Macros

kalynpethel

Do you guys watch and stay within the macros? If not.. then how was your success for weightloss and if so how was yours?

LushFix

Im pretty new to all this but im sure others will have a more in depth explanation, but my understanding is that all that matters for the actual weight loss part is calories in vs calories out. Burn more than you consume and you'll lose weight. So worry about staying within your goal first, then worry about macros. Which could technically be done hand in hand.

Macros are more about a balanced diet and help with energy, nutrition and over all health kind of thing. Sometimes if I have calories left at the end of the day I'll take a look at my Marcos and try to base my snack choice off of that.

You can still eat the things you used to eat in smaller portions and slowly incorporate more fruits veggies and lean proteins. Proteins and healthy fats personally keep me far more satisfied much longer then if I ate a bunch if i ate a bunch of carbs alone, so I feel for this reason they are important for weight loss.

rakowskidp

My primary concern is maintaining a caloric deficit (CI < CO). I'm also a vegetarian and work out 5 days a week, so I watch protein very, very carefully. After that, I'm more concerned about micros than macros.

EDIT: and doing so, I've lost 23 pounds.

Carlos_421

The allocation of your macros will not affect the rate of weight loss.
If you eat 500 calories less than you burn each day, you will lose about one pound per week regardless of how your macros were split.

What it will affect is your overall health as well as body composition.
Eating more protein will help to retain muscle mass while in a calorie deficit (meaning more of the weight lost actually comes from fat rather than a combination of fat and muscle and leading to a more "toned" look when you reach your goal).
Getting enough fat is important for a whole host of health issues from proper hormone production to skin, hair and nail health to healthy brain function and healthy joints.
Carbs are a beneficial source of fiber, vitamins and energy.

If following macros, treat your protein and fat goals as minimums. Carbs can be flexible, filling in the gaps of calories you have left after getting the fat and protein you need.

The information in this thread should be really helpful:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/819055/setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets#latest

P.S. The macro recommendations automatically set by MFP are likely not accurate for your individual goals.