You must have heard about macros or macronutrients, but what does it mean? And why should you care? Well, macros are nutrients that provide calories or energy to our bodies. There are three main macros: carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Each one plays an important role in our health and fitness.
Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy. They are found in foods like bread, pasta, rice, fruits, and vegetables. When you eat carbohydrates, your body breaks them down into sugar, which is then used for energy.
Fats are another type of macro. They are found in oily fish, nuts, seeds, and avocados. Unlike carbohydrates, fats are not broken down into sugar. Instead, they are used for things like cell growth and hormone production.
Proteins are the last type of macro. They are found in meat, poultry, fish, dairy, and beans. Proteins are important for muscle growth and repair.
Why You Should Care About Your Macros Intake
Now that you know a little bit more about macros, let’s talk about why you should care.
If you are trying to lose weight, counting macros can be a helpful tool. By tracking your intake of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, you can make sure you are getting the right balance of nutrients. This can help you create a calorie deficit, which is necessary for weight loss.
If you are trying to build muscle, counting macros can also be helpful. By making sure you are getting enough protein, you can ensure your muscles have the building blocks they need to grow.
Counting macros can also be helpful if you are trying to maintain your weight. By tracking your intake of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, you can make sure you are getting the right balance of nutrients. This can help you create a calorie deficit or surplus, as needed.
How to Count Macros
Now that you know why counting macros can be helpful, let’s talk about how to do it.
There are a few different ways to count macros. The most popular method is to use a food tracking app like MyFitnessPal or Fitbit. These apps allow you to log the foods you eat and track your intake of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
Another option is to use a macro calculator. There are many different calculators available online. Just enter in some information about yourself (age, gender, weight, height, activity level, etc.) and it will calculate how many grams of each macro you should be eating.
Once you know how many grams of each macro you should be eating, you can start tracking your intake. Log the foods you eat and track your macros for each meal and snack. As you get better at counting macros, you will be able to eyeball portions and don’t need to log every single thing you eat.
Tips for Counting Macros
Here are a few tips to help you as you start counting macros:
- Don’t obsess over the numbers. It’s important to remember that counting macros is not an exact science. You don’t need to hit your macro goals perfectly every day. Just try to get as close as you can and be consistent with your tracking.
- Be flexible with your food choices. There are no “good” or “bad” foods when it comes to counting macros. As long as you hit your macro goals, you can eat whatever you want.
- Get enough fiber. Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that your body can’t digest. It’s important to make sure you are getting enough fiber because it helps with digestion and keeps you feeling full.
- Drink plenty of water. Water is important for overall health, but it can also help you hit your macro goals. When you drink water, it helps to fill you up and can reduce your overall intake of calories.
- Don’t forget about vitamins and minerals. Just because you are hitting your macro goals doesn’t mean you are getting all the nutrients your body needs. Make sure to eat a variety of healthy foods to get all the vitamins and minerals your body needs.
If you are new to counting macros, it can take some time to get the hang of it. But with a little practice, it will become second nature. And you may find that it’s a helpful tool for achieving your health and fitness goals.
There is no Bad or Good Food When Counting Macros
As long as you hit your macro goals, you can eat whatever you want. This is one of the great things about counting macros. There are no “good” or “bad” foods. You can enjoy your favorite foods without guilt or restriction.
This doesn’t mean you should eat nothing but junk food. Eating a healthy, balanced diet is still important for overall health. But counting macros gives you the flexibility to include your favorite foods in your diet without feeling guilty or restricted.
Conclusion
Macros are the three nutrients that makeup calories: fat, carbohydrates, and protein. Counting macros can help you lose weight, gain muscle, or maintain your weight. To count macros, use a food tracking app or macro calculator to determine how many grams of each macro you should eat. Then, log the foods you eat and track your macros for each meal and snack. As you get better at counting macros, you will be able to eyeball portions and don’t need to log every single thing you eat.
