IIFYM. If you don't know what this means, GIH
omidiano
Posts: 24
IIFYM = If It Fits Your Macros.
IIFYM. If you're new to the nutrition section of these wonderful forums, you've probably already seen this saying multiple times and may be wondering what it means. Let's further explore it's true meaning.
The majority of the new (even some of the old) members on these forums see the IIFYM slogan in a number of signatures and don't like it, so they jump to conclusions and turn to their broscience. "You can't eat carbs that late at night, you can't eat junk food and expect to see the same results as someone who has has clean diet, you'll get fat eating ice cream on a daily basis, stop telling people to eat as many brownies as they want, etc."
The list goes on further than the energizer bunny can walk. Before you jump to conclusions, do everyone a favor and familiarize yourself with the basic knowledge the forum has provided you with in the sticky's. This being said we can now begin our journey.
First, I'd like to point out that no one in the IIFYM crew is telling you to eat a 4 gallon pail of ice cream, 30 big macs, 50 brownies, 5 large pizza's or any other hyperbole you can think up, because that's just ridiculous and it wouldn't fit your macros. All they are trying to say is it's okay to Indulge in your favorite foods as long as you're putting your macros first. Generally what you may want to do just to get a feel for the diet is hit 80% of your total caloric needs for the day, usually filling your protein and fat requirements first, using the remaining 20% for any food of your choice. Personally I would use a food that contained mostly carbohydrates but it's up to you. Obviously depending on your diet regimen the remaining 20% of your macros may vary. Please note, 80/20 is simply a guideline for beginners. Once you can fully grasp what IIFYM stands for, you can start taking it further. ---> If It Fit Your Macros <--- If you have to read this 1000 times before it sinks in, do so now. Please understand. You can quite literally eat anything you please as long as it fits into your macros. There is no exaggeration here folks, If It Fits Your Macros, eat it.
Second, I know some of the members in the IIFYM crew may seem a tad cocky and obnoxious at times but believe me when I tell you, 99.9% of the time they're only looking out for your best interests. The way I see it, if you can't indulge in the foods you love, you're just gonna be miserable. By walling off your favorite foods, all you're doing is releasing the parking brake of the Bugatti Veyron that is your will power and thus enabling the inevitable, colossal binge that is the tree at the bottom of the hill you're on. From now on instead of thinking of IIFYM as something that may negatively impact your diet, think of it as as a blessing sent from above, Because let's be real, I know everyone must be tired of eating Chicken breasts and rice by now.
Remember, everything is good “in moderation”
IIFYM. If you're new to the nutrition section of these wonderful forums, you've probably already seen this saying multiple times and may be wondering what it means. Let's further explore it's true meaning.
The majority of the new (even some of the old) members on these forums see the IIFYM slogan in a number of signatures and don't like it, so they jump to conclusions and turn to their broscience. "You can't eat carbs that late at night, you can't eat junk food and expect to see the same results as someone who has has clean diet, you'll get fat eating ice cream on a daily basis, stop telling people to eat as many brownies as they want, etc."
The list goes on further than the energizer bunny can walk. Before you jump to conclusions, do everyone a favor and familiarize yourself with the basic knowledge the forum has provided you with in the sticky's. This being said we can now begin our journey.
First, I'd like to point out that no one in the IIFYM crew is telling you to eat a 4 gallon pail of ice cream, 30 big macs, 50 brownies, 5 large pizza's or any other hyperbole you can think up, because that's just ridiculous and it wouldn't fit your macros. All they are trying to say is it's okay to Indulge in your favorite foods as long as you're putting your macros first. Generally what you may want to do just to get a feel for the diet is hit 80% of your total caloric needs for the day, usually filling your protein and fat requirements first, using the remaining 20% for any food of your choice. Personally I would use a food that contained mostly carbohydrates but it's up to you. Obviously depending on your diet regimen the remaining 20% of your macros may vary. Please note, 80/20 is simply a guideline for beginners. Once you can fully grasp what IIFYM stands for, you can start taking it further. ---> If It Fit Your Macros <--- If you have to read this 1000 times before it sinks in, do so now. Please understand. You can quite literally eat anything you please as long as it fits into your macros. There is no exaggeration here folks, If It Fits Your Macros, eat it.
Second, I know some of the members in the IIFYM crew may seem a tad cocky and obnoxious at times but believe me when I tell you, 99.9% of the time they're only looking out for your best interests. The way I see it, if you can't indulge in the foods you love, you're just gonna be miserable. By walling off your favorite foods, all you're doing is releasing the parking brake of the Bugatti Veyron that is your will power and thus enabling the inevitable, colossal binge that is the tree at the bottom of the hill you're on. From now on instead of thinking of IIFYM as something that may negatively impact your diet, think of it as as a blessing sent from above, Because let's be real, I know everyone must be tired of eating Chicken breasts and rice by now.
Remember, everything is good “in moderation”
0
Replies
-
Good post! Forget the lettuce and broccoli and eat some food!0
-
Cheers!:drinker:0
-
:drinker: :flowerforyou:0
-
Here Here! :drinker:0
-
I love this post bunches and bunches!!:drinker:0
-
Yes.0
-
YUSSS!!! Give this man some bacon.....0
-
Amen!
0 -
But but...what's the best macro spread to have? :devil:0
-
Yes.0
-
Yesss!! **presses the 'love it' button**0
-
And I thought I was the only one who lost weight and ate pizza and ice cream on a regular basis. Well now I don't feel so special. Good post man!0
-
Excellent!0
-
:flowerforyou:0
-
But but...what's the best macro spread to have? :devil:
I don't know about best...but I've learned alot from the links below
For info about your macros (proteins/fats/carbs) - check out this link. It will give you the formula to figure out your #s and also how to custom change them in MFP:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets
For more information about fitness and nutrition, I highly suggest checking out and joining this group: (Read all the stickies. It's great information to know.)
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/10118-eat-train-progress0 -
Love this!!0
-
awesome...now lets all make bacon burgers minus the buns!!!!0
-
Great post!0
-
woot!0
-
TOTALLY agree, awesome post!0
-
Thank you! I've been looking for a realistic eating plan, and I think this is it! I need something I can maintain forever, not just "until I reach my goal weight''.0
-
I approve.0
-
Hear, Hear.0
-
Second, I know some of the members in the IIFYM crew may seem a tad cocky and obnoxious at times but believe me when I tell you, 99.9% of the time they're only looking out for your best interests. The way I see it, if you can't indulge in the foods you love, you're just gonna be miserable. By walling off your favorite foods, all you're doing is releasing the parking brake of the Bugatti Veyron that is your will power and thus enabling the inevitable, colossal binge that is the tree at the bottom of the hill you're on. From now on instead of thinking of IIFYM as something that may negatively impact your diet, think of it as as a blessing sent from above, Because let's be real, I know everyone must be tired of eating Chicken breasts and rice by now.
Remember, everything is good “in moderation”
Bravo! 0 -
Theory is sound, I tend to fill in extra calories with tasty foods, but my macros and deficit pretty much make me stay on a more normal diet path. Good luck getting all the needed macro/micro nutrients on 1k defecit a day, while eating enough low cal foods so you aren't plagued by hunger all day. If you can do it eating junk, more power to you, but I do prefer to fill my day in with foods that are more beneficial to my overall health.0
-
Err what about your micros?0
-
You are wise, Grasshopper. So young and you get it.0
-
Well Said0
-
Err what about your micros?
I see IIFYM as more geared towards weight loss than overall health, but I suppose it is possible to get macros and micros right when you are eating at maintenance or a surplus. When your goals are 2lb/loss per week, you won't be able to get both on a IIFYM diet without proper supplementation, and you will also likely be fighting hunger and cravings because you gave in to a high cal treat and can't eat for a few hours or you'll go over your macros.0 -
Err what about your micros?
I see IIFYM as more geared towards weight loss than overall health, but I suppose it is possible to get macros and micros right when you are eating at maintenance or a surplus. When your goals are 2lb/loss per week, you won't be able to get both on a IIFYM diet without proper supplementation, and you will also likely be fighting hunger and cravings because you gave in to a high cal treat and can't eat for a few hours or you'll go over your macros.
I've never had that issue on days when I actually followed the guidance because I make sure I drink milk and eat some vegetables. The RDA micronutrient targets really aren't that hard to hit. IIFYM is also a general rule, and you should be designing your diet to hit your micronutrient targets, but you can do that without completely destroying your ability to live a normal life.0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.3K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 424 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions