Macros: Staying fit and healthy isn’t rocket science. However, it can seem like it if you don’t understand the impact of food on your body. To start, it’s important to know that all food is composed of macronutrients. That means protein, fat, and/or carbohydrates. Unlike micronutrients, your body needs large quantities of macronutrients for energy and to function properly. If you want to reach specific health or fitness goals, you need to consume the right balance of macronutrients for your body’s needs.
If you hate monitoring what you eat every day, the thought of tracking macros might seem inconvenient. But there are many benefits to paying better attention to the foods you put in your body. You don’t have to commit to lifelong tracking if you don’t want to. Monitoring what you eat for just a few months can help you reach specific fitness and health goals and recognize your eating habits. Here are a few reasons you might start tracking your macros.
1. Lose Weight More Easily
Obesity is one of the top health challenges facing adults and kids alike these days. Excess weight can be caused by disease, certain medications, or even genetics. But in many cases, unwanted weight gain can be traced back to unhealthy lifestyle habits. Eating highly processed foods or the wrong balance of macronutrients can cause your body to hold onto too much fat. Therefore, if you want to lose weight, tracking your macros with the best macro tracking app is an important first step.
Many studies show that people lose more weight on average when they consistently track their food. However, perfect tracking adherence is not necessary to drop pounds. So, if you fail to input your food for one or two days per week, that’s OK! The important thing is to track as often as you can. You can still make great progress by tracking your macros more often than not.
2. Make Sure You’re Eating Enough
Your body must receive sufficient calories and macros to generate energy and function properly. There isn’t an “optional” group of macronutrients you can eliminate at will. Carbohydrates provide an immediate source of energy, while protein provides the building blocks for muscle and other bodily structures. Dietary fat is essential for proper cell function and organ protection. Therefore, it’s not a good idea to completely eliminate any of these macro groups from your diet.
Sometimes, people get so determined to reach their weight loss goals that they place too many restrictions on themselves. They might choose to eat just one small meal per day or completely stop eating carbohydrates. But cutting calories too drastically or eliminating a macro group from your diet can be detrimental to your health. Tracking your calories and macros can help you ensure you’re eating enough for your body’s needs.
3. Build Muscle
Many people find it challenging to build muscle, even when they work out regularly and eat a healthy diet. But once they track their macros for a while, they often discover they’re not eating enough protein to support muscle gain. It can be hard to figure out how much protein to eat for muscle growth. However, the recommended dietary allowance is 0.8 grams for approximately every 2.2 pounds of body weight.
The protein RDA is slightly higher for strength and endurance athletes. It’s recommended that they consume between 1.2 and 2 grams of protein for approximately every 2.2 pounds of body weight. To get optimal benefits from your increased protein intake, make sure you’re splitting your protein between meals. The body excretes excess protein through the urine, so aim for no more than 30 grams per meal for best results.
4. Regulate Cravings and Blood Sugar
If you struggle with high blood sugar or intense cravings for sugary foods and drinks, tracking your macros can be very beneficial. The carbohydrate group of macronutrients is the one most responsible for impacting blood sugar levels. Therefore, if you eat too many carbohydrates every day, you may struggle to keep your blood glucose within healthy levels. You may also find it hard to eat healthy foods because you constantly crave unhealthy options.
To see how many carbohydrates you typically eat in a day, start tracking your macros. You may be surprised to discover how much of your daily calorie intake comes from carbohydrates. Try decreasing how many simple carbs you eat and replacing those calories with proteins and healthy fats. Pay attention to how your body responds to this dietary change by making note of any decreases in cravings and blood sugar spikes.
5. Learn How Different Foods Affect Your Body
Another good reason to track your macros is to learn how different foods affect your body. Some people learn that an imbalance of certain macronutrients saps energy from their bodies. Others may discover that their mental well-being and mood are directly related to the types of macronutrients they eat.
As you gain insights from monitoring your dietary macro intake, you can become empowered to make changes. You’ll become more familiar with the types of fuel your body prefers. You’ll also be able to make more informed decisions about what you eat and why.
Tracking your macros doesn’t have to be a huge chore. User-friendly apps make it easier to do than ever before. Whether you want to lose weight, gain muscle, or learn how food affects your body, start tracking your macro intake today.
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