Get to Know Your Macros
We often focus on tracking our calories for weight loss or healthy eating purposes. But paying attention to macronutrients (macros) may be a missing piece to truly mastering your diet and habits.
What are macros?
Macronutrients are the main nutrients that provide calories – carbohydrates, protein, and fats. Ideal macro intakes vary by person based on age, activity level, goals, and other factors. That’s why macro tracking is so personalized.
How Tracking Macros Transforms Habits
Getting familiar with exactly how much you should be eating each day in protein, carbs, and fats completely changes your relationship with food.
Here’s how:
- Mindfulness Around Meals – When you need to log every ingredient and meal component, you become much more aware of your food choices. No more mindless snacking!
- Balanced Eating – Macro goals help you learn appropriate portion sizes and get a nutritionally balanced plate. You develop healthier eating habits through this process.
- Clarity Around Calories – Reaching your numbers each day teaches you what appropriate calorie intakes feels like. You understand exactly what fuels your body.
3 Simple Steps to Start
Macro tracking can seem complicated but just take it a day at a time with apps that simplify the process. Here’s how to get going:
- Calculate Personal Macro Goals
- Download Macro Tracking App
- Weigh Foods & Log Meals to Hit Goals
Commit to sticking with it for two weeks and macro tracking will transform how you see food and build your knowledge around nutrition! Ultimately you develop an awesome awareness around what your body truly needs – leading to healthier habits for life!
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Meal plans get real serious when you have to measure the weight of everything in the meal. If you only have a half hour for lunch, you will have to calculate its contribution before you take it from the house. Eating out at a restaurant tests your skill at estimating portion size and deciding how much to take back home with you for another meal.
I have used the “MyNet Diary” app on an Iphone to record those macros. It gets easier when the foods you are eating are already in your frequently chosen foods and the portion sizes are recognizable.
It’s all about preparing, Doug. I agree that tracking and estimating on the fly is tough. I think the intent is important. If you are mindful of portion sizes and choose wisely, you are far ahead of where you would be if you are just eating whatever doesn’t run away from you.