Flexible Dieting + Counting Macros 101
https://ift.tt/2Fs2fYL If you’ve heard of flexible dieting or counting macros, it was likely from a fitness guru on Instagram or a friend who is working with a coach to slim down. A few of you have expressed interest in learning more about this health trend, so I thought I would break it down for you and share my experience with tracking macros! What are macros and why count them?Let’s start with the basics: what are macros? “Macros” is short for macronutrients. The three macronutrients are carbohydrates, fat, and protein. Alcohol is actually a fourth macronutrient, but we’re going to save that topic for another day. When trying to lose weight, some nutrition experts suggest that instead of focusing on calorie counting alone, you should also track your macronutrient intake to get a better idea of what you’re consuming. This is important because if you’re not eating a balanced amount of macronutrients (carbohydrates, fat, and protein), you might not see the results you’re looking for or feel as good as you’d like. The idea behind macro counting is that you’re allotted a specific number of carbohydrate, fat, and protein grams each day (depending on your body composition and health goals). The Three MacronutrientsCarbohydrates – “Carbs” have a bad rap in the health world but the truth is, our bodies need carbs! Carbohydrates fuel our brains and muscles. We want to stick to nutrient-dense carbs, like fruits, veggies, and whole grains – foods that have a good amount of fiber and lower glycemic load – so they won’t spike your blood sugar as much. Carbs to limit include processed bread, crackers, chips, and candy. Some examples of healthy carbs to incorporate into your diet including whole grains (rice, oats), starchy vegetables (sweet potato, white potato, squash), fresh fruit, and legumes. Fat – Fat has also gotten a bad rap in the health world! It’s so strange that these huge overarching nutrients are looked down upon by some. Sure, we want to limit certain fats (trans fat specifically) and eat more healthy fats, but in general, fat is good! Fat helps with vitamin absorption and brain function. It also helps insulate and protect our bones and organs. It’s a precursor for many hormones and acts as a backup fuel source. Some examples of fats to incorporate into your diet include nuts, seeds, oils (coconut, avocado, olive), nut butters, avocado, salmon, and coconut. Protein – Protein is the one macronutrient that has always been seen in a positive light in the health world – let’s keep it that way! Protein is made up of amino acids, the building block of muscles. It also supports our organs, skin, blood, hormones, and helps with satiety. Some examples of healthy proteins include lean meats and poultry (chicken breast, turkey, low-fat beef), fish (tuna, tilapia, cod, salmon, shrimp), protein powder, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, tofu, and tempeh. Calories in Macronutrients1 gram of carbohydrate = 4 calories How do I figure out my macros?My recommendation here is to work with a coach that specializes in macros! There are websites (like this one) that you can use to figure out a ballpark range – but to get actual numbers personalized to you, your body, your activity level, and your health goals, I recommend working with a coach. I’ve experimented with a ton of different macronutrient ratios over the years, but lately I’ve been focused on 40% carbs, 30% carbs, and 30% fat. This seems to feel really balanced and achievable for me! Benefits of Flexible Dieting and Tracking Macros
Downsides of Tracking MacrosLike everything, there are two sides of the story – including the following disadvantages of tracking macros:
How to Count MacrosThe most precise way to track macros involves measuring or weighing your food and tracking your food intake through an app (like MyFitnessPal), a spreadsheet if you’re super into math, or good ol’ pen and paper. If you’re not super familiar with macronutrients (what they are and how to categorize foods) using a tracking app will be easiest for you. If you can easily identify what macronutrient a food item is, feel free to weigh it! For example, when I’m making a simple dinner of grilled chicken and roasted veggies, I can weigh the chicken to see how many grams of protein I’m eating, veggies to see how many grams of carbohydrates I’m eating, and oil to coat and roast the veggies to see how many grams of fat I’m eating. If I’m eating a casserole or soup, I enter all of the ingredients or the full recipe into MyFitnessPal and it will calculate how many grams of carbs, fat, and protein I’m eating. All of the recipes here on EBF have nutrition facts (and most are already on MyFitnessPal) so you can easily track the macronutrients and add them to your daily journal. The Best Tools for Tracking MacrosMeasuring cups + measuring spoons: I’m sure you likely already have a set of measuring cups and spoons, but if not, it’s time to invest in these babies because you’ll definitely need them for measuring and tracking the food you eat. Some recommended options: dry measuring cups, liquid measuring cups, measuring spoons. Digital food scale: Some foods (like chicken breast, for example) are way easier to measure by weight on a scale instead of trying to fit them into measuring cups. Food scales are also super handy if you do a lot of baking because the measurements are more accurate. I recently purchased this one. Apps: There are a ton of apps out there, but here a few that I’ve heard of or used include MyFitnessPal, LoseIt, and Cronometer. My Experience with Tracking MacrosI’ve experimented with a few different ways to track macros. The first involves having a coach help me come up with my macro needs and using MyFitnessPal to track. I’ve used MyFitnessPal on and off for years, but until about 5 years ago I had never used it to track my intake regularly. Overall, every time I’ve tried this method, it’s felt too daunting and overwhelming to stick with long term. I will track for a week or so, but will eventually forget to track one day and then sort of fall off the tracking wagon. I’ve done this so many times that I’ve realized that tracking every single thing I eat might not be the best method for me. Luckily, through the tracking process, I have learned how to eyeball portion sizes of each macronutrient so that I can build macro-balanced meals without having to track every item I eat. Sometimes I’ll still break out my food scale, just to be sure I’m getting the appropriate amount of protein or to measure a serving size of foods that are easy to overeat (like trail mix), but overall I’ve become pretty good at knowing which foods fall into which macronutrient category and I can build balanced meals without having to track every item. The main thing I learned when I first started tracking was that although I was eating the appropriate number of calories each day, I was eating a lot of carbs and fat but not enough protein. Once I started adding in more protein-rich foods to get my protein intake up, I noticed that I wasn’t hungry all the time, I had more energy at the gym, and I noticed my body composition changing as well. Some of My Favorite Macro-Balanced Meals:
Want to learn more about different diets and trends? Check out the following articles:
The post Flexible Dieting + Counting Macros 101 appeared first on Eating Bird Food. Recipes via Eating Bird Food https://ift.tt/1L45wsH March 22, 2019 at 06:14AM
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The Flat Belly FixThis is the only 21-day rapid weight loss system that allows you to easily lose an average of 1 lb a day for 21 days without feeling hungry or deprived. The unique and brand new techniques used in this System are proven SAFE. And they do not cause the rebound weight gain common to all the other rapid weight loss systems that are not backed by the latest science. The Flat Belly Fix System takes advantage of a recent scientific discovery that proves the effective weight loss power of an ancient spice. Combined with other cutting-edge ingredients in the patent-pending Flat Belly Fix Tea™ — that you can make right in your own kitchen in minutes — this System is the quickest, easiest and most enjoyable way to quickly get the body you desire and deserve. Click HereCategories
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