80 calories in an apple. 240 for
that Cliff bar. And, how many were in that omelette you made for breakfast?
Face it: counting every calorie is
exhausting. You may not know exactly how many are in certain foods either.
Trying to lose weight is hard
enough. You shouldn't have to worry about adding every cracker into
MyFitnessPal too.
So, what's the alternative? Keeping
track of macronutrients can foster a healthier relationship with food and help
you reach your weight goals. Read on to learn why you should count macros
instead of calories.
What
Are Macronutrients?
You might have heard of
macronutrients, but do you know what they are?
First, let's talk about the
difference between calories and macros. Calories are simply a unit of energy.
One calorie is one unit of energy for your body.
There are three main macronutrients:
protein, carbohydrates, and fats. Your body needs different amounts of each of
these to carry out various functions. Depending on your goals and activity
levels, you will need certain levels of each one.
Keep in mind, macronutrients aren't
the whole picture. You also need micronutrients like vitamins and minerals.
Lucky for you, following your ideal macronutrient ratios often account for
micronutrients as well.
Flexibility
Obesity worldwide has tripled in the last 45 years or so according to WHO. If you
struggle with your weight and eating healthy, you're not alone.
One aspect of sustained weight loss
that's so difficult is the rigidity of most diets. Sticking to 1500 calories
and logging each one simply isn't sustainable. Counting macros allows for more
flexibility.
You can tailor your macronutrients
to your specific goals. Popular diets like Keto and Paleo focus on macro intake
and give you more options than calorie-counting.
Precision
You can follow a 1200 calorie diet
but only eat chocolate. Calories don't tell you what to eat, only how much.
Macro counting allows for
flexibility with how much you eat while encouraging a more balanced diet. Your
age, activity level, and weight goals can all affect your macro percentages.
The simple fact is: 100 calories in
vegetables is not the same as 100 calories of chocolate.
Plenty of apps and websites let you
track your macros and tailor your percentages. Calculate your macronutrients
using a macro calculator. Check out the best macro calculator to find your percentages.
If you find you're stagnating in
your goals, you might need to alter these ratios. Macro counting allows you
this flexibility.
Long-Term
Weight Loss
The basic concept for losing weight
is simple enough: take in less energy than your body puts out. Following this
in the long-run is much more difficult.
Can you imagine counting calories
and weighing food for the rest of your life? Neither can we. Keep the weight
off and make life easier in the long-run by measuring macros.
Macro counting lets you consume any
food you want as long as it fits your macros. Better understand what goes on
your plate and what foods make up a healthy diet.
Achieve
Better Body Composition
Counting calories might help with
weight loss, but what about muscle gain and overall body composition? Eating
only bread or having a low calorie-diet won't help you gain muscle.
You've probably heard the term
'skinny-fat.' You don't want to lose weight and end up all skin and bones.
Calculate your macros and get the nutrients your body needs for a healthy body
composition.
Research continues to show how important coupling a
high-protein diet with weight-training is to achieving muscle gain. Athletes
will need different macro percentages than those trying to lose large amounts
of weight. But, for both groups, following a high-protein, low-carb diet can lead
to better body composition.
Meet
Nutritional Needs
Fats provide essential nutrients and
long-term energy storage. Protein keeps you full for longer and is the body's
building block for tissues. Carbohydrates ar the main energy source.
If you only count calories, you may
not take in enough of these vital nutrients. Counting macros not only helps you
lose weight but also improves your overall health.
Feeling tired all the time? You
might need to lower your carb intake and increase protein. A typical percentage
breakdown of macros might look like 45-65% carbs, 15-30% protein, and 25-35%
fats.
Improve
Awareness of Eating Patterns
Calories only give you an
understanding of how much energy is in certain foods. But, you need to know
more than that to live a healthy lifestyle.
What vitamins are essential for
life? How much fiber do you need? Tracking macros helps you learn what kind of
food you need rather than how much.
Sustained weight loss means a
lifestyle change, and counting calories won't keep the fat off long-term.
Increased awareness of what goes into your body and what your specific needs
are will help you reach your long-term goals.
Understanding your macronutrients
provides a more balanced diet. Allowing flexibility and giving your body the
nutrients it needs will prevent binging on junk food and will keep you
energized for longer.
Count
Macros Not Calories
Life is too short to spend it
agonizing over every calorie.
Jumpstart your weight loss or
bulking goals today by switching to macro counting instead. Use a macro
calculator to find your percentage and get the six-pack you've worked so hard
for.
Count macros and you can ensure
you're eating a balanced diet. Better understand portion sizes, reach your body
composition goals faster, and stay fuller longer. The bottom line: counting
macros helps you better meet your body's nutritional needs.
Enjoy this guide? You can find more
excellent health and fitness tips by checking out the rest of our blog!
