Intro to Macros

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You’re seeing it everywhere these days, but you just aren’t sure what “macros” are or why they should matter to you.  Eating the correct macros is a powerful (and FREE!) strategy to help you leverage better nutrition for better results.

We all want to be lean and strong, but if you thought you had to be lucky or have a fast metabolism to make it happen, then today IS your lucky day!  You can start slimming down and toning up right now simply by tracking your macros. All it takes is an app (you can download at no cost) and a few minutes every day to dial in your nutrition and start seeing results.  

Some of the biggest questions most people have are: What exactly ARE macros? Why are they so important? How will they help me live a lifestyle where I don’t have to give up treats forever??

Macros are changing things in the fitness world, and I want you to know how to reap the benefits!

What Are Macros?

The word “macro” is short for macronutrient.  Macros consist of:

  • carbohydrates

  • proteins

  • fats  

Macros are important because they’re the basic building blocks of our food.  They’re the nutrients our body needs in large quantities. They're our fuel! But to fuel our bodies the best way possible, we need to consume our macros in the correct proportions.

How Much Do I Need?

The best place to start with macros is by consuming 50% carbs, 20% protein and 30% fat on a daily basis.  You may need to adjust these ratios slightly based on your specific needs and goals, but this breakdown is a great starting point, especially if you are new to tracking your macros.

How Do I Track My Macros?

There are many free apps that will help you track your macros.  I use and recommend MyFitnessPal. It’s simple to use and makes tracking your food easy and straightforward.  Simply add your food in every day and you’ll receive a breakdown of your macronutrients AND your main micronutrients.  This is a helpful tool to stay on track with your goals and start making real progress.

Pro Tip: there is a paid version of MyFitnessPal, but you don’t need to upgrade unless you want to… the free version will track your macros just fine.

Correct Macro Ratios Will Help You Lose More Fat!

Counting calories and “eating clean” just aren’t effective strategies for losing fat.  You need to eat your macros in the correct ratios if you want to really crush your goals. But this strategy goes beyond losing fat; it will help you overcome those dreaded plateaus, it will fuel your body correctly, and you’ll never feel hungry!

The obvious problem we face when we don’t track our macros is that we’re over-consuming some (usually carbs or fat) and under-consuming others (usually protein).  When we don’t fuel our bodies correctly, we end up compensating for the imbalance by storing the excess, which, of course, is turned to fat.

Pro Tip: eating fat doesn’t make you fat!  Your body NEEDS dietary fat, and when it doesn’t get enough, it doesn’t function properly.  Be sure to hit your fat goals, along with your carbs and protein, and you’ll start seeing progress instead of plateaus.

What About Low-Carb Diets?

Low-carb diets are really popular in the health and fitness industry right now.  People are flocking to them because they’re seeing great results...initially. There are a couple of problems that tend to get swept under the rug, though.

First, the body (including our organs) runs on sugar.  When we deprive our bodies of their preferred fuel source all the time, it can have a negative effect (women especially should monitor thyroid function and watch for signs of hypothyroidism and adrenal fatigue).  

Second, it’s not sustainable for most people.  Know anyone who tried the Keto diet? Me too. Know anyone who’s STILL on the Keto diet?  Me either. It’s simply too restrictive to sustain long-term, which means most people just won’t stick with it.

If you’re looking to leverage the benefits of a low-carb diet without any of the drawbacks, try carb cycling!  With strategic low-carb days cycled throughout the week with planned regular-carb days, you’ll see the fat loss you want without the risk.

Putting It All Together

To see the most incredible results you’ve ever had, it’s important to put all the pieces together correctly.  Understanding macros is first, and then adding carb cycling will take your results to the next level—but when you pair these strategies with Intermittent Fasting and effective workouts, you will transform in a way you never thought possible.  

Learn how to implement all these changes in a simple, straightforward way in the cutting-edge program FASTer Way to Fat Loss®.  You’ll learn and implement each of these principles while getting full support and accountability through the online community. You won’t be alone in this journey!  

If you want to SEE different results, you have to DO something different.  The key is to make sustainable changes to your lifestyle so you can stay consistent and see amazing results.  Let’s do this!

Amanda Tress