Anyone here just ignore macros & focus only on calories?

GeauxL

So many posts about how many macros, how to set macros, what is the perfect macro distribution. I too have asked these questions & I feel like the more I go about it, the more frustrating it is. I think worrying about macros is hurting my progress. Sometimes I stay under my calorie goal because I’m over some of my macros, so I don’t know what to do. Do I focus on my calories & forget about macros? Or do I continue trying to “balance” macros & calories even if it means going over macros to reach my calorie goal? I’m thinking of not even paying attention to macros & make sure my calories are where they need to be.

quiksylver296

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10491041/counting-calories-only/p1

hesn92

I have lost weight in the past without paying any attention to my macros, or any other nutrient. Just calories. Worked just fine. Now I do try to get plenty of protein but that's it.

AnvilHead

Calories are what matter for weight loss. If you don't want to deal with macros, just eat a reasonably nutritious diet that fits within your calorie goals.

The only macro I really even pay any attention to is protein, and I treat the goal as a minimum. I never have any problem getting adequate fats, and I just let carbs fall wherever they fall.

WillingtoLose1001984

GeauxL wrote: »

So many posts about how many macros, how to set macros, what is the perfect macro distribution. I too have asked these questions & I feel like the more I go about it, the more frustrating it is. I think worrying about macros is hurting my progress. Sometimes I stay under my calorie goal because I’m over some of my macros, so I don’t know what to do. Do I focus on my calories & forget about macros? Or do I continue trying to “balance” macros & calories even if it means going over macros to reach my calorie goal? I’m thinking of not even paying attention to macros & make sure my calories are where they need to be.

I just take macros as a rough guide and mainly go by calories. I'm losing weight too.

VioletRojo

Calories are what matter for weight loss. As long as you feel satiated, are eating a varied diet, and are losing weight, I wouldn't worry about macros. The only macro I care about is protein. As long as I get at least 100 grams of protein and I stay within my calorie goal, all is good.

Edited to add that, IMO, it's okay to go over on protein and fat. Those goals are minimums for me.

amgreenwell

I don't pay attention to macros as vigilantly as calories but I do try to hit my protein goal most days.

TonyB0588

I only count calories, and to some extent I notice if the fat or sugar goes red on the chart.

paigethurlow95

I don’t even look at macros I just calorie count. I have lost 3 and a half stone just calorie counting so as long as I’m loosing the weight I’m not fussed about macros

cwolfman13

Macros are irrelevant to weight management...weight management is about calories. Macros are relevant to satiety, performance, and body composition goals.

I think they're important to be loosely aware of...trying to hit your macros bang on is silly and has no inherent benefit.

GeauxL

Thanks, that’s pretty much my thoughts now. I’ll keep an eye on my protein goal because of my exercise routine, make sure I eat a healthy & varied diet, & forget about macros & focus on calories. It was frustrating trying to make those numbers match & really not even knowing why I was so worried about macros; Hell, I don’t even know if I know what a “macro” is or does!

Lillymoo01

The only people who really need to worry about properly hitting correct macro splits are professional athletes as this will affect their performance. For the rest of us, it is very individual and depends on foods that most help us with satiety, the foods we enjoy, goals, any underlying medical conditions, and our customs and cultures. As long as we keep to the minimums of protein and fat (going over is fine) it really doesn't matter, yet seems to cause a considerable amount of stress for some.

ConnieT1030

That pretty much all I looked at, although I sometimes looked to see how the protein was doing, and bump it up. I couldn't care less when MFP tried to macro-shame me about sugar, fat or sodium. I tried to keep those out of view because they are irrelevant to me. Currently maintaining after a 82 pound loss and more healthy than I started, so I guess I didnt do badly.
I found it especially hilariously when i would go over the protein and it went red. OH NOOOES! Too much proteins! :laugh:

successgal1

I watch both, because at my calorie level I probably would get enough nutrition if I didn't make a concentrated effort to know what is actually in what I eat.

Sunshine_And_Sand

I don't care about the macros. Sometimes I look back on them out of curiosity, and tend to hit pretty close to MFPs default macros most of the time without specifically trying to. Calories are what really matters. I think macros are important for helping you feel satisfied while in your calorie deficit, but the best combination for doing that is going to be different for everybody.

NorthCascades

AnvilHead wrote: »

Calories are what matter for weight loss. If you don't want to deal with macros, just eat a reasonably nutritious diet that fits within your calorie goals.

The only macro I really even pay any attention to is protein, and I treat the goal as a minimum. I never have any problem getting adequate fats, and I just let carbs fall wherever they fall.

Exactly this.

Caralarma

The only macro I sometimes think about is protein. I try to choose foodoptions which at least contain some of it. Other than that, I couldn't care less

Deviette

I almost never look at my macros.

Occasionally I check my protein, but other than that: Never.

amusedmonkey

I only have an eye on protein, and even that I go under sometimes without feeling like it's the end of the world. I try to get my minimum more often than not by prioritizing higher protein foods and planning some of them into my day in advance in the morning. I don't stress if I have something higher in calories planned and not all of my protein would fit, or if I'm simply not feeling like having animal protein today. I may or may not have a protein shake to compensate. It's just a relaxed watchful approach.

I never pay attention to carbs. As for fat, I only consider it when it's already evening and I'm too low on it but have calories to spare. In that case, I usually have ice cream or chocolate. If I'm low but no calories to spare, meh, I don't sweat it. It's just one day.

Basically, I don't exactly focus on macros, but I am macro aware.

ETA: it's worth mentioning for context that I'm a special case. If I wasn't, I wouldn't need to pre-log protein. My food preferences are as such that if I didn't watch protein and just ate a reasonable diet I would never exceed 40 grams per day and it would often be less, which is way too low for anyone.

blobby10

I don't follow macros per se as I dont understand them enough but do aim for protein making up 30% of my daily intake. I eat lots of veg both cooked and raw and got very frustrated to see my carb ratio shoot up just because I had a big plate of veg with my chicken! No potatoes or rice or pasta or bread!! Calories is easier for me but everyone is different!

kommodevaran

blobby10 wrote: »

I don't follow macros per se as I dont understand them enough but do aim for protein making up 30% of my daily intake. I eat lots of veg both cooked and raw and got very frustrated to see my carb ratio shoot up just because I had a big plate of veg with my chicken! No potatoes or rice or pasta or bread!! Calories is easier for me but everyone is different!

If just counting calories is easier for you, and having a steep protein goal and aiming to eat a lot of vegetables, while seeing your carb numbers rise, stresses you out... why are you doing it?

jst1986

Calories first and foremost, then try and keep an eye on Protein, Fats and Carbs in that area.

MelanieCN77

In a year of losing and 18 months of maintaining I've only ever looked at my macros out of curiosity. That's not to say I haven't played around with the kind of foods I eat, but I wouldn't say it was anything approaching purposeful or scientific. More like "have butter on your toast and see if that feels better."

CSARdiver

I focus on what matters.

Calories first, ensure I get enough protein to defend against muscle loss, and ensure I get enough carbs to fuel workouts.

AwesomeOpossum74

I am concentrating solely on calories. It would be too much work to try to deal with "ooh, this food has this kind of nutrient, and that food has that kind of nutrient, so I should only be eating that kind of food." The only caveat to that is protein, which I will go to so I don't get hungry. But also, I naturally enjoy eating fruits and veggies, and don't eat a lot of sweets.

PloddingTurtle

Typically, calories only. But my dietitian suggested I up my protein count at breakfast and then journal its effect on my satiety and cravings. I soon noticed a correlation on days where my breakfast protein is low and impulse snacking in the evening, whereas on days where my breakfast protein is in the high teens or 20s, I have a reduced occurrence of evening snack attacks. It has been an interesting experiment for me.

GOT_Obsessed

In addition to calories I only looked at sodium at the beginning of my weight loss because my blood pressure was high. But low and behold as I lost weight the blood pressure dropped significantly so now I look only at calories.