High in fats but within calorie range
chuckbernard54
Posts: 12 Member
I am having trouble keeping my fats down although I’m staying within my calorie range. For instance Great Value Frozen Broccoli cups are listed at 9 grams per cup. I had 3 cups for dinner. Mediterranean Crunch salad is listed at 10 grams of fat per cup. I had 2 cups for lunch. My daily intake is only 56 grams of fat. What does everyone else do?
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I consider my fat and protein goals to be minimums to hit, not as goals that I shouldn't exceed. I'm fine with being over on either or both, within calories,
Either way, it's calories that control weight loss, especially in the short run. But nutrition is important for health. In the long run, under-nutrition can cause fatigue (so you move less) or cravings/appetite spikes (so you eat more) and so indirectly interfere with successful weight loss. Calories are still the direct mechanism.
Like I said, nutrition is important for health. If you're over on fats, but consistently getting at or over a sensible protein goal, you should be fine from a nutrition standpoint. If going over persistently on fats is making you be under protein consistently by quite a bit, then it would be a good plan to work at gradually bringing that up. If being over on fats is instead happening primarily by being under on carbs, that's probably fine, unless you subjectively feel it affects your appetite or your energy level.
(Carb needs/desires are a more individualized thing: Protein and fat are essential nutrients, you need some in your intake because your body can't manufacture them from other nutrients. Your body can manufacture carbs from other nutrients if it needs to, so they're not "essential" in the technical sense, but they're fine to eat in their proper place, which can vary a lot.)
Also, I hope you're aware that you don't need to be exact on each macro every day. Close is good enough, and a little over some days, under on others, is fine. If someone's persistently under on fat or protein by a lot, that's something to work on, for best nutrition.
Best wishes!10 -
Above poster is spot on.
In practical terms, as long as you're hitting your calorie goal, the macronutrient break down is less important - unless there's a specific split you're aiming for.
There are diets that will look for a majority of Carbs, and minimal fats, with a good amount of protein. Some will want protein to make up the bulk of your calories, and there are a few that aim for the vast majority to be fat, with very minimal carbohydrate.
They all work, because the biggest driver of weight loss is a calorie deficit.1 -
It doesn't really matter as long as you're happy with your diet. Unless you're aiming for a specific split for whatever reason, macros can be flexible. Get enough protein and wherever the rest of your calories goes is up to you. I tend to be slightly under (but good enough) protein, slightly under (but also good enough) fat, and the rest is carbs. I have lost a lot of weight and I attribute my success to making dieting sustainable and flexible.5
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My theories:
Calories are king. The macros only matter for how they make you feel. If you are staying in your calorie range and are satisfied/satiated with how you are eating: don't stress too much over carbs/fat/protein. General guidelines: do not try to cut protein or fat too low. And only worry about your carb content if you have medical/other reasons to focus on carb control.2 -
When I'm cutting and/or not getting that much cardio, I set MFP to 50% of calories from fat. I often don't get that high, but I'm fine with it.0
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Weight loss is always about eating less calories than your body burns. As long as you are eating at a calorie deficit, you’ll lose, no matter what you eat.
Nutrition is important for overall health , and should be a factor to consider. Unless there’s a health concern that may be affected by what you’re actually eating, I wouldn’t be overly concerned.0 -
I don't see how frozen broccoli would have a lot of fat. Are you sure you are reading the label correctly? when I google that brand of broccoli here is the label and it has no fat. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Great-Value-Broccoli-Cuts-12-oz/9679024971
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chuckbernard54 wrote: »I am having trouble keeping my fats down although I’m staying within my calorie range. For instance Great Value Frozen Broccoli cups are listed at 9 grams per cup. I had 3 cups for dinner. Mediterranean Crunch salad is listed at 10 grams of fat per cup. I had 2 cups for lunch. My daily intake is only 56 grams of fat. What does everyone else do?
As has been said, as long as your calories are good and you are liking what you eat, don't worry so much about the macros.
Question though: that broccoli has sauce, no? 9g of fat for broccoli?0 -
If that broccoli has no sauce, you have a faulty database entry. Broccoli isn't a fatty food.
That said, it's okay if you prefer a diet higher in fat (assuming you don't have a medical condition that indicates you should limit it).2 -
I eat fat. 😁0
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I aim toward 40/30/30 C/P/F but am nearly always over in fat and under in protein. I figure as long as my protein intake is over 50g/day and I keep the saturated fats to a minimum, it's fine. As I lose more weight and my daily calories go down I will have to diminish fats to keep up the protein.
For those of us still VERY overweight, it's arguable whether we calculate protein needs based on current weight or a normal BMI weight for our height. At my present weight, using 7g protein for every 20 pounds of body weight, my current minimum protein needs would be in the mid-80s. At a normal BMI, it would be in the mid-40s. At 30% of my current 1725 calories/day, the target is about 130 gram which is far more than either minimum.
So, with all that being the case and my average daily intake of protein about 65g, I just don't worry about it much. And it's working.
Here's some reliable information about protein in the diet for those of us "of a certain age": https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/daily-protein-needs-seniors-still-unsettled-2014061172080 -
chuckbernard54 wrote: »I am having trouble keeping my fats down although I’m staying within my calorie range. For instance Great Value Frozen Broccoli cups are listed at 9 grams per cup. I had 3 cups for dinner. Mediterranean Crunch salad is listed at 10 grams of fat per cup. I had 2 cups for lunch. My daily intake is only 56 grams of fat. What does everyone else do?
Research where in those meals those fats are coming from. Broccoli doesn't have any significant fat content. Everyone knows that. But, is there cheese or cream with that broccoli? Lettuce doesn't have fat in a salad, but what gives it that crunch? Does it have eggs? Things like that.
The three things that are hardest to avoid when choosing pre-packaged or on-the-go meals are fat, sugar, or sodium. So, if you are sticking to a lower fat macro, it might be best to do it from home.
If your ultimate goal is losing weight, then as long as you are staying under, then figure it out on the fly. Good job!0
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