Anyone lose weight without watching macros?

Francl27

I follow them very loosely. I've changed my goals to 40/30/30 but I'm often over on carbs. Doesn't seem to hinder my weight loss one bit.

Unknown

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c8linmarie

Long backstory, so here's the short version:

Exercise (optional) + Eat at a deficit = Lose weight

jonnythan

Tracking macros is an advanced thing. It is for athletes. It is not required for weight loss. Think of it as fine tuning, right now, just find your calorie deficit and start losing. Track only calories and forget macro nutrients. Save that for later.

Tracking macros is for athletes?

No. This is so far beyond wrong.

Tracking macros is for anyone who cares about their health and body composition.

If someone simply doesn't have the capacity or desire to track macros, that's fine. It won't affect their weight loss directly. However, it WILL affect their ultimate health and it WILL affect their body composition. If you lose weight while eating a low protein diet, you will lose a great deal more lean mass than if you had a high protein diet. This means you'll lose less fat.

Macros are important. They're not necessary to track for weight loss, but it's not just for athletes. Telling people to just forget them does them a disservice.

icimani

The only "macro" I worry about is protein - because I've found that if I don't get enough protein then I'm hungry and tend to snack more, which tend to put me over my calorie goals.

You've already said you're eating better/cleaner and that's great. Don't sweat the small stuff.

jazmine1031

hey i know where your coming from when i was pregnant i gained sixty pounds and it was devastating after i had her i gained more weight then about a year later i started taking one a day for women bone and breast health started drinking right size hunger smashing smoothie i also started doing daily exersizes from the dvd the biggest loser normal people trying to get healthy its amazing i lost 20 pounds in about a month you should definitly do this its healthy ou have energy and feel feel great i DO NOT TAKE PILLS all natural way drinks lots of water and i hope u have some luck

nomeejerome

OP:
It seems that you have tried multiple approaches to losing weight and have not seen results. A calorie deficit is all that is needed to lose weight and exercise for fitness. Sure, you could eat twinkles everyday, but you would not be meeting your nutritional needs. (but I am sure you already know that from your experience with the steak diet) You have previously stated (in other threads) that you do not like numbers and do not want to count calories, but you will have to suck it up and count the calories. (otherwise you will never know if you are in a deficit) Calorie deficit for weight loss and exercise for fitness, that is all. Read the link provided for you on page 1 if you are ready to go for it.

evancreighton

a calorie deficit is a calorie deficit. You'll lose weight regardless of marcos.

besaro

93 pounds, whats a macro?

sagefitnessfanatic

When I first started MFP, I didn't worry too much about macros - I was following Tosca Reno's eating plan so I made sure I had complex carbs, healthy fats, and protein at every meal. Now that I'm focusing on my body composition and reducing body fat as opposed to weight loss, I'm all about macros. 30p/40c/30f really seems to work best for me although my bootcamp instructor would prefer that I do 40p/30c/30f. I thrive with carbs though so it's staying at 40% : )

KelGen02

93 pounds, whats a macro?

PERFECTLY SAID!! The only Macro I pay slight attention to is the Cholesterol Macro and that is only because I have high Cholesterol and can't take meds for it. When you change your eating habits, it's a lifestyle change and that change doesn't require any macros, just determination an conviction!!! Track your foods, drink 1/2 your body weight in water each day and do a little exercise...everything else will fall into place!! :drinker:

Cheeky_and_Geeky

I glance at my macros at the end of the day but rarely give them a second thought. I focus on my calorie deficit & exercising. I've lost 27lbs in 3 months & have kept things as simple as possible.

lilpaula41

I did not know what macros were until now and have lost 85 lbs and have kept them off for about 1 year now. I've focused on mostly calories but am now more focused on protein since I'm trying to build muscle. Logging my food help me so so much. Log your food, watch those calories and keep exercising and you will do great, everything will fall into place! Just remember everyone is different. Good Luck!

JessiesGirls520

I lost about 55 pounds without counting macros. I lost 15 kinda tracking macros. It can be done.

lilpaula41

My total weight loss is 85lbs, I had lost most of it before signing up for MFP.

aliencheesecake

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'm the same. I ALWAYS go over on fat even when I'm under on calories.... I basically just try to hit my protein. LOL. The macros I list are really there as a guide....for my edification. LOL

aliencheesecake

93 pounds, whats a macro?

Hahah! Yes!

bluefox9er

I have lost all my weight ( around 90lbs ) by watching calories, not macros.

I do,however, try and make an effort to make sure I get enough protein, and carbs, as I run 6 times a week.

Tiff050709

I pretty much only pay attention to my calories. Sometimes if I am over carbs or something, working out will make it go back under so I don't worry about it.

TrailRunner61

I didn't watch my macros at all and lost 40lbs in 4 months by walking 4 miles a day and eating 1200-1400 cals.
I have since gained 20 of it back due to health issues & prednisone (ack) and not being able to work out since spring. I plan on losing it just as quickly and actually just started walking again yesterday.
The one thing I did learn though, is that I have to have protein with each meal or I get hungry. I also ate the whites of boiled eggs to fill me up IF I did get hungry, usually only when I had oatmeal for breakfast.

ash8184

I think each person is different, but try to eat in moderation and stay under your calorie goal. When I was at my highest weight in college, I actually lost weight eating burger patties and fries (I think this was mostly due to portion control - not eating the other calories with the bun, mayo, etc), but now that I'm closer to my goal, there's no way this would work.

Also, people will tell you that it's all about calories in, calories out (which it is), but I find that my body is much happier and runs MUCH more efficiently (like a car running on high octane gas) when I feed it veggies and protein (with some fruit here and there). Sure, I could eat 1200 calories worth of french fries, twinkies, whatever, but I would feel like crap and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't lose weight as quickly. Try to fill your diet with colorful, filling things... lettuce, cabbage, carrots, berries. Try weird fruits and veggies you haven't tried before and keep your diet interesting.

Good luck! Keep with it.

cathyg321

Thanks for starting this thread! This is just what I needed to hear! I was starting to become a perfectionist about matching my macros. Now I know I can just go back to what I did to get this far. Thanks!!!!

Gee_24

Every now and then I look at my protein, fat and carbs. I am generally over on fat or carbs every other day.

Not done anything bad thus far!

Im at goal weight already, after only 4 months. So now that I want to lose that final 5lbs so I can maintain if what I was doing stops working I will take my macros seriously.

cingle87

I only pay attention to protein, fat and carbs usually take care of themselves when proteing is at 100%. The only reason i pay attention to protein is i want to lose fat and not lbm, and the only way to do this is to lift heavy and to eat enough protein. I want to avoid the situation i see many people on here who have hit goal weigh and are not happy with the way they look.

grandpoobah12

Gosh, this is awesome. I haven`t lost at all in 3 years of trying every fad diet that`s come out on here. I have not found my true TDEE . Lose 5 lbs one week, gain it back the next, I gained 5 kg on MFP. Could I really lose just walking and staying under my limit? I`ve been at a modest cut for almost 3 weeks, not lost yet but we`ll see how it goes. I gotta get out walking. Just gonna keep on trucking eating well and enjoying my exercise.

Sounds good!

sunshyncatra

Log everything you eat and maintain a deficit. You will see results. Fad diets don't work.