To effectively macro count, you first need to understand what macro counting is and what effects this recount.
Macro is a short form for macronutrients, and they are the core of flexible dieting. Moreover, these macronutrients are the base of all of the calories that you take in per day. The real question, however, is what the constituents of macronutrients are? There are three macronutrients; carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
Common misconception regarding macro counting
The most common way in which people keep track of their macronutrients is that they first set a particular amount of the calories that they should eat. This number of calories depends on the goal that the person wants to achieve as well as the time frame that they want to achieve it in, how activate he or she is, the age, the weight, and the height. The problem with counting the micronutrients arrives when people decide to eat all such foods that fit the calories that they have set for them including junk food believing that just staying within the calorie range would help them to fulfill their goals.
However, in reality, it is quite the opposite. Calories are only arbitrary values that represent the amount of energy that you consume in one day. If you want to lose a few pounds, you shouldn’t decrease the amount of food that you eat to keep within the calorie limit. Yes, reducing the food you eat will help to lose weight; however, this method would negatively affect your hormones as well as your metabolism, and your body will lack vital nutrients.
Effective way of macro counting
The metabolism, lifestyle, and the overall general health of each person is vital in determining the amount of energy you burn and the amount of macronutrient that you should be eating. You need to make sure that you are not only counting your calories but are also managing them in a practical manner. For this, you should include all of the vital minerals, digestive enzymes, and vitamins in your diet because they work together to maximize the function of your brain and your body.
For macro counting, you first need to know the amount of each macronutrient that you should consume. This is calculated by a formula, or you can use a macro calculator. This formula takes into consideration your body mass index as well as the lean body mass to calculate the amount of each macronutrient. For every person, the amount of macronutrient differs based on their goal. For example, an athlete would require more protein because it is required for muscles. So, determine what your goal is first, then calculate the amount of macros that you need.
Tips to remember
When the calories you consume come from foods that are filled with nutrients instead of foods that contain the same number of calories, then there will be a visible difference in the energy you have as well as in your mental clarity. This means that just because your calorie or macronutrient count permits you to have pasta and cake does not mean that you should eat it when trying to lose weight. It is the time that you switch from processed foods to fresh foods and replace your white bread with whole grain bread.
One other way to keep track of your macros is to take help from a food scale. Yes, packaging of foods does contain the nutritional information; however, a food scale lets you accurately track the things that you want to eat. Alternatively, you can also download apps that facilitate the counting of your macros.