percentages? Or is this pretty standard?
    Food suggestions for getting my carbs in and keeping protein and sugars down are more than welcomed!!

    Those settings are standard. Most people who aren't specifically following a low carb or Keto eating plan generally view protein, fat, and fiber as minimums and let carbs fall where they may. I personally have no trouble hitting my fat goal LOL so I focus on getting OVER my protein and fiber numbers, but it's no big deal if I don't. I have sugar on my diary, but I never look at it. And when I did I never found a correlation between days I was hungry or felt bad or overate and what my sugar came out to, that's why I ignore it now.

    Macros are useful for feeling full on the right amount of calories (and for some health or fitness issues) but different people are satiated by different macros.

    Getting your numbers where they will work for you does require some trial and error and tweaking. You'll figure it out!
  • jeichelb83
    jeichelb83 Posts: 172 Member
    For me, if you're tracking carbs, you're tracking sugar. It's better to track carbs and fiber though because they counter each other in your macro count. Fiber still adds to calories though, which is more important than all of them.
  • Theo166
    Theo166 Posts: 2,564 Member
    edited April 2017
    I find it odd that most people on here seem to say just ignore the sugar unless you are worrried about diabetes. I would recommend you watch "That Sugar Movie" it may change your mind. I think the Recommended sugar intake for women in the US is 6 teaspoons a day. approx. 4.8g in a teasp so try not to go over roughly 30g. I find this is easy if I can avoid cakes lollies and biscuits LOL

    I urge you to read some diaries before generalizing about people here. Even the OP gets most of her daily sugar from milk and fresh fruit, neither of which include "added sugar". Your film had no complaints about a diet that was heavy in fruit.
  • SpotLighttt
    SpotLighttt Posts: 174 Member
    I find it odd that most people on here seem to say just ignore the sugar unless you are worrried about diabetes. I would recommend you watch "That Sugar Movie" it may change your mind. I think the Recommended sugar intake for women in the US is 6 teaspoons a day. approx. 4.8g in a teasp so try not to go over roughly 30g. I find this is easy if I can avoid cakes lollies and biscuits LOL

    be careful, because the foxes are out today
  • mcginger1
    mcginger1 Posts: 128 Member
    I set mine along the "Zone Diet" figures - 40 carb, 30 fat, 30 protein. I also dropped my sugar allowance to 33g/day; however, I am mainly focusing on "added" sugars, and not those naturally occurring in fruit & dairy. It's all about personal preference, how your body feels, and your activity level that should determine what you set your macros to.
  • Lukas_DAV
    Lukas_DAV Posts: 16 Member
    Proteins could be higher than fat... I do 45% carbs, 35% protein and 20% fat - works good with my energy need (3x workout a week) and is recommended by my trainer
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