Macros

traceydickson1525
traceydickson1525 Posts: 8 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
How important are following macros if I stay within my calories?

Replies

  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    For weight loss - not at all.

    For health, satiety, sanity, overall well-being and energy - can be very important.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    traceydickson1525 wrote: »
    How important are following macros if I stay within my calories?

    It depends on your body's preferences and your overall context. For some, it doesn't matter much at all - for others it matters quite a bit, not just for nutrition, but for adherence to their plan.

    You'll have to figure out for yourself what works best for you.
  • scooter111766
    scooter111766 Posts: 1 Member
    I am watching my macros and making sure I don't go over my allotted calories. It is easier for me
  • pmm3437
    pmm3437 Posts: 529 Member
    edited July 2015
    Considering that macros are guidelines, and highly flexible, in the long run they are less important than calories, for weight loss.

    Now, after saying that, I would make a recommendation that you try to maintain a relatively balanced plan, so you get good nutrition. If your trying to save muscle mass while losing ( and you should be ), then your protein target is your most important macro. Get enough fat for hormone production and balance ( 25-30g/day minimum ), and enough calories for your energy needs.
  • amtru2015
    amtru2015 Posts: 179 Member
    kommodevaran wrote: »
    For weight loss - not at all.

    I disagree with this, you can eat 1200 calories of mcdonalds and not lose as much weight as if you ate 1200 calories of veggies.

    That being said, I follow a general 40C/40P/20F for macros and it has worked wonders for me every time.
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  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    traceydickson1525 wrote: »
    How important are following macros if I stay within my calories?
    Pay attention to the calories. That is how you lose weight. :)
    The protein is important.
    The carbs and fats are up to you. Eat whatever helps you stay below the calorie number.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    edited July 2015
    amtru2015 wrote: »
    kommodevaran wrote: »
    For weight loss - not at all.

    I disagree with this, you can eat 1200 calories of mcdonalds and not lose as much weight as if you ate 1200 calories of veggies.

    That being said, I follow a general 40C/40P/20F for macros and it has worked wonders for me every time.

    Maybe not, but what would be due to water retention from the high levels of sodium in McD's, but you would lose close to the same amount of non-water related weight

    Macros can play a roll in how much muscle vs. fat you lose while losing weight, as well as overall health.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    amtru2015 wrote: »
    kommodevaran wrote: »
    For weight loss - not at all.

    I disagree with this, you can eat 1200 calories of mcdonalds and not lose as much weight as if you ate 1200 calories of veggies.

    Who does either of these?

    I don't think I COULD eat 1200 on just non starchy vegetables, and it wouldn't be very healthy, as the protein and fat would be too low. Digestive issues also seem likely.

    Nor would I recommend 1200 calories of McD's, although you could actually get a much more balanced diet given the diversity of options available.

    To the extent there was any difference in weight loss it would be do to activity level or--quite likely--that 1200 calories of non starchy veg would really be less, since you wouldn't absorb all of the claimed calories.

    Back to the actual question, though, are your macros going to make a difference to weight loss, assuming calories are equal? Probably not.

    It is true that there are slight differences in TEF between and within the macros (there's a range for carbs), but in that there's a reason not to make protein especially high and carbs and fat tend to be similar, it's not going to be significant across the range of normal diets.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    traceydickson1525 wrote: »
    How important are following macros if I stay within my calories?

    Macro choice may make you feel better or worse or have an easier or harder time staying within your calories.

    They also could make a difference to the retention of muscle mass (you'd want to make sure your protein was adequate--around .8 g/lb of LBM) and to health (adequate protein and fat--ideally around .35-.45 g/lb of bodyweight for fat, if not obese, I believe is the formula).

    As for what will make you feel better or worse or the diet more sustainable, that's largely a matter of personal preference. If you feel good, don't worry about it. If you are struggling, consider changing up the macros.
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