You don’t have to explicitly count calories and restrict your food intake to lose weight. “If It Fits Your Macros” offers more flexible dieting.
Macros are short for macronutrients, which are measured by the grams of proteins, carbs, and fats in your food. This is not to be confused with micronutrients, which are the vitamins and minerals and other nutrients in your food that your body requires in smaller doses.
You start by finding your macronutrient ratio, and using a simple food app, keep track of what macronutrient each item provides. This way of eating allows you to eat a variety of different foods that you enjoy and crave – if it fits your macros. Sounds appealing, right?
(Also read: 3 Surprising Things I Learnt About Food and Nutrition at Shape)
Why you might want to take this approach
This is a good eating method because you will be focusing on the nutrients you are putting into your body instead of the overall calorie count. For instance, foods like avocado, eggs, and cheese are relatively high in calories, but they are actually healthy and nutritious.
To find a macro ratio that is created for your body and lifestyle, it is recommended that you go to a professional. It is difficult for someone to come up with the best plan for you without knowing your daily activity levels and eating habits. However, if you are already comfortable with food tracking, using Internet guides will provide a rough gauge that you can work from, then adjust as you go along.
Newbies at food tracking will be able to get a better understanding of how to nourish their bodies and the effects of the different macronutrients. This eating method is customisable and adjustable for different body types and goals.
(Also read: Are You Taking Enough Protein? And Other Important Facts You Should Know About This Macronutrient)
Can you really lose weight while eating sweets?
It is hard to say that any particular eating method will help everybody lose weight because it all boils down to how well you eat and exercise. Choose your food wisely and remember that obsessing over numbers is not the best way to track your progress. Ditch the scale and try using clothes or your strength as a method of measurement.
Losing weight occurs when you spend more energy than you eat. You can either work out super hard or eat in a slight calorie deficit. The latter is more common as it is extremely hard to out-train a bad diet.
The goal is always to eat nutrient-dense foods, but if you have a treat every day while following your normal routine and it fits your macros, there’s no reason your body will store that as fat immediately. Of course, it’s a whole different story if you take desserts to be your entire carbohydrate component.
(Also read: 8 Restaurants in Singapore for a Clean and Healthy Meal)
Who should try this method
Those who want to track their food intake and understand their body’s needs will learn a lot from this style of eating. You’ll have an idea of what food groups you need to eat more and less of without stressing too much about it. It’s a simpler way to be conscious of the foods you eat.
If you’ve struggled with any body image issues or eating disorders before, it might not be a good idea to do this because you might be reminded of all the numbers and calorie counting. Always consult a medical professional before embarking on a new eating plan.
(Also read: TRUE STORY:”I Have an Eating Disorder But Even My Husband Doesn’t Know”)
