Anyone lose weight without watching macros?

grandpoobah12

I am having a tough time of it. I can`t seem to get started losing. All the focus on macros, well, I find it impossible to do everything right. That in turn stresses me out. I can exercise, I can eat mostly healthy but how much do I really need to heed the minutae.

People say you can lose weight eating just twinkies so please, tell me!

Have any of you lost weight by just keeping your calories lower than before?? Either by exercise or eating less. I need some hope, if there is any to be had.

nettip

hi yes you can i eat to my allowance or just under and exercise and don't worry about how many crabs or proteins or fats etc unless its a body bump day then ill i want after Ive done that is meat lol. and come on im honest with my self i love chocolate if i don't eat it when i fancy it then im gonna binge on it then its going to be bad.

Shan790

when I first started my macros were way out of whack. I did a little exercise but started slow since I have pretty severe asthma. I lost. As I kept going I can exercise more, and more intense, and the macros started to fall into line. Its a learning curve. Start some where, get a routine going and slowly everything else will fall into place. Some days my macros are still missed but you get to learn what a meal should look like to hit your goals.
If trying to hit everything is stressful then cut yourself some slack. Start with a small goal like getting your water in and add from there. Its a lifestyle change and not a race. You will eventually get to where you want to be.

ndj1979

macros have nothing do with weight loss, they are more for body recomp, losing body fat, maintaining lean muscle, etc...

You can lose weight and have crappy macros...you can gain weight and have perfect macros...it all boils down to being in a calorie deficit.

If you are not losing weight then you are not in a calorie deficit..

do you weigh all your food?
do you log everything you eat?

if the answer is no, then this is why you are not losing...

MikaMojito

I try to sort-of get my macros right. BUT my sugars are often over because I think 2 pieces of fruit every day are a good thing. I enjoy eating fruit and I'm not going to swap them.

taunto

I am having a tough time of it. I can`t seem to get started losing. All the focus on macros, well, I find it impossible to do everything right. That in turn stresses me out. I can exercise, I can eat mostly healthy but how much do I really need to heed the minutae.

People say you can lose weight eating just twinkies so please, tell me!

Have any of you lost weight by just keeping your calories lower than before?? Either by exercise or eating less. I need some hope, if there is any to be had.

hi grandpoobah.

For starters, I encourage you NOT to worry about macros. Macros are something you take into consideration after you've gotten good control of managing your calories and staying on the target calories (not going much over or under the calories set by MFP).

It is true. You can do weight loss by eating twinkies. Many on this site eats really crappy and still lose weight. I eat ice cream and junk food regularly and still losing weight (slowly, but I'm doing it). The key to weight loss is staying under the CALORIES. Be it via junk food or via salads only. I recommend people to mix it up for healthy body and mind. 80% good nutritious foods and 20% calories via junk foods for keeping your cravings down.

Once you gain good control of your calories you can start tweaking your calories as needed. Heres a good thread about it.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

Good luck on your adventures

Koldnomore

I lost at least 50 lbs before I even bothered to look at them honestly.. Makes no difference.

Focusing on that stuff before you are ready just adds more 'stress' for someone just starting out. Just eat your calories and don't worry about the other stuff until you are comfortable with logging and eating less.

Pickledpiper

I do tend to watch my macros, but I certainly didn't start that way. It was waaaaay too much when first starting out. I think making healthier choices and staying within your calorie range is really all that needs to be done. I'm sure if you are doing lots of exercise than you need to make sure you have the appropriate amount of protein/carb combo, but if you are working out for a half hour a few times a week, I think as long as you eat reasonably well, you should be fine. As I am getting closer to a "normal" body weight, I have become less obsessive about macros as well. I eat (mostly) healthy foods that I cook and prepare myself, so I just don't think it's all that necessary. I am sure you will get differing opinions on this though. If you can find what works for you, then continue with it. If it stops working, tweak it a bit and see what happens. I think everything in moderation is really key. In terms of macros, I think it's good to find a balance between them, but no need to be crazy about it imo.

Good luck and don't stress,

btw, I haven't exercised since August (I had an injury and then just never got back into it), but I'm still losing just by eating well

mamadon

I look at nothing but my total calories.

Swissmiss

Try to not worry about all of that. Just eat healthy in smaller portions.

proudjmmom

I don't look at macros, never have. I eat healthy, small portions, and within my calorie limits. I have lost 85lbs to date. Trying to meet macros and maintaining my calorie goal, would drive me crazy.

anlu37

I have no idea what a macro is. Frankly, I don't really care. What I am doing is working for me, and that's what matters. If I come to a point where what I am doing is not working anymore, I may take some time to learn about it. Until then, I will just keep going.


Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter

chelstakencharge

YES!!! Never pay attention to macros and my numbers prove it can be done

Holly_Roman_Empire

When I first lost weight (pre-pregnancy), I lost 20 pounds without looking at anything but my calories. The last 5 pounds were very hard, and once I started watching my macros, eating more protein than carbs and fats, I finally took the last pounds off.

seltzermint555

I use the macros more as a general estimated guideline than "RULES". I'm a very black/white rule-oriented type so it has been difficult for me sometimes. However I've lost weight without adhering strictly to the macros. I track fiber & protein but hardly ever look at those. I would be disturbed if I was really low on protein especially since I eat pescetarian, but that doesn't really happen...I am always close to the goal. I know many people say don't look at sugars at ALL but when I started I was over every day by about 80g or so. I try to shoot for just barely going over, or staying under on sugar, and I truly believe that has contributed to my loss. Everyone's different! Sodium is one thing I DO watch. I never realized how much sodium is in a lot of foods, I thought I ate practically salt-free when I started because I don't cook w/ salt or add it to my food. In 7 months I may have gone over on sodium 3-4 times total, but I like being able to keep track of that. Fat I don't pay too much attention to. I am making good choices overall and when I go into the red on fat it's usually because I ate (in addition to "normal" food items) quite a bit of peanut butter, avocado, etc.

daniellemm1

I've lost all of my weight so far (66lbs) only counting calories and exercising. My plan is that when I take my vacation for christmas I'd like to do some work on figuring out how to hit my macros. Counting calories and making the changes that you need to make are enough work when you first get started. Get yourself settled into a nice routine and then work on getting your macros right if that is important to you. Don't let yourself get overwhelmed with it all because that will set you up to fail. One thing at a time!!!

jonnythan

I am having a tough time of it. I can`t seem to get started losing. All the focus on macros, well, I find it impossible to do everything right. That in turn stresses me out. I can exercise, I can eat mostly healthy but how much do I really need to heed the minutae.

People say you can lose weight eating just twinkies so please, tell me!

Have any of you lost weight by just keeping your calories lower than before?? Either by exercise or eating less. I need some hope, if there is any to be had.

I hate to be the downer here, but I see literally no food logged. Worry about the fundamentals before you start worrying about everything else.

Start logging. The rest will fall into place.

HeyGoRun

Sticking with watchin calories! Eating enough and upping them when needed has helped these past weeks!

Mokey41

Never look at anything but calories.

mrs_kurz

I try to sort-of get my macros right. BUT my sugars are often over because I think 2 pieces of fruit every day are a good thing. I enjoy eating fruit and I'm not going to swap them.

This. My sugar is always way over, but generally it's from fruit so I don't stress it. If i'm eating 2 pieces of fruit a day instead of a chocolate bar, i might be over sugar but my cals are down and fruit has a lot more benefits than chocolate so I don't stress it!

It ultimately comes down to calories, but I guess the macros are a good guide of the kind of proportions you should eat food in.

UpEarly

I really only pay attention to calories. The macros I track are fat, carbs and protein, but I don't really pay that much attention to them. The other two tracking columns, I dedicate to fiber and calcium, which are two things I personally need to keep an eye on keeping up.

So yeah... I watch calories for my weight and calcium/fiber for other health concerns.

I lost 66 pounds without paying attention to macros, and have now kept it off going on two years.

haymancm

For the first 6 months, I had my macros set @ 30/30/40 for carbs/protein/fat. Recently, I've basically ignored it & am paying attention to just the calories. So far, just looking @ calories seems to be working. Although, I am still kinda keeping an eye on keeping my protein @ 1/2 my body weight, around 90.

You can add me, if interested!!

TX_Rhon

Yes.........I've lost weight without watching macros. While I do keep an eye on the sodium intake, I am usually way over in the protein category. Don't really pay attention aside from that. I also upped my calorie intake now that I am close to my goal and I'm still losing.

Tedebearduff

I am having a tough time of it. I can`t seem to get started losing. All the focus on macros, well, I find it impossible to do everything right. That in turn stresses me out. I can exercise, I can eat mostly healthy but how much do I really need to heed the minutae.

People say you can lose weight eating just twinkies so please, tell me!

Have any of you lost weight by just keeping your calories lower than before?? Either by exercise or eating less. I need some hope, if there is any to be had.

Hey,

So yeah, when I hit around 80 lbs lost I stopped monitoring everything I ate, it became a habit... my guess is you haven't really made a lifestyle change and are following some sort of diet plan? Not really sure what else to say .. even when I was watchign what I was eating I was only really monitoring protein intake ... that was it.

Female_On_Fire

Don't worry about the macros right now. I lost 40 lbs without paying attention to all that. Honestly , I've been on this site since January 2012 and was doing great until I started trying to keep up with all that! Then I got flustered and disappeared. Find what works for you. If you find that you're not succeeding you know it's time to make some changes. Good luck!

evileen99

I've never looked at my macros.

upscalelifedownscalebutt

Billions of people lose weight without worrying about macros. I look at them because of health issues unrelated to weight loss.

mmyers1129

When I first started I didnt even know what macros were and I lost 60lbs now that im trying to bulk and a little more educated I watch them very closely

bcattoes

Have any of you lost weight by just keeping your calories lower than before?? Either by exercise or eating less. I need some hope, if there is any to be had.

Yes, I have. I lost almost all my weight before joining MFP. And before I joined MFP, I'd never seen so many people obsessed with macros. I just created a deficit by getting up off my lazy bum and exercising regularly.

JulieAnn72

For curiosity sake, I usually look at the pie chart on my phone app and see what my macros were for each week. But I don't look at them and try to stick to any sort of %. I look at calories only, and lost 22lbs doing so.

Now, I do pay more attention to protein and carbs, and am trying to find the best mix for me in terms of energy, running, strength training, etc. But I'm not looking at them for weight loss, and I'm not worrying much about them overall.

ToFatT0B3S1ck

The only thing I track is calorie and I think my ticker is pretty damn impressive