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!
