![]() ![]() If you lift weights or play a sport, you will most likely want carbs in your diet to help you perform. Carbohydrates are technically a non-essential macro, meaning you don’t need it to function, but our bodies convert carbs to glucose for energy. Fat is necessary for hormonal functions, particularly sexual hormonal function (so, yeah, it’s pretty important). Protein is the building block of the muscle and is responsible for muscle gain (if you’re in a caloric surplus) or muscle retention (if you’re in a caloric deficit). That’s because each macronutrient has specific functions within the body. However, if you want to gain muscle and strength or lose fat, your specific macros need to be dialed in. Now, you can count calories and lose or gain weight. This is a bit of an oversimplification as the metabolism is a complex machine, but this basic calories-in-calories-out formula works. ![]() If we burn fewer calories than we eat, then we gain weight. If we burn more calories than we eat, then we lose weight. Your weight is dictated by how many calories you’re taking in and expending. (More on that below.) Dragon Images/Shutterstock Since all foods are made up of macros, every diet is technically macro-based. Each macro contains a set number of calories, and so you calculate your macro total based on your caloric intake. All food is made up of macronutrients, so when someone says they are following a macro-based eating plan, they mean to say that they are counting their macros. There are three macronutrients: protein, fats, and carbs (well, technically four if you count alcohol). The word “macro” is short for the macronutrient. Consult with your doctor before undergoing a change in diet. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. Learn the Benefits of Counting Your MacrosĮditor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice.Here are the steps you need to take to track your macros successfully: By counting calories and tracking food, you’ll gain a better sense of how to intuitively eat for your goals over time. Instead of banishing junk food from your eating plan, as some other diets may do, macro counting encourages you to work the foods you enjoy into your day of eating while still seeing results. What those people really should be saying is that macro counting isn’t a restrictive diet. Well, it is - but there’s a lot to learn about how to count macros before diving headfirst into a bag of Ruffles.įolks sometimes refer to IIFYM as an anti-diet. You also possibly heard them mention how macro counting or If It Fits Your Macros (as it’s commonly called) enables you to eat donuts, chips, and even drink beer. Unless you’ve been consciously avoiding all fitness content for the past five years, you have probably heard someone talk about counting macros.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |