Total Calories or Macros: What's more important?

spikelike

Hello everybody!

I want to know whats more Important. There are days where I am under my total calories but over my macros. I wanted to ask yall if its important to be perfect with the macros also..or are the total calories the most important determinant of the weight loss?

thanks

jonnythan

Calories are what determine weight loss or gain.

BurtHuttz

The macros are of very little importance compared to the calories. A "balanced" diet doesn't need to be precise.

spikelike

so say, for example, if I go 5-10 over carbs, 20 over fat and 50 over sugar-but stay way under my total calories- Im still good?

maa59115

Both. Once you figure out what your calories need to be, you have to split that between your macros to help you lose weight or bulk up.

jonnythan

so say, for example, if I go 5-10 over carbs, 20 over fat and 50 over sugar-but stay way under my total calories- Im still good?

Depends on your goals. If you go over on carbs and fat, then you went way under on protein. Make sure you get enough.

Calories are what matter for weight loss.

symonspatrick

Calories are the most important for fat loss. Macros help to determine what your body will look like after the weight loss. Macros also can change the amount of water weight in your body.

myfitnesspaller

How about if we kepe going over sodum but under our calorie daily limit?

so from the consensus here, its ok to go over macros as long as we are under the total calorie limit..right?

spikelike

How about if we kepe going over sodum but under our calorie daily limit?

so from the consensus here, its ok to go over macros as long as we are under the total calorie limit..right?

I guess.

spikelike

bump

zechks

Both are important.. Hit your macros with your alloted calories. It's not as simple as calorie in vs calorie out.. Sure you will lose pounds by being on a caloric deficit, but the quality of your results will also depend on the quality of calories you're consuming.

quishajuice

Calories are the most important for fat loss. Macros help to determine what your body will look like after the weight loss. Macros also can change the amount of water weight in your body.

This is prob your best answer in the simplest form. if you are just trying to lose weight with no other specific goals you just need to focus on taking in less calories than you put out. At the end of the day a deficit is what matters. However, if you have other goals macros may be important, i.e. I work on heavy lifting and want to gain more muscle definition so I aim for a higher percentage of protein and lower percentage of carbs and fat than MFP suggests.

LolBroScience

Both are important.. Hit your macros with your alloted calories. It's not as simple as calorie in vs calorie out.. Sure you will lose pounds by being on a caloric deficit, but the quality of your results will also depend on the quality of calories you're consuming.

This.

mmapags

Both are important.. Hit your macros with your alloted calories. It's not as simple as calorie in vs calorie out.. Sure you will lose pounds by being on a caloric deficit, but the quality of your results will also depend on the quality of calories you're consuming.

This.

Agreed! Calories for weight loss, macros for health and body composition. It's not an either/ or. They are both important.

Sarauk2sf

As a high level:

Calories = weight loss/gain
Macros = energy (carbs), body composition (protein), healthy body functions and hormones (fats)
Micros = health

They are all important. It's fine to go over protein and fats baring any medical condition that would say otherwise.

jillybeanpuff

I asked this question before and got the same answers you have. make sure you get your calories and try to keep a macro balance. but if you have to choose one over the other eat your cals

pspetralia

As a high level:

Calories = weight loss/gain
Macros = energy (carbs), body composition (protein), healthy body functions and hormones (fats)
Micros = health

They are all important. It's fine to go over protein and fats baring any medical condition that would say otherwise.

Good info. Thanks, Sara!

kgoodman0108

I believe calories and macros are equally important. If most of your calories consume of carbs and sugar, your body is creating more of the insulin hormone. High insulin levels can have a negative effect on weight loss.

amnsetie

The macros they are talking about ^^^ are Carbs Fats and Protein.
Get your cals right first
then get the protein higher

but sodium is another issue.
Sodium will mess you up, keep it low

mmapags

I believe calories and macros are equally important. If most of your calories consume of carbs and sugar, your body is creating more of the insulin hormone. High insulin levels can have a negative effect on weight loss.

Well it certainly wouldn't make sense for most of your calories to come from carbs and sugar but, if you are in a calorie deficit, it would not affect overall weight loss. Your understanding of insulin and it's role is not correct. Also, protein is also insulinogenic. The role of insulin is to shuttle energy (nutrients) to where it is needed. If there is too much energy, it will be shuttled to fat storage. If you are in calorie deficit, there will be no net storage over a period like a day.

spikelike

I usually keep my carbs and sodium low but this past week the carbs have been over by 70 and sodium by almost 10002-3 times now..you think that is bad enough to hinder the progress?

mmapags

I usually keep my carbs and sodium low but this past week the carbs have been over by 70 and sodium by almost 10002-3 times now..you think that is bad enough to hinder the progress?

Not in fat loss. It may mask it though as you may retain fluid.

amnsetie

I don't see a problem with carbs over 70

the sodium is a problem.
It holds water.
fortunately water weight is easiest to lose

high sodium is also bad for your cardiovascular system

spikelike

alright thanks guys. So for weight loss alone is all about the total calories.

ATT949

Hello everybody!

I want to know whats more Important. There are days where I am under my total calories but over my macros. I wanted to ask yall if its important to be perfect with the macros also..or are the total calories the most important determinant of the weight loss?

thanks

For weight loss, in the short term, your body does not care what the calories are packaged in (a carb, fat, or protein molecule). Over the long term, you should try to keep your macros in a reasonable range.

Sarauk2sf

I believe calories and macros are equally important. If most of your calories consume of carbs and sugar, your body is creating more of the insulin hormone. High insulin levels can have a negative effect on weight loss.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/817143-insulin-low-carbs-gary-taubes-and-james-krieger

Energizer06

CARLORIES = WEIGHT LOSS OR GAIN
MACROS = BODY COMPOSITION

If you ask me, both are equally important.....but everybody has their own opinion of what looks and feels good to them!

Nutrition is a diet.......Nutrition with exercise is a LIFESTYLE!

myfitnesspaller

bump