What's your focus? Cals or Macros?

3foldchord
3foldchord Posts: 2,918 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I can only seem to get one or the other to 'look good'.
If my Macros look good=my calories are too low,
if my calories look good = my Macros are way too high.

Which is more important ?

(I guess some people are super awesome and have BOTH looking good, I am not super awesome. I am only marginally awesome)

Replies

  • Chief_Rocka
    Chief_Rocka Posts: 4,710 Member
    Both. Cals are a "target," macros are a "minimum."
  • Erienneb
    Erienneb Posts: 592 Member
    I really only pay attention to cals and sodium (because my family has a history of high blood pressure). I usually do ok with carbs but am always way over on protein and sugar is all over.
  • csuhar
    csuhar Posts: 779 Member
    My primary focus is calories. But I also notice that, when it comes to Macros, if I try to make sure my meals and recipies aren't heavy in one direction or another, my macros tend to take care of themselves. I'm usually within 5% of my targets.
  • CincinnatiDEIFan
    CincinnatiDEIFan Posts: 188 Member
    I started slow.

    At first only logged and didn't care about anything.
    Then portion control slowly.
    Now I am worried mainly about calories.
    Eventually Ill worry about the others as I gain endurance/strength in Cardio/Strenth at the gym.

    :-)
  • nikinyx6
    nikinyx6 Posts: 772 Member
    Right now calories and protein are where I'm focusing...Still trying to get that uber-perfect balance
  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member
    Calories. Macros are easier for me to hit because the types of food I eat, in general, don't change much
  • catholic_chick
    catholic_chick Posts: 9
    Macros. If my carbs or protein are too high, I gain weight. The calories seem to take care of themselves.
  • DenyseMarieL
    DenyseMarieL Posts: 673 Member
    I just worry about calories and fibre. If I am eating the right things, my fat, salt, sugar etc will sort of balance out. But I need to eat the fibre. These pipes don't function well without it!
  • 3foldchord
    3foldchord Posts: 2,918 Member
    Right now calories and protein are where I'm focusing...Still trying to get that uber-perfect balance
    I want uber-perfect balance......

    I was doing OK when focused on Cals and Protein, then decided to add carbs into the mix.... not a good idea for me yet, I guess.

    I lean towards macros- being my focus getting enough protein and not too many carbs.
  • sandobr1
    sandobr1 Posts: 319 Member
    For me mainly calories, and living with acceptable portion sizes. Carbs are something I do need to reign in so I do eyeball that some.
  • Akimajuktuq
    Akimajuktuq Posts: 3,037 Member
    My macro ratio matters the most to me. I eat high fat, moderate protein, and low carb. But I've noticed that my allowable macros don't match the calories so that's a problem with MFP, not me, but I still love it here.

    I've been having some difficulty getting my calories up lately, even though my diet is fat based. My food is satisfying and I want to eat only when I am hungry because I used to be controlled by cravings and binging. However, I also don't agree that it will benefit me long term to eat consistently under 1200 calories. Yeah, strange complaint, I know.
  • harlanJEN
    harlanJEN Posts: 1,089 Member
    Depends on your goals.


    I have a calorie target, but it's important to me to meet my protein macro. So .. I focus on getting my protein in, the other macros fall into place. Over time, you get into the groove and don't even really pay attention all that much - just happens. At least it does for me.
    I eat very little processed foods - so the empty processed sugar/carb calories don't "muck up my macro works" : )
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    I focus on calories and protein and try to eat as healthy as possible. I don't worry if I've gone over a little bit on fat or carbs.
  • sweetpea129
    sweetpea129 Posts: 755 Member
    I do watch both but in the end cals are more important to me.
  • Goal_Driven
    Goal_Driven Posts: 371 Member
    I really try to focus on both.. I guess right now, I'm focusing on my macros the most.. fats, sugars, protein, carbs and sodium. I'm always good on my fiber which is also something I look at for. But Cal's usually always fall into place.. a bit on the low side most of the time though.
  • coolraul07
    coolraul07 Posts: 1,606 Member
    :ohwell: Short answer: I track 6 items - potassium, protein, and fiber are "floors" and the rest are "ceilings".

    Background:
    Before using MFP, I mentally (loosely) tracked only calories and sodium. That and cardio via treadmill allowed me to lose 20lbs in 4 months before deliberately plateauing for 2 months. I joined MFP and now I also track fat, potassium, protein, and fiber. I lost another 10 lbs in the first 2 weeks. :bigsmile:
    If asked a couple of months ago, I would've guessed that I was naturally high carb/protein and low fat/fiber; I was only half-right. It turned out that I rarely hit my carb ceiling and struggled to hit my protein/fiber/potassium floors. :noway: I supplement my diet with V-8 juice (potassium) and bars/powders for fiber/protein. Even with daily logging, it's not uncommon for me to be way low on protein and fiber after dinner. This is especially true when I "earn" extra calories via exercise because that also increase those floors. (I wish I could increase my sodium ceiling as easily!) That's when I reach for the aformentioned items to top-off before bed. I got tired of thawing/cooking a chicken breast at 11pm to make up the difference! :laugh:
    I pretty much ignore carbs because I rarely go over, as well as vit/min because I'm usually at 200% or more for each.
  • krickeyuu
    krickeyuu Posts: 344 Member
    Calories, mostly, for weight loss. As far as macros go, I really only monitor fat, protein, soduim and fiber. Family history of heart disease and HBP, so I really try not to go over on sat. fat and soduim. No history of diabetes so I don't pay much attention to sugar or carbs. I try to get enough protein and to meet a daily fiber intake of 28g or more. I also work hard to get 6-8 8oz. glasses of water and/or green tea, especially if I do go over my sodium macro (1600mg). This may change once I go on Maintenance--only a few more pounds to go.
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member

    I want uber-perfect balance......

    I was doing OK when focused on Cals and Protein, then decided to add carbs into the mix.... not a good idea for me yet, I guess.

    I lean towards macros- being my focus getting enough protein and not too many carbs.

    Calories for weight loss, macros for health and maintainence of lean muscle mass. You will never get "uber-perfect balance" on macros as the nutritional data is user entered and will never be 100% correct. It is also just not that critical. If you are "in the ballpark" on your macros, you are fine. Don't make yourself crazy getting all OCD or perfectionistic about it.
  • emotionalharlequin
    emotionalharlequin Posts: 83
    Both balance each other for me -- calories stop me from binging and macros help me consume the right foods and stop me from eating my daily calories in chocolate and biscuits! 0.0
  • 3foldchord
    3foldchord Posts: 2,918 Member
    Both balance each other for me -- calories stop me from binging and macros help me consume the right foods and stop me from eating my daily calories in chocolate and biscuits! 0.0

    I think "Dark Chocolate" should be one of my Macros.
  • Akimajuktuq
    Akimajuktuq Posts: 3,037 Member
    Calories, mostly, for weight loss. As far as macros go, I really only monitor fat, protein, soduim and fiber. Family history of heart disease and HBP, so I really try not to go over on sat. fat and soduim. No history of diabetes so I don't pay much attention to sugar or carbs. I try to get enough protein and to meet a daily fiber intake of 28g or more. I also work hard to get 6-8 8oz. glasses of water and/or green tea, especially if I do go over my sodium macro (1600mg). This may change once I go on Maintenance--only a few more pounds to go.

    Just friendly advice: you should continue researching issues related to HBP and heart disease, and health in general. Fat has been demonized while grains have been praised. There is evidence to support that they've got it backwards. Sugar and carbs bear monitoring, diabetes or not. Especially if one eats a lot of processed foods.

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