OK, please let me take the pulpit for a minute...

[Klayfish]

Holy crap! Just for the hell of it, I decided to go onto Fitday and enter what my diet was before I found this site and really took it seriously. Even though I knew my diet wasn't appropriate for serious weight training, I thought it was at least decent compared to most Americans. I'd say that to an average American who isn't really into fitness, if you asked them what eating "healthy" means, they'd probably say "Avoiding fatty foods". I fell into that category. I honestly never thought about much else. I used to eat lots of fruit, low/no fat everything, etc...but I also enjoyed pretzels, bread, pasta, etc...never really giving much thought to it.

So here's how my macros broke out the old way:
2439 calories
40g fat - 15%
392g carb - 63%
139g protein - 22% (and that's including a 60g protein shake I would take)

My most recent breakouts
Sunday-
2141 calories
50g fat - 21%
209g carb - 40%
205g protein - 39%

Monday
2305 calories
73.5g protein - 28% (don't eat pb sandwich and pork chop on same day...lesson learned)
207g carb - 36%
209g protein - 36%

My wife had a similar macro breakout under the old eating plan, but averaged 1500-1600 calories.

I'm not posting this to trash what most "normal" people do, or even to pat myself on the back for the change. I was just amazed at what the reality was when I actually looked at my diet in detail, and I just had to share.

But it does lead me to a question. I'm still learning some of this stuff. Both my wife and my calorie count in our old diet wasn't too bad, but obviously the macros were completely screwed up, waaaaaay too many carbs. How does the correct number of calories but wildly messed up macros (i.e. too many carbs) cause issues? Obviously a lack of protein prevents muscle gain, that much I understand. But for my wife, who's trying to trim weight, and burns lots of calories in her exercise, how does it effect weight loss?

Steve

[Guff]

I had the same revelation when I started fitday a long time ago, I would consistently overcarb. I tell people that it's much like a check book, if you don't write down EVERY dime you spend, when the end of the month comes around you don't realize that you've blown $50 on soda and chips at the Quickie Mart. The same applies to what you eat.

[chodan9]

I did a typical day from 2005 and before a while back to see what I was getting.
it was all pop, cakes, burgers chips pizza etc etc.
I was around 6000 calories per day LOL
more some days a little less others.

[BJC22]

Originally Posted by Klayfish

But it does lead me to a question. I'm still learning some of this stuff. Both my wife and my calorie count in our old diet wasn't too bad, but obviously the macros were completely screwed up, waaaaaay too many carbs. How does the correct number of calories but wildly messed up macros (i.e. too many carbs) cause issues? Obviously a lack of protein prevents muscle gain, that much I understand. But for my wife, who's trying to trim weight, and burns lots of calories in her exercise, how does it effect weight loss?

To answer your question with my knowledge, it's believed by some of us that an excess of carbs, especially those of the high glycemic/non-green variety will cause an insulin spike that can lead to fat storage, especially if you eat them closer to bedtime. I'm operating under this assumption now and am seeing good results in the fat loss department. I try to eat a maximum of 100-120 grams of carbs per day and only via greens after 11 AM or so.

In response to your post in general let me tell you, I've learned that one of the biggest reasons people don't lose fat or get healthy is because they really have no idea what they're putting in their body or what it's doing to their body. Just my 2 cents. FitDay is awesome so kudos to you for gettin' on the train!

[pmartel]

Originally Posted by chodan9

I did a typical day from 2005 and before a while back to see what I was getting.
it was all pop, cakes, burgers chips pizza etc etc.
I was around 6000 calories per day LOL
more some days a little less others.

Sounds like me 15 years ago.

I'd have a doughnut every day.

Now I'm lucky if I have one a year

Imagine that 6000 calories in quality food

[Mrfreeze04]

I looked at what I was eating on a regular basis, and that was the main determiner as to what I needed to lose to get my fat percentage down. I too nearly fell over after I had the chance to see how much that I really was taking in. I immediately stop with fast food, and of course gave up other food that wasn't good for me.

[Leinenkugels]

Originally Posted by Guff

I had the same revelation when I started fitday a long time ago, I would consistently overcarb. I tell people that it's much like a check book, if you don't write down EVERY dime you spend, when the end of the month comes around you don't realize that you've blown $50 on soda and chips at the Quickie Mart. The same applies to what you eat.

This was a big take away I got from a nutrition seminar when I started to learn about and understand the whole insulin response-blood sugar balance issue. They recommended getting yourself down to 100g of carbs for 220# person and use it like a check book. So if you really want some "bad" carbs you can do it, but you blow your budget pretty quick. Doing this has allowed me to cut body fat without losing strength or ability to perform my job (e.g. loss of mental capacity).

[Klayfish]

The funny thing about it is that we didn't really eat what most people would call "junk". We didn't eat at McDonalds, or have donuts, fried chicken, go out for ice cream, etc... We did enjoy dessert after dinner, but we thought we were doing decent by buying the reduced calorie brownie mix AND using applesauce instead of oil when we made them. But you just don't realize how many carbs are in the foods you eat until you track it.

I'd love to hear more thoughts about my question relating to how proper calorie intake with improper macro breakout has effects on the body, specifically when trying to bulk up or lose weight. One difference I have absolutely noticed is that I'm nowhere near as tired here at work. I used to have to slap myself sometimes, especially after lunch, to stay awake. I'm no longer having those problems.

Steve

[mikieson]

What is so bad about carbs? IS that something like breads? OR something like potatoes?

[BJC22]

Originally Posted by mikieson

What is so bad about carbs? IS that something like breads? OR something like potatoes?

They're not bad in moderation...not sure if this is what you're asking, but what I said earlier was:

Originally Posted by BJC22

...it's believed by some of us that an excess of carbs, especially those of the high glycemic/non-green variety will cause an insulin spike that can lead to fat storage, especially if you eat them closer to bedtime. I'm operating under this assumption now and am seeing good results in the fat loss department. I try to eat a maximum of 100-120 grams of carbs per day and only via greens after 11 AM or so.

[mikieson]

Originally Posted by BJC22

They're not bad in moderation...not sure if this is what you're asking, but what I said earlier was:

Well kind of...Maybe someone can come in and expand it a little more. I eat a TON of breads be it whole wheat, or white. I eat pasta be it mac N cheese or spagetti. I eat potatoes be it real ones or instant.

Is this the reason I tend to NEVER drop weight?

[BJC22]

Originally Posted by mikieson

Well kind of...Maybe someone can come in and expand it a little more. I eat a TON of breads be it whole wheat, or white. I eat pasta be it mac N cheese or spagetti. I eat potatoes be it real ones or instant.

Is this the reason I tend to NEVER drop weight?

Without having amounts listed other than "a ton", my opinion is - yes, probably.

Most people don't realize how many calories are in a cup of pasta or a couple of pieces of bread, etc. It adds up FAST. And since the way to lose weight is to burn more than you take in....ahem. So yes, I think that's probably a large part of your problem.

[RBH58]

Originally Posted by BJC22

Without having amounts listed other than "a ton", my opinion is - yes, probably.

Most people don't realize how many calories are in a cup of pasta or a couple of pieces of bread, etc. It adds up FAST. And since the way to lose weight is to burn more than you take in....ahem. So yes, I think that's probably a large part of your problem.

Agree. It probably is.