Daily sugar allowance according to MFP

nkziv
nkziv Posts: 161 Member
edited October 2 in Food and Nutrition
Okay-- so MFP is telling me that I should only be consuming 33g of sugar daily. The problem is, even just after breakfast at which I had a medium-sized bowl of Speckal K cereal (very low sugar), some soy milk, and a sprinkle of raisins (only a sprinkle, honestly, maybe 15 raisins), I am almost over my sugar!! That by itself adds up to 28g. This puts me in a very difficult position for the rest of the day, seeing as I cannot have another piece of fruit, most breads, salad dressing---pretty much ANYTHING without going over.

My question is--What does MFP mean by sugar? If they mean refined sugar, then I'm golden--I rarely touch the stuff. But sugar is in most food and it's just so difficult to avoid! Am I overreacting or should I really try to control this?

Replies

  • Nerdy_Rose
    Nerdy_Rose Posts: 1,277 Member
    I think their sugar allowance is wiggidy whack, because I love fruit, so I upped my sugar number under custom goals.
  • Oh, yeah, I go over my sugar allowance by 3x most days and I NEVER eat refined sugar. I mean, really, sugar is in everything - even my home made lettuce soup has sugar lol

    I just can't stay within the MFP limits when it comes to sugar, but I don't think this has side-tracked my diet and weight loss in any way.
  • I don't even track my sugar intake. i am sure I go way over.
  • Sugar and carbs are my downfall. I try to make sure I am under in both!
  • KitCatMcG
    KitCatMcG Posts: 29 Member
    I am very interested in hearing the reply to this one! I have the same issue, and I haven't quite got my head around it yet. I don't see how I can be too concerned about the sugars coming from fruit etc though. I know I need to eat those regardless of the sugar content!
  • pearlymae
    pearlymae Posts: 100 Member
    I agree, I am over after breakfast, I eat lots of fruit, and I just don't worry about it, It has been 11 weeks and I am down 29 lbs, so I must be doing something right, from what I have read we process natural sugar differently than processed sugar, I stay away from the processed. Good luck on your weight loss journey.:flowerforyou:
  • I just checked and I have already gone over. The only thing I have had today so far is a protein shake.
  • I think it's important to track your sugar. But I agree, MFP's setting is low and hard to maintain; especially if you have some fruit. I looked at the Livestrong.com website and it recommends 66g sugar on a 1200 calorie diet. So I try to keep it under that.

    The trick is playing with your menu so that your sugar stays within that range. Could you find another choice instead of boxed cereal that has less sugar?

    Not everyone likes oatmeal, but I make some every morning and add blueberries instead of sugar. Holds me for hours.
  • WeighAhead
    WeighAhead Posts: 42 Member
    I don't really know much about how much sugar is appropriate, but I did find a really interesting website that discusses sugar in food. Check out sugarstacks.com.
  • surfrgrl1
    surfrgrl1 Posts: 1,464 Member
    I decided after reading some posts on this subject after I became a member that I would just keep an eye on the sugar that is not 'natural' to the food. Fruit, milk, lots of things contain sugar naturally and I don't fret over those, but I do keep an eye on the things that have it added. (Candy, cookies, cakes, coffee syrups, sweetened cereals, etc.)
  • loombeav
    loombeav Posts: 391 Member
    I searched the internet to see what the dietary guidelines are and the only thing I could find was talking about added sugars. It did say how your body doesn't know the difference between added sugars and natural sugars, but added have empty calories where as natural occur sugars are usually found in healthy foods.
    I don't track mine either, I don't eat a whole lot of refined or added sugars, so I don't worry too much about it.
  • Teliooo
    Teliooo Posts: 725 Member
    Here here, it is impossible for me to keep under. I eat fruit, salads etc all day so I don't even bother any more. I think in the 60s sounds more reasonable if you are sticking to 1200 x
  • konswela
    konswela Posts: 137 Member
    The MFP daily sugar allowance doesnt' know the difference between added sugar and natural sugar. I am over almost everyday. at first it was frustrating but I know that I am not necessarily eating any "bad" sugar!!!! So I say pay attention to it but don't pay attention to it!!!
  • MikeSEA
    MikeSEA Posts: 1,074 Member
    Not all sugars are equal. There are literally thousands of different kinds of sugars and some are broken down faster than others and processed by the body in different ways. Sucrose, for example, isn't so great for diabetics, which is why many use sources of fructose instead--individuals vary, of course. MFP is a little goofy on its sugar allotment.
This discussion has been closed.