Thoughts on MFP's default macros?

I find 50% C makes me super hungry.

I don't pay much attention to the macros. I focus on staying in a calorie deficit. I lose weight.

I can't even tell you what my macros are.

The MFP default macros may be a little less protein heavy than some people will want, particularly at a lower calorie goal. But they are close. I personally do 45/30/25.

The MFP calorie goals aren't actually as carb intensive as you would think. Carbs have traditionally always been the biggest macros of traditional eating patterns. In fact, the USDA nutritional guidelines (the things that give you the percentages on your nutritonal label) are actually more carb intensive than MFP. Their defaults are 60/30/10. That may sound crazy to us here with how protein crazy people sometimes get.

When I found the default macros I immediately fell for it. I felt great that I could eat pasta and rice and pizza and bread and still loose weight. I find walnuts help for good fats and Greek yogurt for protein. I use a food scale to make sure my serving size is accurate and log everything. I lost 40 lbs in five months and have kept it off for 4 months. Is anybody worried holloweeen candy is starting to come around ...?

mpapa1856 wrote: »

Is anybody worried holloweeen candy is starting to come around ...?

Most candy bars come in multiple sizes. Companies used sell bags of tiny sizes only around Halloween but now you can get Mini versions that are in the 40-60 calorie range year-round.

I have a bag full of multiple flavors and have one piece every day to finish out Breakfast.

It really helps me fight other tempting things to know that I had one bar today and will have one tomorrow.

AnnPT77 wrote: »

I don't pay much attention to macro percents. Now in maintenance, I eat 100g protein minimum, 50g fats minimum, 5+ minimum (preferably 10+) 80g servings of veg/fruit, and let carbs/alcohol land wherever to hit calorie goal. I don't care where carbs are at all.

Looking backwards at weeks, MFP says that usually puts me around 45% carbs, 30% fats, 25% protein, not that far off the MFP default numbers.

I'm female, age 63, 5'5", weight mid-130s, 45+ years ovo-lacto vegetarian, quite athletically active but otherwise sedentary, if any of that matters to anyone for interpretation purposes.

Pretty much this, except my protein min is more like 75 g when not losing, 95 g when eating at a deficit (I'm only 5'3, and estimate my lean mass at 95 g, so 75 is .8 of that). I'm always eating plenty of fat without counting, so other than protein I look at veg (I plan to hit 10+ servings, although it's more about eating at least half my meal from them every meal) and fiber and make sure to eat some fruit most days. I do think about fat (although not numbers) in that when I am eating meat I make sure to eat a good bit of fatty fish (salmon, trout, etc.) and also usually eat a serving of nuts and half an avocado when good ones are reasonably available and cook with olive oil.

My natural eating preferences tend to be around 40 (carbs)-30-30 when dieting and more like 40-50 carbs, 20-30 protein, and 30-40 fat when not losing, but I couldn't care less about percentages. I have tried eating mostly or all plant-based from time to time, and then I eat more like 50% or more carbs consistently, and haven't noticed it increasing my appetite in that context (even when I was doing it in the context of a much lower fat than usual diet). For me, macro percentages don't affect my appetite, although other aspects of food choice and timing do.