Do you try to stay under a certain amount of fat or carbs as well as watching your calories? I am just starting and am trying to figure out if I am allowing myself too many carbs. I don't want to do a low carb diet at all, just not for me, but I am wondering if I go too high on the carbs and fat? My goal is to stay below 200g of carbs a day and under 50g of fat per day. I have yet to go over either, but have come very close to the carbs most days.
I looked at the low carb diets and most of them are around 65g of carbs a day as far as I can tell, or even lower. That seems SO much lower than my 200 and I just want to make sure I am not going way too high. Almost all of my carbs come from fruit and some wheat bread, but it still seems pretty high. I got the numbers while looking at the amount you should get daily. What I found was 248 carbs (but I assume that was for staying the same weight?) so I lowered it to 200.
So if you also try to stay under a certain amount of carbs or fat, what is your daily goal for those?
I do keep track of a number of things. Rather than focusing on carbs per se, I try to keep my protein UP (around 25% of calories) and the fat to also about 25% of calories. Then, by elimination, carbs are at 50% of calories eaten.
I also try to eat at least 7 servings of fruit and veggies a day and make sure I get enough calcium!
Just a note: I don't hit all these goals every day, but it's something to strive for.
I tend to keep my protein over 30% and just let the other two fall where they will. Looking at the month-to-date that worked out to 33% protein, 25% fat, so that leaves 42% carbs. That's probably pretty standard for me most months. This month that works out to slightly over 217g carbs per day.
I focus on no more than 30% fat (though less right now because of my gall bladder) at least 25-30% protein and let the carbs do what they will. Carbs usually end up around 45-50%.
I try to keep sodium down. I also try to not let the amount of fat get out of control but I don't use hard numbers for these. I just look at daily percentages and that pie chart thinger on TDP. Like I'll look and carbs will be huge, and fat will be huge and I realize I need more protein and I'll usually go eat a can of tuna and annoy the **** out of the cats... which is a bonus, really. Furbeasts don't get why hooman is noming cat food.
I try to keep sodium down. I also try to not let the amount of fat get out of control but I don't use hard numbers for these. I just look at daily percentages and that pie chart thinger on TDP. Like I'll look and carbs will be huge, and fat will be huge and I realize I need more protein and I'll usually go eat a can of tuna and annoy the **** out of the cats... which is a bonus, really. Furbeasts don't get why hooman is noming cat food.
Figures courtesy sparkpeople.com. The red numbers are what I've eaten today.
You stayed on track...how do you do it? I am tracking my calories with Lose It and it will tell me my nutrients as well. When I compare what I calculated on GoFit.net, it tells me for 1200 calories I should have the following:
Those calculations are much different than what sparkpeople.com calculated for you.
I'm so confused
PS...I have tried numerous times to join sparkpeople and I keep getting an error to enter a valid birthday. I put in my correct birthday and still get the error...so I can't get on there to use the same calculator that you are.
Jacque9999 the 40-30-30 is based on what is called Zones, or a Zone Diet. It works for some people, doesn't work for others, and doesn't matter for others. You just have to find out what works for you and your body.
I try to shoot for 100g protein. I also (mostly) try to eat unprocessed and if grains, then whole grains. The only reason I would look at fats is because they are so caloric and sometimes I need pure volume, which one cannot do with higher fat foods.
Do you count anything other than calories?
