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 focus on a low fat content, and eating complex carbohydrates instead of simple ones, and eating good lean proteins.

Not so much about the numbers, more about looking at what I am eating and trying to make the healthier choices.

Calories 1200 - 1550 1432
Carbs 163 - 236 214
Fat 32 - 56 37
Protein 60 - 127 74

Figures courtesy sparkpeople.com. The red numbers are what I've eaten today.

I try to keep my protein around 100g since I'm working out and trying to build muscle. I try to keep fat under 50g and carbs fill the rest.

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.

What is TDP?

Thanks everyone.

The Daily Plate

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:

40% Carbs = 280 calories/day = 120 gm/day
30% Proteins =360 cal/day = 90 gm/day
30% Fat = 360 cal/day = 40 gm/day

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.

Sorry dont know about the sparkpeople.

I do not actively track anything other than calories.

Occasionally I glance at my sodium and fat intake, but more informationally than to change or track it.

I track calories, carbs and sodium

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.