MACROS?!

[LaurenLouu 1]

HELP!!!

I am a little over a year post op. I am just now hearing about macros. From what I read, 1g of Protein is 4 calories 1g of carbs is 4 calories and 1g of fat is 9 calories. Is it accurate that I should be eating 180 grams of protein a day?! What about carbs!? 75g of carbs! This is if I eat 1200 calories a day 60% of that being protein 25% being carbs and 15% being fat. PLEASE HELP ME. I am sooo confused. What the heck do I need to be eating! I am female, 30 years old, 5'6" and 205-210lbs (ish). Macros thoroughly confuse me!!

[catwoman7 10,856]

programs are all different - and they're the most critical that first year post-op.

180 g of Protein is very high - most of us are told 60-80 g (I have to average around 100 g because I malabsorb it (it was discovered early on), but I'm kind of an exception.

many new post-ops are on ultra-low carb diets that first year, but some of us are not. My program was balanced. I was never told how many carbs to have since my program didn't focus on those, but it was unusual for me to have more than about 80 g a day that first year, but that was more because the protein requirements were so high that by the time I got all those in, I didn't have much room for carbs. Honestly, I don't count or care about carbs at all any more, and really didn't after that first year.

I've never counted fats. My program never said anything about them, and I don't think most do.

at the year mark, I switched to calorie counting, although I still made sure I was averaging 100 g of protein a day.

so in short, although overall calories are important to lose or maintain weight, and although getting enough protein is also important (double check with your surgeon about that 180 g - that is crazy high), I think you're overly worried about this macro thing.

[LaurenLouu 1]

Okay! That's not my requirement that's just what I've read and for regular people who haven't had surgery which is why I've gotten so confused. I'm not doing this, the office I had surgery through doesn't really do follow up they said try to get 60g of Protein and 96oz of Water. So I don't have a program I'm following anymore. I'm just trying to come up with one and I had read about macros. thank you for the info

[Arabesque 6,470]

As Catwoman7 said all programs are different. You’ll see a lot of similarities like Protein goals but also lots of differences. I didn’t have to count macros except for protein & it was 60-70g. Then just generally low carbs, low sugar, low fat.

In maintenance I was aiming for 1g per kg but my dietician said I should aim for 1.2g as I’m a woman in her 50s. I’ve never heard/read that anywhere but as my protein levels are on the lower end of the good scale I do aim for 60g per day.

I’m still pretty low carb getting most from fruit & vegetables, then rolled oats & some multigrain crackers.

I was watching a video by Dr Matthew Weiner the other day & he said he tends to push vegetables first. I think this is to reduce dependency upon animal Proteins and increase plant proteins like including legumes, etc. in your diet.

Do you still see your dietician/nutritionalist? They should be able to make some recommendations on what should make up your basic diet to ensure you’re eating a range of foods & getting your nutrients in each day. You can vary it then to suit your likes & dislikes & what works for you.

As we well know from years of experience, extreme diets don’t work long term. For me, it’s all about balance, a variety of food sources, portion size, calorie & nutrient awareness.