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Does anyone else have trouble maintaining a food ratio (eg. 50 30 20)?

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Old 18-09.-2004, 02:33 AM   #1
juf2m
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Default Does anyone else have trouble maintaining a food ratio (eg. 50 30 20)?

I recently went to a nutritionist, who advised me to have about 1600 cals a day, 77 grams of protein, no more than 50 of fat, and up to 300 of carbs. The ratio should be 50-55 carbs, >30 fat, and I think 20 protein.

Well I am finding this to be an almost impossible feat. If I increase my protein to hit 20% I always end up having way more than 77g. My fat and carbs usually end up at about 40% each (trying to adjust back after a low carb regimen is really hard!) and if I ever do miraculously get the % ratios right, I am always over on the grams and certainly over on the calories.

Does anyone else have this problem? Of course she gave me some sample meal plans (they involve all these complicated snacks), but I do live in the real world and find that after I eat all the correct snacks and lunch, I barely have 200 cals left for dinner.

HELP! How do I DO this?
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Old 18-09.-2004, 03:39 AM   #2
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Default Re: Does anyone else have trouble maintaining a food ratio (eg. 50 30 20)?

Well, I may be wrong (my wife says that's happened before), but I bet you are trying to apply your new guidelines to your old diet -- ain't gonna happen unless you like starving. Don't modify -- reinvent.

Try a fresh perspective. Next time you go to the store, reevaluate all of the foods in each given category to see what is available that will fit your plan. For example, if you want cereal, start looking at the nutrition data of cereals you might like and try various ones that meet your criteria. Repeat this in all your foot categories. It will seem a little more labor intensive at first but you will quickly develop a diet and product selection that will satisfy both your plan and your appetite. Sure, you will end up buying some stuff you don't like, but there is no way around that.

For snacks, there are dozens of choices for snack bars, cereal bars, energy mixes, etc., all with vastly different nutritional schemes. The problem is that taste varies widely. Experiment with the ones that fit your goals and make it easy to snack through the day without redlining your counts.

You have some pretty stringent guidelines to follow, so it is time to think outside the box, which reminds, try to avoid prepared foods as much as possible.

One last thing, if you want a great butter substitute, try Olivio. You can substitute if virtually anywhere you would use butter, but it tastes so good, you may end up feeling guilty.

Good luck.
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Old 18-09.-2004, 05:51 AM   #3
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Default Re: Does anyone else have trouble maintaining a food ratio (eg. 50 30 20)?

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Originally Posted by juf2m
Well I am finding this to be an almost impossible feat. If I increase my protein to hit 20% I always end up having way more than 77g. My fat and carbs usually end up at about 40% each (trying to adjust back after a low carb regimen is really hard!) and if I ever do miraculously get the % ratios right, I am always over on the grams and certainly over on the calories.


An easy way to jack up your protein grams is to get some whey protein powder. Content varies, but a scoop is typically 20-25 grams of protein.
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Old 18-09.-2004, 07:28 AM   #4
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Default Re: Does anyone else have trouble maintaining a food ratio (eg. 50 30 20)?

Ah, but dpvan, my problem is I already have too many grams, I'm trying to reduce the grams, yet still have 20% overall. I guess it must be possible, or she wouldn't have given me this assignment, but it's hard! I guess I'll have to have more carbs, they're still kind of low...believe it or not I actually find it challenging to INCREASE the carbs! LOL!

Thanks for the ideas, gruppo! I think I actually eat very healthy foods on the whole, very rarely prepared foods, which is why this is so difficult, although I do love fattening Italian and Greek foods, cheese and rich salad dressings and things like that...

It is quite a challenging diet...but it is the weight loss version. I sure hope I lose this weight quickly so I can get on the more relaxed regular diet. When you don't have a huge amount to lose (10lbs in my case) it's extra frustrating.

I'm just sooooooooooooooo tired of counting calories, grams, weight, kilos, BPMs.....my whoele life is a set of numbers!
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Old 18-09.-2004, 05:26 PM   #5
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Default Re: Does anyone else have trouble maintaining a food ratio (eg. 50 30 20)?

Quote:
Originally Posted by juf2m
I recently went to a nutritionist, who advised me to have about 1600 cals a day, 77 grams of protein, no more than 50 of fat, and up to 300 of carbs. The ratio should be 50-55 carbs, >30 fat, and I think 20 protein.

Well I am finding this to be an almost impossible feat. If I increase my protein to hit 20% I always end up having way more than 77g. My fat and carbs usually end up at about 40% each (trying to adjust back after a low carb regimen is really hard!) and if I ever do miraculously get the % ratios right, I am always over on the grams and certainly over on the calories.

Does anyone else have this problem? Of course she gave me some sample meal plans (they involve all these complicated snacks), but I do live in the real world and find that after I eat all the correct snacks and lunch, I barely have 200 cals left for dinner.

HELP! How do I DO this?


one reason you may be having difficulty doing this is because, mathematically, the figures are incorrect! Those ratios don't add up properly.

For example, on 1600 kcal/day at the ratio of 50/30/20 you require

(1g of carb = 4 kcal, 1g of protein = 4 kcal, 1g of fat = 9 kcal)

1600 * 0.5 = 800 kcal = 200 g carb
1600 * 0.3 = 480 kcal = 53.3 g fat
1600 * 0.2 = 320 kcal = 80 g protein

thus, if you try to maintain 77- 80 g of protein and 300 g of carbs then the protein *ratio* will drop markedly. On the other hand if you consume 300 g of carb and try to maintain 20% protein then you'll consume more than 77 - 80 g protein (120 g of protein), this is because total energy intake has increased (and thus any % of a bigger factor will be more than a smaller dietary intake at the same ratio).

I don't know anything about your circumstance (and e.g., why your nutritionist has prescribed such ratios). However, your nutritionist needs to give clearer instructions so that you can understand what goal(s) you're supposed to complete (e.g., are you supposed to only maintain 1600 kcal/day but some days eat 200 g of carb and other days 300 g of carb -- as this would significantly impact the ratios presented).

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Old 18-09.-2004, 09:11 PM   #6
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Default Re: Does anyone else have trouble maintaining a food ratio (eg. 50 30 20)?

Aha, well no WONDER I'm having problems! Essentially, this is a weight loss diet, where I have 1600ish cals at (and this is her writing on my "prescription":

50-60% carb 206 grams (but can go up to 300gm)
20% protein 77.5 g (1.2 per kg)
<30 fat or 51g max


Then I can go to 2000+ when maintaining. I get to have ride snacks over and above this, while presumably maintaining the same overall ratio. She says she wants to see me eating more carbs than I have.
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Old 28-09.-2004, 05:18 AM   #7
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Default Re: Does anyone else have trouble maintaining a food ratio (eg. 50 30 20)?

If you feel you're really eating a pretty healthy diet anyway, I'd suggest saving the money on going to a nutritionist, cutting your portions back just a little and spending more time riding. I don't pay any attention to carb/protein/fat ratios. I'm just eating more sensibly and biking more and I've been dropping about 2 pounds per week for a few months now. When I get down to my target weight I'll increase my portions a bit.
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Old 28-09.-2004, 10:55 AM   #8
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Default Re: Does anyone else have trouble maintaining a food ratio (eg. 50 30 20)?

Very sensible advice....but unfortunately the money has already been spent! LOL! I did learn some interesting stuff so it wasn't all for naught, and I am getting a little better at the measuring...now if only the weight would come off! It's taking FOREVER!!!! That's the problem with shaving off 5 or 10lbs when you aren't really overweight to begin with....(by ordinary standards). It seems as collossal a problem as if I had to lose 50lbs. If I lose 1/2 a lb this week I'll be ecstatic!
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Old 28-09.-2004, 11:48 PM   #9
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Default Re: Does anyone else have trouble maintaining a food ratio (eg. 50 30 20)?

May I ask, if you aren't overweight by normal standards, why you feel it's necessary to lose 10 pounds? Is this for an athletic event where you feel carrying 10 pounds less would enhance your performance? Have you had a body fat percentage test and aren't happy with the results? Is there a deadline that you're shooting for?
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Old 29-09.-2004, 01:37 AM   #10
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Default Re: Does anyone else have trouble maintaining a food ratio (eg. 50 30 20)?

Yes, there is a deadline, it's November 6. I started this new regime at the beginning of September. It's not an athletic event, but rather an artistic one lol...I am bellydancing in an important show, and want to look as good as possible. Also, I am sure it would be easier for me to haul myself up hills and such if I were a bit lighter.

I was 10lbs lighter one year ago. Mind you I wasn't cycling and I have probably gained a little bit of muscle since then, but I'm sure not much. I am 33 years old and I honestly wonder if my metabolism is slowing. I used to be able to eat like crazy and lose any gains quickly, but now, it is so stubborn. This is compounded by the fact that I have a boyfriend who thinks I look better at this heavier weight (especially with a bigger butt!) He is a cycling maniac (posts in this forum actually) and as a result has as huge an appetite as I have always had, so we eat quite a lot when we see each other. This does not help my diet at all....but I now have cycling to burn it off and am working very hard at the diet.
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Old 30-09.-2004, 12:46 AM   #11
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Default Re: Does anyone else have trouble maintaining a food ratio (eg. 50 30 20)?

Ten pounds should be possible within the 5+ weeks that you've got. I'd get out there and ride, ride, ride, and try your hardest to avoid pigging out with the bf for the next month. However, since you think some of the added weight might be increased muscle mass, then don't be too worried if you don't lose the full 10 pounds.
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Old 30-09.-2004, 02:35 AM   #12
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Default Re: Does anyone else have trouble maintaining a food ratio (eg. 50 30 20)?

Well that's what I thought too (ie sufficient time available to accomplish this), but when I stepped on the scale today I noticed to my dismay that NOTHING has budged for 2 weeks now. I lost 2 lbs the first week, but since then, nothing. I now have 8 to go....

I will keep at it....as much as time for cycling will allow, and no pigging out (except at Cdn Thanksgiving, but I will try to keep that to a dull roar) until Nov 6, but I am not too optimistic. I thought for sure the riding would speed up this process.

I may have to ask my nutritionist for a refund! LOL!
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Old 30-09.-2004, 08:12 AM   #13
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Default Re: Does anyone else have trouble maintaining a food ratio (eg. 50 30 20)?

Quote:
Originally Posted by juf2m
Well that's what I thought too (ie sufficient time available to accomplish this), but when I stepped on the scale today I noticed to my dismay that NOTHING has budged for 2 weeks now. I lost 2 lbs the first week, but since then, nothing. I now have 8 to go....

I will keep at it....as much as time for cycling will allow, and no pigging out (except at Cdn Thanksgiving, but I will try to keep that to a dull roar) until Nov 6, but I am not too optimistic. I thought for sure the riding would speed up this process.

I may have to ask my nutritionist for a refund! LOL!


what you want to improve your belly's appearance,... ???

you want a 6 pack like mine, can offer tips if you want some, on achieving one.
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Old 01-10.-2004, 02:54 AM   #14
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Default Re: Does anyone else have trouble maintaining a food ratio (eg. 50 30 20)?

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what you want to improve your belly's appearance,... ???

you want a 6 pack like mine, can offer tips if you want some, on achieving one.

LOL! Thank you but no, a six pack would look horrible on a belly dancer. My tummy is actually my best feature, I need more of an overall, proportionate reduction to be more sinewey. Particularly my arms and hips!
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Old 01-10.-2004, 03:18 AM   #15
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Default Re: Does anyone else have trouble maintaining a food ratio (eg. 50 30 20)?

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LOL! Thank you but no, a six pack would look horrible on a belly dancer. My tummy is actually my best feature, I need more of an overall, proportionate reduction to be more sinewey. Particularly my arms and hips!
have you ever tryed bar twists or vaccums, not necessarily to for a 6pack.

Bartwists, if you stand with your feet shoulderwidth apart,
bend your knees slightly, push your hips forward, "if you imagine yourself being lyed on the floor, and your trying to lift your hips and pelvis from off the floor this is what i mean by push your hips forward", now with a broomstick or something across your shoulders, with your arms out stretched, without twisting your hips, work your way around to pointing one arm forward, hold, then again with the other side, don't worry if you can't point straight forward the first time, it will get easier, but it is best to perform it properly, that means no twisting of your hips.

Vaccums, if you exhail all the air from your lungs, and tighten up your abdominals and hold it for a few seconds, then return it to normal, you'll find that a belly will become much flatter, accompanied with a correct diet i must add.

i usually do vaccums when i'm on the toilet, gives me something to do, plus it makes it a little easier at times. can't even poo without fitting in an exercise.

No don't loose hips, hips are goood, if what you mean bye arms is that flesh under your arms (tricepe) try kick backs, this is simple a matter of leaning forward with something like a tin of or bag of sugar as a weight, from holding the weight, (dangled) to pointing out behind you, once you reach the point area hold then return, but if you want to burn off excess fat, try to this more rapidly and more of and more often.

jogging will get rid of hips, http://www.exrx.net/Lists/Directory.html handy! link

Last edited by closesupport : 01-10.-2004 at 04:19 AM.
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