![]() But those who have given it the ol' college try say that the counting and weighing aren't so bad, especially if the results are there.īy counting-or tracking-macros, clients can more closely regulate what they are eating and drinking than by simply counting calories, as counting calories doesn't take into account the quality of the food, just the quantity.Ĭounting macros has been popular among bodybuilders for years, allowing them to customize their diets at specific points in their training program to support performance and manage body composition. Counting calories is hard enough for most, without adding to the equation the breakdown of protein, carbohydrates ("do I count carbs before or after fiber?") and fats in each item. If you have clients who find counting calories to be tedious, they won't be excited to hear that they now need to weigh and measure their foods. Those who rave about the diet are most often drawn to counting macros for weight loss because all foods-including jumbo chocolate chip cookies, loaded baked potatoes, and fried chicken-are allowed, as long as they "fit your macros." This is in stark contrast to most other diets which restrict the types of foods you're allowed to consume. Counting Macros and Weight LossĪ diet that allows people to eat whatever they want and still lose weight? It's a concept that should be on every trainer's radar. When compared to counting only calories, it's a difference that proponents say can be explained like this: Counting calories is like buying a suit off the rack counting macros is like having a suit tailor-made. The percentage of macros in a diet has a direct effect on the body's ability to perform and recover from exercise, control hunger, and gain or lose weight. ![]() If drinking alcohol is part of the equation, that needs to be accounted for, too. A gram of protein or carbohydrate equals four calories. And while all types of fats should be part of a healthy diet, unsaturated fats should be the predominant kind, with saturated and trans fats held to a minimum.Įach macro has a certain number of calories per gram. ![]() Carbs increase blood glucose levels, which is what supplies the energy to the body and is the preferred source of energy to the brain.įats help regulate hormones. Proteins also build, maintain, and repair body tissue, which is especially important to the recovery process after a workout.Ĭarbohydrates are the primary energy source for the body and the brain. Proteins help build and maintain lean muscle mass. Each of the macros plays a distinct role in developing and maintaining fitness and health. With the exception of alcohol, macros account for all the calories we get from what we eat and drink. ![]() Macronutrients consist of the proteins, carbohydrates, and fats contained in the food we consume. Macronutrients (macros) are the body's primary source for energy, with vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients-micronutrients-offering a supporting role. However, what's important is that you know the details behind counting macros and that you refer them out if their questions encroach on your scope of work. Whether you agree with this type of food tracking and diet is up to you. From that basic concept was born, long ago, the idea of counting calories, followed relatively recently by its lesser known relative, counting macros.Ĭlients might start asking you if they should be counting their macros and how it works. Which is why so many turn back to the old reliable: Burn more calories in a day than you take in and you'll lose weight, an approach that usually coincides with a lifestyle change. But that hasn't stopped the next diet "fad" from always being right around the corner, complete with an alleged scientific breakthrough that promises results that all too often fail to deliver for the countless number of people who invest their time and money. There are simply too many variables involved, with every client's story unique. When it comes to cardinal rules in the world of fitness professionals, this one sits near the top: No personal trainer should ever recommend or endorse a particular diet for weight loss.
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